Made for the Shade

Ah, spring. The birds are chirping, the days are getting longer...and brighter, which brings me to my point: Protecting yourself from the sun! I shouldn't have to tell you that your daytime moisturizer should have an SPF of at least 15 and should be used EVERY day, even in winter, and even when it's overcast out. But I digress: Today, I want to talk about SUNGLASSES! What a fun accessory! I love them. They're cute, they can set a mood, and they protect your eyes, not to mention the skin around them from yucky crows feet! Fashion AND function? What's not to love?

A lot of people neglect the sunglass cases when shopping and just grab any random (and usually unflattering) pair because they simply don't know how to find the right pair. Here's how to get it right:

First, take an old lipstick or a bar of soap and stand in front of a mirror. Using the lipstick or soap (which will wash off your mirror very easily), trace the outline of your face, from your hairline to your cheekbones to your chin. Your face will likely fall into one of the following categories: round, oval, heart, or square. You should be able to tell by the outline you've drawn on the mirror- step away from it to get the best view of the shape. Remember: The most important thing is 100% UV protection! If that's not tagged on the glasses, DON'T BUY THEM! They may be cute but they'll do nothing for your eyes, and the whole point is protecting your vision. Here's the fun part:

If you have a . . .

Round Face: Your face is as wide as it is tall and has rounded edges, so you want to balance that. Try square or rectangular frames to slim it down and elongate it. These rectangular frames from Target are a perfect option for only $14.99!

Oval Face: Your face is considered "ideal" for sunglasses because of its balanced proportions. Your face is taller than it is wide and has rounded edges. You're lucky in that you can choose nearly any style- they'll all flatter you- but you have a challenge ahead of you because there are so many options for you! These, from Forever 21, are only $5.80, and are a trendy, plaid-printed version of Ray Ban's Wayfarer style. So much fun!

Heart Face: Your outline might look like a heart or more like an upside down triangle. You have a broad forehead and a narrower chin, so you generally want to stick with more delicate frames, such as aviators, rimless or shield styles, or even cat-eye styles to balance things out. Avoid big, chunky, or bold frames as they'll draw too much attention to your forehead. Try these aviators from Old Navy, only $9.50!

Square Face: Your face is more angular at the jawline and possibly along the hairline, so you want to try to soften your features. Create a sense of balance by adding curves: Rounder frames or even a cat-eye style will complement your face best. Try this pair, modeled after Jackie O.'s style, for only $14.99 from Urban Outfitters.

Happy hunting! I like to pick up a few pairs of cheap shades to keep in my car, my beach bag, and my purse just in case I forget to grab my regular ones. Plus, I like to mix it up a little- makes life more interesting! If you like to wear higher end sunglasses, try the bargain basements for amazing deals- I've seen amazing designer styles for less than $40 many times! When buying designer, stick to a classic style, like an aviator, Wayfarer, or a plain rectangle, and a basic black or tortoise color so that you'll get the most use out of them. If you want turquoise polka dot frames, awesome, go for it, but don't pay more than ten dollars for them!

The Many Uses of...

Vaseline!

This cheap drugstore staple is one of the best things to have in the house. It's cuticle cream, lip balm and gloss (you can tint it by mixing with blush!), understated mascara, eyebrow gel, and so many more things. An ultra rich moisturizer? check. Smear it on your feet and put on some cotton socks before bed for a quick pedi. One of my favorite uses is to get scuffs out of my leather shoes. I almost never have the right color shoe polish around, but there's ALWAYS Vaseline! Rub a little bit into the scuff, let it marinate for a few minutes while you accessorize, and wipe off with a soft cloth or tissue before you walk out the door. I usually just rub it all over my shoes to wipe out the worn and faded areas, creases, and waterspots. It's like getting new shoes for the penny or so's worth of Vaseline you just used! More uses: Some people use it as a nighttime face cream- My skin would freak out, but I'd give it a go for the eye area! I love it for elbow and knee softening, too.

And there you have it, folks, my shameless plug for Vaseline. Probably one of our cheapest and oldest drugstore beauty products, and still a time tested favorite. Comment this post with your favorite random uses for it!

Another Fab Find!

