I'VE GOT THE FEVER!

...Spring fever, that is. I fully and totally admit that having grown up in Southern California has made me into a TOTAL weather wimp. We've had so many days in the low 60's out here lately (and nights in the 40's, gasp!) that it has had the effect of increasing my need for warmer spring weather to freakish amounts. I know, it's pathetic. The good news is my 80 degree weather salvation is ALMOST here. Thankfully.

So in an uncharacteristic move for me, I'm keeping today's fashions very casual. In the recesses of my brain right now its all about easy care cotton tops, bright colors, jeans and shorts. Yes. (By the way, all clothing in this post is available from Forever 21 and shoes from Payless)

Either the Checkered Woven Shirt $17.80
or the Crinkled Layered Tunic $19.80
would look great with the Fab Ankle Skinny Jean $12.50
and the Fiona Ballet Flat $14.99
The Daisies Draped Tunic $19.80
I would pair with the Fab Find Leggings in Blue $4.50
and the Vallin Sandal $22.99 for a colorful and easy outfit
Next I would get into the 90's throwback spirit with the Ginger Woven Tunic $22.80
and the Krissa Frayed Flair Jean $29.80
with the Airwalk Abby Clogs $24.99
rounding out the nostalgia
For those really sunny days I would grab the Neon Trim Knit Top $10.90
and the color Frayed Denim Short in White $15.80
throw on some white thongs like these I Love Shoes Sandals $7.99 (yes yes I know, flip flops will be the death of us all)
grab some serious sunblock and bask in the sunshine

I also really like this Perforated Leaf Tunic $22.80
paired with the Chelsea Frayed Straight Jean in grey $22.80
and the Shout Sandal $16.99

So those are my pairings for today. Maybe soon it will be warm enough to turn them from a dream into a reality :-)
PS - if you can't tell, I don't think we've seen the last of the silver and gold shoe trend yet. And this makes me happy!

OY! It's '09! I hear you!

Ok ok.... it has been a RIDICULOUSLY loooooong time since I have posted. Like 2 months ridiculous. Jeesh. BUT it has taken me this long to get through the last of the holiday catch up game at work and the "I don't care what I wear because I can only fit into elastic pants" post-holiday fashion blahs. But now, as things return to normal, my shopaholic ways once again return with gusto. Aren't you glad some things NEVER change? I know I am...

Now, on to the topic at hand - what fashions are ruling my brain for (almost) spring?
I think that for today at least, I will allow a monochromatic answer to this, if only because there is SO MUCH stuff to catch up on right now that perhaps if I break it into sub-categories, it will be easier. Today's category is a color that has taken hold of my heart and mind as of late: BLUE. In all hues and subtleties. I. Am. Loving. Blue. Especially peacock blue, AUGH! I can't get enough! I just bought a peacock blue handbag and I am obsessed with it.... drool...

MEGAN DRESS - DELIA'S $44.50

SUSANNA SKIRT - DELIA'S $34.50

H81 BABYDOLL JERSEY DRESS - FOREVER 21 $12.90

FLORAL CUTOUT BABYDOLL - OLD NAVY $19.50

FOLDOVER JERSEY SKIRT - OLD NAVY $15


INTARSIA SWEATER - OLD NAVY $25

PERFECT KHAKIS - OLD NAVY $32.50

SPOTTED FEATHER BEADED EARRINGS - FOREVER 21 $4.80

SIMPLE CIRCLE EARRINGS - FOREVER 21 $2.80

PAINTED BEADS NECKLACE - FOREVER 21 $9.80

Don't these blues just make you feel HAPPY? They definitely do for me... Throw on a shade of blue this week and infuse your day with brilliance and fun... or something like that.

Holidays = parties + food + cute fashion + presents = need for cute low priced party outfits

It's true. The holidays are officially around the cor... no wait! They've already rounded the corner and are now in a head on sprint toward my wallet and my waistband! Oh no! Well, I can't do much for you in terms of fending off the holiday food bonanza (you are on your own. I am powerless against all things pumpkin or peppermint. Damn them all. And the soy nog! The soy nog!!) but let's see what we can do about some party pretties that won't break the bank. Okey dokey?

Oh, and I know I am biased toward a love for dresses, sometimes to the point of ignoring the wonderful world of trousers, but if EVER there was a time for a cute dress or two, its the holiday season. Easy, inexpensive, fun and flirty. Perfect, no?

