Showing posts with label style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style. Show all posts
I always wanted to be the girl at the ball who walks down the staircase in a beautiful gown that brings people to a stand still, mouths wide open, eyes held open in shock and awe. There are some people who dream of their wedding day but that was more fear based anxiety inducing thoughts as opposed to a dream. As a makeup artist, I will confess that there are some brides who make me so green with envy that I stop and think for a minute but it soon vanishes once I pack up and go to my next venue.
lena dunhamIt's interesting to me that Lena Dunham chose to wear this ensemble to a highly watched, televised event. I have photos of the time Bjork wore a swan suit to an award ceremony but I thought it would not be her if she wore an Oscar de la Renta, or high profile designer ensemble to the event.  Back to Lena. What she did was brilliant. Granted, I have never been a fan of her based on the interviews I have observed; however, it seems that she keeps a close eye on things written about her and voices her concerns. If the news channel is correct, her hair colour was thought to be a wig, she addressed it quite well.
I was watching a video on Huffington, and my initial reaction was to ask why this group felt they had the ultimate authority on style? I'm sure if we gave each of them a once over, we could find something *cough weight, hair cough* about them that would qualify them for less than stellar feedback from critics but their job is to report so that we can feel better about ourselves if someone with something we don't have can have flaws.
Ironically, what this does is brings people to the forefront who are usually out shined by Lopez, Aniston, Jolie, etc. Following? Okay, prior to the show the wall of shamed celebrities were not familiar to me other than Lena. The reason she is familiar is due to the Chescalocs issue. I don't have cable but the discuss was on my social media feed.
I saw the women on several covers in the queue at the chemist and listened to a tall older woman with a thick German accent talking to a young woman about the red carpet. She looked in my direction and seemed embarrassed but apologised for her inability to decide which glossy to take. I smiled back and told her I wasn't in a rush. Hell, if it brings her a bit of happiness to chat about dresses, who am I to judge?
When I left it dawned on me that although people were speaking about their supposed "poor choice" in wardrobe, people were talking about them more than they were Beyonce's performance the prior evening. They say there's no such thing as bad press, and I didn't agree with that. Anything that was negative with a person attached to it surely can't be good. I was obviously wrong. Here stood a diverse set of women in the queue talking about people we do not know on a personal level rather than about who won. A week on, and I still don't know who won. But, I did look at some of the people who others took umbrage in their style choice.
Genius! All those attendees who starved, spent extra time getting fit in the gym, hired trainers, chefs, makeup artists, hair stylists, nail technicians, and so on may have gotten a nod for their effort, but I think if one spent zero time in the preliminary stage trying to get in shape, select the perfect designer who presented the right ensemble, with the hair, jewellery, etc. and just threw on a tent, there would be a lot less stress, but they would still get publicity. What's more, when you raise the bar, you set yourself up. When you start from the top, you set your expectation so high that anytime you are less than your best, all you get is criticism.
I call it self preservation or deflection. If I own my flaws and put them out there first, you can't hold the power. If I've acknowledged or am seen as a hot mess, anytime I clean up, I'll be commended as opposed to those, "Oh my she usually looks so smart, what happened?"
I think when we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, we give the impression that our lives are as picture perfect as our well preened appearance.
I'm thick, but today's lesson was proof to me that no matter what we do to impress others, even when it's good and we get it right, there will be those days where we display our human side. The side that is just like everyone else. We can't set a standard that is so unrealistic and expect to remain on that pedestal. I reckon that's why so many people criticise themselves. When we know what we have achieved, we expect to always do so. That's not possible. We age, gain or lose weight and our bodies don't do work at 60 the way it did at 40 or even, 20 which is why we have to give ourselves a break.