I was on the Promenade in Santa Monica with my sister last week and we stepped into Forever 21 to see if there was anything to report on and I found this fabulous necklace! I just had to have it! It was only $10.80 too!! This is a great example of a bib necklace that I talked about a few weeks ago. This is definitely a statement piece. I wore it recently with skinny jeans and a plain black shirt and it rocked! I got at least 15 compliments that night by other people- guys and girls! You know it's good when a guy can notice it and say something about it. I also like this because it's plain, so it lends the opportunity to wear it with many outfits! It hits pretty low near the cleavage line, so it looks best when worn with a wide v-neck, or a higher neckline such as a turtleneck or crew neck.


photo courtesy of forever21.com

Fab Finds at Payless

Today's fab finds I'd like to share come from the bargain shoe store Payless. Both sandals below fit under the global/tribal trend this season (see my old post on this trend for more info). The first shoe is a variation of a gladiator heel. It's from Abaete for Payless for just $38!. I like this one because it hints at the gladiator trend, but it's not over the top so it's perfect for someone who wants to try it out in a simpler version. Plus, the natural tone will go with everything in your wardrobe!!

The second shoe pictured is a simplified version of the fringe trend. As I mentioned before, both Lindsay and I aren't big fans of this trend, but this sandal is simple enough that I actually don't mind it! It's on sale now for $19.99 at paylessshoes.com.

Take Your Color Temperature

We've pointed out a couple of times that you should know if you're warm, cool, or neutral. Some of you have probably heard about your color temperature and some of you are probably wondering what on God's green earth we're talking about. Your color temperature is a great way to tell if you look better in warm tones like red, orange, and gold or cooler tones like green, blue, and silver. If you've ever read in a magazine about your skin's "undertones," this is really where they come into play- pink undertones are warm, blue are cool. You can be neutral, as well, which gives you a wider palette of colors that work on you, but also a greater margin for error when trying to put an outfit together!

There are lots of ways to try to figure out whether you're a warm, a cool, or a neutral. Here's one I like: Regardless of what metals are trendy, do you look better in gold or silver jewelry? If you glitter in gold, you're a warm, and if you shine in silver, you're a cool. If you can go with either, you're a neutral. Still can't tell? Try going bigger: Grab a sheet of silvery foil and a sheet of gold foil (like the kind florists use, mylar balloons, or gift wrap) and drape them around your shoulders. Stand in front of a mirror to see what flatters you most. You might already know that you look better in blues and greens than in oranges and yellows- you're probably a cool. Do you have a brick red sweater that always gets you compliments? You're probably a warm. It's been said that most warms have darker or olive skin tones and are likely to tan easily, and most cools are fairer and likely to burn. This is a good guideline, but not all fair women are cool and vice versa.

Keep in mind, if you're a warm you can still wear "cool" colors- but you'll often find that "warm" versions of them look best on you. For example, a warm who just loves green might find that a lime green, with it's yellowy tones, will flatter her more than a mint green, which has a bit more blue. Likewise, red can lean more toward orange (red-orange, which is a very warm red) or more toward blue (red-violet, a cool red). You'll find this especially helpful when buying lipstick- no warm coral lipstick if you have cool undertones!

It's important to know where you stand- warm, cool, or neutral- so that you can stop wasting money on unflattering shades of makeup and pieces of clothing that just don't do anything for you. If you know you're a cool and a salesperson in a department store is trying to sell you warm, honey toned blush, clearly she has no idea what she's doing. You want something that's truly pink, as well as a more skilled makeup artist who wants you to look good and become a repeat customer. On the other hand, if you're a warm and there's an amazing deal on an icy blue cashmere sweater, and you really just LOVE the sweater, go ahead and buy it - it's fashion, there are no hard and fast rules (except for the no dark lipliner thing and that crocs are disgusting). Promise me one thing: Try it on in the store, check the return policy, and try it on again at home to make sure you still love it before you take off the tags.

I made a color wheel out of one of my own wardrobe staples- the Converse sneakers I would certainly shrivel up and die without- so you guys can check yourselves. Can you spot the warm versions of cool colors and the cool versions of warm colors? Happy hunting :)

converse color wheel - by lj_frueh on Polyvore.com

Bullseye!

