Boot Obsession

My latest obsession since moving to New York has quickly shifted from dresses (and cupcakes) to this fall and winter’s hottest trend: boots. I’ve learned since living here that boots are not only a trend, they are a way of life. They are a necessity. They are everywhere, they have stories, they express personalities, and everyone wants them. No matter what style of boot you choose or drool over, this fabulous accessory has the loveable quality of effortlessly pulling together any outfit. This fall you have a slue of styles to choose from for your every day comfort, the office, a night on the town…even boots to pair with the glorious changing weather patterns.

The Weekender
Finding a pair of casual boots to wear any day, no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going is the easiest piece to add to your closet for this season. Short or tall, flat or short heel, leather or suede – the opportunities are endless.
My personal favorite would have to be a classic tall leather boot in chocolate brown with a buckle (Steve Madden, $149.95). You can find your casual weekend boot, similar to this style, in any department store or boutique, and it is great because you can wear it with skinny jeans, leggings and a tunic, a dress…yep, pretty much anything.




The Office Transition
I’m willing to admit that finding a pair of shoes, or an outfit for that matter, that easily transitions from the office to dinner or drinks at night is a difficult task. Luckily, the boot trends for the fall and winter make it easier for us by giving us more option. No longer do you have to rely on the classic black leather boot with a heel. While this style will always be around, it can get old quickly. In addition to the taller leather and suede classics, we can now start considering the growing shorter boot trend, the "bootie" (Anthropologie.com, $98). The shorter ankle boot has been popping into wardrobes in a variety of texture and patterns. While this is not my personal favorite, it does offer a refreshing and fashion forward look when paired with skirts and dresses.


What is my personal favorite you ask? My eye has fallen in love with tall boots with texture.
The detailing on boots with texture adds an element of surprise to your outfit without any fuss. In addition to the detailing appeal of adding a wow factor to your outfit, it will of course be appropriate for the office as well as a night out with your girlfriends.



Cold Weather Ahead
As the cold weather has started creeping in with rain and eventually snow, more options to help us push past the dreadful blustery winter conditions have jumped onto the market. Attention has been given to both snow and rain boots alike. Last season we saw fun colorful and patterned galoshes splash into department stores and closets nationwide. For those of us who smile at the thought of dancing in the rain and jumping in puddles just because you can, this playful look is still in full force for fall with more patterns to choose from. I advise and recommend to everyone to bring out the inner child and purchase at least one pair to slip on when you’re running errands in the rain. Instant giddiness and glee included with every purchase.

For the snow bunny in us all, our options also extend beyond the ever-popular Ugg boots. Yes, the cozy and loveable brand is still around and offering more styles with fur lining and leather that will appeal to new and loyal customers alike. For those of us who are tired of the Ugg following, The North Face, Merrell and Aquatalia have a great selection to offer.












Costly Trend
There is no question that this growing trend can unfortunately be a costly investment. You are purchasing a quality piece that is typically handcrafted and involves a great deal of time and detail. And, naturally the larger department stores and designer name brands will be uber-expensive to the point where you want to run straight out the door. While you are making an investment with the bigger name brands, take comfort in knowing you do have other options. If you are looking for a great quality boot that does not cost upwards of $500, I recommend taking a look at Frye Boots (fryeboots.com, $250)
This brand has been around for 144 years and exudes quality and everything that a great pair of boots should be. If you are looking for something even cheaper, I think Steve Madden has some great options and even Target has it’s moments. In my opinion, shoes are shoes. You should pick a pair to invest in and a pair to have fun in and call it a day.




The boot craze is definitely in full force ladies, and whether you live in the big city or a small town, I guarantee you too will fall in love with 1-22 pairs of boots this season. Have fun shopping!

Closet Therapy: Tim Gunn's Ten Essential Items

For everyone out there who is a Project Runway fan, you are most likely aware of Tim Gunn's own reality show spin off "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style"(and naturally know who Tim Gunn is of course). If you haven't heard Tim has created a one-hour, eight episode series that airs every Thursday at 10PM ET on the Bravo network. To put it quite simply, we are talking about a makeover show with a tasty twist.

Using his combination of tough love and calm guidance, Tim provides women with advice on how to dress according to their age, body type and whatever fashion icon they relate to best. In general, I think the show hits it's mark best in that it does not focus on the one time makeover transformation. The unique quality of this show is that Tim and his assistant Veronica Webb, former model and fashion accomplice, really focus on the education and guidance side of being stylish and encouraging these women to make their own decisions. It is my belief that there are quite a few women out there that are not aware of how to dress themselves and how to purchase appropriate and classic pieces. This show helps educate and inspire all women, no matter their age, background, or knowledge of tailored clothing and fashion trends.

