How to Stay Warm Without Losing the Heat

Just because those temperatures are dropping, it doesn’t mean your sex appeal has to go down with ‘em!  With winter come bulky sweaters, thick wool socks, puffy coats and runny noses, none of which exactly scream sex appeal.  Although you’re pretty much stuck with your snotty sniffer (might I suggest some travel Kleenex?), there a few tricks to keep the guys looking in your direction without freezing your pretty lil buns off!

Tights! Thanks to Blair Waldorf, tights no longer bring back painful childhood memories of Holiday dresses with 18 too many bows, usually constructed of crushed velvet or an iridescent red and green plaid taffeta.  Instead, fashionable tights in every color and texture are available to match just about any outfit imaginable. Pair black lacey florals with a solid dress and booties and you’re bound to get a few free drinks sent your way.  Throw on a plum pair with a fitted long-sleeved dress and some slouchy boots to run those afternoon errands, and for a night out with your man, slip on a pair of seam and heel tights and he’ll be dragging you into the bedroom before you even make it out the door!

Coats! Whoever said, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” was full of it; we all know an attractive exterior makes us more inclined to check out what lies beneath.  The same goes for you and your winter layers. Prim coats à la Mad Men add a sexy sophistication to skinny jeans and knee high boots.  Bundle up in a faux fur number and guys will be begging to cozy up next to you.  When worn atop a sexy cocktail dress, a floral coat gives a hint at what’s underneath your flirty exterior.  Remember, it’s what’s on the outside that counts!!

Boots! Ah, boots, a personal favorite of mine; from cowboy to ankle to slouchy to lace up, say the word boot and I’m there!  Over the knee boots aren’t just for the street corner and look ubersexy in a neutral suede worn with a sleek mini dress or a slightly loose sweater dress.  Riding boots, slip em on with some skinnies and a men’s plaid shirt… and, well, let’s just say riding is exactly what men will think of when they see you in these boys!  And finally booties, which are capable of a category of their own given their range of styles: from sexy to casual to rock-n-roll.  The hottest winter footwear wears well with leggings, skirts or dresses tights, pants, and the list goes on.  In addition to being flat out hot, the stylish little devils allow your legs to appear longer and slimmer, and well, that’s always sexy.

Bianca Vance

Celebrity Style – Fashion Favorites at the 2010 Golden Globes

Gold, glitter, and gowns. In the midst of awards season, the 2010 Golden Globes gave me everything I wanted: crazy amounts of fashion to analyze! Of course dozens of celebrities have been planning their every style move for months, but only seven celebrities caught my eye with some of their trend setting designs. Here are the fashion favorites at the 2010 Golden Globes, Oligoville style:

1. Classic Hollywood – Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer’s black Valentino dress was reminiscent of old Hollywood Glam that could withstand the test of time. The true fashion star quality of this dress is the one shoulder and leg slit complimenting one another. Her simplistic styling is the just the right touch.

2. Modern Art – Drew Barrymore. This Atelier Versace gown has been hit or miss with a lot of critics, however I find it quite the unique piece of modern art. The sea creature-like shoulder and hip accents make Drew look like a sculpture that could be found in MOMA.  The elegant symmetry and the neutral color makes her look exuberant. She was like a living piece of art work sparkling with design and shape.

3. Tattered Chic – Emily Blunt. A simple basic gown silhouette turned uber chic by Dolce and Gabbana with tattered and distressed fabric edges. The gathered layering of chiffon adds even more intriguing textures that make Emily one of the best dressed, despite the rain trumping her hair-do.

4. Marvelous Metallic – Anna Paquin. We all know sequins are a big trend right now, but turning those sequins into an elegant evening gown couldn’t have been done better by Stella McCartney. The perfectly placed low-cut bodice with the matching floor v-cut turned out to be shape defining and the metallic choice radiantly shined against Anna’s skin tone. While her shoe choice could be improved, Anna makes the metallic trend belong on the red carpet.

5. Romantic Mermaid – Penelope Cruz. The mermaid silhouette complements Penelope’s shape and creates a lovely flow to the different textures of lace, striped layering, and ruffled ending. Bare shoulders maximize the romantic feel of the black ball gown accentuating Penelope’s dark features and golden skin. She couldn’t have gone wrong with this Giorgio Armani Prive piece.

6. Ruffled Draping – Chloe Sevigny. Chloe Sevigny knows how to push fashion to the edge with another controversial dress. Many opinions have been flying over her choice saying it resembled toilet paper and poor construction or too “over the top”.  I found that Chloe, like Drew, was a another living art piece. The light lavender ruffled draping was quite peaceful and reminded me of a water color painting. Magnificent thought went into the placement of waves on the body and minimal jewelry made the dress a statement piece. The only thing that could have made this dress even better, would have been a smile from Chloe.

7. Artistic Architecture – Kate Hudson. Crisp construction and immaculate white fabric, Kate Hudson’s Marchesa dress was the talk of the town in my book. I can’t remember the last time a dress with so much sleek architecture hit the awards show carpet. Sharp bodice angles and a sleek and slim leg, this gown was definitely  a head turner and well-worn by Kate. It looks like its not the most wearable dress in terms of movement, but it was beautifully styled and structured.