xo
9-5 basics
You work so hard to get a proper job and once you do, you realize, "Huh, I don't have the wardrobe to fit in.  I want to make a good impression." I got you! Here's some tips on building a work appropriate wardrobe not just for the working girl, but anyone. These simple suggestions will have you looking so professional without going into debt.
Starting from the top left working our way down we need at least one pair of black trousers. These can be found at and thrift store or consignment shop. Look for nice hemlines, good fabric and a working zipper. Next we have the "power blazer" I can go from staff to corporate just wearing a nice black blazer. It's good to have a purse, but it's also nice to have a clutch. You don't want to carry a 10 pound bag to have after hours mingles/mixers. It's also nice to not feel that weight if you are invited to lunch. The way you look, you'll be invited in no time. A white blouse is another timeless piece. There will not be a time in life that any of these pieces will be considered out of style. You make sure you get good fabric and take care of them properly and these will be staples. The white blouse is boring but with a statement necklace, earrings and arm candy, you'll have that executive feel. You can sport it with or without the blazer. Yellow pumps? YES! Avoid an all black shoe collection. There are so many ways to brighten up a wardrobe and these are shoes you don't want to last forever, they are for fun, imagine having lunch on a warm Spring day sitting in a patio? It's kind of nice right? Oh no, not a corset? Well, the corset is a bit more my taste, but you get the point. If you are going to be meeting people, you may be invited to a party, or to go dancing, who knows.  What I do know is you will need that one festive blouse that makes you feel sexy. Think of something that says "I'm a working girl, but I don't work the streets." Save that outfit for the times you aren't at work. Don't mix the two, it seldom has a happy ending.
Be sure to invest or find a comfortable pair of black ballet flats, or kitten heels. Don't make the purchase until you do the following: walk back and forth, pivot, stand on your tip toes and think of how much time you'll spend on  your feet. Happy feet are the best feet. I had my share of shoes that were either too tight, too high, or outright uncomfortable, the days seemed to be never ending. I had to soak my feet and remove callouses. That never looks attractive.  The cardigan is a great sample of an alternative look, but still timeless. Look at how many ways you can interchange these pieces. They mustn't be the exact articles; think of them as ideas of what to look for when you are bouncing from thrift store to thrift store. Stay tuned for a post on how to shop at thrift stores.
x♥o

How do those fashion bloggers do it?  Seriously, it's easier for me to take photos of intelligent life on Mars, than to get a decent picture of myself. Screw me, this post is all about you! 
Y.O.U. !!!
Ever see those women who have on a cute simple dress and it seems like it's a classy expensive dress.  Not designer (Dior, Cavalli, Herrera) but Macy's or Express.  Well, this was a deal at Target.  It's a good material, not too thin, not heavy, and is lined with satin (great for hot days).  I bought a few of them in different colors.  They are simple, quick and easy to make office appropriate.  With dresses simple, and solid, accessories make all the difference in the world.  Think scarves, statement necklaces and bangles.  The dress is Mossimo, and was on the clearance rack for $8.00 plus tax.  It's perfect for the summer and, if need be, a pair of tights and boots with a jacket and I'm good to go for winter.  Unselfish me, is telling you where the deals are!  Those other girls?  Lies!  They are "programmed" to tell you they bought their outfit somewhere chic, so I'm keeping it 100% and letting you know, I've had meals worth more than this dress at Chipotle.  Don't spend all your hard earned money on expensive stuff knowing your weight will fluctuate just as fast as the trends, these are classics.  Classics are great as they don't go out of style, they're work appropriate and you can add a cardigan, blazer, pashmina or whatever you wish to make the dress suit you during the day, to something daring and sleek for after hours cocktails or a date with a new "friend."
  (brown dress and peep toes)


So, this was not the best outfit of the day, but I don't have someone to follow me in the park and take photos of me striking model poses.  I am an admitted loner, who loves to look pretty.  I am looking for an inexpensive tripod to put somewhere to get decent pics, or I may just hang the bloomin dress and snap away.  For now, this will have to suffice.
xoxo

Okay...this is more difficult than it looks.  I used a different camera and cannot seem to get it right.  I completely envy those ladies with the SLR cameras and/or friends to take their outfits of the day next to these amazing backgrounds and lovely scenery.  Whereas, there's me with a point and shoot in the loo, hoping no one catches me.  Last thing I need is "She's so obsessed with herself she can't just look at herself in the mirror, she needs to take a picture too!"  Yes, I do work with cows ladies like that.  Hence, my reason for blogging.  No one else to talk to but the stratosphere, so a year on I can laugh at me self and think, "Girl, look how far you have come."


