Living In A Material World

Having idolized Madonna's style as a youngster in the '80s, it's unlikely that I'm the target demographic for her new Material Girl line at Macy's. When I first viewed images from the campaign on nitro:licious, nothing really stood out to me as novel or inspiring. That was until I saw these two pages in Seventeen. (I'm not ashamed to admit that I occasionally read the teenage-targeted magazine, since inspiration can come from almost anywhere and I admire the affordable pieces they feature.)

Having recently scoured the internet and local shops to find the perfect skinny cargo pants, I was drawn to the ones in Seventeen's Material Girl feature due to the accessory-heavy styling. I own those Topshop two-tone boots that are paired with the cargos, and I can easily envision wearing this entire outfit myself, minus the necklace, which isn't part of the collection anyway.

above: tank top, $22, cargo pants, $28, studded jacket, $78, dress, $15

Although my search for skinny cargo pants ended with the purchase of a pair by Union Bay, I'm nonetheless intrigued by the ones in the Material Girl line. I expect to be browsing the goods when the collection, which was inspired by Madonna's daughter, Lola, hits the racks on August 3rd. I'm actually most curious about the jewelry, which includes some of the rings pictured below. If anything catches my eye, I'll be reporting back with photos and perhaps a mini review.

above: lace top, $25, studded skirt, $22

images from Seventeen and materialgirlcollection.com

*Edit - As I was preparing this post, I received an email with more information about the line and some southern California events to celebrate the debut.

The first event will be at 10 am at Macy's in the Glendale Galleria. The first 200 customers in line for the launch will receive a complimentary bandeau from the Material Girl collection. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in their Madonna best because a DJ from KIIS-FM will be hold three contests to win a Madonna autographed item: a trivia quiz, look-a-like contest, and a dance-off.

Later that day, there's another launch event at the Macy's in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. The first 200 customers will receive a complimentary bandeau from the Material Girl collection, as well as a $10 gift card to start their shopping. The afternoon event in Costa Mesa starts at 1pm and you can expect dancers, treats, and special gifts.

On Wisteria Lane

Last month a small fire burned very close to where I live, and in order to be prepared for a potential evacuation, I decided to pack up a few things. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've been in this situation. Interestingly enough, some of the first things I grabbed to take with me were my beloved shoes. Footwear has always been my main weakness when it comes to fashion, and lately, this weakness has resulted in the purchase of the Topshop Wisteria wedges.

Somehow I missed the Wisteria wedges on Topshop's site the first time around. So when I saw that they'd restocked in the pinkish blush hue that I desired, I ordered them immediately. (They have also just been restocked in black for those who want them.) I'm still figuring out the various ways that they can be tied around the ankle, but in the meantime, I'm wearing them in a casual way with some cuffed skinny cargo pants by Union Bay.

Is It Fall Yet?

With the recent acquisition of about a dozen fashion magazines, I've begun to inundate my brain with images of fall trends. A few are appealing to me: animal prints, shearling trim, cozy knits, camel coats, lace-up ankle boots, etc. On the other hand, I'm not yet warming up to the idea of minimalism, kitten heels, loafers, capes, and ultra feminine 1950s silhouettes. Since fashion moves so fast, I like to experiment with trends before the start of the season. If you do too, then here are a few ideas and updates to consider for the summer-to-fall transition:

Fresh From The Box

I pulled my Jeffrey Campbell Denmark boots out of the box when they arrived this evening with more anticipation than I've had in a while. The thick platform and sturdy heel make them comfortable, which is key for me when wearing 5" heels. I'm thinking these will be the first boots I grab when putting my outfits together for both day and night. Despite the fact that it's the middle of summer, the cool weather in my beach town feels more like early spring. (I'm not complaining; I'd rather have it be 68° outside than 86°.) Fortunately, that makes these boots every bit as appropriate for wearing right now as they will be in a few months.

worn with floral jeans from Wet Seal, a random assortment of rings, and a very lackadaisical Golden Retriever

Falling Out Of Summer

The bad thing about shopping this time of year is the lack of fresh merchandise in many stores. The good part, however, is that summer sales are in full swing and in some places, fall merchandise is beginning to trickle in. In terms of summer sales, yesterday I spotted Miu Miu and Karen Walker-inspired swallow printed tank tops and rabbit printed tees at Zara for $9.99, peachy pastel tunics at Free People for $19.99, and a plethora of sky high platform sandals at Bakers under $50.

