Saturday, February 28, 2009

Tiers...not just for cakes anymore!




I've been noticing a trend in dresses lately that I wanted to get your opinion on, dear readers. Several designers and copycats have been turning out dresses with layers upon layers of fabric, all the way down the body.

Now, not having yet tried on one of these designs, part of me thinks them quite girly and stylish but part of me thinks they might just add extra poundage to all but the tiniest of us.

The crochet number above is the Rendez-Vous by Paul & Joe Sister Flamme Dress from Urban Outfitters and below are a few additional examples, the BCBG Tiered Cocktail Dress available at E-dressme.com, Betsey Johnson's Blush Dot Cotton Strapless Tiered Dress available at Bluefly.com, and the TBags Ruffle Tier Dress at Pinkmascara.com, respectively.

What do you think? Will we look as pretty as a petit-four or will we look like we ate the whole batch?







Thursday, February 26, 2009

In the spirit of Marilyn...




A good friend of mine has quite the affinity for Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. And for good reason! Something about Marilyn just exudes sexiness, femininity, strength, allure and of course, old Hollywood glamour.

In the spirit of Marilyn and in riding the wave of the pin-up revival that has been going strong in many cities, I've recently become very interested in this retro, rockabilly, super-glam look. Think red lipstick, false eyelashes, accented waists, wiggle skirts, one-piece swimsuits...

What say you try your own hand at it? Check out these great pieces to start...

1) Ureshii Marilyn Dress





2) Kimchi Blue Skirted Retro One Piece Swimsuit



Now go be ultra-female and channel your inner Marilyn!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Raccoons are pretty...


If they own their own etsy shop and make cool, one-of-a-kind clothing!

PrettyRaccoon Clothing is an online shop based out of Toronto, Canada and featured on etsy.com whose designer makes and prints quirky, casual clothing that just has a lovely sense of fun about it. Lots of tee shirts, tube tops, scarves and hand screen printing - we love it!

I especially love the Chandelier Print Gathered Tube Top, the Deer Print Slouchy One Shoulder Top (so fitting for Wisconsin!) and the Custom Print/Color Scarf Wrap (you choose the color and/or screenprint - yeah!).

Great, wearable art that looks perfect with jeans, don't you think?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Crazy shoe obsession of the day...


I KNOW you don't really need shoes. I KNOW you don't really need GREEN shoes. I KNOW you don't really need GOLD PLATFORM GREEN SATIN GLADIATOR-ISH shoes. But if you DID need them, these would be the ones!

Fashion always skews this way and that into the realms of whimsy and crazy, because how can one be creative without at least considering the ridiculous? I believe these shoes are a testament to that and, if you've got $129.00 lying around in your shoe budget, why not the Bebe "Evelyn" Satin Ankle Strap Sandal?

Available in brown, green and shocking blue with a sculpted metallic sole, if the color doesn't make a statement, the acrophobia-inducing 5.75" heel with a 1" platform surely will!

Sometimes you gotta make your shoes do the talking, right? But be careful girls...with a shoe this outrageous, the rest of your outfit had better be pretty subdued...

Gotta give it to my girl Angie...


Part (okay MOST) of the fun of watching the Oscar Awards is dishing about the fashion. While some were yawn-worthy, others made up for it.

And finally, Angelina Jolie dressed up again! Classic black, classic shape (love the sweetheart neckline) and classic jewelry in a very fresh color (green emeralds!) made her look like the modern movie star she is.

I just love that she can dress so simply and still be so WOW. Can you tell I would date her if she asked?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Indie retail rocks my world...



Tired of the mall? Looking for something different? Need some extra flash from your little wad of cash? Look no further, dear local readers, the boutiques are de-stashing & it's time to pump up your shopping cred...

