And the award goes to. . .oh, that moment of anticipation.  We’ll admit it.  We’re total suckers for award shows.  The red carpet, the flashbulbs, the FASHION—what’s not to adore? 

Witnessing all that pomp and pageantry can also make you feel pretty far removed from that glamorous world. Yeah, with an unlimited budget, an army of personal trainers, our own hair and make-up artists, and our pick of custom couture, we could all look pretty fabulous.  So what do you do if you don’t happen to have all those resources at your disposal? 

We’ve mentioned it a few thousand times before, but we believe style is a right, not a privilege.  It doesn’t belong only to famous starlets or someone already labeled as ‘the sexiest man alive.’ They can be style inspirations, but you deserve to project the same confidence.  Here’s a few things we’d like you to take from the regulars on the best dressed lists, besides an idea of how sparkly you could look in several million dollars worth of borrowed diamonds.  

• Taking chances can reap big rewards.  If you want to redefine the way people perceive you, the fastest way to jumpstart that process is to change your look. 
• Know your body, and work with the gifts you have.  Those dresses are crafted to define a waist, lengthen a leg line, flatter or create curves. Structure and seaming can turn the focus exactly where you want it to be. 
• Don’t forget the accessories.  They’re a great place to add interest (color, sparkle, youthfulness) to your look. 
• It’s hard to ignore a man in a well-tailored suit. Fellas, even if you work in a casual environment, you should always have a proper suit in your wardrobe. When the occasion calls for it, by all means wear one.
• Bold color = big impact.  Keep lines clean and simple to keep the overall look from being too busy.
• If a trend isn’t relevant to your lifestyle or your body, feel free to ignore it.  You don’t have to be cutting edge to look spectacular.  The red carpet is always rife with folks oozing old Hollywood glamour.  They’re revisiting classic, classy silhouettes that have stuck around for good reason. 
• Smile (duh). It’s really quite effective. 

The New York Times did an interesting piece about Hollywood’s power stylists and the impact they can wield.  It talks about actors as a brand, and how crafting a performer’s image can alter the trajectory of their career.  Even if you don’t live your life in the spotlight, your image has the power to influence your opportunities.  Take a chance, make a change, and put your best self out there. Then go enjoy your sparkling, pleasantly paparazzi-free life.

Boobs, hoots, knockers, ta-ta’s. . .We could start listing all the euphemisms for breasts and not finish until next Tuesday,  but we’ll spare you.  However you refer to ‘the girls,’ they factor into what you wear and how it looks, and they have since puberty.  Why then do we treat them with such disregard, cramming them into ill-fitting bras with disintegrated elastic, or leaving the evil forces of gravity to drag them slowly towards our toes? Ladies, we’re here to tell you they deserve better! (And gentlemen, you can thank us later when your friends or loved ones take our advice). 

Snowflakes
You might have heard us mention the snowflake analogy before when it comes to bodies; No two are exactly alike, and the same goes for breasts (as a pair and individually).  We won’t delve too far into the anthropological and sociological impact breasts have, but we will tell you how you treat them makes an enormous effect on the way your clothes fit and your overall appearance. Even though yours are entirely unique,  there are enough quality lingerie lines now that we’re confident you can find a bra that offers them the specific respect they deserve.

Fit
Oprah, every fashion magazine, QVC, makeover shows—they’ve all tackled the ill-fitting bra epidemic plaguing the nation.  Theoretically, we all know better, but we’re still making the same mistakes.  So let’s go over the basics one more time.  The problem we see most often (fine, we’ll admit it, it’s the mistake we were making, too) is a bra band that is too loose.  The band, that handy stripe of fabric that goes beneath the bust and around the back is supposed to provide 90% of the support.  90%.  Let that sink in: NIIIINNNEEEETTTTYYY.  So if your shoulder straps are leaving marks or your band is pulled up between your shoulder blades and making steady progress towards your neck, your band is too big.  It should be tight.  You might hate us the first day you wear a new one that fits you properly, but we’re telling you, it makes all the difference in the support provided. If you’re concerned about “back fat,” we have a fix for that, too.  A wider, more fitted band will hit lower on the back and actually hold skin and subcutanteous layers beneath it where they belong.  If you can slide more than two fingers beneath the band, it is too big. 

