Fit for Fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue

Last Thursday at this time, these MsFits were running around Saks like two crazy ladies pulling together the finishing looks for our first ever Fit Fashion Presentation. We wanted to showcase 5 beautiful new summer pieces from Saks that highlight 5 different areas of the body and how you can work them with simple barre exercises to get your body ready for these summer trends.

Yes, trends are just trends, they come and go in a blink of an eye. But each season, there is something new to try, like a different dish at your favorite restaurant… so why not have a little tasting? What I find as a stylist is that people tend to wear a larger array of trends when they feel their best. And they feel their best when they know that they’ve put in the effort to look that way. You don’t have to be a size 0 to attempt every trend, but when you’re playing around with fashion, it’s much more fun when your confidence pushes you to think outside your own fashion box.

The areas of the body that we focused on were the arms, abs, thighs, calves and butt. And for each of our guests we designed our own little cue cards to help them remember the moves… Our amazing illustrator drew each girl in a fun outfit that I designed, with Jess’ careful attention to each one of the poses. We’re also going to be posting our own videos to really show you how to execute each one of these routines… Find the videos here.

Cue Card

 

Cue Card

 

Also, with stroke awareness being an extremely important cause for us for many reasons and because May is Stroke Awareness month, we invited Dr. Rost, the Director of the Acute Stroke Services at Mass General Hospital, to speak about the importance of stroke awareness and how every one of us should never ignore warning signs and always be conscious about what our body is telling us. 10% of the proceeds from sales that night went to the American Stroke Association which we’re so thankful for!

Here are some photos from the event… Enjoy!

Models ready to go…

 

Left to Right:

Floral top, skirt, coat and bag, Stella McCartney. Sandals, Salvatore Ferragamo. Necklace, Mija.

Bra top, Helmut Lang. Culottes, Marc Jacobs. Scarf (in the hair), Emilio Pucci. Sunglasses, Prada. Sandals, Jimmy Choo.

Dress, Herve Leger. Leather jacket, Thakoon. Necklace and bangles, Alexis Bittar. Clutch, Alexander McQueen.

Dress, Cushnie et Ochs. Gold choker and bangles, Celine. Bag, Alexander McQueen. Sandals, Jimmy Choo.

Boucle jacket and skirt with bird print top, Nina Ricci. Sunglasses, Dior. Earrings, Phillips House. Bangles, Mija. Bag, Celine. Sandals, Prada.

 

With our beautiful fitness model, Christie

Dr. Rost

Thank you to our glam squad for making us look presentable!

Showing off the reverse push-up

Keep those heels high!

Reed Krakoff clutch

Side plank

C’est fini!

 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN MS FIT EVENTS!

 

All photography by Hogger & Co.

All looks available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Boston.

Models of Maggie, Inc.

Hair by Dani Noel and Nathan Alan of Blo.

Makeup by NARS.

Jessica and Christie’s outfits, Splits59. Sneakers, Reebok.

 

MsFit Feature: Isabelle English

Isabelle English

Living in London (for now!), Student at NYU

WHAT IS KEEPING YOU BUSY THESE DAYS?

Over the past few years, I have undergone a complete lifestyle makeover. I am the daughter of two gourmet chefs, so the love of food and cooking is practically in my DNA. But as a young girl going through the elementary struggles that all young girls do, this got me into trouble. I fell into poor eating habits and stopped, or rather, never began taking care of my self. I was irresponsible with how I treated my body and reckless in my decisions when it came to food and fitness and how both made me feel.

It was not until the summer before college, when I was nearing three hundred pounds, that I decided to make a change. It took immense amounts of will power, seven days a week at the gym and some serious soul searching, but soon after I began to make changes in my daily choices, the weight seemed to glide right off. Since then, I have been taking steps in not only altering my food and fitness choices, but revamping my entire way of living. This includes things as simple as understanding nutritional facts or learning to use exercise as an outlet for stress or upset. Through such mechanisms, I was able to completely reinvent my relationship to food, my relationship to fitness- and now- as I am reaching my goal weight and shape, my relationship to fashion.

As an overweight, self conscious teenager, I was unable and unwilling to express myself through my clothing. I didn’t care what I put on my body as long as it was comfortable. Now that I am able to shop at stores I love and wear and feel confident in things I never even dreamed I could, I am passionate about what I put on and how it reflects who I am.

