Look Book!

Want to define a signature style but have no clue where to start?

For me, I looked to my favorite magazines and ripped out my favorite pages to create a Look Book. I put them in a binder but they don't have to be an actual book, lots of fashionistas create shared look books online at fashion portals such as http://www.style.com/

Look Books give you an idea of what to shop, where to shop and how to style.

And they are true to you! I have pages from years ago but I still fall in love with the styles.

Here I pulled 6 of my favorite pages from my look book to prep for spring style.

From Top, left to right
I love busting out skirts and baring some leg when the weather starts warming up (not today though, it's rainy and depressing today in D.C.) Bright colors, full volumes and even matching prints makes it even more fun and feminine.

Next, I am always inspired by the simplicity of this Chanel look. The straw hat gives it a fresh young look and luckily cuban hats are everywhere this year.

A detailed look of  different take on the one shoulder look. I keep my favorite looks from my look book in the back of my mind when I go shopping or even better yet, you can take them with you as a guide!

On the right of the top row is a glam Michael Kors dress and matching fur coat. I wouldn't do the fur in the summer! but I'll be wearing bright bright colors like hot pink not only at night but in the day!

Spiegel Signature Sateen Safari Dress in Pink Raspberry, $69

Click here to buy

Keira Knightly is rocking polka dots and aviators on the bottom left. Usually I shy away from polka dots but done in a sexy pinup 50's way they actually look pretty cute.

Target Merona Polka Dot Dress, $39.99

click here to buy

The T-Strap Heel gives it a more vintage feel!

In the middle is one of my favorite all-time prints, leopard. But it doesn't have to just be leopard, animal prints are big right now and can be done in big ways! You can add a leopard print in a heel or flat to spice up a basic dress or do a whole shift in leopard or snakeskin! I also love it in a bag such as a (fake) embossed alligator tote.

Macy's, INC "Princy" Pump, $49.99

click here to buy

Christian Siriano for Payless Downtown Zip Sandal for $24.99

Click Here to Buy

On the bottom right is the lingerie as regular wear trend. And I like the being unabashedly feminine confidence of pairing it with soft hair and makeup. You don't have to bust out your Victoria's Secret but look for delicate materials like chiffon and intricate details such as ruffles and thin pretty straps.

Girly Girl, Macarons & Fashion

Macarons (macaroons) made news this week in the WSJ as their popularity pushes them to become the next cupcake.

Last winter I bitterly try to product perfect macarons with no success but tried relentlessly because I couldn't get over their loveliness.

Their pretty blooming palate and delicateness reminds me of this seasons girly girl trend.

Unabashedly feminine pinks, creamy nudes and powdery lavenders were combined with tulle, chiffon and cashmere.

And in there own way, they were just as strong as Givenchy's strict lines, promoting feminism with their unapologetic pride in being one of the girls :D

Note* Grab your delicate sheer tops pair them with dark skinny jeans, pretty pretty dresses in nudes with messy hair and strong lips, printed cardigans tucked into miniskirts, dangly keychains and fun hair accessories

A new year, a new look means trying new trends

Spring Beauty Trends Worth a Try?

So since I'm no shopping I need to find new ways to freshen up my look.

The easiest way before was to buy the top 5 trends for spring such as buying a purple shift dress, an ethinic bag, gladiator sandals etc...

One benefit of NOT buying more clothes is that I've become more open and creative in the beauty department. I used to stick with the same reliable routine with only adding a smokey eye when going out (in predicatble silvery gray too.)

This year I'm actually thinking of giving this year's biggest beauty trends a whirl:

1. Braids-the braided ponytail you were sporting back in 2nd grade on the soccer field is back and big. My hair is long enough to actually braid it so maybe I'll give this a try on the weekend. For more a mature way of wearing this, check out glamour.com's article 15 Grownup ways to wear the Braid

2. Pastel eyeshadows- done in unexpected ways like a smokey eye. I typically don't look good in pastels, I'm a jewel-toned girl. (Hint* If you  are olive toned or tanned you'll look good in pastels, paler girls should stick with jewel-tones.) But I have boatloads of eye shadows and lipglossess so it can't hurt to experiment.

