Trending - Skinny Scarves

May 29, 2015

Elin Kling via Le Fashion
Among fashion trends that men just don't understand (aka the whole reason Leandra Medine coined the term "man repeller") is the concept of wearing a scarf in summer. But boys are stupid and don't understand anything about fashion, so screw their ideas on what trends are cool and just do you! Scarves don't really do much to keep your neck warm, especially thin cotton scarves that are perfect for brisk summer evenings or picnics in the park.

If you are looking for a variation on the summer scarf, may I suggest the skinny scarf? Made popular on the Saint Laurent Spring 2015 runway, the skinny scarf is 2015's version of the tie-wearing girl, only way cooler (remember when Avril Lavigne made that a thing?)

Charlotte Hellberg of Chaloth | Celine Aagaard via WhoWhatWear | Saint Laurent Spring 2015 | Alexa Chung via Harper's Bazaar

Will you be wearing the skinny scarf trend this summer?

My Urban Outfitters Picks

May 28, 2015

Kimchi Blue Lagoon High Neck Sun Dress from Urban Outfitters
Many of my friends are surprised when I say that a lot of my clothes come from Urban Outfitters. After all, the eclectic, festival-ready clothing store may not immediately remind one of my more polished style. And yet, I've managed to find some pretty cool things that fit my style!

I love shopping for jewelry, sundresses, and comfy T-shirts at Urban. Sure, not everything at the store is my cup of tea, but if you look closely there are a lot of great clothes that you wouldn't typically think of finding at a store like Urban Outfitters.

Here are some of my top picks:
Top | Dress | Mules | Skirt | Necklace | Purse
*I actually went ahead and ordered the denim skirt*

Shop More Urban Outfitters Picks:

The It Bag of Summer

May 27, 2015

The Chloé Small Faye Shoulder Bag in Faded Rose
ChloĂ© has always been one of the go-to brands for the cool girls of the fashion world. With the brand's Parisian bohemian vibes, it's easy to see why fashion bloggers and street style stars love ChloĂ© so much. 

Case in point? The dominance of the Faye Shoulder Bag this season. From Damsel in Dior's Jaycee Duprie to the ever-stylish Chrissy Teigen, this purse is everywhere. It comes in two sizes and plenty of different colors and textiles (suede, leather, snakeskin, oh my!) so you can wear whatever style suits you the most.

I also love how the Faye can work as either a shoulder bag or an envelope clutch. Versatility is always something I look for in an investment piece, and the Faye certainly has just that. 
Veronika Heilbrunner via styledumonde | Sheryl Luke of Walk in Wonderland | Jaycee Duprie of Damsel in Dior | Aimee Song of Song of Style

What do you think of Chloé's latest It bag?

What To Wear To Disneyland

May 26, 2015

Alana Zimmer hangs with Mickey for Elle Canada January 2015
Going to Disneyland is one of my favorite summertime traditions. As a resident of Southern California the Happiest Place on Earth is never too far away, and luckily I have an annual pass, so I can go (almost) whenever I want!

This year the big D is celebrating its 60th Anniversary, and the theme park is pulling out all the stops with a new firework show, "World of Color" show, and festive diamond decorations throughout the park. If you have the opportunity I highly recommend taking some time to check it out, because everyone could use a Disney day this summer.

Of course, with long lines, warm temperatures, and lots of walking, it can be tricky to figure out what to wear to the park. You want something comfortable and easy, but you also want something that will look good in the many Instagrams and Snapchats you'll inevitably take. My go-to summer Disney outfit? a casual dress, fashionable sneakers, and a sweater tied at the waist for chilly evenings.

Me rocking the casual dress at Disneyland:

LEFT: Wearing a Free People dress, Madewell jean jacket, Converse sneakers, and Rebecca Minkoff purse | RIGHT: In Free People dress, J. Crew sweater, Keds x Madewell sneakers, and Tory Burch sunglasses
Here are 3 more perfect Disneyland outfit ideas:


Day Dress + Slides + Cross-body Bag

Madewell dress and purse | Loeffler Randall slides

Tank Top + Culotte Shorts + Flat Sandals

Marques'Almeida for Topshop top | Zara shorts | Sol Sana sandals | Mansur Gavriel bag | Gucci sunglasses

Romper + Sneakers + Baseball Cap

Tibi romper | Vans sneakers | Valentino purse | Madewell baseball cap | AurĂ©lie Bidermann bracelet

