How Many Times Can One Girl Start A Blog?

Somewhere among the laziness (I'm working on it) and the ADD (no really I have a prescription!) I do try to update this blog somewhat regularly ::coughs:: but I must admit it's tough without a camera (dammit) okay without a good camera and with me still being a little blog shy.

Honestly I'm still trying to figure out what I want my voice to be and what I want this blog to say.

As it stands right now I'm still trying to figure out and perfect my style, fashion's a whole new frontier for me - one I only fell in love with as of recently so some of this is like working with a 10 year old child.

And right now I'm better than being matchy-match (ah the good ol days of middle and high school) but STILL nowhere close to being as kick-ass as some of the girls who's blogs I follow.

Have you seen some of these chicks? They are SICK.

I speak out into the wild blue echoing yonder right now, but damn what's a girl to do with a crappy camera and dreams of style-stardom?

Ah, depressed.

Inspiration of the Moment: Carmen Miranda

Ironic I know, but there is something to be said about playing with bright colors.

I love everything about this. From the bright lime green top to the oodles of chains falling right into her face. The jewelry is all excessive and extreme. I love it!

Especially during this time when I'm right on the cusp of going back to my dreaded prison I need something to brighten up the coming dull days. During fall it's typical to play with more muted Earthy colors complimenting the scenery around you. However just as I like to rush out in all black during a rainstorm, I can't resist one last splash of color even as the world turns shades of brown, green, and gold.

I can't help but admire the bold sassiness ala Chiquita Banana. Transition to fall with rich colors, hints of the summer bold but stripped down to their most powerful shades. Sick. This is old school glamour at it's finest.

I love it all and there's so much that can be done with it despite (or because of) it's extravagence.

Good fashion is all about playing with inspiration and finding a way to in your own life.

Copper-golds with rose accessories. Big bold unapologetic look at me accessories and my personal favorite - attitude out the wah-zoo!

Take one item and wrap your wardrobe around it or go for total decadence and dabble in all the sinful goodness.

I think I shall try a little of each delicacy in my first few weeks back.

Define: Mine

A friend recently posed a fascinating question to me Darlings asking how I defined my personal style - what title I would give it to sum it all up.

Ooh la la. Despite the oodles of time spent working on that very subject I had never thought to classify it and somehow the question caught me totally off-guard. I was soon reduced to a pitiful blank stare as infinite possibilities ran through my mind.

Define...moi?

Taking some pity on me my friend helped a couture-ette narrow it down.

"Well what are some recurring facets in your outfits? What parts of culture and style spark your imagination and thus play into your own uniqueness?"

Ah mieux! Though it's been well documented through the confessions and examinations of this blog I couldn't resist another chance to play the mental fashion game. So I put my mind to it and did a Sherlock Holmes worthy investigation of 5 things that can often be found in my outfits. Though I'll never really be able to narrow it down I do think these are the most recurring and powerful.

Cutesy: I'm typically not much of a girly-girl but I must admit I do adore touches of the ultra-femme. Unabashed prettiness, colors and frilly detail - love it. There is a certain decadent indulgence in extreme unashamed feminity. I feel as though I am capturing something bigger than myself: Victorian women during spring time, darling Harajuku Lolitas, little girls during Easter. Femme.

Glam-Punk: Since the time I was little I found fascination in punk-culture and the attitude it conveyed. Black, zebra print, chains - the alternative, an embrace of counter-culture and an all-consuming-can't-be-argued-with cool. High fashion punk takes it to another level pairing all that bad with such good shiny little details. Diamonds anyone? I always love adding spikes and leather in outfits where it wouldn't be expected and then pairing that with serious bling. There's something simply fun about being elegant and dangerous all at the same time. Meow.

Shock Value: Bright colors, extravagent print, intricate design, bold accessories: Life is too short to devote to solids - Seize the day! Simplicity has it's place and should be well respected but I find it utterly boring at times. It's also easier to work with an article of clothing that brings something to the table. Forget my heart, I enjoy wearing my personality on my sleeve.

