And by re-done I mean I refolded every pair of jeans. That means that I saw every style of jeans we carry and let me tell you… I was disappointed.

Can someone explain to me the… epidemic of embellished jeans?

It’s not just for women anymore. Men’s jeans are becoming so over styled and I am calling for a stop to it.

As I was going through the department, I was disappointed in men’s fashion.

I recently took a poll… of my friends…on facebook…BUT a poll nonetheless. They all said that basic jeans are the way to go. A lot of the WOMEN said that they wear the embellished jeans to go out sometimes and one guy asked what embellished jeans are.

That’s how men should be! They shouldn’t know what embellished jeans are!

Here’s more proof:

In Mindy Kaling’s new book, “Is everyone hanging out without me?”

she writes a list of things guys need to be hot. Here is a quote from that book and the number 3 item on her list:

“Own several pairs of dark-wash straight-leg jeans:
Don’t get bootcut, don’t get skinny-just a nice pair of Levi’s without any embellishments on the pockets. No embellishments anywhere. At all. Nothing. Oh my god.”

Number 3!

I don’t know if you really need any more proof.

Men, please, stop buying embellished jeans. They are not as attractive as you think they are.

I also hate the word bling. It has nothing to do with this but I just wanted to share that.

You know I’m not here to talk about the winners… even though I really really want the help to win EVERYTHING they are nominated for. Seriously, have you seen this movie? Have you read the book? It’s an amazing story.

This year I am trying something new. I am attempting to post this the night of because I’ve noticed that that is what the best bloggers do. I want to be one of the best bloggers so let’s see if I will be successful at this.

There is something else that I’m trying this year; I picked out some of my favorite styles and dresses and we are going to play a little game called who did it better.

Here we go… this is going to be fun.

Black Dresses

Debra Messing in Monique Lhullier

Mila Kunis in Dior

I like both of these dresses but I prefer Debra Messing’s. The gown fit her really well and was classic and a perfect choice.

Nude Dresses

I put three in the category because this was a popular style on the red carpet.

Kate Beckinsale in Cavalli

Sarah Hyland in Dolce and Gabana

Julie Bowen in Reem Acra

I pick Julie Bowen. I love this gown. It’s very vintage. There’s not much else to say about it.

Cut-outs

Dianna Agron in Giles

Michelle Williams in Jason Woo

This was a really tough choice but I’m going to go with Diana Agron. This dress is really funky and cool and I have to say that there is something about it that I love.

Blue

Berenice Bejo in Gucci Premiere

Jane Lynch in David Meister

I think the obvious choice is Berenice Bejo. That dress is amazing. To be honest, Jane Lynch wasn’t really fair competition.

Feathers

 Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci

Lea Michelle in Marchesa

I had trouble making a choice here so I asked Angela and she picked Evan Rachel Wood. She liked the contrast of her skin tone and the neckline.

High Neck

Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy

I love Jessica Chastain but I’m going with Kate Winslet on this one. I love it. It fit her curves perfectly.

Lace

 Jessica Biel

Jessica Alba in Gucci

I choose Jessica Alba. I love this dress. The color, the sash, the cut… I love it all.

Teal-y Blue

I say that because I’m not totally sure what color these dresses are.

Sophia Vergara in Vera Wang

Frieda Pinto in Prada

Both dresses are gorgeous and very fitting for the respective actresses but it was Frieda Pinto’s that wowed me more.

So now we are down to the two dresses that made me want to write this blog in this style.

Plus Sized

Ok so normally I wouldn’t group women together just because of their size but I just have to this time. I want to talk about this:

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Melissa McCarthy in Badgley Mischka

Octavia Spencer is a good representation of how plus sized women should dress on the red carpet. Melissa McCarthy’s shapeless gown makes me sad. She could have worn something so incredible and gorgeous but she didn’t and that bugs me… especially because I love her so much.

Ok. So what did you think? Did you like it this way?

Don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. Here are my five favorites

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen

She looks like a mermaid in this gown. Absolutely gorgeous.

Sarah Michelle Geller in Monique Lhuillier

I hated this dress at first but then I stared at it for a while and now I love it.

