First Few Months Away

Hello again, it's been forever. Life here at college is everything I thought it would be and more. I'm loving my classes and I have great friends, from multiple majors too, not just in apparel design. My friends in apparel design however, are amazing and all of us are so different it's awesome. Each of our styles are unique and we each bring something different to the table, it's wonderful how easily we all mesh though.
Out of my 7 classes this semester, 3 were specific to my major: Intro to CSR (Consumer Sciences & Retailing), Apparel Equipment, and Intro the Apparel Industry. In the first one we mainly talked about our major, how to survive freshman year, and how to make sure we feel we're where we're supposed to be. In the second one we were taught how to thread a surger, use the various sewing machines (button making, zig zag, etc.), and make sure we know the rules of the lab. In the last one we learned everything from the past 100 years of fashion history, to designers (old & new), to trends, to how to think like a designer, to textiles (over 125 too!), to colors, to the importance of knowing types of hats, parts of a men's suits, ant the cuts for stones for jewelry. This semester has been amazing and I can't believe I had this much fun.
Next semester I have to buckle down and stay organised and motivated. On top of taking 6 classes (18 credit hours) the fashion show is in April! I'm taking Showcase, which is for the fashion show, and I'm taking Apparel Assembly, which is a sewing class & lab. Luckily I have one of best friends as my model for the show & we live in the same dorm so I can bug her anytime I want to work on my design. Though, to be honest, I have no idea what I'm going to make for the fashion yet. I have to figure it out over Winter break though because I need to buy fabric and materials. As soon as I figure out what I'm doing I will be posting sketches and rough drafts with details. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I can not wait til April, the show will be amazing.

Crazy College Collage

I have been at college for a week now and amongst all the thousands of freshmen and now upperclassmen arriving on campus one thing remains unsettled-is there a so called style for college? There is the obvious ensemble for working out: athletic shorts and a t-shirt and gym shoes. But for an everyday schedule—wake up, eat, go to class, rush to another class, have a little bit of downtime, eat, go to work, work out, eat, study, sleep—there appears to be no one fashion fab taking over here at Purdue. This, in my opinion, is excellent! I love that everyone seems to be unique and separate amid the crowds of people shuffling between the rings of the bell tower. I love that fashion stereotypes don’t necessarily hold true at college. Not all nerdy kids wear graphic tees & jeans, a lot of the girls in engineering have a great sense of style. The girls I’ve met this past week are all different, from the type of engineering they’re planning on studying to their hair color. They all have a different view on fashion. I love it! I like that Purdue breaks stereotypes and lets anyone let their nerd flag fly, or in this case, let their tastes in fashion be expressed.

Clothes For College

I have been stressing about college all summer. What classes will I take? What if I don't get a dorm with ac? What if I can't handle my schedule? How will I pay for everything? With all these other questions running through my head I haven't really had a lot of time to focus on what clothes I'll be packing and taking with me.
I went out and bought a shoe rack for my closet floor and a hanging shoe organizer for my closet. I'll be able to fit 20 pairs of shoes in my closet without taking up a lot of space. Shoes wise I plan on taking comfortable flats, gym shoes to work out in, 1 pair of flip flops, a pair of converse, and at least 2 pairs of heels. Clothes wise the basics will help me create zillions of different outfits. Jeans, shorts, skirts, and a couple dresses for anything fancy. Tops and sweaters and jackets complete my basics. Jewelry & scarves will be limited because I don't want to take up too much space. I'm a design major so I want lots of options, especially with my shoes. :) I'm not taking a lot right away though, I figure I'll be back for Thanksgiving and can switch up my wardrobe. I'll be exchanging tank tops for blazers and sandals for boots. I'm excited for the challenge and I can't wait to be there. I'll post again about several key items for my college wardrobe.

Jazzed July

July has started off with a bang (literally) & has been crazy hot.

For this month I have a Malibu Barbie who looks elegant with a purple, blue, & green ensemble with smoky makeup. I love her hair, despite being a drawing it looks like it has a lot of depth & volume. I can imagine lounging on a pool chair in the shade reading a book & looking fabulous in this.

