tour de fab

style savvy: the fashionista's video game of choice

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:32:00 +0000

Wanna-be rock stars have Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Sports nuts have Madden. There's even Nintendogs for people who like to care for virtual pets. So it was about time fashionistas got a video game that would be worth their time and money.
Style Savvy was released in November 2009, so I realize I'm a little late to the party, but I couldn't resist sharing my thoughts on this totally addicting game.

The basic premise is that one day you pick up a part time job working for a woman named Grace at a trendy boutique called Strata. The next thing you know, you're out-shining your slacker co-worker Renee and getting rewarded with your very own boutique! Once you get to run your own shop, the game is totally in your hands. You can man the store and help picky customers pick out merchandise, pick up new stock at the buyer's center or spend your hard-earned cash at the hair salon and cosmetic store.
Here's the bad news: if you're a guy with a passion for fashion, you're out of luck. You pick an avatar towards the beginning of the game, and there are no male avatars. There actually aren't any men to be found in the entire game besides the owner of your store, a dashing millionaire named Domenic and his irritating butler, Godfrey. But if you're a female playing the game, you can adjust hair, eye and skin color to make the avatar look a lot like you. Well, you if you subsisted on a diet of carrot sticks and diet coke. All the women in the game are extremely skinny, which didn't really sit right with me. While in the store, you help one customer at a time. A girl usually comes in to tell you a boring, pointless story and then somehow ends the story with an explaination of why she's in your store. You then head to the stockroom, pick something out for the customer, and either ask her to take a look (which you can only do three times) or to try it on. If she tries it on and hates it, she's going to leave. But if you only tell her to take a look and she nixes your choice, you can take another shot. Sometimes it's easy to predict what your customer will like, but when you aren't sure, the "take a look" option is life saver. But I'm not gonna lie: sometimes these women do not make sense. They'll to you come dressed head to toe in red and you give them a red shirt and they're all, "I just don't like the color." It can get pretty frustrating. Other times I give them clothing they'll be sure to hate just to spite them, and they're freaking out with joy over the outfit.
As you sell more and more clothing, your shop rank goes up. Each time you get a star, you can enter a fashion contest in which you dress a model according to the theme of the contest. Your prize is typically some god-awful costume, but the glory of winning is enough of a prize.
You don't actually "beat" the game, but once you earn all five stars, you're eligable to enter the International Contest. If you win that, you are named the best stylist in the world and are given a crown to prove it.
Throughout the game, I kept thinking the creepy store owner, Domenic, was going to ask me out. He would always say awkward things after I won a fashion contest and his butler would frequently complain to me about the fact that his boss was such a loner. I was getting ready to become all outraged if it turned out the objective of the game was to land Domenic and move into his mansion, but he ended up keeping his distance.
What I love about the game is how low-key it is. Although there are goals, there's no pressure or time-crunch to complete them, so if you want, you could spend half your time picking out outfits for yourself or browsing the buyer's center. As a shop owner, you get the added bonus being able to keep each piece of clothing you buy for the store in your own closet. So by the end of the game, you have quite an extensive wardrobe. And the clothes are legitimately cute! I often found myself wishing I actually owned some of the pieces. Other items... not so much.
I'd recommend the game to anyone who likes shopping for clothes-it's suitable for all ages. It would be interesting to give the game to a player who just learned to read, because I think the challenge of listening to your customers could help develop reading comprehension skills.
It's not the perfect game, but it's a fun, eye-pleasing diversion during a long car ride or rainy afternoon. Just don't be surprised if it leaves you with an insatiable urge to go shopping.

versace

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:11:00 +0000

I recently checked out House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival from the library and am really enjoying it. Since I've never been a Versace devotee, I didn't know much about the brand's appeal and why it was so successful in the 80s and 90s. But reading about the label's rise and (sort of) fall made me want to check out the older, glory-day designs, and I found some old ads that made me quite nostalgic for the 90s. Check it out:

In the book, the author, Deborah Ball, often parallels Gianni Versace's career to that of his rival at the time, Giorgio Armani. Armani rose to fame first, with his power suits that couldn't have been more appropriate for the affluent times. Then Versace showed up, the complete opposite of Armani, with his over-the-top ads and celebrity clients. One person Ball interviewed for the book noted that Versace's clothes weren't intellectual at all, and were more like candy. The last advertisement above really drives that point home. The models in it look like cotton candy or sweet tarts.
If you have any interest in fashion whatsoever, I highly recommend picking up the book!