Emma Stone in Lanvin

This dress is perfect for Emma Stone. It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s gorgeous

Ariel Winter in Dolce and Gabana

I love this dress. It was perfect for a fourteen year old girl.

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture

I love this Grecian style.

I decided to leave out the bad dresses because I dont feel like being negative today.

I hope you enjoyed the opinions I did post.

HAPPY AWARDS SEASON!

I have to start this by apologizing for my absence lately. It has been way too long. I got a little promotion over the summer and my whole life has surrounded around working.

BUT I made a new year’s resolution to write more and I am going to try to post once a week.

How about I make it up to you with a blog themed for my new job; let’s talk about menswear for women.

You don’t have to get crazy. I’m not talking about doing drag;

I’m just talking about getting a little inspiration from the fellas.

We are going look at two ways to go about this trend: The first is looking at menswear inspired pieces and the other way is looking at some actual menswear that you can transfer into your wardrobe.

Inspired

Let’s start with something obvious and basic menswear inspired pieces:

Boyfriend Jacket

This particular piece has been around for a couple of years now and it’s definitely one of my favorites because you can do a lot of different things with it. I have three favorite looks with the boyfriend jacket.

The first is the sexy look.

Try pairing the jacket with a short shift dress and a pair of heels.

The second is the cute look.

Try pairing the jacket with a sun dress and flats.

The third is the casual look.

Try the jacket with jeans and a tank top. I like this look with sneakers or flats.

Tweed

I know what you’re thinking; that’s a fabric and men don’t own a fabric and you are right but it’s about what the tweed represents: Suits and tailoring and when I think suits and tailoring I think of men… mainly Don Draper and Barney Stinson.

With tweed you can go two different ways; you can do full on Chanel with the full suit.

Or you can do accents; tweed shoes, tweed bag, or you could go with my favorite: tweed headband.

Loafers

I won’t lie to you because I never do; I have always thought that loafers were boring. They remind me of Danny Tanner.

However, the thing that they’ve done with loafers changes everything. Now you can get them flat or with heels and in different colors. You can pair them with jeans as casual flats or with dress pants or a suit for a great wear to work look.

Sunglasses

There are some really great unisex styles for sunglasses. My two favorites are aviators and the classic raybans. You can steal them from any man in your life OR you can go and get them for yourself.

Borrowed

Here’s a list of items that you can steal from the closet of any of the men in your life.

Belted flannel shirts

Flannel shirts are popular right now and they aren’t hard to find for people of all ages but I have always believed that it is pointless to spend money if you don’t have to so here is what you do:

1. Steal a flannel shirt from your boyfriend or husband or dad or brother or friend. Make sure it fits.
2. Put it on with skinny jeans and a belt. You can move the belt up or down to give your body the shape you want. (I gave two examples in the pictures)
3. Add really any shoes you want.
4. Done! Wow, that was easy!

Tees

Who hasn’t stolen a tee-shirt from a guy before? Seriously.

I mean, tee shirts are generally unisex and I guess that’s the point really.

Here are my tips when choosing a men’s tee shirt: go for something fitted and avoid the crude shirts.

Sweaters

Men tend to have the basic pieces that women don’t always have. For example, I was having a very difficult time finding a sweater vest, but then I found some in the men’s department.

They may not all be the best for women, they definitely aren’t cut the same as women’s sweaters, but they will give you that preppy look that you want.

Dress Shirts

And now to top it off, a short video on some fun things you can do with a men’s dress shirt. I found this video here: http://blogs.babble.com/the-new-home-ec/2011/08/24/diy-fashion-using-a-mens-dress-shirt/

I hope that made up for the long absence. I will be back next week!

So here it is: My list (in no particular order) of the five things I am always willing to splurge on (because I know you are dying to know.):

Face wash

A few months ago, I was looking to save money so I decided to switch to generic face wash. I checked the ingredients, they were all the same. So I went for it.

THAT WAS THE WORST MISTAKE I COULD HAVE MADE!

You see, the ingredients were the same but the consistency was different. That threw everything off. When I wash my face with the name brand face wash, it just feels different. I can feel it cleaning my skin and when I step into the fresh air, my face just feels cleaner.

What I’m splurging on: Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Bras

Did you know that most women don’t actually know their bra size?  

That doesn’t really have much to do with this…I just felt like telling you.