While there are pros and cons of the show as an entire series, there is one consistent tool that I feel every woman should know about and follow as their individual style guidance: Tim Gunn's list of 10 Essential Elements. In the beginning of each episode, Tim and Veronica help the "contestant" clean out their closets and then provide them with a list of 10 items to purchase on their shopping adventure to help revamp their wardrobe. The following ten items are must have basic pieces that every woman must have:

1. Basic Black Dress
Ah, the little black dress. This one is my personal favorite and will admit to owning multiple versions. It is a great essential piece because it is classic, always a safe choice and has its’ tendencies to boost a woman’s confidence and sense of femininity. Once you find the perfect fit, the black dress becomes your best friend.

2. Trench Coat
A trench coat is an important piece to have as it lends itself well to a variety of dress codes and weather changes. What more could you ask for? The tricky part in my mind is finding the proper fit. Trench coats are a particularly hot item for this fall, so most stores are carrying them in a variety of colors, patterns and lengths.

3. Classic Dress Pants
Classic dress pants are great for the office, dinner parties or an evening on the town. I would suggest a pair in black as it is flattering on most body types and will allow for more outfitting with tops of your choice varying in color, pattern or texture.

4. White Shirt
The white button down shirt is a classic staple that every woman needs in her closet. It is the piece that pulls many outfits together and can stand on it's own as a simple yet chic piece. I tend to look for crisp clean blouses that are structured in shape and have feminine detailing at the collar or waistline.

5. Jeans
When shopping for jeans, the process of finding the perfect style and flattering fit can be tricky and somewhat stressful. Trends right now in denim include the wide leg trouser fit, the low rise boot cut and of course the skinny jean. I own one of each - I will wear my trouser fit for a more polished and professional look and keep the boot cut jeans for weekend casual or going out. Women either love or hate the skinny jeans, and you'll know immediately once you try them on. While I would recommend sticking with a high rise, wide leg jean or a classic boot cut, don't be afraid of the skinny jean. Try a pair or two on, and you'll be surprised with the results. If you're still not convinced, try pairing the skinny jean silhouette with a tall pair of boots and a long sweater this fall and winter. It creates a slimming effect on most body types and you just may surprisingly fall in love with a new look. No matter what the style, I always rely on my gut instinct and comfort levels, but I always rely on second and third opinions from the sales associates. Typically stores have denim specialists who have a wealth of knowledge about jeans you may not have known about.

6. Cashmere Sweater
To some this may be a rather expensive "staple" to have in your closet, which I'm sure many can relate to. However, cashmere is really a symbol of quality, comfort, simplicity and elegance. When you slip on a cashmere sweater you feel cozy, you feel smart (and we're not talking book lovers here). If 100% cashmere scares you for one reason or the other, many retailers offer a cashmere blend at a lower price point. Again, if you are looking to add a cashmere sweater to your closet, I would definitely suggest sticking to a neutral color and a simple shape to help protect the timeliness of the sweater. You will be able to wear it with any outfit and it will last you throughout the years.

7. Skirt
Skirts can be fun and feminine when they fit right according to your body proportions. I actually learned a lot from Tim Gunn's show in what shapes of skirts to purchase according to the frame of my body. I learned to purchase according to what fits right versus buying according to the colors or prints that I am attracted to. Skirts can be flirtatious and professional based on what top or jacket you pair them with. Outfitting with a skirt also provides flexibility to dress your outfit up or dress it down.

8. Day Dress

Last spring and summer, the fashion industry definitely saw a splurge in styles, colors and the sheer mass quantities of dresses make their way into the market and into women’s closets across the country. Women were ditching pants altogether and making a statement with feminine and chic dresses instead. The day dress is fabulous in that it provides a complete, pulled together and fun outfit with only one article of clothing. When you are standing in front of your closet, unsure of what to pair with what, the day dress is a great alternative to all that “thinking” so early in the morning. And, with the colder weather on the way, don’t be afraid of wearing dresses – throw on a pair of boots and a cardigan or long sweater jacket and you’ll have a great outfit that can easily be transitioned from day to night when needed.

9. Blazer
Blazers, again similar to trench coats, are a popular trend right now given that the fit is right. I have noticed a lot of tailored jackets with feminine detailing that provides a flattering silhouette when paired with a great pair of wide leg dress pants for the office or your favorite pair of jeans when you are out running around town. Blazers offer a window of opportunity and flexibility when outfitting according to your mood, time of day, and where you are heading out.

