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GALA GLAM
Our fashion blogger’s go-to guide for how to look sensational this season.
By Heather Dunhill
It’s always a wonder how soon the next Sarasota social
The hottest color combination? Stark black and snow white.
season arrives when the last one seriously feels like 20
Finally, a trend that those of us clinging to ebony can incor-
minutes ago. But it is in fact time to transition into the social
porate! Find a LWD (Little White Dress) to take you through
and stylish swing of things.
this season’s cocktail and garden parties. And note that
To help you, I’ve pored over what’s trending from the New
York, Paris and Milan runway shows and culled standout
pieces that are a perfect fit for our city’s social scene. And
I’ve also tapped four experts who can help you pull together
your very best look: make-up artist Eri Vincent, jewelry
winter white is still strong. It’s fashion’s permission to break
the archaic “No white after Labor Day” rule. Friendly word
of advice: When you’re wearing your LWD, go for the white
rather than red wine or order Grey Goose on the rocks, twist
of lemon.
designer Liebe Gamble, menswear expert Geoffrey Michel
Gold is holding its value in more than metals—you’ll see it in
and hair stylist Amanda Vincent. You’ll read their tips on the
everything from shoes to evening gowns. Nothing pairs with
following pages.
gold better than rich, lush jewel tones; you’ll be mesmerized
Among the hot items you’ll be seeing on Sarasota’s stylesavvy is leather, a major element from accent detailing to
dress pants and elegant jackets to a full-on evening sheath.
by the deep ruby, emerald and sapphire hues as well as the
new breakout color of oxblood red. Do it from head to toe in
varying gradations for a stunning, dramatic look.
Designers have made it soft-edged, buttery and extremely
Another familiar trend is prints. However, they’ve gravitated
wearable. Skirts are gaining momentum, and dresses con-
from tops to pants and even evolved into gorgeous brocade.
tinue to trend strong. And peplum—a short overskirt and the
As for gowns, glamour is in and the styling speaks to the
natural waist—is still having a moment. This ultra-feminine
modern woman even as it hints at the retro femme. You’ll
silhouette flatters all shapes and creates the illusion of a
also see soft, draped necklines on evening dresses.
cinched waist for that Sophia Loren hourglass look. Also keep
an eye out for sharp suiting; it’s fast becoming a sub-trend.
There’s always crossover from season to season; no surprise
that color has staying power. To keep it on trend, pair any
hue, even shocking ones, with gray. Consider gray your new
staple neutral tone. It takes the bite out of black and puts a
softer edge on the color pairing.
Last but absolutely not the least on your gala list are your
evening clutch and heels, two areas of opportunity to make
a major statement with your styling.
Above all, be comfortable in your choices—there’s nothing
stylish about a woman who spends the evening adjusting her
skirt or tugging a strapless gown. If you feel gorgeous, you’ll
look gorgeous. It really is as simple as that.
Clockwise from top, opposite: Leather rules, including in this Derek Lam sleeveless top; Bulgari clutch with snakehead closure; Manolo
Blahniks pump up the gold; Jenny Packham’s Hollywood-hot gown in tones of gray with ultra-red lipstick; Peter Som’s oxblood-red
cocktail dress with peplum; stackable bracelets in varying shapes, metals and gemstones by Yossi Harari.
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PARTY PICKS
My hot list for the season ahead.
liebe gamble on jewels of the season.
What’s on trend with jewelry now?
From left: Pique-nique, Wine,
Women and Shoes, RIAF party.
Every ticket here is worth having, but if you choose one event,
consider the new Opening Night on Oct. 10. With this one,
the museum may take back its rightful place with a big season
opening event, like the glory days of the old UnGala Gala.
The ticket price of $500 includes a pre-performance cocktail
reception on the terrace of the Cà d’Zan followed by a performance by the Mark Morris Dance Group. The festivities conclude with an elegant dinner in the museum’s galleries among
the historic interiors from the Astor mansion in New York. If
those walls could talk….
If you
don’t already have a pumped-up pair of kicks, start shopping
now. If you score a ticket to the eighth annual Wine, Women
and Shoes Signature Luncheon on Nov. 2 then you’ll be among
600 other well-heeled (in every sense) bon vivants. Co-chairs
Emily Stroud and Jamie Becker will drape the Ritz-Carlton
Ballroom in a Palm Springs chic theme where, for a $300
patron ticket, you’ll sip, shop and socialize before, during and
after lunch and the fashion show, all to benefit Forty Carrots
Family Center.
