The Right Style » Fashion

Did You Go Lilly for Target CRAZY?

Kerri Estella — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 20:53:41 +0000

Lilly-mania has come and gone. Well, it kind of had to; the widely-anticipated Lilly Pulitzer collaboration with Target sold out in mere MINUTES. Target has set a high standard with their previous designer collaborations: I started paying attention during the Isaac Mizrahi for Target years (one of my favorite dresses of all time is from this line, a line that shuttered in 2008!) and since, I have snagged amazing pieces from Missoni, the CFDA/Neiman Marcus collection, Thakoon and Proenza Schouler.

But Lilly. Oh, that Lilly Pulitzer! The furor! The (hilarious) outrage! Lilly Pulitzer, the late design queen of Palm Beach ladies who lunch, found her way into arms and shopping carts of women everywhere Sunday morning. Or at least, she was supposed to. The eagerly anticipated collection appeared online, had the Target site going kablooey by 3am and was entirely gone by 10am.

This was the scene in good old Richmond, VA:

The things Southern girls do for @LillyPulitzer #LillyforTarget pic.twitter.com/PDA3ODCTWg

— michelle christine (@michelleox) April 19, 2015

If I had to hazard a guess, that’s the location on Staples Mill. (I recognize the parking lot. Don’t judge me.) Richmond is exactly the type of city I would expect would go mad for Lilly and leave me with a fairly robust selection of Altuzarra, (Holla if you hear me clearance section!) but I didn’t expect my Lilly loving ladies to go QUITE this hard.

I can’t front. I DO NOT GET IT. I’m not a great Lilly Pulitzer fan myself but I don’t appreciate being robbed of my ability to get this (y’all know I’m a sucker for a jumpsuit!):

Lilly jumpsuit, I hardly knew ye.

Did you go Lilly crazy? Did you try but get punked instead? Do you just NOT GET IT? Let me know in the comments!

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Spring is Here, and Spring Style has Sprung!

Kerri Estella — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:20:02 +0000

I don’t know how excited you are but I am so darn HAPPY that it is finally spring! I broke out my spring style favorites and had a ritualistic burning of all of my winter clothing because I was too filled with joy to think rationally.

I so rarely remember to take photos of my outfits, so I’m treating you a ‘lil bit, showing you what I look like without a sweater and a beanie.

Crop tops never went out of style for me; my stomach has been hanging out freely since 1985. I grabbed this one in two colors from H&M last summer. I paired the short shirt with a knit sweater vest (I’ve worn it death for years!) and one of my favorite pairs of jeans. The jeans are also an old school classic with an equally old school label. They’re FUBU. [insert laugh track here] They harken back to the days when most denim seemed to be not quite that and have more structure than most “true” denim. They are stretchy and have a perfect medium rise and I bought them two sizes too big and ended up with a perfectly hip slung, elegant, boyfriend jean. I bought them sometime in college, probably around 2004. I couldn’t find the jeans I wanted, so I made them. I spent most of this day sitting so I could finally find the justification to teeter around in these beautiful, blush suede pumps from Zara.

The outfit was really second fiddle to my other production that day…my return to YouTube! This first video is worth the watch:

What is your favorite part of Spring? Are you as over being cold as I am?

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Let Bruno Mars Uptown Funk Up Your Day Job

Kerri Estella — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 17:43:02 +0000

Friday. I’m so restless. I want to be out in the wide world, frolicking and dancing, singing and twirling. But mama’s got bills to pay, so I’m at work. Fortunately, I’m a creative and blasting the jams is part of my PROCESS. Producer Mark Ronson’s newest release, “Uptown Special” is near ready-made for getting the creative juices flowing. The first release from the album is “Uptown Funk” featuring my petite brown prince, Bruno Mars. The groove flowed all the way through me. All the way. Before long, I had the song on repeat and Bruno was practically my cube-mate. Since Bruno was bringing ALLA the funk to my day job, taking sartorial inspiration from the man was a natural next step.

Do that dance, boy!

The elements that made Bruno’s outfit retro and hilarious could easily be translated into a sophisticated but eclectic workday style.

The result:

Uptown Funk You Up by kerriestella featuring slacks pants

Armani Jeans white sleeveless blouse, $230 / Emilio Pucci one button blazer / STELLA McCARTNEY slacks pants / Ted Baker patent shoes / Yellow gold jewelry / McQ by Alexander McQueen print scarve / Rag bone white crown / Gucci eyewear

Trading the baggy undershirt for a sleek sheath, the shapeless salmon blazer for a structured magenta jacket, and the multiple gold chains for a layered gold necklace takes the look from masculine to undeniably feminine. Though I cannot guarantee your job security if you try to sport that scarf underneath your fedora, let me know if you try it. I love a good laugh.

Go get your hair done and get ready for the freakin’ weekend!

Roller set recommended but not required.

Take me home, Bruno! Get “Uptown Special” available on iTunes.

