Words of Wisdom From Rachel Zoe

Rachel Zoe has fabulous catch phrases that have entered the hearts and minds of many many many people, but I came across an interview that I felt showed another side, a wise side, and I felt the need to share this link.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34042/the-rachel-zoe-project-unwanted-attention

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  I die.

New Year's Party Time

Now that Christmas is over, it is time to ring in the new year.  This means a long list of resolutions and dresses for midnight on January 1st.  I have never done the sparkly, big party New Years, but that does not mean my outfit has to sacrifice.  Life is a runway and who says I can't wear a sparkle number to a low key party?  I have compiled some dresses from Net-a-Porter that I have my heart set on.  If only I had the money!

The Haute Hippe Sequined Silk Dress $695 and the Tibi One Shoulder Sequined Silk Dress $935.  The Haute Hippie is one of my favorite dresses in this round-up.  I am partial to the loose fitting, subdued dress.  I like this because it is relaxing and the navy color makes the sparkles more of something in the background instead of in your face.  The Tibi dress incorporates two of my favorite fashion aspects.  I am loving the one shoulder.  As my idol Rachel Zoe says, the one shoulder is having a major moment.  I am also loving the black sequins.  They are dark enough to be categorized as black, but big enough to make a statement. 

 The Milly Metallic Lace Shift Dress at $400 and the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Sequin-embellished Crocheted Dress at $825 are nice examples of a more subdued New Years ensembles.  I enjoy the Milly because it is classy and gold.  Most lean towards the silver sparkles, but gold is a metallic too and worthy as a New Years Dress option.  The Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti combines New Years with cocktail.  Stripes don't work on everyone because sometimes the horizontal stripe is unflattering, but that aside I really love the alternating silver and black stripes.  Add a black tuxedo blazer and you are good to go for the night!

The Rebecca Taylor Strapless Silk Bustier Dress at $495 and the Alice + Olivia Maggie Sequined Georgette Dress are nice because they have a hint of sparkle.  Some do not like to go all out for the New Year, but still want that wow-factor sparkle.  The Rebecca Taylor is a nice option because whether you have a waste or not, this dress will accentuate it.  And I am always a fan of a fuller, girly skirt.  I have been a long time devotee to Alive + Olivia and I absolutely love this dress.  It has the hint of sparkle on top, but a draped skirt on the bottom.  Love.

So writing this post has made me even more excited for the big night.  Excited enough to online shop a little more? Oh yes.  Happy Early New Year Everyone!     

I'm Feelin' Boho

Despite the freezing weather that is invading the area, I am feeling the Boho flowy dress vibe tonight.

I decided to prowl the Bohemian section of shopbop.com tonight and channel my inner hippie.  First is the Joie Cece Paisley Dress at $149.00 (50% off :) ).  I love this dress for multiple reasons.  I am loving the paisley pattern, but because it is mixed with darker shades of purples the paisley is not taking over the whole dress.  I am not a fan of the multicolor paisley because I find it too novelty-esk, but a more subdued paisley appeals to me.  The combination of a silk shell and cotton lining make this dress super flowy and 100% comfortable.  Next is the Tibi Byzantine Embroidery Dress at $483.00 (30% off).  Bohemian does not just have to be silk, structure-less dresses.  This Tibi dress, despite it's high price tag, is bohemian but structured.  It's a form of jersey material so the comfort factor is taken care of.  I am also loving the black/ pale pink combination.   I can just picture the woman sporting this dress on a night out in NYC.  Maybe a holiday party?

My hippie side has been satisfied :)

Just Some People I am In Love With

Or should I say their outfits?  Finals are over and my soul has been set free.  Here are some chikas that are rockin' it.  More to come!

Random Free People

In the spirit of the Christmas season and my favorite brand, I have put together some of my Free People wishes.