This event tends to sell out. I heard that if that happens,
they’ll post any last-minute ticket availability on the Forty
Carrots Facebook page.
Wine, Women and Shoes: Signature Luncheon
Sarasota Wine & Balloon Festival: Balloon Glow
Yep, there’s another new party in town. The Florida Winefest
& Auction presents the Sarasota Wine & Balloon Festival
April 4-7, 2013, with 15-plus events featuring hot air balloons
with rides and everything. The kickoff Balloon Glow event
will be April 4 with a sit-down dinner for 300, under tents,
with more than 35 boutique wineries pouring their prize
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vintages while hot air balloons illuminate the night sky. All
for $200 per guest.
your jewelry the main event. If you’re going for a bold look, pick two
pieces: one big and one small, like a statement necklace with a cocktail
ring. Or, for the minimalist’s evening attire, go with a small drop earring
set in the new trend of rose gold for an updated look without an overwhelming change in design. What looks are you excited about?
So many, but those best for gala attire are rough-cut stones set with
diamonds, the reverse cuff, stackable bracelets featuring textured metal
in various rich colors and the bib/collar necklace.
Pique-nique is unlike any other
event, which is saying something considering the number
of parties we throw here. It’s a grand outdoor event and
spring fashion show at the Bayside Gardens of College Hall,
presented by the New College Library Association. More
than 450 ladies, along with a few intrepid men, will gather
on April 10 and don a chapeau that expresses their inimitable style, from vintage to high fashion. The hat factor alone
recalls a sophisticated garden party of another time, with
Sarasota Bay as a timeless backdrop. Tickets are $150.
barbara banks
Ringling International Arts Festival: Opening Night
rebecca baxter
This season, turn the tables and let your dress be the accessory, making
Pique-nique sur la Baie
The Y Foundation has successfully
closed the social season with this event for the last 21 years.
Last May’s Cirque du Gold felt more like an elegant interactive European street fair than fund raiser, with acrobats,
jugglers and mimes engaging the senses at every turn.
This year’s plans are still under wraps, but what I’ve
learned is most intriguing: Think Asia in Springtime, draped
in cherry blossoms. What a gorgeous idea! It’s May 4 at the
Y’s Frank G. Berlin Sr. Branch; tickets $250.
Are fashion colors translating into jewelry?
Absolutely! Colors for this season include old-world jewel tones like cobalt
blue, kelly green and pigeon’s-blood red. Wearing a lapis lazuli earring with
a white or black dress not only creates a luxe look but it’s also a beautiful
way to draw attention to your blue eyes.
Are chandelier earrings still in?
The traditional long chandelier with all the moving parts is no
longer in; what’s big are clean, modern hoops with rough-cut,
organic stones of intense color. But don’t get rid of your chandeliers. Just tuck them away; they’ll be back.
Going for the Gold
You’ll enter
the vast red-and-white striped big top at Tuttle Avenue and
12th Street on Jan. 18, 2013, by passing through a draped
hallway of jovial greeters—a great beginning to a night filled
with oohs, aahs and laughter. I love the hometown feeling of
this only-in-Sarasota event, which includes some of the best
circus entertainment in the world. I heard there’s a chance
the death-defying Nik Wallenda will be there, fresh from his
Niagara Falls triumph. Tickets start at $195.
Circus Sarasota Gala Under the Big Top
What’s making a comeback?
Popular in the early ’80s, the bib/collar necklace is absolutely
huge in fashion jewelry now. And you can get multiple wears out of it
during the season. It easily transforms everything from a black evening
gown to a white silk blouse to your business suit.
Who’s the new jewelry designer to watch?
For the uptown girl who likes fine jewelry, it’s Phillips House. Their line is
incredibly wearable, well designed and so fabulous. If you’re downtown
and really edgy, then it’s Anndra Neen. She puts a modern spin on cuffs
that look like cages.
Liebe Gamble (pronounced Lee-ba) has a daring, nonchalant style with an unnerving sense of what’s new before it’s on
the runways. She returned to her Sarasota roots from Los Angeles to join her mother, June Simmons, in her longtime
jewelry business. Now some of the hottest jewelry designers know Liebe by name, and June Simmons Designs has
expanded for the first time in 40 years, opening a shop within The Met.
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On any given day (when he’s not training for a marathon), Geoffrey Michel looks as if he stepped out of a Ralph Lauren
ad. Co-owner of The Met on St. Armands Circle with his wife, Brenda, Michel began his luxury retail career at the age
of 16. His philosophy? Keep it simple and sophisticated, with finishing touches that define your personal style.
