Well, who would have thought that one of the biggest splashes in fashion during the inauguration was going to be a bow! It’s almost got more people talking about this hat than they are about the inaugural speech!
Aretha Franklin, the ultimate soul diva, preformed “My Country Tis Of Thee” which most of America will know as “America.” The song had its moments, but all in all, she delivered wonderfully–just as expected. What else would you expect from the 21-time Grammy winner?
But the song is not the hot topic! Everywhere you look online, people are blogging about this hat. You will find people that love, hate it, and everything in between–but one thing is certain–almost everyone knows about it!
Hats are certainly making a comeback anyway, so you can expect to see more within the coming days. Will they all feature this bedazzled bow? We shall have to wait and see. Until then, you’ll have to settle for the millions of pics and videos online of what will forever be known as “Aretha’s Hat!”
When it comes to jewelry, the concept of wearing it never seem to fade at least! For Spring 2009, there are several styles that seem to be sticking around this year.
Gold and silver, still ever popular, will set the stage for many of today’s most coveted pieces. However, there seems to be a slide towards plating to help cut down the cost.
Metal necklaces are also very desireable, especially long flowing lengths, some up to 60″, in order to allow for twisting and wrapping.
However, the big splash this year is pearls. You’ll find them in many different types of jewelry and in all colors. Traditionally, it seems that pearls never really go out of style, but tend to come back with a flourish every few years. Long loops or chokers seem to be the preferred way of wearing pearls.
Coral, tourquoise, and jasper are the favored stones and are often seen in bold, rather large, necklaces. With or without large, chunky beads, these necklaces are often used in ethnic pieces, with meaningful designs.
Bangles and cuffs are this seasons must haves. Animal prints, leather, and heavily jeweled cuffs should be what sets the tone for the rest of your jewelry. However, if you don’t like the heavy feel of these pieces, bangles are a sure fire win.
It seems that no particular look is out this year. So you can buy the pieces that catch YOUR eye, not the fashion guru’s! Go out and have some fun!
I’m always on the look out for pieces that are good transition pieces. Pieces that can be incorporated from season to season in my wardrobe. This dress from Old Navy is one of those great “wear now/wear later” options. It’s bright floral print is tempered by the grey background, adding just the right dash of cheerful color for winter. I love the yellow and, of course, the electric blue. The velvet sash is a perfect texture to wear during this time of year and it accentuates the waist beautifully. The material of the dress is satin-y but that is good because then it can be dressed up or down. Here is how I would accessorize for now…and for later…
WINTER:
This cardigan and these ribbed tights, both from Urban Outfitters, will keep me snuggly as the temperatures are low. The slouchy, over-sized fit of the cardigan adds a laid back vibe to the bright dress and the heathered grey and green pattern work with the colors in the dress without being too matchy. The army green of the tights does the same job of tying in with the leaves in the print of the dress while not trying too hard. These motorcycle booties found at Nordstrom works in the trend of the season (booties) while still maintaining their fashion longevity by having the motorcycle vibe. Depending on how cold it is, I could still layer a thin turtleneck under the dress for an extra layer and I would definitely wear a scarf and hat.
SPRING:
A wide leather belt subs out the velvet tie for a more earthly, spring feel and these snake print flats are an unexpected blue pop to tie in the print of the dress. The striped scarf is a cheerful punch of color in an unexpected pattern that works surprisingly well with floral.
Here’s an unusual accessory that’s practically guaranteed to lend a little interest to any outfit: It’s the Brassy Dame Double Ring! Okay, the term they’re using is “double ring,” but we all know that these are actually just a feminine, delicate version of that old organized crime standby, brass knuckles. And call me crazy, but I’m loving it! The toughness of the the ring’s shape is balanced by the sweet blue stones and the demure engraved daisies. Sadly, this particular item is currently out of stock, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up seeing many more rings in this style soon enough. Forget an oversized cocktail ring - I predict that girlie brass knuckles could be the new statement jewelry for ‘09! What do you think?
Would you wear this brass knuckle-esque double ring?
Yes! I love how unusual and striking it is! (71%, 5 Votes)
Maybe! I'll keep an eye out for this trend... (29%, 2 Votes)
No! I prefer my jewelry with a less thuggish slant. (0%, 0 Votes)
I am curious: Do you wear a watch? I feel like watches are slowly going extinct. I can’t remember when I last asked someone for the time based on their wristwear. Usually I’ll say, Do you know what time it is? And someone will whip out their cell phone or Blackberry to give the answer. I remember a time (ha. "time.") when I’d seek out a watch-wearer to ask for the time. I’ll go as far as to say that sometimes I’d use the "Do you have the time?" line as an excuse to talk to a cute guy. I was young and boy-crazy! And shameless.
