black fridate

if you want to make an impression this winter, it's time to get messy. go beyond simply the sexy teased hair and try getting highlights faded in 
































your bangs. be different. tell your stylist you want them do highlight your hair non uniform. have fun with it and this holiday season you might catch someone special's eye

candice swanepoel 

denise richards

doutzen kroes 

rosie huntington whiteley

where there's smoke there's fire

     cigarettes. in the world of fashion it is impossible to avoid them. some smoke to feel good, a sweet escape. some smoke to cope with the complications of life. do others smoke as a way to invent an image for themselves? do some pick up cigarettes like any other fashionable accessory? be warned, cigarettes can be a double edges sword for your look. they can make you mysterious, badass, and edgy all in one motion. yet, if you just pick them up assuming these qualities will follow, you'll just look like a gross chain smoker who needs something to fill an awkward void with. there is no in between for this polar accessory 

penelope cruz

     

dark kiss

     a woman's lip stick can tell you many things about her. soft shades of red hint at tenderness, while bright colors can catch attention in an instant, drawing eyes to her face. but when women wear lipstick of a color other than red, it can often throw you for a loop. one pet peeve of mine in the world of women's fashion is black lipstick. a woman's lips are an essential part of her seduction arsenal! yes, the color black is a mysterious and scandalous color. however, black lipstick hides all the texture of a woman's lips, and draws contrast away from black eye makeup. 

     but, as it is almost halloween, I can expect to see a lot of it because where I live halloween is a big deal. the streets flood with people and everyone goes crazy. it's all or nothing. so ladies, go ahead, take advantage this time to wear black (as well as any other colors) lipstick and show people your dark side

haley bennett

   

brides in black

so awhile ago there was a buzz about black wedding dresses, and I thought I'd share this unique dress I found. a black wedding dress is a bold statement, certainly not traditional. but, I like how this dress tones it up with some contrast with the pink. plus the bust of the dress is quite exotic, adding to the boldness of this new trend

summer fade

so sad to see summer's fashion coming to an end. then again, winter is my favorite fashion season

black beauty

I am always drawn to black and white fashion photography. does this not capture your eyes and bring you closer? beauty is not black and white, yet she is 

run in hide

my W finally arrived in the mail to my surprise today. I glanced through the pages quickly, and two images caught my eye. leather pants are hitting the scene hard this summer 

the first style, which I personally adore, is the edgy look. her tight leather pants, and
upcut top are just great. her accessories are what really bring her look to life though.
the combination of the cop hat with the sick aviators, all the way to the conflicting
bottle of jack complete the edgy feeling that she conveys. she's bad, and here to
kick ass and have a kick ass time 

next, this model has the total charlie's angels look going on. in my opinion, this is
much more difficult to pull off compared tot he edgy look. she has to be an even badder
chick, in a different way, to be authentic. this is more of a biker chick trend, which
in the end is more of a lifestyle rather than a trend. but, I just had to post this image
because of the strong charlie's angels resemblance. so awesome

summer bring, blue and green

eva green

from black to white

adriana lima

claire danes

amy adams

fashion photo moto

     I saw these photos of ana barros and could not resist writing about her. exploring fashion photography has inspired me to try my hand behind the camera. so, I pulled a few strings and a dslr is on its way. meanwhile I've been playing around with editing photos on my lap top such as these beautiful pictures of ana barros. In the future I plan to take pictures of my own of fashion around the university to supplement my posts.
     
     don't these dresses and accessories remind you of fall? the colors come together nicely and remind me of fallen leaves. I'm so excited for summer to start!

mirror mirror on the wall who's the baddest of them all?

  

     despite their fashion choices, I love the black eyed peas. but that is not what I have to share with you today. yet again we look into this spring's exciting new look.
     where vibrant colors were huge all last year, a more modest approach is trending through the flesh and blood of today's streets. as I mentioned earlier, these knit tops where the gaps between the thread is visible are catching on strong. this model featured is a set example of how to successfully wear one of these knit tops. her black hat, leggings, and bag agree with her jet black hair, and compliment the khaki color of her knit top and boots. I absolutely love her boots, they are the center of her edgy look. along with her sweet shades, which I'm dying to know where they came from. I hope you also notice hot her top is slouched down her left shoulder. as I wrote in my last article with miranda kerr, showing a little bit of shoulder is a big deal this spring.
     finally, her red lipstick and blue bikini strap really pop due to the use of so many dull colors like black and khaki. this can be a woman's secret weapon in getting attention. small highlights of color make the out fit still fun and sexy while retaining that edgy look, almost like she's playing hard to get with your eyes.