Amanda Vincent talks party hair
What’s the one thing we can do to look fresh
and on trend this season?
The looks right now are retro, glam, sexy and girly,
but no overly dramatic coloring—everything is soft.
As with all trends, one size does not fit all, so do what
geoffrey michel’s tips for men
looks best on you. Bangs are always a fresh way for a
new look, if your face can pull it off.
What’s one thing a guy can do to look on trend this season?
This year the red carpets were filled with
sleek looks and bombshell hairstyles. Any of
those hot for fall?
Good tailoring. So many pieces out there just don’t fit properly. Menswear
cuts are closer to the body now. It’s no longer the time to wear loose,
bulky clothing.
All of the red carpet looks will follow through, absolutely—like Rooney Mara’s severe cut and parts as well as Sofia
Any essentials for the social season?
Vergara’s old Hollywood side-swept hairstyle.
It’s time to own a tux. For a while we got by with the hybrid jacket, but
now owning a well-fitting tux is vital. If it’s been in your closet for four
What about headbands and hair jewelry—should we be
taking a closer look at those?
years, get it tailored. More than that, I suggest donating it. And be sure
to learn how to tie a bowtie.
Yes, very much so. There are many options out there, like scarves
with chain detailing. Also, ever since the Duchess of Cambridge
Men’s power suits were all over the runways for fall.
How does a professional take it from the boardroom to
cocktail party?
and royal wedding attendees adopted fascinators they’ve trickled
down into party hair accessories.
Look for a suit that’s romantic in design and cut. My advice would be to
What new looks are you most excited about?
invest in a nice chalk stripe or charcoal suit, which can evolve from day
I get excited about hair every day. I especially love giving a client
to dinner party.
a whole new fresh look. It’s hard to say “I can’t wait to do this or
that.” It has to fit the person.
What about shoes?
I’d rather see a gentleman invest in two good pairs of shoes than eight
What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes
to their hair?
moderate, trendy shoes. One brown and one black pair will go miles. For
instance, a pair of brown wingtips can be worn
doing. People take that advice literally, like if you have full, thick
hair you cannot have bangs—I hate that!
Tell us about a new product that you can’t live without.
Kérastase has come out with a new daily shampoo for long hair,
which I’m loving, called Cristalliste. It’s lightweight at the roots and
has polymers that adhere to the hair where it needs conditioning,
like dry ends, and it smells delicious.
What can you suggest to combat our tropical humidity?
barbara banks
A Keratin treatment—no matter what bad press you read, the
treatments make your hair healthy. It looks beautiful all the time,
seals in color and staves off frizz.
barbara banks
They read fashion magazines that tell them what they should be
with jeans or a suit.
How does a guy incorporate color
into his wardrobe?
Build on the foundation of your outfit. Let’s
say it’s a black or gray suit. Adding in color
with accessories like a necktie or pocket
square will give the outfit a finishing touch
and that pop of on-trend color.
Anything making a comeback?
Double-breasted suits, wingtips, hand-tied
bowties, pocket squares and tucked-in shirts.
Men’s style is not so casual anymore. Even
his haircuts and shave should be cleaner.
Amanda Vincent is a hip Brit who’s clued in to what’s trending on the street before it hits the mainstream adopters, and
she marries this talent with experience as a master hair stylist. Settled in as a Sarasotan for more than 17 years now,
Vincent hails from Sussex, England, just an hour outside of London. In the fall of 2010, the mother of twin boys opened
the doors to her eponymous salon in historic Burns Court, the Amanda Vincent Studio.
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Eri Vincent is making her way as a free-lance artist in the make-up industry, and it’s clear why—her enthusiasm for
what makes a woman beautiful is infectious. She has a polished, everyday-girl style that she augments perfectly with a
bit of unfussy glam. At 28, she’s already earned her stripes by breaking into editorial and production work with the likes
of WebMD, Hydroxycut and HGTV’s Million Dollar Rooms with Carter Oosterhouse.
DRESS CODES
face time with eri Vincent
Deciphering that description on your invitation.
What
Black Tie
Cocktail Attire
Semi-formal/
Informal
What’s the one thing we can do to look
current this season?
Bold brows and bright punchy lips with a lip color
like NARS’ Schiap. It’s a lively, cotton-candy hue.
What it
Formal evening dress. Take cues from the invitation.
