2 L.A. Events This Weekend

What's on your schedule for the coming weekend? For L.A. readers, here are two events that are totally worth your time.

For more info on these events, click here and here.

Wednesday Winner + Random Things Part 2

A few random things today...first, I'd like to announce the winner of the BB Dakota contest. The lucky winner is Heather, and I'd like to thank all of you who entered. There were some creative comments, and I look forward to doing more giveaways in the future, so if you didn't win - maybe next time!

On the blog front, I'm toying with the idea of doing more random posts like this one where I write about new websites I discover, things that inspire me, and include some personal anecdotes. As far as this week:

* A reader alerted me to this website, which has an incredible selection of graphic tees. (I practically live in men's tees when I'm lounging or working out.)

* I browsed lust-worthy leggings and shoulder-baring dresses at Sanity Style from the likes of LnA and Plenty by Tracy Reese.

* After a few keyword searches on ebay, I came across Tin Roof Vintage, whose selection of on-trend vintage pieces had me mesmerized, not to mention the blond model's edgy hairstyle, which I'm thinking might inspire my next haircut...

* Ogled the new arrivals at Steve Madden, including Towwer, Markee, and Raceyy. (I also wondered how they come up with such spellings for their shoes.)

* I lost five pounds but discovered that my dog has gained five...someone needs more exercise.

* Recently developed an affinity for '90s-esque tops and dresses with cut outs in the midriff and shoulder area. Still hunting for the perfect one...

* Patiently waiting for Motel to restock the Razzy dress in tan/black animal print.

* Found a perfectly glittery jacket at a local thrift store to satisfy my desire for a Balmain/Topshop-inspired trophy jacket, and was determined to make it work for daytime.

The Aftershock Effect

My adoration for floral mini dresses this season continues with the colorful Missouri Mini Dress from British luxury brand Aftershock. I just can't seem to get enough florals, especially as we're in the midst of summer. Graphic florals, realistic florals, photographic florals...I love them all equally! The unique multi-colored halter styling on this dress is unlike anything I've seen. It shows a sliver of shoulder, and is perfectly appropriate for both summer days and cool nights on the town. For a typically overcast afternoon in southern California with cool temperatures (before the marine layer burns off), I've paired it with one of my favorite cardigans and some colorful accessories.

Making an exit - the back view of the dress is just as unique as the front, as it features an unexpected panel of floral fabric down the center.

Wearing: H&M cardigan and sunglasses, Aftershock dress and bracelets, belt from Target, and Qupid pumps.

Saturday Before Last

Bored with the same old scenery the weekend before the 4th, I decided to head out to Carpinteria, a small beach town just south of Santa Barbara. Little did I know what a great day I'd picked to explore the downtown area. After munching on sinfully scrumptious fruit-covered yogurt from Yo Yum Yum (my latest addiction), I strolled down Carpinteria Ave and came upon a charming flea market on Maple St. Upon inquiring, I found out that they hold the flea market on the last Saturday of each month.

Amongst the items for sale were vintage dresses, antique brooches, lots of costume jewelry, and plenty of girly knick knacks. It was like a mini Rose Bowl, but without the crowds and the stifling Pasadena heat. After a walk through the flea market and a quick browse inside the nearby historical museum, I walked to Linden St. with the intent of exploring the small shops that dot the compact downtown area.

Quaint surf shops like the one above are a constant reminder that the beach is only a few blocks away. Walking down Linden, I saw that the street was closed to traffic due to a vintage car show and parade. Both sides of the street were lined with pristinely restored cars from the '40s to the '60s. I think the vibrant colors and bold, sweeping lines of classic cars is visually inspiring, and interestingly enough, has inspired me to wear '50s-esque full skirts and dresses.

Trend On The Rise - Hitched Hemlines

images from dorothyperkins.com, allsaints.com, forever21.com, missselfridge.com

Admittedly, there are a few fashion trends that I avoid. For example, bubble hemlines have never appealed strongly to me. I do, however, appreciate a voluminous dress or skirt when done in a refreshing new way. The proliferation of hitched hemlines that I've seen lately has intrigued me and it has also helped to take the edge off of my recent fascination with prom/lantern/full volume skirts. With clever draping and stitching, I suppose this could be an easy DIY update for giving old pieces (perhaps prairie skirts circa 2005) a whole new look. While I haven't yet taken the plunge into the hitched hemline pool, my thoughts on how to wear the trend are to keep the proportions lean on top, choose hefty fabrics that will keep their shape and won't fall victim to gravity, and wear heels to combat the hip/thigh area volume and make legs look longer.

Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge offer printed versions of hitched skirts for those who are more gutsy when it comes to mixing prints and full silhouettes, while Forever 21's shimmer party dress gives a strong nod to the glitzy '80s. I also spotted these two very affordable versions at Papaya this weekend (but I encountered some glitches on their website, so I don't recommend ordering from them online).

Chain Reaction

Feeling newly inspired by the DIY body harness/body chain trend that's quickly traveling through the fashion blogosphere, I got my hands on two of the Shirley drape necklaces from Forever 21, hopped aboard the DIY bandwagon, and embarked on a quick project.

image from forever21.com

While the possibilities for creating a unique body chain are endless, I finally settled on a simple style. First, I connected the two necklaces at the top by removing the lobster clasps and linking the chains together so that they'd be continuous. (Since this is the portion that rests on the shoulder, I didn't want any visible lobster clasps.) The front and back portions of the body chain are the same, except that I removed the fringe-y vertical drape chains on the back portion to keep it more streamlined. The side portions which connect the front and back are chains that I picked up at Michael's. I attached the sides to the front and back with pliers and spring rings. The whole project took under an hour, and while the end result can be tricky to put on and take off, the jump rings make it easy to connect the sides while taking it on and off instead of pulling it on over the head and slipping my arms through.

After some experimentation, I realized that a simple black tee provides the best backdrop for which to showcase the new necklace. So much for the gray AC/DC tee I was previously wearing...

As if I don't already have enough studded shoes, I had to add these platform pumps from GoJane to the collection. I'm currently having a pump revival in my wardrobe, as the leg-lengthening styles are classic and go with just about everything I've been wearing lately.

Wearing: H&M sunglasses, American Apparel tee, DIY body chain, Cheap Monday jeans, and Promise pumps.

Ship Overseas, Please

images via Dorothy Perkins

My love for British high street retailers is no secret. They nail key fashion trends each season, have budget-friendly prices, and are months ahead of U.S. retailers on the trend cycle. So when I discovered this week that Dorothy Perkins now delivers to the U.S., I was thrilled, to say the least. I promptly browsed the affordably priced goods and picked out some of my favorites. For those who browse Topshop's site and follow the GBP/USD exchange rate as much as I do, you may notice that the floral bustier, crop top, and sequin jacket I've featured are similar to Topshop's current offerings, but are priced a bit lower at Dorothy Perkins. (At the time of this writing, the rate is still making me cringe at 1 USD to 1.64 GBP.)

Up until now, I was aware of only three other high street retailers that ship to the U.S. - Topshop, All Saints, and Miss Selfridge. Then there's Asos, whose site I could spend hours browsing. (Those models make almost everything look good!)

When I first went shopping in various parts of London, the selection of high street retailers was so new and vast to me that it was overwhelming, but after a few days, I became familiar with each store's strengths and characteristics. New Look was a strong choice for inexpensive and trendy footwear and dresses. River Island had higher quality boots, jackets, and denim to die for. Office carried oxfords, ankle boots, and colorful pumps that I could never find in the U.S. at similar price points. Oasis, Next, and Warehouse all fit the bill for low-key, sophisticated work and party pieces. Miss Selfridge stocked fun jewelry, trendy tops, and chunky faux fur vests. Dorothy Perkins had great dresses, chic trousers, and a Petites department which interested me. And Topshop...I must have spent hours in the shopper's paradise known as the Oxford St. store.

Now if only River Island and New Look would ship to the U.S., my fantasy online high street shopping destination list would be just about complete.

2 New Videos

Cecilia from Barracuda Film & TV just sent me the links to these two brief videos that I had to share. The first video explores fashion trends for Autumn/Winter 2009, with interviews and footage. If you're a fan of glitzy glamour, strong shoulder silhouettes, and bold color, then you'll love what's in store next season. There will many influences from the '80s, with sharp silhouettes and squared shoulders, transmitting an edgy, colorful, and very personal style. The video features commentary from Claudia Croft of Sunday Times Style, Paula Reed of Grazia UK, and Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design for H&M.

The second video features a styling session from the H&M showroom in NY. Rajni Lucienne Jacques from Nylon Magazine and Thomas McEntee from the Odin Store NY pick their favorite pieces for creating a strong personal style for Autumn/Winter 2009. Now that I've seen the sneak peek at some of H&M's fall pieces, I can't wait for next season! Note to self: come fall, track down that puff-shoulder jacket that Rajni's wearing.

**Also, don't forget to enter my contest for a chance to win a BB Dakota dress.