Here’s what is relevant:

The bra is the most important part of a woman’s wardrobe. That’s why I’m always willing to splurge on a good bra. When you buy a cheap bra, you can’t expect much from it. This is one of those things where you get what you pay for. A good bra will give you support all day and keep them up where they are supposed to be.

What I’m splurging on: Cacique Bras by Lane Bryant. They have great bras if you are plus sized or on the bustier side.

Underwear

I don’t have much to say about underwear except for the fact that you should definitely not buy the cheap kind. They will stretch out and wear out and ride up.

This is another important part of your wardrobe so why not indulge
a little and be comfortable all day.

What I’m splurging on: Cacique panties from Lane Bryant.

Jeans

Much like cheap underwear, cheap jeans have a tendency to wear out and stretch out really quickly. That’s why I think it’s really important to spend a little more. I would rather spend $60 on a pair of jeans and have them last 6+ months then buy a pair for $20 and have them only last about 2 or 3.

What I’m splurging on: I get my jeans from Lane Bryant. What can I say, they have good merchandise.

Wasn’t that interesting!? Now, just for fun, I wrote a list of the four things I PREFER to splurge on:

Nail Polish

Of course I buy cheap nail polish. Every girl does. You want a color change and you have no money so you go for the bottle at the drug store that $1-$2. It works. It goes on fine but it chips in a couple of days.

That’s fine if you want to change your color often but I don’t like to do that.

What I prefer to splurge on: I really like Sally Hansen, Essie, Avon, and O.P.I

Mascara

Once upon a time, I bought really cheap mascara. About two weeks after I started using it, it got clumpy and developed an odor.

Since then I have purchased cheap mascara again but it’s definitely not a preference.

What I prefer to splurge on: Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara

Toothpaste

I’m sure that this seems like such an odd thing to include but it’s a big deal to me. I feel like certain toothpastes clean better than others.

What I prefer to splurge on: Aquafresh Extreme Clean Toothpaste

Shampoo and Conditioner

My biggest issue with my hair is that it is very fine and it gets dirty very quickly. I wash my hair almost every day (and yes I know that you are not supposed to do that but I do it anyway and it works for me so I don’t need a thousand lectures on the subject.)

I have found that while some shampoos and conditioners clean my hair well, others leave behind residue.

What I prefer to splurge on: Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo and Conditioner.

So there it is.

Here’s what I want to add; I’m sure that a lot of you are looking at this list and thinking that I’m not really splurging but here is my justification: In this economy and with my salary, these are most definitely splurges for me.

I hope these lists will make your shopping decisions easier.

I have become quite a fan of “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” in the past year and a half. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the 2009 movie had a lot to do with it. Before it came out, I only really knew of the characters from phrases, general knowledge,

And of course the great mouse detective.

I had always wanted to read the stories but I wasn’t completely inspired to pick up the collection until I saw the movie.

I love Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. I love their personalities, their attitudes, their relationship with each other and of course their style. (You knew that was coming right? I mean, this is a fashion blog)

I should probably mention that I am talking about their style from the 2009 movie starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as John Watson (in case you have no idea what I’m talking about). I will not be talking about that deer-stalker hat (but this guy did: http://www.examiner.com/sherlock-holmes-in-national/sherlock-holmes-gets-a-new-shiny-hat-along-with-a-new-movie)

The style of men in the Victorian age is one that I hold dear to my heart. I love a man who can put on a suit every day and care about how he looks while still being a macho, action loving, problem solving, (sometimes scruffy) man.

So here are the parts of men’s fashion from the Victorian age that I love the most.

 Suits

The suit is classic. You didn’t really need me to gush over Sherlock Holmes so you could figure that out. I have to say, it would be nice to see more men in suits everyday.

Waistcoats

Or vests (as they are more commonly known as now-a-days) are one of my favorite fashion pieces for men or women. Of course the men wore (and fought over) them in the film but someone else made a big statement with her vest. Irene Adler (played by Rachel McAdams (in case you couldn’t figure that out)) was sporting one as a part of a three piece suit with riding boots. It’s one of my favorite outfits in the film.

Here is why I love vests. For women, they pull the body in and give it a nice curve and a nice shape. For men, I find that they add an element of sophistication.

