[SKETCHBOOK] Plus Size, Fun Size - Call Me What You Like Just Dress Me In Sequins & Style

I went to Forever 21 this weekend and was very disappointed at the lack a good plus size clothing. Bigger girls want to look good too! And you look at the website and the selection isn't all that great. It seems to me that a lot of the regular styles can easily be made into bigger sizes.

After all, we size 14's want to wear sequins too! We want large printed tunics too! This lead to a quick sketch drawing project of clothing I want in my style and in my size.

Medium: Prisma colored pencils



The little shines in the top one depicts sequin patches in the heart, the lips and the eyes. The bottom is hemmed with a little black lace for a girly touch.

The skirt of the bottom picture has a shimmer, metallic layer. And the tights did not come out as expected but they are red with dark red diamond patters.


Could you see either one of these outfits in Forever21's Plus Size section?

Party @ House of De Leon Debut Show

The Fashion Psychos came out Sunday night to join Elia De Leon in her debut fashion show. It wasn't your usual fashion show with your usual fashion crowd. The Elia de Leon line was for the urban socialite - a glam party girl. There was even a go-go dancer!

As midnight struck, the crowd gathered around the bar-side catwalk. The overhead lights came on for the first time, illuminating the opening number: a fire dancer. The Elia De Leon fashion show quickly turned into the hottest thing in Dallas. The clothing seemed very at home in the local club scene. It was a mix of hard and soft textures that still managed to retain the underlying glam embodied by De Leon herself.

This line really spoke to the girl that gets in to all the nice clubs and is never without a drink. She know everyone and everyone knows her. And hopefully, soon, she'll be wearing a De Leon original.








Elia De Leon & Her Models
Photography by Yuki Cullen

Ouch! In-Store Fashion Show

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of attending a small in-store fashion show at Ouch! Fashions in the Bishop Arts District. I really enjoy these because they're more personal and always take ingenuity on behalf of the store to put them together. In this case, boutique owner Liliana Phillips took cinder blocks from Home Depot to make the 12" high runway and ran it through the center of her store.


The show started off with a few ponchos that would make Ugly Betty proud. Very reminiscent of Latin America, where about 90% of the stores merchandise originates. Not surprising since Phillips also hails from Latin America.



The models were diverse in age and sizes, proving that her store could cater to both the young trendsetter and mature socialite. The styles themselves were also across the spectrum of classic and trendy. For example, the gold sequin blazer can add pop to a boring work outfit while keeping the classic career silhouette.




Phillips says it was her first show so it wasn't expected to run smoothly. There were a few disasters backstage that caused some hiccups in the flow but overall, I think it was a success. She sold the gold sequin blazer that very night!

I would've really liked to see this shirt on the right in the show. The picture does not show how awesome the puff sleeves look or that the cute chick is embroidered! And this is just one of the gems you can find in the color-coded racks of Ouch! Fashions. Prices range from $20 - $200 so come prepared with your credit card.
I got a skirt!


Ouch! Fashions
332 W. Davis
Dallas, TX 75208

xoxoxo
The Style Geek

Friday Night Fashionistas Abound

This past Friday night, I was invited to attend the Dallas Fashion & Lifestyle Awards hosted by the Fashion Group International. It was a purple carpet event - you just had to find it (the carpet I mean). The awards featured fashion shows and booths for local design talent, including of course, Louise Black from this past season of Project Runway. It was a great a place to mingle and look at the current wave of fashion. For Dallas, it's black - lots of glamorous black.

But as glamorous and glitzy as the night was, funny thing: when I told my friends and a few other fashionistas about the event, they didn't even know that Dallas had its own Fashion Awards and their faces were a bit (O.o). How are we suppose to turn ourselves into a fashion capital when key events like these aren't in everyone's mouths?? Maybe it was the $75 ticket. For a Recessionista like me, it made it impossible to take my girlfriend and/or my photographer.

