Fashion – Sometimes Yaya

Makeup Your Swimsuit

The day is upon us to hit the sandy shores of the beaches around us (or a flight away). Actually, if you’re more of a ‘glass half empty’ person, the days are dwindling, and we are wasting time at our computers (unless you’re the smarty pants reading on a gadget while sprawled out on a beach chair).

Various publications are clamoring for us to learn about which bathing suits are new and fresh, and which patterns are the hottest. The best part to it all is the advent of mixing and matching bathing suits. Originally, the concept was set forth to accommodate the different shapes of consumers (I mean really – who has a perfect combination of identical sized tops and bottoms?!), now it is perfect for renewing your swimwear the same way you would your closet (as is recommended for thrifty guys and gals).

I’ve seen people sport a solid complimentary top to their print bottom (or vice versa), and even less often have I seen two similarly colored patterned pieces together. At the end of the day, though I’m all for it, I can’t seem to muster up the guts to mix up my swimsuit. Celebs Audrina Patridge and Megan Fox have no fear when it comes to their suits. It just feels like I have on two different patterned socks in kindergarten and someone is laughing at me. Just me?

Do you mix and match?

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Milan Fashion Week – Colorful Males

Milan Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2012 is going full steam ahead, just as the first days of summer are registering on the calendars. The front rows for the shows seem to be more star studded than New York Fashion Week (and I’m surprised because it’s all the US people taking up the seats!).

The men’s shows are nothing new in the realms of structure and sewing techniques. If you ever doubt the dependable nature of a man, don’t doubt the menswear. From button downs to blazer, every tuck is in the right place for perfect draping. Once there, the standout becomes the styling and pairing of the outfit with (or without) accessories… and color!As you may have found out through several rants about the love of color, yours truly is a fan. Make it bright and it’s all right. But on men? I can dig a pink shirt or pastels, but when the fellas start encroaching on floral territory, or pairing on trend hues straight from the girly racks, my eyebrows head upwards. Designer Enrico Coveri‘s collection was decked out with the best of the best sun-kissed colors and (tastefully) bright pairings.I’m just not sure I’m sold on a guy in floral pants. The above paisley and graphic linear prints in vibrant colors (or the pairing of khaki and coral) are a great infusion of fashion into what is normally seen as drab navy and browns of the menswear, but florals? Verdict is still out.

Image credit: Zimbio

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Pixie Lott – Lipsy SS11 Collection

As I continue my quest to dominate my closet with colors brighter than the last, the photos of the new spring and summer Lipsy collection designed by Pixie Lott repeat in my head. The collection features a lot of whites, brights and floral patterns, making it known that the three trends are warm weather mainstays.

If you’re curious how the pairing came about, and what it took to create the collection, click over to Pixie‘s webisodes chronicling the events from start to launch here.

What’s your summer wardrobe looking like?

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Colors Mandatory in Resort 2012

Summer Fridays may be official starting today, but fashion is in overdrive as always. The Resort 2012 collections (yes 2012) are debuting some bright colors. It seems like across the board, clothing requirements are: lightweight airy fabrics and cuts, bright or pastel colors, hats and sunglasses. Makeup? Optional. A bright lip made a guest appearance here and there, but suffice it to say, a vacation requires little work.

Photo Credit: Style.com Graphics Courtesy of: MyOwnJudge.net

Which collections caught your eye?

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Fashion Bug Fall 2011 Preview

Recently I was invited to check out a preview of Fashion Bug‘s Fall Collection. Though I was admittedly barely familiar with the brand, I quickly started to formulate a shopping list in my head. The brand is very friendly to almost every single woman in the whole wide world. Fashion Bug‘s size range is from size six to size thirty. Yup. You heard me right. The younger audience counter part, Loop18 was launched for an overall teenage audience and there the sizes range from nine to twenty-seven. Fashion Bug has embraced that they are no longer a company for just the thirty and older market. Fashionistas no longer need an age assignment to the audience to find a deal and especially to find something original and cute. Lending their eyes and ears to what is trending, the Fashion Bug design team concocted their own prints for a fresh fall collection.My favorite part about learning more about the brand was hearing that most of the costume jewelry is no more than twenty to twenty five dollars. Several accessories caught my eye like this leopard print clutch and the mixed metal earrings. I am looking forward to August to find some of the accessories and tops that caught my eye at Fashion Bug. In the meantime, I will whet my palette with some of their spring and summer options.

Have you ever shopped at Fashion Bug?

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Christian Siriano for Spiegel

Something about the warm weather and the start of the month of May that puts everything into overdrive. The trees bloom practically overnight, events and parties accumulate in your in-box faster than you can open your e-mail, but your closet remains static.

Photo Credit: Spiegel Graphics Courtesy of: MyOwnJudge.net

For the sake of saving money, the advice is always to use affordable methods to spice up your clothing. But sometimes the only spice is a new item. Maybe it’s just me, but the warm weather brings out the shopaholic in me, yearning to check out every store’s display on a weekly basis as if to make sure I didn’t miss a thing (oh – too much sharing?).

If you have designer taste working with a student’s budget (sounds like me!), take advantage of all the partnerships going on between designers and mass market retailers like Target (Calypso St. Barth), Payless (Lela Rose, Isabel Toledo, Christian Siriano), and Spiegel. The latter partnered with Project Runway alum, Christian Siriano to create limited edition party dresses. These are great for dates, weddings, proms, you name it. And the price tag? It’s not so bad – just a little spicy.

