Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I am preparing to attend a wedding this summer and I notice that with all the Royal wedding coverage for Prince William and Kate Middleton that the women are expected to wear a hat. Now its making me wonder if I should wear a hat to this wedding. And before you ask, no its not a British wedding but I like the tradition. So do you think it would be okay to wear a hat to the wedding, and if so, what kind?

Signed,

A Hat for a Happy Occasion

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Dear A.H.F.A.H.O.,

British women have worn hats - and fascinators! - to weddings and formal events for centuries. Something as formal, regal and public as a royal wedding requires all the pomp and circumstance traditionally associated with the affair, which means guests would want to be seen - and photographed - in the finest plumes and brims. As it was mandated in the invitation for the royal wedding of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the female guests were required to wear a hat.

But if a hat is what you want to wear, then by all means, wear a hat! Formal occasions are the perfect time for your own pomp and circumstance. In fact, many women wear hats regularly for church, horse races, funerals, Easter, Mother's Day and the like, so a wedding would fall into that group perfectly.

As far as choosing the hat goes, that's purely personal. However, there are a few"commandments" to keep in mind while you're searching for the perfect topper, especially for a wedding or formal event:

The Eight Commandments of Hat Wearing

I. Thou shalt not wear a hat wider than the shoulders.

II. Thou shalt not wear a hat a shade darker than the shoes.

III. Thou shalt only wear hats with the colors of white, cream and pastels for Easter.

IV. Thou shalt not wear a hat with crumpled, wrinkled or droopy feathers or flowers.

V. Thou shalt always look tasteful and tidy when wearing "the hat."

VI. Thou shalt remember your bone structure. If a hat doesn't fit the face, don't buy it.

VII. Thou shalt not allow a hat to compete with accessories and jewelry.

VIII. Thou shalt always let the hat be the focal point of the outfit.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Hitting The “High Seas” with Stripes

Stripes have been a closet staple for the nautical, preppy and summer set as far back as the 1920's. Decades later, the "nautical" look still has a place in our summer wardrobes, possibly because of celebrities who tend to wear it so well!

Women of the Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O era, with their single strand of pearls (with or without the accompanying earrings), knew how to embody the look whether they were seaside or set to stroll down the street.

The look hasn't changed much since its debut but that's the timeless appeal that draws so many. As we see here, Rachel Bilson is no stranger to stripes. She can be seen sporting her love of striped tee's with a myriad of looks!

Relaxed Seaside top, Forever 21

Striped Button Up Top, Forever 21

But stripes just aren't reserved for shirts. Shenae Grimes, below, sports a great striped dress.

striped dress, Forever21

Striped shorts are also a great way to spice up what could be a rather bland outfit. Nicky Hilton, below, demonstrates how to wear them with little effort.

Clean Front Stripe Shorts, Gap

Striped accessories are another way to jazz up an outfit. Victoria Beckham, below, sporting a great striped bag.

Coffee and Cream Bag, Francesca's Collections

Now is the time to take your love for stripes and either play with the nautical correlation or find a fun and fashion-forward way to make them your own. Either way, be prepared to set sail with a trend that has a place in your wardrobe. Sometimes its just about reading between the lines.

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Savage Style

MAN·RE·PELL·ER¹  [MAHN-REE-PELLER]

–noun

outfitting oneself in a sartorially offensive way that will result in repelling members of the opposite sex. This includes but is not limited to harem pants, boyfriend jeans, overalls (see:human repelling), shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs.

Savage Style is dedicated to celebrating street fashion worthy of being categorized as "savage" and to do this its important to highlight pedestrians despite their geographic location. (In theory, "local fashion" is relative to where in the world you're reading the post.)

Today's featured savage styler is the self-proclaimed man repeller fashion blogger herself, Leandra Medine.

Medine got the idea for her site while out shopping with a girlfriend. They both noticed how "man repellent" some of the latest fashions were and thus sprang forth the brain child that has garnered her recognition by major fashion publications and fashion designers.

The native to New York's Upper East Side highlights trends on others as well as the trends she herself wears - and sparks.

