Runway Looks For Less

This story aired on KHOU Channel 11 News on October 13, 2011.



Designer fashion can be expensive. Often, high-end clothing is worth the big price tag – it’s hand-made, has intricate details, and is made from beautiful materials. However, a wardrobe by high-end designers isn’t accessible to everyone.

Great style, on the other hand, is available at any price point. If designer fashion is beyond your budget, here are some tips for creating looks from ready-to-wear, off-the rack, or even resale garments that are inspired by runway fashion.

I took some looks right off the Fashion Houston runway and used them as inspiration for some looks for less. When you create your own looks here are some You have to modify the looks you see on the runway, so they flatter your body and work for your life.

Keep in mind that runway looks are styled to look spectacular on 6 ft-tall, size 0 model walking on a stage. If you try to wear an outfit exactly like the model does, you’ll get frustrated because it won’t look good on you.

1. Runway looks are theatrical and usually too over-the-top for real life. – Choose one garment or idea to incorporate into your everyday look instead of copying all the ideas in a runway look at once.
2. Only wear clothes that flatter you – change the proportions or shape of a runway look so it works for your body.
3. Translate the elements you like in a way that works for you – create your outfit using runway colors combinations, mix and match styles or fabrics in a way that is similar to the runway look, incorporate details like ruffles, pleats or beading in a scale that is practical and flattering.



Designer Look 1 – Jerri Moore white ruffle blouse $425), black full-length skirt ($850), and red sash ($50)
Look For Less - CMM white lace halter with ruffles (Dillard’s, $30), red scarf (already in Sarah’s closet, got it 3 years ago from H&M, $6), Teri Jon black silk satin and organza evening skirt with ruffle slit (already in Sarah’s closet, got it 10 years ago on major sale at Saks or Bloomingdales, $60) – Total $96



Look 2 – Jerri Moore white blouse ($295), gold full-length skirt ($795), and black sash ($50) (not included in the video)
Look For Less- Plenty cream lace top (Dillard’s, $208), black chiffon scarf (Dillard’s, $20), Teri Jon gold silk satin evening skirt (already in Sarah’s closet, got it 10 years ago on major sale at Neiman Marcus Last Call, $20) – Total $248



Look 3 – Jerri Moore silver sequin top ($595) and shorts ($595)
Look For Less – Laundry blush matte sequin dress (Dillard’s, $260)



Look 4 – Barbara Tfank swing coat and Capri pants
Look For Less – Puli jacket (Dillard’s, on sale $63), Willow & Clay cream metallic tunic (Dillard’s, $69), skinny gray cords (Dillard’s, $29)



Look 5 – Barbara Tfank burgundy lace and gold sheath dress (not included in the video)
Look For Less – Antonio Melani burgundy lace sheath dress (Dillard’s, $189)



Look 6 – Barbara Tfank black lace bustier and satin palazzo pants
Look For Less – Fashion Forms black lace bandeau (Dillard’s, $18) and Natori satin pajama pants (Dillard’s $58)

For more about Jerri Moore, visit www.JerriMoore.com
Thank you www.Dillards.com for the garments to make the Looks For Less!

Runway To Reality

This story aired on KTRK, Channel 13's Stretch Your Dollar on October 11, 2011. Here are the tips and details about the outfits included.



Fashion Houston is 4 nights of New York style runway shows that are open to the public! Runway fashion is theatrical and over-the-top because that’s what looks good on stage. It’s an art show, designed to excite and inspire you. If you copy those looks for real life, they won’t work.

You have to modify the looks you see on the runway, so they flatter your body and work for your life.

1. Copying a runway look literally doesn't work – the look was created to look good on 6 ft-tall, size 0 model walking across a stage. If you try to wear the outfit exactly like the model does, you’ll get frustrated because it won’t look good on you.
2. Only wear silhouettes that flatter you – change the proportions or shape of a runway look so it works for you.
3. Translate the elements you like – incorporate colors, details, or style combinations that you like into your outfit.