Plus, some survival tips on making the most out of Disneyland:

  1. You can never wear too much sunscreen or chapstick! Use the time you're waiting for "It's a Small World" to reapply so you don't end the day looking like a lobster.
  2. Bring a reusable water bottle and save some $$$. Disneyland has free water fountains all over the park.
  3. Get FastPasses for your favorites! "Radiator Springs Racers" is always the first to go, so I suggest heading over to California Adventure first thing and snagging that coveted FastPass. You'll thank me when you are zooming past the three hour stand-by line. 
  4. Make dinner reservations. Enjoy some much-needed sit-down time without waiting (and wasting) an hour for a table. 
  5. Go on the busiest rides during shows or fireworks, especially if you're with an older group. While everyone is watching the fireworks you could be walking to the front of the "Space Mountain" line. 
  6. Bring cash. It can be tempting to spend a ton of money on treats and merchandise, so I always try to stop at the ATM beforehand and stick to cash so I'm not tempted to go over my budget. 
  7. Download an app. I use MouseWait to check wait times for attractions so I don't have to walk all the way over to "Splash Mountain" before seeing it's a two-hour wait and turning away.

What's your go-to Disneyland outfit and pro tips? 

The Best Looks from the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

May 25, 2015

Fan Bingbing in Marchesa
The Cannes Film Festival is always one of my favorite red carpet events of the year. The world's most fashionable celebrities gather in the South of France for over a week of glamorous parties, premiers, and paparazzi. It's always been my dream to one day attend Cannes (perhaps I could soak up some sun on Leonardo DiCaprio's yacht?) because it seems like such a dream. For now, I'll just stick to reviewing the best red carpet fashions of the week.

Fashion favorites Diane Kruger and Fan Bingbing dominated with several stunning looks, but it was a good week for a lot of celebs. The Cannes red carpet always brings the glamour, so there was plenty of couture and miles of dress trains to keep fashion fans happy.

Here are all of my favorite looks from the Cannes Film Festival:

Photocalls 

Rooney Mara in Alexander McQueen
Sienna Miller in Balenciaga
Diane Kruger in Dolce & Gabbana
Emily Blunt in Peter Pilotto

Red Carpet

Diane Kruger in Prada
Chanel Iman in Zuhair Murad Couture
Cate Blanchett in Giles
Angelababy in Christian Dior Couture
Fan Bingbing in Ralph & Russo Couture
Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein
Sienna Miller in Ralph Lauren
Araya Hargate in Ashi Studio

What were your favorite looks from the Cannes film festival?

The Week in Pictures

May 24, 2015


It's been a lovely first week of summer, and I'm so happy to be home in San Diego for a little bit. It was raining for the first few days (not exactly tanning weather) but the sun has come out just in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

Whenever I'm home I have to visit all my favorite restaurants and cafés, so it was a good week for good food! Here's what I was up to this week:


Monday

Almost too pretty to eat!

Tuesday

Toby doesn't totally understand the concept of selfies | WEARING Madewell top and necklace
A Moscow Mule at the Brigantine Restaurant
Fish taco Tuesday at the Brigantine (aka the best fish tacos in the world)

Thursday

My attempt at a waterfall braid | WEARING Madewell top 
Ahi tuna sliders and a refreshing mojito at Vigilucci's happy hour

Friday

Gorgeous roses spotted on my afternoon walk

Saturday

Toby has perfected the strut | WEARING Free People dress, Madewell sunglasses, Rebecca Minkoff purse, and Sam Edelman sandals 
The beauty look | WEARING Madewell sunglasses and Urban Outfitters pendant
Bagel breakfast sandwich + an iced latte = perfection

Shop Lindsey's Looks:

What was everyone else up to this week? Have a happy Memorial Day!

Let's Get Summer Started

May 23, 2015


Summer is finally here! Bust out the swimsuit, head down to the beach, turn on the barbeque, and let's get this party started! Make sure you are celebrating with equally-awesome tunes, of course, which is why I saved you the trouble and curated a perfect summer playlist to kick off the season. There's a variety of pop, electronic, and a little bit of disco for good measure, so no matter what your weekend mood, there's a song for you.

Go ahead and give it a listen this weekend, and don't forget your sunscreen!

Memorial Day Weekend Playlist

What's on your Memorial Day Weekend playlist?

