lbd

found this photo on my computer from a photoshoot i did last semester

wearing: 1960's vintage sweetheart neckline black dress 

everyday is earth day

sustainability is a huge issue nowadays, especially in the industry of textiles, clothing, and accessories. i came across this great website called mountains of the moon. they offer a great variety of clothing and accessories in organic fabrics as well as hemp, and re-useable materials. designer melissa baswell creates pieces that are hip and stylish from fabrics and materials that don't harm our planet.

"Mountains of the Moon represents more than just a clothing line. We represent the blending of fine art, style, ethics, environmental and social responsibility and awareness.  We see ourselves as collaborators with our customers in an effort to take a stand in making environmentally and socially responsible decisions through our wardrobes."

-Mountainsofthemoon.com

some of my top picks from the spring 2010 collection:

zac posen for target

yet another big-time designer goes low budget! zac posen has recently come out with a line for target and it is one of my favorite lower price point designer lines as of late. the focus of the line is strong prints and dresses in many different shapes.  the line epitomizes posen's youthful, too cool style. the fabrics are luxe and beautiful, and the pieces are generously detailed, especially for a line at this low of a price point. 

the line hit stores this week and will be in stores until may 30th so be sure to check it out!

the line includes a wide range of pieces, from a tuxedo jacket, full length gown, swimwear, jackets, and a variety of short, flirty cocktail dresses, ranging from $16.99-199.99

see the full look book here

embossed demin

i just finished these great high waisted jean shorts for my apparel construction class and i'm really proud of them and the time that i put into them. they have a contour waistband and rolled hem with sideseam pockets and patch pockets on the but and a yoke at the back

the most challenging part had to have been the fly front zipper. its not that difficult to do, but it was my first fly i've ever sewn and there's wayyy to many steps!

i've begun my last project of the semester and it is a button up blouse with a tie at the neck and i chose a very drapy, floral polyester fabric. i was kind of intimidated by the challenge at first because sewing with such a slippery fabric can be really difficult and hard to control, but i'm almost finished and i'm very pleased with the way it's coming out! pictures are sure to follow :)

i'm alive!

hello! sorry i've been m.i.a. the past week but i've been consumed by greek week and final projects and papers as this school year is finally winding down.

greek week was a blast! as it always is, and i'm proud to say that sigma delta tau won for overall sorority yet again, coming in first in greek sing and lip sync, i'm very proud of ya'll :)

yeah yeah i know this was a boring post, i'm still pulling my life together so once that's done i'll certainly be posting some more interesting topics

hues of grace and colour

 

(photos from noirfacade)

tree railing?

smokey psychedelic anarchy

florence and the machine- "dog days are over" (new video)

this new version of the video came out about a month ago and i have been wanting to do a post on the styling in the video. florence wears an ivory, victorian inspired, draped number with gold accented jewelry, then switches to a fur vest with long tassels that swirled around her body, and also a gold and purple kimono. and you can't ignore the gold, sequined 60's chicks in the back. the costumes set the mood for the entire video, one that has been described like,

"Florence is the shamanic leader of a surreal orchestra where spiritual elation explodes into smokey psychedelic anarchy. Each musical element of the song is personified by a group of colorful characters that combine 60’s girl groups, Hinduism, gospel choirs, drum circles, paganism and pyrotechnics. Florence is a painted primal force of nature that whips a religious experience into a riot."

couldn't have said it better myself

springtime and shoulderpads

they're baaaaack!

shoulder pads, that is. i used to despise shoulder pads, and even the 

look of a strong shoulder, but lately i've been loving (and even wearing)

 the springtime trend. exaggerated shoulders are in no 

matter what the shape; pointy, rounded, square, embellished, and even 

sci-fi looking shoulders have been coming down the runway. 

this type of shoulder is very structural or architectural 

and will add edge to any ensemble.

tip for wearing this look: keep everything else simple. avoid looking too 80's 

or too overdone by keeping your hair, makeup, and accessories 

to a minimum and let your shoulders speak for themselves.

happy thursday

collegiate

as a college student myself, i know how hard it is to find fashionable and affordable clothing for class, parties, interviews, etc. so hopefully i can give you some ideas and solutions to all your fashion needs. maybe you're an incoming college student and want to know what essentials to add to your list before you make the big transition to school

my basics:

-rain boots

target collaborated with liberty of london to create this cute pair of floral rain boots for $29.99. as much as i hate wearing rain boots because they're heavy on your foot and rarely match anything you're wearing, they are a necessity on a college campus because you find yourself walking to class in all sorts of unfortunate weather.

