Fall fashion predictions...

It's only August you say! It's still 70ish degrees outside and sunny! I've barely gotten my newly-polished toes into my sandals! I know, I know ladies, but I'd like to give you a fall fashion prediction preview so that you can keep your eye out for some lovely things whilst sipping lemonade.

PLAID
Yes, lumberjack-y plaid. On a classic campshirt (sized down to fit your cute, feminine frame of course), a tunic, dress, what-have-you. You'll be seeing this all over the place for the fall. However, I recommend it in SMALL accents (one piece at a time girls!), lest you be confused with one of the Wisconsin hunter wives around here :)

CUTOUTS
This will be most common in the shoulders/arms area and is a nice, 80's throwback that can show off the most feminine parts of you while draping the parts you don't really want to show off (like, at all).

GRAY GRAY GRAY + MUTED COLORS + EXCEPTIONS
Gray is back in a big way as a nice, alternative neutral. I have always been a big fan of heather, charcoal, mist, whatever because it's a bit unexpected yet highly wearable. Look for it in tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, bags, makeup.

While lots of color will still be popular in our segue from summer to fall, colors will be more muted - think pastel or washed. Soft pinks, lilacs, baby blues...

Exceptions to the above: hot, neon-ish chartreuse (see Heidi Klum below)

MOTORCYCLE/ROCKER CHICK
Motorcycle-inspired shoes and heels + actual motorcycle boots will be a big deal. PLUS look for cool, moto-inspired wear (skirts, tops, jeans, jewelry). I see lots of leather, studs, grommets - very tough-chic. Really, you CAN pull it off, even if you're a peace sign kind of girl. Try it in small doses!

SKINNY JEANS/LEGGINGS
Definitely still in. Really. Hang onto your dark wash and gray ones. If you're feeling adventurous, add some with zippers at the ankles or in a cute, pastel color.

Now, some MUSTS for your fall wardrobe...

BOOTS
Look for the following (get one or all, so hard to get just one pair, I know):
Over-the-knee (not quite but almost thigh high) in suede or leather (a la Kate Moss)

Vintage leather (wonderful for moto boots or western-inspired)
I personally love Frye boots, but make sure you do a search and check E-Bay for better prices. Anthropologie also has a huge selection of limited edition ones in their Fall catalog.

Ankle boots or booties with a stiletto heel (sexy!)

BLACK TIGHTS
Opaque, stretchy and durable - you will wear these with every suit, dress and skirt you own and with any color shoe you like. A great way to modernize your existing outfits. Yay!

ANYTHING HIGH-WAISTED
Skirts, pants, jeans, shorts, you name it. Just try them on! You'll never know unless you try, right? Very retro and surprisingly flattering, especially for short-legged gals comme moi...

VINTAGE LEATHER
In addition to the aforementioned boots, look for skirts, bags and jackets with a real (or not so real) distressed, worn look. This speaks to my long-running quest for effortless cool, no?

So, that's it at the moment girls. Ta ta for now!

Don't you wish you were mod?

Well, stop wishing girlies! One of my bestest friends, T, offered up this amazing online store that carries excellent trendy clothes and cheeky accessories at really affordable prices - perfect for all of us frugal fashionistas.

ModCloth.com carries one-of-a-kind vintage and vintage-inspired finds, and everything from indie & retro to cute & emo...tops, dresses, purses, jewelry, la la la galore. A few pieces that really caught my eye were the Cornerstone Purse (a lovely, putty-colored clutch/tote/slouchy thing that would go so well with jeans), the Getting To Know You Dress (a happy, very vintage-y summer dress perfect for work and cocktails), the High Seas Skirt (a perfect paper-bag waist pencil skirt in an awesome, versatile deep blue), and the Age of Industry Ring (a stacked, industrial-looking piece that's looks part 90's minimalist, part 80's rapper).

The shop only carries a limited run of each of its pieces (many are sold out by the time I've decided to buy!) which is good if you don't want someone else wearing the same thing you are tonight but is bad if you're indecisive. Great for all you impulse buyers on a budget out there!

Now you CAN be mod (or retro, or indie, or emo...) for very few George Washingtons. We like that!

I'm dreaming of vintage...

...in the form of a leather mini or pencil skirt, high-waisted or not, black, brown or bright, 70's or 80's, depending on the look you're going for. Picture it in all its tight, sexy gloriousness with a blousy, ruffly top or a tissue-thin, voluminous, v-neck t-shirt topped off with, of course, some bad-ass heels. The key here is to counteract its original era with a modern top and shoes as well balance its form-fitting nature with some volume.

Naturally, I have not yet tried on this outfit as it is still living in my imagination, but this may be my next fashion prey as I move through the web, second-hand stores and rummage/thrift sales this summer.

I think for the current season, it would look amazing with bare legs, strappy yet substantial sandals and a thin top with some volume. For fall/winter, I would rock it with solid tights, boots/booties - no brainer, really...

Some ideas are Urban Outfitters' Urban Renewal Vintage Leather Mini Skirt (pictured above) and the Silence & Noise Moto Skirt, which is neither leather nor vintage, but who's checking?

For a great, great variety of choices, check out Etsy's selection of vintage leather. Tons of choices, colors, decades and price points - highly recommended!

The nice thing about leather is that it's a material that is inherently classy, sexy, cool and, let's face it, can be tight on the body without showing lumps. Not that you have any. But if you did, we'd really love that feature, wouldn't we?

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?

Basically, this is just PRETTY...

1/50 - Oh won't you please forgive me... - by Alex Poesy on Polyvore.com

I wanted to post this because it's just a beautiful ensemble I found on Polyvore. Don't you just love the combination she has put together? Instead of waxing witty on this, let us just admire and be inspired...

BTW - Click on the pic to find out where to buy the pieces (should you want to know).