Inspiration From Across the Pond

I was having a minor freak out when I learned that I had to wear something other than a t-shirt and yoga pants to class while studying abroad in England, Summer 2006. You see, we Americans are used to the t-shirt and lounge pants look as perfectly acceptable school attire. Well guess what? Other countries actually dress up a little bit just to attend class. This meant my mom and I were on a hunt for comfortable yet put together and classy apparel. My experience in Newcastle Upon Tyne, located in the far North of the country, has influenced my fashion desires now and transformed the way that I look at styling myself.

An anecdote: I quickly befriended a girl from Sheffield, England. She and I decided to get out the first Friday we had and I was quickly to my closet searching for some great outfit. I felt confident and great in my tan peep toes, boot cut jeans and nice v-neck brown top with a belt that wrapped into a bow in back. When I met up with her, I felt like I was dressed to go to a BBQ alongside her, who looked like she was straight off the runway. She was wearing a graphic tee, leggings, bright red booties and accessories to the max. I don't know how it looked so dressed up, but she made it work- she made everything work. I could not get over her bright red booties, like ones left. My point is, to me, she was fashion forward and I loved her glamorous, yet effortless, look.

Let's fast forward 1 year and some months ahead. . . . while living in Newcastle with my fiance (who I met that Friday night), he and I wandered the city centre frequently. On this one occasion, I stopped dead in my tracks as I noticed a family of 4. Mom, Dad, daughter and son were all in jean shorts, white socks above the ankles with sneakers and sweatshirts from some Universities. This screamed "I'm an American tourist" just as much as a man wearing a baseball uniform, carrying the Star Spangled Banner and eating a hot dog does. Now, I know we are not all like this because we have some hugely stylish people knocking about this massive country. On the flip-side we have plenty of white sock sporting, 90 jean shorts and sweatshirt wearing families.

Moving swiftly to my point, again: I have been inspired to always look towards the English (and Europeans) for some style sense and to ensure that I am living in fashion forward ways (to a degree). Some websites I visit often for inspiration are reiss.co.uk, tedbaker.com and topshop.com, (I always click on the UK flag so I get their styles). This summer I am after a jumpsuit, or as it is often called across the pond, a playsuit. This one I found at top shop, I am in love with and hope to find. Paired with these Ted Baker shoes, I would feel edgy, elegant and oh so stylish. Whatever you do, do NOT wear white socks above your ankles with sneakers and jean shorts that give way to the camel toe- yes, I said it. Research styles/trends online, be inspired by what you like and keep this in mind while shopping.

Back In The Swing Of Things

Oh My! I knew that it had been a while since I wrote on my blog, but I did not expect that it had been a little over a month. It's a disgrace. My initial intentions were to write on my blog at least once a week. That, fortunately, turned into something like 2 posts a week, which just happened naturally. THEN I had a career change and found myself working and sleeping with a lot of sick time in between leaving zero time for anything else. Phewwy. I am now, finally, getting into a new groove and routine. I hope I find more time on a weekly basis to update my blog. If you're reading this, THANK YOU!! Oh and so you know, I am the new Selling Department Manager at Antrhopologie. I'm loving it!

Anywho, on to business, as they say. We are 3 weeks from the first day of Summer. Unbelievable, if you ask me; that means we are half way finished with year 2010. Where does the time go? As Summer approaches, new styles are revealed and new trends emerge. Designers have recently presented their Fall/Winter collections which is then followed by Resort Wear and we are refreshed with some new ideas for fashion. For those of you who don't know, Resort Wear was first designed by upscale designers for the affluent folk who would more likely than not take a post Winter Holiday vacay away, sometimes on a cruise, as it is also named. Resort Wear is presented at a time of year that bodes well for those of us looking for some inspiring looks for our current season of Summer (although the styles are meant for the Winter season vacation).