Face of the Day:  Hot Mess!
Foundation: None it's 90
Lips: Chap stick
Eyes: Urban Decay's Baked Palette sans the teal & Fiber wig

Outfit of the Day:  Keeping Cool!
Dress: Marshall's Nicole Miller: $24.99 + tax
Shoes: Ross CL $14.99
Making it through a hot day in the Capital:  Priceless ♥

xoxo

Yep!  I am so tired of how companies are advertising their "amazing" designer products, only to have this item is currently out of stock!!! I "get" that you're collaborating with high end designers in an effort to allow us beer budget fashionistas a shot at "brand names."  I don't understand the point of having some of the largest vloggers/bloggers/You Tubers, etc. promote your products if you don't plan to have enough merchandise for at least half of their followers/subscribers, etc.  You apparently want to reach a large audience with little or no costs for advertising compared to adverts in magazines, commercials and so on.  I blogged about how MAC does this.  It's the scarcity factor.  You hype something up, leak swatches, and items to certain Internet celebs, then you slap the word "limited edition" which makes people want it more, "just in case."  Which does three things. 
  1. Creates a frenzy of people who are giving their first born for something they don't need or already have.
  2. Drives the price for the item up on ebay for a ridiculous price. (You could buy an original for the same $$$)
  3. Frustrates consumers who want to purchase the products locally, only to find out after driving hours to various stores that only a few were sent and the rest would be available on line.  Which means.
  4. Item is currently out of stock!  Contact stores for availability.
This has happened to me twice which is two times too many. First I read a popular blog and saw these:

Cynthia Vincent for Target

Lovely aren't they?  Well, back in April, I was on a wild goose chase thanks to Target's sucky website which told me there was "limited availability" in a few stores in my vicinity.  Great right? Wrong!  Not one store had ANY C.V. shoes.  None at all.  They aren't amazing.  But, for me, I was in a spring mood, wanted to incorporate yellow into my wardrobe, and it was my mum's favorite color.  I don't like wedges that have the cork around it, nor do I like the thread ones so this would suit me perfectly.  The stores near me never received these at all.  They eventually got sandals, but not wedges.  Thanks Target, Cheers very much!

Then, I saw another You Tuber/blogger showcasing another designer collaboration, this time Payless Shoe Source.  I had never bought from them because my mum has this thing about inexpensive shoes leading to hammertoes, bunions and a bad back.  I remember Starr Jones having something to do with them and, more recently, Christian Siriano

not bad for Payless?

This is an Alice and Olivia inspired collaboration, and I find these shoes to be so cute.  After church and before visiting my father, I scooped up the dog and hit a few of the stores nearby.  First store, the clerk new nothing, but in her defense, they had no advertising about, such as posters, displays, etc.  So, I went to a mall store, if it's in the mall, the odds are they are more likely carrying them, or have knowledge.  No joy!  What?  The girl was kind enough to make a call and tells me:  "Designer inspired shoes aren't carried here, but you can order online."  She smiled, and rather than punch her, I asked where they were.  She shrugged, and said "Not in stores unless you want to drive to San Diego."  She couldn't guarantee they would be there, but that is the closest store who "sometimes" gets the designer stock.  Great...

So, in the stores defense, I can buy online.  Many people do since they live in remote areas.  Unfortunately, online shopping is fucking ridiculous.  I cannot see what I'm buying up close.  I like to look at the details, the very fine details in how merchandise is put together.  Anything can look good online, but up close you can see the way something is put together, feel the material and determine the investment.  What some people like or find acceptable others may not, (i.e. Hot Miami Styles). 

