In the Nude

This nude sateen tube dress from Forever 21 (I seem to have an unhealthy obsession with this store) is a thing of beauty. My first thought upon seeing it was that it reminded me of "the naked dress" from Sex and the City (another one of my possibly unhealthy obsessions). My second was "Oh dear God, I must have this."

Before I purchase any item of clothing, I like to think about how it will fit into my wardrobe. Do I have accesssories and such that will go with it? Is it appropriate for events that I attend regularly? Will I feel comfortable enough in it to wear it often? I immediately asked myself these questions about the nude dress, came up with positive answers, and found myself bewildered by the possibilities.

I have come to the conclusion that the little nude dress should be a wardrobe staple. It can be dressed up or down, is very flattering, and is almost always appropriate. Forever 21 is actually a LND paradise, because it carries plenty of matching shoes and accessories. To illustrate the versatility of the LND, as well as the abundance of Forever 21 (I will prove to you the awesomeness of this store if it kills me), I put together a few outfits:




This look can be worn almost anywhere. It's perfect for a shopping trip, a night out, or even a wedding. Buy all the pieces from Forever 21.




I put together this look with a day at the office in mind, but it can really be worn anywhere (such is the beauty of the LND.) Buy it all at Forever 21.





Okay, I admit it, I cheated on this look. Not everything is from Forever 21. But I found the shoes at Macy's and fell in love. Gorgeous, no? And then I figured that as long as I was already cheating with the shoes, I might as well throw in a bag from Urban Outfitters. But the necklace and the dress are both Forever 21. This is definitely more of an evening look.

The third look is about the point when I started to get enormously excited. I was web-surfing like a maniac and finding all sorts of stunning things in tans and golds and beiges. Seriously, people, accessories for the LND can be found everywhere! There are plenty of options! So you have no excuse not to exult in your nude-ness. No excuse at all! (I am aware that I sound as if I am promoting nakedness. And by all means, go naked if you want to. But I think you all know that I was talking more along the lines of nude colors,)

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I'd also like to add that I just noticed a sale at Alloy. Until 4/30 (that's today), you can use the code SAVE15A to get 15% off your order. Woohoo!

Some Amazingly Good Deals

is taking 25% off the entire website until Sunday at midnight.



is offering free shipping until Sunday.



is taking 25% off all sale shoes until May 2nd.



has a buy one, get one free deal on all sale items.



is taking 25% off all items through Saturday. (Offer ends soon, so get a move on, people!)



is taking 20% off Tulle and Soundgirl clothing 'til Sunday at midnight. Enter code IMSPECIAL during checkout.


Can you say score? Yes!!! Go forth, young grasshoppers, and shop like the wind. Your wardrobes will thank you, and your wallets will thank whoever decided to have a sale. It's a win/win situation. Hallelujah.

Why Don't You...

1) Sign up to be notified when the Gentle Fawn online store is launched this June. The first 250 people to sign up get a limited edition t-shirt. The next 250 people to sign up get a fawn rhinestone pin. Everyone who signs up gets a preview copy of the Gentle Fawn catalog, specials, and deals.

2) Read about the dangers of the "model diet" as an average woman tries to get down to a size zero.

3) Play online dress-up. Yes, it's childish, but it can be kind of fun. And it's completely free, which is a major plus.

4) Sign up for the Daily Candy newsletter.

5) Join the Free People craft swap. It's not too late!

6) Make flapper style your own.

Fashionably Flapper

Lately I've been thinking about past fashions. There have been some really good ones, but also some really bad ones. I happen to think that the flapper look of the 20's was quite fantastic, and while there are many hardcore vintage fashionistas out there (just look at wardrobe_remix!), I have yet to see someone emulate the 20's. I think it's time to change that. I mean, look at the picture above. How fabulous is she?

So you want to borrow her style? You bring the attitude, and I'll show you the way. I'll even tone it down a bit in case you don't want to go all out.


First, you need a dress. This is actually a slip, so you would need to wear a plain slip underneath it. It comes in black, white, and red at Urban Outfitters.


You can get this flapper-style headband at Rohm Custom on Etsy. If you want a more authentic (and out-there) look, you can find headbands with sequins/feathers and flapper hats on Ebay, Etsy, and in costume stores.


These shoes in white or black would be a nice addition to the outfit. Find at Forever 21.


Finally, a string of pearls is a must. These are also from Forever 21.

Also, some black tights or fishnets.

Use your creativity to make the look your own, and have fun with it. You can find boas at girlprops.com, if you feel the need to add that to the outfit, and there's lots of gloves on ebay, but really you can add whatever. Soon you'll be doing the Charleston like there's no tomorrow.

