Glamour Girl's Must Haves - Studs

No, not as in a handsome guy. I mean, that too but, I'm talking about one of the smallest forms of an earring. Studs are often underrated but they can be just as powerful as a pair of chandelier or statement earrings. Here's how:

1. Simply Studding

Wearing studs is a simple way to brighten up your face. Back when I was in high school, the popular guys we found attractive were transformed when they removed their diamond (yeah right... probably cubic zirconia) earrings. I kid you not, these guys went from an "ooh la la" to an "oh...ugh." That's when I recognized the power of "le studs." If it can work wonders for strong masculine features, imagine what it does for us girls! A small pair of shiny earrings embellishes the ear lobes but adds a delicate feminine touch to the face. Studs add a je ne sais quoi to a plain jane, accentuating the glimmer in her eyes. Such a simple, inexpensive find and it works! So, there's no excuse not to have a pair for yourself.

Find the featured Michael Kors studs here.

2. Here, There, Everywhere

Studs are incredibly versatile. They are the only type of earrings you can wear everywhere. Studs are highly recommended for interviews. They are the least distracting and help draw attention to your face, which is the place you want your future employer focused on. Studs can be worn with any outfit. From casual to formal, they fit any occasion as shown in the main photo above. Also, it doesn't matter what your style is, studs come in so many creative variations now that there are a pair of studs out there for every personality. Check out the slide show below to find your match.

3. Background Blinger

When wearing a statement necklace, studs are the way to go without clashing and looking like an ornamented object. Some statement necklaces can be paired with a bigger earring but generally, you don't want your necklace and earrings to be fighting for attention. Your face tends to gets lost in the shadows as though you're the mannequin advertising them. Studs are also great to pair with a loud top or high neckline that has lots of detailing. For evening wear, it can be a challenge to find a pair of earrings that match a dress with sparkle, sequins or gems. This is where your studs take the back seat and compliment your entire look without competing with your dress.

I hope you've found your studs more useful now and if you haven't bought a pair yet, below are a few beauties I picked out to help get you started. Let me know what you think.

Love,

Your Glamour Stylist, Luxe LeBlanc

You're Absolutely Studding in Studs

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Whose Nude Is It Anyway?

When competing in pageants your wardrobe plays a major role in your presentation. Before you open your mouth, your attire speaks for you. Most pageants don't tell you how to dress but a select few will actually prepare you. I remember when my pageant directors at Miss Westchester Pageants (one of the few) taught us about proper attire for the national level. I made a list and was excited because that meant an opportunity to go SHOPPING! So, I got to the mall and while revising my list I saw "nude shoes" to elongate legs and avoid distraction during interview. I chuckled a little at the thought of naked shoes. What does that even mean? I asked the sales woman in the shoe department and she pointed to several beige looking pumps. They were pretty but I thought to myself, that's not what I look like naked. I'm more of a caramel complexion. I searched some more but the darker the shoes got, the less dressy-formal they were. It was frustrating. I bought a beautiful pair of Steve Madden "nude" pumps but I wasn't satisfied. Whose nude is it anyway? Not mine.   The situation I've described is a common challenge among women of color but fortunately for us, fashion and beauty companies are realizing this and catering to us. Here's what I found:

1. Nudevotion

Nudevotion is a website that gathers nude clothing and shoes from various retailers/brands and displays them on their site making it easier for women to find their own shade of nude. Their fairly new section called "Dark Nude" caters to women of a darker complexion. I love it.

2. Nude Barre

I discovered Nude Barre while admiring Wendy Williams' wardrobe and realized that her stylist dresses her in their stockings almost every day. Nude Barre features nude hosiery in all complexions, from the lightest to the deepest. They are reversible for an opaque option and have a hole at the bottom to make footless tights. A great buy for the fall and winter!

3. Christian Louboutin: The Nudes Collection

You may have already heard about this but I thought it was definitely worth repeating; Louboutin launched a line called "The Nudes Collection" with pumps that suit various skin tones. This means we all can rock our own truly nude red bottoms. Yay! I've pulled some shoes in many shades of "nude" to help you find your match. See the slide show below. Show me your nudes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest by tagging #luxeleblanc #MyNudes. Remember to comment, subscribe and share.

Love,

Luxe LeBlanc [rev_slider WhosNude]

Glamour Girl's Must Haves - Pumps

Pumps: the art of elevation through a shoe that often accentuates a woman's curves, encourages good posture and subconsciously increases self confidence. That's my definition of pumps and why every woman should own a pair. OK blog post over. Just kidding! Pumps can be very intimidating; from the height, to the heel, colors, shapes, patterns and the size adjustments. I remember trying on my first pair at sixteen, I nearly fell on my face! I felt like I was on stilts and walked like Forest Gump. After a few days of practice walks in the mirror I did it! Now-a-days I don't walk, I glide across the room as if I were born with pumps on my feet and so can you.

1. Work Pumps

Some of you are looking at this category like it's a typo. Trust me, it's no mistake. Remember, pumps are merely an elevated shoe. Most our minds gravitate to "The Devil Wears Prada" but by no means should you feel pressured to wear six inch heels to the office. Let's keep it around 3 inches and no skinny stilettos. For maximum support I'd recommend a block heel or dressy wedges. Most corporate settings require neutral work wear. Growing up, I was taught that neutral meant black or brown shoes, boring. Neutral varies based on the fashionista and her work environment. I say, if you can pull off those stunning red heels without being a distraction then go for it. If your work environment is more conservative, go with the basic corporate tones but play up the style. Instead of flat Mary Janes, do t-strap or peep-toe pumps. Overall, the perfect work pump should be comfortable because you'll be in them all day. The black pumps below are Rockport! Shock face? I definitely had mine. Also, if you're a New York City commuter like myself, Shoe Along is a cute, convenient, shoe carrier that attaches to your work bag for the infamous shoe swap we do before walking into work or an interview. Say goodbye to the unattractive, noisy swishing plastic bag.

