Glee Style Profile: Emma

So, thanks to http://tightenyourbelt.blogspot.com/ (shout out!) I have discovered that my latest obsession aka Jayma Mays on Glee, wears outfits that are practically all made of J. Crew and Banana Republic items. This brings tears to my eyes... I knew it when I first saw her. Just check her look: colorful, feminine, and just all out classic. She totally has the right body type to work this look too, being a very slim woman........ sidenote though: Don't be fooled, curvy chicks rock the J. Crew too!

Check Jayma's Glee style and let me know what you think.

Adorable!

Recession or No Recession

Look... hard economic times or not, a girl's gotta keep her style game up. And I am so tired of reading articles about poor little rich girls that had to go from Chanel to Coach so they didn't run up daddy's credit card too high. They call themselves "Recessionistas" oftentimes, and I'm just not loving it. Regular people deal with this recession everyday in very tough, meaningful ways but it can even affect our self-confidence when our grooming practices have to change.

Let's be real here: There are smart ways to style and stupid ways to style. If you style the smart way, then there shouldn't be an issue with the current economic trends.


For one, shop early and shop the SALE dammit! For instance, right now J. Crew is having their Fall Sale. If you love J. Crew... like me... then freakin' buy that $9.99 bikini top now. Doesn't matter that you won't wear it for 6 months, what matters is that when swim season rolls around, you won't be dishing out $80 for a hot suit.

$9.99 Bandeau Bikini Top by J. Crew

Secondly, thrifting is really huge right now because people are selling their luxury items to make extra cash. I haven't necessarily dived into thrifting yet (it's hard to find a shop around my area), but I have it on good authority from Polaris at http://breakfastatchanels.blogspot.com/ that cheap chic is indeed the way to go in these hard times.

And thirdly, don't pay people to do things for you that you can do for yourself. For instance, if you are going to the nail salon every week or two, consider cutting back. Maybe you only go once a month, or maybe you get a mani and not a pedi. Or if you're like me: buy a mani/pedi kit and some great O.P.I. colours and have at it. I mean, haven't most of us been doing our nails in between appointments since our teens anyway? So freakin' save your money and pick up a couple discount bandeaus. lol!!!

The Rebound Dress

After wandering aimlessly through the mall with dramatic makeup, too-short shorts and a modesty-be damned attitude, I came home with nothing new and stunning for my photo shoot tomorrow. So, I've got to work with what I have. Tomorrow I will go into my closet and pull out my rebound dress (RD). The RD is a basic black number that has little going for it besides that I inexplicably love it. But tomorrow, gussied up with some new accessories and a ridiculous amount of attitude, it will become high fashion... I hope.

My goal is to come out of the shoot with pictures that look intense, but glamourous. Here's some of the accessories I got to go with the RD...

Bebe over-sized feather headband (mine is in blue-black)

Banana Republic Bow Earrings

Wish me luck on the shoot! I'll post pics in a couple weeks.

UPDATE: I saw some of my shots from today while they were still on camera and I'm excited to see the finished product! And p.s. Headbands are my new must-have for the fall/winter season.

Glee Style Profile: Rachel

If you haven't already, just start marking your calendar by when Glee comes on. I love this show and ever since it started, I've been absolutely freaked out about how they style their characters. Sometimes in a good way, and other times in a very bad bad way. So, let's begin with Rachel (played by Lea Michele) shall we? She is our resident diva, after all.

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel... please tell me why the show's designers make you look like you are destined to be a librarian with half a dozen cats as your only companions. Her outfits, I must say, are pretty... disappointing. I know she is supposed to play the "Glee loser" that has no style, nor I suppose, cares about style. But *sigh* nonetheless, because the potential for geek chic was there and they chose to go the other way.



Perfectly knee-length Catholic school skirts and tragically 5-th grade cardigans seem to be staples of her wardrobe. And if you follow Glee, I'm sure you will note that Rachel no longer wears ridiculously over-pink makeup (if there is such a thing...) like in the first couple episodes. I think the makeup artists realized they couldn't use the same color pallet for her and the stereotypically blonde Quinn.

I'm secretly holding out for an episode where Rachel doesn't make me want to throw a mumu over top of her outfit....

An All New High

Alexander McQueen pushes the bounds of "normal" again in his Spring 2010 line. The shoes on his models towered at 10-inches high and had some... interesting shapes and textures.

Starting with the oddest shoe shape of the show, I dare say this shoe reminds me of a lobster claw.... or a horse's hoof. I'm just hoping there isn't a matching set of gloves somewhere out there. That'd just be too much. SMH.

Here is another interesting shape, no doubt inspired by McQueens afinity for the supernatural. My only wonder is how the model's foot didn't fall off after she undoubtedly contracted mercury poisoning. I will give it McQueen, however, that he created a 15-lb shoe that actually stayed on with what looks like plastic straps. Good construction is good construction.

The third shape is a bit more acceptable, as I don't imagine it being a staple of an alien's Spring wardrobe. I actually find the heel contruction very interesting and, if this shoe wasn't 10inches high, I could actually see myself wearing it. But I heart my feet entirely too much for that type of torture.

Downsize

I don't know about you, but everytime I leave the house I need to bring two cell phones, my wallet, my credit card holder, makeup basics, kleenex, hand sanitizer, spare change, etc etc. Hence why I am naturally drawn to bags of epic proportions that can stand a chance of holding up against my space demands. Yet, there is a problem with naturally gravitating towards the bag that could hold a small child. When I go out at night, all of my bags are grossly oversized for the subtly sexy look I am trying to achieve with my outfit.

So I'm downsizing and looking for a 'clutch' clutch for my next night out. Here are a few I found that could work for varying styles... cop one of these or a similar one to streamline your look.

Now, what to do with my keys...

Prada Oversized Vintage Clutch

Anthropologie Watercolor Clutch

Rafe New York Laos 'Martina' Clutch w/ wooden frame

Mary Norton 'Roy Rogers Newman' Clutch

Michael Kors Weave Clutch

If you must wear black...

The latest trend out right now is wearing all or almost-all black outfits. First of all, I don't know why this is in style when so many beautiful things are coming down the runway in bursts of fabulous color. Secondly, it’s not even really winter yet, so what reason do people have to be dressing so drab? I am totally perplexed, but ya know what? It's totally your right to embrace a complete lack of color in your wardrobe... even if you aren't doing yourself any favors.

So, should you want to step away from the blah trend and step up to the fashion plate, then take one (or two) of these simple tips and attempt to salvage your Adams Family wardrobe.

1. Silver is a FAB-U-LOUS color to wear with black. It is understated and eternally chic so it can be layered or worn separately to accent a lack of bold color.

Banana Republic Ribbon Blouse

2. Damask is your friend! I know you don't want to look like your Great Aunt's doilies, but a top with a design or accent in black can really add POP to your outfit. The illusion is that your outfit selection is more thought out than may be the case.

Banana Republic Monogram Blouse

3. Shy away from the basic linen pant. A seasonal fabric like wool or corduroy can do loads for making basic black look like a little more. Also look for unusual shapes in pants or skirts. You can make up for a lack of color with great form.

Banana Republic Tiered Skirt

4. Fake it to make it. If you love dark colors, you can create a look that appears like basic black from afar, but on closer inspection reveals subtle color that will make you stand out... in a good way (This skirt is actually purple!)

Ralph Lauren Black Label Johanna Jacquard Skirt

5. Accessorize, for the love of Chanel! Jewelry in black is actually quite unexpected, so if you love noir, rock it on a wrist or your ears for a look that's totally nouveau riche.

CoCo Chanel (replica? gasp!) Cuff