The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) just last week presented their awards to celebrate the tremendous talent we have here, living in the 'Land of the Free.' The ever so talented, Marc Jacobs was honored with The Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. So I thought it appropriate to highlight some of his Resort Wear 2011 to be a little bit re-inspired as we ease into the Season of sun and beach.

His collection was full of charming femininity. Many of the looks seem to combine an early 60s feel with a vintage YSL nod incorporated with some oh so very classic Chanel signatures.

Most skirts are mid length or shorter and have flirty hemlines- either wavy or flowy or sequined. If the hemline isn't unique they showcase extreme feminine detailing such as lace or sequined applique. A-line skirts showcase as well.

Suits debut with a military inspired cut- though the fabric and color add a fresh edge and beachy feel. Short and skirt suits mainly.

Colors are pastel. Pinks, yellows, greens and some blues appear in jackets, suits, hats, tops and skirts. The pastel colors are perfectly positioned with his feminine chic designs.

When shopping this Summer look for these pastel colors, feminine touches of lace and flowers on tops and dresses, short skirts that aren't skimpy and all things flirty and girly. You'll be yacht bound in high class and charm. Effortlessly chic indeed. Congratulations Marc Jacobs! You're at the top of your game and we're so lucky that you provide such charming designs and style. Images gathered from WWD.com.

Womanly Curves The New Thing On The Runway- FINALLY-But Is It Here To Stay?

There is no denying that the obsession with women's body size has surged in the past few years. Models on the runway were stickly and sickly thin. Then celebs graced the covers of our magazines with headlines exacerbating their weight loss. Who's the skinniest became a competition much like 'keeping up with the Joneses' from the 20th century. Some and it is really only a handful of industry execs decided to create a minimum healthy weight that would be accepted. Only some fashion houses took this on while others continued their hunt for the bone thin models.

Paris Fall/Winter 2010 Shows showcased something very different than what we became overtly obsessed with. Could we finally be looking at the next trend on the runway consisting of healthy and dare I say voluptuous models?? Maybe. Here's the latest scoop.

The Paris Fall fashion week starred models who had bosoms. Victoria's Secret model types danced the catwalk in place of skin and bone models Paris is particularly known for. Designers embracing the curvy bodies that women should be embracing themselves were Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton who opened the show with Laetitia Casta, filing after her were full busted women over filling their corsets and then ended the show with Elle Mcpherson {right}. Other designers following the chesty trend were Giles Deacon, Stuart Vevers at Loewe, Peter Copping for Nina Ricci and the most surprising of them all were the model picks by Miuccia Prada. She casted Victoria's Secret Angels including Doutzen Kroes, Alessandra Ambrosio and Miranda Kerr. I can hear the angels singing now. Hallelujah!!!!!

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, the CFDA, has clearly had an impact with their health initiative. Fashion insiders including ex models, show producers, designers' stylists and critics alike agree that it's time to rejoice in the natural curves of a woman. Peter Copping (Nina Ricci) says "there's no point in denying it. Women have breasts." Deacon promises us that "the chest is yet to come." I can't say I see the trend catching on quickly, but the progressive thinking seems to be contagious and sexually pleasing in a sense perhaps acting as a real catalyst in this movement.

It's about damn time we change our sick ways. To ensure the next generation of girls has confidence in themselves and know that their bodies are beautiful in their naturally female ways is up to the media in a sense, which has the, sadly, heaviest influences over what we deem beautiful. As Victoria's Secret models and Sports Illustrated Magazine prove curves are sexy and sex sells.

Source: Harper's Bazaar May 2010

Jeans+Leggings=Jeggings

Who remembers sporks- the infamous spoon/fork we were given by the cafeteria ladies in funny hats as children? Who remembers the skort, that was an absolute must have in any elementary to middle school girls' closet? Oh the objects that merge together to create something essentially better (at least at first thought).