Consider this my mini ode to Target...
So remember a few weeks ago, when Megan told us all about Target's fab Erickson Beamon jewelry line? Oversize gems and fun floral pieces at prices we can actually handle- well, they're starting to MARK IT DOWN!!! That's right, some of those fab pieces of flashy cocktail gems are even more affordable than they were two weeks ago. Seriously. I was there today. Awesome right? While you're there, check out their fashion jewelry- the Xhileration line usually has some cheap and cheerful pieces scattered through the collection. Each month they add a new themed grouping to their trend jewelry wall, and right now there are lots of candy brights, naturals, and chunky metals. Myself, I was having more of a makeup kind of day, so I picked up a set of Sonia Kashuk makeup brushes for about $15 for six brushes AND a case. LOVE these brushes! I've had a travel size set for a long time now, and I wanted to upgrade because they're pretty fantastic. They act and feel like a more expensive brush- as in, they don't shed all over the place, they don't make me itch, and the hairs are soft and silky instead of stiff or uneven. I also ended up taking home a new Boots moisturizer for my very sensitive skin, and a Boots translucent loose powder (it's contained in its own brush, very compact and me-friendly). Everything I bought was on sale! So, I'm kind of loving the bulls-eye today ;-)

We'd love for you to let us know how we're doing, about great deals you've found at your favorite stores, or what trend you're seeing and loving (or hating!), so feel free to comment or email us at wnkspot@gmail.com! Also, we welcome all your questions about anything fashion related! Have a fab weekend!

Feathers for Less

To go with Lindsay's previous post of feathers, I figured I'd pass along some items I've been eyeing that won't make your wallet cringe. Like Lindsay, I don't feel I'd have the guts to ever pull off a full-out feathered garment, but I really like accents of feathers. If it gets to be too much I just feel like a bird, and let's face it, who wants to look like poultry? So, below are some items I'm lusting after.

feather sequins vintage tee in charcoal - on clearance $9.09 at target.com

Left: petrified plume necklace $24, Right: antique feather duster earrings $13 (you can find both online at www.alltherageonline.com)

Shameless Plug, then Onward and Upward

Since my cousin will probably disown me if I don't plug her, if you loved Megan's post about Avon's cute jewelry as much as I did the other day, you can order from my cousin Amanda! Her Avon link is www.youravon.com/amandagilmore and she'd love to take care of you. Megan and I agree that turquoise, coral, and white are repeatedly some of the best summer colors around :)


Anyway, I wanted to point out another trend that goes hand in hand with the naturals that we're seeing, but takes it to another level: fantasy. Feathers. Feathers are everywhere. They were a big deal at fashion week and are showing up all different ways. Earrings with a little feather drop. Tops with a feather screen print or silkscreen. Pretty, and very natural looking. Here's where the fantasy aspect comes in: sleeve cuffs and skirt hems edged in feathers- or whole dresses made of feathers! This is a very funky look, which in my opinion looks a little too swan lake-ish and kind of channels bjork from a few years ago. There are one or two that roll by that are ok, but for the most part you need a LOT of attitude and confidence to pull this off, because people will definitely comment! So overall, I love the feather jewelry (this stuff showed up a couple years ago, faded into the background, and is back in a big way again), and I'm definitely a fan of the feather prints, I'm down with the feathers that lay a bit flat on dresses- they add texture and a bit of drama- just not really feeling the full poofy feathered skirts. How do you guys feel about it? Be sure to comment and chime in!



feathers - by lj_frueh on Polyvore.com

Cool Color Combo!

A color combo that's great this season that I wanted to share (and also goes with Lindsay's color forecast) is lemon yellow and gray. Any shade of either color paired together looks great, whether it's cool heather gray, charcoal gray, silver, bright sunny lemon, or light yellow. This pairing is fresh and cool, and I've admired the combo for a few years now. I've even seen it a lot in interior styling on pillows and curtains. Below is a collage I made showing these hues together in a beautiful matrimony of color.

lemon/gray - by perle206 on Polyvore.com

Below is some good deals I found in both colors. The dress is a soft cotton jersey dress from American Eagle (www.ae.com) for $34.50. The necklace has similar stones to the one in the collage above (which is $100 from J.Crew), but this one is $29 from fashionjunkee.com!

