Holiday Gifts Under $50

I love shopping, whether for me or for someone else, as long as it's for something fun. I think gifts are one of the most delightful things to shop for, because the sole purpose of the shopping trip (or online spree) is to bring someone else joy. How warm 'n fuzzy is that?! Anyway, here are some cheap gifts that are sure to delight almost anyone on your list:

♥ Right now I'm totally thrilled with the idea of picking out some glorious fashion pictures from Foto Decadent, saving them to my computer, and then ordering prints of them through a photo service like Photo Bucket. Super cheap, but anyone interested in fashion would love to receive some prints to tack up on their wall. Non-fashionistas would probably appreciate prints from other websites. Also, ordering some prints from DeviantArt might be fun if you're looking for a different kind of art. There are so many artists selling prints there.

♥ Everyone, girl or guy, needs a good winter cardigan. I think a men's cardigan looks great on both sexes, and no one can deny the coziness. How about this Urban Outfitters one? Classic and warm. I've been debating buying it for myself...

♥ How beautiful are these Teaposy Blooming Teas? Tea in the winter is a sensible gift, but these are so much more fun and exotic than a normal (and dare I say boring) tea. Mmm.

♥ An Andy Warhol wristwatch? YES! Who wouldn't want good old Andy strapped to their wrist?

♥ I'm a sucker for a soft, warm bathrobe. There's nothing better at the end of a cold day. I like this American Eagle one because it's covered in cute little stars.

♥ Of course, DIY gifts are also so nice to receive. I really like the necklace the Gossip Girl stylist talks about on the Week 5 G.G. style video. It would make a nice gift for someone who likes statement necklaces. It will take a visit to the hardware store for chains, as well as the craft store for beads, but it should be fairly cheap and easy to make. I might make myself one!

That's the end of the gift ideas for now, but I might do another post as the holiday season gets closer.

Tuxedo Chic

Tuxedo-inspired looks have been catching my eye lately, especially this look from the latest Teen Vogue. I really like how it's fun and femenine, but almost completely made up of menswear. It's very chic, and I think you could wear it anywhere. The only change I would make is to wear opaque tights underneath to keep from freezing or displaying the buttockal area (yes, I made up that word).

Here is my cheaper version of the look:

A. Lux Blazer, $32.80 Forever 21
B. Solid Black Men's Bowtie (to wear in hair), $7.95 Amazon.com
C. Peter Pan Collared Shirt, $26.50 Delia*s
D. White Wingtip Shoe, $34.00 Delia*s
E. Pleated Satin Evening Bag, $20.25 Macy's

That outfit is looking pretty good to me. In fact, I want it! I'm a sucker for anything contrasting men's and women's wear. Sigh...

For more fashionable tuxedo-inspired looks, check out this fun "Lady tux" look book.

Nina Garcia: World Conquerer

Nina Garcia is taking over the world!

Well, sort of.

We all know her from the masthead of Elle. Then came her ongoing stint as judge on Project Runway. And then her book, The Little Black Book of Style, which fashionistas everywhere are raving about.

And now? Nina Garcia is coming to a computer screen near you! She will be answering reader questions on Fab Sugar and guest blogging on Fashionista! Hooray! I already snatched my chance to ask her a question on Fab Sugar, and I can't wait to hear what her answer is. Whatever people say about her, Nina Garcia is fabulous and fashion-savy. So bring it on, Nina!

Abaete for Payless Vintage Holiday '07 Collection

I'm kind of enamoured of the most recent shoes from Abaete's Payless collection.

I especially love the crinkly ones:

I'm sure that, like all the other designer diffusion Payless lines, the shoes looks cheap in person. However, I'm lusting after the pumps and just might have to check them out.

I like the description of the line, too. "Laura Poretzky’s limited edition Abaeté for Payless Vintage Holiday 07 Collection honors the glitz and glam of ’50s American film."

Voxpop

The Fashion-y Blog is currently featured on Voxpop.tv's Best in Blog II.

Please visit voxpop.com and click on fashion, then Best in Blog to play the game and vote for me!
Kisses!

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Having just finished reading Dante's Inferno, I can safely say that this post will condemn me to the third circle of Hell. At least in Dante's opinion. Yes, I am a glutton when it comes to accessories.