meg white: unsung fashion hero

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:45:00 +0000

I just watched The White Stripes' new live DVD Under Great White Northern Lights. For those of you not in the know, the 92-minute film follows the band on their tour of Canada, where they play a show in every province and territory in the country. The DVD is most satisfying for die-hard fans, since it doesn't really reveal anything new about the band. But since this is a style blog, I'll talk about one thing I re-realized upon watching: Meg White doesn't get enough credit for her fashion sense.
One thing Jack White talks a lot about in the film is his desire to make playing music as difficult as possible for him. He believes that by limiting himself (playing old instruments, having only two band members, never using a set list), he challenges himself to be as creative as possible. In a world of limitless choices, I think The White Stripes' mission statement is as relevant as ever. From an aesthetic viewpoint, Meg and Jack always look interesting and stylish even though they only wear three colors. How do they, and specifically, how does Meg, pull this off? Like Jack implies, having only three colors to choose from forces her to be imaginative when constructing an outfit. Let's take a look:

She wears hats: I'm a firm believer in hats. I think they can totally make (or break) an outfit. And when you're choosing from only red, white and black, plenty of hats can make an outfit more interesting. I can't think of anything more adorable than a red or black beret, which Meg has worn plenty of times.

She accessorizes with scarves: When your wardrobe contains a lot of plain white t-shirts, scarves can keep your outfit from getting boring. I love Meg's polka-dotted scarf here.

When in doubt, wear hot pants: I couldn't have been more surprised to see this picture of Meg wearing little red shorts at a show. But maybe when it's hot outside and you're sick of wearing red, black or white skinny jeans, you have to break out the mini shorts.

She cleans up nice! Whenever Meg has attended a red carpet event with Jack, she always looks darling and put-together. Thankfully, her color palate allows little black dresses, and she gets creative with a fuzzy white bolero-type thing.

Telephone

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:26:00 +0000

So, the Telephone video, huh? I'm still recovering from the awesomeness of it all, and I think I need to watch it a few more times before it all sinks in. But can we all agree that we can't even compare this video to Bad Romance? Telephone is so twisted and really more of a short video set to music than a music video. Here are a few of my favorite highlights.

The jailhouse dance party.

The text reads: "Thanks for bailing me out Sista!" I love B and G together.

Beyonce bails Lady G out and the real fun begins.

Let's make a sandwich! To poison everyone with!

Love that B got to wear the Mickey Mouse sunglasses of death.

Patriotic post-homicide dance party.

And sassy beekeeper outfits.

ring, ring!

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Today is the day Lady Gaga's Telephone video FINALLY premieres at 11:30 p.m. EST on E!. All the hardcore fans will be waiting with bated breath for what she and Beyonce unveil. All we know so far is that it involves bright yellow hair telephones, police tape outfits, prison breaks and lots and lots of insanity. Hopefully the end result lives up to Lady Gaga's promise that the video is a "masterpiece" that will put Bad Romance to shame.
In the meantime, I re-watched several of Gaga's videos. All fantastic.

Chanel's fall 2010 show just the tip of the iceberg

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Ha-ha, literally! Oh, the wit. Chanel's fall 2010 collection was paraded down a chilly-looking runway with a giant glacier in the middle.

glamour.com

The runway set the tone for what was to come, specifically, Abbey Lee Kershaw wearing this

style.com

A little Where the Wild Things Are meets the Abominable Snowman. Reportedly, all the fur on the runway was fake, which is relief since I can't imagine anyone actually leaving the house in this fuzzy mess. But, this being Chanel, my all-time favorite label, there was plenty of classic goodness in this collection. Observe:

style.com

If I ever had a reason to attend a red carpet event, I would no doubt wear the floral number on the bottom left. And there's nothing I wouldn't do to get my very own Chanel tweed.

Three confusing spring fashion trends and how to wear them

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:28:00 +0000

Like I mentioned yesterday, spring really is just around the corner, and malls are stocking their shelves with floral dresses and skirts, bathing suits and shorts. But with the beginning of each season comes a host of new trends that can be mind-boggling and difficult to pull off. These trends usually trickle down from the spring runways, which we first saw back in September. It's always fun to pontificate which wacky clothes will get knocked off at the likes of H&M and Forever 21, and now we finally get to find out. Of course, we're not all fashion models who can easily pull off sky-high heels, bare midriffs and ruffles galore. So how do we translate these high-fashion looks to reality? Let's see.

