Perfect Party Top

I like to think of myself as the type of person who is organized and prepared for unseen events that may take place in my life. For example, I usually keep a change of clothes (aka a wardrobe change) in my car just in case something gets dirty, doesn't meet a dress code, is too dressy or too casual, etc. Well last week was an anomaly in the sense that I found myself scrambling to buy a nightclub-appropriate top for an unplanned night of partying in good old Orange County. So I headed over to Forever 21 for a quick look around. As luck would have it, they had just received a fresh shipment of cheap and chic party attire. I found this slinky sequin racerback tank crammed onto a rack filled with black party tops and knew it would be a winner. The black and silver color combo gave it versatility to go with a wide array of wardrobe options. That night, I paired it with my bright blue skinnies from Topshop, some patent Mary Janes, a lemon yellow patent clutch, and an oversized peach flower ring that I also scooped up at Forever 21. It's the perfect party top that will carry me into fall - it's shiny, sexy, and shows just the right amount of skin. At a mere $29.80, I'll have money left over for martinis!

Photo credit: forever21.com

Skinny Mondays

Although I'm a jeans girl through and through, lately I have been trying to make use of the dresses, jumpsuits, leggings, and shorts that I have recently added to my summer wardrobe. It's been a while since I've purchased an expensive pair of jeans. I've even refrained from buying some designer denim at great sale prices because I'm trying to break that bad habit! Therein lies my obsession with Cheap Monday denim. Yes, it's designer. The fit is amazing, the quality is great, and the styles are cutting edge. The only thing missing is the absurd $200 price tag. At $65 per pair, it's tempting to buy 2 or 3 pairs at a time. I'm sick of inspecting more and more high end denim lines when I go shopping and turning over the price tag to reveal numbers hovering near and above the $200 mark! I have all the designer denim that I want at the moment, and I also have lots of low-end mass retailer denim as well. To be honest, there is not much of a difference. When shopping for jeans, some basic things to look for are:

• less than 2% spandex or lycra so the denim doesn't stretch too much
• well placed back pockets (not too low or too high, not too big or too small)
• quality zippers that won't snag or break
• a waistband that fits snugly and does not gap out in the back
• a waistband that allows you to sit down without showing too much (bye-bye low rise jeans!)
  

What I love about Cheap Monday is that they are simple yet flattering. When I first picked up a pair, I thought they would be unflattering due to the high rise and tapered leg. Now I love the higher rise because it's practical and trendy. The main reason why these jeans are flattering is because they have larger back pockets which are placed lower down than most styles of skinny jeans. This creates the illusion of a smaller backside. it also works in the opposite way. Smaller pockets = the illusion of a bigger backside! Furthermore, there is no whiskering or fading around the upper thigh or butt area, and this has a slimming effect.

To snag your own pair of Cheap Mondays without leaving the house, check out the Blue Bee online boutiques.

Photo credit: bluebee.com

Style on State - Tempting Tattoo

Here is an example of a typical guy you'll see walking down the street in Santa Barbara. Cell phone in hand? Check. Dark shades? Check. Casual shorts? Check. Flip flops? Check. T-shirt? Wait a second, his shirt has interesting embroidered details. It can be dressed down as it is here or worn with dark denim and layered over a graphic T-shirt for a night out.

Note the embroidery in this close-up. It says "Hollywood Tattoo." So Californian!

Style on State - Hello Kitty Cutie

In a towering pile of T-shirts at the front of my closet sits a Hello Kitty T-shirt that I purchased from "the T-shirt" guy at the Rose Bowl Flea Market for a mere $10. So you can understand why I stopped this girl to photograph her colorful Hello Kitty T and hoodie combo. As her shirt says, "super cute!"

Libertine: Does Target Hit the Mark?

