Teal & Silver Tax Return

I’ve already spent my tax return and I haven’t even done my taxes yet. This is why I’m always broke. But I’ve decided I really want this outfit, so it’ll be okay. I love teal and silver together and all of these pieces are something I could get a lot of use out of. I just can’t decide which shiny Jeffrey Campbells I want…

The Trashy Diva ballerina dress is such a classic style and it’s so versatile; I love that they’ve got it in this gorgeous new color. The harness adds a sophisticated edge with the leather collar which would work perfectly with the shape of the dress. Finally, a pair of super shiny, super high, silver shoes.

Dress: Trashy Diva

Harness: Zana Bayne

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Rise or Fall?

Steven Meisel's high-low shoot for Vogue Italia

    Is the Fashion Industry one that will someday die? In our current economic state, certain industries are falling. Most noticeably so the print industry. With the rise of the internet, social media and blogging there is hardly any need to pick up a magazine or a newspaper. Why pay someone to write an article when someone just as capable is uploading it to WordPress for free? Why pay people to photograph celebrities when there are ten people with iPhones uploading the same photos to Facebook before People Magazine can put the ink on paper?

While the fashion industry in print form is definitely in trouble, is the fashion/clothing industry as a whole? People will always care what they put on their bodies. Clothing is a form of expression, whether you personally intend it to be or not. Even the people who “don’t care” about style still show a bit about who they are through what they wear. We are living in an era where image is an obsession, one that is becoming easier to get.

Being trendy is becoming a trend itself. Target’s designer collaborations are both sustaining the fashion industry and making it more accessible. Now the middle-class woman can deck herself out in Missoni and emulate the photos of celebrities splashed throughout tabloids. Affordable designer collabs like Vera Wang for Kohl’s, Versace for H&M, and Christopher Kane for TopShop are taking some of the mystery and glamour out of high end fashion, but also keeping it in business. It’s become such an empire, something so wanted and craved for that they can put a Rodarte tag on any old dress and thousands of girls will flock to buy it. It is the idea of it that is making people continue to swipe their credit cards.

With the way clothing is mass produced now and trends are still ever-changing I think the clothing industry will be just fine, at least in my lifetime. Who knows if in the future we will all be wearing matching space-age jumpsuits (though I do love a good jumpsuit). The real problem though, is luxury fashion. It has been flip-flopping for the past few years. While Karl Lagerfeld has defended Chanel and other large fashion houses, we all remember Alexander McQueen’s Fall ’09 collection, the trash-filled comment on luxury exuberance. During the 2008 economic crisis, Betsey Johnson, Carmen Marc Valvo and Vera Wang were not to be seen in Bryant Park during fashion week. Just a few years later, the infamous $39,000 backpack from luxury brand The Row sold out. While the overall appeal may be dwindling, I don’t think luxury brands are going anywhere either.

Clothing in every price range continues to stimulate our economy. Looks like I’m working my way up the right ladder.

How To: Make A Sweatshirt Chic

It is finally cooling down in New Orleans; and by “cooling down” I mean below 70 degrees. Now we can really begin to work with layering, which is key in this city/region.  I won’t lie, I love to be comfortable and I’m also rarely willing to risk that comfort for the sake of fashion. But it presents me with a challenge, and I love a challenge. So I’m taking the ultimate in comfort, a men’s crewneck sweatshirt and glamming it up.

 

 Option 1:

 Pardon me for going all dark, but I have to.  This one is about playing with texture, especially when you’ve got a lot of one shade. The sweatshirt itself is super simple, so you want a pleated maxi skirt and some sky high killer boots. Toss a bright belt over the sweater for a pop of color on top of all the bleak black, and add a floppy wool hat to play off the flowy skirt.

 Option 2:

I went to the next level of fabulous for this one. Grab a crisp white button up (a definite wardrobe must have) and put the sweater on over it, with the collar on the outside. Add a chunky bib necklace to keep the white/grey combo from getting too boring. I love these printed shorts, they are the ultimate way to play up more simple pieces. Finish it all off with a bright loafer. Best part, when you remove the sweater you’ve got a chic and polished outfit underneath.