My biggest project at the moment is my working memoir. It’s about my journey from the guarded, overweight and embarrassed adolescent I was into the confident, creative, free spirited young woman I am today. I cover almost all aspects of my life – but focus mostly on the three things I have gained from such a major lose – my positive relationship with food, my love and passion for fashion and my dedication to fitness and overall health- and, of course, how such changes have changed my entire life in the best way possible. I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been – and writing it all down, and hopefully sharing it one day, it a great way to solidify my success.

WHAT ARE YOU LOVING IN FITNESS AND FASHION RIGHT NOW?

These days in fashion I am really into monochromatic looks. Whether it be an all black or navy ensemble, or a mix and match of floral or stripped prints, consistency is key. My favorite piece of clothing right now is a plum and navy floral jumper. I think one solid print or color is both chic and sophisticated- and super easy! When it comes down to it, I like to wear whatever I feel good in- and that sense of confidence, to me, makes the outfit! (I am also obsessed with high wasted skirts. That trend is timeless. Oh- and scarves! Lots and lots of scarves!)

My fitness regime, like my fashion, is constantly changing. I’ve been doing Barry’s boot-camp in London, and was obsessed with Soul Cycle in NYC. They are high energy and really make you sweat- both things I look for in a good workout. On the days when I don’t take classes, though, I run and do weight training and bosu exercises. I find that changing things up helps keep me motivated. So some days, I just go out for extremely long walks in new neighborhoods and do lunges across the street!

HOW CAN WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU?

Instagram: @izzadele

Fit for Flats

Fashionistas know that a quick fix to making your calves look more defined is to throw on a pair of sky-high heels… this creates an instantaneous improvement in appearance and tone in the calves. But what about keeping that defined look in your calves while wearing one of this season’s hottest trends- the espadrille?

With espadrilles and flats becoming more and more popular in ways that we couldn’t have ever imagined, even asserting themselves in our going out on the town wardrobe, wouldn’t it be nice to have the same glistening toned calves without teetering in a 6 inch pair of heels?

To get those eye-catching Barre defined calves, Ms Fit is sharing some safe, quick and effective moves to help you get those long lean curves of a dancer’s calves. And, to get you started on your collection of this spring’s hottest espadrilles, browse through our picks of must-have espadrilles.

MsFit Challenge~ We would love to see YOUR espadrilles on MsFit. Post a pic on Instagram or Facebook of your favorite pair and tag #msfitforsociety. Looking forward to seeing your fitness and fashion come to us!

 

Tabitha Simmons Dolly Silk Espadrilles

Loeffler Randall Mara Espadrilles

Soludos x We Are Handsome Espadrilles

Soludos Espadrilles

Rag and Bone Georgie Espadrille

Steve by Steve Madden Lanii Espadrilles

Dolce & Gabbana Espadrilles

Gap Espadrilles

Jennifer Lopez for Kohl’s Espadrilles

Marc by Marc Jacobs Espadrilles

Miista Jerri Espadrilles

Rebecca Minkoff Genny Espadrilles

Soludos x Opening Ceremony Espadrilles

Steve by Steve Madden Lanii Espadrilles

Topshop Espadrilles

Tory Burch Mischa Sequin Espadrilles

Tory Burch Myra Espadrilles

Valentino Lace Espadrilles

Valentino Rockstud Espadrilles

 

How to get it: Heel Lifts 

And don’t forget to check out our VIDEO tutorial here…

1)              Standing facing a barre or sturdy chair or surface that is sturdy enough to use for balance

2)              As you are facing the barre or chair, bring your body just about 6-8 inches away from the barre or chair. Finger tips lightly placed onto the bar.

3)              While facing the bar, stand with your feet hip distance and parallel to the bar. Bring your heels together and toes apart to make a V shape with your feet (like “first position” in ballet). Toes should be just about 3 inches apart. Squeeze your heels together, grip your seat to engage your glutes, pull your abdominals in, while keeping the spine long, standing tall (think long dancer necks), start to lift and lower heels up and down. Even as you lift keep your heels glued together. 10-20 reps. For more of a challenge, release one or both arms over head and keep lifting heels.

4)              For even more of a challenge and to tone even more of your legs, step your feet further apart into a wide  ballet “second position”. Look down to make sure that your feet are further than hip distance apart. We are adding on with “second position” to start to engage, strengthen and elongate the quadriceps, glutes, and inner and outer thighs. Once again, start to lift and lower heels about 20-30 repetitions.

To make this exercise even more challenging. Lower heels. Keep your feet flat, stay in a wide second position. Drop your tailbone, bend your knees slightly. From your lower point, start to just pulse down an inch and up an inch. Option to raise one or both hands over head.

The higher the heels, the closer to perfection!