My Top Four Looks from Today

I'm apologizing in advance how much of a fail today is going to be posting wise.  It's just that I feel like this lolcat.

And I need to take a nap.  So, without further ado, my favoritest pretty looks from today at London Fashion Week.

Giles: Giles Deacon has apparently picked up the cleavage trend from Louis Vuitton and Prada and run wild with it.  I loved his '50s/'60s meets tropical boudoir-inspired collection.  It's all very wearable, but the way that each piece balanced feminine and slightly savage was fascinating.  The pink bustier gown is all very girly and sweet, but the way that the tutu-like skirt just explodes outward, like it has a mind of its own, in conjunction with the hothouse print makes it feel a bit like a tropical flower on steroids, no?  And that second dress takes the idea of a classic, fitted LBD and then runs wild with it.  The intense cleavage and falling orchid print are campy next to the clean lines of the dress that it almost becomes modern Joan Holloway in a geisha-themed night club.

Erdem, David Koma: Erdem was all spectacularly lovely this season.  This dress is just so perfect.  The fit is the ideal combination of demure and sexy, the white says neutral and basic but the sheer lace insets add a little va-va-voom, and then the scattered red flowers fall like splattered blood across the entire thing.  It's a little Lolita, a little goth, and a little '50s all at the same time.  David Koma was inspired by ballerinas this season, which comes across so well in this LBD.  The skirt has a bit of a tutu flare to it, the boatneck says Jackie O, and then the sheer panels across the bodice add this subversive, Rodarte-esque twist on it all.  You could style this a hundred ways and wear it to a hundred different places, and it could still look fresh.

Images from icanhascheezburger.com, style.com.

Today's Cravings

I need a break from fashion week, y'all.  Don't get me wrong, I love looking at fashion week and writing about fashion week, but it's so easy to get fashion week burnout.  So London coverage will start tomorrow, but today will be lovely and random.  Enjoy!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Fantastical Tale Strass Cat Ring, $78 at shopbop.com, Rebecca Minkoff Kiss Bag, $345 at shopbop.com, Helmut Lang Denim Square Shoulder Shearling Jacket, $795 at shopbop.com: This cat ring is so ugly that I almost like it.  It reminds me of the Siamese cats from Lady and the Tramp (love), and it looks so evil and cunning and twisty-tailed.  I think I'm convincing myself that I like this.  But y'all know that I love wearing jewelry with small animals on it (hence my parrot AND beetle rings).  How adorable is that bag?  Any bag with a frame shape and a kiss-lock wins me over with its cuteness, and when you add in the bit of edge from the studs and the chain strap, and the boho twist of the tassel, it becomes the perfect storm of classic chic and modern trendy.  It's also a convenient little size and the handy over the shoulder/across the bag construction makes it very easy to wear as a day-to-day bag.  Shearling and military are going to be (and have been) two huge trends for the next season or so.  This jacket perfectly marries the two, and makes them practical in a durable, cotton blend shell.  The cut of the jacket is very motorcycle meets aviator jacket, the color is the quintessential military olive, and the shearling is a little aviator and a little wintery wonderland.  It's warm, and on-trend, and actually practical.  

Images from: shopbop.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com.

Rave of the Day: Nivea Kiss of Moisture

I don't usually review drugstore stuff like shower gels, lotions, etc, etc, unless they are so amazing and such great deals that I feel like I want to proclaim my love for them from the rooftops.   This is one of those occassions.

So I picked up this Nivea A Kiss Of Moisture Hydrating Lip Care SPF 4 (that's a mouthful) a week or two ago, which you can get for $2.49 at drugstore.com.  Nivea is one of those brands that I inherently like without having tried many of their products.  They just seem so European, which sadly does make me like them better, and my mom loves Nivea.  So Nivea must be amazing.  Well, I actually ventured out and tried a Nivea product, and...I love it.  See the breakdown below.

