La Vie Boheme!

We all know fashion cycles.  If a style or piece of clothing becomes worn out, save it, it's sure to be in again.  Right now I'm seeing eclectic mixing of several decades, from the 60's to the 90's being incorporated into a single outfit.  I am a child of the 80's and will always think that Clarissa Darling knew everything, especially about fashion, when she "Explained It All" on Nickelodeon.  If you haven't seen the movie version of the musical Rent, watch it.  It takes place in the late 80's.  All the fashion is fabulous; its very realistic and has a strong bohemian feel.   Mimi is my favorite character and at least one piece of every outfit she wears could be incorporated into a modern woman's wardrobe.  Couture designers are taking note as well.  If you notice, most designers are including pieces reminiscent of previous decades in their collections.  Draw inspiration from current looks and go vintage shopping to find pieces at extreme discounted prices.  If you need a modern example of a woman who makes this work, think Sarah Jessica Parker ah la Sex and the City...notice how she can pull off the craziest outfits because she incorporates trendy pieces with the more off beat ones.  Be brave.  Think of fashion as art and you're the canvas.  If you hate the outfit you concoct, you can always change clothes!

Tie It Up...Make It New

Say what you will about Kate Moss.  Whether you love her, or frown on her party girl past, the girl is a fabulous model and revolutionized the modeling industry in the 90's when she hit the scene in her Calvin's, and she will forever leave a lasting mark on fashion.  With her unique look and fragile frame, she carries clothes well and can make almost anything look good.  Though there is one specific look that inspired me to write this article.  Miss Moss was at an event wearing a fragile vintage dress.  At 9 pm the dress was still in one piece, though the same couldn't be said by the end of the night.  As the night progressed the dress literally began falling apart at the seams.  Do you think that stopped her from having fun?  Never!  She tied it up, and kept going, and not only did it look good, it looked better than the original.  While I don't recommend ripping your clothes, it does solidify the importance of good tailoring.  If an outfit doesn't fit right, no matter how expensive it is, it's not going to look good.  The opposite can be said for bargain piece.  Even if it's less expensive, if it fits you to a T, then you're going to look like a million bucks.  This idea inspired me to "tweak" a dress of my own.  It was, of course, a bargain dress, but really cute non-the-less.  I tried tying it different ways, Ah La Kate, and ended up with a "brand new," adorable dress.  What do you have to lose?  Tie, pin and tuck away, if you like it then you can cut and sew, if not, just start over!

Purple People Eater!!

Because of the difficult and time consuming process to produce, Purple was traditionally a color reserved for royalty.  While it is now available to the masses it is easy to understand why its beauty was so revered.  A deep purple is rich, expensive looking, and even if its only on a tee shirt, automatically gives the wearer a look of elegance.  While jewel tones are everywhere this season including deep greens, teals, and reds, purple seems to be the favorite among designers.  Whether you wear purple on an evening gown, on a suit, or a top be sure that you'll get noticed for your beauty...after all, purple is also the color of Passion

Vroom Vroom...Biker, Baby!

They made an appearance last fall, but biker jackets are by far the season's jacket must-have. Automatically edgy and cool they lend a certain something to any outfit.  Top off a flirty, floral dress with a jacket to keep it from being too saccerine.  Add polish to a tank and jeans.  While black is a classic, look for other colors like grey, brown, or even red.  While a biker jacket made of leather could run upwards of several hundred dollars, you don't have to spend a lot of money to achieve this look.  I bought one a few weeks ago from Sarah Jessica Parker's "Bitten" line at Steve & Barry's for 8 dollars...which was great find, even for me, the Queen of Cheap! : )

Sleek, Sexy, Simply Stunning

Among Fall's trends, one of my favorites is the sophisticated, minimalist look.  Designers are embracing this with rich fabrics, clean cuts, and long silhouettes. Despite the simplicity of the the designs, they are incredibly rich and give the wearer a look of elegance and strength.  Anyone can achieve this look without buying designer labels, though look for darker colors especially if the fabric isn't of the highest quality.  Lighter colors show more imperfections.  

