Monday, July 16, 2007

Wed-iquette

The wedding season is in full swing again. This means A. too many presents to buy, B. numerous open bars to look forward to, and C. cute outfits to plan. I will try to help on the final part!

For a more casual affair stick with a pretty printed skirt or flirty dress. This fun skirt would work great for a summer wedding...especially one on or by the beach. (Remember to wear flats at the beach!) Anthropologie is a good place to look for skirts. All these skirts would work nicely.

Sundresses are another easy look to consider. This Ella Moss dress is simple and comfortable. (You know that you will be wearing it all the time!) Lilly Pulitzer is another great choice. Lilly sundresses are made for summer weddings. Sundresses are especially great if you have to travel a long distance to the wedding. They are easy to pack and leave more room for you to overpack other things!

A formal wedding is your chance to really jazz it up. A LBD is always a safe option. This Banana shift dress is simple but the shorter hemline keeps it up to the moment. This Nicole Miller dress is another great find if you are tired of black. If you are feeling a little exposed take a wrap with you. (This matters if the ceremony takes place in a church.) This BCBG dress would be wonderful at a fancy outdoor event. If you really want to make a statement try this taffeta DVF number. Just grab a slick clutch and you are ready to rock!

With all the choices out there just remember one thing: do not wear white. You do not what to be that girl...

Friday, July 13, 2007

What a Croc


Slate has a great article all about Crocs. Even though I think they are incredibly ugly it was still an interesting read. (If you are a nerd like I am!)

For now I will stick to my espadrilles for comfort. Although it would have been a good bet to buy the stock when it went public...

Update: There is also an article in today's (July 15th) NYT's magazine on the same subject.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Party Planner: Summer Fiesta

Summer is the best time to have a party. People are usually more relaxed and there are a million reasons to celebrate (Fourth of July, Birthdays, Because it is Tuesday...). The warm weather also allows you to take advantage of the great outdoors more than other times of the year. (Although I have to admit, I love a good ski gathering.) Anyway, the best person to throw a summer party should have a pool, a lake house, a beach house, or a sailboat/yacht. See a theme with the water? Just remember, if the host has boats or other watercrafts try to hide them from guests who have a tendency to drink too much. Trust me, you don't want that one wasted guy taking the sailboat for a spin.

Element One: Fire

Fire can come in many forms. It can range from small candles to torches to a full-scale bonfire. It really just depends on the size of your property and how much work you want to put into it. These tiki torches are an inexpensive way to jazz up your party. And they help to keep pesky bugs away. Another option is to use electric lights. (This will prevent someone from lighting their ugly extensions on fire.) I love the ones from Pottery Barn. They have both simple cream ones and patterned ones. If you are feeling really ambitious, try a clam bake or crawfish boil. So yummy!

Element Two: Liquid

As I mentioned before, water is important. At the very least invest in a kiddy pool: you can fill it with ice and put drinks in it if you want. This category is also a not-so-subtle reference to "drinks." What you put in those drinks is up to you. (I am old so I can drink whatever I want.) The easiest thing is to buy a summery beer like Corona and plenty of limes. Spiked lemonade is a good summer bet (this can also be done with iced tea). I know some people that swear by a watermelon filled with alcohol. It depends on how crazy you are willing to let the party get!

Element Three: Sound

This is your chance to play Jimmy Buffet as much as you want. Go for it! If Jimmy isn't your cup of tea just figure out what bands/songs remind you of summer and stick with those. Just remember to have something in the background, the sound of crickets gets dull.

Element Four: People

Obviously, invite your friends who will have a good time. Also feel free to designate a burly guy as your bouncer... you never know who may show up.

Get to planning! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Cheap not Chic

That inexpensive jewelry may do more than just turn your skin green. An article in today's WSJ, entitled "Lead Toxins Take a Global Round Trip," details just how bad cheap jewelry can be. (See the Marketplace section for the article.) It turns out that more and more cheap Chinese-made jewelry is being found to have high levels of lead, copper, and tin. The toxins end up in the jewelry after waste from electronics and appliances is "recycled." The EPA currently doesn't regulate this sort of waste at all.

