I Spy: The Look for Less!

I absolutely love finding articles of clothing that look very similar to designer duds for a fraction of the price. No one should have to have a ton of money to look good and dress in style. Here's my fav find of the week:

Chanel - Black and White Fantasy Tweed Jacket (on the left)- "discounted" price on Rue La La $2,199.00

Express - Metallic Sweater Jacket (on the right) - $69.90

Loooooves it. I love Chanel's classic style, and this Express sweater jacket screams Chanel. I actually tried it on myself at Express and it's well made. There's a lot of detail on it, which makes the $69.90 price tag seem like a steal. I may have to buy it... :)

While I'm Chanel loving, I'd also like to show these amazing boots of theirs I also saw on Rue La La for $699. They are already sold out, which doesn't surprise me considering how cute they are!

On My Radar

I've been keeping my eyes keenly attuned to the trends this Fall. And I like what I've been seeing. Here are some things that I think are hot right now:

• Sheer tops - If done right, a black sheer top revealing a black bra underneath can be really sexy. Wearing a bright colored bra would be crossing the thin line into trashy territory though, so be sure to keep it as classy as possible. This top on the left from Urban Outfitters is my ideal pick.
  
  
• Nails with a little flair - You don't want anything too tacky, but it's acceptable to do a little experimenting with nail color. On InStyle.com, they suggested white nails with a grey shimmer color on the index finger.



• Fur - I'm sure Peta is just thrilled about this, but fur is really in this season. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I have to admit that there are some styles I like, one being the fur vest on the right from Express(as long as it's faux fur, right?). This may also be a style that is a little tricky for some to pull off. The problem with furry fur is that it may make you look like you're larger than you actually are, and obviously no girl wants that.
  
• Lace - Sexy. Enough said.
  
• Over-the-Knee Boots - If done right, you won't look like a hooker. I wouldn't suggest wearing 4" over-the-knee boots with a tight, scandalous skirt or dress because chances are you will be cat-called. I think the boots with no heel or about 2" heels could dress up a pair of jeans and cute top.
  
• Grey and Olive - These two colors are very popular this season. Olive is also one of those colors that happens to look good on almost everyone.


• Sequins - Skirts, shirts, tank tops, sweaters and scarves, sequins are appearing on all articles of clothing this Fall. I like it because it can dress up something that would ordinarily look a little bland. Here is a skirt from J.Crew that I really like. I would be able to wear it to work or for a night out in the city.

• Plaid - Yup, it's still in! I'm surprised about this too. Can't say I'm too disappointed though. It's comfy and it makes me feel like I can fit in the hipster crowd ;)
  

Fall Fall Fall, such a wonderful time of the year. I'm so excited to start layering up!

An Eulogy for the Color Black

Black. It's weird how this one color can be so versatile. Sleek and sexy, black is said to flatter the body. It has the power to transform a dumpling body into something curvaceous and slightly alluring--or at least the power to manipulate our self conscious into believing we look better and slimmer. Look at that, a color that can boost confidence.

I'd also like to point out all of the ironies of this one color. Black is worn to both funerals and weddings. If you didn't get it the first time around, an eulogy is "a speech or writing in praise of a deceased person or thing," but it can also simply mean "high praise or commendation." The two are at parallels in the way they seem so clear cut, but when you break them down you realize there's much more complexity to their meaning.

Black is the staple color in the Gothic culture. It represents darkness, mystery, seduction and tortured souls, which is why the group as a whole is often frowned upon by mainstream society. On the other hand, black is a chic and timeless color popular in the world of fashion. Every girl knows that one of the most essential articles of clothing one must own is a little black dress. It's a wonderment that something so simple can speak elegance and sophistry. When I don't feel like coordinating an outfit or if I can't find anything to wear, black is my go-to color. Even more, I feel like one can never have too much black in their wardrobe, partly due to the fact that it is the only color that is ALWAYS in-style, regardless of the season.