Tights Tie It Together

Unpredictable weather and lack of funds can often make the wardrobe transition from Summer to Fall difficult.  The best way to ease into Fall is to incorporate lighter layers with a heavier sweater or my favorite...Tights. Black opaque tights are a classic standby.  Wearing them with a lighter summer dress automatically gives the look a more polished and heavier feel. Though, I have always been a fan of colored or patterned tights.  For the brave, wear them as a monochromatic look with deep purple tights and a dress in the same color.  For the faint of heart try a black dress or skirt with pink or red tights to add a pop of color.  Any color goes and even navy, grey or burgundy can be used as a neutral, just like black. My advice, be brave!  I promise you'll be surprised at the amount of compliments you'll receive!  Check out these links for ideas.

http://legluxe.com/opaque

http://www.welovecolors.com

Who says Cheap can't be Chic?

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a girl who loves a bargain.  Don't get me wrong, I can drool over expensive couture all day long, but when it comes down to actually forking over the cash (or plastic) I just won't do it.  But I love expensive brands.  Basically my motto is this..."I want nice things, but only want to pay a dollar for them." Now I understand that a dollar may not be realistic for a pair of BCBG pants or a pair of Oscar De La Renta sunglasses, but I've bought both for less than ten dollars.  How, you may ask?  I shop around.  Stores like Marshalls, TJ Max, Ross, Burlington Coat Factory...all of these have expensive name brands for much less than half of the regular retail price.  The styles are current and pieces are usually in excellent condition. The clearance racks are my favorite.  I'm like a moth to a flame.  You have to be patient and sometimes picky, but if you look carefully, you can walk out of the store with 5 pairs of pants for less than 20 bucks...like I did last week.  

Mad About Plaid

Though my blog has been tragically neglected this summer, I am seizing the fashion opportunities presented by fall to bring my writing back to life!  Fall presents some trends that are surprising and even visually odd, though when tweaked just the right way become brilliant and fresh.  One new trend seen on celebrities and runways alike is plaid.  Whether as a statement piece seen on a coat or pair of pants or even on accessories like belts, hair ribbons, or watches plaid is everywhere and is anything but plain.  Be it bold checks and bright neons or tiny squares in muted tones plaid can range from looks that are pretty and clean to rebellious.  Wear it any way thats comfortable, just no school girl skirts with tied up tops Miss Spears...

Modernize with Make-up

Desperately sick of the daily changes in weather, bitterly cold and snowy one day and a chilly rain fall the next, the quickly approaching warm weather months, has given me a full fledged case of Spring fever.  The longer days and hopes of continuous sunshine taunt me and make me hate all the time I have to spend cooped up inside.  Though perhaps I'm not being completely honest.  While I do love Spring and everything that comes along with it, a new season also means new clothes!  This Spring is a fabulous time for fashion.  Beautiful, breathable floral dresses, bright bold prints and colors, and neon accessories all encompass the Spring line up.  So while I desperately love high fashion, including every piece in Christian Lacroix and Alexander Mc Queen's couture Spring shows, lets be honest, unless they graciously decide to send me the clothes I won't be wearing them.  So what's a fashionista on a budge to do?  The quickest way to modernize your look is through your make-up.  While designer's normally showcase their new collections on models with neutral faces, ensuring focus stays on the clothing, this season there were bright, new changes sashaying down the runway.  Color is everywhere this season, not just on the clothes, but also on faces.  Shockingly bright liners in blue, purple, and green rimmed eyes.  Creamy bold shadows in a multi-hued rainbow pallet of pink, blue, and purple adorned lids.  Various shades of glitter in small or large amounts was sprinkled on faces.  For the brave, try the Spring looks as the designers showcased them, though if you're still unsure, try a clean sweep of a single, bright color like green or bright pink with lots of mascara, or a smoky eye in various intensities of a single shade like deep purple.  Lips were adorned with two different extremes.  Either a soft neutral and covetable baby pink or in a deep wine.  Forgo gloss and keep these matte for a modern look.  While Winter was perfect for the 'Ice Queen' look created by silver shadows, warm up your eyes with deep golds and bronzes.  These are flattering on everyone and create a look of richness and elegance.  Black eyeliner drawn in clean lines or purposely deconstructed for a 'partied all night' vibe rimmed eyes at multiple shows.  Try this look but keep the rest of your make-up minimal with a soft pink lip and nude sweep of shadow on your lids.  The skin on the runway was clean, not cakey, and matte, keeping a fresh look and feel.  Allow your skin to show through by using concealer under your eyes and just a swipe of loose powder.  Finish with a bright pink blush on the apple of your cheeks.  If the humidity of Spring and Summer leave you hating your quickly curling hair despite the hour you spend straightening it, forgo the flat iron by embracing your natural texture.  Rub some shine serum on and neaten your waves by curling random pieces with a curling iron.  This Spring is a time to be creative with your look.  Be cool and relaxed by wearing what you love.  Though don't be afraid to try new things.  Make-up's not permanent after all.  Sometimes it's fun to be someone new!