Cocktail attire is a balance
Often misinterpreted as
Focusing on the lips is an easy trend since you
means
Hand-pressed stationery lends itself to a lavish event and
between casual and formal,
casual, this is perhaps the
don’t have to do a million colors on your face.
you’ll have to up the ante. An invite in the playful genre
which allows for personal style
most confusing of the dress
will allow you to be a bit more creative with your black
and sartorial drama.
code list. It’s common to make
tie. When in doubt, take the invite to an in-store stylist for
the mistake of being under-
What advice would you give to the
woman who’s been wearing the same lipstick since 2003?
some one-on-one advice.
dressed, much to the chagrin
I say it’s just make-up, have fun with it! Bright lipstick can make your eyes
of the attendee.
pop and teeth look whiter, so why not? And you can rub a little on your
cheeks to give a glow.
For Her
Formal Attire, Black Tie and Long Dresses, Black Tie
Suit + Tie Requested, Jacket
Resort Formal, Theater Atten-
Required, Black Tie Only.
Required, Receptions, Mocktail
dance, Uptown Elegance
What’s new in color?
Party, Social Hour, Mixer, Up-
For eyes, smoky chocolate brown and graphic eyeliner such as the cat eye
scale Casual, Downtown Chic,
and winged-out eyeliner. Also, light washes of silver and metallics on the
Dress to Kill, Simply Fabulous
eyelid are hot.
Nowadays, you have lots of options. You can pull off
Cut a stylish figure with a
Up the ante on cocktail attire.
We love a good secret. What’s an industry insider brand?
dressed-up separates, a feminine tux, knee-length
touch of glam. Here’s where a
Most hemlines are acceptable,
OCC, or Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. It’s a cult brand that all
dresses, even a gorgeous cashmere sweater with a satin
good little black dress comes
but I suggest avoiding too
make-up artists have in their kit. The Lip Tar line is well priced at $14.50
ball gown skirt or a dress with a plunging back. Choose a
in handy; just change up the
short, and long is not neces-
a tube and it goes on like a gloss and wears like a stain. It’s super highly
polished hairstyle and make-up that’s different from your
accessories. Also, consider a
sary. If you want to play it safe
pigmented, so you only need a dot, and it tastes minty.
everyday look—maybe even a red pouty lip. Flaunt your
chic pantsuit (not a biz suit,
go with a black lace cocktail
And they have every color imaginable.
best jewels, and unless you have a pair of great shoes al-
though) or jumpsuit—but ditch
dress, knee-length or mid-calf,
ready, here’s permission to invest in a chic pair of strappy
the long dress. For the top, go
or an ultra polished pant suit
sandals, or open-toe or satin pumps.
for splashy sequins, modern
What products are always in your purse?
or jumpsuit with some sheen—
I always have black eyeliner in my bag. It can intensify
metallics or off the shoul-
all would be pitch-perfect.
eyes from day to night. And NARS peachy blush in
der. As for the hair: artfully
barbara banks
AKA
Liberte; it wakes your face up.
tousled.
For Him
Any new product you can’t live without?
Some experts say a black suit is an acceptable substi-
The rule here is simple—a dark
No tux required. In fact, you’d
MAC has a nude liner that when applied to the inner
tute, but when in doubt, go with the tux. And fellas, the
suit, pinstripe or fitted; button-
find yourself overdressed in
rim of the eye will brighten tired eyes and make them
host expects your jacket to be worn for the evening, not
down shirt, top button undone
one. Choose a nice suit and
look bigger. Also, apply just under the eyebrow arch
hung on the back of your chair. If you choose a bowtie
with or without a tie. Toss in
tie—for day, go with a lighter
for a lift and, above the cupid’s bow on your lip to give
over a tux tie, then be sure to tie your own. Additional
a patterned pocket square
color, for nighttime choose a
them a fuller look.
options are a pocket square, vest or cummerbund, all of
or add flair in your socks and
darker suit. A vest is an option
which are on trend. Finishing touch: the shoes—patent
shoes. Remember to change
for evening, but not necessary.
leather or a pair of handsome tux slippers.
out your running watch for a
No jeans or sport coats.
stylish upgrade.
How do we get a luxurious look for a black-tie
event without looking too-too?
Go with clean beautiful skin, clean simple eye, clean
cheek color and clean bright lips, which will perfectly
intensify one feature. No need to pack on too many
products, just add false lashes for instant glamour.
For more dress code insights go to my Fashion IQ blog @ sarasotamagazine.com
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