The Perfect Swimsuit: Get 'em before they're gone!

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in over a week! Am I slacking or what?

Well, as many of you are aware, it's spring break for us college kids, and unfortunately for me, Kansas has been battered with rain all week, which pretty much killed my lake plans. But, my pain can be your gain, because this unfortunate circumstance has made me look forward even more to summer, and you know what that means! The quest for the perfect swimsuit.

As with most seasonal merchandise, swimsuits appear in stores waaay before they naturally should (late winter for most major retailers), and oftentimes we can get lulled into a false sense of security and think we have plenty of time to shop. However, my experience has shown that if you start shopping now, in early- to mid-spring, more of the season's hottest merchandise will be readily available to you.

And already there are a few basic trends emerging for Summer '07 swimwear. Bandeau tops and one-pieces are becoming increasingly popular this season, and now more than ever the biggest trends for spring are reflecting themselves in this summer's swimwear.

The updated one-piece is no longer for old ladies. It's getting a sexy makeover with cutout details and embellishments, such as nautical themed one from Tommy Hilfiger:

Tommy Hilfiger Nautic Suit, $95, www.shoptommy.com

Bandeau tops are reflecting this season's colorblock trend, giving them a bit more edge. My favorite? This beach-ready number from Brette Sandler:

photo: shopbop

The two hottest swimsuit design themes this summer by far are stripes and nautical, or ocean-inspired prints.

Salinas Wide Stripe Halter Top, $55, Urban Outfitters; and Wet Seal Solid Anchor Triangle Top, $19.50, Wet Seal

Victoria's Secret is taking it up a notch and incorporating this spring's revival of large florals with this sexy halter swimsuit. (I'm actually thinking about buying this one!)

Beach Sexy Floral Halter Top and String Bottom, $42 and $38, VictoriasSecret.com

And there you have it. I may do a follow-up to this a bit closer to summer, but this will definitely give you something to think about as we embrace the warmer wearther and you start envisioning yourself doing your favorite summer activities. (and of course you'll be doing them in style in these hot new swimsuits!)

The Return of Jellies?

I'm a child of the 90's, so I remember a bit about the Jelly shoe and it's "untimely demise." And as most of you know, Jellies might possibly be the ugliest shoe ever to hit the mainstream market.

Jelly shoes from the 80's, photo courtesy of vintageblues.com

I personally don't even think that Crocs can compete with the unpractical, clear plastic monstruosity that is the Jelly shoe. So can you even imagine what the world would be like if they made a comeback? I can, but I don't think I even want to try.

At least I didn't until I stumbled upon these interesting pieces of footwear.

That's right, rubber sandals. Care to guess who designed them?
None other than Michael Kors.

Do these not remind anyone else of a higher-end version of the Jelly shoe?
Just as impractical, a bit more stylish I suppose (sort of a gladiator type style with a jewel detail over the toe, who knows why). But probably just as sweaty, and just as ridiculous.

Can you imagine any celebrity getting their hands on these? I sure can't. I can't even picture the least stylish person I know wearing these.

[KORS Shoes Jupiter Sandal, $85 (are you kidding me? I'm not even going to start on that one.), shopbop]

So what's your opinion on these? Am I the only person who sees a striking similarity between these and the Jelly shoe? Would you wear them? And if so, what with? (Do tell, I'm actually very interested)

Spring Has Sprung! : The New Sunglasses

Now that we've all officially "sprung forward," I figure it's time to pull out some more cute spring/summer trends. Unfortunately, I can't take part in this one since I am pretty much blind and can't wear contacts. That is, of course, unless D&G or Marc Jacobs decides that they wanna get me a pair with my prescription (har har).

Anyways, on to business. The three major divisions of this style are either eye-catchingly bright frames, subtly tinted aviators, or classic black.

My favorite super bright frames come from Forever 21:

F9111 Sunglasses, $5 (amazing, no?), Forever21

Red and pink are really popular colors this season. [Maybe it's the spring vibe?] But, white is also making a considerable statement. Just check out these high-end examples from Marc Jacobs...

Marc by Marc Jacobs Logo Print Sunglasses, $90 (another great price!), Neiman Marcus

...and these sporty chic frames from Lacoste.

Lacoste, Product Number la12602, 800-272-2042 for stores

Compliment these statement pieces with bright pink or even purple eyeshadows and light makeup elsewhere. This look is definitely very spring.

The 70's are definitely making a comeback, with these sleek aviators. The only prerequisite? They can't actually be helpful in blocking the sun. [Go figure.] Check out these super-slick styles from Cesare Paciotti and Juicy Couture.

Cesare Paciotti, Product Number CPS021, 212-452-1222 to order (USA only)

Juicy Couture Little V Aviator Sunglasses, $220, shopbop

With these styles, layer on some serious dark mascara to highlight your eyes even more, invest in a good bronzer for that sun-kissed summer glow, and add some bright pink lipgloss for added flair.

Of course, black is one color that will never go out of style. Thick, black frames are hotter than ever, especially with barely-there transparent and translucent lenses. [Which, once again, don't do much for sun protection.] These Stella McCartney shades are a great example.