Trend #1: Clogs

Seen on: Chanel's spring hoe-down themed runway

style.com

Can we do this in real life? Probably. When I first saw these clogs on the runway, I had instant flashbacks to a pair of grotesque Candie's clogs I owned in middle school, and I definitely don't want to pull them out of retirement. The beauty of style is that it's open for interpretation, so I'd recommend seeking out some slightly less extreme clog-like shoes with studs and chains that make the look more modern.

1. Steve Madden; 2. Target; 3. Steve Madden; 4. Veganchic.com

Trend #2: Peplum skirts and dresses

Seen on: Several spring runways, most notably Victoria Beckham

style.com

Can we do this in real life? Sure! But remember a few guidelines. Any time you have a piece of fabric flaring out from your waist, you risk looking a little wide in the hips. I learned this lesson the hard way in a Forever 21 fitting room. If you want to rock the look in a way that's flattering, stick with dark colors and stay away from crazy patterns. If you're really hesitant, choose a skirt or dress with a top layer that extends beyond the hips.

1. Wet Seal; 2. Forever 21; 3. Aqua

Trend #3: Crop Tops

Seen on: Erin Wasson for RVCA

Can we do this in real life? Kind of. Unless you've been doing major ab workouts, my guess is that you don't want to strut around town in a crop top. However, there is a way to pull this trend off in a modest way if you wear a crop with a pair of high-waisted paints or skirt. Your belly won't be exposed, but you still get the drape-y effect of Erin Wasson's top, above. Make sure the top is loose-fitting, and you could even wear it over a slim tank top for a cool layered look.

1. Forever 21; 2. ASOS; 3. Forever 21; 4. Urban Outfitters; 5. American Apparel

Topshop's pretty spring clothing

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:18:00 +0000

A while back, I talked about my futile quest to find some pretty lingerie-as-outwear tops and dresses. I found lots of hard-to-wear corset tops, but nothing I'd be willing to leave the house in. It completely slipped my mind to check Topshop--the UK's answer to H&M. I normally count Topshop out because of geographical issues. They finally opened a store in the U.S. about a year ago, but it's in New York, which is close, but not close enough for lunch break shopping sprees. Either way, they have some really pretty, delicate looking camis, skirts and dresses that won't leave you looking like you popped out of an 80s-era Madonna video. Behold:

Any of these pieces would be a great addition to a spring/summer wardrobe--they look soft and flowy, and would keep you cool on a stuffy day. I know it's only the beginning of March, and we haven't quite arrived at spring yet, but it sure is nice to daydream about it.

D&G's wintery mix

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Over in Milan, fall 2010 shows have been pretty promising. Prada and DSquared² both had excellent shows, and gave me a lot to look forward to this fall. D&G, on the other hand, was kind of a head-scratcher. This isn't to say I didn't like it, because I'd take outrageous yet interesting over wearable but boring any day--but these pieces aren't functional by any stretch of the imagination. If I had to name the collection, I'd call it "Sexy Snow Bunnies", which really doesn't work because even snow bunnies need to stay warm. Bare legs don't fare so well on the ski slopes.

style.com

The knits are cute enough, but why isn't there a little more to them? The reindeer and snowflakes scream "winter" but I wouldn't wear a dress that length outdoors in December--unless I lived in Southern California. And speaking of SoCal... I couldn't help but notice the collection's striking resemblance to Seth Cohen's Chrismukkah sweater.

source

Time to buy a trench coat

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:08:00 +0000

After drooling over Burberry Prorsum outwear the other day, I became obsessed with the idea of getting a trench coat for the spring. Luckily, trenches seem to be one of the leading trends for spring, so there is no shortage of adorable, reasonably priced coats choose from right now. Since I shop at the same five stores every day (and I think you can all guess what they are by now), my choices come from the places I frequent the most. But whether you shop at Saks or H&M, I have no doubt the perfect trench is out there waiting for you.

forever21.com

Can we all take a moment and applaud Forever 21 for the awesomeness of these trench coats? Just look at them! There's one trimmed with a checked pattern, a more traditional one with ruffles and a floral trench. And they're all under $50.

