Hello! From Outer Space

What does Stefany (in her halloween getup from this past year -please forgive the Lady Gaga Wig), and these models from the Spring 2012 Ralph Rucci show have in common in the photo's below?
 

Ding ding! you are correct... we are both thin, leggy and kinda alien looking in the face...  Think again! METALLIC leather! 
Yes.. more and more this trend has been bubbling up, and I couldn't help giggle a little when I first spotted it.. considering I wore a silver leather tunic with matching hot shorts at the space themed Halloween party I attended past fall.  Talk about being ahead of my times...
Anyways, like most things off the runway, there is always an element or idea you can take away that's more wearable and not so outrageous.  So here are some of my metallic picks to rock right now.

Not so galactic anymore eh?  These cute Nordstrom vintage flats can be purchased here.

For just a hint of alien,  add this pretty bib collar to any t-shirt or dress  Find here.

From our buddies over at H&M (may still be available in certain stores) this cute peplum top is a little out there, but can be toned down if paired with more casual pieces (distressed denim and converse anyone?)

Lastly, don't tell me you aren't drooling over this adorable little seashell number. Yeah, me too. Find her here.

Lesson is, don't think you will look galactic by adding a touch of some serious metal to your drobe, because as long as you keep it casual and real, the trend is attainable and a quirky addition to any closet.

E.T phone home.

Polka Dot Wednsdays.

Today, I show you that it's fun to twirl on a busy NYC street, because:

A. People think you're nuts
B. They don't care since the person next to you is probably even crazier
C. It's quite liberating to twirl.  You should try it sometime.

Dress: H&M (last year) Necklace: Zara (New)
Also: Note creepy poster to the upper left hand corner of man holding pug.  Just sayin.

You can see my bra here.  You're welcome.

And sometimes I wear bright ballet flats.

And when your friend tells you to stand on the fire hydrant because the blue of your dress and the red of the hydrant will look nice together.. LISTEN to her : )

How to find the perfect print for you.

I talk lot's about prints, mostly the ones I like.  But not every print is gonna speak to every girl, so this is a little post about your spirit print.  It's actually quite easy to identify.
First you will have to answer a series of questions. and once you add up all the points, we can figure out the rest.. Just kidding.. there will be no questionnaire.. but it's a good idea anyways.
All jokesies aside. Prints can say a lot about a person.. just as we have discovered shoes can say a lot about people.
Are they loud, bold, colorful, demure, feminine, sweet... these are all reflections of what someone is putting out there in the world, and for the most part, they can accurately summarize at least certain aspects of a personality.
Prime example is a photo a friend recently posted on her Instagram.

Oh... and please feel free to add some if you can think of more.. this is just a startoff point :)

Jessica who is a super awesome stylist, and also has a really sweet blog (check it out here. ) Posted this photo of her shirt the other day and said "this is a reflection of my personality #allovertheplace.

Need more be said? I mean come on. That's next level. And my kind of gal.

And I truly agree. Certain patterns can really speak to someones personality.  Let's peek at some other types right this way.

She's an adventure loving wild child, with an ethnic flare, and an appreciation for life..and the unknown. She's not afraid to stand out in a crowd and make a statement  (find the dress here.)

Take a wild guess at this sort of gal... she's a free spirit, easy going, smart and whimsical.  She also loves hugging a good tree... Juuuuuuust kidding.. for this pretty boho chic dress clicky here.

Clean, crisp, sharp, graphic... all excellent adjectives. How do they relate to a personality? There are some of us who like cleanliness, streamlined, simple things.. well this dress is for those people. It's bold, yet somewhat calming.  The magic of stripes.  Find this dress here.

For this next vibe, I could have gone many routes, a pretty soft floral, a small scale demure print.. but the point is, there are ladies who like to look and feel like ladies, and have a flirty and feminine side they enjoy playing up by virtue of the clothes they wear.  This plaid dress is a great example of that. It has a delicate, sweet quality to it and a soft color palette thats very harmonious.  Find it here.

