Thursday, April 30, 2009

Tshirt dilemma solved!

Remember when I wanted to find a good white tshirt? My experiment with JCrew went awry (UPS held it hostage for 3 weeks and then it strangely got shipped to my parents house....what?) BUT I have some great news. I wasn't kidding when I said I would look high and low to find a wearable white tee, and I believe I have done so.

HANES.

Men's white undershirt, V-neck. Still sheer, but they layer perfectly. They are also perfectly opaque. And while I would be willing to pay a pretty penny for white tshirt these days, 5 for $11 is just the pink icing on this cupcake.

I AM SO EXCITED.

Now summer can really start.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Update

Remember this dress? Well, I ordered it, it arrived, and when I put it on it was just....not great. The color is nice, but the cut is just awkward and would have required a lot of constant twitching and tugging to ensure that everything stayed where it needed to stay. In my opinion, not a great way to wear a dress. So back to J.Crew it goes.

But this dress is great! It's so flattering and lays exactly where it should. I need to have the bottom of the sleeve brought in ever so slightly, just a little pinch of the fabric really, and it's a beauty. One I'm going to wear for a long time!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Going out makeup


I know this item isn't "clothing" related, but, in the spirit of the prom posts below, I thought it might be helpful to post a link to this video. It's about 3 minutes in length, and very clearly describes how to create a gorgeous smoky eye. I've used it before, and find it very helpful. Enjoy, prom-goers!! (And anyone else who wants to create pretty eyes!)

Friday, March 13, 2009

Celebrities in gowns with sleeves

To go with the prom dress post below, I thought I would post some of the pictures I've collected of beautiful celebs wearing dresses with sleeves. I always like to see how they've styled their outfits and really, don't they all look stunning?? It goes to show that outfits with sleeves can be every bit as gorgeous, elegant, fun, funky and amazing as anything else out there!

Olivia Palermo, star of MTV's "The City"


Milla Jojovich, actress and designer

Demi Moore


From the Carlos Miele runway, Fall 2009


Jessica Szhor, one of the stars of Gossip Girl

Claudia Schiffer. Amazing.

Prom Season

It's Spring, and the means it's almost time for Prom!

Let me tell you a quick story before we get on to the dresses. There is a great guy in my home ward, let's call him Jimmy. Jimmy is amazing - cute, smart, nice, participates in sports and choir, and was even voted as Homecoming King by his high school class. He's a total catch. Last year, when Prom Season was gearing up, a nice girl asked Jimmy if he would go with her to the Prom. He thought about it, and then replied, "Sure - if you'll wear a dress that is modest." (Keep in mind that Jimmy is LDS but the girl is not.) The girl ultimately decided she didn't want to, and Jimmy found another (great!) date, who wore a beautiful and appropriate dress. I just think that's an amazing example!

Now - onto the dresses!

It can be a bit tricky finding a gorgeous prom dress that is also appropriate. But here are a few options I've come up, and will continue to add more as I find more! Please comment or email me with questions/suggestions/comments!

A little black dress this one from White House Black Market is the perfect starting place. Add some silver or gold high heel sandals, your beautiful corsage, some chandalier earrings, have your hair in a super-fly updo and you will be a stunner at the prom!

I actually just bought this dress from J. Crew in Espresso brown. It comes in tons of colors (I think the espresso, black, green and yellow are especially cute) and could be styled so many different ways. I am planning to wear it as pictured, with gold heels, when I go out on the town! Use your imagination and try out different combos of accessories - big cocktail ring and a big earring. A big cuff bracelet and a simple necklace. Try out different colors and mix and match. Have fun with it!

The long white version of the dress from J. Crew (the longer version of the dress above) looks a bit bridal to me, but they also sell it in black, which I think is so very elegant. Hair up or down flowing, like in the photo, either way would look so beautiful. Sometimes simple is the best!
This is a really pretty turquoise dress by Suzi Chin but I wasn't able to download the photo. I love the belt detailing on it.

This dress by Shabby Apple is made for dancing!! I love how this is styled in the photo - fun hair, dangly earrings, stacks of bangles and heels. The only change I would make is to put in a strappy high heel sandal instead of a pump. It's prom night baby - go all out!

Sometimes for evening events, you just want a long dress! This dress by Tadashi is so elegant. You will spend prom looking like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly! I know I keep saying it, but put on a pretty silver or gold high heel. Wear some big dangly earrings, or an elegant pearl drop earring and dance the night away with your own Cary Grant! OR wear your hair big and curly, add some funkier accessories and rock the night away in your own individualized style!

Here is a great satin dress by Chetta B. Such a clean, classic shape! This dress would be stunning with silver or gold shoes - or any color really! You could wear hot pink satin shoes, or spiky black pumps. I like metallic for the evening, they just seem really festive to me. A stack of shimmery bangles would be great, or a big fun sparkly cocktail ring. (But not both! That would be too much.) You could even get a big sparkly brooch and pin it on the waist band to really dress this up. Top it all off with a rockin' updo and some smoky eyes!


This dress is by Ali Ro. I think the color is really pretty and the ruffles are fun. Get a great pair of shoes, probably silver strappy sandals, a nice chunky bangle or two, some chandalier earrings and your hair done and you'll look like a rock star!

A couple of other things:
If you wear strappy sandals, or any kind of open toe shoe, make sure you get a pedicure. It's worth the $35 splurge. They are fun, feel amazing, and your feet will look so polished! (Literally!!) It's one of those little extras that really makes a big difference.

A great place to get prom shoes is at Filene's Basement. They sell tons of different brands, and they're usually discounted fairly well. I also like to shop for shoes at Zappos.com. You can search for every combination of color, heel height, anything! They have free shipping, which I think is amazing. I've heard great things about Lela Rose's new wedding collection at Payless - someone go check them out and let me know! J.Crew also has cute shoes, and any department store (Macy's, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf's, etc) will have a great selection of shoes.