I get that business is business, but gas prices are shooting up and there is no sign of it slowing down.  I don't find it fun to spend an afternoon driving from store to store.  Don't even start on public transportation.  Is it too much to ask that companies make enough of an item they know will be well sought after?  The mark up they get is insane!  Do you think it's costing them the same price to make they charge to sell?  Of course not!  How does it feel for us to be like rabbits having carrots hanging above our head as we watch videos, read blogs and scour the Internet looking at products given to a chosen few?  Is my money not they same as the selected few?  If it's because the people you are "gifting" have a huge market for you, then why not accommodate forthcoming sales.  I guess there are places like F21 and Sheikh ready to pick up the fall out and have a dupe ready and in stock. 

P.S.  After contacting some of the owners of said shoes I've learnt they were rather cheap looking and are in fact made with poor craftsmanship.  Karma?




Ugh!  I hate being one of those girls who can't take pictures to save their life.  I look at all these beautiful women on all these forums who look like they should be at New York Fashion Week or on the arm of some of these surreal looking men/women in the movies.  Well, I have to get over it and accept myself flaws and all.  So, I don't get to wear jeans, but we do dress casual, meaning we don't have to do the suits, etc.  So, I've had these red boots and wondered what I could pair them with that wouldn't look ridiculous. Granted, to some my whole style is ridiculous but I thought I'd give it a go with a leopard print dress I got moons ago.  It's not a dress I would recommend for girls who are stick thin, and have the "ruler" shape, nor an apple because it's not quite forgiving and the material hugs a bit like a bandage if you don't wear the right undergarments like support hoisery. It worked okay, and I'm not feeling too insecure wearing it, but I think I'll keep this to casual Fridays and keep the black blazer on standby.


So we've all seen the photos from last night's Grammy Awards.  To me it was a great lesson.  When you watch the
Oscar's, you see fashion, when it comes to the Grammy's it's more about style and shock.  Most people don't know the difference between fashion and style.  Often the words are used interchangeably which is really confusing.  So, here's my take.  Fashion is all about trends.  If you go to fashion week, you will see debuts for upcoming "trends."  Don't expect the looks to stay, they are fluid and ever changing.  Style is, to me, something that is individual and like a fingerprint.  Your style is something which reflects you.  How you dress, the clothes you like, and how you wear them.  You can put two people in the same outfit and it won't make it a fashion "success" often one is a hit the other a miss.  Why? Because the attitude, accessories, and manner of which the individual wears the clothes.  I digress this post is not about fashion although I wonder if those heels are from McQueen.
A lot of people wonder what I mean when I say wear your hair in a protective style.  A lot of women have presumed I meant, heat protectant.  Well, sure, but that's not exactly correct.  Last night Lady GaGa wore a protective style.  Look close right  here ! See the outline of her face?  That's a front lace wig or a lace wig.  You can see the outline around her hairline.  If you do it right, you can make it look less obvious.  This is a great protective style for those who have the time, money and dedication to invest in their hair over the course of giving the hair a rest.  There are a plethora of protective styles which will aid in getting the hair healthy whilst taking time away from the heat, manipulation and learning to care for your hair's health.  I've missed writing here, but the Haiti earthquake was something that I needed to give and work on lately. 
xoxo


So...perusing a shoe store I saw the most wicked pair of boots evar! :)  I bought the boots!  They were the last pair in my size and they will replace the pair I brought with me from Europe!  But, as I looked closer, what struck me was the heel.  It had this bit of plastic on the spike part which made it interesting to say the least.  I found out the sales assistant had attached a pair of sole mates to them.  They were $6.99 for one pair but I did research and found four pair for $19.99 plus s/h at QVC
I wore the following shoes to work one day and my co-worker told me "those shoes can do damage."  Guess what?  She was right!  Although I don't walk on the grass, which is what these were said to be designed for.  They don't get hooked on the cracks in the pavement when I'm walking across the Capital on my way to work.  One day I may try walking on the grass of the Capital Park, but with the weather being so bad, I'd save it until I know I won't slip on my bum!


(side view)


(from the back...another camera?)

Voila, here is the ensemble!