Let's talk Bandana prints! plus the OC x ADIDAS Collabo

For quite some time now, I've been a huge fan of bandanas.
It began with a wrist problem I developed about 5 years ago from all the heavy duty painting and tending of bar I was doing at the time.
Ace bandages were the way to go for a while. But I quickly grew tired of their ugliness.  So instead I started wrapping bandanas around my wrist.
What began as a way for me to feel better about my pain, ended up sort of developing into a fashion thing.  And people noticed and liked it.
I received compliments constantly, and soon began collecting bandanas with really cool and unique prints.
Fast forward to last week, when I spotted an image of the Opening ceremony x Adidas collaboration. 
I was thrilled the bandana print was back full force.
Below is the image that got me very excited.

So, with bandana prints on the horizon, I searched around to find a few other options for us vintage loving freaks to feast our eyes on, read on for the goodies.

Aren't these super adorbs?  I think i need them in my life.

For a more boho and feminine flair, this top does a really great job at capturing the bandana vibe.  Find it here.

Seriously, a Saks fifth ave cotton motorcycle jacket from the 60's for less that $50?  Score. Find this cool piece here.

Really sweating this cute summer dress. Find her here.

And then, we depart slightly from the traditional red and white look for this cool oversized jacket, perfect for the fall.  You can find her here.

Thanks for checking out my picks, and look forward for some blog posts with some of these looks :)

A dressed up sneaker

Today, I show you that it's quite alright to wear sneakers with a skirt... as long as you've got the right attitude to go along with it.
The last few months I have not been able to get enough of my Ash wedge sneakers.  Everything from the bright tomato red color, to the slight wedge, and the contrasting caramel velcro straps make these the perfect spring/summer comfy yet fashionable shoe.
Keep in mind, this season sneakers aren't just for running..... so as long as you mix casual and dressy in a way that makes you comfortable, you can look totally chic.

Peek at the photos below for some of my sneaker styling.

Dodging dog poo... No really.

Wearing: AA tank, Urban Outfitters skirt, Zara blazer, Ash wedge sneakers, Aldo Necklace, Vintage thrifted Fendi satchel, Gifted Noir Bracelets.

And a close up of the necklace.. cause its straight up gorgeous.

Photo's by Lizabeth Nieves (check out her great photography right here.)

Inspired by: Spotted ethnic handbag.

I am constantly inspired by street style and love interacting with people to find out where their amazing pieces have come from.  This weekend I met a girl while at an outdoor dance party, who was rocking the most badass handbag i've seen in a long time. Of course I approached her and asked not only to photograph it, but also where she had scored it.  Turns out, she had received it as a gift from a friend who had traveled to Thailand.  Which means there's no way for me to find one just like it! 

But I went digging and found some similar styles for reasonable prices

This gorgeous handbag is made in india, and sold at an etsy shop that operates from India.  Isn't it stunning?  Here's a link to that shop.

another stunning piece from the same shop

This shop can do no wrong! these colors are incredible.

All of these beautiful textiles really make me want to pack my bags and take a trip out to India, so I can shop the bazaars and markets for gorgeous goodies like the ones i've shown you.

Well, I'm off to day dream about my trip!

Till next time.

Breaking the law in neon.

There is something about a worn in Hanes v neck that just gives me a false sense of bravery.  I can't quite understand the phenomena, but as seen in the next shot... I'm apparently above the law and all else..
This post is really just about that.. my favorite understated wardrobe item.. The white v-neck tshirt.
It makes everything feel more chill, no pretenses, no bullshit.. just down to business, or breaking the law.

My thrifted neon woven vest is such a statement, that pairing it with a casual t, makes it more digestible. Also wearing thrifted Zimmermann clog sandals.

Here's a close up of the vest, in all its neon glory.  Paired with an urban outfitters necklace.

All photo's by Will Star

Proper Picnic Attire right this way!

Obviously there is not ONE way to dress for a picnic, but there are certain aesthetic elements that enhance the picnic experience.
Central Park is a magnificent place for such activity, and that's precisely where you will find me loungin, stuffin da face, and plain old lookin picnic ready in the next few shots.

Vintage thrifted picnic basket (with a checked fabric interior!)

You always need a blanket cause dat grass be dirty.

Secondly, you need a good twirl move, cause you never know who will be sneaking in photos. Case in point, the creep on the lower left corner of the photo) Wearing: vintage Trifary necklace (thrift store find)

Thirdly, you should always rock a smile... and a great vintage dress (Buffalo Exchange) and a fedora (well those only work sometimes, but a picnic is one of those times)

All images courtesy of the talented Lizabeth Nieves (find more of her beautiful photographs here.