Function or Fashion?

While clothing is a basic necessity, no fashionista alive, including yours truly, would use such callous words when describing personal wardrobe and style or the latest trends hitting the runway.  Clothes are so much more than the fabric they are made of.  An outfit can create a mood, an attitude.  It can make a person feel fabulous, powerful, sexy, sophisticated, or well...not so much.  A new outfit can literally make someone feel like a new person, why else are those makeover shows so successful? So when evaluating a new trend or collection it becomes clear very quickly if it is couture or more functional for daily wear.  While I've talked about some of my favorite Spring trends, I have tried to pick clothes that can be interpreted for wear in most women's daily lives.  Though there are days when I see a dress and hate that I have no red carpet event to wear it to.  Designers collections tend to have varying degrees of wearability, though there are a few who lean more towards the artistic and extravagant side of fashion.  Some days a girl's just got to dress up.  I'd much rather be overly dressed and thus, the best dressed girl in the room.  The pictures (further down the page) are from the Spring '08 collections of Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, and Christian Lacroix.  Most are completely impractical, extravagant, and boldly colorful.  I love them and hope you will too!   

Eye Spy COLOR!

Before a collection can be pronounced complete, a designer will choose a hair and make up scheme for the models.  This is usually a time for a neutral face and soft hair to ensure that the main focus remains on the clothes.  Though this Spring, there is something new, fresh, daring, and undeniably inspiring being seen on the runways.  Don't blink!  It's in the eyes!  Make up has taken on a daringly bold, Sparkley vibe with various looks of deconstructed rocker chick and bright washes of color giving a trendy, chic look to any woman.  Whether purple glitter and black liner rimmed the eyes or a rainbow hued palate of purple, green, and pink washed across the lids, color was everywhere for Spring's Fashion Week.  Think this trend is only for the runway?  Think again!  This look is completely wearable for everyday life, day or night.  For day keep it soft in pretty blues, pinks, and purples and just a clear swipe of gloss.  For night?  Brights Baby!  Be creative!  If you're still unsure, experiment with a colored liner in deep purples or greens.  Revamp the traditional gray or black smokey eye and use varying shades of one color instead.  Be creative.  Remember it's makeup, so it's not permanent.  Try a look out, you never know what artistic masterpiece you'll create!  Check out some pics for inspiration further down the page!

Project Runway Showdown

This wouldn't be a true fashion blog without discussing the show in search of the "Next Great American Designer."  I have been a huge Project Runway fan since the show began four seasons ago, and last night left viewers, me included, in suspense as Chris and Rami battled it out on the runway.  Last week when Heidi declared that both Chris and Rami would create collections, but only one would show at New York Fashion Week, I wondered if it was just a stunt and perhaps they would have four designers once again.  Though it wasn't to be.  After the show which carried an intense dark, gothic vibe from both designers (chris even included human hair in his collection!!)  The judges voted Chris Auf! leaving Christian, Jillian, and Rami to show next week.  While I have been a fan of Christian's throughout the show, I more impressed by Jillian's talent every time I see her work.  The preview of Rami's collection left me interested to see the rest of his pieces as I found him often uneventful throughout the airing of the show.  From the preview of the collections, Christian's had a highly stylized, almost costumy Gothic/Mideval vibe.  Jillian's had a Joan of Arc, womanly, armor feel, and Rami's carried a dark, goth diva tone.  I can't wait till next week to see what happens! For more on Project Runway check out Bravo Tv.com

http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/index.php

Something To aDRESS...

