“Steel Couture is what happens when rigid metals are manipulated to create soft and feminine shapes.”

Every girl loves jewelry—especially draping gold necklaces, dangling mixed-media earrings, and chain belts. Steel Couture brings together unique design and a fresh perspective on the traditional.

For over ten years jewelry designer Lisa Fortin has been designing jewelry for the crème de la crème of New York City. From costume designing to knitting, Lisa is constantly exploring different forms of design. Her pieces have been featured in Daily Candy, Lucky, and Nylon. Her and her husband recently expanded the Steel Couture brand in Brooklyn, New York to include belts, watches, and an entire men’s collection.

We adore The Lariat necklace—a braided mix of leather, metal, rubber, lace, gauze, silk and chain. It totally screams sexy cowgirl … yee haw!

Terry Graziano makes “beautiful multifunctional hats for women using eco-friendly mill-end surplus fabrics.” A 15-year veteran hat designer, Graziano personally handcrafts each hat with individualized care and attention in her New York City studio. Each hat is purposefully designed to be worn in many different ways allowing its wearer to custom-create her hat to fit her mood and outfit. Eclectic and eco-savvy, Terry uses only surplus fabrics. Every hat is silk-lined for comfort and adjustable for big heads to small heads. “For me, it’s all about flexibility. A shirt, a skirt, a pair of pants: these can be worn many ways— why should hats be any different?” They shouldn’t! Thank you for artistically and eco-friendlily teaching us that, Ms. Graziano!

{Images Courtesy of the New York Times.}

Not only has our new President brought youth, hope, and organically farmed produce to the White House, he’s also brought a sense of style that few—if any—other politicians possess. President Obama (along with the buff and beautiful Michelle) has a casual elegance in everything he wears. From sleek, power-tie accessorized suits at the office to shades and board shorts at the beach, Mr. Obama knows how to present himself. Before his days of political power, President Barack Obama—or Barry as he was called—was a self-aware, image conscious freshman at Southern California’s Occidental College.

Lisa Jack, a classmate of Barry’s and a student of photography, was tipped off that handsome freshman Barry would be an ideal subject to shoot. Barry showed up with a bomber jacket, flared jeans, a pack of ciggs, and a Panama hat. He clearly had put careful, purposeful thought into what he chose to wear and how he wanted to be portrayed. At the tender age of eighteen, Barry knew that “clothes function like identity flashcards.” These photos, first featured in Time magazine are currently on display at the M+B Gallery in Los Angeles.

While I am all for rolling out of bed, throwing on what’s comfortable and not stressing over what to wear, this (apparently) won’t make me the next Commander in Chief.  Image is everything and first impressions do last. Though most professionals won’t acknowledge putting much importance on fashion, looking good matters. Putting deliberate thought into how you present yourself goes a long way. While I’m not advocating transforming into a label-slavin’ Gucci Prada Mama, I am advocating putting careful consideration into how you present yourself to the world by starting with your style. Being naturally good looking, charming, and stylish (like young Barry) doesn’t hurt much either.

Next time you consider heading out in shabby sweats and a faded tee, take a moment and think about the journey of young, self-aware Barry and ask yourself, “is this really how I want to present myself to the world?” I know I will.

We spend so much time, money, and energy dressing up our tops, bottoms, and middles—why not our feet? According to fashion designer Laurie Mallet feet—specifically socks—are the most underserved niche in the fashion world. This gross neglect Mallet to create Ozone Socks, intricately and beautifully designed socks. From stripes and dots to flowers and skulls, Ozone socks has tons of unique, fashion-forward designs for our feet.

Her passion for socks was summed up best in a recent Men’s Vogue article, “When Mallet talks about her dreams for socks, people often ask her what all the fuss is about. Most of the time no one can see your socks anyway. ‘Fashion is something you do for yourself,’ says Mallet. ‘Of course, when other people get a glimpse, that is exciting. But I prefer the idea that socks are your secret weapon.’”

And we all could use a secret weapon

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Dear Oligo Editor,

I just moved from a city with cold, windy summers to a city with beastly, hot summers. I’m used to always carrying a coat no matter the season, I have no idea what to wear in my new sweltering city.  Please Help!—Hot in the South

Dear H in the S,

I feel your pain. As a transplant from San Francisco to Houston, I know exactly what you are going through. My first piece of advice is to hydrate and seek refuge in air-conditioning whenever possible. Clearly, it isn’t possible to not leave the house for three months, so here’s what I wear to stay cool in the summer:

1. Natural Fibers

I went on a shopping spree at American Apparel right before the heat hit. I got some flowy cotton skirts, shirt dresses, and airy tees.  Cotton and linen are your best bets during the balmy summer months.

2. Light Colors

I am a black-a-holic. I love the look of black and my wardrobe consists of countless pairs of leggings, tees, and dresses. I have a very hard time retiring my dark pieces during the summer. However, it’s a fact that whites, khakis, and lighter shades keep you much, much cooler than blacks, browns, and blues.

3. Dresses, Dresses, and More Dresses

Nothing keeps me cooler than a flowy summer dress. Stick to natural fibers and opt for short or long and loose summer sun dresses. Plus there are an endless number of stylish mini-dresses that keep you cool and fashionable.

4. Say NO to Layers

I always wear a tank under shirts, dresses, and just about anything. I’ve had to break up with my undershirt habit during the hot Houston summer as this additional layer brings additional beads of sweat to my brow.

