Camouflage: Catching On

March 31, 2014

As contradictory as it may seem, I've been noticing camouflage prints more and more (get it, because camouflage is supposed to make you more invisible). There was once a time when I was all about the camouflage - I distinctly remember this awful gray sweater I would wear, and I'm sure I had an assortment of pink *girly* camo products as well. Naturally I overdid it, and then proceeded to boycott the print at all costs. It was a remnant of my poor tween fashion choices - and the poor fashion choices of the early 2000s in general - and I was probably fatigued (oh, puns) by the amount of times I saw camo (mostly the unflattering digitized desert kind) in my heavily military hometown.

The way I saw it, camouflage in its normal form was too practical to be fashionable. When I was younger, at least, the only way to make the print "girlier" was to tinge it pink, but I quickly saw how cheesy that was.

1. Valentino | 2. Valentino | 3. J. Crew | 4. Prism | 5. Valentino | 6. Madewell

Nowadays I'm coming back around to the idea of incorporating the military print back into everyday wear. Army and navy influences have always been there in fashion, and with the recent popularity of the army green jacket, I'm not all too surprised to see camo come back in style. 

The key to camo's present success has not been "girly-ing it up" with pink hues and rhinestones. No, today's woman is more natural and desires to keep her appropriated garment pieces more authentic. Instead the print has been applied to feminine pieces - swimsuits, classic pumps, form fitting T-shirts and skinny jeans - and accessorized with airy silks and ladylike extras to give that perfect feminine/masculine balance. 


Links à la Mode: March 20th

March 21, 2014

I am absolutely honored to have one of my blog posts featured amongst so many other talented bloggers in this week's Links à la Mode, the weekly round-up of fashion blog posts created by members of the Independent Fashion Bloggers network. 

If you haven't checked it out already, make sure you read my advice on what to wear when you go shopping, and be sure to read some of the other fabulous posts from fellow fashion bloggers!

lalam0320

Stylegiest

This week in fashion has been bittersweet. First we lost a very talented woman, L'Wren Scott. Then the end of a particularly brutal Winter, Spring has officially begun. It's the changing of the guard, endings and beginnings, reminding us that nothing is forever. We have several links that challenge both old ideas (racism, sexism, both) and how to bring in the new (setting our Spring budget, getting to the gym, improving our diets) and even a nicely written post sympathizing with Fashion Blogger's significant others -- they have it so hard putting up with us!

Links à la Mode: March 20th

1. Read the clarified rules and submit your links on this page: Links à la Mode.
2. If your link was selected and you need this week’s code, visit this page: Links à la Mode Code.

The Empire Strikes Back

March 20, 2014

As I've previously commented upon, the Mulleavy sisters (the designing duo behind Rodarte) have always been inspired by film, and this season it seems that the force was totally with them. They had dresses emblazoned with the Death Star, alien planets from a galaxy far far away, and some of the original trilogy's main characters. I'm pretty sure I said something along the lines of "These are the best outfits to wear to ComicCon if you are a nerd but also quite fashionable and not into cosplaying" ... or something like that. 

Rodarte, however, rarely establishes a trend. The brand often feels like a fairytale, existing in its own world and influencing itself but not really other fashion houses. I loved the influence of Star Wars but I didn't feel like it would be an inspiration anywhere else.

And yet the Rodarte show stuck with me. I kept spying Star Wars influences everywhere I went. Dark starry prints on a dress at Fendi. Futuristic utilitarian suits at Andrew Gn and Maxime Simoens conjured up images of more fashionable storm troopers. Reed Krakoff had one look that perfectly resembled a genderbent version of Han Solo.

When Preen featured not one but two looks with Darth Vader's iconic helmet screened onto the fabric, I knew this wasn't a coincidence. It seemed Rodarte was indeed on to something when they dedicated their fall presentation to Luke Skywalker & Co. 

Maybe the fashion world is just as excited as the rest of us are for the new era of Star Wars movies that is coming to us soon, thanks to Disney and J.J. Abrams. Maybe fashion designers are more nerdy than their cool all-black ensembles make them out to be. 

Whatever the case may be, I am totally digging the Star Wars influence of the fall 2014 runways. Are you?

