Rule # 25: How to wear lace.

Lace is one of the trends for this season and we've seen it in most of the catwalk shows around the world. Wearing lace can give you a girly chic look but it could easily cross the line and look cheap and dated. You can wear lace to work and take it from day wear to a night out with your girlfriends by adding some accessories.

If you haven't worn lace before and are you're thinking of buying some pieces, bear these rules in mind:

• As I said before, lace has a girly quality to it so avoid pairing it with florals, bows and other feminine pieces. If you are not a very girly girl who doesn't like the romantic style, you can toughen up your look by wearing boots, a leather jacket or edgy accessories.
• Look for thicker or lined lace materials. When the lace is too thin it has potential to unravel at the seams and look tatty.
• Don't be afraid of colour. Colour gives lace a younger look.
• You can also wear lace to the office. Just use one lace piece and balance the rest of your outfit with more conservative pieces. For example, wear a lace pencil skirt with a simple shell or button-up blouse. Another option is to wear a lace A-line dress with a fitted jacket or a cardigan and a plain sandal or pump. Stick to neutral colours.
• Keep everything else simple. Pearls will date your look so use modern accessories.

Have a look at these outfits I've created for you. What do you think?

Dress, Topshop. DAY: bag, Zara. Flats, Asos. NIGHT: shoes, Asos. Clutch, DKNY. Necklace, baublebar.com

Skirt, lipsy.co.uk. Shirt & jacket, Mango. Bag & shoes, Zara. Necklace, Blanco.

Dress, houseoffraser.co.uk. Bangles, baublebar.com. Denim vest & sunglasses, Mango. Boots, Zara. Bag & necklace, Blanco.

What a great weekend!

It's important to have time for yourself and enjoy your life with the people that really matter to you. Last weekend was one of the best ones I’ve had. Because I work shifts sometimes, I often spend weekends or even public holidays working at the hospital so every time I have a weekend off I try to make the most of it. 

On Saturday I went to the gym and invited one my friend James to the pool to catch up. Lots of sunblock and gossip. At night I went for dinner to of what has become one of my favourite places in Lisbon: Les Mauvais Garçons. A nice little restaurant run by my dear friend David who's also from Seville. Gourmet burgers and an amazing selection of gins. Highly recommended! 

Yesterday after a really good night out with Patrick, Dennis, Michael and Stephen on Saturday, I invited them over to the pool and it really made the end of the weekend special. That's the best way of end it, surrounded by friends. 

What did you do? Did you have a great time too?

 

Saturday morning, gym + pool. 

Dinner and drinks on Saturday night

Pool on Sunday an a bit of reading... 

Have a great weekend!

After a day at work, there's nothing like starting the weekend with a splash at the pool... Too hot to be walking around the streets, too hot to do anything. This weekend I'll be off of work so I have time to go to the gym, relax by the pool and on Saturday night, enjoy dinner with my friends. My weekend starts now, what about yours?

Love, 

Justo R.

Swimwear, Zara. Sunglasses, Ray Ban. Attitude, mine! 

HAPPY 4TH JULY!

To all my dear American followers, Happy 4th July!! 

Love, 

The Fashion Guide Blog 

Do you know Ellis Faas?

Have you ever met Ellis Faas? If you have, you must know that you're a very lucky girl. If you haven't met her yet, you really need to pay attention to this post.

Vogue Paris cited Ellis Faas as "one of the most influential make-up artists of her time". And it's true since she has worked with the world's most pre-eminent fashion designers, photographers, stylist, hairdressers and models. On her CV you’ll find big names such as Clinique, Lancôme and MAC Cosmetics and she was asked even by L’Oréal to create a make-up line for their skin care brand, Biotherm. But it was in 2007 when, after the contract with L'Oréal finished, she decided to create her own brand: Ellis Faas.

I'm not here to tell you about her biography but to talk to you about a product that actually blew me away for how versatile, handy and easy to use it is… and it looks amazing! You can carry it on you handbag wherever you go and I'm telling you, your girlfriends will be green with envy! I discovered it today while I was visiting my friend's shop Skinlife – something I do at least twice a month to have my eyebrows done and it’s a place I talked about in one of my earlier posts.

I'm talking, of course, about the Ellis Faas Holder. A metallic finish cylinder case, exclusively sold at Skinlife, where you can keep all your Ellis Faas make-up. If you are one of the girls that has never heard about this brand, all products comes in a pencil. When it opens, the cylinder has 7 holes inside, one for each product you need to apply your make-up: concealer, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, blush, eye shadow and foundation. When you buy it, the Holder is empty so you can customize to your own taste. It also has a mirror and you can fill the space with Ellis Faas powder. Isn't it amazing?!

So, what do you think? It's pretty cool, isn't it? What are you waiting for? Get yours before your girlfriends beat you to it!

Check this video about how to use the Holder.

Fashion Literature.

As a stylist and image consultant it is important to know what is going on in the fashion industry, but not only what is happening right now. To understand the present you also have to know about the past and that's why I've started reading "Dior by Dior", the autobiography of Christian Dior. He was one of the greatest in the world of fashion and his legacy is unprecedented. 

But it was in the Spanish edition of Grazia magazine that I read the funniest article. And I don't mean funny in a nasty way. When I was reading it I got to a page where I saw a picture of my dear sister-in-law, the NY Democrat Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. One of the most intelligent, clever, beloved and hard-working women I have ever met. Have a look a this post: Politics are out of fashion but, is there any fashion in politics?. 

Vogue US for iPad, Telva, Grazia, Dior by Dior.

Article about Kirsten in Grazia Magazine Spain

My sister and Kirsten in my wedding

Credits: Grazia España

Pure White.

A few months ago I wrote about how versatile a white shirt is and how you can combine it in order to look effortlessly chic. As a follow-up to this, today I‘d like to talk about one of the colours of the season and probably the most wearable, the freshest and perhaps the most versatile: the colour white. 

Strictly speaking, white is not a colour, but the manifestation of the presence of all colour. White is even used in architecture and decoration to transmit quietness and cleanness. White is the colour of purity, it means kindness and white daisies are a symbol of loyal love. 

So let’s involve ourselves in kindness, purity and loyal love and don't be afraid of wearing a totally white look. The key to looking chic and being the centre of attention is playing with your accessories. When wearing a totally white look, add some colour with your shoes and handbag and remember, these two accessories don't necessarily need to match. Be brave!

Here you have some looks I created for you. What do you think? 

Skirt & shoes, Topshop. Top, H&M. Bag, Furla.

Jean, Mango. Top, Zara. Shoes, Topshop. Bag, Fossil. Sunglasses, Ray Ban.

Trousers, Mango. Top & necklace, Blanco. Bag & shoes, Zara. 

Skirt, Zara. Shirt & bag, Blanco. Sandals, Topshop.

Dress, Mango. Sandals & bag, Asos.  Necklace, Blanco.