Ask a Stylist: Ms. Kay’s Closet

May 28th, in Beauty, Fashion, Make Up, by Tanisha Shulamit

I am here for another installment of Ask a Stylist. Of course this time. The item(s) come to us via BB&W alum Ms.Kay. I must admit, that Ms. Kay already has fabulous style. She sent me pieces from her closet, styled them the way she normally does and then asked, “How would you style these pieces differently?”

Author : Tanisha Shulamit

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Good’day BB&W Crew,

ARE you sure you want to ask ME that question Ms. Kay? Yep she was sure and I went to work. I pretty much use 95% of the pieces from her wardrobe and added some things of my own. She pretty much had what she needed, she just needed a few switcheroos and a couple of fine tuning. She sent me about 15 pieces but I did not have the time to style all of them so I chose pieces and created 4 looks differently from what she did to show you guys that the pieces you have in your closet can be a multitude of outfits. Here’s what I came up with

Polkadot Skirt

Polkadot SKirt;: Ask a Stylist by lattes-n-lipstick featuring drop earrings

J Crew cotton t shirt, $30
Leather satchel
Silver jewelry, $32
1928 drop earrings, $12
Illamasqua beauty product, $43
Nail polish, $35
Women’s Franco Sarto Instinct Black, $89
(1) Fab.com | Cameos For The Modern Age
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Fashion Fair Lip Teasers®

WHY IT WORKS

Here I decided to add a black ballet tee and combine it with the charcoal gray blazer to give her a girlish–read bodacious–figure by nipping in her waist. Black, gray and nude are great colors together, neither one overpowers the other. Throw in some wine colored and quirky accessories to add a bit of color and originality. For beauty, go for a daytime smoky eye with wine stained lips and nails and this outfit is perfect for the office and cocktails.

TAILORED

tie neck cardi : ask a stylist by lattes-n-lipstick featuring a black lipstick

MNG by Mango zippered tote bag, $52
Boucheron jade ring
Vintage style jewelry, $95
1928 jewelry, $24
Cole haan belt, $48
Iman black lipstick, $10
Tarte eyeshadow, $17
Tarte eyeshadow, $17
Black nail polish, $15
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Ask a Stylist

WHY IT WORKS

Most of the time, we like to wear our cardigans on the outside of our bottoms, but this tie front cardigan calls for something more tailored. Instead of wearing it out, combine it with these wide leg pants and tuck it in and belt the pants. Its delicate color calls for a little depth so add a black nail varnish, smoky eyes and dark lips and you take this ensemble to whole new level of glam. Using art deco accessories adds a touch of sophistication and this outfit is good for a evening out at the ballet or opera or office party. Either way you slice it, you’d be the cat’s pajamas in it.

FRENCH CHIC

Little Boy Blue Dress: Ask A Stylist by lattes-n-lipstick featuring lip makeup

Zara genuine leather handbag, $80
Nautical necklace, $110
Vicenza yellow gold jewelry, £5.60
Madewell earrings, $15
Jamie Joseph rose jewelry, $860
Elastic belt, $20
Cream eyeliner
Lip makeup, $14
Nail polish, $15
Scarve
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Ask a Stylist
Phebe

WHY IT WORKS

It’s not quite Breakfast of Tiffany’s, but this ensemble definitely has the class appeal of a chic Parisian woman. Ms. Kay usually wears this dress with a jacket or cardigan, but I decided to wear it bare, belt it at the waist with an embellished belt, and add nautical style accessories, drape a scarf over it and voilá, an up to date outfit perfect for a ladies’ luncheon. Add some white nail varnish and red lips and you can walk down the streets of Paris and if you never opened your mouth, everyone would think you were Parisian.

A FLORAL MIX

Snakes and Flowers: Ask A Stylist by lattes-n-lipstick featuring illamasqua nail polish

Volcom handbag, $52
Antique jewelry, $16
Club Manhattan rhinestone necklace, €20
Drop earrings, £5
MAC Cosmetics glitter eye makeup, $15
NARS Cosmetics creme blush, $28
Memento lip makeup, $14
Make Up For Ever waterproof makeup, $18
Illamasqua nail polish, $14
Ask a Stylist
Ask a Stylist
Ask a Stylist

WHY IT WORKS

This floral print dress is begging for me to give it some edge. Using color from the print itself, I added this olive green cardigan to the mix. And with these animal print shoes I gave this outfit some edge. The key to mixing prints is finding prints with the same colors or complementary colors in them. Try not to over power the outfit with competing print sizes, rather, make one print smaller than the other. Adding artistic jewelry such as the sparrow earrings, cocktail ring and owl necklace, keeps this outfit feminine and the cute coral orange tote, another color snagged from the color palette in the top half of the dress pulls this outfit together.