According to the WSJ, "this year the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued 18 recall notices affecting more than 6.7 million pieces of jewelry" that had dangerously high levels of lead. Cheap contaminated jewelry has been found in several stores including Claire's and K-Mart. California is attempting to pass a law to prevent dangerous metals from being used in jewelry. Until then this sort of thing is cleared up maybe you should skip the five dollar rings made in China. Your health (and style, I might add) is worth it!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Black, White, and Loved All Over

Nothing says summer like a simple white dress. I love this one Claire Danes recently sported. The flutter sleeves are my favorite part. I have to confess that I have a white dress I wear all the time during the warm months. (In fact I wore it yesterday with pink pearls and black cork platforms. Lovely.)

This white BCBG dress is a good option to replicate this look. This one is in an empire waist style. If you are worried that you ate too much pie at the last picnic you attended, this would be good camo!

The black and white combo looks fresh here as well. Instead of a black belt this Cynthia Rowley dress has a built-in necklace so accessorizing is a snap. It also has pockets to store your tiny cell, lip gloss, pepper spray, and other necessities.

A simple shirt dress is another way to go, like this DVF number. (It is on sale at Barney's.) It is all white but you can easily add black into your outfit. A chunk black cuff or big black headband would both work nicely. I also like to pair white with a bright accent color like this red leather J. Crew tote. (It also comes in white if you prefer to stay monochromatic.) Try aqua blue as an accent color as well.

Slip into one of these clean white dresses and you will understand why they say less is more. Just remember to avoid chocolate, red wine, and all those other nasty items that will stain your look...

The Flip-Flopper

Some people seem to irrationally and passionately hate flip-flops. Personally, I think they are great although they are a tad casual for the situations where many people wear them. Flip-flops at the beach? Great. Flip-flops at your cousin's formal wedding? Not so great. Avid flip-flop fans will tell you that they wear them at all times because they are so comfortable. (This is the same logic that Ugg- and Croc-wearing individuals also use as well.) There are a million cute and comfortable sandals out there just waiting to replace your sometimes overly laid-back Reefs and Rainbows. Here are a few contenders:
These are my favorite. I love the starfish detail on these Stuart Weitzman's. They also have a small heel for those girls who hate really flat shoes. Just right for a vacation in the Turks and Caicos or maybe just the local seafood restaurant.

Tropical green slides are also a great bet. I especially like the ankle strap details. I would avoid these if you suffer from "cankles." So sad. I would pair these with khaki Bermuda shorts and bright green top.

Seaside-inspired espadrilles are just right for a weekend at the shore. This pair will be right at home on the boardwalk. Just remember your LL Bean or Vineyard Vines tote and you are set. Oh and remember, it is summer, eat all the ice cream you want!

Finally, here are some red J.Crew slides that are also begging to replace your tired flip-flops. The leather soles make them uber comfortable. They come in a few colors but this red really pops. I have a red coral necklace that would match this pair perfectly. Put on a sweet sundress, grab a boy, and head out for a date... at least your feet won't be in pain by the third minute! The boy may be another story, try to pick one that won't bore you to death.

Don't worry, your flip-flops will never know you are cheating on them with these sexy flats. I promise.

Face Off

I hate to feed into the Paris frenzy but I just wanted to quickly comment on her wardrobe. Apparently Paris has just discovered the technology that suburban parents have known about for more than a decade: how to put someone’s face on a shirt. Unlike overly enthusiastic parents, Paris has opted for a shirt emblazed with her picture. And notice that is not even a good picture, she looks like a drag queen. Was that the only photo she could find? Oh wait, maybe all her pictures look like that.

I find this even more annoying than the message t-shirts people love to wear. (Let’s face it; if you have to tell people you are hot with your shirt, you are probably not that good looking.) My boyfriend pointed out that you should let other people (aka Paris’s pathetic fans) wear shirts like that. He blames the behavior on her new money status. If only she could use that excuse for everything she does.

