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The weather here in California has been up and down and layering seems to be the only way to wear my new spring wardrobe. My Quiksilver Women’s St. Mary Dress was begging to be worn, and the temps demanded that I warm it up a bit – so this it how I made it work!

So.. I am in New York City! As a personal stylist, I get to take some of the women I dress to the shopping capital of the world and gallivant around the city in search of statement pieces and must-haves for the new season. Not something I complain about – I love this city.

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Based on the client, I tailor the trip toward her needs and wants and we hit up every possible place – from Soho to the East Village to Brooklyn – we do it all. Making the most of our time is essential, so taking a red eye flight was the best way to get from the City of Angels to the Big Apple.

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The key to a red eye flight? Looking fab.. but feeling comfortable. For me, this meant wearing my Quiksilver Women’s Daytripper Dress layered over comfy leggings and paired with slip on oxfords, a knit beanie and glasses (since I am a contacts girl.. and those suckers dry out on an airplane).

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Now on to shops galore..

Having wrapped up the Quiksilver Women’s Launch at Bloomingdales, I felt it would be fun to share with everyone who wasn’t able to attend the event, the in’s and out’s of the Personal Style Guide! So here is a peek inside, which should get you excited to start dressing up your spring looks.

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Signature style is what sets apart that one woman in the room and makes her impossible to ignore.  She is not just wearing the latest fashion, but is wearing something that is “so her”.  She has a defined, unique sense of style that transcends time and trends.  She is inspired by art, music and travel, and she pulls it all together with a laid-back, beach-born attitude.  She is an “it girl”; an icon-in-the-making.

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The Quiksilver Women’s brand celebrates that spirit of creative, sexy and effortless style. Here we explore three signature styles that make the Quiksilver Woman.

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Are you a Coastal Wanderer, the Downtown Rocker or the Pretty-Tough M.O.D?

Coastal Wanderer

Coastal Wanderer style is about carefree exploration, mix-n-match, beautiful imperfections, beach-in-your-blood and the perfect mix of earthy and luxurious.

Pretty Tough Jeans,Chancery Lane Tank

Soundcheck Button-up, Bancroft Road Skirt

Downtown Rocker

Downtown Rocker style is all about D.I.Y. and devil-may-care: skinny stripes, over-sized tanks, studded jeans, wearing your favorite threadbare tee, stealing your boyfriend’s shirt, piling on the accessories and throwing on some black boots.

Wonderwall Tank ,East End Hoodie, Crazy Love Shorts

M.O.D. (Model off Duty)

Models off duty just have that certain innate sense of style..it is all about nonchalant chic, equal parts independent cool and feminine pretty, effortless and sexy with a tough creative edge.

Knockout Jeans, Seven Dials Cardigan, Songstress Tank

Coldharbor Lane Dress

Look who we spotted in QSW; Minnie Driver enjoying some fun in the sun with her little boy and wearing the La Luz Dress from Spring 2009 collection!  If you didn’t manage to grab the dress first time round don’t fret, you can find it in our new Spring Summer 2010 line. It’s called the Emmanuelle Dress and looks great paired with the Arena vest for a smouldering summer look that will take you from day into night.

Minnie Driver wearing La luz Dress from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2009 Collection

Emmanuelle Dress in Platinum / Arena Vest in After Hours Black from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2010 Collection

I have noticed a recent pull towards slouchy, distressed denim. It seems skinny is sticking around.. but I am ready for something new and fresh. A denim that gives off that easy, no-fuss appeal.

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With this new craving, I can’t stop looking for new ways to style a pair of boyfriend jeans. Now, let me preface my next sentence with this statement – I am a sure-fire heels kind of girl, and by heels, I mean platform “how high can you go” – so the shocker is that all of a sudden I also want to wear trainers. I know, crazy.

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It just seems like the perfect thing to add to a pair of the Quiksilver Women’s Vagabond boyfriend jeans, and while I am at it – why not throw in a hoodie, denim shirt and tweed jacket. It’s all out boy.. and I love it!

We, the three musketeers of QSW design, are in a creative state of mind, just coming out of an intense period of designing for next spring’s collection.  Here’s what’s on our minds for right now:

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Legs, well, she’s a sucker for stripes — aren’t we all?  Something about her inner Parisienne …  and stripes + a unique details like the twisting stripes = true love:

Check out the QSW St. Mary’s dress, too :

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Blond is up to something … plotting the perfect thing to wear at the first sign of spring weather this year:  this sick pair of modern-and-70’s-at-the-same-time  platforms with dirty-and-destroyed denim bellbottoms like our Southbank jeans:

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And MB is feeling this:

out the scissors for a little rainy-day DIY.

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See ya next week!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and with all this cold, rainy, snowy weather – it is the perfect excuse to cuddle up with your man stealing kisses by the fire. So instead of going out and finding a fancy dress, choose something sweet and easy.

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I suggest the Coldharbor Lane Dress with it’s pretty plaid – pair it with warm wooly tights, your favorite booties and a cozy knit cardi and top it off with an infinity scarf.

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Romantically Perfect!

New York, New York

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Spring is almost upon us. Almost.

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In anticipation for this season’s light effortless layers and lived-in, loved-in styles, we invited some of our personal fashion heroes – a.k.a. our favorite New York bloggers – to come check out our spring 2010 collection. Inspired by the amazing location – a dream penthouse towering over the West Village- we decided to add a little twist to the event. Armed with a photographer and videographer, we asked these fashion connoisseurs to pick out their favorite pieces and style them to reflect their unique fashion perspectives.  We were thrilled to see the results. Each woman put her personal spin on things and gave us beautiful and oftentimes unexpected spring combinations to inspire any wardrobe. But what else do we expect from these talented fashion mavens?

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For the next couple of weeks, we’ll highlight some of these stylish bloggers who dropped by. Stay tuned for more images & video.

It’s official! I am completely obsessed with stripes. I enter my closet and they take over – an entire section filled with stripes. When I saw the Quiksilver Women’s St. Mary Dress, I knew I would be adding it my collection. A perfect set of stripes in a perfect dress!

Jumping the gun on this spring-time dress, I had to think of ways to wear it now.. and then later. With the winter chill I will be pairing it a warm wooly knit cardigan, grey tights and platform lace-up booties. To mix in another color – I will pull on my cranberry colored hat and wrap on a scarf.

When the spring weather rolls around I will be pairing it with a grey boyfriend blazer and nude strappy heels. For a little unsuspecting spice I will pair it with a turquoise bow and cat-eye sunglasses.

I love the stripes both now and later.