Style Me Fabulous: StandOut Star, Jillian Wunderlich

Working on wardrobing with a client is one of my absolute favorite aspects to our consulting. I just love all things fashion and each client is a new canvas. Everyone's personality, body type, skin tone and preferences are different so it makes shopping, styling and coordinating looks SO much fun!  One of my all-time favorite clients to style was Jillian Wunderlich, Miss Indiana USA 2011 and Top 16 Finalist at Miss USA.

Jilly's so easy going and practically lives at the beach in her off-time so transitioning into the power-packed wardrobe that is a must for 3 weeks at Miss USA, was a little nerve-racking for her - at first. Last year, the Miss Universe Organization initiated their first-ever Media Week Tour centered around NYC's popular Fleet Week. With a meeting with Mr. Trump on the line along with countless news and TV show appearances, all of the girls had to be on their A-Game well before they arrived in Vegas to compete. 

Jilly in true Celeb Style in NYC

So once we got the schedule, Jilly practically lived at my house and we scoured boutiques, high fashion houses and the internet to perfectly piece her wardrobe together.  I'll never forget Skyping with her the day before she left for Miss USA.  We spent 4 1/2 hours on Skype piecing and picturing every outfit, accessory and stiletto down to the very last rhinestone.  She was always stunningly beautiful- if I do say so myself!

It was so refreshing working on Jilly's competition wardrobe because we were able to step out of the box to fit her needs. Big, pageant hair tends to date her look so keeping it sleek with some body was a must! 

Her every day trend is to keep it simple, classic and clean so we wanted to translate that into her looks on stage. Sherri Hill did a fantastic job on creating her dream gown in this asymmetrical, one-shouldered, beaded, white gown. It fit her body like a glove and she worked it out every time she stepped out on stage! 

Again, we kept her hair simple so that everyone could focus on her gorgeous face. Paired with a starburst ring courtesy of famed site, Charm&Chain, and Pelle Moda heels, Jilly was a knock-out! 


This cluster ring is a great addition to any aspect of your wardrobe. Throw it on with jeans and heels on a Friday night or wear it with your gown of choice.  


Click here to check out this fabulous find!


Jilly was able to pull off these looks so effortlessly because they were 100% true to who she is as a young woman. A.T. and I are very focused on always bringing out the best you. Because then - and only then - can you really standout! 

XoXo,
Chelsea


Upcoming Session Dates:
June 29 - July 1
The Foxy Lady Boutique
Myrtle Beach, SC

***For session information, please contact Haley Morgan at 843-450-4960 or via email at foxylady@sc.rr.com. 

 

True Beauty: Caymanian Style

Meet Lindsay: Miss Cayman Islands Universe

Photo Courtesy: Fadil Berisha

Lindsay Japal is the epitome of island beauty. Hailing from Georgetown, this Caymanian has her sights set big for Miss Universe. A.T. and I have known Lindsay for a while now and the ease she presents in her confident demeanor is quite fitting with her beauty queen status.

Lindsay joined us in Vegas this year to enjoy the Miss USA Telecast and we had a blast! From fittings with the one and only Sherri Hill to an insanely gorgeous photo shoot with the incomparable Fadil Berisha, Lindsay's preparation for Miss Universe is in full swing!

This photo above is just a sneak peak at Linday's gorgeous shoot with Fadil.  I can only imagine what the rest will look like!

Fadil has shot celebrities and high-profile people from all around the world - not to mention his amazing work with Donald Trump and the Miss Universe Organization every year. He is high in-demand and travels in and out of the country on a monthly basis. But the good news is that he has made himself available stateside to thousands of pageant contestants in various fields.

The key to having solid pictures with him, is to realize you are bringing the beauty to the shoot.  He is the mastermind that knows how to create your look and bring out the best in you. But you have to first know that your beauty is the entire foundation for the shoot. Once you realize that, any nerves get left in the makeup room.

Lindsay did a fantastic job on set and rose to this occasion, channeling her inner Miss Universe. It really was spectacular to see. She has commercial and high fashion looks that will now expand her portfolio in a very glamorous nature.

Fadil was set up behind Sherri Hill's working showroom at Planet Hollywood. It was a great locale because the traffic of beauty queens and store owners alike kept the energy high.  A must for a photo shoot!

A.T. and I have always loved Fadil. His heart is bigger than his talent and the passion he exudes in his work makes everyone feel wonderful when they leave his presence. Lindsay was definitely on cloud 9 when we left! 


Stay tuned for more updates on Lindsay's preparation for Miss Universe, coverage on the competition and how you can get her looks! 


XoXo,
Chelsea

WorkOut Like You Want It!

For practically my whole life, I loathed working out.  That was until a year ago. A.T. came into my life right after I gave up my title as Miss USA so I have had our Perfect Plate and his program longer than any of our clients. I would workout only when an event was coming up and would then slip back into pizza-coma, shortly after. It wasn't until last year that I realized exactly what my best could be.  I realized all of the "hoping" to be a certain size or to just maintain, wasn't getting me anywhere. See, I had taken on everyone else's curvy expectations of what I should look like. I finally realized that I wanted more for myself. So I became like Nike - I just did it.  I hit my goal weight over a year ago and have kept it off since. I can't even begin to describe how good that feels!