My other calendar is a snapshot of one of the many Metro entrances. This has more of a cutting edge feel to it somehow. When I look at this I think of a French girl with dark wash skinny jeans, a retro top (maybe off the shoulder with a little scarf), red lipstick, big sunglasses, & ballet flats, with a huge bag & a coffee cup. I love how both pictures convey completely different feelings and thoughts.

The quote that came with the picture is, "Paris is the city in which one loves to live."-Margaret Anderson

I have to say I love this quote & completely agree with it. When I was in Paris I felt amazing, like I wanted to soak up all the culture and do everything & anything all in one day. It might have been because it's all been a dream of mine to visit Paris, but being there gives you a different feeling & it's wonderful.

This is my last month before college; August will be exciting and different. I wonder what my calendars will have in store for my inspiration.

Girls' Night

Girls' Night is always fun. Doing your nails, getting all dolled up, wearing fancy clothes just to go out to eat- it’s a blast. A while back a bunch of us, maybe about 8 or 9, got together to go to out to eat. It was fun to get out and spend quality time with the girls.

All of us decided to wear short dresses & heels. I chose a black one shoulder dress with a tight top & looses bottom. I paired it with pink heels that have ruffles on them and a black sequin fascinator.

A friend of mine wore a one shouldered grey dress with a black sash and black flowers along the shoulder strap. Another decided on a white dress with silver accents. My other friend wore a black sleeved dress with a brightly colored peacock feather design. We were all very snazzy looking.

For girls night it depends where you’re going, but since we were going somewhere where it’s appropriate for dressy attire, we settled on classy & fun dresses.

What to Wear to a Fashion Show

I have been to 2 fashion shows, one at Purdue University and one on a bridge downtown in the city. Both were fabulous and amazing experiences. At the college show I was incredibly nervous and had no idea what I was wearing til my friend & I were getting ready the hour before. For the show I had decided on:

·         Dark wash skinny jeans

·         Brown heels (about 3-4 inches)

·         Cheetah print long sleeve button down top

·         Black vest (I bought it in Paris)

·         Bright red lipstick

·         Long silver necklace

·         Dangling pearl earrings

I fit right in, and so did my friend who wore:

·         Black dress

·         White sweater

·         Black tights

·         Purple suede heels

·         Messy bun

·         Fancy earrings

It was a lot of fun getting ready and the two of us hit it spot on with wearing heels, it seemed like everyone was in heels.

For the show on the bridge my friend and I decided we’d both wear dresses since it’s summer & hot outside.
She wore a simple black dress with flower sandals. I wore a cream colored dress with red & blue flowers, a black sweater, and gold shoes. When we got there we wished we had worn heels, despite the fact we knew we’d be walking a lot. Everyone had heels on and a lot of people looked more dressed up than we did. However, there were people in jeans and a t-shirt, so there was a wide variety of clothing options.
I love having an excuse to dress up; I look forward to going to more shows.
My advice would be to look at any pictures the people in charge may have posted from previous years; you’d have a feel for what the majority are likely to wear. Then you can decide if you want to fit in or stand out. The more daring you are the more fashionable you may look. J

Fashion on the Bridge

This past weekend I attended a Fashion Show hosted by Cincy Chic & Amy Kirchen. It was a blast! My friend and I arrived early so we could look through our swag bags and check out all the booths on the bridge.

Once we took our seats (front row in the red section to benefit the Heart Association) we started talking to the people around us. We’ve been in Amy Kirchen’s boutique before and had loved almost everything we saw. The atmosphere is bright and fun. I was ready with my camera when the show started and the first model sauntered down the runway. It was set at a slow pace and as soon as the model had started coming back from the end the next model strolled down the walkway. It was a very put together line. There were statement dresses in bright colors and more subdued colors. There was fur, sequins, & what appeared to be leather. I loved the variety of garments. She had long dresses, short dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, corset looking tops, pants, and a cape. I also liked that she stuck with a coherent color scheme and wasn’t all over the place.

Here is a video of the models and Amy Kirchen walking back from the end of the runway. The video is very loud so I would turn the volume down before hitting play. Enjoy!



Jaded June

June is a relaxing month and with my 2 calendars it’s clear that it’s more laid back.

This picture captures the essence of calmness with the clear sky and the still water, it's nice to look at in the morning when the sky is cloudy and it looks grim.