Today's Fab Find!

Today's fab find is jewelry that goes with this spring/summer's global trend. These ethnic inspired necklaces, bracelets, and earrings come in 3 colors: coral, white, and turquoise. You can buy them through Avon. Don't have a rep near you? No problem! You can buy online at www.avon.com.

Now for the great prices!
Necklace $14.99
Bracelet $14.99
Earrings $9.99

(Avon is having a mix and match sale now too: buy any two items of jewelry for $15!)


-Megan :)

The Makeup No-No's

Part Two: What Not To Wear On Your Face...

1. Ring around the lipstick. Whose idea was it to borrow their eye makeup for their lips? Seriously: dark lipliner is a good look on ONE day of the year: Halloween. The other 364, no, no, NO! Match your lipliner to your natural lip color. Don't line outside your natural lip- we can tell as your lipstick fades during the day. Line, fill in with liner, and add lipstick or gloss. Pretty.

2. Wrong colored foundation. Most drugstores let you return makeup that didn't work for you. Department stores and stores like Sephora and Ulta have testers for EVERYTHING, so there is no excuse for this. Get the right color, and BLEND into your jawline. Don't be that girl walking with an obvious line along her chin where she stopped the foundation, and then her neck is lighter- yuck.

3. Streaking. And I don't mean through the quad. If you're bad at using self tanner, go to the tanning place and get a spray tan, or be more patient and use those moisturizers with self tanner in them. The more gradual the color development, the less streaking there will be.

4. Similarly, don't turn yourself orange from overdoing it in the spray tan booth. This has never been attractive, and I can't imagine who told these girls that it looks good. You look like you ate too many carrots. We're shooting for golden brown.

5. Poorly chosen lip color. This is kind of a big deal to me. Figure out if you have warm or cool undertones - we'll touch on this in a future post, I promise, but meanwhile, ask the girl at the makeup counter. If you have cool undertones, warm coral lipstick isn't for you. You will look like a clown. While I'm on the topic, no lipstick on the teeth! Take your finger, put it in your mouth, and draw it out through your lips to pull off excess lipstick. Done.

6. Giant fake eyelashes- when you're not in costume. I have to say, I kind of blame VH1 for making these even more popular, but if you must wear falsies, wear the most natural ones you can, or go for the little tufts of 3 at a time instead of the whole strip. The really REALLY huge ones look simply ridiculous. Unless you're in costume a la ScarJo in The Spirit, skip these.

7. Eyeliner overkill. Before 10pm, let's keep our look relatively natural.

8. Matching your eyeshadow to your outfit. Coordinating is one thing. Enhancing and accenting, I'm all for. But, if you're shirt is orange, and orange eyeshadow isn't something you would otherwise wear, what the heck are you thinking? Now, if you're wearing a lavender top and you normally have a violet-hued accent color in your eye quad (i use a violet shadow as a liner) go ahead. Just don't do the whole, color wash over the lid to match your top look. Yuck.

9. Extra long or extra thick fake nails. We shouldn't be able to tell that they're fake. My nails suck- really. They're thin, brittle, peel easily, not smooth, flat and wide. I used to get fake nails put on- in high school. Not so much anymore. It's expensive over time, and more hassle than it's worth to me to deal with the upkeep, but moreover, they didn't look natural in the least bit. I see girls walking around with obscenely long nails- I can't imagine how they don't get hurt several times a day OR how they accomplish anything at all.

10. Dry skin! It's possible I go overboard on this one, because I've been known to have a tiny bit of a compulsive moisturizing problem, but come on- a bottle of Jergens is what, three dollars? Dry, flaky skin looks yucky on your body, gets on your dark clothes and looks just gnarly, and makes you itch, which is never attractive. And take care of your face, too- flaking foundation isn't pretty either!