Jacket: Veda

Jeans: Seven for All Mankind

Socks: Polo

Sandals: Miu Miu

Sweater: H&M

Tank Top: Club Monaco

Belt: Hermes

Skirt: American Apparel

Shoes: Valentino

Dress: Jay Godfrey

Yellow sweater: Dallin Chase

Trench vest: Fulton

Shoes: Alexander Wang

These are just a small sample of the fantastic outfits and trend spotting done by Medine, all done with hilarious commentary that is self-deprecating in the way that only those who love fashion know how to do. Her style and passion for all things fabulous may be a man repellent to suitors, but for all others there's a natural gravitational pull towards her and her site for the latest sartorial update from her poignant perspective. But seeing is believing, so check out the site and let Medine school you on a lesson that you should have learned in fashion 101: how to dress for yourself and to hell with the hecklers.

Blazer: Zimmermann

Blouse: Amanda Uprichard

Shorts: Forever 21

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!

Expired Beauty

Makeup has many positive attributes, but not many are cognizant of its few pitfalls, expiration dates being one of the biggest. Most products are designed to last anywhere from 12-18 months at best, but that doesn't mean they can't become contaminated before then. Germ-prone areas such as your eyes, mouth and fingers are in constant contact with your makeup or its applicators, making them breeding grounds for bacteria that can cause more serious dermatological issues. As a general makeup rule of thumb, you should dispose of any makeup, cleansers or moisturizers that have changed color, consistency or develop a bad odor.

Here are the most common makeup items in your bag that you may want to think about replacing:

Mascara

Mascara should be tossed after three months without fail. The tube is a breeding ground for bacteria. We all have "microbial eyelash mites" and if we continue to use the same mascara on them for a long period of time, they can clog up and cause an infection.

Eyeshadow

The general rule with eye shadow and liners is that if it is liquid, it ought to be replaced a maximum of six months following purchase. For liner pencils and powder eye shadows, these really should be replaced inside a year.

Eyeliner

Pencils can last several years unless you wet the tip with saliva or water. You can nearly triple the lifespan of your pencils by sharpening them every so often to keep them sanitized. The warmth of the sharpening friction can also keep the pigment softer for a longer period of time. However, if the lip or eye pencil starts to crumble or is severely dry that it can no longer glide on your skin properly, it’s time for a new one.

Foundation

Cream or liquid concealer and foundations can last up to a year if you use a sponge to apply it. Otherwise, both foundation and concealers should be thrown out six months after purchase. If you notice a funny smell or if the concealer or foundation begins to separate - part of the concealer will look like water and the other will be thick and dry - you really should throw it out immediately. Shake up the bottles every so often so the product doesn't start to separate early. You can tissue off the top layer of these powders every so often to keep the colors fresh and bacteria-free. Loose powders should be thrown away a year after purchase. If your stick concealer or foundation becomes dry and starts to break apart when you use it, it’s a sign that bacteria is forming. If the texture and pigment begin to change and you find it harder to use the product, toss it.

Blush

Powder blush should be discarded a year after purchase. If you notice excessive clumping or flaking of the blush, then you really should throw it out and replace it.

Lipstick

Lipstick and Lipgloss typically last 6 to 8 months, but wiping off the bullet with a tissue and 70% alcohol every so often to sanitize can lengthen the lifespan by up to 14 months. If you see beads of formula separating on the lipstick or the product becomes harder and drier, it’s time for a new one. With lipgloss, the constant swiveling and swishing in and out of the container is another breeding ground for collecting bacteria. If the gloss changes in its taste and smell, toss it. If the gloss has a doe-foot applicator, it’s best to throw it out when it hits 6 months.

Facial cleansers and moisturizers

Cleansers and moisturizers often contain fatty acids, which can turn rancid quickly. Toss after six months.

Your overall health and skin health depends on your makeup and routinely sorting though it and discarding expired products. The next time you go to a store to acquire your makeup make sure to look for the expiration date on the box or bottle of the product. It may also be a good practice to put plainly visible expiration date labels on your makeup products to know when to throw them out. Also, be sure to store your cosmetics in a cool, dry place outside of the bathroom to extend their shelf life.

So if you have makeup sitting around that you’ve had for a while, go ahead and get rid of it and replace it. Your skin will thank you and it’s always great to try new products!

