Fashion Pulse Daily » Style

Style, Naturally — Put it on Your Must-Read List!

fashionpulse — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:00:15 +0000

If you’ve got Earth Day on the brain, here’s a fashionable eco-friendly read not to miss (post first published 3/10/2009)

I had the pleasure of meeting Summer Rayne Oakes at the press preview of the new Zoe&Zac line of green shoes for Payless, which she consulted on (I can’t wait!!), and was immediately impressed with her dedication and thoroughness to all things eco. I recently went to the book launch party for Ms. Oakes’ new tome “Style, Naturally: the Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty,” and was thrilled to find a book written by a hip, fashionable person on eco-frendly brands, complete with beautiful photos and a clean layout. So much information and so many “green brands” are so staid and really outdated in their styling that it’s nice to have an example of brands that are working toward reducing their impact on the environment while being on-trend, such as Form & Fauna, Terra Plana, and Kiss My Face. In addition to giving pointers and tips on what to look for in products, I thought the most helpful aspect of the text is the resources section in the back, which succinctly ties together websites to shop, definitions, and other suggested books and magazines. For more on the book and Summer Rayne Oakes, check out her site or click here to buy it!

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I Love Your Style: Margot Tenenbaum (CollegeCandy Guest Post)

fashionpulse — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:12:26 +0000

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use T.V characters (like Joan Holloway) or celebrities (like Courtney Love) as style inspiration, even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

The Royal Tenenbaums is one of Wes Anderson’s many dysfunctional-family masterpieces he is infamous for. Besides portraying one of the strangest and most awkward families known to humanity, the main characters in The Royal Tenenbaums each have an extremely specific style, much like cartoons, that they hardly ever drift from.

Exhibit A: Margot Tenenbaum.

The adopted daughter of Royal Tenenbaum is a prodigy playwright at the tender age of 14… which happens to be two years AFTER she starts smoking cigarettes. She’s one messed up lady, but still, somehow, inspiring to me in more ways than one.

It wasn’t until meeting Margot that I wanted wear a slip-dress and sit on the edge of a tub, smoke a cigarette and paint my nails (but that can wait because I’m definitely not about to attempt in a dorm shower). It wasn’t until Margot that I wanted to wear a striped shirt-dress with a fur-coat and Hermes bag. It seems like a weird combo, yes, but Margot Tenenbaum’s style is the perfect combination of casual and luxury, innocence and glamour. She combines pieces that no average person would ever put together to create her signature style and doesn’t give a sh*t what other people think.

And while I don’t want Margot’s family or lifestyle, I definitely love her look.

Product Info- Faux-fur jacket – Karmaloop, $156; Eyeliner – Rimmel, $3.49; Satchel – Karmaloop, $35.00; Shoes –Aldo, $54.98; Dress - Forever 21, $11.50

From our friends at CollegeCandy.com:

What I love most about Margot’s look is that it’s unique and totally stands out. What I hate about it is that it’s impossible to mimic without resembling a Halloween costume. So I went ahead and took a more real-world spin to make her style my own. I replaced the Polo dress with a cute (…and short… and tight) striped dress and paired it with a leopard (faux) fur coat. It’s sexy, fun and unexpected. I mean, really, how many girls would wear a leopard jacket? But why not? It’s probably the most fun and chic way to stay warm. Plus, it sets you apart from everyone else in their black-top-dark-jeans-black-heels uniforms.

Adding a hot pair of pumps (instead of Margot’s loafers – who do you think I am? Definitely not someone who would recommend loafers.) will elongate those legs and go splendidly with the dress when you ditch the coat. Now add Margot’s signature structured bag (the juxtaposition of the fun leopard and the refined bag makes the look even more interesting), smudge on a little eyeliner and, if you really wanna channel Margot, start making out with every guy you meet (but I’m sure that’s what most of our college weekends consist of under certain drunken circumstances anyways).

Wardrobe Jackpot: Boring Stores Reinvented

fashionpulse — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:53:52 +0000

Via CollegeCandy.com:

This recession totally sucks. But, if you ignore the unemployment rate and rising cost of beer, some good is definitely coming from it. And one of those positives is the fact that the plummeting sales of retail chains has caused them to re-evaluate their brand and reinvent themselves for fall. Suddenly stores that used to make me feel nauseous (boasting window displays stuffed with mom jeans and fugly tablecloth patterns), actually have some adorable stuff that us college girls would actually consider wearing.

For the closets of fashionistas, this is great news. Now there are a dozen more stores that we can peruse online during class and drool over on our weekly treks to the mall. (Plus now when my mom calls and tells me she’s going to Ann Taylor to pick up a suit jacket, I can ask her to pick me up a cute skirt to add to my care package!)

Check out my favorite extreme makeovers (that don’t involve sexy Ty Pennington) below:

The Gap

Then: Uber boring button up shirts and polos.
Now: Cute staples essential to layering.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The perfect dark wash jeans – soft, stretchy and with the perfect butt pockets – for us girls with some junk in the trunk.

Express

Then: Going-out clothes that were borderline trashy.
Now: Chic party clothes that are fun, but not slut-tastic.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Fail-safe dress for girls’ night out. The clean lines of this color blocked, one-shoulder dress make it effortlessly chic while still being young and trendy.

Ann Taylor

Then: Boring mom clothes
Now: Classy pieces that have some edge to them
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Edgy, heeled boots. The wrap around leather strap adds just the right amount of personality and these would look pretty killer over a sexy pair of skinnies.

New York and Company

Then: All the store had was 40 different black pants that all looked the same and some really fugly jumpsuits.
Now: Totally on top of the trends (I’m talking leggings, tunics, ruffles…) at prices that wont break the bank.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Go-to pencil skirt. It will be there for you through dinners, parties, weddings and any other occasion that forces you out of your sweats and into real clothes. (And did I mention it’s only $32?!)

