SERENDIPITY

I'm watching Serendipity on tv right now and I realized that Kate Beckinsale makes fairly timeless fashion choices.  The clothes she wears in this movie may not be exactly on point with the trends today but even in real life she stays true to her own personal style.  I think she wears really good jeans, what I like to call real person jeans....and she definitely mixes up the wash and style.  She seems very partial to baggy jeans which I love!

TOMS

So you guys have probably heard of Toms; the shoe company that donates a pair of shoes for every pair you buy to a child in a third world country.  My cousins were telling me about them this week and they are apparently very comfortable shoes.  You can't buy them in stores just online at their website but at 50 bucks a pop thats not too bad considering you're technically buying two pairs of shoes.

In this story: all shoes toms.com

rock hard

Natural unfinished stones are making a comeback in jewelry.  These are great because they go well with casual clothes and make you look snazzy.

From top to bottom: Vintage emerald earrings (20.00 etsy.com), Mineral Pendent necklace (29.00 urbanoutfitters.com), Rock Candy necklace (39.00 Anthropologie)

The RED carpet!

Ok so alot of women at the oscars this year dazzled and there weren't too many uglies but I will say I think it came down to styling and who had the best complete look!  I narrowed it down to my top two best dressed and top two worst.  So lets do best first....

...and the winner is Mila Kunis in lavender Elie Saab.  This dress was not only fitted perfectly it was also the right color both for her and fashionably.  The dress itself is very fashion forward and she really pulled it off which is why I chose it as my favorite.  So now for the runner up....

14 year old actress Hailee Steinfeld in custom Marchesa.  This was so age appropriate! and she looked so cute especially with that headband.  So now for the worst dressed women of the night.....

Marissa Tomei in vintage Charles James....this dress did not fit her correctly and really short people should just avoid mermaid style dresses.  The color was also not a good choice for both her and the red carpet cameras....DISASTER.  And the runner up is....

Nicole Kidman in Dior.....this dress pictures well, but on tv you could tell it did not fit her correctly and there was something weird about the middle piece.....honestly she looks a bit like she belongs in Graceland and that looks like a giant ganga leaf in the center.....oh and the shoes......just not good.  So during the actual show I had a few favorite outfits....

Anne Hathaway looks so cute in that suit and I LOVED Mandy Moore's performance gown it was amazing and sooo the perfect hue of blue.  Also even though this is just a well fitted jersey knit dress I believe Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein deserves a mention because she looked so hot in this dress but it was a little plain for the Oscars.....

my so called life.....

My So Called Life was THE coolest and realest teen show of the 90's that got cancelled.  An amazing cast, real issues, and awesome 90's grunge-wear this show still has a cult following so many years later (check it out on youtube).  So I know you guys aren't going to buy a box of red hair dye like Claire Danes character on the show but you could go a little grunge at least for a day.  Like Dr Martens. Remember those? Oh they are back in a big way and revamped for this century.  So pull out some some flannel friends because if you live where there's winter like me....its going to be a few more months of dressing warm so you might as well look cute while you do it.

In this story: Purple Dr. Martens (140.00 urbanoutfitters.com), Converse OneStar dress (14.98 target.com), Xhilaration leggings (5.00 target.com), Cheap Monday sheer sweater (85.00 urbanoutfitters.com)

where did you get those pants?!

 You know what's super cool right now?  Culottes! or Palazzo pants (if you're European or just like pretending to be).  What's great about culottes is that they are comfortable and they can be worn casual or dressy.  Besides these haven't hit too many stores yet so you can be ahead of everyone else.  People will want to know where you got your pants.

In this post: Palazzo pants (asos.com 44.58), Zara Culottes (99.00)

outfit of the moment

    So anyone who watched this weeks Glee episode would know that Britney was declared fashionista at school and everyone was wearing that sweater of hers or Rachels.....whatever.  While I will say I love Britney and I like the idea of her sweater it kind of reminded me of that unicorn sweater from that Lizzie McGuire episode where she's totally embarrassed to wear it on picture day AND I think I liked Lizzie's grandma made unicorn sweater more.  Maybe thats just me.  I was however totally obsessing over the hotness of Santana's little sailor jean trouser outfit (pictured below).  I think its safe to say this ones a little easier to pull off.

