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.

BB Dakota Giveaway

If you're looking for a fabulous new summer dress, I've got great news for you. I've teamed up with Chick Downtown once again for another exciting contest. One lucky Fashion Trend Guide reader will win this BB Dakota dress from Chick Downtown.

BB Dakota has been one of my favorite labels for a while now. They entered the fashion scene in 2005. Glorida Brandes, founder of BB Dakota, adds her French flair to the clothes, and her goal is to offer BB Dakota girls big fashion at small prices. Check out their site for more BB Dakota clothing and women's dresses. My favorite is this floral number, ideal for summer weddings, barbeques, and parties. One of you will be the proud new owner of this gorgeous frock!

You can keep up with the web savvy folks at Chick Downtown by checking them out on Twitter and on their Facebook Fan page.

Want to win? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post or email me (with BB Dakota in the subject line) telling me how and where you'd wear this dress. (For example, "I'd wear it to my cousin's 18th birthday party with a straw boater hat, platform pumps, sparkly gemstone rings, and a sequin cardigan.")

Now for the contest rules: open to U.S. readers only, one entry per person, and the contest ends on Tuesday, July 7 at 9pm PST. The winner will be announed on Wednesday, July 8. Good luck and thanks for participating!

Trend On The Rise - Floral Bustier Tops

As we progress into summer, I've taken a new liking to cotton floral bustier tops. When you hear the word bustier, satin and lace might be the some of first words that come to mind, but this sexy new crop of tops is just as fitting for the boardroom or the beach as for the boudoir. Paired with some distressed jeans or cuffed dress shorts and flat embellished sandals, they're perfect for warm summer days. For modesty, layer a tee or tank underneath the bustier or throw on a cardigan for more coverage on chilly evenings. Paired with a pencil skirt, oversize blazer, and peep-toe pumps, floral bustiers become office-appropriate, and they work just as well for a night out with a voluminous mini skirt, shiny bangles, and vertiginous platforms.

1. Floral ruffle corset, Forever 21, $16.80, 2. Dark roses cup corset top, Topshop, $70, 3. Floral belted corset, A'gaci, $13.99, 4. Rose bustier top, Charlotte Russe, $26.99.

images from forever21.com, topshop.com, agacistore.com, charlotterusse.com.

Mesmerized By Motel

An intense online browsing session for floral dresses at Asos last week led me to a U.K. brand I'd never heard of called Motel. Heavy on bold florals and flirty frocks, it was just what I was craving for my summer wardrobe. I knew I'd hit the online shopping jackpot, especially when I saw that they delivered to the U.S. My new vintage-inspired 'Kate' dress perfectly satisfies everything I want in a summer dress - it's lightweight, has a fun print, features a voluminous tulip skirt silhouette, and most importantly, has two pockets. Even the hang tag surprised me, as it stated that the dress was hand painted using special techniques in Bali (something I wasn't expecting). I also have leggings in the same print, that's how much I love the blue, green, and lavender color combination.

On a personal note, the more I scrutinize these photos and see how light my skin is (and that my diligent use of sunblock every day must be working), the more I feel like adopting the theme "pale is the new tan." A visit to the dermatologist yesterday affirmed my dislike for the sun's damaging UVA and UVB rays and aging effects, so I guess the only tan I'll ever be sporting will be a faux one.

Wearing: Motel dress, H&M bracelet, Barneys New York clutch, Forever 21 ring, Topshop shoes

L.A. Sample Sale Alert

Janet from Marked was kind enough to send me this info on their upcoming sample sale in downtown L.A.

There will be fantastic deals on Myne, Nanushka, Use/Unused and Found Denim at Marked Showroom's downtown sample sale on June 25th-26th.

Snag overstock and samples for $50 or less. Cash only.

Located at 860 South Los Angeles Street Suite 410
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Thursday 6/25 and Friday 6/26: 10am to 5pm.

Prints Charming

Now that summer is offcially here, I've caught a case of floral fever. From dainty ditsy florals to large, graphic prints and floral-themed jewelry, I am currently obsessed with all things that pay homage to the flower. Gorgeous A-line skirts and prim floral dresses and tops conjure up daydreams of having tea in a rose garden, while floral print combat boots intriguingly offer both feminine and masculine design elements.

