Blog Roundup: I seem to always be bored on Sundays

I've noticed that the last couple of these that I've done have fallen on weekends, so it would be a safe bet for you all to expect this from me every Sunday, if not a bit earlier. But anyways, without further ado, here are some more great posts for you guys to check out! Enjoy!

First up, Second City Style reports on changes in bridal trends, which caught my eye since I, like everyone, seem to have wedding fever even though I'm not getting married for a few years yet. (my fiance and I are both poor college students, I don't even have an official engagement ring yet!)

Yet another from Second City Style, a feature on FAME 2007, Fashion and Media Extravaganza, which took place at the Illinois Institue of Art-Chicago, and more specifically the show put on by students in fashion design.

Since I haven't done a designer spotlight in a while, I share this one with you from Sassybella, featuring Soaked in Luxury.

An interesting series for you to check out, StyleBites is teaching all of you wannabe's how to break into the modeling world. You can read part one and part two now, part three will be available Wednesday.

Yet another post on a student show, J'Adore Couture offers commentary on the latest and greatest new designers graduating from Academy of Art University, including pictures of the designs that they presented on the runway.

Trend Alert: Colored Denim

It seems that the newest SS07 trend is actually a combination of the 70's/80's throwback and the need to brighten up our lives-- and our wardrobes-- as the weather turns warm once again.

The concept is simple, take the acid-wash of the 80's to the next level by adding bright color and a modern shape, be it skinny, or the more 70's-inspired high waist and wide leg.


This piece by Grey Ant is a more practical way to wear the latter style, with a happy medium in both the waist and leg. They are still classified under "high-waisted," but it's a manageable one, rather the extremes that we've been seeing with celebs. The leg, though flared and 70's-esque, is not too wide as to be overwhelming, once again, as we've seen alot of the fashion-forward stars doing lately. And, of course, they offer the refreshing wash of color that marks this trend.

Grey Ant Essentials Jean in Blue, $209 [yikes!], Azalea Online

If pastels are your thing, Urban Outfitters offers a few color options for you. These are also great if you want color, but not an overwhelming amount.

Lux Pastel Skinny Jean, $68, Urban Outfitters, Available in Blue, Pink and Lilac (shown)

Now, my first question when I noticed the prevalence of colored denim in stores was "how on earth would you wear something like that?" Well, I've finally come up with not one, but two, answers to that question.

The first, and more obvious, is best illustrated by a celeb who somehow seems to hit these crazy denim trends in just the right way, Victoria Beckham. The key to this look is the fact that the denim takes center stage, and everything else is neutral (black is the easiest way to go, but you can play around with the colors a little if you want).
However, there is one problem with this look for those of us who don't necessarily want to accentuate our bottom half but still preserve our trendiness (Because, let's face it, not all of us can pull off the looks that Victoria Beckham can). If this is the case, pick a top and accessories that compliment the color of your pants while not competing with them. Here's an example.

Free People Embellished Cami, $36, Urban Outfitters

Lux Technicolor Skinny Jean, $68, Urban Outfitters

As you can see, the olive and blue colors in the cami offer a break between the bright yellow pants and the more greeny-yellow in the top, while still allowing the colors to coordinate well. You can pair this look with flats in a muted neutral tone, a plain bag, and any kind of nature-inspired jewelry (Once again, it can be quite fun to play around with the different color combos).

I'm completely open to any other ideas for wearing this trend, but as far as I'm concerned, the above two are not only idiot-proof, but versatile. Now, if only the skies would clear up and let that sun out, I might actually get in the mood to try this trend.

Blog Roundup Part 2

It's a slow news day in my sheltered little world, so I've decided to bring you yet another installment of great blog posts that weren't created by moi. Here goes:

I've never heard of Daydream Nation before, but My Fashion Life's interview with the brother and sister team behind the label gave me a lot of insight. Be sure to watch the attached video of their AW07 fashion show, I promise it's like nothing you've ever seen. Theatre + Fashion = bellisima!

Burberry's back! And the best part is, they're going to be opening up new stores in the U.S! If you're as excited as I am, check out Second City Style for the complete story.

SASSYBELLA offers a summary of the new Australian TV show "The Truth about Size Zero," a new twist on the weightloss show, to let teenage girls know that thin isn't necessarily the way to go. I think it's a great idea, but read on and judge for yourself.