I would recommend getting them from the QVC store in order to save money, but if you only want black, you may be better off buying one pair from the website.  They come on and off, but I like having a backup/surplus (just in case)!

xoxo


Of course I know it's Tuesday, but this outfit was a steal and I keeping a blog of your clothing is a great way to reference what you want versus what you need when shopping for essentials.  Remember, trends come and go but style is personal and it should reflect you and not what's "in" or "out."  This little number was found at dd's and it cost $9.99!  What is dd's?  I don't know the history of the store, but imagine you take TJ/TJ Maxx and Marshall's, merge them into one and then take their overstock and that is what dd's resembles. It felt like a thrift store, in that you have to look around and some of the items look like they were on the floor and put back on a hanger and marked down.  That's not a bad thing if you are good at removing stains and the price is reflective.  However, don't buy something you have to tweak too much unless you simply cannot live without it.  Because it's been so cold I paired it with a black blazer (summer dress to winter style) and also had a pea coat from Old Navy with a scarf and a smart pair of shoes also at discount (details to come) and it works to make a proper outfit for work. 
Notice the face :(  I truly don't like Mondays, especially when we have a short work week.  Hope this will inspire others to realize YOU wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear you, whatever your shape, budget, or brand, you ultimately put it together to make the total look.  Work it!!!


xoxo

I never thought the color red would work for me.  I believe 90% of my clothes are black, and I'm challenging myself to incorporate color.  Color is something that gets you noticed, it says, "I'm here!  Look at me!"  Although the demure black is quite sophisticated, I'm tired of the remarks if I'm honest.  So, here is day one and rather than sport the black camisole with a blazer, I scored a $12.00 long sleeved blouse with french cuffs (my fave for my long arms) at Ross to go with a pencil skirt I got at F21 last season.  I did wear black opaque tights with my Mary Janes (also Ross) because it's cold in the morning when I'm catching the train to work. 

The jacket was a great deal at Buffalo Exchange, it's by BeBe and is a petite so the french cuffs make a good detailing for it. I think it was 1/2 price on $15.00 so for $8.00 it has been a great piece I can wear with jeans or pair with skirts for work!







The last bit are these cool fake nails I bought at Walgreens on sale!






I don't know why I have b*tch face in this pic, other than a) I'm at work, b) I'm in the loo cam whoring, c) I am hoping no one will walk in, d) bad lighting, bad hair day, or e) all of the above?    If you picked (e) ding! ding! ding! You are RIGHT! I have said I'm not a photographer, I have a new camera and I'm painfully uncomfortable taking photos of myself.  I have never thought I was soooo damn interesting that I should create anything centered around me.  It's not been my personality.  As a makeupartist, the goal was always to make others look and feel there best or create an illusion with colors, textures, props and the like.  I hated looking at myself in the mirror when I was heavy and primping my hair until recently was not fun.  I had to learn so much about me I didn't know what my best features, angles, colors, etc. were but I could do it in a New York minute (fast) for others.  So, now I have found blogging to be an outlet where I can keep a journal all about me, and maybe, share with others, whilst learning from others. Well, I was telling a co-worker she
didn't have to spend a lot of money for new fall clothes.  If one gets creative enough there are loads of options with what you already have.  The above is a summer dress, as you can see it's quite short. :)  I paired it with a blazer, tights and Mary Janes and voìla! 
Blazer:  BeBe from thriftstore $ 8.00
Tights:  George @ Walmart    $ 5.00
Dress:  Ross  $11.00
Shoes:  Steve Madden @ TJ Maxx  $24.99
Always remember to add accessories for that personal touch and for a bit of character!
xoxo