Armed with a stack of international fashion magazines that I stocked up on yesterday, I'm ready to peruse them, pull out some pages, and begin to incorporate fall's strongest trends into my summer wardrobe. The trends I'm most looking forward to? Clog boots, anything shearling or trimmed with faux fur, animal prints, maxi dresses, camel coats, lace-up platform booties, leather/faux leather shorts, Fair Isle knits, velvet dresses, and field/military jackets. For now, though, I'll also be taking inspiration from these store windows, which include embellishments such as ruffles, zippers, and braiding, in addition to animal prints, stripes, and polka dots.

Designer Consigner Coming Soon

For my readers in the L.A. area, I received an email from Tawnya about this cool shopping event:

DESIGNER CONSIGNER LA is holding a shopping event on July 24th and 25th, where you can both sell and buy gently used designer clothing, whether current trends or vintage.

Sell Your Clothes - It’s Easy.
If you have luxury brand clothes and handbags that you no longer use, then become a consigner - all you have to do is:

a) dig out the items you want us to sell for you
b) register as a consigner and pay the fee
c) then we’ll sell your clothes, and send you a check within 14 days

The Benefits of Consigning:
* You choose the price you want to sell your items for.
* You recoup 65% of what your clothes sell for, which is more than double what most traditional consignment stores offer.
* No more waiting weeks or months for your clothes to sell.
* Shop before everyone else at the Consigner Only Pre-Sale.
* Consigners shop at our 2-day event for free.

Located at OUT OF FRAME STUDIO @ 1126 N. Citrus Ave, Hollywood, CA 90038. Just $3.00 entry.

Only in Denmark

When I glimpsed the Jeffrey Campbell fall lookbook earlier this month, two shoes became instant must-haves: the Lita platform and the Denmark sherpa bootie. I'm still deciding whether to buy the Lita in black or brown, but I wasted no time this morning in ordering the Denmark boot from Solestruck, which only comes in black. As a boot lover, I found this boot irresistible. It combines three fall trends in one amazing shoe: a faux fur lining, foldover details, and clog styling. For summer, I'll pair the boots with bandage dresses or floral skirts, and for fall, I'll wear them with lightweight maxi dresses and cuffed skinny jeans.

In case the Denmark boots sells out at Solestruck, and you must get your hands on a pair, they will also be available at Lori's Shoes in mid to late August (according to their blog) and they're currently available for pre-order at Singer22.

Five Picks for July - Under $100

Despite the fact that summer is in full swing (and along with that, a southern California heat wave and tons of summer sales), I'm looking forward to the influx of fall styles at several online retailers whose sites I visit often. Some of the things that appeal to me include: faux sheepskin jackets, lace-up ankle boots, anything with cut outs, and interesting textural details. Below are five picks that I've been eyeing. They'd work equally well for cool summer nights as they would for breezy fall days.

images from newlook.com, asos.com, charlotterusse.com, lulus.com, & stevemadden.com

1. Faux sheepskin jacket, New Look, £40

2. Contrast bound edge bandeau dress, Asos, $92.65

3. Lace dress, Charlotte Russe, $29

4. Krazy Kesha pants, Lulus, $41

5. Iness boot, Steve Madden, $99.95

Tweet, Tweet

I didn't think the day would ever come, but I've finally succumb to the micro-blogging trend by joining Twitter. Go ahead, follow me for updates.

Ice Cream Colors

Few things inspire me more than a flip through one of my style scrapbooks. Back in 2000, I began collecting magazine clippings and pages of things I liked. Ten years and hundreds of magazines and catalogs later, I'm on my twelfth style scrapbook. I like to think of each scrapbook as a personal magazine of fashion, hair and makeup looks that I've compiled. Anything from a color story or a page out of an Alloy catalog to the lighting of an Elle photoshoot could catch my eye.