Hats

I am a hat person. Always have been, always will be. What I love about the Victorian era are men in hats everyday. They wear them out and they take them off when they walk in the room. Of course this bit of fashion didn’t stop after the 1890’s. We saw it all the way up to the 70s. The thing is that it is just not done anymore. Men and women no longer pair hats with their everyday outfits. They don’t put on a hat just to walk outside anymore. I would love to see that everyday.

I know what you’re thinking… Why don’t I just start wearing a hat everyday? Well the answer to that is simple.

It would mess up my hair.

And now I have a theory: Have you noticed that throughout the decades, as women’s hair got bigger, you see less and less hats in everyday life? Aha! (That may not just be a theory that could very well be a fact)

I have no theories on why men stopped wearing hats so therefore there is no excuse.

Ascots

While his friend, John Watson, and most of the other male characters in the movie are wearing everyday average long ties, Sherlock Holmes is wearing an ascot. Maybe it’s because he’s quirky, maybe it’s because he is awesome…either way… I dig the ascot. It’s a fun way to change up a suit.

Suspenders

I can’t explain my love for suspenders. It could be because of this image…

Or it could be because of this one…

Well that last one is an entirely different blog (coming soon, why more men should dress and be like The Doctor)

I think really it’s because I’m not a huge belt fan (I’m also not a fan-belt. Ha!(Once again, I apologize for my corny jokes but if your going to keep reading this blog you will have to get used to them))

So after all of my gushing over Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, and their fashion sense, here is the point of all of this:

I would love to see the Victorian age come back (but not really for women. Trust me; I’m fine without long bustled skirts. You know me; I like to have my legs free)

What I would like to see is more men who act and dress like gentlemen. I’m so sick of creeps who come up and say “what’s your name?” instead of “Hello.”

But enough about the manners; let’s talk about the fashion and how men and women can bring it back (without looking like you have a huge ass)

We need two things to make this style come back:

First, we need classic accessories: hats, feathers, clutch purses, pocket watches, canes and pipes.

Second, we need good tailoring. Suits, vests, jackets, coats, shirts… these are things that can be tailored to fit you properly for a classic clean look.

There you go! With those two simple tips, you are well on your way to bringing Victorian fashion (and sexy) back.

Now ladies, pull up your hair and men grow mustaches! Let’s make Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proud!

***

Ok, I think that I should definitely mention the costume designer, Jenny Beavan. After all, she is responsible for the fashion that I just wrote about. She also worked on The Kings Speech, EverAfter, Alexander and obviously she is working on the next Sherlock Holmes movie. Clearly the woman is a genius. She may very well be my new hero. I mean look at her range! It’s impressive.

I got most of my images from screenshots of the movie. I also I got a few pictures from google.

If you are into The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and you are on twitter, follow @MyDearestWatson and @SHolmesEsq

They are a hoot and a half (that was my twitter pun)

If you’ve never read the mysteries, you can pick up a copy of the collection at most any bookstore.

(For those of you whose brain immediately said tool time, you are now my favorites)

It’s summertime!

Summer is here and that means one thing. Swimsuits!

Ok, so no one is excited about this subject. Trust me, I’m not either. I hate buying bathing suits, especially because I’m a plus sized lady. But (and that’s a big but (ha! Plus sized joke (I can make those because I’m plus sized)))

I lost my train of thought.

I think what I was going to say was that no woman likes shopping for a bathing suit.

In case you haven’t heard, I now work in the swim/coats/women’s department at a major department store. A big part of my job is greeting the customer and asking them if they need help. In the women’s department, you get about a 50/50 range of women’s emotions. You either get someone who hates their body and think everything looks gross. Those women need the extra help. The other group are lovely (and I say that because I am apart of that group). They are not thrilled with their bodies but they put a smile on and try new fashions and trends despite their size.

I love the Women’s department.

The swim department on the other hand is difficult. I have yet to meet a woman who loves every suit they try on or who enters the department with a smile on their face. Now I can make many leave with a smile but entering is harder.

The thing about swimsuits is that it’s difficult to hide anything in them. They accentuate every flaw we have and nobody wants to highlight their flaws.

So here I am, telling you whatever tips and trends I know from being a swim suit sales girl.

