Valentine's day is a tricky holiday. It's associated with so many cheesy/depressing stereotypes, and hence cheesy and depressing presents. Who really wants grocery store chocolate, red roses, or tacky lingerie? No thanks. So I rounded up a few things that I'd want for Valentine's day, which you can then sneakily leave up on your boyfriend's computer/print out and leave all over his car or something along those lines. Subtlety isn't necessary.
Tiffany Bow Earrings in sterling silver, $125 at tiffanys.com, Vintage Oval Key Pendant, $175 at tiffany.com, Alphabet Disc Charm, $50 at tiffany.com: I know Tiffanys is so expected, but...there's kind of a reason, right? I'm not talking about the toggle-heart bracelets or Elsa Peretti charms, but just some chic, classy silver pieces from Tiffanys. No hearts allowed. I think I already posted these bow earrings, but I really like them for Valentine's because they're still sweet, but less expected than a heart, and they're basic enough to wear all the time. I have this key pendant, and I wear it basically everyday and get compliments on it all the time. There's something really romantic and nostalgic about an old school key pendant, and the Tiffany ones come in a variety of shapes/sizes. And then of course you can get all deep/meaningful about what a key symbolizes, and all that jazz. I think monograms are a really cute idea for Valentine's! They're really personal, and show that you really put thought into the gift, but they're really simple and easy to wear on a daily basis.
Viv & Ingrid Diamond Posts, $41 at vivandingrid.com, Rag & Bone Superfine Scarf, $240 at shopbop.com, Il Labatorio del Gelato, $60 for 4 tubs at labatoriodelgelato.com: Not every guy can shell out for real diamonds on Valentine's, and I think these studs would be a great stand-in. They come in the iconic diamond shape for an epic fraction of the price, they're a little witty/cheeky, and they're actually really pretty. I know a scarf seems random, but honestly, who wouldn't want a really nice scarf for Valentine's day? Think about it. You don't have to justify paying for it, since it's in a nice neutral shade, you can snuggle with it all the time and think of whoever gave it to you. That's a win-win for everybody. So instead of chocolate, why not intensely awesome, boutique gelato? First off, I would totally keep the tubs because they're awesome and slightly chem-lab looking, and second off, it comes in flavors like maple walnut, ricotta, and tangerine. Omnomnom.
J. Crew Black Blossom Nico Skirt, $59.99 at jcrew.com, Tulle Blossom Art Tee, $45 at jcrew.com, Bonnie Vie Scarf, $55 at jcrew.com: I really don't trust boys and picking out clothing, but I think maybe if you gave them extremely specific instructions it could work out? Possibly? I'm not saying Valentine's day is the perfect occasion to ask for a little leather jacket or a studded pair of heels, but for sweet, girly pieces I think it's really appropriate. This skirt is very on-trend, with the high-waisted mini shape, the elastic waist-band adds definition and draws the eye to your waist, and the sepia floral print is equal parts vintage and abstract. I love this tee shirt. The flowers and the tulle appliques are so ballerina meets Lanvin meets adorable. This would be the perfect piece to wear with jeans or a basic skirt, and it's actually really affordable for a Valentine's day gift. I think I've made my love for scarves very clear. The previous scarf is very winter appropriate, and I think this scarf would be a really great west coast option. It's really light, so it's easy to layer/wrap, and the delicate pink stripes are a fab combination of menswear-y and kitschy. It looks very classy and Italian to me for some reason, and I don't think you can go wrong with that vibe.
J. Crew Degrade Serafina Dress, $450 at jcrew.com, Only Hearts Venice Wrap Chemise, $92 at onlyhearts.com, Narcisco Rodriguez for Her EDT, $92 for 3.3 oz. at sephora.com: I'm really impressed with J. Crew for coming up with this dress. It looks very ready-to-wear to me. The washed-out pastel ombre, the gathered chiffon, the asymmetry, the subtlety, all of it combines in a way that screams Botticelli's Venus to me (art history nerd alert). It is expensive for J. Crew, but I do think it's worth it in terms of cost per wear, because I would live in that thing. Now, if you are going to subscribe to the lingerie for Valentine's day thing, why not go for a cute, sensible nighty instead? Something you would actually wear, not a sheer nothing with marabou trim. I absolutely love this Only Hearts chemise. The black contrasts the slight sheerness and the Grecian draping perfectly, the cut is cute but not overly revealing, and the berry-esque applique at the shoulder only adds to the Greek goddess appeal. Another really good option for Valentine's day is perfume, but not of the tacky Paris Hilton/Ed Hardy/Gucci variety, please. Go for something understated and girly, but still sexy. Narcisco Rodriguez for Her EDT is a floral, musky combination of honey flower, solar musk, orange blossom, osmanthus, amberlyn, vanilla, tactile musk, tactile woods, and vetiver. The honey and the vanilla really come through the musky base, and the flowers add a light touch. Plus, how hardcore, dominatrix girly is that bottle?
