7 Ways to Wear Navy and Black Together

by Kim "Kimmay" Caldwell liveaboutdotcom

When elevating your wardrobe some questions may come up, like "is wearing navy and black together ok?". In fashion there are no hard and steady rules, but this topic seems to be one where people are most afraid to commit a fashion "don't". Most stylists agree that this color combination is a great choice. "Many people think that you can’t wear navy and black together, but that is a fashion myth", says NYC Personal Stylist, Cassandra Sethi, founder of Next Level Wardrobe. She goes on to say, "black and navy look stunning together—it is very sophisticated and flatters all body types. It is a great color combination throughout the year."

Convinced? If you want to try wearing black and navy blue clothing together below are some top tips from stylists along with a few great wardrobe pieces to get started.

Go Overseas and High End

Diane Roth, owner of L'Armoire and celebrity stylist, said: "Navy and black are staple colors in Europe and Asia. Most European tweeds and patterns have both incorporated in them. When you put the two together be careful that the navy is the black based dye and not a red base”. She states most American navy colors use a red base, so try purchasing from European designers or investing in high end tweeds and materials.

She adds to keep a color ratio in mind when wearing both navy and black. “Most combos work best when you have two thirds of one color and one third of the other. That way you don't look like you dressed in the dark. It has to look planned, not done in error.” So do a little math and plan ahead to keep yourself looking your best. Her best trick for this look? “ Have a scarf or shawl to tie the two colors together more.” Try out the looks here from L'Armoire, and Max Mara.

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Nothing is too sexy for these hot mothers of the bride and groom →

And the bride wore … who cares — is that her mother?

When Ilene heard that her daughter was getting married, her first call was to the Vivaldi boutique on the Upper East Side, where the 50-something mom had outfitted herself for all four of her kids’ mitzvahs for years.

“I knew right away I wasn’t going to do a typical mother-of-the-bride dress,” says Ilene, an attorney who asked not to use her last name for professional reasons. “I wear really short skirts, and I don’t care. I feel good about myself — I do what I want.”

She decided on a $5,000 slinky, hot-pink gown from Ysa Makino with side cutouts and a plunging low back.

Not everyone’s on board with such show-stopping dresses, because they divert attention from the bride. Wedding stylist Diane Lloyde Roth says that when she dresses moms who want to be super sexy, “I try to talk [them] out of it — that it’s the bride’s day,” the Connecticut-based consultant says.

They don’t always heed her advice.

“I had one client who wore a strapless runway piece remade and molded to her exact figure. She was 60 but looked about 25. She looked fabulous — it was killer. At the wedding, people asked if she was the bride’s sister,” Roth says. “She’s a Broadway producer, and it would have looked perfect for the Tonys, but she totally outshone the bride, who looked mousy in an ill-fitting gown.”

To see how Diane will dress Mother of the bride or Croom visit www.larmoirenewcanaan.com

8 Ways to Stay Healthy if You Work in Retail

Designate a time and space for meals

It might be tempting to shove down some food in between customers or while hanging out in the break room, but retailer Diane Lloyde Roth, who owns the boutique L'Armoire, recommends eating your mid-shift meals away from the workplace so you can focus on fueling up and won’t get interrupted. Also try to make time for a quick five-minute walk, meditation and/or deep breathing after each meal, she suggests.

THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF BEING AN INDEPENDENT RETAILER

Back in 1984, when Brent Barkin's father opened the independent retailer Shoe Station, he and his siblings spent many hours in the store, including playing hide-and-seek during off hours. Growing up in the store grew on the younger Barkin, who today runs the independent retail company that has 21 locations in five states and employs 500. "America was built by independent retailers like my father, who took chances on their ideas and invested in their cities," says Barkin, who today serves as president and CEO of Shoe Station. "Budding independent retailers make those initial cold calls to secure financing and put personal credit on the line to obtain leases and merchandise."

