Party Photo Land: Gold Belts, Polka Dots, and Love Children

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An Inspiration Board for...The Gym

Because you don't want to be another girl in gym shorts and her brother's T-shirt.

gym wear by morefashionplease

Polka Dots

Have you ever fallen in love with a trend on the runway but had no idea how to make it work in real life? Although, sadly, giant sailor hats and wigs worn at the front of the face don't seem to translate in real life (but if you could somehow prove that wrong that would be awesome), some trends do. Whether you're a Style Classicist, a Trend-Spotter, or a Fashion Risk-Taker, you can pull off next season's polka-dots like a pro.

First, a rundown of those terms as they'll be used on this blog.

The Style Classicist dresses simply, and, though often very stylish, she is not the first to jump on board for a new trend. Maybe she's just getting interested in fashion, or, contrastly, she is incredibly chic but knows what works for her and sticks with it. Perhaps she is scared to try a new look, or she may simply like to see if a trend has longevity before blowing her budget on more than a few accessories.

The Trend-Spotter is a bit more experimental with her clothing. She likes to try new looks, but likes to work them slowly into her wardrobe. She would never want to look like everyone else but she doesn't automatically want all eyes on her either.

The Fashion Risk-Taker wears the trends she loves without shame. She layers and accessorizes and dresses outrageously, often taking looks directly from the runways.

These labels are absolutely flexible. You may be in between a Trend-Spotter and a Fashion Risk-Taker, or you may be a Style Classicist when it comes to shoulder pads (you love them, but are kind of scared to wear some) and a Fashion Risk-Taker when it comes to colors.

Anyway... on to the polka-dots.

The Style Classicist:

While polka-dots are pretty easy to pull off, if they're not your style you may want to start off with an accessorie, such as the bangle above, paired with classic pieces such as a simple dress or heels in colors that coordinate with the accessory.

The Trend-Spotter

The Trend-Spotter might try one especially bold piece, such as a bright polka-dotted vintage coat, and pair it with more basic items, such as pointy-toed boots and classic Jackie O sunglasses.

The Fashion Risk-Taker:

The Fashion Risk-Taker might try wearing multiple polka-dot items, a la this season's Marni. Just make sure that the polka dots are in basic colors and different enough that it doesn't look like you're trying to match. Pair with some clashing floral tights to make the look even more fun.

Runway photo from style.com.

Other photos found on polyvore.com, click on collages to see where items are from.

Gossip Girl Fashion: Episode 2.14

The best outfit of the episode, hands down, was the outfit Queen B wore for her interview with the ladies from the club.
Does she not look completely Audrey Hepburn-esque?
I love it! I think I love all of the outfits below individually but together they look a tad Gap ad-ish. I understand that the stylist went for the matching thing in order to establish them as a clique or whatever, but i'm not a fan...

I love, love, love Jenny's shirt. It looks a little CDG, no?

Whenever I think that the oversized glasses thing is becoming passe, I see a pair like Nelly's and I want to buy some.

Here we get the matching again. Isabel's coat is clearly the cutest. You can tell that she's sort of looking a Hazel's ruffles in disgust.

And let's finish off the post with some more Blairyfull awesomeness.

Sigh.

Cheap Picks for Winter 2008/2009

Armani taste on an American Apparel budget?

Check out this season's Cheap Picks

Violet T-Strap Flat, $34.50, delias.com

I think that these are so cute. They're like the Mary Janes you wore as a child but the texture roughs them up a little. Unisex Circle Scarf, $33, American Apparel

Is this not the most amazingly versatile thing that you've ever seen? I mean, I know it's been a tad overhyped but I still super-want one.

Seriously, if you doubt it, feast your little eyes on this:

It's incredible!

Sweater Floral Earwarmers, $24, Urban Outfitters:
How cute is this? It's like the adorable yet slightly deformed lovechild of 80s-y earwarmers and something adorable that your grandma would knit for you.


Sleeveless Color-block Dress, $22.80, Forever 21
This is so modern mod. It looks pretty well-cut, too.

Janet Plaid Woven Shirt, $22.80, Forever 21

Even though I'm a fan of the men's-shirt-as-a-dress trend, I'll admit that sometimes it's easier to get a good fit in the shoulders and sleeves by "cheating" and buying a shirtdress.

Deux Lux Double Cross Bag, $68, Urban Outfitters

Structured boho-chic.

Unlikely Style Icon: Claudia Kishi from the Baby-Sitters Club

There are some style icons: (Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Jackie Kennedy) whose stylishness is undeniable and almost universal. Then there are those who teach us style lessons in their own, often overlooked way. They are (cue super hero music) Unlikely Style Icons!

This month’s? Claudia Kishi of Baby-Sitters Club fame.

Why Claudia: For those who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, the Baby-Sitters Club was a way of life. The books focused on a group of friends, the coolest of which was undeniably Claudia.
Claudia was a crazy artsy girl who made paper-mache jewellery and painted clothing. She was known for putting together “theme outfits” (such as an “under-the –sea” one where she wore a blue skirt and jelly sandals with fish painted on them). Though she would never wear the same outfit twice, her staples were men’s shirts (snagged from her father’s closet), push-down socks, and brightly coloured leggings. Her inventiveness and self-confidence seem refreshing in today’s often conformist fashion world.

Embrace Your Inner Claudia:
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Crafty:
Claudia would never wear an outfit that wasn’t personalized at least a little. Creating something allows you to take pride in your outfit and it’s mad fun. Plus, you can create that look you dream of when it isn’t available in stores. Whether this means going full-on Claudia with puffy-painted T-shirts and hand-maid fruit-shaped earrings or simply sewing bigger buttons on to an old shirt is up to you.