This Saturday, 02/21 from 9AM-4PM at Shorewood High School is the first-ever BOUTIQUE BLOWOUT! Several of the best, independent fashion boutiques around are banding together to provide Milwaukee fashionistas with what they crave - unique style at a discount. Lots of sample items, luxe brand names, 50-75% off sticker prices...sounds like a great way to spend the day with girlfriends, doesn't it?

Some of the shops that will be there are Lela, SHOP, Miss Ruby, Aala Reed, Shoo, EssElle (my personal fave which is going away 4evah, *sniff*), and more!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

1) $5 admission (goes to charity)
2) Bring CASH - not sure if any CC's or checks will be accepted
3) Wear a strapless bra and stash some heels in your tote bag
4) Eat a good breakfast and have a shot of caffeine

I predict this will be a no-nonsense, power-shopping, possibly elbowing-other-women-out-of-the-way-for-the-last-one-in-your-size moment. BRING IT ON.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Million dollar butt...


Let's continue our denim discussion, shall we? Everyone has her own preferences in clothes, but ESPECIALLY JEANS. However, because I love them so much, I had to share my own favorites with you, my dear readers.

The Keaton Boot Cut Jean by Earnest Sewn are the best jeans I've bought so far in my fashion life. Mid-rise (no muffin-top, ever!), dark-washed with minimal whiskering (or glitter, dragons, rips, etc.), a lovely, slight bootcut, rigid denim and a touch of polyester, these jeans can make a bad wardrobe day pretty darn good.

As with most designer jeans, my first pair were pretty pricey (I made the mistake of getting suckered into them at a little, frou-frou boutique here in the city) but by the time I realized how much I was paying for them, I had already spied how great my butt looked in them in the shop's 3-way mirror. Damn! Foiled by vanity again...

But never fear dearies, I wised up and found them again on dear ol' Ebay for $40. I now am the proud owner of this jean in both the "Astrid" and "Val" washes.

What's the moral of this story? To go out and buy yourself a high-priced piece of denim-wear? On the contrary! Go out and TRY ON a high-priced piece of denim-wear, note your size and buy them for cheap online. That way, your butt still looks like a million bucks and no one is the wiser.

We must conserve our fashion budgets, no?

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

American frock...




In earlier posts, I lauded the great things about American Apparel, particularly how basic, versatile and easily personalized their pieces are. Plus, each one comes in such fun colors!

AA's Baby Rib Pocket Frock is no exception. Available in 6 great colors (I'm partial to the royal blue m'self), this super-fun yet basic dress has 3/4 sleeves, a flattering boatneck and pockets (pockets on dresses - I just love). Wear this alone as a mini-dress or with leggings/jeans as a casual tunic. Either way, it's right at home with a belt, a scarf, a bunch of jewelry, tights, heels, flats...endless possibilities ladies!

The best part is that you can wear this NOW and through the rest of the seasons, depending on what you pair it with. Always a good thing to make multiple outfits out of one piece. We like that!

Check out American Apparel's website for lots more chic, yet uber-affordable ideas like this. You will likey, I promise...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Skirt obsession of the day...



So, today Urban Outfitters revealed what's new in their stores and online for spring - yay! The first thing that caught my eye I had to share with you, dear readers. Take a gander at the BDG Printed Pocket Knit Skirt, an super-soft circle skirt devoid of any extras like buttons or zippers without sacrificing prettiness.

Love love love the nautical feel of the navy and white stripes - a perfect, under $40 addition to your spring wardrobe, no?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

White eyelet & warm weather thoughts...

Girly white eyelet
Girly white eyelet - by roxy-land on Polyvore.com

Crisp, white, feminine and a bit peek-a-boo sexy, anything made with eyelet fabric kind of makes you want to sit up straighter and do a little twirl.

Lots of this is coming out for spring and summer which is so great, mostly because it can be an excellent, textured, neutral piece to go with most anything already in your closet. I particularly like how gold jewelry can really set off this look!

Lovely for work and for play, try incorporating a new blouse into your office wear for some much-needed freshness. Or go all out with a full dress - I see it with espadrilles and a mojito myself...