Fall Styles

by on 12:34 PM
I don't know why I have b*tch face in this pic, other than a) I'm at work, b) I'm in the loo cam whoring, c) I am hoping no one ...
Okay, so I guess since I did not get to dress up for Halloween, I'm a tad bitter still.  I mean, I've been watching tutorials, looking at blogs, and seeing FOTDs for Halloween since August and did not get to use any of my attire (it was Disney) but I really love the idea of dressing up.  I reckon the next time will be "possibly" New Year's Eve, but I won't hold my breath.  When I make plans way in advance (Halloween) something inevitably happens and I wind up at home.  I don't mind, now that I have a laptop again, I can live vicariously through others.
So I watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith yesterday for the first time.  I didn't pay close attention to the plot, but I was impressed with some of the styles of the charcter Mrs. Smith.  The woman had a really nice wardrobe stylist.  I found similar boots worn in the dominatrix scene at Forever21 and have not pulled the trigger yet!  I don't plan on dressing as a dominatrix (however, you with partners should give it a go), but she did wear them with a lovely peach dress, cardigan, and fishnets quite well.  The dominatrix outifit was cute too ! But, again, I don't have Angelina's figure and would not have the ability to fill it out and do it proper!  I guess we all have an alter ego and that's what
makes Halloween and costume party's so much fun.  We can dress however we feel without fearing judgment by our peers.  It's too bad we can't get away with it more often, but that's what you do with partners to keep the "fire" burning.  Dressing like a flapper, cheerleader and other ideas are great ways to keep that spark going and to have fun with clothes and makeup, two things we love!   Embrace your alter ego loves, life is too short to sit on the sidelines :)
xoxo

 OMG!  I didn't think the day would happen.  I know they are called "skinny" jeans for a reason, but they look good with heels, boots and I can always hide my big bum.  See, my problem isn't that I'm huge, so I don't want to be "that girl" who goes on about being fat who clearly isn't.  Granted, I could use a bit o' toning, but anything wrong with my shape is my own doing!  No health issues, genetics, babies, just greed.
So, today, I was perusing some fashions sites and came upon PZI Jeans, and I cannot wait to get a pair.  I am praying these jeans will work for me.  I am a hot mess!  I have long legs, but I am almost 63 cm tall, and have a small waist and huge bum.  I rarely ever wear pants, let alone jeans, but this fall I have told myself I deserve to have a pair that fit me well and can dress up or down. 
I loved the models on the website, here because they are so diverse.  Check out the short blond rocking the Christian Louboutins, you go girl!  Short, tall, big bones, but all curvy!  YES!  But, I'm not yet going to get too excited.  I am scared of placing an order online, since my account was hacked!  Yes! Will it ever end?  But I am going to post photos of me wearing them and do a full review. 
Remember, no one is as uniquely beautiful or talented as you, and you can do anything you put your mind to.
xoxo
Everday I get asked no less than four times, "How do you walk in those high heels?"  Which is followed by how a woman used to wear them back in her "hayday" but now she is either too old, too fat, etc. Or, I have the ones who try shock therapy.  They give me lovely tales about how they once wore heels and now they have a bad back, flat feet, or some other orthopedic ailment which has them now a slave to trainers or Birkenstocks.  While I don't doubt any of their stories, I don't feel the need to run to my practioner or chiropractor and get an exam.  Let me share with you how I manage to wear heels 99.9% of the time.  I don't wear heels when I get home in the evening, nor when I sleep or putter around the house.  In fact, I don't own any flats at the moment, but it's an internal issue.  The times I have worn my low heels (kitten heels) I have felt very insecure, and to make things worse, I ALWAYS bump into someone and leave feeling short, fat, ugly, etc.  It's a given just as if I wash my car it will rain.  So let's get to the important stuff:

  1. Know your limits.  If you can't walk in heels, start low and work your way up and stop at the level of comfort for your body.  If you don't feel comfortable in heels, it will show in your walk.  Baby steps are key at this stage.


  2. Understand your feet.  Sounds simple, but it's so underrated. If you have flat feet and plan to rock some stilletos, rather than be a Diva, you will be destroyed and so will your feet.  Do your feet sweat?  Do you retain water? Are your feet narrow?  You can't buy the proper shoes if you don't understand your feet.  I have a narrow heel and most of my weight shifts to the ball of my feet.  Because of this, I buy insoles for the back of my heel to secure my heels can hold my feet in and gel comfort soles to alleviate the pressure from causing pain or calluses to form.  The insoles come in a variety of styles and most stores who sell shoes carry them, even the likes of Walmart and Target.