So fast forward to now: 2010-- Jeggings? What? Yes, that's right these are jeans and leggings combined. For the past year and some, Europe has been sporting the jegging trend, especially in countries such as England. Thanks mainly deserved by TopShop who coined the term. When we think of the fashionistas in the world we think of those who are always stylish, ever so chic and dressed to the nines whenever they step foot out of the house. At the top of that list is Victoria Beckham, who has been seen in jeggings looking oh so fab for over a year. Trends take some time to journey across the ocean to the Americas and now the trend is taking America by storm at long last. Keep in mind that you don't have to wear the trend. It is meant for only some and you have to feel comfortable in them. If you want to experiment a little bit, here are a few tips to successfully making jeggings part of your wardrobe.

1. Pair jeggings with an over-sized light weight sweater or knit top and a super chunky heel.

2. Throw on a flowing white blouse with some detailing and buttons and finish the look off with some flat sandals and maybe even a fedora if you're the hat type.

3. Find a long, at the hip, nearly fitted tank top in a bright color and pair it with a dark denim jegging. Your next step in finishing this look would be to find a great scarf that matches well with your complexion (pinks for the olive toned, greens for the darker skin types, and browns or light blue for the paler skin tones). A mid to tall heeled caged sandal will top it off.

4. To dress it up, put a pair of dark jeggings with a cami and a fitted blazer. Add a few metallic chains and a heel to finish it with some class.

BONUS: With the sun shining brightly it is so very simple to look chic and stylish by completing any of the above looks with a great pair of shades a la Victoria.

In the end, to say that the jegging look is for every one is oh so very wrong. It is a great look that can be pulled off by those who want to take that risk and who feel comfortable doing so. For others, the skinny jean is just enough of a push outside of their comfort zone and still an amazing way to look current. But don't worry if even the skinny jean is uncomfortable. We all have our own style and comfort zones that thanks to the realm and nature of fashion allows us to experiment in our very own ways. Whether you're testing the jegging trend or not, have fun with your wardrobe this Springtime.

Jennifer Aniston Launching Own Fragrance

It has been too long since I posted anything on my blog. I have been a busy bee. I thought about this blog every day though and have a lot of things in my head that I want to share. I am really looking forward to shopping the racks for this seasons wonderful fashion trends. I have to first find some caged sandals, then I will look for a blush colored top and then a little white dress (the LBD for this season) and. . . and. . . and. . . so very excited. Something else to get excited about is what I have just discovered: Jennifer Aniston is launching her own fragrance called Lovalie. I Cannot wait.

In my personal opinion, celebrities usually get it wrong when they attempt to add a fragrance to their brand (image). They seem to always fall a little short of something spectacular, to put it nicely. I have a feeling, however, that Jennifer Aniston's fragrance will be up to par with the fragrance geniuses, e.g. Chanel, Givenchy, Viktor and Rolf, the list goes on.

She describes it as flowery, but not too flowery. "I am not a big perfume-y fragrance fan,"Aniston explains. "I want people to go, 'What is that? You smell great!' But most of all, I wanted it to smell natural." Sounds perfect for me. A clean fragrance that's feminine sounds perfect.

She was involved in every step of the fragrance design, from the scents and notes selected to the ad campaign, Jennifer Aniston had a hand in it all. I think we can all agree that her style is impeccable and always in good taste, I would bet this fragrance follows suit. It will be first introduced to the UK via ads in fashion mags. Side note: how come nearly everything special is introduced to Europe first???? So not fair to us classy fashionistas that got it going on. So we must wait patiently (or make a special trip across the pond) before spritzing Jennifer Aniston's 'Lovalie' on our wrists and necks.

Athletic Gear for Less!!

Have you ever walked into Target and left empty handed? Think about it. This is THE store that once I have one foot through the door, my shopping list grows and grows; I am guaranteed to walk out of there with at least a total of $75 well spent. I think you all know what I'm talking about. I love a good deal and am a sucker for them. This generally turns into an easily justified $5 purchase and then another and another and another until they amount to $100. But they were such good deals!!! OH how I love you Target.