To sum up, Paris please find a stylist quickly… and then go away for a while. Please? Your vanity is driving me crazy.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

A Belated Summer Post

Now that graduation has come and gone I have found myself in a strange place. I am no longer a student but have not yet started my oh-so-exciting job. So far I have filled the time with the standard summer fare… traveling around the country, frolicking at the beach, attending numerous baseball games, and wearing sundresses like they are going out of style. For now I will stick to the beachy activities…

I used to bake in the sun until my suntan was just perfect. Now my priorities have changed a bit. I just want to make sure I will look unwrinkled and beautiful when I am 40 (and beyond). If I have to be on the pale side to achieve that so be it! Along with my SPF 45 (don’t laugh) I brought along a cute white straw hat to shade my face. Of course I do not cover all my skin. I like to sport a bikini so I can collect shells and swim whenever I want! I like this one with a little Asian flare to it. If you are like my friend who spends a few weeks in the Bahamas on a yacht each summer, you are likely to have a massive collection of adorable suits. (Yes, I am jealous.)

A good beach vacation also calls for fun nights out of the town. Remember to take a nap post-beach/pre-party or you will be hurting as the night goes on. I like dresses because they are both easy to pack and easy to wear. (I obviously change outfits way too many times while trying to decide on the right look.) This bright T-Bags dress just screams summer to me. I suggest pairing it with metallic flats. Trust me, you never know when you will have to, say, run away from a bar fight quickly. (A better scenario would be that you take a walk on the beach with a handsome boy. Flats are a plus there too!)

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a lovely summer break so far!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

To Avoid Studying...

It must be something in the air. For some unknown reason I always seem to buy clothing from American Apparel around this time of year. The rest of the time I walk into an American Apparel store and immediately want to throw an 80s party. Seriously it is like a time warp straight into some Jersey girl’s closet circa 1984. (“Those leggings are rad!”) Then again, I also tend to be afraid when I see gold lamé anything. It is a justified fear. I really do not want to see anyone in the silver lamé mini-dress pictured. I know the guys will probably disagree with me on this.

Anyway, I chalk up my purchases to the fact is actually warm in Ithaca. And by warm I, of course, mean above freezing. Last year my purchase was a short skirt that I ended up wearing to Slope Day. This year it was a knee-length skirt and a halter dress. Hopefully they will be less scandalous than some of the other pieces. Keep it classy Cornell… for a few more days at least!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The Rundown


A friend once told me that all beauty was relative. I thought it was a tad abstract at the time and chalked it up to one too many Dixie Cups of frat punch. Now the statement finally rings true.

The average girl at Cornell does not get dressed up for class and is not what I would classify as high maintenance. (Yes, I know there are exceptions.) Most of the time I find that I feel overdressed on campus. Well I got a firm reminder of how my habits have changed since coming to this small town. Recently I enjoyed a lovely little trip down to the South. It was warm, sunny, and generally made me wonder why I had left this for the cold of New York. As I was having a yummy dinner on an outside patio I noticed the girl at the table next to me. She had on cute True Religion jeans, strappy gold sandals, a floaty chiffon shirt, and a tiny Gucci clutch. Of course, she had a perfect mani/pedi and had obviously spent some time making her hair flawless. My ego plummeted. I had thought my wrap dress was cute but now everything else about my appearance seemed awful. Before dinner I had changed out of heels into J. Crew flip-flops. They seemed excessively casual now. And my poor nails were in an unmanicured state; something I had been thinking about fixing lately but had not had the time. My simple black Prada bag was too boring. My hair was flat compared to her slightly curled ends.

But then I reminded myself that this girl probably was not in the midst of completing papers, exams, and presentations. I had a valid excuse. And hey, I still had a great dress. This Southern girl had nothing on my Northernized self.

Maybe beauty is relative. If so, I am ready for the challenge…

Friday, April 13, 2007

Juicy Feet


During one of my classes this week I was very distracted by my friend's lime green pumps. (Yes, my friends are those girls who wear heels to class.) They were so stinking cute! I love bright, juicy citrus colors. I have an adorable yellow Marc Jacobs top that is patiently waiting for the frozen tundra to warm up a bit. (Global warming has yet to help Ithaca in any way, today it was snowing. Arg!) Anyway, on to the shoes... (Note, "shoes" must be said like Kelly.)

First up, lovely green Sam Edelman flats. These green snakeskin beauties will brighten up even the most drab outfit.

These lemon yellow wedges just scream spring to me. I would love them with a flirty printed skirt and a cute straw purse.

Everyone loves a tropical vacation and these Pucci shoes are like wearing a tropical party on your feet. I am pretty sure these are the ideal Happy Hour shoes. Here is my reasoning: 1. You want to look festive when sipping half-price 'ritas. 2. The wedge heel means you are less likely to fall and embarrass yourself after one too many. 3. Any spills will blend into the pattern.