Brad Boultinghouse’s Fashion Show

On April 21, 2011 Brad Boultinghouse gave a fashion show at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Patio. The scenery was perfect for what was going to be a night full of fun and fabulous fashion. Brad, a USC student, started designing in 2007 and never looked back. This collection was inspired by the deteriorative nature of color, which is why it went from white to pink, to grey, to finally black. Black was the final symbolization of the strongest type of person. He really played with textures and little details, which made every piece eye-catching and mesmerizing.

What is so great about each look was that they were very hard looks from far away, but then you see the elements of femininity to each piece which makes it girly and wearable.

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Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I was asked by a very dear friend to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. The problem is that she already had a dress in mind that's just not flattering on me or many of the other bridesmaids. I know the rule of thumb used to be that the bride picked out hideous dresses so that she looked better than everyone else on her wedding day, but does that rule still apply? How can I tactfully ask my friend to think about another dress option?

Signed,

Bridesmaids Dress from Hell

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Dear B.D.F.H.,

When it comes to the wild world of weddings, the best offense is a good defense. Meaning, the best way not to offend your friend is by mounting a defense against the chosen dress. If there are enough bridesmaids that feel similarly you should go out as a group in search of a few dress options to replace your current bridesmaid blunder. Definitely stick with the color, as well as cut of the dress if you can, so that it won't throw off any consistency that your friend thought of for the wedding photos. But as far as fabric materials, embellishments and styles are concerned, its your call.

But if you've never been in a wedding, talked to anyone who's ever been in a wedding or seen the show Bridezillas then here's a tip: your friend is no longer your friend but a bride-to-be. And even if your dress idea or ideas are better than hers there is a strong chance that the bride-to-be may loose all sense of rationale and turn into a bride-to-be-pissed-off. So just be prepared for the worse, which would result in you wearing the dress she chose.

But that may be the price you pay for being a bridesmaid. As many can attest, being in a wedding can be a huge commitment and sometimes that commitment means taking one for the team. Keep in mind that this is the wedding your friend envisioned, and if it means wearing a not so flattering dress, then again, thats the price you pay for your friend's happiness on her day. Besides, after a few cocktails and spins on the dance floor you'll forget all about the dress and just focus on the happy occasion.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Summer 101: Which bathing suit is suited for my body type?

It’s that time of year again…bathing suit season! For those of you dreading it because you may not feel as confident as the girl next to you, fear not! Just because your body types are different doesn't mean you can’t look as fabulous as her. All you have to do is find the right bathing suit to fit your body type and you’ll be hotter than the sun this season!

The “Hour Glass”

This body shape means that your top half is proportionate to your bottom half with a defined waist in the middle. The bathing suits that look the best on this body type are halters and a string bottom. Also, be sure to match the top to the bottom. Mixing prints or patterns might make your top or bottom half look bigger than the other, which is a look you want to avoid.

Kim Kardashian showing off the “Hour Glass” body shape.

Liya Push-up Halter top and low-rise bottoms, Victoria’s Secret

The “Straight”

For the “straight” figures, you have what we like to call a sporty shape. The best thing to do for your body bathing suit-wise is to add girlie details to your bikinis. Look for monokinis and tankinis as they will add curves to your figure. Also, patterns are going to be your best friend because they create a focus on all the right features.

Demi Moore is a great example of the "straight" body type

Very Sexy Gold Trim Monokini, Victoria’s Secret

The “Triangle”

The “Triangle” body shape means that you are slightly heavier on bottom than on top. When trying on bathing suits, colors and patterns will do you well on top. Bandeau tops will look amazing on you because they draw more attention up top and also, you can have padded tops to help equalize your body.

Rihanna's body type is a great example for the "triangle" shape

Beach Sexy Cheeky Bottom and Balconet Top, Victoria’s Secret

The “Inverted Triangle”

The “Inverted Triangle” body shape is the exact opposite of the “Triangle”. Here, your top is bigger than your bottom. The things you should look for when buying a bathing suit is a halter with thicker straps and possibly underwire to keep you in place. What’s great is you have the perfect body to wear itty-bitty string bikini bottoms to show off your itty-bitty booty.

Audrina Patridge shows off her bikini and "inverted triangle" body type

Very Sexy VS Stringkini Denim-look Bottom and Top, Victoria’s Secret

Hopefully, these tips will help you not only find the perfect bathing suit for your type of body but the confidence to wear it. Don’t be afraid to flaunt what you have!

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