Mix Those NEUTRALS From Past Seasons With Spring/Summer 2012's TRENDS

Don't let those neutral clothing items from 2010 and 2011 go to waste.  Mix them up with new or old pastels, to give them an up-to-date look and keep it current with one of this season's hottest trends.  You probably have skirts and/or pants in cream, taupe, light gray or white.  Those would look great with pastels, especially when layered with simple silhouettes and color-blocked.  My favorite inspiration for this look is 
3.1 Phillip Lim.

Prints in florals, ikat, paisley and stripes would also work well with neutral clothing items from seasons' past.  Pair it with existing white bottoms and get a crisp, new look.  Pair those prints with solid neutrals to tone down the runway looks into doable street looks.  Also, with this season's Neon trend, nothing goes better with neon than beige or ecru.  It makes the 80's trend modern and very "now."

Don't let those neutral blazers hide in the back of your closet.  Bring them out and pair them with this season's trends.  Not only will it keep you warm from those breezy nights, it will also give your outfit a pulled-together look.

I'm all for donating and recycling, but before you give your threads away, see if you can pair it with your current buys and give it a new and current look.  Why don't you recycle it in your closet first before you give it the final goodbye ;-)


Visit STYLE.COM for more Spring 2012 looks.

Helmut Lang Does a Diffussion Line Simply Called HELMUT

If you are a minimalist gal, you will simply die over Helmut Lang's new diffusion line called HELMUT by Helmut Lang.  As you probably already know, diffusion lines offer the designer's aesthetic without the designer cost or less than the designer's usual cost.  

I am so excited over HELMUT because the line ranges from $85 - $210 !!!  There is no way I can afford the usual Helmut Lang price, unless I find it at Loehmann's or something.  

With this capsule collection of about 11 pieces ranging from leggings, T's, skirts and tank-tops, you and I can add a little Helmut in our wardrobes.  HELMUT comprises of basics in staple colors of black, white and gray, but there is nothing basic about these basics.  Each piece offered in the capsule collection has the usual Helmut Lang minimalist EDGE.  As the resurgence of minimalism in the past seasons, reminiscent of the 90's, a piece or two from this collection will surely bring your wardrobe up-to-date. 

This capsule collection has sizes petite, S, M, and L.  The fabric is mostly jersey.  Sizing should fit most, and the fabric is great for casual, everyday wear.

My favorite pieces are:

HELMUT Voltage Rib Cardigan  $140.

HELMUT Kinetic Jersey Skirt  $160.

HELMUT Skim Print Jersey Tank  $125.

 HELMUT Kinetic Jersey Pant  $140.

Wear a Sundress for Spring/Summer Just Like Sookie Stackhouse

Ah, the flowers are blooming, the sun peaks from the clouds, and the grass is green all around.  It's Springtime, and it's time to break out those sundresses, light cardigans and light cotton or silk scarves.  Nobody rocks this ultra-feminine look better than Sookie Stackhouse.  Ana Paquin brings this heroine to life and wonderfully portrays Sookie's combination of innocent goodness and undercover sexiness that neither Bill nor Eric can resist.  How does she do it?  The wardrobing for "True Blood" is so on-point for all the characters and even more so for Sookie.

Check out Sookie's style.  It's so flirty and charming.  No wonder Bill and Eric are just dying to say, "mine, mine, mine."

I can't wait for June 10th when Season 5 begins.  What will the wardrobe stylists put Sookie in?  Oh, I just can't wait !

Affordable Floral Jeans for Spring/Summer 2012

One of the hottest trends for this Spring and Summer is floral denim or slim pants.  A lot of the high-end or premium denim brands have a version of this trend from J Brand, Citizens of Humanity, etc.  Those brands are out of my price range.  I am dying to get my hands on some affordable floral denim!  Unfortunately, I am at my heaviest right now and currently wearing a size 16, 18 or 20 depending on the make and/or label of the clothing item.  In my search for some affordable floral denim, I have not found one that goes up to my size.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!  However, I did find some affordable ones that go up to size 12, so I will share those finds with y'all smaller than me that want to sport this trend.

Here is what I've found for you, all under $70:

 $39.50

dELiA*s:  Floral Print Skinny Jean

BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF

                  

$39.50

dELiA*s:  Floral Print Skinny Jean

BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF

$59.90

Z A R A:  Floral Print Trousers

$69.08

ASOS:  Skinny Jeans in Floral Print #4

Enjoy this fun trend.  Wear with a loose solid color-top, a white button-down shirt (to keep it simple,) or be adventurous and wear with a cool graphic T-shirt layered with a black blazer (this is how I would wear it, if I found one my size.)

It's probably best I did not find one my size, as prints are not that flattering for my plus-size stature.  Oh well...