 The packaging: I quite like the packaging.  The soft blues and white nice and calming, not too in your face or flashy.  What I really like is that the blue portion is the cap, and it slides off to reveal a white tub with a twist-up base.  It's all very sleek and a little high-end feeling for a drugstore lip balm.

The product: First off, it has at least a small amount of SPF, which is great because SPF is so often looked over in lip products.  Lips can get sunburnt too!  The balm itself is white in the tube but goes on clear.  It's not matte, but it's not shiny, it just gives your lips a nice, velvety sheen.  As for how it feels on, I think I love it.  It makes my lips feel soft and moisturized and happy, not greasy and not dry.  It doesn't accentuate chapped lips, and it doesn't wear off quickly--I can still feel it on my lips two hours later.  And it smells like vanilla, in the softest, most subtle way.

The price: $2.50 isn't cheap for a drugstore lip balm, but this feels so much more like a high quality balm than any Chapstick or Softlips product I've ever tried.  It feels like a bargain for how much I love it.  My one qualm is that the first one of these I bought broke.  I did drop it about 10 times from about five feet in the air, so that may have had something to do with it, but the packaging itself is a bit flimsy for the price.

Awkward Chic rating: A.  The only way that I could like this better would be if it came in a soft pink tint that tasted like pomegranates.  Yum!

Image from drugstore.com.

Woah, Alexis Bledel. Just Woah.

I don't know how many of y'all know this, but I'm a huge fan of Gilmore Girls.  As in if I could have one show to watch for the rest of my life on a deserted island (which for some reason has a DVD player), it would be Gilmore Girls.  Everyone can relate to it.  It's witty and clever and just generally great.  But anyways, one of the main characters on the show was played by Alexis Bledel, who y'all can see below.

So this is what she used to look like:

And this is what she looks like now.  Woah.  I'm struggling to adjust here, guys.  I think I really like it?  The strawberry blonde hue does great things for her blue eyes.  I think the brown hair is a little more girl-next-door and the new color is a bit flirtier and sexier.  I just dyed my hair again last night (loving the Clairol Perfect 10) and I'm really loving the idea of going a little warmer next time.  Maybe an auburn?  Hm...

Images from: buzzsugar.com, glamour.com, bellasugar.com.

NYFW Round-Up #7

NYFW is coming to a close, lady.  It's been a fun, stressful, and beautiful week.  Here are some last looks from the Big Apple before it all heads over to Londontown.

Ralph Lauren, Jeremy Laing: Ralph Lauren went out to the wild, wild west once again, and lots of beautiful but standard prairie-inspired looks ensued.  This look, however, really caught my eye.  Pairing a flannel and a sequined pencil skirt sounds ridiculous, but in this limited color palette it actually makes sense.  The belt adds a bit more Western flair and accentuates the waist nicely.  I really love this.  You could transition it from day to night very easily.  Jeremy Laing had another practical take on sheer (like Proenza Schouler yesterday).  The tube top and high-waisted mini show too much skin on their own, but when you layer that purple, Grecian dress on top it all suddenly becames very chic, and not too sexy.

Oscar de la Renta: This man never disappoints with the ball gowns.  Don't get me wrong, I love the rest of his stuff, but if his show was just the ball gowns, I would be a happy camper.  Here we've got two extremes in the ball gown category, dark and dramatic, and quirky and girly.  This first dress is very over the top, almost evil Disney movie villain, but in such a gorgeous way.  Coco Rocha looks fab in it, no?  The asymmetrical neckline keeps the voluminous skirt from overwhelming the whole look, and the touches of white peeking out in the towards the hem keep the overall look from being too heavy.  The second gown reminds me so much of Alice and Wonderland, which the stylized red roses and the stiff swoop of the hem.  It's very refined and elegant, but there's a slightly cartoonish edge to it that makes it feel young and fun.