10. Sweat Suit Alternative
The sweat suit alternative means different things to different people, on different days. Depending on the day this might mean jersey dress with leggings, it may mean a crisp dark pair of trouser jeans and a feminine blouse, it also may mean my yoga pants and a graphic thermal. Others may disagree with me, but in my opinion the sweat suit alternative simply should be anything but sweats and a t-shirt. While I adore my KU hooded sweatshirt on nights cuddled up on my couch, I think Tim’s point with this is to not let comfort take over your personal style. In other words, stay feminine, and do some further digging to find that “alternative” when you’re heading to the grocery store and when those elastic waistband sweats are calling your name fend off those thoughts and I guarantee if you put together a cute little outfit for yourself, you will find a bit more pep in your step.

The list may sound basic or a no-brainer to many, but the focus is really on making sure each piece of clothing fits you correctly. Not according to trends or what magazines and the industry says, but according to what fits your body portions best and boosts all levels of confidence and energy in you as a woman. The lessons Tim Gunn focuses on throughout his show is information that most of us tend to miss or not consider while mindlessly shopping and gabbing away with friends or thinking about what is next on the to-do lists in our heads.

I recently cleaned out my closet and was able to donate multiple bags of clothing to Good Will and with the change in season I encourage everyone to do the same. It feels great to clean out your closet of things you haven’t worn in years, things that simply don’t fit or that one sweater with the coffee stain on the bottom corner that you choose to ignore out of love for your favorite purchase two years ago. It is a way to donate to charity this season and start fresh in creating a simpler closet with the essentials you need to look and feel fabulous, confident, feminine…express your inner Sarah Jessica Parker, Jackie O., Tracy Reese, Coco Chanel or Gwen Stefani…express your own individual style.

Welcome to the Big Apple

I want to take a few words to apologize for the lack in posts over the past few months. Yes, months. So sad. Recently, Hide and Seek has been doing a bit more hiding, but more importantly, moving! That's right, two months ago I packed up and moved to New York to follow my dream to pursue a career in the fashion industry and live out the curiosity of what living in New York City is all about.

In the short amount of time being here I have learned many valuable things, such as time moves faster than people wittingly joke about, you can always find a bakery on any corner to satisfy your sweet tooth (even when you thought yours didn't exist), the cost of groceries is outlandish and naturally, fashion takes on a whole new meaning in this town alone.

Every day I take the subway to work where I spend 8 hours each day learning, teaching, selling and loving clothes from Anthropologie. Every other day or so, I motivate myself to walk home for the exercise and of course to people watch. Travelling from Rockefeller Center to Chelsea drags me through a variety of neighorhoods, where I have the pleasure of passing by an outrageous number of people conveying different fashion statements. Whether the styles make me smile, laugh or gasp, I take it all in and...well, lets just say I no longer have an excuse not to post an entry to this site on a daily basis. Now of course schedules can get tricky, but to my biggest fan's (my mother) request, I will be posting more thoughts and comments on my usual fashion favorites, and now the favorite people and styles I pass on my way to or from work.

Welcome to my New York and hopefully a more attention filled, light-hearted and fashion inspired Hide and Seek.

My Hero

It's been some time now since the news has broke, but seeing as how I have my own blog dedicated to fashion I thought it would only be appropriate to take a moment to talk about my fashion hero and style icon. Sarah Jessica Parker has created her own clothing line, Bitten. When I first heard the news a month or two ago, I literally jumped out of my seat and was shreiking (yes, shrieking) out of excitement. I just had to learn and see more, immediately.

After doing some research, I found out that Sarah has partnered with Steve and Barry's to develop a line of clothing that would fit women of all shapes and sizes, be affordable, and help build style confidence among women. It expresses a strong and genius concept that I believe in and sincerely hope it has lasting effects for everyone.

Clothes, clothes, clothes!
Let's talk about the clothes themselves. Sarah Jessica Parker notes on her Web site and in various magazine articles, such as Oprah Magazine, that the clothes are fun, cute, sexy, classic, and practical for any occasion. One of the many items I fell in love with was the v-neck cotton dress($19.95). It is the perfect, fun and light weight dress for summer. I like to pair it with graphic tees and tanks underneath or add a chunky belt. You can view this dress and the other fabulous pieces in her collection at bittensjp.com or at a Steve and Barry's closest to you.

Affordable
Thats right, unbelievably affordable! I took a trip to the Steve and Barry's to see if the rumors were true, and I was thrilled to find they were. Every piece in her line of clothing is $19.95 and below! Dresses, jackets and pants tend to range closer to $19.95, while tees and tanks are as low as $7.95 each. Fantastic!

