Hidden Potential

So... I adore shopping!
It doesn't necessarily matter what kind of shopping exactly- I have been known to even have fun shopping at hardware stores because it seems like you can always find something fun and interesting no matter where you are!
And when I saw the movie 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' and it came a little close to home, it's then that you realize that you might enjoy the sport way, waay too much!
Which is why, while I was patiently waiting with my mom, (as my father was in the dressing room), that I suddenly became aware of all the hidden potential that the men's department had to offer!
I mean, I had always heard that several celebrities have bought undershirts for this reason or that reason, but it never fully occurred to me exactly how many outfit options there were out there! I did not just bag a bunch of undershirts alone.
For example:
I purchased some knee high socks, a black, off-white, n gray plaid oxford, which can be paired with some black skinny jeans, ankle boots, black beads and a lace cami.
Not to mention the undershirt options! The outfit posabilities are endless!!
A ribbed wife beater- which let's face it, is cut waay too large on the underarm, but can still be paired with a chic, rocker vest and some ballet flats- BONUS: wear it with attitude and you'll look exactly like Kate Moss!
They're at a reasonable price- with each pack averaging 3 or more shirts- it's a great deal!
Plus, you can cut or fold, stain or paint, bedazzle or dye, rip or shred 'em!! The only style limit is your imagination!
I've never been so excited!
It's like this ancient fashion secret has been unearthed, and the dawn of a fashion revolution is- literally- at my fingertips!

Animal Attraction

Isn't this amazing?!

It's unbelievable that I even FOUND it!
I was in the discount store not too long ago- and while discount stores rarely make me feel fabulous, sometimes you can actually stumble upon some diamonds in the rough... like the time I found a Juicy Couture speedy buried under a plethora of dusty bags!
Not that I bought it or anything... but still the fact that I even discovered it, was nothing short of a miracle!
So, as I was giving all the scarves a once-over, I noticed a hint of something pink peeking out of the pile- because I have started obsessing about scarves only recently, of course I was compelled to dig.
When I unearthed this scarf, my breath caught in my chest and visions of outfits danced in my head. It was the perfect shopping/luncheon date/birthday party/just around the house kinda glam that is moi!
Of course I purchased it immediately!
I have no idea who designed this scarf, (sadly, the tag had been ripped off) but it is going to be my summer classic- as it is sure to go with everything I own!

What I Would Take With Me To A Desert Island

I dunno what it is, but all of the sudden, I'm in this list writing mood- weird, not sure how long it will last though, so I'm gonna take advantage of it!

So, there are not too many things that are actually useful when you're marooned, but still here's my list...

10. Disposable razors- for sure! I could probably get them to last a long time by sharpening them on some rocks, or like sand or something.

9. Moisturizing lip balm, because you should have sultry lips all day (who knows when a hunky Marine might come to your rescue?!?)

8. Splurge and get the Louis Vuitton monogrammed beach towel!

7. A V.S. itsy-bitsy bikini so I could get a great tan!

6. An uber cute swimsuit (by Michael Kors), a one piece for diving would be an absolute must! You have to look hot when you're fishing for breakfast!

5. Fashion magazine, or like an Us Weekly, so that I could compare my tan to the celebrities'.

4. Spray on sunscreen- not that it would last TOO long, but it'd be good to have just the same! Probably like, the Aveeno one because that actually works.

3. My FAB Dior sunglasses- THE best purchase I have ever made- they fit like a dream and make me look seriously cool!

2. A Brita water purifier- the one that's portable so I could filter the salt water...

1. A solar powered Polaroid camera- that way I could have some majorly awesome photo shoots in the palm trees!

bLaSt FrOm ThE pAsT: Adventures In My Fashion 101 Design Class

I don't usually enjoy crafts- unless they pertain to fashion, that is. So once upon a time at fashion school, we had to create a dress out of newspapers and duct tape! Kinda stressy because we only had 30 minutes!
Sounds fun huh? It was!! This is the finished product, modeled by my partner, Lana Holland...