And to satisfy your orange craving, some wood platform sandals. These Theory wedges are nice and tall so you can tower over boys. (Evil laugh.)

Whether it is lime, orange, grapefruit, or lemon, treat your feet to some citrus this spring...

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Southern Charm

I will say, on the record, that seersucker is a wonderful fabric. This is despite the fact that many of my acquaintances seem to think the fabric is reserved for “complete douchebags.” (Their words, not mine.) I am positive my love of seersucker dates back to my childhood when my mother would tell me how it was such a great lightweight option for summer. No joke. Of course, this is the same Lacoste-wearing woman who dressed me in countless adorable sundresses, so her feelings toward the fabric fit well.

In celebration of my trip to the deep south, I figured a tribute/post to seersucker was in order. The past weekend I was in J. Crew and this seersucker suit was calling to me. I had to rationalize that neither the capri pants nor bermuda shorts were very appropriate for a work setting. (As a rule, I prefer a skirt suit.)

Although they did lure me back in with their St. Barth’s seersucker bag. (Also a possible post-graduation vaca spot? Hmmm.) I wish it came in more colors than just the light blue but oh well. Come on J. Crew, be nice to me!

In terms of all things preppy, Lilly is always a good, safe choice. (I apologize to all those who despise the pink and green brand, I still like it.) These pink seersucker sandals make me want to kick back on a shady porch with a tall mimosa. Ahh, delish!

Since summer is just around the corner, you may be on the lookout for a new bikini. Given the theme, this one is also (gasp!) in seersucker as well. The Juicy Couture bikini has blue and white seersucker with brown piping. Prepare to be the cutest girl at your next beach party. Or maybe just the cutest girl laying out in your backyard, they both work!

If you are looking for inexpensive options, Isaac Mizrahi makes some seersucker pieces for Target.

Happy seersucker-lovin’ shopping y’all!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Always a Bridesmaid


Anyone who has ventured into a wedding boutique can tell you how simply amazing it is. (No, David’s Bridal does not count.) This girly response has more to do with the desire for a beautiful new dress and a lot less to do with the actual impulse to get hitched. It turns out the thieves like these wedding dresses as much as I do.

According to Reuters, the border patrol caught thieves who were trying to smuggle over a thousand wedding dresses into Mexico. At least I have never had the urge to break the law over a gown. (Surprisingly.) The sad thing is that the dresses were meant to be sold at a charity event benefiting breast cancer. I bet those thieves feel even worse now.

Lesson learned, buy your wedding dress fair and square or you will be wearing a very unflattering orange jumpsuit on your big day.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Pack It Up

The backpack is an omnipresent feature on college campuses. Even though your Northface backpack is handy to, say, lug around heavy textbooks, they are not exactly the most stylish accessory. As the real world looms nearer, I am on the hunt for [even] more totes to haul my stuff!

First up, this Steve by Steve Madden tote. I like that it is simple with nice hard wear. It also comes in white and black, so all the basics are covered. Unlike some of my current totes, I could see this one working well for school, work, and life in general. Plus, you have to love that it is less than 200 dollars.

Isabella Fiore purses are always beautifully detailed. This tote is pretty neutral as well but the buttons and cross hatches make it special. (It also comes in an olive color if that is more to your liking.) Of course, it is more expensive than the first option. This pretty canvas and leather tote comes in just below 400 dollars. Hey, Isabella does not come cheap!


In the same neutral zone, this Hogan tote just stole my heart. The structure is more distinctive than a normal rectangular type tote. Even though the design is fairly simple, it is still eye catching. No one is going to think you picked this lovely accessory up at the nearest Wal-Mart. (Ick!) Too bad it is almost, gulp, 900 dollars which can take a big bite out a college students budget.

I love Tory Burch as previous posts have noted. This causal tote is right up my alley. Unlike some of the other totes in this post, this is easily in my price range too. It is only 175 dollars! Nice!

All these options make the tired backpack look even worse. I guess they will still have some use if I take a hiking day trip...