Let’s talk about trends.

Purple

Maybe it’s because of the royal wedding. Maybe it’s just because it’s a great color…Its definitely one of my favorites. I love how rich this color can be and still how girly and fresh it can be.

Teal

I don’t think that I really need to explain this color trend. It’s tropical and fun. It’s also one of the biggest color trends of the season.

Black and White

This is a classic trend every season but it’s still worth mentioning.

In the past, black and white swimsuits have been considered old lady-ish in the past. I don’t believe that that has to be the case. This classic combination of colors has been around for decades. Even Barbie rocked a suit like that.

A black and white swimsuit is classic and it should be looked at like that.

My point: IF you find a black and white bathing suit that you love, don’t stop yourself because you are afraid that it will make you look like an old lady.

Turquoise

This color fits into the western theme. I think that blue is always a big color for swim because of water but I really like this shade of blue. It’s not just a stone in the desert anymore!

Tribal

I honestly don’t know where this trend came from but its here and I dig it. Oranges, browns, greens, blues and animal prints make up this trend. Try it out.

Floral

Patterned swimsuits are in all the time but this year, the big pattern is floral. You can find them in many different colors and sizes. I prefer the smaller patterns because the bigger patterns look a little older or way too young but remember, If you find a suit with a big pattern that you love and you think you look great in it and you feel comfortable in it, go for it.

Nautical

This is a big summer trend in swim and in everyday looks. Navy blue, white, yellow, red, and stripes make up this trend. You can also find prints of anchors and little sailboats. On top of all of that, there are also rope accents. There is a lot that you can do with this trend.

Girly

You know me, I love the girly style. Ruffles, lace, bows…I’m all over it. That is why I love this trend. You wouldn’t expect to see this all on swimsuits but IT IS THIS YEAR! YAY! Plus, skirted swimsuits are huge this year so if you don’t want to go all girly, you can try that.

Try this trend if you love being girly!

Sporty

What is swimming if not a sport? Just ask Michael Phelps.

That’s why sporty swimsuits are so important. They come in all colors but the big ones that I’ve noticed are bright; blue, red, orange, and yellow. Another important part of the trend is regular straps and racer-back as opposed to halter-top because it’s hard to be sporty with strain on your neck.

Now let’s talk about the tips. I don’t have a lot but I will
share what I know.

Tip #1: Underwire

Bathing suits with underwire exist! I know! I was shocked too!

Actually, you can get a bathing suit with a whole freakin bra built right in!

Did I blow your mind yet?

Ok, seriously, here is the tip; Underwire in a bathing suit can be done very well or horribly. I got a cheap (but cute (of course. Why would I point out that it’s cute? Hello, Have we met!?)) one piece with underwire in it thinking it would have support. It was a halter top. ‘Nuff said.

In case you didn’t comprehend that little word problem, I will break it down for you.

There were three things happening with the bathing suit; One piece, halter top, under wire.

Here’s the deal: If you’re going to do underwire, don’t do a one piece. Then you cant bring them up to where they should be (and if you don’t know who they are then you should really just close this page right now.)

When you go for a bathing suit with underwire, go for a two piece. That way you have the ability to adjust.

I would also suggest going for a swimsuit with normal straps. It would especially helpful if they were adjustable. Think about your bra. Also, if your boobs are so big that you need underwire, haltertops will cause strain.

Another thing that you should remember is your comfort and support. Remember the reason you are going for a swimsuit with underwire.

Tip #2: Mix and Match

There is a reason that most swimsuits are sold as separate
pieces and that reason is…

Wait for it because it’s gonna blow your mind…

The human body…no, the FEMALE body is a silly thing.

Every body is different. There are big woman with big boobs, small woman with small boobs, big woman with small boobs, small woman with big boobs, woman with big hips and no boobs; the list goes on and on. (And that may be the most times that I have ever used the word boobs in a sentence.)

I have noticed that women seem hesitant to mix and match brands more than sizes. I am here as a swimsuit sales person to tell you that you should never be afraid to do that. I think that a lot of women are afraid they will mess up the inventory or something.

The fact is that different designers and brands are cut in different ways SO if you find a top by one designer that fits amazingly and a set of bottoms by another designer that fits amazingly and the colors work together… GO FOR IT!

