Anticipating Spring: Shoes

It's not even 2014, but as always, fashion is already ahead of us.  Today whilst catching up on the after Christmas sales I walked over to the women's shoe department at Nordstrom.  Bad idea!  There are so many shoes out now that would be great for spring.  Long after I left the mall, I couldn't stop thinking about a pair of Dolce Vita wedges.  The olive green color is one my favorites, it's just so chic and it goes great with cremes, browns, and blacks!  Also, I love a little height, and the wedge on this heel is pretty manageable for everyday wear.  

DV by Dolce Vita 'Cambria' Sandal

Holiday Gift Guide: Clothing & Acessories

Hello!  I'm coming at you with part 2 of my holiday gift guide series.  Today I'm featuring a few great clothing pieces as well as accessories.  I love that each piece listed below is extremely versatile and everything is under $100.

Muzo Mimesis Drops - $48

Mademoiselle Necklace - $42

Ashley Bow Ballet Flat - $98

Fur Give and Fur Get Tan Frock Coat - $90

BLANKNYC Faux Leather Jacket - $98

Holiday Gift Guide: Home Wares

Still looking for that perfect gift?  Over the next week I'll be compiling holiday gift guides of some of my favorite picks!  The theme today is home ware and everything that I've shared below is under $50.

C. Wonder Hammered Heart Bowl - $28

C. Wonder Ikat Tea for One Set - $38

Anthropologie Lapin Cloche - $38

Voluspa Large Glass Jar Candle, Bella Sucre - $28

Johnathan Adler Gold Carnaby Zebra Stacking Dish - $32

West Elm Pad Printed Mugs - $8 each

Model of the Moment: Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls is definitely having a moment....Elle magazine even dubbs her a Supermodel!  The Puerto Rican beauty seems to be featured in almost every runway show and magazine from the cover of Vogue to the runways of Victoria' Secret.  She is even in one of Beyonce's latest music videos.  She's definitely my top pick for model of the year.  Who do you think deserves the title model of the year?

The Color of 2014: Radiant Orchid

You'll probably be seeing a lot of Radiant Orchid in 2014.  The purpleish hue was just named color of the year by Pantone.  This year the color was Emerald and prior to that it was Tangerine Tango.  I'm honestly obsessed with Radiant Orchid, if you can't tell by my blog's theme, I love a nice light purple color.  I will definitely be wearing Radiant Orchid colored clothing...picture a silky blouse in this color or a cute skirt!  I think the color would also make a great lipstick shade.  It is also a shade that is appropriate for women of all ages and a color that transitions well from season to season. Do you like Radiant Orchid?  

The Return by Karl Lagerfeld

If you don't already know, I am a massive fan of fashion films or fashion documentaries.  On December 10, Chanel will be debuting The Return staring Geraldine Chaplin as Coco Chanel on their website.  I've seen many documentaries about Coco Chanel but she's so interesting and so influential that I always want to know more about her life.  Watch the trailer below!  Check out a list of other great Fashion Films here.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing my readers a happy and delicious Thanksgiving!  I am so thankful for you all :)

House Decor

Recently I've found myself spending a lot of time browsing home decor websites for inspiration.  My favorite website is Houzz.com.  There's not one style that I like per se...I enjoy a variety of different styles (see below).  I usually like a lot of white with a pop of color and definitely some sort of pattern like leopard or chevron.  I won't be moving for a while but when I do, I'll definitely have some idea of how I will furnish and decorate my next place!          

Transitional Living Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Martha O'Hara Interiors

I love how clean this look is.  The contrast of the black coffee table with the white mantle and couches is just so gorgeous!  The pattern on the carpet is rather unique and interesting too.  

Traditional Bedroom by Dc Metro Architects & Designers Mary Douglas Drysdale

The sunburst mirror is perfection!  The color scheme is a little bland but I am loving the leopard print chairs. 

Eclectic Bedroom by Beverly Hills Interior Designers & Decorators Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Again, I'm loving the contrast with black and white.  Yellow isn't usually a color that I'm drawn to but it looks so chic in this setting.

Isabel Marant for H & M

Isabel Marant for H & M hit stores today.  Apparently people have been camped outside the 5th Avenue H&M waiting for the collection since 1 AM this morning!  While I can't say that I'm an avid fan of this Parisian designer (I'm not too familiar with her work) I do think the collection looks great!  The first look below is pretty neat. The tight burgundy crops with the detailed jacket (I've been so into jackets lately) is just perfection!  Did you get anything from this collaboration?      

The Naked 3 Palette

If you're a make up junkie, you probably own at least one of Urban Decay's famed Naked palettes. And you'll probably be very excited to learn that Urban Decay will be coming out with the Naked 3 palette.  There isn't too much information available about the third palette but rumors are swirling that it will feature nudes in the mauve color family.  Will  you be adding this palette to your makeup collection?

     

The New It Bag?

