After reading Sonia’s wonderful post on Santa Barbara’s must-go beaches, I felt inspired to do a little shopping. Okay it doesn’t take much to inspire me to shop but this time it was specifically about what to wear to the beach. Although I’m dreading seeing myself in a bikini under the fluorescent lights of a dressing room, I’m hoping my newly enstated calorie counting and the diffusing glow of California sun will make everything better. My favorite bikini trend right now is the mix-and-match bikini. Here are a couple bikini mix-and-match sets I put together from one of the best bargain buy stops, OLD NAVY:
Lately I’ve been spotting a lot of great nude dresses. I always find nude, skin tone, blush dresses to be so beautiful. They say so much by saying so little. Remember Carrie and Big’s first date when she wears the “naked dress” and she thinks he’ll always remember her “that way”? Am I going overboard with all of the Sex and the City references lately? (I’m sorry, I can’t help it. But it’s the only thing that I can equate to my real life on television, other than the two men with the Asian baby on Modern Family.) To avoid any Carrie-isms with the “naked dress” scenario, make sure to wear a more demure cut when sporting this color block. Otherwise people may think you’re actually naked.
A few fabulous nude choices from Asos.com:
ASOS Dresses from Left to Right, Top row to Bottom row:
I had the best time at Coachella last year but due to my overwhelming workload I just don’t have the time, energy, or gusto to make it out this year. I remember it being a long hot day and the appropriate outfit is imperative for survival. Here are a few of my favorite Coachella outfits found at Elle.com. To see their entire album click here.
You can’t go wrong with a sweet and breezy long dress to cover your legs while rolling around in the grass.
This girl must have gotten to the festival later in the day. There is no way a white dress would survive on me during Coachella. Two hours in the dress would be covered in remnants of margarita slushie, ketchup, and pretzel salt. I’d do my best attempt to pretend it was some type of Pucci-inspired number.
The floppy hat and indigenous accessories take the classic black and white from the club to the desert.
Somewhere out there is a J.Crew catalogue missing a model.
Somewhere out there that High School Musical kid is looking for his girlfriend.
F-I-E-R-C-E!!!!!! Bold use of color and a total 60′s vibe. I want to put on Peter Paul and Mary’s “If I had a Hammer” and jam out. Love this girl.
I am an avid reader of the blog, The Sartorialist. I came across this post where he featured the behind the scenes of a shoot he did for Italian Vogue Pelle. The inspiration behind this shoot was “the cool, blogger girl.” Whaaaaaa?????!?!?!?! (Eyes bugged, eyebrows hinged) Yesssss………(grin of satisfaction.) So I’ll never be 5’11″, 95 lbs, and perfect bone structure. I’m 5’6 on a good day, still shedding the 15 lbs I’ve been meaning to lose for the past year, and boys at my jr. high once referred to me as “pancake face”. But today I have my victory. Today tech-savvy, neurotic, fashion-musing chicas stomping on the keyboard can unite in glee as we view the shoot to which we are muse.
Winter is so easy to dress business casual in. Throw on a blazer and boots and you’re set. The spring and summer seasons take a little more effort because they require lightweight fabrics that aren’t too revealing and the daunting task of shaving your legs daily. Luckily I can always turn to one of my heroes for advice, Jenna Lyons, the genius behind the glory that is J.Crew. On the J.Crew site they have a fabulous section appropriately titled Wear-To-Work Shop. Here’s how I want to dress to the office this spring:
The Grammy Awards are music’s biggest night to celebrate. You would think a community that’s produced such style icons as Madonna, Diana Ross, Cher and Blondie would have today’s artists living up to the fun and whimsy only music fashion can offer up. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed. Come on ladies, the Grammys are fun, edgy, rock and roll!!! I was underwhelmed by what walked down the red carpet. I love love love Taylor Swift, but really???ANOTHER long sequined gown?? You’re young, skinny and going to be on stage with Stevie Nicks. Let’s have some FUN. This isn’t the Academy Awards. Here are the few that lived up to my idea of Grammy fashion at its best:
Lady Gaga in Armani Prive
I really don’t care for the swept up “Classic Hollywood” look for the Grammys (unless your Christina Aguilera). Save that for the Emmys. I want crazy, fun, weird, art! And this is Gaga, pure 100% art. I love Gaga and I love that she is apologetically the mashup of Fame Monster and haute couture. Like her or not, there is no one like Gaga. (ahem, Ke$ha.)
Jennifer Hudson in Victoria Beckham
Yes. This is really happening. Marriage and motherhood have done Jennifer Hudson a whole lot of good because this girl is looking amazing! I was so surprised by her look. The toned up body, sleek hair, and the futuristic dress are perfectly edited. This is how to wear black to the Grammys and how to wear sharp angles even if you’re not a size zero.
Mary J Blige in Gucci
Leave it to the Queen of Hip Hop to bring some flavor to the table. Finally some COLOR!!!! Yes I wear A LOT of black, beige and gray. But I’m not a pop star at The Grammys. I was so perplexed that all these expressive musical artists were shying away from big bold color. But Mary never dissapoints. Mary killed it in bright fuscia with fierce cutouts that my A-cups could never pull off.