Pictured above: 1. Tamber button down floral tube dress, cutesygirl.com, $24.99, 2. flower custer ring, missselfridge.com, $8, 3. Vintage floral cropped tee, topshop.com, $50, 4. Evening rose corset top, Forever 21, $17.80, 5. floral Dr. Martens, urbanoutfitters.com, $128, 6. floral shop skirt, modcloth.com, $59.99.

**It's time to announce a winner...for those of you who entered the YMI contest, I'd like to thank you for your creativity and participation. The winner is Ana, who created this inspiring Polyvore set. Congratulations Ana!

images from cutesygirl.com, missselfridge.com, topshop.com, forever21.com, urbanoutfitters.com, & modcloth.com.

Closet Cleanout

In an effort to save the overstuffed rod in my closet from breaking, I'm going to be offering readers the opportunity to shop my closet. While it's probably inevitable that I'll have to call in a contractor to remodel it at some point, this will temporarily enable me to make some more space and give readers a chance to do some shopping.

So if you: have a Paypal account, are in the U.S., wear a size 5/7, and can fit into size 7/8 shoes, you're in luck! Click here to start shopping. Many of the items are in new condition, and I may sell some accessories in addition to vintage pieces if demand warrants it. New items will be added each week, so check back early and often for the best selection.

Random Things

Looking back at my activities this week, I:

• watched a crazy dog fight
• biked and walked an estimated 40 miles, and drove an estimated 6 miles
• spent way too much money while shopping online
• discovered Need Supply Co.and their selection of stylish, affordable dresses
• took a peek at Forever 21's new blog, and hoped they took a peek at mine

• watched entertaining video clips on My Wardrobe
• finally found a much sought-after wool bowler hat at Target, of all places
• found a new NYC street style site called Citizen Couture
• rediscovered my love for all natural fruit smoothies
• browsed the neverending selection of cheap chic footwear at Urban Original, my new top pick for affordable shoes that are sold out everywhere else
• ordered two floral items from A'gaci, only to have one go on sale the next day and be told that they would not do a price adjustment
• considered cutting my hair like this, but keeping it blond

via Style Bazaar

One Piece Wonder

Lately I've been on a manhunt for almost anything floral - especially boxy blazers, vintage playsuits, Motel leggings, printed sunglasses, strapless dresses, and cotton corsets. My discovery of a yet-unexplored thrift store in town yielded this $2 floral playsuit and a navy blue1940s-esque one complete with pleated bodice and lapels. Despite the difficulty that playsuits offer when going to the loo, I'm digging these one-piece garments so much that it's worth the inconvenience of extra time spent fastening buttons, zippers, and belts. If my memory serves me correctly, I wore similar floral playsuits back in the '90s, however, I didn't have the foresight to save any. Thank goodness for the plethora of large thrift stores in my area!

Wearing: vintage playsuit, Forever 21 belt, Barneys New York handbag, Chinese Laundry "Kingwood" boots, and rings by Blue Asphalt and H&M

To continue with my floral obsession, there's this dress that's been on my mind...

Can anyone help me out? I'll be your best blogger friend forever! I'm also dying to get my hands on H&M's bra top in the same floral print in a size 6.

Also, for my U. S. readers, don't forget to enter my contest for a chance to win a pair of YMI jeans! You have until Sunday night to enter, so good luck!

Giveaway #2

I've got great news for denim fans. Fashion Trend Guide is teaming up with YMI Jeans, a leader in the junior's denim industry, to offer one lucky reader a pair of jeans. Want to keep up with the brand? YMI, available at better department stores and specialty stores, has a new blog that features fashion tips, celebrity gossip, and clothes from up-and-coming designers. YMI also has a Facebook page where they do weekly giveaways and share cool videos, and of course, you can follow them on Twitter.

Please note that this contest is open to U.S. readers only. Want to win? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post or email me (with YMI in the subject line) letting me know how you'd style these bootcut jeans (in detail) from head to toe for your ideal summer day or night. The contest will end on Sunday, June 21st at 9pm Pacific Standard Time, and I will pick my favorite look from the entries. The winner will be announced on Monday, June 22nd. Good luck to all and thanks for participating!

