Apr 22, 2010 | Fashion
I received the following question on formspring.me:
Hey there! Can you plesae make a list of 10 MUST-HAVE FASHION ITEMS? I’m currently in ‘lost-my-style’ phase and I can’t decide,what key items should I buy to find a new style.
I can definitely relate! Sometimes, when I’ve been living in sweatpants for days on end, stuck inside recuperating from one cold or another, or just doing the day-to-day “mom” thing…I feel like I’ve left my style somewhere and can’t seem to locate it! But here are some ideas – some must-haves that will spice up the ol’ closet as pictured above…
Wedge Heels
Short Shorts
Sheer
Boyfriend Blazer
Clear Jewelry
Futuristic
Sporty
Tribal
And, some other things to work in…
on the model: Side Braid / Ear Cuffs (Spiky Rocking Horse Ear Piece, $85, Etsy.com) / Cut-Out Shirt (Tripp NYC the Thrash Tee, $38, Karmaloop.com) / Bike-Shorts / Nude Colors / Bows
Hope that helps you reinvent your wardrobe!
xoxox
Carly
all illustrations by me.
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Apr 21, 2010 | Fashion, Media
Misha is a stylist and photographer who I came across quite by accident – I was perusing her fabulous blog VelvetStuddedHearts (chock-full of incredibly-inspiring images, BTW) and found out that her own photography was quite breathtaking.
She has experience working with ASOS, where images she shot are displayed on ASOS.com. She is also available for hire for shoots and/or styling (and provides student rates for NUS holders); drop her a line at mishap.photography@hotmail.com.
If I were in need of some slick-cool editorial images, she’s the first one I’d call! Keep an eye out for here – this is one star on the rise.
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 19, 2010 | Fashion
Jeremy Scott long sleeve dress
Launching TOMORROW (April 20th) and available for purchase exclusively on Refinery29.com, Richard Chai and Jeremy Scott’s collaborative pieces with Alternative Apparel are designed not to break the bank. With prices ranging from $69 – $129, the pieces will only be available for a limited time (until May 20th) – so if you’re a fan of the brands (or these super-soft jersey pieces appeal to you), you’ll have only a little time to snap them up before they’re all gone.
Richard Chai long sleeve ruffle tee
Inspired by Alternative’s fashion-forward styles and unprecedented comfort, Chai and Scott each designed a series of signature looks utilizing Alternative’s high-quality, cutting-edge fabrics. The NYC-based Chai, who was recognized earlier this year for his accomplishments in menswear with a nomination for the 2010 GQ/CFDA Fashion Award, worked with Alternative’s luxurious linen jersey and modal silk fabrics to create several reworked and reinterpreted t-shirts, bringing a cool, laidback edge to the classic tee. Using Alternative’s super-soft and refined micro-modal spandex fabric, celebrity favorite Jeremy Scott created three sexy, sophisticated “little black dresses” which take on various incarnations with raised necklines, hoods, and shoulder details.
Since I’m now anti-American Apparel (due to their unusually degrading images of girls in their advertising), I’m all for this brand, which does the soft, slinky tee…well, to a T…and whose burnout tees I’ve been practically living in for some time. (They’re also, BTW, one of the most affordable and trendy tee brands when it comes to wholesaling in small quantities to screenprinters and designers…American Apparel wholesale prices are almost TWICE Alternative’s…a little factoid I found out when I was tees to screenprint for my line.)
Jeremy Scott hooded dress
Richard Chai long sleeve ruffle tee
So what do you guys think? Cute? Buyable? Will you be racing to the site come tomorrow and clickety-clicking?
xoxox
Carly
About Alternative Apparel
Alternative has been challenging the concepts of fashion since 1995, when Foun der and Chief Creative Officer Greg Alterman set out to create the perfect t-shirt—one designed for fashion, made for comfort, and tailored for a flawless fit. Today, Alternative has elevated the tee from casual basic to fashion-forward staple, simultaneously broadening its horizons to offer a complete collection of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, including an eco-friendly line of sustainable apparel, Alternative Earth.