Black is classic. Nothing more to say. Even though it's a dark color, and dark is usually accompanied by a negative connotation, it still has widespread acceptability and holds a predominance over any other color in our lives (arguably even more so than white--after all, in terms of dress, an old tradition is that white shouldn't be worn after labor day while black doesn't have an expiration date).

Now then, what better way to end this post than with a poem by the master of beautifully dark poetry, Edgar Allan Poe:

A Dream

In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed
But a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! what is not a dream by day
To him whose eyes are cast
On things around him with a ray
Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream - that holy dream,
While all the world were chiding,
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro' storm and night,
So trembled from afar
What could there be more purely bright
In Truth's day-star?

Beau Monde Style for Glamorous Gossip Girl

I was having a serious fashiongasm while checking out InStyle.com the other day. I went through dozens upon dozens of Gossip Girl wardrobe photos from the "Get the Look" section. Out of all the characters, my style is most like Blair's--polished and put-together. I like Serena's wardrobe as well but it's not my personal style. She wears more provocative dresses, but hey, she has the body to pull it off, so I say go for it. Blair dresses a bit more conservatively but all of her outfits are still enviously cute and stylish. I think her sophisticated style carries an essence of respectability that may be attributed to Blair's capability to command a room with confidence.

After looking at the noted outfits from each of the seasons, I've decided that the third season was definitely not my favorite. I miss Blair's headbands! She loses the hair accessories as a sign of maturing and letting go of her "queen bee" ways as she enters college, but I think that the hairbands were an essential part of her outfits that really made them stand out. Most of the headbands Blair wears throughout the show are by hair accessory guru Jennifer Behr.

Although the character is only supposed to be in her late teens, she definitely dresses sophisticated with a little "Blair flair" as I'd like to call it. For example, another notable trend of Blair's is to wear tights under articles that one normally wouldn't, like tights with shorts or an orange pair of tights with a fancy dress seen in the picture on the left. The surprising thing is that she can actually pull it off.

Looking at all of the pictures of fabulous clothing made me ache to go shopping. InStyle is launching a new site theinstyleboutique.com in mid-August, so I'm curious to see what kind of goods will be offered. Also, season 4 of Gossip Girl will be starting this Fall on CW tv. Can't wait!

A Keen Eye for Quality

"Rather than rely on obvious logos, expensive products use more discreet markers, such as distinctive design or detailing. High-end consumers prefer markers of status that are not decipherable by the mainstream." - Teddy Wayne, The New York Times

Apparently for those who can distinguish the work of a well-known designer, apparel bearing the logo of that designer is not necessary in order for them to purchase it. On the contrary, those who have a trained eye for spotting designer wear tend to be more interested in the goods that have the details and sophistication of the designer without the logo that makes it apparent to others, according to an article I read on NYTimes online.

I can kind of relate to this information. For example, when I was fifteen and bought my first Coach purse (which was like a whole paycheck's worth after a month of lifeguarding ha) I made sure it was littered with the Coach "C's" so that all my friends would know I was rocking a designer purse. Now, after having developed a more sophisticated taste and being able to afford a little better than Coach, I have found that I look more for the design and material used rather than how conspicuous the brand logo is.

While this Coach purse above is cute, it's very mainstream. Sometimes being too identifiable and too easily attainable takes away from prestige of the product.

I think it's nice when people can appreciate something nice based on little details that usually go unnoticed by the general public. If you're buying something designer, you're going to pay a pretty penny for it no matter if it boldly displays the logo or not, so I agree that I'd rather base my purchase on the uniqueness of the product rather than trying to show off the fact that it's designer and that I have the money to afford it. It becomes another way of differentiating between those who know something about style and someone who simply has the money to afford it.

Logos aren't something that someone who knows anything about fashion needs to show off. Just take Ed Hardy for example. Hardy clothes are not cheap but, in my opinion, they are tacky as hell. Money can't buy someone style (unless they pay for a stylist). Wearing a designer logo doesn't make one stylish.

I absolutely love this Coach purse on the right. I think the color would be great for the Fall. I also like the fact that I haven't seen a hundred people on the street with it.