Get the Look - Blair Eadie's Overall Ensemble

May 22, 2015

Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific wearing Current/Elliott overalls, Vince purse, Converse sneakers, Prada sunglasses, and Michael Kors watch
Preppy fashion favorite Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific always knows how to put an interesting spin on classic wardrobe pieces, and her recent overalls look is no exception. With her glam cat-eye sunglasses, bright red pout, and perfect cotton candy bun, overalls and sneakers have never looked this polished!

Eadie's look is perfect for a festive Memorial Day weekend outfit. Test out the layered overalls look at a family picnic, evening movie under the stars, or a day at the lake.

And in case you don't have $300 to splurge on trendy overalls, here's how to get Eadie's look for less:
Zara overalls, Milly for Designation T-shirt, Velvet by Graham & Spencer jacket, Sephora lipstick, Converse sneakers, Steve Madden sunglasses, and Express purse

6 Easy Ways to Revitalize Your Blog

May 21, 2015

image from death to the stock photo
Happy summer, everyone! Now that I've got some free time without the stress of classes and papers, I'm making some changes to The Fashion Barbie and refreshing my approach to blogging. You may have noticed the new layout (tell me what you think!) and I'm working on some new post ideas that I think you guys are going to like.

Here are my tips on how you can make some quick updates to your blog and revitalize your blogging experience:

1. Update Your Info

Take the time to read through your "About Me" on your blog and social media accounts to make sure everything's up-to-date. I recently realized my tumblr still said I was eighteen (whoops!) and after that I went through all my "About Me"s and profiles to make sure that all the information was still accurate. While you're at it, make sure your wording is strong and really pinpoints who you are and what your blog is about. This may not seem like the biggest thing, but having a strong—and accurate—"About Me" is important to your readers.

2. Consider a New Theme

Notice anything different with The Fashion Barbie? I've been wanting to radically change the layout for a long time and I finally got around to doing it! Website design trends change rather rapidly, so every so often you should consider updating your theme so it is modern and fresh. And with so many premade themes, both free and premium, to choose from, there's no excuse for not having an amazing-looking blog.

3. Get Organized

A clean blog is a happy blog. It's easy to load up on sidebar widgets and plugins, but really consider what is necessary for your readers to see versus what you like. Do you really need buttons for the different blogger communities you're part of? Is your twitter feed so good that you need to include it in your sidebar? Clearing up clutter is a quick way to make your blog fresh and updated.

Another way to organize? Start planning out your blog posts! My Lilly Pulitzer planner is one of my favorite tools because I can plan out blog ideas and posts. Consistency is important, so planning things out is a great way to maintain a consistent blogging schedule.

4. Mix Things Up

It's really easy to get into a rut when you are blogging about the same thing over and over again. If all you do is talk about red carpet fashion, you may grow bored. The easiest solution: mix things up and talk about something else! For example, I'm hoping to start talking about film and culture more. It's still related to fashion and style, but it's something new that I'm excited to write about. Don't be afraid to broaden your blog's horizons! It might just be the solution to writer's block.

5. Share Your Experiences

With social media really taking off in the past few years, Twitter and Instagram accounts are just as important as your main blog, and it's really changed how we follow our favorite fashion bloggers. I know as much about what Aimee Song eats for breakfast as I know what she wears each day. Readers want to know what you are doing, what your favorite restaurants are, where you are travelling, etc. It adds a personal touch to the blogging experience and shows that you're a real person, not just someone who wears great outfits.

6. Socialize

Sometimes I forget that I'm just one girl in a huge community of fashion bloggers, but the community is what makes blogs successful! Connect with bloggers by commenting on their posts, liking their Instagrams, and networking through online blog communities. Think of it like the golden rule: do unto others as you would like done unto you. In this case, you should get out there and support fellow fashion bloggers if you want them to support you! So if you read a great blog post, let them know. It means a lot and other bloggers will return the favor.

What are your tips for revitalizing your blog?


Who Run The World?

May 20, 2015

Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj from the "Feeling Myself" music video | Taylor Swift in the "Bad Blood" Music Video
Girls run the world, that's who.

A lot happened this week. Female-heavy Pitch Perfect 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road dominated the box office. Taylor Swift revealed her long-awaited "Bad Blood" music video at the Billboard Music Awards. BeyoncĂ© and Nicki Minaj got down to their new jam "Feeling Myself" and released a music video so cool and fun that I think everyone wants to be besties with the two.

