On Trend: Asymmetrical

It looks like the new twist for '09 on everything from casual tops to cocktail dresses to swim wear is the asymmetrical. And I'm talking about everything, from simple one-shoulder tops to drastic hemlines to wacky prints. Fortunately, no matter what your style, you can find some little piece of this trend to spice up your wardrobe.

For day, there are some great printed tops at all price ranges.

Parker Print One Shoulder Top, $141, shopbop

And if one-shoulder isn't your thing, Urban Outfitters has a funky printed tank with an asymmetrical hemline that would go great over skinny jeans.

Printed Exaggerated Hi/Low Hem Tank, $32, Urban Outfitters

If it's still a little chilly where you are, this cardigan by Pencey has an on-trend asymmetrical hem and is great for layering over just about anything.

Pencey Poverty Wrap Cardigan, $379, shopbop

For evening, Shopbop has a few different options. First, Black Halo's on-trend take on the LBD.

Black Halo Split Shoulder Mini Dress, $345, shopbop

There's also a great Grecian-style number by LaROK,

LaROK Layered Borderline Mini Dress, $248, shopbop

and my personal favorite, a draped jersey one-shoulder dress by Robert Rodriguez.

Robert Rodriguez Draped Asymmetrical Dress, $374, shopbop

Swim wear isn't even immune to the one-shoulder trend.

Zimmermann Honey Rider Tarzan Bikini, $220, shopbop

Now, my advice to you is to pick one or two of these items and work them in as staples for everyday. The printed tops can easily be worn under a slick blazer to tone them down and at the same time add just a pop of color to your office wardrobe.

Since this post was a long one, you might not hear from me for a couple days. I want to see a lot of comments on here when i get back!

Fashion Tidbits: Round 2!

Here are just a few little things I've stumbled upon in my travels here in the great, wide world of the Internet, that I thought I would pass on to my loyal (at least I hope you are) readers!!

1) So, I've been out of high school for a while, but for some reason I still love looking at formal dresses. So if you have high-school-aged girls, or are one yourself, I wanted to direct you to GoJane.com. They have alot of great new styles for prom (if you're doing the early shopping thing) and at great prices! And it beats rifling through department store racks at the last second trying to find something that twelve of your other classmates aren't already wearing. (Sound like a flashback? haha.)

2) Something I noticed while Christmas shopping this year: Ed Hardy is now at the Buckle! Now, being as I am a part (however small) of the tattoo culture in this country, I love it when designs like this start to become more widely accepted as everyday apparel. Now, I would argue that the prices of the particular pieces are a little steep for what they are, and I personally haven't had the best luck with anything from the Buckle that isn't jeans, but you may have better luck with the selection of Ed Hardy at Dillard's as well. I think I may have even seen Ed Hardy baby apparel there! How cute! (Can't you tell my kid's going to be one of those with crazy colored hair and mohawks and stuff? haha.)

3) Now, I'm not saying the election of the first Black President isn't a big deal, but jeans?!? Denimology covers the label Red Monkey Company and their new jeans design for President-Elect Obama. As far as I can tell, they don't have a ladies line, but I think overall their designs are pretty snazzy.

Until next time!!

Hot Item of the Season!

Hey Ladies! (and Gentlemen, we don't discriminate here. haha.)

As you may or may not know, I'm spending my winter perusing Maternity fashions, because I honestly don't want to resort to lounging around for the next three months in sweatpants (i know, gasp!). And I just found the cutest dress on SALE at tobi.com (the link should be updated on my little sidebar over there.) and there's just enough time left in winter to get some good wear out of it! And it won't just look good on my steadily ballooning frame. I honestly think it's the perfect piece to use as a base for a simple, cute outfit this winter!

Left on Houston Landmark Sweater Dress, $125, Tobi

And honestly, can you believe its already time for Resort season? I'll be posting my picks for this summer's hot swimwear here soon! (And if anyone can give me some tips on getting my figure back for swimsuit season I would greatly appreciate it! haha.)

The Search for the Perfect Summer Dress!!

It's that time again, ladies! Summer's about to hit, and every fashionista is in the throes of a wardrobe re-vamp. What a better place to start than with the perfect summer dress? Whether your style is flirty, swingy, short, long, printed, striped, or strapless, all the best brands are introducing fresh new picks for the season. Below are just a few examples from my favorite sites:

Ella Moss Yasemin Strapless Maxi Dress, $191, Shopbop

Light, bright, and strapless! Perfect as a coverup or for a casual outdoor lunch.

Karen Zambos Vintage Couture St. Barts Dress, $175 (On Sale!!), Shopbop

This one just SCREAMS yacht party, doesn't it? (Or maybe just some shopping in the Art District with the girls)

Mara Hoffman Print Sleeveless Draped Dress, $352, shopbop

Just the right length, with great visual interest in both the shape and print. I could see myself out clubbing in this!

And for more modest price ranges...

Three-Tone Silk Dress, $40, Forever21

Luxurious silk-chiffon dip dyed and banded to create a bit darker take on the sundress- but still just as fun!

Lux Braidstrap Print Dress, $58, Urban Outfitters

A bit more casual, with an interesting pattern...perfect with a pair of ballet flats or this summer's "it" shoe- the gladiator!!

Tuck Jersey Dress, $58, Urban Outfitters

Another multi-functional number: by day, a coverup; by night, club attire! Cut in a super-flirty length and style. Not to mention an eye-catching color! Rock on!!

Just think - I found all of these wonderful pieces (and so many more that it would take days to post them all) in just about an hour or so of surfing. If you're still searching, as I am, for that perfect summer dress, please share your amazing finds with me as well!

Looking forward to Spring?