Day and Night

A family member remarked to me today that I seem to buy a lot of dressier, "going out" clothing. Without hesitation, I replied that it's true. I love the idea of getting dressed up for a night out. For some reason, I gravitate towards flirty dresses, high heels, and embellished tops, which don't always serve my casual, active lifestyle in the most practical way. When I bought this strapless floral top, I envisioned wearing it at night, perhaps with glossy leggings, a tuxedo blazer, cage heels, and a statement necklace. To make the top more appropriate and wearable for daytime, I layered a tee underneath for modesty and opted for comfortable flat sandals. While ripped jeans and a studded belt give the outfit some edge, I couldn't help but add a delicate flair to my hair with two newly purchased bows from H&M.

Wearing: H&M hair bows, tee from Target sleepwear, top, belt, bag & DIY ripped jeans from Forever 21, sandals from GoJane

My Top 25

Despite its somewhat thin size, the July issue of Lucky is my favorite one to date. It seems that the recession may have taken its toll and the editors have decided to respond by featuring items that are much more affordable than things typically found in the magazine. Hallelulah! (I hope to see more low-price features from Lucky in the future.) With everything in the issue under the $100 price point, it goes to show that you don't need to spend big bucks to have great style. As a proponent of cheap chic retailers myself, I've always believed that it's not about the high price, the designer, or the label, it's about how you wear it. Along those lines, women who encapsulate elegance while wearing bargain finds never cease to inspire me. You know those people who can take an item from a store like Forever 21 and make it look much more luxe...they are my style icons.

On page 32, they've compiled the "100 under $100" list of retailers with the "biggest and best selections of way-affordable stuff." While many of the sites are quite familiar to me, there were a few new ones that I had to check out, including 80spurple.com, akirachicago.com, and idontlikemondays.us. In honor of Lucky's list and their brilliantly styled July issue, I'm going to share my top 25 sites (with reasonable prices) that I enjoy browsing on a regular basis. And before I forget, for those of you who adore handbags, baghaus is definitely worth a look.

In A Nude Mood

Sometimes the soothing, hushed tones of natural hues are the perfect antidote to summer's saturated brights. Below, some of my favorite cheap chic picks:

1. Crochet stretch belt, alloy.com, $16.50, 2. mesh back bodysuit, forever21.com, $12.80, 3. enamel flower necklace, agacistore.com, $6.50, 4. Urban Expressions clutch, baghaus.com, $23.96, 5. taupe peep-toe boots, amiclubwear.com, $30.99.

images from alloy.com, forever21.com, agacistore.com, baghaus.com & amiclubwear.com.

Fashion Features

I've never been a big fan of reading the newspaper, as I prefer to get my news online like most Gen Xers. The exception is each Sunday morning, when I can't wait to get my hands on the Image section of the L.A. Times as I sit down with a bowl of oatmeal. From Melissa Magsaysay's sensible style tips to Booth Moore's thorough runway rundowns, it's always an enjoyable read.

This morning was different, though. The content struck a more personal chord with me. As an independent fashion blogger for almost two and a half years now, it was exciting and gratifying to see two articles devoted to the emerging fashion blogs and bloggers who I follow weekly and who are taking the fashion world by storm. Congratulations to all of the bloggers who were mentioned! Many of you offer me infinite inspiration. Furthermore, Polyvore, whose addictive qualities are known by many a Photoshop-shunning fashion blogger, was featured on page 2.

In the feature article, when Emili Vesilind writes, "the sites are thin on commentary, but fat with fashion experimentation and unadulterated enthusiasm", I couldn't help but concur. Let's face it - some of the most popular fashion blogs do seem image-heavy and short on cohesive writing. Is this the case because the target audience, made up of Gen Yers, has a short attention span and is mainly looking for visual inspiration in the fashion blogs they visit? Can bloggers who are intelligent rather than stunningly beautiful or seemingly stylish be recognized, or is it that people only want to see a pretty picture?