The No-No List

Now that we've covered the big trends of this season, let's talk about some MAJOR faux pas, things that we (and our readers) hate to see. I was very pleased to hear from readers that they share some of the same dislikes that I do. This is a broad list, so for brevity's sake, I've cut it down to the really big fashion no-no's. Watch out for future posts on more things to never, ever wear! I'm not putting pictures up because, frankly, I can't stand to look at this stuff and I don't want to put you through the torture! If you need an example, you can google image any of these things and see what it is.

1. Crocs! I could go on for days about how these horrible plastic descendants of jellies are destroying the culture of fashion, but I'll spare you guys. I refuse to believe that they're comfortable- it's PLASTIC for heaven's sake, so I know your feet are sweating and that said sweat has nowhere to go. That's lovely, your feet are festering in your own sweat all day in ugly crayola colored shoes. These belong in 3 places: the garden, the hospital, or the garbage.

2. Thong hanging out of the pants. Don't tell me this is something you just can't help. You can, you just don't want to, because you secretly like being trashy- only it's not really a secret because your thong is hanging out the back of your pants ADVERTISING IT. Get a lower rise thong, pants that fit (or a tailor), or some double stick tape and make it work. This isn't now, never was, and never will be sexy. This includes accidental whooops my thong is showing when I lean over moments as well as, I'm a huge whore and pull my thong straps up so they show on my hips faux pas.

3. Hosiery/Socks with open toe shoes. Seriously, what are you doing there? You're wearing open toe for a reason, so go with it. You wouldn't wear a rash guard under your bikini, would you? This is one of the dumbest things ever! Most companies no longer require hosiery, and if yours does, stick to closed toe shoes for work.

4. Muffin tops. Delicious when it comes to baked goods. Unsightly and ruining my appetite when I see them on people. For those of you who don't know, you're muffin topping if your waist/belly/backfat is oozing out over the top of the waistband of your pants, making it look like the top of a muffin spilling out over the paper wrapper. On people, this is hideous, disgusting, and makes me want to tell them about the slimming effects of wearing the right sized clothes or going to the gym. Seriously- wear clothes that fit, it'll take off about ten pounds.

5. Dark undies/light clothes. Usually we see this with the dark bra and wife beater combo, but there have been sightings and reports of dark undies under white pants, skirts, and dresses. Really? You didn't have ANYTHING else you could have put on? I'd MacGyver my own underwear out of band-aids before wearing dark panties under a white skirt, you filthy piece of trash. PS, if your skirt is see through, wear a slip. We don't want to see your goodies. Likewise, if it's short, don't go commando. Britney Spears didn't set a good example.

6. Body jewelry. I don't have anything against it in and of itself. I used to have my own belly button pierced, but then, I kept my shirt on so it was really only exposed at the beach. And it was small and plain. This is acceptable. What's with the giant, bejeweled belly button jewelry the size of a deck of cards? Chains going all over the place, around the waist and up and maybe down to other piercings. Too much going on there. I can see it through your clothes, or worse, you dress to show it off, which is just whorish. And stop suggesting to boys that they'll have the opportunity to see where else you're pierced. When will the trashiness end? Not to mention the stupidity of connecting multiple piercings via a chain...it's one thing if you're a bad ass, but if you're just a skank, yikes.

7. Suntan hosiery. This is not a good color for almost anyone. Likewise, if you have dark skin, don't get the light "nude" color. It looks this wacky bluish grayish color. If you must wear hosiery, try opaque tights, which are acceptable in fun colors, or sheer stockings in the color that closest meets your own skin tone. And please moisturize under there. You'd be surprised what a difference it makes.

8. Camel toe. You've all seen it. You've maybe even heard the song. I'll quote it now: "Is your crotch hungry, girl? Cause it's eating your pants!" Camel toe grosses all of us out. No one wants to see it, and frankly, it can't be comfortable. Get pants that fit, and underwear that keeps your pants out of your business.

9. On a similar note, Spandex. This miracle of science has helped us get jeans and button down shirts to fit better, wear much more flattering swimwear, and live happier, more comfortable lives. While Spandex is marvelous and helps to accommodate all of our figures, let's be reasonable about who should really wear a lot of it. People of size should avoid skin-tight items. For them, Spandex should be used as a fit aid, helping to smooth bumps and give a clean line- NOT to squeeze into a smaller size. For the skinny crowd, this is your lucky day. Spandex is a privilege, not a right, and skinny minnies, the privilege is all yours. You can wear a tight top. You can wear tight yoga pants or leggings. These items don't look right on a larger figure or often on a moderate, average weight person, but you, you high metabolic rate freak, can wear this like it's your job.