Okay, everyone, thanks for being patient with me, but I'm finally going to be back doing regular posts, especially now that my favorite season is finally here!

That's right, I absolutely LOVE fall fashion. But after seeing all of these great Spring runway shows, many of us fall-lovers now have a bit of spring fever. But, don't dispair. You can still go out and buy that cute spring dress AND not have to stuff it in the back of your closet until the warmer weather hits.

How? Simple. Just add a few key fall staples, such as an edgy, cropped jacket, tights (you should probably go with wool or something warm if you're not blessed with 60-70 degree winters), and substantial heels (think thick pumps or chunky wood platforms, not sandals) and you have a fresh, insta-chic fall ensemble.

Confused? Take a look at these examples:

Take a cute, printed sundress like this one from Karen Zambos Vintage Couture.

Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Short Satin Dress, $430, shopbop

Add an edgy, cropped leather jacket, tights (keep 'em neutral), and substantial Marc by Marc Jacobs pumps.

adampluseve Cropped Leather Peacoat, $795, shopbop

Marc by Marc Jacobs Shoes Suede Cap Toe Mary Jane Pump, $450, shopbop

Add some color to all of these grays and blacks with a statement tote in radiant red.

Foley + Corinna Handbags Glazed Jet Setter Jr Tote, $490, shopbop

Or, take this more cost-effective example, with the color emphasis on this pretty emerald green dress from Forever 21.

Sleeveless Satin Dress, $22.80, Forever 21

Add a white jacket with a cropped, swingy shape to take this dress from day to night.

Lux Audrey Jacket, $140, Urban Outfitters

Neutral tights and these precious white pumps pull this outfit together, along with a neutral patchwork bag.

Swear Nancy Heel, $60, Urban Outfitters

Parquet Buckle Bag, $58, Urban Outfitters

Note: both of these outfits would work with a pair of gray wool tights. Or, for a more monochromatic effect, pair #2 with white opaque tights.

With each outfit, I tried to add that pop of color that wakes you up on a dreary fall day, and I think that these are not only fashionable, but easy to wear. And when spring finally comes along, all you have to do is shed the tights and jacket and hit the town!

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).

Oh, to be rich...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! Today, I'm going to try something new for my blog, as a little special treat to you. Something I've never done before. Ready? Here goes.

Over the years, I've gradually fallen more and more in love with Diane Von Furstenburg. However, her most recent collection on shopbop has completely taken my breath away.
That is, until I remembered the price tags.

Diane Von Furstenburg Renny Wrap Dress, $325, Shopbop

The price of beauty happens to be far too high for the average college student [such as myself]. But if I actually had $300-$400 to spend on a dress, I would definitely snatch up one of Diane's.

So, I decided to make it my mission to find equally [or almost-equally] stunning pieces that create the same effect without breaking my already severely stretched wallet.

Impossible? Let's hope not.

After searching far and wide on the good ol' internet, I came to this acceptable conclusion:

Obviously, Diane Von Furstenburg's innovative designs are impossible to duplicate, BUT there are inexpensive alternatives to achieve the same styling effect.

So, I've taken two of DVF's magnificent creations and their [for lack of a better word - cheaper] counterparts, comparing them side-by-side and offering you tips along the way to make your clothes look high-end, when in reality, they're far from it.

First up: The Classic DVF Wrap Dress, modernized for this spring season with a bit shorter skirt.

As you can see, these pieces are quite similar. Both have the half sleeves; similar structure, length, and V-neck; and an eye-catching print. However, the Diane Von Furstenburg dress is an outfit in itself. The latter will need just a bit of updating. Since the print is a bit more drab than the DVF number, I would suggest dressing it up a bit with a large medallion necklace. Add a nice pair of pumps and you're good to go!

Diane Von Furstenburg Jeanne Wrap Dress, $325, Shopbop; and GoJane Lainey Dress, $38.99, GoJane.com

Next is something fairly new from Diane, a sweaterdress, presumably a product of her fall collection, compared to a piece from Urban Outfitters, the epitome of chic for teens and twenty-somethings.

This is one of my favorite looks because of its simplicity and functionality. Both dresses can easily be paired with leggings or tights and boots for a cozy winter look.

Now for the comparison. Both pieces have a similar structure, as well as a large knit pattern and unique collar. The DVF dress is more visually interesting overall, due to the button details and hood. However, the less expensive competitor has long sleeves, which proves to be more functional.

Diane von Furstenburg Kody Cable Knit Sweater Dress, $415, Shopbop; and Free People Funnel Neck Sweater Tunic, sale price $49.99, Urban Outfitters

Hopefully this leads some of you more monetary-conscious fashionistas in the right direction to find unique, stylish pieces for spring and fall that won't damage your budget.

Designer Spotlight: Karen Zambos Vintage Couture

Let's face it, what fashionista doesn't absolutely adore vintage? Well, I do, but when I stumbled upon Karen Zambos Vintage Couture my mouth dropped. She has managed to craft stunning pieces combining both vintage style and the hottest new trends. The result? Comfortable, versatile pieces that are worth the price tag and then some. The following pieces are this year's new additions to her line, as she has recently started expanding her repertoire to include dresses.

One element that ties all of her pieces together is the recurrence of light, loose, drapey fabric.

This definitely adds to the comfort level, and it also means that the pieces are low-maintainance and will probably last as long as you're willing to wear them.

Her must-see designs are definitely the minidresses. Eye-catching, versatile, colorful, what more could you want?

My two favorites:

Nicole Dress, $319, shopbop

Tie Tank Mini Dress, $385, shopbop

The price tag may seem a little much for the penny-pinchers out there, but I assure you that these pieces are well worth it.