Back to school gadgets: $50 or Less

Good Morning lovelies! School is right around the corner, and as the days grow shorter and the weather starts to marginally turn colder, it means that not only do you need the best outfits, but also, some really cool accessories for your necessary classroom gadgets!

Back to School Basics

$50 or less

 

I wish I had this amazing little device whenever I was working in the library and suddenly had to get up and go to the bathroom. This would've saved me so much headache and hassle having to pack up and then unpack my laptop and notebooks, EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Kensington ComboSaver Ulta Combo Computer Lock: $39.99

 

Otterbox phone cases are personally my favorite because I've dealt with them and have had my phone and seen other's phones saved by the box. I recommend it for everyone like me who is texting, stumbles, and down goes the phone right smack onto the tile floor.

http://www.otterbox.com/

This bad boy looks odd, but it's a necessary cooler for under your laptop. My laptop died from overheating, so I can not stress how important these are for extending the life and performance of one's sacred portable. Birthday present anyone?

Logitech Cooling Pad N100: $19.99

National Elephant Appreciation Day

Good evening lovelies! Today was National Elephant Appreciation Day! For those who have never heard of it, it's the day where we celebrate the magnificent species that has survived for 50 million years on our beautiful planet. 

I am obsessed with elephants myself and love learning about them, as well as wearing beautiful pieces that showcase their amazing legacy. I've been told it's good luck if the trunk is up on whatever elephant-resembling item you own. 

National Elephant Appreciation Day 2013

For those who don't much about this beautiful species, you can find out how to get involved and learn more by visiting this website:

http://www.himandus.net/elefunteria/eday/eday_main.html

Or you can read one of  my favorite books of all-time, Elephantoms, written by a man exploring the history and nature of this species, as well as including a beautiful retelling of his first encounter with one and his life thereafter:

Elephantoms

Or you can show your love by wearing a beautiful piece like this that is functional yet fun and starts a conversation usually by way of "Are those elephants? That's so cute!" (I'm speaking from personal experience on that one)

Jade Green Elephant Print Parka: $31.00

Back to school best: $50 or less

Good morning lovelies! For everyone gearing up for next month when pencils and papers are a flurry and deadlines begin, then now is a critical time to make sure you have that amazing first-day outfit to make great impressions, and also to fall back on when you need to command attention for a presentation. I always get so excited for this time of year because for me it symbols to FINALLY break out the boots and jackets after a scorching hot summer.

Back to School Best

$50 or Less

Mesh Panel Oxford Wedges: $37.20

Black Chain Detail Backpack: $49.00

China Lace Sleeveless Dress: $36.00

Ruffle & Lace Blazer: $39.95

Overall each piece is neutral, but it's the small details in each one, like the pattern of the dress, the platform of the oxfords, the lace paneling of the jacket, and the chain detail of the bag that are special. These things make an otherwise ordinary piece an amazing wardrobe staple that you'll live in. While this outfit may be a bit much for some, hopefully inspiration comes from these pieces for seriously sexy scholarly style.

Designer Obsession: Erica Weiner

Good evening lovelies. Last night I stumbled across this amazing jewelry designer, Erica Weiner. I am so excited about her jewelry because of her fun collection. Born in Brooklyn and influenced by an Art History degree from Vassar College + traveling for Broadway shows doing costuming, her pieces are undeniably unique and have a personality all their own. Her USA-made jewelry makes a statement, ranging from the large and unusual to delicate and lady-like, all while being very affordable.

ericaweiner.com

My favorites from her collection

$50 or Less

Arrow Hoops: $45.00

 These are so fun, and every time I look at these I get Nelly Furtado's "Big Hoops" stuck in my head. Hoops like these are perfect for anyone looking to make a statement, especially for anyone with a lot of voluminous hair. They're very easy to style yet big enough they won't be hidden if you feel like wearing your hair down, a common problem I have since I have a lot of thick, curly hair with a ton of volume that hides most earrings.

 Winged Migration Necklace: $40.00

 I love really beautiful pieces that are "thoughtless" in a sense: you don't have to wonder if they're going to look good with what you have on, you can just throw it on and go. This airplane necklace is really fun and easy for when you're in a rush and not sure what to wear with that shirtdress or blouse or tank top - you're going to look stylish and put together in an instant. I love traveling, and I absolutely LOVE airplanes - I really enjoy getting to travel in them. I've been flying since I was 3 years old, so to me this necklace is a great way to feel very worldly, even when you're stuck in the office.

Cicada Earrings: $30.00

These are a bit more funky and for the adventurous. The Cicadas make the very fun unusual cricket-y sound you hear at night, and this summer is the first time in 19 years most of the US has seen them. They are a fascinating species since certain kinds of Cicada stay underground and only emerge once every 19 years to reproduce. Living in the south, I hear them every night due to the kind that emerge once every 2 years that are prevalent in southern Louisiana.

Pen Nib Necklaces: $40.00

Paired with a structured dress, or button-up shirt and pencil skirt, this necklace evokes a very Joan from Mad Men feel that is so fun and so very 1950's.  The slight secretary, office-chic vibe is a really perfect way to add some fun to your 9-5.

Making fun of celebrities through products: Good fun or bad business?

Good evening lovelies! I'm sure through the Twitterverse or email web you've all heard about the latest clothing giant to come under criticism in an attempt to be mainstream.

If you haven't heard about it in the last few days; Abercrombie & Fitch decided to make fun of Taylor Swift by putting out a t-shirt that reads "More Boyfriends Than T.S."

This isn't the first time a company has decided to put a popular figure into their clothing concept - Look at every Pro Obama/Pro Biden shirt that existed from different clothing lines. When you walk into Spencer's or browse through Ebay/Cafe Press, you can find any sort of extremely sexual, dirty humored shirt that is 100 times more offensive than this Abercrombie shirt, and a lot of times they're making fun of celebrities.

