More On Hippie Chic For Spring: The Maxi

Tall girls, rejoice! This spring and summer, long is in and maxi dresses and skirts abound. In my opinion, it's about time. Thigh-grazing hemlines are basically a tee-shirt for me so seeing lots and lots of length on the recent Fashion Week runways was more refreshing than I can say. And for a girl who loves a bit of boho glam, the maxi is an effortless way to embrace hippie chic this spring.

Having done my share of online window shopping this past weekend, I'm officially head over heels for the Chroma Reflections Maxi Dress from Anthropologie. Without getting too literal, this lovely dress seems to channel Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, as a floral kaleidoscope blooms upon this delicate silk landscape by Edme & Esyltte. With pullover styling, gathered bell sleeves, and a smocked waistline, perhaps its best characteristic--second to elegance--is ease. And to be clear, I'm talking throw-on-this-dress-and-a-pair-of-Rainbows kind of ease. Unless, of course, you're the kind of hippie to go barefoot...

Image: Chroma Reflections Maxi Dress $198, available from Anthropologie (www.anthropologie.com).

Hippie Chic for Spring

Like many of you out there, I feel that I have spent the winter--and perhaps even the better part of the fall--in skinny jeans. Seasonally speaking, they're more convenient for two reasons: (1) they can be tucked effortlessly into boots and (2) you never run the risk of the hem dragging along the ground and making you cold and wet. Of course, these aren't the only reasons that I love skinny jeans. Rather, their shape is inherently versatile, streamlined, and sophisticated. Yet, with the dawn of spring--and in spite of some very non-springy snow flurries--I've found myself wanting more from my denim... After all, what better time to embrace your inner flower child and return to the bell bottom?


I have been on the hunt for a new pair of trusty bell bottoms for a couple of weeks now. After walking all over London and Paris last March, my go-to pair by Ernest Sewn (with an inseam that turned out to be a tad too lengthy to wear with Converse) are utterly chewed up and destroyed. While I may have my reasons for loving skinny jeans, I have just as many reasons to love the fun flare of a good bell bottom; namely, the fact that they drape perfectly over sneakers or flip-flops and are effortlessly (hippie) chic. So with this criteria in mind and a few hard-earned dollars in my checking account, I hit Bloomingdales last weekend...

As it turns out, I'm not the only flower child out there. Based solely on the selection in the denim department at Bloomingdales, I can say with confidence that hippie is haute this spring. Here is what I took to the dressing room with me:

1.) Babe Power Stretch Mid-Rise Bell Flare Jeans by J Brand: These comfy bells are made using J Brand's own power stretch denim, which is designed to contour the body in all the right places for an ultra-flattering silhouette that will retain its shape. I personally love the mid-rise fit for its smoothing effect, and it also means that I won't have to hike up my pants all the time. And not to play favorites, but I love the subtlety of all J Brand denim; there are never any glaring logos or contrived detailing, and these bells are no exception. Way to keep it classy, J Brand.

2.) Carrie Skinny Knee Wide Flare by True Religion: This new flare from True Religion offers a slim fit through the knee, before breaking at the calf into a wide flare. With a rise slightly higher than most True Religion jeans, I really like the overall look of the Carrie; this may be partly because of the "short-fuse medium" wash, which gives these jeans a broken-in look without trying so hard to be "pre-destroyed."

3.) Dani Stretch Flare by True Religion: Considered the "perfect fit for every body," these low rise flares are made with 2% spandex for the ultimate curve-hugging experience. Unlike the Carrie, these bells feature True Religion's signature diagonally cut side seam, meant to accentuate your curves. I was psyched to find these on the Bloomies sale rack, but as it turns out, I'm just not a huge fan of the diagonal seam; for whatever reason, I can't shake the feeling that my pants are all twisted.

4.) Bell Bottom Super Flare by 7 For All Mankind: With an exaggerated bell, these Sevens have a fun, bohemian appeal to them. The aptly titled "vintage California" wash manages to be both dark and soft, with just a touch of fading and distressing. These bells are fabulously comfortable, but as much as I love the concept of the super flare, in actuality it was just a little too much fabric for me.

Truth be told, it was a clear choice; the True Religion Carrie and J Brand Babe were the right bell bottoms for the job. As far as my budget, the fact that I was only in the market for one rather than two pairs of jeans turned out to be surprisingly non-problematic. As luck would have it, Bloomingdales was running a delicious denim deal this weekend, offering 15% off the purchase of one pair of designer denim, or 25% off the purchase of two pairs. Doubly lucky were the few Bloomies gift cards I had been saving for such an occasion. So, without breaking the bank, I have found myself ready for spring--and quite the little haute hippie too!


Images, in order of appearance: (1) Me! wearing my beloved Ernest Sewns, which were in that very moment unknowingly en route to utter destruction, photo by the lovely Sarah M. Barton; (2) Babe Power Stretch Mid-Rise Bell Flare Jeans in Classic Wash by J Brand $196, available at Bloomingdales (http://www.bloomingdales.com/); (3) Carrie Skinny Knee Wide Flare in Short Fuse Medium by True Religion $218, also available from Bloomingdales (in store only); (4) Dani Stretch Flare in Vera Cruz by True Religion $134 (on sale!), also from Bloomingdales (in store only); (5) Bell Bottom Super Flare in Vintage California by 7 for All Mankind $198, also available from Bloomingdales (in store only).