FabSugar covers the new Twinkle By Wenlan book entitled "Big City Knits," a book that can show you how to create chunky-chic fashions like the famous designer.

And more news on the environmental trend - Chic Inspector features a great video about clothing waste.

Until next time, enjoy!

India: Fashion's "most anticipated new market"

Now, I normally don't cover the economics side of fashion, since that's not my expertise, but this is a possibility that's just too interesting to ignore.

According to the JC Report, "India, hot on China's heels, has received acres of coverage over the last year in the business press as the next important emerging market, with great emphasis on the rise of the middle class, the new money billionaires, and a growing appetite for luxury goods."

So what does this mean? Is India soon to become another Fashion Week destination? Will it become the new Tokyo for its adventurous designers and outlandish runway presentations?

From the looks of things, India has its own unique influence, but a couple of the designers, including London favorite (he went back and showed his collection in Delhi as well) Manish Arora reminds me of my Japanese love, Tsumori Chisato.

There are also not one, but two major cities for fashion in India, one being Delhi and the other Mumbai. (Once again, read the JC Report for the full story on the great shopping experiences in both cities) Here are a few pictures of my favorite Indian designers thusfar, from their AW07 collections:

Manish Arora, Delhi

Ashish N Soni, Delhi

Anupamaa Dayal, Mumbai

Tarun Tahiliani, Delhi
[all photos courtesy of JCReport]

It goes without saying that these designers have some serious potential, and I'll bet you the A-list is going to be all over these unique pieces in a few months. As far as I'm concerned, this is a great reason to book a vacation to India, no?

Bright Eyes: Edgy or Just Plain Trashy?

Okay, before we get into the actual meat of this post, I would like to share with you the spoils of my first shopping spree in two whole months. [Aren't you proud of me?] Since I started my new job, I've been trying to save more money than I spend [Which gets difficult at times, but it's worth it], which means that I've had to forgo many opportunities to splurge. Well, I finally decided that enough is enough and that I can't keep myself from the mall for much longer, so I did some serious shopping the other day - but still managed to come away with some seriously fab steals.

My favorite? This great summery bag from Rue21. [on SALE, can you believe it? It's quickly becoming my favorite poor, yet fashionable college kid store] I've already found several uses for it. It makes the perfect pick-me-up for those lazy days [which, for me, is 4 or 5 days a week], and it makes me feel totally fabulous in my jeans-and-college-t-shirt ensemble while doing the "holy crap I'm going to be late for class" powerwalk.

I'm in love.

Now for the trend. Glamour really got a jump on this one back in March, as it's now late April and we're just now beginning to (sortof) see it on the streets. Basically what this entails is simple, bright, cheery colors that bring the focus straight to your eyes. You can do a single color (yellow seems to be all the rage at the moment) and blend it out, or mix it up with two, even three! You can wing it out at the edges, put it on the top lids only, or line top and bottom lids with different colors, and set it all off perfectly with simple black mascara and understated cheeks and lips.

Here's a photo I snagged from one of Glamour's blogs of Perez Hilton rocking this look. [He went a bit overboard if you ask me.]

The only place I've seen this done in a somewhat cute matter was, surprisingly, at my old high school's prom, where my friend Megan [on the left] set off her springy dress with yellow eyeliner and shadow! [I hope she doesn't hate me for using this picture here]

If you're into this look, you can get the products in several shades and price ranges. For the makeup conisseur [sp? I'm having some serious issues today] with a few extra dollars to spend, try Givenchy Prisme Again! Eyeshadow Quartet, $50, which comes in seven different color combos [Brown Caress Pictured] ranging from mild to intense and are great for experimenting with the technicolor look. Available at Sephora.

A bit more "wallet friendly" solution is MAC Cosmetics. They have not only the Pandamonium Eyes Quad, $36, with beautifully matched colors, but they also have a wide range of single shadows (162 shades, to be exact) at $14 each, which allows you to experiment even more freely for less cost.

So, what do you think of this trend? Edgy or Trashy? You be the judge.

Blog Roundup: Great Posts from Great Blogs (other than mine, of course)

I see alot of networking going on in the world of fashion blogging, and I've finally decided to jump on the bandwagon... well, sorta. As you can tell, I read alot of blogs, and every once in a while, I come across a post that is purely outstanding in some way or another. Recently, I happened to find several all at the same time. So, I decided to interrupt my normal blogging habits and give these great authors their credit.