That's why I was so excited to do our first-ever group workout session on location during Miss USA. I want every girl to not just focus on a number on a scale but to really see that they can reach their full potential....or for some girls, are already there with their bodies. Keeping a positive self-image is harder than ever these days. So you know what? Let's stop looking to everyone and everything else to motivate us. If you want it bad enough, fight for it and know that you can have it!

The Pageant Body:

What is it? And how do you get it?

A pageant physique is long, lean, sexy and classy.  Your body type, height, age or experience do not alter you having this look, contrary to popular belief. Training for a pageant is like training for any other sport. Certain exercises will just not get you long and lean, no matter how long your legs are to start off with.  Physically, you have to train the right areas in the right ways. Mentally, you have to just do it.  It's easy to skip around a diet or workout program - to add your favorite Zumba class in - but that gets you no where close to your goal. It wastes a lot of time and money. 

On average, while we were in Vegas for Miss USA, each day started off around 100 degrees. When we did this workout, I was running on about 4 hours of sleep, some crazy let lag and could have easily hit snooze on my alarm.  But I was excited to workout! I was excited for us to teach our girls the right ways to train. I could not wait to get started at 7:30 that morning!

The girls did a fantastic job and took mine and A.T.'s direction so well.  It's hard to wrap your brain around the end result you want to see.  We are so used to instantly gratifying options that we forget the hard work that goes into seeing a goal all the way through.  There comes a point where you have to dig deep and trust that it's going to work.  I mean, really....what have you got to lose but weight?

A.T. and I want to thank Terry & Judy Wright of Terry Wright Photography and Beauty by Judy for coming out to shoot our workout in Vegas.  I've worked with this awesome duo before and not only are they a fantastic photography/makeup artist team but they are just the nicest people in the whole world. So you can't beat that combination!  They reside in the Las Vegas area and are in high demand at pageant seminars all over the country.

Click here for more information on Terry & Judy!

It was a successful workout session with tons of valuable information. If you have any questions regarding your fitness goals, please feel free to email us at info@standoutproductions.net.  We are happy to help! 

XoXo,

Chelsea

A Miss USA Review!

Man oh man, I feel like I have been on the road for a year!  Okay, well maybe that is the story of my life. Ha! But whisking away to L.A. for meetings - I mean BIG meetings - hours after the telecast and then coming home sick, was enough to do me in for the weekend! But I am glad to be back and in action. I have SO many pictures and updates from our time at Miss USA, that it's kind of hard to know where to start.

The telecast was genius. The production was the absolute best I've ever seen.  I loved the "fashion show" themed opening with the girls stomping it down the runway.  The various Sherri Hill collections were amazing!! Plus, the girls looked like they were having a blast. And isn't that what it's about anyways?  Everyone at home, in the audience and on the judging panel had a clear shot of each girl.  It was the best way to open the show!

Fadil's Glamour Shoot channeling goddess beauties was my favorite shoot of all time! The girls were so classically and fiercely beautiful and it was great to see Fadil's work highlighted during the show. To have their images displayed behind them during Top 10 Gown was FAH-ABBBB-YOOUU-LOUS! And we are of course oh-so-proud of our above StandOut girls for being in the finals along with all of our amazing girls!

Akon and me after the show.

The Top 5 Final Look will always hold such a special place in my heart. Maybe because it was after that moment, that I knew everything was all in God's hands. I had worked so hard, felt so good about every single thing I had done and that moment will now be forever etched in my memory.  So when Akon performed his new single, "America's Most Wanted," I could've started dancing in the aisle right there on the spot! Perfect performance, with the perfect song, for the perfect moment during the pageant.

Everyone and their brother came to Miss USA this year and we loved it!  I wish there had been more hours in the day to see everyone but that's how it goes sometimes. From the incredible directors to the current teens to all my formers to the awesome state contestants, there was just not enough time to see all of our friends. So I apologize now and am sending the biggest cyber-hug to all of you!!

Me, Alex, Miss WA Teen USA, A.T. & Karsen, Miss VT Teen USA.

MUO had some great events set up for the Teens this year which was very cool. Their schedule was jammed packed the day before the pageant, giving them a little taste of the life of Miss Teen USA. And a pageant is definitely not the same with these two around! From the moment Alex and Karsen met at our retreat in February, they became instant best friends. So we love jumping in the mix of their love fests!!

And the party didn't stop there! Immediately following the show, Giuliana Rancic, hosted the official after party at LAVO.  It was a nice reunion with formers and sponsors alike. But this mama could only handle so much.  A.T. and I had some major meetings the following day in L.A. so staying out all night was not an option. But at least Allie (my Teen USA) and I got some good pics on the red carpet before heading into the party! 

And no we did not coordinate our outfits....we just got style like that! LOL!