 The quote that goes along with the picture above is:

My other calendar reminds me of Audrey Hepburn and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with the little black dress and big hat. It makes me smile instantly, which is always a good thing. I love the chic and simple look this panache ensemble possesses.





Beautiful Ballet

Graceful. Elegant. Extravagant. Delicate. Pain. Intricate. Fantasy. Beautiful. Lyrical. Passionate. Disciplined. Flexible. Swift. Feminine. Artistic. Breathtaking. Stunning.

All of these words can describe ballet and the dancers that work countless hours perfecting their art to perform and captivate their audience and give them an astounding show.

I love ballet and I wish I had stuck with it as a kid. Whenever I am stuck in a rut and have trouble finding inspiration but am in the mood to sketch I look at Edgar Degas’s paintings of ballerinas. His paintings capture the movement and gracefulness of each individual dancer. It’s unbelievable and awe-inspiring.  The colors and costumes create a world in which I am unfamiliar with, making everything more stunning and magnificent.

Chaneling Chanel

It doesn’t come as a surprise that I am once again writing about Chanel. One day my mom went out shopping with her friend & what does she bring home for me? A bottle of Chanel perfume called Chance Eau Fraîche. It smells absolutely amazing. I love the floral scent that isn’t overwhelming. Whenever I wear it the smell makes me feel fancy and elegant. People notice it too and so far I haven’t heard any negative comments about it when I’m wearing it.

Here is the link to Chanel’s website: http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Fragrance-Chance-Eau-Fraîche-CHANCE-EAU-FRAÎCHE--88272

And a snazzy close up on the topper:

Stoked About Stoker

I have to admit that one of my all time favorite books is Dracula by Bram Stoker. When I was interviewed for a scholarship centered around books and the love for books I was asked “Why do you love Dracula so much?” Sometimes I’m not amazing at getting everything I’m thinking out of my head and into comprehensible and cohesive thoughts. The first shaky words I replied with were “I guess I don’t think about the story the same way everyone else does. I think of it as a romance, not a horror story filled with gore and violence and monsters.” I think I got my point across and that I made an impression because I was awarded the scholarship. I love the way Mina falls for Dracula, despite still loving John. However, instead of feeling like Dracula is the monster and antagonist, I pity him and truly think he loves Mina, even if it might just be the resemblance between Mina and his wife who had committed suicide. He didn’t become a vampire because he wanted to be immortal and have to live out his existence feeding off of blood and living a desolate life. He turned his back on God and was turned into a vampire because the ideals of the time in Christianity were that those who committed suicide did not receive a burial and service like those who died in other ways. This anger translates to an action in which I can only say is immense love and affection for his wife.

Thus, to me Dracula is a novel filled with a romance that leaves a reader wanting more than the small ending by John. Every time I think of Dracula I think romance, I think evening gowns, I think Victorian era, I think of elegance and high class. This story makes me want silk and satin and lots of lace, with dark deep reds and different shades of blacks and grays and darkened blues.

Because of the novel my sketch book has been filled with exquisite gowns that can describe how the novel makes me feel better than any combination of words.

Empowerment

Every person has that one go to item that makes them feel like a million bucks. I have two: lipstick & heels.

If I have red lipstick and a killer pair of heels on, I feel like I can take on the world. It might be a little crazy that all it takes to give me just that extra ounce of courage is a swipe of red and something dazzling on my feet, but that’s what does it for me. I don’t need anything super fancy, just something a little different (or even something basic like black pumps). If I know my heels are great, I know I can be great.

My friend loves scarves and big statement earrings. Another friend of mine loves bracelets, while another has a pearl necklace she wears almost every day.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive; it just has to feel right.

Cinderella can relate, the right pair of heels can change everything.

Calming May

As the month of May is coming to an end I thought I would share some of the things around me that have sort of guided me this month.
First: my calendars. I have several and looking at them everyday makes me think of something different.
A little bit of French gardens and a lilac flower printed ballgown.
May has been a more toned down month, nothing overly ecstatic.

Summer Dresses

When I was on the hunt for some gold heels for a wedding, I found 2 dresses that I think are perfect for this summer season.
One is a dark red with crème colored polka dots. It's a little longer than I’m used to, but it has a sort of 50s vibe going. It ties at the neck and it isn’t too tight in any one area.