First off, j'adore couture takes the words right out of my mouth when it comes to the recent controversy over the new Vogue cover. She also gives some history and insight about the models featured for those who aren't quite up to speed.

BGlam, who always seems to come up with great insights on the latest trends, has compiled a list of must-haves for Spring '07. A must-read!

And last, but not least, Shopaholics Anonymous, a blog that I've taken to reading almost daily. Her blog is definitely worth a look, and definitely worth the time to backtrack a little to her older posts. Recently, she's covered everything from chic businesswear to swimsuits, and even what to look for with your next LBD!

I'll definitely try to keep you all posted on great blogs as I discover them from now on, and make sure you give me some feedback. Did you like my recommendations? What types of fashion sites are you most eager to read? Let me know!

Short and Sweet: Spring Minis

[Edit: 4/14/07: Sorry, everyone. This post was supposed to be up four days ago, but I got extremely sidetracked with work and school and wasn't able to get the pictures on it until now.]

This season, minidresses are hotter than ever, and now they're available in many different shapes, sizes and prints to suit any style or budget.

First, we have several lengths and neck styles to choose from. Some are short and simple with a bit of a pop, like this metallic shift from Thayer. It is a mid-thigh length, in a bright color, with an oversized tank-top feel.

Thayer Robby Dress, $220, Shopbop

An even shorter and glitzier shift comes from Alice+Olivia, and has even been seen on the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker. It has a similar shape and neckline to the Thayer dress, but comes with more of a "pop," with its V-shaped sequin pattern.

Alice+Olivia Sequin Babydoll Dress, $396, Shopbop

An equally colorful and embellished option comes from Lauren Moffatt, yet its a bit more conservative with the high neckline. It features embroidery along the bottom hem, which will definitely draw attention to your legs, so this one might not be so flattering on all body types.

Lauren Moffatt Sleeveless Turtleneck Minidress, $326, Shopbop

My favorite style so far is this cowl-neck number by Laila Azhar. It's a bit longer, making it more versatile in my opinion, and the design seems so classic that I can wear it anywhere, and it will definitely have more staying power than, say, a metallic shift dress.

Laila Azhar Cowl Neck Dress, $425, Shopbop

A more casual alternative by Laila Azhar is this jersey minidress with short sleeves, but she still manages to keep it feminine and sexy with a keyhole detail.

Laila Azhar Keyhole Gathered Short Sleeve Dress, $345, Shopbop

Minidresses are not only showing more skin, but are becoming more feminine, with bows, ruffles, and cute floral prints, just in time for spring!

Combining two of these concepts is a dress by Mara Hoffman. It features a cute print in very girly colors, along with ruffle sleeves and an empire waist to accentuate your upper half.

Mara Hoffman Ruffle Strap Maiden Minidress, $341, Shopbop

My favorite back-bearing mini is this one by Thayer, which not only has a very low back, it is accentuated by a very large, very feminine bow. It offers sexy in a more conservative way, with a simple shape in front but a nice surprise in the back.

Thayer Bree Dress, $282, Shopbop. An amazing dress for an amazing price!

I think that designers have only begun to scratch the surface of the potential of the minidress. It is possible to find one for every style, every figure, every occasion, and in every color or print possible. The preceding examples were only a small fraction of the options out there. This trend is definitely going to be around for a couple more seasons, if not longer. So head out there and find that perfect dress that will fit your style! (I know I sure will, and I'll let you all know when I do).

Going Green: Organic extends to fashion and beauty

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple decades, you know that pollution and global warming are ever-increasing problems in our society. Recently, there has been a major boom in the production and purchase of "organic" products, everything from food, to fabric, even beauty products! Here, a list of my all-time-favorite organic fashion and beauty products.

Fashion

According to Azalea Online, a premier web marketer of Eco-friendly clothing and beauty products, "High-yield cotton farming, worldwide, uses about $2.6 billion worth of pesticides a year. 35% of that is used in the U.S. It’s harmful to humans and wildlife, contaminating water supplies and killing native species." That's reason enough for me to start adding organic cotton products to my wardrobe.

