Flea Marketing

Part of the appeal of shopping and browsing at flea markets is that you never know what you may unearth. Call it the thrill of the hunt. Some people may categorize the merchandise as junk, others may call it antiques and collectibles. Whatever your opinion might be, there's an interesting trend that I've noticed as a result of the collapsing economy. More people seem to be shopping for secondhand goods at flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, and so on. Not only is this trend environmentally friendly, it's economical and makes sense for the times. And more people seem to be catching on in recent months. For example, my last few trips to the famous Rose Bowl Flea Market revealed a marked increase in the number of vendors as well as buyers. Furthermore, this past weekend, this smaller flea market which specializes in home furnishings had increased attendance, as the parking lot was filled to capacity and I had to weave through crowds of shoppers which weren't present in the past.

As I shopped with my Canon Rebel XS in tow, naturally, a few things inpsired me...my apologies if they lean towards the girly or shabby chic side - that's just what I'm drawn to.

While browsing and snapping away, I couldn't resist photographing my shoes in an old mirror.

Band Geek

Perhaps it was my geeky roots as a band member in junior high, or perhaps it was my adoration of Balmain's glitzy SS '09 collection that drew me toward this surprising find at Target today - a band vest complete with frogging and a standup collar. Target's current GO International collection, while known for its cheap fabrics, is certainly on trend and ahead of other masstige retailers who have yet to copy the band jackets that Christophe Decarnin sent marching down the runway in September. I admit that it was quite an unexpected find, as I hadn't seen images of the vest online. When paired with the Xhilaration bleached jeans (also from Target), the look would probably make Christophe Decarnin either cringe or smile. For those interested in creating the Balmain runway look on a budget, the jeans retail for $24.99 and the vest for $34.99.

Wearing: floral sunglasses - Wet Seal, T-shirt - Fruit of the Loom, bird pin (on sleeve) - H&M, vest and jeans - Target, vintage boots - Donald J. Pliner, bag - Kohl's, jewelry - assorted.

Beachy

Sometimes what I want to wear and what's practical given the weather are two diverging things. For example, this morning, my mood dictated a spring-themed look - a floral tee, straw fedora, boyfriend jeans, gladiator sandals, and a lightweight cardigan. The weather, however, was cooler and more breezy than expected, so practicality and comfort won out and I opted for a boring but functional look for a day at the flea market and the beach - a canvas jacket, fringed scarf, and my trusty Cheap Mondays. One of the many benefits of living near the beach is that it never really gets too hot. Even on summer nights, a lightweight sweater or jacket comes in handy. And I have a feeling this jacket will be one of my favorite standbys.

Watching: surfers
Wearing: floral sunglasses - Wet Seal, fringed scarf - F21, ring - Blue Asphalt, jacket - I ♥ Ronson for JC Penney, jeans - Cheap Monday, shoes - Converse

The Blue Tunic

Although spring just started, it feels like the midst of summer. It's the perfect weather for a lightweight tunic paired with skinnies, a fringed scarf, and strappy wedges. The tie-dye/burnout effect of the tunic reminds me of the sky on a cloudy day, and is just roomy enough to accommodate my bulging stomach after devouring a veggie omelette and roasted potatoes in celebration of my dad's birthday.

Wearing: tunic - Zara, scarf - Target, belt - H&M, skinnies - Topshop, wedges - Shiekh, beaded bracelet - F21

In other news, I will be traveling to NYC in May, and I welcome reader suggestions for restaurants, vintage/thrift shopping, museums, theaters/plays, and unique boutiques. Feel free to leave your NYC tips in the comments section or just email me. I'm so excited...I can't wait to compare the new Topshop to the ones I've shopped in Europe.

More Spring Store Window Style

For those of of you who haven't done much shopping lately, perhaps these store window photos will inspire you to create a new look or even buy something new. If not, they're still a good indication of what's trendy at the retail level. Here in southern California the weather has been nothing short of perfect. It's time to put aside those dark plaid prints from fall and trade them for delicate florals, tribal prints, and distressed denim. My favorites include the bandage-y skirt in the 2nd photo, the peach one-shoulder frock in the 3rd photo, and the layered necklaces.