(I LOVE this image, the golden halo, the Mary-Mother of God effect, the visual stimulation of neon topped with the scant clothing. It's fashion porn and

I loves it)

The Extra-Mile: It's what makes seemingly the same outfit or accessory you see everywhere somewhat unique and special. It can be an added bow or button a different stitch or variation of color but it is ultimately invaluable. I am as much a fan of trends as much as anyone else but I consider it vital to still distinguish myself from others by my extra-mile.

Playing Pretend: I fell in love with fashion unexpectedly and like so many other things I love I immediately devoted myself to it. I studied trends, I studied high fashion and couture stylings, I studied the everyday woman and I also studied my imagination. I found that so much of what I wanted to capture - attitudes, time periods, individuals, characters - was accessible when I abandoned common clothing styles and instead became fearless and played dressup.

I do not have a perfect label for myself, or indeed a box to put all my eccentricities in but I do have the ability to explore all these facets. My friend (lucky girl) summed herself up as classical sophistication with a penchant for buisness attire.

I define myself as myself.

And that to me is simply the perfect way to describe it.

Once Upon A Time

I always feel a tad like the lonely heroine of fairy tale once warm weather blooms.

The ball is over and gone are the layers of fantasy and sprinklings of too-muchery. Now it is too hot, too stiff, too-UGH. What's a fashion-baby to do when it gets too hot to do anything else??

I soon find comfort though in devoting myself to new fabrics (taffeta! tulle!) and adorable accessories (florals - pearls - piles and piles, more please!).

I simply get caught up and can't deny whats in the very air.

Which is how I soon come to fall in love with summer. There is something ecstasy-inducing about bare skin and too much everything else. It feels like being caught in that exquisite moment between wearing your mother's diamonds and still being frocked in little girl dresses, frills and all.

Warm weather must be embraced with attention to all new expressions once ignored (jewelry, hair, SHOES - simplify one, maximize another) while allowing for the cotton-sweet kiss of a simplistic wardrobe.

These heels simply make me happy, they are the candy-confectionary version of Cinderella's glass slippers.

While darling Ella's slippers were so wintery and chillingly beautiful (always in my mind a fusion between icicles and pristine raindrops) these heels are their darling baby sister.

Whimsicle and teasing they are the wishes fairy tales are made of. Don't you half expect those wings to beat and to take off in a rose-colored blur?

One does not not have to wait for midnight and magical pumpkins to find a prince. No Darlings, in these dollish-heels it's midday and he waits by the steps of the Met.

And they lived happilly ever after...

The End.

Phone Call on Line One Mr. Peterson

Great fashion is a collision of interpretation and inspiration. Two-parts intricate planning and examination - one part spirited idea with just a lemon wedge of 'why not'. It should be shocking, enjoyable, and above all - never never boring.

As style plays a greater role in daily life I've come to appreciate that true fashion is not what is dicacted in the editorial pages of a magazine or the television shows cleverly rolled out for the camera - but rather in the poignency of the flowers surrounding your building or the shocking citrine color of a neon popsicle.

Opening your eyes and truly looking at the world reveals so many previously ignored facets. Appreciation comes on swift wings and your imagination can no longer contain itself - you become fascinated.

This is inspiration. It consumes, it frees.

Interpretation is the birth of something unique and true to yourself, a touch here and there that allows you to own a little part of an incredible idea. The view may always be the same but the rose-colored glasses you see it with are your own.

Inspiration and interpretation laced together when I saw the photo shoot for the dynamic Ashley Tisdale's album Guilty Pleasure (the hair, tres magniqifue). I know I should have seen a young girl shedding her sweet image for something more befitting a rock star but my mind darted to a whole new take on an old visual standby: the sexy secretary.

I was utterly captivated, the details were incredible.

The elegant but completely inappropriate cashmere sweater (see through and punctuacted by heat of the moment tears), the too-too short black pencil skirt.

Antique silver lockets paired with chains and smoky eye.

Finally the cherry on the delish ice cream cone - mile long legs ending in kitten heeled boots perfectly demure till a peep toe pokes through.

Perfection. Each piece cleverly plays along the appropriate uniform for a girl working 9 to 5 but teases with hints of naughtiness, never quite fully going over the line but certainly walking it like a professional sex kitten.

Oh my! Would one ever have to worry about a promotion if they arrived at work looking like this?

Sexual harassment never looked so good Darlings.