If your cup runneth over
The whole idea of cup size is where many of us are lead astray.  Everyone from men’s magazines to hip hop tunes sing the praises of one letter or another.  The truth is, cup size changes relative to band size.  You can look at a 32 D and it will appear roughly the same size as a 34 B.  It isn’t identical, but our points is that all B (or A, or C, or D, or E…we could go on) cups are not alike.  Very frequently, what women need is a smaller band size and a bigger cup size to get the proper fit.  If the part that connects the cups doesn’t lay FLAT against your skin and the underwire doesn’t go beneath all the breast tissue, the cup is too small.  Heaven forbid you are spilling over the top with the dreaded “double boob,” the muffin-top of lingerie.  It’s not cute, and it means you are wearing the wrong size bra.  If you have too much space at the top of the cup, try one with what is called a cookie, a little semicircle insert at the bottom of the cup designed to lift the breast tissue.  Cookies are a critical component of push up bras, can help even out assymetrical breasts, and are a wonderful asset for those bustlines that have become extra succeptible to the laws of gravity.  If you feel shortchanged in the bust department, a little strategic padding can help add curves in all the right places. 

It’s time
Bras should be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on how nicely you care for them (and we’ll get to that).  If you gain or lose more than 10-15 pounds, you likely need new bras. Breasts contain a high percentage of fatty tissue, so changes in weight show up there first. If you’ve had a baby and not updated your lingerie drawer, please give yourself that gift.  Basically, if you haven’t been fitted in the last year, get thee to the pros at your local lingerie boutique or department store. Those ladies are magic with a tape measure, and their services are free of charge. Once you have your size, try, try try options from a multiple vendors.  Just like different clothing lines, different designers have variations in fit.  When you try them on, do the ‘swoop and scoop’ technique.  Lean forward, then lift your breast tissue up and into the cup.  Adjust the straps and check the fit from all angles.  Once you have options you like, go ahead a get a few! Be sure you have a couple smooth cup options that don’t show under fitted tees.  A basic lingerie wardrobe contains that “t-shirt bra,” a racerback bra, a strapless bra, a demi-cup bra to wear beneath lower cut necklines, and a convertible clear strap bra that can be adjusted for a multitude of garments.  You’ll need some that are flesh toned or nude, and a couple in black.  (White bras show under white shirts—you are much better off with something in the ballpark of your skintone). From there you can add in fun colors, lacy options-- things that make you feel sexy.  

Make ‘em last
Now that you’ve made the investment in a proper batch of brassieres, give them the longest lifespan possible.  Don’t wear the same bra two days in a row.  Alternating your options gives time for the elastic to snap back.  Buy bras that fit on the loosest or middle hook so that you can tighten them as the elastic stretches over time.  Hand wash them in cool water with lingerie detergent, or at the very least on the delicate cycle (bras should have their straps hooked and be safely inside a mesh lingerie bag).  Heat breaks down elastic, so please please keep them out of the dryer.  You already knew that though, right?    

Hoist your hoots/Just say no to the ‘bummy’ 
It may seem like a lot of effort, but taking the time to get yourself a good batch of bras makes a huge difference in the way your clothes look.  Where once you had breasts smooshed together (the uniboob) or dragging toward the tummy (now more of a boob/tummy combo, or ‘bummy’), now you can have lifed, separate breasts and lots more real estate at your waist.  The effect is slimming, flattering, and fabulous.  Oprah will be proud, and so will we.  

A Final Note
Just because you have lovely lingerie doesn’t mean it should be on display. That trend of visible undergarments will die out, and none too soon in our humble opinion.  Other than the camisole bras with lace panels designed to cover cleavage and peek beneath v-necks or jackets, bras should be your secret weapon. If they’re not secret,  it defeats the purpose.  If you think we’re stodgy and want to try out the look of bright pink bras under white tank tops, please do so only on a hot date or a night out dancing.  Don’t do it at the office unless you are prepared for a job change.  Better yet, just don’t do it. Keep the focus on amazing you, not your underwear. Really, aren’t we usually right about these things?  

Our old pal Christine found us on facebook and posed a useful query: How do you take a successful professional portrait? Since she is one of many savvy professionals we are privileged to know, we think this might be a useful topic to tackle. 