The other one is fun and flirty with bright, vibrant colors. It has thin spaghetti straps and small pleating at the waistline. I love the flowers and the bright colors.

Inspirational People #2

I haven't been posting in awhile but here is May's inspirational person:

Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on May 4th, 1929 and died on January 20, 1993. She has been in a lot of films, just a few are:  Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), The Nun's Story (1959), Charade (1963), My Fair Lady (1964) and Wait Until Dark (1967). However, my all time favorite Audrey Hepburn movie is Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). She's won an Emmy, an Academy, a Grammy, and a Tony Award.

To me, Audrey Hepburn is an excellent actress and has become an icon, especially when she wore the little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's. She's the definition of simple yet elegant, chic and sophitocated yet down to earth. I admire her work with UNICEF and her work ethic. She was married a few times, had children, and went through hard times that ended with cancer and then death. I think she's a remarkable peron who always thought of others.

She's at the top on my list, right up there with Coco Chanel. She lead a successful and eventful life, starring in movies & plays, helping people in many countries, and inspiring others around her to live their lives to the fullest.

One of my favorite quotes from her is "Paris is always a good idea."

The other is "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles."

Vidal Sassoon

Sadly, one of my hair icons, has past away. Vidal Sassoon had revolutionized  hairstyles in the 1950s and 1960s. Sassoon told the Los Angeles Times, "My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous." He reminds me so much of when Chanel wanted to change the way girls dressed in the early 1900s. She took away all the excess and replaced it with the idea that simple was chic and elegant. Sassoon, who had don Mia Farrow's hair for "Rosemary's Baby," took away the beehive and made short, boyish haircuts fashionable.
Sassoon stated that "Hairdressers are a wonderful breed. You work one-on-one with another human being and the object is to make them feel so much better and to look at themselves with a twinkle in their eye. Work on their bone structure, the color, the cut, whatever, but when you've finished, you have an enormous sense of satisfaction." This is sort of how I feel regarding design. You do it because you love it, but also because you love making people happy and making them feel like the absolute best that they are. The fashion industry has lost a creative mind, one who to me, belongs among the ranks of the best and the ones who have truly altered the way we view fashion.

Zoë's Choices

I took Zoë to the mall & here are a few outfits she styled together for spring.
She decided to work with blazers, pleats, and softer hues mixed with a bold look.

Top Left: Jeans, Black Blazer, and a Ruffled White Blouse

Top Right: Same Blouse & Blazer, but paired with a Peach colored Pleated skirt with a black band.

 

Bottom Left: Black Blazer with a short, flowy spring dress.

Bottom Right: Same spring dress but with a white, cotton blazer.

Featured Fashionista: Zoë

Zoë Z is a fellow senior at my high school & one of my very best friends. She is definitely an influence on my style habits- because of her I started wearing scarves. Here is an interview with her:

Question 1. If you can pick 3 words to describe you style what would they be?
 Zoë: Random, Scarves, Simple
2. Do you have a routine/pattern on how you pick out your outfits?
Zoë: Umm, not really. I usually end up going through my whole wardrobe until I find something I feel like wearing, and then I usually change it again, until I usually come up with just a scarf and plain shirt! 3. What is your favorite season?
Zoë: My favorite season is any season that I can wear a scarf and sweater in!
4. Favorite influences: band/designer/artist/brand/etc
Zoë: Umm, I don't really have any influences. If I find something I like, then I get it, simple as that! I really like American eagle scarves because they have cool patterns, and I like places that have a vintagey feel.
5. What are you looking forward to most about this spring regarding style changes?
Zoë: BLAZERS!!!!
6. If you could dress anyone who would it be & for what type of event?
              ex) Britney Spears for an awards thing
 Zoë: I would probably dress Zooey Deschanel for some type of awards thing.

Beautiful April

April showers bring May flowers, so even with all the gloom I can find inspiration all around me. First off, my calenders. I have a France calender and a Barbie sketch calender. Both are interesting and fun.
Here is my Barbie one, definitely a spring look with the shades of pink and yellow. I love the whole ensemble with the hair and flowers all over.

Here is my France picture for April. My France calender also gives a quote for each month. April's is bu Victor Hugo, "It is in Paris that the beating of Europe's heart is felt. Paris is the city of cities." I don't know about you but I love this quote. When I went to Paris I fell in love with the city, it is truly magical and breathtaking. There is so much history and art everywhere you look.