J. Mendel: J. Mendel's inspiration this season was apparently ballerinas.  I like that I can see that inspiration, in the fluid, lean lines of the clothes, but it doesn't scream SWAN LAKE at the top of its lungs.  The white dress is very summery and flirty, almost a bit like a tennis dress.  The sheer, asymmetrical pleating adds a modern Grecian twist, and the pop of red from those adorable Louboutins keeps it all lively.  The grey dress is so subtly sexy.  Long-sleeved minis are definitely still on-trend, and the cool neutral hue of this one works so well with the intricate, fluid pleating and draping on the dress.  What I really love is that both of these are so sexy in such different ways.  Sigh.  So purdy.

Naaem Khan: Naaem Khan consistently delivers eccentric, lady-like glam.  Just take these two looks for example.  The yellow gown has a very simple, flattering cut, but the black, faux lace print looks so organic and almost savage against the pale yellow, like an overgrown garden.  This second look reminds me a bit of Tory Burch, with the blown-up ikat top and the a-line skirt.  It's a fun, modern take on preppy, and the styling there is impeccable.  I don't understand the hair, though.  It's like a beehive got trapped in a wind tunnel.

Images from style.com.

Outfit of the Day

So this isn't really my outfit of the day (boo on lame perpetual drizzling) but I was playing dress up in my closet for a while today, and I put this together.  Yes, I play dress up in my own closet.  Sorry for the crappy pictures, this is literally the only mirror in my dorm room and it's like 10 inches wide.  Gah.

Dress: Rodarte for Target, boots: Frye, belt: no idea, jacket: Walter.  I think I've worn this Rodarte for Target dress out maybe twice since I got it in December.  It's very girly for me, and I tend to forget that I own it.  I know, I'm sad.  My go-to fix-it method for outfits that I think are too boring or too girly is to put a leather jacket on top, and I think it really works for this dress.  It cuts the cutesiness of the pale blue and the swishy skirt and the illusion neckline, and adds a little visual weight.  The belt draws attention to the waist, and the boots tie in nicely with the jacket.  The annoying thing about this dress is that it has a strapless sweetheart neckline, and then an illusion neckline over that, which means I should probably wear a strapless bra.  Since that will never happen, I resort to the jacket.  Yay for problem solving.

NYFW Round-Up #6

The big guns are really coming out now, y'all.  Marchesa, Proenza Schouler, Phillip Lim, Michael Kors.  This is when the serious prettiness happens.  I'm warning you know, don't look at these in public.  You will squeal like a small child.

Michael Kors, 3.1 Phillip Lim: I'm not usually a big Michael Kors fan.  American-inspired sportswear isn't really my thing.  But there's something so breezy and '70s about this fuchsia jersey dress that really appeals to me.  It looks easy to wear, it's simple but it makes a big statement, and it just feels so refreshing after all the big ballgowns that usually end shows.  Phillip Lim always delivers on the classic, menswear inspired daywear with a fun, modern twist.  I love this look for a few reasons; one, because it's in lovely neutrals, like camel and caramel, and two, because it has an oversized, sheer cardigan!  Layering sheer nudes comes across as so chic here, no?  The leather accessories in the similar hues really make the outfit.  That bag.  I want.

Marchesa: There's not really much you can say about Marchesa.  It's breathtakingly gorgeous every single time.  Here are my two favorite red carpet moment dresses.  The explosion of tulle in the skirt of this first dress is so just over the top and dramatic, and the way that the black fades into the dirty white...I just have no words.  I would do terrible, terrible things to be in that dress.  The second dress is a little more organic and girly.  It's almost a little Rodarte, in the way that it twirls around the model's body and then shoots out at the knee.  That dress on someone like Keira Knightley would be sick.

Anna Sui, Milly: This Anna Sui look is the epitome of boho chic.  The flowery headdress, the handkerchief hemmed sheer/beaded/embellished dress--it's all very hippy-dippy, but at the same time very glam.  Lesson learned: take a '70s inspired dress, and cover it in modern embellishments.  The styling at Milly was fantastic, lots of pattern mixing and crazy color palettes.  This floral dress is so modern Joan Holloway, with it's sheath fit and vibrant, hot house floral pattern.  The off-the-shoulder sleeves are a nice, modern touch.