I am a runner. One thing that means is that I will spend a good amount of money on a pair of running shoes that will give me the support that I need-- there are no substitutions. But for running tops, bottoms, bras, hair bands, etc. Target has got it all and at wonderful prices. I love Under Armour and do have quite a bit of it in my athletic wardrobe, but when working with a slim budget it's ridiculous to spend $30 on a tank top that I am really just going to abuse anyway. The tank pictured is my FAVORITE running top. I have the tanning lines to prove that I wear it every day. It costs $14.99- that's half the price of the highly sought after Under Armour apparel. It's got the built in bra, the amazing fabric that wicks away the sweat and the stretchy material that's just right. Check out Target for your athletic gear. Whether it's yoga, walking, hiking, or running they have it all and best of all it fits the bill.

Webbed Shoes- are we kidding?

I really don't understand why comfort means sacrificing all things remotely attractive. The other day I was shopping around town. I noticed a lovely couple that definitely had their own "free hippie spirit" about them. I am cool with that. It does not bother me that some people find the hippie look stylish- to each their own, as they say. But what really bothers me is when these people don't bathe and think it's cool to be individual to the extent that what they look like is hideous. Back to this couple. . . I look down and glance at their footwear (as I always do because I am obsessed with shoes-- this is sometimes dangerous as living in a beach town in San Diego means some people think it fine to walk around barefooted); anyway, I lost the ability to speak as I almost threw up in my mouth. He was wearing the webbed shoes. WHY? What is this about? I am so confused. I think they do have a purpose- in the freaking water. It was plainly obvious he did not come from the beach, his head was dry, his clothes were dry and he was clearly in street clothes- hippie linen pants and top, the girl was in jeans and a flowy top. It wasn't the first time I had seen them either. I just don't get them. Why do people wear them? And the excuse, "because they're comfortable," is crap. I will take you shopping and show you that other shoes can be just as comfortable and look alright. Even white socks and sandals would look uber stylish compared to these Donald Duck shoes.

Perfect Body Wash

I'm always on the hunt for an amazing body wash. I have found my favorite and GUESS WHAT? It's affordable. "What's that? $5? I think I can swing that." It is by Softsoap and it's called: Body Butter Scrub. My favorite is the Coconut scent. It's perfect for this time of year. The perfect combination of a fruity Pina Colada and that delicious cocoa butter tanning lotion you secretly want to wear as your perfume make it absolutely perfect leaving your skin soft and smelling yummy. Buy it online here or stop by CVS or Walmart to pick it up.

Harper's Bazaar A.K.A. Fashion Bible

Christianity is to the Bible ::as:: Fashion is to Harper's Bazaar. I mean really. Some people complain that Harper's Bazaar is just full of advertisements, but if you're into fashion, you look at these advertisements as if they were verses in the bible. They are full of high end fashion trends and perfectly constructed outfits that provide the readers with a template, a spring board, if you will, for all of us looking for some guidance. As I flipped through the pages of my Harper's Bazaar and then consequently surfed the pages of harpersbazaar.com, my eyes were drawn to the always incredible Bottega Veneta {right}. He drew his inspiration from a kids karate class. The end products are easy on the eyes hues and feminine lines. One thing to take away: "ladies, get a basket weave tote!" Burberry {left} brings to the runway Safari Chic, which is all the rage this Spring and my guess, Summer too. Grab a feminine, flowy top in taupe or light grey, pair it with a trendy gathered cargo skirt and be sure to bring it all together with a versatile and casual fabric belt in a neutral. Safari Chic calls for some killer neutral caged sandals too, but please skip the socks. Thank you Harper's Bazaar for always being there for me.

