Series - In Style: Laura Hollis & Carmilla Karnstein of "Carmilla" [Contributor: Rae: Nudson]

Rae recently debuted a new series at our website titled "In Style" in which she creates look boards inspired by some of her favorite television fashionistas. This is her contribution for the web series Carmilla!

I'm a total Carmilla. I was the messy roommate, I hate volunteering for things, and my fridge was always empty. And when it comes to my own closet, I much prefer a black leather jacket to a brightly colored dress.

I also need a Laura. I need someone to make be braver, to cut through my cynicism, and to bring some color into my life.

Laura's style has always been about practicality. She has investigations to run and conspiracies to uncover, and she looks put-together and ready to get to work. She wears flats –– you can't very well run away from a giant angler fish god in four-inch heels –– and she wears layers to take off or put on as needed. Her style changes a bit in the second season, after Carmilla lifted some unused clothes from other dorms and gave them to Laura. Laura's a bit dressier now, which could be as much about trying to look nice for Carm as it was about her new TV broadcast role for the university. The fabrics she wears are soft and romantic. Her most romantic look, though, is the ruffly shirt from season one that Carm says makes her look like a virgin sacrifice.

Laura's clothes are as adorable as her personality, and the patterns she wears are refreshing and fun, without being too cutesy. Whether it's polka dots or giraffes, patterns bring whimsy to her wardrobe when her life definitely needs something uplifting to balance out the darkness. My favorite Laura looks are pattern heavy. Her blue polka dot dress and the dress with deep red and green plaid are resplendent.

Carmilla's wardrobe, however, fully reflects the darkness she feels. In blacks and deep purples, reds, and pinks –– like blood and bruises –– Carmilla is all punk and edge. Carmilla, in her leather corsets and leather pants and leather everything, is sexy. Seduction and charm are part of being a vampire, and Carmilla has that seduction on lock.

One of my favorite looks of Carmilla's is her robe. It's unexpectedly bright, but it's still red, and it's covered in leopards –– a jungle predator that could maybe run as fast as Carmilla.

My other favorite look (for obvious reasons) is she corset and leather pants she wears on her and Laura's disastrous almost-date.

If you consider yourself to be more of a Laura, I want to help make sure your style is on point while you are doing your best to save the world. So I have some examples of what you could add to your closet:

I'd recommend dressing in soft fabrics and grown-up patterns (think extra small or extra large prints, or something sharp and graphic so the pattern doesn’t skew too twee). You should always dress like Laura when you need to overthrow an evil plot, go underground and in hiding, or feel hopeful about a great love.

For the Carmillas out there, I have some inspiration for you, too! My recommendations are that you mainly wear black and have the perfect pair of leather pants and crop tops for a night painting the town red. You should dress like Carmilla when you are fighting with your mom, planning revenge, or falling hopelessly in love.

The style of both these women add to their characters by using their clothes to portray parts of their personalities. But Laura's sweetness and Carm's edge are only a parts of their whole selves. To learn more about these wonderfully complex women, check out Carmilla on the VerveGirl YouTube channel.

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Series - In Style: Thea Queen of "Arrow" [Contributor: Rae Nudson]

Rae recently debuted a new series at our website titled "In Style" in which she creates look boards inspired by some of her favorite television fashionistas. Her first post on Hannibal's Alana Bloom can be found here and her second about Felicity Smoak can be found here! In honor of #CountdownToArrow, Rae has done an Arrow-specific post for Thea Queen as well to celebrate Thea Queen Appreciation Day!

From being a partying, lost teenager trying to find her way amid family tragedy to being a woman who can literally and metaphorically fight for herself while accepting her past and her flaws, Thea Queen has gone through one of the biggest transformations on Arrow. And her style has gone through one of the biggest transformations as well.

Thea can still rock a minidress from her partying days, but in general, her style has evolved from tight and trendy to simple and carefree. Thea knows herself now and knows her strengths, and so her style has changed to focus on the girl wearing the clothes. She dresses much more relaxed and much more reflective of who she is, rather than following fashionable trends that match everyone else. When she cut her hair to better frame her face, she essentially also cut her style down to better match her heart.

Thea doesn’t just have one style or one way to look — she dresses for all sides and layers of her because she has accepted every part of who she is. When she needs to spar with her evil dad, she makes sure she can move comfortably in her clothes. When she goes to a wedding, she throws back on a minidress that shows off her, ahem, assets. She’s not afraid to show off her body in a crop top or to steal the scene in a sparkly jacket (or pair of pants). She’s as comfortable in stilettos as she is in low tops. Thea is so many things, and she’s not afraid of any part of herself anymore.

Because Thea recognizes her power and her skills, she is ready for new challenges — and new outfits — saving the city as Speedy. Speedy is just another part of Thea Queen, really, and it won’t define her, just as being Merlyn’s daughter or a business owner of Verdant or a sister of Oliver Queen doesn’t define her. And I can’t wait to see her get to work — both in her new uniform, and out of it.

We have some inspiration if you want to dress like Thea — and honestly who wouldn’t? I’d recommend some sleek tops and cool jackets. Don’t be afraid to show off your midriff or to wear a very shiny accessory. Leather is always a good idea, and you could show some cheek by wearing red as a nod to Thea's extracurricular activities. You should dress like Thea Queen when you need to undergo assassin training, look great on a date, or run your own business.

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Series - In Style: Felicity Smoak of "Arrow" [Contributor: Rae Nudson]

Last month, Rae debuted a new series at our website titled "In Style" in which she creates look boards inspired by some of her favorite television fashionistas. Her first post on Hannibal's Alana Bloom can be found here. In honor of #CountdownToArrow, Rae will be doing a few special Arrow-specific posts. And, to help celebrate Felicity Smoak Appreciation Day, here's her article about Felicity Smoak! 

