Thursday, December 23, 2010

Harper's Bazaar Features 2010's Best Dressed




AnaMaria Wilson, Fashion News/Features Director for Harper's Bazaar, compiles the best dressed list each year for the magazine, and this year she is choosing the best dressed among trends such as muted metallics, the little black dress, reds, animal prints and bold color outfits.  Who will be Harper's Bazaar best dressed for 2010?  Among the contenders are the usual suspects:  Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloe Sevigny (Harper's Bazaar favorite), Tilda Swinton (gets my vote! Love her style and fashion ballsiness!), Kate Moss, Demi Moore and Cameron Diaz (Rachel Zoe clients).  Some of the new up-and-coming style icons are:  Carey Mulligan ("Wallstreet 2:  Money Never Sleeps") and Freida Pinto ("Slumdog Millionaire").  To me, all of this year's contenders for Best Dressed are wonderfully stylish, and all of them are worthy of being named HB's Best Dressed 2010.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Today's Cold, Wet Weather in Miami Reminds Me of Morrissey and The Smiths.

Here in Miami, today is a nice day to stay in and snuggle in bed with a good book, movie or magazine.  Too bad I have to study for finals.  At least I can do the stay indoors part.  As with my blog post yesterday, I am not handling the cold weather well this time around.  

I just got back from class, and as I prepare to study, I procrastinate by blogging away.  I've put together a little playlist to enjoy on a dank, gray day like today.  I hope someone, anyone is in the same mood as me, reminiscing of the awesome heyday of Morrissey and The Smiths.



"The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I get"  MORRISSEY

"The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"  THE SMITHS

"Suedehead"  MORRISSEY

"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"  THE SMITHS

"This Charming Man"  THE SMITHS

"A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours"  THE SMITHS

"I Don't Mind If You Forget Me"  MORRISSEY 

"The Queen Is Dead"  THE SMITHS

"Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before"  THE SMITHS

"Girlfriend In A Coma"  THE SMITHS

"The Last Of The Famous International Playboys"  MORRISSEY

"Ask"  THE SMITHS

"You're The One For Me, Fatty"  MORRISSEY

"Panic"  THE SMITHS

"Hairdresser on Fire"  MORRISSEY

"Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself"  MORRISSEY

"Shoplifters Of The World Unite"  THE SMITHS 

"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"  THE SMITHS

"Moon River"  MORISSEY

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, snore, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, nappy nap time.  I love you Morrissey and Johnny Marr and the rest of The Smiths gang.  I'm dreaming of drizzle, trench coats, Burberry, and gray trees with no leaves.  Snuggle snuggle under my down-filled comforter...
The Smiths:  Jeane 1983

It's Chilly In Miami And I Am Prompted To Buy Outerwear. To My Surprise, KMART Has Wonderful Outerwear.

It's in the 40's today, and I am not prepared.  I have jackets and blazers, but no coats or anoraks -- I cleared out my closet this Summer, and I regret getting rid of some Winter items.  Note so self:  next time, get rid of seasonal items during the same season !!!  Darnit !  I know, if you live up North, you are probably laughing right now as you read this, but 40 degrees is cold for us Floridians! I've been in Chicago before in the Winter when it was 10 to 20 degrees, and I tell you, 40 in Miami feels colder than 10 in Chicago!  Anyways, I usually enjoy the cold weather when we do get it in Miami, but I am not able to handle it as much this year.  Maybe as I get older, I am not able to tolerate it as much -- now I see why senior citizens flock to my part of the country.

I was surprised to find some great deals in outerwear with nice styling at Kmart.com.  Of course, I am on a tight budget, and since Miami is not known for its cold weather, I do not want to spend a lot of money on a coat.  It would be different if I were to visit my sister in NY this winter, but since I am not, I am looking for a low-end, low cost solution to this recent cold front.

I already know what The Gap has, since I work there, so that is a NO GO.  I checked out Old Navy yesterday and nothing long enough.  I checked out Banana Republic (which I can use my employee discount there) and nothing that stands out.  Then I remembered an ad for Kmart from the August and September issues of magazines that featured on-trend military inspired looks, and that is what I want right now -- a military-inspired long coat.  Low and behold, there is so much to choose from, and all under $100 (there is a 50% OFF Sale.)  Many have additional mark-downs too.  I am where I want to be, that is, Online at Kmart.com  (too cold for me to venture to the store today, and besides, I know there is going to be more of a selection Online than any Miami location.)

Online, Kmart offers everything from the military-inspired coat that I want to puffer jackets and coats, stream-lined simple coats, wool trench coats, pea coats, anoraks, etc.  Anything and everything that you  would want to look for for the Winter is at Kmart.com .

Below are some of the coats I liked.  There's lots to choose from, so browse away...

