Fiction about Fashion

First of all, sorry for the lack of posts, though this one will probably be the last until the end of April, after exams. I thought I'd post something a little different this time: some books where fashion is one of the key or underlying themes (well, maybe not themes, but basically, they're always talking about who's wearing what).

Pretty Little Liars
...started off as books! Yes, they did, and just as much as style is commented on in the show, so too with the books. Spencer Hastings was the preppy one, Hanna Marin was the girly girl, Emily Fields was the athlete, and Aria Montgomery was a mix of vintage / eclectic. Clearly they reinforced this with the show, putting Spencer in pleated skirts and plaid, Hanna in floral dresses and floaty tops, Emily in jeans and t-shirts, and Aria in leather jackets and feather earrings.

The Clique Series
Please do not groan. I know the series is corny and totally not realistic, but Lisi Harrison wrapped up the series with a really good lesson. I actually wanted to know what would have happened if there was another book! This series is about a group of spoiled seventh graders who take a new girl under their wing who doesn't care about fashion at all, just about making friends. The girls wear all the big labels like Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Juicy Couture, Ron Herman...the list goes on. They always need to have the latest trends and go shopping at least once a week. This series made me more aware of the biggest fashion designers and labels.

How to be Popular
This has got to be one of my all-time favourite books, though fashion is really only mentioned at the beginning, where social outcast Steph Landry wants to turn things around in her junior year of high school. The rest of the book describes her rise to the top (well, I guess you could say that); and contrary to what you may think, she does this solely by being nice and outgoing to everyone (even though they have tortured her for years).

Kiss & Blog, Art Geeks and Prom Queens
Two books by Alyson Noel that I absolutely love, plot-wise and fashion-wise. Kiss & Blog is about two girls deciding that this year (sophomore year) will be their time to shine. They've spent the summer reading fashion magazines, learning how to put on makeup, and buying new clothes. Unfortunately, Winter is not as willing to be fake and phony to get in with the popular crowd as her friend Sloane, who ditches her as soon as she makes it on the cheer-leading squad. Unlike Sloane, Winter has a more artsy fashion sense and prefers leather jackets, studs, tunics, and leggings to the pastel colours of the popular crowd. I only liked Art Geeks and Prom Queens because of the fashion at the beginning; the rest was along the lines of drinking, partying, and boyfriend drama, but it did have a good ending. The story line is similar to that of Kiss & Blog, except it's the new girl trying to fit in.

Frenemies
Another corny book about two best friends entering seventh grade (I know what you're thinking- "Maria, why on earth do you read tween novels?"). This book is all about fashion. The two girls take on writing an online fashion column for their school's paper. They have really good taste in fashion, and lots of advice on what to wear (and what not to wear). But the story takes a turn as the girls' tastes in clothes start to veer apart. Apparently there's a sequel, but I haven't read it (yet).

On another note, I finally made a Polyvore account! See my creations at http://mariathefashionista.polyvore.com/.

Stay stylish this month, as I won't be around to update you on doing so!

Spring Ahead!

I've been back creating sets on Polyvore, so you know what that means...

This look combines the pastel trend with something I've been meaning to try- denim shirts. They look very comfortable and laid-back, but still stylish tucked into fitted skinny jeans. Paired with some gold jewellery, cute ballet flats, and your favourite sunglasses, this look is casual-chic. 

 For this look I came across a picture of Jessica Simpson and I really liked her outfit so I recreated it here. Again, it's another casual-chic outfit- a loose top tucked into jean shorts will keep you cool on those hot summer days (okay, it's not summer yet, but it's always good to dream...). A brown belt and sandals add a bohemian edge to this look.

You can tell what trend I had in mind when creating this set. Pastels come back every spring, and it's no surprise why. Banish the black, grey, and other dark colours that you lived in all winter and replace them with pastel pinks, purples, greens, blues, and yellows for a look that screams spring!

I touched on these colours in my last post, and since then they have gained popularity in the fashion world. Referred to as 'water colours,' these shades of turquoise, aqua, cobalt blue, and lilac not only go perfectly together, but also have an exotic feel to them, as if you just took a trip to the Caribbean. Make a splash in your wardrobe this spring break even if you're staying at home!

Spring Trends 2012

The post you've all been waiting for (well, I have in any case)...

One year ago, I started this blog as an assignment for my grade 12 writer's craft course, and I really enjoyed making posts about fashion (and beauty) so I continued it and here I am a year later with nearly 30 posts and almost 400 page views! Thank you so much to my subscribers and anyone else who happens to stumble across  my blog on a random Google search! I have many ideas for my blog so hopefully this year will be as exciting as the last! And now on to the latest trends for spring!

Floral
I am not surprised that floral print is back for another year. Who doesn't love wearing a small floral print to be girly or a bright colourful one to be bold? It is definitely my favourite trend of all time. Here are some ideas to build a garden...in your closet.