Felicity’s clothes, like the woman herself, are flawless. She always knows exactly what to wear, whether it’s a business meeting or a date — or a business meeting that doubles as a date. Her life may be constantly about to fall apart, but her outfits make her feel more together. They are coordinated and classic while still being completely on trend. Felicity wears a lot of bright colors because she’s the light on Arrow — not just for Oliver, but for everyone. The patterns and colors she wears are fun and powerful, just like she is. And her clothes have only gotten bolder as the series has gone on, and this perfectly parallels the fact that she, as a character, has gotten bolder too. She’s not afraid to fight for what she needs, and she’s not afraid to stand out in a bright dress and bright lipstick. Felicity is sure of her worth, and that comes across very clearly in the way that she prevents herself, especially through her sense of style. She takes care of herself, dresses with precision, and looks great while she’s battling whatever life (or the villain of the week) throws at her.

For work, especially since she joined the executive level at a company, Felicity is more often than not in a classic dress that is more formal than the skirts and button-ups that she used to wear in her IT days. When she’s in the Arrow cave, she is still professional, but this environment also allows for a bit more of a personal twist. Her crop tops are so perfect, honestly. And I feel like Felicity is the kind of woman who dresses extra cute when she needs an emotional boost. One thing I especially love about the way that Felicity dresses is that she so often wears her hair back and up in a ponytail. That choice in hairdo conveys that she is focused and practical, and that wherever she is, she is there to do hard work. After all, when you are hunched over a computer for hours saving the world, sometimes you just have to get your hair out of your face. (Aside: I love the Black Canary, but how many women would honestly fight crime with long hair flying around? A villain could grab onto that!)

But Felicity still knows when to let her hair down and she definitely knows how to get dressed for fun — it’s not all work for Felicity without any play. For a date with Oliver, of course, she brings out a killer (or Smoakin', if you prefer) red dress.

We keep hearing from the producers that season four of Arrow will be a bit lighter, less depressing and dark than the season before. And I hope that this season’s more playful and relaxed attitude is also reflected in Felicity’s wardrobe. What I sincerely hope with all my little shipping heart is that we see Felicity in more date night outfits with Oliver. So, now that we've discussed Felicity's impeccable style, you're probably wondering what you can do to imitate her look. While we can't quite tell you where you can find your own Oliver Queen, we can give you some style suggestions for how to dress like Felicity, practically, in your own life! I’ve put together some outfits which will hopefully serve as inspiration for how you can dress like her:

In order to become your own Felicity Smoak, I’d recommend bold colors, crop tops and pencil skirts, a closetful of pitch-perfect coats, and always having a knockout dress in your best color ready to go in your closet. When, exactly, should you use imitate Felicity's look? I recommend that you dress like Felicity when you need to do your best at a high-stress job, make everyone fall in love with you, and when you’re following your heart.

Additionally, if you have ever envied any of the awesome jewelry that Felicity Smoak has worn on the show, a majority of her pieces come from a designer named Peggy Li. Peggy is super sweet and a supporter of our website! Jenn owns a pair of her drusy earrings in blue (the bronze version is one Felicity wears in the show). Be sure to check out her designs and buy them. Peggy's packaging is super cute and her Instagram is lovely, too! :)

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Series - In Style: Alana Bloom of "Hannibal" [Contributor: Rae Nudson]

Alana Bloom used to be a gentle, loving person who believed the best in people and who kissed Will against her better judgment. Now, her edges are sharper, and her better judgment has been replaced by doing whatever it takes to survive, no apologies given. As a consequence, her style has evolved, and she’s transitioned from wearing soft wrap dresses and boots, to donning blazers with sharp lines and bold colors.

The more power Alana has over Hannibal, the more she dresses like he used to. She wears killer suits (I’ve heard she even took the suits from Hannibal’s closet when he was apprehended and had them tailored to fit her). Alana now wears and wields those suits at work with power -- one of the only people with the keys to every door between Hannibal and the outside world.

Her actions are bolder this season, too, and so is her lipstick. She is the one setting up chess pieces in her and Hannibal’s game, and Alana's wardrobe clearly conveys the fact that she is not a woman to be messed with. The white, black, and red she’s been wearing are reminiscent of good, evil, and the blood that Hannibal has spilled. No, Alana isn’t messing around anymore. And neither is her wardrobe.

One of my favorite Alana outfits this season is the bright coat she wore to see Mason Verger for the first time. Her coat was like a protective covering while she entered a lair of evil. Also, it was gorgeous. I also love the all-red suit she wears when she congratulates Hannibal on being found insane. The red in her coat, suit, and lips clearly depicts her as being braver and fiercer than she’s ever been. 

Throughout the rest of the "In Style" series, I'll be highlighting some characters' unique and interesting style and then helping you find pieces and plan outfits inspired by them. You can think of me as your television fashion fairy godmother.

So if you want to dress like the bold, bad Alana in real life, I’d recommend some outfits like this:

The style: Separates, patterned blazers, flowy blouses, and bold deep colors like red and blue are style tricks and tips from Alana Bloom's book. I would recommend dressing like Alana when you need to feel powerful, want to boss around the boys, or have a big presentation coming up. And this final tip is an important one: don't forget your lipstick.

I'm planning on taking a look at the style of many different characters across many different shows throughout the "In Style" series. So if there's a character with style you love and want to know how to practically emulate, or if there is anyone you want us to talk about in particular, let us know either in the comments below or by tweeting me! :)

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