How Diva-Rettes Cope With Summer

Summertime can pose an interesting dillema for me at times Darlings. 

While others are content to wear as little as legally allowed and tone down jewelry to the barest of the bare I crave my basic couture diet: bold, layered, decadence. 

Bold clothes, layered pieces, decadent jewelry. It's simply in my blood. 

Suffer for fashion I can do always, but denying 90+ degree temps? Non, that is beyond even me. So I am always searching for new ways to express my personal style under a whole new set of environment conditions. I shall be honest now. I have very little interest in the boho style of earthy prints and 100% cotton 100% of the time  - but -  a friend clued me onto a very interesting spread done in Teen Vogue with the young and oh so adorable actress Selena Gomez. 

As I pored over the photos thoughtfully a smile appeared on my face because Ah! I had found my inspiration. 

While staying safely away from all hints of Woodstock and peace man the style touches on so many adored facets without denying itself. Note the sweet and natural details: a floral-print dress layered over a t-shirt, a sand-colored belt tucking in a poofy dress, floral pin and a big floppy bow all prettying up lush locks.

   

Ah there is the layering I so crave, the piling on of pearls and spotting of lace, bold pieces mixed with unexpected twists. Feminine prep paired with combat boots and neon-colored accessories. Absolutely to die for. 

It seems I've found my uniform for these warm and sunny days. Darlings, what are you planning to live in during the sun-drenched summer months?

There's Something about The Lady

Since her emergence onto the scene it is without doubt Lady Gaga has dropped jaws, raised eyebrows, puzzled critics and amazed her fans. With catchy bubblegum lyrics, an adult repotoire, and fashion the likes of which haven't graced the music world since the 80's she has become a global enigma.

Love or hate her music you cannot deny her willingness to put all on the line for the sake of the character. Not simply when cameras are filming and the red carpet is rolled out, but always. 

From the moment she leaves her front door till she enters again she is Lady Gaga dubbed from a Freddy Mercury song making fantasy as real as you or me.

"Some say Lady Gaga is a lie, and they're right...but I kill everyday to make her true."

        

That's right. The Lady plays dress-up and pretend just like the rest of us.

Music was once the ultimate soundpiece for fashion, however with the creation of the beautiful cardboard cut-out artist (perfectly polite and charming) these days daring and different is as foreign as unplucked eyebrows.

Perhaps that is what I truly find so refreshing about Lady Gaga. That though it would be easier not to she commits to this entity she has created. That she gives answers no one else would dare to whisper: 

"Being a woman in the pop world, sexuality is half poison and half liberation. What's the line? I don't have a line. I am the most sexually free woman on the planet, and I genuinely am empowered from a very honest place by my sexuality. What's more primal than sex? I mean, it's so honest. If I didn't think I had the talent to back that up, I wouldn't have done it." 

And that above all else she will not bow to what others want from her. In the world of the manicured and perfectly groomed she is raw, bold and flawed. She is what she wants to be.

She is quoted as saying "Pop music will never be low-brow"

I don't know about pop music darling, but you are as couture-fantastic as it gets. 

Wicked

J'adore le Gaga de Dame

The Jaw-Dropping Will Now Commence

I'm not a big believer in expense. Mostly because I know how easy it is to look stunning on a budget.  

Every so often however, something makes my fashion sweet tooth ache in a 'break the bank' kind of way. Enter the Fiona Paxton necklace. 

A marriage between the simple and excessive it features a 'why has no one else thought of that?' design. The mix-up of the typical: the large band being the the portion that wraps around the neck while the thin delicate chains are put on display captures one's immediate attention. 

As a girl who loves bold accessories this is one of the few necklaces I think does look perfect with a simple white tank top. There is something to be said about effortless chic and this necklace is perfect for a just rolled out of bed effect. 

Of course it's completely out of an acceptable price range ($288), but that won't stop me from dreaming. 

Wishing and Hoping Wicked

In All Good Faith, I'm Unimpressed

By now it's no secret that Forever 21 has been working for months on a plus size line by the name of Faith21. The line meant to be the answer to women of a curvier build who have been longing to wear the chic clothing styles of the store debuted today.

