The Perfect Black Dress

A well known fashion fact is that a black dress is a staple for every woman's wardrobe. So as I appraised my closet the other day, I saw that yes, technically I have a black dress; but it's definitely doesn't fit the role of the perfect black dress fashion experts often refer to. Having a black dress and having the black dress are two very different things.
I certainly don't see anything wrong with having multiple black dresses, but what it ultimately comes down to is have the black dress. The perfect black dress distinguishes itself by its ability to work for a wide variety of occasions, and maintains a sophistication and elegance unlike any other dress out there.

Here's a quick summary of what I think the perfect black dress should do:

The perfect black dress can made up to be fancy for a wedding, but also be made more subtle and subdued for a funeral.

It should have the potential to work for both a professional or work scene, as well as can be played up for a dinner party or classy social event.

• What else have you found that makes a black dress the perfect black dress? Any favorites? 

P.S. Looking up celebrity styles as well as blogs devoted to exploring perfect black dress options can be helpful in your style search.

Tights- Show a Little Leg

We're not talking about the hosiery your grandmother used to wear. Not at all. Today we can find a huge variety or colors, patterns and textures for ladies tights. There is plenty of room to play around here and you can easily adapt your statement to be either bold or subtle- So enjoy the freedom and experiment a little. Fishnets are not just for hookers nor are floral prints and stripes just for little girls. By adding a style of tights with more personality, you are able to both balance your outfit as well as give it more dimension. Basically, mix messages and play up the contrast between your tights and the rest of your outfit.
 

The new-and-improved vision for tights: all the benefits of new fashion and style, while retaining plenty of practical purposes.
Here are just a few practical pros for wearing tights:

• Extra layer from the cold. Less so if the style of tight you are wearing has a more of what we'll call negative space; but it's an added layer nonetheless.
• Not everyone has tan legs year round, so your tights can work a lot like a nice even tan and even things out. 
• They can hide unsightly bruises or scratches etc. Even a more tightly woven fishnet can be enough to dispel the appearance of a bruise on your knee so that nobody will notice it. You can still wear a skirt (or perhaps a coordinating pair of shorts) if floor moves in your dance class keep giving you bruises- hooray!

In the last blog post I mentioned that the scarf is an accessory meant to be collected. The same most definitely goes for tights. Too many fun varieties and options to allow yourself to pass them up any longer.  Now wearing tights can be a much different experience from when you were a little girl and mom was trying to force them on you for Sunday church.

Heart the Scarf!

I am sooo excited for fall and all of the accompanying festivities and holidays! It is such a wonderful time of year. The leaves are beginning to turn and the colors are breath taking! Though temperatures haven't really dropped much where I'm living, we're beginning to feel the cool, crisp air in the mornings. There are so many fun fall activities to look forward to and I don't know if I can handle waiting much longer! Luckily, we can begin to incorporate favorite fall fashion pieces now, even if it's still too early for carving pumpkins.

With the increased popularity of scarves you can find some that are fitted for any season; but despite how light-weight they can be, I have a hard time adding the extra layer in the heat of summer. Now though, I feel I have waited long enough and can justify including a scarf with my outfit. Scarves are the perfect accent, and the options are limitless. They come in all different colors, patterns, textures, styles... is there anyone out there who has yet to realize that the scarf is an absolute necessity for every woman's wardrobe? I feel certain that I am preaching to the choir here. So I'll just continue on under the assumption that you're already a believer, ready to embrace wearing scarves as we head into fall, and that I don't need to try and convince you further.
The scarf is an accessory meant to be collected- seeing the variety in your own closet is oh so satisfying. Let's begin preparing for fall fun with a beautiful scarf or two, and by the time you're jumping into a pile of leaves, drinking hot cider, or carving pumpkins you'll be all ready and picture perfect!

You can find them everywhere, and I always start by checking out my favorite stores. But I would like to highlight one place that is probably not your typical stop to shop for clothing: World Market. http://www.worldmarket.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4315690 
I always love looking at their scarves, and they have great prices. Enjoy!

London Fashion Week!

London Fashion Week = Amazing. Sadly I wasn't at either NYFW or LFW personally, but so far I think London's is my favorite of the two. My recommendation is to search online (hit up twitter etc.) so you can soak in more from this incredible event. It's a total jack-pot for fashion ideas.
For starters, at least take the time to enjoy some of this quick video from Jasper Garvida SS2011.

I can't even begin to "cover" the event, so I decided to pick out one particular idea from London Fashion Week for this post.

 Here's my thought: make it a sequin skirt.