Meaning behind the project
I not only love her designs but was also moved by her inspiration behind the project and Steve and Barry's as a company. Essentially, she wants to teach women everywhere how to dress and feel confident without breaking the bank. "There are no laws about how to dress," Sarah Jessica Parker says. "Show your confidence and take some chances." This quote I read in Oprah Magazine is inspiring for me and hopefully to anyone out there who has ever stood in front of their closet in the morning wondering what to wear. The truth is, buying clothes and expressing yourself through clothes doesn't mean you have to spend an outrageous amount of money or show off designer brand names. What I like about Sarah's line is that it promotes choosing different pieces and pairing them together to express your own individual sense of style. It is not a department store telling you which pieces to pair together, instead it is an open environment that allows you to be creative with your choices.

Lastly, my own take on style, which I found similar to the Bitten line's "manifesto" is this: I want my closet to be filled with pieces that I love, that are practical yet fun, that are classic yet sensual and beautiful, that are unique and exude confidence and a flirtatious vibe. I suppose that is asking a lot, but I do believe you should always love what you buy and what you wear.

If you haven't left this page already, I definitely suggest visiting her Web site bittensjp.com and I guarantee you'll be bitten by her sense of stlye, her mission, and the story that stands behind the clothes.

Wrapping it up

Hi there. If you're just joining us, I've been sharing my stories over the past few blog entries of my first ever buying trip to New York. I went to New York with my friend Juli Blunt, who owns her own store, Fresh Ideas Clothing Company located in Chicago, and we spent the majority of our trip viewiwng the Intermezzo Collections at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center as well as the Show Piers. To wrap up our trip, we spent our third and last day at the New Yorker Hotel viewing a smaller show that had some very promising new designers.

Day Three: Smaller venue, even bigger treasures
On the last day of our trip, I was invited to sit in on a buyers' group meeting at the New Yorker Hotel. I was able to absorb a great deal of quality information about upcoming trends and designers to keep an eye out for. When one designer in particular was mentioned and the entire room of women gasped at the mention of her name, I got out my pen and put a big star next to the designer's name in hopes that we would get to view her collections. Donna Morgan, a designer I had never heard of before but was immediately intruiged.

After the meeting ended, we spent a few hours peaking through the collections featured throughout the hotel. But, the true highlight of my day was finally making it to our apointment at Donna Morgan, our last apointment of the day. Juli and I had our own private viewing of the immediate delivery collections as well as the upcoming fall and holiday collections. If you have read this blog before, you know that I am obsessed (a bit of an exaggerated word there) with dresses for this spring and summer seasons.
After seeing her immediate collection, I fell in love with the colorful and bold graphic prints, as well as the casual yet feminine and sexy structure of each dress. Simply by looking at the dresses on the hanger, you could tell that this designer "got" a woman's body.

If you're as intruiged with Donna Morgan as I first was, dont fret. I'm planning on writing a seperate blog focusing on her as a designer, as well as presenting a few of her and my favorite dresses, so please stay tuned for that.

As soon as our apointment at Donna Morgan ended, I sadly had to jump into a cab and head to the airport to go home. Throughout my time at various airports that day, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the trip with a giant googely smile on my face. Not only did I have a great time at the shows, but I learned more than I ever expected to simply from observing, participating in the buying process and absorbing as much information as I possibly could. I loved everything I saw and experienced, and I only look forward to starting my career in this industry.

Jumping back into my fashion dreamland

I slept extremely well after spending the day at the Moda Show and dreaming of the clothing collections and bags for the upcoming fall season. We woke up that morning and headed back to Jacob Javitz to finish the accessories show, before heading over to the Show Piers 92 and 94 for the ENK Accessorie Circuit and Intermezzo Collections.

Moda Show Round Two
We spent our morning at Jacob Javitz, perusing through rows of bags and jewelry. We saw a lot of classic leather and reptile prints in colors of olive green, tan, cranberry and of course the classic black and white. Clutches are still around for fall showing a lot of chunky buckles and a softer, more light weight leather in all colors. Magnet clutches have definitely become a favorite of mine. I saw a ton of them sticking around for fall, with what seemed to be a few advances in production for a stronger magnet and more compact organization.

After getting our fill of purses, we shifted our focus to jewelry and what we found was gold, gold and more gold. Hooray! I have to be honest and say that I still haven't gotten enough of the gold trend in jewelry, so I was pleasantly suprised to see that is still going to be around for awhile. After making our way through the rows of incredible jewelry, I came to the conclusion that there is not a clear and defined trend for jewelry for the fall season. Chunky necklaces, rings and bangles are still represented, but what I saw more of - and loved - was a more thin, delicate and feminine take on all pieces including earings, necklaces and bracelets, especially in gold. I also saw a lot of precious stones being incorporated into the desings, which I loved and thought was a refreshing addition to the collections.

