10 Fashion Questions: Tara Martin Rowell

Tara Martin Rowell

Dallas, TX

1 - When did you first realize you loved fashion and clothes?

I don't think I ever "realized" it

When I was born my Grandmother already had a full wardrobe of dresses, shoes, frilly socks and hats for me! I don't think half of my clothes were ever worn before I grew out of them! 

2 - If you had all the money in the world which designer would you always buy?

Chanel

3 - What is your favorite piece of clothing or accessory

Tie between any of my Chanel purses or Louis Vuitton purses. A great handbag is a must investment for your wardrobe!

4 - What is your biggest pet peeve about dog show fashion

Dirty Shoes

5 - Who always looks the best at dog shows

I could make a list ! I think most of our ladies try very hard to look their best even in some of the conditions we have to show in!

6 - Who is your go to designer or what is you go to store?

Carlisle/Per Se

St. John

Tory Burch

DVF

Temperley London

I also love Chetta B from Neimans for dresses

7 - What time in history would you have liked to have been around for because of the fashion?

1920's!!!

8 - What is your “every day” look consist of?

At home just something simple - a nice dress or pants and a cute top with lots of accessories!

9 - What one thing do you think people could improve on regarding fashion at dog shows?

Just to be aware that you should disappear behind your dog - don't wear anything that distracts whether it be a fabulous designer outfit or clothing that doesn't fit well - if it distracts from the dog you probably should not wear it

10 - What was your favorite outfit you wore at a dog show?

When I won the breed with Tommy at the Garden in 2007 my client Martha Feltenstein took me to her designer at Runway in the Meat Packing District and they designed a beautiful suit for me with a Mink collar that I wore in the group that night

It was my favorite because it was a one-of-a-kind and a very generous gift to make us feel special and shine on TV!

Dresses of Summer

Showing dogs in dresses can be very flattering, professional and cool during hot summer months.  A great well-fitting dress can make any woman feel great!  However, an ill-fitting dress can emphasize a woman’s flaws.

Dresses can be a little more flamboyant than suits because of their prints and cuts.  Huge trends this year in dresses are cut-outs and geometric lines.  These fun details can go from cute and chic to raunchy and slutty very quickly.  If you’re shopping in the Junior’s section, stop.  Just stop.  They are just not going to be professional and classy enough.  Misses have great designers that are on trend and include classy cut-outs and geometric lines.  Plus, often the quality of clothes in the Misses department is far better than what may be found in Juniors.

If the cut-outs and geomantic lines are too much for you, then stick with a simple pencil dress or an A-line dress.  Pencil dresses are simple and timeless, they will often elongate a woman’s body and accentuate curves, just remember the Spanx!  A-line dresses look good on everyone because no matter your shape or size they are fitted on your chest and give you a waist. 

As for prints, I love them, but not all prints love me!  Prints come in all shapes and sizes (yes sizes) and not all are meant to be worn on every body.  If you have a larger area or not even, a larger print can emphasize that area.  For example, below I’m wearing a printed dress that has larger print right along my hips.  The larger print portion of the dress makes my hips and stomach look huge and bottom heavy (which is opposite of what I really am).  Large print will make you look larger, where smaller prints will make you look smaller. 

Stripes have also become a hot trend and knowing how and where stripes hit different parts of your body will make all the difference.  Horizontal stripes will always make you look larger, where vertical stripes are slimming.  Just be careful of black and white vertical stripes, they can look like a prison uniform.  Another trick is smaller stripes will make you look thiner while thicker, bolder stripes will make you look larger.

Please remember to go through the check list (Post December 27, 2013 - http://dress4bis.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=2) when buying a new dress.  While they may fit when standing still, dresses often will ride up while running, twisting, and bending.  Remember to twist, run, and bend over in the dressing room.

Best Dressed: Houston World Series of Dog Shows

It's been a while since I did a best dressed, but while in Texas I saw some amazing outfits!  These ladies and gentlemen really stepped it up in Houston!  I love it!  Keep up the good work!!!

Miss Kassy Mysliwiec wore the cutest black and white sweater (I just about took it from her), paired with a simple black skirt.

Clint Livingston rocked the three piece!  Love this plaid suit with the brown vest!

Erin Roberts Carlisle ensemble was set off by the electric blue shell!

Tiffany Knox looked very elegant and pretty in this Tahari number!

Tara Rowell looked lovely in this purple crop jacket with a wide collar.

Sydney Good was stunning in a sparkly navy St. John that was completed with an elegant navy scarf.

Andrew Peel was dashing in his purple shirt and bow tie.  I wish I got a photo of his socks!

