Attention Temecula Fashionistas!


It's that time again for the Project Style Live Style Off at the Promenade Temecula Forest City Shopping Center ! Join me THIS Saturday September 29 at 3PM as I host this year's Live Style off, where five finalists will compete for the Top Trendsetter title and $1,000 Promenade Temecula Shopping Spree prize!!!

Last year, I hosted this very same contest at the Promenade Temecula and let me tell you, I had a BLAST!!! So many people came out to see the Live Style Off and as usual, I had a great time doing my post-competition Meet-and-Greet and taking all the Facebook and Twitter photos I could!

These were last year's finalists (above photo) and they BROUGHT IT when it came to their looks so I really hope this year's Finalist will OUTDO them!! I'm looking forward to that! And I hope that Temecula shoppers will also BRING IT!! And out-do last year's audience!!! And don't forget, I'll be doing a Recap right here on my BLOG so you might become "semi-style famous" by coming out and maybe making it into my Style Blog!


DETAILS:

South Bay Galleria Trendsetter Fab!


It's PROJECT STYLE Live Style Off time at various Forest City Centers across Southern California--and the US--and two weeks ago I had the honor of co-hosting--along with Style Network's "How Do I Look?" host Jeannie Mai--South Bay Galleria's edition of this fun and fabulous style competition.

Hosts With the Most: Project Style 2012 Spokespersons and Host Nick Verreos and Jeannie Mai

As you may know, both Jeannie Mai and I are the Official Spokespersons of Project Style 2012 and back in March, we shot a fun video, encouraging Trendsetters/Stylistas to put together looks, style themselves, shoot a mini video and put it up on the Project Style website--to eventually have a chance to win the Top Trendsetter prize and a $1000 Shopping Spree from the participating malls/centers. Then, all the 15 regional winners will go on to compete NATIONALLY for the Grand Prize--a trip for two to New York City during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week next year!


Now, back to South Bay Galleria's Live Style Off...I began the event with some fun introductions, and greeting all the shoppers, guests and family members/loved ones of the finalists who were all gathered at the Center Court of South Bay Galleria. I also had to do my traditional "Runway Blessing" (so none of the finalists would have a runway malfunction while on stage)...


Joining Jeannie and I to judge today was Sean Dennison (above far right) Personal Stylist manager of Nordstrom South Bay Galleria. Sean was really great in bringing his years of expertise and insight on styling to help in deciding who would win the Final Live Style Off prize of a $1000 South Bay Galleria Shopping Spree.

The Finalists:


Each of them got to do a runway walk showing their outfits that they put together:





Interview Portion: After their catwalks, Jeannie and I had a "one-on-one" interview asking each finalist about their looks, where they went shopping, their reasoning behind each look and how much did they spend (each was given a budget of $200 to shop in the mall/center).

Then it was Decision Time. And The Winner Is...

Tori Thompson!! (above, being interviewed by hosts Nick Verreos and Jeannie Mai) Tori is a budding fashionista, stylist and blogger (she has a great blog called MyThriftyChic.com--you can click HERE to check it out)--Her winning outfit consisted of a very Fall-appropriate sweater, grape-colored skinny jeans, a printed blouse, stacked pumps and a FAB oversized clutch with metal studs. We, the judges, felt that her look was pulled together and was perfectly styled. She also utilized the most out of the money that was given to her to shop and style herself.


Not only did she win the $1000 South Bay Galleria Shopping Spree prize, she also won the Fan Vote--where we asked their friends, shoppers and attendees to text their favorite contestant to a number and the one who received the most votes won "Fan Favorite", and $500 Galleria shopping spree. So, Tori won a total of $1500! You Go Girl!

After all the Congrats--we all posed for some fun photos and then Jeannie and I had a great Meet-and-Greet with shoppers, attendees and took lots of photos and signed autographs--Here are some of those pics:

Summer Style Tips for Summer 2012 c/o ME!!!


As Fashion Guru, Judge and Host of the Project Style 2012, Shoptopia asked me a few questions about what I thought were this Summer's must-have's and trends...and well, I told them!!!