5. Shorts Are In

There is nothing sexier than short shorts and an oversized shirt. I love a pair of denim cut-offs (a timeless DIY wardrobe must!) paired with a cute plaid work shirt. Dressier shorts paired with a tank top are perf for a night on the town.

While it’s fabulous to be the most stylish chick at the party, there’s nothing cute about being a sweat monster. Think comfort and cool when dressing for the summer heat.

{Image courtesy of www.buydefinition.com.}

Nothing makes me feel more put together and girly than a brand new beautiful blouse. This ravishing ruffled design by Nuj Novakhett is perfect for work, drinks, and even dancing.

It’s whimsical and romantic. It’s elegant and practical. It’s simply and completely fabulous.

I personally am a fan of it as it’s perfect for a well-endowed on-toppers like myself. At $279, this blouse is an investment worth making.

Greek goddess Elle Sakellis started Otrera five years ago after a trip to Mykonos. Drawing inspiration from her Grecian heritage, Elle named her company after the goddess Otrera, the mysterious Greek warrior known for her beauty and strength.

After continued recognition and success for her jewelry line, she started making scarves after being memorized by a display of glass Evil Eye products in a store in Mykonos. The Evil Eye is an intangible curse that is passed by jealousy, hatred, and negative energy. Otrera captures the spirit of the Evil Eye in gorgeous hand-sewn silk-chiffon scarves. Made in every color of the rainbow, Otrera’s Evil Eye scarves retail for $198. What better way to keep yourself protected from the evils of the world than with a beautiful scarf adorning your neck?

Photos courtesy of Otera.com

{Photo Courtesy of www.jacindathomas.blogspot.com}

Urban and hip-hop inspired style is influenced by life in the city. As with many other niches in the fashion industry, urban flavor is influenced heavily by the music industry—specifically hip-hop music. Urban chicks love to get dressed up for a night on the town and dressed-down for a day in the city. They are not scared of making a statement. They love glamour, bling, and everything that goes along with it. When it comes to formal events, urban ladies love fitted, sexy, and bold dresses paired with ultra-high stiletto heels. They favor neutral hues and flashy accessories. Urban style has roots in other cultures including Africa, Jamaica, the Caribbean, and Latin America. From Hammer Pants to the House of Dereon, urban style has (and continues to) evolved a lot over time.

{Photo Courtesy of www.pursepage.com}

Get the Look: Chunky Gold Jewelry, Hoodies, Skinny Jeans, Knee-high High-heeled Boots, Beanies, Faux-fur-lined Coats, Fitted T-shirts, Designer Tennis Shoes,

Celeb Inspiration: Kim Kardashian, Tyra Banks, Kimora Lee-Simmons, Beyonce, Rihanna, Vanessa and Angela Simmons

Where to Shop: Urban Outfitters, Baby Phat, Sean John, Adidas, Puma, Lacoste, Ecko, Pastry, Bebe, Dereon, French Connection

As always, no matter what your style is, in the words of Mr. Doonan himself, “SAY NO TO HO! … and yes to ECCENTRIC GLAMOUR.”

{Photo Courtesy of www.mystyle.com}

I adore jewelry but I am so sick of mass-produced chain-store-purchased gems. I recently bought a necklace from an unmentionable store (let’s just say the name rhymes with Shmerever Wenty Wun) and wore it out last Friday night. THREE girls at the bar were wearing the same necklace! I immediately made a pledge to buy less “junk jewelry” and instead search for unique, beautiful pieces that are made with care.

Tam Tran is a perfect example of a talented, passionate, and inspired designer. (Whose pieces would not be found on almost every girl at the party!) Trained as a goldsmith, she uses precious metals and stones for each handmade piece. Her motivation comes from ancient civilizations and cultures. Her skill comes from her apparel and textile design background.

Each piece is distinctive and simply beautiful. They remind me of something you would find hidden in palaces in Northern India or tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. Unlike the gems of royalty, Tran’s designs are perfect for everyday wear. Some of my favorites are her un-cut gold and diamond rings, her hand-beaten bangles, and colorful stacked necklaces.

Tran’s ethnically-inspired pieces have been featured in major Hollywood productions such as Rachel’s Getting Married (love that movie!), Music and Lyrics (another adorable flick), and Motherhood with Uma Thurman and Minnie Driver. Found in boutiques across California and New York Tam Tran designs will set you apart.

Photos courtesy of Tam Tran.

A classic fashionista knows how to pull off a look that is modern, American, and timeless. These fashion femmes know that trends come and go, but an essential, edited look is here to stay. They choose solid colors, bold accessories, and classic cuts. From the days of Audrey Hepburn longing outside the doors of Tiffany’s to Michelle Obama bouncing out of burger joints in our nation’s capital, a put-together look can never go wrong. When shopping, classic chicks opt for quality over quantity. Gals with classic style often have a signature look that they repeat time and time again, check out Audrey’s timeless black look that never went out of style:

Get the Look: Tailored Jeans, Trench Coats, Classic Suit, Knee-high Boots, Black Pumps, Pea Coats, White Work Shirt, Pencil Skirts, Little Black Dress, Floral Summer Dresses, Black, Tailored Well-Fitting Clothes

Celeb Inspiration: Audrey Hepburn, Katie Holmes, Michelle Obama, Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon, Gwenyth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson

Where to Shop: J Crew, Gap, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Tory Birch, Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, 

As always, no matter what your style is, in the words of Mr. Doonan himself, “SAY NO TO HO! … and yes to ECCENTRIC GLAMOUR.”