Mama Mia: My top Picks for Mothers' Day Gift ideas

2013 has brought us amazing launches in Trinidad fashion that would be perfect to gift to a stylish mom!
With Outlet Market and UpMarket coming around more often, as well as all the Fashion Weekends, Pop-up shops and jewellery shows, your toughest job is sticking to shopping for Mom and not for yourself!

1. Jewellery

•  I dare you to find me a woman who does not enjoy receiving jewellery! This month Y Art Gallery is showing a great lineup of conceptual exquisite pieces that are perfect for a sophisticated, art-loving, unique woman. This is definitely for those who have extensive budgets, but even if it's just to go have a peek, take your mother down to the gallery to observe these intricate and fantastical pieces of jewellery.
  

Ring by Jade Drake with a miniscule silver sculpture

• Another Launch you will love is Fete A.G.D. Analicia Dubrisingh will be launching her latest collection at The Gallery, Long Circular Mall on Saturday May 11th. I have been lucky enough to get a sneak peek of what is to come, and let me just tell you that this is her best work yet! Beautiful collar necklaces, inspired by Egypt and heavily embellished with multiple hand-beaded stones. 

• At UpMarket on Saturday I met a quiet young lady with a bold look and great pieces! I learnt afterward that her rough-cut diamond encrusted pendants are available at Vamp boutique on Mucarapo Road. Aptly named, her line is called Statements by Sarah Young

  

  Sterling Silver Heart with Embedded Rough-cut Diamonds

  2. Desserts!
• This first treat is actually not for eating! Consider it a calorie free goodie! Feeling Smitten carries an a line of adorable soaps and other pampering suds that look like the most delicious naughty sweets! The products are carried exclusively by Smudge.https://www.facebook.com/FeelingSmittenTT?fref=ts

• My absolute indulgence right now is Cathy Sun's French Macarons. This infectiously bubbly lady creates the cutest french style desserts, with pretty packaging to match! The intense quality and richness of the truffles are an unexpected bonus! She uses the best quality ingredients available! Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/frenchmacaronstt

1. Style

• To be able to give someone the gift of confidence and to have them love the skin they're in, is priceless! Introduced for Mothers' Day I have designed a special customised one-on-one Styling session which can be bought in the form of a gift card! They come inserted in adorable Origami Card Holders, made out of specialty paper! Learn more about them at : http://www.stephanieramlogan.com/#!gift-cards/c1fmn

Here is an Interview I did with CNC3 talking about Style and Shopping for Mom:

Part1

Part 2

• A stylish working lady would definitely appreciate a piece from Emphasis! They carry beautifully tailored pieces in classic designs with modern details! Best part is that they do complimentary alterations! The store is located at Simplicity Mall, Murray Street in Woodbrook. 

A versatile Emphasis Dress I wore to an event recently

• A designer to keep an eye on right now is Darcel Van de Vlugt. She has shared some of her secret plans for the near future and it looks FAB. Most recently she has shown a beautiful Swing Dress in different rich jewel tones! With a loose easy silhouette and graceful drape, it is a timeless piece suitable for most body types. Best part? It is a steal of a deal at $600! This is a definite opportunity not to be passed up! 

  

  http://www.facebook.com/houseofvandervlugt?fref=ts

Playing Fass Part 2: The Bustier Experiment

It would seem that many of you who read my blog posts could relate to the quandary involving boobs, bras and backless outfits- since over 500 people read about my battle (and defeat) with the Free Bra adhesives!

I mentioned at the end of that post that I was having a bustier custom made for me by Van de Vlugt. Yesterday I put it to the test, and wore the yellow satin peplum top to a friend's wedding, where I stuffed my face with dessert, jumped up to Karma's covers of Machel and Super Blue, and waved upon request.