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Michelle and Alicia: Sisters in SOTU Style

Kerri Estella — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:29:31 +0000

It was a shady, shady night folks! If you were watching President Barack Obama’s penultimate State of the Union speech, then you know just the moment I’m talking about.

Obama: “I have no more campaigns to run.”
Republicans: *applause*
All: *laughter*
Obama: “I know because I won both of them.”

Damn, Son!

But the real star of the night (for me, my mother and my sister, at least) was First Lady Michelle Obama’s fly suit. The grey, nubby suit was perfection on Mrs. Obama and seemed to be made to be worn by a powerful, self assured mother of two— gasp! I had seen that suit before! Michelle was channeling the other First Lady, Alicia Florrick.

Ok. Alicia, played by the luxuriously-browed Julianna Marguiles, is a fictional character. She lives inside of the television and fabulously-armed Michelle is a real person. But I insist that this was a coordinated plan to unify the strongest woman on TV with one of the strongest women in America. Sisters in Style. Michelle and Alicia forever.

Michelle Obama is on her Alicia Florrick tonight — and I am here for it. (cc: @emilynussbaum, @SPBVIP): pic.twitter.com/XL8wsMeBhq

— S. Alexander Smith (@SAlexanderPhD) January 21, 2015

I am in negotiations to have this suit, well the jacket, really, as my very own. You can match me and get the jacket here.*

*Update: It looks like the jacket has sold out in the 20 minutes since I started this post. I am actually crying real tears.

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The Essentials: Outerwear

Kerri Estella — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 01:51:26 +0000

Ok, so the cold finally broke through. Though I, foolishly, have my legs out and exposed to the elements today, I also have the heat on. This weekend, I am going someplace cold. I’m freaking out. I haven’t dry-cleaned any of my coats from last winter so they’re all stashed in various cubbies and holes in my apartment awaiting their re-emergence and return to glory. This started me thinking, “Maybe I should just buy a new coat!”

The Essentials: Outerwear. by kerriestella featuring long woolen coats

Alexander McQueen black double breasted coat / Superdry parka coat / River Island coat, $115 / Long woolen coat / Formal coat, $60

Sigh. Do I ever love coats. Though I do have a tendency to favor coats of the woolen variety– I love the slightly-more-dressed look a wool coat brings– it is necessary that you pick up a army green parka this season. It’s not only wildly on trend but it is practical and able to be dressed up or down. Don’t believe me? Try layering a parka over a black maxi dress with a stacked heel boot. (Send me a snap when you do!) The Superdry Parka is my TRS pick, ringing in at $390.00.

I went with two light colored coats this go round. Though light coats are like DIRT MAGNETS, they are a wonderful break from the endless cycle of greige that the colder months seem to have in endless supply. I love the open drape of the oatmeal colored coat from Black Five but 100% stand behind the 60 dollar wonder of the cream formal coat. Make like Olivia Pope and snap that one up. It’s one hell of a TRS pick.

Light colored coats not doing enough to brighten up your winter days? I’m with you, Sister! I am absolutely dying for the orange cocoon-shaped coat from River Island. At $140 USD, the coat will keep your bank account happy as well. The cocoon shape is modern and on trend and I am a solid believer that orange is an adept neutral. Don’t go matchy-matchy on this one– throw this orange wonder on top of everything, no matter the color.

And finally, a TRS dream pick. Alexander McQueen is still my favorite place for structured, royalty inspired clothing and this coat is no exception. I did try to be a little practical with this pick; who doesn’t need an elegant, black coat in their wardrobe? This pick is aspirational, it’ll set you back a cool $2785.00. I will absolutely send you a thank you card when you have it delivered to my address.

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TRS Picks: A’s, Blue’s and Double C’s

Kerri Estella — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:00:28 +0000

It’s just too wrong that the weekend is so short. The end of October is signaling that I am running out of time to march about in shorts so I’m going IN.

Fall is too often the place where color goes to die but I, in my vaguely Jamaican style, can never have too much. I paired this incredibly bold sweatshirt by drawing out the reds and blues and incorporating them into other elements of the outfit. Anchoring everything– because when you’re wearing a lot of color, you need an anchor– are all the black leather accessories.

This outfit is definitely for the young at heart— Are there any looks you are holding onto from the warmer months?

ABC’s of Style by kerri-estella-grinnage featuring navy boots

Sweatshirts hoody / Forever New black zip jacket, $115 / Current/Elliott red hot shorts, $720 / Office navy boots, $135 / Black leather knapsack / Vintage button earrings / Linda Farrow cateye sunglasses, $650

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So Many Stripes.

Kerri Estella — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:00:44 +0000

There may be nothing that I love more than stripes. I love stripes so much that sometimes I like to wear all of my stripes all at one time. I’m something of a stripes collector, if you will. This series of black and white striped looks happened largely by accident. As Richmond continues to tease back and forth with the idea of cold weather ( I was teeth-chatteringly cold last week. Tomorrow, it’s going to be 82 degrees), I have found myself needing to layer my transitional separates.