Sandals and Socks- "An Ali Rant"

{I just have to preface this: I am a very passionate person and when I feel a rant coming on, I have to go with it. And so we have it, my first rant on this blog.}

I wake up to sunshine, I walk in the sunshine, sunshine is all around with all its warmth. I see the green leaves, yellow, purple and pink flowers spanning the hills. It's gorgeous and it means one thing. . . Spring is in the air, at long last. I am so excited about the flowy girly dresses and cute caged sandals I'll be wearing. EEEEK! I'm giddy with excitement. One thing that makes me slightly cringe- no I have to correct that, the one thing that makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs and almost puts me in tears, is when people sport the white socks (any color socks actually, and I'm not talking cute tights) with sandals. WHAT IS THAT? WHY? With Spring just around the corner, I fear that I will see this terrible and seemingly invincible fashion faux pas resurface. Oh it drives me insane. When will it end? It truly makes me want to walk up to these people, tap them on the shoulder and let them know that they CAN look good; you don't have to look like such a clueless to fashion victim. Quite simply- just DON'T do it. Yes, designers such as Burberry (2009), for example have tried to make sandals and socks a fashion trend, but I am predicting now that we will look back on this trend and think the same thing we think now about slouchy aerobic socks of the 80's- 'What were we thinking!' Oh and if you're wearing socks because you have nasty un- pedicured feet, then put on some closed toed shoes and leave your sandals alone.

I'll be back later in the week with what TO DO as Winter turns to Spring and a few fashion musts! Stay tuned and keep the socks away from your sandals. Thanks.

Snuggies on the Runway

Holy Cow! Do you remember when you saw your first Snuggie infomercial? I am sure that half of us thought 'oh, what a brilliant idea,' while the other half of us thought 'are you serious, never in a million years.' I was part of the latter half. I mean cover yourself in a fuzzy blanket from Target and let's forget about the Snuggie.

Well, it sure turned into a phenomenon. Snuggie parties to Halloween costumes and people just buying them to say that they have a Snuggie. It really swept the nation and has become commonplace in living rooms all over. Despite all of its popularity and profound success, I could have never guessed it would take the spotlight in a fashion show. Yes, a Snuggie Fashion Show. In September 2009 the Snuggie Fashion Show debuted. Introduced to the line was the Zebra Snuggie, the Tye Dye Snuggie and others. I'm still shaking my head. Is this a surprise to anybody else? Oh fashion can be so surprising sometimes. Now when I see the Snuggie infomercial I pray that I see the small white dog wearing spectacles and reading a book. Watch it here. Maybe I'll be converted.

Defying Laws We Once Knew

I've heard it once, read it twice, seen it thrice (in three different magazines), so it must be true. Spring 2010 is bringing us fashion that is definitely a break from the norm and expected. Not skin tight? Mix and match patterns? Wear lots of metallics? YES! I've included a video from the Today show. It gives you a good idea of the up and coming trends for Spring 2010.

I really do love it all. Like I have said before, the flowing fabrics I am going to sport no problem. But to be honest, I don't know if I can rock the striped shirts paired with floral skirts look. I have to admit that I admired Punky Brewster when I was a child. I mean, she was cool, a rebel, had an attitude and a style all her own. She rocked the heck out of color blocked high tops (which I owned, sadly) and other mixed matched outfits that inspired my begging for clothes just like her to my mother, which must have driven her insane. Anybody else?

I spent the next decade and some years discovering what fashionable trends I loved and learning my own style. I have learned that I love black and rarely wear bright colors. Matching my wardrobe is a piece of cake. All of a sudden (and this is what is so fun about fashion) we are being told to forget what we've been told and mis-match it all. Let's not go hog wild here. There are some guidelines to wearing different patterns. Like staying with a color theme, or being more bold with the top and less kapow with the bottom half. But, I sit here and shake my head. Can I do that? I think it defies my personal style. No seriously. Wearing a floral skirt would be a giant leap for me, let alone a floral skirt with a loud top. That's not to say I can't appreciate it because I do. I know that I'll see plenty of it all season long and I can't wait. It just won't be on me. How about you, could you mix patterns?