Tip #3: Make it fit

The fit of a swim suit is so important. If your suit doesn’t fit right, I promise you that everyone will know.

So here is my solution… you know, besides mixing and matching pieces and looking for proper support.

TRY ON THE SWIMSUIT IN THE STORE!!!

So many people don’t feel like trying them on in the store. It’s a lot of work and it feels like a big hassle but you really have to. A lot of stores won’t let you return swimsuits and so if you get one that doesn’t fit, you could very possibly be stuck with it.

Here’s my advice: Go swimsuit shopping on a day when you have a lot of energy and you are in a positive mood. If you are in a good mood and you have energy, you will have a better outlook on the styles you are trying on.

Really the fact is that you will have to try a lot on to find the perfect one so you should be prepared for the process.

A couple more tips:

If you are a very big lady, don’t wear a bikini. I’m sorry but it’s uncomfortable for everybody.

Please remember to keep your underwear on when you try on a swimsuit, hang them back up, and be nice to the sales people.

And remember, this is about you. If you find a suit that you love and you feel comfortable in it, don’t worry about what everyone else says. Go for it! You have to feel comfortable and confident.

Ok, that’s all. I got my pictures from google as usual. I tried to find the fashion-y, non skanky ones. I hope I chose the right ones.

Every woman should have a little black dress.

That is one of those facts of life. It’s like the sky being blue and the grass being green. There are probably a million reasons why we should love the little black dress. I chose the top five and I share them with you now.

5.Black goes with everything and is good for every occasion

How often do you find yourself saying “I have nothing to
wear” when you are getting ready for an occasion? I know I say that all the
time. Then I find my little black dress in the back of my closet. This dress
has been worn to weddings, funerals, and even to work a couple of times. The
little black dress is so basic that it can be worn whenever you need it. I know mine has saved the day on more than one occasion.

4. They can be accessorized a million different ways to create a million different looks

I know I sound like a broken record but the fact that the
little black dress is so basic is one of the best things about it. It’s the color black. It can be paired with any other color or pattern. In fact, It is preferred (in my mind, at least) that there should be a pop of color if you are going to wear all black.

I have to wear all black to my job and I have gotten into the habit of wearing patterned or brightly colored shoes or a scarf or something with every outfit.

3. Slimming

Big surprise, Black is slimming. This is great when you are having fat days or whatever is going on in your life.

2. Flattering on everyone

Here is another point of it being so basic. Whether you are a size 00 or a 36 or young girl or an old lady or a drag queen, anyone can wear the little black dress and here’s why:

They come in all shapes, cuts, and sizes!

If you need an A-Line, there’s a little black dress for that.

If you need an empire waist, there’s a little black dress for that.

If you need it long, there’s a little black dress for that.

If you need it short, there’s a little black dress for that.

I could do this all day but I think you get my point. There’s a dress for everyone and everyone with a dress!
1. Coco Chanel basically invented them

Obviously black dresses were around before her but, she made them more popular. Coco Chanel was all about having basic pieces that everyone could afford and wear everyday with any accessories. Looking back, it’s clear that she was successful in her attempts. Now the Little Black Dress in a woman’s closet is as common as a pair of jeans in the drawer.

So thank you Coco Chanel for changing the world of fashion with everything you did.

I know that you all agree with my assessment. If you don’t have a little black dress, go get one and feel a little bit of shame that you didn’t already have one.

I’m just kidding

…

sort of.

On that note, being in this new job has helped me prepare this blog. I am seeing trends change first hand. (Ok, maybe its more like third or fourth hand but I’m there.)

So, Spring 2011. I can’t believe it’s here already! I honestly can’t believe it. Seriously, this winter has lasted forever and its  still kind of going but TECHNICALLY March 21^st was the start of spring so I am going to go for it with this blog.

Let’s talk about the trends for this spring.
Bold Prints

It’s really no surprise. Prints come around every year around this time but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to write about it.

The two big prints that are in this season are animal and floral. They both seem very obvious and year round but this year I am seeing them everywhere and in every color.

Ruffles

Ruffles have been in for a while. This season, I am seeing them on the collars of shirts and on skirts. One style that is very popular is on dresses. The look is similar to a wrap dress. This is similar to the very structured mini dresses from last summer.