1. Darla Chain Pendant Necklace, $9.99 The Fusion Boutique

I've been into more chunky jewelry lately, and this is both chunky and cheap enough to appeal to me.

2. Black Moto Ankle Boots, $39.99 The Fusion Boutique

Oh, I so want these! I love the stripes of patent leather! I've been wishing for ankle boots, and I like that these are much more unique than most of the ankle boots I've come across. My shoe size is 7.5, hint hint!

3. NOCOLLECTION Suede Fringe Purse, $34.99 La Redoute

Fringe just started appealing to me for the first time since Pocahontas ceased to be my favorite movie. This cute little bag comes in lots of colors to match all your outfits, and studs keep it from looking too much like it belongs in a wigwam. Remember to use the code LRMONDAY today for 20% off your first item and 40% off your third!

4. Green Belted Croc Handbag, $42.00 Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Croc skin, even faux croc, has always seemed hideous to me. But this bag is such a pretty color that I can't help coveting it! Love it.

5. Peacock Feather Earrings, $14.00 Fred Flare

To be honest, I added these earrings to this post because I thought they would look nice with the rest of the accessories. I do like long colorful earring, though. They are totally flattering to my (and anyone's) cheekbones.

6. The Gallery Cocktail Ring, $12.95 Karma Loop

Did you know that when you sign up for the Karma Loop newsletter they email you a $10 gift code? Well they do. I just recieved my gift code, and I think I might be spending it on this ring. My only issue is that I don't know my ring size! Would someone explain to me how to figure it out?

Well, those are my current desired accessories. What have you been coveting lately?

Delia*s Look Book

Delia*s just released an online holiday look book. The general idea is cute, but most of the styling is overdone or just plain bad. In my own opinion, of course. However, I really like the above two looks. My outfits are often made up of two contrasting looks, and I think these Delia*s outfits pull it off very well. The first look shows how to balance the menswear-inspired (the tweed dress) with the ultra-femenine (the ruffled shirt). The second look shows how to mix the girly (the floaty dress) with the tough (the jacket). Perfect! Well, almost...

Also, I'm really liking the black gloves and gold shoes. I may need to buy them.

Desert Storm & Legging Love

Just when I thought I'd gotten over lame leggings (pretend there's an accent over the e), I came accross the editorial Desert Storm on Iconique. Featuring lots of gleaming leggings paired with sky-high platforms, the editorial makes me fall in love with lame leggings all over again.

The above outfit is my favorite, because I love the futuristic take on classic Chanel, as well as the model's fierce karate-chop pose. Plus, I can totally picture this outfit being rocked by Gala Darling. Oh Gala, it would look amazing on you!

Prada Socks Lookalikes

If you love the notorious two-tone Prada socks but have been unable to get your hands on some, then you're in luck. These Chic Appeal Toeless Two-tone socks, available in a variety of colors, bear a striking resemblance to the Prada socks. At $60.99 a pair, they're waaay to expensive for me to bother, but I thought I'd give a heads-up to those who are willing to drop a bit more cash on socks.

Christian Lacroix for Avon

The news about Cynthia Rowley for Avon was all over the blogosphere. So why is it that Christian Lacroix for Avon has been so under-publicized? I was just browsing the Avon website when I came across Lacroix's new Avon perfume, Rouge:

The perfume is a pretty good deal at only $32. Supposedly the scent is "a burst of citrus and spices" with "a floral heart wrapped in the most sensual cashmere woods." Mmm, sounds lovely, no? Customers gave it rave reviews, using words like "classy," "rich," "sophisticated,""sensual," "romantic," and "fresh." I absolutely adore the bottle - it looks so glamorous and mysterious at the same time. And the name, Rouge, just enforces the mysterious glamour.

The icing on the cake is this Christian Lacroix Parfums for Avon cosmetic bag, which is free with every unit of perfume purchased:

I'll be adding this to my wish list!

Thanksgiving

I'm so psyched for Thanksgiving tomorrow! I often forget to think about the actual point of the holiday (giving thanks) because I'm busy concentrating on all that amazing food. Not this year, though. This year I'm stepping it up. I'm going to concentrate on being thankful for my body, because I think it's a healthy thing to do. C'mon - give thanks with me!

Let's show our bodies how thankful we are for them. They may not be perfect in every way, but they're keeping us alive, right? They help us to run and think and eat cupcakes. They help us to go shopping and party all night. And regardless of imperfections, they somehow manage to make that perfect dress look might hot. So how do we show our thanks to our bodies? By making them even more healthy and beautiful, of course! Let's get started! Here are some ways to thank your body:

♥ Olive oil is amazing. Rubbing it on your face (or the rest of your body, for that matter), letting it sit for a moment, and then washing it off makes for amazing results. I have started to treat my face regularly with olive oil, and it has made my skin clear, soft, and glowy. Also, it somehow caused my pores to shrink! It's a little counter-intuitive to rub oil on your skin, especially if your skin is already oily, but I'm telling you- it works! If you could use some exfoliation, mix a bit of sugar into the oil before you use it.

♥ Take flax seed oil pills 2-3 times a day. You can pick them up at health food stores or supermarkets like Whole Foods, and believe me, your body will consider itself thanked. The Omega-3 contained in the pills is amazingly good for you. Also, the pills do wonders for dry winter skin. Last winter, my eyes and skin were tight and itchy. I asked my (hollistic) doctor about it, and he suggested that I take flax seed oil pills. Within three days, my skin and eyes were back to normal.

♥ Glamour.com is running some great health and beauty programs. There is a 30-Day Makeover program full of healthy tips for learning to "look and feel great in just one month." There's also Body by Glamour, which generates customized workouts and eating plans. I haven't tested it, but it might be worth a try.

♥ Recognize your favorite features and learn to dress them.

♥ Lip exercises for firmer, plumper lips? Hmm....

♥ Learn about the vitamins your skin craves.

♥ Meditate.

♥ Give yourself a manicure.

♥ Learn and practice EFT.

♥ Learn how to accept your "flaws."

Of course all this is too much to do all at once, and of course exercise and good eating habits are the best way to boost your health/beauty. But bring on Thanksgiving - I'm ready to give thanks!

Also, remember: "Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful" - Sophia Loren

Excitement

Marimekko for H&M?! Woohoo!!!

That is one designer collaboration I will be lined up for.

Vogue Cover Archives

Having just stumbled across the archive of old Vogue covers, I couldn't be happier. Each magnificent cover is accompanied by an excerpt or blurb that gives us an idea of what was new in fashion at the time.

For example:

December, 1916

"Featuring advertisements from Mappin & Webb and Waterman's fountain pens ('Send it to Daddy – so that he can write long letters to Mummy'), this issue announces that the prevailing trend is one of green: 'The time, the place, or the fabric makes no difference; the Parisienne's day is not complete unless she wears the colour of spring.'"

July, 1926

"Masculine influence tends to be farther and farther removed from the mode. The large quantity of silks employed make for a softer, more feminised mode."

April, 1940

"The Vogue woman is instructed on how to handle welcoming back her husband home for leave from the war: 'He likes to spend some evenings quietly at home; comfortable chairs; easy, idle talk. You in a dress with a sweeping feminine skirt and gentle colours: Worth's dinner dress – the skirt in linen, plaided blue, pink and magenta; the bodice in lilac angora discreetly banded with amethyst stones and sequins.'"

December, 1970

"With Zandra Rhodes' feather print satin dress on the cover, the issue features tunics, smocks and kaftans filling the fashion pages as Africa is the inspiration for the prints and colours of the season. Vogue celebrates the opening of Yves Saint Laurent's boutique for men in London, Revlon advertises the best in false eyelashes, from Basic to SuperSweeper with 12 choices in between, and Eric Clapton is hailed as 'god of guitar – and now of voice?'"

November, 1994

"Linda Evangelista appears in Givenchy on the cover, while Christina Ricci (Mermaid), Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone) and Elijah Wood are hailed as Hollywood's hottest child stars, Plum Sykes attempts to persuade fashionistas to embrace the new neons in place of safe neutrals, and gardening makes the style grade. Yves Saint Laurent himself appears in an exclusive interview in which he refers to himself as the third most famous person in the world – after the Pope (and he can't recall who came second)."

There are plenty more covers to be gaped at in the Vogue Cover Archives - go take a peek!

Also, another exciting development is that I just found Vogue Art on Demand, where you can purchase prints of Vogue fashion photography and cover shots. I think I'll add a few of those prints to my holiday wish list!

A Hint of Prep

With a nation-wide addiction to Gossip Girl starting up, as well as a general admiration for Balenciaga's Fall collection, it seems that preparatory chic has been everywhere. Blazers, high-heeled oxfords, plaid miniskirts, cardigans, and collared shirts have been popping up all over. Girls everywhere seem to be cashing into the prep craze.

I have not. Yet.

I like a lot of the individual preppy pieces, but together, they're a bit much for me. I don't want to look like a librarian or a private school girl. However, I think that adding just one preppy piece to an outfit can be a fantastic way to embrace the trend without looking like you split your time between the library and the tennis court.

20's - inspired & Ladylike with a Hint of Prep:

Hat, $9.99 Kmart
Blazer, $26.50 Wet Seal
Skirt, $56.03 ASOS
Bag, $45 Patricia Field

The hat and the skirt are very '20s, and (I think) very chic. The bag is unquestionably ladylike, but the Barbie symbol keeps it fresh. And the blazer is very much like the Balenciaga one (and the similar J.Crew one) that has been all over, only it costs about a million times less. This look would be amazing with dark purple tights and gloves.

Cute 'n Tough with a Hint of Prep:

Top, $19.99 Erin Fetherston for Target
Skirt, $34.50 Delia*s
Hat, $7.80 Forever 21
Boots, $150 Urban Outfitters

The plaid skirt is definitely preppy. The shirt is a bit, but not so much, and I think the hat is so basic and cute that it adds a snowbunny-ness to the outfit. And the boots, of course, add some needed edge.

I'm too lazy to make any more outfits, but I keep picturing how fantastic the plaid skirt would look with a faux fur coat and bow headband (a la Gossip Girl). Also, the blazer from the first outfit would be smashing with a sequined skirt or dress, no? I like how versatile preppy pieces can be, and I am in love with the fact that they can tone down anything flashy.

Bring on the preppiness!

And read Gala's article (my inspiration for this post) for more info on putting together a prep-chic look!

In Honor of Thanksgiving...

Because Thanksgiving is soon, I'd like to take a moment to say thank you for cute boys in bow-ties.

I don't usually post about men's fashion because, frankly, I'm not all that knowledgeable about it. However, this outfit is perfection. Love the bow-tie, the mix of patterns, the chain, and the beret. The elements of the outfit don't quite seem like they'd work together, but somehow they do. The wearer calls his look, "Oliver Twisted" and goes on to say that he tends to do "a schoolboy-orphan look, with a maybe a touch of Hermes." Yum! Of course, it doesn't hurt that he is kinda gorgeous! (Seriously, look at those pouty lips!)

Anyway, boys take note! Don't be afraid to mix patterns, wear tough chains with dandy bow-ties, and top things off with a chic hat. Casual with a sense of humor is the way to go!

A Challenge Entry & The Little Black Book of Style

Here's a late entry for the Blogging Society Challenge to enjoy over the weekend:

Aldina:



"I bought a soft cotton shirt, crisp white color, and the biggest one I could find so I could have room for scissor mistakes. I even looked specifically for one with a breast pocket. I laid it on the floor with a form-fitting pencil dress over it, and cut out the form of the hips and waist. I cut the sleeves off to elbow length so I could have room for mind-changing and mistakes (those go hand in hand for me :)). I knew I wanted to keep the dress feel of the shirt - dressy, crisp, business-like, and masculine, but I also wanted to show my flirty & girly style so I went with a nautical theme. I chose dark blue pinstripe soft cotton material to accent the dress with, and I first added it to the hem of the dress, that way I can actually wear it in public :). I kept the "swoosh" circular hem, like what it was on the actual shirt. Then I added to the sleeves, I kind of added a mock-fold to them, but I really wanted it to be wide so it balances out the wideband at the hem. I contemplated what to do next, but I finally the pinstripe fabric to the collar, and played around with the fabric belt I had, whether to use it as a belt, a tie, or a handkerchief in the breast pocket. It worked out just right as a tie, with red stockings,and blue wedge shoes. The dress was done in 4 hours, the first week of the challenge, and it was all sewn, no glue, pins, etc."

Good work, Aldina! What a fantastically cute outfit!

I recieved The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia in the mail today (thanks ShopDiary!), and I must say I absolutely adore it. It is written in a casual conversational tone (not unlike the tone used by the more down-to-Earth-yet-fabulous fashion bloggers), and it's full of solid advice. This book isn't for fashion disasters or the fashionably clueless, but rather for the stylish woman looking to refine her closet and gain a better sense of self. With beautiful illustrations by Ruben Toledo, advice from designers and fashion insiders, and lots of fashion history (Nina Garcia really knows her stuff!) to accompany the general body of the book, The Little Black Book of Style is truly a must-read!

I'm not sure if I'm legally allowed to do this, but here's an excerpt from the book on men's button-down shirts that I think is a perfect supplement to this Challenge post. If I get yelled at/threatened I'll take it down...

"A classic men's white shirt:
The classic white shirt is as key to American style as blue jeans. It is chic and simple. Practical and unpretentious. It can be paired with jeans (Jackie O. in Hyannis), black pants (Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction), a long skirt (Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday), a gown (Sharon Stone on the red carpet). It is also uncredibly useful to cover up a bad outfit when entering a good hotel (Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman).

The test of time:
Nobody knows who the first woman to throw on the man's shirt was, but she is the kind of woman I'd like to meet. You know she understood the appeal of effortlessness and a complete lack of pretension. As early as the 1920s, during the birth of the garconne look, women were photographed in men's shirts. In the 1950s, Audrey Hepburn liked to wear a man's shirt and tie the tails twice around her tiny waist. In 1977, Diane Keaton's eponymous character in Annie Hall wore the shirt, several sizes too large - and incited a craze. And in 1998, Sharon Stone stepped onto the red carpet in a lavender Vera Wang skirt and her husband's white shirt, tied back with a dragonfly pin. Don't say you weren't impressed. The white shirt has endured decade after decade. Any time a cool girl or a designer throws a man's white shirt into the mix, we are reminded of the power that comes with that crisp simplicity. And is there anything quite so sensual as seeing a woman in a man's white shirt?"

Some Beauty Reviews

Believe it or not, it's time for some makeup reviews! Ta-dah! I don't wear much makeup, but I've accumulated a few new items, so I figured I'd let you know what I thought of them. On a strictly non-expert basis, might I add.

Okay, first up is Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in Organza Pink:

I picked up this gloss at Bloomingdales during Teen Vogue's Fashion U because I was trying to find something to spend my $20 Bloomies gift card on. I'm not much of a lip gloss girl, so I didn't expect to like this. I usually wear tinted lip balms in matte or slightly shimmery red or berry shades. I skeptically picked out this gloss at the sales assistant's suggestion, but I was sure I would hate the shimmery pink, glossy shade. I was wrong. It's very subtle, fresh, and flattering. It's not sticky or goopy like some glosses are, and it has just the right amount of shine. Plus, it's in such a pretty container! Love it!

Okay, now for some mascara reviews. I am so not a mascara girl, just to warn you. I have been blessed with naturally long, dark, and curly lashes, so I've never before bothered with mascara. However, when I recieved Maybelline XXL Curl Power Volume + Length Microfiber Mascara in my Teen Vogue's Fashion U goody bag, I finally had a chance to try out mascara.

I am not a fan of this mascara. I'm aware that I did a really bad job applying it, but it made my eyelashes what Cher from Clueless would have called a total "Monet."

From far away, they looked okay, dark and super-long (long enough to touch my eyebrows):

Up close, on the other hand, you could tell that the mascara came out goopy and lumpy, and that it clumped on my lashes and made them stiff:

I recieved a second mascara in a gift sent to me from Coutorture and Sephora. This mascara was Sephora Volume Mascara. Unlike the Maybelline mascara, I liked this a lot. It made my lashes darker and more noticeable, but not wildly so. It came out smoothly, was easy to apply, and didn't clump or stiffen my lashes:

Aaah, much better! I liked this one a lot, although it might not be worth using for me, since my lashes don't look all that different from usual when covered in subtle mascara.

Lastly, I wanted to review Tommy Girl 10 perfume, even though it's not technically makeup, because I recieved it in my Teen Vogue goody bag and liked it very much:

To me it smells very clean and fresh. It's not too strong or too weak, and it seems very down-to-earth. I think it's one of those scents that would be hard to hate. I'm not so good at picking out specific notes or anything, but The Scented Salamander did a wonderful review.

Fuzzy Friends?

Her Fabulousness Gala Darling did a post about the style in Gossip Girl, a hideously trashy show that I'm shamefully glued to on Wednesday nights. It's true - however trashy the show is, no one can deny that it is one stylish hour of TV. I love pretty much all the outfits on the show, but I was strangely drawn to the above outfits worn by Isabel and Kati. Why? Well, I dig the shades and the plaid jackets, but mostly I'm shocked by the fact that I like their purses.

Before seeing the purses styled on the show, I would never in a million years have considered such a bag acceptable on anyone over the age of six. But I can't help but find them a fun addition to Isabel and Kati's outfits. I know, I know. I am in an ugly purse-admiring stage, what with these and the Cousin It Bag. I'm ashamed, seriously.

Would you wear a doggie bag?



On a slightly related note, anyone who wears these boots deserves to be shot, no questions asked:



I challenge the Gossip Girl stylists to make me eat my words. But I warn you; it won't be easy. Uggs are bad enough without adding bits of decapitated stuffed animals to them. End of story.

P.S. Is is so wrong that the idea of having a purse I can actually give a name to is so tempting? Think of all the benefits of a doggie purse: You can use it as a pillow, comfort small children with it, and distract vicious dogs with it. Plus, if you're nervous about something, you can bring your fuzzy friend along for moral support. You are probably convinced by now that I need proffessional help and some serious fashion advice, but at least the purse would be useful...

Fashion Book Craze

My Amazon.com wish list started out small. Then it grew. And grew. And grew. Gradually I added novels, then the sequels to those novels. And then I discovered fashion books, and I added those too.

Needless to say, my wish list is pretty damn long by now.

I purchase a few of my desired novels every now and then, but most of the coveted fashion books are just too expensive to splurge on.

Today the existence of the library finally occurred to me. I logged on to the library network, and - lo and behold - the fashion books are available at various nearby libraries! Woohoo! It seems like a fairly obvious solution, but I've sort of avoided the library since I realized at about age 7 that I preferred to own books so I could read them over and over again.

Anyway, I plan to hit the library in the near future and then spend hours holed up in my room, pouring over tomes like In Vogue: the illustrated history of the world's most famous fashion magazine and 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. If I really wanna go crazy, I might pick up a sewing book or two and try to teach myself how to sew a bit better than my current pathetic sewing state. I'm totally psyched.

Speaking of fashion books, I won Nina Garcia's The Little Black Book of Style from ShopDiary (Eee!), so as soon as it arrives in the mail, I'll be posting a review!

A Fashion Sin

What on Earth is wrong with me?


I've just met Cousin It in bag form. And I actually like it.

Wait! Before you leave my blog in disgust at my bad taste, let me redeem myself.


Isn't it pretty?! A cozy, winter, Grey Gardens-esque scarf. Mmm.

What I'd Wear If I Were Going To...

...the future:

1. Dress, $19.99 Urban Outfitters
2. Glitter tights, $5.99 Cutesy Girl
3. Metallic hobo, $21.00 Buckle
4. Booties, $84.99 Dr. Jay's

...a fairytale:


1. Silk Chiffon Dress, $123.27 ASOS
2. Mary Jane Pump, $89.99 Infinity Shoes (yes, I realize I wrote #3 instead of #2, but I'm too lazy to fix it)
3. Tiara, $17.99 Girlprops
4. Velvet Jacket, $36.99 Go Jane

Blogging Society Challenge Entries - Post 4

Welcome to the final post of the Blogging Society Challenge! Woohoo!

I think the Challenge has been pretty successful, don't you? I wish more of the people who had signed up actually participated (I recieved about 30 sign-ups, and only 9 entries), but I'm really happy that anyone even deemed my eccentric little idea worth signing up for. It has been wonderful seeing what everyone has come up with!

What do you guys think about how the Challenge has gone? Did you like participating? If you didn't participate, did you enjoy seeing the entries? Would you be interested in doing another, different Challenge at some point in the future? Any feedback is welcome!

And now, without further ado, I give you the final entries from the Blogging Society Challenge. Applause, please. They are quite fabulous.

The Grey:



"I'm being exceptionally lazy about everything and I blame dark depressing November nights by the way, but on a sudden whim I cut up some paper and put together this collage, based on the outfit I was going to create."

Lalaliu:







"I basically bought these two large white men's button down shirts at the thrift store today for 85 cents a piece.I spent a good deal of my afternoon in front of my mirror rearranging the two shirts in different combinations to make a dress. It's a little unfinished, a few safety pins in certain areas would make it a little more wearable..haha (dresses falling apart would not be a good thing)."

That's all, folks. I'm glad to end the Challenge with two such amazing entries!

The first Blogging Society Challenge is now officially over.

Cheap, Fabulous Winter Hats

As the days get colder and frost creeps across the window pane, I shiver and huddle close to the computer for warmth, studying glorious winter hats.

1. The right person could so pull this off, don't you think? I'm hoping it shows up on Facehunter or The Sartorialist, because with the right look, it would be fantastic. (Note: the hat is in the Dandy Dolls collection at Twelve by Twelve, but the website isn't working correctly)

2. I'm into fedoras right now, although I have yet to buy one, and I think this might be the prettiest one I've found so far. That deep, rich green is soft and glorious, and the bow is the perfect finishing touch.

3. Can you believe this is from Kmart? It looks exactly like a hat I tried on at H&M! The roaring '20s are showing up everywhere as of late, and this hat would be the perfect way to incorporate the trend into your winter wardrobe. Plus, it's only $5.99!

4. Another trend that I've seen everywhere this winter is grunge revival. I have to admit that I am a fan of plaid, at least when it's worn in a non-preppy way. This hat would make me feel a bit like a hunter (which is not good, in my book), but I also think it's awful cute.

I'm liking hats right now! Have you found any hats lately that make you want to dance?

Hello, grasshoppers!

I'm thrilled and bewildered over the fact that the number of readers subscribing to my feed has jumped from 12 to 55 in less than two days. So if you are a new subscriber, thanks dearie!

Anyway, I'm a little curious about this new development. No complaints, of course, but I haven't noticed any new links lately, or even a huge rise in the number of hits. So why the sudden feed-subscribing madness? If anyone knows, please tell me!

Thanks♥

Blogging Society Challenge Entries - Post 3

Can you guess what today is? The day before the deadline for the Blogging Society Challenge! So if you haven't sent me your entry, get a move on, people!

I finally got my entry together. Sorry it took me so long! Here it is:

I ended up with a totally different kind of outfit than I expected. I'm not usually a plain black-and-white kinda gal. But when I created the skirt, it suddenly became clear that simple and chic was the way to go. I feel very classy and elegant in this outfit.

To make the skirt, I put the shirt on my bottom half and turned it around. I tucked the collar under, wrapped the sleeves around, and tied them together in the front. It was surprisingly easy, and way more wearable than I thought. I'm thrilled! You can find a close-up of the skirt here.

For the curious, the t-shirt is H&M, the tights are from Marshall's, the shoes are from DSW, the bag is from Kohl's, the earrings are from a county fair, and the shirt/skirt is my dad's.

Now for some other fantastic entries:

Kimberly:

"Here are my blogging society challenge photos. No one was around totake a full length picture of me, so I hope these are okay. I pinned an oversized mens shirt back with one of my favorite pins and I paired it with a high waisted black miniskirt. I also popped the collar and rolled up the sleeves for added drama. Because it is cold in Boston I am wearing tights and boots, although you can't really tell from the pictures."

Bigglassesgirl:

"I chose to layer two mens shirts, cuff the sleeves, and belt them to create a kind-of doctor's aesthetic, and paired that with some slouchy boots and dark jeans."

Well, that's it for now! I'm hoping for some last-minute entries, but overall, I think the Challenge has gone very well. I love your outfits, everyone! Thanks for participating!