3. Red, Nude nails. Lucky for me I've been practicing this trend for years. Since I don't go to the salon every week to touch up my nails, nude has always been the easiest color for me to maintain. In fact I have nude nails on now. And they match everything! I've also been doing red for special occasions, red is classy and sexy. Can't go wrong with Red. I just saw Essie bottles of nude and red at Jcrew therefore confirming this trend.

4. Chanel Rouge Lipsticks-part lipstick and part lipgloss, these are easier to put on than your usual lipstick and but won't stick to everything (like your hair) like lipgloss. Only $30 a pop, totally heading to my local Macy's to pick one up (only one?!!)

What I will be focusing more on this Spring is practicing good Beauty and Makeup habits. Who doesn't like to be high maintenanced once in a while?! Like that Mabelline jingle "Maybe she's worth it."

Trend: Monochromatic

This is easy.

Go into your closet and grab all your clothes of the same color. Any color-Red, Yellow, blacks, whites and nudes...

And they don't have to be the exact shade.

Your khaki pencil skirt with that beige sweater and camel coat and nude hose and nude patent leather heels all together, yep.

I always had a fear of being matchy-matchy as an ultimate sign that you had no style IQ and literally matched clothes by motif or color or by theme. Like the mom at the PTA meeting with the Christmas themed outfit and coordinating red and green socks, accessories and mittens

Monochromatic which sounds much more interesting is bold, brilliant and always exciting.

Especially if it's done in a bloody red or an aqua green (say Michael Kors' lime shift with matching lime fur coat.)

Do Boyfriends dig the Boyfriend Look?

I did the boyfriend look when I had no boyfriend. Back in college, I couldn't feel any cooler, any hipper than when I was doing, what I called, my tomboy look. It was my rebellion against the prim, preppy dresscode enforced in my Mid-Atlantic small town.

It embodied my independant, intellectual persona yet made me feel feminine in a distinctive way. That maybe by not highlighting the obvious fact that I'm a girl, it beautifully contrasted with my naturaly girly features. There.

Yes, sometimes I got teased but that's what you get for being different. I'm talking about a strong leather riding boot with tucked in skinny jeans, a loose button down layered under a cashmere sweater, a school boy blazer, knit scarf, fedora and ethnic jewelry.

But look how cute J.Crew makes it look:

I love the Tie!!!

It's inspired me to bring my collegiate look back. It might shock my boyfriend a little since now I'm known for dressing very feminine (let's count how many dresses I own seriously)

And a nostalgic look into my closet:

Yes! It's a Princess Diane Tshirt I got form a vintage Minnesota store. Add a wild mane of black hair and a pair of bose headphones.

Sigh good times.

Clemence Posey and I have identical outfits, seriously

Your Next Date Outfit

Woohoo a whole 15 days without shopping. Going hard and going strong. That doesn't mean I don't pine over a sexy leather skirt or a beautiful embroidered coat but whenever I walk away I feel super awesome over my new found discipline.

Last friday, my man and I had a hot date over at Hook in Georgetown. Hook's got a modern nautical vibe with a heavy wine list (well any decent restaurant in DC has a phonebook-size wine list.)

Date-wear is tricky. There is a fine line between sexy and trampy, confident and obnoxious and always slightly uncomfortable.

I usually go with one of my LBD's or a drapey BCBG gray jersey dress or a totally ruffled little number. But when in a relationship it always important to change it up.

So I came across what is one of my most versatile pieces in my closet:

The White Shirt Dress

Brook's Brothers Non-Iron Tunic, $98.50, http://www.brooksbrothers.com/

Ahhhh, I know what you are thinking. This is basically a longer version of Tiffany's diehard love for white shirts.

Yes it is, but it can be sexy. the sexiness is in it's simplicity and how it kinda looks like you are wearing one of your man's workshirts. Even if you don't have a man. But believe me, this White Shirt Dress has a 'morning after' look that men just love.

I added a wide belt to cinch in the middle and a pair of Over the Knee Boots, red lips and a red coat.

I would recommend everyone tries Over the Knee Boots. Some are tight are double as tights when worn with skirts others look great over jeans. Don't wear them with too short skirts or shorts or risk looking a pirate. arghhhhhhhhhhh'

Bronx Leather Over the Knee Boot, $169, http://www.victoriassecret.com/

Colin Stuart Over the Knee Stretch Boot, $69, http://www.victoriassecret.com/