Teen Vogue Fashion U and Twitter

To all my loyal followers and fans: This past weekend I atteneded Teen Vogue Fashion U, where I was able to learn more about becoming a fashion journalist. After that, I decided that one of the first steps in getting the word out would be to create a Twitter. So, you can follow me at @fashionista47. I will be updating everytime I create a new blog post so you'll always be in-the-know!

Back-to-School

Well, it’s that time of year again. That’s right, I’m talking about back-to-school. As much as I dislike school, this is actually one of my favorite seasons because it means I get to go back-to-school shopping. I’m sure nearly everyone has experienced this before: you’ve spent nearly your whole morning wandering around the mall and all you have to show for it is a white tee. You’re frustrated because you had envisioned a whole new, fabulous wardrobe for fall. This drives you into the nearest store, to buy a skirt you don’t even particularly like, just because it’s on sale and it gives you one more bag to carry around, making you feel as if you’re closer to your goal of a new wardrobe. I know I have been a victim of this “gotta-have-it” syndrome many times. However, my New School Year resolution is to only buy items that I love and know I’ll wear, even if this means returning from my annual back-to-school shopping trip with only a few basic wardrobe pieces in hand. There are a few ways I plan to accomplish this and I’d like to share them with you:

1)Don’t be distracted by sales. Sometimes, a $5 top just seems so cheap that you feel like you simply HAVE to buy it. But think of it this way…eventually all these $5 items will add up and you’ll have a closet full of crappy, cheap clothes. Instead, try splurging on something that fits you beautifully, like the perfect pair of dark-washed jeans or a white button-up that fits your body like a glove.

2)Don’t torture yourself by going into stores and trying on things that you can’t afford. That only wastes time and makes you sad when you fall in love with something way out of your price range. Know your budget going in!

3)Be familiar with stores’ exchange policies. Most of the time, if you keep the tags on and save the receipt, you can return something. This comes in handy as you can try on an item of clothing you’re not sure about with other items you already own and bring it back to the store if you end up not liking it.

4)Finally, and most importantly, don’t get discouraged. It’s better to go home with just a few items that you love than a ton of items you don’t like (and, therefore, wasted money on).

Now, armed with these four easy tips, I urge you to go out and finally get that perfect wardrobe that you dream about every year!

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

European Adventure

I recently got home from spending ten days in northern Spain. Surprisingly, much of the European fashion I witnessed was not that much different from trends I’ve been seeing recently in the United States. However, there were a few things I picked up on that I thought my fellow fashionistas might be interested in.

One trend I noticed a lot of was rompers. Worn alone or with a light jacket overtop, this one-piece dominated the streets of up-and-coming world cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. Most of the rompers I noticed were short and decorated in a flowery print, although some contained such over-the-top embellishments as sparkles and sequins.

Another piece I noticed on various fashionable women was the harem pant. With a crotch that hangs down to mid-thigh, knee, or even mid-calf, this style is tricky to pull off. It is best worn with heels or open-toed sandals. I saw many people who were also able to pull it off with boots or flat sneakers, although this is only for the truly fashion-forward.

Although I saw many other new trends during my time in Spain, I’d have to say that my favorite was the gladiator sandals. Although the trend is already fairly prevalent in the United States, Spanish women tend to give it a slightly different spin. Whereas American women usually only wear gladiators that stop at the ankle, in Europe it’s very common for these shoes to be worn up to mid-calf or even almost to one’s knee. I mostly saw them worn with skirts and dresses, although some women paired them with shorts as well.

Of course, the most important accessory needed to pull off any of these trends is…CONFIDENCE!!!

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Cardigan-Crazed

Anyone living in the Northeastern part of the United States right now knows that the weather is, to say the least, crappy. After almost a week of short sleeves and open-toed shoes, my wardrobe didn’t want to accept the fact that it really is still winter. It quickly came around, however, after I wore a cute, flutter-sleeved blouse to church and nearly froze to death. I realized that this is the exact weather that cardigans were invented for. I can wear my favorite new spring finds while still being able to feel my arms. :) See? Sometimes you can be fashionable and practical…just don’t get used to it.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Versace Lovin'

Every year around this time, I start to look forward to spring fashions. Sometimes it’s triggered by seeing a “Spring Awakening” spread in a magazine and other times it’s triggered by spotting the first pairs of shorts on the racks at Macy’s. Either way, all I know is that, at a time when there’s almost three feet of snow on the ground outside my house, all I want to do is throw on a sun dress and open-toed wedges and drink a cappuccino outside my local café. This year, my annual love affair with spring started when I saw the brightly-colored, geometric-printed, short-hemmed, and fresh-faced looks of Versace’s read-to-wear Spring 2010 collection. The wild prints stand out like no other and daringly short hemlines are balanced out by long sleeves that also, incidentally, will keep me warm on those chilly spring evenings. Everything about the collection is absolutely perfect. So I just want to say, bravo Versace, for creating the perfect spring looks for me to lust after and officially stepping into my Top 10 list of favorite designers.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Confidence: Unveiled