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Staple This: Invest in a Trench

When you hear the word, investment, you probably picture some financial acquisition or exchange on Wall Street. But there are more ways in which we invest and there is no exception when it comes to our wardrobes, well there shouldn't be at least. I'll continue to share my take on wardrobe staples monthly, so stay tuned for more "Staple This" posts.

Staples should be investment pieces; these timeless pieces that you will wear for years to come deserve to have a little money spent on them so that they last you. Like your LBD (that's little black dress) or white button up Oxford shirt, some items of clothing will never go out of style. This season think about investing in a belted trench coat. The details this season are sophisticated and have transformed the classic trench coat just enough to make it feel modern yet not overworked. Look at Victoria Beckham's trench pictured left. The gathering of the fabric and the belt make it modern and sophisticated plus it maintains its classic look. Hint: Pick a trench that is a neutral so you can wear it with all your favorite outfits. Picture credits to www.people.com and Ditoj/Splash News Online.

A Lesson in High Heels

I love heels. I love wearing them. Fist of all, I'm on the short side so high heels allow me to wear some jeans and trousers that would otherwise drag on the ground. Yea, I could get them tailored for my flats, but why bother? Second of all, I feel sexy and confident in high heels. Granted, I do have the occasional, 'Oh my Goodness, I'm going to face plant while crossing this intersection in front of all of these cars,' moments, but (and a huge b-u-t) my desire to feel hot, sexy and confident outweighs such a risk. So who decided to start adding height to shoes? How did we get up to 4, 5, 6"? Why do I feel sexier in heels than flats? I hit the books to find out, (well wikipedia to be exact).

Shoes with height can be traced back to old Egypt circa 3500 B.C.- WOW- as a display of class! They took the shape of platforms (chopines) and were practical during the 1400's in Turkey as they kept your feet clean from mud and further from debris in the streets. {See right image} During the 1500s heels grew taller as a means for riders to slip into stirrups easier. It comes as no surprise that the the heel as a fashion statement was first worn (according to some reports) by the Italian wife of King Henry the II of France in 1533. {See left image} "Well-heeled" became a word to denote class and wealth in the French Court throughout the years thereafter. Over the next few centuries, heels were banned, then resurfaced, then sort of boycotted during war years as a way of saying "stick it to the man." Then in the 1800s resurfaced as a mainstay for women's fashion.

The high heel gives women the appearance of a longer leg, a smaller foot, a voluptuous chest, a more defined gluteus maximus, and toned calves. No wonder I feel sexier in heels. High heels have taken many forms over the years; from stiletto to kitten heels, from platforms to wedges, they are here to stay. I can't wait for the detailed shoes this season, I'm due for a new pair of sexy sandals anyway!! Look at these by Tory Burch. I found them on the Nordstrom website. The caged look is HUGE for Spring 2010.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

The thing that I love about fashion is that it's all about perspective. I love that what one designer creates some would call it genius and others would call it crazy and off the wall. Designers such as Betsey Johnson and Vivienne Westwood display this philosophy-- boy do they have their own aesthetic. I thought it'd be fun for you to also see what I'm talking about. The video included is (supposed to be, I wouldn't know because my laptop has stopped playing video) Vivienne Westwood 2010 Spring/Summer Womenswear full show. Personally, I think the collection is incredible. I love how she drapes clothing and truly creates a look, HER LOOK. She puts a spin (more like a tornado) on classics, like the pant suit, (I'm not too sure if it is shown in this show- you can see many pant suit pieces from her LNFW show) and makes them truly unique- you either love it or hate and that's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My Shoe Story

I said that I would share my shoe story and so I shall.