Look 1 – Chloe Dao – graphic dress with color blocking ($250-$325)
Inspiration Elements: graphic print, color blocking, contrasting colors
Inspired looks:
(1) Graphic Antonio Melani dress (Dillard’s, on sale $66) with teal shrug (Target, $12)
(2) Teal Antonio Melani dress (Dillard’s, $159) with Anne Klein scarf (Dillard’s, $29);
Model: Elizabeth Saunders



Look 2 – Aries Milan – nautical top and tropical “grass” skirt ($500).
Inspiration Elements: Mix of two styles - classic nautical navy and white with tropical shimmery beige, unusual neckline, pop of color
Inspired looks:
(1) Eyeshadow navy lace racer-back top (Dillard’s, $19) white cami (Dillard’s, $30), orange Ralph Lauran belt (Dillard’s, $13)
(2) Anne Klein burn-out blouse (Dillard’s, $68), Jones of New York navy skirt (Dillard’s, onsale $34), Steve Madden red belt (Dillard’s, $38)
Model: Nida Khurshid



Look 3 – Jerri Moore – Blush chiffon gown
Inspiration Elements: chiffon, ruffles and ruching, vertical slit, plunging neckline
Inspired looks:
(1) Navy Adrianna Papell chiffon gown($200)
(2) Lavender Adrianna Papell chiffon gown ($188)
Model: Lana Dilixiati

Bill Cunningham, great fashion photographer and photo storyteller for the New York Times, says that the real fashion story is seen on the streets in the way real women wear their clothes.

Gifts Under $50 From Houston's Best-Kept Shopping Secrets

This segment aired on Channel 11 News At 5 on KHOU on Dec 4, 5 and 6, 2008. A link to watch is at the bottom of this post.

Looking for special gifts without a big price-tag? Here are three of my favorite secret sources for unique gifts on a budget.

Spec's Liquor Warehouse, 2410 Smith, Houston, 713-526-8787 www.spcsonline.com

Spec's is known for specialty liquors, wines and foods, but they also have unique gifts starting at $3. Glassware, bar baubles, cookies, cheeses, caviar, cigars...the list goes on and on. You can even select a bunch of goodies and they'll put them all in a gift basket.

If you're shopping for liquor, look for gift sets. Gift sets sell for the same price as the liquor in the set, plus you get some cool accessories like glassware, flasks, and shakers. Spec's has a huge selection of gift sets for almost every liquor. In the segment, we showed Mount Gay Rum paired with a mojito muddler & muddling glass ($15) and Jack Daniels with a logo flask ($32).

Spec's humidor is filled with cigars. In the segment we showed a box of 8 assorted Cubanos for $25 ... and even comes gift-wrapped. There's also a selection of cool lighters, cigar cutters, and humidors to make a gift for any budget.

The specialty food area holds caviars, teas, cookies, cheeses, candies, and sauces from around the world. American sturgeon caviar is about $35 an ounce...add belinis and creme fraiche for a real treat, all for less than $50. Something as simple and deliscious as Swiss and German jams can be a wonderful gift. In the segment we showed peach and appricot jam for $3 - $6. Don't worry, the recipient of these gifts won't know how much you spent because these foods aren't available in local grocery stores.

JS Collections, 9700 Harwin Street (inside the Central Mart) #156. Houston, TX 77036, ( 713) 244-0397

If you've never been to Harwin Street, this is a great place to start. The store is organized, well lit, and the staff is friendly and helpful. It's everything you love about retail shopping with a wholesale price. You'll find necklaces for days, earrings, embellished reading glasses, purse hooks, jeweled ID holders, enamel & crystal frames, and evening bags. Most items are priced between $4 - $20.

Palmer Packaging, 1613 Richmond AveHouston, TX 77006(713) 524-5413 www.palmerpkg.com

Palmer packaging is one of Houston's best-kept secrets. The shop is overflowing with tissue, ribbon, gift boxes in every size and shape, organza drawstring bags, shoppng bags, shred, and more. Great wrapping is the secret to making an inexpensive item look special. Go for luxiourous ribbons and wrapping that adds volume to the item.

Turn a tin of tea into a beautiful hostess gift with some printed cellophane and pretty ribbon. A $6 decorative wine stopper looks like a $20 gift when presented in a gift box overflowing in crinkled shred and a big organza bow. Peach jam for $3 looks like a European treasure nestled in shred inside a big pretty box.

In the segment, we spent $2-$3 in packaging for each gift. In some cases, we even we spent more in packaging than we did on the actual present. This might seem silly, but when we added the cost of gift and packaging, the end result looked like much more.

What's Sarah Wearing?
Grifflen purple cotton ruffle top (Em & Lee http://www.emandlee.com/), Isabel denim flat-front trousers (http://www.dillards.com/), teal glass drop earrings (JS Collections, 9700 Herwin St. suite 156), teal plastic bangle (http://www.charmingcharlie.com/), Vaneli leopard print pony sling-back shoes (http://www.dillards.com/).

Here's the link to the segment
http://www.khou.com/video/index.html?nvid=310505&shu=1
Thanks so much for watching!