What gives you confidence? Over the years, psychiatrists, parents, and writers of self-help books alike have attempted to answer this question. Somehow, though, following their advice never quite led me to the infamous and unparalleled confidence high. Although I’m sure the answer to this question differs from person to person, for me it’s fashion. I’m not necessarily talking about having all the latest trends or buying the limited edition Fendi bag. Instead, I just mean feeling comfortable and CONFIDENT in what you have on. Going to school in sweat pants and a sweatshirt, I tend to feel like a failure, telling myself I’m far too stupid to ace that tough chemistry exam. But in a perfectly tailored pair of jeans topped with a super-flattering jacket and an enviably wild-but-chic necklace, I walk through the hallways with my head held high. Likewise, I’m much more likely to approach that cutie at a party while dressed in a bouncy miniskirt and tights than a pair of paint-splattered jeans and a hoodie. Get the picture? I guess this, in a nutshell, is why I really love fashion. It’s the feeling I get when I pull on my favorite hot pink dress, the way I can’t stop smiling when I peer at myself in the dressing room mirror wearing pretty much anything from H&M. I can practically feel my confidence level rising. When my clothes are special (not necessarily expensive or even unique, just special) I feel so, too. So, with that, I urge all of you to get out there and go shopping. You never know how much better you might feel about yourself while wearing the dress of your dreams.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Vogue Envy

The February 2010 cover of Teen Vogue is definitely the best and most inspiring one that I’ve seen so far. The amazing Jessica Szohr (better known as Vanessa from Gossip Girl) wears an equally amazing blue-printed dress that can’t help but bring to mind the calming colors of the ocean on a beautiful August evening. Artfully constructed, the BCBG Max Azria frock is draped and ruched in just the right places, even including unexpected splashes of red throughout the sea of blue. But what really brings this particular look together is the leather Alexander Wang booties. Featuring zippers AND killer heels, their badass-ness is the perfect foil to the flowy dress and brings the outfit up a notch on Fashionista’s unofficial gauge of awesome-ness. It also got me thinking about the perfect outfit to transition from the harsh chill of winter into the calm warmth of spring. A printed dress looks great paired with an oversized cardigan, large belt, black tights, and thick strappy sandals in the winter. Slowly remove (or replace) layers as the temperature heats up and you may even be able to get away with wearing some kind of rendition of this outfit all year long, a rarity in the fashion world. Throw in the fact that you probably already have many of these pieces in your closet and it’s a dream come true! Needless to say, my new shopping obsession is to find all the right pieces to make this outfit my own.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Fun Fashion

The best part about fashion to me is that you can really truly have fun with it. While a classic blazer, dark-wash jeans, and round-toe pumps are possibly the epitome of a polished look, there’s just something that excites me about wearing a sweater with a diagonal zipper or oversized lip-shaped earrings made of cubic zirconium. For me, the best places to find pieces like these are at Betsey Johnson (http://www.betseyjohnson.com/) and Juicy Couture (http://www.juicycouture.com/). The sheer artistic talent of both designers often draws me to the sites even when I’m not in the market for a new piece of clothing, jewelry, or any of the other beautiful pieces sold there. Here, I would like to highlight for you a few of my favorite items from each brand in order to get you started on your new look for the New Year.

Betsey Johnson
Floral Print T-Shirt
The bold floral print of this tank is perfect for spring. It would look great with a blazer and leggings.
Washed Solid Brushed Poplin W/ Twill Tape Skirt
This versatile piece will look great with tights and a cropped jacket now, a striped long-sleeved shirt in the spring, and even a loose tank and sandals in the summer.
Charmeuse & Striped Organza Dress
The bold color, fun stripes, and subtle bow make this the ultimate party dress.
Betsey Wink! Crew
The face design on these socks is an unexpected surprise.
Floral Net Single
These pretty patterned tights will elevate any outfit to high-end status.
Mug/Ski Mismatch Earrings
Although these earrings are mismatch, they stay in the same theme, which gives them the perfect amount of quirky-ness. Plus, the cute mug and ski are just right for the season.

Juicy Couture
Earbuds & Case
Why shouldn’t every aspect of your life, right down to listening to your iPod, be perfectly luxurious?
Set of Two Dog Bowls
Now even your dogs can live the luxe life.
Terry Robe
This robe is very high-end and fashion-y; it makes you feel like a princess even while you sleep.
Ring Bling Day Dreamer Tote
The pink fabric of this tote is an eye-catcher, while the soft ribbon adds a demure feel.
Snake Print Silk Dress
Not only is this dress the perfect flowy frock for spring, but I fell in love with this entire outfit at first sight.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!