10. Grody feet. Go buy a ped-egg, it's like ten dollars at Bed, Bath and Beyond, so use a coupon and get it. You'll be glad you did and so will I. It's because of your nasty feet that I'm afraid of feet to begin with, so let's start taking care of them.

11. Uggs with skirts. I don't get this look, I never did. It's one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. Heavy winter boots with a miniskirt? What, your knees are hot but the rest of you...not so much? You look ridiculous.

12. Head to toe Ed Hardy. Some of us like the tattoo art, some of us not so much. Myself, I'm a little over it, I like the art, I hate the shameless brandishing of the brand name, and the trend has, in my mind, run its course. OK way to wear it: Ed Hardy t-shirt, regular jeans, regular shoes, regular accessories. Not ok way to wear: Ed Hardy t-shirt, shoes, jeans, hat, and bag. Understood? Let's keep this stuff to a minimum instead of piling it on, which just looks cheesey and like you're trying way too hard to fit in.

13. Mom jeans. Youtube Mom Jeans on SNL and you'll eventually find that SNL skit on the mommy jeans from years ago. Avoid this style at all cost. Not flattering, not cool, not attractive. At all. Don't want the super low rise that a lot of the premium denim vendors offer, and want a lower price tag? Try Lucky Brand, Kut from the Kloth, or Old Navy.

14. Black pants and shoes, white socks. Really? I know you're not Michael Jackson, so stop trying to dress like you are. 'Nuff said.


Monday:

The makeup no-no's.

I Dream of Jeannie (or not)

SPRING TREND #10: HAREM PANTS

This is our final trend for spring that we're talking about, and that's also not a mistake. Lindsay and I both dislike harem pants and weren't sure we even wanted to mention them. But, alas, they are something new on the scene so we are going to report about it. Harem pants look like the pants MC Hammer used to wear, or Genie pants. They have a tapered leg, with a very low crotch seam, often with a gathered waist. What's bad about them? You end up looking like you're wearing a diaper with a load in your pants- NOT PRETTY. Lindsay and I don't find them flattering, so this is one trend you can feel free to skip. Unless, of course, you are dressing up as a Genie for Halloween, then it's excusable.

harem collage - by perle206 on Polyvore.com
top photo courtesy of Google images

Get Yourself a Boyfriend!

Spring Trend #9: Boyfriend Sweaters

Ah, spring. The time of year when young love abounds. New relationships begin. Old relationships refresh and renew. It seems like everywhere you turn around, people are in love. You should be too, I recommend it. So get a boyfriend.

Not that easy? Sure it is. There are boyfriend sweaters, vests, AND jackets to love. In tons of amazing colors- solids and stripes, a little oversized for comfort…what’s a girl to do but fall in love? Here’s the lowdown: The sweater and vest versions are in supersoft sweater knits, so they’re incredibly cozy. Most of them have pockets on the front at hip level, perfect for keeping your fingers warm on those cooler spring days and summer evenings. They’re long- they should hit just about the bottom of your tush- have a deep v-neck, and a few buttons to close. The jacket versions are kind of like a slightly oversized blazer, some are a little distressed, some are actually a sweatshirt knit. I’ve even spotted a few with a built in vest- so you can close the vest flaps and leave the jacket part open for an “undone” look! The name “boyfriend sweater” comes from the fact that, well, they look like they may have been swiped from your preppy boyfriend’s closet. For example, back in the day, girls wore their boyfriends’ varsity sweaters to let everyone know they were dating. We’re luckier- we get to pick the color, and there’s no giving up the sweater in the event of a break up.

How to wear it? You’ve got lots of options! Dress it down by wearing it open or closed, over a tank and a pair of jeans, leggings, or in warm weather, even shorts. Dress it up by wearing it with a dress and belting at the waist.