2. Casual Pumps

For a glamour girl, down time is the perfect time to take it up a notch. The bright beauties we couldn't wear all week come out in our casual wardrobe. I would totally rock these bright yellow lipstick-heel pumps on a day out with my girls. Now, that's just my personal style. You can still be glamorous in something less blinding. It's all about expressing your personal style in a complimentary way. For moms on the go, I'd recommend a pump with ankle support such as a bootie or ankle strapped shoes. See the blue Ivanka Trump pumps I've pulled as an example in the slide below and let me know what you think!

3. Party Pumps

Sing it "Pump, pump, pump it up!" Most women wear pumps to parties. Feel free to be truly glamorous during these special occasions. I'm talking crystals, gems, jewel tones, glitter and the whole shabang. I love a great shoe show but by the end of the night I see women limping out with blisters. Ladies, don't put yourself through misery when there are so many products out there to make our shoes comfortable. Find insoles that support the ball of your foot because that's where most of the pressure is applied throughout the night. Also, for the inevitable swelling, go up half or even a whole size when purchasing high heels and always carry band aids in your purse just in case the shoe starts rubbing on your Achilles heel. Foot Petals is a great company with foot products that remedy the issues we face when wearing heels so check them out. Let me know if you'd recommend any other brands you may have tried.

I hope I've tapped into your inner glamour girl and eased your fear of wearing pumps outside of parties. Just in case you wanted some ideas I've pulled some shoes for you below in the slide show. Click on any pair that you love and take them home. Show me your pumps on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest by tagging #luxeleblanc #GlamourGirlsMustHaves #PumpItUp. Remember to comment, subscribe and share.

Love,

Luxe LeBlanc

Pump It Up with Pumps

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Best Dressed Wedding Guest

Best Dressed Wedding Guest

It's summer time and that means one of many exciting things, wedding season! Finally you can wear that pretty dress in the back of your closet you've been saving for a special occasion. However, the summer heat and weddings aren't always the best combination when it comes to wardrobe. I recently attended a wedding where I was tempted to photograph some fashion oh-no's but instead I'll tell you about them.

Number 1. Two guests, not one but two were dressed for the night club. I'm talking legs for days followed by stares, glares and watering mouths distracted from the ceremony. To make matters worse, this was a conservative couple and crowd. Whatever you choose to wear to a wedding should be considerate of the bride because it's HER big day. All eyes should be on the bride... Oh yeah and her spouse too but you get the point. Nix the short, tight, revealing number and opt for one that respects the occasion and celebrates the couple. Go cocktail instead of mini.

Number 2. One guest was in a lace champagne dress. What's wrong with that? Nothing, until the bride came out in her second dress and looked just like the guest. Unless the bride requests a specific dress code permitting you to wear white or the likes, don't wear anything close to bridal wear. Lace is a very common romantic material worn by brides as well as guests so if you're going to wear it, go bold in color to be safe (examples in slide show below). The odds of the bride coming out in something similar are slim to none.

Number 3. This last one was more of a bad wardrobe choice due to a lack of information. I was looking really cute in my turquoise wrap dress and bedazzled silver pumps until I arrived at the wedding reception. I had no idea that it was being held in a backyard under a tent in the grass. Oh no!!! My pretty 4 inch heels dug right into the dirt like a gardening tool. Reminder, when partying on soft ground wear wedges, block heels or flats.

Finding the right dress to wear for a wedding can be difficult. It requires being tactfully stylish and planning ahead. In the slide show below are some simple cocktail pieces that I’ve pulled to make your shopping experience a little easier for both plus and regular sizes. You can accessorize them like I did the blue dress above and below. Here are the details of the two looks that I created.

Featured photo: Alice + Olivia dress Bandage dress with silky cover up makes it sexy yet appropriate.

Multicolored Outfit Suzanna Dai earrings DVF clutch Steve Madden shoes

Golden Outfit: Chandelier earrings Zoe Adams clutch DVF shoes

Challenge: Take your picture as the "Best Dressed Wedding Guest" this summer and tag me on Instagram @luxelb with #luxeleblanc & #BestDressedWeddingGuest. Can't wait to see you!

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Love,

Luxe LeBlanc

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Glamour Girl's Must Haves: Little Black Dress

Glamour Girl's Must Haves: Black to Basics - LBD

Let's get "black to basics." You know what I'm talking about; your "Little Black Dress!" Sure you've heard it time and time again but what's the big fuss about?

1. Black is slimming!

Whether you're bloated because it's that time of month or working towards your goal weight, no other color provides the illusion of a sexy silhouette.

2. Black is a staple base color!

It goes with just about everything. Basic pieces are the best for versatility. A simple black dress can be dressed up or down with metallic or colorful accessories, silk or denim, heels or flats.

3. Black works year round!

No need to worry about the fashion rules and regulations. Your little black dress can be worn from winter through summer and back.

When choosing a Little Black Dress consider your shape. Aim to create a visual balance between your top and bottom proportions, for example if you're heavier on top but feel you have no hips, an A-line or peplum dress will fill in that area giving you an hour glass figure. Below are some great pieces that I've pulled to make your shopping experience a little easier.

Remember to comment, subscribe and share.

Love,

Luxe LeBlanc

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