People Watching at the Piers
After finishing the Moda Show at Jacob Javitz, we headed over to Pier 92 and 94 for the Intermezzo Collections. Juli and I made stops at Michael Stars, Sweet Pea, 3 Dots, Joes Jeans, Ella Moss, Splendid, and many more, but the real appeal for me were the ladies walking around in fabulous dresses and jumpers from this spring and summer collections. I thought the fashion walking past me was just as inspiring as the collections being presented to us by the designer reps. I almost wanted to line these girls up and coordinate a fashion show - it was one of my favorite parts of the entire show, and I wanted to snag every outfit and purse that passed my way.

I also loved our appointment with our rep at Michael Stars. I have always been familiar with the brand, but after spending some time looking through the fall collection, I quickly learned that I wasn't as familiar with it as I had originally thought. Of course they have their great cotton basics, but I fell in love with their new line of cashmere sweaters. I loved, loved, loved the mod jumper that was shown to us, as well as a casmere dress that comes as a wrap dress and a basic scoop neck dress that could easily be thrown on with a pair of leggings or over jeans with a great belt. In addition to their cashmere line, they are also introducing a line of printed tees which will come in metallic as well as their basic cotton line.

In the end, day two was another success, and even though Juli and I were both exhausted from the day and everything we experienced, I was too excited to go to bed. I kept thinking about all of our appointments we had that day, the fashion I fell in love with just taking some time to stop and look around at the women attending the show, and I started to get a bit sad that the next day I would wake up and it would be our last day of shows, and I would have to leave my new favorite place and head back to Kansas City.

My Trip to the Big Apple

I just spent an incredible three days in New York City at my first ever ENK International Intermezzo Collections and Accessorie Circuit buying shows, and I am still bubbling over with excitement I don't even know where to begin. Overall, attending the different shows was one of the more memorable experiences I've had in the industry, and I loved every moment (even at the end of the night when my feet couldn't handle one last step before falling into bed).

Because I have so much that I want to tell you about my trip, I'm creating a blog within a blog over the next few days which will feature my experiences and overall observations during the trip, fall trends to look forward to and a few designers that I think everyone will enjoy learning about.

New York is so amazing to me every time I go, but when I was invited to come along on a buying trip with my friend Juli, I jumped at the opportunity. Juli owns a store called Fresh Ideas Clothing Company in my hometown, Northfield, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. The store covers a lot of ground in appealing to a wide target audience of both younger and older customers who love fashion and, similar to many of us, purchase clothes that make them feel beautiful and unique.

Day One: Travel Delays + Fashion Stimulant Overload = Happy Lauren
Our day got off to a slower start than we had both had hoped, thanks to flight delays, the NYC bike race and parade that were all blocking me from attending the show that I had been anticipating now for weeks. We finally made it to the Jacob Javits Convention Center and dove into the fall collections for women's clothing and accessories. We continually came across sweaters and jackets in adorable babydoll cuts, oversized buttons, rounded collars, and 3/4 length sleeves - a fun trend and feminine shape that is flattering on all body types. We continually ran into this style in fun colors of chocolate, greys, mustard, warm blues, and red. Cropped jackets were also everywhere we turned. This piece will be a great item to wear with all outfits, especially with dresses as we transition into fall. Jackets and sweaters were only the beginning of our adventure, and at the end of the day I had been thrown into the excitement of the buying world. I was helping Juli make decisions on what would make it to her stores, and I even did a bit of modelling.

We came to NYC on a mission to find clothing for the fall season...and boy did we succeed. Stay tuned for details from day two and three of our trip where we came across more accessory trends for fall, as well as a few designers that I immediately fell in love with their lines being shown.

Getting cozy with cobalt blue

It has become quite apparent that this spring's hot new color is cobalt blue. Hooray! While I know everyone wasn't exactly sitting at the edge of their seats waiting for the "new black" color to be announced, I am quite excited about it. Blue has always been a favorite color of mine, but to have such a vibrant, beautiful and power packed color surface for this spring allows for a refreshing variety of options when it comes to developing a look for yourself. I'm not saying that everyone start wearing a full-out cobalt blue jumper every day, but let's explore a few different ways to shake out the blues and show off this season's hot new color.

The easiest and most fun way, in my opinion, to express the spring blues is to throw on a dress in your favorite cut with the perfect hue and call it a day. For example, I love this dress from H&M(www.hm.com). It can easily be worn with sandals or flats to show off a more casual feel, and it can transition into a fun party dress when paired with heels and silver or gold accessories. This look is chic and will undoubtably turn a few heads.

