More Tidbits.

This week I'm playing alot of catch-up with my mass collection of fashion blogs that I read [check out the list at left.] And Blogger has this great thing called "following" so I can check out all the latest updates all in one place, right here on my Blogger account! [And we all know I avoid shameless plugs like the plague, but this feature is the BEST and I had to let everyone know about it.]

Anyways, on with my favorite posts for the week!

1) Fabsugar's coverage of the Christian Lacroix Spring 2009 runway show. They always have the best pictures, and I love ALL of them, so I just decided to link to their blog directly instead of stealing! [Go me!]

2) Katie Holmes is the new face of Miu Miu! Interesting choice. Check out Fashion-Verbatim's coverage.

3) J'adore Couture makes a frank statement about the economy as well as gives us some great coverage of Dior Spring/Summer 2009 Haute Couture and Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2009 [Same thing, different name. Fashion people are so weird sometimes.]

4) I'm not the only one that was in LOVE with this Botkier clutch! Does that mean I've finally "made it" in the fashion blogosphere?

5) Even though the start of the Chinese New Year was three days ago, check out this cool special-edition Lush Emotibomb featured on Second City Style.

It's almost one in the morning, so I'm finished for the night, but expect another post later today!!

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.)

Blogger is letting me down...

Okay, well, apparently I can't upload pictures right now, so my awesome fall fashion post has to wait.

But I can bore you instead with a random idea.

One thing that I would like everyone's opinion on is a question that I have been pondering for quite some time, and I puzzle over it every fashion week without coming to a successful conclusion. So, the question is: Is it a DO or a DON'T to wear a designer's clothes from previous seasons to their fashion show?

Many celebs do this, as well as mere mortals who just so happen to be fashion-forward enough to blend in with the glitterati. However, the only positive aspects of this I see are, of course, the flattery factor (maybe if I show her how much I love her designs, she'll float me some free samples?), and the quirky convenience of a walking comparison. (Oh, I've heard of this designer before but I can't for the life of me remember what her last collection looked like?)

But my opinion, overall, is that this just looks tacky and generally embarrassing. Especially for those stars who conspicuously change outfits between shows just to make sure they are showing up in a particular designer's pieces.

However, maybe a good middle-of-the-road solution would be to wear several pieces, all from different designers, and attend all of their shows the same day? I'm not sure how well that would work schedule-wise, but it would save you alot of wardrobe changes!

Go ahead and sound off your opinion in the comments. I want to hear different spins on this and other possible solutions to not look completely dumb when attempting this extreme act of flattery.

PS: Temporary change to the layout. New colors, etc. It's only until I get the time to create some new graphics and other fun stuff, but I did notice that the bright colors of the other layout were hard to see on some people's screens, so if you have any suggestions regarding viewability, let me know.

The Hiatus: Part 2

Well, there's been a bit of a snag in getting my lease signed for my new apartment, so my computer is still not set up and i'm still not moved in. However, the good news is, i've found some great new furniture and I'm getting a kitten! [pictures to come later, he's so cute!]

So, one of these days, i'll start my regular postings again. Just wanted to do something quick and let you guys know that I'm not dead.

Sorry about the hiatus

Sorry, everyone, I haven't been up to my usual postings at all lately. The last couple weeks have been pretty crazy, between finals, car shopping, moving and getting a new job....wow. I don't even have time to unpack! But, I promise, posting will resume shortly, including the "featured sites" that I've neglected for the past few weeks (the next one will be at least twice as long, so be prepared). I also just got all my magazine subscriptions finished and I have a bunch of new tidbits to share. And, of course, all of the replies and emails I have recieved will be filtered and posted shortly. Just bear with me.

However, while you're waiting, check this out:

Ali G - Bruno Fashion Show (yay for satire)

Fashion Tidbits: My thoughts about everything from Shopping to Shoes

Honestly, I haven't had anything very interesting to write about lately, so I've decided to share with you my innermost fashion thoughts, and pose a couple of burning questions for your feedback.

1) Okay, so we've been hearing alot about color lately. Everything from colored jeans to 1960's-and-70's-inspired prints, to brightly colored shoes and accessories. But what about monochrome? Is it completely out this spring? I certainly hope not, because I've seen some people pull of some fabulous all-white and tan-and-white ensembles so far this spring.

So, what do you guys think? Is monochrome always in? Or does it need to take a backseat to bright colors and prints this season?

2) After several years of almost completely ignoring the UK's existance on the fashion horizon (I know, what a shame), I've stumbled upon the most wonderful web store: Office.

Simply put, this may be my one-stop shop for shoes online from now on. They have sooo many cute styles, my lack of a debit card balance was the only think keeping me from clicking "buy now."

Their vast selection of heels contains not only the cutest, trendiest styles, but many can be easily translated from work (I was going to make a pun on the word "Office" but decided against it) to evening. They even have last fall's oh-so-chic ankle boots that I couldn't seem to get my hands on because most stores discontinued them before winter was even over.

And, of course, for those of us who are currency challenged (AKA from the Midwestern United States), they have a handy link to a currency converter that changes amounts from pounds to dollars.

3) I've come across two very strange types of shoe lately, and they've puzzled me to the point where I don't know whether to like them or file them away in my brain alongside Jellies and Crocs.

The first one has been seen all across the fashion blogosphere since last fall.

Tretorn Ballena Lace-up Rubber Boots, $130, Shopbop

Wellingtons, galoshes, rainboots, whatever you want to call them, they're the ultimate in functional footwear - that is, if you're a fisherman. However, that didn't keep fashion's elite from adapting them to be paired with ultra-feminine dresses, jackets, leggings, you name it.

Now, I've never seen anyone actually wearing these outside of a fashion editorial, so please, if anyone can link me to a picture, or describe for me how these can be worn fashionably while not looking like you're about to throw on your hip weighters and catch some salmon or something, let me know.

The second, I actually saw in one of those ad banner things on myspace (fancy that). They remind me alot of Birkenstocks, and according to their website, they're the ultimate in warmth and comfort. Basically, it's a leather flip-flop with sheepskin covering the sole, and they are called Bonsai Sandals.

Bonsai Sheepskin Sandals Model 07 in Pink, $35, BonsaiSandals.com

These pink ones are actually cute, and I love how they coordinate the color of the sheepskin to the color of the sandal. Now, I understand why flip-flop enthusiasts would like a winter version of this footwear, but I'm wondering exactly how long they would last. I mean, they look sturdy enough, but I'm thinking that with that sheepskin being constantly mashed up and trampled by dirty, sweaty feet, they're going to need some kind of regular maintanance.

However, if these sandals seem perfect for you, by all means, hit up the website. They're available in Black, Brown, Blue, and Pink.

(As a sidenote, if anyone actually does buy them (or already has), let me know in a couple months how well they hold up. I have a couple friends who may get some use out of them.)