When in doubt, wear black!

I'm off to an NFL Wives Charity Event/Fashion Show this morning. After what seemed like hours in my closet I realized I was over-thinking my goal. I wanted to look chic and stylish and I was trying too hard. What's wrong with my simple black dress. How many years have I preached the need for a simple black dress!?!

So here I stand, in a fabulous yet casual little black dress appropriate for a fashion show event, and feeling great!

Take a look at a few ways you can change up your little black dress simply by changing out the accessories.

Tony Bowls Gowns in West Virginia!!

Miss Indiana, Katie Stam, wore custom Tony Bowls gowns for the evening gown and talent competitions at the Miss America 2009 Contest.


The Tony Bowls Collection is available at The Crowning Touch in Buckhannon and Elizabeth Michaels in Parkersburg.

I had a chance to spend a few hours with Tony at the Miss America Pageant last week. He was showcasing his latest gowns and dressing numerous celebrities for the event. I saw a lot of styles similar to the tropical maxi dress with wide straps, plunging necklines and bright floral prints. I also adored the gowns with empire waistlines and fly away chiffon splitting in the center.


As for color, anything goes, from brights to neutrals. Tony has a way of celebrating a woman's curves and the shades of champagne, nude, and light bronze enhanced his designs and created an appealing look. Numerous contestants chose evening gowns in these hues and glowed from the Las Vegas stage located at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

With twenty years of retail experience, Tony applies firsthand knowledge of what the fashion-forward customer is looking for to the designs of these extraordinary brands. For the greater part of the last twelve years, Tony owned and managed his own retail outlet. He actively promoted and sold prom, pageant and formalwear collections. During his time in retail, Tony also designed for Miss America and Miss USA contestants.

Tony has graciously offered to send gowns for our first photo shoot for WV LIVING in Style. We love Tony!!

Photo, above, from http://www.tonybowls.com/.

Congratulations Miss WV!

I had a chance to visit with Miss West Virginia during the recent Miss America Pageant. Kayla Lynam looked so beautiful and represented the state well at the competition in Las Vegas.

Numerous clothing sponsors from across the mountain state donate gowns and cocktail dresses to the winner each year as part of the prize package to prepare her for the national pageant. If you're interested in donating to the scholarship program, please visit http://www.misswestvirginia.org/ for more information.

I love shopping for cocktail dresses and have found numerous boutiques across the state with fabulous finds. Of course, we all know I love to shop at Elizabeth Michaels in Parkersburg. Leah Lasker Summers, Miss West Virginia 1991, tells me she's found some fabulous dresses at Coni and Franc in Morgantown for numerous cocktail parties.

Other sponsors who have helped wardrobe Kayla for her competition and year of service are The Bridal Suite, business/interview wear from Coni & Franc's, casual wear/rockin jeans from Vance's Blues, and swimwear from The Queen's Choice.

Pictured (above) are former Miss West Virginias Candy Reid, Leah Summers, and Kim Parrish along with Kayla.

Show Me Some Style

Calling All Stores!

I want to know what fashionable women in the mountain state are buying. Tell me the must-have items you can't keep in stock. Send me photos of your favorite shoes, bags and clothing!

Make sure you include your name, store name, and location in your email. Please send all emails to Kim@WVLIVINGmagazine.com

I'd love to feature your items in the next blog or article.... I'd even love to shop in your store. Tell me about it!!!

Calling All West Virginia Models

CASTING NOTICE

If you would like to be considered to model in an upcoming issue of WV LIVING magazine, please send the following information to Kim@WVLIVINGmagazine.com

Name
Height
Weight
Size
Experience
Contact info

Please, attach a headshot and full length photo. Professional photography is not required for submissions. Deadline for the Spring issue is January 25th.

See you in WV LIVING magazine!

It's all in the Detail

In economically challenging times stores tend to stock their shelves with wardrobe-building basics but in this tough economy women are demanding more! More sequins, embroidery, bows and zippers! The last thing we want is a boring basic.

So, when you head to the stores to grab a sale item or collect a few "must-haves" for spring remember to look for something with interest, drama or detail. You'll feel great about your purchase and look fabulous too!

Item #328-393, Kim Parrish Collection on HSN and HSN.com

Shoe Search

I'll be the first to admit, I love designer shoes. I weep for Jimmy Choo, adore Manolo Blahnik and feel that Stuart Weitzman must truly know my soul, but my budget doesn't allow for too many frivolous purchases.

Luckily, I've fallen in love with a shoe I found at Elizabeth Michaels Boutique in Vienna located on Grand Central Avenue. This strappy little sandal accents my femininity while the four inch heel lets everyone know 'I mean business!' The best news- they're only $39.00. Can you believe it!

To check them out go to http://www.elizabethmichaels.net/. Too cute! My toes are ready for spring!

Welcome to WV Living.... In Style

I'm so excited to sign on as the Style Editor at WV LIVING magazine! I'm so proud to say I'm a West Virginia native, and although my career has taken me to other parts of the country, I can truly say my heart will always remain in the mountain state.

So let's talk about fashion, shopping, handbags and boutiques. I feel like I was born to talk about those subjects, and in fact I've been doing it professionally for almost 15 years!!

After logging more than 6,000 hours of live TV appearances as a shopping host on QVC, crisscrossing the country working with designers, celebrities and fashion icons, I discovered a universal dilemma that held true for me, my audiences and even the celebrities I interviewed…women want a limitless wardrobe on a limited budget! That's why I developed my own clothing collection, The Kim Parrish Collection available on HSN and HSN.com.

I can't wait to share the secrets I've learned and are continually discovering about wardrobe building, creating memorable looks and boosting confidence in your closet one garment at a time!

So let's shop, share and explore some of the hottest boutiques in the state! Let's clean out our closets together and dare each other to think outside the box when trying new trends! Most importantly, let's have fun with fashion!!