Sequins. Yes...we can do it too. Bold sparkle with a bold statement. But certainly something we can work into our outfits off the runway.
By choosing a skirt for your sequin piece, you can then balance the sparkle with a more neutral style top. It's really a perfect way to feel all done up for a special event, a dinner party, dancing or simply a fun night out. It really is a power skirt. You can feel sexy and confident with your fun fashion statement, but don't need to worry about having gone over the top with this one. The sequin skirt epitomizes the "Goldilocks"  balance- not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

P.S. Heads up for Milan Fashion Week going on now! Feel free to share anything you've really liked from any on the magnificent fashion weeks! Enjoy!

Don't forget your Hat!

I've been looking forward to this post ever since I first began planning for my fashion blog! For me, it represents a revolutionary discovery because I used to only wear baseball cap when feeling "sporty" or a beanie when skiing.
In the past I would merely admire a cute hat, but wouldn't go through with actually buying it. I figured it would up collecting dust in my closet given my track record. This is definitely no longer the case. It started off with finding- and actually buying- a couple of really amazing hats while on vacation. I bought them "just for fun" but now after experiencing the many, many practical benefits, I consider them a staple for every woman's wardrobe.

The big features vary based on the style of the hat, but here are some tips and tricks for finding that perfect hat:

• I know this goes without saying, but I'll just include it anyway, pick a hat with some serious style. It's got to be fun! While you want one that is suited to your individual style, don't be afraid to go for something different and push yourselves here a bit. You can do it, trust me. :) The hat has a way of making a bold statement unlike any other accessory. 
• Now this of course depends on the type of hat, but I try and get mine just big enough so that they aren't too snug to my head. I don't want hat hair, and I want to wear a hat that gives me the option to take it off later if I would like.
• Next, if you bought a hat with a little breathing room, you can tuck those lovely, loose curls up under the hat in order to save your hair from getting totally wind blown. You did your hair for a reason, and there's no sense letting it go to waste. So feel free to bike down that hill nice and fast, go ahead and keep the convertible top down, and there's no longer a need to fret if it get's windy while walking around.
• You don't always need the umbrella. As long as you won't be experiencing extended periods of torrential rain, your hat can be the perfect protection from rainfall. Easy on and easy off- once again the hair is saved. Just the other day I was in a hurry to leave my apartment for class and it began to rain. My only means of transportation was biking down the long hill to campus. Choosing the umbrella under these circumstances would have been totally ridiculous- just picture it! And a hood would have just blown right off. I was extra grateful for my hat that day. 
• Your hat can easily work for you on the flip side of the hair issue. Rather than protecting the hair you just finished doing, it can hide the hair you didn't feel like doing. Just pin and tie it up loosely under your hat- maybe style a few strands around your face and voila! You leave the house looking oh so stylish, and it's thanks to your hat and not your hair. 

I don't know about you, but I've been converted. Wearing a hat makes so much sense to me now! For whatever reason I spent my life never wearing a hat more often than once in a blue moon- no matter how stylish of a hat I came across. I had to experience the practical side to realize I am totally in love with wearing pretty hats. I'm now slowly building my collection.
I bought one of my favorite hats in a Hat Shop in Portland called "Goorin Bros." LOVED their little store! Check out: http://www.goorin.com        
Luckily you can shop online, because they only have shop(s) in: Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver.
Don't be shy...share with the class...what's your favorite style of hat? :)

Avoid the Pain of High-Heels!

Personally, I love heels, but I have a hard time getting myself to wear them very often because I really don't want to deal with the discomfort. These "Rollasole" flats are pretty cute, but really their main attraction is that they have such a practical purpose! I first saw these at a Walgreens actually, and have since seen more advertising for them. They're designed to be a very compact and portable shoe that you can carry with your and then slip on whenever your high-heels are no longer needed.
We've all experienced the pain of having to wear heels too long or walk too far in them, and I think this product is such a great idea! I'm all about disproving the old phrase that "beauty is pain," and I think these "Rollasoles" are just one more way to do this.  Carrying these very compact shoes around in a purse would be no problem at all! I'm really excited to give them a try.

In order for them to be super compact, they are definitely pretty thin and I'm betting they would wear out quickly if you wear them walking outside much. Then again, it may be totally worth it since they don't cost very much anyway. With a shoe like this, I just want to find the cheapest option, so I'm working on getting price comparisons. While searching on Amazon.com I found that "Rollasole" is not the only brand but there's also "Footzyrolls" too, and there is at least a small variety of color options as well. (I found the Black pair, pictured at the top, on Amazon for only $9.99 to give you an idea.)
Feel free to share what you know about the shoe, where they are cheapest, or even ideas for making them cuter!

A Headband for Every Occassion!

Today I'd like to highlight this timeless accessory- the headband! 