2. Try a “Theme” Outfit: While Claudia’s style was a bit out there, it was also almost ironically matchy-matchy. She’d wear, for instance, a poodle skirt with poodle earrings and a shirt with a poodle on it. She called outfits like this and her under-the-sea outfit “pulling a Miss Frizzle” (of Magic School Bus fame). Go ahead and dress where your mood leads you. Try your own under the sea outfit or an old school aviator outfit or a super-hero-explorer-princess-in-the-1920’s-who-loves-cats outfit. When you’re feeling uninspired by your wardrobe, pick a theme and rock it.

3. Be Confident in Your Style: Claudia lived in a small New England town, where jeans and T-shirts were the norm and her friends dressed nothing like her. Yet, at her school, she was regarded as a fashion icon. Why? Confidence. She knew that she was well-dressed and refused to wear anything that she didn’t love. No one dressed like her and she loved it. Take pride in being an individual, and don’t second-guess yourself when it comes to what you wear.

4. Try Menswear-Inspired Looks: Claudia was known for stealing her father’s button-downs. She’d wear them unbuttoned over a tighter ensemble, as a dress over leggings, knotted a la Britney (but with a tank underneath) and about a zillion other ways. She also rocked ties way before Avril, and would wear baggy carpenter pants with fedoras. Go ahead and raid the men’s section of your favourite store. Guy’s sunglasses are rad (and often cheaper), a long shirt unbuttoned over a dress of the same length looks good, and a huge blazer over leggings is 80’s cool. At least one magazine per month does a “Ohmigod, menswear inspired styles rock!” feature, so you’re bound to find something.

5. Layer Like Mad:
Claudia would wear things like a baggy shirt over a vest over a tee shirt with two skirts, leggings, and socks. Layers are awesome. They keep you warm in winter, allow you to get the most of out of your wardrobe, and look pretty damn cool. Try doing a sundress over a coordinating thermal, a Erin Wasson-esque tank over a bandeau, or over the knee socks over tights.

Claudia Essentials:

1. Men’s Shirt:All-Son pinstripe roll-up shirt, $44, urbanoutfitters.com

2. Unitard: Cotton spandex jersey unitard in eggplant, $40, americanapparelstore.com

3. High Tops: Converse high-tops in red delias.com

4. Printed Dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs Daydream Print Dress, $378, eluxury.com

5. Unique Earrings: Dinosaur earrings, Etsy Seller: veryvintage, $4, etsy.com

6. Snake Bracelet: Cleo gold snake bracelet, $49.99, emitations.com

7. “Painted” Tee: H18 All You Need is Love tee, $14.90, forever21.com

8. Puffy Paint:images.google.ca

sorry, k-plast

According to WWD, all American Kira Plastinina stores will be closing today.

Sad, I guess. But perhaps now every teen magazine will stop shoving her blah clothes down our throats?

I've never really been a fan, her stuff looks really mall-y to me. Maybe if she actually went to design school and then started a line it would be better?

However, everything's on major sale, so if your little heart desires you can go and get a discount on all the logo tees and metallic everything that you crave.

Gossip Girl Fashion: A Very Blair-y Post (S.2 E.13)

Last week's Gossip Girl was a little light on the criticizable fashion, since making fun of funeral outfits seems a little sketch, even when the funeral is for a fictional character.

Dorota's headpiece was one of my FAVORITE items worn in the episode. It's so beautiful and a fun play on the stereotype of the maid wearing a little hat.

Actually, Queen D's whole outfit was pretty cute (see below)

And Blair's dress for the wedding was gorgeous! Look at the cut! I'm obsessing over it a little.

This outfit was also really cute! It's funny because I could totally see it on someone 40 years Blair's senior but she looks lovely in it! Very Audrey Hepburn goes corporate!

All photos courtesy of gossipgirlonline.net

falling for pre-fall

sorry for the utter cheesiness of the title.

but.


BUT.

here is what's happening on the pre-fall runways right now (aka what was happening on them circa like a week ago when i started this post...)

Zac Posen:

Zac Posen's collection was full of, to use the most over-used phrase in the entire world, "old Hollywood glamour". However, it was also a little 1920's show-girl-ish, with lots of fringe and such. Burberry Prorsum:

The Burberry Prorsum collection was wearably vintage-inspired, with some of the most beautiful prints ever.

Chanel:

Chanel was ridiculously decadent (who would expect less from Karl?). But the elaborate headdresses were paired with beautiful knits and re-imagined Chanel suits.

Doo Ri:

Doo Ri's collection was absolutely It-girl-esque. The clothes don't fight for attention, but have little details such as drop-waists and ruffles that make there wearer the coolest girl in the room.

Narciso Rodriguez:

Narciso Rodriguez's collection was full of beautiful cocktail dresses. Think a cooler version of what women's interest magazines advise their readers to wear to holiday parties.

Oscar de la Renta:

De la Renta's collection was, as per usual, relatively simple at first glance, but immaculately cut. Lots of beautiful, slightly pleated A-line skirts and cute jackets.

Carolina Herrera:

Herrera's collection was very Blair from Gossip Girl (you know that I connect EVERYTHING back to Queen B). It included lots of knee-length hem-lines and an almost 1940's silhouette.

All photos courtesy of style.com, collages made by me.

vogue-ing

Just a quick post today because I have an exam tomorrow:

How beautiful is this? Oh Vogue.

Why can't your covers today look like this?

(Picture: Vogue cover, December 1934 issue from coverbrowser.com)