If you're a big Runway Geek like me and the catwalk seduces you like Angelina Jolie in black leather and lace, the fashion show did not disappoint. The designer line-up included local design celebrities like Abi Ferrin and Oscar Fierro. Abi Ferrin has always been a personal favorite of mine due to her combination of knits and girlishness. Her large sweater to the left can make you feel small and held while other pieces can make you feel classy and confident. I also enjoyed the wearibility of Nha Kahn's garments (pictured below). They were just the right amount of flashy that I could see a Dallas socialite wearing them.























The night was spectacular, though. There were awards for Fashion Design (Matthew Earnest) and Accessories Design (Danielle Taylor) as well as Retail (V.O.D.). The sponsored mixed drinks were the Purple Cadillacs and the Pink Memo in honor of MC Katrina Szish of Pink Memo. The swag bags included totes and lotion. Maybe it was the economy, maybe it was the marketing, but I heard that the turnout wasn't as big as expected. At the end of the night, I was just happy that I had found some familiar faces and we had enjoyed our time.



xoxoxo
The Style Geek

DESIGNER LOVE: Fashion Psychos @ Work

Pieces by Elia de Leon

I'm a little late with this feature due to damn-busy-life but I finally caught up with designers-in-the-making Elia De Leon and Bladi Duran. I went to Bladi's apartment to pick up a dress by Elia to wear to the Dallas Fashion and Lifestyle Awards Friday night. Shiny fabric and sequins fly as they prepared for Elia's upcoming fashion show here in Dallas. It's only two weeks away.
Elia currently works in the retail business and does some styling under her company name: Fashion Psychos. Her line, however, will carry her name Elia De Leon. Rolls right off your tongue, right? Although, Bladi also designs, he won't be showing on the runway that night. He's trying to get experience for producing his own show. "I'll help," chimes in Elia from a puddle of fabric.

SG: When did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer?
EDL: I grew up around it. I always made Barbie clothes. I started styling and it kind of evolved from there. Everything in my life has brought me to this.

SG: What is your inspiration for this collection?
EDL: Hardware, chains, anything you woldn't picture on a dress. A mix of hard and soft, chiffon and steel, color, movement... and versatility because we are in a recession. [My line] is edgy, chic, fun but still a little sophisticated.

SG: Do you already have any celebrities in mind who would wear it?
EDL: Rhianna, Madonna, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Renee Zellweger... It's for everyone - a classic silhouette beneath the chains.

SG: Biggest challenge about putting this show together?
EDL: Everything. Making sure I'm gonna have a good collection. I never realized it was so much work. I had a great idea about a great show.... [I learned] it's only looks glamorous and its not a one man show.

SG: I heard that when you took patterns, you really struggled with it. So what made you jump into producing your own show?
EDL: I did. Now that I'm starting to produce, I have to get it done but I like draping better. There is no rhyme or reason to fashion - you can just make it what you want... I opened for a fashion designer Mike Benet in August. It was just 6 random pieces I made in school but when I came out on that stage, that high - I knew that I wanted to show people that I could do that. I was addicted to feel of the show. And that high is so addictiing but at the end of the day, it's an accomplishment.

SG: So what are you trying to get out of this show?
EDL: Recognintion, buyers, clients for styling... and I'm trying to become Dallas' next fashion icon.

SG: That's a pretty big goal - Dallas' Next Fashion Icon. Sounds like a TV Show.
BD: Surreal.
EDL: Stay tuned. Keep your eyes and ears open cause I'm taking over Dallas.
BD: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio
EDL: With you as my publicist...
SG: [laughs] We'll see.

Elia's fashion show will be held Sunday, December 6th @ ENCORE here in Dallas. Admission is FREE and open to anyone 18+.

You check out Elia's website: FashionPsychos.com and add her to your Facebook or Myspace. She always welcomes more friends. She also has a small personal blog that has been documenting the fun of producing your own fashion show: FashionPsychos.blogspot.com



xoxoxo
The Style Geek

P.S. More on Bladi to come.

[OOTD] Staying Warm & Cute

Currently taking my lunch at work. Been a little stressed by the time crunches between blogs, this job, school and all my little side jobs. I work well under pressure, though, just don't get in my way lol.