Some really nice pieces I have found so far:

DRESSES

Nine West "Rock Candy" Eyelet Dress (a great, wrap dress)

Delia's "Juliet" Eyelet Dress (only $44!)

Nanette Lepore "It's Only Love" Dress

Isaac Mizrahi for Target Polka-Dot Eyelet Dress (it's seriously $11.24 on clearance with almost all sizes available. Seriously.)

TOPS/JACKETS


Heritage 1981 "Karla" Strapless Top ($12.90 - do I find you deals or WHAT?)

Elie Tahari "Krista" Cropped Jacket

Now start dreaming of warmer weather! Maybe if we buy dresses NOW spring will come sooner?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

My boyfriend's back...

So let's talk "Boyfriend Jeans." This denim trend started showing up during Fall 2008 in Hollywood and, naturally, is hitting the regular RTW market en force now. Most denim lines have a version but the blogosphere is still debating whether or not this is a look we should even attempt, for fear of becoming fashion victims.

Some noteable starlets who are responsible for beginning the obsession with this new jean silhouette are Katie Holmes, Victoria Beckham, Rachel Bilson and Jennifer Aniston. The look is very easy, very casual and very "I look good but do I look like I care?" Kind of the same vibe I was discussing earlier with the Frye Boots...


I say YES...maybe. It all depends on whether you do it RIGHT. There was a huge debate over skinny jeans a few years back too, and that turned into a non-issue, OK?

Some tips I think are necessary when diving into this look:

1) DO NOT actually wear your boyfriend's (or any boy's) jeans. Buy GIRL's jeans that are cut in the boyfriend style.

2) Make sure that they are fitted at some point on your body (like your booty or your hips). Otherwise you'll just look like a sad little girl drowning in clown pants. Not that I've ever seen that, but it seems pretty sad...

3) Wear them with something very fitted or very feminine or both. You don't want people to start mistaking you for a teenage boy, do you? (Think a tiny tank, ruffly blouse, slightly cropped t-shirt, fitted tube top)

4) Pair them with equally feminine jewelry and shoes. Personally, I like them rolled/cuffed at the bottom with nice, high heels. However, girly flats or strappy sandals would work just as well.

5) Pay attention to COLOR - a dark wash will not necessarily be the best choice in this case. The idea is to "look" like you borrowed old jeans and made them yours, right? So look for light washes with some distressing or outright holes. The more lived-in, the better.

4) Be CONFIDENT. The most fun part about fashion is that you try things out, for the better or for the worse. And all aspiring fashionistas must be bold in my book!

Whew! That seems like a lot of rules! But now you know, so get your butts into some non-boy-but-look-like-boy's-girl's-jeans and rock it out. You can pull it off, I know it...
B is for boyfriend...
B is for boyfriend... - by roxy-land on Polyvore.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Today's shoe obsession...




In our ongoing efforts to look effortlessly cool (see effortlessly cool girl above), sometimes one must turn to the classics.

Frye Boots have been around for ages (literally, 1863!), specialists in high quality work boots that have become, somewhere along the way, pretty darn fashionable.

Because they already look broken in and scuffed, they can add that certain je ne sais quois to most anything you put on (skirts, dresses, jeans, shorts, la la la). To top it off, the brand has an important place in American history and they last forever, so you just may be able to justify the initial investment...

Lately, I have been jonesing for a pair of tall Frye Campus 14L Boots in a dark brown leather, something like THIS. Originally introduced in the 1960's, they impart such a casual, go-with-the-flow vibe that they'd be right at home in the city or around a campfire.

While the "new" versions are great, in my fashion dreams I envision happening along a true, vintage pair. Therefore, dear readers, I will be scouring the Ebays and Craigs Lists and thrift shops of the world with an eye on the prize.

I'll let you know soon whether my patient efforts toward cool have succeeded...