Sorry for the poor quality, (this snap is from my cell). Oh, and FYI, our dress was voted the best in class.

A few views of the dress on the mannequin...



That's a flower on the shoulder, and then there are several petals growing down the side... I adore this dress- it was so much fun to make! We started out wanting to design something for a cocktail party, and then the inspiration flowed.




And here are the other dresses my classmates created- totally FAB, don't you think?!

The team that made this dress used the entire 30
minutes to weave that bodice- totally paid off too, it reminds me of either
a spring basket or those seat belt purses that were all the rage, y'know?



This is my personal favorite-
I would wear it today, even though it's paper!



The team that designed this sat behind Lana & I- can you tell that their
inspiration came from spiderwebs?
I think you would definitely need some double sided tape if you were going to wear it though!



I like the pattern on the tube top!
In case you were wondering that's my mother's hand...
She held up the purse that went to this one for me! Thanks mom!



The gathering at the bodice is sheer genius!



I think this is one of my favorites- that skirt is so rad!

Hope you enjoyed this post- it was certainly one of the highlights of being at school... I so miss all my interestingly, eccentric classmates!
Where are they now?!?

My Top Ten Fave Style Icons

These are not in any special order- just how they came to mind!


10. Blake Lively

9. Kimora Lee Simmons

8. Kate Moss

7. Miley Cyrus

6. Charlize Theron

5. Grace Kelly

4. Sophia Lauren

3. Victoria Beckham

2. Carrie Underwood

1. Taylor Momsen

Yes, I Am Naturally This Tan

Nothing fascinates me more than people who can maintain that year round glow, because it requires the two D words:

Diligence to get sprayed or baked on a regular basis,
And...
The Dough to back it up!
Confession: I have personally spent $70 on a stand up tanning bed subscription for 60 minutes (which did look like a coffin), immediately wishing I was a California native, so that that fabulous sunshine would be part of my taxes! Because meanwhile, all of the other unfortunate states that have raging winter seasons are very left out of the tanning abilities (that is, unless you are an avid skier/snowboarder, and even then you just have a raccoon tan on your face- that's not hot!).
So, this brings me to the most wonderful product I have found! It's called 'Tanning Bed In A Tube', and it has saved many vacations for my sister and I- who have been working or unable to tan beforehand.
You slather it on, and even though it gradually tans you more and more with each application, it doesn't stink! YEA!! It has that certain que je ne sais pas banana-esq aroma. Delightful!
Thank you Too Faced! My summer glow is saved!!

Good Morning Lover!

I Raise My Coffee Mug To You

So, even though coffee doesn't directly relate to fashion, (although I'm sure it is behind most designer's successful runway shows- how else would creative minds stay up late sewing, brainstorming & designing, had it not been for a caffeine packed cup o' java?) but as it is morning and I have woken up to the delightful smell of my new favorite brew: Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla, I feel inspired to start the day with high expectations.

I am looking forward to tasting the other blends, but so far the only addition I've had other than the French Vanilla, is the original, (a favorite classic!)
Even though I'm sure the word is out already about this coffee, I just had to praise it! Well done Dunkin! Another satisfied customer! ;)

Call Off The Dogs- I Found It!

China Glaze in Turned Up Turquoise

This is absolutely my favorite color of nail lacquer! Seriously, I feel like shouting Nike! or Eureka! or something because, I have searched and searched tirelessly for TWO years to find this exact shade! I still remember the day when I saw this very color at MAC and the girls at the counter said that it was sold out- No problem, I'd thought, I'll just buy it online. That effort was futile as well, because NO one had it! Imagine my dismay, when I marched back into MAC and offered to buy the SAMPLE nail polish- well they were sympathetic, but not apologetic- sending me on my way. I do not doubt that to this day one of the counter girls had her beady eye on it- but oh well, life goes on...
So, I was all but content to live without it- There will be others, I said to myself
and that was when lo, & behold on a shopping trip (which fortuitously landed me at a grand opening of an ULTA store) and oh, it was definitely one of those moments where you could hear the heavenly choir singing, because I saw THE COLOR- the ONE I had been forced to give up! I suppose I had not given up hope entirely, but was almost resigned to the fact that I would never see it again, until the trend resurfaced, (and I was sure I would be in my late forties by that time), but no, it was here and it was now- and it matches my new FAB scarf I just found on sale, so life is great- and my faith in the beauty industry is restored!

