the hunt: must-have maxis

A painterly floral print and delicate details make this maxi dress a summer wardrobe must-have.
Greylin Blooming Silk Maxi Dress, $198 at Anthropologie

Now that the weather has finally, gloriously decided it's spring, all I want to wear is dresses. I'll be honest, I don't discriminate when it comes to dress hem length, but I have a soft spot in my sartorial heart for maxi dresses. They're so effortlessly chic - you can easily dress them up or down with the right accessories - and is there anything more comfortable on a warm spring day? Here are a few of my favorites, culled from two of the season's best trends:

Stripes

Stripes were all over the recent runways, from Marc Jacobs' mod tour de force to Kelly Lynne's killer high-waisted pants and striped skirt. Both collections - and these fab maxis - prove that stripes look best in bold black and white.

1. I'm nuts for the subtle nautical details - that's an anchor on the chest!!! - and ombre stripes on this Emma Cook dress. Seriously, I want this in my wardrobe NOW.
Emma Cook maxi dress, $352 at Net-A-Porter

2. Bold and flowing, BCBG's high-low striped dress is perfect for showing off a sexy summer sandal. If the voluminous silhouette isn't for you, try belting it at the waist.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Gia Silk High-Low Striped Dress, $548 at BCBG

3. Want something on-trend that won't break the bank? Mossimo's graphic maxi is as chic as it is easy on the wallet.
Mossimo knit maxi dress, $30 at Target

The Blues

From Tiffany to navy, sky to ocean, shades of blue are one of the key colors of the season (lucky for me - blue is one of my all-time favorite colors).

1. A watercolor print, floaty layers and barely-there straps make this dress perfect for indulging in a little summer romance.
Theyskens' Theory Dressa Marble Print Maxi Dress, $907.50 at My Wardrobe

2. She's the queen of Maxi Dressing, so it's no wonder Rachel Zoe's minty snake print wrap dress is a must-have.
Rachel Zoe Celine Print High-Low Silk Gown, $495 at Nordstrom

3. This gorgeous crochet maxi just makes you long to be on a yacht touring the Greek Isles, doesn't it? So dreamy.
Missoni Crochet Knit Ombre Dress, $3,630 at Mytheresa

the hour of enchantment

Sometimes a photoshoot just doesn't go the way you think it will. That was certainly the case when the cast and crew - including an army of hair and makeup artists, six little people, a male model named Fabio, a ram, and a pony - arrived at Goldner Walsh Nursery on a snowy morning in late February.

We were all there for the men's and women's spring fashion shoot for the April issue of Hour Detroit. As we unloaded the clothing and accessories, arranged props on the set, and started on hair and makeup for the extras, Hour's art director Cassidy came to me with a shocking revelation - our female model was a no show, and her agent couldn't get in touch with her. We were already running behind schedule, and with a shoot this massive, we couldn't just reschedule. Basically, our backs were against a wall.

That's when Cassidy asked me a question: "Can you fit into the clothes?"

I am definitely not a model, and I am 100 percent more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, but since I would fit into the clothes, I told her that yes, I could do it if that was our only option. (But I did tell her the skimpy Herve Leger dress we had planned for one of the looks probably wouldn't happen if I was the only girl around to wear it. We all have our limits.)

Within minutes, I found myself in a hair and makeup chair, getting all dolled up for the first look, a gorgeous ruffled sleeve Gucci gown. Luckily, we were able to call in a real model, and by the time we shot my second look, she was done with hair and makeup and ready to slip into that Herve Leger dress. Her dark hair and eyes were a great contrast to my blonde, blue-eyed paleness, and we started thinking of our characters and the "good witch" and the "bad witch."