And of course, you could always just buy these for yourself and be your own Valentine. In a cute way, not a weird/dirty way.
Image Sources:
Tiffany earrings: tiffany.com, key: tiffany.com, monogram pendant: tiffany.com, Viv & Ingrid earrings: vivandingrid.com, Rag & Bone scarf: shopbop.com, Labatorio del Gelato: labatoriodelgelato.com, J. Crew skirt: jcrew.com, J. Crew tee: jcrew.com, J. Crew scarf: jcrew.com, J. Crew dress: jcrew.com, Only Hearts chemise: onlyhearts.com, Narcisco Rodriguez for Her: sephora.com.
It's confession time. I generally have less than awesome skin. I'm not one of those girls who can bounce out the door in the morning wearing only moisturizer and looking fabulous. But for some reason my skin's been behaving pretty well lately (I think it's confused by this weird thing back east called the COLD), and I can finally move beyond just trying to abuse it into submission to actually trying to make it look pretty. Hence the glowing (minus the cheesy sparkles).
Skyn Iceland Nordic Skin Peel with Biospheric Conplex, $45 at sephora.com, Shu Uemura Skin Purifier High Performance Cleansing Oil Fresh, $28 for 5 oz. at sephora.com, Clarisonic Plus, $250 at sephora.com: I'm a huge fan of daily peels, and this one is chock-full of lactic acid (AHA) and witch hazel to gently exfoliate and clean out/tighten up those pores. I use a gentler (cheaper) version of this on a daily basis, and while I love it to death I want more results. $45 is a lot of money for 60 pads, but I'm thinking if you use them every other day or twice a week, you could stretch out there $45 for at least 4 months, which isn't really that bad. I used to use this shu uemura cleansing oil before I became a broke college student, and I have to say, it's amazing. It's really expensive, but it works so, so well. I know cleaning your face with oil seems counter-intuitive, but it really works to balance out your skin's pH without drying your skin out so it produces more oil. It removes even waterproof makeup, smells delicious, and doesn't leave your skin dry or tight. And it even helps with breakouts. Talk about multi-tasking. I really, really want a Clarisonic (b-day present? Maybe?). For those of you who haven't heard of the magical Clarisonic, it uses sonic vibrations to move super fast and open up your pores, pushing cleanser in, kicking dirt out, and exfoliating all at the same time. This Clarisonic is a little on the pricier side because it comes in that awesome '60s pattern, and comes with a body brush attachment, 3 different types of cleansers, and a body polish.
Adidas by Stella McCartney Gym Track Pants, $100 at net-a-porter.com, Juicy Couture 14k Gold-Plated Earrings, $88 at net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Silk and Cashmere-blend Cardigan, $350 at net-a-porter.com: I'm sort of fascinated with the idea of high-fashion sweatpants. It sounds weird, but it can really work and has this "I don't try but something I ended up looking devastatingly chic this morning" sort of vibe. These are the perfect example. The cut is the perfect mix of sporty function and the drapey, pajama-esque pants we saw on the runway. The silhouette is so perfect, the ankle band has a slight harem vibe, and the zebra pattern inset adds a touch of spunk. These Juicy earrings have such a British Maharajah feel to them. The shape is vaguely exotic and mysterious, the detailing is intricate and luxe, and the overall effect is that of slightly old school, Baroque-inspired heirloom. For less than $90. Yes, please. My love affair with leopard is no secret anymore, and when you combine that with my love of cardigans, well, you get this. The grey-on-black tones down the leopard a bit, as does the classic cut. I love basic pieces with a serious helping of spunkiness, and this totally fits the bill. Throw it on over a white tee and jeans on the way to class, and instantly look pulled together and interesting.