Kenzo's Kalifornia bag is set to be the next 'It Bag'.  It's already sold out on Net-A-Porter.   I'm not the biggest fan of this bag as I was with one of the previous 'It Bags', Celine's Luggage Tote.  Do you think the Kalifornia bag is the next 'It Bag'?

Plaid Loving

There's just something so fall and wintery about plaid.  This year I'm trying to change it up a bit so I'm opting for items that take a twist on the classic plaid pattern.  I found the blazer below at Target and just had to have it after seeing it on a few other bloggers (check it out here and here).  How on point is this blazer?  It makes plaid super chic!  I love the leather lining on the pockets and the gold buttons on the sleeve are the perfect accent.  I plan on pairing it with black boots, skinny jeans, and a silky top in either black or red.       

Happy Halloween!

May you have a happy and safe Halloween!  

Holiday Makeup Sets

It's that time of year when many department stores as well as Sephora and Ulta come out with holiday makeup sets. These sets often offer large discounts on high end products so it's a good time to try out new products.  I recently purchased the Smashbox Wonder Vision set from Nordstrom.  The set includes 5 full sized lip glosses in gorgeous colors.  The best part is that the set is $24!  So instead of retailing for $19 each, the each gloss costs about $5 each!  I can't wait to rock that deep red color this holiday season.  

Nailpolish: Wine to Five

I was feeling a bit bored with my current assortment of nail polishes so when I went to the store I picked up Wine to Five by Covergirl.  I was looking for a rich red, burgundy color.  I was skeptical at first.  When I think of nail polish, Covergirl is one of the last cosmetic brands to come to mind.  I figured that I would give the color, Wine to Five, a shot because it was so gorgeous and just a great color for fall.  For a little under $5, I wasn't loosing too much money if the polish wasn't fantastic.

I was very happy with the application of the polish, it came on smoothly and I only needed two coats.  I finished off the polish with my favorite top coat, Seche Vite and I was a happy camper.  The polish did chip after about 3-4 days, but I was not upset because I was expecting it to chip sooner.  I painted several of my friend's nails and I can vouch for the fact that's it's a universally flattering shade.  All in all, I'm happy with this polish!

Can't Get Enough

I have an insane obsession with green utility jackets.  I currently own two and I'm trying to justify adding another one to my collection.  I've found some great ones at Nordstrom and Zara, just to name a few places. These jackets are just so versatile and so chic.  The great thing is that you can really pair them with just about anything!  Because of this, I think I can dub utility jackets as my fall staple. You can also find variations of this jacket, some have leather sleeves while others have jeweled pockets. There are also a variety of cuts, some jackets hit at the waist while others hit at the knees. There's a utility jacket for every person.  Do you own a utility jacket?      

Product Rave: Vidal Sasson Combing Creme

Frizzy hair is every girl's foe.  I've tried countless products to combat my frizzy hair and some have worked decently while others have not.  Most recently, I picked up Vidal Sasson's Combing Creme at Target.  I choose this product because it was under $5 and I had never used anything from this line.  I'm so happy with my pick because this product works wonders at preventing frizz.  It's a white creme that's not super thick so it won't weight your hair down.  After my shower, I run a wide tooth comb through my towel dried hair and apply a quarter sized amount through my hair, avoiding the roots.   My hair dries to it's normal texture and shape but minus all the frizz!

    

Chanel: Spring 2014

As always, I'm here to bring you coverage from the Chanel show.  I love that the Chanel shows always go above and beyond.  Plus, who doesn't love looking at all those classic bags in the newest styles?

Let's start by discussing the scenery.  I'll admit, I was a bit distracted by the clothes because the runway was amazing.  For this show, the runway appeared to be a Chanel gallery.  We see the classic Chanel camellia flower adorning the walls of this exhibit as well as a giant marble statue of a Chanel perfume bottle coming up from the ground.  Behind glass sits a giant Chanel classic flap bag among other amazing pieces of artwork.  Check it out for yourself in the video at the bottom of this post.

Head designer (and legend) Karl Lagerfeld played it safe when he came to shapes and fabrics.  We saw the classic tweed suit in a few different hues this season including pink and pastel shades.  I was excited to see a few off the shoulder pieces though, because I feel that it is different for Chanel.  There were some pretty colorful, sporty pieces that stood out among a sea of tweed. We also saw painted leather and denim, this was new and tied back into the theme of an art gallery.

The off the shoulder look paired with a large pearl necklace.

Model Cara Delevingne rocks a painted frock and sporty sunglasses. 

A pretty, fresh look for Spring.

As for accessories, many of the models carried oversized pearl baubles.  These oversized pearls where featured on bracelets and even necklaces.  I was not feeling them as I thought that they looked to much like headphones! Also, I'm not too sure how I feel about the choice of footwear.  Does this mean trouser socks are in? I did love every one of the bags that the model's carried.  We saw a lot of totes and cross body bags  Some models even carried two bags, which I found rather odd.  A rather fun show, nonetheless!  How do you feel about this show?