Western

I’m not just saying this because I am out west in Arizona right now.

I am seeing a lot of suede, leather and fringe this season. Not to mention the earth tones.

I will admit that this is not my favorite trend but it is very fun.

Nautical

I’ve always been a fan of nautical fashion. I get that from my grandpa.

You will sea (lol ironic mistake/pun) a lot of stripes, boat shoes, and rope trim.

Colored Denim

You guys have no idea how excited and nervous I am for this trend.
In eighth grade, I bought a pair of red jeans that I was absolutely in love with. They were beautiful.

I am a little nervous about this trend because I know that it can be done very right or very wrong.

But even with my nerves on the trend, I am looking forward to buying a new pair of red jeans in the hope that I can once again rock this trend.

Orange

I am seeing orange all over this year especially in this peachy shade. It is such a great natural color that works with more than you would expect.

I say, if you haven’t already, give orange a try this
spring.

Greens

Green is a very springy color. It goes with the plants and
the trees and almost every person.

I believe that green is very similar to blue in the sense that it looks good on almost everyone.

There are three shades of green that I am seeing this season:

Kelly Green- Bright, springy, fun and beautiful; Army green- To go with that military trend; And Mint Green- A subtle, almost pastel shade that is so
classic for this season

A shade for everyone and everyone with a shade!

Blue

Like I said, blue is a color that looks great on almost everyone. Once again, there are a couple of different shades that are very popular this season.

Sky Blue- Lets face it, we love pastels in spring and sky blue is no exception; Cerulean- This bright shade of blue is fantastic for the spring. It would great with the Kelly green we talked about earlier; (And because there is no better name for it) Basic Blue- The primary colors are big right now.

Yellow

I love this trend and you all know why. It is my favorite color!

I love yellow! It’s so bright and shiny and happy. If you want to know more about yellow, go back and check this out: http://dressforms.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/yellow/

Yellow is a great color for spring but it can be hard to wear. Luckily there are a lot of different shades that you can try!

Try a darker shade if you have a fairer skin tone.

Brighter shades are great if you are tan.

A buttery light shade is good if you have darker skin.

White

Since I don’t wear very much white myself, I thought I would ask around for some thoughts on the trend.

My Grandma said that white always makes her think of innocence and purity. She thinks of brides. She also said that in the south, many women dress in all white when they are sporting their Sunday’s best.

My sister said that the color white made her think of the innocence of babies.

After talking to them on the subject, I had a thought. White
has always meant innocence and purity. Now, it is being used in a sexier way. Look
at Marilyn Monroe.

Here is my point: White can be used in many different ways.
Whether you want to look proper and elegant or sexy and fun, White is a great
trend.

(It is also great if you want a classic basic look)

So there are the great trends for this spring. I suggest you
all try something new this year and remember that if you like it and are
comfortable in it, than rock it out.

I just want you all to know that it took me like 3 days to post this blog so i hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you instyle for pointing me in the right direction,
madisonplus.com for the awesome color collages, and google for the rest of the
pictures

It’s finally here! My Oscars Blog! I was so excited I put on a ball gown!

Ok, not really. But I did get up early on my day off to re-watch the red carpet coverage for you. So, you’re welcome.

So my prediction came true. These actors got themselves together and rocked the red carpet. Let’s talk about a few in particular.

Natalie Portman

So first there was the Golden Globes and the Viktor and Rolf dress with the rose.

Then there was the SAG awards and the simple white Azzaro gown.

This week, she went with a Purple Rodarte gown. I thought this was a great choice for the pregnant star. Even though she did look classy and beautiful, I do believe that she could have gone in another direction.

I remember Catherine Zeta Jones in 2003 looking ridiculously pregnant and ridiculously glamorous. I feel like Natalie Portman could have done so much more. I mean, it is the Oscars for god sake!

Helena Bonham Carter

Honestly, this has become my favorite part of my award show blogs. I think that maybe I should start checking out what she is wearing every week.

Anyway, let’s start with the Golden Globes. She looked like her closet threw-up on her. Her shoes didn’t even match!

Then there were the SAG awards where she was sporting a black and white Marc Jacobs tea length gown.