Don't Be Scared
Professional portraits are like school photos. They take on a life of their own, get passed around, re-posted, placed on everything from websites to name-tags, and they aren't likely to be updated in the next decade unless you happen to be CEO. You'd better like them, or they'll haunt you for years. It's a formula for serious photographic anxiety, but don't despair.  Keep in mind a few simple guidelines, and you'll have a portrait worthy of, well, a pro. 

This is a time to heed that familiar advice your dad probably gave you: dress for the job you WANT, not just the one you have. Would you need to update your look if you took over the role your boss or her boss now possess? Would you want to dial up your wardrobe if you were sitting down to a meeting with the VP or lunch with a high profile client? When you're selecting your outfit, you want to project confidence and competence for the next phase of your career.

Make it Fit 
Great, so you're ready to be the boss or look like you could.  Let's talk about how to get it done.Remember you'll likely be looking at this image for years, so now is not the time to be trendy. For example, those exaggerated shoulders recently seen on so many runways don't belong, unless you happen to have a job in the military. You want clean lines, quality fabric, and perfect fit. (If you haven't already, now is the time to avail yourselves of the skills of a gifted tailor). If you're wearing a jacket, be sure it is not too big or too small in the shoulders. Tops can be close fitting, but not clingy, with no pulling or gaping at the bust. We'll tackle lingerie in another post, but for now let's just say you need to wear a smooth cup, t-shirt bra that fits and provides you with lift and shape. If you are wearing a top or underpinning with an empire seam, please, please be sure it goes all the way under the bust. This is a pet peeve of ours, but it is non-negotiable. Repeat after us: If you find you have "Bisect-a-boob" seams, the top it does not fit.

Shape Up
Hurrah, so now you're wearing clothes that fit.  Let's talk shape, starting at the top. When it comes to a neckline, the most universally flattering one is a v-neck, so that's a good place to start.  Your mission is to create an open, slimming, face-framing effect, and a v-neck will help you do it.  Just keep it subtle, and please no cleavage. You could also convey the same idea with a cowl neck or open scoop. The only things off limits are turtlenecks or crewnecks--they'll do you no favors in a forward-facing headshot.  Once you've selected your top or blouse, consider adding a single breasted jacket to reinforce that long, lean line, especially if you work in a more conservative field. If you're in high-finance, the suit is mandatory.  P.R. pros can choose a great dress and convey the same authority.  It's not likely that you'll be taking a full-body picture, but dress for it no matter what, with pants or a skirt that are clean, simple, and properly fitted. Now's the time for everyone to be focusing on your face, and the brilliant professional brain housed inside it. 

Fun with Fabric
Now you've picked an outfit that flatters your unique shape and frames your face. Selecting the right textile can make it even better. For a jacket, be sure you have a natural fabric with a matte finish. Shine is not your friend on picture day. If you'd like to incorporate some pattern, it's best on an underpinning or layering piece, instead of the dress or jacket you've selected. Geometric patterns can be so chic in person, but put some stripes on camera and they take on a life of their own. A safer bet is a abstract, "painterly" fabric in proportion to your overall size.  No giant florals on petite women here, or the picture becomes all about the fabric and not who's wearing it. Again, you want all eyes to go straight to your face, to comfortable, competent YOU.  When in doubt, create interest with textured, quality fabrics and clean colors, and save the wild patterns for another day. 

Color Me Impressed
When it comes to color, remember black and white can both appear especially extreme in photos, so it is best  steer clear. Look to charcoal greys and rich navy tones as your neutral, and accent with jewel tones or other saturated color. Soft nudes and pale pastels can wither under the punishing light of a flash, so it is better to be a bit more bold when you choose your hue. If you're unsure about a color, stand in front of a mirror in the most natural light you can find, and put the shirt, dress, or jacket you are considering right against your face. If you look wide awake, you've succeeded.

Finishing Touches
For the hair and make-up, it's pretty straightforward: Hair down or softly pulled away from the face, make-up on. Now is not the time for au naturale. The camera flash has a special talent for bleaching out all naturally occurring color your face, so you have be a bit more generous in adding your own.  Use a tinted moisturizer or foundation blended with a sponge or foundation brush, and keep blush on the apples of your cheeks.  Curl your lashes and apply mascara, and finish with neutral eyeshadow in a matte finish.  No sparkle here, or you might look like the VP of Disco.  Choose a lipliner close to your lip color and a dab of lipstick. Dust your lovely mug with some translucent powder (do this before you get dressed-- you don't want to powder your outfit). 

