Friday, February 18, 2011

FBFF: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday: Body Image


As I've said before, sometimes we can be our own worst critics.  We look in the mirror and see a totally distorted vision of what others see.  We nitpick all the small things and soon enough, we're completely unhappy with ourselves.


No one is immune to this.  Not even fashion bloggers.  This week Katy from ModlyChic came up with some great questions to address body image and self perception.


1. Since you started blogging has your image of yourself changed? Not really.  2. Are you self-conscious about any aspect of yourself? If so, do you go out of your way to avoid it or do you post it/talk about it anyway?  I don't really post much about myself.  Sometimes, if relevant, personal details will slip into my writing but it's pretty rare.  However, I wouldn't really hold back anything if it felt natural to write it.  I will say that I am self conscious about different things at different times. (Like right now I'm self conscious about my weight since I gained a few pounds over the winter even though no one else can probably notice.)

3. Based on how you are feeling now, what do you think the future holds in the evolution of your body image?  Based on the past and how I've evolved through adolense into adulthood, I'd say the future looks pretty good for my body image.  Throughout the years I've learned to really love who I am and what makes me different and to not make excuses if people don't like me.  I also try to take really good care of my body and give it what it needs to feel good but I'm not hard on myself if I want to take a day off and sit around eating everything in sight.

4. Do you photograph yourself for your blog? If so, how do you feel about the experience when you're having your picture taken? If you choose not to post pictures of yourself, what prompted that decision?  I don't photograph myself for my blog but I absolutely love having my picture taken.  (Not so secret dream is to have my picture taken for a living.)  If I had someone around that could take really great photographs of me, I'd be bothering them to do it all the time but I don't so my blog is based around shopping and styling.

5. What would you want every person who struggles with body image to take to heart?  I would want to tell them to start by accepting who they are and that it's good enough.  Once you love yourself, everyone else can see that and if they don't feel the same way and try to put you down, cut those negative people out of your life, you'll feel much better.


Have you ever struggled with body image?  How did you get over those feelings?


XXoo

Thursday, February 17, 2011

On Your Marc, Get Set, Go!

In fashion, there are a few names we’ll remember forever – Coco Chanel, Gianni Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs (to name a few.)  What makes these designers so different is their continual push to break the norm and amaze us with what they continue to come up with.  Their risk to be different makes them truly iconic.

This season, one of my favorites, Marc Jacobs, has done it again - he's produced and created a show for NYFW Fall 2011 so different that everyone is talking about it.

It’s risky, sexual, deviant and so much more.

Even though most of us aren’t walking a runway and wearing such avant garde fashion in our daily lives isn’t practical, we can still be inspired by Marc’s runway fashion everyday.

Here are some of my favorite ways to take huge trends from this runway show and incorporate it into everyday.

Polka Dots

(Polka Dot Top available @ Bebe, $38.00)

Metallic Pants

(Shiny Legging available @ American Apparel, $46.00)

Pillbox Hat
(because who hasn’t wanted to wear one?)

(Pillbox Hat available @ Ebags.com, $30.60)

Scalloped Tops

(Cream Scallop Button Shirt available @ Topshop, $50.00)

Strong Shoulders

(Strong Shoulder Jacket available @ Victoriassecret.com, $128.00)

All photos on the left are courtesy of Refinery 29 and are from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 NYFW show.

How do you incorporate Fashion Week into your daily wardrobe choices?

XXoo

Friday, February 11, 2011

FBFF: Black Will Always Be My New Black

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday

In lieu of a recent FBFF sponsorship from a place that sells colored tights, this week's FBFF questions are based around (you guessed it) color!

1. What color dominates your closet? For those of you who regularly read my blog (or looked at the title to this post) you already know how I'm going to answer this question.  Black dominates my closet.  Then white, then gray.  (To prove my point, today I am wearing black and gray.)

2. If money weren't an issue how would you change the color emphasis in your closet? Money really isn't an issue that determines what color the clothes are in my closet.  I understand that it might sway some people towards what is a safe and practical color for them so the garment would be worth whatever you are spending on it.  For me, I wear a lot of black because it is simple and classic and really just my favorite color.  Sometimes I will throw a bright item into the mix on those days where I think, "I really need to add some color to my wardrobe," but then I don't end up wearing it because that's not me.

