A Line Dress: Everyday Sophistication

The A Line dress is a classic and one that always flatters the figure. There is a reason women love it. It’s something that works for all sorts of occasions. You can see women wearing the dress at the office, for parties, at the park, it’s just one of those amazing everyday versatile dresses.

Like the classic little black dress, the A line is a outfit that every woman needs to have. But, unlike the little black dress, you can have more than one. When a woman is shopping for a little black dress I suggest that they get one really nice one. It doesn’t have to be couture, but it should be a high end designer. That’s because you’re only going to have one. If you have several, then it’s not as practical to get a whole bunch of expensive designer dresses.

The A Line dress, on the other hand, is something that you can have several of. I still suggest getting good, designer A Line dresses, but you don’t have to go full out and get the most expensive designers. Unless you have the budget!

The design, A Line, comes from Dior. The basic cut was popular up until the 1980s when it faded in popularity. But it resurfaced again in the late 90s when designers began to work with the silhouette. You had couture from Dior and Yves Saint Laurent and this inspired other designers to get involved and start making A Line dresses.
Now, you see them everywhere. TV Anchorwomen, Reporters, Media Personalities, everywhere. They are great because they are relaxed, yet form flattering. They have a nice natural flow to them. Here are some choices to look at. 

While you can get an A Line dress virtually anywhere, I do suggest getting a designer dress from a good store. I personally like Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Bergdorf, for dresses. They sell designers (high end and mid price). You don’t have to go broke for a good dress. In fact many really exquisite designers are only a couple hundred, which is fantastic.

When you are getting an A Line dress you have the option of going Mini, Mid Length, or Long. Most A Lines are going to be Mini or Mid Length. The Long does not really work well with the A Line. So here are the choice picks. You can check them out at Neiman Marcuc.

These first three are going to be a few hundred at least. If you are on a budget, then check out the following section where I have some picks that are much more affordable.

 This next one is a bit pricey, but its a beautiful Carolina Herrara A Line dress, so I had to include it.

This is another exquisite design by an amazing designer. This Lela Rose sleeveless comes in two color options.

Here are some really beautiful dresses, that won't set you back too much. These dresses are available at Nordstroms. 

These first two are from Betsey Johnson. She designed a realy cute and fun A Line look.

Here is a really sophisticated design from Kate Spade. This would work well at the office, and works great for parties. That's the great thing about a good A Line design. They are the ultimate in versatility.

And, finally, a classic, amazing look from Hugo Boss. This is super sleek and sexy. It's one of my favoriate designs.

 

The Classic Little Black Dress

The Little Black Dress

 The little black dress is probably the most famous item of clothing in the world. It’s definitely the most ionic. Every lady needs to have a little black dress. You’ve heard that right? Well, it’s true. This is a piece that every woman needs to have in their wardrobe.

Donna Karan Little Black Dress

Sexy and Classic. A perfect LBD.

Donna Karan

Donna Karan Little Black Dress (rear)

 

 

A classic cocktail dress is something that never goes out of style. Or rather, it will be in style for a while. You wouldn’t wear a flappers cocktail tress from the 1920’s, and that was technically the little black dress of its time.

The modern look of the classic little black dress comes from Paris. Specifically, designer and fashion icon Coco Chanel. The design caught on and was featured in fashion magazines such as Vouge.

The dress was made famous by appearances in movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Everyone from Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Elizabeth Taylor to modern stars like Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie and the stars of Sex and the City embraced the design.

Women love  the dress for two reasons.

The first, is that the little black dress looks great. It is a dress that works with all occasions. Cocktail parties, dinners, birthday parties, office parties, night clubs. There is really no other piece in your wardrobe that will be as versatile.

The second reason women love the little black dress is that you get your moneys worth. If you are on a budget, or don’t want a closet full of outfits that you can only wear once in a while, then the little black dress is perfect.

So, now that you have read a bit of the background, I bet you’re wondering where you can get one?

If you’re getting a little black dress, then get a good one. It’s not something you will have twelve of. It’s not like shoes. So go for a great designer and something that you’ll feel sexy and sophisticated wearing.

Zac Posen Little Black Dress

 A rally fun update. A pleated skirt bottom. Elegant and fun.

The first place I suggest you look for your little black dress is Bergdorf Goodman. If you’re not in New York, don’t worry. They have a website, like everyone else!. Why Bergdof? Well, they are the name in fashion. If you want high end fashion, then there is no other place to go.