What to Wear When You're Shopping

March 19, 2014


As a frequenter of clothing retail establishments, I like to consider myself somewhat of a shopping expert (I know, my mom will be so proud). And one thing I've noticed in my many outings is that most people get so wrapped up in the thought of purchasing fabulous new clothes that they neglect the ones they are already wearing. 

Seriously, the amount of people I see in sweatpants while shopping is quite disconcerting - and they're not the cool Rag & Bone cashmere sweatpants either, they're just...sad.

When you know you'll be trying on a lot of new clothes, of course you want to be comfortable, but never forgo stylishness in the pursuit of comfort! The two are not mutually exclusive. Besides, salespeople treat you so much better when you are well-dressed (it's totally a fact) and why not show off your serious fashion game when trying to expand your closet?

Here are some of my tips to dressing when going on a shopping excursion:

Splendid Dress | Acne Boots | Elizabeth & James Crossbody Bag | Marc by Marc Jacobs Necklace

WHY IT WORKS: When you're on a big shopping trip, you want to wear things that are easy, effortless, and not a hassle to take on and off when trying clothes on in the dressing room. A jersey dress with a simple zip (or no zipper at all) is perfect for the job. You look chic and fashionable with all the comfort of the pair of sweatpants (but way cuter, let's be honest).

A crossbody bag is all you need to carry your essentials, and you don't want to feel weighed down with a heavy tote - along with your shopping bags, of course!

If I'm planning on trying on shoes, I always wear boots with socks just in case I find myself trying a new pair on. Personally I hate those disposable socks and like trying on new shoes with thicker socks that I will actually be wearing with them. If you're skipping the shoe department, a pair of slip-on ballet flats or zip-up gladiator sandals are perfect shoe options. Just don't wear anything with lots of ties or buckles, because that will become a hassle really quickly.

If dresses really aren't your style (or if its a little too cold for one) here's an alternative outfit:

R13 Leather Jacket | Frame Denim Jeans | J. Crew T-shirt | Chloe Ballet Flats

WHY IT WORKS: Nothing is easier or more classic than jeans and a T-shirt. Keep the look polished with a graphic print on the shirt and a straight leg. Leather ballet flats are perfect for walking down the boulevard and easy to slip on and off. A matching black leather jacket gives you that perfect edge and ties in wonderfully with the shoes!

What to definitely leave behind? Fussy accessories, excessive buttons and clasps, and layered outfits are best left at home when going on a shopping spree. Keep your look simple but streamlined - you'll look great, feel great, and be treated like the style maven that you totally are!

Quick Hiatus

March 10, 2014

Sorry I've been a bit inactive for the past week! Midterms season is killer and I'm working really hard on studying and writing papers about Renaissance courtesans (really exciting stuff actually! I'll have to share some of their style tips with you guys).

I'll be back next week with plenty of fashion tidbits though, so get ready!

Thank you all and I'll see you when spring break arrives (can't come soon enough).

-Lindsey, the Fashion Barbie

The 86th Annual Academy Awards

March 2, 2014


I can honestly say that this Oscars ceremony was the best I have seen in a long time.

Yes, the awards ceremony had its awkward moments (we're looking at you guys, John Travolta and Jamie Foxx) but everyone looked beautiful, no one was played out by the music, all the winners were deserving of their recognition, and Ellen absolutely killed it as host - she also temporarily killed Twitter with what is now the most retweeted picture ever (beating out the "Four More Years" picture of President Obama and First Lady Michelle).

Seriously though, that selfie was the bomb:

Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie, Lupita's brother Junior, Bradley Cooper, Ellen DeGeneres, and Meryl Streep taking the best selfie ever (tweeted by Ellen)

There weren't any real surprises with who won the big awards (other than the fact that American Hustle was shut out completely, maybe) but I was so happy to see people like Lupita Nyong'o (who gave an incredible and inspiring speech), Spike Jonze, and "Let It Go" songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (congrats on the EGOTs!) walk up to the stage to accept the coveted trophy man. Hearing Matthew McConaughey end his acceptance speech with his famous "Alright, alright, alright" was the icing on the delightfully refreshing cake that was this evening's Oscar ceremony.