I used to wear a watch always - I felt incomplete without one. I had big, bulky Swatches that were water-proof. I had delicate, bracelet style ones to class up an outfit. I even had the all-time best Goofy watch in history:
Pretty great, huh? Backwards numbers and everything. Goofy was such a silly guy.
I have several watches with dead batteries collecting dust in my jewelry box and it hasn’t occured to me to get any of them fixed. What would be the point? I have a cell phone, so I’m always time-aware. But I think I know what the point would be: Watches are a great accessory. Forget about the practicality of them. They can look pretty. Or edgy. Or funky. Or Goofy. I would totally rock the Goofy watch if I still had it. How about you?
I’ve been thinking about backpacks lately. While I love the practical nature of a backpack, the whole aesthetic of one makes it rather unappealing. I actually carried my royal blue Jansport (which I’ve had for 10+ years) to class last month. I’m taking an acting class and my scene involved roller skates (which is another story for another day) and since I walk most places, I needed a way to transport my skates to class. And no, I was not going to roller skate my way there. That would just be asking for a broken bone! A backpack was the most logical way. So as I was trekking up to Melrose, backpack strapped on, I realized how convenient my backpack was. And I started longing for a "cool" way to pull one off. Because my bright blue monster wasn’t doing the trick. I think I found my way:
This roomy, classy version from Urban Outfitters has just the look that I love. It’s slouchy, chocolate-colored, vintage-y and roomy. I would not feel embarrassed toting this on my back around town. And it comes in black if that is more your style. And it’s only $58 which is just the icing on my backpack-cake.
Ever had a pair of pants that were just a little too big - not large enough to warrant tailoring, but definitely enough to cause a bit of a problem? Belts can be a lovely addition to an outfit, but sometimes you just don’t feel like adding any bulk to your waistline. And what about longer tops that cover your belt loops altogether? Belting the pants underneath can cause unsightly bulges and lumps. Enter this ingenious anti-accessory: The Invisibelt. Designed to keep your pants up without the heft of a traditional belt, it’s see-through and fully adjustable - ideal for use under long, fitted tops. I have to admit that I’m a bit intimidated by the How To instructions, which seem a tad complicated, but I’m sure the belt is easy to use once you actually have it in your hands. Check it out and stop hiking up those jeans!
What’s the latest jewelry motif that’s been popping up everywhere, from necklaces to earrings to rings? The humble key! Forget wearing your house key on a lanyard around your neck - this trend is all about pretty, antique-looking skeleton keys in simple settings. When worn as jewelry, keys are amazingly versatile; they can impart an elegant, Victorian air or a tough, street-wise flavor, and I love the "found object" aspect of wearing vintage keys.
Whether you choose a cluster (the necklace, from ModCloth.com), a pair (earrings by Forever 21) or a solitary statement piece (the unique wraparound ring by Obey), keys as accessories are eye-catching, understated and very chic.
So it’s come to this: The fanny pack is back. Formerly the province of tasteless tourists, frazzled parents and little kids who just don’t know any better, I thought we had seen the last of this hands-free pseudo-purse. I mean, who would bring it back? And why? They’re always ugly and unflattering, disrupting the lines of an outfit and guiding all eyes directly to the hips - something all women just love to have as the focal point of their appearance, right? Nah, not so much. Plus, how hard is it just to carry a purse?! If you’re looking for an even easier or more casual option, try a backpack or messenger bag - but please, don’t resort to the fanny pack!
To add another disturbing element to this unfortunate (and inexplicable) trend, fanny packs are no longer strictly "low-end" accessories. You can still pick one up from Target for $10, but if you’ve got more cash than common sense you can choose a pricier version from Prada. For $410. Let me repeat this: You can spend four hundred dollars on a fanny pack. I’m sorry, but that is just wrong.I don’t care how many articles the Los Angeles Times prints on the subject; no one can convince me that fanny packs are chic.
A friend turned me on to this amazing website, fredflare.com! It’s absolutely bursting at the seams with cute, quirky finds that are affordably priced and aimed at your fun-loving side. They have everything from accessories and apparel to home goods and completely random knickknacks. Here are just a few of the many, many adorable pieces I am now furiously coveting:
See? They have everything! The bright blue, button-front dress, with its off-kilter, vintagey charm that would do Zooey Deschanel proud…the Boo Boo Kiss bandages that offer a funny alternative to boring Band-Aids…the doggy change purse that is guaranteed to make you smile every time you look at it - not to mention the shiny apple necklace, the rainbow sprinkles ring, the Holly Golightly-inspired sleep mask, and the cocktail ring that snaps open to reveal sparkly hidden treasure! I’m in love. I also think these black gladiator sandals are the definitive take on the gladiator trend - absolutely my favorite ones yet. And guess what the piggy and elephant on the bottom right do? They’re little vacuum cleaners! Even chores can be fun! Fred Flare, you are officially my hero.
