Rate My Look- Jewel Tones

I LOVE jewel tones. I love vibrant, bright, saturated color. Fortunately, my build and coloring work for that type of color, but if you are very petite, be careful. Petites can be overwhelmed by too bright a color- in other words, the color wears you, not the other way around. To avoid that problem, wear a top in a jewel tone as opposed to a dress. That way you can enjoy the color while keeping it to a very focused element of your outfit. I went a little crazy with jewel tones today. I wore a bright purple tights with a vibrant teal dress. The dress (which I got at Nordstrom a few weeks ago) has a fun jewel-neckline covered in a beautiful sequin embellishment:

Please forgive the wrinkles- I took this photo when I got home from work tonight. Also, the fabric is not nearly that shiny- the flash on my camera is seriously exaggerating the sheen. As you can see, I finished the outfit with a pair of knee-high flat boots. They were a birthday gift from my mom (among other things purchased on last weekend's trip up north). They are from the Gap and they were a bargain at $16. I'll have to take a close-up of them so you can see the cute buckle detail at the ankle. Because it's winter, I did layer one of my favorite sweaters over this dress so I wouldn't freeze my booty off all day:

You may notice that my left wrist is looking a little light compared to the last few weeks. Remember my new watch from Kenneth Cole? Well, as I was trying to open the clasp one day, it popped open suddenly and my watch fell to the floor (my carpeted, bedroom floor), and the face of the watch shattered. I was so disappointed! I hadn't worn a watch in nearly 10 years and I barely had that one for 3 months! So sad. I'm thinking of replacing it, but I need to find one equally fabulous and at a bargain price, which could prove to be difficult. Anyway, enough about that. What do you think of my bright, somewhat over-the-top outfit? I got quite a few remarks today along the lines of, "You look... interesting..." I never mind that. I'm not dressing for anyone else's approval- I'm dressing to feel good and I feel great in this outfit. Is it the most flattering thing I've ever worn? No. Is it the most elegant? The most put-together? Nope. I don't care. I still like it!

Project Runway: Season Seven, Episode 5

WIN: Anthony
AUF'd: Anna


First of all, I want to say that Anthony's winning reaction was priceless. He is a hoot! And unlike many contestants, his quirkiness is true. It doesn't seem like some contrived personality made to stand out on TV. I believe he truly was that surprised and happy. As he should be! A COVER picture on Marie Claire magazine? Amazing. And as Tim Gunn pointed out, it has never been done in Project Runway history. And for Heidi Klum to be the model, well, that's just icing on the cake!

I feel that when the challenge involves a celebrity actually wearing the garment somewhere, it basically has to come down to what they prefer, so a designer who plays to their personal style will always come out on top. (With Tiki Barber really suffering the most with that horrible menswear challenge a few seasons ago. That was painful to watch.) Anyway, Anthony's dress was truly stunning. If you know me at all, you know that the shade of blue he chose is my asbolute favorite, so I was leaning towards his dress anyway. Add to that the gorgeous scultpura detail that went from the shoulder down the front of the dress, it was really masterfully done. Nice job, Anthony! I'm so happy for you!

As for Anna, after being in the bottom last week, I think we all sort of saw that one coming. Janeane has been sort of under the radar, but I'm sure you all notice that remark she made about it coming down to her and Anna in the bottom. Anna's outft was WAY too teenie-bopper-cute. And let's be honest, a top like that is barely flattering on someone stick-thin, but Heidi will be in a post-pregnancy body, meaning big ol' boobies which would only make that top worse. The vest was so boring and forgettable and the shorts were cute, but the fabric was so blah-office-worker-esque. Basically, the entire outfit was just boring. Unfortnately, she seemed to focus entirely on perfect construction and not so much on great design.