Derby Hats, Dog Show Hats

In light of the Kentucky Derby this weekend I thought it would be a good opportunity to write about hats at dog shows.  Hats at the Kentucky Derby are talked, photographed, and written about almost as much as the horses themselves.  These famous “Derby Hats” can be simple to unbelievably over the top! 

Hats worn at dog shows and more specifically in the ring is up for debate.  I am completely for wearing hats when it’s raining to keep dry (or somewhat) and keep the water from running down faces of handlers while trying to show their dogs.  These “rain hats” are often baseball hats or whatever is available are worn completely for function.  However, hats worn at shows where weather is more than pleasant is up for question.  Sun hats and fashionable hats can be cumbersome and distracting while in the ring.  Baseball hats on men and women make expensive suits and outfits look sloppy.  Trust me I fully understand the benefits of wearing a hat for protection from the sun.  Wearing a can help protect your face from the sun, but is it appropriate in the ring?

I have seen time and time again judges trying to get the attention of a handler to move to the front of the class or group and a handler wearing a hat missing the signal because the hat is obstructing their view of the ring and judge.  Obstructing is the key word for me on why hats shouldn’t be worn in the show ring.  When setting up dogs they may hit a dog and scare the dog.  Sometimes just the sight of a hat can even scare a dog.   You do not have a clear view of the ring, the judge, your dog, and others in the ring when wearing a hat.  They can flop or even fly off when running or moving around the ring.  

There is one show where hats are not only expected but a tradition, and that is Morris and Essex.  Morris and Essex is held once every 5 years in October over the famous Montgomery County weekend.  According to their website,

Every five years, a very special dog show appears, and we are transported to a gentler time honoring the heritage of one of the dog show world’s most devoted benefactors and the Show’s founder, Mrs. Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. (http://www.morrisandessexkc.com/heritage.html)

Exhibitors and spectators are asked to dressed to “the nines” and are encouraged to wear hats.  It was common for ladies and men to wear hats (beautiful and sometimes not very functional hats) at outdoor events during the roaring twenties when Morris and Essex Kennel Club formed.

Best Dressed Japan Style!!!!

I recently was in Tokyo for the Big Show and saw some amazing fashion!  Here are a few of my favorites!!!!

Overall the styles I saw in Japan were conservative chic with flairs of details.  It was a great change and I loved being on the other side of the Pacific!!!

Fiesta Cluster Best Dressed 2014

Sunshine and rain kept this year's Scottsdale shows interesting!

Mari Lynn Davisson kept dry in cute rain boots and double-breaste cream trench

Cathi Turner was bright in the sunshine in beautiful lime green

 Hanna Looney looked adorable in this flower printed Cynthia Steffe suit 

 Laurie Fenner showed her classic style in Signature by Larry Levine

 Sarah Murphy showed she was ready for spring in floral Tahari 

 Jane Myers was lovely in this beautiful aqua Eccoi suit

 Michelle Scott loved the warm sunshine in St. John

 Julliet Clendenon looked adorable in the rain with her fun Coach rain boots

Carrie Beaver was hoping for more sunshine in Layfayette jacket and skirt

10 Fashion Questions: Roxanne Sutton

Roxanne Sutton

Perkiomenville, PA

1 - When did you first realize you loved fashion and clothes?
I worked for J. Crew and Express when I was younger.  I was in the Million Dollar Club for Express which means I sold $1 million of clothing in one year and that was a lot of $19 T-Shirts!  I was in the Million Dollar Club for three quarters in a row!!!

2 - If you had all the money in the world which designer would you always buy?
Chanel

3 - What is your favorite piece of clothing or accessory?
My eternity diamond ring

4 - What is your biggest pet peeve about dog show fashion?
Women: When the "buttons are screaming" on women's blazers
Men: If you're thin, you don't need pleats in the front of your pants

5 - Who always looks the best at dog shows
Jessy Sutton - Kim Pastella - Michael Pitts - Amy Booth - Debra Thornton

6 - Who is your go to designer or what is your go to store?
Nordstrom - Limited - Ted Baker - River Island - J. Crew - Forever 21

7 - What time in history would you have like to have been around for because of the fashion?
Roaring 20's

8 - Who would you suggest for "What Not To Wear"?
Someone who's buttons are always screaming, I feel bad because her friends don't tell her.  (I'm not that good of her friend)

9 - What one thing do you think people could improve on regarding fashion at dog shows?
Nude colored bras under lighter clothes

10 -What was your favorite outfit you wore at a dog show?
so far the Garden this year - Erdem collection 2013