I had high hopes for this line and had been crossing my fingers expecting the best, however after looking at the 30 or so outfits up for sale on the store's website I am underwhelmed.

...That's it? Where are the sequined vests? The bewejeled boho tops? The decadence, excess and too-muchery I've come to love from the F21 brand?

Flipping back and forth between the plus size line and the regular store I realized that while displaying some aspects of their fantastic style Faith21 played it safe and by relation: boring.  

  

                   

On the right are models wearing the Faith21 brand and on the left styles from the regular store

Furthermore there was nothing that made the line unique from other plus size lines such as Torrid, all in all it was adequate but not amazing.

Hopefully in time Faith21 and in turn Forever 21 will become a little more daring and try to push the boundaries on the common idea of women's plus size clothing. For now, they need a much needed injection of vibrancy into this dull line.

Wicked

What the Bad Weather Brings

Lately the weather has been an absolute mess. 

In nature's quest to achieve fierce completion there's been some unwelcome schizophrenia and these days I dress as much for a hurricane as a heatwave.

Today with clouds and gray skies I feel more comfortable back in my style of layering and too-muchery.  

Daring and bold is fun for everyday, but there is something about a rain storm that makes me want to play cool and dark Audrey Hepburn circa "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Don't talk to me sunglasses, classic black all over, decadence in the form of pearls. 

I feel like there is something amazing about standing out while wearing clothing that would typically blend in. It takes such chic. 

Put Moon River on Darlings, this lady needs a song. 

Wicked

Hardcore: Under Deconstruction

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.

~Henri Bergson~

Because without change there can be no growth or amazement.

This is...

The definition of femine. 

After going through the royal colors of Fall and the elaborate layering of Winter it's easy to forget how much one misses spring until reminded. 

The frills, the floral print, the pastel pink...bare shoulders and looking pretty for pretty's sake. 

I have missed the season. 

Right now the weather's completely topsy turvey and at the first sign of a heat wave I'm withering, but I cannot help but cross my fingers just waiting, hoping that soon I'll be roaming the streets amid sunny skies and blooming flowers. 

J'adore, Wicked

How do you do it?

That's the glow of a girl who's figured out how to be cheap and chic

Because in the grand scheme of things I love to shop and be fashionable. Of course I also live on an income fixed somewhere between extravagent and sensible. In order to look gorgeous and still save a pretty penny this requires equal parts brain work and non-stop searching.

1. I first wait till there's a sale already on the store's website. After all, if anyone should be doing all the work to bring down prices it should be the big wigs in question. Some stores are pretty erratic with their sale schedule so it will require some dilligence to pick up on the pattern. Usually holidays and weekends are always a good bet. Once you've got it down however you can plan for the blowouts.

2. I look around the website to see if they offer any special discounts to those who join their mailing lists or clubs. Since the whole point of this hard work is to save money I don't bother with anything that will ask me to put down a payment UNLESS it's cost effective. Get your calculator's out and do the work before you hit the 'Place Order' button. Remember credit cards are always a no-no.

3. I search high and low for coupon codes, some great websites offer tips on ways to bump the price tag down even further. RetailMeNot is a favorite gem of mine. These little codes are like sprinkles on an ice cream cone, it's like knowing no matter what game you play at the carnival you'll always win a prize.

4. Pick and choose what the better value really is. There are a few subtle tricks that can be tossed in the way of an unassuming consumer that ensure the company gets the majority of your money. Once again this is a calculator opportunity, 10% off though seemingly tantalizing might be nothing compared to free shipping.

5. I keep a mental list of things I really need (nice white t-shirt, red shoes, blue sheer camisole) and then I WAIT for the perfect opportunity. It's way too easy to think "I need..." and then rush out and buy the first thing that catches your eye in the category. Perfectly natural in fact. But I find that the NEXT opportunity is even better than the first. Shopstyle is an amazing site for searching for what fashionably ails you. When you hold out you're more likely to find unique pieces at a price that's right.

And as we all know there's something wonderfully satisfying about looking fantastic and then having enough money to pay the bills.

So how much money do you really get to save in the grand scheme of things?