Lace

Also back again this year are the sweet and girly lace edges and necklines in tops, skirts, and dresses. A variation of this trend are eyelets, sort of like a hole punch pattern, but cuter, and also crochet, which is like lace, but with more detail. As well, this year lace comes in all different colours, not just white! Notice that the top pictured above combines floral and lace! So cute!!!

Bright Pants

This trend is hard to miss. Skinny jeans and jeggings are available in every colour of the rainbow this year, paired either with neutral  or brightly coloured tops to create fun outfits that you can literally see from a mile away.  Here are some outfit ideas from DailyLook. Notice that this trend can carry on into the middle of summer with brightly coloured shorts. I don't have too many ideas for this one, but you can check out American Eagle, Garage, and Aeropostale for more looks with bright jeans and shorts. 

Wild Prints
If you're headed to the jungle, you'll blend right in with animal prints, tribal patterns, and earth tones.  Silhouettes include shirt dresses, wrap skirts, cargo pants, and cross-body bags.

The Colour Palette and Accessories

Colours that are in this season include water colours such as turquoise, aqua, indigo, and sea green; bright colours especially in the red-orange area (think tangerine, a deep orange), and, of course, pastels such as light pink, mint green, soft yellow, and sky blue. 

These colours will be seen mainly in jewellery and other accessories, as well as makeup (especially pastel nail polish, which I absolutely love). Set the trend with dangling earrings, tangerine coloured lipstick, pastel nail polish, or stacks of multicoloured bracelets. 

Enjoy looking fabulous this spring!

Photo Credits

AEO Floral Scarf, $19.43, http://www.ae.com

Daisy Dolman Top, $12.25, http://www.aeropostale.com

AE Floral Corset Dress, $39.36,  http://www.ae.com

Floral Boatneck Tee with lace inserts, $24.90, http://www.garage.ca

Cooperative Mixed Media Bag, $39.99, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Solid Eyelet Woven Dress, $20.00, http://www.aeropostale.com

AE Lace Panel Tee, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

AE Paneled Lace Tee, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

Belted Eyelet Skirt, $22.25, http://www.aeropostale.com 

AE Crochet Detail Top, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

See http://www.dailylook.com for the three looks with bright bottoms. 

Geometric Contrast Dress, $17.90, http://canada.forever21.com

Sparkle and Fade Roll-Tab Shirtdress, $59.00, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Truly Madly Deeply Slouchy Printed Tunic in brown and black & white, $34.00, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

AE Artisan Dolman Sweater, $39.93, http://www.ae.com

AEO Suede Fringe Cross-body bag, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolour, drugstores and http://www.maybelline.ca 

Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Plush Silk eyeshadow, drugstores and http://www.maybelline.ca

Sun Medallion Earrings, $6.80, http://canada.forever21.com

AEO Beaded Turquoise and Pink bracelets, $15.48 each, http://www.ae.com  

A Plethora of Fashion News

First of all, sorry for the four week hiatus...assignments, studying, midterms all piled up (but they are done for now!). Though during the times when I should have been studying, I was thinking about my next blog post... I have discovered so much about fashion in the past month that I have no idea how to contain my excitement all in one post!!! My take on spring trends will be coming towards the end of this week (even though there's still snow out there), which will also mark my one year anniversary on Blogger!

Websites I have discovered

DailyLook-http://www.dailylook.com/?showhome=true
Clearly I've been missing out on this awesome, awesome website for some time. Basically, there is a different look posted every day (bet you got that much from the name), and the items go on sale for three days for DailyLook members. The easiest part is that you can sign up through Facebook, which allows you to comment on the look, upload photos of your recreations of the looks, and comment on other member's photos. Also, once you sign up (which I haven't...yes, I know I just said it was the easiest thing in the world), you will get personalized looks based on the outfits or articles of clothing that you've liked. Sounds like fun, right?

Modcloth- http://www.modcloth.com/
I've also been missing out on this one. Modcloth is an online store that sells indie, retro, and vintage clothing with a modern update. The main feature of this website is their collection of cute dresses. (There is a separate link dedicated to floral print dresses- need I say more?) They also sell home decor and offer style tips in their blog. Do the designers Betsey Johnson, BB Dakota, Jeffrey Campbell, and Kensie Girl sound familiar? Browse their styles here too!

Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/
You can find absolutely anything on Etsy, from clothes to jewellery, home furnishings, artwork, toys, patterns, cards...the list goes on. The unique part about it: everything is handmade! If you don't know where to start, my friend Amy makes and sells patterns for the cutest crocheted toys called Amigurumis! http://www.etsy.com/shop/amysgurumis?ref=seller_info

Magazine Comparison

The other thing I want to talk about is actually pretty recent. This past week I received both March issues for Seventeen and Fashion. This was the first issue of Fashion that I got and I was so excited to read something new and...Canadian! This magazine differs so much from Seventeen because it is aimed at adult readers, not teens. The trends are shown straight from the runway, which means high fashion comes with a high price. There are no "outfit ideas" or "runway looks for less;" nope, you get the full designer price (with some pieces from H&M). What I do like about Fashion is that there are actual articles about the trends and fashion, not just pictures of clothes and where they are from. It was exciting to read not only about the trends, but the latest in art, movies, music, books, and TV. A special feature that I enjoyed in Seventeen this month introduced the newest members of the Seventeen Style Council- made up of fashion bloggers (just like me! I wish I was chosen, how much fun would that be?) who all have a unique sense of style. Are the trends the same in both magazines? Yes, yes they are, and you will hear more about them soon! For the record, I like Seventeen for the many outfit ideas, and Fashion for the articles that inspire me to write more blog posts! Browse both magazines online:
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/
http://www.seventeen.com/

Stay stylish!

