British Invasion

Mad about plaid? Not to worry, you're amongst friends. Catching up on my fashion magazines this past weekend, the July issue of In Style gave me something to celebrate: this month, Burberry is launching it's very own cosmetics line. Now how's that for a British invasion?

According to Christopher Bailey, Burberry's Creative Director, It started because I felt that, at shows and the shoots, the whole [Burberry] attitude is epitomized through the shoes, the bags, the clothes, the accessories, but then the face was the one thing I really struggled with. When we were doing makeup, I felt like we weren't able to get the right attitude. It was either caked-on makeup or then just the wrong colors, the wrong tones, the wrong spirit for makeup. I wanted it to be this kind of effortless elegance.

Sometimes, when you want something done right, you have to do it yourself--and so Burberry has, with a 96-piece collection that reflects the same ease and class as a Burberry trench. For its freshman year, the Burberry Beauty collection will be sold exclusively at Harrod's in the UK, Nordstrom in the US, and Faces in Hong Kong. Perusing the selection at Nordstrom online, I was captivated by the Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow, whose color selection captures the ease and versatility of the collection and ranges from classic trench coat-inspired shades to smoky metals. In fact, "Trench" is indeed one of the available colors, and seeing how obsessed I am withmy actual trench, I may need to throw in a bit of Burberry eye color for good measure.

In Christopher Bailey's vision, The Burberry girl wears just a trace of makeup — no crazy eyes or crazy lips. This sounds about right to me, especially in the summer when less is more. Granted, I won't know for sure until I actually try it, but I have a good feeling about this... To date, I've never gone wrong with Burberry, and I sort of feel like this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Cheers to the British invasion!



Christopher Bailey, as quoted (1) on Stylelist (http://www.stylelist.com/) and (2) in the New York Times Magazine Blog (http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/). Images, in order of appearance: (1) Burberry advertisement, image thanks to Neverwoodhigh (http://www.neverwoodhigh.com/); (2) Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 6 Almond $29 by Burberry Beauty, available at Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com/); (3) Select products from the Burberry Beauty collection, photograph also from the New York Times Magazine Blog.

Let Them Eat Cake!

When the sun sets on these scorching summer days and it's time for a bonfire on the beach, sun-kissed fashionistas reach for a cozy hoodie to snuggle up in. And that, my style savvy friends, is where the new lolly.brand Cupcake Hoodie enters the scene...

This summer, the lolly.brand hoodie has been reinvented, with a new look--and a new attitude to go with it. Printed on American Apparel® brand, this asphalt colored hoodie has a looong silhouette (a definite favorite amongst tall, long-bodied girls like me) and also features long sleeves and a handy kangaroo pocket in front. But to be clear, it's really all about the back, which boldly proclaims, let them eat cake. I think our dear beloved Marie Antoinette might agree, don't you? This sweet 'n sassy sentiment is accompanied by lolly.brand's signature cupcake in a neon pink that really pops! Yum.

And if you don't already know, you're sooo VIP! The truth is, this fabulous new hoodie isn't even available on the lolly.brand website yet! But worry not, it will be there soon--so prepare yourself to get comfy. After all, every girl needs to kick off her heels and put her feet up from time to time. And of course, an off-duty fashionista can neverrr everrr have too many hoodies. I should know. What else can I say? Let them eat cake!

Images: Back and front of the (new) lolly.brand Cupcake Hoodie $45 by lolly.brand. Coming soon to the lolly.brand website (www.lollybrand.net) so be sure to stay tuned!

More Fashion at Home: Upcycle Cool

Up until this past weekend, my husband and I have been madly searching for the perfect coffee table. Finally, we (okay, HE) got super crafty and constructed a fabulous table using an old door that we found inside my family's barn. He sanded it down, added wrought iron legs, and viola!--chic and eco-friendly.