Independent Retailers Support Local Economies

"Independent local retailers contribute much of their income to the local economy," says Willy van Dooijeweert, CEO, founder and president of URBAN Traveler Store, which is located in Minnesota and sells travel goods. "The independent retailer benefits schools, road construction, fire and safety and much more," he says.

Supporting the local economy is critical to preserving communities, adds Andy Curry, who has owned Lamar Building Material Supply in Colorado for 30 years.

You must be the authority on all things related to your field, so that you can advise your customers. At the same time, if you don't have an answer, always be honest. —Diane Lloyde Roth, owner, L'Armoire

Benefits of Being an Independent Retailer

There are benefits and advantages to running an independent retail business that you just can't get in a bigger operation.

Owning an independent retail company gives you freedoms that you wouldn't get otherwise, according to Diane Lloyde Roth, owner of L'Armoire, a women's fashion boutique in Canaan, Connecticut.

"You get to create your own unique space and be super creative, as well as choose with whom you want to work and set your own hours," says Lloyde Roth. "You can also be a positive influence in your community and with your clients."

Agility is another major benefit of owning an independent retail operation, adds van Dooijeweert.

"Our company can react quickly to local trends, including weather conditions," he says. "Our offices are open for local customers to communicate with us and share concerns. We're therefore keenly aware of their wants and needs. At the same time, we can coach our staff on a daily, if not hourly basis, in order to customize our individualized customer approach."

Lloyde Roth agrees. "The independent retailer is the racing sloop of the world, and the big stores are the aircraft carriers. Independent retailers can tack in and out of the waves and quickly adjust if the retail climate changes, while larger retailers can't easily do that, but may instead end up in dead water."

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Diane Roth Combines Horse Sense With Fashion Sense

Horse. Of the millions of words in the English language, this was Diane Roth’s first uttering — a word, mind you, that completely perplexed her urbanite parents, who found the equestrian term to be nearly as foreign as a word spoken in an entirely different language.

Nonetheless, despite her parents’ confusion, horses became a lifelong passion for Diane, who grew up happily horse-obsessed.

After her first ride at 6 years old, her passion for all kinds of horses continued to mount. She dabbled in hunters and jumpers, competed in 4-H with a Morgan pony named Peter Pan and yelled “tally-ho” during foxhunting trips in the Northeast.

As an adult, Diane found a talent for and love of dressage when a friend connected her with Olympic dressage rider extraordinaire Lendon Gray who, after evaluating Diane’s potential, took Diane under her wing. Fondly calling dressage a mind game, Diane says she quickly found joy and peace through the sport, as well as kinship with Lendon.

Diane and her Lusitano stallion, José
Photo by Mimi Forer

“It’s great for discipline,” she said. “You’re so in-tune with the horse on so many levels.” Laughing, she added that dressage is also much easier on her body than some disciplines of choice from her younger years. “When you’re young,” she said, “you bounce. When you’re old, you break.” So nowadays, Diane prefers the grace of dressage maneuvers to the youthful exhilaration of jumping.

Furthermore, Diane explains, dressage is undeniably good for the soul — which is why she doesn’t mind the early mornings she spends with her gorgeous Lusitano stallion, José. Each day, after her morning coffee, she arrives at the barn at 6:30 a.m., when she says the only humans to be found are “me and the mucker.”

“You can see the sun coming through the trees as it comes up,” she said of her early-morning rides. “You feel so close to God and nature, and you have to focus. It clears your brain.”

This calming effect is perfect for the busy professional, who, when she isn’t at the stable, is busy running her business, L’Armoire in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Photo by Mimi Forer

Fashion Sense
Her business, which has been operational for more than 30 years, is a destination boutique devoted to dressing women for every occasion, from the Oscars to equestrian banquets and everything in between. Her favorite events to dress women for, though, are — hands-down — derbies, like the world-famous Kentucky Derby. “That’s a riot,” she said, alluding to the grandiose hats the races are famous for.