The Pixie Haircut, Then & Now

I cut my hair short last January (2011) and ever since, I have been obsessed with the pixie cut.  I have a round face, so I always thought a short haircut wouldn't work on me.  However, I saw the light last January.  Inspired by Edie Sedgwick, I cut my hair short.  MYSELF.  Don't worry, I didn't go crazy or something -- I've been cutting my own hair for years.  I don't trust anyone with my hair, and the best thing is I save money!  Short hair requires a lot more trimming, and the last time someone else cut my hair, it cost me $100.  That is too much money to spend twice a month on a haircut (for me), and besides, I give myself a pretty darn good haircut.  Check out my post on my first short haircut.

The pixie haircut has been around for years, but lately, celebrities like Michelle Williams, Ginnifer Goodwin, Carey Mulligan and Emma Watson have been making the pixie haircut so HOT !  And that is just some the celebrities that have been sporting the refreshing short cut.  The celebrities I just mentioned have been sporting their short do since last year or earlier, but this year more celebs are shedding their long, layered locks for the pixie.

I can attest that the pixie cut is truly refreshing in the Spring and the sweltering Summer days.  Aside for trimming your hair every two to three weeks, it is a very low-maintenance style.  Of course there are many variations of the pixie cut, and some require more maintenance than others.

For Spring/Summer 2012, the pixie cut is a perfect complement to the fashion trends of neon colors, color-blocking, pastels, ethnic prints, and florals.  If you've been thinking about giving the pixie a try, here are some famous faces that have gone the pixie route, then and now.

THEN:

NOW: 

The following celebrities/public figures are ones that take the pixie to the next level.  They wear their short hair with 'tude and really own it.  In fact, I can't see them with any other hair length, other than short.  See if you agree.  I admire their boldness -- they really make their short hair part of their persona -- their signature, if you will...

FOREVER FIERCE:

Today's Style Icon -- KATE BOSWORTH

Kate Bosworth makes looking stylish seem so easy and effortless.  I love seeing her featured in fashion mags for her style -- she truly is a modern style icon.  How does she do it, you ask?  Well, she does have a stylist, Cher Coulter.  In fact, they continually collaborate for Jewelmint.com, a members-only Website for cool jewelry that Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter have designed that sort of works like book-of-the month club.

I love Kate's everyday style, as opposed to glitzy red-carpet events.  Everyday people like you and me can really relate to that.  We all can't wear expensive designer evening dresses, or go to fancy schmancey red-carpet events, but we all can be stylish headed out to the grocery store, the movies, to dinner, or whatever we do in our everyday lives.  Kate's look is usually simple, always pulled together, and even though she has access to so many cool jewelry pieces, and she does layer her jewelry, she NEVER looks overly accessorized.

Casual Kate: 

The look she often sports are her tan cowboy booties by Isabel Marant.  I love how she rocks those booties with practically everything from dresses, to shorts, to whatever, AND SHE MAKES IT WORK.  She has shown me that I too can rock the cowboy bootie with practically everything.  Well, almost everything.  I have suede cowboy booties in tan and navy blue -- they give my outfits pizazz and individuality.  Plus, they are super comfortable.  LOVES IT !!!
Kate In Those Cowboy Booties:

Here is a clip of Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter sharing some style tips with Hollywood.com.

Kate's style is elegant, cool, relaxed, fashion-forward, and oh so effortless.  She truly is a modern-day style icon, and her style is surely one to emulate.
Event Kate:  

The Hottest Pink Lipsticks for Spring/Summer 2012

 The trend for a bright lip still hasn't died out.  Since last Spring/Summer of 2011 I have been wearing the bright hot pink lip and the bright orangey red.  I have been using Covergirl Lip Perfection in Spellbound for the hot pink and Hot for the orangey red.  I love the bright lip look because it makes you look pulled-together without really trying.  As I have worn these two colors to death, and I am in dire need to acquire some new shades.  I have an abundance of red lipsticks, so my next buying spree is for more hot pink shades.

If you would like to try this look, check out my previous post of, Make-up Inspiration for Summer 2011: A BRIGHT LIP.

The following hot pink shades are ones I recommend.  