From http://www.target.com/, this boyfriend vest, with a fun back detail, is less than $5 on clearance!!! Amazing.

This boyfriend sweater has a great throwback varsity look, comes in 4 color combos, and is only $13.50 on http://www.forever21.com/ - you can buy two!

http://www.wetseal.com/ has this boyfriend blazer for $38.50- complete with shirtsleeve cuffs! Remember, your boyfriend blazer should be a little oversized, full through the shoulders, and will have a bit of an 80's feel, so if that's not your thing, this isn't your trend!

Below, my polyvore.com collage of boyfriend pieces:

boyfriend - by lj_frueh on Polyvore.com

And finally, some celebs rocking boyfriends:

Scarlett Johansson in a belted boyfriend over a dress. A great way to dress up this usually casual sweater and get extra mileage out of it!

Kate Bosworth looking tres chic in her boy blazer.

Erickson Beamon jewelry

I may be a little behind, but I recently discovered Erickson Beamon jewelry while pulling for a photo shoot at a showroom. I'd never seen anything like it before and was impressed by some of their pieces. It's not your usual simple and dainty jewelry. They are bold, imaginative, playful, and outrageous. The line was started by two friends: Vicki Beamon and Karen Erickson. But, like other great designer pieces, their prices are out of my range; until now. Target, becoming hipsters more and more, sell an Ericksom Beamon line just for them. Granted, the quality is a little less then the normal line, but for hundreds of dollars less, I don't mind so much! The slogan on Target's website introducing the line is "glam without pricey drama". Well said Target, well said.

rose and chain earrings $19.99 - target.com

layered flower purple pendant necklace $49.99 - target.com

jeweled flower cuff bracelet - target.com

jeweled cluster pendant $39.99 - target.com

jeweled flower ring $29.99 - target.com

Max It Out!

The maxi dress, which emerged a couple summers ago, hid away for a while, but it’s back in action and I couldn’t be more thrilled! With all the great things going on in color and print trends, why wouldn’t we want to wear a little more fabric? Maxi dresses can be casual, elegant, and everywhere in between. I prefer them with flip flops for a casual look or flat sandals (a great metallic works like a charm here, or use a bright to make it pop!) to dress it up. Can you wear heels with a maxi? Absolutely. Flat or not, try a gladiator! Maxis go great with stacked bangles or chunky necklaces, or bohemian accessories like leather headbands and beaded pieces. You can belt your maxi, let it flutter in the breeze, pair it with a cropped jacket…what can’t a maxi do??? Oh, right: a maxi can’t go on a shorter girl. Sorry, my petite pals, but this is one trend that is definitely not for you. You’ll be lost in the billowing fabric and the result will be the dress wearing you instead of the reverse.

Now, onto the dress itself. Look for one that hits at around your ankle, if it drags on the floor all you’ll do is ruin the dress and trip yourself (which is SO not trendy…EVER.) Keep in mind all the big spring trends: black and white, florals (on a maxi, go for a larger print so it doesn’t look so repetitive), brights, plaids (the best ones are broken up in a patchwork style), or one we haven’t mentioned yet- ombre. This dying process gives a beautiful fading dark to light dip dyed look to the fabric- especially gorgeous on soft, breezy silks. Keep in mind that ombre should look dipped and faded, not like tie dye, so finding it for less is difficult- your best bets are going to be finding a higher end version on sale or at a bargain basement.

Below, I created a collage at polyvore.com to show a few maxi dress looks. I’ve added belts, bangles, necklaces, and shoes to spice them up and add drama. Some great stops for maxis: The bargain basements, Forever 21, Old Navy, Charlotte Russe, Kohl’s, and Target. One last thing- and my favorite thing about the maxi dress- it allows a girl to eat! No restricting waistbands or tight skirt action going on here!


maxi dress - by lj_frueh on Polyvore.com

Black and White

image courtesy from Google images


SPRING TREND #7: BLACK AND WHITE

This trend is not just black and white clothing, but specifically a black print on a white background. You often see it in the reverse, but having white as the main color keeps the look light for spring/summer. Find a geometric or graphic black on white print and you're even more on trend. Geometric prints offer a mod outlook to your appearance. This is a perfect sister trend to the brights I mentioned earlier.