And Azalea Online has a great selection from different brands, like Loomstate. They design everything from cute animal-inspired tees, to denim, to track jackets, such as this one. And it's all made from organic cotton.

Loomstate Track Jacket in White, $161, Azalea Online

Another great organic brand is Stewart+Brown. I absolutely loved this jacket when I saw it online, then when I found out it was made out of all-natural materials, I was shocked. This just goes to show that organic can be stylish as well!

STEWART + BROWN Organic French Terry Tailored Jacket in Graphite, $190.00, Azalea Online

Stewart+Brown also has cute tote bags and capri pants, among other things, on their Azalea Online page.

And did you know that there are organic jeans as well? I sure didn't. And I also didn't know that they could be as fashion-forward as well, such as those designed by Bread Denim. I definitely want to get my hands on a pair of these dark skinny jeans.

Bread Denim The Deviant Twisted Jean in Carbon, $229, Azalea Online

My favorite organic brand by far has been featured in Glamour magazine, and they're also available on Azalea Online. Edun makes fashionable clothes made from organic materials, they're diverse, and if you didn't know any better, you would have no idea that their clothes were organic, which means they blend in seamlessly with the rest of your wardrobe.

Edun Gertrude Cardigan in Jute, $215, and Bronte V-Neck in Multicolor Natural, $155, Azalea Online

Beauty

I'm not a big fan of Stella McCartney, but once I heard about her new line of organic beauty products, called CARE, I became very interested. One of the most popular, and in my opinion, useful, products from this line is this Purifying Foaming Cleanser, which contains extracts of hawthorn that helps refine your skin. And you can try this product yourself for a bank-busting $35 for 5oz. I'm not sure if it's really worth the price, but if you're gung-ho on organic cleansers, this does seem like one of the best available.

Stella McCartney CARE Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $35, Sephora

Origins is another online retailer with both nature, and your wallet, in mind. Featured in the April issue of Glamour magazine, this lip balm is great for the environment and your lips.

Origins Smileage Plus Liptint, $10, Origins, available in 5 different shades

My longstanding favorite organic products are made by Burt's Bees. I've loved their lip balms for years, and when I found out that they also sold lotions, I was extatic. I'm extremely eager to try this Chemical-Free, 99% organic sunscreen that claims to be non-greasy and better for your skin than the non-organic ones. I'm sold!

Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF15, $15, Burtsbees.com

Let's face it, there are some companies that are merely trying to capitalize on the organic trend, so before you buy, make sure the product is legit. The easiest way: read the label. If it's filled with hard-to-read chemicals, it's probably not really organic.

Need more? Another great organic clothing website to check out that I haven't featured: http://www.btcelements.com

The Return of Jellies?: Part 2

Okay, as hard as this is for me to admit, I made a mistake in that last post covering Jellies (and modern versions of the rubber monstruosity). I hadn't considered the use of rubber and plastic as actually beneficial to the shoe design market. That is, until I recieved the following comment from Anonymous (really people, take 5 minutes and set up a blogger account if only to post comments, so we know who you are):

Um. Jellies are awesome. Those two particular pictures were ugly, yes. But there are plenty of other jellies out there that are cute, particularly flats. And in clear. So yeah. You're being a bit harsh, DONCHA THINK?

I did clarify in my last post that the example of Jellies that I used was from the eighties, which is the design that I remember from when I was a kid. But, as I found out from further research, there are actually a cuter, more modern version of the Jelly shoe still being marketed. You can find them online at Urban Outfitters for $16. [see below]

However, Anonymous still didn't recognize the last question I posed, which was what on earth would you wear them with? Yes, they're cuter than their ancestors, but still not wearable by my standards. I can't see myself working an outfit around these, can you? (Seriously, if you have any ideas, I'm open)

Jellies, $16, Urban Outfitters [available in Green (shown), Red, Turquoise, Black and White]

However, turning our attention away from Jellies for the moment, she made a good point about clear plastic being a cute casual alternative, which I agree with. One good example are the polka-dotted flats below.

Nice 14pt flat, $20, GoJane [available in Black, Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, White (shown), and Yellow]

So, I recant a few of the nasty things I said about Jelly shoes. However, I'm still puzzled by their overall wearability, and still appalled by the fact that KORS shoes would even think of selling their rubber version of the gladiator sandal for $85. But that's the fashion world for ya, right?