Stella McCartney Plastic Frame Sunglasses, $240, shopbop

This is a great opportunity to bring back the smoky eye. Or, at least, layer on the mascara and black eyeliner. Compliment with deep red lips and you're the face of sexy this season.

Applied Style: The Most Wearable Looks for Spring '07 - Part 3

For the last post in my series, I've decided to bring out the big guns: a multi-purpose outfit that happens to be one of my favorites for this season. It combines a feminine, yet casual look with two major trends: big prints and colorblock. Think it can't be done? Just look:

First, we're going to start off with this tube top from Urban Outfitters.

Lux Kyoto Tube Top, $28, Urban Outfitters

The first time I saw this top, I fell in love with the print. And then I fell in love with the price. UO seems to never disappoint me. Trendy, not pricey. I love it.

Moving on to the pants. I recommend a pair of capris that are very fitted on the leg, with no embellishments. There are many options, including denim and twill, just make sure they are some type of gray hue. Some cropped opaque tights in a semi-thick material will also work.

Now for the final touch: colorblock accessories. Pretty much anything goes in the bag department, as long as it's white with black accents. It can also be plain white as long as there are no major embellishments, such as this leather tote by Gryson.

Gryson Leather Tote, $995, Bergdorf Goodman

Of course, you're going to need some heels to top it all off, especially if you have short legs, because the capris can do funny things to them if you wear flats. These are my favorites:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Leather Peep Toe Pumps, $360, Shopbop

Also, this particular outfit is very versatile. You can pair it with a nice dark blazer if you aren't in an arm-and-shoulder-bearing climate, as well as with a pair of skinny jeans instead of the capris, using all the same principles, of course.

So what did you guys think about this series? Would you like to see more like it? Let me know!

Applied Style: The Most Wearable Looks for Spring '07 - Part 2

The look I'm going to show you today is great because it's so versatile. It's not casual, but it's not too stuffy-looking to, say, go out with your friends after a big black-tie event.

The key to making a great evening outfit is a strong focal point. The focal point to this outfit is an amazing dress by little-known label Gina Michele. The materials are classic, and the structure is very mod. And with its soft metallic sheen, you can't miss!

Prince Dress by Gina Michele, $150, Unsung Designers

There are a wide variety of shoe choices for this outfit as well. My favorites, however, are edgy, strappy heels, like these from Cesare Paciotti.

Cesare Paciotti, cod. 931510, 212-452-1222 to order (USA only)

To give it a more dressed-down feel, basic gray or black wedges, like these by Cynthia Vincent.

Image from shopbop.com, item no longer available.

Care for a more rock-and-roll look? Simple with this dress as well. Simply add opaque leggings or skinny jeans with some basic ballet flats, like these from Urban Outfitters.

Mod Mary Jane Ballets, $38, Urban Outfitters

As for a bag, a simple, streamlined clutch is your best bet. Just remember: no patent or metallic, you don't want it to compete with your already fabulous dress.

Applied Style: The Most Wearable Looks for Spring '07 - Part 1

Alright, kiddies. Time for me to embark on my first blog series! yay! Basically, I'm going to offer you some options for cute outfits ranging from casual to evening by incorporating all of the lastest design trends. And, better yet, I'm going to show you where to get them as well.

First up, a very casual look that can easily translate to summer as well. It consists of a flowy top, tuxedo shorts, and a casual, yet stylish sandal.

Harkham Liquid Style Jersey Top, $200, Azalea Online

Lux Cuffed Short, $20, Urban Outfitters

Giuseppe Zanotti Sandals, style E7105, $500, Zappos

This super-casual look is hard not to love, with a cute and comfortable empire-waist top, simple shorts, and sandals with an updated gladiator look, with jewel details on the straps.

Total price: $720
(pretty reasonable)

And you can even trade the shorts for some dark denim if you want to dress the look up a little more (or if the weather isn't very nice).

Next time: an eye-popping evening look. Stay tuned!

Designer Spotlight: Tsumori Chisato

Now, this is a designer that I recently discovered while finishing my research on Paris, and I must say, her collection is stunning. From the reviews I've read, it isn't meeting too much fanfare with the "fashion elite," but I see alot of promise in it.

My first impression was definitely a good one, especially after seeing beautifully structured pieces such as this dress:

I've also noticed that she has a real flair for combining her ethnic influences with today's trends. This minidress is a great example. I also appreciate the fact that she pairs it with tights to give it more of a fall vibe, unlike many other designers.

I also love the ease of these pieces, from the color to the structure. These actually look street-worthy (except for the headgear of course).

This coat is equally amazing in its use of color. I wish we saw more pieces like this on the runway. It just screams functional.

My favorite piece was this ultra-feminine-looking dress, complete with a stylish print and metallic gold accents. The fact that it's paired with boots adds to its appeal for me, because I simply love that silhouette.

Normally, Asian designers tend to go a little over-the-top with their runway presentations, but I think that Tsumori does a great job in connecting the nature of the designs to the runway show itself. I only wish she were more popular in the United States!