Picture this:

A velveteen military blazer originally priced $99.00 reduced down to $32.00 through the store's sale. By signing up for the mailing list I was lucky enough to get an email alerting me to a 2 day super sale where the blazer was marked down even further to $27.00. By joining the store's club I got a 10% discount ($25 joining fee which became cost effective in a previous $70 purchase) . By peeking around an online coupon code website I was able to find two codes. One code for 30% off and another code for free shipping, both of which I could use at the same time.

In the end I was able to get my $99 blazer for less than 20 bucks...now how much do you hate/love/envy me?

(Joan Collins doing some shopping on a budget dime and looking fabulous as she does it,

Take note Ladies)

How Fabulous Ladies Stay Looking Fabulous (and how you can too!)

There is a well kept secret in the fashion industry that many designers don't want you to know.

It has been cultivated, hidden, spirited away and almost lied about for the sake of the almighty brand name and trend.

What is this secret?

It really doesn't matter what or who you wear, it's how you wear it.

Yes...that's it. Seemingly simple to the point of being useless you could brush this off as an unimportant piece of advice...except it's true.

I invite you to take a moment and think of any fashion icon of your choice. Is she a celebrity? A designer? Model? First lady even? Whatever she may be your mental image of her is one of adoration. Somehow she manages to always pull it together, the clothes looking so impeccable on her body you can't help but sometimes feel sick with jealousy. What is this woman's secret? How does she always manage to do it? How does she go a step above typical fashion glory to grab the gold?

Quite simply, the truly most fashionable women in the world don't care who they're wearing.

Oh sure their pulse may race at the sight of an impeccable Chanel jacket and a school-girl giggle may pass their lips at the feel of a ludicrously expensive purse sweeping up their arm - but in the long run...they simply do not care.

Though I'm all for a bargain this isn't even a cheapity-cheap piece, no this is a new simple way of becoming your most stylish . Still in order to learn how to be YOUR most stylish you need to learn how to work with what you've got. We're going to shop your closet Darlings. The transformation between envying a fashionable woman and becoming a woman of fashion envy is hardly perilous. There are a few simple rules to learn and employ by which truly chic ladies live by no matter what their spending budget.

1. Brand doesn't matter, quality and style do

The biggest names in the buisness got that way because peope made a big deal about them. A cult-following was started praising them for their style, originality, and uniqueness. Then do you know what happened? Everyone copied and coveted their pieces till in many ways their names became bigger than their style. It became a statement to wear a piece by a certain designer rather than making the statement with the piece itself. Fashion became complicated and we all began to chase names rather than true fashion.

Fashion in it's truest form is raw, starting with a piece of material and an idea. Respect should always be paid to a designer who is producing amazing work but respect should also be paid to the CLOTHES. Ponder on that for a minute.

Do you know the brands your fashion idol wears? All of them? Do any of the names surprise you? In the long run these women, whatever name or title they go by, learned long ago a a name is just a name. If they wear Yves Saint Laurent or Jaclyn Smith no one will care because their jaws will be dropping at how gorgeous they look. The first impression one gets of any piece is how good or bad it is, not who made it. You want to take the first step to chic-ness? Mentally cut the tags out of all the clothes in your closest and then sort through them. Be honest. Are you particularly proud of them? Did you buy them with the exclusive focus being that they were the piece of clothing most worth your money because of how good they looked?

If you can't say yes then it's either time to bring some life to it or relegate it to a storage box in your attic. I don't care whether you only spent 3 bucks on it, if you find it's an unappreciated part of your wardrobe then you wasted your money. Liberate your closet Darlings, if you wouldn't want your boyfriend, mother, and boss (to me the top 3 folks who we all try to impress fairly regularly with how we look) to see you in it....toss time.

2. Fit is everything

Let's run back to that mental image of your fashion idol again. Now everyone makes mistakes we can't avoid that, but have you ever seen them in something frumpy, ill-fitting or uninentionally baggy? If they're as good as you think they are then the answer is no. You want to up your fashion cred in 3 easy steps? Wear every article of clothing in your closet one at a time. Take note of the way they fit you. Don't like it? Find a excellent tailor. They need not be expensive but they should be talented. Ask to see their work before you sacrifice any pieces to them. Satisfied? Come in with your own complaints on the fit of your clothes and then ask them their advice.