I was 13 or so and in middle school. I played the violin and was looking forward to our upcoming orchestra field trip to Georgia for a competition. My mom helped me pack up and sent me on my merry way with $40 to cover my food costs. Before the big competition we made a quick stop at a food court in some mall nearby the music hall. As my friends stood in line at Sbarros and McDonald's, I decided to try on shoes. Then, I saw them, the black 2 1/2 inch classic penny loafers that set me $40 and some change back. I bought them on the spot, spent EVERY penny I had, but I did love them! We were in Georgia for an additional 2 days and I became a scavenger; I ate off the plates of my friends and begged chaperons to spare me some change. You see, when you impulsively buy shoes and spend your entire budget on them, you do not have money for vital things, like bread and milk.

I remember complaining of my hunger pangs and eating everything in sight when I finally got home. My mother questioned why I was soooooo hungry and I had to spill the beans. I imagine she was mortified when she learned that I had to borrow money from the other moms on the trip. I'm sure those chaperons thought, 'what kind of a mother sends their daughter away on a trip and doesn't give them money for food?' Little did they know, my mother was more than generous, it was my shoe goddess possessed mind that brought my funds to $0. My mom was less than thrilled when I brought her my shopping bag and explained that I spent my 'lunch money' on shoes instead. And thus my obsession with shoes was known and there was no turning back. For the years to come, I would be held by the hand while walking through department stores just so I could be jerked away and held tight when nearing the shoe salons. Now my husband has to deal with it. I'm used to the eye rolling now, it doesn't phase me. You will never weaken my desire for shoes. Muhahahahahahahahaahahahahahaa!

Here's an image resembling the penny loafer I bought in 1998:

mine had a taller heel.

Here's what I'm loving now in 2010:

Look for more Look for less

Jimmy Choo $1,195-OR- Michael Kors $96.23


Love these too:

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Gucci $695 -OR- BCBG $89.25

Addendum to "Welcome to. . . " post

Forgot to mention: I have been watching videos from Milan and Paris Fashion week. My observations are of all major FWs. Here are some photos. . .

Welcome to a Dash of Class

Who am I? I am a girl, well a woman, and I love fashion. I always have. When I was a little girl, I was sure that I'd grow up to be a model and walk the catwalks. That was before I knew I'd only grow to be 5'4" tall. Nonetheless, I worked at it as much as a 10 year old girl growing up in Annapolis, MD could. I had a few photo shoots for local companies and boy did I think I was super cool, destined for fame- "Hollywood, here I come." Then came my huge break when I was 12, The Nordstrom Fashion Expo. My loving mother signed me (and my sister, Erica, I love you) up for this event. We got to choose our VERY OWN outfits and, BONUS, could keep them at the end of the show. With a catwalk and an audience and some stylin' gear, I was well on my way to being a famous model. Then, that was the last modeling thing I did.

So let's fast forward 13 years later. Here I am, loving fashion and just starting to finally share this passion with others. Things in life are so much more fun to enjoy when you can enjoy them with others who share that passion- right? My love for fashion grew from my dream to be a model. I started an obsession with shoes and nothing has changed. I'll tell a funny story of my obsession for shoes some time in the future- remind me. Anyway, I love fashion and hope that I can teach a few things, but learn a whole lot more. This blog is going to take many forms before I finally decide the route I want to take it. For now, I'll share my knowledge.

I have very apt timing as it is NYFW. I've been watching some videos and thought that I'd share the trends that I'm seeing.

1. Muted colors- grays, peaches, taupes. From head to toe. Even tights seem to be muted, which is opposite of their outbreak of the winter.
2. Feminine- I'm loving this. Flowy garments that really accentuate the body, but in their movement not their hip hugging quality- love!
3. Cut outs- like color blocking, but its cut instead, revealing sexy skin.
4. Showing off the back- all over the runway, which I just love.
5. Structure- of course. Structure pieces like architecture are here to stay for a while I'm thinking. Structure especially across the upper body and shoulders.

Anyway, more to come in the upcoming week. Thanks for reading and PLEASE share your thoughts, be honest, I can take it.