Proenza Schouler: When I think of Proenza Schouler, all I can think of is cool kids.  It's like the cool downtown NYC girls distilled into a line.  This season they went a little more ladylike and refined, but still what that same gotta-have-it edge.  The cut of the first dress is very modern girly, simple and flattering, and the pink tweedy fabric gives it a bit of a retro, Chanel vibe.  But when you add in the bra-like detailing at the neckline and the black from the belt it gets a little darker, a little more subversive.  This second look is great because it's a practical take on sheer, and one that really makes sense to me.  You take retro-inspired undergarments, like this bra (a cropped top would work equally well) and pencil skirt-esque slip, and then put a sheer, lingerie-inspired slip on top.  You get all the sexiness of the sheer dress without showing too much skin.

Trendspotting: lady-like, sheer, neutrals, '70s, '50s,

Images from style.com.

Review: Sally Hansen Triple Strong Advanced Gel Nail Fortifier

Wow, that is a mouthful.  The Sally Hansen Triple Strong Advanced Gel Nail Fortifier is $5.99 at drugstore.com. 

I feel like Sally Hansen products always have unnecessarily long names.  Hmm.  Anywho, here's the press info on it:

Titanium is a lightweight, strong, lustrous metal that resists the damaging, corrosive effects of environmental stressors.

1. With Epoxy Polymer to Reinforce & Protect
2. With Calcium Complex To Help Strengthen & Support
3. With Titanium Complex to Defend Against Breakage

Results Guaranteed
You Have:

• Nails that break, peel or split

You Want:

• Powerful protection against breaking

How it Works:

• Instantly bonds to thin, weak nails.  Breakthrough gel suspension formula combines three nail strengtheners in one:  Epoxy Polymer reinforces nails and adds flexibility; Calcium Complex helps enhance nail structure; Titanium Complex helps defend against daily wear and tear.

Yeah.  So.  Lots of claims there.  On the sciencey side, I have no idea if any of those are true to be entirely honest.

The packaging: It comes in this little green bottle that kind of looks old school and apothecary-ish.  I really liked that, but it is a little odd looking.  It has a twist-off top with a regular sized, decent brush.

The product: So it says that it strengthens nails and keeps them from peeling or splitting.  I've been wearing it for the past two weeks, and my nails are normally very thin and prone to peeling (gotta love being a vegetarian).  I can't say yet ift this makes my nails a lot stronger themselves, but putting two coats of this on my nails makes my nails FEEL a lot firmer.  They feel really, really strong.  I can actually do things with my nails, and they don't feel so firm that they've become brittle.  I've been using it as a basecoat, and it's really great at that too.  I forgot to use it a few days ago for a manicure, and my polish lasted three days with terrible chipping.  I used this for my last manicure, and I got to six days before there was any visible wear.  That's double the wear time.  That's a big, big difference. 

Awkward Chic Rating: A+.  It's affordable, it makes my nails stronger and it makes my polish last a twice as long.  There's really no downside here.
 
Image from drugstore.com.

NYFW Round-Up #5

Oh hey, NYFW.  Are you winding down already?  You've already exhausted my MacBook and my wallet, so I'm not complaining.  Here's some more pretty from today:

Rodarte: Rodarte is Rodarte.  They're the wunderkind of NYFW.  They are perpetually loved.  This season was a little more mature, a little more refined--still odd and out-there, but a bit more wearable.  And as always, there was hint of post-apocalyptic princess.  I'm adoring the hair on these models--long, messy, and faded at the ends.  The simple, fitted-to-the-waist and a-line skirt cuts are timeless and flattering, but the details manage to be both antique and futuristic.  The first dress is like a deconstructed, post apocalyptic toga, and the second dress looks like it belongs on a futuristic gladiator girl.  I will die if that second dress pops up on the red carpet. GAH.