Hot right? Now you try.  The suspenders (and hangover) are optional but I think they add a little something extra if you're willing to be fierce ;)

In this story: Vintage American Eagle jeans (ae.com 49.50), Abercrombie and Fitch top (48.00), Urban Outfitters suspenders (20.00)

Stoner Chic?

     You may have noticed the increasing nods in pop culture towards a pro-cannabis lifestyle.  In other words, I know you saw that episode of Parenthood where Peter gets high off of a medicinal lollipop or every episode in which his boss is stoned.  How about on 90210? Recently the surfer girl character Ivy started smoking pot to help her deal with stress.  So is that what this is all about? Stress? Perhaps not even stress but depression.  Statistics say that 80 percent of people who are clinically depressed do not seek treatment and about 9.5 percent of the adult population alone in the U.S. is clinically seeking treatment.  AND a whopping 54% believe depression to be a sign of personal weakness.  So is it easier to smoke a joint or two?  Increasing alcohol intake certainly would not be an option it would land you either in AA or in a fatal car accident.  Maybe like alcohol it is becoming more acceptable in our society to smoke marijuana.  Just like last night's episode of Gossip Girl in which Raina Thorpe smokes her first joint with Nate Archibald.  Or any guest appearance of Snoop Dogg on any show including Martha Stewart living....Or when Cameron Diaz was recently promoting her movie The Green Hornet with known pothead Seth Rogan, she admitted to buying pot in highschool.  What do you think?  Is it chic to be shaggy?

In this story: top from urban outfitters (48.00), reversible alpaca poncho from overstock.com (85.99)

LET's TALK FASHION

So I know all the fall/winter lines are out for 2011 but I thought we'd take a look at some of the spring summer line fashions and some cheaper versions of essentially the same look.  I'm seeing alot of neutrals, bold prints, more flowy less form fitting clothes.  I will talk specific trends in future posts but lets take a look at some knockoffs you might want to consider adding to your wardrobe this spring.

look one-faux leather baby

The top look is from the Chloe spring/summer collection and the knockoffs are both from Urban Outfitters and are available at their website.  The top is linen and is priced at 49.50 and the faux leather pants are 88.00.  Please keep in mind that no matter what you may think your size is it is important to check the size chart and to take a tape measure and measure your bust for tops and hips for pants.

look two-dress

 This is a looser version of last years look and both are silk.  The first look is from Calvin Klein collection spring/summer and the copy is available on asos.com for 112.00  Again please be aware of the size chart since UK sizing is different but an easy to understand chart is there for us Americans.  I believe  this to be a very flattering look for most women and its a nice simple piece to have in your wardrobe.  Chances are there will be many occasions to wear this dress so you won't feel so bad spending a little extra.

look 3-mod squad

The original look is again from Chloe spring/summer collection and the second look is from topshop.com and is 120.00.  The crochet detail on this is still trending from Marc Jacobs of last spring and it is definitely mod!  Topshop also has free shipping on orders over 100 dollars which is nice.  The third one is from asos.com for 62.00 and is probably a less bold and more flattering version of this look.  Both of these could be paired with light wash jeans or any sort of pant or legging if showing this much leg is uncomfortable.  Do I think you can wear these with flares? YES I am fully aware that not every lady is into the skinnies and would be happy to know that bell bottoms are back anyway.

look 4-Athena

On the left is another look from Chloe's spring/summer collection and what I would call this seasons more flattering take on the maxi since there's gathering and it is not so form fitting.  The copy is from modcloth.com and is 60.00.  This look can be made more casual by adding a cardigan.

"If you prick us do we not bleed?" -The Merchant of Venice

Just when you think life is getting better when you've become stronger, people from your past come back to hurt you when you never thought they would again.  In my experience people have always chastised me for my raw human emotions.  I have never been good at hiding my feelings though I try you can always see how I feel by my body language, my actions, and my words--my lies to cover up my sensitivity become transparent.  Though it is hard sometimes we have to be honest with our words and not hide our true feelings, if I feel I have been wronged should I not be upset?  Sometimes people need to hear what they've done and I would expect the same in return.  I can hear my second grade teacher Ms. Campbell's voice in the distance, "honesty is always the best policy."  In honor of this post I will leave you with the designs of Lauren Conrad for her new line Paper Crown.  As many of you may know Miss Conrad has definitely had to learn who her friends and enemies are over the years.  These three designs are my particular favorites from her new lookbook.