Holiday Outfits #1

So, here is my first post in the Holiday Outfits category I had previously mentioned. A request I received so far has been about what to wear to various holiday parties.

• Dinner Party/Formal

This outfit is for those events we all have to attend around this time, the dinners with relatives, or the family parties, or any other events where dressing up is a must (for example, my family sometimes goes to the theater around this time of year to see things like a Christmas Carol).

Black Dress - H&M
Devin Military Peacoat, $70
Christian louboutin shoes, 445 GBP
Jacquard Wool Tights, 12 GBP

I tried to feature patterned tights in this one, because if they're dressed up enough, they look fabulous when paired with a simple outfit! Obviously, none of us can go out and buy Louboutins for this kind of thing, but I thought the two heels could each work well, one for if you wanted to really show of your tights and one if you wanted your toe to coordinate!

Here are some other great tights you could wear under this:

Tradition Tights, $34
Henrik Vibskov Stripe Pattern Tights, 50 GBP
Henrik Vibskov Stripe Pattern Tights, 50 GBP
Preppy Fashion Tights, $6.80

Got any more suggestions?? Let me know!

coming soon!

Sorry guys, I've been swamped with homework and sports! I am announcing a new post theme for the next few weeks: holiday outfits! Wintertime is my favorite time of the year to dress, because there are so many interesting options. Comment here with what part of the holidays YOU want me to feaure (outfits of course)!

It Bag vs. Statement Necklace

It bag vs. Statement necklace- these two options are great because they are a really easy way to make your outfit fun and interesting without having to spend too much time carefully picking and choosing outfit components. But which to choose? Certainly not both at the same time, but one or the other- it bag or statement necklace- always makes an outfit. Here I'm posting my ideas on how to wear each. In my opinion, the outfit you're going to rock shouldn't have to compete with the bag or necklace, so I tried to keep it simple.

It Bag:

Items in this set:
Vince cardigan, $275, T by Alexander Wang top, $75, Current/Elliott jeans, $175, Report flats, $60, Marc by Marc Jacobs shoulder bag

As you can see, the neutral colors of the outfit aren't too much for the purple bag (which is perfect, but that's no surprise as it is marc jacobs). This is a pretty simple, comfy outfit, perfect for a day you're not feeling very creative, because literally just grabbing the bag really makes the whole outfit.

Statement Necklace:

Items in this set: Delias.com dress, $34, Aldoshoes.com boots, $170, Helmut Lang tights, $320, By Malene Birger necklace, $265

For this outfit, I went a little bit less low-key. Just a little, though. The shoes have tiny studs along the bottom to go with the studs on the necklace, and the black embellished buttons on the dress help to bring out the black felt of the necklace. This outfit is probably more for a party, dinner, or any holiday get together (can you believe it's already that time of year?).

What do you think you choose more often? Which would you be more likely to choose, it bag or statement necklace?

inspiration board!

So remember how I said I had an inspiration board in the works? Well, I finally got some work done on it, and ta-da! Do you like it?

I got the pictures from a Delia's catalogue, TeenVogue, even like a few from Seventeen, and some other clothing catalogues, plus two from a Vera Bradley add, because the prints fit in with the theme. By theme, I mean I organized the board into groups that ended up just kind of meshing together.

The top left picture show kind of the more edgy pieces (leather jackets, chucks, etc.), the top right shows more colorblock and dresses and solids, and the bottom shows slightly more boho-chic pieces. Kind of hard to see and get, i know. If you can see in the very first shot above these, there is also a space on the board for plaid (I need to get me some more oversized flannel shirts and funky leggings to go with!).



Any ideas on what my next boards should be about? (fashion-related, of course) :]

how i would wear...

leather leggings:
I know how "in" leather leggings have become, but since I don't see my style as biker-chic, I think I would pair them with something more mellow, more boho-chic, to scale them down but still play up the legs. With a dream marc jacobs bag and a scarf for color balance, this outfit would definitely be something would wear out, and even possibly to school, if my hairstyle worked :]

Items in this set:
Dorothy Perkins dress, 45 GBP
Repetto flats, $235
Marc by Marc Jacobs tote bag, $340
American Eagle Outfitters scarf, $25
Wetseal.com tights, $20

Isn't creating sets on polyvore just the best?
How would you wear them? Tell me!

Thank you!!

This post on the blog CollegeFashion is GOLD. Read it. Love it. I did!
http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/fashion-beyond-a-and-f-or-how-to-develop-your-own-style/

miscellaneous!

Hey bloggers, sorry I haven't posted in a week, but it's been hectic. For now, I'm just going to catch up on various random thoughts.

1. I was sorry to read a while back that Arabelle over at http://fashionpirates.blogspot.com/ will not be posting as often. I really love her blog, so check it out, even if it's updated less.

2. I am making an inspiration board by cutting up all of my TeenVogue issues. I figure I'm not going to, like, try to keep them in mint condition to later sell them or something, so why not make use of them?! I'm also cutting up catalogues. I'm going to layer some pretty paper (my mom has loads of it) overtop of a corkboard, then pin up all the pictures of clothes and inspiration in a sort of giant collage, to help me when looking for style ideas and before going shopping. It is much more fun than I expected :] Oh, and I am IN LOVE with these coats from Delia's:

3. Last weekend was homecoming, and I had a really great time, plus I got a ton of compliments on my dress, which I really didn't expect! It was from windsorstore.com, navy satin, with layered fabric for ruffly flowers around the bottom. I'm the tall one on the far left in the first picture, and the first one in front on the stairs. Just thought those were nice pictures of all my friends and I!

