Asides from the fact that all the winners seemed to be the ones who truly deserved the awards - there were no dark horse winners - the ceremony was just really fun, in a way it had probably tried to be last year with Seth MacFarlane but as you know, failed. Celebrities took selfies and ate pizza while in designer gowns, Ellen poked fun at Jennifer Lawrence for tripping last year (and again on the red carpet tonight) and collected money to pay for said pizza in Pharrell's now infamous hat. The musical performances were all great, from Pharrell's colorful dancing number to Vampire Weekend's Ezra playing guitar alongside Karen O to, well, Bono.

The ceremony's theme of the night - heros - was incredibly appropriate, as the films this year celebrated heroes of all shapes and sizes, with both superpowers and everyday abilities. There was a triumphant feel to the award show and the winning films - "Let It Go" is the ultimate jam for anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong; Gravity and 12 Years a Slave are both (but in very different ways) stories of perseverance and survival; Dallas Buyers Club a tale of being absolutely who you are and learning to live life despite its adversities.

Truly an inspirational and unforgettable year for film. It's certainly been a while since I have felt so pleased with the events of the Oscars, from the winners to the ceremony to of course, the dresses...

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive | Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen | Kate Hudson in Versace Atelier | Amy Adams in Gucci | Kristen Bell in Roberto Cavalli

The trend of the evening came in two colors: nude and navy. The majority of women wore soft, blush-hued gowns like the gorgeously detailed Armani Prive dress that Cate Blanchett wore. Kate Hudson looked phenomenal in a cream dress by Versace Atelier and was perhaps one of the best-dressed women of the evening. Kristen Bell looked every bit the princess in a sweeping Roberto Cavalli gown. A number of other actresses wore nude colors, but these three were the best of the bunch by far. Some looks were a bit too nude, in that the ladies needed to spruce up their lipstick or have some sort of pop of color to make their looks stand out.

Sandra Bullock and Amy Adams, bost nominees for best actress, wore stunning shades of midnight blue to the ceremony. The color is rich and statement-making on its own, and both women let their gorgeously-colored dresses do the talking.

The color trends of the evening carried into menswear as well. Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, and Ryan Seacrest wore cream colored suit jackets, while Kevin Spacey wore an elegant navy tux. Aside from the unconventional shorts tuxedo that Pharrell wore, the men were looking excellently dapper!

Charlize Theron in Dior | Emma Watson in Vera Wang | Kerry Washington in Jason Wu | Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel

These guys were the looks that stirred the most controversy when watching the red carpet at the sorority house and on the internet.

Charlize's invisible straps were just kind of odd and many people said they her dress totally looked like the horns Maleficent has (would have been perfect if Angie had worn this though!). I personally thought Emma Watson's edgy look, but my sisters were not fans of the messy ponytail. I think it looked strange from certain angles, but when I saw it I liked it.

Kerry Washington looked absolutely radiant - seriously, she was on her A-game for hair and makeup - and its hard to criticize what a woman wears while pregnant, but the shape of her dress was just a bit odd, and I hated that weird pin thing. Also, the dress was wrinkled. Always a bad look.

Lastly, I liked Anna Kendrick's look but thought the red detailing at the waist was weird. I would have liked it better in black, or white even. The maroon color was just not doing it for me.

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

On an evening of gorgeous dresses, newcomer and Oscar winner (!!!) Lupita Nyong'o stood above the rest as the night's best dressed starlet. She's dazzled all season long but tonight was truly her Cinderella moment.

In an aptly-colored baby blue dress by Prada, Nyong'o floated down the red carpet and captivated everyone with her stunning looks and her lovely and humble acceptance speech. She kept the accessories light, wearing only gold rings and bracelets - including a ring with her family's totem on it. She said that the color of her dress reminded her of Nairobi. I love that her outfit had so many personal touches to it. I even loved her headband, which people had mixed opinions on.

And of course, her Clarins lipgloss which she memorably handed to Ellen, is probably being sold out as we speak. If you were wondering why Lupita's been the one everyone's been talking about, hopefully your questions have been answered after watching her tonight. Her speech was eloquent as they have been all awards season, and she really is the type of celebrity you want to root for.

My favorite Lupita moment of the night, though? Seeing her (and Amy and Meryl) get down to Pharrell when he performed "Happy". Girl can jam, and I loved that her dress could move with her dancing!

What did you think of the awards ceremony? And of course, who was your best dressed star?