Backing away from the all blue outfit, you can still have fun with this season's popular wide leg trousers, an A-line skirt, or a fun pair of cuffed shorts. Try pairing white wide leg trousers with a blue fitted blouse, or a skirt with a colorful printed tee. The goal here is to create a slimming silhouette by utilizing the wide leg pants or full skirt on bottom and forcing the eye to come up toward the fitted shirt on top. Once again, we are using the bold color as the focus of the outfit and effortlessly exuding confidence in everyone.

One other thing to keep in mind is that blue doesn't pair easily with every color you might have in your closet. Keep it simple and try pairing the color with clean and crisp whites, or with silver accessories, which is another popular spring color trend.

If you aren't comfortable strutting around in an all blue outfit, try punching your ensemble with cobalt blue accessories including leather or suede belts, oversized bags and fun strappy sandals as seen below.













Cobalt blue is trendy, wearable and a fun transitional color to help us cool off and get ready to warm up to this summer's vibrant and dare I say neon color palette.

Prima Ballerina

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest fan of Crocs, and I haven’t been since they chomped their way into everyone’s homes and gardens in 2003. While they are comfortable, colorful and sweat proof, I have never really felt the need to own a shoe that could easily transition from the garden to running errands around town. But, their latest product has forced me to reconsider my nose-in-the-air opinion of the loveable brand.

Crocs looked to the latest fashion trends in footwear to spin their original product, and what the company ended up creating was a surprisingly adorable ballet flat. Appropriately named, the Prima, is a comfortable yet fashionable shoe that comes in 8 different colors, including all of your pastel favorites and this season’s popular metallics, silver and gold.

So, if you’re in need of a fun, cushiony, loveable and trendy shoe that is guaranteed to remove any and all summer foot odor, I definitely recommend purchasing Crocs’ latest Prima ballet flat. Find your favorite Croc at crocs.com

Charge up

I recently came across an invention that addresses battery power in a fashion forward manner. A college student at Iowa State University designed a handbag that charges your gadgets and gizmos while out running around town. If you have ever run out of charge on your cell phone during an important conversation without hope of finding a charger to call the person back, then the Power Purse may be just what you need.


The Power Purse, invented by Joe Hynek, draws energy from the sun via mini solar panels and converts that energy into watts for all of your gadgets to feed on via a built in USB port. In addition, there is a glow pad inside the purse, so you can find your keys or lip gloss in the dark. With this environmentally friendly bag, you will never run out of cell phone or iPod power in those key must have moments.

The purse is available through Solarjo, a wearable technology distributor, and to the tune of $300 you too can be worry free of ever losing charge on your favorite electronic.

I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks about this purse. I think it is a genius concept, but is it fashion forward? Would you wear such a thing? If Hyek thought a bit longer about it, I think he could have enlisted a top name designer to collaborate with on the design and really banked on his unique concept. The design, in my opinion, is not exactly fashionable, or durable for that matter. What if you drop your purse? Will the solar panels break and stop working? Overall, I believe it is a great concept with potential for expanding into different designs, as well as potential for appealing to a male audience.

A night at the Oscars

What would a fashion blog be without an overview and commentary on who was wearing who at last night's Oscars? After seeing all the gowns walk down the red carpet, my favorite dresses included bold colors and shapes, and soft yet simple elegance.

Hollywood Glamour
Reese Witherspoon wore a layered chiffon gown from Nina Ricci, while Jennifer Lopez wore a silver off the shoulder Marchesa gown with strands of jewels along the neckline. Jennifer Hudson wore a draped brown gown by Oscar de la Renta, and while I'm not sure how I feel about the fashion forward metallic bolero jacket, I loved that her dress had pockets. This is a new element I have been seeing on this spring's dresses and skirts, how fun!

Dramatic Elegance

There were quite a few gowns last night that really stood out thanks to the bold colors, cuts and sparkle. Nicole Kidman's red hot Balenciaga gown had a dramatic draped shoulder that I thought looked a little odd but the color, the body of the dress and the attached scarf were beautiful. My two favorite dresses of the night were worn by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Cameron Diaz. Maggie Gyllenhaal wore a single shoulder Proenza Schouler black and navy satin dress, with a feather trim hem and stripes of sparkle and beads on the bodice. I loved Cameron Diaz's bold yet simplistic white Valentino gown. The dramatic folded, off-the-shoulder neckline and asymmetrical fishtail train was flattering on Diaz, and it made the dress, in my opinion, the most unique gown I saw all night.