In the end, the shoot was a success, the animals and extras all did a fantastic job, and our male model was a dream throughout the shoot. It was definitely a make-it-work moment if there ever was one. Check out all the images from the shoot below, and for full cast, crew, and clothing credits, visit hourdetroit.com.

gift guide 2012: made in michigan

Want to buy local this year? Whether you're shopping for a beauty junkie or foodie, fashionista or ski bunny, you can find something from Michigan for everyone on your list this holiday season. The gifts in this round-up are culled from some of my favorite locally owned businesses, from artisanal handmade soap maker Aromaholic to outdoor superstore Moosejaw.

1/ Maalouf Nail Polish, $9 each. 2/ Moosejaw Men's Jeremiah Bruce Zip Hoodie, $55. 3/ Sibling Michigan Holiday Card, $4. 4/ Kelly Lynne Houndstooth Wool Coat, $250, and Polka Dotted Leggings, $65. 5/ Herman Miller Eames Chair and Ottoman, $3,824. 6/ Moosejaw Women's Irene P. Waters Faux Fur Hat, $42. 7/ McClure's Bloody Mary Mix, $10. 8/ Pewabic Pottery Tile, $22. 9/ American Spoon Red Raspberry Preserves, $9. 10/ Elevated Press Mitten State of Mind Letterpress Print, $20. 11/ Aromaholic Gin and Tonic Soap, $7.

small business saturday is november 24!

While there are literally thousands of people gearing up for the rat race that is Black Friday, I'm making plans for Small Business Saturday. Founded in 2010 to give small businesses more exposure on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, Small Business Saturday brings together shoppers who want to buy local and the independent designers, boutiques and specialty shops that give a community its unique flavor. From dance wear to home wares, here's a peek at the local shops I'll be visiting this Saturday.

ciao, bella!

On the cover: 3.1 Phillip Lim top, $450, Alexis Bittar bracelet, $325, and ring, $275, and Stephen Dweck earrings, $295, Neiman Marcus, 248.643.3300. Stella McCartney pants, $525, Saks Fifth Avenue, 248.643.9000. Madewell belt, sylist’s own.

My return flight from Sweden touched down late last week, and I was greeted by a beautiful site: the latest issue of StyleLine! I had the privilege of styling the cover and accompanying fashion spread alongside an incredible team, and I'm so proud of the results. StyleLine's editor, Karen Buscemi, gave photographer Lians and I a "color burst" theme. My interpretation was inspired by film noir - what would classic black-and-white noir look like if was shot in color? Thanks to the incredible creative team, beautiful model and a limited edition Gucci Fiat 500, pretty glamorous, if you ask me! Check out the full shoot below:

you can leave your mask on...

Earlier in the week, I posted a sneak peek of a costume design shoot I styled for local designer Kelly Lynne. Well, voila! Here are the final images! I was super geeked about this shoot based on my cell phone pics, but I am even more excited for the final product. The images, shot by Michelle Matiyow, perfectly capture the innocent-yet-macabre aesthetic of the designer. It also presented me with an opportunity to really let my imagination run wild when it came to the styling. Check it out below and let me know what you think in the comments!

Kelly Lynne Costume Shoot

photo: Michelle Matiyow for LM Studios

styling: Rebecca Voigt Fashion Styling

hair: Sandy Bambi

makeup: Megan Murphy

model: Maeve

White Swan

sneak peek: kelly lynne costume shoot

White Swan gets a dramatic makeover with high contrast red accessories.

Yesterday I styled a shoot for local designer (and good friend) Kelly Lynne. She's not only amazingly talented in the ready-to-wear area, she can create pretty badass costumes. The shoot yesterday was to capture her costume designs on film, everything from a twisted Alice to a dramatic ringmaster. My faves of the day were the reinterpretations of her black and white swan costumes. Kelly wanted to show them in a different, non-balletic light, and I was so happy she liked my ideas. Check out these behind-the-scenes images and stay tuned for the final shots, captured by the incredibly talented Michelle Matiyow!

UPDATE: Check out the full shoot here!

Bowler hat, face mask, studded gloves, twisted cane - perfection.