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!