for those warm summer nights

     I absolutely adore dressing up for warm nights. ladies seem to have even more fun, running around in shorts with pockets sticking out the bottom, and rocking a thin sweater, maybe even showing a shoulder. hott and dangerous to say the least.
     the kinds of tops I'm referring to are like the grey hoodie pictured above. yes, ladies, miranda kerr is quite stunning, and she just has that look that tells me she is ready to enjoy a warm summer night. from the little cute buttons to the way her hoddie slouches off of her left shoulder. now I'm not recommending you forget to wear a bra like miranda, because going out is not the same as a photo shoot. however, keep the sex appeal! as always, be fun, be sexy, be you

white staying cool in the heat

     well its been quite warm here in santa barbara as spring is coming in full force. many of the much anticipated new trends have been popping up all around me.

     there was a lot of buzz about white loose clothing being big this spring, and its finally showing up on the west coast. I often sit in the back of classes in lecture hall, so that I can spot out trending outfits. today I at last saw a girl with a loose white top almost identical to the one pictured here.
     the girl in my class wore the top well. she looked beautiful in her black framed glasses, and wavy brown hair. vibrant white bursting with contrast.
     yet, I still just don't know how to feel about this trend. the material is too formal, and has that utopian look to it.
     in the end, I still admire the style. I like the casual look, comfortable, but still shows off nice body figures. I seem to reject it because I am not use to the form, however I find myself secretly drawn back to liking it. now thats when you know you have a hott new trend on your hands

what's hott this hot spring

     my W magazine finally came! none of the articles look particularly great, but the pictures are wonderful.
     this spring has drawn a lot of attention to itself, as no dominant style or trend has presented itself. however, I have a string feeling that tops and dresses like roberto cavalli's gray silk and cashmere knit dress will be huge this spring.
     not only did this image catch my eye and stand out in W magazine, I sat next to a girl in class wearing a top with a very similar color and style as roberto cavalli's silk and cashmere dress with patterned gapes and holes. of course she was wearing a matching tank top underneath.
     the point is, out of a lecture hall filled with 300 people, she was the best dressed. it's a style that's perfect for the weather, because you can still get a tan in it, and it won't make you sweat either.
     I couldn't help but compliment her on her style and how nice she looked. bottom line, out of the many trends coming in this spring, the dress I've pictured on the right by roberto cavalli will be the hottest look out there this season

dress shirts

     this new trend brings a new meaning to what we know as dress shirts. apparently, women are now wearing long button up shirts as dresses. it's a very controversial look.
     at first glance, I wrote this off as a stylish dress to be worn with leggings and plenty of accessories. however, that is not at all what it is intended for.

     I think this look is really hott, but its also very provocative, which not many women are confident enough to pull off. it's not simply provocative because of how much skin it shows, but rather what image the woman wearing it gives off. the morning after look. or how you can always tell when a woman is on a walk of shame early the next morning. I live in a college town where woman dressed like this walk home early every morning on the weekends.
     it's just so bold to strut around like you just don't care because you just got laid! but, aside from the social implications, I really like woman wearing button up shirts, so I like the look. and good for any woman brave enough to rock this look confidently. I only hope that other women will not judge too hard on the new look, despite its promiscuous taste

blue blocker is in

     so, I just picked up a couple pair of aviators, and they're setting the trend for this spring. so if you're asking yourself: what kind of sunglasses should I grab for the spring now that the sun's coming out? the answer is blue blocker aviators. why is this the new trend for this spring? because I said so, and I'm looking fresh in these pictured below

     these give off that classic retro 80's look that beats knock off retro ray bans every day out of the week. the ones on the left are from pony. need I explain why these do the trick to getting everyone wishing they had your style? the gold pony on the bridge is highlighted by the black frames, and the shape is clutch. the shades on the right are turbo sports, which are just as sick, but for a more jock look.

     now, the most important part of these that makes them the must have sunglasses of the spring leading into the summer, is their blue blocker lenses. they're dirty and make the world around you look really cool. you just feel cool wearing them with the way the colors of the world look without blue. also, they were five dollars each on ebay. don't bother buying "the official blue blocker sunglasses" for forty dollars, i've seen people wearing them, and they don't look half as cool as the ones I bought.