From the mainstay that is Forever 21:

Extend Pleat Dress $24.80


Embroidered Satin Dress $27.80

Peacock Maxi Halter Dress $32.80

Pleated Satin Tube Dress $24.80

Queen Fringed Satin Dress $22.80

Sequin Sash One Shoulder Top $19.80

AND NOW A FEW OFFERINGS FROM HEAVENLY COUTURE (they are truly the masters of the extra long descriptive title)

Black and Ivory Floral and Circles Sheer Dress $17.95

Bursts of Color Racer Back Dress $17.95

Short Sleeve Scoop Neck Brown Sweater Neck with Silver Sparkle $17.95

Loopy Placket Silver Dress $17.95

Now go grab some satin or sequins or taffeta and paint the town red!

Coming soon, cruelty free and awesome gifts for the holidays!

FOREVER 21 vs. AGE ANGST

Hello my lovelies! I have been a bad bad bad non-poster, I know. :-( What can I say? I'm sorry. But I know actions speak louder than words, so I figured a good long fashion post would tell you all how much I love you more than words ever could. Shall we get started?

Now, whenever I have been particularily lazy about fashion stuff for a while, one of the first places I always check is the Forever 21 site. It's huge, they have cute stuff, it is a good representation of the current trends in most stores, etc. I've never felt the slightest bit bad about shopping at Forever 21. Heck, I'm still a (relatively) young woman, not a teenager, no, but it's cool. I have issues, don't we all? I was ok with my F21 love.

Until I started thinking about the new Forever 21 sister store that opened up at the Beverly Center here in LA this month - Heritage 1981. This was supposed to skew more toward my age demographic, a little older, a little more professional I guess? I hadn't had a chance to get to the store, but I figured I would check out some offerings online. Hmmm...I thought. There is some cute stuff here, some nice sweaters and tops. What I really liked on the site was the vast array of cute sweater vests:






All of these are cute, reasonably priced (between 20-25 bucks) and perfect for winter. Cool. But was I captivated? Was I plotting my trip immediately, and imagining all the wonderful places I could wear these? Not really... they WERE nice sweater vests, but is this what age appropriate means? No more fashion passion? Sensible sweater vests? I began to feel a bit uneasy...

Next, I thought I would check out Forever 21's other sister store, Twelve by Twelve, which also has a store in LA that I haven't been to yet (although, unlike Heritage 1981, I'm not sure exactly what Twelve by Twelve's "niche market" is supposed to be, besides female). So I went over to their website, and... it was weird. Some of the stuff was ok, but (like Heritage) the selection was MUCH smaller than F21, and the weirdest thing was, the clothing looked cheap. I think it might just be that their photo stylist or whatever wasn't doing a very good job, but the clothes just seemed to be hanging off this white mannequin, alone, sad and uninteresting. I thought these pieces were ok:






Cute enough, right? But these were, imo, the best offerings on the whole site, and I wasn't in love with any of them either (that jacket is pretty close to awesome, though). AND these were pricier than F21's similar items ($35-55, approx). What is going on, I thought? Have I lost my taste for fashion? Is this what is supposed to excite me? I only had one option - I would now go to Forever 21's website and see what this forbidden teenage fashion was that was previously so superior and age appropriate in my mind. So I did.

And you know what? I found TONS of cute stuff. For the late 20's gal, like me. I didn't have to search too hard, in fact, I had to weed out my list a bit. Look at all this stuff:












SO MUCH CUTER, and most of it would be great at the office, while the two short, swingy dresses would be totally great at a holiday party! All reasonably priced, and FINALLY my heart went pitter pat in the excited way that I remember! I was scheming as to how many of these wonderful pieces I could actually afford this month! I was imagining myself in them in various places, laughing or reading or some such activity and looking so chic. Ahhhh..... that is what I'm talking about people!

Oh, and I saw this:

THE CUTEST winter vest I've ever seen, and something I would most likely accost a group of blind, mute, orphans for. Ok, maybe not, but I REALLY love this vest! And $33? YES!!!!!

So, in conclusion, I say this to you. I shop at Forever 21. I will continue to shop at Forever 21. Perhaps I am delusional, but I don't feel the least bit inappropriate about it. So there. HA! I will go shop and be victorious in gorgeous new duds.