As I browsed through my eleventh scrapbook, two pages in particular came to my attention, since both featured pastels. Sorbet shades, candy colors, chalky, muted hues, or whatever you want to call them - they seem so perfect for bright summer days like today. Perhaps it's because they call to mind scrumptious ice cream flavors and remind me of cooling off after an afternoon of swimming in my parents' pool. Whether it's a dress the shade of mint chip ice cream, a nail polish the color of strawberry sorbet, or a draped top reminiscent of French vanilla frozen yogurt, pastels are at the top of my wish list for summer.

images from British Elle

Mid-Summer Style

Vibrant prints and patterns are the main focus of my latest store window photos. While predictable floral prints tend to dominate summer, the visual merchandisers who decorated these windows had more of a global traveler in mind. The shredded tunic, ethnic prints, embroidery, crochet, head scarves, paisley, and layered bangles seem to be inspired by SATC2. All that's missing are some sequin harem pants, pricey footwear, and wild manicures à la Samantha.

Dog Day at the Beach

I spent the day doing two things I love - riding my bike to the beach and watching dogs compete in fun contests at a local dog festival. The most entertaining part of the day involved marveling at how swift and nimble the Border Collies are when running through agility courses and doing jumps. Fortunately, the marine layer keeps temperatures cool at the beach, so it never truly feels like summer on most summer days. I'm not complaining...given that fall trends will start hitting stores next month, cool weather is not such a bad thing. It makes the desire for shearling coats, varsity jackets, clog boots, and over-the-knee socks seem almost appropriate right now.

Five Picks for July

images from forever21.com, nitrolicious.com, zara.com, asos.com, & shopbop.com

A few things that are fending off mid-summer style boredom:

1. The Glamourai's photoshoot for Forever 21 brand Twelve by Twelve. The styling is edgy, bold, and vibrant. I'm inspired by the array of prints and colors. My absolute favorite piece is the sheer maxi skirt, as it offers endless options for layering when the weather gets cooler in the fall.

2. Jeffrey Campbell's fall 2010 lookbook. Clog boots will prevail as a strong trend, as will details such as shearling, foldover effects, and super high heels. I'm already saving some dough for fall footwear, and hoping to get my hands on both pairs pictured.

3. Zara's bunny print top. With the Karen Walker and Miu Miu Spring 2010 animal print influence, I'm stocking up on bird, cat, and bunny prints in an homage to nature. Now, if only someone would do an adorable dog print...

4. There's something quietly sexy about a body con maxi dress, and Asos's version is incredibly affordable, at under $45. It would be pure perfection come fall with a faux fur vest, hiking boots, and chunky bangles.

5. Jeffrey Campbell's "Take" drape wedge is a comfortable-looking alternative to the Givenchy version, and I'm kicking myself for not scooping it up earlier from shopbop.

Handmade Brigade Block Party

For those of you in the Orange County area, here's a cool event to attend...per the press release:

“The Handmade Brigade of Orange County Helps Bring a New Crowd to the Fiesta Marketplace in Historic Downtown Santa Ana with an Alternative Indie Arts and Crafts Show Called Block Party”

The Handmade Brigade of Orange County has become known for organizing various indie-arts and crafts shows, DIY workshops and charity events. From a showcase of independent artists in a Speakeasy setting at Costa Mesa’s Detroit Bar to a charity event full of holiday crafting to benefit Mercy House of Orange County, the Handmade Brigade has established a lot of street cred and a loyal following.

Looking for the next step, the team of four was drawn to the emerging urban epicenter of the OC, the Downtown Santa Ana artist’s district. In a continued effort to further their goal of bringing independent designers and creativity to Orange County, they found a property company that had similar goals.

Fiesta Marketplace is about to begin on a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project with the goal of freshening up and modernizing the property. The project will include re-facing all of the building facades and redoing the outdoor promenade to make it more welcoming and pedestrian friendly. The goal will also be to broaden the appeal of the existing retailers as well as bring in some new ones that focus more on food and entertainment. Plans are currently underway to bring the Yost Theater back to life as an independent music venue with attached restaurant, lounge, and nightclub. The goal of these improvements is to not only keep the existing customer base but to broaden the appeal to a younger, hipper, and urban demographic.

