Hair problems? Wrap it up.

It's safe to say I have been cursed blessed with a full head of hair.

Unfortunately, I'm not that great at waking up to my alarm and I'm often rushed in the mornings as a result.  On the rare occasion that I do wake up with socially acceptable hair it's a great day, but most of the time I don't.  I usually have no time to make my messy bed head look somewhat controlled.  I throw it back in a bun, braid or something pretty lame; a turban is really what I need a lot of the time...

I've always been a fan of headbands as they cover my hair if I decide to go a day without washing it.  They're an accessory that tricks the world into thinking you've made an effort, but usually they're a girl's way of covering up her messy/dirty hair.

Lately, I haven't been able to find any headbands that are different.  The same little bows, feathers and sequined embellishments keep appearing on headbands.  I was frantically searching for a new trend in headwear when I finally came across the headwrap.  And guess what?  It's turban inspired - how perfect?

Let me start by saying a sincere thank you to whoever invented this fine headwrap.  It's effortless, covers the hair, can be worn with messy hair while looking cool, and did I mention it's actually the coolest hair piece I've ever come across?  No joke, I NEED to get my hands on one of these.

Headwraps have been around for a few years (WhoWhatWear did a piece about them in 2007 which can be read here) so I don't know where I've been on this trend.  I'm pretty disappointed with myself as I could have been wearing this awesome trend for three years now.  Better late than never?

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

[My brownies - don't you just want to take a bite?]

As far as baked goods are concerned, cookies are far and beyond my favorite.  I almost always choose to bake cookies over any other sweet, but as I grocery shopped with my older sister yesterday I spotted a tiny package of brownies that practically had me drooling. 

As I got closer to the package I noticed the brownies had small swirls of peanut butter intertwined in the rich chocolate layers.  The swirls truly looked as though they were painted through the chocolate, and I could smell the aromas of the peanut butter and chocolate through the packaging.

When I got home I researched a recipe for this peanut butter brownie and came across a Good Housekeeping one that seemed delectable.  (You can get the recipe here)  I didn't have the time or energy to make brownies from scratch, so I used a hershey's mixture and then made the peanut butter swirl from scratch with the recipe.

The brownies were truly amazing.  In fact, the taste was so irresistible that my mom had a piece with her breakfast this morning!  She wouldn't stop carrying on how they tasted exactly like a 'Funny Bone'.  I don't know what that even is so I told her she was aging herself- poor mom :(

Holiday Decorations

Yesterday was Black Friday, the day that promises some of the best shopping deals of the year.  Believe it or not, I didn't want to go shopping.  My stomach was still full with turkey and mashed potatoes, and I was more than content to sit at home with my family watching a movie.  Nevertheless, my sisters and my mom wanted to do a bit of Christmas shopping (the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree), so I agreed to tag along.

Several stores had some holiday decorations that were pretty neat.  Not only were they creative and festive, but some of them are easy to re-create at home.  My favorite was a wall layout created at our local Anthropologie store.  It was made up of disposable Solo coffee lids.  Luckily, I had my camera with me and I was able to snap some shots of all the decorations that caught my eye.  I also snapped some photos of little items in the stores that I liked too!  Watch my flickr slideshow to take a peek at the decorations and items that I found fun and festive.

Forgione Wins

[Foodnetwork.com]

This probably doesn't come as a surprise to many, but I am a reality t.v addict.  In fact, when choosing a topic for my blog I was extremely close to a blog concerning reality t.v.  You're probably wondering how I have so much spare time for all my addictions (fashion, food, reality t.v), but somehow I manage.

Last night was the season finale of the Next Iron Chef, one of my favorite programs in the world of reality television.  I was rooting intensely for Marc Forgione, a chef from New York City.  He has been my absolute favorite competitor from the very beginning of the season, and his dishes always have me drooling from the other side of the screen.

Not only do his dishes look delicious, but they're always crafted into beautiful works of art.  I think this really won him the competition last night as the judges were amazed at the colors and beauty he brought to life in a non-traditional Thanksgiving feast.

I couldn't wait to post the images from last night's kitchen stadium competition.  Forgione's calmness in the arena translated wonderfully into his picture perfect dishes.

[All images come from Foodnetwork.com]

See you later Short and Sweet!

[Maxi skirt by NastyGal]

[Mary Kate Olsen in a simple maxi skirt ensemble]

It's about time, the mini is out and the maxi is in!

Although I very much enjoy a mini skirt, I've been looking for a change in the skirt department for a while.  Don't get me wrong, leg bearing is fun and great but I'm fickle and needed a change.

I've always been a fan of the maxi dress so when maxi skirts started popping up recently I was beyond delighted.  Floor length dresses are very figure flattering and maxi skirts can have the same effect when worn properly.  Maxi skirts are a great combination of glam and grunge, a look that I always strive for.