SS '09 Store Window Style At Forever 21

My last peek into Forever 21 resulted in a slightly disappointing outcome. My purchases? A soft tee/tunic that will work well with many of my leggings and a floral lacquer necklace to brighten up my solid spring tops. So why was I disappointed? Well the majority of offerings included distressed cutoffs, drapey tank tops, and skimpy swimwear, all of which I have enough of in my closet. I did spy one interesting piece - a faux leather hoodie vest that looked more expensive than its price tag. Upon exiting the store, the window displays offered a diversion from the overly crowded and disheveled array of merchandise that many a young woman was sifting through. I couldn't help but shoot them, and here are a few examples.

Lucky Charm

While I don't consider myself a superstitious person, I found myself to be unlucky enough to get a nail in my bike tire on good old Friday the 13th. The next day, however, my luck turned around when I received a beautiful and delicate four-leaf clover necklace by Emily Elizabeth Jewelry. Although I won't be drinking green beer or eating bangers and mash in celebration of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday, I will definitely be wearing my four-leaf clover necklace in honor of my Irish heritage.

The four-leaf clover lariat can be worn by threading the clover through the gold hoop or by wrapping both ends of the lariat around each other (as one does when putting on a tie). With an 18k gold-filled fine cable chain, the necklace features a detailed brass clover charm, which can be plated in variations of gold. It lends a delicate and versatile vibe to any outfit and retails for $34+ at Emily Elizabeth Jewelry.

As for the rest of my outfit, I was clearly inspired by Cristophe Decarnin, whose recent collections are the envy of many a fashion blogger, including myself. Since I'm still looking for an impeccable and affordable Balmain-esque band jacket, I dug up my embellished vest from several seasons ago, and I have to admit, it makes quite a satisfying substitute, minus the power shoulders.

Wearing: tee - Xhilaration, vest - Kimchi & Blue, pocket watch necklace - Urban Outfitters, clover necklace - Emily Elizabeth Jewelry, jeans - Lei, studded sandals - Wild Rose

Spring Window Shopping At Wet Seal

I love this time of year. The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up, and flowers are blooming all around me. With the official start of spring right around the corner, it's time to brighten up that wardrobe by adding some bold new colors. I'm stowing away my dark plaid tops and faux fur outerwear for the time being and reaching for lighter, brighter pieces. (Mint green and peach are two of my favorite spring colors right now.)

It seems that Wet Seal's visual merchandising team has the right idea, as their current displays feature a mix of colorful graphic prints, printed scarves, and easy layered pieces that work well for the transitional southern California weather.

**All photos are subject to copyright laws and may not be reproduced or republished without permission.

Inspired By Chloë Sevigny

On recent thrifting excursions, I've gravitated toward ditzy print florals in blue, purple, and black color schemes. Most of the pieces that interest me turn out to be polyester, which often makes me cringe since I prefer breathable, natural fabrics. This particular dress was actually ankle length until I introduced it to my sewing machine (hence, the slightly crooked hem). To counteract its girlish vibe and keep warm, I added my go-to tuxedo blazer and some snake-textured leggings.

Wearing: blazer - H&M, dress - vintage, leggings - American Apparel, belt & boots - Forever 21

Cold As Ice Cream

There's nothing particularly remarkable about today's outfit, but it serves to illustrate my current infatuation with amazingly comfortable, relaxed bottoms that fall into the category of either harem pants or sweatpants. I just can't get enough of the relaxed pants + killer heels combo right now.

And then there's my new faux leather moto jacket that I lusted after when I saw it in a past issue of Lucky...it's neither blue nor gray, but a soothing hybrid of both hues. After sampling some of Dippin' Dot's icy cold offerings in the park this evening, the jacket helped to keep me warm as a chilly breeze took hold. There must be something about PU that traps in your body heat...