An Unstylish Celebration

I usually love shopping, but ordering a graduation gown is a tad different. Of course, it is wonderful since it means that graduation is in sight. On the other hand, it is perhaps the most hideous item of clothing ever. Calling the gowns “clothing” is a tad generous; a better description would be “tent.”

One of my friends obsessively worked out to lose weight for graduation. This made absolutely no sense to me. I could hide another person under my graduation gown and no one would be the wiser. Who cares about a measly five pounds?

When I ordered my gown the sizes are calculated by two measurements, first heights with shoes on, and second, weight. The second category is so broad that we should all indulge in that piece of cake! (Or perhaps second piece of cake…) I fit into the oh-so-skinny “Under 200 Pounds” category. At my height someone who is 200 pounds is considered obese. No wonder the gowns end up looking like someone threw a bed sheet on you. What a way to celebrate an accomplishment such as graduation.

I will just have to settle for a cute sundress under my school-required tent. At least I will be pretty under the voluminous yards of fabric and cap-induced hat hair…

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Luck of the Irish

I will admit, I do not know much about Irish culture. (I saw the Departed, does that count?) Much to the chagrin of my favorite Irish lad, I had not even heard of that When Irish Eyes Are Smiling song. Well, regardless of my nativity, I still like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day like I was born in the heart of Dublin. So bring on the green....

-An embellished skirt.

-A shamrock necklace, not guaranteed to bring you luck but it cannot hurt, right?
-An adorable MJ shirt.
-Wrist candy. You never want those wrists to feel left out.


-And of course, a green belt to jazz up any outfit.
Just be nice to these pretty items and try not to spill green beer or Guinness on them. That would not be lucky for any party involved... Happy St. Patty's Day!

Monday, March 12, 2007

No Sweat!

Going to the gym is always an adventure. I am constantly amused by the other people sweating around me. Sometimes I am confused by the girl who does at least two hours on the stair stepper. How does she get anything else done? And just how many flights of stairs does she climb up every week? Then there are the skinny boys who just love cardio. Come on, you are smaller than most girls, stop working out already. These are the same type that will lift 5 pound weights and act like it is at least 50. Is it really that difficult? Some textbooks are that heavy! My personal favorite is a guy who bangs on the treadmill with his fists and jumps around during his run. I think he is secretly planning on trying out for Ok Go or something.

Given all this weirdness I do not usually feel it necessary to look nice. My typical outfit consists of cheerleading shorts and one of my million sorority tees. I think it may be time to invest in more flattering gear. I have heard that looking good is motivation in itself.

My first purchase would be this fun little hoodie. Having a cute cover up for those chilly days is always good.

I also think it may be time to retire the cheerleading shorts. Those days are long gone! These retro style Puma shorts would be an upgrade.

And of course, a tee is probably the least flattering item around. I like this workout tank because it has fun little strap details.

Now it is time to run in style!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Save This

It is almost time to spring forward. On the face of it, this is a sucky occurrence. Who wants to lose an hour of sleep? Bah. But you have to stay positive, there will be more sun for you to soak up and the first day of spring is right around the corner. (I wish all this global warming would bring the warm weather a little quicker. I would buy a SUV if that would occur!) Since you will already lose an hour to the weirdness that is day light savings, you might as well waste a little more time shopping. I do love to procrastinate…

If I could wear a skirt every day of the year, I would be living in paradise. (In this sense Ithaca is not paradise, unless you like extreme frostbite with your skirts. I wore a DFV wrap dress yesterday and felt like I was going to die!) I would throw on some tights with this Laundry skirt until the weather cooperates.
A bright, modern floral top ($58) to coax the sun to come out.
And because I cannot say no to a ruffled shirt dress… a Florent dress that I love. Also check out this pale yellow Cynthia Steffe is on sale.
I like this J. Crew dress as well. I would pair it with a funky belt and wedges. Oh how I miss open toed shoes. (J. Crew has matching shoes as well but that is too matchy-matchy even for me. That is saying a lot considering I am the queen of obsessively matching.)
While spring means saying goodbye to snow, it also means saying hello to that other form of precipitation. I love my wellies even though they are not the most flattering look. (Unless you have calves you want to hide?) Anyway, I picked this pair in honor of the Hartford Whalers. I apologize for the colors not being exactly correct.
Just remember to Spring Forward this weekend... being an hour off is way past fashionably late!