It started out with my Lush jumpsuit. It’s light and gauzy and comfortable and airy– absolutely perfect for humid days in the South. But the thing is, it was now freezing in the morning. I was dashing to work so I grabbed a light sweater. When I realized what I created, I was fascinated. It was by far the most pajama like thing I had ever worn to work, yet it was somehow eye-catching and quite well-dressed.

I took my five stripiest outfits and mixed and matched and created 3 of my all-time favorite looks. Which is your favorite? Do you like to play with patterns?

Jeans by Rich & Skinny, Missoni for Target blouse, blazer by BLACK Saks Fifth Avenue.

Blouse by Missoni for Target, Lush Jumpsuit.

Jumpsuit by Lush, Sweater by Max Studio, lipgloss “Rebel” by BeautiControl.

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Farewell, Oscar.

Kerri Estella — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:30:32 +0000

Oscar de la Renta was…IS…legend. He was the man behind some of the most beautiful and iconic runway looks the world has ever known. He was the man who could turn fabrics into frocks covered in ruffles that turned the wearer into a blooming flower. He made first ladies and actresses all look equally like the most beautiful woman in the world. He rose to prominence dressing one of the most famous First Ladies in American history, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Dominican de la Renta came to embody American fashion and American elegance. Who could forget the words of Carrie Bradshaw, played by de la Renta uber fan Sarah Jessica Parker:

Carrie: How about I read you a little bit of my favorite poetry?
Aleksandr: Please.
Carrie: [reads from Vogue] “Cocktails at Tiffany’s calls for classic charm. Oscar de La Renta sleeveless silk full-skirted dress with black patent leather bow belt.” Now that is pure poetry.

Oscar was a man who let his work and his actions speak for themselves. Here he is presenting his 2012 Resort Collection within the walls of the largest bullfighting arena in the world, Plaza des Toros in Mexico City, Mexico.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA IN MEXICO CITY from Oscar de la Renta on Vimeo.

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#be Fashionable: MY Fashion Week

Kerri Estella — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:43:54 +0000

Last month was one of the most fashionable months on the calendar. If you’ve been keeping up, the fashion elite all converged in New York, Milan, Berlin, London and Paris to watch the world’s top supermodels and the top designers premiere their collections for the upcoming season. But for some reason or another, I was not invited to participate in any of the festivities (strange, I know) so I took it upon myself to make the month of September as fashionable as possible.

When the president of your company comes to town, it is mandatory that you pull out all of the stops. The “BeautiBar” is something that is known to all the ladies in our Beauti world: It’s a event, usually an intimate affair where you invite guests over and spoil them with samples of the latest and greatest of your sale items. (Remind me to show you our fabulous monthly sales brochures!) But for President Nikola, we took the BeautiBar and blew it up. We invited every one we knew and ADDED a fashion show. When you’re having a fashion show it is essential that you go for hig-impact pieces so one of my teammates arranged for us to work with a signature brand. When we contacted Ellen, the manager of Caché at Short Pump Towne Center, it was like kindred spirits had aligned. The “models”, three of my Spa Crew sisters and I, worked with Ellen to dream up looks that would take our BeautiControl models from our personal “work” style all the way to “WOW.”

I absolutely loved my dress— a sexy, bodycon number featuring a Lurex chainmail chest detail and cutaway neckline with leather piping. I love it so much in fact that I think a trip back to Cache is in my immediate future. Shop the look here.

The night was chockful of makeovers and glamorous details and some seriously awesome giveaways: one of our guests walked away with an overnight getaway for two at The Westin and one more with a 200 dollar gift certificate to Shoes of Prey! Now who doesn’t want some custom-made shoes?!

It was a fabulous night with some equally fabulous guests but since I said it was my fashion WEEK, I’m not quite done yet. Stay tuned for part 2!

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20 Work Outfits for Any Situation- The Cut

Kerri Estella — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:37:47 +0000

Living in the world of trying to maintain a work/life balance, it is easy to view the work bit as an obligation– a necessary evil there to finance the “life” part of your life. But think about it– most of us live a huge chunk of our lives at work and interact with people who are able to easily influence the direction of our lives, so why not put a little extra thought into how we dress from 9-5?

I love how the article highlights two different types of working girls (I can say that, right?): the lady who works in the conservative office and the gal who has more creative days. I, fortunately, am on the creative side of things in a business casual workplace, but that didn’t diminish my appreciation of the more corporate wardrobe. Click through the slideshow and see the mix of high-end and low pieces paired with situations that match just about anything you could be going through. They built a real woman’s wardrobe, repeating pieces throughout the editorial. I’m so inspired— maybe it’s time to hit the shops…

Read the full article here.

(hat tip to The Cut.)

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