Six ways to find your style:

1. Make tear sheets. Read lots of magazines and books and tear out or make copies of things that resonate with you, whether they are whole outfits or just appealing color combinations, beautiful textiles, scenes that evoke a certain era or feeling, or anything at all that you think you want to express with your clothes.

2. Write down your style history. Reflect on your life and take note of the things that have influenced you most.

3. Try a lot of looks. Experiment. Everything I know about my style and my taste has been the result of trying out every look in the book.

4. Constantly ask yourself questions. The more answers you have the more defined your style will be. What proportions flatter you? What fabrics and colors do you love? What kind of mood do you seek to create around yourself? What pieces in your closet do you come back to again and again?

5. Find your style icons and inspiration. Identifying with someone whose style you admire is a great way to figure out whether something is you. Inspiration equals personal style.

6. Make an effort. Style will not appear in your life on its own. I always feel and look my best when I’m dressed in evening clothes because that is when I make the biggest effort. We can’t go the whole nine yards every morning, but muster what energy you can and you’ll feel better all day long.

Claire and Katty in their DVF

Last week DVF hosted a book launch party for Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success, the new tome by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay. The two women (of Good Morning American and BBC News respectively) collaborated on the new book, which explores the role of women in the workplace and gives you insight on how to have it all! The authors were divine in their DVF dresses and everyone from Katy Couric to Al Roker to Charlie Gibson stopped by to congratulate them. Plus! The book just debuted at #10 on the NYTimes bestseller list (Advice/How to) for the week of June 21st! Congrats to Claire and Katty, who even with their busy schedules managed to pop by our Sample Sale last week and pick up some book tour-worthy wardrobe additions.

Buy the book…

The Spelling Bee

On Monday, November 3rd DVF hosted We Put a Spell on You, a spelling bee to benefit the Council of Literary Magazines & Presses at the studio. The evening started off with Bubbles & Bites where guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and bee-themed cocktails while checking out the silent auction. At 8pm sharp, the Spelling Bee commenced with MC Bob Morris (The New York Times) and Judge Jesse Sheidlower (Editor At Large, Oxford English Dictionary). The Spellers included last year’s reigning champion, Meg Wolitzer (The Position), as well as an animated group of other notable writers and editors. But the King Bee crown went to Jonathan Burnham (Publisher, HarperCollins) who won it all with the word astigmatism.

Learn more about Council of Literary Magazines & Presses…