Thursday, July 10, 2008

Polyvore is my new addiction

Unless they're teenagers at prom, couples dressed alike make me gag. I like the concept of a coordinate, fashionable twosome, but usually couples end up looking costume-y and intimidating. If I saw a guy and girl walking hand and hand with these outfits though, I'd definitely have to smile. Perfect for tango-ing in the aisles of Barnes & Noble.

His & Hers
(If you've never tried Polyvore, it's a fantastic little site where you can make collages online of your favorite fashions. I'd love to hold a Polyvore competition sometime soon...add me as a contact on Polyvore if you'd like. More sets of mine to come!)

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Things I Love Thursday #1


It's not quite Thursday where I live, but it is somewhere in the world! Enjoy the earliness. Here are my favorite things for the week.

Benefit's PosieTint

I walked into the fabulous makeup boutique Benefit yesterday. It was 6:30pm and they were already closed, but let me in the store anyway! I only needed foundation, but when the woman who was helping me put a little PosieTint on my cheeks and lips, I instantly fell into lust. PosieTint is like the better known BeneTint...a stain giving you a natural glow that doesn't wear off like powders or liquids. I've never been one for much blush, but PosieTint gives you that sexy flush like you just finished some frenzied snogging.

Chicago's Ravinia
I checked out this park for a concert a few weeks ago. I went by myself but ended up meeting some fun people. The area is gorgeous, with plenty of trees and sculptures, plus an upscale food court. It's not actually in Chicago, but pretty far north. For once it was nice to get away from the city, especially after the mayhem that was the B.B. King concert at the Chicago Blues Festival. If you go to Ravinia, be sure to bring a picnic...there is a huge lawn area and people get really fancy, with tables and candles and bottles of wine. There are fantastic concerts pretty much every night of the summer!


Marc by Marc Jacobs Boots
Aren't they fun? I've been very into high, high heels lately- maybe it's because I'm 5'4". These are not practical for my wardrobe, but who knows...any ideas of what you think would be good to wear with them?


Fashion for the flat-chested

I was never that into dolls as a kid, though I did possess a fair amount of Barbies. I always assumed that I would one day, through some wild, mysterious miracle known as 'puberty' grow into someone exactly like Barbie. I already had the blue eyes and straight blonde hair, all I needed was the curves.

Well, the miracle of puberty happened, but the breasts didn't. And while some people would have been disappointed, I'm pleased in the end. Playing sports is easier and FASHION is easier.

While in some occasions padded bras are worth the while, mostly I'm a fan of flaunting your natural shape. Take a look at our BFF, Nat, above. The low cut looks elegant, rather than trashy, because of her bod.

When you want to enhance your shape, gathered tops and empire waists will do the trick. Try this super-cute dress from Newport-News...currently only $29!

Long necklaces also look better on small busts because they sit better. And flat-chested gals also tend to have cuter bras to pick from, because they can be more style than substance! The Sasha Leopard & Lace Plunge Bra by Aerie, below, comes in size AA. (And don't fret, those of you who are built like Barbie...it's in size D too!) Aerie is great for small bras in general, because while its lingerie seems aimed for the young teenage set, the shapes and colors are basic and mature enough for most anyone. And compared to say, Agent Provocateur, they're a steal. Looks like we're on a cheap & chic kick in this post!

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Top Ten: Saks Fifth Avenue


The e-mails from Saks Fifth Avenue are definitely not spam, but inspirational little fliers leading you to great designer stuff. They helped me find all of this...so sign up!
Here are my favorite things from everyone's favorite department store- fall collection and flirty summer pieces you can wear now. As much as I would like to rave about Yves Saint Laurent's collection, I've kept everything under $300. My fashion philosophy? It doesn't matter what the brand is or how much you pay, as long as the materials are of a good quality, the fit is good and you love it.