Ladies, remember when you were a little girl and your mom wanted you to wear a dress for picture day at school, to church or some other fancy function, and how much you hated it? Well, at least I did. After church every Sunday, the first thing I did when I got into the car was kick off my shoes and pull off my panty hose. I hated the hassle of dressing up and feeling like I had to be prim and proper. Thankfully long gone are the days of uncomfortable dresses. This Spring dresses, especially long ones in fresh sherbets and bright neons will be everywhere. With long, lean silhouettes and topped with a belt or sash, this alternative to jeans or shorts is modern, feminine, flattering and most importantly comfortable. Nothing's easier than throwing on a one piece outfit. A long dress can be worn for day or night depending on the style or how it is accessorized. Strappy sandals can make this look sexier for night. Though if it is an actual floor length dress make sure the shoes keep it an appropriate length. If the heels are too high the unfortunate wearer will look like they are anticipating a monsoon, but if its too long and flats are worn you'll look frumpy. Another bonus: No one will know if you don't shave your legs! ;)

***Check Out My Picks for Fabulous Dresses Further Down the Page!!!***

Makeover, Anyone?

What I love most about my fabulous self is that I always love my look, and never get a (pardon the hideous pun) "wild hair" and think about turning my naturally blond, albeit, slightly enhanced blond self a deep auburn or vampy black. Alright, so I might be stretching the truth a little...ok a lot. Right now I am in desperate need of a new look and am willing my shoulder length hair to grow at least a foot by tomorrow. So when I stumbled upon this makeover program on ivillage.com I spent an embarrassingly long amount of time giving myself a pain free makeover. You can upload a photo of yourself or pick one of the models that looks the most like you. Then it's a free for all with hair color, style, makeup, accessories, and so much more. It's so much fun and addictive. Though I didn't find any instantaneous solutions to make my hair longer, I did learn that I should stick to blond. Black is scary and red...geeze the horor. Check it out for yourselves!

Don't Throw It Out! ReUse! Vintage Is Fabulous!

Vintage. The word conjures visions of strong silhouettes creating skirts or pants in bold, bright prints and timeless shift dresses worn over billowing silk blouses, fastened by buttons made or shell or pearl.

Then of course there's another image of vintage. A dark, musty store lined with cardboard boxes scattered about the dirty floor. Old ladies root around the deep bottom of the boxes as the cloth casualties are flung to one side.

While the first is a picturesque image of the vintage shopping experience, either sanerio can prove to be profitable in capturing the elusive perfect piece. When your eyes land upon it, you immediately know it's special and you thank your lucky stars that you wandered into that store on that day. Envision yourself a well dressed treasure hunter, if you will.

I love vintage shopping, just the thrill of the hunt. Never knowing what each store, each box or each rack will contain. I have found that the best pieces only reveal themselves when one least suspects it.

So where's one to look for the perfect retro bauble? Anywhere and Everywhere, USA. I have found equally amazing pieces in thrift stores and in pricey specialty boutiques. Especially now that there is a 70's throw back to Spring pieces, now is the perfect time to embrace your inner Vintage Vixen. The key is to know and love these rules for vintage shopping:

Rule Number 1: Assess the store. Is it a boutique? Are the racks and sections labeled, or is it a "free for all?" Look over each section carefully even if you think there won't be any winners. I once found a 70's strappy, floral sundress that still had the Macy's tag on it. It was carelessly pushed into the back of a rack in a teen consignment store. Did I mention it was only $7? So trust me, find your patience and look through the whole store.

Rule Number 2: Assess the piece. So you looked over the entire store and you found the perfect piece, just like I told you that you would. Now comes the tricky part where more patience is required. Carefully examine the piece. Are there any stains? Does the zipper work? Are there any holes in the fabric? Examine the seams, are any pulling apart? Check the buttons and the clasps too!

Rule Number 3: Think about cleaning the piece. More than likely, if it is a true vintage piece, and that means it's at least 10 to 15 years old, it's going to smell musty. DO NOT was it in the washing machine. Depending on how it's been stored, some pieces are more fragile than others. You can wash it by hand using a gentle detergent like Woolite, or if necessary, have it dry cleaned. Though remember these pieces have seams that are delicate so every time they are washed they become more fragile, so handle with care.