As far as its function, we all know it is used to keep hair out of your face. But it's also very handy to use on either a bad hair day, or when you simply don't have the time to put as much effort into your hair. Whatever practical purpose you have in mind, let's not forget that the headband (if done right) can be a stunning accent and finishing touch. It can be used to bring some flare to a more plain outfit or polish an already elegant look. With so many styles and options the headband can do more work for you now than ever before!

Personally, I am seriously lacking in the headband department, and I've seen too many cute headbands lately to pass them up any longer. It feels like just the sort of thing my outfits have been missing! On top of what they can do for me in terms of accent and style, I'm definitely excited about the possibility of saving a few minutes on my hair in the mornings but still coming out with a finished look.

I started my shopping by looking at photos of how different celebrities have been wearing them, and then then began looking around at some of my favorite stores to see what they have to offer. However, more and more crafty, artistic women are making their own headbands and opening up a whole world of options! I've already found some really fun pieces @ etsy.com--> http://www.etsy.com/category/accessories/hair

Feel free to share what you have found and where you found it, as well as any other tips on hairpiece accessories!

New York Fashion Week!

It would be wrong not to discuss NYFW, but seemingly impossible to really cover such an event!
Fashion introduced on the runways inevitably influences what we see on every level of fashion and style. If you don't believe me, watch "The Devil Wears Prada" again, and pay more attention to what Meryl Streep's character says to her costar Anne Hathaway on the subject ;)
I want to cover a couple of the trends I noted from NYFW. I'm especially interested in ways to translate the runway look into something perfect for the everyday. I tried to select photos that best represented the trends I'm talking about in this post. Also, in regards to the photos I used, a special thanks to "FaShiOnIsTaTIPs" for the excellent visual coverage of NYFW on their twitter account- a big help to the blog!
Trends to Take Home:

• The "Looks": A mixing of the "masculine" with the "feminine" was a common statement among designers regarding their work this past week. Ideas I'm anxious to incorporate based on this theme are perhaps:   combining a flowing floral print top with a more angularly cut jacket etc; also really like the the use of ruffles and similar feminine touches with the suit. Playing with the contrast can bring you to the perfect balance. It will keep you from looking too business-woman boring or too cutesy and girly. 
• The Colors: There were definitely a lot of darks, but these were often contrasted with pops of bold colors such as red, purple and yellow. However, the neutrals held a strong presence and should not be down-played (particularly with the military inspired style presented by several designers.) In addition, bold stripes were prominent. They often combined the bold color with a neutral or dark. 
• Accessories: Probably my favorite part to talk about was the frequent use of certain accents and accessories at NYFW.  Yellow-gold is back in full swing, gaining popularity- and why not? It gives such a nice shimmer and pop, while flattering any skin type. Depending on the style of the outfit, it can be either a bold or subtle statement! We must note the use of belts not through your pant loops. Worn around the waist, thin belts in particular accentuate your waistline. This belt technique is an excellent way to wear loose, ruffled or flowing tops and layers and keep yourself from either looking bulky or drowning in them.

Loved this year's Fall NYFW and there are so many options to work with!

Any favorites from the event? Suggestions?

Create your own look- inspired by the latest runway fashion event but functions in real world events!

Back to school!

The Fall semester has now begun! And why haul multiple bags around campus when there's one that can handle it all? Even if you're not a student, the same concerns apply for most working women. Here's a list of what I have been looking for in finding the perfect work/school bag:

1. My laptop. This is the most valuable thing I carry around with me, and it needs to be well protected and fit in my bag comfortably. 
2. There needs to be enough space for a couple of small binders and books. (If you're carrying much more than this each day, then you should seriously reevaluate your organization methods. I'd bet you're carrying around a lot of unnecessary weight.)
3. It needs to have plenty of little compartments, pockets and organizers for pens and personal items typically carried in a purse.
4. Last, but certainly not least, the look and design needs to fit my personal style like any other purse should. A bag or purse is a statement. So let's please avoid something that is strictly functional and totally blah.

The Dakine bag pictured is one that I found to fit these requirements. Big bags and purses are totally "in," and I love that this Dakine bag looks like just that and not another backpack or briefcase. Whether for school or work, something along these lines is a staple. Not only can it save you a lot of hassle by having everything you need in one convenient location; but if you do it right, it can be a splendid finishing touch. 

I just got a new laptop and bought a super cute Dakine case for it, but it just doesn't fit well in the messenger bag I've been using. So far as I've found the Dakine bag is best suited for my needs, but I want to be sure to shop around and see what other brands have to offer. 

I'd love to hear any other brand recommendations before I make my purchase! Plus, it would be great to hear about any other fun school (and work) items we could all benefit from! Thanks!