Like many other fashion fans and bloggers, I was curious to see the new Libertine line make its debut today at Target. From the press photos, I wasn't as enthused as I was about the Erin Fetherston, Temperley, or Proenza Schouler lines. The whales and skulls that are part of many of the pieces in the Libertine collection somehow remind me of J. Crew trying to go punk. In my opinion, the whole skull trend was over a few seasons ago when skull-print scarves hit stores like Forever 21. So if the Libertine for Target skull print argyle sweater vests and skull rhinestone tank don't excite me, it's because the motif has lost its novelty. Many of the Libertine pieces looked like basics that I could pick up at the Gap, J. Crew, or Old Navy. For example, striped tunic T-shirts, feminine button-down blouses, cardigans, pleated mini skirts, and military pants dominated the line. Like most of the Go International garments, the Libertine line looked poorly tailored and constructed of inexpensive fabrics. I guess that's the trade off for getting a piece of the designer action from a mass retailer like Target. Nevertheless, I managed to find two stylish pieces that I liked and I did not hesitate to snatch them up.

I purchased this striped vest with adjustable suspender straps because I like the blue and red combo and it will make a great layering piece for fall. Vests usually seem to flatter me, as I have a small waist. Unfortunately, I bought a size small and it's a tad loose - hence the poor tailoring. The vest has adorable Y-shaped suspender straps in the back, so it's like a halter style. All in all, at $24.99, I think it was a good buy.


Here is the image of the vest from Target's website.


This silk tank with stretchy lace trim was only $19.99. It can be pulled down over the waist or worn higher for a blouson effect. It will look better when I iron it and pair it with some skinny jeans or high-waisted shorts.

Target always has cute and inexpensive T's. (This one is NOT by Libertine.) Even though I already have about 3 dozen T's, I can always use another one, right? This one features women's faces on a burnout (sublimation) design. It will look great with jeans and colorful accessories for a casual weekend look. What would I do without my printed T-shirts? They're so versatile and comfortable.


Here is the striped shirtdress from the Libertine for Target line that I did not see in the store and that I am awaiting anxiously. I think the right belt, necklace, and shoes will make this dress a standout piece.

Photo credit: target.com

LF Style

It seems that the only place to find high-waisted suspender shorts in Santa Barbara right now is at LF. I photographed these cute suspender-styles last Sunday. I like the color combination of gray with light teal. The yellow tank layered underneath provides the perfect splash of bright color to offset the muted gray. I'd probably pair this outfit with some colorful printed wedges. However, at a price of upwards of $150, I am going to wait until this particular style hits the lower-end retailers.

I would pair this black suspender-style skirt with some flat scrunchy boots and a sleeveless ruffled top for extra femininity.

Yellow - my favorite color of the season! I like these wedges almost as much as the yellow slingbacks I recently bought. Yellow is a great mood-changing color and it attracts lots of attention. If you're shy, try it in small amounts such as part of a print or on a necklace or earrings.

LF also has a great selection of handbags which are quite overpriced, in my opinion. Each time that I shop there, it inspires me to shop at vintage stores to see if I can find similar styles at 1/10th the price. For example, years ago I wanted a Boy Scout shirt. LF had a cute one with patches for $80. A few months later I found some at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and scored one for $5. I also saw some at Yellowstone Vintage on State Street in Santa Barbara for $19. That's not to say that you shouldn't shop at LF. They have a great selection of European designers and are always a step ahead of the rest.

Betsey J. in SB

While taking my typical window-shopping stroll up and down State Street in Santa Barbara this past weekend, I noticed that Betsey Johnson is now occupying the retail space that was once home to Global Feet Kids. So what happened to Global Feet Kids? I'll do my best to find out...

In the meantime, sorority girls, take note!!! Betsey Johnson's whimsical, flirty designs and playful dresses are perfect for wearing to parties and events. (While I don't wear dresses very often, I did spy an adorable lavender camisole with lacy ivory trim at the Betsey Johnson outlet store in Camarillo recently.) Whether you are looking for the perfect party dress or something special and unique, you're sure to find a fun piece to satisfy your inner girly girl at the new BJ store located at 939 State Street.