3. What is your mantra about mixing colors? Ahh mixing colors.  Some people pull this off great.  I still remember an editorial in Cosmopolitan last summer that did this fabulously (if you count different shades of the same color as mixing colors.)  In each picture the model was wearing garments in various shades of the same color.  It looked amazing, I've just never tried to do it.

4. For you, how do you incorporate color into your outfits? I don't really. If I happen to be wearing color it would either be from a bright sweater thrown over an all black ensemble or from a scarf or from jewelry and accessories.


5. Which blogger(s) do you think do a good job of incorporating color into their wardrobe? I really think Tiffany from A Reason To Be Fabulous does such a great job at this!  It seems she is always wearing nice bright colors and ties everything together really nicely.  I also love how Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere incorporates color into her wardrobe.  Most of the time it is subtle, which is similar to my own color choices.

Interested in seeing what color everyone else prefers to wear?  Check out the FBFF Group at
ModlyChic.

XXoo

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Trend Alert

It’s gonna be a bright spring and summer -
80s colors are back in full swing.  Just don’t pull out your old scrunchie.  PLEASE.

Here are some 80s inspired garments that will have you remembering those days of giant hair and excessive teen movies.

STRONG SHOULDERS! BRIGHT BLAZERS!

(Antonio Berardi Blazer available @ Yoox.com, $680.00)

SKYHIGH PLATFORMS!

(Jessica Simpson Collection Vadio available @ JessicaSimpsonCollection.com, $98.00)

Ruffles!

(Robert Rodriguez Hot Pink Silk Ruffle One Shoulder Dress available @ Bluefly.com, $226.99)

RUCHING!

(Alice + Olivia Ruched Mini Dress available @ TheOutNet.com, $252.00)

COLOR BLOCKING!

(Fendi Colorblock Grosgrain Sandals available @ Saks Fifth Ave, $740.00)


OFF SHOULDER SLOUCH!

(Patterson J. Kincaid Tiger Slouch Tee available @ Neiman Marcus, $78.00)

CHAIN LINK! LONG STRAPS! OSTRICH!

(JJ Winter Chain Clutch available @ Boutiquetoyou.com, $85.00)


NEON! BANGLES!

(Jules Smith Neon Enamel Bangles available @ MaxandChole.com, $72.00)

And because no 80s inspired post is complete without it LEATHER! and MINI SKIRTS!!!

(Seamed Leather Mini Skirt available @ Topshop, $125.00)


Seriously, I don't want to see ANY scrunchies.

XXoo

Monday, February 7, 2011

Getting to know me, getting to know all about me...

There you have it.  Another lyrical reference from a musical.  At this rate you'd think they were my all time favorite type of movie but I assure you, they aren't.  (I do enjoy them though.)

I figured since today is Monday and I'm teetering on the brink of a cold, a Superbowl food coma and a serious work project, I'd keep today's post light and easy.

I was figuratively passed the torch on these questions by the lovely Ty at Hey Bella Blog and couldn't wait to share my answers with you!

1.  Why did you create your blog? I created my blog as a way to share my love of shopping with my friends.  Before starting the blog I would email them an excessive amount of times to show them something great I had found online shopping.  Now they can just pull up my blog and read what I'm into each day instead of being bombarded by copious emails and links.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow? ALOT.  The very first blog I read was Perez Hilton.  Since then, I've moved on to many others all of which I try to keep track of on Bloglovin.  I always remember to check Cupcakes and Cashmere, Fashion Was Here, Krystle's Style, Hey Bella Blog,
One Day in April and Haute Pink Pretty.  These are some of my favorite girls.  I also love reading Guest of a Guest, Refinery29 and the Daily Front Row.

3.  Favorite makeup brands? I don't think I have just one favorite brand of makeup.  If I had to choose a brand by what I have the most of, it would be either MAC or Chanel.  Both Brands make the BEST lipstick I've ever used.  Nars is great too.  I also like Covergirl and Wet and Wild.  No discrimination here.