MILITARY INSPIRED:

Route 66 Women's Button Front Wool 

Military Coat

Attention Women's Zip Up Military Coat

Attention Women's Wool Military Coat














FUN:

Apostrophe Women's Hooded Short Peacoat

Covington Womens Leopard Print 

Faux Fur Jacket

Donatella Women's Quilted Down Jacket


ANORAKS:

White Rivet Women's Quilted Down 

Jacket with Faux-Fur Trimmed Hood

White Rivet Women's Down Jacket















BELTED:

Marvin Richards Women's Double Breasted 

Wool Coat with Belt

Attention Women's Herringbone Trench Coat




SIMPLE/MINIMALIST:

Apostrophe Women's Wool Coat with 

Oversized Collar

Attention Women's Asymmetrical 

Zipper Coat

Mystic Women's Double Breasted 

Wool Peacoat

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christian Siriano's Spring '11 Colletion for Payless is kRaZee Good

I've been keeping an eye on Christian Siriano's designer line for Payless for a few seasons now, since 2009.  I haven't bought anything yet, but I sure will when his Spring 2011 collection hits Payless stores.  It is outstanding!  It is from another world.  I'm so proud of Christian and how he's proven America and the world that he is Project Runway's SUPERSTAR!  His creativity and designs surpass many other upcoming and established designers.  His vision and creations are both futuristic and retrospective, but uniquely Christian Siriano.  Bravo Christian !!!

The shoes I am coveting coming out in the Spring are the two pictured below.  I will certainly be on the lookout and bee-lining to Payless as soon as they come out.  Come on Spring, hurry up and get here already! I just hope I can walk in them -- they look pretty high !

Christian Siriano for Payless, Spring 2011.
Christian Siriano for Payless, Spring 2011.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Christian Siriano Has a Jewelry Line !!!


 Hmnnnnnn.  This is very interesting.  Just as I am overly ecstatic over Jewelmint, I discover this other site that does the same thing, except it’s not just jewelry but all sorts of accessories.  It features Christian Siriano’s new jewelry line:  Christian Siriano Jewelry for Send the Trend.  Send the Trend works the same way as Jewelmint;  it’s like a book-of-the-month club, except it’s for accessories.  You only pay when you like the selection they have for you, based on a style quiz you take upon becoming a member.  Hmnnnnn, sound familiar???  It’s exactly like Jewelmint!  Except it’s not just jewelry but all sorts of accessories.  Déjà vu???  I KNOW ! 


I don’t know which came first, the chicken or the egg, or Jewelmint or Send the Trend, but I like.  I did not like anything in my “Gallery” upon joining (equivalent to Jewelmint’s “Showroom.”)  The Gallery is the page that features your monthly selections.  Just like Jewelmint, it’s as if a stylist has picked out items for you based on your style personality.  You set your style personality with your answers to the style quiz.  Although I did not like anything in my Gallery, I will definitely keep a lookout for what they have for me each month. 

I do love the site.  There is a lot of information on what the hottest trends are right now.   You can stay on top of trends by reading articles in the “Monthly Trend” tab or the Send the Trend Blog.  I think it will be a good source for what’s happening on the streets, style-wise.  I look forward to my monthly newsletters and my monthly selections.  I didn’t like anything today, but I’m sure there will be something for me in the future.

Christian Siriano's "Regal Estate" Collection for Send the Trend

Send the Trend features Christian Siriano Jewelry.  It is very unique, very Christian and very fierce.  I don’t know if it’s my style but we’ll see what his future collections have in store.  His Fall collection of jewelry for Send the Trend called Regal Estate is somewhat amorphous and alien-like.  It looks cool and nothing I’ve seen before, and as we saw on Project Runway of Christian’s work, very creative. 

I signed up to become a member for Send the Trend, but I will not get anything this month.  I love that you are not obligated to buy, but I will definitely read what Send the Trend has to say about what’s happening with trends.  Check them out, maybe it’s for you.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I am Officially Obsessed With Jewelmint !!!

O.K Got my first shipment from Jewelmint four days after I placed my first order, and I was soooooooo happy with what I saw and received.  It definitely looked more expensive than the $29.99 I paid for each piece, and it came beautifully packaged.  And here is the update I promised if you want to get more than one selection for the month, since each month you can choose your favorite for 1 credit, which is the $29.99 monthly fee you pay for if you like a selection (again, you pay NOTHING if you don't like anything from the selection they choose for you based on the answers to the style quiz you took.)  If you like more than one selection, you simply pay an additional $29.99 for each piece.  Simple as that.  When you do that, the following month, you get 0 credits, I guess that means you don't have to choose a piece, but like I mentioned previously, you are never obligated to choose a piece if you don't like what you see.  However, I predict it will be rare that you will not like anything, since the designs are so modern and unique.  I haven't seen these designs in stores or anything similar to it.  YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE THEM UP ON THEIR OFFER.  As for me, my first month, I ended up selecting four pieces AND I WANTED MORE, but I think I am a freakish case, since jewelry and accessories are my "obsession."

The bummer is that when the next month's selection comes around, the items you have in your "Showroom" (that's the page where they feature what pieces Jewelmint has selected for you) from the previous month disappears = (  That means if there were items you were thinking about getting also either are no longer available to you or you have to fish it out of their selections by clicking on the "show me more" button or the "Our Designs" quicklink.  I did both several times but were not able to retrieve pieces that were in my November Showroom.  I was very sad that December creeped up on me and I did not order all the items I wanted from my November selections.  I guess, in a way, it's a lesson in being greedy for me.  But how can I not be greedy?  Their jewelry pieces are so AMAZING !!!  I want more and more Jewelmint!  I think it's officially "my precious," and I am now the crazed Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Check out my two other precious selections from November.  I am rubbing my hands together as we speak, as I wait for its arrival via USPS.

Celestial Wreath Necklace


Deville Cuff