Ms. Kay, thanks for this challenging assignment. I enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to more pieces from you ladies. Make sure to send your inquiries to askastylist@lattesandlipstick.com

BlackWomenDeserveBetter 1910 pts

I love versatile clothing such as the ones shown above. A few of these can go from day to dinner with a change of shoes/accessories...Keep it up @Tanisha!

My latest conversation: QueenOfThePen: Shhhhh . . . Keep Your Plans to Yourself

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nikichambers 137 pts

All these looks are amazing...and affordable! It drives me crazy when I look in magazines that offer styling tips that are filled with $1500 shoes and $400 t-shirts. Thank you for thinking about the budget conscious fashionista!!

Ms. Kay 428 pts

nikichambers I shop 'sales' rack. I walk in the store. admire the great things at the front, then sashay my way to the sales rack...lol! that Green cardi in the pic...$35 Banana Republic. so become one with the sales rack..lol!!

Speechless!!!!....love them all Tanisha. You have great eyes!!! now can you move North of the border. thx.....

Shulamit 1986 pts

Ms. Kay **sings** Dream on dream awayyyyy eh.. ALthough I must admit, I have always wanted to visit Toronto. Give me a place to stay and some slop for a few days and I'll come up and style you :-)

Shulamit DONE AND DONE!.... So, uummmm, I'll be seeing you in a few??? My closet would so love you. Too many pieces.

You've done such an amazing job. The orange dress- never thought of it with the green top. (will be rocking that outfit to a conference tomorrow..woohhooo!!!) and will be wearing design no. 1 this morning. Yes. Tanisha you have great eyes!!

MixedUpInVegas 1692 pts

Ms. Kay Shulamit

<----- is jealous! My closet could use some styling, too! Too much stuff, but I'm really attached to all of it.

Ms. Kay PICTURES!!! lol..

MixedUpInVegas Ms. Kay send me some pics ma'am!

Shulamit I HATE Pictures. so the chances of that happening?...lets just get you on a plane to Toronto ...lol!!

Thanks you guys for your support. A girl could get a big head around here..

Morenika 870 pts

I love the way everything was put together. Scarves and bold jewelry pieces are in. I live for fashion..

These are killer! Especially love the French chic--I LOVE scarves. Even an old lady like me would wear most of these, but with more comfortable shoes--after having both hips replaced, my sky-high, platform heels days are over!

MixedUpInVegas Love. Love. Scarves. I have a whole collection. I think I'm in the process of getting rid of them, since I haven't been wearing them lately (I'm thinking my style is changing -yet again)

Ms. Kay

Don't throw 'em out, yet, Ms. Kay. I find myself going in cycles with them; I wear the hell out of them for a while, then I don't for a while, repeat as needed.

MixedUpInVegas I was like that for soooo long. then suddenly i can't remember rocking a scarf for a long time....but I'll take your advise and keep them. Fashion is always recycling.

Ms. Kay MixedUpInVegas don't you dare! Scarves are SOOOOOOO INNNNN right now. Wrap them bad boys and learn new ways to wear them :-)

The Working Home Keeper 7008 pts

All those look great!

Toni_M 20117 pts moderator

Good stuff! :)

Black Women With Other Brothers 1656 pts

You're good, very good at styling!

Karla 19183 pts

Loved numbers one and four but not sure about the snakeskin shoes. I have never thought about tucking a cardi but am going to try it!

Karla lol!! "tucking a cardigan"...it depends on the length of the cardi. Like I have mostly shorter cardi, so I tuck those in. But looks good. just give it a try.

ElfeV 7359 pts

i love it!

Karla00 382 pts

Not exactly my style but they look great!

ASwirlGirl 3226 pts

You have such a magic touch! Looks #1, 3, and 4 are me all day long! Look #2 is nice; just not sure I'd wear the cardigan tucked in. As you stated, it would be worth a try just to break out of a standard mold.