In other words, this week's pop culture news was dominated by badass women, and I love it.

Though I haven't gotten around to seeing either film yet, I'm ecstatic to see a female-driven film directed by a female (Elizabeth Banks made her directing debut in Pitch Perfect 2) take the number one box office spot in the highly-competitive month of May.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, and friends in Mad Max: Fury Road
The aca-mazing girls of Pitch Perfect 2
And who would have thought that Mad Max: Fury Road, which seems like a post-apocalyptic take on Fast & Furious with nothing but explosions and heavy testosterone, would be one of the most feminist films of the year? If this weekend was any indication, girls can be badass whether they are surviving in a desert wasteland or busting out some acapella. Basically, girls rule no matter what they're doing.

By Sunday I was already content with the feminist triumphs of the week, and then came two awesome music videos from three of the world's biggest advocates of feminism, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift.

Don't mess with Catastrophe, from Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" music video
In Swift's "Bad Blood" music video, her character Catastrophe trains for an all-out showdown against rival Arsyn (played by Selena Gomez) with the help of a star-studded group of downright badasses. Ellie Goulding totes around a bazooka, Karlie Kloss rolls with the punches as a boxing champ, and Cara Delevingne has the coolest purse ever (the handle is actually a pair of nunchucks). It's awesome, seeing all these women look fierce and kick ass.

Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé looking awesome on the "Feeling Myself" music video
For "Feeling Myself" Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj teamed up for a straight-up jam. The video shows Bey and Nicki getting down and rocking some pretty sweet dance moves (that I'm sure everyone's going to try and learn this summer) but it also shows them being silly and goofy, trying to catch french fries in their mouths and partying backstage at Coachella. I love that this video shows them looking hot and fierce but also shows that these women are friends and are just having a good time. Women are badass, but they're people too, and this video shows that even the #flawless Beyoncé goofs off with her friends.

Of course, it wasn't all good news this week. Sunday's episode of Game of Thrones was met with a lot of criticism when they showed another rather gratuitous rape scene. The fact that writers feel like rape is one of the only ways to make a female character "interesting" is a harsh reminder that while we have all these awesome movies and music videos celebrating the multifacetedness and awesomeness of women, we still have a way to go.

For now, pump up the volume and blast "Bad Blood" and "Feeling Myself", go to the movies, and keep supporting media that supports women.

What I Wore 5.18.15

May 19, 2015

Madewell jean jacket & sunglasses | J. Crew T shirt & shorts | Sam Edelman sandals | Rebecca Minkoff purse | Urban Outfitters necklace | Kate Spade iPhone case
Mad Men may have ended this past Sunday, but the style influences of Betty Draper & Co. will live on forever. I channeled a sort of modern-day sixties housewife with this high-waisted short outfit, artfully draping my denim jacket over my shoulders in true vintage fashion. A faint tie-dye pattern on my T-shirt gives this outfit a modern, California style—perfect for the first official weekend of my summer vacation!

SHOP THE OUTFIT:

4 Office-Appropriate Items for Summer

May 18, 2015

When temperatures rise it can be tricky to look professional while making sure you don't overheat. As tempting as it is to through office decorum out the window and wear a mini-skirt and tank top, most offices would frown upon such a look, so maybe save that for the weekend. 

So, how does one look chic and professional in the summer months? Here are some on-trend items to try to the office this summer so you don't have to sacrifice style or professionalism.

1. A Sleeveless Vest

Love the put-together look of a coat but not sure how to wear one when it's 80 degrees out? A long sleeveless vest is summer's way of looking polished while keeping cool.

2. A Chic Shell

A sleeveless shell is the perfect effortless summer top. A light silk or cotton one in a cool print or pattern can go with just about anything. Drape a blazer over your shoulders or wear with a sweater in the office and you are good to go.

3. Culottes

Christine of Fash N Chips
It took a while for me to come around to this trend, but I've accepted the culotte now and there's no turning back. A silky pair is lightweight and feminine; they have the look of a skirt but they're pants! Genius!

4. Cool Hair Accessories

CĂ©line Spring 2015
Summer heat and humidity can make for some bad hair days. Practice some new updos and tie your hair back with cool hair accessories. These are not your mother's scrunchies; these hair ties are sleek and fashionable.
What are your favorite things to wear to work in the summer?