This week was slightly indescribable. When you first look at what she wore, you probably think that it is awful. I thought the same thing after I saw it too but then I heard her talk about it.

Her dress was designed by costume designer Coleen Atwood. She said that she wanted to wear something that celebrates the movies since that is what the Oscars are all about. I can respect that especially since I have wanted to become a costume designer for a very long time. On the bright side, her hair looked good, her shoes matched and her husband, who normally looks like his finger has been shoved in a light socket, actually looked pretty nice.

Ok so now I would like to talk about some of the really good dresses and some of the really bad dresses.

We should start with the bad.

Bad

Sharon Stone

This dress has been compared to Cruella De Vil. This gown would have been so much better if it wasn’t for the explosion of feathers on her shoulder.

Scarlett Johansson

I don’t even know what to say about this Dolce and Gabbana gown except for I hate it. I really just feel like she looks like a mess.

Florence Welch

This Valentino gown was a little too “Little House on the Prairie” for me. Not to mention, the color was so light that I could hardly see it on my computer screen (or her).

Nicole Kidman

I feel like I see this look on Nicole Kidman a lot.

I thought that this John Galliano gown was overly structured and the top looked like wheat.

Marisa Tomei

There’s not much to say about this Charles James gown because I feel like it was all wrong. The cut was completely un-flattering and I did not like that color on her.

Melissa Leo

On the red carpet, she said that this dress was “built” for her. Think about that when you look at it.

I know that lace is a big trend right now but you should all make a note that this is not the kind of lace that is trendy. It looks like her dress is made out of a doily.

Good

Gwyneth Paltrow

I love Calvin Klein this award show season.

This dress looked like it was dripping off of her. I love that this dress was so simple and still so incredible.

Jennifer Lawrence

She rocked this simple but beautiful red Calvin Klein gown with no jewelry

I don’t know where this girl came from but I hope she will be on more red carpets next year.

Sandra Bullock

This Vera Wang gown is perfectly structured and made her look strong and beautiful (which really is perfect for her)

Mandy Moore

This was another gown that I had to stare at for a while before I fell in love with it.

The Monique Lhuillier gown gave the illusion that her body was covered in crystals. It’s not often that a gown that is made to look like that… actually looks like that.

Reese Witherspoon

I love love love this dress! The Armani gown was so classic and classy and fantastic. It looked like a mix between a tuxedo, Chanel, an Julia Robert’s Valentino dress from the 2001 Oscars. (In case you were wondering, those are all good things.)

Hailee Steinfeld

This adorable fourteen year old has done an amazing job this awards season staying true to her age and this gown continued with that trend. I think my favorite part was her simple accessories.

So here is the deal with this blog, I wasn’t really blown away by any of the gowns this year and I didn’t really hate any of them. It took me a long time and a lot of staring at dresses to come to these 12.

So now I want to know which dresses you loved and which ones you hated. Maybe I missed something.

And now for my speech…

I’d like to thank E! for giving me full coverage of the red carpet.

I’d like to thank google, justjared, slate.com, and starandstyle.com for the pictures.

And finally, I’d like to thank my readers.

Today I bought my first pair of jeggings. As you know, the idea of denim leggings weirded me out but then I was told about the proper way to buy jeggings. Therefore, I bring you these rules courtesy of my good friend Age.

1. Only buy the kind with the button-fly: When you get the ones with the elastic waist, they are mom jeans.

I will say, however, as long as you have your butt covered, it doesnt matter. The main reason I dont like the elastic waist is because it reminds me of mom jeans and sweat pants.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/10333/saturday-night-live-mom-jeans

2. I am standing by my cover-your-butt-leggings rule: Despite the fact that they look like jeans, they are still leggings. Especially if you get the kind that are more cotton than leggings. (or the kinds with the elastic waist or with no pockets) I will however alter the rule a little bit. You dont have to completly cover your but, Just cover at least one third to a half of it.

3. DON’T BUY THE PAJAMA JEANS! They don’t count as jeggings. Don’t even try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFoGg_aJYkM

There you go. I hope it helps.

Remember, if I can do it, you can do it (unless you are Conan O’Brien…Lets hope he never puts on those jeggings again.)