All in all, A.T. and I had such a good time at Miss USA this year. A big thank you to Paula, Larry, Tricia, Carlos, Shawn and all of our friends for making it such a great trip! We are SO ridiculously proud of our StandOut girls and will be posting more highlights on them this week. So stay tuned to the fabulosity that is Miss USA!  


XoXo,
Chelsea

Miss USA Travel Style

Finding the appropriate wardrobe for flying can be tricky. It's always freezing in the terminal and on the plane, your destination weather is bound to be different than the city you departed from and depending on your schedule, you may have to head right into a meeting when you land.

It's really important to be comfortable but presentable - absolutely NO pajamas ever! You never know who you will run into, what upgrades might be available or what delays you will need help with. People will take better care of you if you look presentable. They will take you seriously when you ask them for assistance.

Like our blog post yesterday, I love pops of color. My kelly green Flying Monkey jeans are super comfy and are right on trend. It's very important to pair a statement piece like this with a classic colored top in a classic cut. It keeps the overall look very clean. And anything I can pair with my favorite black tops is a must!

I never like to wear heels when I'm flying. This is not a runway! You don't want to run from one terminal to the next in your best heels. You become a spectacle instead of a standout. And there is no way I'm spraining my ankle over a flight! So keep your shoes and jewelry to a minimum. It's easier to sleep this way on the plane and saves you time in the security line.

At the end of the day, no matter what you're doing or where you're going, putting effort into your look builds your confidence for the day. You feel better about yourself and will be prepared to tackle life's surprising little moments!

A.T. and I are thrilled to be in Vegas now for Miss USA so stay tuned for fashion & competition updates all week long!

XoXo,
Chelsea

Bold Brights: Miss NM, NV & MI USA Heat Up Vegas

Jessica - Miss NM USA

Miss USA is one of the most action-packed competitions on the planet.  For 3 weeks, the 51 contestants have appearances, rehearsals, filming, charity events, sponsor dinners and they have to be "ON" every single time they step out of their rooms. Sounds exhausting, right? Well, it is. But it's fantastic prep for the year-long reign of Miss USA because this is just a taste of what those duties entail.

There are at least 2 sometimes, 3 outfit changes a day and tons of tweeting updates to keep the world focused on the race to the Miss USA crown. On Sunday night, the girls had an appearance with SkyBlu at Caesar's Palace and Jessica, Miss NM USA, Jade, Miss NV USA and Kristen, Miss MI USA took to the red carpet in true standout style!

Jade - Miss NV USA

All of the girls had to wear sponsored tees so it's always fun to see how each girl makes the look their own. Pops of color are the best way to add a bang to your wardrobe. Jessica's red shorts make her legs look amazing and work perfectly with her tanned and toned skin.The shoes add a great Latin flair to her outfit.

I love Jade's cobalt jeans because I have the same ones!  I wear them all the time and they look classy and sexy at the same time. They hit at just the right length at her ankle. This provides just enough space for her to pull off a gorgeous heel. I really like that she didn't crowd her foot with a chunky shoe. Showing skin at the foot with a look like this, keeps the overall affect very clean and keeps your attention on her great figure.

Kristen - Miss MI USA

Kristen is on fire in this South Beach yellow skirt! Girl knows how to work her body in her clothes and in front of the camera! What more do you say? Absolutely fabulous!

Since these are great staples wardrobe pieces with the right hues to add to your wardrobe, I think it's best to find these pieces as is. From our favorite stores, Charlotte Russe, Express and ASOS, here is the lowdown on grabbing up these hot looks! 

1. Charlotte Russe Knit Body-Con Skirt in Yellow - $9.99

2. Express' Stella Color Jean Legging in Cobalt Blue - $79.90

3. ASOS' French Connection's Red Denim Shorts - $72.19

All That Glitters: Miss USA's Monique & Kelsey

Monique Thompkins, Miss DC USA, posted this picture the other day with Kelsey Dow, Miss AR USA, and I just love it!  Both are phenomenal ladies and look stunning in their respective sequin dresses. Everyone knows a pageant girl's best friend is a rhinestone and Monique and Kelsey are lighting up the Vegas strip in this look.

Rhinestones and sequins alike have a wonderful staying-power in fashion. When done right, the placement can really accentuate the right areas of the body and can give you an instant WOW-Factor. The gold tones in Monique's dress work perfectly with her honey-like skin.  With Kelsey's rich blonde locks, this aqua dress pops on her and really brings out her baby blues. Both Kelsey and Monique look gorgeous!!

When adapting a look, it's very important to make it your own. Monique and Kelsey are polar opposites in terms of hair color, skin color, eye color and body shape. But the reason they look stellar is because they worked the sequins and colors to their strengths. A perfect example of how you can take on this style idea!

Blaque Label's One-Shoulder Sequin Mini Dress 
I love this dress! It's a great way to cost-affectively add some sparkle to your wardrobe. Finding staple pieces like this dress, gives you a go-to favorite that you know will look great every wear. Coming in Silver, Blue, Black, Olive and Matte Silver, there are plenty of options for every girl.

And with a price tag of $83.30, this find is hard to beat!  On sale now, at Singer22, be sure to grab this great dress! Click Here this fabulous Blaque Label Mini.