     I haven't seen anyone else with the sunglasses I featured here, but there are also tons more online if you look. if you're too lazy to search, go ahead and order these! get em before your friends do, and they look great on guys and chicks, because all of my roommates are always trying to take them from me

     life is easier to live behind sunglasses, enjoy the sun while looking fly

classy oscar awards

     so I missed most of the oscars this year, but didn't mind all that much. I did however look into who was wearing what on the red carpet.
     overall, most were dressed better than at the music awards. it was a toss up between who was best dressed this year between mila, natalie, and sandra. mila just looked drop dead sexy as usual, and natalie stunned me in her plum colored dress. yet sandra's red dress just shows off her figure so well, and was sleek as well as flowing off of her.
    
     sandra bullock's red dress rode the fine line between hugging her body just tight enough in all the right places and draping loosely around her legs. that is why she takes best dressed this year.

     red is one of the best colors for a dress. it's the same for cars, red means fast, dangerous, and exciting. a red dress catches the attention of people like red cars attract the attention of law enforcement, but slip up, and you might just wind up with a speeding ticket. sandra bullock is a perfect example of how to wear a hott red dress like this one.
     although this picture of her is not the most flattering, it really shows how this dress captures her figure and wraps around her legs like she's a bouquet of flowers.
     the back of her dress I was not fond of at first, but it almost reminds me of a tie draped down her back turing into the bottom of her dress.
     I have always though sandra bullock was gorgeous. its her face, I really adore. some disagree, but I think she's a beautiful woman.




     now for worst dressed. normally I love picking people's fashion choices apart, but this next dress just confuses me. cate blanchette just looks lost in this dress.

     for some reason I am reminded of dining china when I see this dress. doesn't it look like a dinner plate covering her chest? I think so. and the lace around it doesn't help either. I don't really know how to save this dress. if it were white instead of doctor's office pink/tan it would look better, but with the color it has and the yellow at the top, it's just not pleasing to the eye.
     she should have just skipped over the dress entirely and worn something that suits her better.
     oh yeah, and the part of the dress covering her shoulders looks like printer paper..

     overall, the dinner plate on top of blank white paper is just bizarre, and not in a creative good way. worst dress of the night by far.
     she still looks elegant the way she stands and the way she did her hair, just needs help in her dress choice.

it's all in the legs

     the internet has been down in my apartment for five days now, and this is the first chance i've had to get at it. my roommates and I are going crazy with such spotty internet.
 

     flared jeans.. making a comeback? I certainly hope not. I didn't even bother to read the article on the website. I just don't get how they could seem appealing, comfortable probably, but if you're going with comfortable you might as well go all the way and wear sweat pants. these are not dressing to impress pants at all, and it doesn't help either if they have trendy rips on the thighs either. it seems that all I do is pick fashion trends that are up and coming and make them sound foolish, but trust me, they wont be big, and wont last long. heres why

     legs. one of the most under flaunted aspects of a women are her legs. it seems they underestimate how much a good pair of jeans can really catch some serious male and female attention. and its not just pants that show off your cute butt ladies, oh no, having jeans that show off the subtle slender curves of your thighs and calves has a powerful impact on your image. sure a woman can be slender, but if you've never ran a day in your life, and are as squishy as the pillsbury dough boy, your thighs and calves aren't going to be your strong point. so this is to all you athletic hotties out there, don't go for this new trend! don't give away one of your subtle secret weapons, you used it so you wouldn't lose it, now show those long sexy legs off, or just be comfy and cozy in a nice pair of sweats.

valentines day and the grammys

     this year's valentines day was so fun. spontaneous and exciting to say the least. I ended up making chocolate covered strawberries for a girl, and we went out to coffee later. the best part was is that none of it was planned in advance, and it wasn't a big deal. which brings me to part one of this post: valentines day outfits
     while at coffee, I did not bother to really take a look at my date's clothes, but she looked gorgeous. I do remember she was wearing a scarf with roses on it. this is what I believe is best for the ladies out there to wear on valentines day, at least if you are just getting dressed up to look nice or are going on a casual date. wear clothes that are comfortable! but also be sure to wear something pink or red, come on, its valentines. my roommate tried to go out on a date wearing all grey and black. luckily she has me to count on. she ended up wearing a cute pink shirt. 10x better.
     also, important note. I am not a fan of super floral clothes at all, especially the black dresses covered in small flower patterns. however, valentines day is the one exception. my date successfully wore nice clothes, with one accessory to be fun and show some love for valentines day. too much pink, red, and flowers and its a problem. just wear enough to be cute and fun.


     the grammys, how did I not manage to make a post about some of the dresses last night, I don't know. we will be looking at two dresses, one stunning, and one which seemed to be a sad cry out for attention. the latter being, yep you guessed it, nicki minaj. but since it seems all I can do is tear people's styles apart, I figured I'd show an example of what I like. plenty of women at the grammys were looking great in wonderful dresses like katy parry's long white sweeping dress. however, lea michele just killed it in her down right sleek and sexy black dress.