So what do you think? Would you sport the flapper look?

Take a Glimpse

How can you not love this dress? It's cute, sweet, playful...I could go on and on. It happens to be Marc by Marc Jacobs. In most cases, upon realizing that the dress I am desperately coveting is Marc by Marc, my gleeful smile droops and I resign myself to the fact that I will never be able to afford it. Ever. Unless I sell my car and spend the rest of my days hoping that strangers will be so distracted by my glorious dress that they won't notice when I sneak into the backs of their cars and hitch a ride. However, in this case, the dress is (gasp!) only $90.90! Hooray!

I'll take a break from jumping for joy and introduce the beautious new website that allowed me to make such a find. Glimpse.com is your new best friend. You can browse through a selection of clothing, shoes, accessories, and other things and narrow them down until you find just what you want. If something is too expensive, you can ask Glimpse to alert you when it goes on sale. You can make lists (I have several long lists of things I covet but could never afford) or buy things right away. It makes for hours of happy purchasing.

Let me guess... You're still contemplating that dress. Wanna know where to buy it? My bff Glimpse supplied a direct link. You're welcome.

Lula Magazine

Okay, I know that the world knows about Lula Magazine, but the most recent issue was my first. I had listened to people rave about Lula for months, and I had to see what the fuss was all about. I have to say, the fuss is much deserved. I loved everything about the magazine, from the thick, glossy paper to the dreamy photographs, beautiful drawings, and interesting articles. I had planned to tear the photographs from the magazine for wall decoration, but I found that I couldn't. It felt sacreligious to tear anything out of something so much like a book, something so visually stunning. Instead, it sits beside my bed for perusal before I go to sleep. I know it will bring me only the sweetest of dreams.

Topshop Sale!

Hooray! Topshop is having a sale! Get it before it's gone! (I know I will)

Make Like a Picnic

Looking for the perfect sweet-yet-sexy swimsuit for this summer? Well, look no further. My friend gingham and I have got you covered. No, gingham isn't only for picnic blankets and table cloths. It is now an acceptable part of your swimwear collection! Done right, it can be retro-sweet and utterly cool. Done wrong, it can give you that sugary farm girl appearance. But not to fear...Again, I've got you covered.


Now this, I love. It's retro and pinup-fabulous. Get at Forever 21.


This is a good choice for someone who wants to show less skin. It also comes in this mint color (among others), which is unusual for gingam, but fun. Get at Delia*s.


This is an example of gingham done wrong. The cut of this suit is so unflattering. Buy at your own risk at Free People.


Now these (obviously) aren't a swimsuit, but they would look darn cute with one. Get at Forever 21.

Bored? Why Don't You...

1) Take a few minutes to sign a petition demanding that President Bush and the UN Secretary-General take steps in ending the killing in Darfur.

2) Buy a pair of ruby slippers. Just to feel like you're over the rainbow. (I promise to stop obsessing over The Wizard of Oz after this week). Get them here or here.

3) Get ready to celebrate International Dress Up Day.

4) Plan a dream vacation and promise yourself you will go on it evenutally.

5) Participate in the Free People travel-themed craft swap.

6) Bake cupcakes! Or buy them, if you are a disaster in the kitchen. (You can never do this too often.)

Enjoy!

Oh, and if you are doing the Free People swap, I just have to say that I started making my swap piece and it is fantastic (Modesty is not my thing), so hope that you get me as a swapping partner!

Capture the Rainbow (in Your Hair)

Well, is this not the most awesome hairstyle you have ever seen? Isn't it? I love it!!! It's the closest you can get to representing a rainbow without dying your hair a whole bunch of unnatural colors. I found this image in the Little Miss Sunshine editorial in Teen Vogue and let out shrieks of delight that made my brother jump. I now strongly regret the 2 inch length of my pixie cut that will keep me from rocking this. You, however, may be more lucky. Make pigtails with multiple colored hairbands, pin the ends to the back of your head, and whooosh...instant rainbow-osity! Sweet, man.

Oh, and I strongly suggest checking out the rest of the pictures from the editorial. They are so fantastically colorful that I almost want to eat them.

Clothing and Memories

Ughh. This has been the worst week for blogging ever. Seriously. First my computer broke, then I spent a day in bed with an excruciating headache, and then the power went out. Well, I'm here now so here's the first post in a while.

