Fashion inspiration: Nicole Richie addition

From Paris Hilton's unknown (but really funny) sidekick on 'The Simple Life' to a business women and fashion icon. Nicole Richie has definitely taken several steps in the right direction. She may not be a role-model per say (for obvious reasons), but she is definitely fashion forward. These are some of my favorite looks.

The look for less... way less

Summer is finally here. Which means no school and a lot more fun. In spirit of being free of the long unforgiving walks all over campus, from class to class, I am breaking out my heels.

So the other day I was on chictopia.com looking at my fellow shopaholics for outfit ideas, and I came across these cute BCBG shearling ankle boots.

Unfortunately they retail for $80-$200. The Shearling probably would be a bad idea during the summer.

Bummed because they are so cute but currently out of my price range, I decided to go to the mall... just to window shop. Low and behold I found these boots in Forever21

I love the way heels look, but I never find them comfortable. These boots are actually comfortable and easy to walk in (I'm guessing it has something to do with the thickness of the heels). Plus they were only $20! I'm also glad that they are brown because I have way to many black shoes.


Man...I really suck at window shopping...

Be Thrifty!

If you enjoy the quality of designer clothing but don't enjoy the price, have no fear there is a solution to your problem. Thrift stores!

Thrifting is great because you never know what you are going to find. One man's trash is another man's treasure and I for one love finding little treasures that have been discarded by others. I also love finding new or lightly used fashion for a fraction of the price. But my favorite thing about thrifting is finding vintage clothing. Finding a vintage piece made before I was born is fascinating and I can't help but wonder the story behind it.

Here are a few of my favorite vintage shops.

www.etsy.com ~~~ Etsy is very similar to Ebay and is much cheaper than Modcloth. It is the perfect site to buy or sell vintage and handmade clothing, accessories, shoes, home decorations, and much much more. 

www.modcloth.com ~~~This is a good place to buy vintage and mod style clothing, shoe's, accessories, and home decorations. It is however a bit expensive.

www.secondtimearound.net ~~~ I love this store. They sell a lot of lightly used designer clothing and shoes. I recently bought a pair of Habitual premium jeans ( which usually cost around $200) for $20!  There are stores located on Newbury Street and in Harvard sq. 

*side note: that not everything is used at thrift stores. Many times people sell new designer things to thrift stores*

Balmain has strong shoulders

I have always been a fan of shoulder pads. Something about pointy shoulders makes people seem powerful. I was excited to find that they are back in style so I don't feel as crazy wearing my vintage inspired blazers and jackets. I have recently been on the hunt for a light pink blazer with shoulder pads after seeing this picture on tumblr.

Unfortunately I couldn't find one but I did came across the designer Balmain. Here is some of his 2011 collection.

He seems to love Shoulder pads and sequin as much as I do. It is to bad I don't have the money to buy...well anything from his collection. But a girl can dream right?

Boots and Wool

 Is it Winter or is it Spring?

Spring is on its way but it seems no one alerted mother nature. The temperature is still quite cold and the air is just as dry as it was 2 months ago. I no longer have to wear my puffy winter coat, but I can't run around in a cardigan either. There is a simple solution to this problem.

During the last few weeks of winter, and this odd  weather transition, I like to revisit my fall wardrobe. I find that this is the easiest way to keep warm and still look cute. A few examples below.

You can simply wear brighter colors to transform a fall wardrobe into a pre-spring wardrobe.

Hope this helps.

Bed Head

 Have you ever woken up with hair that could rival Albert Einstein? Rest assured you're not alone. For most people "bed head" is a result of tossing and turning during the night. Buying a silk pillowcase or wrapping your hair is an option, but it doesn't always work. Most days I wake up looking like the photo below.

 

Waking up to a bad hair day is a common problem. The first thing we reach for is a hat. The problem is that wearing a hat over crazy hair is noticeable and not always appropriate. For example, imagine you were an attorney. I doubt the judge would allow you to wear a baseball cap in the court room. Luckily there is a cute alternative. Headbands.