If you can’t find your perfect multi-hued bag, take this crafty cue from Martha Stewart: Make your own!
From:
Give an orphaned pillowcase a new home — over your shoulder.
1. Trim 1/4 inch off the closed end, and cut the case in half on the diagonal. Turn the fabric of each of the four diagonal cut edges over by 1/4 inch, twice; pin, and hem.
2. Place one pillowcase half inside the other, lining up bottom edges; pin, and sew at front where fabrics overlap. Repeat on other side. Turn fabric inside out, and hem case’s cut bottom. Trim with pinking shears. Turn case right side out, tie top ends into a knot, and you have a carefree summer bag.
Here’s a trend worth embracing: Summer scarves. As modeled on Jessica Alba, one of many Hollywood starlets who are fans of the lightweight neckwear, a gauzy scarf can be a pretty hot-weather accessory. First of all, it’s nice to have something to throw on your neck for added warmth when you’re wearing a v-neck blouse or tank top during the day but find that the temperature has descended with the setting sun, as is often the case near the beach. Also, an eye-catching scarf is an ideal necklace substitute, and cutting back on the amount of jewelry you’re wearing is always great in the summertime - one less thing to worry about! A scarf can be easily removed and thrown into a bag (or tied to a bag’s handle, for that matter) without fear of damaging it if you don’t feel like wearing it for a while. And, finally, scarves are fantastic accent pieces because of their sheer versatility; you can wear them well into the fall by coupling them with a sweater instead of a sundress.
You also have a great range of price options when it comes to summer scarves, so you can spend as much or as little as you’d like. If you’re aiming for the authentic Alba look, try the Tolani scarf on the left for a handmade piece that will set you back $85. Not looking to spend the better part of a hundred dollars on an accessory? Head over to Old Navy and check out their selection of colorful lightweight knits; grab one for only $16.50. Looking to save even more cash? Well, there’s always Forever 21: The cute fringed summer scarf on the right is priced at a mere $5.50. At that price, you can buy more than one. Have fun!
While Gryson for Target was a big disappointment to me, I’m all about second chances and I’m looking forward to Target’s new designer handbag line from Monique Botkier. The Cut has a sneak peek at the line today, which debuts in stores on July 20th. While I’m not too keen on the metallic bags in the line, there is something about the black bag pictured on the right that I’m digging. The doctor’s satchel style, combined with the diagonal studs and the fringed accessory make it slightly different yet traditional at the same time. It would be a good "through the years" bag - that is, if it’s made with any kind of quality. The material looks like it would soft yet sturdy but I’ve been burned by photography trickery in the past. I’ve learned my lesson! I’ll look forward to seeing this in person in July. Until then, check out the rest of the styles on The Cut and let me know how you’re feeling toward the latest designer line at Target.
Have you ever gotten the Acacia catalog in the mail before? I got it for the first time yesterday - I’m not sure why I got it, I must be on some list, but I’m not complaining. It’s an eclectic mix of products ranging from clothing to home goods to books for "body, home, spirit." There are a lot of great products but the two things that caught my eye are not fashionable in the least, but they are extremely practical.
I’ve talked about my love for yoga before. I’ve also talked about my sweaty feet but I didn’t mention how it’s not just my feet but my palms too. So whenever I do yoga, I have to lay out two towels - one at each end of my mat - so that my body’s chemistry doesn’t result in an unfortunate downward-dog-gone-wrong. My mat is like a slip and slide without something to absorb my problem. Clearly, Bikram Yoga has never been a consideration for me. Which is why I was so excited when I saw the Yoga Socks (left) and Yoga-Paws (right). I know, I know. They aren’t cute. But the idea that I could do yoga without packing a closet of towels is oh so appealing to me. And the Yoga-Paws are so that you can do yoga anywhere, whether you have a mat or not. The versatility of that - I could just use them in my living room, no mat required. Call me crazy but these funny looking things really appeal to me. How about you? Would you sacrifice a little style for a little comfort? Let me know what you think!