target.com

The above trenches are from Target, and they certainly aren't the only ones the super store has to offer. On the right is a playful pink trench that's $49.99. On the right is a trench from Jean Paul Gaultier's upcoming line at Target, available March 7. I have a feeling that trench will be one of the most in-demand items from the collection.

urbanoutfitters.com

And, finally, because Urban Outfitters can't say no to a trend, we have the BDG Twill Trench, the most expensive at $98. But good trench coats should last forever, and this is one trend that will likely never go out of style.

burberry prorsum fall 2010: an exercise in outwear perfection

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:15:00 +0000

style.com

Yesterday, Burberry's Prorsum show was taken in around the world. In a fashion first, the show was streamed in 3D--and was also available to watch live on the company's web site. I'm so glad these brands are making the shows more accessible to average citizens who most likely won't find themselves sitting in the front row any time soon. Although I have to admit, when I watch the shows online, I'm often more concerned with what celebs and editors I can spot than what the models are wearing.
Burberry's show was great, most notably their signature outerwear. The coats above are gorgeous, and it looks like the thigh-high boot trend will be staying on for another season. Check out the trench in the middle, above. There appears to be a zipper around the waist, so the bottom can be zipped off to shorten the length of the jacket. Very inventive, and I'm sure the piece will be in demand this fall. You can see the full collection here and watch the entire runway show here.

olympics fever

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

It's hard to know where to divert my attention these days--Fashion Week or the Winter Olympics? Both events are full of spectacle and shock. But watching Lindsey Vonn conquer the mountain is slightly more uplifting than watching Karlie Kloss conquer the runway. Either way, I've been busy keeping up with both events.
I recently jumped on the bandwagon and began a Tumblr, which can be found here. Don't get jealous, Blogger! I'll just be using the Tumblr to supplement this blog and post things I don't really have words for. Like the stills released from Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video.
So, tonight, you can rest assured I will be sitting on my couch cheering for Evan Lysacek to bring home the gold in men's skating. Hopefully, he'll be wearing another fab Vera Wang creation like he did on Tuesday.

source

rodarte fall/winter 2010

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:39:00 +0000

The Rodarte sisters' Fall/Winter 2010 line showed today at New York Fashion week. I've come to expect a lot from Rodarte, and they always end up exceeding my expectations. This line is incredibly soft and feminine, especially compared to the edginess of Spring/Summer 2010's collection.
Luckily for us non-insiders, the show was streamed live today on SHOWstudio--and is available to watch there now. There's tons of floral prints, draping and delicate white dresses. The models are almost zombie-like, wearing practically no makeup and dead expressions. Here's a quick preview, but you can see stills of the entire line here.

photo collage by me, stills from coutorture.com

long live mcqueen

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:50:00 +0000

The fashion world is still mourning the loss of British designer Alexander McQueen. He was a favorite of many, and will certainly not ever be forgotten. At this time, I'm sure everyone's thoughts are with his family and friends--though one can't help but wonder what fashion will be like without his unique voice.

On a personal note, Alexander McQueen was one of the first designers I really loved. I remember flipping through an issue of Vogue towards the end of high school and seeing the white and blue dress from his fall 2008 collection. I fell in love with the shiny blue fabric, the pouf of white skirt, and had to know who this Alexander McQueen person was. Ever since then, I've anxiously awaited his next collection and always hoped I'd own something of his design one day. This is a great loss--such a young talent with so much more to create. In his honor, in my own small way, I'd like to pay tribute to his short time with us.

He made actresses take fashion chances. This is only a small sampling of the many McQueen dresses that have found their way onto the red carpet. Actresses who wanted to wear something a little different, a little daring, might choose to don McQueen at a premiere or awards show. They might have gotten ripped apart by the fashion police (who tend to favor bland, middle of the road dresses that lack imagination), but they always got a gold star from me for taking a chance and making the parade of beautiful but ordinary dresses that much more interesting.

He gave us a good reason to join corporate America. Suits are boring, right? Not when Alexander McQueen designs them. Whether they're plaid or houndstooth, trimmed with fur or paired with a plunging neckline, McQueen made woman want to put on a suit. Michelle Obama knows--she's wearing a McQueen pinstriped suit in the photo above. Clothing should never be boring, even in the boardroom, and McQueen made it possible for fashionistas to bring it at the office.

