Dear Santa...this is all I want for Christmas

It's the holiday season, as a matter of fact it's Christmas Eve...and I am currently blogging. That's weird. I have also been surfing fashion blogs on the internet on this snowy holiday evening and look what I found. I am dying on the inside...this is so flippin beautiful. I want to be there...right now. I don't care about a white Christmas, just take me there, Santa.

Accessorize with your nails

Polish, polish, and more nail polish. Freshly painted nails just warm my heart and put a bounce in my step. How can that little bottle of color possess such great power? Who knows. What I do know is that I have had a recent obsession with nail polish....not like I have ever not had an obsession with nail polish. This fall, glitter and metallic polishes have come back in full swing. There are many gorgeous fall colors such as deep reds, burnt oranges and moss greens on the market along with a few other hot trends including camel and taupe shades and my personal favorite...drum roll, please.....metallic gunmetal. Oh yes, its fierce and its fabulous, yet it is a bit more refined than the basic creme black. I just can't get enough of it! My personal recommendation for a metallic gunmetal polish is China Glaze's Jitterbug. I also recently bought Hey Doll from their vintage vixen collection and I absolutely love it's brownish-mauve tone. One of the most exciting updates in my personal nail polish world is that this weekend I will be getting my very first manicure :) I can't believe it has taken me 'til the age of 17 to get my first manicure, but nonetheless it is going to be great! I am getting my nails done for my senior homecoming and I am planning on choosing a vibrant lavender to go with my royal blue attire. My accessories and shoes are black so I figured why not go for a fun color on the nails. Remember, interesting nail polish colors can serve as a unique accessory to any outfit. On a final note, here is an excellent nail polish blog that is full of great information...enjoy!
Here is the web address: http://www.alllacqueredup.com/page/2

Plumes of Red Licorice Ruffles

The fashion world is buzzing with excitement as NY Fashion Week continues this upcoming week. This is a year of new beginnings as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is now being held in Lincoln Center, rather than the old location of Bryant Park. Designers are showcasing their creations for Spring 2011 and though fall has just begun, there is no shortage of sheer and skimpy pieces on the runway. After flipping through some pictures from the shows on Thursday and Friday I am already seeing some very apparent trends for next year. The sheer, flowy fabrics and minimalist looks are staying strong as they also persevered on this fall's runways. Many of the designers color palettes consist of creams and nudes with pops of refreshing color, which is also something we have seen on the runway in recent seasons. A trend that is faring well on the recent runways is the bohemian traveler look. Tribal prints, long skirts, safari inspired looks. It is all so exciting!

On a more detailed note, Christian Siriano presented his collection on Thursday and maintained the wow-factor that his clothing has always possessed. Incorporating many of the trends in a single collection, he managed to create a collection that was very wearable, yet unique. Being his flamboyant self, he also threw a few over-the-top looks in there too, one of my favorites being this red dress. How spectacular is this, seriously?! This piece better show up in one of Vogue or Elle's spreads this fall because I just can't get over how great it is. The color, the texture....I just want to curl up in a little ball and take a nap inside the ruffles of this dress! I will now leave you to feast your eyes on the gorgeousness of this museum-worthy dress.
'Til next time friends

Autumn is in the air

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, but yes, I have been a complete fail when it comes to blogging recently. Summer is quickly coming to a close :( Then again, maybe it's not so bad because that means we get to go back to school to learn new things and see old friends, and best of all...we get to go back to school shopping :) I have gotten some new things recently that I can't wait to work into my wardrobe this fall! I am excited to get dressed every morning and actually have somewhere to go. Speaking of back to school, here are some trends for the fall 2010 season.
Fur: Real, fake, overstated, understated. Fur was seen all over the runways in many different forms. I understand that it is not realistic to think you are going to walk down the street in a full length fur coat, but you can still incorporate this trend into your wardrobe in small ways. Think accessories, such as small cross strap bags, clutches, or even a fur cowl to pair with your favorite knit sweater or feminine dress if you are feeling daring.
Military Inspiration: Release your inner drill sargent with army green fatigues and rugged backpacks and messenger bags. The simplest way to wear this trend is the new and fabulous skinny cargo pant. You can find them everywhere from Macy's to Saks and they are a great, versatile pant to have in your wardrobe. Another item to consider is a military inspired jacket. Try one in a knit material with a bit of shoulder padding and two nice, neat rows of buttons running up both sides of the front.
Minimalism: Clean cut and sleek as ever. Think Calvin Klein woman. Go for pieces with clean tailoring and no embellishment. Buy something in a neutral or nude tone and be a true minimalist, or try something in bold jewel tone or even metallic shade for a bit more pop. Remember that you can still steal the spotlight in a well cut, unique minimalist piece. Note: if you are a glam girl, this may not be the trend for you ;)
Sheer: Models on the runway exposed a lot of skin in the fall 2010 shows, as many designers exemplified the trend of incorporating lingerie into day wear. Go for a less scandy version of this trend by opting for shirts in sheer fabrics and layering them over a simple cami. By doing this, you can still look fashion forward without revealing too much skin.