This was my outfit yesterday. It was mainly a school day and even though I have tests and studying coming out of my ears right now, a fun, carefree outfit always cheers me up. And so does a picnic with my girlfriend.




She and her best friend coordinated this double-date picnic. Lesbians, so romantic in 50* weather. Yes, it finally feels like November here in Dallas. The funny thing is that by next week, it will probably warm up to 70* again.

"If you don't like the weather in Texas, just wait 30 minutes" as my old government teacher use to say.

I won't lie though: my outfit was inspired by the street snap over at TokyoFashion.com. These ladies sure know how to stay warm! And they look so cute!

Holiday Make-Up Mixer

This past Saturday, I attended a make-up event hosted by my schoolchum and upandcoming make-up artist Noel. He gave a demonstration of four looks for this coming holiday season: Thanksgiving, Holiday Cocktail @ Work, Christmas, and, of course, New Year's. The demonstration also included current trends in make-up (like how everyone's doing the nude lip) and some personal tips taken from trial and error. His audience included some students from the local cosmetology college GGO, where he is going to be lecturing this coming Monday (Go Noel!). And although the evening started off a bit slow, Noel quickly took command of his brushes and gave us all a little show - like any artist should.
The Thanksgiving Look
(Model: Pamela)
He stressed that Thanksgiving is not a flashy event. It's low key, where you could possibly meet the potential in-laws for sit down dinner. Subtle neutral tones, then, are the best. The focus point of this look is the eyes - "make them pop". This is easily accomplished by doing a sparkly gold eye. His make-up brand of choice for the night was Bobby Brown, but you can find neutral shades and glitter shadow in less expensive brands like Cover Girl. The blush is a simple pink. Remember to smile when putting on blush, and use long strokes on the cheek bones - NEVER EVER do circles. For lips, you can’t go wrong with metallic gold colors - "they go with everything". He used copper on Pamela because it wasn’t too bright, but if you want bright and shiny, use clear gloss over the lip color.
Holiday Cocktail Party
(Model: Tracy)
The focal point in this look is a smokey eye, which apparently is extremely hard to do and most people get it wrong. The easiest way is with a pencil not shadow, like most people use, because shadow gives you a messier, less defined look. For the Cocktail Party Look, black is the color of choice, but a smokey eye can be done in any color. Apply the pencil to the eye lid and use a brush to blend. If you want the eye darker you can use some shadow, but remember a little bit of shadow will go a long way so be delicate with it. Finish off with a gold tone on upper lid and define the bottom with pencil. Add mascara and a nude lip and you're ready to go!

Christmas Dinner Look
(Model: Sophia)
Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean you have to be flashy. This look opts for brown tones but mixes in a silvery gold finish on the eye. To highlight the eye, use a shimmer gold dust, which is messy but can be cleaned up easily. Add a little pencil on the bottom lid and mascara to complete the eye. With this look, Noel discussed the use of fake eye lashes: they can be a bit tricky to measure but simple to put on. Also it may be a bit more expensive, but finding fake lashes made of real human hair look best because they are more delicate. A red lip is good for this look but be careful not to end up with a clown lip. If it looks too heavy, blot with a paper towel.

New Year's Look
(Model: Paula)
This is the fun look, of course - it's dramatic and uses more colors "but don’t go overboard". For the eyes, he used purple eye shadow (since shades of purple and fuchsia are his favorites) and a translucent powder. The translucent powder gives the eyes a more shear, sci-fi look. Silver glitter also helps complete the drama in this look, and it’s okay to play with it and let it to fall on more than just the eyes. For the lips, a nice shade of pink lip gloss.

---

Noel's Top Five
1. Liquid eye liner is messy so stick with pencil.
2. Don’t forget to set everything with powder.
3. Always have eyeliner with you.
4. Shades of brown go with everything.
5. Don’t go heavy on red lips


If you would like to contact Noel, e-mail him: noel@houseofnoel.com or check out his website: House of Noel.

xoxoxo
The Style Geek