First is the Boho Angel Blanket.  Yes I do realize the magnitude of the price, but I am still a little kid when it comes to my presents.  Christmas is not the time to ask for socks and necessities.  It's a time to splurge and get random and expensive blankets like the one above.  I am just picturing it at the edge of my bed folded over my quilted comforter.  The ivory color will go with any chair, bedding set, or family room couch.  The fridge and beadwork give it just enough design, but it is still available to wrap around yourself and snuggle (favorite activity).  The next item on my list is the Oh Loverboy Dress.  I love this dress for many reasons.  First, for those with green eyes it's the perfect shade of green to bring out the green in your eyes.  Next I love the hint of black trim because it can be work with flats in the springtime or with black tights and pumps in the fall and winter.  I absolutely love this dress and very much hope it's under the tree when I come home from school fresh out of finals! (Love you mom ;) ).

The next two items are ones that could actually go together.  The first is the Solid Ruffled Tap Short.  Personally, I have had a pair of black dress shorts on my list for awhile.  They can be worn with a classy white tank in the summer with simple flip flops or with tights and a smart blazer in the winter.  They are super light and comfortable and will feel like a skirt.  I have saved the best for last.  I am obsessed with the Velvet Crusher Peeptoe.  I am partial to the cherry, but all the colors are fantabulous.  I don't even know where to begin.  The glitter on the platform and heel provide a statement with every step and combined with the velvet on the base of the shoe, they are perfect for winter.  The dainty silk bow on the back just seals the deal.

So that is my Christmas list for now.  I am sure it will grow, but these are my loves as of now.  Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

Time to get back to blogging and what better way to do that than to share my new favorite TOMS.  For a little pop I love the Black Glitters.  I was a fan of the Silver and Gold Glitters, but the subtle gloss of the black would be a more subtle way to add some fun to a blah, winter outfit.  And the pattern on the inside of the shoe is adorable.  Another adorable plum option for fall/winter is the Plum Wool Cordones.  They are a touch thicker than the original TOMS.  Last, but absolutely not least are the Purple Flannel Women's Botas.  These are at the top of my Christmas list for a cluster of reasons.  I love the purple and grey combination of flannel.  They also have this shoe in black, but it almost looked too manly for my taste (despite my love for menswear inspired pieces).  More fun Christmas list items to come!  

Outfits of the Week

Back and here to stay.  This week was bananas, but time to get to some writing no?  So I've been playing around on the internet looking for outfit inspirations and I've come across some outfits that I am absolutely loving with pictures from of people.com.

The first two outfits I found were from one of my favorite celebs, Drew Barrymore.  It's hard for me to pinpoint an exact name for her style because just when I think she's adopted a style she switches it right up again.  I love this about her.  The first look I am loving is the grey purple combination.  Some may snob grey because it's "boring", but I love it because you can pair it with virtually anything to get a sleek neutral look.  The detail of the military shirt completes the outfit.  It makes the outfit as a whole more casual and fits in perfectly with the fact that military is having a major moment (Rachel Zoe love).  Onto the next.  Drew's shirt and pant combo is a slightly fancier ensemble, but using the same shoes.  Grey pumps are gorgous and go with anything.  The black trousers are perfect if you have a small waist compared to your hips.  It accentuates the smallest part of your body.  With the metallic pop of the shirt, this outfit makes me want to throw on some booties and stay out all night!

Here are some more fashion loves of mine.  I am in love with the color combination on J Alba's dress.  The gold and black is completely chic and combined with gladiator heels, need I say more?  My favorite part of the dress is the shoulder pads.  A pronounced shoulder always makes a girl look sharp.  From the sleek Jessica Alba to relaxed and boho Leighton Meester.  I am a ginormous fan of the oversized shirt.  Rarely do I sport the tight shirts so there is no need to explain how I feel about Ms. Meester's shirt.  Love.  I am into the boho top paired with the dress shorts on the bottom.  The juxtaposition of two work nicely together.  Now those moccasin booties are to die for.  They match the shorts and since they are so short they make her legs look oh so long.