   

  *images from Fashionista.com

Fall Fashion: The Perfect Vest

This post is just a little break from Fashion Week.  Today, I'm bringing to you all a vest that I'm just loving!  It's the Excursion Vest by Jcrew.  I don't own it but I hope to add it to my closet soon because it's a classic piece that you can pull out year after year.   Can't you just picture the vest paired with a chambray shirt (sleeves rolled up a bit), black leggings, and black riding boots?

I'm loving it in Navy!

It's super cute in green too.  The blazer adds a touch of sophistication and a bit of warmth too!

Alberta Ferreti Spring 2014

Fashion Month continues as new styles just keep pouring in all over the world.  One show that particularly captivated me was Alberta Feretti's Spring 2014 show in Milan, Italy.   I enjoyed the designer's use of bright hues especially oranges and cobalt blues, similar to those used at the Ralph Lauren show.  This made for a cheerful theme.  I love that many of the styles were reminiscent of traditional Mexican dresses.  See my favorite picks from the show below...

The floral embellishments are so gorgeous and I love the ribbon detailing.  

I love the simplicity of this look.  It's so crisp and so clean.

The color of the dress is just stunning.  I'm also dying over the wrap around shoes. 

What's not to love about this dress?  Again, the color is stunning and the floral detail is gorgeous!

*All images via WWD 

Tory Burch Beauty

Joining the ranks of Marc Jacobs and other designers, Tory Burch has just launched her own beauty line. The main product is her self titled perfume, which features notes of  Neroli, Grapefruit, Cassis, Bergamot, Peony, Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, Vetiver, and Sandalwood.  The collection also features lip stick, lip and cheek tint, a face brush, and body lotion.  The packaging is exquisite and true to Tory's style, chic and modern.  Check out her latest offerings here.  

 

*image from toryburch.com

Burberry Spring 2014

Move over New York Fashion Week!  It's time for London Fashion Week.   The most hyped show thus far has been Burberry's Spring 2014 show.  I think this collection, designed by Christopher Bailey, was so on point. The collection was feminine, whimsical, and just sheer perfection (pun intended). Check out my favorite picks from the show below...

There's a lot going on here, but it's all gorgeous!  The mint lace fabric is a beautiful twist on Burberry's classic trench coat.  The sunburst jewels just look so delicious and regal.  The pink belt might be a little much for my liking because of the floral appliques, but nonetheless it's a winning look.   

Although a bit bold, I'm liking this look because I think it's something that can easily be transferred from runway to your closet!  

This is my absolute favorite look of the show, it's literally purple perfection.   The cut of the trench is just so chic.  The pattern of this fabric is just gorgeous and I really love the way the belt accentuates the model's figure.  

*All images from Style.com

Ralph Lauren: All Across the Spectrum

Ralph Lauren, a classic name in American Fashion, has just debut his Spring 2014 line at New York Fashion Week.

WWD

The show started with looks, like the one above that featured beautiful and classic shapes reminiscent of the 60's.   Lauren played with multiple patterns but stuck to the trendy black and white palette.  Then suddenly, models started appearing in stunning brights including orange (pictured below), yellow, red, and a gorgeous sapphire blue.  Because the pieces all had a coherent shape, the show flowed beautifully.  The mix of black and white pieces with colorful pieces was genius.    

WWD

And there's just nothing like a Ralph Lauren gown.  His gowns are timeless and elegant.  I'll let the photo (below) speak for itself. 

WWD

Victoria Beckham Spring 2014

If there's anybody who knows how to look chic, it's Victoria Beckham.  At her Spring 2014, we her the usual silhouettes but this time with a sporty twist.  We also saw beautiful burgundies and pomegranate tones.  I'm loving the look below as it features an interesting neckline and sporty hemline reminiscent of a tennis skirt.

The biggest standout, would have to be this collection's bags.  Beckham played with geometric patterns on many of her frocks as well as her handbags.   I like that the handbags are pretty structured but this element is juxtaposed with a fun triangle pattern!

Sophisticated Denim

We are in the midst of fashion month!  With New York Fashion Week alive and thriving,  there's just so much fashion to cover!  Today I'm coming at you all with a style that I predict may soon be a trend. I like to call it Sophisticated Denim. We usually think of denim as a pretty casual fabric that at times can be dressed up.  This season two designers, Derek Lam and Diane Von Furstenberg have tackled the task of creating new, sophisticated structures with denim. 

Derek Lam
Images from Vogue.com

While I enjoyed Derek Lam's Spring 2014 run way show, the above look by Derek Lam is a little to severe for me.  It's definitely denim overkill.    

Dianne Von Furstenberg
Image from NewYorkPost.com

Now this is how sophisticated denim should be done!  The dark denim doesn't overwhelm the lace and the flared bit of the dress is super chic.  I like that this dress is a denim take on DVF's classic wrap dress.  However,  I'm still feeling a bit ambivalent about this whole sophisticated denim look.  How do you feel about this trend?