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Move Your Body Brights

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I’ve been on a serious video game kick recently, getting all my cardio from various dance programs on game consoles (and don’t get me started on the sports games!). When I saw Beyonce’s new music video, I immediately hoped this would come to a Wii or Xbox near me pronto and then wondered why she doesn’t follow the way of MJ and have a “Beyonce: The Experience” game, she sure has enough songs to fill up one or two volumes.

Now aside from the cardio, the video is a perfect segue into spring and summer (if your thermometer hasn’t been showing you any love or you’ve been hiding indoors). The warmer weather always ushers in plenty white tees, shorts, and everything else as bright as a flower.

Check out some fun (and cheap – all under $25) bright picks to put some spring (and summer) in your step.

Forever 21, Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters

Tanks by Victoria’s Secret
Bracelets by Delia’s

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T-Shirts Talk To Me

Something about blogging mixing with school, sleep, and work that leaves it in the dust. I could say I’m sorry for the absence, but then I’d be lying (I’d rather be absent for a bit and get an A!). I am sorry I don’t have enough time to post as often as I’d like, but don’t be fooled into thinking I’m not drumming up some big stuff.

With midterms out of the way, I am starting to get back into the scheme of things. I am starting to plan some things ahead of time, so that when things pick up again for finals, I won’t be as desperately overwhelmed as I often am when so much comes at me so fast.

A good side effect of being so busy is being able to save money and refrain from shopping. Most of the time, I am heading to work before stores open and returning home from either work or school when everything is closing up. Coupled with the fact that I am getting older each year with less to show in my bank account, and saving starts to become a girl’s biggest goal. A spending spree is called for on occasion though (for example – I’ve worn through a bunch of jeans and need bottoms to walk around in!). I’ve been scouring the net for some worthy additions to my wardrobe and noticed that my thriftiness is keeping me from hitting ‘Checkout’ on nearly any website. One of the few to break through the barrier is the selection of graphic tees at Delia’s are super adorable and are quirky and clever. These aren’t simple tees with just a bold popular phrase in a font sized at a million points or so, these are witty jokes worthy of pajamas, brunch, or the gym.

Delia's, Delia's, Delia's, Delia's, Delia's

Tees by Delia’s

Any favorites?

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Blank and Yellow

More Express…

It’s Super Bowl time y’all. I meant to let this post go into the worldwide web hours ago, but I was consumed with pregame chit chatter, and then the first two quarters. Now as I enjoy the Black Eyed Peas rock the halftime – how cool are the light up costumes and aerial views of the formations of the dancers (though they could use louder mics, no?)! Still, I keep wondering if Wiz Khalifa’s Black And Yellow will be the serendipitous anthem, or if the rapper will issue a remix, substituting green as the new black.

Personally, I was rooting for NY to make it into the games today, but team blue and gang green fell short. Wompity womp!

Enough with the football though – break out your own yellow to celebrate the game on your own terms. It’s a cheerful color (talk about a sunny disposition!) to break you out of any gloomy weather that may land on your doorstep, and is also a good way to freshen your wardrobe from the wintry dreary colors. Mix it with gray or brown, as opposed to black to refresh your outfit choices. I picked some favorites for you to peruse from – and peruse away – they’re all under $50!

GUESS, Puma, Nine West, American Apparel, Delia's

Cardigans by Asos
Hobos by Nine West

If you’re not much of a football enthusiast, keep an eye out for the commercials. Super Bowl is advertising mecca and they surely pull out the big guns (though why they can’t be creative all year long is beyond me!). So far, my favorite is the Sealy commercial – check out some memorable commercials from the past on Fox.

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Nally and Millie – a Valentine Getup

Say what you will about Valentine’s Day; it’s commercialized, it’s based on a massacre, why can’t you show someone you love them everyday, yada, yada, yada. The redeeming qualities: chocolate (oh that’s not enough!?), and a perfectly good reason to dress up and go somewhere. If you’re anything like me, 2011 is a fresh year to save the most amount of money possible (I started walking to work and school thankyouverymuch!), a get out of jail free pass once in a blue moon is very welcome. Then there’s the second dilemma – where do you start and what do you do?!

1. Breathe.
2. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Check out Nally and Millie!

The brand has a collection perfect for any kind of fun you’re up to partake in for Valentine’s Day.

Look to the current trends appearing for Spring: ruffles, draping, pastel colors, medium length skirt (or even longer – knee length and a little bit longer is in right now).
Go easy on the colors, but not on your date. A mini dress with sleeves doesn’t reveal too much skin, but is just as appealing (if not more from all that intrigue). Look for a light fabric so that it will skim your body just right, and be able to move freely with you when you do.Choose a knee length (or even an inch or two lower) skirt to break out the Mad Men vixen out. Pull the skirt up a bit and cinch your waist with a wide belt if you feel like showing some leg. Mix up tough and soft pieces to let your attitude and personality speak for itself (metallic belts/jewelry work great with soft skirts/blouses).When all else fails and you just want to purr at your date, break out the LBD! A sheer panel on the shoulder is perfect for a hint of skin and cleavage, while keeping you warm and covered up. The dress doesn’t even need to be a super mini considering it’ll cling to you no matter how you want or don’t want it to.

If you’re celebrating in a cold climate, remember that a pair of opaque tights do wonders for warmth and contrast. Black is great to lengthen legs and suck in problem areas, and work best with patterned and colorful getups. If your actual dress is black though, find a different color pair of tights, or a sheer black with a pattern.

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More Topshop…

Or… if you’re eyeing a gal – you can surely get a dress or two for her to wear on the date 😉

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