Vera Wang, Marc by Marc Jacobs: This dress is very edgy for Vera Wang, and I really like it.  The soft, organic swirls of pleating really remind me of Burberry from a few seasons ago.  The color is so offbeat and odd, but the chiffon and a-line skirt are so classically feminine that together it's a perfect storm of eccentric girly chic, a la Alexa Chung.  There were hints of '70s boho and '90s minimalism at Marc by Marc Jacobs (with a toned down version of the hair and makeup from the Marc Jacobs show!  So cute).  This sundress sums up the best of the '90s for me; simple, pared-down, and grungey-girly, and then the pops of color in the accessories keep it young and modern.

Karen Walker, Dennis Basso: I heart both of these looks.  They're so jaunty.  I know the '70s are making a comeback this season, but the flirty '50s skirt seems to still be sticking around.  I like that there were two very different takes on it today, quirky chic at Karen Walker and retro-girly at Dennis Basso.  The Karen Walker look works because the gym-esque tee tones down the rampant cuteness of the skirt, and the Dennis Basso work looks because all those lush fabrics are in soft, neutral tones.  Both of these looks belong on my body immediately.

Elie Tahari, Herve Leger: I'm gonna be honest, I'm not usually a huge fan of Elie Tahari.  I admire the clothes, but I wouldn't necessarily wear them.  This season, however, felt a lot younger and more accessible.  I'm totally loving this black on black ensemble.  The mixture of textures and finishes in the limited color palette keeps it from feeling flat, and the combination of the cropped motorcycle vest with the gauzy, girly skirt works both conceptually and silhouette-wise.  The Herve Leger collection is generally pretty consistent (you know, bandage dresses), but the lingerie inspiration this season felt relatively fresh.  The sheer neckline and insets on this dress make it both a little more lady-like and a little more sexy, in a sweet and subtle way.  The neutral color palette also works nicely with the ultra body-con fit.

Trendspotting: '70s and '90s silhouettes, '50s skirts, neutrals and nudes, a-line skirts.

All images from style.com.

Review: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion

I just realized that I got a bunch of basic (but still note worthy) products when I moved into school, but I totally forgot to write about in all the hustle and bustle.  This is the first one:

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion, $7.99 at drugstore.com: 

Here's the PR info on it:

When our skin is healthy, light reflects off the rich color below the surface, enabling it to literally glow.  But when skin is dry, its surface becomes uneven and rough, leaving it looking dull.
Cocoa Butter deep conditioning lotion penetrates deeply to smooth away roughness and the appearance of dark spots, igniting skin's natural glow at the source.

• rich cocoa butter - helps to even skin tone
• conditioning moisturizers - leave skin smooth and supple

Okay, so the claims that it make skin glow and dark spots disappear--a little far fetched.  It's body lotion, not rocket science.  However, I wouldn't be writing about a plain old body lotion unless it was either great or terrible, and (spoiler alert), this one is great.  Let me break it down for ya.

The packaging: Nothing exciting or fancy, but nicer than the usual white lotion bottle, and I like the curving lines of the shape.  The top does tend to pop off if you aren't careful.

The scent: It smells like cookies.  Not as realistically as a Philosophy cookie shower gel would, but it has a definite baked goods vibe.  It's enough to make you hungry if you catch a whiff of your arms.  On the plus side, it's not so strong that people 20 feet away are going to be asking who's carrying around cookies, but it's sweet and warm and homey and extremely comforting.

The lotion itself: I have really dry skin.  Last year during the winter my skin got covered in these little itchy red dots and I was so positive that it was bed bugs or allergies.  My skin didn't feel dry, it just ITCHED LIKE CRAZY.  But of course it was actually dry skin (in disguise).  I resorted to oils by the end of the year, which moisturize very well and give your skin a nice, glowy sheen, but make your hands so. oily.  Ugh.  I wanted something that was really moisturizing and gave me a bit of a glow, but didn't leave any residue on my skin.  This lotion hits all of those marks.  It keeps my skin hydrated and healthy looking, but rubs in completely without any oiliness.  I've never repurchased a body lotion before, but I would definitely repurchase this one.