  3. You get what you pay for.  My mother emphasized the importance a good shoe would have to the point where I knew if I had to cut costs, clothes were a preferred option.  This has kept me from developing bunions, hammer toes and so many other ailments.  If the shoe fits improperly you can distort your feet and it's a bugger to fix.  If you have wide feet, please don't try to buy a regular shoe and squeeze into them, you will save yourself and your feet in the interest of saving some $.  I know it's hard to resist those small chain boutiques in the mall with flashy night out on the town shoes, but those should be limited to disposable use.  Wear them minimally, they are discount price for a reason.  If you plan to wear your heels long term, think of them as an investment!


  4. Have confidence in yourself.  If you don't think you can walk in heels, you can't! Practice walking in your home to develop confidence, get the feel of your shoe and learn how to gain the feel of walking in heels, it's not easy at first, but in time, you'll be Carrie Bradshaw ;)
  5. Practice, Practice and Practice more.  Walk in the comfort of your home and don't just walk, dance and practice your "Signature Walk!"
If the unthinkable happens  don't fret, it happens to the best of us.  Just shake it off, and keep it moving.  Besides, if it's around people you know, the odds are they will laugh which breaks some of the ice, and if it's about people you don't know, a) they've seen worse and b) who cares?

xoxo


Christmas comes early for some this year.  November 14th is the date Jimmy Choo will release the H&M exclusive.  This is another high end designer does mainstream budget collaboration much like Issey M. did for Target many years ago.
I was following up on the WWD regarding the rumours of Jimmy Choo creating a line for H&M.  Well, I didn't have a press pass so I am forced to read bits and bobs like FEMA after Hurricane Katrina.  I intially though H&M would sell the shoes, but *nearly* the cost of the original line.  However, the designer is creating a line of shoes targeted for us who don't have the funds of our high end fashion lovers.
Remember, it's not about the brand name, it's the quality of the shoe as well as how you make your style work for you.  Don't waste time fawning over something you will wear one season but costs the amount of one month's pay.  Fashion is fickle and style is individual, we can't all afford to spend a few grand on a beautiful pair of shoes, jeans etc. Unless you are attending a premiere, or a brand is sponsoring you (which they do for many celebs) don't compare where you are to where you want to be.  To be honest, I've seen some of the shoes, and they aren't that impressive.
These are okay
These may work for some...
but my point is, you can find some really smart deals at places such as: Marshall's, Ross, Nordstrom Rack and Target which are made with good materials, have quaility craftsmanship and won't have you eating Ramen noodles until the next payday. 
Of course we love our Jimmy Choos, Christian Louboutins, Prada and more, but designers are not catering to Jane Q. Citizen when they think of their next season's shoe.  You are hard pressed to find Citizen Jane on the runway sporting Manolo's, it's not going to happen.  Maybe on Oprah, Ellen, or Tyra when they do makeovers, but on the runway?  No.
I am happy designers are looking to appeal to a greater audience, but make sure the quality of the product is worth the investment.  You can always find something classic on clearance made well, but if you want a shoe that looks like a cheap version of an orginal, your feet may pay the price.

xoxo




source

Jimmy Choo For H&M

by on 11:06 AM
Christmas comes early for some this year.  November 14th is the date Jimmy Choo will release the H&M exclusive.  This is another high e...

Hmm...I finally know the reality of bitter sweet.  I saw an advertisement for Mrs. Beckham's line of shoes and fell head over foot in love with the styles. They have the elegance, class, design and height I love so much.  They sell them in the U.K. as ASOS as well as all things to be a fab fashionista.  BUT...seeing the photos of Victoria really trouble me.  She's dreadfully thin and she's wasting away pound by pound and I can't say's I blame her. 
I struggle with my appearance and weight as do many women as well as men.  But eating disorders don't just threaten your life, they destroy it.  The food obsession becomes so strong, one can't stop and the more you resist, the stronger the desire to "control" the "diet" becomes.  Victoria, a self professed, control freak has all the makings of an eating disorder waiting to happen.  Sure, she's always been thin; however, when I first saw her, she was a bit heavier and had such a lovely look about her.  Eating disorders are so confusing because you strive to be thin like the super models and celebrities, but then the addiction kicks in and you've lost control of the ability to discern between wear the diet stops and the eating disorder takes over.  Sadly, there is nothing one can do to merely suggest a person "stop dieting" as her vision has distorted and she's not as "thin" as others say, she just wants to lose a "few" more pounds, and believes that cutting back (out) food will help "tone up" and you can clearly see her skin is falling off her frame due to muscle atrophy.  What's more, it's causing her to look older and she's such a lovely girl.  It truly saddens me when celebrities, or anyone, thinks they must be a certain size to be beautiful.  Unfortunately, it seems as if they all go through it at some point in their careers and shrug it off to "I've been working out with a trainer."  That's become as laughable as the "We're just friends..."
We can only hope that she's able to get the help she needs.  If anyone can beat this she can, and if you or anyone you know has gone a wee bit too far in their diet, there is help and there is hope.  I really like something-fishy.org for people who are dealing with a friend, family member or want help from an eating disorder.  You can contact me as well. 