Glasshouse Inspirations

Burberry's Spring '09 Ad Campaign





This is sooo refreshing- ah, I can just smell the flowers from the greenhouse! I particularly like the ruched up sleeves on the trench coat- divine! It really kicks it up a notch, and I have already pulled my Isaac Mizrahi trench out of my closet. Amazing, now I'm actually anticipating rainy day!

A Place For Everything And Everything In It's Place

What I hope my closet will resemble someday! I *must* take a trip to the container store!!


It's the first day of spring- yea!! The snow is melting for good this time, and the sun is out! I am so inspired that I have pulled all of my brightly colored tops from the back of my closet and brought them front and center- time to accessorize! Which reminds me to FINALLY get around to organizing my plethora of jewelry. I suppose that's why they call it "spring cleaning". Which makes me wonder why everyone is so prejudice about only cleaning in the spring?! What is so uninspiring about the winter anyway? I feel that on some chilly days one could drink a cup of cocoa, have a few empty organizing containers spread out- and along with some self reflection can cleanse the soul more than many care to admit.
Of course, everything starts with a teensy, little bit of enthusiasm or an awakening of some sort. I come from a long line of organizers and skilled administrators- for some reason I received neither of those genes.
My sister is the great organizer- in fact, many of my childhood memories are filled with her removing the clutter or "purging" as it is often referred to, her room.
Sadly, because of this illness I suffer from called sentimentality, I feel compelled to save each and everything she ever gave away- and in some extreme cases, ended up going through her bags, left for the thrift store while she slept.
But I digress, and therefore am reforming myself to join the masses this lovely spring weekend, determined to let go of things that I have not used in over a year... we'll see how that goes. I have a bad feeling that I will be clutching onto the bags I filled with my old things, pleading silently for the volunteer workers to refuse my stuff for any reason- any reason at all. But I need to move on from my things- so that I can make way for the new fashion, ideas and trends that have yet to emerge.
I wish you all luck!
May you have the courage to let go, the faith to believe there will be sample sales again in the future, and that memories are stronger than mere possessions.

My Lovely Stripe Scarf

Xhileration Black Stripe Maxi Scarf


Surprise!!

Believe it or not, this blog is actually about something I OWN! Whoo-hoo!
And that I wore all day as matter of fact!
Don't ask me why, but upon the purchase of this lovely scarf- I immediately felt compelled to tie the very ends into knots!
Today I paired it with a royal blue, scoop neck shirt, some faded blue jeans, my beloved huge hoops and my black havaianas. It was my spin on LA street chic!

My Latest Obsession

Ahh, la more!

This bag is the perfect expression of Spring!
Juicy's 'Daisy Print Daydreamer Tote' literally took my breath away when I saw it! I keep having visions of pairing it with a flowy, white blouse, whitewashed skinny jeans, and some laid back gladiator sandals! Of course the possibilities of what to wear with it are endless!
Mark my words, I shall be acquiring one soon! Viva La Juicy!!

Ideas

"Oooh, I'm so inspired!"

That's usually something you would hear right before an artist picks up his paintbrush or before a sculptor forms a wad of clay. Not me.
While, I adore the arts- there is something I find more demanding and far more entertaining. It's fashion!
Don't get me wrong, I do not claim to know everything about the fashion industry, (or even the correct pronunciation of 'Gaultier'), I can however, find inspiration in everything- from the simplicity of a season to the high grandeur of the holidays.
I create outfits for every occasion- most I do not attend- but still, in my heart I know that if I were to be invited, I would never stumble at accessorizing!