He brought the crazy. As long as your name isn't Lady Gaga or Daphne Guinness, chances are you wouldn't be caught dead in any of the ensembles above. But they are SO interesting to look at! One of the things I love about McQueen is that he can outfit the First Lady of the United States in a tasteful suit, and then turn around and provide the jaw-dropping costumes for Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video. McQueen was truly imaginative and versatile.

You can't beat his runway shows. Each time McQueen premiered a new collection on the runway, the fashion world held its breath. He's made his models chess pieces, aliens and dancers. His sets have been beautiful, bizarre and creepy--usually all at once. He was one of the first designers to stream his show live on the web, making him an innovator with an eye towards the future.

There isn't much I can say that hasn't been covered elsewhere, but I had to take a moment to look back at McQueen's astounding career. As upsetting as it is that we will never see a McQueen show again, I take comfort in knowing we have what he gave us while he was here, and hope that wherever he is now, he is at peace.

mcqueen

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:20:00 +0000

So sad to hear the news about Alexander McQueen's suicide. His fall 2008 collection is one of my all-time favorites, so I leave you with a few images to appreciate.

snow day

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:38:00 +0000

My snow day consisted of: baking brownies, watching Fear and shoveling snow with a dustpan cause I don't have a real shovel. Hope everyone's snow day was safe and enjoyable!

monday march 8, monday march 8, monday march 8!

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:27:00 +0000

It cannot come soon enough!

rodarte for vancouver

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:02:00 +0000

Sometimes, the stars align and two things you love dearly join forces and the results are amazing in ways you couldn't have ever predicted. Like Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Or chocolate and peanut butter. Or Forever 21 and my clothing budget.
Added to the list: figure skating and the Rodarte sisters. Yes, you read that right. Fresh off the success of their diffusion line with Target, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the sisters behind Rodarte, designed outfits for a select few Olympians in a New York Times Style Magazine photo shoot. The most notable outfit was the one donned by Johnny Weir, the ice dancer who freaking skated to "Poker Face" dressed like Edward Scissorhands. I imagine he'd be a little chilly wearing this outfit on the ice, but it's fabulous nonetheless:

In addition to providing ice skaters with something a little more Vogue-worthy than short, sassy skirts and sparkly unitards, they also outfitted freestyle skier Jeret Peterson in this stylish sweater:

Check out the magazine for more shots from the editorial--they're pretty great. Meanwhile, I'll be practicing my triple axel, since it now seems to be a reasonable way to ensure some Rodarte in my future.

another cooking journey

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Since my cinnamon bun adventure turned out so well, I figured, I'd consult my Vegan Brunch cookbook again and try my hand at making bagels from scratch.
While it was still fun, I had a harder time with the bagels than the buns. There are fewer steps, and it takes a lot less time, but you'll see where I slipped up as I take you along my cooking journey...

First you put the basic mixture (yeast, flour, yadda, yadda) in a bowl and knead the dough. This is another one of those recipes where flour will be your best friend because sticky dough = bad baking experience.

Then, like normal, you let the dough rise--this one sat for about an hour, covered by plastic wrap.

I used parchment paper to turn out my dough, cut it into 12 pieces and molded them into little balls. If the dough is sticky, get out the flour!

Then you gently make a hole in the dough ball and shape it into a bagel. If you please, you can then dip it in sesame seeds or poppy seeds or what have you.

Then you boil a huge pot of water and drop a few bagels in at a time. The recipe said the dough would float to the surface of the water, but mine didn't. I can't image this altered the quality of the bagels significantly.

Where I really went wrong was when I stuck the bagels in the oven. I didn't spray the pan (I know, I know!), so the bagels were basically superglued to the baking sheets I used. This made for a fun 20 minutes or so of scraping. Also, my overly-sensitive smoke detector went off just as I was pulling them out of the oven, which scared the bejesus out of me. But, these things happen, and now I know for future bagel baking to spray the pan! Above is a pile of the few undamaged bagels. Now, who has some cream cheese?

olsenboye launched today!

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:36:00 +0000

I know I told y'all about this line back in October, but just to recap: Mary-Kate and Ashley launched a low-priced JCPenney line aimed at teens several months ago, and the line is officially available in stores today. No one (I hope) was expecting anything as exquisite as their luxury line, The Row, or even its trendier little sister, Elizabeth and James, but I think Olsenboye deserves credit for being a cute, wearable line for teens and people who think they're still teens (i.e., me). So what pieces will fly off the racks first? Here are my predictions:

Boyfriend Blazer: I can't resist a good blazer, and this navy number is very Blair Waldorf, don't you think?