With a beautiful asymmetrical slope from the centre front of the ruffle to the back point, this had to be one of my favourite pieces that I have ever worn in my life! The designer, Darcel for her own label, Van de Vlugt artfully built a superb structure with flattering V-shaped top-stitched style lines and  a marriage between comfort and support like I had never experienced. When I would answer the countless questions about it people where shocked to hear that there was sturdy boning involved! I was told that I looked completely comfortable (and I was)!  Even more surprising as that when the Super Blue comeback hit "Fantastic Friday" played, the bouncing started on the dance floor, but not on me! I was securely locked and loaded, bra-less and all!

Conclusion: Darcel de Vlugt is a creative genius. With technical skills to compete with any couturier, I have 100% faith and trust in her! I definitely recommend that you see her now, before she is grabbed up by Milan or Paris!

This a link to the Van De Vlugt Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/houseofvandervlugt?fref=ts

Playing Fass: Bountiful bosoms and the backless dress

It is every girl's dream to have large boobs! Women have invested billions specifically to breast augmentation in the plastic surgery industry. You don't even have to be wealthy- today I heard one of the girls from Teen Mom2 (one who was living in a car) say that she was thinking about a boob job! Ample breasts are a coveted dream by all except those who have it- those like myself.

When you love fashion, DD's are quite problematic. Dainty, feminine silhouettes and soft sheer fabrics can look like hooker-garb when draped over mountainous mammaries. Unless you're wearing a large box (or tailor all your garments by a pricey specialist) a simple shirt at work can be a peep show with gaping holes between buttons.

The world has recognized our plight and a bunch of products have come out to help us out with being able to rock all the popular fashion trends with ease. Some shirts come with secret buttons which button on the inside between the buttons on the shirt facade.  That seems to be working well. Also, a lot more brands, like Victoria Secret to name one, are making not only attractive bras in larger cup-sizes, but even swimwear! So no longer will I be scaring children (nor attracting their hungry baby siblings) on the beach!

The biggest challenge lies in the dreaded backless garment. An exposed back is so sexy. Hilary Swank's plunging asymmetrical navy Guy Laroche dress that she wore to the 2005 Academy Awards was a monumental fashion statement. It could be one of the sexiest yet still quite sophisticated dresses to ever walk any red carpet. Why can't I have a moment like that?! So I tried a thing.

Hilary Swank as feautred in US magazine

Low back converter straps

Yesterday I played over fass and wore a dress with a very low back and strap detail that draped over the exposed shoulder blades. So beautiful! I tried my Maidenform Lo-back bra converter straps, but they wouldn't go low enough, plus they took away from my bra's support and also dug into the skin around my belly. Since they don't make Nu bras in my size nor have I encountered a backless bra (yet) that can fit me, I decided to go with a pair of Free bra adhesives. Basically it is a sticker that you shape and place over yourself to create support and modesty.

Playing Fass in people house

Necklace by Melissa Phillips

They did the trick! I was very confident strutting to Simply Runway at Grand Bazaar and then to a fashion meeting with some very chic ladies. Compliments galore! Was feeling great until the stinging began. As gravity kicked in the stickers were being pulled off slowly- like the worse Band-Aid ever made. After many bathroom visits where I could discreetly assess my plight, I surrendered to the reality that when I get home (which at this point could never be soon enough) I would be peeling this "bra" off together with some skin. As the hours went by this thing got worse. Not only was all the support gone, but the discomfort was unbearable and the fear and reluctance to go home and skin myself, was creating major anxiety.

So if you have full bosoms and a curvy body, just say goodbye to the loose backless sheaths. We can't have everything. At least we have cleavage. I don't know if that's a sufficient enough consolation prize.

By the way, when I finally got them off (after a PAINFUL 15 mins of peeling away a millimetre at a time and throwing body powder and spraying dry shampoo on myself, I only ended up with minor bruises. Still- not worth it though.

I'm having a dress custom made by Van de Vlugt, with careful boning and lining so that I can attempt this bold bra-lessness once more. I'll keep you posted on if this works. In which case, Darcel will become very popular with the big boobied ladies.