Pretty Things: Doo.Ri, Erin Fetherston, RVCA, and Hervé Léger

Doo. Ri - Gothic bride meets punk party girl. I fell in love, then in lust, with the sequin and glitter speckled tights. Somewhat reminiscent of daylight breaking against the early morning fog. The half purple, half blue lipstick seems like a challenge to pull off, but once paired with the space age greys and silvers of the clothing (as well as the black as midnight dark eyeliner) it seems to work seamlessly well.


Erin Fetherston - Alice in Wonderland brought back to life, and revamped in a new light of luxe. The bright pops of red and the strappy platform pumps are all part of this dream like state. Jewel encrusted party dresses, exaggerated bubble skirts, and oversize bows on top, turn this two-dimensional cartoon into high fashion. If I were there, I would love to shake Erin Fetherston's hand, give her a hug and then beg to wear one of her incredible creations. Alice isn't chasing after a white rabbit any longer, or asking a smiling cat questions; instead she's cat walking down the path of her very own dazzling dreams!


Hervé Léger - Body hugging, body conscious; we've heard it all. Lithe bodies, neutral tones and simple designs; all leading to the answer of why Hervé Léger's collections are so infamous for their sex appeal and glamour. This Ready to Wear collection introduced us to knee high, leg hugging boots, motorcyle chic leather, sequins and more overstated accents than we ever dreamed of. All in all, another wonderful smattering of ideas.


RVCA - Erin Wasson, model, designer, stylist and now; visonary. Her line in collaboratation with a skate fashion company, is turning one avid skater's head after another. Whereas before, mainstream designer skate lines where next to blah in the dictionary as far as designs, presentation and overall appeal. Skimmed over in the magazines and passed by in the mall. Yet, Erin managed to capture the true skater by heart and and the true fashionista by nature. The line isn't all girly nor all tomboy. It's a happy mix between street beach chic, casual hippie and a touch of haute bohemian couture; all done in true Erin Wasson fashion, of course. Every one of the items in the varied collections have a piece of Erin, and all of it screaming chic!

• Happy Friday!!!
• Planning on a Dog Park Saturday and picnic.
• I have a little something special to share (in the blog) on Sunday.

Images for my collage all from [NYmag.com] Thank you to StardustandSequins for the paint brushes!

The Littlest Birds

Please excuse the chipped mess that is my nails. I need a manicure pronto. But hopefully the colorful rings
will make up for this.... ?





A big Thank You to Nadia over at Ice.com, a wonderful jewelry website; for this marvelous ring, in my favorite color,
of course!! I treasure it dearly.


Sweety decided that my stuffed Piglet would be hers. And now he most certainly is!!!


Currently listening to this wonderful mix CD sent to my by the darling Cate of Retro Lifestyle


Rings (left to right):
(1) Black plastic flower ring - forever 21
(2) Jeweled ring from Anika (3) Silver ring from Anika
(4) Amethyst ring from ICE (5) Evil Eye ring from eBay (6) Wedding bands

Checkered Coat: Mom's, vintage. Tee: Delia's for World Wildlife Federation. Skinny Jeans: Forever 21. Heels: Go Jane.

She had two loves, and lots o' shoes!

When I did this last time I was asked when I'd be showing my shoes again. So, here are some pairs I got for Christmas and such, some I've already worn for the blog and some I haven't gotten around to, yet.

Top Row / L-R: Guess, Go Jane, Steve Madden, Go Jane.
Bot. Row / L-R: Nine West, A. Marinelli, Richard Tyler, Steve Madden.

• Title, because I love this quote from Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City.
• Nope, for those of you wondering, I haven't revealed those surprises... yet.
• Heath Ledger WINS AN Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in The Dark Knight!!!!!!!! Yippeeeee! There is no better Joker!!
• Christian Bale is my Man Crush, always and forever.. haha.
  
• There's a video of my shoes from last time, for those who missed it.
  

Exciting news for Nine West as New Balance is teaming up with them. How cute are the coloful candy coated sneakers??

" You Can't Miss The Bear "

Thank you to Kosi at Qi Cashmere for sending over a care package full of samples to try on. The instant I opened the box and found this hat, I fell in love with it. I simply had to slip it on before anything else! Overall, I find Qi Cashmere to be classic, chic and clean in their designs.




Carrie of My Bare Style was thoughtful enough to send over some goodies from her Online Shop; Bare Accessories. I still haven’t gotten to the knee socks, but I will, as I adore them. As you can see, I am already putting the handbag and ring to very good use!!



Fur Hat: Qi Cashmere. Sweater: Nordstrom. Tights: Urban Outfitters. Military boots: Secondhand. Ring: Bare Accessories. Handbag: Melie Bianco.