The best tip I can offer when wearing a maxi skirt is to keep the ensemble simple and minimal.  Skirts with pattern or detailing must be paired with very basic tops.  Skirts on the simpler side can be combined with a little more detailing up top, but the maxi makes such a statement that it's better to keep it understated.

My favorite look is a neutral maxi skirt paired with a plain crop top and leather jacket.  Since I'm a bit partial to all things leopard, I love a leopard maxi skirt as well as long as it is worn with a simple white t-shirt and some plain gold jewelry.

Effortlessly Chic: Jumpsuits

As I attempted to get dressed for a night out last night I couldn't quite concoct an outfit that I was happy with.  I'd find a skirt or pair of pants that I was in the mood to wear but couldn't quite piece together a top that I liked with the bottoms.  Or, I'd find a shirt I was in the mood to wear but of course couldn't find a bottom that I liked with it.  As my frustration grew I knew what would be an easy solution: a jumpsuit.

Needless to say, I don't own a jumpsuit (unfortunately), so a romper with tights was my next best option.

Jumpsuits are the easiest item to simply throw on because it takes literally no thought.  I think many would agree that the outfits we don't spend too much time putting together and thinking about are always the best ones.  A jumpsuit in all its effortlessness is undeniably chic.

Jumpsuits can be casual or formal and can be worn by themselves or spiced up with some accessories.  In my opinion, it looks great to throw on a thick belt or a chunky sweater with a jumpsuit.  Below are a few of my favorite jumpsuits for the season:

1. Topshop Bandeau Jumpsuit
2. Topshop Slinky Jumpsuit
3. NastyGal Peachy Keen Jumpsuit
4. Urban Outfitters Open Back Jumpsuit

Coming on strong: Cat Eye sunglasses

It's a safe assumption that if you're into fashion, accessories are high up on your list of favorite things.  Bags, shoes, jewelry - you name it and fashionistas are addicted to it.

Although bags are without a doubt my favorite accessory, sunglasses don't fall too far behind.  Sunglasses can get tricky however, and when a new style emerges I'm always a bit skeptical about whether or not it will fit my face shape.

Finally, there is a sunglasses trend that can work on any shaped face!  Cat eye sunglasses are all over the face of every celebrity.  What makes these sunglasses so versatile is that there are two variations of them.  As explained on WhoWhatWear, (the article can be read here) cat eye sunglasses are appearing in a more bold 50s style but also in a wider 80s style- this makes them wearable on any shaped face.  What's also wonderful about this style of sunglasses is that they've been made in more dramatic shapes but also subtle shapes.  Designers recognize that these glasses make a bold statement so they've tailored them in a way that you can choose the kind of statement you want to make.

Personally, I like a bold statement.  So the higher and pointer the rim, the better in my eyes (no pun intended).

Here are my favorite versions of the cat eye sunglasses out right now:
The Row Cat Eye
Linda Farrow David Szeto
Linda Farrow Alexander Wang
Urban Outfitters Cat Eye
Tom Ford Nikita

OPI Burlesque Collection

I got my nails done yesterday and have been waiting to post about this ever since!

I'm a nail polish junkie so when a new line of colors comes out I'm always eager to see what it has to offer.  Around the holidays nail polish companies usually put out some fantastic lineups of reds but this season OPI pushed the envelope.  Instead of putting out their normal line of holiday reds they went a little crazier.

OPI, who has now made 3 film associated lines this year (the others were for Shrek and Alice in Wonderland), has created a line of nail polish in collaboration with the soon to be released film Burlesque.  The lineup includes 12 colors that are all loud and glittery.  Half of the twelve shades are all glitters, while the other half are more on the shimmer side.  The glitters are in colors like purple, blue and green, while the shimmers are more in tune with the holiday season and come in colors like red, plum and pumpkin.

All Lacquered Up a nail polish fanatic's dream blog wrote a post all about the Burlesque line, which can be read if you click on the link.  The post details how the polishes are designed to capture the essence of Burlesque and Cabaret, including that of the undeniably mesmerizing costumes.

When I got my nails done yesterday I put a layer of a solid Essie color first and then put one of the OPI Burlesque glitters on top.  It really made the glitter shade pop and my nails aren't sheer as a result, which I prefer.

On my nails right now is OPI Burlesque "Show it and Glow it!" and Essie's "Soul Mate".  My nails are a distracting shade of purple glitter and I couldn't be more pleased.

Chunky Knit Sweaters

Now that my exams are through I have plenty of time to dedicate to online shopping.  Well, I guess it's more like online browsing since I don't have the finances to purchase anything.  Thank goodness Christmas is around the corner!

WhoWhatWear, the site that truly began my fashion addiction put out a style stalking piece the other day with one particular outfit that caught my eye. (You can read the piece here)  The girl in the top right corner of the spread is wearing a chunky knit sweater with dark slim pants.  I love a relaxed ensemble done correctly and this particular girl nailed it.