Do you have a go to source of inspiration?

A New Found Love

While I was shopping I kept finding simple dresses that I adored. Who could the designer be? Calvin Klein. I couldn't help but try on a few of the dresses. I even bought one.

I love the layers and how they are not all clear cut across the dress, one goes at an angle. I also like how the last tier is turquoise and not electric blue. It adds a little pizzaz to the dress. It's really soft and comfortable, not clingy like my initial thought was. I can't wait to wear it out! I will probably be blogging more about Calvin Klein, so be on the lookout.

Spring Florals

I went shopping yesterday and I found some lovely spring dresses. One of which is a floral print with an almost drop waist. I wore it today with a black short sleeve sweater & bright red lipstick (L'Oreal's Red Fatale). The dress is by Kensie and it's really comfortable.
Besides how I wore it today, I would love to pair the dress with my red blazer and some layered necklaces.
My Dress:                                                           Another Option:

Prom 2012

This year's prom is going to be amazing. Senior year! I have a great group of friends, we're eating at the Cheesecake Factory, and the best part is my dress & heels ;)
My dress is strapless with a goddess feeling to it. Here is a picture of my dress:

My friends say it reminds them of a storm.

Here are some close up pictures:





Here is what the beading looks like. I really love how the larger beads have print painted on them. I think it adds something special to the dress.

And finally, here is a picture of the heels I am planning on wearing:

Sunshine

This is going to be super short: I am loving the weather today (& yesterday)! It's sunny and warm and everything is beautiful. I wore shorts today- a nice pair of pastel baby blue ones. I am so excited for shorts weather. I look forward to breaking out the cute summer dresses and the floral skirts. Good-bye essentially black wardrobe & Hello brightly colored clothing.

Recycle & Reuse

I am all for shopping and I love that feeling when you find the perfect item to add to your wardrobe, but I also enjoy finding ways to incorporate items I already use into my wardrobe more.
I keep all my jewelry & I love trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. Soemtimes I find things I have forgotten I owned, then it's like shopping in your own closet- fun!
Another thing I enjoy is borrowing and trading with friends. I'm sure everyone has that one friend that you would share almost everything (jewelry, shoes, bags, etc.) with.
Also, if you ever want to permantly get rid of something and your friends have no interest in them, it never hurts just to donate them. There are alot of places that will take gently used items and either give them away or sell them at really low costs for those that need them.

Favorite Designer Quotes

Sometimes when I'm stuck in the middle of sketching a dress and I need a little inspiration I look to my sketch books, where I have filled several pages with quotes from designers, poets, artists, actresses and more. It's a great way to create sparks & have wonderful ideas.
My favorites are ones involving courage, France, and intense movie quotes or lyrics. Everyone should go and find at least one quote that really inspires them to be themselves and sparks a little creativity.

Here are some pictures from one of my sketch books:

  



"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself.

Aloud."

-Coco Chanel



 



"You have to be unique, and different, and shine in your own way." -Lady Gaga



"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." -e.e. cummings



Inspirational People #1

I have decided that I am going to try to post at least once a month on someone who really inspires my wardrobe and styling decisions.
For March, and my first post of this "collection," I would like to write about Amy Winehouse.

A picture I took of a picture of Amy W.

First off, if you want to know anything about her, such as songs or bio information, just type her name in a search engine and there is a website all about her.
Before she passed away I had never really gotten into her music. I liked it but all I knew was her song "Rehab" and it's not one of my favorites. But when she passed away her music was played on the TV and there were a lot of posts about her all over the web. I decided to look up some of her music videos and I loved them. I love her voice, it's jazzy and raspy, but so pretty. I love that she has her own sense of style and didn't care. She developed her own style as well. In the first videos from the beginning of her career she wears her hair in loose waves, doesn't wear heavy make-up, and doesn't have alot of tattoos. You can see her style progress as you watch more videos. She gets a few new tattoos, wears heavier eye make-up and then goes retro with a beehive. I for one love the cat eye, thick eyeliner look she has and the beehive is just cool. Then, a whole fashion line was based on her style, down to the beehives and make-up. She's inspiring to me because she created her own look and went with it without a care in the world.
I think my favorite song of hers is when she sings with Tony Bennett called "Body and Soul." When I sketch designs I like to listen to her songs and sing along, it's really fun to belt out her music.
I encourage everyone to listen to one of her earlier songs, she truly was an amazing artist and definitely talented singer.

