Skip Spring...Go Straight to Summer. Collect $200.

Myself and my SLEEVELESS business cohorts just returned from an insanely productive trip to NYC where we met with industry people and shopped our accessory line. We met great people that were eager to help us grow and ate some great food. And of course, we squeezed in some time to shop. Well, some of us did. I, unfortunately didn't get much time for that on this trip but I did want to tell you about what my armloads of frothy, filmy, printed and textured dresses, tops and clogs that Jess and Bek came back with! I'm a little green with envy at the scores of summery items they found. Here in Nashville, we never saw spring. The weather swapped out winter for blazing hot summer, never getting an inkling of the softer heat that we usually experience before the wave of humidity. It was a full affront to my senses, but I'm not complaining! I just am now realizing that it's definitely time to retire the black leggings and opaque tights and general black theme I've had going for the past 5 months.

I'm breaking out the light chiffons, floral and indian prints, and all my bohemian fare. Jessica came back from NYC with a dress that I'm lusting after. Moderately priced (150 bucks) for it's beauty, the dress is from a line called Aoyama Itchome. The Japanese man behind the label resides in France and so you see the influence of both cultures and the result is flowy, drapy flattering sillouhettes in bohemian prints.

Belt this little number and wear it to your backyard patio party!
Photo (above) by Joy Thigpen

It's white wine 'o clock at my house on the patio every afternoon at 5. I'm going to have to ease up on that, but with a cute summery dress and a chilled sauvignon blanc, it's really hard not to get carried away!

James Dunn and Sleeveless "News"

I'm busy as I can possibly be these days working on our (Jessica Maros and myself's) new line called Sleeveless. We are in the process of making press kits to send up to NYC before we head up and meet with boutiques and industry people, editing down our collection and making prototypes of the clutches that we are rolling out for Fall 2011. So, we are busy round the Sleeveless Studio.

I recently did a photo shoot for Americana-rock musician, James Dunn and after feeling good about almost 6 solid looks between the studio and location, photog, Reid Rolls, captured this "cover" shot. Absolutely stunning. I gotta say, I love his wardrobe for the shoot and Reid's choice of location and brilliant natural light give this guy the Americana look to match his lyrics and sound.

To achieve the mood in this pic was one part wardrobe, one part brilliant photography and direction, one part cool dude, and one part breaking out a bottle of wine and swigging straight from the bottle.

*Extra special thanks to the assistant photographer, Skip Hopkins and my assistant Bek Kaplan!

I'll take some sun and a summer frock, please!

I'm sharing an absolute gem here, by introducing you to Sarah Seven, a Portland based dress designer. I find myself lusting after these dresses (which can be found on etsy or HERE at her website) for hours on end...no joke. They are just the right amount of whimsy and sophistication. I'm helping 2 of my friends with their weddings and after showing them this site, they both placed custom orders immediately. Now that I have a few weddings to be in and several more to attend, I feel like I have plenty of excuses to get myself one of her fancy frocks.



I am beside myself, just looking at these pictures. I want to be frolicking in the fields or lazing around in a hammock with a good book, a glass of sparkling water with lime in some summer sun, wearing a one of these beauties. The unusualy long bout we've had with this frigid weather is taxing my last nerve and I'm ready for summer pastels and fresh cocktails!

Inspiration

I pulled these photos as inspiration for a shoot and wanted to share them with all of you. I regret that I don't remember where I got them, but they are just so beautiful from the location to the lighting...and of course, the beautiful clothes.


Hope your week is going well!
Kyah

Much Ado About....

The advent of my best friend's wedding, I have found the ideal bridesmaid dress to fullfill all my goals. I needed to find a cocktail dress in the "blue" family...somewhere between cobalt and navy. I found some beautiful couture dresses at pricepoints to break the bank and loads of dresses that I loved (like the white Maxazria dress below) that just didn't come in any shade of blue, and a lot of unsophisiticated dress that weren't fit for a wedding. I finally found this little number that I can accessorize to fit the greatness of the occassion, but I can also wear a number of different ways for future events. A bridesmaid dress that I WILL TRULY wear again!

And after searching EVERY online store, and every local boutique/mall....I found it at Topshop online!

FOR $90!

I have to say that the draping and fabric is beautiful and sophisticated and all around fit the requirements I was (til Topshop) searching in vain for!

Here's another dress that I wanted to buy...but alas, lace is NOT dyeable! (But it is on sale for $159.00...that's ridiculous!...so someone else get it and let me borrow it!)

"Marilyn" and "Hook"

Two new styles for Sleeveless can be found at Posh at the Hill Center. For lookbook requests, email me at kyah@wearsleeveless.com

SLEEVELESS

...this is the name of the accessory line that myself and my friend and fellow designer, Jessica Maros are launching. We are currently putting together our Lookbook and website and all the trappings of a business plan. Of course, I'll keep you abreast of our progress as it happens, but in the meantime, here is one of the pics from our recent advertorial shoot. We are not releasing all our images yet, but here is one of my favorite. Enjoy.

Leggings: To wear or not to wear?

Leggings are definitely a "do" but I've had som requests recently about how to wear them. Primarily I've been fielding these questions from moms whose main audiences are their toddlers but even though their audience isn't picky, they still want to be stylish. Leggings can be worn for someone who has a rock and roll, vintage or preppy aesthetic. There are endless ways to wear them...and here are just a few...

A lot of moms want to be lookin' good without spending a mint, simply because they don't know if they are going to end up with some of their child's lunch on their duds. So, here a few 3 no-brainer ways to wear the same black leggings.

1. With a long t-shirt and tailored blazer. For a more on-trend look, buy a blazer with some serious shoulder pads! (I have been killing this look lately.) I like this look with some serious gladiator heels or sky high booties...but for the practical, yet fashionable, mommy look, do some studded ballet flats.

2. With an easy summer dress and long-ish cardigan sweater paired with a boot. This is a clever way to take a summer dress into the fall and winter. You can do boots with heels or no heel, vicotrian style lace-up, or a basic cowboy boot. Whichever boot you choose gives you an entirely new look.

3. For an "I-looked-like-I-went-to-yoga-but-it's-really-coffee-with-the-girlfriends-and-babies", pair your leggings layer a drapey cashmere sweather with a basic t-shirt or soft denim button down and a flat shoe.

Always cover the booty no matter what size you are because you never know if your leggings are more transparent once you hit the sunlight! My formula for leggings basically involves a quality long-ish shirt that covers the butt with different layering jackets or sweaters and a good shoe or boot. Here are a few great examples of how to wear leggings. I love the vintage fur jacket or the idea of belting your sweater for a more pulled together appearance.

For Damsels and Dudes: Pierre Hardy

...because we are about equal opportunites. These are some of our lusts for women AND for our hot men :)

OR Pierre Hardy boot for Gap at the insanely good price of $175: And for the men...these are a stellar option for a dress shoe or a basic boot:

I'm Impressed...

You know I don't really gravitate towards preppy prints and bright colors but JCrew continues to impress me with their catalogs. They have a really GREAT stylist. I would wear any of these combos....just beautiful!
It looks like she draws a little inspiration from Nylon, pairing the socks with pumps and torn jeans, and then gives it a high end twist with all the asymetrical ruffled T's and cashmere sweaters and blingy costume jewelry.

I especially love the vintage-inspired brown short boots. Just really loving what J Crew is putting out...maybe it's time for a visit to their store.