Finally, I agreed with the judges in all three of the top choices- Emelio and Ben also made stunning, spring-magazine-worthy dresses. I especially loved Ben's dress because he made bold color choices, but the end result was not busy or distracting. I could absolutely see it on a magazine cover. And Emilio's gorgeous cherry-red concoction was so flattering and it was one of the few dresses with really nice movement. I guess movement isn't something to consider for a 3/4 photo, but when I saw it move on the runway, I instantly felt like it was a harbinger of spring. Nicely done, guys!


I also agreed with the judges bottom choices for once- Mila's weird color-blocking is definitely getting old and to be perfectly honest, her construction looked poor. The points of the chevrons were puckered all over and even the straight sides of some of them looked like they were rippling a bit. Also, is Mila going to turn into a one-trick pony? Is that all she can come up with? Color blocking? I'm not a fan. Also, her remark about the other designers not cheering for her 2nd place status last week was odd. Umm, Mila? Maybe they're not psyched because they think your designs are ugly?


And poor Janeane. What was up with that fabric choice? The color, the weight, the stiffness- everything was terrible! And then to pair it with a weird organza shrug- I didn't get it. If her inspiration was ocean waves, she picked fabric that did not lend itself to that inspiration at all. She's on thin ice for me. 

Alexander McQueen, dead at 40

Reports are now starting to come in that Alexander McQueen, the incredibly creative and talented fashion designer as been found dead today. We do not yet know how he died, but I'm sure it will be reported shortly. Police have said that there were no suspicious circumstances. He was a resident of London and was one of the most innovative fashion designers of all time. In his honor, here are some of his creations:

His designs were truly works of art and he has certainly left behind an incredible legacy.

My future's so bright..

... I gotta wear shades! As you may know by now, the PA/DC/MD area got hit pretty hard with a serious snowstorm yesterday. Today the sun is shining and it's almost blinding against the endless fields of white snow. It's really stunning. I love this kind of weather. The air is crisp and clean, everything is blanketed in gorgeous, sparkling, pure white snow and the contrast against the clear, blue sky is truly spectacular. You need a good pair of shades to function in it, though. Driving down the street can be a serious hazard because of the slippery snow, but also because of visibility due to the sun's glare against the snow. There are some shades that seem to keep coming back in style, so if you're wondering what will look good and remain classic, get yourself one of these styles:

Ray-Ban Wayfarer:

These classic shades were popular in the 60's, again in the 80' and now in 2010, they're back in full force once again. Perhaps it's the fact that all things retro are in vogue, or maybe people really do love this style. Or maybe it has to do with the fact that Ray Bans have been used in film and TV for decades. (Here's a fun fact for you: that unique product placement was the direct result of a deal signed between Ray-Ban and the company- you guessed it- Unique Product Placement in 1982.) Regardless of why they are so popular, the point is, they're hip right now and probably will be in another couple of decades. The ones pictured above are available at Amazon for $109, and more updated versions can be found just about anywhere. Unfortunately, that price is a little high for my budget. Fortunately, the Sunglass Shack offers a knock-off style for only $19.99 in both the classic black and this tortoise shell frame:

I remember back in the late 80's, early 90's it was popular to wear this style with black sides and neon colored front frames. Can you say, "HIDEOUS?" I admit, I had a pair. I think I bought them at the beach boardwalk for $5 when I was in 7th grade. What was I thinking? I'm pretty sure I paired them with a B.U.M. Equipment oversized t-shirt over my bathing suit. Thank goodness there are no pictures to document. At least, not to my knowledge.

Aviator Sunglasses:

 

Aviators look good on everyone and are so classic and timeless that you can wear them with confidence no matter what the current trend. These pictured above are Ray Bans from Amazon as well and sell for as little as $75 to as much as $200+ depending on the color combination and size. Of course, this style is also available in a less expensive version from the Sunglass Shack for only $25.99.

They have only four different color options for the lenses, unlike real Ray Ban Aviators that come in literally dozens of color combinations for frames and lenses. I recommend trying on lots of different colors to find the ones that work best for you. That's certainly an argument for buying name-brand because you can find the exact size and color that will be most flattering on your face shape, size and skin tone. However, if a less expensive version works well for you, then that's fabulous, too!