Life is a Work of Art

I finally, finally (after a lot of searching) was able to locate a site to watch my new favourite show: Jane by Design. The show features a senior in high school named Jane Quimby (played by Erica Dasher) who, by mistake, lands a job at a fashion company as an executive assistant. So basically, everyone there thinks she's an adult. She has to juggle her school and work life in one, not to mention her emerging social life. She also has to make the right fashion choices.
This is the best TV show ever!!! It's exactly the kind of show I was hoping would come on TV: working in the fashion industry. Jane has an amazing sense of style, whether she's at school, her job, or a date.
Jane by Design aires Tuesdays at 8pm on ABC Family. If you're in Canada or any other country, however, here's the site that I watch it on:
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Jane-by-Design_29441/
Just click on the episode and a bunch of different sites will pop up- I recommend gorillavid.
Enjoy and stay stylish!

Turquoise and Purple Makeup Look

I haven't done a makeup look in a long time so I thought I'd share my other favourite look (besides the purple and gold one): purple and turquoise. I also originally saw this in a very old issue of Seventeen (I still have the page somewhere), but I switched it up a bit, mainly since I'm not a huge fan of bright green eyeshadow / liner.
I remember the first time I wore this look I had to match it with my outfit so I wore a turquoise polo with a grey cardigan that had a purple argyle pattern on the front. Nowadays I wear it to glam up an otherwise plain jeans and t-shirt. Anyways, enough of me rambling on; grab your makeup brushes and let's get started!

Products used:
Rimmel London Eyeshadow Quad in Romantic Cool
Loreal High Intensity Pigments Bright Eyeshadow Duo in Showy
Gosh Kohl Eyeliner in Black
Covergirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara (number 845)

1. With a small eyeshadow brush, apply the lilac shade in the Rimmel quad all over the eyelid. This eyeshadow, in contrast with the turquoise, isn't very pigmented, so you may need to pack it on.
2. Using a fluffy crease brush, apply the turquoise shade of the Loreal duo to the crease of your eye. Warning!!!! (okay, it's not that dramatic) When they say high intensity pigments, they mean it. Tap off most of the shadow before applying it (we're going for a subtle daytime look here).
3. Take a small angled brush and apply more of the turquoise shadow (again, tap it off first) to your lower lash line.
4. Line your upper lashes with black eyeliner (you can smudge it out a little if you want).
5. Curl your lashes and apply mascara.
6. Finish off the look by applying your favourite light pink lip gloss.

I couldn't find a good photo on the Web, (so I decided to post random photos of the products...) but I assure you, it looks good! If you try it, post a picture and let me know how it went!

 

Style Icons, TV Edition

Have you ever watched a TV show and thought "wow, I love her outfit!"...every single episode? I know I have, so today I'm giving you tips on how to "get the look" of Glee star Rachel Berry, Gossip Girl star Blair Waldorf, and Pretty Little Liars star Aria Montgomery.

Rachel Berry
In a nutshell, her style would be described as preppy and a little girly (sound familiar?) She wears dresses, skirts, cardigans, knee-high socks, vests; and prints such as argyle, polka dots, and floral.

Her classic look, shown here (right) features a pleated plaid skirt paired with a white blouse and a cardigan. The look is topped off with knee socks and flats. Below are some variations of her preppy look.                  

Rachel Berry also wears many dresses with fun prints such as polka dots and tiny flowers. Her  accessories complement this girly style- headbands, bows,  and simple jewellery.

Looking for these photos, I actually couldn't find one of her wearing jeans- just skirts and dresses! If you find one, let me know!

Blair Waldorf

Similar to Rachel Berry, Blair Waldorf has a very classic, preppy look. Her fashion staples are cardigans, belts, cute coats, and definitely hair accessories. Her hair accessories always add a girly touch to her outfits.

Blair Waldorf's outfits also sometimes have a pop of colour, such as a green coat or red tights.

 

I really like this outfit :)

Aria Montgomery

Perhaps the newest style icon on TV, Aria's style is a combination of girly and boho, with edgy accessories. I think her basic outfit would  include a printed dress, a leather jacket, black tights, and black boots.



She also goes for many vintage-inspired pieces and toughens up lace, ruffles, and shine with black or statement accessories.

Whose style do you like best? :)