Whats your take on this year’s Golden Globe fashion?

Ten Minutes with Kerri Parker

To paraphrase a popular fairytale, Kerri Parker’s contemporary riff on art noveau is not too sweet, not too edgy, but the perfect mix of both, with a whimsical sense of humor to boot. Her earrings, lariat necklaces, bracelets, and rings mix gems like pink tourmaline, lemon quartz, amethyst, and pearls with loops and whorls of oxidized sterling silver and 14-karat gold. Try the spiral box earrings to add some glitz to a girl’s night out, or try Kerry’s take on the bib necklace to add some whimsy to a sleek tee and skinny jeans combo. Read on to learn more about this uber-talented former designer for H&M who counts Salvador Dali and Tim Burton among her influences.

Oligoville: In five words or less, Kerri Parker is. . .

Kerri: Avante garde & exceedingly wearable.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Kerri: It doesn’t matter if my customers are fashion forward or conservative, own one piece of jewelry or hundreds. Ideally my customers will cherish and wear my jewelry because they have fallen in love.

Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?

Kerri: I spent half of my undergraduate career at Washington University working toward a fashion design degree but ultimately ended up with a BFA in Printmaking & Drawing.  When I moved to Los Angeles, I answered an ad looking for a jewelry designer to work with a factory overseas. With very little jewelry experience under my belt, I convinced the company to hire me. As it turned out I was designing jewelry for companies such as H&M and Forever 21.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your own brand?

Kerri: I quit my job at the jewelry manufacturer because I felt too restricted. I was being asked to make my designs look more like (insert name of famous designer’s) jewelry.  In late 2004 I began teaching myself how to make jewelry while taking a few weekend intense courses in metal-smithing, casting, and stone setting.  I taught myself by trial and error what could and could not work in constructing wearable and durable jewelry.  I launched my brand in early 2005 with a collection of approximately 30 pieces of jewelry.

Oligoville: What are your predictions for fashion in 2010?

Kerri: Many businesses have closed their doors, paving the way for new talented designers to come forward to showcase their work.  This shake-up will challenge new and established designers to create fresh, unique, outstanding collections for the year. Long chains, bib necklaces, chokers, and large bold bangles will also be coming for spring 2010.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Kerri: What: Nature, architecture, the process of working with metal, and the beauty of natural stones.  Who: Hieronymus Bosch, Dali’s Lithographs, Jorge Posada, Medieval manuscript borders. Recently: the Tim Burton Exhibit at the MOMA.

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Kerri: I wake up, make coffee, and read the news online.  Once I’ve pulled myself together, I return phone calls and e-mails, and deal with  my paperwork. In the afternoon I’ll go to my studio to design and make jewelry. Some days I’ll work on my graphic design and web design that is in constant need of updating.  Before sundown I try to do some yoga, go for a run, or surf.  In the evening I’ll come home to cook dinner if I have the energy. Afterwards, I’ll do a little more work at my computer then sit down to attempt to watch a movie. Of course, I usually fall asleep in about ten minutes.

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Kerri: Jeans and cotton tank tops, a few simply draped tops from Japanese designers like Y3, some dresses, my favorites being from Alexander Wang and Sportmax, and my short black leather jacket I can wear over anything. Today (and almost everyday) I’m wearing jeans, a tank top, a hoodie, flip flops, a pair of my studs, and a set of stacking flower rings.  Because of the work I do in my studio, it can become a pretty dirty environment so I can’t wear any clothes I care about.

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Kerri: I’ve been carrying my mom’s vintage, football-shaped, gold Rossi e Rossi clutch non-stop for over a year now.  It’s the perfect size to drop into a larger bag when I need to so I never have to change bags.  Inside is one of my all-time favorite purchases–my green embossed Comme de Garçons wallet.  Aside from that I have my phone, a little mess of papers, a tiny tube of Aquaphor that I use for my lips, some hand lotion, and some micron pens.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Kerri: In my first year of business, I put too much stress on my body trying to get everything done.  After a lot of pain and a trip to the doctor I realized the toll my schedule was taking on me.  Having a successful business is important, but not to the extent that I should sacrifice my well-being. I resolved to make my health a priority and to make time for exercise and sleep.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Kerri: While I’m working more hours than most people I know, I have the freedom to set my own hours. Little things like taking an hour off and going out to breakfast or going to the beach really help keep stress at bay.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Kerri: My collections will be retailing in more boutiques and department stores all over the world.  I’d like to collaborate with other designers/artisans, maybe expand into other accessories such as handbags and belts. And hopefully one day my tiny Santa Monica gallery will be large enough to fit more than five people at once.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Kerri: Ask for advice anywhere you can get it. Do lots of research before you dive into anything that will cost you a lot of time and money. Create a good network of people around you.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Kerri: Oingo Boingo, Susie Suh, Bruce Springsteen, lots of old hip hop and punk rock.

Oligoville: Any last words?

Kerri: To view the collection visit http://www.kerriparker.com. If anyone is in the L.A. area, stop by the gallery/studio at 728 Alley.  Occasionally open to the public but definitely open for appointments.  http://www.728alley.com

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