     I admit, I watch glee. only with my roommates, and its the only musical I have ever enjoyed watching on tv. lea michele is by far the best singer on the show in my opinion, and she plays a strong character.
     her black wavy hair is paralleled by the flowing material of her dress. not to mention, the cut is to one side, so she can show some leg, which is the type of dress I am attracted to, rather than the extended form fitting extended pencil skirts that plenty of women use as their go to look.
     I also admire the shoulders on her dress. broad and masculine. these tell you how strong of a voice she has even before she hits the stage. I hope to see more of her, because she was the best dressed at the grammys out of the women and the men. hands down.

     so we covered who was the best dressed at the grammys. time for the worst dressed. don't get the impression that I have anything against nicki minaj, my roommate is obsessed with her music, and has converted me into a fan.
     but really, when you show up looking like this, you can't expect not to get looked at like there's something wrong with you. you're at the grammys! I get it, ever since lady gaga dressed up like some sort of a robot from the 70s, she's been known to get attention for her crazy outfits. but thats lady gaga's thing. minaj just comes out of nowhere covered in cheetah print, and to top it all off, a giant lightbulb shaped fro with a black stripe down the middle. I mean, you're not going to beat someone in the bizarre get up category when you have lady gaga entering the grammys in a effing egg, and horns implanted under her skin. am I right? (the horns totally don't suit lady gaga by the way, she's too feminine of a singer to be running around with horned shoulders).
     back to minaj though. shoes, stockings, and sleeves aside, her dress isn't even nice. it poofs out too much around her hips, which can't be taken seriously when she's decked out in cheetah print. and don't even get me started on the hair! this is a blog about clothes, so ill keep my hair comments to myself.
     minaj, you are a strong voiced woman, and can pull off many looks. the attention seeking gaga look is not one of them though. she just looks too goofy to have such a serious look on her face in the picture above haha.

     in the end, I enjoyed watching the grammys this year all the way through for the fist time ever.

keep it classy new york

     today I subscribed to w magazine. I like the photography in fashion magazines, but have never actually owned any. can't wait for the first issue to come.
     in the mean time, there is a pressing issue at hand. I also today was cruising through the new york fashion website and stumbled upon the new up and coming trend in pants

     seriously? since when is it ok to wear such wack patterns on pants? the nineties were awesome growing up in don't get me wrong, and I love it when retro things come back in style. but these pants make me feel uncomfortable for these models pictured. look at the one in the middle, the pants don't even go with the shirt, there's just too much pattern going on. 

     over all, the pants are just trying too hard. you don't see people wearing plaid shorts and stripped shirts do you? I sure hope not. 

     new york is famed for its genius in classy/haut fashion breakthroughs. patterned pants certainly are not one of those breakthroughs

just because they're boots, doesn't mean they fly

     this is my first blog, and I can't think of anything I need to make clear in the fashion world more than boot etiquette for women. we will look at four different pairs of boots

plain and simple

     now, this first pair of boots are the type that just kill me inside a little bit every time I see someone wear. these are everywhere and a very popular style.
     women, I know, its tempting. they're boots, they're suede, they're simple. that's exactly it though, they are too simple. ladies, when you get all dressed up so that you can strut around in your boots, these will not put any energy into any outfit and no one except girls who compliment like a five year old giving out high fives will say anything about them.
     the bottom line is, they look better in your arms as you take them out of the box. these boots have next to no detail from being straight cut suede. in my experience, no girl i've seen can make these pop in any color. they are just boring to look at, and say nothing about your style, like a bland spot in your outfit

boots with the fur

     this brings me to a statement. if you've seen another girl wearing a pair of boots and thought to yourself "wow I haven't seen those before, those look so cute", they are't going to be the plain suede boots we just looked at. these boots to the right are screaming at you as you walk by. why is that?
      its because they're not by ugg, and they present the hot fur look in a new way. plus, they are a nice color too, not boring, but not overwhelming either which compliments the way the fur is almost leaking out from where ever it can.  
     boots are supposed to be cute and cozy. these fur boots grab attention and tell people that you are different, sexy, fun, and willing to stand out. I did not like the lace at first, but they're fun, and make the boots seem less closed off.

     to wrap this up, if you're rollin with boots, make sure they have something to offer. otherwise, you might as well make yourself comfortable and throw on some flip flops or vans, because no one will be able of tell the difference when it comes to wearing suede boots with no details. the fur boots I featured took me ten minutes to find online. its not that difficult to be creative and original. not into fur? check the tan boots below with the tassels. have you seen those before? I haven't, and they give off a completely different appeal than the fur ones. original, but tasteful. which brings me to my last faut pas for boots. the dark brown ones on the right. these are just terrible. buckles can be sexy details, but not when they are just desperately trying to keep up with the trends. you can't just throw a buckle on there and just expect people to want what you have. and they don't have to be functional either to be creative and original.

     so go out there, take the time to find a boot that expresses you, and strut your stuff

tassel twist