However, Taylor Swift fans caused a major uproar when the discovery of this shirt went viral. Abercrombie has since pulled the shirt from it's stores due to the outcry of "Swifties" (Taylor Swift fans)

I wouldn't wear this shirt, I think it sends the wrong message for the age group that it's meant for. Countless comedians have made this exact same joke so many times though, and not a single one has come under fire because of the audience it's delivered to. I think this shirt would work better in Spencer's or on Ebay as more of a humor-based shirt as compared to one that's supposed to be "Cutesy" and meant for a tween audience.

When a shirt is making of a celebrity in a humor-based forum, that's where the success is. Just look at this shirt, which was featured in Jimmy Kimmel's video "I wanna Channing all over your Tatum" where Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum made fun of Channing's name:

This shirt is funny, because it's meant to be, and it's geared at an older, adult audience. The Taylor Swift shirt might have been popular and successful had it been geared at an adult audience as more of a gag shirt. In this situation, I think both parties were wrong: Abercrombie shouldn't have put out that shirt for such a young demographic, and Taylor Swift fans need to lighten up. I enjoy Twilight, but I can laugh at everything that makes fun of it too.

What do you think? Do you think the Swifties were too harsh? Do you think it's fair that they made Abercrombie take this shirt down? Do you think it was a good idea for Abercrombie & Fitch to put out this shirt in the first place?

 

Product Review: "Hello Sailor" by Lipstick Queen

There is a major trend this season that is popping up everywhere that in my opinion every woman should wear: blackberry lips. This trend is easy for the spring and summer because it genuinely goes with everything you could possibly wear. Depending on the colors you typically sport, you can even bring it into fall and winter with just darker shades for the seasons. This trend has a lot to do with my product review tonight because the product I ordered is a special one that was featured on Yahoo news a few weeks ago by a blogger who also did a review. 

Blackberry Lips Trend

Product Review

"Hello Sailor" by Lipstick Queen

$25.00

Purchasing this product has been the first time in my life that I've decided to try a makeup trend. I'm always willing to try makeup products, but I've never really cared about the trends because, to be honest, most of the makeup trends don't work for my coloring or work place. Seeing this product though, something inherently Vogue snapped in me and said "I need this!", as well as something about the fact that it's blue made me feel a little, well, rebellious.

I debated about ordering it for 2 days after finding it only being sold online through Saks Fifth Avenue. When I finally decided to go back and purchase it, it had completely sold out online. This product is no doubt incredibly popular, and so I called around the country to a few stores in feverish excitement, only to find the Saks in Hollywood having 3 left. 1 1/2 weeks later I had the box in my hand and in a giddy squeal I tore open the box, pulled out the pretty blue tube and ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror as I applied it to my lips mid-run. (I'm brave when excited, and lucky I didn't lipstick my cheeks while I ran - girls, don't try that at home)

While the lipstick itself is blue, it doesn't go on blue based on the color wheel theory: the blue lipstick + pink lips = purplish berry tint. The brand promises that the bright blue lipstick when applied will make your teeth look whiter and your complexion much brighter. When it first goes on though, it just looks like a clear matte gloss - pretty, but not berry. I was colored a tad disappointed the first few days of wearing it, only seeing it when I put it on first thing before work, until one night mid-shift I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I realized that the lipstick goes on neutral, but after a bit of time to mix with your natural lip color you look like you're wearing a beautiful berry shade. 

Of course, depending on the natural color of your lips, the shade it ends up varies, but with my lips after a bit of time (about 15 -30 minutes) it looked like something from the runway.

 My overall review: buy this product. Don't let the blue color scare you, it's absolutely beautiful, moisturizing, and worth every penny.

Mother's Day

Instead of talking about what to buy your mom to celebrate Mother's Day, I've decided instead to celebrate my mom and a major way she's always influenced my life: through her style. 

This is my amazing and stylish mother, Pamela. For as long as I can remember, as far back as my mind reaches, she's always oozed this effortless elegance. She is classic and modern and is always very well put-together. I was always fascinated by her vast wardrobe that took up all the closets and beaureau's in her room and half of the closet in mine when I was growing up. I could've cared less about clothes at that age, but for some reason her flowing dresses and skirts made me stare in wonder and awe when she'd open the closet doors. On summer days while she was at work I'd try on her shoes and wonder what it was like to run around for 10 hour work days running the Pulminary Function lab at the hospital in Manolo Blaniks. Her closets were overflowing with Coaches, Louis Vuittons and her Dooney & Burkes. In the photo above you can see the little loon tag under her arm, the wordless indicator of a woman with taste. 

It should come as no surprise though that my mom has style since she's a New Yorker and an original hippie child during the Woodstock era. Even in her earliest photos in her tye-dyed garb, she was classic, simple, elegant, in tye-dye of course. You can see an underlying style from an early age on through her teens and early adulthood with the way she put together outfits that made you pay attention.

As a child I'd watch her get dressed for work and put on her makeup with fascination, and at the same time a bit of repulsion simply because the little tomboy I was when I was much younger saw makeup as the enemy. 

Despite my best efforts to resist her teachings, she is the reason I am so passionate about fashion and am constantly doing my best to put forward my best efforts, even while going to the grocery store. 

My mother is by far the coolest because she told me just a few years ago "You can't go wrong with a little cleavage". My mom is fearless and not afraid to be her, perfectly manicured nails, designer purses and shoes and all, all while observing through rose-colored Coach frames.

When I think of my mom, I think of style, and while I don't have the same style as she does, I do try to take the same approach that she does; it doesn't matter how much you have, just as long as what you have is quality. 

My mom is the most stylish woman I know.