So by now you’ve probably heard about the Dunkin Donuts commercial that was pulled because the black and white scarf that a stylist put on Rachael Ray was similar to a keffiyeh, which conservative blogger Michelle Malkin describes as "the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad." She also calls it "hate couture." This caused quite a twitter throughout the blogosphere and DD decided to pull the ad because they didn’t want people to focus on the scarf, over the iced coffee they are trying to sell. This has all been fascinating to me and something I’d love to discuss over a DD iced coffee sometime but…..I’m not here to get into the politics of either the scarf or DD’s decision to pull the ad. And I’m not going to talk about the crazy power of blogging and how people’s opinions are suddenly looked at with much more gravity than they should probably be given.
I just wanted to point out that yesterday Pete Wentz was out with his wife/baby mama, on the same day that all this scarf controversy broke wide open, wearing this:
Saw this in June’s Self magazine and thought it was great. It’s a Shoe Pouch that you can attach to your sneakers - the velcro strap feeds through your laces - and you can store money, a key, hotel key, you know, the little things you need on a run but you don’t always have a place for. I’ve definitely tied my key through my laces before and I think this pouch is fantastic.
What really sells me though is the ID. You put your information, your emergency contact info and any other pertinent info. Great if you have any medical conditions that emergency persons would need to know about. You slide it onto your shoe pouch strap and you’re ready to go. So if, God forbid, something happened on your run or your bike ride or your hike, your information is right there, affixed to a reflective strap on your shoe. I say that is 20 bucks well spent. Oh and if you want to get pretty, the shoe pouch also comes in red, pink and black.
Call me crazy, but I really love this peacock-plumed concoction Eva Longoria wore last night in Cannes. Like I can’t stop looking at it. Wishing I had it. Imagining all the fabulous places I could wear it. Like grocery shopping or to the gym. Seriously though, a dress this fabulous has a limited window of places to wear it, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of subtle ways to incorporate peacock into your everyday wardrobe. And with green being so hot right now, peacock feathers are a great accessory.
I think these earrings from Fred Flare are THE ideal way to wear the plumage. They are guaranteed to spice up any outfit. I found this cashmere sweater by C3 on Bluefly and the feather on the sleeve is so subtle cool and it’s cashmere, people. You know how I love that. These fun undies from Mod Cloth are a great way to keep your peacock love under wraps. And to incorporate the maxi trend into your life, you can bid on this pretty T-bags dress I found on Ebay.
I haven’t been shy about my sweaty feet and if you have ever had my problem (like if you’re human) then you know that with sweat comes stink. I know. Ew. But it’s true. And there are so many cute sandals out there that I want to get but I can’t because I know their slick sole will become a slip-n-slide of stinky embarrassment. But I’ve found the solution! Summer Soles has inserts for your shoes that not only absorb sweat but also every step you take results in a release of dry, natural aromas. How cool is that? The fragrances are subtle, so no one will know that you are deodorizing your feet and they come in mint, jasmine and lemon. It’s all natural, hypoallergenic and they come in different shapes depending on the shoe you want to guard your feet with. I am very excited about this! I have been a big fan of insoles as a solution to my problem and these just take it one step further (ha! Step. Get it? Oh well, it wasn’t that funny).
Martha Stewart Living Magazine has a craft project for textured bracelets that sounds easy and a great way to make personal pieces for yourself and friends. I could lose myself making these and find myself at the end of a weekend, tons of bracelets later. I actually think it would be really fun to invite some friends over for brunch and bracelets (I also want to learn how to knit and join a knitting club, if that tells you anything). If you’ve got some crafty friends, giddyup - the Martha site has full instructions.
Cuffs are a great way to spice up an outfit. They are all over the red carpet and they are invading everyday wardrobes. How shabby chic do you look in jeans and a simple tank? Well, throw on a cuff and sudden glamour is added! Or if you want to make a very feminine dress a little funkier, spice it up with a cuff!
Well, who would have thought that one of the biggest splashes in fashion during the inauguration was going to be a bow! It’s almost got more people talking about this hat than they are about the inaugural speech!
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I’m always on the look out for pieces that are good transition pieces. Pieces that can be incorporated from season to season in my wardrobe. 
It’s the 
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Pretty great, huh? Backwards numbers and everything. Goofy was such a silly guy. 
Ever had a pair of pants that were just a little too big - not large enough to warrant tailoring, but definitely enough to cause a bit of a problem? Belts can be a lovely addition to an outfit, but sometimes you just don’t feel like adding any bulk to your waistline. And what about longer tops that cover your belt loops altogether? Belting the pants underneath can cause unsightly bulges and lumps. Enter this ingenious anti-accessory: The 