I think getting your hair done at a salon is also something really fun for prom. They can do things to my hair that I'm just not able to do! If you can't afford it, no worries, just play with your hair and practice doing your prom style several times so you are comfortable with it and not rushing or upset on prom night! I was recently flipping through the most recent InStyle Weddings magazine, and was amazed at how pretty the hair styles were in the hair article. There were at least 6-7 different styles, for both long and short hair. Go check it out! It's the article featuring actress Sarah Shahi.

I also think, if you have time and can afford it, that having your makeup done at the salon is really fun. It's just a totally luxurious and girly thing to do. Plus, you can have your make-up artist put on false eyelashes for you. I think false eyelashes really just make a look *pop*! Again, though, if you can't, that's no problem. Sephora sells great false eyelashes, and if you practice enough, you can get really good at putting them on. I've finally learned how to apply them well!

Again, please comment or email with any thoughts, questions or comments! I would love to hear all about your prom dresses and plans for prom night!!!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Banana Republic silk ruffle top


I think this top is pretty. Light, airy, and could be worn to work with black pants or skirt or with white jeans out to play. I think all the colors are nice too. Enjoy!

Sienna in sleeves


I love when I see celebrities wearing stylish clothes with sleeves. I think Sienna Miller looks fresh and classy in this Jasmine de Milo white dress. I would love to wear this dress out all summer long!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Tees and skirts

One of my go-to outfits is a tee shirt and a skirt. I know I said below that I am currently having problems with white tees because of the sheerness factor, but colored tees don't have that same issue and therefore colored tees and I get along like peanut butter and jelly! I love the short sleeved crew neck tees from JCrew, and they have an amazing array of colors.


You get the picture. I think between Jessica and I, we have at least one, if not multiples in each color!
In my office, a tee with a skirt or pants is sufficiently work-like to wear, and I wear heels and a necklace to dress it up. I also usually end up throwing a cardigan on over the tee, because the air conditioning in my office is constantly on high! But I digress....I saw this picture and thought that it perfectly captured the ease of the tee and skirt combo. It's so cute and fun.

{Image from Kate Spade}

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Sale at Banana Republic

There is a huge sale going on right now at Banana Republic! There are tons of cute tops and dresses with sleeves, too! If I had any extra $$$ right now, I would head over and scoop them up. I don't, so please let me live vicariously through you. Happy shopping, everyone!

Marc Jacobs

Check out the lovelies, fresh from the runway in New York.




Monday, February 16, 2009

White tee

I love white tee shirts. They go with eveything - jeans, skirts, under suit jackets, they just look fantastic. They stop looking fantastic when you can see lines and seams and markings underneath them. I've tried my darndest to find a white tee that isn't transparently thin. I just found this on JCrew's website, and I quote, "Now in a new, heavier weight." If only it's true! I'm going to order one to see how it goes (they're on sale right now, and if it doesn't work, I'll add it to the collection of things can can be worn under something else.) Wish me luck! I'll be back to let you know how it is.

Abaete

Here's another designer I didn't know about, and again, what pretty dresses.


Costello Tagliapietra

I'd never heard of this designer before, but check out these dresses!






BCBG

I absolutely love BCBG. I got my first piece of BCBG when I was a junior in high school, when, during a family trip to Palm Springs, we stumbled upon the store. (Such fun memories!) Jessica and I have both gotten prom dresses from BCBG and many other items as well! The clothes just seem to fit me perfectly, and if you're ever in need of the perfect little dress, this is the place to go first! I have a black velvet cocktail dress I've been wearing for 2 years - I wear it everywhere! Here are some sleeved highlights of the new collection.






Jason Wu

Jason Wu, he of the Michelle Obama ivory Inauguration gown, had a wonderful Fall collection. Here are some of the pieces I especially loved. I think he's going to continue to evolve into an American classic. Can you believe he's only 26??! With Michelle Obama wearing him on Inauguration Day and on the cover of the March Vogue, he is quickly becoming a household name. Would you wear any of these? I love all of them!




Friday, February 13, 2009

Fashion weeks bits

Fashion Week is all a-flutter. Stay updated with The Cut's Twitter feed!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Fashion Week

Fashion week begins tomorrow! When I lived in New York, I always loved walking along the tents and feeling the buzz of excitement. I've never made it in, but someday I hope to!

As the pictures make their way online, I'll post pictures of pieces that are both lovely and wearable. The last few years of collections, I've started to see some beautiful sleeved options from designers. I wish they knew how many of us out here want clothes with sleeves!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Dresses

Here in New Orleans, the sun is out and it's 75 degrees, which means it's time to put the tights in the back of the dresser drawer to wait until next year! I'm looking around for some cute dresses.
I love dresses because they are one-item outfits. The dress and shoes, perhaps an earring or necklace and you're ready to go. Here are some options for fun and easy day dresses. Enjoy!

Pair this with big black sunglasses, pearl earrings and ballet flats.


This one would look fantastic with a colorful bangle, flip flops or colorful strappy sandals!

Black heels and black sunglasses. Hair in a pony would look especially swish. Maybe even a pearl bracelet...maybe, maybe not.

Flat sandals, ponytail and pearl earrings. So cute.

Flat sandals as pictured, or a kitten heel would also look nice here.

Ballet flats with this one for work, and then switch to flip flops to walk home!

Ballet flats or heels, both would look lovely! Add a chunky bangle and you're all set.
I hope everyone finds a fun summer dress! Comment or email me if you know of any other cute dresses out there or get any of the ones above. Let me know how they work for you!