So, Fashionista Ladies, if you are getting ready for Summer 2012--in terms of fashion and how to "give style", then here are my suggestions:


 1) Flapper Gal: 

It's all about that "Flapper Gal"-silhouette--inspired by the Gucci dress above. Think: loose, off-the-body tunic shape.

2) Life Aquatic:

Inspired by the iconic Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 Collection, look for aquatic prints--anything watercolor, "Ocean Graphics", like seashells and corals under the sea. Imagine looking at the sea through your goggles and seeing all that under-the-water vegetation---similar to my NIKOLAKI silk chiffon gown here:

3) Mini or Maxi...or High-Low:


It's all about the extreme and the most popular choices are Maxi or Mini dresses. If you want to combine BOTH, then get a "high-low" dress--meaning short in the front but longer in the back-like my NIKOLAKI strapless High-Low gown above.

4) Neon Krazee:


Neon is BIG for summer. Bright pinks, aqua, lime or canary yellow--wear the bright neon's with camel tones for the perfect contrast. Take a look at the photos above for your Neon Summer 2012 Inspiration.

Click HERE for my complete Summer 2012 Style Tips.

The Antelope Valley BRINGS IT!!!!
Last weekend was my final Hosting of the "Project Style" Live Style Off events. I've been EVERYWHERE and have met SO many amazing Top Trendsetters--from all over Southern California as well as West Virginia! And not to mention: I've had a BLAST meeting all the fans, families and yes, some future "Project Style" competitors (They should really think of coming up with a "Mini-Me" Project Style for 12 and under!). But I digress, this time, I was off to the Antelope Valley Mall, in Palmdale to host "Project Style: Antelope Valley"--the Live Style Off.
The weather was gorgeous naturally, as I drove about 6o miles north of Los Angeles toward the Mojave Desert. I arrived and got to see the wonderful signage/posters they had throughout the fabulous Antelope Valley Mall, as well as... They even framed a photo of me in their "Guest Services" kiosk. I felt, well, VERY Special! (I "Heart" Antelope Valley Mall!)
As always, the rules for the "Project Style" Live Style Off were simple: In the past five months, Antelope Valley's "Most Fashion-Savvy" went on shoptopia.com, submitted videos, and were voted as Finalists of their "rounds" and made it to this Live Style Off. I gave them each $200 Antelope Valley Mall Gift Cards and ONE HOUR to go shopping for a complete new look. They had to shop, style and dress themselves and showcase the results LIVE on the Stage in front of a panel of expert judges from the Antelope Valley Mall--for a chance to win a $1,000 Gift Card!!! The Top Five Trendsetters (Left to right) Zoe April Stotz, Amanda Beard (she couldn't be there so her lovely sister modeled and shopped for her), Kimberly Backe, Frank Nadolny, and Karla Deleon--Here they are after they've gone shopping and styled their outfits, getting ready for the live Style Off, in front of A LOT of people:
The Top Two Were: The Boy: Our one male Finalist, 14-year-old Frank Nadolny--I think Frank ROCKED his style--he mixed his love of skateboarding, street and music into his look. I also liked all the colors and polished sense of sporty style. Frank had a bunch of fans in the audience--including his FAB family--but in addition, there were some Cheerleaders from his High School that even did a Cheer for him and Project Style (scroll down to the end of the blog to see the VIDEO!). Kimberly Backe: I dubbed her "Mini Katy Perry" because she looked just like her! She chose a very fashion-savvy-meets-young style for her Live Style Off, combining directional elements as well as traditional Southern California style. And The Winner Was...Kimberly!!! But let me tell you, Frank was a very close second! And like I said to ALL our Finalists--they are all Winners! I was so excited to see how the Antelope Valley Finalists really BROUGHT IT, in terms of all the eclectic and very diverse styles and especially how AMAZING the audience in the Mall was! I have to say: Antelope Valley ROCKS!!! Hope to see you Next Year!!!! Click below to watch the HHS Cheerleaders do a little cheer for Frank: