Review: Teen Vogue Haute Spot App

Greetings! How is everyone? I've been having a good break, but I absolutely can't wait to get back to school. Complacency doesn't sit so well after a semester spent buried in mounds of books and coursework. Anyway, since I've had all this free time, I finally got around to updating the software in my itouch, which means that I can download apps and the like. Hooray! As many of you know, I'm a big Teen Vogue fan, so immediately downloaded the Teen Vogue Haute Spot app. I thought I'd share my impressions with you after a few days fiddling around with it.

Let's start with the good : It's a fun app with a lot of potential. Well-designed, with a cheerful, friendly vibe that goes perfectly with my conception of the magazine. The two parts of the app I've been spending my time exploring are "The Closet" and "Community." "The Closet" is full of sets like "Tomboy Prep" or "Grunge Cool" that feature a range of different clothing and accessories. The "Community" section is broken up into "My Style," "Trends," "Inspiration," and "On the Street" - subsections that allow girls to post pictures of their style and what inspires them. It's a cool idea, one that has worked well online on sites like Weardrobe and even Teen Vogue but has yet to be available on an app - until now.

My problem is that the app, while full of potential to be great, just isn't. Yet.

In a Brandweek article, Teen Vogue publisher Laura McEwen described "The Closet" part of the app, saying, "It is as if you're walking into the store and closets of Teen Vogue." The article also stressed that while the content would be a blend of editorial and advertising, there would be a clear distinction made between the two. Er, not the case. I've been to the Teen Vogue offices, and I can assure you that the closets are packed with goodies. In the Haute Spot app, I was sorely disappointed by the quantity of the available "Closet" items. Four categories, each featuring between 20 and 30 items of clothing and accessories each sums it up. Sure, that's a lot of stuff to go through in person, but on an itouch you can scroll past them in a second. A swipe of the finger and you're done. I need more options to keep me interested. And as for the distinction between editorial picks and advertising, well, there isn't one. It may not be absolutely necessary, but I like to know these things, and the Brandweek article's information on that front was misleading.

As for the Community aspect of the app, the four subsections are unnecessary, because each one features the same kind of content. This may be more of a testament to the kind of girls who submit pictures to the app, but most of the content was directly lifted from The Closet or other girls' submissions, so the whole thing is kind of repetitive. The other featured pictures are not largely engrossing - a handful of those self-taken myspace-style "sexy" poses, several mainstream runway photos, and a variety of Gossip Girl stars, tame outfit photos, and some miscellaneous things. God this sounds negative. It's not supposed to be. The app is designed for teen girls with an interest in style, not 20-year-old fashion bloggers, and maybe that's why things turned out this way. But these girls - don't they deserve some exposure to something a bit further from the high school hallways? A bit of a lesson in creativity, just so they know what's out there? A chance to develop a more unique personal style? My point is this: with more available picks from the editors and a bit more spice from the community, this app could be a great tool for fashion inspiration and style sharing.

So here's your mission, brave readers. Get the app. It's free until January 22nd from the App Store and fairly entertaining, so you really have no reason not to. And for the love of God upload some fantastic pics to the "Community"; I have faith in you!

20 Years Old & Still Playing Dress-up

I'm twenty years old today. I guess I have to remove the "musings of a teenage fashion blogger" bit from my header.

The other day I was doing some last minute Hannukah shopping at Target when, lo and behold, the Rodarte collection was already on the racks! I didn't have much time and I was supposed to be shopping for other people, but I managed to snag a skirt. I think it's quite beautiful. Clearly lingerie-inspired, and the way the tulle hangs over it is raggedly floaty enough at the hem to give off that Rodarte vibe. A pleasant surprise!

I also tried on the coral-colored slip dress, which I thought was fantastically gorgeous, but alas it is meant for someone with a smaller chest. The lace-print dress was nice, just not very Rodarte-ish nor especially flattering in fit. The lace cardigan was pretty, if you can deal with the fact that it's scratchy. As for the stuff I didn't try on, I'm kicking myself for leaving behind the yellow skirt, the legwear was not present, and nothing else really did it for me. And that's my take on the whole thing. Still, I liked the collection a lot more than past designer collections for Target, and I really love my new skirt.

God, I can't believe I'm done being a teenager. It's about time.

Denim Jacket Revival

I've had a denim jacket for years, and I almost never wear it. Sometimes I get jacket envy when I see cool girls wearing denim jackets on street style blogs, which is totally irrational because I happen to have practically the same jacket these girls are wearing. What I really envy is the fact that, unlike me, they actually wear the jacket. I appear to lack this ability. When I see these girls wearing flannel and denim it looks great, but somehow, standing in front of the mirror in the morning, the pairing doesn't quite have the same flair. On me, it looks plain and easy. I'd rather wear flannel and my leather jacket if I'm going down that route, because at least leather has a bit more of an edge. So the jacket hangs from its hook (or, to be honest, lies crumpled on my floor somewhere) and is rarely taken out for a spin.

What I'm getting at here is that I think I need to make some changes to my denim jacket in order to actually wear it. My first idea on the subject was studs - I mean, you know I love me some studded denim - but that feels so done these days. I see that everywhere. Ditto chopping off the sleeves and making the jacket a vest. Ditto bleaching it. So what's to be done? I dipped into my inspiration folder and emerged victorious! Check out this lovely little jacket:

I believe the model is actually wearing a patched vest over a torn up jacket, but it's the combo that gets me. I love the ditzy florals and the way the rips temper the girliness factor. I think something similar could even be done with lace, although I really am partial to the floral prints.

However, if I lose my nerve when it comes to making such a feminine addition to my jacket, I think I could make a slightly punkier compromise.

Now don't get me wrong - the jacket is staying a jacket. I can't quite tell what is going on in this picture - it appears that either there is some kind of denim corset or the denim is actually cut into strips and attached to a blazer - but I'm not really concerned with the details. I like the ragged, contrasting strips of fabric and even the lopsided stars.

I've been home from school for about a week, and I'm getting fairly bored. I think it's about time for a new project. Denim jacket resuscitation time, perhaps?

Mixing It Up

Hi darlings!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. I have no real excuses, but I've been spending my time adjusting to the college lifestyle, pulling some good grades, making some good friends, and trying out slam poetry. You know how it is. Now that it's winter break, I'm determined to be a better blogger. So here goes.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to meet some other Boston-based fashion bloggers at a mixer run by PunkyStyle, New Brahmin, and Jen Loves Kev. We kicked off the event by mingling at Luna Boston, drooled over some handbags that will be for sale in the spring, did some shopping on Newbury Street, and gathered back at Luna to raffle off some fun items and mingle some more. It was a pretty good time.

Even the name tags were fashionable.

Everyone was really nice, not to mention super stylish. I immediately felt underdressed in my black dress and red flannel.

I did, however, manage to add to my outfit with a fringed jersey scarf I picked up at Lit Boutique. I got a bit tongue-tied when discussing my new purchase with Amy of Punky Style and managed to inform her that she was creepy (she isn't.) It was not one of my finer moments. Lesson learned: try to avoid minor freak-outs when meeting long-admired bloggers. I'm pretty sure I made quite a fool of myself in front of Kristina of Dreamecho as well...she had the absolute coolest creepers and pixelated leggings and draped dress, and when she made it clear she had read my blog I'm fairly certain I grinned and screeched like an idiot while staring intensely at her shoes. Not exactly the impression I was hoping for.

It was too cold to take pictures of my entire outfit when I thought of it, but I liked the look better with my coat on anyhow. I picked up the coat just the other day; it's Laundry by Shelli Seagull. I'm also wearing spiderweb tights by Betsey Johnson, Payless leather ankle boots, a studded purse from Kofuku Gift Shop in Harvard Square, a scarf from Lit Boutique, and an H&M flannel shirt. Not pictured: A black H&M dress.

It's good to be back. I'll keep you posted on all my fashion-related musings for the break if I can; I'm turning 20 on the 20th, so at the very least I'll let you know what I was able to grab from Rodarte for Target. Being completely excited for the Rodarte collection, I have already used my Birthday Girl sway to enlist a friend to brave the Christmas crowds with me in the early morning. I have my eye on a slip-inspired skirt, a certain dress, lacey cardigan, some cute legwear, and whatever else draws me in. Hopefully the clothes will be less disappointing than Anna Sui for Target; I've been hearing good things. Fingers crossed!

How Awesome

My Parents Were Awesome has awesome vintage photographs that showcase awesome style. Isn't that awesome?

What tickles me is that not one of these outfits would look out of place on the street nowadays. In fact, the one on the upper left looks totally modern to me. It's true what they say - fashion recycles. In case you didn't realize it or something.

I am busy with school, but happy. Thanks for your patience, loves!

SHOES

Ahem, how amazing were the shoes at McQueen?

PRETTY FREAKING AMAZING!

That is all.

In Which I Demonstrate That I Still Wear Clothes

Hi gang.

It's getting pretty freaking chilly out. My cold-weather uniform hasn't changed much from last fall. I wore this outfit to a comedy show at the campus coffee house. (Yes, I am the girl in the picture. I did not go to college and get a sex change.)

(Hat: Target. Flannel: Target men's. Faux leather jacket: H&M.)

The cool part of this photo is that I didn't tweak the lighting or coloring at all. My crappy phone camera just came through for once.

What has changed is that instead of wearing my motorcycle boots (don't worry, they're still a staple of my footwear collection), I wore these adorable suede All Stars purchased, as apparently most of my outfit was, from Target. I love them. So comfy, too.

Another part of the outfit that isn't visible in the picture is these great Rivet De Cru jeans that I was sent to review over the summer. I've been meaning to write about them for ages, 'cause they'd win hands-down in a coolness battle with all my other jeans. Seriously. I mean, they have black studs on them, a laid-back grey color, and a perfect fit. Well, now that I've had them hemmed at least. My legs aren't that long. Sheesh. I'm not Chanel Iman. Or Iman, for that matter. I'm pretty sure each of those models has legs the length of my entire body.

Eh? Eh? Check out them studs on the seam above the pockets. Ain't life grand?

Actually, ain't fashion grand? I mean, have you seen the results of this current Fashion Month? I knew something was up when I was staring at Style.com for hours, muttering phrases involving the words "stunning" and "want" over and over again.