One of the many things that I love about clothes is their power to evoke memories. You might be reminded of an amazing party by your little black dress, or that time you had to walk 20 blocks with your feet in pain by those killer yellow heels. A t-shirt that says "I'm tight like spandex" (and yes, I have actually seen this shirt) may remind you of rowing on the high school crew team. A poofy pink dress worn by some unfortunate little flower girl might remind you of Glinda from The Wizard of Oz. And so on. What spurred this rant about clothing and memories, you might ask? Well, take a look at the picture below.



I was scrolling happily through the Urban Outfitters website when I came across a Betsey Johnson Martini Bow dress. Immediately I thought of a very similar dress, worn by Julia Roberts in the movie Mystic Pizza. You see?

What's so fun about finding an article of clothing worn in a movie is that you can play dress up all day long and no one else will be the wiser. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy that Betsey Johnson dress, because it is both expensive and unattractive (in my humble opinion), but if your taste says go for it, then by all means do whatever floats your boat. Personally, I have been planning to buy a pair of sparkly red shoes (the ruby slippers, people!) and a girly blue dress and spend the day dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. And yes, I am kind of obsessed with that movie.

Health by Chocolate

Okay, I know this post isn't clearly fashion-related, but think of it this way...a healthy body always makes clothes look better.

Did you know that there is chocolate specifically designed for better health? I know it sounds too good to be true, at least for avid chocolate-lovers like myself, but it is true! Health by Chocolate is the name of this delectable treat, and I am in love. The three types of chocolate bar are: Woman's Wonder Bar (with chaste tree berry, flax, soy, and rose oil to take sweet revenge on the symptoms of PMS and menopause), Instant Bliss Beauty Bar (with antioxidants for beautiful skin), and Beautiful Bones Bar (with calcium and vitamins D and K to support healthy bones.) I have tried the Beautiful Bones Bar, and it was rich, orange-flavored chocolate. Yumm.

Here are a few FAQ's I took from the HBC website:

I always thought chocolate was bad for me. Are you saying that I could actually get health benefits from eating chocolate?Yes! Chocolate contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are bioflavonoids that are some of the most powerful antioxidants in the world. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a measurement for antioxidant activity in food. Of all the healthy fruits and vegetables the USDA has tested, the highest ORAC values were found in prunes (not exactly everyone's favorite snack). But chocolate's ORAC value is more than two times higher! (5,770 ORAC per 100gr. for prunes versus a whopping 13,120 ORAC per 100 grams for chocolate.) Dark chocolate has the same amount of flavonoids as red wine and four times the polyphenols of green tea.

What happens if I go on a health by chocolate binge and eat more than one bar?You’ll be in a very good mood. Chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine, which is the same brain chemical released when we experience the euphoric feeling of being in love.

Will eating health by chocolate make me fat?Chocolate doesn’t make you fat. overeating does. Drinking sugar-laden soft drinks and eating animal fat can contribute to obesity. But you might find that health by chocolate helps you maintain a healthy weight. Why? Because it quenches your desire for sweets. Dark chocolate is loaded with minerals and antioxidants and has just enough healthy fat and sugar to make it a delicious snack. Enjoyed in moderation, up to 2oz per day of chocolate can be part of a healthy diet. So, when you satisfy your cravings with health by chocolate, you may actually wind up eating less and thus maintaining a healthier weight.

Isn't chocolate bad for my heart?Contrary to popular myth, chocolate is good for your heart! Cocoa butter is a heart-healthy fat that does not raise cholesterol levels. In addition, it contains oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that actually raises the good HDL levels of fat in the blood. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that eating cocoa can reduce the blood’s platelet activity. This means eating health by chocolate might actually "thin the blood"like aspirin does. The antioxidants in cocoa can also help improve immune function and reduce the inflammation of blood vessels.

But aren't all fats unhealthy?On the contrary, cocoa butter contains a rich assortment of healthy fats: 35%--Stearic Acid (which does not raise cholesterol levels) 35%--Oleic Acid (which may actually raise the levels of good HDL fats in the blood) 25%--Palmitic Acid 3%--Linoleic Acid. A fat-free diet leaves us hungry and with dry skin. Healthy fat is crucial to the feeling of satiety, to healthy skin and to the proper functioning of all our body's cells.

I have also learned that chocolate (all chocolate, not just HBC) releases sugar slowly. So that's good.

Happy chocolate eating! To order or find more information, go to http://www.healthbychocolate.com/index.htm.

A self reminder

http://www.zu-zu-b.com/index.php is a good Asian fashion shopping site, as is http://www.yesstyle.com.

Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Lulu's Fashion Lounge is an online boutique of sorts that I have known about for a long time. I have to admit that I was never really all that impressed with the merchandise they had to offer. Well, folks, the tides have changed. I visited the site today for the first time in months, and, lo and behold, there was a fantastic selection of shoes and accessories. I wasn't thrilled with the clothing choices, but the shoes and accessories were dead on, especially the shoes. Not only are most of them extremely cute, but they also have a huge under-$50 section. Can you say score?Still, there were two pairs of shoes that stood out, shoes that unfortunately lie outside of my price range. Look how pretty:


Oh. My. God. I am in love with these boots. They are such a rich, unusual (for boots) blue and I really like the unique touch that the little metal studs add. I'm a size 8US, hint, hint...Pretty please with a cherry on top...


I remember coveting these flats (or maybe very similar ones) at Urban Outfitters. So unique and fun! I love them maybe a little too much.

Anyways, those are the lust-worthy, out-of-budget items of the day. So sadly, I didn't buy them. I did unpocket the cash for a pair of plain red flats (just those junky Mary Janes you can buy in any Chinatown, but I'm a sucker for any shoes with a $6.00 price tag), a cute strawberry printed headband with a bow, and the bag that is shown below. Sweet, isn't it? I think I will be very happy with my purchases, even if those blue boots and white flats aren't among them.

Two Very Different Dresses

Below are two very different dresses that I'm digging right now.


The first thing I thought when I saw this Forever 21 dress was Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. I can totally see her out on the town in this dress and some killer heels. This spring I'm all about feeling fabulous and funky and colorful, and nothing says that more than taking wardrobe inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw.


I know what you're thinking...I just went on about how I was loving color right now, and now I'm coveting an American Apparel dress that can only be described as dark and simple. But you leave out one key thing...accessories. I think that this dress would be so fun (and comfy as hell) with bright shoes and big plastic jewelry.

Happy dress shopping!

Prom Done Right

Well, it's finally that time of year again. You know, that time where drunken high school kids parade around in stilettos and poofy dresses and attempt to dance. That's right...it's prom time. I, sadly, will not be able to attend my own prom. It's not so much the dancing and fancy dinner that I'll miss, but the act of shopping for the perfect prom outfit and getting all dolled up. To curb my desire to go on a massive prom shopping trip for no reason, I decided to do some 'fake' online shopping...that is, I put together prom looks without actually buying the stuff. Genius, I know. I'm not a fan of 'typical' prom wear, with the Cinderellas fluffiness and all, so my idea of the perfect prom look is designed to turn heads. I aim for bold, playful, cheap, and unique. Is it possible, you ask? Why yes, yes indeed.


This is exactly what I would wear to prom if I was going. I find it perfect.
Dress: Ebay (I refuse to mention the shop because I have a strong desire to buy it and hope that I find something to wear it to eventually)
Leggings: American Apparel (I know a lot of people hate these, but I think they can look smashing when worn correctly)
Shoes: Gojane.com
Bag: Asiajam.com


This one's definately more of a head-turner. I love the clashing patterns. If you're really into standing out, I would reccomend adding a black pillbox hat with a veil to the ensemble. Tres chic!
Dress: Asiajam.com
Leggings: Target
Boots: Gojane.com
Clutch: Macy's

Oh, le sigh...

Yet Another Online Magazine

When I first heard of the newly-launched Clutch magazine, I knew I needed to check it out. I was surprised to find a few very distinct differences between Clutch and online magazines that I was already familliar with, such as Neet. First of all, the format is completely different. Clutch is less like a magazine and more like a blog separated into several categories, like Fashion, Beauty, etc. Also, Clutch definitely contains simillar content to magazines such asLucky and Cosmo...it doesn't seem to have the penchant for small independent businesses and cheap stuff that Neet has. This isn't necessarily bad, just different. The only truly unique thing about Clutch (that I have noticed so far) is a monthly listing of featured blogs. This is great, because I'm always on the lookout for new blogs to read. I wasn't very impressed with the Fashion section of Clutch, because it contained 'trend-alerts' that other bloggers have been posting about for months - metallics, neon colors, etc. Still, the beauty section was fairly good, and I would definitely reccomend checking in once a month to see if there are any articles that interest you in the newest issue. Hey, it's free, what've you got to lose?

Dress up, Leave a false name, Be legendary

I cannot even begin to express my love for iCiNG. It is truly wonderful, and my only regret is that I didn't find it sooner. The blog, which covers everything from how to adjust to a new city to finding the right haircut to throwing a kick-ass tea party, is written by Her Funkiness Gala Darling and had quickly worked its way up to the first blog I check when I go onto the computer. It has the same effect (at least for little young me) as having a chat/getting advice from your friend's infinitely cooler older sister, except that you can read it any time you want. Hooray!