Heidi Klum is not human
Heidi Klum is not human. She’s a terminator and I’m John Conner in the resistance. Because my body resists to do what Heidi Klum’s has been able to do after popping out 80 kids. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. The blogosphere is already running rampid saying that this dress is a bit skanky but admit it, if you were the epitome of the Victoria’s Secret supermodel you’d wear something like this too. The dress is fun and flirtatious. It gives us all hope that after marriage and kids a girl can still throw on a mini and sky high heels and kill it. Above all else, Heidi Klum always has a smile on her face and a positivity that transends whatever frock she throws on. The woman went from “just a pretty face” to television personality, producer and business woman. Love love love me some Heidi.
I’ll have more to come this week on how to create your party looks inspired from some of the trends seen at The Grammys.
I came across a great article from 39thandbroadway.com titled “Do I NEED to go to Fashion School?” Just reading the title made me laugh as I thought of the countless friends I grew up with who doubted the importance of a college education. Many of them had the grades, the money and the support to go to college. But since they were creative types they felt that the institution of higher education was not for them. I’m not saying you won’t be successful if you don’t go to college (See Bill Gates, Maya Angelou and The Olsen Twins) but I do believe if you have the access to do so, college will be an irreplaceable addition to your life. Here’s a few highlights from the article with specific higher education advice for those entering the fashion industry.
One of the most common questions we get from young people is, “Do I need to go to college to have a career in fashion? Well, the short answer is, yes.
It’s our unanimous opinion that college is absolutely necessary. Now certainly there are a rare few who succeeded without it, but even for them a degree wouldn’t have hurt. There are many famous designers like Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, and Donna Karan who never finished school, but one thing to remember is, for them years ago a college diploma was not the prerequisite that it is today. Not to mention they all began by working for other companies and designers, whom today all require a Bachelors degree even for an assistant level position. Regardless of your career path, a college degree is, at the very least, something to fall back on. Should you change your mind in a few years and want to switch careers paths or attend grad school, a degree gives you options. In the US today a college degree is what a high school diploma was 30 years ago. According to the US census bureau, over the course of their life a college grad earns one million dollars more then their high school diploma counterpart! So all fashion industry intricacies aside, we will always recommend higher learning. Additionally, since many of our readers and the majority of fashion industry professionals are women we feel even stronger in pushing education. Women have enough battles for equality in the workplace; a lesser education should not be another.
Marc Jacobs, Parsons Alumni
First, when an ad is put out we receive hundred of applicants, as fashion design is a very coveted and competitive field. We are busy and certainly don’t have the time to interview or examine everyone’s portfolio. So step one for an entry level position, if your resume does not contain a college education and classes or major in fashion it goes out with the garbage. Second, we don’t really care about GPA’s or school awards, we’d rather see strong skills (pattern making, foreign languages, CAD, etc) and an innovative portfolio. Third, we’d like to see a portfolio that goes beyond just a few sketches, show us you have more abilities than any random joe with a fashion sense who can draw. Lastly, while the fashion industry may be known for its diva behavior, recent grad needs to check the attitude at the door, and be gracious. It is always shocking to us how many newbies forget that last point because even the best degree won’t overcome a bad attitude.
Big: people don’t dress up anymore
Carrie: like with waistcoats
Big: and watch fobs I’m gonna bring back the watch fob
I wish we could go back to a time of waistcoats and watch fobs. A time where full petticoat-ed skirts and driving gloves were the norm. But I want it all…I want a broken glass ceiling for women in the work place and pin curls! Valentino The Last Emporer, documents the retirement of the famed designer but also the end of an era. The end of a time where a man like Valentino and the women that he dressed (Aubrey Hepburn and Jackie O) brought glamour and sophistication to the world. The documentary, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, follows Valentino in the last days of his retirement. I never got the chance to see this in theaters so I’m thrilled that the DVD was released this past Tuesday. I suggest picking it up and watching while you pack your things for this weekend’s move-in. Because let’s be honest, you’ve already watched all your recorded episodes of the Rachel Zoe Project. Order your copy of Valentino The Last Emporerhere.
Words cannot describe my bitter jealousy for all New Yorkers. First, you get functional public transporation and Magnolia cupcakes, but now you get to preview and shop the Anna Sui for Target line first before anyone else!!!! Anna’s line inspired by Gossip Girl is going on sale at 54 Crosby @ Spring in New York starting at 11 am today, September 10th! The rest of us will have to wait till the line goes on sale online and in select storesSeptember 13th.
The line is inspired by the females of the show with looks being named after Blair, Serena, Jenny and Vanessa. Let’s start by saying that I want EVERYTHING Blair. No surprises there! But what I’m wondering is why everything Serena is black?!?! And I have to agree with The Cut, Serena’s outfits aren’t nearly slutty enough! Deep down I wish Anna had done something for Regina’s character…perhaps a blazer with ”The Bitch is Back” in patchwork? A girl can only dream…
Women’s Color-Block Bandeau Halter Swimsuits