I'll leave the best and worst dressed lists for the the men and women of the night to E! Entertainment. I think there were a lot of great dresses that were complimentary to each celebrity, and thankfully there weren't too many fashion don'ts for other commentaries to mock.

Self proclaimed bag lady

"Hellooo lover," a phrase that Carrie Bradshaw so cooley said one episode on Sex and the City while window shopping for shoes, is basically my same reaction everytime I go shopping for purses. Everywhere I turn I feel inclined to add to my collection of bags, as if it wasn't large enough already. From gargantuen and vibrant to compact and pretty, this spring and summer's options for purses are endless. After perusing through a variety of purse previews and must haves, I'm already having a tough time picking not only which style to invest in, but more so asking the question, how many of each is too much?

The Big One
For daytime and playtime bags, and I've mentioned before, the bigger the bag the better is always a safe rule. For daytime bags, have fun choosing totes and hobos with a bold pattern or bright accent color. If you are looking for a bag that is easy to transition into an evening carry-all, try a bag similar to this black patent leather textured tote. It is a great purse for an afternoon of shopping, and you can transition it into an evening bag as well.

For a work friendly bag, ditch the boring briefcase and try on a simple yet fun bag such as the white leather purse shown below. You won't only look stylish and fresh, but you may even be able to fit your laptop in if the bag is big enough.


Tiny Spaces
What I like about clutches this season is that we now have even more options for both day and night. I have definitely been seeing more daytime appropriate clutches that have colorful patterns and nature inspired designs. One of my personal favorites that I have seen lately is this wicker clutch by Michael Kors. Clearly, budgets may often trump designer bags, but this is such a versatile piece that you can pair as a great accessory with almost any outfit.

Clutches for an evening out are still just as glamorous as ever with metallics, sparkle and fringe. If you are looking for a transitional piece from day to night, try to stick with a leather or embroidered material.

For more examples of this season's hottest purses, I suggest taking a look on elle.com. They have a great slideshow collection of 200 some purses that are all fabulous.

Web Trends

I recently stumbled across a fun fashion Web site that I think everyone visiting this page will enjoy. Outblush.com is a site that features various products for women's fashion, home furnishings, beauty items and every day life. Essentially, the site is a web magazine for girls who love to shop. Each day there are 2-3 new products that are posted to the site and each is reviewed in a humorous and entertaining tone. The format is similar to dailycandy.com but it is written in a blog format so the entries are shorter and sweeter.

Outblush.com has shopping categories for makeup, handbags, art & decor, gadgets, home office, kids & baby, jewelry, food, kitchen, garden, shoes, tops, dresses, gasp...the list blisfully never seems to end!


One of my favorite featured items in the tops and tees category is this Juicy Couture Rose Hoodie ($158). I love the roses, and it is a fun and feminine piece you can wear all year round. Too cute!

Outblush also has a big brother site, Uncrate.com. It is the same format and highlights men's fashion and the latest in gadgets and technology.

You will defiitely fall in love with Outblush, and it is easy to sign up for their newsletter if you're interested. Like having your own team of personal shoppers, Outblush will dig up the best products for you five days a week. Whether you're looking for that perfect gift for a friend or a new spring dress for yourself, they'll find it and let you know about it.

London Calling

London Fashion Week has officially come to an end, and despite the controversial whisperings of zero and double zero size models, the Topshop Unique and Marc by Marc Jacobs shows have been the talk of the town.

Surprisingly, one of the best shows of the week was Topshop’s collection of refreshingly grown up, sophisticated cardigan-coats and ponchos. In the past, Topshop has been recognized as a copycat brand to other designers, but this year the show was noted as their first unique collection since the departure of their brand director Jane Sheperdon. In addition to the chunky sweaters and coats, a palette of beige and olive was punctuated with navy and silver to help create a sleek 70’s silhouette for high-waisted skirts and wide leg pants, paired with chic chiffon blouses.

The highly anticipated Marc by Marc Jacobs show closed London Fashion Week on Friday evening. Jacobs presented a collection of fabulous blouses and pretty dresses inspired by ice skating and retro winter wonderland themes that generated a huge and much needed international buzz, as well as an A-list celebrity following. Jacobs was also in London celebrating the opening of his new Marc by Marc Jacobs store on Mayfair’s Mount Street.

London Fashion Week also featured previews from Julien Macdonald Philip Green, Nathan Jenden, Gareth Pugh, Marios Schwab, as well as new upcoming designers, such as Christopher Kane and Todd Lynn.

Spring into fashion

After reading through this month’s fun-filled, five pound, 540 page issue of Elle Magazine, I found quite a few things well worth noting. Not only is Jessica Simpson dolled out in pink on the cover, but inside the magazine contains an exciting and extensive spring preview of must haves, as well as an inspiring photo shoot of gold, khaki and neutral combinations to help bring together an easy yet elegant look.