Fur hat mania (what I don is faux) has been spotted popping up all over the Fashion Runway collections; from Jean Paul Gaultier and Fendi to Dolce & Gabbana. I like the practice of how a simple accent of fur (go faux if you can) lends a hand in creating a look of luxe. Men and women, both, can have a stab at this season’s funky trend.


On another note, pun intended, if you couldn't already tell by the song change... I've fast become a fan of the Weeds soundtrack. I finished season 1 last night. This afternoon I saw the first episode of Season 2. And tonight, I'm off to continue my trip down Season 2! I love the Botwins!!

xoxo / Thank you Qi & Carrie!

Part III: Anna Sui, Matthew Williamson, Vena Cava, Chris Benz, Lorick, Proenza Schouler, Ohh My!

Anna Sui – Eclectic and refined. I never thought I’d be able to parallel those two in the same sentence. With Anna Sui, anything is possible. She is a visionary; a dream maker. And she manages to capture these fairytale-esque happy endings through her collections. With the help of feathers and romantic whimsical embellishments, I can see why she is such a prophet. I’d love to feel the materials she used in my own hands. To don a dress by her would be an extraordinary dream come to life; to say the least.

Chris Benz – Bright lights, big city. I adore the congruent use of electric blue hues within this collection. An American favorite, Chris Benz never ceases to amuse and tantalize us with his seductive, yet crisp creations. He knows his way around fabric and dominates it like no other. Some cult supporters of the line? Taylor Momsen (of Gossip girl fame) and Bridget Helene (of The Fashionista Diaries fame.)

Lorick – Seen prominently on Gossip girl, this line is definitely one to watch. Minimalism at its best. However, by adding simple touches of color here and there; a simple pop of red from a scarf or burst of blue from a brooch is how this house arouses delight. I like to think that many of the cuts and lines found in this collection are homage to the 1950’s- when classic, fitted dresses were all the rage. Classic, as they say, never goes out of style. And with the world changing at such a rapid pace, it’s a comfortable notion to know that some designers still have the knack and the know how for the classic.

Matthew Williamson – I’ve always had a fondness for his use of soft colors, such as his infamous slew of pastels, showcased all at once. His designs are a kaleidoscope of wondrously imaginative collaborations. Be it with simple stripes or bold buttons; through the details, I am able to see his thoughts jump off the canvas in turrets of color. I see a touch of Marc Jacobs in his work, polished and taken to the next level.

Proenza Schouler – And who do we spot sitting front and center for this show? Why Mary Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie of course; two of my own personal muses. I sigh as I look through their latest collection, wanting, vying for every piece. I always wait for what they have to showcase next, wait with bated breath. You see, their creative combinations of color, idea and design are always something remarkable. Remember the many folds in their dresses from the fall/winter 2008 Collection? All of which stemmed from an idea about how a paper airplane is folded from a single sheet of paper; genius! I’d give a standing ovation if I could only be there; right now, front row and center, canoodling with Nicole and MK!

Vena Cava – Also, a favorite among the Gossip girl crowd. Black, grey, black? Check, check, check. Drab? Not at all. Sophisticated? Very much so indeed. By infusing some strokes of peachy pastels into the mix, this melting pot of style doesn’t have to be an acquired taste; the evidence is enough to speak volumes. These creations meld just as well with the Upper East Side crowd as they do with the hobnobbing, jet setting, socialite driven, champagne drinking crowd.

Images for my collage all from [NYmag.com] Thank you to StardustandSequins for the paint brushes!

New York Fashion Week: Part II !!

Preen – Caught me completely by surprise and left me in awe over the nonchalant, yet elegant designs amidst its eighties appeal used in all of the intricate details. Another designer sheds some light this season on how black, white and grey can still appeal to the masses, and just as easily manage to stay elegant but never stray away from the modern touches.

Ruffian – From the moment I saw the blood red runway to the body stocking accents, I felt my heart begin to thump. I adore the soft lines, crazy feathered skirts, flamboyant accents in color and sexy vamp red (almost black?!) lipstick. The messy, uncombed- yet cool, hair is the last page to this beautiful love story.

ADAM – Lithe, ethereal, effervescent. I applaud the use of smooth as well as clean lines, pastels and the ever present spring touches (both in color and in fabric.) If ever I dreamed of a real live Ready To Wear line for my Barbie dolls, way back when, this would have been it!

Diane von Furstenberg – The zippered ankle booties and leather leggings have my heart hammering at first look. And at second, all I can see is Russian luxe at its very best. The full coats and furry hats, the touches of elegance that only Diane von Furstenberg can nail, the kind a savvy, fashion forward woman falls in love with; a love that stays with her.