Fashion works like this.

 Haute Couture: This is the stuff that can cost 10,000 for a dress. It’s what you see on the runways every season. The designs will sometimes find their way to Ready-to-Wear or Prêt-à-Porter.

Prêt-à-Porter: This is the high end off the rack designer clothing. This is what I suggest getting. You will spend a bit more than you might be used to, but remember that you’re only getting. You want something that is designer made. Not something that was made from some ugly cookie cutter pattern by someone who is concerned with cutting costs.

The particular designer you choose is up to you. Some ladies like a slim form fitting cut, others want something that has a more curvy shape.

Some designers that make amazing Little Black Dresses are: Burberry, Carolina-Herrera, Armani, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Lela Rose, Zac Posen and Donna Karen.

Here are some more looks. If you like one you can find it at Bergdorf.

Burberry Sleeveless Little Black Dress 

 

Catherine Deane Little Black Dress

This one has a beautiful lace design. Absolutely gorgeous. If you want a European style Lace inspired design, then this is a perfect look.

Armani Colezioni Collection  Little Black Dress

This is a sleek reworking of the classic look.  Bergdorf has a video of the dress on their site so you can get a better look. It is a great example of Armani's esthetic. It has a classic silhouette and is an exceptional dress.

Where to Buy Thong Bikini Bottoms

One of the most common questions women (and their boyfriends too) have is: Where to buy thong bikini bottoms?

It's not as easy to find real thong bikinis as you would think. Alot of the swimsuits that are marketed as thong bikinis, but they are really just basic string bikinis. There are not that many places that actually sell real thongs. So, here is a few places that specialize in thong bikinis. They also sell micro thongs and g-strings.

When you go looking for thong bikini bottoms you have a few different styles and options. You have the Brazilian thong bottoms. These are the less revealing. They are really popular in Brazil, surprise surprise! They provide a bit of coverage on the butt. They are great for women who don't like regular baggy bikini bottoms, but don't want to go for a the classic thong. They are like an in-between.

The classic thong is something that is never going to go out of style, and there can be no imitators. It has more material than a G-String, but it is still sexy. This style of bikini bottom is really popular with celebs. You'll see photos of everyone from Glee stars Lea Michelle and Naya Rivera wearing them while on vacations at the beach, to supermodels like Giselle Bundchen and actresses like Kate Hudson and Sofia Vergara wearing them.

The best place to buy real thong bikinis is BerryDog. Women who are interested in where to buy sexy thong bottoms don't need to look any further. They have every style imaginable. You can find them at Amazon.

Here are some classic thong bikinis. I'm going to show you the bottom so you know exactly what it looks like. Don't you hate it when you're looking for bottoms and they only show you the front?

Most of these will be tops and bottoms, but I will post a few bottoms separates.


This is a really sexy thong bikni that's for sale at Amazon. There are lots of reviews from women who have purchases this thong, so you can read what they say: style, fix, coverage....

Here's an awesome sexy thong bikini made by COQUETA. It comes in lots of colors.

Here are three colors but there are a bunch more for sale.

You can look at them here.

Chloé Bikini Swimsuits

Chloé is one of the more interesting fashion houses. Alot of people credit them with bringing high fashion to the public. The company was started by a woman named Gaby Aghion.

The concept was clear. Bring luxury, high end fashion, ready to wear or Prêt-à-Porter to women who didn't have the money to by haute couture. 

At the time there was no in-between. It was only haute couture, which was custom made and only a few people could afford, and regular clothing that was often not stylish.

Chloe offered ready to wear fashion. The trend soon became popular and everyone in the fashion industry followed.

Two of the main designers to have worked with Chloe were Karl Lagerfeld, Phoebe Philo, and Stella McCartney.

 The brand got really popular during the last few years under Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo. Alot  of celebriteis like Natalie Portman and Kristen Dunst were seen at the fashion shows and loved the clothing. This marked a departure from the more intense and high fashion look that the line had under Lagerfeild.

Chloé bikinis are designer swimsuits. They are not cut super sexy...for that you should go with BerryDog. But if you're looking for something hot, stylish, and perfectly designed. Then Chloé  makes a fantastic pick.

Here are a few beautiful Chloé bikinis available from Saxs Fifth Ave. One is a triangle top bikini in red with chain accents. The other is a Navy design.