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Striped Wool Sweater, $325 at net-a-porter.com, Preen Peep Bandage Dress, $1,195 at net-a-porter.com, Thread Social Bow-detail Knit Top, $150 at net-a-porter.com: I'm a sucker for a nautical themed sweater, and the fact that this Breton-esque piece is a sweaterdress only makes me want it more. How chic would this be with black tights and a pair of ballet flats? Hello, Audrey Hepburn. It's a really classic look done in a more modern cut, and it's executed perfectly. Yes, this Preen dress is crazy expensive, but there's so much hidden detailing! There are bra cups in the sweetheart neckline with lace inserts, there's subtle pleating/ruching on the body of the dress that makes it really, really flattering, an exposed side zipper, and a flash of skin and tie on the back that takes this LBD from cocktails to night on the town. I really like that it's a basic piece in theory, so it's versatile, but at the same time it has so much personality. This Thread Social top has given me some interesting ideas. The top itself looks exactly like an American Apparel raglan pullover, but so much more expensive. You could totally buy the American Apparel version and then DIY a giant satin bow and pin it to the shoulder. The limited color palette contrasts perfectly with the inherent girliness of the bow, and it's a cute play on the emphasized shoulder trend.
Image Sources:
Skyn pads: sephora.com, Shu Uemura oil: sephora.com, Clarisonic: sephora.com, Adidas by Stella McCartney pants: net-a-porter.com, Juicy Couture earrings: net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel cardigan: net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel sweater: net-a-porter.com, Preen dress: net-a-porter.com, Thread Social top: net-a-porter.com.
I just joined a sorority and so I've been crazy, crazy busy, and yes, the posting has suffered a bit and I'm really, really sorry. So to make it up to you guys I'm posting my new favorite editorial (you can just scroll down to it now, I won't be offended), and some other exciting/pretty things.
MAC Lipglass in Purple Rage, Lavender Wind, Hush Hush Rose, Electric Fuschia, and Cultureclash. MAC Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach. MAC just released their Spring Color Forecast collections, and first off, wow that's a lot of purple, and second off, me want these things. I've been toying with the idea of a purple lipgloss for a while now, and I think Lavender Wind might be the perfect segue-way into that more daring lipcolor (this coming from a girl who wears lipgloss maybe twice a week). It adds just a touch of blue to cool down your natural lip color and a hint of lilacy shimmer. Interesting, but very wearable. I'm also crushing on the lipglasses in Cultureclash, a milky pink with silver sparkles, and Electric Fuschia, a bright fuschia magenta with tons of purpley shimmer. Cultureclash is totally in my comfort zone of pale pink, sparkly lipglosses (I seriously have 5, and they're all the same color), and Electric Fuschia is such an in your face dose of hot pink. I'm a fan of all things ombre, and I'm going crazy over the idea of ombre blush. I know the ombre effect kind of dies when you apply it, but it looks so pretty in the pan and I think multi-colored blushes add more dimension to the face. Ripe Peach is a wearable peachy-orange with subtle shimmer, but it also comes in a cool-toned pink, a purple, and Springshine, a slightly shimmery neutral bronzer.
To follow up "Video Phone," Beyonce's insanely terrible new song/music video, Lady Gaga is having Beyonce co-star in her music video for Telephone (coincedence? I think not). All I know so far is that Beyonce rescues Gaga from prison and they wear insanely hilarious things and drive a yellow car with flames on it, but that's enough to convince me of its awesomeness.
W Magazine spread, "Fly By Night," photographed by Craig McDean and styled by Alex White. This is plastered all over my walls right now. I literally ripped out every page. I love this spread so much. The post-apocalyptic princess thing is pretty big right now, thanks to Rodarte, and this is an interesting, sweeter take on it. The clothes themselves are adorable in a slightly Lolita-esque way, but the hair/makeup and the setting add a whole other level of broken down, almost psychotic glamour. Obviously I'm all over it. Enjoy!
Image Sources:
MAC pics in order: temptalia.com, temptalia.com, temptalia.com, Lady Gaga/Beyonce pics: nymag.com, W Magazine spread: wmagazine.com.
I'm entertained by the Grammys. I don't really follow the actual awards, but the red carpet is hilarious. People don't pay as much attention to the Grammy red carpet as they do the Golden Globe/Oscar red carpets, and since it's the 'music industry,' stars seem to think that there's more room for creative license. Not always true.