Fashion is complicated. There is no golden rule. Some casual jackets should fall below your hips others should rest squarely on them. Still it never hurts to get a second opinion on how to look great. Listen to what they say and then take a good look in the mirror and see if you agree. If so...well I imagine you know where to take it from here.

3. Expensive accessories should only look that way.

Whether you prefer costume jewelry or you're a girl who counts her carats the key secret to captivating everyone's attention? Look like you spent a million dollars even if you only spent a buck fifty.

I'm not one for fashion rules, mainly because they change so much there's little point in following them. Do you remember some of these? No pairing silver and gold. Wear your jewelry and then remove a single piece before leaving the house. Don't wear more than three pieces jewelry at a time. No earrings bigger than a quarter or -

It goes on and on.

No matter what your personal preference is there is one good guideline to go with when it comes to jewelry. Wear one (atleast) piece of standout jewelry. Something others will look at and go 'wow'. One piece of truly amazing jewelry helps make an outfit look put together without giving the sense you tried too hard. Just think...effortlessly gorgeous.

4. Emphasize the good, hide the bad.

Do you have stunning arms? A curvacious bust? A figure an hourglass would want?

Then show show show!

Body confidence is in these days (as it should always have been) and it's a good time to flaunt a little skin. Don't be afraid to let your assets be known and admired. Keep it classy always but be a little bold as well. Black is and always will be the gold standard for slimming but don't be afraid to play with louder colors when it comes to showing off your best bits. Summer's rolling around and one of the great facts about that is for the girl who's a little unsure EVERYONE'S going to be wearing lots of bright colors. Try colorblocking -

or...

Wear a bright accessory to bring some color to an outfit that would be otherwise lacking

5. Be your own personal stylist.

A stylist does what most of us do on a daily basis - better. They know their job entirely depends on making their clients look amazing and if they do a bad job...they get canned. Even worse than getting canned they get a rep for being ho-hum boring - which in the fashion industry is worse than death.

What does a stylist do? They take stock of their client's personality and tastes finding items that fit in well with this as well as dare to up the unexpected factor. They emphasize everything that could make their client look stunning as well as bring their own personal signature to every completed outfit. Simply making someone look cute or nice ain't gonna cut it and they know it.

So many women follow unspoken fashion rules in their own minds and never come off looking anything more than ordinary. Want to know how your view on an outfit is different from a stylist's view?

You think, "Do I look cute/hot/adjective of your choice in this?"

A stylist thinks, "What does this piece/outfit say about my client? What image does it portray?"

What makes the big difference?

You're hoping and praying with only a general idea of what you want that you do look good. A stylist has a game plan in mind. The theme is in every article of clothing they pick till the last stitch and accessory, they're willing to toss if something doesn't fit and shake up the system. They know to try new wild and surprising things and to always have atleast one stand-out piece.

I was fairly in awe when I saw a lovely woman invited to a day-time talk show stroll onto set wearing a white and blue striped shirt with a navy blazer and fitted dark denim jeans she was the perfect picture of nautical chic...and then my eyes lowered to the bright pink booties she wore.

I was stunned and amazed by the shock value of such two different styles paired together but as I zoomed out evaluating her on a whole...she looked FETCH. She looked young and creative and smart. Smart enough not to have worn black pumps or blue sandals...but to have staked a little of her reputation on this almost insane choice. She was a fashion deity.

Think about what you're wearing.

Do you think you're inspiring anyone else to feel the same way?

If not, then I think it's time to start.

Last but not least, not included in the steps but more of a personal note let's talk about copycats.

I'm sure you've seen it dozens upon dozens of times on websites and magazines alike. "How to copy her style" "How to steal her look" etc. You really wish to be the chicest lady in town? Then you need to remember emulation not imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Your fashion idol has probably fallen in love with an article of clothing she saw somewhere else on someone else. She probably imagined how cute she'd look fitted in one of her own and searched for something

Do you think she bought one of her own in the exact same color and style?

There's room for some cheating, for instance a simple black pair of open toed booties won't be breaking any fashion laws. However buying a gown that is basically identical to the one Michelle Obama wore at the inaguration ball? Fabulous you might look but creative? Not so much. Unique? Not so much.