Wear a black and white outfit with a bright shoe to pump up the volume of your "glamness". :) Or, wear a printed spring jacket overtop a dress like in the picture below. This is a great color combo: black and white with lemon/lime. This image is from thelimited.com and the graphic trench prices at $148.

graphic plaid blouse $49.50 - express.com

polka dot georgette blouse $29 - newport-news.com

Spring Trends Continued...

image courtesy of Google images



SPRING TREND #6: PLAID PRINTS

The 6th trend I'd like to mention is plaid and checker prints. They are all over the place and I've found one at an LA store here that I can't wait to buy! Wear your plaid shirts open with a tee underneath or button closed, with leggings or skinny jeans. Want to style it up a bit more? Belt the waist and rock it with killer heels. It can be a casual look too worn with ballet flats/boots. Depending on the type of plaid or checker pattern you could look rocker chic or country cool. This print isn't only used on shirts either. Wear a plaid dress, shoes, or shorts.

Try a girlier version like this shirt below from the Victoria's Secret catalog. It'll help you feel less like a lumberjack. :P Plus, it's two trends in one: ruffles and plaid! :)

ruffle front plaid shirt on sale for $28 from $48 - victoriassecret.com





plaid checker print tunic $28.80 - gojane.com

blue plaid ballet flat "Moby" $20 by Soda - lulus.com (also available in pink/orange)

Femininity At Its Best

image courtesy of Google images.


SPRING TREND #5: RUFFLES

The next trend I'd like to talk about, and am excited to talk about, is RUFFLES. My style tends to lean towards girly-sophisticate looks, so this trend is right up my alley. Ruffles ooze soft, feminine elegance. They instantly make you feel pretty and fancy. They are mostly seen along necklines, but, as you can see below, they are also on skirts, sleeves, shoes, and bags. This trend can also be easily combined with some other trends for spring such a brights, florals, and plaids (which I'll talk about in my next post). Large cocktail rings and/or sparkly, oversized chandelier earrings are a great way to accessorize this look. You can wear ruffles to work, or for a night out on the town!

tiered ruffle skirt - $24.99 at target.com

Simply Vera- Vera Wang for Kohl's $39.99 (on sale from $58) at kohls.com

ruffle sandal in grape (also available in black and fuschia) - $11.10 at gojane.com

A look for less!

So I just came across a great find! In the last post, I posted an example of a flat gladiator with stud embellishment from Steve Madden. If the $60 price tag is too much for you, here's a knock-off of the same exact shoe for a fraction of the price at $14.60! Go online to www.gojane.com to buy.

Thought I'd pass it along. :) It comes in white, black, and taupe. I like the taupe one. :)

Global Bazaar

SPRING TREND #4: GLOBAL INFLUENCE

Global inspirations are back from last Spring/Summer, just a little more expanded. The term "global" encompasses many ethnic influences from around the world. The biggest ones being seen in fashion are Bohemian, Bollywood (thank you Slumdog Millionaire for helping this trend spread!), Tribal, and Safari.


To wear this trend find clothing with animal prints, an Ikat print (a dying process- examples shown above), earth tones, embroidery, and beading. Accessories include anything made of natural materials such as wood, bone, shells, leather (I prefer faux- just say no to cruelty to animals!), coral stones, and turquoise.

For shoes, the gladiator style is still around this spring and would fall into this trend. Many gladiators are now being embellished using studs and stones. Python print is also popular. The gladiators below are a perfect example of this.

Sam Edelman for $139 at victoriassecret.com

Steve Madden "Booggle" sandal $59.95 at nordstrom.com

Don't like all the extra embellishments on your shoes? I like these simple gladiator type shoes below from Nine West. They are $89, have a platform front, and a wooden heel. Shoes with LOTS of straps are also in style. A criss-cross weave pattern (aka huaraches) is great for the global trend.

Enzo Angiolini "Drive" $88.95 at zappos.com (available in other colors)

Wear with a skirt like this from lulus.com for $37!

Top off the outfit with these filigree earrings from Charlotte Russe for only $4.00!


all other images above from Google images.