The Cubed Woman

The 70th edition of the GG has finally come and gone, and we saw our fave stars glam up the red carpet in some truly flattering designs. Many entertainment portals have aired the event and made it accessible to all interested to make their input on fave celeb outfit, hair, accessories etc.

While we are still at it, i.e observing the best dressed, best hairstyle, outstanding color combinations, lets also understand that trend patterns for 2013 are being created from the sightings at the red carpet. Though some of the trends we can see already exist, a few others are pretty new like the full body lace worn by Nicole Richie, the complicated black lace dress worn by Eva Longoria (that dress sure has a lot going on, though cute but in my opinion would have been better if it showed less thigh)

Eva Longoria in a black lace/sheer Emilio Pucci dress. Key features of the dress "wider than"key hole bustline, backless & high leg slit. Not for the faint hearted.

Nicole Richie - Exhibiting vintage glamour in a Naeem Kham embelished dress straight from the runway.

For the hair styles, I notice a come-back of the side swept waves in 2013, It was quite common on the GG red carpet.

From top left: Heidi Klum, Jeessica Alba, Racheal Weiss, Jennifer Lopez & Megan Fox rocked this look.

To achieve this hairstyle: Simply choose an 18 inch and above weave, the longer the length of weave the lower it drops to create the red carpet look you can see above. You can also choose two weave lengths as desired. For Human hair weaves a straight one will require curling for this wavy look, for naturally curled weaves you just need to use the flexible rollers daily.

Decide on a suitable part, or allow your stylist make that decision. After hair has been fixed, use the flat tongs on your natural hair to create a nice permed finishing. The outcome should look just as good.

I love the styling of this white one shoulder dress on Heidi, STUNNING!!!

We look forward to the month of February which hosts the Oscars. Wishing you a blessed week ahead.

Jessica Alba in ombre hair color

Quantity of Clothing Vs Quality of Clothing

This is a highly controversial discussion, but my intention is to also make it very interactive. To achieve this I am creating a poll to put it to test. I'm carrying out a survey on the preferences of individuals in our generation with respect to their thoughts on Quantity of clothing Items vs Quality of Clothing Items.

This has possibly crossed your mind at some point, and for many it is a hard decision to make while for others in their dream they'll probably have an answer. Just in case you have never considered today's poll title, here's food for thought.......-Think about it;

I believe in life we all go through phases and our preferences change with each phase. Many factors such as age, budget, status, interests, values & beliefs e.t.c affect our fashion style/sense and this informs our choices when making wardrobe decisions.

Interestingly, some persons may have both options as preferences depending on the item in view. Here's a piece of advise for anyone in this category, for common use items such as camisoles, socks (for the guys) or the daily black flat shoes or "knockabout" as they are commonly called, it is advisable that quantity is made a key consideration while purchasing these items as they are subject to a lot of wear and tear due to frequent use. However this is not in any way suggesting that quality should be compromised. Balance has to be found in making this decision. The reason quantity is a major factor is to ensure that there is a variety of alternatives among stock of these items as this will reduce constant usage of a particular pair and extend the active life.

The bottom line is everyone has to make this choice at some point, and what you decide will either pay off or guide you in future similar decisions. Good luck with your choices and have a FABULOUS week ahead.

Please take out time to participate in the poll.

Thanks and Stay Expectant!

A baby bump isn't one of the easiest things to style, but over time it has gotten easier with the invention of many styles and trends in its favor.

Loose fit outfits like the boyfriend shirt and maxi hemlines to mention a few are some of the quickest styles that come to mind, however many others can be mixed and matched to suit that lil bump. Fitted tops and gowns are also a must have for any preggers sister out there.

Showing off the bun-in-the-oven is stylish, did I hear you say huh! Sure it is, check out Kourtney Kardashians bumpy look and you'll totally agree with me.

I've been able to extract a few tips which will be helpful in styling all the preggers ladies out there using my personal experience as a guide and also infusing my experience as a stylist.

Dress up in breathable/comfortable fabrics especially during the warm seasons. Your comfort is key, because it affects your emotions and mood. Chiffon tops, leggings, shorts, denims fall under this category.
Stock up on flats, if you must wear heels non-slip wedges are preferred. I personally recommend flats since the weight of your body is on the rise and the shoes guarantee your stability to a large extent.
Accessorize to your taste: who says an expectant mum can't look her best? Be the judge, play with accessories to style up your overall look. Always remember "Less is more".
Always wear makeup: the strain of the bump on your body may cause some expectant mums skin to appear dull. To brighten up your face a little makeup is recommended, also regular touch ups with lip gloss and maybe white powder will help you stay fresh all day. Use a moisturizer to revive your skin.
Don't buy all your maternity clothes at once, it's highly recommended you shop in phases because you never know how big you'll get from the start. This also applicable while shopping nursing bras.
Empire waistlines & clothes with belt ties behind are perfect on a belly bump, buy into this trend and you'll be glad.
Wear minimal frills so there's no collision with your bump thereby increasing its actual size.
Always wear comfortable, effortless hair styles that suit your face shape.

In summary, you can stay stylishly expectant practicing all of these tips & more, you can also share a picture of your preggers style via email to stylemergers@gmail.com.

I'm sharing one of mine with all of you precious readers

Have a splendid week.... Cheers!!!

Ladies, how powerful is your undergarment Undergarments shape up the overall look of an outfit, this implies they should be carefully selected.

The "hour- glass" figure being the ideal body shape can wear many silhouettes and therefore needs little or no reliance on clothing camouflage tricks which are used to create a flattering figure. This "camouflage tricks" can be achieved using many styling tips one of which is wearing the right undergarments.

Here are some key undergarment pieces every girl should own.

1. The supportive bra - gives the correct lift to every downside. Invest in at least 3 quality sets.

2. The Corset - is worn to hold and shape the torso/or upper body frame into a desired shape

3. The girdle - is worn to hold firmly the lower waist, it may or may not extend below the hips. It also shapes the butt.

4. The panties - lingerie designers have designed several types of panties making it easy to decide which to wear bearing in mind the outfit. Visible pant lines (commonly referred to as VPL) can be avoided by wearing seamless or boy short panties on soft fabric. VPLs are no good to the beholders eyes.

5. The full body shaper- while you are at that weight loss plan, you can still appear chic in your fave dress by getting one of these shapers. It slims your silhouette and smoothens all that extra fat zone. Also worthy of note is that a shape wear should not feel restrictive and affect your breathing, if your's feels so try a size larger till you get a comfortable fit.

Above all, make it a duty to feel good in your body type and watch out for more camouflaging styling tips.

Please share your personal undergarment experiences in the comments section.

Hello beautiful people!!!!! Sure you all had a relaxing weekend. I spent most of my sallah break with family, visiting friends, baking, hosting guests, and attending events.... the activity chart seems endless. However, it was a good time off work and I'm looking forward to another holiday soon. Lol

I spent some time doing a wardrobe raid on myself and discovered a skater skirt I've owned for a while. The skater skirt/dress is characterized by a cinched waist, and a pleated bottom. It is actually a trendsetter at the moment and for all trend lovers it's a must have. Another timeless piece back in vogue with a touch of elegance and class.

Please note that if you have a pear body shape, a minimized pleat is more suitable, while the angular body shapes are great in fuller pleats.