1) Camellia Python Pumps- Kate Spade ($298)
(see photo at top)
Animal print, when done right, is a great, funky neutral.
2) Tiered & Smocked Tube Dress- Juicy Couture ($248)
Casual, but kinda elegant. This color will look fantastic with any skin tone.
3) Ladies Sport Watch- Michael Kors ($225)
Mr. Kors is the master of mixing sporty and classically refined. This watch will go with absolutely everything. I love that it's a bit masculine.
4) Caz Merino Wool Cardigan- Tory Burch ($250)
Classic, but the stripe trim keeps it interesting and lengthens the line of your body.
5) Bell Bottom Jeans- 7 For All Mankind ($169)
After months of not-always-flattering skinny jeans, bell-bottoms are in! Who doesn't love 7 For All Mankind? The dark wash is always slimming.
6) Hooded Anorak- Eileen Fisher, Salon Z ($148.80 on sale)
Here's your sexy and plus-sized item of the week. It's environmentally- and travel-friendly too, made of recycled polyester and folding into its own zip pouch. Comes in non-plus sizes too!
7) Pelego Jersey Wrap Dress- Diane von Furstenburg ($238.80 on sale)
Everyone's doing the jersey wrap dress!The gorgeous orange and brown colors could easily make this dress work for fall, especially if you live in a warmer climate (unlike me in Chicago). I'm not always the biggest fan of tie-dye, but this dress is more earthy/global tie-dye than over-the-top, dyed-at-elementary-school-summer-camp tie dye.
8) Mod Stripe Knit Dress- L.A.M.B. ($285)
The look of a tank and skirt in one awesomely nautical dress. Wearing with a white preppy cable cardigan as it's gets chillier would make this look very "Gossip Girl". Possibly my favorite item on the list.
9) Safari Shirtdress- D.K.N.Y. ($147 on sale)
Shirtdresses are always subtly sexy and flattering. I'm a fan of the brown, mixed with bright shoes- maybe some open-toe wedges while it's still warm. Pop the collar like the model for a bit of mystery.
10) Raven Colorblock Dress- Ella Moss ($155)
(see photo below)
Empire waist dresses usually drive me crazy because my abs are the only part of my body I like, but it looks like the shape is a trend that's here to stay. And this dress is quite sexy! I love the very pale models wearing Ella Moss on the Saks website.

How to be creative

If you’re a writer, you might spend time analyzing Sexton or Dostoevsky or Hemingway to find new angles to your craft. Painters may study Monet or Picasso or Dali. Nothing wrong with that, but the best way to be inspired is to utilize your life experiences and passions.

The title of this article is somewhat deceptive, because there are no rules on how to be creative. This is not an instruction manual, but a starting point.

Tip #1: My favorite way to be inspired is with a camera. I like nondigital cameras because they prevent you from censoring yourself- you can’t quickly delete something because you don’t like it; you are stuck with what you’ve got. Spend a day wandering through your town and taking pictures of whatever pleases your eye- whether it is nature, people or man-made objects. After developing your photos, take a look at common elements to find your voice. If you’re not much of a visual person, I love recorders that attach to iPods. You can do the same thing- look around for interesting sounds.

The five people every artist should know

1) The Wild One

This is someone who will push you to the limit. They believe that you have amazing potential and won’t let you waste it. They’ll try to convince you to audition for Broadway or travel to India so you can write better poetry. You can’t take everything they say literally, but let them inspire you to do things outside of your comfort zone.

2) The Ideal

This is someone who encompasses everything you want to be, creatively speaking. In terms of blogging, for me this is Gala Darling- she’s great at balancing being a compassionate advice giver with being a crazy, wild fashionista. She writes about life as a whole, but never seems too broad because she has such a distinct outlook.

3) The Honest One

This is someone who is incapable of giving you B.S. If your latest poem is downright bad, they’ll let you know. Ideally this is someone who is knowledgeable about your art medium and presents any criticism in a constructive, but direct, way.

4) The Foil

This is someone who holds opposing views to your own. If you like being a minimalist fashionista (yes, fashion is art!), maybe you subscribe to a magazine that has tons of overly glamorous models. The point is to challenge why you hold your artistic views and inspire you to sometimes head in directions that go a bit against your instinct.

5) The Unconditional Friend

Your poems aren’t selling or you’ve been injured and can’t dance for a few weeks. Who’s going to be there for you with the hugs and quart of ice cream? Your closest friend, one who doesn’t value you based on your successes, but on who you are. (Cheesy, yes. But get over it.)