Old Navy

Then: Cheap, shapeless clothes
Now: Cheap, adorable clothes
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The ideal fall jacket: satin lined, waist cinching, wide brimmed, bold colors… should I go on?

Banana Republic

Then: Stuffy, sophisticated and over-priced pieces.
Now: Hip, trendy, and totally catering to 20-somethings (with a large bank account).
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: This darling sheath dress. It’s totally party worthy, but belt it and throw on a cardigan and some tights and it works for an important class presentation, too!

Budget Stylista: A Now and Later That’s Better Than The Candy

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:14:28 +0000

Via CollegeCandy.com:

Let’s face it – August is a hard month for shopping. Everywhere you go, window displays scream mohair and motorcycle boots, but you are still sittin’ pretty (and very happily) in your flowery sundress, thankyouverymuch. And while you know you should be looking to invest in a good pair of boots to walk through the slushy snow in just a few months (ew), you would much rather peruse the racks upon racks of summer dresses that are cute and – um – ON MAJOR SALE.

I mean seriously, $200 dresses on sale for $40? I don’t care if it’s negative 30 outside – we can find a way to wear these badboys a little while longer. Who says you have to part with floral the second the leaves start falling from the trees?

Here’s a way to be stylish and savvy: reuse and rewear your favorite summer frocks. Just pair them with some thick tights, a boyfriend blazer or leather bomber, a scarf, some booties or boots and – presto chango – your springtime floral is instantly ready for a stroll with a pumpkin spice latte (the one good thing about cold weather).

Here are 3 options of summery looks that you can take well into fall, but feel free to try this with most summer dresses in your wardrobe!

Dress:

For Now:

For later:

For night:

Dress:

For now:

For later:

Dress:

For now:

For later:

Budget Stylista: Hottie Handbags

fashionpulse — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:33:30 +0000

Via CollegeCandy.com:

If Carrie Bradshaw was literally going to be the lady who lived in her shoes, then I will be the lady who lived in her handbags. I guess the upside is that handbags are a lot roomier and more cushion-y than those 12 million pairs of Manolos Carrie rocked on a season to season basis.

Fact is, I love handbags. And I don’t discriminate against clutches or cross body bags or cute totes, either.

Anything that holds all of my crap also holds the key to my heart. And what’s more, this season there are so many options! Fringed brown shoulder bags, adorable chain strap clutches… I mean, for seriousness, how does one decide without Suze Orman knocking on her door saying, “hellooo, you’ve got a problem, girlfriend.”

Well, thankfully, you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank for that banging new bag (now there’s a tongue twister – take that, Sally and your sea-shells at the shore). Here are a few of my budget bags that are must-snags. Target and Lulus are not messing around this season, that’s for sure. And while blacks, browns and beautiful cognacs are still wardrobe staples, colors are becoming the new neutral. From jewel tones to gray to a soft red, don’t be afraid to add a splash of color to your normally uniform black ensemble.

And, best part, you can rock that bag knowing you’ve done both me and Suze Orman proud. Sure, Carrie has her Manolos but you have your Tarjay, and that extra money in your wallet is much more fab.

Totes (Magotes)

Purse That Converts to a Backpack
Perfect for class to shopping, and the deep purple is versatile and bomb diggity. Yeah I just said bomb diggity

Smaller Options

Sock Dreams: A Sexy Sock Shop for You

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:42:04 +0000

Via our friends at CollegeCandy.com:

Want something hot to spice up your boring old outfits? I have just the thing for you: socks. Wait a second, now; just hear me out. Shoes have traditionally taken first prize in the category of coveted women’s footwear, but take a gander at Sock Dreams and tell me that socks aren’t far behind.

They’re beautiful, they’re sexy, they’re stylish, and there are varieties to interest just about everybody. Like the perfect necklace, they can turn an ordinary outfit into something totally awesome. Plus, they can be quite practical — it might be way too cold to wear that gorgeous miniskirt on a chilly spring evening, but you can totally still pull it off with a hot pair of tights or socks.

Wanna see for yourself? Take a peek:

I’m in love. Socks are officially my go-to fashion accessory.

Handbag of the Month

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:09:14 +0000

Via our lovely friends at LollieShopping.com:

I love the simple shape of this Somali Shopper from Barneys New York. The leather cut-out handles add such richness to the overall look. My favorite style is the Green Swirl, but this chic shopper also comes in four other colors. Oh…if money was as plentiful as my stylish imagination, I’d get one in each color!

Barneys New York Somali Shopper – Green Swirl

$495.00 at Barneys New York

The Budget Stylista: Maxi Dresses

fashionpulse — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:03:23 +0000

Via our friends at CollegeCandy.com:

The Maxi dress is a summer must-have essential. You can roll out of bed and throw it on with flip flops for an outside brunch. You can throw on a pair of wedges or heels and dress it up for a night out. You can dress it up for a night out, then roll out of (a cute man’s) bed and throw it on for brunch with said cute man without it being SO blatantly obvious that you were wearing the same exact thing last night. The walk of shame is practically eliminated in this dazzling dress.

Like I said- summer must-have. Essential.

And with so many out there, there is no way to not find one to flatter your body. Thicker straps for those of us who must wear a bra for fear that our boobs will drag on the floor without one; a loud print for those of us who want to give ourselves a bit more shape. No matter your height, weight or proportions, there is a Maxi dress out there for you. Sort of like how Maxi pads come in different styles, only cuter and less like a diaper.

And lucky for you, huge summer trend means huge possibility of finding a dress that doesn’t make a dent in your budget, but still leaves everyone asking you where on earth you found that super cute piece. (Click on the dresses to get all the deets.)