27 5 / 2012
Wedges! Wedges Wedges! It is that time again! In honor of my current fashion search - I thought I would do a little about you guessed it, the wedge. And more specifically- the wedge sandal. I love wedge sandals, they let your cute toes breathe, maintain the summer look, and have a heel, not to mention they are super comfy, and easy to walk in. The wedge may be in fact - the perfect shoe!
On my last trip to the big apple for a NY Design Week event, I wore cute black flats. Rather simple, yet professional, and most importantly comfy. I have been to NYC plenty of times but never for work, so I faced a HUGE dilemma - how do I stay fashion forward, professional, and comfortable for an entire day walking through the big city?! In a time and money crunch - flats were the way to go.
On June 6, I will be visiting the city again - still doing lots of walking, but this time what about some wedges? So I have been doing some research on ultra cute wedges and would love to share with you some findings. Although I tend to stick to more neutral colored shoes, wedge sandals do allow you to experiment with a subtle color on the strap or buckle - they bring a little flare to an otherwise simple shoe - perfect for the summer season.
Below are some AMAZING wedge sandals I’ve come across. Which one’s are your fav?
25 5 / 2012
Of course the beach is one of those places we look forward to most once the sun comes out, and the weather warms up. I absolutely love the beach - I’m not a big swimming in the ocean fan, but I love sunbathing, reading a good book in a lawn chair, and the glow it gives my skin, and the natural waves - the seasalt and wind, give my hair.
Unfourtunately I haven’t been to the beach in almost two years - and I’m missing it dearly. All this work has me in need of a MAJOR vacation - no stress, no worries, just warm weather, and of course A BATHING SUIT!
Picking the ultimate bathing suit, or shall I say SUITS is a huge part of my preparation for summer. I don’t see the beach too often since its quite a few hours of driving away, but through many bathing suit horrors - I have some helpful tips for all you sunkissed beauties.
Probably my BIGGEST piece of advice on bathing suit shopping is to completely avoid the stores. Sounds crazy right? How can you possibly find the perfect bathing suit without visiting tons of boutiques and department stores and trying on all your favorites? BY SHOPPING ONLINE!
Store dressing rooms are awful, they leave little room for movement, and the intense bright lights could make a super model look drab and unappealing. A bathing suit is EXTREMELY revealing and having a ton of confidence is required to fully work your suit of choice. And let’s face it, trying on any bathing suit in that lighting will do nothing for you but further highlight your flaws. AND THATS THE LAST THING YOU NEED!
Please check your online store’s return policies prior to purchasing - but many online stores are participating in a no-risk bathing suit shopping policy. My favorite store participating in such? J. Crew. For a limited time, you can purchase ANY bathing suit in their online catalog and try it on in the comforts of your own home, and then if you don’t like it - return it no ifs, ands, or buts!
Trying a bathing suit on in your own home as tons of advantages. Your free to move around freely to make sure no fine china slips out, and you can try it on under regular every-day lighting. If you can, try swimsuit shopping at the end of summer, when you are already sun-kissed and can more easily imagine yourself in a suit. Sometimes I find it unrealistic to try on a suit when I’m as pale as the white wall I’m standing in front of. With a glowing skin complexion you can pull off colors you would never try before.
Another piece of bathing suit advice - buy two suits, a neutral and a pattern that coincide with the same color palette. Then your free to inter-mix them- wearing a pattern top with a solid bottom, or a solid top and a pattern bottom. By spending the money on two of the same color palette suits - you can create 4 suits instead.
A beach trip would be nothing without the right bathing suit - but accessorizing it for the boardwalk or covering up by the pool is just as important. One accessory to completely avoid when sitting by the pool or splashing in the water - jewelry. Jewelry rusts when it gets wet- so don’t even take your chances, not to mention I can’t even estimate the times I’ve lost my favorite bracelet, necklace, earrings or rings somewhere in the ocean. Feel free to pack jewelry for your beach trip - just place them on once all the crazy water activites are through.
If your’e not going in the water, and just relaxing pool side you can also transform that typical bathing suit look. I love to wear a bandeau top rather than a bathing suit top- they usually have an elastic band around them so you get a perfect strapless bathing suit tan (free of awkward strap lines) without the worry you might lose your top! You can also bring an oversized thin white button down with you to wear over top of your bathing suit rather than those typical sheer beach cover ups. The beach coverups made of towel material are just god awful. Towels are for drying not for wearing!
A cute floppy hat, great beach tote, and embellished flip flops (sandals are too hard to get on an off and they easily trap sand) can be a girls best accessory friends for a beach trip.
Below I have included some of my FAVORITE bathing suits, available for your online purchase - all from you guessed it, J. Crew:
Caspian Paisley Triangle Halter Top
Antique Paisley Twist-Front Bandeau Top
And here are some awesome beachy accessories, Enjoy:
Steve Madden Troppic Flip Flops
Forever 21 Star Studded High-Low Shirt (buy a few sizes bigger - and this will be the perfect bathing suit coverup)
Theory Raffica Crochet Wide Brim Hat
7 For All Mankind Tarzana Sunglasses
*By the way, the picture I posted above is actually from one of my beach trips a few years back. This is a lovely beach in Lucaya- a goregous town in The Bahamas. Ugh! Doesn’t it make you want to jump on a plane!
21 5 / 2012
So at one point in our lives, whether we are working our way through school, need a second job after the birth of a child, or just simply gotta pay that rent/mortgage - we dreadfully get a job with a uniform. But if your a fashion lover- don’t dreadfully put your hair in an ugly bun, and tuck that awful polo into those work pants, WORK IT!
I love fashion, and expressing my style in no matter what I want to or are forced to wear. Right now, although I love my interning position in the fashion industry- it doesn’t pay the bills, so for the time being - waitressing does. The job isn’t glamorous, I get mustard and soda on my clothes, and leave with my face oily, and smelling of grease. But I DO service the public - and meet a lot of people, so why shouldn’t I look my best all the time?! Like Coco Chanel said, “I don’t understand how a woman could leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe thats the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”
So I have contributed some of my ideas for accessorizing and accentuating your drab uniform into a true fashion statement of undying style. There are simple and yet creative ways you can update your hair, makeup, and even the uniform itself with your own personal touches.
Why not try a ballerina bun, a bun with a double headband, a ponytail with a silk scarf as a headband or hairwrap, a messy ponytail with a fishtail braid, or a side braid into a sleek bun or ponytail. For makeup - try using glitter eyeshadown to brighten up those eyes without being too dramatic. You also can experiment with your manicure. Picking up nail polishes at the dollar store - can be an easy and cheap way to transform those hardworking hands into lovely digits. For the actual uniform your grudgingly forced to wear- try pinning back the extra fabric on the side with a lovely broach or pin!
And sometimes, fit is everything in an outfit. So spend some extra time finding a work pant that fits you instead of swallows you whole. If your work is a little more lenient with their “black pant policy” you may even be able to rock those comfy yoga pants- ones with a black fold over of course.
Happy Working!