As a lifestyle apparel brand at the forefront of the fashion industry, Alternative exists to inspire authenticity and comfort—both inside and out. Our mission is about more than just designing clothes that look and feel great: we want our unique community of wearers and supporters to feel comfortable in their own skin, laying the groundwork to inspire others and make a difference with how you live—and what you wear.
Alternative creates apparel and accessories for men, women, babies and toddlers across the United States and ab road, including Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The company is headquartered in Atlanta with showrooms in Los Angeles and New York.
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Apr 16, 2010 | Fashion
When it comes to online shopping for budget-friendly sparkly jewelry (wedding bands, engagement bands, promise rings. etc.) there’s a lot out there – and it’s expensive! When I heard about LuShae Jewelry I was not only impressed with the prices on their website, but I was also intrigued as to whether the actual pieces were as quality as the descriptions.
I was first shocked at how quickly the package arrived (from Australia, no less!); I ordered it on a Thursday evening, and received it Monday in the mail. (And this was choosing the “regular shipping” option at checkout! I’m also on the U.S. West Coast, for reference purposes.;-)
Secondly, what was in the shipping box was a beautiful canvas-covered navy-and-cream buttoned jewelry box – a jewelry box design I’ve never come across before (and I have jewelry-makers’ supply catalogs from just about everywhere). It wasn’t too frou-frou (it could work as a gift box for a woman or a man), but it wasn’t cheapy either.
Thirdly, I was impressed with the quality of the ring within. Sure, the photo looked nice on the website but you never really know. The silver was beautiful and bright, and the stones were clear and pure in their colors. Here is the ring I chose from their site:
Isn’t it incredible? (CZ Sculpture ring, $69)
Now, the offerings on the site are probably more geaered to the classicist – they offer some very classic, tasteful designs that are likely to withstand the test of time. [On another note, I was also interested in the wedding band replacements they offered since mine and Hub’s wedding bands, which are Cartier and made of platinum, are scratched unbelievably. Open a door? It gets scratched. Pick up my chain-handled bag? Scratched? Do the dishes? Scratched. I had no idea platinum was so soft – it’s like buttah. And my Tiffany’s sterling silver engagement ring has also suffered the same fate. I have had them proessionally polished multiple tmes – and they just end up a mess of scratches almost immediately after. Thus I rarely wear my wedding/engagement rings, and since our 10th anniversary since we met is coming up, we were thinking of replacing them with something that won’t scratch and look so messy. So if you are in the same situation, and don’t want to wear your real wedding band every day (perhaps it’s extremely precious; could get lost or damaged etc.) then LuShae has some great options in stainless steel, like this 2mm Gold Band.
Even though I had a hard time choosing from the jewelry on their website since so much of it is classic (and I’m not really a classic gal, to tell the truth), I was taken with this Rhodium-finish ring, with its bars of jonquil, light amethyst, and peridot CZ. I have honestly never seen a design like this, with alternating gemstone bars at different angles. It’s lovely, bright, springy, and oh so unusual.
If you are in the market for sparkly, affordable jewelry (that’s far more quality than what you can find at the mall) – definitely check out LuShae Jewelry and browse through their rings, earrings, and necklaces to see if anything captures your fancy.:-)
xoxox
Carly
I was gifted a piece of my choice from LuShae Jewelry – see my disclosure policy for deets!
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Apr 15, 2010 | Fashion, Media
I rarely, if ever, cover editorials – and usually not those in men’s magazines…but these advance photos from VMAN (hitting the newsstands on April 20) caught my eye. Blending a fashion-forward photoshoot with 3D animated characters? Me liking this advertising gimmick!
From the press release:
“SHREK OF A GUY” by VMAN
This summer, Green is back in fashion. And with the US release of Shrek Forever After on May 21, everyone’s getting in on the act.