Astrology Lipstick Colors, Who Knew?

I was browsing the web and came upon an article about lipstick colors that match with your astrology signs. I don't know about you, but I love reading my horoscope in magazines and seeing what "might happen." I'm an Aries and I got matched with an orange-red. I love red lipstick so I think I will go ahead and try it. It's something new and different. Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be an amazing color match.

Has anyone else tried something completely new because of a horoscope?

Part of My Wardrobe

I've been collecting some items for my spring wardrobe and I thought I would post a few pictures of my favorites pieces so far.

An upclose shot of my rose clutch, cheetah flats, & hot pink peep-toes.



Part of my spring wardrobe choices.



Colored Denim

One of the latest trends I want to try is colored denim. I own black jeans and I own a pair of white jeans, but I would love to try and rock a pair of red or bright blue or  pastel jeans. I think colored denim would add that touch of pizazz to anyone's outfit.
I think red jeans would look great with a black & white striped top and classic black ballet flats.
Pastel colored denim, maybe coral or light blue, would look pretty with a lace top and a necklace that has lots of strands of pearls. Also, hair in a messy bun with pink or coral lipstick/lip stain would add that special touch.
I hope everyone will try a pair of colored denim, whether jeans or shorts or capris. :)

More Chanel, Because Really, You Can Never Have Enough

So I love Chanel and have already posted about her, but I figured I'd let everyone know I would be posting way more than just once. Be prepared to have about 1 chanel post every month or so.

I like to flip through my magazines and either mark or tear out the pages of ads or pieces I find inspiring. My most recent find is a Chanel ad on the back of Instyle's March edition.

Chanel from Instyle

I like how simple and chic Chanel ads are. It's like the background is a blank canvas and everything baout the girls is so simple that the clothes can really shine in the ad.

Pastels

I am estactic that pastels are a major idea for spring. I've been browsing through my magazines and I love the Louis Vuitton ads. Here's my favorite, from Instyle:

A Louis Vuitton ad from Instyle

I like how everything is in pastels, not just what they're selling. By having the background essentially be one solid shade of pink the girls' dresses and purses really pop even though they're soft pastels. I think that I may have to incorporate more pastels into my wardrobe for this spring. I'm a big fan of black but I love when spring comes around and I can break out all of my flowery dress and bright colored shoes and fun flowy tops.

Spring: Romance in the Air

A Dolce & Gabbana floral dress featured in Instyle

Spring is coming and so is the return of florals, pastels, ruffles, and peplums!

For the new season I would go with one major key piece for a bigger impact overall. I would keep the makeup soft and not overwhelming. The jewelry & other accessories should be subtle or not over powering- unless of course that's your key piece. I would go with pinks, pastels, whites/creams for nail polish choices. Shoes are strappy, sandals, or wedges.

A lovely floral dress featured in Instyle

I would have to say that a floral dress, solid sweater, pastel bag, and pink lipstick is probably going to be my favorite outfit for this coming spring.

Black and White

I have completed my first collection in my new sketch book! It's 7 different looks that include pants, shorts, tights, skirts, and a dress or two. The collection is based on 7 black & white photographs of places in Paris.

I have one of the Louvre with the glass pyramid, a cafe, a carousel and church, a long staircase, men fishing in the river, and a boat going under one of the bridges. All my looks have shades of black and grey with white and touches of bright red or maroon. I tried to vary my outfits by including pieces you could wear with each other- like the shorts & other tops.

As of now I'm not sure what my next collection will be based on but that's why you find inspiration anywhere. I'll probably do something with bright, vibrant colors to spice things up.
If you have any ideas just let me know.

Oscar Madness

Did anyone else watch the Oscars last night? I really only saw the red carpet & then searched the web for the info on who won the next day. I absolutely loved some of the gowns from last night. Angelina Jolie looked stunning in her simplistic black dress with vibrant lips. Emma Stone looked lovely in her brightly colored funky dress. I think Sandra Bullock's gown might be my favorite. It was so different than the usual one colored dresses, and the back was gorgeous! I'm so happy that Streep won an award & she looked great in her gold gown.