Wearing: layered necklaces - dELiA*s, striped top - Richard Chai for Target, moto jacket - H&M, harem pants - F21, platform boots - Cathy Jean

And The Winner Is...

If you've been following Fashion Trend Guide this week, then you may have entered the contest for a pair of Current Elliott boyfriend jeans. This afternoon, I put everyone's name in a bowl and randomly drew out the name of one lucky winner...

I'm happy to announce that the winner is Ashley of Breakfast At Saks. I'd like to thank Chickdowntown for sponsoring this awesome contest! Check out their huge list of designers including Elizabeth and James, Rory Beca, Rachel Pally, and Black Halo (just to name a few).

Thanks to everyone who entered!

In Between Raindrops

While getting dressed yesterday morning, I had two things in mind - creating a functional and comfortable look for dodging raindrops and newly found inspiration from Topshop's Sport Nouveau collection. Visions of glossy leggings, oversize tank tops, and sporty anoraks paired with killer heels swirled in my head. The end result was this easy mix of sporty separates that kept me warm and dry as I navigated the suburban streets.

Wearing: white tissue tee - Xhilaration, layered necklace - Topshop, bunny print tank top - Shibuya Mon Amour at F21, anorak - Xhilaration, leggings - American Apparel, shoes - Forever 21, polka dot umbrella - Gap

Also - I will be announcing the winner of the Chickdowntown.com contest very soon. Thanks to all those who entered, and if you didn't, you still have time!

© 2009 Fashion Trend Guide

Trend On The Rise - Platform Footwear

While doing my daily browse through Forever 21's website on Friday night, I spotted these Alexander Wang-inspired open-toe fringe boots in the New Arrivals section and wasted no time in placing my order. Although the $575 Alexis version undoubtedly feels much better on the feet than this $34.80 PU version, the 1" platform makes them comfortable and a breeze to walk in. I always welcome footwear with a platform, as the platform adds height without the dreaded discomfort that high heels often bring to my feet.

Lucky for me, there is a strong S&M undercurrent (with lots of high and hidden platforms) influencing spring footwear, and it seems that super high heels that were once considered trampy are becoming more mainstream. These boots will be an easy and painless way for me to add 4.5" of height, and they'll go with everything that I'll be wearing this season, from cuffed shorts and floral dresses to skinny jeans and printed leggings.

As a random side note, I'm currently loving these four beauty trends for spring:

• a black pedicure (perfect for that disheveled, Alexander Wang-y tough-girl-could-care-less look)
• bold eye shadow hues in shades of lavender and turquoise
• pastel green nail polish the color of mint chip ice cream, because it reminds me of Miami's architecture (I just bought Opi's Gargantuan Green Grape)
• peachy or coral cream blush for a natural, flushed look

McQ For Target - A Review

After calling various Targets in southern California to see who would be carrying the McQ for Target collaboration, I lucked out when one of the phone operators at the store nearest me had actually heard of Alexander McQueen and clued me in to the fact that the collection had arrived early. As for the rest of the stores, a memo to all the fashion-challenged people in the Women's apparel department might do the trick. (I find it hard to believe that so many people can work for Target and not know who Alexander McQueen is, especially if Target is doing a limited edition line with said designer.) And now on to the McQ for Target review...

Being a Monday morning, the store was unusually peaceful and orderly. It looked like some of the McQ merchandise had been picked through, but save for myself and two other women (one was a stylish young mother and the other was an older UGG-clad woman), nobody else was making a fuss. The studded leather vest, studded denim shorts, and Liela-print tee weren't available in my size, so I sized up for my fitting room photos of those.

Being a fan of details such as mesh, zippers, and studs, I could certainly appreciate the rock and roll-influenced embellishments in this collection. The color palette, which relies heavily upon black and gray as neutrals, contrasted nicely against the cobalt blue and bold pink of some of the other pieces. If you're considering buying the swimsuits, I found that they run really, really small. As for the rest of the collection, I thought it generally ran smaller than the GO International pieces tend to...either that or I've gained weight!