Taylor Swift in Kauffman Franco, Fergie in Pucci, Miley Cyrus in Herve Leger by Max Azria: I love Taylor Swift. She usually manages to hit the balance between young and elegant on the red carpet very nicely. But this dress...it isn't working for me. The neckline is a little awkward, but it works in a sort of futuristic, geometric way. What bothers me is the body of the dress. Specifically the midsection. Is it just me, or does that not fit right? It makes her look awkwardly lumpy/square and completely eats her waist. Fergie, on the other hand, is totally working the jewel-toned blue. It has the same slightly-futuristic vibe as TSwift's dress, but in a much more flattering and age appropriate way. It fits like a glove, the color is really flattering, and her hair looks fan-freaking-tastic. And then there's Miley Cyrus. Hm. The extensions are a bit much, and the pattern on that bandage dress is a little like the love child of tie dye and cheap satin, but overall I think I like it. The accessories are simple, the silhouette is clean, and at least she's covering up her arms to make up for the mini-mini length.
Rihanna in Elie Saab Haute Couture, Kristen Bell in Etro, Jennifer Nettles in Victoria Beckham: Rihanna's really lost all shock value for me. I expect crazy. So this seems relatively tame, if a little Scarlet O'Hara dances at the Copacabana. All those feathers are making me think her pouffed hair looks a little like a cockadoo. Just saying. Kristen Bell is so tiny and adorable and fun-seeming, and I think this dress is choking all that good humor out of her. I mean, first off, it does really look like it's choking her (I know the '90s are coming back, but I think chokers should stay in the last century forever), and then the black body of the dress totally overwhelms her petite frame. On the plus side, her hair looks pretty? I don't know who Jennifer Nettles is, but she looks fabulous, and I clearly have to give Victoria Beckham more credit. This dress is flattering, stately, on-trend, and sexy, all at the same time. A+
Katy Perry in Zac Posen, Lea Michele in Romona Reveza, Lady Gaga in Armani Prive: Oh, Katy Perry. As much as I want to steal your fiance, I do not want to steal this dress. It blends into her skin tone freakishly well, which makes that embellishment look more like a skin disease than actual flowers. Lea Michele, on the other hand, definitely knows how to dress her body. This dress gives her a total hourglass figure, and the mini-length and flirty feather skirt add a touch of youthful sass. And last but not at all least, Lady Gaga. This is only one of her many ensembles from that night, but it's my favorite. If you look closely the hair is obviously fake (although I do like it), she's holding some sort of weapon, wearing a nude, bejeweled body stocking, heelless platform heels, and has seemingly faced Giorgio Armani to make her a dress out of plastic tubes. And she still looks amazing.
Juliet & Company Mini Drop Earrings, $40 at shopbop.com, Juliet & Company Fishnet Stocking Pearl Necklace, $55 at shopbop.com, Veda Electric Leather Dress, $345 at shopbop.com: First off, Juliet & Company is an adorable name for a jewelry company (totes reminds me of Romeo and Juliet). How adorably keepsakey are those earrings? The drop earring shape has such inherent drama, but the delicacy of those tiny faux pearls and little sparkly orbs (orbs?) balance that so nicely. These would look amazing with an intricate updo. I love the idea of a pearl/fishnet necklace. There's something glamorous and yet subversive about the idea, and it's a fantastic twist on the classic little pearl necklace. This dress is leather with mesh and jersey on the zippers and a giant zipper on the back. Over the top? Yes. Amazing? Double yes. I really love what Veda has done with the variation of textures and fabrics in this restricted color palette. It adds a whole other level of visual interest to the dress and elevates it beyond cheap and into sophisticated (albeit in a very Angelina Jolie playing a dominatrix spy sort of way).
Moschino Cheap & Chic Lurex-knit Heart Dress, $525 at net-a-porter.com, Single Silk-chiffon Animal-print Dress, $315 at net-a-porter.com: All I have to say about this first piece is heart-covered sweater dress. If that doesn't enlist some 'awwwws,' then you have no soul. No joke. The beige and black balance out the cartoony heart so well. This leopard dress looks a little schlumpy here, but on a person I swear it's a lovely mix of draped and fitted that's a play on what Alber Envaz did with leopard a few seasons ago and the new asymmetrical draping trend.
Just to be clear, I don't understand this campaign at all, but I really like it. Not sure how the dog relates, but it adds an interesting, abstract feel, and Natalia Vodianova looks insanely gorgeous. I love the bright, ruffly sunniness of the dress and the off-center, diagonal composition of Natalia's body.
Image Sources:
Grammy red carpet: nymag.com, Juliet & Company earrings: shopbop.com, necklace: shopbop.com, Veda dress: shopbop.com, Moschino Cheap & Chic dress: net-a-porter.com, Single dress: net-a-porter.com, Stella McCartney ad: livejournal.com.