A touch of fur, a pinch of feathers, a dash of leopard, and a whole lot of sequins

So school is in full swing and Theology is really starting to give me a bore.  Instead I'm opting for some online window shopping.  Alive and Olivia is one of my loves.  I got my dress for a sorority function from them and have been in love ever since.  It's the perfect mix of rock and roll and hippie chic and while I love the relaxed chic look, I need some glam rock thrown in there ever once in awhile.  I've put together a few lovely pieces that you can add to a neutral outfit for a little pop! affect.

The Fur Collar and the Francesca Feather Skirt are lovely ways to add a little dash of excitement to an outfit.  The fur collar fits in nicely with the plain cardigan.  The simple tone of the sweater balances out the boldness of the collar.  Now I semi-prefer this collar in black purely because I am in love with the color black, but the pink with grey detailing can be good if you are looking for a pop of color.  Onto the fur skirt.  I am in love with this piece.  Let's start with the color.  I am dying for the pink fading to black on the very ends.  All one color would be too boring.  Now let's address that this is a completely feathered skirt and with the playfulness of the feathers it's as if they were meant to be together.  I like the pairing of the vest, but I would also opt for a plain white tank.  I wouldn't necessarily order the white tank from Alive and Olivia though because white tanks are so easy to find cheaper.

Loving the Chrissy Faux Fur Jacket and the Luiza Embellished Jacket.  Even though it's still August, this brief cold spell and the idea of fall being a month away make me crave jackets.  A pop of animal print is such a big trend this year and I am loving the way the leopard is being used here.  It's not only adorable with the all black ensemble underneath, but it's also functional because it's a little heavier.  Perfect for the arrival of fall and beginning of winter!  The other jacket is slightly less practical, but no less amazing.  I am loving the Michael Jackson inspired silhouette and the cropped affect because I feel like it makes it more feminine by revealing a little hip.  The color combination of black and brown looks adorable open or closed.  I am a huge fan of mixing black and brown despite the fact that some say they completely clash.  I think combining neutral tones always gives you a subtle, sleek, and modern look.  Bottom line- I'm in love.  

Alexa Chung for Madewell???

Alexa Chung is a style icon and in my opinion always looks relaxed, but somehow perfectly put together.  If you tip to one side of her personal style you see a bit a prepster.  But lean towards the other side and you see a downtown chic girl.  Combined you get a complete personal style.  So needless to say I was more than ecstatic when I found out Alexa Chung did a line for Madewell.  I love Madewell because I feel like it is a more downtown version of J Crew and I love that hipster, but not too left leaning hipster look.  A preview of the collection can be seen at madewell.com.  The complete collection can be seen online on September 9 and in stores September 11.  I will definitely be updating this post when I get my eyes and hands on that collection. BANANAS.   

Bedding Loves

Since being back at school, I've taken notice to everyone's bedding.  I feel that what you decide to put on your bed says a lot about you as a person.  It's a fresh start and I love to see what image people choose to portray for their sleeping quarters so I've put together some of my favorite bedding choices.

The Wildfield Quilt and Arabis Duvet are both from Anthropologie.  I am partial to the first because it was my bedding of choice.  I wanted a quilt with a bohemian feel, but not a complete flashback to the '60s.  The quilt has a variety of patterns and colors so I paired it with more neutral, solid colored pillows.  I love that it can go with so many different colors, but also has a base color of blue.  The second option is heavier because it is a duvet, but still keeping to the quilt design.  The Arabis is less busy than the Wildfield, but still has a couple patterns throughout.  The overall color is tan and with a few accents of blue and yellow so you have many options for pillows and room decorations.

The Rosette Quilt and the Tuxedo Duvet are more of a romantic style.  The Rosette Quilt is shown in purple, but it comes in a variety of colors like navy, cream, and a light grey.  The deep purple tone and the gatherings give off a romantic vibe and is for someone going for sophistication.  I love the Tuxedo Duvet because it's so fluffy and it makes me want to turn up my AC and snuggle up.  This may not be the best option if you are going away to school with no air conditioning, but if you are getting it for your room at home or have the luxury of air conditioning then this is definitely an adorable, girly option.