Denim Jacket: Cute denim jackets like this one are going to be all the rage this spring, so I have a feeling the item will be in high demand. Details like the pink stitching on the front and three-quarter length sleeves add a little something extra to this find.

Bow Skirt: This girly pink pleated skirt is one of my favorite items from the collection. It can be dressed up or down--or worn with the denim jacket above.

Madeline Shoe: SHOES! These lovely pink bow heels are animal-friendly and have a zipper in the back for easy on-off action. If I could pull off heels, I'd so get these.

Foldover Xbody Tote: I absolutely love this tote bag. As I've mentioned before, I tend to carry most of my possessions along with me when I leave the house, so giant bags with long shoulder straps are always welcome. This bag has handles, so you can carry it, in addition to a shoulder strap. Versatile, cute, and Olsen-approved.

Of course, there are a few misses in the collection, especially the graphic logo tees, but you can decide that for yourselves. So either head to your local JCPenney, or shop online here.

i just did your valentine's day shopping for you

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

Now that February has arrived, we can begin to focus on that oh-so-controversial Hallmark holiday, Valentine's Day. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to at least kind of enjoy a holiday that's focused purely on candy, cupcakes, the color red and this movie.
Don't indulge in sleazy-looking undergarments or calorie-packed confections for V-Day gifts--I did all the heavy lifting for you and perused the home of all things cute and quirky: Etsy. So, now I will share with you some potential gifts for yourself or your significant other--and I dare you not to "aw" over at least ONE of these items:

First, we have cards and their sickeningly sweet statements. In this day and age, this I love you more than twitter card means a lot coming from a Web-obsessed friend or significant other. Don't tweet? This seller, the UK-based Storeyshop has tons of other cut-out cards declaring love greater than Facebook, ketchup, payday and other modern-day necessities.

Who can forget the "I Choo Choo Choose You" Valentine? There's a wealth of cards, shirts and other paraphernalia declaring this statement, but I particularly loved this I choo choo choose you French bulldog card. Come on, he's dressed as a train conductor!

Let's not forget the prevalence of jewelry as a Valentine's Day surprise. But instead of a boring diamond or ruby, how about an emoticon? You know you've used the "<3" symbol to express your love for someone or something, so here you go, a less than 3 ring!

Don't like symbolic representations of the heart? Why not present your lady with the real deal? This what's in your heart? ring looks more like a science textbook drawing of the heart, but still has love inside of it. Say it with me: "Awww..."

This haz todo con amor wall art brings El Dio de los Muertos and the day of cupid together. The combination of grim-looking skeletons and sweet "Do Everything with Love" message is the perfect mixture of macabre and romantic.

The most important issue to address on Valentine's Day is not what type of flowers to order or what romantic restaurant to dine at, but what to wear! What could be more darling for a night out than this 1950s party dress?

If that frock is too precious for you, this 1960s mod dress looks like something right out of Meg White's red, white and black-filled closet.

And, finally, I couldn't resist including this beyond adorable 1970s sweater.

OK, guys and gals, I've done all the hard work for you--so get shopping! See you in line for Valentine's Day February 12!

packing my bag

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Thanks to the folks at CSN Stores, I was given a chance to select and review a product of my choice. Fashion always comes first for me, but I do have a practical side, so I decided to go with this cute-yet-functional Ricardo Beverly Hills Super Tote. I finally got to put it to use this weekend when I needed to haul some stuff to Eric's house.
Here it is, sitting on my couch, waiting to be filled with stuff:

And fill it with stuff I did. The bag's major selling point is that you can basically pack your whole life in it--and there are so many nooks and compartments, you won't have a hard time locating your hairbrush or cell phone when you need it. I packed a change of clothes and some toiletries in the large center compartment:

And the two outer compartments are just begging to be stuffed with books, magazines or a laptop, which I did:

There's also some small zipper compartments on the sides that I stuck my various chargers in.

One downside: I'd like it if the handles were a bit longer, because once you head out with this thing, it can get a little awkward to carry--especially if you jam pack it like I did. If it were easier to throw it over the shoulder, it would be pretty much perfect.