Any ideas on what else I should make an inspiration board for?

the project of the year: my closet

I have pretty much no inspiration today, so I've decided to create a wishlist to use when I (hopefully) go to the mall this week after school. The reason? Well, besides the fact that I need some longer jeans, my recent interest in fashion has kind of spurred me to look over my closet and think, "What the heck have I been buying for the past two years?" Scanning graphic tee after graphic tee, the occasional plain polo, henley, or "knit" (as described by hollister and abercrombie, the holy houses of middle school) and then, sparsely, a real item of clothing, like a plaid button down or floral off-the-shoulder, I'm in despair. See, as much as I respect people who love stores like that, I don't think they were right for me. Too much consistency, too much perfume/loud music, too much cotton, whatever it is, the stores don't reflect me. Finally, I've found places like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Forever21 to have some stuff I really like. I mean, I'd buy one awesome shirt from Anthropologie instead of five shirts that say "A&Fitch 92" any day. But that's just me. So here's some things I think I really need in order to build a better closet. All from topshop.com.

1. tunics, 2. blazers, 3. leather jacket (please!), 4. cardigans, 5. ankle boots, 6. high waisted skirts ( i want like ten, ha!), 7. shrugs/shawls, 8. funky leggings/tights.

These aren't the exact pieces I want, but a rough idea. Anyone got any ideas or advice?? Much appreciated :]

marc, you kill me.

Anyone see the bows on the models at the marc by marc jacobs show? SO COOL!

They tie the outfits together perfectly! Tribal-chic, but with a big bow on top to make it girly again. Plus, the colors? Perfect bright hues. I'm in love....but what else is new? All images are from style.com.

This outfit is my favorite:

What was your favorite accessory or accent at a recent show?

now i know my abc's....

Out of boredom in the car one day, I started thinking of the abc's of fashion designers, and I wanted to put it into writing, just to see how it would look! I think it's kinda cool, because if I made more, then I could give each group different themes, such as one is only European designers, one only womenswear, etc. This one is just a rough idea, it doesn't have any specific similarities between designers, except including some of my favorites (Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Chanel). Hmm...if only I was one of those photoshop savvy people, I could have made it look really cool with more color and graphics. Note to self: buy and learn photoshop. If I hope to work at a magazine, I can't really believe I didn't think to do this earlier....

Anyways, there weren't any designers off the top of my head (or Style.com's) that started with a Q or X, so let me know if you think of one!

OKAY, THIS PIC DID NOT UPLOAD WELL AT ALL. urgggg!

click http://yfrog.com/13abcsofashionj to see it in better quality! sorry!

got your own abc's of fashion? share please! :]

outfits of shame...

When I had the idea to create a blog, I must admit I really considered basing it solely around people in my school whose outfits are just....well...you know, shameful to someone who values fahion highly. But then I thought, if the blog ever hopes to get enough traffic, I might have to ask my friends to read it, and that would start a major problem in my school (remember that Disney movie, Read it and Weep, where the school found out she was writing about them and they all decided to hate her?) Yeah, that doesn't sound so good.

Nevertheless, I really do find it interesting to post about outfits of glory and outfits of the opposite. Although I wish I could always have my camera glued to me and be able to discreetly shoot anyone I see, I don't. So I will resort to the wonderful polyvore.com to show you what I have seen.

Here we go: outfit of glory, seen while ice skating last night, which my friends looked at like, "What the heck?" but I liked.

She had on the cutest geometric tights with a long-ish zebra frock and a purple cardigan over top, with a little pink beret. It made me feel like we should have been skating somewhere in Paris.

it makes a difference when you aren't [fashion] cultured.

At school yesterday, a classmate looked at a wikipedia page about some old French writer whose named happened to be Louis. He then turned to me and said, "Isn't there some fashion guy named that??" I bit back the "Duhhh" kinda retort I was about to lay on him, and only nodded. To my amazement, he continued, saying, "I think it's like Loius Vuitton or something, but is it pronounced like Vuh-ton or like Baton?"
"Vuitton." I then turn around and slowly shake my head. But I probably should have realized that this guy, like many other people, does not spend his free time scouring fashion blogs, among other things.

On the same day, we had free computer time in biology, of all places, and I was showing a really good friend of mine polyvore.com. She was like, "Oh, this is awesome!!" When we looked at bags, though, she commented, "Wait. I can't tell if they're kidding about these prices."
"Sigh, no they aren't. They really are that much money."
As a fashion newcomer, I was in this exact position about six months ago, where I couldn't have told you how to say Louis Vuitton or had any idea what designer handbags cost. And I've come to realize it really makes a difference. And makes me happy I'm in the know now (but just barely). :]

oh, dresses, how awesome are they?

So with homecoming around the corner and all of my classmates' lives seeming to revolve around it (shallow, I know), talking about dresses has become sort of routine at school lately. Everyone's choices are pretty, but not interesting to me. I mean, colorblock is always cool, but not when at least 4 other girls in the group at the same dance are wearing it, you know? While surfing around and pretending I could come anywhere near affording a real, legit DRESS, I came across this amazing gown from Viktor & Rolf.

style.com

is it weird to say it reminds me of swiss cheese? i love it.

on the dresses topic, i also want to share how much i LOVE a dress i bought while in maine this summer:

worn here with betsey johnson bag and my mom's shoes.

I got it at a market outdoors in downtown Portland, and the booth where it was being sold was this kind of shady but free-spirited artist's group (some of them looked homeless, I'm not kidding.) The girl who sold it to me seemed really happy I was buying it and told me she got it from San Francisco. I just wish I could wear it more often, but fall in D.C. just isn't the same as summer, and I think my legs would freeeeeze.

hello!

after contemplating creating a blog for a while, i've decided to actually do it! fashion has become really interesting to me, and since i decided i want to make it my career once i'm done with highschool and college, this idea seemed perfect! i'm going to use this blog to share my various random ideas and thoughts, so enjoy!