Jewelry should be subtle but present. You don't want it to detract from your face, but you do want your look to be finished. One solution is simple hoop or drop earrings that don't hang past your jawline. 

I'm Ready for My Close-Up
You've done it! You've conquered your closet, and you look like a professional badass.  Now you can face the camera fearlessly. We suggest doing it with one foot a little in front of the other and your body at a very slight angle.  This is a professional portrait, not a mug shot. Now relax and smile.  Literally, relax.  Think of something that makes you laugh, or simply inhale, pause, and smile on the exhale. You'll look more natural and at-ease, like you know exactly what you are doing.  Of course you do, you're a pro! 

Your favorite wrap dress is at the cleaners.  All your springy silk blouses are in the dirty laundry. You opt for a great pair of jeans (can't go wrong there) and the perfect white T.  You look...fine.  SO - here are a few key items we've found that can turn fine into fabulous, finish your look, allow you to be both effortless and amazing at the same time.  Some are investments and totally worth it, others are more more trendy and can be bought for a song.  Most work regardless of proportion and frame, but feel free to to tweak them to your individual look and personal aesthetic.  Just a note - we admit that most of these are not shocking, original, or "how DID they think of that?" suggestions.  But we feel these staples deserve some ink and your consideration again.  Especially if you they don't already populate your closet!  PLEASE feel free to send us your go-to accessory ideas; we can't wait to hear what makes you feel fabulous in a pinch.

BRIGHT CLUTCH or STATEMENT BAG
So someone told you yellow wasn't your color, or that a lime green blouse makes you look like you just got over the flu?  They could be right, but that doesn't mean you couldn't be a little braver when it comes to slinging sassy colors over your wrist or shoulder.  It can bring a basic button down or LBD to a more fashionable place fast.  And on a dreary day it can even make you feel (and look) a little sunnier.

WE LOVE A LONG NECKLACE
We've made no secret of our affection for this wardrobe staple that flatters just about every figure.  Who doesn't want to look tall and slim, really?  Think of it as creating a neckline or enhancing one, and highlighting the idea of a long lean frame.  This is most definitely a good place to make an investment. It is a piece you can wear day in and day out, with multiple outfits and for multiple occasions.  Plus, you won't look nearly as cute if it turns your neck green.  Just in case we are including these necklaces by Isharya, Express and Anthropologie all fit the bill at different price points.

RED SHOES (OR GREEN, OR PURPLE...)
No, we don't mean the sparkling kind that Dorothy wore.  In fact, they don't even have to be red.  Really we are talking about a statement shoe in a vibrant color that offers a bit fun to an otherwise sedate ensemble.  When going bold with color, keep lines clean and the shape simple so that you still make a strong overall impression but are not forcing the general public (or hot date) to stare only at your feet.  Your choices in this category are pretty limitless, but here are a few of our latest faves in varying price points. 
 

PRETTY PRINTED SCARF
Here is a great place to dial up your look without emptying your wallet.  There are many, many prints out there to choose from - floral, ikat, abstract, animal.  Even retro polka dots (although we might not be able to pull those off as well as you could).  What's important here is to keep size/proportion in mind (total amount of fabric as well as size of print itself).  Remember who is boss, YOU wear the scarf, not the other way around.  The most universally flattering scarves are longer, more narrow and of lighter fabric (no polyester please).  We find most people who don't add on this most important accessory are actually afraid of the scarf - because they think they don't know how to wear it.  You can always simply drape it over your neck for an "oh, who me? I just happen to look this great" look.  More to come on scarf-wearing excellence in a separate post, but this should get you started.  See these from Echo and Target to start, but check out Old Navy, The Loft, and BP Nordstrom for more options! 

There's nothing like a true friend--the kind that loves you for who you are, listens with minimal judgment, and can honestly advise you on which outfit makes you smokin' hot and which is reminiscent of your grandma (and not in a good way).  Think of us as your honest, helpful, savvy sisters---your style secret weapon, as it were.  We'll tell you what works, what we personally crave, and where you can do better (it's our nice way of saying 'that looks heinous').  
 
