First Lady Style

It's always wonderful to see history unfold in front of our eyes, especially when it's the second inauguration for the first black president of the United States of America. Millions of viewers tuned in to watch President Barack Obama's inauguration. And regardless of political preferences, there was no doubt that fashion enthusiasts would have plenty to say about First Lady Michelle Obama's outfit choice.

Her swearing-in ensemble was a beautiful one designed by Reed Krakoff. The blue dress was a variation of what we've seen on the First Lady before. An A-line dressed paired with a bolero or cardigan is not a new concept for Mrs. Obama's wardrobe.

Larry Downing-Pool/Getty Images

However, what I found to be stunning was her outerwear designed by Thom Browne. The coat-and-dress pairing in the navy, jacquard print was inspired by a men's necktie, which should be no surprise given Browne's background in menswear. Plus, it complimented the president's necktie of choice, which was blue (at the last inauguration, he wore red).

The pop of color with the J. Crew gloves was a beautiful way to top off the ensemble. And did I mention my love for the bangs! Her look was fresh and modern take on a very classic silhouette, which is totally befitting for the occasion. 

What did you think of the First Lady's ensemble? 

Belk Spring Fashion Preview

Arlene Goldstein, the Belk vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction, chatted with local fashion bloggers, stylists and journalists at the Belk Fashion Preview in Raleigh.

I had the opportunity to attend the Belk Fashion Preview in Raleigh this week, and was very excited to see what was around the corner for spring. The silhouettes aren't drastically different from what we've seen in the past, but the color combos will be fresh and new.

Black and white combinations are a great way to start the season. Arlene Goldestein, the Belk vice president of fashion direction and trend merchandising, considers the pairing a palette cleanser from the dark hues of the fall.  I definitely agree. There's something modern about this combination. 

Mixing pale pastels with dark colors is also a hot concept this season. 

Multiple patterns in one outfit is an ongoing trend that will have an ubiquitous presence this spring. For tips on how to collage your patterns, check out my post on Power Prints. 

And check out a few more of the trends! 

Lace will be one of the most dominant textiles for the spring. You'll see it in all sorts of hues. And white will be a huge color this season, too. Not just white dresses, but white shoes, accessories and more!

Statement jewelry is a must-have, especially with necklaces. And don't forget your prints!

So what are you looking forward to wearing this spring?

Springing Ahead To Spring

For the next few days, the weather will be warm and sunny in Wilmington. It'll be so warm that you may confuse the dead of winter with the early days of spring. So why not take this time to revel in what's to come for the next season?

The Pantone Fashion Color Report, released last fall, revealed a palette filled with muted pastels and exuberant brights. Now that it's 70 degrees outside, I can actually imagine wearing these beautiful colors!

Basking in today's pleasant sunniness has me thinking of warm color combos, such as  Linen, Poppy Red and Nectarine - colors that are sure to be strong power players in the local retail market. 

What spring colors are you looking forward to wearing?

Scandal Style: The Olivia Pope Look

Every woman loves the simple, yet confident style of "Scandal's" Olivia Pope. She's strong, brazen and effortlessly chic in every outfit she's seen in. It's not hard to pull off an Pope-inspired ensemble on your own, just stick to your basics:

The Suit Jacket: Many of Pope's blazers have a special detailing in the silhouette that give her that extra oomph. Whether its a stand collar or a flattering peplum, she knows how to make a statement with her jackets.

The Tailored Trouser: Not too tight, not too lose. Most of Pope's trousers have a straight leg to skim over her slim figure. If you're a bit curvier than Pope, aim for a wide leg pant to achieve a similar look.

The Sassy Sheath: On occasion, you'll see the Fixer wearing a dress, and when you do, it'll be a flattering sheath paired with a stunning overcoat.

*Style Tip* Look for these basics in muted neutrals and pastels.

Scandal Style: The Olivia Pope Look by jdagency featuring talbots

Ann Taylor sheath dress
anntaylor.com

Talbot
talbots.com

Checkered jacket
thelimited.com

Low rise pants
express.com

The Right Dress For the Nontraditional Bride

It's officially wedding season, and this is when the Agency receives tons of calls from brides wanting to know how to choose the right wedding dress. The process is different for every woman, but is particularly challenging for the nontraditional bride.

If you're looking for an alternative wedding gown that demonstrates your interest in fashion or showcases your personality, you'll definitely want to listen to these tips!

Alternative Bridal Dresses -- powered by ehow

Scandal Style: The Pope Jacket

You can exude the sophistication and charisma of "Scandal's" Olivia Pope by sporting a trench coat. Pope is often seen wearing the one shown below or some variation of it in a muted neutral. Pick up a coat of your own locally at one of the stores below, and be sure to wear it at the Scandal Premiere Party on Jan. 10!

Scandal Style: The Pope Jacket by jdagency featuring ann taylor

Ann taylor
anntaylor.com

Banana Republic trench coat
bananarepublic.gap.com

Coat
express.com

Scandal Style: Harrison Wright

There's no denying the fact that Harrison Wright is the eye candy on "Scandal." His confidence and tailored suits are enough to make any Scandalista tune in every week. If you're a gentleman planning to attend the Scandal Premiere Party as this handsome character, then here are a few essentials to look for in your look:

The Suit: The suits are generally single breasted, 2-buttoned and tailored.  If wearing a 2-piece isn't your speed, look for a vest with matching flat-front slacks or wear a dress shirt with tailored trousers and suspenders.