Covergirl Lip Perfection in SPELLBOUND

 As I mentioned, I've worn this lipstick out.  I still like it and is still a go-to color.  As the rest of the Lip Perfection line, it is highly pigmented and requires few applications.  It will even stay when you drink something or have a snack.  It is not advertised as a long-wearing lipstick, but it does last.  I recommended it to a colleague, and it even stained her lips the next day, so you won't have to worry about reapplying often.  Most of the shades from the Lip Perfection line are matte.  So, you may wonder if it is drying on the lips.  The answer is "No!"  It's kept my lips decently moisturized.  The best part is that IT IS CHEAP !!!  TARGET sells it the cheapest without a promo or coupon at $5.94, so I've linked the caption under the photo directly to TARGET.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in SEA FLEUR

I love L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipsticks.  I have this brand in several colors, especially shades of red.  It is very moisturizing and smooth to apply.  I love the pleasant scent too.  Again, I've linked this directly to TARGET as I have found it to be the least expensive there without any promos or coupons.  At $5.99, it's a bahhhhhhgain !!!  I bought this color about four or five years ago, so this has been around for a while.  I recently bought a tube this year again as I love the hot pink trend for lips.  It may be hard to find in-store, so I recommend you just buy it on-line.  SEA FLEUR  is a bright pink with a purplish, iridescent sheen worthy of a beautiful mermaid.

NARS semi-matte lipstick in SCHIAP

This is my next lipstick purchase!  I saw it on a girl the other day, and it looked fabooooolous!  I've never bought a NARS lipstick, so I cannot attest to it's awesomeness, but it's always mentioned in fashion magazines, so I trust it is fab.  It is described as "shocking pink" and that it is.  This is the color that has the beauty and fashion world abuzz.  It is $24 pretty much everywhere it is sold, so I linked it directly to the NARS site.  That way you can see all the shades NARS, by Francisco Nars, has to offer.

  CHANEL Matte Lip Color in 37 L Exubérante  

This one is for the the fashion divas out there that like high-end or only wear high-end make-up.  Chanel carries a very nice hot pink called 37 L Exubérante on their CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Color line.  It sells for $32.50.  I probably won't buy this one, since it is out of my price range, but I hope this helps someone out =D

I hope you try this lip-color trend and enjoy it.  If you are having a blah day, this may very well cure you of the blahs.

Today's Fashion Flashback -- NEON & "XANADU"

One of the Spring 2012 trends I am loving is the resurgence of Neon.  I've gotten quite a few neon pieces and I am looking for more.  Neon works well with last year's and this year's trend of color-blocking, which I love, love, love.

Coincidentally, I just watched the 80's cult classic movie, "Xanadu," at my best friend's place.  Her 3 1/2 year-old daughter is obsessed with the movie and soundtrack, which at the time I viewed it, was Sabine's eighth viewing.  I don't blame her.  That movie, although a flop at the time, has become a classic 80's flick that well represents the fashion and the trends of the time of neon, bright colors, loose and billowy clothing, vintage, and alternative retro-representation of previous decades.  The movie revolves around the opening of a fabulous roller skating rink which was a HUGE American past-time of the 80's.

The movie "Xanadu," featuring the glamorous and always beautiful Olivia Newton John, is a cornucopia of neon inspiration.  From the clothing/costuming, the visual effects, and movie sets, no other movie will inspire you to wear today's fashion flashback of neon.  Even the original 80's version of "Tron" doesn't compare.

Here is a little taste of the movie.

Here are some neon pieces to wear now from Asos.com

ASOS T-Shirt Dress with Zip Back

$62.67

ASOS Chino Pant in Neon Coral

$53.72

ASOS Skinny Jeans in Neon Pink #4

$57.30

Cambridge Satchel Company Exclusive to Asos 11" Green Fluro Cracked Leather Satchel

$179.05 

Loving the Dorothy Perkins Website -- Super Affordable and Right on Trend

To all my fellow fashionistas on a budget, you have got to check out DP Dorothy Perkins right now!  I mean literally right now.  No read my blog first, then check them out.  They are fashion-forward, right on trend with what's in fashion now, for the season, and in today's case Spring-time.  I live in Miami, so Spring doesn't really exist.  It's only April, and already, it's hot as balls in hell.  But enough about me and onto DP Dorothy Perkins.  

This company has actually been around quite a while, since 1909 under the name H. P. Newman.  It's a company located in the UK, which explains why I am finding about them only recently from another fashion blog I subscribe to.  For more about the company history, visit Dorothy Perkins.

Onto the fashion, they have everything!  I mean everything!  What I love the most is that they have sizes up to 18 (US sizing) in many styles.  Their sizing is mainly 2 to 16 (US,) but I'm happy with the 18 for select styles.  Good for any plus-size fashion monsters, like myself.  I'm between a 16 and 18 right now.  Sorry size 0 and 00 gals.  And besides, you skinny gals have Forever 21, which is AWESOME, for you.  Umn hmn...  Oh well, I can still buy their accessories.  I'm not hating on the skinny girls.

My picks from DP Dorothy Perkins for Spring are their dresses (which they have so many of,) swim suits, and their colored denim.  Check out this short video they did with Cosmo UK.

O.K.  Now go to http://us.dorothyperkins.com !!!