Little Black Dresses

One item I think every girl should own is her version of the little black dress. Black is timeless and so is the little black dress. I have 2 that I love and they're both very different. One is a strapless bubble dress with minimal detailing. The other is a one shoulder, fairy-like dress with ruching for the bodice and extra stuff on strap.
One book that I like to reference for inspiration is Didier Ludot's "The Little Black Dress Vintage Treasure." In the prologue Ludot writes, "The little black dress is an alliance of opposites. Symbolizing the respectable woman with an eye to seduction, the little black dress makes her feel safe and, at the same time, much more dangerous." To me, a little black dress is like a blank canvas in which I can exude confidence and be myself, totally at ease anywhere.

One of my favorite looks is when a little black dress is paired with red heels or bright red lipstick. I think the tiny pop of red makes the ensemble even better and gives it more pizazz.



Coco Chanel

         I had always liked Chanel's chic look with its simplicity. But, when I read "Coco the Novel" by Patricia Soliman, Gabrielle Coco Chanel became my favorite designer. I recommend the book to anyone who loves romance, adventure, girl power, and fashion. I was hooked from the first line. I know it isn’t biographical, but the book gave me all of this insight into her life. She did it all and never accepted “No” as an answer. I have a lot of quotes from her but my favorite would have to be-“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” Coco Chanel is a very inspirational person and I can only imagine what the fashion world would be like today if she was still around. Ladies, we have (mostly) her to thank for being free to wear pants everyday and for no more corsets!! I adore Christian Louboutin’s  magnificent creations and Dior’s gowns, but Chanel is my go to artist. When I was in France and went shopping in Paris I got to go in my first Chanel store. I have to be honest- I lost my breath for a moment. I was amazed with every glance around the store. The workers looked polished and sophisticated, the counters clean, the space organized, and everything was so beautiful. I don’t own anything Chanel as of now, but when I do it will be something that I’ll keep forever. Coco Chanel is a really remarkable women and a marvelous designer. I hope to one day work within the Chanel niche of design, or just visit her apartment in France, that would be amazing.

Chanel on her staircase of mirrors.

Killer Confidence

Have you ever heard a really tall girl tell someone they don't want to wear heels because they don't want to be "too tall"?? Well I sure have. I have a lot of very tall friends and they hate wearing heels. I on the other hand am average size and LOVE heels. I'm always trying to convince them that heels aren't a hazard to their look, it could really make them stand out. However, they don't want to stand out more than they already do. All it takes is a super dose of confidence and no one will question your height or why you're heels. They'll be awed by how graceful you can be. One of my friends told me confidence is all about posture and I agree. All it takes is shoulders back, a straight back, head up, and a walk like you don't care who's looking.

Chic Code

I like to read and I own alot of books. One book I have is All You Need to Survive, by Anna Johnson. Within the book she lists the rules for dressing chic. I'd like to highlight just a few:

• Chic is half a size bigger than your usual body size- not skin tight but not baggy. It should be skimming over your lines.
• Chic limits textures and distractions within a single outfit.
• Chic doesn't have to be expensive. Look matters more than label.
• Conspicuous display of Designer logos is not chic.
• Chic is having your own scent and sticking to it.
• Chic women make one item stand out rather than six.

With these and other rules you can create your own idea of chic. Chic should be effortless and look like you know exactly how to dress your body. Some great examples of Chic women in history who ignored the outlandish fashion trends and made a name of themselves: Audrey or Katherine Hepburn, Jackie O., and Coco Chanel.

A Lacey Spring

One of the things I love about spring- girly floral patterns, pastels, & LACE.

I think lace is can be feminine, rocker, or bohemian, depending on what you pair with it.

Lace has been in a couple of the runway shows lately and I've loved it.

I like the shirts that have either the whole back lace or where parts of the sleeves are lace. It gives an outfit that extra pizzazz to spice things up. Lace has that special lure to make people look twice.

Here's a shirt from last year, when lace wasn't as "IN" as it is now:

I hope lace is here to stay, it spices up even the simplest look.

Red Lips

I am a huge fan of red lipstick. I think it’s classic and chic. Since I wear glasses I don’t like to wear a lot of eye make-up. I usually just wear mascara and maybe some eyeliner. But when I want to feel like a million bucks I wear red lipstick. I have 2 go to shades: a bright, fiery red lipstick and a darker ruby red.

