Finally!

All I can say is, it has been a while! But this Fox has been very very busy! This past weekend was my last “greatest college weekend ever” Little 500, if you are not sure what it is, Google it. All my friends who graduated last year came into town and we had one incredible weekend. We bar hopped, reminisced, dressed crazy, and sang classic ‘90s tunes obnoxiously loud trying to get strangers to sing along while walking pretty much everywhere in Bloomington. Besides Little 5, I attended a “What’s Next?” seminar that discussed how to find a career after you graduate. It was very helpful and I learned some very valuable tips, like even if you don’t live in the city you are applying in, try and put an address in that city on your resume so it makes you look more accessible. For example, I am applying in the Palm Beach/Ft. Lauderdale area so my permanent address on my resume will be switched to my grandparent’s address, hope they don’t mind! I have also been getting all of my work done the past 3 weeks. I have had a bunch of papers due and tests, one right after the other.

But today I can finally relax because it was my last day of classes ever! I just have 1 final a week from Friday and then I am really done! What’s more exciting is next week, May 8th is graduation! I am so thrilled and feel very accomplished, but it really has not sunk in yet. I think when I put on that cap and gown and my family is in Bloomington then it will feel very real. My only dilemma is what am I going to wear under the cap and gown? I would like to wear a patterned dress and my new clog inspired Jeffrey Campbell wedges (those shoes are a whole other story) but I am afraid when I look back on my pictures I will look straight out of the 70s, but that kind of is the trend today. So I am somewhat on a hunt for a graduation dress that will go with the clogs but I am not going to look too hard, I do have some dresses I could wear. But it’s my college graduation I think that deserves a new dress!

Time For Change

So I haven't had time for a new post, don't worry there will be one eventually. Maybe this week? But I decided it was time for a new layout! Hope you fellow fashionistas like it!

Time Flies

Just realized I have not posted for a month! No worries my fellow fashionistas, a couple posts to come this week!

The Real Devil Wears Prada

After a busy day of class, errands, and meetings that started at 7:30 AM and ended at 9:00 PM I decided to relax by watching The September Issue. I have been waiting and waiting for this movie to come out and today it was finally released on DVD. The September Issue is about American Vogue and features its notorious head editor Anna Wintour. If the fashion industry was Indiana University Apparel Merchandising department Anna would be the director of the department (if you are reading this and you’re an apparel student at IU, you know exactly who I am talking about). She is the only opinion that matters and the most influential decision maker. Her choices not only affect the designer world, but they will also affect the mass market when the trends she picks to feature in the magazine trickle down into retailers like Target.

The September Issue provides a behind the scenes look at what goes into making one of issues of the magazine. They are creating the September issue, hence the title, which is the most important issue of the entire year. It is also the biggest and the September 2007 issue that they are working on had a record breaking 840 pages, which 727 were ads. Anna is of course the star of the film but it also shows Creative Director Grace Coddington who creates incredibly gorgeous pictures. I also loved how we got to see Anna’s more personal life and see some happy emotions from the usually firm editor.

After watching the documentary it made me want to work at Vogue. It is extremely stressful and sometimes heartbreaking. I don’t want to give too much away but my heart was cut in half when Grace fell in love with a picture for a 1920’s inspired spread but Anna immediately cut it out of the magazine. But I think if I worked there it would toughen me up and it would be the best learning experience I could possibly have. The September Issue is a must see for anyone remotely interested in the fashion industry. Maybe someday I will be walking down the halls of the Vogue offices freaking out if Anna Wintour is going to like the clothes I picked out for the run through of the Reese Witherspoon shoot - well, a fashionista can dream…

Spring Break Here We Come!

Spring break is almost here! 16 days – but not that I am counting or anything! I have had some very fun spring breaks, Las Vegas and a road trip from Baltimore to Boston to see a Britney Spears Concert. This year I am going back home to Sarasota, Florida and I am taking my friend Christine with me! We are going to have a really fun spring break. We are also going to take a short trip to Disney World thanks to the “Give a Day Get a Day” deal, where you volunteer in the community for a day and then get a free ticket! But mainly we plan on relaxing on the beach and frolicking around Sarasota. So we need to plan our outfits accordingly. I think we plan on throwing on some dresses, sandals, and of course a ton of accessories. Don’t forget the bikinis and sunscreen! I cannot wait! I just have to get through some tests and assignments and it will be here before you can say “mojito please!”

Nobody likes you when 23....What's my age again?

It has been a while since I posted and a lot has been going on! 2 weeks ago it was my birthday! The big 2-3! It was a blast! And this year my birthday was on a Friday so I could go all out! I had a very fun soiree at my house with amazing friends and great music. My new favorite song “Say aah” by Trey Songz and *NSYNC was on heavy rotation. I even made appetizers – spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms, apple and goat cheese Bruschetta, and polish roses which is a pickle covered in cream cheese wrapped in corned beef (sounds horrible but they are so good, I got the recipe from a friend who made them for a super bowl party)! After the party we all trekked to some Bloomington bars, Brothers and Sports, 2 of my favorites.

