A Fashion Risk

I was so torn over this dress, I loved it, I loved it not. I tried it on, put it back on the rack, then grabbed it again. But as you can see, it made it out of the store! The vertical lines had a slimming effect that I liked.
I think I have to switch to wedges or shorten it because my feet disappeared! But it's still not as long as some maxi dresses I've seen. I am wearing my Hermes-esque bracelet with it and some gold hoop earrings. It made me feel like I was about to jet off somewhere and fashion is all about fantasy isn't it? :)

Fashion is also about taking risks and I am glad I bought it since this dress will definitely not blend into the background. So, do you ever question your fashion choices? And what risks have you taken that have paid off? 
I was close to ordering this one, but I am short and wasn't sure how long it would be. But it's really cute too.

2010 Fashion Report Card

Ooh, it was a year of fur vests and combat boots. Big shoulders and ankle socks with heels? Yes, we saw it ALL in 2010 and some things were better than others. Unlike report cards in school, I am only listing the trends with the highest marks...straight A's! These grades are extremely biased though. They are the trends I  had the most fun wearing, so there is a definite curve.


Fur Vest
When these things started popping up in Ann Taylor Loft you knew the trend was dying down. But trend or not, I love a fur vest.

Leopard Accents

I love leopard so I was happy to see it roar big in 2010. Leopard is classic, but there are some years when it's hotter than others and 2010 was such a year. I am partial to this look because FabSugar selected it as a Look of the Week! So any excuse for me to show it again is fine by me!

One Shoulder
Fashion was a little one sided this year with one shoulder tops. But I loved them. Even Michelle Obama did as she was seen wearing this trend also.

Sequins
And finally sequins were sparkling all over the place this year. From berets to skirts to jackets. Sequins during the daytime? Oh yeah! Sparkle is my best friend, so I was pleased. And what better way to ring in 2011 than with some shine. Here's to another year of fashion, trends and fun!

2011 Fashion Resolutions

It's that time of year again where we resolve to start making changes for the better.

So, here's a take on traditional New Year's resolutions. With a fashionable twist!



For 2011 I resolve to stick tho these five resolutions...

1. Grow up my style a bit. I have a funky style, but I also love a more streamlined and sophisticated approach to fashion. Something like Jen Aniston's minimalist style appeals to me so I should try to go for that look more often.


2. Wear more heels. Even if the occasion calls for casual shoes, I should wear get more of my heels out of hibernation!



3. Buy only items that speak to me. I tend to be a bit of an impulse shopper. :)


4. Wear more white. As much as I love white, I save it for future use and then never wear it often. It it gets messed up who cares, I'm wearing white!


5. Wear more make-up.  I tend to go all out in the make-up department for nights out, but I should really use more of my make-up daily before it expires on me.

The September Issue

I FINALLY saw The September Issue last weekend, when it was featured on A&E. I meant to see this movie when it first came out, but I never got around to it. For fashion lovers, this movie is a must!

I thought it would focus heavily on Anna Wintour, which it did. But the star of this film was the amazing and talented Grace Coddington, Vogue's Creative Queen. (that should be her title). Amazing woman and stunning to boot. She was a former model in her youth and retired from modeling after surviving a car accident. She styles the models for the breathtaking pictorials and her vision and creativity are second to none.

Of course, Anna Wintour was very intense, but also fascinating to watch. She is villanized in the media, but all I saw was a no nonsense, hard-working woman. (Still I don't know if I could work for her).

If you're like me and didn't catch this movie when it first came out, check when they're replaying it on A&E. The best scene was Andre Leon Talley's tennis session and his Louis Vuitton "tennis" accessories because you really can't place tennis without an LV towel around your neck.

Pretty Style: Artistic Fashion

As I mentioned in an earlier post, places can influence fashion. Art is also a big influence on fashion. Aside from journalism, I studied art in college and visited almost every art museum in NYC. One of my favorite classes was Art and Anthropology. After college, I went to museums to see many cool exhibits. Here I am straight out of college and visiting the Brooklyn Museum and feeling short next to the totem poles!

My favorite artists are Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh. I love Impressionism and I also love photography! Bright colors and the simplicity of black and white photography can influence fashion in a bold way. I've added paintings from my home and matched them to their fashion counterparts!

Nympheas
Claude Monet

Still Life with Fifteen Sunflowers
Van Gogh

Yosemite National Park
Ansel Adams

Pretty Style: Inspirational Fashion

Fashion inspiration comes from anything around you. Donna Karan once said that she can be inspired by just looking at a beautiful rock. On one of my favorite shows, Project Runway, the contestants are often asked to create clothing inspired by their surroundings in New York City. Here is a picture I took of a street in Puerto Rico

And here is the dress that reminds me of it

What beautiful places or things inspire your fashion choices?