Photographer: Ellen von Unwerth
Styling: Nicola Formichetti (Lady Gaga’s stylist)
I am a bit confused as to what, if anything, the Shrek characters have to do with the editorial…but who cares. It’s amusing.
What do you guys think? Complete silliness?
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 13, 2010 | Fashion
Pink-lined angle sunglasses: from the Buffalo Exchange
Chain n rhinestone jumble necklace: Forever 21 (not on website, but here is something similar)
Bird pendant necklace: Walmart…?
Studded wide fabric ring: DIY
Convertible cashmere wrap: Arden B. (similar here)
Pink suede belt: Old Navy
Pleat-front crepe trousers: Thrifted and altered to pegged and tapered
Snakeskin-print slingback platform heels: Metro7 (Walmart)
photo above from the Lavender Tea House website
The other day we visited the Lavender Tea House in Sherwood, OR – a little, out-of-the-way wannabe English tea house. (I’ve never been to an authentic one in England…or at least I don’t remember it since I’ve only been to England once when I was 10.) When I was a kid in NJ, there was the most wonderful, very-close-to-authentic English tea room called Sally Lunn’s Tea Room in Chester, NJ near where I grew up. I would beg my mother to take me there, though we only were able to go a few times in all the years we lived nearby. It was lovely- beautiful antiques on the walls, handmade pies from scratch, 20 different types of tea, and of course, the scones. (The best invention known to man…or at least sweet-lovers like myself!) Later they exapanded to a Princeton, NJ location, not far from the University. I haven’t been in years – I think the last time I went was in 2004 – but it was lovely…I had the Ploughman’s Lunch there (a huge hunk of cheese, handmade pickle, rustic bread…and of course, a scone.) If you’re ever near one of their locations, I urge you to visit. The website is above and menu is here if you are interested.
Back to the Lavender Tea House. Not quite such an experience – though they are quite established here, they haven’t gone all out on the antique decor or expanded their menu much. I’m not really a “tea connoisseur” either so their vast menus of teas makes little impression on me. (Hub noted that it is an “old lady’s restaurant” and that he was the only male every time we’ve ever been!)
But the scones – with strawberry preserves and clotted cream – are wonderful!
Lil Tot had a kid’s lunch that had cheese finger sandwiches, some with sprinkles pressed on them!! (That I found a little strange.)
Anyway, the scones were the most delicious.
So here’s what I wore: I have been wanting a bird-printed chiffon dress or romper for a long time since I saw them on the Miss Selfridges website…I hadn’t wanted to go through the whole rigmarole of ordering through them (I’d had some problems in the past), and endeavored to find some bird-printed chiffon at the fabric store, or maybe a Korean knock-off dress on Ebay or Storets. No such luck…so I eventually ordered from Miss Selfridge…ran into a problem…had to reorder after an annoying phone call to them…and eventually got my package more than 2 weeks later. Ugh. They really have to get their customer service and ordering process up to par with places like ASOS.com!! Anyway.
So I love this little bird-dress – it’s a bit short, and today I am wearing it as a top, tucked in to my pants. I didn’t tuck it in all the way, and thought it looked nicer like that.
The cashmere wrap below is apparently convertible and tie-able in alot of different ways, but I usually don’t bother. I always think of New York Fashion Week when I wear it since I was wearing it for my very first NYFW and spilled hot cocoa on the sleeve running to get to a show in the slushy snow!
These glasses are so cool – the insides are pink – found at the Buffalo Exchange for $8. (Though I could get a similar pair for $5.80 from Forever 21! Tho they’re not pink on the insides…)
The Atlas Ring (on my left hand, barely visible oops) is the engagement ring I gave to Hub some…oh, 6 years ago. He never wears it since he only wears his wedding ring, so he gave it to me awhile back.
I thought the bird necklace was appropriate to go with the top!
I love this jumbled-up rhinestone-and-chain necklace from Forever 21 too! (In my case…Forever 31??? LOL)
Hope you guys had a great weekend too!
xoxox
Carly
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