So what gives us the right to wax poetic about all things chic? We've been at it for years, dressing men and women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.  We've helped people feel gorgeous at the Oscars, the altar, and the playground.  We study designers, textiles, accessories and inspirations from around the world.  Most importantly, we LOVE it.  Lovelovelovelovelovelovelove it.  And, we're pretty excited to talk with you about fashion and beauty from all sorts of perspectives.  We care what you think too, and would love to hear from you when you have found something extra special that makes you feel all tingly inside.

We firmly believe that some of the most reviewed trends that go down the runway are flat-out ugly, and sometimes they are quite stunning.  Fashion can be about fantasy and art; wearability may not enter into the equation unless you are 17, 5’11”, and strolling the streets of Milan. We want to show you that part, sure, for the sheer entertainment value.  But we also want to give you some tools you can actually use, tips on cute shoes you can actually walk in and jeans that work even if your ase isn't immune to the laws of gravity. We want to use fashion to help you refine and define your individual look.  “Fashion” is constantly changing (that's part of the fun!), but style sticks around.  We want to use this blog to illuminate the difference between the two, and how you can celebrate the one without abandoning the other.

 In the interest of getting to know one another, we thought we would give you a quick peek into our lives to see what we can’t live without or wouldn’t be caught dead in.  Hopefully you find this mildly amusing... 

OUR STYLE ICONS
Paula: Bridgette Bardot, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carine Rotfield, Gwen Stefani, Elisa Sednaoui
Tracy: Audrey Hepburn, Ines de la Fressange, Blake Lively, Michelle Williams, Coco Chanel

OUR STYLE
Tracy:  Easy chic, a little bit girly, little bit rock and roll
Paula:  Clean, easy and elegant with a bit of edge.  A little boho when it suits.

GO TO/DESERT ISLAND PRODUCTS
Tracy:  Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo, Diorshow waterproof mascara, Bobbi Brown lip gloss in Nectar, Jo Malone orange blossom cologne.
Paula: Smith's Rosebud Salve, Kerastase Volume Mousse, Bobbi Brown lip gloss in Peony, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

SPRING/SUMMER 2011 TREND WE ACTUALLY WORE
Paula: Nautical stripes - clean navy on white sweater, the French sweet-sailor look.
 Tracy:  White on white – sweet white dresses in grown up sheath shapes.

FALL/WINTER 2011 WE CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR
Paula:  Suits, especially with full leg trousers.  Pure elegance and subtly sexy.
Tracy:  Dressing like a glass of wine – beautiful clothes in rich shades of bordeaux and crimson.

YOU COULDN'T PAY US ENOUGH TO PUT ON
Tracy:  Brightly colored denim shorts.  Gave those up in elementary school.
Paula:  Cropped white cotton pants.  Nope.

WHAT WE WOULD PAY OTHERS NOT TO WEAR
Paula:  Shorts that show one's bum.
Tracy:  Jump suits and muffin-top inducing pants.

FAVORITE LOCAL BOUTIQUES
Portland - Mabel and Zora, Mario’s, Idom and Sloan.  Where or where did Mimi and Lena go?  Sigh.
Seattle - The Finerie, Blackbird, Mario’s, Alhambra, Les Amis
San Francisco – Marmalade, Azalea
New York – Pas de Deux, Dolce Vita, Oak, and we must give a nod to the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store with ten floors of temptations!

FAVORITE ONLINE SHOPPING SITES
Gilt Groupe, ShopStyle, Saks.com, Ideeli, Rue la la, Svpply, The OutNet, Forzieri



We hope to post a couple of times a week and add in some regular features such as “Finding Fashion in Portland – We Know It’s Here!” where we will feature photos of people on the street that we think show some fashion-forwardness or generally look good. Next week we will let you into our accessory bag of tricks – our go-to items that can turn us from sleep deprived mommas into sassy style mavens in an instant.  Really.

We want to hear from you, too.  Tell us what you want to see here, and we'll do our best to oblige. Ciao, ciao!

We are so excited to announce our new Est Ovest Style Blog will be launching on July 15!  Please check back on that day for a chance to win two free hours of styling services.  Send us an email (paula@est-ovest style.com or tracy@est-oveststyle.com) on that day telling us what you think of the blog, and what you would like to hear about in the world of fashion. We will put all the names in a VERY stylish chapeau and draw the winner at 6:00 pm PST!