Images for my collage all from [NYmag.com] Thank you to StardustandSequins for the paint brushes!

New York Fashion Week '09 is here!!!

Just as the crisp winter air starts to die down, just a little, the models, Socialites, and Celebrities start coming out in droves; dressed in their best, for Fashion Week. I decided to talk a little about my favorite Collections thus far.

Abaeté -
Crisp, sleek lines. I love how this season is all about the black, grey and white canvas. Yet, by mixing in a few well placed and funky accents, like diamantes, ruffles and chains; and very similarly to the way Balmain and Rodarte did in their previous collections, you too can easily lend a hand at evolving the designs into something modern and marvelous; with a much appreciated twist.

Alexander Wang -
Always current. Always cool. It seems that with each collection, he gets smarter and the all more inspired! I love his crazy cut outs and sleek body conscious designs. I envision turning his pair of cut out leggings (up above) into a wondrous cat suit. Can you only imagine?

Monique Lhuillier -
Gothic glam. Raspberry red and black. Glorious. Genius! The look is part Old Hollywood and part 90's Gothic. I love the unexpected mish mash of lace, full skirted frocks and fishnet gloves. The bows on the toes and layered chain necklaces are the frosting that top off this decadent cake.

Luca Luca -
The Vampy, yet reserved, Vixen steps out of her house in elegance. I'm reminded of the greats: Audrey Hepburn, Tippi Hedren, Lauren Bacall. Red has always been the color used best for attention seekers, love and luxury. Fitted skirts and jackets are also looks to watch out for in this collection. Old Hollywood is back with a bang and I'm already applauding from the sidelines.

My only wish? To one day get to be there, and see it… live!!!

Images for my collage are from: [NYmag.]

Moon River

How was your lovely Valentine's Day Spent? I had a romantic Italian dinner out, Lobster Ravioli and all. The buttered Pumpernickel rolls were superb as was the apple pie a la mode for dessert (topped with a pineapple chutney sauce.)

I thought it best to pop in my Anniversary diamond earrings, don red lipstick and a try my hand at a fancy up 'do (almost Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany's.) The song playing, "Moon River" was what we requested of the live band to play during dinner (a la Piano Jazz.) ♥

Top: Basics. Bandage Skirt: American Apparel. Clutch: Vintage. Wedges: Nine West.

My shoes are from Nine West which I impulsively bought a few years ago, when Nicole Richie was seen in nothing but the originals (circa 2006) by Christian Louboutin.



Image: NicoleRichienu

Happy Valentine's Day, Lovers!

• Flowers: Nature. Love. Consistency.
• Your comments: Lift me up. Motivate me.
• Fashion: Inspires. Intrigues. Instills.

"The Meaning of Life can be found in the Constancy of Nature. . .so should we be as constant in the pursuit of our Dreams." - And so, I leave you with this quote [from my Mom.]

Images: are all from [yay!everyday]

Stay in and order some Chinese ...

• I have a hunger for some Chinese food.
• There is some very special news on the way, blog wise, that is. And I can't wait to share it all with you!!
  
• I love Odwalla's protein drinks. I swear they should endorse me. I always have at least 3 stocked in the fridge at all times.
• I wish with all my heart to have Princess Sparkle. (flickr)
  

• My Valentine's Day plans? Cake, chocolates, a small family gathering, and a really fun surprise (that I hope to unveil in the blog soon!)
• You are listening to the original score from the Sex and the City movie. Aaron Zigman is genius!

Sweater: Juicy Couture. Leggings: American Apparel. Fringe Ankle Boots: Minnetonka. Chain-Strap Bag: Vintage.

Audrey Hepburn, a Unicorn, and Chocolate! "Oh My!"

Just in time for Valentine's day...

I always seem to get this dire need, this ravenous craving, for chocolate. Luckily, Laura and I decided on a chocolate / candy swap sometime around the Holidays of 2008. I longed for Cadbury while she vied for the American classics. Her parcel is set to go out later this week. Thank you DaisyChainDreams for indulging me with Chocolate, my favorite mythical creature- the Unicorn, and Audrey Hepburn!

My Fair Lady.

Tuesday. Tuesday.

What to do with myself? Feeling bored I thought this vintage dress might cheer me up. I popped it on over my head and added the funky boots for contrast. I even did a little jig to Jerk It Out by The Caesars! in video format. Not sure if I'll post it yet, though. hahah. Maybe?? One day....

Dress: Vintage. Bow headband: do it yourself. Bracelets: My Mom's plastic prayer beads. Flat Boots: eBay.

9 Facts of Life, my Life.. x Twice the Tags!

I was tagged by two very special, very lovely ladies today. Cameron of Stardust and Sequins and Laura of Daisy Chain Dreams. And since I actually have some time to sit down and do them, I figured why not? They were both pretty fun to do too. I tag everyone and anyone who wants to take part. Have fun!

Tag (#1)
Cameron asked me to list 9 unknown facts that I could share about myself:

1. Teen Wolf was my favorite movie as a kid. I watched it incessantly, according to my Mom.
2. Johnny Quest, The Gummi Bears and The Smurfs were my favorite cartoons as a kid. To be honest, Johnny Quest was the only thing that would distract me enough as a toddler to actually eat the food I was being fed from my high chair.
3. I still eat baby food, today, haha. They make for a delectable little snack in between meals. Especially the fruit blended ones. The "Apples, Pears and Bananas" one is a winner with me!
4. I always develop crushes on guys who can either make me laugh or on ones that can sing really well. My latest crush is on the lead vocalist of A Cursive Memory (more so on his voice, he's too young for me! haha!)
5. I miss Reading Rainbow. It was one of my favorite childhood programs, especially since I was such an avid reader (I still am.) I miss the show because the host used to read all of these really cool kids books out loud and show all of the illustrations on camera. It was fun.
   
6. As a kid, and even now, I have this odd drive to collect tiny things (erasers, stickers, Polly pocket.)
   
7. When I first wake up, I like to be alone. I'm usually grumpy for the first hour. I don't like to make eye contact or talk.
   
8. My best "thinking" time of day, is actually late at night. It's when the best ideas come to me, almost in bursts of light.
   
9. I love making sand castles. I can spend hours at the beach, lost in my own little world, doing just that. My specialty? Creating drip castles. Hahah!
   

Tag (#2)
Laura asked me to showcase my blogging "space" simple enough. Thanks, miss Laura. :)



Photo for my Collage is from: The Fashion Spot.

Sun tan lotion

• I'm still on the hunt for the perfect job. Ideally I would love to work from home like before, freelance writing about fashion and such. If you know of anything like that, please send it my way. I have a huge folder filled with my previously written articles as reference.

• Here's to another lazy (kind of boring) Saturday, bleak in sunshine and dark with weather. I sense a looming rain nearby. I hope your Saturday is a better Saturday than the one I'm having here.
  

• As always, I will try my very best to reply back to all of your comments, until I do, please remember that not a single one ever goes missed. Each comment brings me joy and a jolt of energy. Thanks for reviving me back to life. I LOVE YOU ALL. This video below should reiterate just that!! Enjoy (remember to bring out some popcorn, haha!)
  

I love you!
X's and O's,
Erika

Blouse: Marc Jacobs. Turtleneck: James Perse. Necklace: Forever 21. Mini Skirt: American Apparel. Tights: Target. Ballet Flats: Salvatore Ferragamo.

"The Friday 5"

Why not kick off the start to the weekend with a list of currents? You all seemed to like it the last time I did it. And I have fun making them. So... my current 5 are as follows:

1. I wish that Unicorns were real.
2. I used to collect stickers as a kid. I had the collector's books where you could organize all of them inside. I would even have parties to trade with my friends. It was incredibly fun. To this day, I still have a fondness for Lisa Frank stickers.
3. Another secret single behavior of mine (that helps keep me sane after a long day or hectic week) is eating a huuuuge homemade salad for lunch, while watching either Gossip girl or 90210 on iTunes.
4. I collect My Little Pony stuff. I love my little girls.
5. I've always wanted to decorate my room in an earthy, natural yet moody tone, a la Erin Wasson. Maybe 2009 will be a great year for doing just that!
   

I'm on Standby

• About to play Chuzzle Deluxe.
• Sweety picked out my perfume today (she licked her lips for Daisy by Marc Jacobs) =] so I went with it.
  
• A few special surprises in the works.
• I'm looking for a new job. Help??

tee: junk food. jacket: forever 21. boots: minnetonka. tights: urban outfitters. cut off shorts: do-it-yourself

Weardrobe Challenge #1: American Apparel Circle Scarf

Suz and Rich of Weardrobe contacted me to invent a few different ways of wearing this lovely purple American Apparel circle scarf that they generously sent my way. We're calling it the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf! And this was my first "cozy look" taken just after a wonderful Chinese lunch. Here I am clad in my glasses and a houndstooth print newsboy cap. It was a chilly afternoon, so a sweater and my favorite ankle hi Minnetonka trampers helped in completing my cozy wares.

Click for Sweety. She was also out and about in the sun with us that day!! =]

Cap: TopGear. Sweater: Vintage (thank you, Mom!) Pants: Mudd. Shoes: Minnetonka. Circle Scarf: American Apparel.