First I tried on the leather vest in a size small. It has an inside zipper and interesting asymmetrical placket with snap closures. I didn't like the sleeves because they were too T-shirt like, but this was still one of my favorite pieces. A leather vest like this lends instant panache to a casual look, and works just as easily over a graphic T-shirt or a minidress. If the price was lower and I didn't already have so many vests, I might have bought this one.

Up next were the cuffed denim shorts, which I liked because of their back patch pockets and stud details. I admit that these shorts were a pleasant surprise, because I wasn't planning on buying them after seeing the McQ lookbook. Grey denim is such a refreshing alternative to blue, and the color matches a lot of items already in my closet. I'll probably wear them with tights or leggings, as they're a bit short for me. I found these to run small, and as they didn't have my regular size, I went up two sizes.

Here's the zigzag-print gathered dress in gray, which looked great on the tall, thin model in the lookbook, but did not do anything to flatter my hips. The fit ran small, but the string shoulder strap was too loose. There is a tricky back zip and a tie belt which helps to emphasize the waist. Although I like the asymmetrical/drapey concept, this dress was not for me. Verdict: if you have a lean silhoustte and want to create curves, then this dress will do the trick. It would look great for a night on the town with some chunky bangles, slick hair, and cage heels.

The Liela-print tee is made of sturdy 100% cotton, fits larger than other pieces in the collection, and will work well with the myriad glossy leggings and skinny jeans I own. The zigzag-print leggings (with ankle zippers), which consist of 96% rayon and 4% spandex, are incredibly comfortable and run a bit small. I'd liked to have seen more printed leggings in this collection, as I'm currently going through a phase where I can't get enough printed leggings.

Rather than buy the silk zigzag-print tunic, I bought the more affordable and flattering tank top with the same print. It's made of 100% cotton and runs a tad on the large side. I'm wearing an extra small.

By far the most anticipated and coveted item for me is the black jumpsuit. It comes with an adjustable thin canvas belt, which I replaced with a belt of my own from Zara. It's got two patch pockets on the chest and two on the back. The fiber content is 97% cotton and 3% spandex. The legs are cropped and taper slightly at the ankle. The only problem I have is that the sleeves aren't well cut, and it's hard to have complete mobility of my arms while wearing it. At least I can still reach out to pet the dog...

My intention with the one-piece swimsuit is to wear it as a bodysuit when the weather warms up. (I've been trying to track down a great bodysuit for weeks now.) I found this piece to run super small, as well as the studded bikini. I bought a medium, but I might even return it for a large.

The harness dress in black/grey, which is made of 100% rayon, will come in handy for layering over leggings. Like the jumpsuit, it has a thin adjustable belt which can be worn crisscrossed or tied in a knot. Below, I'm wearing it blouson-style with a Jonathan Saunders for Target belt. At $44.99, I found it to be pricey, but when I consider the cost per wear and versatility of this item, I think it will be worth it.

For more conservative McQueen fans, I think the cropped blazer and trousers are the best bet. They're office-appropriate and chic, and with clever styling, will last beyond this season. The collection's graphic tees and mesh sweaters have a more youthful appeal and are perfectly on-trend for spring, while the leggings and studded gray denim pieces work well for women with casual lifestyles. I was pleased to see more natural fabrics in this line, but I would've liked to have seen more printed dresses that flatter women who aren't as tall as models. In the end, regardless of what criticism people may launch at Alexander McQueen's collaboration with Target, I'm still a big fan and I'm grateful to be able to buy the designer's wares at these prices, even if it's a diffusion line and the fit is less than perfect. Cheers to Target for teaming up with another esteemed designer and offering affordable on-trend apparel to fashion addicts such as myself!
© 2009 Fashion Trend Guide
May not be reproduced in any way without permission from the author.