The reason why I raise these questions is because sometimes it seems as though a blog's popularity is due to it being more about the person, the posing, or the attitude than the fashion or the writing. Perhaps it's because I'm older than most fashion bloggers, but what I like about a few of my favorite fashion blogs is the witty, erudite writing in addition to the intensely creative and unexpected use of clothing and accessories. Unfortunately, some of these more edgy bloggers often get criticized for developing such unique looks and for not following fashion blogger trends that make the rounds in the blogosphere. So while blogging can be rewarding, it can sometimes feel like high school all over again.

Another thing that resonated with me is when Corinne Grassini, designer for Society for Rational Dress, states that "bloggers are a less 'spendy' way to get your name out there." I couldn't agree more. The most astute marketers, designers and PR reps know that reaching out to bloggers is cost-effective and can generate a viral kind of buzz. As fashion bloggers, we have a powerful voice on the internet, with thousands of young women idolizing the bloggers whose sites they religiously visit. But when a blog becomes one ongoing editorial for various things that a blogger has gotten for free, how does that blog maintain its authenticity? From a personal standpoint, I know how difficult it is to straddle the line between a personal style blog and a blog that accomodates different types of advertising. If the amount of PR pitches and reader questions that I receive each day in my inbox is any indication of who is reading my blog, then I consider myself lucky. This blog has opened more doors for me than I ever imagined, and for that, I'm grateful. It will be fascinating to see what happens in the future as bloggers are taken more seriously and gain more respect from traditional forms of media.

High Street Hits

After an extensive online browsing and shopping session last night, I realized two things: 1.) I'm much less likely to make purchases online than in brick and mortar stores, even if browsing for over half an hour, and 2.) much of Topshop's online offerings sell out in less than two weeks. Take, for example, my beloved chain slingbacks which were purchased from the SoHo store in early May. Upon arriving back in southern California, I was secretly hoping that the items I'd bought at Topshop weren't available online, as it would somehow validate all the time I spent shopping at the store. Well now that I've been back from NY for almost a month, I've noticed that almost everything I bought, with the exception of two pairs of leggings, is (or was) available on Topshop's website. While one can argue that nothing beats the convenience of shopping online, there's still something to be said for the hands-on experience of shopping in stores, and the visual merchandising in addition to the customer service inside Topshop was nothing short of exceptional. So until I hear news of a Topshop opening in Los Angeles, the website and it's Inside-Out blog will continue to offer me endless hours of inspiration.

Wearing: American Apparel tee, H&M necklace, Zara vest & jeans, Topshop heels.

Kid's Kicks

The return of the crop top this season didn't exactly get me jumping for joy, as I prefer not to bare my midriff, however, being open to many a fashion trend, I had to at least give it a try. Rather than purchasing American Apparel's respectable version, I opted for an inexpensive and simple DIY version with a men's Fruit of the Loom tee. That way I could make the top the length I desired given my consideration for belly button modesty. Although I did this project a couple of months ago, I've been waiting for the perfect combination of warm weather, adequate high rise jeans, and a sporty outfit for the tee to make its debut. I typically shy away from matchy matchy looks, but unimaginative pink and gray take center stage in this one.

In New York, I adopted an inexplicable new affinity for multi-colored kicks, which I saw being worn by East Coast girls who tuck their jeans into them and bunch them up at the ankle with lots of attitude. The Nikes are actually from the kid's department, and a swap of the gray laces for neon ones gave me the trio of colors that I desired.

Preoccupied With Pink

Apparently hot pink blazers are not obscure finds in my local thrift shops. I found several possible options before scoping out one made of linen that still had tags attached. Complete with retro shoulder pads, huge patch pockets (perfect for burying my hands), and an oversize construction, I knew I'd hit the thrift store jackpot. It was just what I'd been looking for. While getting dressed, my mood dictated simplicity, so my new pajama-esque floral leggings completed the outfit.

After doing some spring cleaning and reorganization of my apparel last week, I realized that I have enough pairs of leggings to warrant giving them their own drawer in my dresser. I know they're casual, but they're so versatile and work well with my lifestyle. I've got lace, printed, zippered, ripped, shiny, and neon styles in my collection. With so many types of leggings available, it seems like the trend isn't showing any signs of slowng down.