And since it was my birthday I of course had to get a fab new outfit! I wore a new dress which I purchased from the most amazing website, asos.com, which is a UK online fashion mecca with extremely reasonably priced merchandise. The only downside is they have a problem with timely shipping and tracking packages and you have to pay a currency exchange fee. Anyway, my dress was so cute! It was a strapless dress with a slight sweetheart neckline that had a solid black torso and a striped black and white striped skirt with a gold chain pattern. It also had pockets, a great feature. I also wore black tights because it felt like the Arctic Circle outside and a black knit motorcycle jacket. I accessorized with these great black suede platform pumps from Aldo and Juicy Couture gold multi chain bracelet that I already had. My parents got me a beautiful birthday present that I also used – a new Rebecca Minkoff handbag that is black with gold zippers, it is a cross body bag that is very flat, perfect for a night on the town. I also wore my bangs, which I really like now, just took a month and a half to get used to them.

My birthday was probably the best one I have ever had and was filled with fun and great friends! My mom told me “isn’t it the worst feeling the day after your birthday because you have to wait a whole year for the next one”. Yes, it is, especially after the incredible one this year but I can’t wait to see what the next one will hold.

Military Overload

I am pretty willing to try all trends. I didn’t think I would like boyfriend jeans, but I bought a pair and instantly loved them. There is one trend that I have noticed in just about every apparel store that I am not behind and do not think I will ever wear unless it is very subtle. And that trend is military inspired clothing. It is now in every store and every design that I have had a huge problem of finding a simple black jacket. I do like how structured the designs of military inspired clothing are, still I just can’t seem to like the buttons and over all aesthetics of the trend.

Military inspired clothing has always been a timeless trend. Lately it has been taken to a whole new level. I also think that it has become so prominent lately for one reason and one reason only. Michael Jackson. After his death instantly we were seeing this look. I understand that he changed music and was a huge inspiration to people, including my favorite musicians, around the world. One of his signature peices was elaborate military jackets. Now, every time I see a military inspired jacket I immediately think of him. I also realize people truly adore him and never want to forget him. However, it was his style and I think it should be left for us to remember in pictures, not for the apparel industry to figure out a way to make some more money and not for us to copy his unique well established style. It was Michael Jackson’s look, not the world’s, and let’s respect him by remembering the look not saturating it into the apparel market.

Mercedes: Not just a car.

Christine found this great site through a friend. It is called Shoedazzle. It was founded by Kim Kardashian and is like a shoe of the month club. The shoes are the private label, designed by Shoedazzle stylists. When you first sign up you take a quiz of what you like and what you are looking for. Than each month the shoe stylists pick 5 shoes for you to select 1. That shoe is than only 40 dollars! And the next month the cycle continues and you get another 5 shoes to pick from. It is a really great deal for only 40 dollars and the shoes are great.

This past week Christine got her first Shoedazzle shoe! It is called the Mercedes and it is a black suede shoe boot. It is very chic and very cool. It can go with just about anything. Christine asked me to put together some outfits together that hopefully she will be inspired from. All of these outfits are entirely from Forever 21 so they are very accessible and affordable! I think I have a second styling client!

Winter Wonderland? I think not.

When you think of snow you probably envision snowflakes, snowmen, beautiful winter settings, white glistening snow. Well in Bloomington that is not the picture. The snow and the whole town look grey. And it is so cold! I am a Florida girl and as Christine (she started her own blog!!) put it today “some people need to get sea legs, you need to get snow legs”. I am still not used to walking in snow even though I have lived in Bloomington for almost 5 years. I think everything is ice so I am scared to death I am going to slip and fall in result I take itty bitty footsteps that look ridiculous. I am also so cold. I usually wear jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater, scarf, Uggs, and my long North Face jacket, but usually I am still cold. I might need to add a layer.

Anyway, I think the age old question is what am I going to wear? Tomorrow Christine and I are going to Kilroy’s 2 Dollar Tuesday. This is a very popular bar in Bloomington where on Tuesdays, you guessed it, everything is 2 dollars. You can get a pretty decent burger for 2 dollars! What a steal. But there is a dilemma to this fun. We will probably walk because it is really close and we will most likely have a couple of cocktails, so you need to bundle up in this blizzard. But you need to figure out what is appropriate to wear when you get inside. It can get pretty hot when it gets busy because of the body heat, but maybe it won’t because of the temperature outside. My other issue is should you dress up a little bit or just go completely casual. The girls at IU are known for dressing up every night. But usually at 2 dollar at 7 it is very casual. I am contemplating on 2 different outfits. The first one is a great striped slub sweater I got at Forever 21, white tee, my favorite new item J Brand denim leggings, and some great over the knee boots. I think the over the knee boots make it a little dressier. Or I could go for the more casual look, a long white sleeve shirt, the same J Brand denim leggings, a classic pair of Uggs, and a great animal print scarf Sarah got me! Not sure what to choose, what do you guys think? I will let you know the outcome and it is sure to be a fab Tuesday!