No matter what she dresses women for, though, Diane simply loves the impact fashion can have on someone’s confidence. “If you make a woman look her best,” Diane said, “she can conquer the world.”

Oddly enough, unlike with Diane’s love of horses, her passion for fashion didn’t come early on. In fact, she said, she was quite the tomboy and only fell into fashion when she discovered an aptitude for it while working retail.

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THE ROYAL WEDDING: A GUIDE TO THE DRESS CODE

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle getting ready to say “I do” on May 19th, all eyes are focused on the upcoming wedding. Not invited? Not a problem, as you can still dress as if you were. Celebrity stylist Diane Lloyde Roth has dressed guests of Buckingham Palace and shares some simple tips to make you stand out at any special occasion.

Check out these 10 easy rules from Diane to assure royal-readiness and approval by even the Queen.

It is all about the hat: Make sure your hat and your outfit are going to the same event. The bigger the hat, the smaller the hair.

Cynthia rose silk floral print dress  one of a kind $1,895 with turquoise blue wide brim hat with large red poppy. Kintu luggage bag  $595.

For the next 9 rules please visit: http://resident.com/the-royal-approved-fashion-accessories/ 

A Brilliant Valentine's Day Gift

Resident Magazine reports: On Valentine’s Day happy hearts everywhere turn to thoughts of love. People shower affection on partners, parents, friends, children, teachers, and even pets! They spend over a billion dollars on candy confections and send millions of cards. Most of all, it is a favored time for popping the question. Since the ring has to be just right for that special person, here are some beautiful ideas for proposal or “I love you” Valentine’s Day rings

L’Armoire Platinum & Tanzanite Ring ($32,000)

Browse the latest in luxury accent and gift collections, from European and New York-based designers at L’Armoire. The store also holds an exquisite collection of estate jewelry, handbags, scarves, and hats including this 7.74 carat Gem Tanzanite Ring with total diamond weight of .80 carats of heart-shaped diamonds – the impeccable choice to bring a smile to her face and a “yes” to her lips.

For more click on the article HERE

DIANE ROTH WILL PACK YOUR BAGS FOR YOU

Diane Roth goes the extra mile for her clients.

She’ll style them, dress them — and even pack their suitcases for them.

“They’ll send me their itinerary and I’ll tell them how to pack,” she says, “because I can go for six weeks with a carry-on.”

Roth is the owner of L’Armoire, a clothing and accessories boutique in New Canaan, but she’s also a personal stylist. She’s dressed private clients for all occasions, from the Tony, Emmy and Academy Awards to the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot, events at the White House, date nights, weddings, job interviews, birthdays and everyday wear. Traveling the country, Roth works with celebrities, businesswomen and aspiring fashionistas.

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The Marriage is Over, but the Jewelry is Mine

Diane Lloyde Roth met, and married, her Prince Charming.

He turned into a frog.

Prince Charming No. 2: Frog.

Prince Charming No. 3: Frog.

After Ms. Roth’s third divorce, she sold a Harry Winston band that Frog No. 3 had bought her and purchased three thumb-size gold and diamond frog pins. She wears them crawling up her blouse in a column toward her neck.

“My mother always told me I would have to kiss a lot of frogs,” she said. “Instead, I married them. So this was an inexpensive way to a new beginning.”

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Highlighting Norman Norell

New York’s almost-forgotten fashion designer

0n the big screen, Norell’s designed clothing for the 1962 film “That Touch of Mink” and 1963’s “The Wheeler Dealers.”

“A lot of what he did is as relevant now as then,” said Diane Roth, owner of L’Armoire in New Canaan, Connecticut. She’s received about a dozen inquiries about pieces by Norell last year. Roth sells high-end clothing and accessories, and carries vintage garments.

“The modern designers, if you look at their designs with the big buttons and the four pockets, that’s very Norman Norell,” Roth said.

Designer Donna Karan’s 1985 collection “Seven Easy Pieces” reflected a Norell influence.

To read all the article click HERE