Rule Number 4: Forge the size!!! I cannot stress this enough. Sizes from the bygone era are drastically different than today's standards. Look through the store's entire selection. If you love a piece, try it on, even if it is 5 sizes bigger than you normally wear. You don't have anything to loose, but something fabulous to gain.

Rule Number 5: Look at the price. The quality of the garment will greatly impact what you should be willing to pay. If any work needs to be put into the piece before it can be worn, consider that before you make your purchase. As a side note, a special piece does not have to be expensive. I have found many beautiful, one of a kind pieces for less than $10. Last week I bought a blouse for 35 cents, so don't spend more just because it's vintage unless it's truly worth it to you.

Rule Number 6: Consider the Possibilities. If you find a piece that you love, and love the price, and you can't imagine your life without, and the only thing that would make it even more perfect is if it was shorter, or sleeveless, or scoop necked, consider getting it altered. A quality tailor is easily assessable and generally inexpensive.

Vintage clothing is a great way to make a statement by wearing special and unique pieces. Though avoid the treacherous "costume zone" by pairing new and trendy items with your vintage finds.

Remember fabulous vintage pieces are all around. Walk into a store that you might other wise pass by. Don't fret if you don't ind anything on the first trip. Visit often. The store will look completely different each time you go.

People, Parties and Places, Oh My!

With the most publicized event of the weekend, the Grammies taking place yesterday showcasing the best musical talent and their eclectic mix of fashion varying from fabulous and fresh to weird and wacky, it's easy to forget the other current fashionable events. New York Fashion Week ended last week and London Fashion Week is taking place now through the end of the week. While the shows are for Fall '08 the catwalk continues long into the night with after parties thrown by the likes of Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein and attended by the young, hot and ever fashionable. The Bafta awards, Britian's Film Festival, were also held this weekend. Perhaps it was because of the writers strike and lack of awards shows coupled with the celebrities overwhelming urge to wear black tie attire, but the fashion note was one bearing striking resemblance to the Oscars. Check out pictures of the best dressed from all these events.

The Not So Secret Garden's BOLD NEW BLOOMS

Flowers, flowers everywhere! As the Spring '08 models sashayed down New York's runways the designer's apparent longing for Spring was clearly displayed by clothing covered in bold new blooms. While there is an 80's throw back in the Spring/Summer collections, don't fret. These are not the tacky florals of yester-year. Bold highlighter hues are used to paint bright blooms on clean cut dresses tied with sashes. Geometric blossoms flower in shocking pinks and are neutralized by black or white. Small delicate buds in teals and purples or soft pinks and mint greens are sprinkled on dresses flowing to the floor. All is kept modern through a mix of a flattering shapes and a balance of dark accessories like skinny belts and sexy, strappy sandals. While it seems now, Spring will never come, embrace this trend today by pairing a floral dress with dark opaque tights and high-heeled shoes. Cover up on top with a snug fitting, dark turtleneck or wear a cardigan. Keep accessories minimal since your outfit is your statement piece. Don't fear looking matronly! These blooms are surprisingly sexy. Keep your make-up clean and your tresses unfussy and you're sure to be the Belle of the Ball...even if you're just running errands or going to the grocery store!

A Baby is Born!

OH MY GOODNESS! In these wee hours of the morning I compose my first entry in my new blog! I am so excited about this amazing journey I'm sure I'm about to embark upon! (forgive my sappy optimism) My whole life I've loved fashion. Though when the time came to choose a career I knew I had to make a decision. I had to choose between living what I love, or just working to live. It was then I decided I had to find a way to do both. When I made the choice to become a journalist I knew I could incorporate my deep, burning passion for fashion into a career. My dream job would be to work at E!Entertainment Television or Vogue, Glamour or Lucky magazine (whoever happens to come aknockin' first.) Obviously the best way to hone my journalistic skills are by writing and what better way for a young journalist to immediately be published that making it happen herself through the magic of blogging? Now I'll be the first to admit I don't know everything, but when it comes to the pretty, sparkley, new, glossy, bold and different, I can actually lead the conversation instead of just nodding along and looking interested. My goal for this blog is to pass on my fashion know-how by discussing fabulous new trends, models, designers, celebrities, events and much, much more. Stay tuned. I can promise it will be interesting...and most of all FABUOUS!