She's Fine... Halle Berry

Greetings Gentle Readers,

For as long as we can remember we've been a giant fan of the impossibly stunning Ms. Halle Berry. One of our favorite qualities about Ms. Berry is her effortless style. She always looks amazing, whether on the red carpet or at the grocery store, and never over done. Recently, Halle's been all over the media, attending numerous red carpet events, launch parties, and movie premiers... And at every turn (as usual) she's looked great. Here are our favorite 3 recent examples of Ms. Berry's effortless, impeccable style. And how you can take implement the tools Halle did in your daily dressing.

<-- 1) This black strapless Dolce and Gabbana that Halle wore for a recent Harry Winston launch party was the perfect accent to the (likely) millions of dollars in diamonds she was wearing, and the diamonds, go perfectly with the dress. A long gown such as this one should be the 1st choice for such an affair, but what we really love about this, is the simplicity, which is a key part of Halle's style; The dress fits perfectly (how many times can we say how imperative fit is?!?!?!) and the diamonds sparkle brilliantly, and they make independent, yet complimentary statements. We also love the fact that Ms. Berry chose a bracelet, ring, and subtle (as if that can really apply when it comes to Winston diamonds) drop earrings as accents. With the open sweetheart neckline, it would have been an obvious choice to elect for some brilliant Winston baubles around the neck, but the choice not to is that much more chic and stylish. Topped off with a small black clutch, and we've got a good contender for visual perfection. The lesson here: while most of us won't ever be rocking Harry Winston diamonds, when you are making a bold and blingy jewelry statement, make sure that the focus is on the facets. Sure your garments and other accessories should look great also, but they should play backseat to the baubles.

<--> 2) At the premier of her new film Frankie & Alice, Ms. Berry rocked this strapless Pamella Rowland frock. The dress is complimented by a snakeskin clutch, low key jewelry, and Christian Louboutin strappy slingback sandals. This look is an excellent example of polish and subtle sex appeal. Nothing here is overtly raunchy or screams debauchery, but, it is undeniable that Halle's sexy here (and everywhere else for that matter); there's not a lot of cleavage or an egregious amount of leg, but it's still an extremely sexy look. Sure there's skin showing, but it's in unexpected places, which is probably one of favorite things about it... Unexpected skin is often more sexy than cliche cleavage or legs for days (not saying that those things are bad at all!!!!) just that sometimes, a little switch up is key. Another aspect that we appreciate about this look is the length of the dress. There's something about knee length that screams classic sex appeal to us... And we like it. Accessory wise, this look is another winner. A few strategically placed baubles here and there add a nice finishing touch. Our favorite accessory here though is the snakeskin clutch. It's just that extra pop of pizazz that every outfit needs. Snakeskin is timeless, classic, and always a bit edgy. Use it in your accessories and shoes for edgy yet classy pops. Avoid garments in snakeskin though... it tends to come off a bit tawdry. Color choice was also an essential element as to why this dress works so well; it's a shade of white that compliments Halle's caramel complexion and doesn't wash her out. This is important to note because a lot of people think that they cannot wear certain colors, which isn't really the case at all. You just have to choose the right shade for your skin tone. So...

The Lesson(s) here:
1. Unexpected skin adds for sumptuous, scintillating, sex appeal
2. A little animal print goes a long way, moderation is key
3. You can wear any and every color, just find the right shades for you skin tone.

<--> 3) Worn to the American Film Institute's "Conversations with Halle Berry" event in Los Angeles, this figure flattering Elie Saab dress is Berry at her best; simple, sexy, classic and chic. This is what the "little black dress" dreams it looks like. We're crazy about a few things in this look; The figure-accenting detailing on the dress, the length (once again, that knee length proving that you don't have to show a ton of skin to have sex appeal), the boatneck cut of the dress, and the bamboo detailing on the heel of her Gucci pumps (We're a bit of a Gucci bamboo detail fanatic). Once again, a key element to why this works so well is the fit of the dress. It's as if Halle was Mr. Saab's fit model when he cut the pattern for this frock (she may have been, after all, it was Halle who put Saab on the fashion map when she donned his crimson masterpiece to the 2002 Oscars when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress). The fit here is what really makes this dress. Skin tight without being trashy or ill-fitting, displaying the decolletage in a tasteful way, and with accents that give a knowing wink to the hourglass figure that this dress makes. We also like the cap sleeve detail, it adds to the classic 60's silhouette from which this dress draws its inspiration. This could as easily be seen on an episode of Mad Men as it is on this red carpet. Not over-accessorized or over-styled, the dress does all the talking without saying too much. We could also easily write a love letter to those Gucci pumps... but we'll spare you all on that one and just say, we're fans. A great shoe that works excellently on the red carpet, and would also work in the office, for a night out on the town, or with jeans and and a cable knit crewneck sweater on the weekends.

The Lesson(s) Here:
1. Classic silhouettes never go out of style. What worked then will work now. Update vintage inspired looks with current accessories to add modern polish.
2. A great pair of black pumps will take you from work to play, from day to night and from season to season. Invest in good ones and take care of them; heels replaced annually, polishing, and resoling.
3. Sometimes you're the best accessory for an ensemble. Don't always worry about the bag and baubles, and let the gorgeous woman you are with the banging body you have shine through

That about does it for this go 'round. We hope that you can us these small secrets for a little Berry appeal of your own. Until next time, we remain...

Stylishly yours,
Sartorially Savvy
"Fashion fades, style is eternal." ~Yves Saint Laurent

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