- cardigans

please note the "s" at the end of cardigan. they're a great piece to have and an awesome alternative to a jacket if it's not too cold out. plus they're light enough to fit in your bag if the weather changes. the one pictured above is from forever 21 for $24.90. i have cardigans in almost every color but the best color to invest in is black. it will go with almost everything and looks great for layering.

-light scarf

this pretty floral scarf is from urban outfitters. a light colorful scarf is great to have because they can add flare and character to any outfit and they will keep you warm if it's chilly out. scarves are probably my favorite accessory because they can change the look of an outfit immediately with minimal effort. 

-zip up hoodie

another great essential. zip ups (like the one above from american apparel) are great to just throw on to go to class, not to mention comfy and warm. though not the most fashion forward piece, definitely a must-have

-leggings

people love to hate on leggings, but they can be one of the most versatile parts of your wardrobe. you can wear them with a long top, a hoodie, or even a dress. plus you can find them in tons of colors and cool prints. they're also super comfy to walk to class in, and i love that they are much less restricting than jeans.

these are my college essentials and hopefully they can help you out as you prepare to go off to school, or maybe give you ideas for what you may be missing from your wardrobe :) i plan on doing a college party do's and don'ts post soon so keep an eye out for it!

xx

one more thing

before i continue my studies i simply had to post these shoes from the Miu Miu Spring 2010 RTW collection

alexa chung wore these shoes to an awards show back in february and i've been admiring from afar ever since.

for their s/s 2010 collection miu miu used a bird and cat motif. i wasn't sure how i felt about it at first, but these shoes changed my mind. eye-catching and definitely charming

hello hello!

well im back at school and back to the daily grind, kind of? i mean i'm in the library, blogging nonetheless, shouldn't that count for something? 

i went home again this past weekend for easter 

with the fam, thought i'd share some pics :)

i wore a forever 21 top with a khaki GAP pencil skirt and grey t-strap heels

that's all for now, i must stop procrastinating my studies, 

i'll be posting again later tonight i'm sure :)

until then,

xxx

"Edie Beale goes to Girl Scout camp"

i have to say i never realized how many pieces were missing from my wardrobe until i looked through j.crew's fall 2010 ready-to-wear collection. many of the pieces were girl scout inspired, using a lot of khaki, olive green, brooches, knee high socks, and hardware with a touch of fur and sparkle. the collection is playful and youthful. the idea for the model's hair was reminiscent of my childhood, and running through fields and picking flowers and making a crown out of daisies. "we took the idea that you slept in it for three days and got twigs and flowers in your hair," said jenna lyons



j. crew creative director jenna lyons said about the line,
"I'm not expecting people to dress like this,
but they could, and I would love it if they did."



the brand's goal was for their consumer to be able to deconstruct 

the heavily styled looks they see in the catalogue, and be able to pull 

from it basic pieces that can be worn daily.

SPEAKING of red lips...

i stumpled upon this shop on etsy.com that i am in love with!

Red Lips Vintage

rachel, of Red Lips Vintage, describes the store as,

"Vintage finds for girls with sunny auras and kitten souls,
who dream of Paris and ice cream cones,
take summertime picnics and bike rides,
and savor simplicity and love. "

a few of my favorite pieces:




all very cute for spring!

be sure to check out her store and her blog!

xxx

red lips tell bloody secrets

trend i've been loving: red lipstick

if done correctly, red lips can look so kick-ass. whenever i do a red lip, first i exfoliate with a washcloth, this is super simple. get a corner of a washcloth wet with warm water and rub (not too hard) over your lips in a circular motion. this will help get rid of any dry skin on your lips and will plump them up a little bit, as it will cause blood to rush to your lips. after this, put on a very thin layer of chapstick because your lips will be need some moisture after you exfoliate them. next, line your lips with a lip liner as close as possible to the color of your lipstick. i recently found a red lipstick i am absolutely in love with, it is called red revival by maybelline



it glides on very smooth and stays on for a long time!

my results:



remember, if you're doing a dramatic lip, be sure to do a subtle eye and cheek or else you'll end up looking like a clown!