Well friends, this is definitely not the whole lot of trends for fall, but it is a few to get you thinking and excited about the fall months to come. If I don't post again before your school starts, have a great first day of school! And I have to give a shout out to my well-loved, soon-to-be college freshman that are part of the blogging community and are all leaving soon :( I love you Molly, Dani, and Cecilie...you guys will be missed! Well, that's all for now folks. 'Til next time!

Online Shopping Heaven

I have recently discovered a slew of online shopping websites that offer designer goods for a fabulously discounted price. I have noticed numerous articles and youtube videos mentioning these websites so I am sensing that they will soon become the big craze in the online merchandise world. In order to access these websites you have to sign up, but the registration is very simple and they are free to join. note: you will need to give out your email address, but if you are really paranoid about giving out your full name you can just make it up or abbreviate it...that's what I did ;) These websites are filled with designer brands such as marc jacobs, tibi, juicy couture, seven for all mankind, D&G, and much more. They even have some room wares and the occasional beauty line such as tarte cosmetics. Now, the mention of these names may seem tantalizing, but I am sure you are also currently wondering how you could ever afford all this goodness. Well here is the beauty of these websites...everything they carry is discounted. That's right, all this designer deliciousness is now sitting at your fingertips just waiting to be bitten at. Another nice thing about these websites is that they cycle their merchandise every few days, so new brands are constantly appearing on the website. Whoever came up with this idea is simply genius...the Einstein of the the online shopping world.
Check out these websites:
ruelala.com
hautelook.com
gilt.com

Dior's Beautiful Blooms

I have been meaning to blog about this for a while now, so here I am, offering some slightly tardy, yet worthy recognition for the Christian Dior fall winter 2010/2011 Haute Couture show. This show is breathtakingly beautiful and every element is flawless. The dresses are like blossoming clouds of perfection, the makeup is to the t, the shoes are to die for, the set is immaculate, and the music beautifully rounds out the experience. What more can a person ask for?! The show begins with more wearable pieces, progresses to evening wear, and concludes with a few gowns that are indescribably amazing. It is awfully hard to choose favorites when almost every piece in the show makes you weak at the knees. John Galliano has showcased the mastery his art form yet again and I would love to share the blissful experience of watching this show with you all. Here are the URLs to watch it:
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29zzJ1g3do0&feature=related
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cQZtUEr_H8&feature=related
Enjoy!

Show Off That Pedicure!

Summer is in the air and warm weather means pedicure-baring sandals are taking center stage! Yes, it has been warm and sunny for quite some time now, but with the recent death of my favorite pair of gladiators, sandals have been on my mind. And guess what?! There are plenty of summer days left to enjoy so why not adorn your feet in the most spectacular of footwear. An added bonus is that most summer clothing and footwear is going on sale now because stores are starting to make room for their shipments of fall apparel (crazy, I know...summer has only just begun). For all you savvy shoppers out there, remember that after the 4th of July summer clothing and accessories will start hitting the sale racks, so this is the perfect time to replace that washed out bikini or worn out pair of wedges.

If you are in the market for a new pair of sandals, consider checking out the newest gladiators. They continue to be a trendy and functional footwear option. Gladiators are great to wear around town, at the beach, or even for a nicer event. For a dressier look try a metallic gladiator sandal with a small wedge and possibly even some bejeweled accents. Gladiators are great because their strappy nature makes them easy to walk in and they come in a range of styles so you can find them in a simple t-strap form or in a hot-off-the-runways, tons of detailing design. Release you inner Cleopatra and rock those gladiators!

Another hot style of footwear this summer is the wedge. Great for those summer evening outings or an afternoon of shopping downtown, wedges have the leg lengthening benefit of a heel, but without all the wobbling. Wedges are available in a wide range of heel heights and their sturdy base makes them a very practical option when looking for a heeled sandal. If you aren't ready to brave the wedge, try a colorful or embellished sandal for a summertime switch-up. A bold sandal can make an outfit shift from blah to beautiful, so be daring and try something new this summer! And what have you got to lose...they're all on sale now anyway ;)