Wow & Forever

Oliver B. here and there's nothing I love more than the fall season. Aside from the fact that I love cold weather, I also love the fashions of the fall. I always go for a sweater, long pants, scarves, hats, coats, etc. It's very easy to be sexy in the summer time where you show a little here and there. But to be just as sexy (if not sexier) in head-to-toe clothing ... now that is something to envy. Today's blog will focus on the overall picture I see in this season's fashion choices. Some of you may not be ready for it but you'll just have to bend over and take it like any of my other prisoners. Here goes ...

The theme I think is best to describe this fall season is passion. It is not a complete novelty to think of heat and fire in the fall, is it? But, that's what this season is all about. "Fall's palette paints nails with drama, as accessory to the season's perfectly polished fashion. Vivid pinks and violets. Darkest cobalt and emerald. Warm reds. Rich nudes. A passion for color." (Colección de España by OPI) And there could be no truer statement of the fall trends. In it's continuing run through the seasons, color is still the main staple. Often, especially in the colder seasons, our fashionistas retreat to blacks and greys and whites, and shy away from a bold and mesmerizing color. This would be a mistake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DRAW ATTENTION!!

I have seen a vibrant violet Gucci suit, to a rich plum Calvin Klein ad, to a bursting pink from Tommy Hilfiger, neon colors on Chanel couture, and let's not forget about the patent leather shockingly bright flats from Coach. All of it beautiful and really spruces up the dreary season. No more of this earth tone look in the fall. Stop matching the leaves as they fall. There's something inherently optimistic about a vibrant color, and Lord knows we all could use a touch of optimism these days.

Are we losing our confidence people? Every fashion magazine I have read lately from InStyle to Harper's Bazaar has some statement that wearing a certain look will bring you confidence. NO NO NO NONONONONONONO. Confidence should never come from your clothes. It should always come from you and you alone. You must never let the clothes wear you. And as a practical matter why should you base your confidence on items that will be out of fashion in a matter of months? Does confidence have an expiration date? Really?

My tips this blog come from Michelle Obama's wardrobe. Take a cue from our lovely First Lady whose unstuffy style is just the kind of optimism I want to see not just on the catwalk, but on the sidewalk as well ...

1) Bursting with color, a clean-line coat that comes to the knee makes a tasteful statement.

2) The new business chic swaps restrained suit jackets for spirited sweaters, often belted.

3) Anyone can pull off juicy tones, as long as they're worn with confidence (not worn to get confidence)

4) The knee-length silhouette may be simple, but the fabrics are quite the opposite: rich brocades, nubby tweeds, and dazzling metallics. Instead of offsetting the skirt's sumptuousness, play it up with a bright belt or an embellished sweater.

5) Pearl chokers are the jeans of the jewelry world--they go with absolutely everything.

6) Wide belts give definition to boxy jackets and unstructured cardigans.

7) A cluster of oversize brooches adds oomph to classic blazers.

8) A pair of low heels in snakeskin or metallic leather are in step with any occasion.

All of these tips are simple and fashionsteady, not fashionforward. Remember that you must always have a proper foundation to build a house on. Too many times I see perfectly good looks destroyed by a simple crack in the foundation like overaccessorizing. It doesn't have to be you. Learn the lessons.

Here's to style. Cheers!

Ties ... Ties, Ties, Ties ... For Career Boys

It's Wednesday people ... and Oliver B. is back with another edition of "Ugly Tie Wednesday." For those of you just tuning in, Ugly Tie Wednesday is a little fun competition between the guys at work. They each come to work on Wednesday in an ugly tie, and one lucky man is chosen as the winner of the week with the ugliest tie. Each week there ends up being a discussion about at least one tie that we view as salvageable. So, as your window to the fashion world, I have taken it upon myself to not only show you the contestants in the ugly tie competition, but to give you a brief fashion lesson to show you how some of these ties are actually fashion forward. I am all about reusing what's in your closet if you can. Many fashions do get recycled, FYI.

Now, without further delay, I give you the contestants...

This week I was not able to select a tie to win. I have placed my top two as tie #3 and tie #6. Tie #3 is ugly for ugly sake. It's a tie that was just made ugly. Tie #6, however, seems to be a tie with such a subtle and demur design that until you walk up on it, you don't realize just how hideous it is. It has depth to it in its ugliness. So who wins? The tie that IS ugly, or the tie you have to discover is ugly? I'm going to let you all decide on that.

This week I have selected my savable tie as tie #5. It's beautiful, and yet was very controversial this week. Nearly all the men felt that the tie was ugly and should have won. Silly men ...

The fact is that this tie is the most fashion forward tie that has been worn on Ugly Tie Wednesday to date. I'm talking so fashion forward that the concept is in the Spring 2010 fashion lines. Collections like Robert Geller, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren are boasting very hot bright colors in their collections. Even LovetoKnow.com for men's fashion recommends jewel tones for men with darker hair. This tie is a perfect piece to add to your wardrobe. I think the key to remember is that you either make that tie the star attraction, or you go so big with the color that it's a subtle addition. You can always play up the looks I have included from the Spring 2010 collections. However, if you are not the type to really experiment in bold colors, you could always dress the tie with a nice white blazer, or a normal color, just in a shiny fabric. Versace has a white two-button blazer with honeycomb jacquard texture that is perfect for this tie. Take a look ...

Fashion has gone too severe lately. There is far too much black, grey, and white being presented on the runway. There's only so much you can do with that. It is time to brighten up again, and boy have the designers done that! I am wow'd at how well designers have taken seemingly loud and tacky colors, and have designed their pieces in a way that you forget what color you are looking at. It could just be that we have been so focused on dark colors that this extreme seems like the normal way to go. Who knows ... or cares?

Anywho, that tie is my pick of the week to save from an undeserved label of ugly. And to think this tie was found for only $4. You never know what treasures you stumble on.

In the end, I hope you all take away from this posting that bright colors are in season. While it may not be the right style for you, it is a fashion piece worth pulling into your seasonal trends. I give this splash of color ... this "transcendently psychedelic" beauty ... Oliver B. Styles' stamp of approval. Definitely vogue!

Here's to style. Cheers!