Overall, I really like the bag and will definitely use it for short trips that don't call for a big suitcase. I can see mothers with young kids getting a lot of mileage out of this thing too, cause it's so easy to grab your necessities out of the many zipper compartments. Any bag that makes me feel not crazy for needing five magazines and two novels on my person at all times gets an A+ from me!

adventures in confusing fashion trends

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:17:00 +0000

It seems like every year around this time, when the spring fashion trend predictions start rolling in, we're told "lingerie as actual clothing" is the latest and greatest look to work into your wardrobe. Sure, all ladies have some pretty underthings, but most of us wouldn't dream of leaving the house with these pieces visible (at least not on purpose!). So how to work this trend in a way that doesn't scream "call girl" or "exotic dancer" or call to mind this look from Marc Jacob's spring 2010 runway?

elle.com

While browsing at H&M today (what else is new?), I spotted a rack of the Sonia Rykiel lingerie line at a serious discount. A corset that I thought could reasonably double as a lacy tank top was marked down to $15 and it was calling my name. Into the fitting room I went.

source

One problem! How in the name of all that is fashionable are you supposed to handle all the clasps on the back of a corset? I counted about twenty tiny metal hooks, and my short arms could not reach around to secure them all into place. So the adorable top stayed at H&M, and I left wondering how this spring staple would ever find its way into my closet.
Later, I browsed around the Internet for a bit, searching for a practical, not overly revealing lingere-esque top and didn't really have a whole lot of luck. However, I DID find a solution to the whole corset clasp conundrum: ZIPPERS!

urbanoutfitters.com

Urban Outfitters carries this lovely floral bustier (kind of what I had in mind, but I'm searching for something a little more romantic and a little less 90s-revival) that has a zipper to close it up. What a novel idea. So, here's my challenge to anyone reading this: where can I find a reasonably cheap, pretty, corset-like top that has a zipper, and not a gazillion metal clasps? If you ever see one, don't buy it for yourself--send it to me.

sizing up

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:43:00 +0000

I didn't want to comment on V magazine's size issue until I had read and taken the time to digest the whole thing--even though we all saw about 85% of the photos well before the magazine was released. So I was happy to get my hands on a copy when I was out and about this weekend.
It seems that the fashion community is finally starting to realize how unrealistic and potentially damaging it is for them to send the message that looking like a pubescent girl at age 25 is ideal. More importantly, they are actually starting to do something to change it. Plus size model Crystal Renn is becoming more of a household name after starring in a few Glamour editorials and, of course, makes an appearance in V's "One Size Fits All" spread, which features her modeling the same outfit as "straight-sized" model Jacquelyn Jablonski and looking really, really good. I didn't love that particular editorial though. I get the message: Plus sized woman can look just as good as (or better than!) thin models wearing the exact same clothes. But the spread reminded me of one of those "Spot the Differences" games in Highlights for Children. I don't think it was their intention, but I think the shoot seemed to draw more attention to how different the models look instead of how marvelously they both wear the clothes.

I liked the "Curves Ahead" editorial that featured plus-sized models only, but I didn't like that the entire focus of the photos seemed to be on their bodies. When Anja Rubik or Karlie Kloss model, they are showing off clothes or cosmetics or shoes. When they stuck these models behind the camera, the message seems to be, "they might be a size 14, but they still look good!"

What it all boils down to, for me, is this marginalization of so-called plus sized models. They seem to exist so magazine editors, photographers, designers and so on and so forth can be appear less shallow and more open minded to different types of beauty. I don't think it's fair for these gorgeous and talented models to be used so critics will get off the fashion community's back about glorifying unrealistic body types.
I'm not saying the editors of V didn't have their heart in the right place, because I think they did. And mostly, I think the issue was a success. I just wish we could do away with the whole plus-sized/straight-sized label and just call them models. And not comment on a woman's body as if it is ours to dissect. Because at the end of the day, fashion is about beauty and creativity and fantasy. And you need diversity for all those things to exist.

images from stylist.com and socialitelife.com

online shopping at CSN

noreply@blogger.com (erin) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:11:00 +0000

I hit the blogger jackpot earlier this week when I was tipped off to the online shopping emporium that is CSN Stores. These guys have pretty much everything for your home, from kitchenware to rugs--they even have a huge selection of mailboxes.
I was offered the chance to review something from one of CSN's 200+ stores, and had a really hard time picking something from the hundreds of items they carry. While I wait for my item to arrive in the mail, perhaps you can check the site out for yourself and take your guess at what I picked. Then check back soon for a full product review!