p.s.  The shoes were fierce aren't they? :)

xoxo

Hello Friends,
I have been guilty of lying on the street for lack of  a better term.  I'm the type who cannot accept compliments at all.  I own up to it, and fully admit it; however today I'm giving 100% truth.  The outfits I wear are never really planned out nor do I spend time on them.  I am inherently lazy to the nth degree.  I cannot stand getting up to iron; although adding simple touches like ironing, hemming, fixing loose buttons can made a piece go from drab to fab, I don't do it.  I don't spend a lot of money on clothes; however, I do have loads of pieces which are classics as well as some "throwaways."  My throwaways are clothes I purchase from F21 and don't expect them to last me long or may be considered "trendy."  For lack of a better word, they were inexpensive and not made the best in terms of quality; however, they are fun and you can have fun with clothes on clearance racks.
I digress.  So, at work people make statements about my clothes or whatever, and I lie and say I got them really cheap or they are hand me downed from someone, or I got them at Ross.  I do shop at Ross, but I get creative with clothes and will do something ridiculous like wear a brown maxi dress with dayglo orange heels.
Voila:
 
The scary thing is, I didn't plan this outfit, I grabbed the dress because I was running late and didn't have the time to iron, and the shoes?  Well, I can't account for that, but it worked.  I got great compliments and to be honest, I was embarrassed once I arrived at work sitting there looking down at the clown shoes which looked like rejects from a WHAM! video.  Oh well, here's to making it work, wear what you wear and don't care and the attitude will give you the confidence to carry it off.  It's not just _______ who can "get away with it" you can too, if you believe it!

Make it Work!

by on 12:08 AM
Hello Friends, I have been guilty of lying on the street for lack of  a better term.  I'm the type who cannot accept compliments at all...

Beauties,
I am really impressed with the way the CB amps up the season for it's shows. I really must confess to having an addiction to the whole lot of them. Yes, Gossip Girls is one, but America's Next Top Model, The Supernatural, 90210, Melrose, et al. I love the ads with WTF? My mind goes straight to ....ah ya, there. But they incorporated Watch This Fall and it starts September 14th. I don't know why I love this show, I'm nothing like any of the characters but I find myself consumed with not only the storyline, but the clothes, the makeup and the hairstyles. Blair rocked a wicked red lip last year and I still haven't figured out a dupe.
This photo signifies everything this couple represents, dark, dirty and mysterious:

Lest we not forget this year Jenny Humphrey will be back at Constance and will be the reigning queen. I have a feeling she will make Blair look shy. She's been having fun during her off time, she had a lot of press about her partying ways in People magazine and the clothes she wears are trendy rocker meets chic style. Observe the hair:

I read on GossipGirlInsider.com there was a casting call for Vanessa's mum. Hmm...this should be interesting. Jessica Szohr is rumoured to be dating our love-to-hate Chuck Bass (Mother Chucker)in real life. I think she's absolutely gorgeous, so good luck finding someone to fill the role.


I can't wait to see what's in store for them now that they are in college. Will this be the end of Chuck and Blair (Chair)? Will Serena have enough of Blair's jealousy? What do you think about Rufus and Lilly? We know we love it!

xoxo