Camouflage Shorts

During my extensive shopping in London, I saw many a pair of corset-style high-waisted jeans and shorts. Some of the pairs I tried on were not so flattering and others were made of uncomfortable synthetic fabrics. So I ended up passing on this style in the hopes that it would hit the States sometime very soon. Fortunately, I did not have to wait long. I found some high-waisted cotton shorts at a new boutique in downtown Ventura that I discovered on Saturday afternoon. The boutique is called Camouflage and it is located at 248 Main Street. There - now my secret is out! It is my new favorite boutique in Ventura!

I wandered into the store quite by accident, as I admit that I rarely walk down this block of Main Street (west of Palm St). I was pleasantly surprised when I immediately found a couple of cotton printed tunics on the front rounder rack that cost less than $15. As I continued browsing, I saw some fabulous gray skinny jeans with rhinestone detailing on the back pockets, some great printed summer dresses for under $50, and the amazing corset-style high waisted shorts that I ended up buying for less than $25.

Camouflage is an easy store to shop because of its bright yet simple decor and its long parallel racks of merchandise. I am definitely going to return to the store when I am looking for fashion-forward and inexpensive items! I was shocked when I heard the store has been open for a year. I can't believe what I have been missing! It's hard to find high-waisted shorts out here, and the only place in which I've seen them is at Forever 21 (in icky synthetic fabrics) and at LF in Santa Barbara for upwards of $150. (I'll post photos later this week of LF's merchandise.)

For night, I may wear my shorts with my new highliter neon tank from American Apparel, a white or neon pink plastic beaded necklace and a faux tan.

A Century of Fashion Accessories

As promised, here are some highlights from the Museum of Ventura County's Exhibition entitled All in the Details: A Century of Fashion Accessories. Enjoy!

In the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, boots were made of dark colors because practical considerations were taken into account. Boots protected the feet from the mud and dirt of unpaved streets and were the most common style of women's footwear until about 1920. Light-colored boots and shoes were worn for special occasions and when the weather was dry.

Blue velvet bonnet, c. 1900 - 1915

Long hatpins were used to secure large hats such as this one. The hatpins were pushed through the hats and woven through masses of long hair.

Brocade slippers, satin evening bag, pink nylon gloves, and high-heeled sandals from the 1950s and 1960s.

Velvet hat with feathers and veil, 1940s

Spanish lace mantilla, c. 1894 and faux tortoise shell hair comb, c. 1900

Roman-style sandals, c. 1950s

Evening bag, c. 1940s

Plastic purse, c. 1940s

Leather lace-up ankle shoes, c. 1890 and felt spats, c. 1910s

Colorful shoes and hats, c. mid 20th century

Green hat with netting, c. 1950s

Hairwork decoration, c. 1870s

In the 19th century, women would make hairwork pieces as a pastime. They would save their own hair in containers called receivers, and make decorative jewelry and wreathes following directions in ladies' magazines.

Organdy hat, c. 1900 and crocheted cotton gloves, c. 1900

This exhibit runs until September 16, 2007 at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura, CA.

Urban Turban

Even though turbans are old news, I couldn't help but get excited about seeing this style on Urban Outfitter's website. This one seems a bit more hat-like than the one I bought from H and M in London. It comes in gray, black, or teal and is made of 100% cotton. For a mere $28, it can be yours! Or if you are more of the DIY type, you can wrap a beautiful silk scarf around your tresses in such a way that it imitates this chic trend.

Photo credit: urbn.com

Irvine Spectrum Style

I found these two fashionable ladies shopping at the Irvine Spectrum on a hot Sunday afternoon. I loved the way they both wore mustard/yellow - a very popular hue this summer. Check out the close-ups of their colorful footwear.

Fireworks

So it's the 4th of July and I'm about to watch some fireworks, but first I want to remind my readers to show their support for Fashion Trend Guide by voting for Santa Barbara in the STREET CLASH international street style competition. Check out these 2 lovely ladies who I chose to represent Fashion Trend Guide! I admire their feminine vintage style.

Check out the amazing styles from all over the world and vote for my blog at http://www.streetclash.blogspot.com/

Main Street, Huntington Beach Store Window Style