Shamrock 'n Roll: The Insider Scoop That Will Save You Some Green

So tomorrow is St. Paddy's Day--and whether you're Irish or not, Boston peeps love this holiday. But worry not, I'm not going to tell you to wear a "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" tee or to drink green beer (gross). Instead, to keep things festive, I'm thinking I'll save you a little green! Call it the luck of the Irish, but between now and March 22, you can receive a FREE bottle of nail lacquer in British Racing Green from butter London with your purchase of $25 or more. This fabulously festive hunter green can you yours just as quickly as you can type "StPaddyDay11" at check-out.

At a loss as to how to spend your $25? I've got your back (or in this case, your nails). As you may remember, butter London is one of my absolute favorite companies, and I've raved about their amazing array of colors in past posts. These days, I'm keeping rainy days bright with cheery pops of color--and I would recommend the same color therapy for anyone who's feeling a little down. But if you're not one to embrace bold colors for your hands, a pedicure is the perfect alternative to give one of these four fun hues a try:

(1) It may look like blue, but it's actually Blagger. This striking cobalt is cooler than cool and utterly strut-worthy. $14








(2) It may look like yellow, but it's actually Cheeky Chops. In the words of butter London, "Why no, I do not have a banana in my pocket, but I am happy to see you." $14







(3) It may look like orange, but it's actually Jaffa. Juicy like an orange, hot like a tamale, and perfect for hands or feet. $14








(4) It may look like pink, but it's actually Primrose Hill Picnic. The nail pros at butter claim that this tropical pink "will make you want to take off your shoes and run barefoot through the office." I'm thinking barefoot across a sandy beach would be preferable, but to each her own. $14


As I've said before, a little pop! of color can go a long way--and whatever your choice, each of these fun flavors are guaranteed to put some pep in your step. Plus, let us not forget why we're here! $25 worth of butter will score you some green that might just be as lucky as a shamrock. Happy St. Paddy's Day, fashionista friends!


Images, in order of appearance: (1) British Racing Green; (2) Blagger; (3) Cheeky Chops; (4) Jaffa; (5) Primrose Hill Picnic. All $14 by butter London, available online (www.butterlondon.com).

(You Can Have) Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

When I was growing up, on rainy March days like this one, my mother would always say, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." That saying would somehow keep us going, knowing that the end was in sight--that there was indeed light (and spring!) at the end of a long, gloomy tunnel. And while today is precisely that kind of dreary day, after the brutal winter we've had, I find myself grateful for rain instead of snow, humidity rather than freezing temperatures, and cheerful red Hunter rain boots instead of my weather-beaten leaky Uggs. Truly, it's the little things that keep us going, and as fashionistas, it only takes a little pop! of color to have sunshine on a cloudy day.

You may have already started to notice that spring has sprung--in the catalogs and in the stores, at least. I have been happily perusing the pages, creating a mental "to buy" list based on this season's fashions. The common theme on said list is, of course, COLOR. I have come to realize that it makes all the difference, and it is perhaps for this very reason that I found myself inextricably drawn to a pair of fabulous yellow shoes...

Called "elegantly edgy," the very sight of J. Crew's new Sevigne Washed Leather Heels restored sunshine to my rainy morning. Made in Italy using a special washed lamb that's known for its buttery smooth texture, these sunny yellow heels feature a matte stacked heel and an exposed back zipper. I'm especially partial to the platform design since it provides added comfort, along with easy walking, but it's the pop! of yellow that really sells me on this shoe. It's also available in a "soft sandalwood" nude, but in my view, the citrusy zing that J. Crew calls "sour lemon" is fun, versatile, and sure to add a bit of sunshine to any kind of day.

Image: Sevigne Washed Leather Heels in sour lemon $285 by J. Crew, available online (www.jcrew.com).

Texture

When I read about Bumble and Bumble's newest product, Bb. Texture, in January's Elle, I have to confess that my first thought was: now my hair can look like Blake Lively's. A girl can dream, can't she? Indeed, I've read countless articles in fashion magazines, where stylists dish on how to recreate the blonde beauty's (seemingly) effortlessly tousled tresses. It's never as easy as they say, but with the debut of Bb. Texture, I feel like I've discovered a secret weapon...

Bumble and Bumble's senior Artistic Director, Howard McClaren, explained that the company started seeing [that] hand-done, second-day-hair look on the streets and on celebrities like Alexa Chung and Mary Kate Olsen...but stylists were having to use a combination of products...to reproduce it. Amen to that. Too many products, not enough time, not worth the effort. To fill this gaping hole in the hair care market, Bumble and Bumble created Bb. Texture, touting the newly released product as a hair undressing cream. The directions are happily simple: Work a small amount of Bb. Texture through damp hair (a must), starting at the roots to ensure extra lift. Let the product sit for a minute, and then loosen and ruffle your hair with your fingers. For added volume, you can use a diffuser.

The promised result is hair with that undone-yet-done quality, with a hint of grit, hold and a tousled, shine-free finish. In plain English? Hair that looks like you couldn't care less--but let's be honest, we all do. Bb. Texture is available in two sizes, 5 oz. for $24 or 2 oz. for $12. Just in case it really is too good to be true, I opted for the smaller size when I placed my order online today. I couldn't be more excited to try it, and once I do, you'll be the first to know if--hair gods willing--my hair looks like Blake Lively's. Minus the color. Brunettes are better.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Bb. Texture by Bumble and Bumble, $24 for 5 oz. or $12 for 2 oz, available online (www.bumbleandbumble.com); (2) clipping from Elle, thanks to Elle (www.elle.com).