I think that with all the various shades of red out there that any girl can find their perfect match.

Everyone should go out and try a new shade of red just for them.

A Doll

Almost every little girl has been the proud owner of a Barbie doll. The Barbie doll was thought up by Ruth Handler and introduced in 1959 by Mattel at the New York Toy Fair.

Barbie has held basically every job, from ballerina to president to astronaut to doctor. She's had her wardrobe designed by famous designers such as Vera Wang, Bob Mackie, and Dior. She's probably the woman with the most shoes, clothes, and purses. Barbie has been around for over 50 years and is still as popular as ever for little girls as well as adult collectors. As told in the Barbie All Dolled Up, "Because it's not merely about playing with a toy; it's about acting out dreams. Barbie memories are always about more than a doll; they are the first experiences with fashion, the eye-opening possibilities of role-play, and the delight of imagining one's grown-up self." 

Well, I'm a Barbie collector; I have been since I was little. I would get a Barbie and instead of opening it, I would decide to leave the doll in its box unopened. My collection varies from the Holiday Barbie to Princesses to just cool pop culture dolls such as Barbie Loves Woody from Toy Story 3. One collection that I have completed is the Landmarks Collection. I bought the Statue of Liberty Barbie on Liberty Island in New York. I then received the Eiffel Tower Barbie, Sydney Opera House Barbie and Big Ben Barbie as gifts for Christmas. I’ve been to London and saw Big Ben, I’ve been to France and ate dinner on the second level of the Eiffel Tower, and I’ve taken a tour of the Sydney Opera House. These dolls are souvenirs with wonderful memories connected to them.

I know that I want to go into Fashion as a career, and I think it would just be amazing to design a Barbie doll. I think it would be nifty to design for Barbie and when you saw the doll point to it and say to the lady next to you, "I designed that outfit."

Colors to Flatter Skin Tones

So I ran across an article forever ago on matching the clothes you wear to you skin tone. Here is the gist of the article with the wesbite all the way at the bottom so you can check it out too. 

Step 1: Decide which season most accurately describes your complexion.

              Everyone can be divided into "seasons" depending on their skin tone.

1.  "Winter" complexions have blue or pink undertones. Skin can be pale white, yellowish-olive, or dark. Winter people are generally brunettes, with deeply colored eyes. Many Asians and African Americans fall into this category.

2. "Summer" complexions, have blue or pink undertones. Skin is pale and pink. Summers are often natural blondes or brunettes with pale eyes.

3.  "Autumn" complexions have golden undertones. Many redheads and brunettes with golden brown eyes fall into this category.

4. "Spring" complexions have golden undertones and are usually creamy white or peach. Spring people generally have straw-colored or strawberry red hair, freckles, rosy cheeks, and blue or green eyes.

Step 2: Once you've decided what your skin tone is, here are the colors that will flatter your lovely tone.

"Winter": Winters should wear colors that are sharp, stark and clear. White, black, navy blue, red and shocking pink all go well with winter complexions. For lighter colors, wear icy tones rather than pastels. Avoid subdued tones like beige, orange and gold.

"Summer": Summers should choose pastels and soft neutrals with rose and blue undertones. Lavender, plum, rose-brown and soft blue suit summers well while black and orange do not.

"Autumn": Autumns should select colors with golden undertones, like camel, beige, orange, gold and dark brown. Avoid colors with blue tones, like navy.

"Spring": Springs can wear warm colors like camel, peach, golden yellow and golden brown. Avoid dark, dull colors.

I think I would fall under the Summer category. However, I had a hard time deciding if I'm a Spring or a Summer but they both say stay away from dark, dull colors and black. Although, I love wearing black. I love wearing a LBD, and I don't think I will ever not wear something black.

This post is based on an article I read online and is just one way to dress according to your skin tone. I think that a person knows what colors don't work for them and they can make their own decision on that, but to know what colors would only help you look even better- that's the point of this post. Some people may have never known camel would look best on them or a shocking red would bring out their personality.

**Here is the article: How to Choose Colors to Flatter Your Skin Tone | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_3249_choose-colors-flatter.html#ixzz11DDMrQT3**