The bottom line with any sunglass style trend is that you should only participate if the style truly looks good on you. Some sunglasses are a bad idea no matter who you are. And don't forget to opt for polarized lenses whenever possible. Trust me, your eyes will thank you. Now for some fun. Can you name the celebrity who made the following sunglass styles famous? Leave a comment to guess.

 

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6.)

Have a great day, everyone!

I love my puffy coat

I just finished shoveling my walkway, steps and around my car and I realized how difficult snowstorms might be for me without my fabulous down parka. I look like a marshmallow in it, but it does the job. Anyway, it reminded me of this post from early last month about stylish puffer coats. In light of this curent storm, I thought I'd link back to it. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I wanted to share with all of you my birthday present to myself. I just ordered his brooch from Tina Tarnoff on Etsy:

Is it gorgeous or what? I can't wait to wear it! I encourage you to visit this seller's Etsy shop as the artwork is quite impressive. All of her jewelry is made using prints of her papercut artwork. You can buy jewelry or art pieces. I even had her make a set of notecards out of her "Dancer" series last Christmas. It was a gift for a friend and she did a beautiful job. And the gift was well received to boot! What do you think of this gorgeous brooch? Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Etsy seller.

Shoesday Tuesday- Vacation is over!

Sorry for the long weekend without posts, but I was taking a brief vacation up north in New Hampshire for my birthday. I had a fabulous time shopping, eating and relaxing- the best way to spend a vacation if you ask me! And I got to shop with my three favorite shopping partners- my mom, and my two closest friends Beth and Melanie. And to top it all off, I got to shop with each of them individually, so I really felt like I got quality time with all three of them. It was great. I probably got way too much, but that's the idea. My mom really wanted to spoil me on this trip and I decided to let her. She funded this fabulous new outfit (in its entirety!):

The skirt reminds me classic Chanel, although it's BCBG, as is the silk top ($19 and $9, respectively). The earrings are from Kohls and were only $2.40! (The entire outfit cashes in at less than $60- not bad for nearly all designer duds.) The shoes are fabulous and I'm really excited about them because I've actually posted about some very similar shoes on here repeatedly. You all may remember my obsession with these Kelsi Dagger booties:

And you may also remember that I once found these Steve Madden beauties that were quite similar:

Well, the ones I bought are actually Madden Girl by Steve Madden. (Basically his vegan line.) I'm in love and I believe they are more like the Kelsi Dagger booties than the Steve Maddens I found a while back. And they were only $24.99 at Marshalls! Whoo-hoo! Here's a close-up for you:

Aren't they fabulous? I'm in love. The only concern I have is that the criss-cross straps are not adjustable. I have a high instep and my feet are easily irritated by a too-tight strap. Since this is the vegan line, they are not leather, so I can't count on them stretching out. I'll keep you posted if they turn out to be one of the more crippling shoes in my closet. For now, I'm completely enamoured.

Some other items I purchased over the weekend were some more cute tops, a pair of flat, knee-high boots, lots of accessories and a spectacular spring trench coat that you'll have to wait to see. It's probably my favorite purchase of the weekend, but I'm going to hold off showing you until I can take a nice picture outside. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do.

Once of the best things about my trip is that I was a couple hundred miles from the spectacular snow storm that hit the Pennsylvania/DC/Maryland area last Friday. Unfortunately for me, there seems to be another one coming tonight. Maybe I'll catch up on blogging while I'm hunkered down for the storm. After all, I have quite a few new pieces to use in future outfits. You may be wondering about my self-imposed shopping ban and how I've clearly broken it over this past weekend. I want to be clear that the shopping was a birthday present from my mom, so I am not counting it. The idea behind my ban was to be more frugal and thus more creative with what I already own. However, a birthday with family and close friends is a great excuse to take a break from my ban. Judge me if you must, but I'm beaming over my new purchases. Not only because they are beautiful and fabulous, but because I got to spend a lot of quality time with my favorite people while I shopped for them.