The Pinnacle of Covered Girl Couture: Happening Now!

The shift in the past several years is undeniable. Some say it's the lure of handsome payback from the infamously affluent Middle Eastern markets. Others say there was simply no other direction left for fashion to go. Whatever the reason, the change in direction is officially here to stay... for now.

Big wigs like Valentino shifted to demure couture gowns due to all that disposable income up for grabs in conservative global markets (the purchase of the luxury label by Qatari royalty also probably had something to do with it), and several others have made similar changes to their designs. But you know the modesty trend has officially arrived when Karl Lagerfeld, arguably the most influential individual in the fashion world, chose to host his highly anticipated Chanel cruise show in the unexpected locale of Dubai earlier in the month. The event extracted the who's who of fashion out to the Middle East, an elaborate smorsgaboard ranging from A-list Hollywood actresses to Saudi princesses, as well as a healthy range on the modesty scale of locals donning everything from abayas to minis under one roof with zero judgement.  Lagerfeld delivered a collection of covered yet flattering cuts likened to the traditional shalwar kameez of the subcontinent, with his long, flowy tunics and slim pants adorned with much more pomp, print, and bling than the usual classic Chanel designs. 

Who would've guessed this is Chanel?

And as if that weren't enough, Kim Kardashian, reality tv's bombshell notorious for her risque fashion choices as much as for her volatile love life, shocked the world last weekend with her elegant, and for the most part, covered Givenchy gown for her third set of nuptials in Versailles. The dress featured a sky-scraping neckline up to her neck (no decollatege or even a more subtly alluring collarbone in sight!), full sleeves to the wrists, and a floor-length hemline with an unadorned, simple veil. The verdict? Even average Joes on Instagram contended that Kim looked equal parts, if not much, much more beautiful than in her past revealing apparatus. 

Some of the very few public images of their big day. Even Kimye's photo coverage was modest!

 Love her or hate her, her heavy influence in the mainstream fashion and beauty sphere is undeniable

There have been small victories along the journey, paving the way for these big wins for team modesty. Last year, Christian fashion week made history by marketing its controversial wish shrewdly as a dare: "We are looking for designers who want to challenge themselves to create art without the crutch of sexuality. We fully understand that sex sells. But for the everyday woman, sexuality is not the dominant quality she wants to exhibit. She is a force to be reckoned with beyond the visuals of her anatomy. She is fierce and demands attention with her strength, intelligence, and grace. Now, THAT is sexy."

So it's official. Us full-time restrained folks can relax a little bit in our hoarding of maxi's and long tees as if they will disappear from stores tomorrow. Doesn't look like they will be slipping from our grasp anytime soon now that the rest of the world is in our little thing. Hopefully it's a significant matter of time before hemlines start rising and necklines start plunging all across the board once again. Atleast we'll have our closets brimming with full-sleeved goddess dresses and breezily chic palazzo pants to fall back on when this discreet stage in the fashion cycle comes to its inevitable end. 

Nope, not Junaid Jamshed! Those double C's are somewhere on there

Written by Saba Ali of Style by Design - Image Consulting

(Images are not mine. But aren't they great?)

Mirror Imaging: My Recent Venture

Twenty thirteen wrapped up in a blur, and the year brought in some fun assignments that pushed me into newer, more different territory. I don't blog about the majority of my assignments,  namely due to lack of time, but also out of respect for client confidentiality, etc, etc. Still, I thought I'd share a recent client job that was invaluable and taught me the a few lessons on photographic interpretation, setting realistic expectations, and my least favorite aspect of all...pricing for clients.

This particular person sent me a photograph proclaiming deep, married love for an outfit she spotted in a magazine, and asked me to find it for her asap. She loved it so much she wanted it NOW, not necessarily for an event, but from pure unadulterated adoration and the unwillingness to be distanced from such coveted resplendence any longer. Can't say I blame her - when I get obsessed over a picture or the idea of something, my mind can hardly rest until I've figured out a plan to get the thing in my hands (in this case, I was "the plan").   After I broke it to her that it was possible, but would require a bit of time and thought to set up a reasonable budget then actually hunt, she very sweetly obliged. Hence, I was launched into a search for some unique, individual pieces broken down from the original photograph she sent over:

Skirt: Tommy Hilfiger

Sweater: Michael Kors

Vest: Ohne Titel

Bag: Chanel

The ensemble was comprised of four key parts: skirt, sweater, vest, and boots.  Based on these elements, the client and I came up with a budget of $150, with a bit of wiggle room just in case. Despite the cushion, I was determined to find her the 'fit within budget. If anything was left over I told her we could do shoes and/or accessories as an added bonus. So...