Hair Update

I did get the bangs! But, I kind of do not like them. I did my hair today for the first time since my hair cut last Friday, and it did not turn out how my hairstylist did it. I am not sure if I just need to practice, get the right tools, or just don't know what I am doing. I used a hair dryer and then a flat iron and they just stook out and looked very staticky and piecy. It just did not work. If I can ever get them to look right I will post a picture. I am pretty upset that I got bangs and wish I didn't. Luckily my hair grows fairly fast so hopefully by my birthday I will have a side swept bang. Let's hope. 

A Little Update

I had a wonderful winter break in my hometown of Sarasota, Florida. Did some shopping, spent time with family and friends, and relaxed. But now I am back in Bloomington for my last semester of college! I have an 8 AM class tomorrow so we will see how that works for the rest of the semester. And I can't wait to see what people are wearing in this freezing weather!

You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

I have learned time and time again that fashion is in everything. Everything from cars, home décor, electronics, and teeth. Teeth are supposed to be perfectly straight and perfectly white. And boy has this been engrained in our society. Who nowadays has not had orthodontic work or tried a variety of tooth brushes and tooth pastes.

Which leads me to why I realized this trend – today I got my teeth whitened not at the dentist’s office but at the mall, in a kiosk, well it was more of an alcove. Teeth whitening has become this huge phenomenon. Everyone wants to get that ideal smile and now you can get your teeth whitened in your local mall. The process was very surreal. They make you put in a thing to hold your lips back and give you q-tips to apply a couple of solutions on your teeth and gums. They then put that blue light infront of your teeth to really get them white. You pretty much whiten them yourself. The process took 40 minutes, 2 sessions each 20 minutes. As I was sitting there I could see all the people walking in the mall staring doing double takes at this teeth whitening “store”. People came up and told the teeth whitening guy comments and questions about a variety of things. People asked if it really worked, how long it took, that they had been a dentist for a long period of time, all sorts of things. I think people, including myself at first, were very skeptical especially because it is in a mall. I also later found out that the teeth whitening guy used to work in the finance industry and this was his father’s business, so I am pretty sure he lacks dentistry training. But it worked! And really well! I am very happy with the results. Now I just have to keep up with maintenance and use an at home teeth whitening kit. Looks like I am heading back to my last semester of school with a bright white shining smile!

PS. If you take a venture to the other side of the mall you can get some facial work done at the Botox kiosk

Nine to Midnight

I was so lucky this past Saturday and I got to catch up with my very good friend Jessi! We had a great lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, one of my favorite spots, and browsed some stores in the mall. Jessi has started a new career and needs some multifunctional clothing. She needs business appropriate clothes that can transition to a fun night look. So this post and Polyvore (the picture below) I put together is dedicated to Jessi and I hope she gets inspiration. I might just have my first person to style!

What I like to do is have a neutral bottom with a top that adds a pop of color. A neutral bottom - black, grey, white, denim – will go with anything. Neutral bottoms are a great basic and transition piece. If you are at a business event throw on the black pant and more conservative top and when you go out to the new hotspot change the top to a tank and add some jewelry for a chic look. If you have more casual plans grab your favorite pair of denim. Add some glitz or texture with tops that have a ruffle, pattern, sparkle, or a hanging bow. We all know some places can be chilly. With a neutral or color coordinating sweater you can very quickly choose a matching one. For a more business professional look put on a suit jacket. Add some color with your shoes and accessories. A watch is a must for keeping track of time and looks great with any outfit. I really love the Michael by Michael Kors collection. Flats are ideal for situations where you are standing and moving a lot but put a pair of heels in your tote and you can jazz up your outfit for a night on the town. With these tips you don’t even have to think of what to put on. You can just grab from your closet and go saving you time and energy.

2010

Hope everyone has a happy, healthy and fashionable new year!

To Bang or Not to Bang

Fashion is not only clothes and accessories; it is also all about hair. There are about a million hair trends like colors, styles, lengths, and different accessories. What girl does not obsess about their hair? It is so comforting when your hair looks just how you imagine it should look! It gives you a great stride to your step.

So I have come to that time of year when I get a haircut. I usually go once every 3 to 4 months. I love my hairstylist and have been going to her for a long time. My current style and the same style for the past 6 years (except when I chopped off my hair to my chin for symbolic reasons) has been very blonde, on the longer side past my shoulders, with a slight swept away bang. At my last visit my hairstylist said “I want to give you bangs, annoying in the eye length bangs”. I told her that I was too nervous at that moment to cut them but I would think about it. And since then I have not been able to get this out of my head! I have always believed that you should let your hair stylist give you what they want because they are the expert and they will know what will look best. I have been trying to picture myself with bangs. I just can’t visualize how it will look; I have even tried folding my hair to look like bangs but that just made me doubt bangs even more. My fab friend Christine thinks bangs will look good and I should go for it. I started looking at celebrities with bangs and they are a chic sophisticated look. I am just not sure if I am going to like bangs on me and won’t be able to pull them off. Then I will have to go through the annoying task of growing them out. But with that comes cute clips and barrettes. I am just very puzzled! What do you think bangs or no bangs?