The Shirt: This character is usually seen in softer pastels. You can't go wrong with a solid, gingham or striped print, especially when you're matching the shirt with contrasting tie patterns.

The Tie: Stick to strong patterns and don't aim for subtle. Rarely, if ever, is this character seen on the show with a solid-color tie. We love this combination of the circle tie paired with the gingham shirt shown above.

Scandal Style: Harrison Wright by jdagency featuring blazers

Blazer
bananarepublic.gap.com

Lauren Ralph Lauren Dress Shirt Slim Fit Stripe Dress Shirt
belk.com

Lauren Ralph Lauren Dress Shirt Classic-Fit Bennett Herringbone Dress...
belk.com

J.Crew Silk Tie In Bright Stripe
jcrew.com

Saddlebred Terry Square Neat Tie
belk.com

On Trend: Spiky Bangles

I've seen spikes and studs on everything from jackets, blouses and even loafers this season. But for those of you who want to embrace the rocker style in a less conspicuous way, try incorporating them into your accessories.

Sporting spikes on your bracelets is a great place to start. I'm especially fond of stacking spiky bangles with other bracelets. Don't limit yourself to just one!

Spiky Bangles by jdagency featuring a bangle bracelet

Stella Dot spike jewelry
stelladot.com

ASOS bangle bracelet
asos.com

Forever 21 spike jewelry
forever21.com

Scandal Style: Huck

When your line of work involves assassinations and covering up evidence, you probably don't have the time to worry about fashion. But "Scandal's" Huck has a distinct, uber-casual style that you can mimic for the "Scandal" Premiere Party on Jan. 10.

His uniform is a simple one that revolves around comfort and practicality. To achieve his look, stick to the three basic layers:

The Tee or Henley: Usually, Huck can be seen sporting one underneath another shirt. He tends to lean towards the solid crewneck variety.

The Button Down: On one of the final episodes of Season 2, Huck wore a chambray button down - a rare departure from his low-effort uniform. He's typically seen in dark, plaid patterns, like the button down pictured below from the local menswear store, Bloke.

The Full Zip Hoodie: This is a staple in Huck's wardrobe, and he's often seen wearing one of these in a solid color over one or two of the aforementioned layers. Functional, no frills.

*Style Tip* Huck doesn't have time to tuck in his shirts, but he does occasionally roll up the sleeves of his button down, especially when there's dirty work involved!

Scandal Style: Huck by jdagency on Polyvore

Televised Style

We love styling our clients, especially for television!

Our client, Dr. Patrice Carter, author of "SUPERb Woman: From Bad Girl to God's Girl", was featured on the News 14 Carolina "In Depth" segment with Marti Skold. And her styling was courtesy of the JD Agency.

Photography courtesy of Carter Multimedia Consulting.

Dr. Carter's style is usually bold with chunky jewelry and patterned tops and dresses - all of which can be problematic on television. Patterns can cause visual noise and heavy jewelry can distract from the face when the show is exclusively shot waist up.

So for this show, we kept Dr. Carter's look simple but vibrant with this raspberry tart blouse from Talbots  and a demure necklace from her personal collection. We wanted the focus to be on her face, so we advised the author to keep her makeup sun-kissed and radiant. And we maintained her hair bold and funky style with a natural twist-out!

Power Prints

Graphics and prints were a huge hit on the spring 2013 runways, and clashing multiple patterns in one look has been a trend for quite some time now. Yet, I still have clients who aren't quite sure how to tackle the trend on their own.

If you're ready to start the new year off with a stylish bang, let's get you up to speed on the art of mixing prints.

Mix colors in the same color family. 

Proenza Schouler, Spring 2013

Avoid mixing two bold patterns at once. It'll look too busy and will overwhelm the eye. Think one subtle print with a bolder graphic. 

Sunday Life Magazine, Copyright 2012 (Styling by The JD Agency)

 Peg your look with neutral accessories and shoes.

Sunday Life Magazine, Copyright 2012 (styling by The JD Agency)

Closet Organization

Now is a better time than ever to clean out that closet and get it organized. After all, how can you embrace a new year and a new you, when there are clothes from the 80's still stashed away in your closet?

Let my Agency give you a few tips on how to get organized, so you'll be ready to shop your closet!

TruStyle: Closet Organization from TruStyle TV on Vimeo.

Scandal Style: The Olivia Pope Blouse

With the "Scandal" Premiere Party less than two weeks away, you'll need to find your Olivia Pope ensemble! This brazen character has an understated look that's absolutely formulaic. Tailored pieces with special detailing matched with simple jewelry and a statement bag equals the effortlessly impressive look of this power character.

We'll post some suggestions on where to find your "Scandal" staples locally or online right here on the blog, so be sure to check back frequently for updates! 

For now, let's take gander at Olivia Pope's stunning blouses - an essential garment in her style arsenal. 

Scandal Style: The Blouse by jdagency featuring ann taylor

Talbots long shirt
talbots.com

Ann taylor
anntaylor.com

Ann Taylor camisole top
anntaylor.com

CONTRAST FABRIC SHORT SLEEVE EASY TOP at Express
express.com