TOTAL BUDGET: $150

Item 1: Pleated Gray Maxi Skirt

Brand Originally Pictured: Tommy Hilfiger

Brand Purchased: Garnet Hill

Challenge Level: MEDIUM

I asked the client if she was absolutely sold on the gunmetal color (which I too loved)  - the answer was yes. The challenge came in due to season, as the pleated maxi skirt is usually a spring/summer item, and here we were in November trying to pull this look together. The movement and texture from the picture implied a wooly material, and the pleated maxi usually comes in more of a breezy chiffon fabric. Still, I hunted high and low...mostly online. The skirts that came closest in texture were all designer pieces, with price tags triple to quadruple the amount of our TOTAL budget. We got so close as to find a consignment version of the Tommy Hilfiger original, but the size was off.  So I found the next best thing, which came in chiffon at garnethill.com. It wasn't exactly the same, so we deliberated for a few days, but then I came across a 20% percent off coupon with free shipping and took it as a sort of omen to bite the bullet.   Looks like a midi in this pic, but is definitely a maxi:
http://www.garnethill.com/pleated-maxi-skirt/306940

Item 2: Hip Length Black Sweater

Brand in Picture: Michael Kors

Brand Purchased: HM

Challenge Level: LOW

This was the item I was least worried about. The sweater needed to be slim fit, hip length, and of decent quality. A quick run to my local mall proved fruitful, but sizing was tricky because this client didn't come with me (I HATE shopping....said no woman ever? WRONG. This client did)...so I ended up making two runs to exchange. What is up with sizes these days? If someone of my build can fit into smalls and extra smalls, how are the tiny petite women of the world not swimming in all this oversized nonsense? Boxier, menswear-inspired silhouettes recently seem to have shifted the tides of sizing...but I'm not complaining. It's great for MY self esteem, but when I can't figure out what size to put my small-boned client in...it can be sketchy. I ended up getting a small, which ended up being too big. Doh. Back to the store. Story of my life. :)

Item 3:  Fur-trimmed Black Vest

Brand in Picture: Ohne Titel

Brand(s) Purchased: Target (vest) and Amazon.com (stole)

Challenge Level: HIGH

Like most women of my generation, my client is pretty particular about what she will and won't do. And she won't normally don fur. Yet this picture evoked a pretty furry fantasy in both our heads that we'd find the perfect subtle, understated piece which would blend into the background of the aforementioned sweater. I found plenty of items in the higher-end range which were once again out of budget, so the challenge lay in finding a mid-to-lower priced item that still retained the luxe feel the photo induced. Since cropped black vests come mostly in leather, there were very few non-leather items on the market that worked and didn't require shipment from China. As a last resort, I ended up finding a longer black vest and peppering it with a black fur stole. Not exactly the same, but close.

Vest: http://www.target.com/p/mossimo-reg-women-s-asymmetrical-zip-scuba-vest-black/-/A-14747941#prodSlot=medium_1_3&term=black+vest

Stole: http://www.amazon.com/Trendy-Winter-Scarf-Collar-Shawl/dp/B00EAGTROU/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1389241598&sr=8-18&keywords=black+fur+stole

Item 4: Some Sort of Dark Chunky Boot

Brand in Picture: Unknown

Challenge Level: Low

I had told the client this would be the lowest priority item on our list, meaning if after purchasing all our other items we had enough left, we'd go for the boots. In the end we didn't, but I had still whittled it down to a basic combat boot in my head (can anyone find me a retailer that DOESN'T carry combat boots right now? I didn't think so. They are everywhere, on everyone from 3rd-grade girls to 40+ year old women). One quick trip to Target would have sufficed, but I didn't end up needing to go.

                                         

Bag and Accessories - out of budget (womp womp)

Brand in Picture: Chanel (ya, not happening)

In the end -  given budget, seasonal constraints, and the time crunch - we came pretty darn close. As close as possible in my book, without breaking the bank. You be the judge (I should've ran the fan over my mannequin to get the same "blowing-in-the-breeze" effect for my photograph...live and learn!):

                         

Written by Saba Ali of Style By Design (SBD) - Image Consulting

Please gear any questions or comments towards my email - stylebydesign.sbd@gmail.com....merci beaucoup for reading! And Happy New Year!

A Commercial Stint

No two of my assignments are ever alike. Even in the case of closet overhauls, one has never been similar to another...simply because people have vastly different tastes, expectations, goals, and (most importantly) abilities to trust and open up when they reach out to me. Makes for a starkly different experience each time.

So when I got asked to work on set for a commercial shot by a local retailer, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.  The mystery factor was high before I went on this particular job, as I had been told over the phone simply that there would be several different people to "style" (this word can have a wide range of definition!)  Hence, I had little idea what I would be in for when I arrived.

Turned out, there was a range of lovely ladies I worked with. And by range I mean...a vastly diverse group, not just in ethnicity, but in every sense of the word one can fathom.

By the time I packed up and drove home, I had styled twelve different people: from wide-eyed, eight-year-old little girls to seasoned and loving grandmothers and aunts. Body types, skin tones, and ethnicities were as broad in spectrum as age. The commercial being shot was meant to showcase the modest woman in all different occasions of life, from lounging by the pool, to a day at the park...to a fancy evening shindig. Some women were walking examples of restrained apparel in real life. Others were professional models being introduced and bedecked according to the concept for the first time ever that day. But regardless of age or personal style, each and every woman came to me excited, curious and hopeful that I'd make them look picture-perfect for their time on camera. They placed themselves wholeheartedly in my care - a weighty trust. Trust is essentially everything in this game.

Luckily, the client was flexible and allowed me to use my own judgement on what looks and styles would look right on whom and how to coordinate the ensembles themselves. The best results are produced when I'm given a general vision and handed the reigns, versus being constricted or micromanaged. Trust (there's that word again) and openness to new ideas are essential elements in this work. 

What did I learn? A whole lot of thought and effort goes into a 30 second commercial! So many of the details everyone fretted over got chopped in the editing room, but the end product is well-done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPRa7X5yDTg

Here are some shots of my finished work on set:

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