When someone mentions headbands, we get the mental image of a little girl with pigtails or a basketball player. There are however headbands for everyday women.

With my terrible sleeping habits I often find myself rushing out the house after hitting the snooze button several times. Headbands have been my savior and they can be worn during any season.

Spring Fashion for Everyday People

As someone who is considered fashionable, I have a lot of my friends asking me for advice. The thing about fashion is that it is all relative really. I cannot teach anyone my personal style anymore than they could teach me theirs. I like to know what the latest trends are but I don’t necessarily follow them. I buy the things that I am comfortable in, and I am always confident leaving my house. That is what makes me fashionable. That is what makes me a trendsetter.

As winter comes to an end, stores are bringing out new clothing in anticipation of spring.
The following is some of the latest fashion as seen on the runway.

1) Boyfriend Style apparel:

This is my personal favorite. I have never had the desire to wear really tight clothing or extremely high heels. During the summer you will probably find me in a pair of boyfriend jeans and some flats. This trend is for those of us who enjoy being comfortable and chic.

2) Sheer tops:

 Lace is the perfect way to dress up a casual outfit. They also add a feminine romantic feel. I don’t own one but it does look cute.


3) All White:

 Dressing in white from head to toe is not very practical, but it does give a fresh appearance. This look may work for some, but seeing that I am accident prone I don’t think it is for me.


 4) Stripes or nautical:

Stripes are perfect for spicing up a dull outfit. I actually love stripes. Strangely I don’t own a single thing with stripes on it.


5) Bold and bright colors:

Mixing and matching bright neon colors is the perfect way to turn heads .You can also mix them with neutral colors for a more natural look. I definitely don’t have enough color in my closet. I plan to change that.


6) Tons of Accessories:

Accessories are great to liven up an outfit. I have a ridiculous amount of accessories. I am always wearing hats and sunglasses.


 7) Girly or feminine

Pink, floral, dresses and skirts normally make reappearance in spring. You can never go wrong with any of these. I think wearing dresses and skirts is my favorite part of spring.


Dressing for your body type:

I imagine there are women who decide fashion is simply not for them because they do not look like models. We are not all tall, thin supermodels. Shopping may feel a chore for those of us who don’t know our body types. When you constantly try on things that are unflattering it is easy to believe that your body is the problem. The real problem is what we are trying on.

There are basically 5 body types.

 • Hourglass
Your hips and shoulders are perfectly proportioned while your waist is much smaller. Clothing that accentuates your waist is the most flattering. Avoid high necklines on tops.

• Pear Shaped
Your hips are wider than your shoulders. Shoulders are smaller than the waist.
Wear bottoms that are dark colored. Avoid patterned or puffy bottoms. Wear tops with puffed sleeves, shoulder pads, or wide collars. Focus on buying separates.

• Cone Shaped:
Your shoulders are wider than your hips. Hips are also smaller than your waist. Wear darker tops and heavier bottoms. Stick to buying separates. Avoid shirts with thin straps.

• Apple Shaped):
Your shoulders and hips are even. Your waist is undefined.
Draw attention to the neckline. Wear darker well-fitted clothing.
Avoid really tight or really loose clothing. Avoid white.

• Athletic shape
You are thin but not curvy. To create a shape, wear clothing than defines the waist. Wear tight tops with loose bottoms. Or wear tight clothing with a lot of layers.
Keep these rules in mind and shopping should be a lot less stressful. But knowing how to shop is only half the battle.

With the economy in such a terrible state people are trying to save money. Luckily there are several stores where you can get the latest trends at a fraction of the price. Some of my recommendations are H&M, Forever21, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls. There is also a men and kids section in each of these stores.

The key to being fashionable is finding the elements that complement you best. Buy things that you are comfortable in, not what everyone else is buying. That way you can build your own personal style. Good luck out there.