Elle notes themes of preppy pieces, sporty silhouettes, vibrant colors and patterns, safari gear, jeaneology, and megawatt metallics for spring shopping. In attempt to fuse the themes together, I believe there are 8 essential pieces that you need for the next season, so grab a pen and paper.

1. The Dress – Dresses will remain the all-important anchor in your spring and summer wardrobe. Romantic and pretty themes return, but you can also have fun with bold colors and patterns. Length, beware. Dresses this season shrink up to near mini skirt length, so pair it with a cropped pair of leggings or jeans to play up a more casual look.

2. Bold jewelry – Fussy feminine accessories are out, and bold metallic statements are in. This gold Chanel cuff is a perfect example.

3. Metallic bags – The gigantic proportions from last year’s day bag are growing even larger for this year, if that’s even possible to imagine. Try finding a hint of metallic or a classic white leather.

4. Smock blouses – Again the blouse plays heavily into the romantic theme for this season. The smock blouse with a bib or ruffled front is a key piece to add for every-day-wear with pants or an A-line skirt.

5. Ultra high heels – Just as the bags are growing bigger, so are the heels for spring and summer. Look for a gently rounded toe in a neutral color to help coordinate with the season’s color palette.

6. Wide leg jeans – Not a fan of the skinny jean? Try on a wide leg pair of jeans with a smock blouse tucked in and a pair of platform shoes to play into the chic 70’s inspired look.

7. Peep toe flats – Flats are always a great alternative to the mega platforms for comfort and style. Patent leather, embroidery and patterns are always good options.
8. The tunic – It’s back and better then ever for another spring and summer essential. Embellished embroidery, prints and sparkle allow you to use this piece to help dress your outfit up or down.

Love is in the air

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! While love is certainly the focus of the day today, designers have been playing up sweetly romantic themes for their spring and summer 2007 lines. Designers such as Marc Jacobs, Chloe and John Rocha have presented collections made up of ruffled blouses and skirts, fragile layering, frills, and all things feminine in Paris, Milan and London.

So, if you're having the winter blues, go out to your favorite stores and have fun coordinating feminine and romantic pieces in hopes that spring is right around the corner.

Floral patterns resurface

Over the years designers have created spring and summer lines that highlight the ever-so-popular floral pattern. What makes me chuckle is that each year the industry attempts to spin the idea as something brand new. This year, however, I have to admit that the bold and vintage inspired floral patterns for spring are not only sweet and pretty, they are fresh, flattering, cool, and dare I say, different.

Anthropologie is a great store that offers a wide variety of floral dresses, skirts and tops that are bound to fit each and every personality. This Jessamine top ($128, antrhopologie.com) is feminine and a great transitional piece from winter to spring, and even into summer. Wear this top now with a long or short sleeve cotton shirt underneath, or toss a fitted blazer on top and you're all set.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

It's hard to imagine that the Fall 2007 collections are rolling out already, but as most of the country has been experiencing a deep freeze, a showcase of 77 designers presented more than impressive fall collections in New York that were easy to warm up to.

Nanette Lepore's collection for fall was my personal favorite for selfish reasons that I can see myself wearing most of the outfits. My mom introduced me to the Nanette Lepore brand a few years ago when we were out shopping in Chicago, and I have enjoyed viewing her collections ever since. Lepore's 2007 Fall collection brings together qualities of a sexy, independent woman who enjoys "grown up sexy", feminine and vintage clothing. Note at the end of the video clip, Lepore walks out with her adorable daughter; she closes every show this way and has done this ever since her daughter was born. How sweet.

Among the other notable designers at New York Mercedes Benz Fashion Week were Oscar de la Renta, Max Azria, Calvin Klein, Alice Roi, Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Betsy Johnson, Nicole Miller, Caroline Herrera, Tibi, Michael Kors and many others (65 to be exact). Mercedes Benz Fashion Week will also be presenting shows in Los Angeles March 18-22 for more 2007 Fall lines, and the 2008 Swim lines will be shown in Miami July 13-17, so stay tuned.

Let the games begin

So this is the world of blogging - writing about your favorite likes and dislikes, hoping that it will generate interest, excitement and naturally, a dedicated subscriber following.

I have to admit, despite the unknown of who is actually reading my blog, this is a project that I am very excited about. I have always been inspired by fashion, so it only makes sense for me to create a place where I can comment and write about it every day.

In more words or less, welcome to my blog! A place where you can come for inspiration, style, laughter, and of course the latest and greatest of what is happening in the world of fashion.