WhoWhatWear makes a good point when they say that cold temperatures doesn't mean you have to give up on style.  It definitely becomes difficult to create an outfit that's trendy and warm enough come winter; it's hard to be motivated about fashion when all you want to do is keep warm.  Chunky knit sweaters layered over long sleeve shirts and thermals are the perfect solution.

Although chunky sweaters have been around for years, I've always had trouble finding ones that are just right.  Too often the sweaters are too bulky or remind me of something Mr. Rogers would wear.  Luckily that simply isn't the case this season.

Below are some of my favorite sweaters for the winter:
Topshop Knitted Chunky Sweater
Topshop Knitted Boxy Sweater
Thread Sence Cable Knit Sweater
Urban Outfitters Fisherman Sweater
Urban Outfitters Heart Sweater
Miss Selfridge Bobble Sweater

Keeping Cozy

Topshop Faux Fur Earmuffs

Topshop Faux Sheepskin Mittens

With temperatures in the 30's last night and low 40's today it's safe to say winter is right around the corner.

Needless to say, I was entirely unprepared for the cold, windy weather today.  After my ten minute walk back from class (it felt more like twenty with the wind whipping against my face), I jumped onto my laptop to search for fun yet practical winter accessories; but not before I made myself a piping hot glass of hot chocolate.

I was pleased to find a plethora of winter accessories in tune with the trends for the upcoming season.  Faux fur hats, earmuffs and hand warmers were amongst many of the winter lookbooks of my favorite sites.  Chunky, knitted scarves were draped on nearly all of the models' necks too.

It's safe to say that everything you need to keep warm and cozy is available this upcoming season, and the best part is you can stay fabulous all the while.

Check out Topshop.com and Threadsence.com to see where I drew my inspiration for today's post.

50's Glamour

While reading some of my favorite blogs I came across a new one: Bette's Vintage Line.  As one of its main components, it has a lot of really outstanding images of fashion related photography.  It wasn't long before one of the shoots caught my attention.  The shoot, dedicated to 50s glamour fashion, took my breath away.  I scrolled through picture after picture in awe of the fashion, scenery and overall mood of the images.

The photographs have a very vintage feel.  The whole shoot takes place on a beach and the girls are all wearing 50s inspired clothing.  The models have full red lips, winged eyeliner, curls typical of a 50s housewife and pearls around their necks.  Their shorts and heels are high and their skirts are full.

The first thing that stood out to me is how they transformed 50s into a pinup/glam look.  Even better, they managed to make this happen on a beach setting.  The beach is a totally different setting than one would imagine for a pinup glamour style shoot.  As I was scrolling through the images, I felt as though the whole shoot shook up conventional roles of the 50's housewife.

What's even more interesting is that the models are posing seductively and confidently, not something typical of a woman of the 50s.  I could see the images driving some truly cultural conversation, which is why I am so inspired by them.  I look forward to adding Bette's Vintage Line to my blogroll and am excited about any inspiration I may receive from her fashion photography finds in the future.

Quinn's personal style

Quinn Young is a friend of mine here at Lehigh.  I used to admire her from afar before we were even acquaintances because she simply has a presence.  Quinn has a style that I both adore and envy.  It is put-together and classy but still a bit eclectic.

Quinn is soft-spoken and seems a bit shy, but she is actually quite witty.  I was excited to conduct an interview with her because I'm always interested to know how people define their style.  As those of you who read this blog know, I'm all about inspiration.  I was eager to here where Quinn draws her inspiration and who's styles she most admires.

Listen in on the interview to find out who Quinn's style icons are, what her favorite fall trends were, what trends she's looking forward to for the spring, and how she really defines her own personal style.

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Holiday Sequins

[Nicole Richie in a gold sequin dress]

[Silver sequin dress - can be found on Nordstrom.com]

Call me crazy, but with the holidays quickly approaching I've got one thing on my mind: sequins.  A holiday outfit always needs a bit of sparkle and I think sequins are that perfect touch of shine.

In my opinion, holidays are all about luster.  Take the sparkling lights on a Christmas tree, or the glossy wrapping paper underneath it.  And how about the shimmering candles for the Jewish holiday?  You see, holidays are all about luster.

I may be early, but I always love to plan an outfit way in advance for the holidays.  It may be because I'm anxious and eager for the holidays to come, but it's probably because I know I'll run out of money quickly in buying all my family members presents.  Therefore, the outfit needs to be chosen now. 

This year I want to go big: I want a sequin dress! (see above for inspiration) I love a long sleeved sequin dress worn with dark tights and suede pumps or wedges just the way Nicole Richie did it above.

For those of you who are fearful of an ensemble covered in sequins, try a red nail polish with sparkles or a sequined accessory.  You simply can't go wrong with a touch of sparkle around the holidays.