4.  Favorite clothing brands? I don't really by clothes based on brand. ( I try not to at least.) I buy what I like based on individual trend and garment.  It doesn't really matter who makes it.  However, if I had an endless supply of money, I'd be wearing lots of Alexander Wang, DVF, YSL, Michael Kors, Vintage Halston...you get it....this list could go on forever really.


5. Your indispensable make-up product? Chapstick and super black mascara.  If I have these 2 items, I'm good to go.  Especially in the summer time.

6. Your favorite colour? Black.  I can't stop wearing it.  I like when other people wear it.  It's slimming. Classic.  Appropriate for dates, funerals or work.

7. Your perfume? I'll go with Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue.

8. Favorite film? Requiem For A Dream.  Most people cannot believe that this can be my favorite movie but it is. I tend to favor movies with really good cinematography that have a meaning so when you get to the end you're not like "I want those 2 hours of my life back." I prefer to watch movies with endings that mirror real life, not fairy tales.  Usually, I end up watching movies alone because of this!

9.  What country would you like to visit and why? I can't pick just one.  Before I have kids or die, I would like to travel to each continent and do a road trip across the U.S.  There is so much outside of our realm of comfort and what we know as normal.  I want to see and experience it all.

10.  Write your own question and answer it yourself - I can't think of a question.


What would you ask me?

I am passing this interview on to:

Krystle's Style

One Day in April

Haute Pink Pretty

(Bloggeristas at the end of your blog post don't forget to pass the questions on to someone else, let's keep it going)
XXoo

Friday, February 4, 2011

Go Red For Women

Today, Friday, February 4, is National Go Red Day. 

In 2004 the American Heart Association created Go Red Day in order to create awareness in regards to Heart Disease Being the NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN. 

Each year, National Go Red Day, is a day where women (and men) wear the color red to show their support of this deadly disease.

This year, one of our great members suggested that our Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Group help raise even more awareness by going red THE ENTIRE MONTH!!  She suggested that group members wear red all throughout February while blogging about it and posting pictures of how they did it.

While I do don’t post daily outfit pictures, I can contribute by offering some fantastic red pieces to make participating in this awareness challenge MUCH easier! 

Here are some of my favorite fabulous red pieces to wear this month.
Tops
  1. Anne Klein New York Georgette Blouse available @ AnneKlein.com, $195.00
2. Women’s AE Thin Sleeve Cardigan $39.50
3. LNA Women’s Tee available @ Yoox.com, $49.00
Bottoms
1. McQ Houndstooth Leggings available @ Theoutnet.com, $117.00
2. Waterfall Drape Short available @ Topshop, $70.00
3. Costume National Casual Pants available @ Yoox.com, $295
Dresses
1. Mossimo Women’s Ponte Dolman Sleeve Dress available @ Target, $24.99
2.Moschino Cheap and Chic Belted Printed Silk Blend Dress available @ Theoutnet.com, $166.25
3.Pepe Jeans Floral Batwing Dress available @ Asos.com, $103.00
Jumpers
1. Steven Alan Lou Lou Woven Playsuit available @ Theoutnet.com, $75.00
2. Sparkle & Fade One Shoulder Ruffle Romper available @ Urban Outfitters, $24.99
Accessories
1. Oversized Jewel Statement Necklace available @ Arden B., $29.00
2. Butter LONDON 3 Free in Chancer available @ Drugstore.com, $14.00
3. Urban Expressions Glitter Heart Case available @ Ebags.com, $44.00 
Shoes
1. Michael Antonio Faux Suede Wedge Pump available @ Arden B.,  $59.00
2. Jessica Simpson Tamana Heel available @ JessicaSimpsonCollection.com, $59.99
3. Valentino Patent Leather Slingback Pumps available @ Theoutnet.com, $297.50

To donate or learn more about the American Heart Association and National Go Red Day, visit https://donate.americanheart.org/ 
or feel free to email me for more information!

XXoo