Definitely Not Subtly Sexy

I’ve always been attracted to a darker sense of style; but what about when it comes time to get down to your skivvies? Dani Read brings the already provocative styling to lingerie for her line FYI. The collection boasts bras, tops, teddies, and undies featuring chains, studs, leather and spandex. My favorite piece is the studded and zippered “Polly” bra. Pyramid studs and zippers have been popular for quite some time and have recently declined as an uber-trend. (Is it terrible that that makes me want them more?) All in all, the collection is perfect for the girl who wants to accent her darker outside, or who has a dark secret on the inside.

Photos: FYI by Dani Read

Langford Market Blogger Party

I got invited to an event for fashion bloggers at Langford Market, and was so excited. The French Quarter boutique is absolutely adorable and their staff is a great group. The event was last night, and while I only sporadically snapped a few photos, I thought I’d share them with you. I also scored an awesome cream blazer, but I’m saving that for another post.

A demonstration on layering for Fall/Winter was given.

Mannequins were styled.

Here’s mine! I styled it with Mallory of Miss Malaprop

Photos were taken.

Many cocktails were had.

My outfit!

One Can Dream

I have always wanted a Rick Owens jacket. The construction, the fabric, the draping, the paneling. The way they hug the curves and create new ones. The dark and edgy feel with a soft side. The badass with the coy smile. The metal zippers. One day…

 

Fringe Twins

I got my hair done today, and I can’t say I wasn’t inspired by Jean Shrimpton.

(I know Laet’li, you came up with Fringe Twins.)

Fashion Challenge: $100 Outfit

The Southern Fashion Bloggers have a presented a challenge; put together an entire outfit that costs $100 or less. I am most definitely a frugal shopper and love finding a good deal so I was kind of excited when I saw their post. Now I may have technically cheated, as I didn’t go to my closet for my outfit. But I’ve just been feeling so uninspired with my own wardrobe lately and have been looking to revamp it. So I looked no further than my job, I went to Funky Monkey and threw a look together. I don’t really feel like I’m cheating, as this place has seriously become my closet. Too many times have I shown up at work and gotten dressed. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get myself a brand new outfit.

Top: $26

Skirt: $30

Shoes: $24

Bracelets: $10 each

It worked out too perfectly, totaling at exactly $100. I went for a silky soft bird print shirt, a trendy hi-low skirt and neutral shoes to balance out the rest of the outfit. I topped it off with two vintage gold bangles, because you can’t not have jewelry.

I’m also happy to say that I will be getting rid of my Summer Ombre’d hair on Friday. Yay!

A Decade of Fab: The 70′s

The 1970′s are one of my favorite decades when it comes to fashion. In the early years, Hippies were still going strong. Then you had the arrival of Glam Rock and Punk, bringing their own new look to things. The 70′s were also the ever popular Disco era. Polyester was most definitely not uncommon, and platform shoes were a favorite of both men and women.

Look for: Hot Pants, Bellbottoms, Platform boots and shoes, Lamé, Wrap dresses, Leather biker jackets, Studs, Doc Martens, Sequined tops, Baseball tees, Leotards, Jumpsuits, Ripped jeans, Rhinestones

Colors/Prints: Paisley, Leopard Print, Shimmery, Metallics, Jewel Tones

Face/Hair: Feathered hair (Farrah Fawcett, Middle Parts, Afros, Mohawk, Messy Crop, Natural Waves, Eccentric Glam Makeup, Natural makeup

Watch: Velvet Goldmine, Annie Hall, Saturday Night Fever, Sid & Nancy, Sleeper

Read into: Halston, Pam Grier, Marc Bolan, Vivienne Westwood

A Decade of Fab: The 60′s

I don’t even know where to begin with the sixties. Mods? Rockers? Jackie O? Twiggy? Early Hippies? The 1960′s were a huge time for fashion; there was a much wider variety of trends and styles than previous decades. Skirts got shorter, boots got taller, styles became more risque and eccentric.

Look for: Babydoll dresses, Shift dresses, Cropped skinny pants, Flared jeans, Go-Go boots, PVC, Sequins, Pillbox hats, A line mini skirts, Chanel-inspired skirt suits, Wide brim hats

Colors/Prints: Brights, Rich colors, Black, White, Color blocking, Crazy prints, Checkered print, Paisley, Space inspired silver and spacey prints

Face/Hair: Bouffant, Afros, Bobs, Pixie cut, Short thick bangs, Exaggerated eyeliner, Pastel eyeshadow, Nude lips,

Watch: Mad Men (of course), Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Barbarella, Young Birds Fly

Read Into: Jean Shrimpton, Brigitte Bardot, André Courrèges, Mary Quant