The result of this collaboration is "Block Party" presented by the Handmade Brigade of Orange County on July 10, 2010 from 11-5 at the Fiesta Marketplace (4th and N. Bush St. Santa Ana, CA 92701).

Expect to find live music, live art, food, over 50 independent designers and for the first 50 guests to arrive – free swag bags filled with handmade goodies.

Event Details:

Block Party Indie Arts and Crafts Show
July 10, 2010
11AM-5PM

Fiesta Marketplace: 4th and N. Bush St., Santa Ana, CA 92701

4th of July Festivities

What's great about summer is the opportunity to go out to local fairs and festivals and enjoy the vibrant scenery, the tempting junk food, and the variety of vendors and entertainment. It's become a tradition of mine on the 4th of July to visit a local street fair, indulge in carne asada tacos and sugary baked goods, engage in some people and dog watching, and soak up the scenery.

The best part of nightfall is being able to watch half a dozen fireworks shows from home. On the downside, witnessing my dog's anxiety from the noise isn't enjoyable, although he makes a comfortable footrest when he hides under my desk in an effort to find a den/safe haven.

Five Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

Confession - although I would classify by hair and makeup looks as veering on the tousled/natural side, I use a ton of beauty products. Call me high maintenance, I'm guilty as charged. I use a lot of products to mousturize, prep my skin, and cleanse. Going through my bathroom for a bit of cleaning, I realized that there are five products I just can't live without.

1. Aveeno Positively Smooth Lotion - I used to buy this at the drugstore, but unfortunately, it's no longer stocked by any of the stores in my area, so I try to track it down wherever I can online. When used regularly, it softens hair regrowth, makes stubble less noticeable, and helps me to shave a lot less often. Since I have sensitive skin and despise shaving, this product is perfect for me.

2. Bioré Pore Strips - other than getting a facial, these pore strips are the best thing for removing buildup and getting rid of blackheads. I use them every few days to clean my pores and reduce blemishes. They're readily available at Target and various drugstores for under $10.

3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs - forget bronzer and self-tanner, this stuff is genius for giving skin a natural, tan appearance. It fades skin flaws, is water resistant, goes on smoothly without streaks, and has the slightest bit of shimmer. Even better, it costs under $12 at Target, and one bottle lasts me for a few months.

4. Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock SPF 60 - since I'm outdoors for frequent bike rides and dog walks, and I'm allergic to chemical sunblocks, I need something with physical sunblock ingredients (such as titanium dioxide) that won't irritate my skin. Neutrogena's Sensitive Skin sunblock has no strong/offensive scent, provides waterproof and sweatproof protection, and does not leave a greasy residue on my skin. I probably use a bottle every couple of weeks, especially during the summer.

5. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Èclat - once I tried it, I discovered that there's a compelling reason why beauty editors constantly rave about this concealer. It's simply amazing. It flawlessly covers dark circles, reflects light, makes skin appear more radiant, and does not sink into fine lines or creases. It costs more than most of my other products, but it's well worth it.

Socks Rock

Before socks with sandals showed up on the runways of Marni, Hermès, and Burberry, I was a fan of the trend. Admittedly, it's not an easy one to pull off, but when done the right way, it adds girlish charm to your footwear. Besides, there are a handful of benefits to wearing socks with sandals:

1. Wearing socks is the ideal solution when you haven't updated your pedicure. Got chipped polish, blisters, or less-than-soft-skin? No worries, just pull on some socks and it all will temporarily disappear from sight.

2. Socks impart a quirky, feminine sweetness, especially pastel hues and thin nylon styles.

3. If your shoes give you blisters, wearing socks can protect your feet, guard against chafing, and add comfort.

4. The socks with sandals trend gives you a chance to show off those cute socks you have that may typically be hidden from view.

Wearing: Zara floral harem pants, Steve Madden "Warrick" wedge clogs, & H&M socks.