Awkward Chic Rating: A+.  It smells good, it's affordable, and it really, really works.  It might be love.

Image from drugstore.com.

Big NYFW Round-Up

I just combined it all into one mondo-post today.  I literally bookmarked 100 different looks from just today's shows, and that was with me being really, really picky.  There's just too much pretty in NYC.  It's a problem.  Some of my favorite looks so far are below, especially from Theyskens' Theory and Lela Rose.

Lela Rose: I struggle with Lela Rose.  I want everything.  I can't choose.  It's like an explosion of gorgeous.  I think these two are my favorites.  This raspberry pink cocktail dress balances out a statement hue with a clean, classic cut.  The subtle texture and statement necklaces take it up a notch and make it young and kicky.  The skirt on this gown just kills me.  It looks like bird's wings, doesn't it?  The soft layers of tulle, the gradiated dove greys and purples--it's all so soft and romantic, but not at all frothy or too girly.  The bustier top contrasts the flowing skirt nicely.  This has to be on the red carpet.  Has to.  It's too pretty not to show up somewhere.

Thakoon, Rebecca Taylor: Thakoon is always such a fab show.  The looks worked from head to toe, and there was a deconstructed, edgy romantic feeling throughout the whole collection that felt so refreshing.  I love this first look; just a simple floral sundress, with some hook and eye detailing, a little jacket, and some awesome booties.  The restricted color palette is soft and elegant, the subtle textures and details keep it interesting, and the booties spice it all up.  The styling of this Rebecca Taylor look is fab.  Pairing a pink leopard print mini-dress with an army green anorak and that hot winged eyeshadow just makes so much sense.  The dress is flirty and fun, the jacket is practical and boyish, and the eyeshadow adds a sex kitten twist.  Not so much a fan of that top knot, but overall the look really works.

Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele: Oh, Carolina Herrera.  She does Old World glamour so well.  This dress is so Marie Antoinette in the skirt, and then the clean little bodice and black accents add a bit of a Gothic twist that balances everything out so nicely.  Can't you see a pregnant actress wearing this to the Oscars?  It would work so perfectly with a baby bump, with that empire waist and voluminous skirt.  This Carlos Miele gown is gorgeous.  The cut is very simple and understated, and the black keeps that theme going, but the sheerness and the pleating add a whole organic, darkly romantic vibe that keep this from being just another black gown.  That dress with some statement vintage jewels--perfection.

Marc Jacobs, Monique Lhuillier: Marc Jacobs is always a trendsetter.  Last season it was the fab '50s/'60s silhouettes, this season it's more '70s boho-chic with lots of hot pants.  Last season was boobs, this season will apparently be about thigh-high slits and hot pants.  Personally, I preferred chests, but that's just me.  I love the neckline on this dress, the play on sheer and opaque, and the contrast between the flowing volume and all that exposed skin.  There's something so appealing about that scarlet-magenta hue, especially in that oversized flower.  Monique Lhuillier always delivers on princess gowns, and this season was no exception.  This column gown balances the girly, floral print with that Grecian, draped fit so perfectly.  It's very classic chic meets modern and girly, and all that ruching and draping are so figure flattering.

Monique Lhuillier, Theyskens' Theory: This first gown is so modern Glinda the good witch, with all that tulle and all those sequins.  The nude hue tones down the sugary sweetness of it all, and the way that the neckline almost blends into the body is so sexy, in an offbeat way--it almost looks like a mermaid's scales, no?  I can so see this having a fantastic red carpet moment.  So Olivier Theyskens, AKA wonderboy, is doing a line for Theory.  I think the prices cap at $700, which isn't cheap, but for Olivier Theyskens' it's pretty darn good.  Y'all really need to look at the whole collection.  It has all the clean minimalism of Theory with all the dark, romantic coolness of Theyskens.  I mean, he's managed to make shiny black stovepipes and a sheer, black tee look insanely chic with absolutely no accessories.  Boy is a genius.

Images from style.com.