While I am now the proud owner of the best coffee table a girl could ask for, I did stumble upon some other fabulous designs during our lengthy quest. In case you should find yourself in the same position, I wanted to share one of my discoveries: vintage luggage tables. Etsy seller LoveNostalgicWhimsy rescues vintage suitcases and converts them into coffee/side/end tables. The finished products are--like my barn door table--stylish and good for mother earth. After all, it doesn't get much more eco-friendly than a found object! And for a price that rivals the likes of Ikea or Target, it's really a no-brainer. The convenience factor of this design is another selling point, for you can open the suitcase/table to use it for storage. And not for nothing, as with most things vintage, your little table will truly be a one-of-a-kind (awww, just like YOU!).

So there you have it, fellow design stars; if you find yourself deciding upon or agonizing over home decor like I have been for the past two months and counting, try going upcycle cool. Remember your three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle! You know it's hip to be green.

Psst... To see more vintage suitcase tables from LoveNostalgic Whimsy, check out her Etsy shop by clicking here.

Image: Vintage Durabilt Luggage Table $80 by LoveNostalgic Whimsy (available online at www.etsy.com/listing/50754335/vintage-durabilt-luggage-table-satin).

Menswear: Get (Bow)Tied Up!

It isn't often that I discuss menswear, since--not being a man--I don't really consider it my area of expertise. Nonetheless, when my style-savvy sister shared the Boston Globe article covering a collection of fiercely fashionable bow ties made by two up-and-coming Boston designers, to say that I was intrigued was quite the understatement. I have always loved the look of bow ties, perhaps because my father occasionally wore them and always looked sooo dapper. Or maybe it's just because I love a pop! of preppy from time to time... Whatever the case, bow ties are undoubtedly "in" these days. So what's with everyone wanting to get tied up?

I have to agree with Globe Correspondent, Liza Weisstuch, who discusses the bow tie's fashion duality. On the one hand, bow ties simply continue to rest comfortably on their laurels, amongst academics and intellectuals who never think twice before they tie one on. Yet, more recently, bow ties have gained a cool factor, donned by both hipsters and hip celebs, who have added the bow tie to their arsenal of fashion accoutrements. Somewhere in between these two poles is where Bruce Franklin and Christopher Bennett, the designers behind Robot & Brucling, enter the scene. The two designers are locals, heralding from Mattapan and Roxbury respectively, and they began their journey into fashion when they grew tired of the standard fare and began designing for themselves.

In Weisstuch's coverage of the two, Bennett reflects on the gap in menswear, We’re at a point in the fashion cycle where gentlemen need more to express their style. He explains that the key is in the accessories, since you can’t have an outfit that says who you are until you accessorize. Well, accessorize they did! Yet, their approach is (refreshingly) anything but traditional. They work with more contemporary materials like denim and leather, further amping up the edge factor with embellishments from studs and spikes to brass skulls to Swarovski bling (now can you see why I love them?). The result is a brilliant hybrid of preppy/punk, a splendid middle ground where the school nerd and the school bad boy can fashionably--if not peacefully--coexist.

To state the obvious, I am not a man--and thus not the target demographic for the Robot & Brucling bow tie collection. However, I am still fully committed to their vision and utterly tempted to add bow ties to my accessories arsenal. I already love the necktie for the office so there is no reason why I can't rock The Phantom (you know I had to pick a design with skulls). Plus, as I'm currently sporting a baby bump, a necktie doesn't exactly lay flat like it's supposed to; fortunately, I can't think of a better solution than a spectacularly blinged out bow tie.

As a side note, my always fashionable sister and I were discussing Robot & Brucling just the other night and are hoping that they will eventually branch out to headbands. To tide me over, I suppose that I could make a DIY project out of it and physically attach one of their irresistibly irreverent styles to a basic headband. Really, it wouldn't get more fiercely fabulous than that. On that front, I suppose you'll just have to stay tuned... But in the meantime, whether you're a guy or a gal, I implore you to give bow ties a chance--especially when they come bearing skulls, studs, and lace. Sort of makes you want to get tied up, doesn't it?

Special thanks to my lovely sister, Annie, for sharing the good word of Robot & Brucling with me!

Psst... Check out the full article from the June 17, 2010 issue of the Boston Globe, Knots ready for prime time by Globe Correspondent Liza Weisstuch! Here's the link: Local designers reimagine the bow tie - The Boston Globe

Image: (1) bowtie collection by Robot & Brucling, as photographed by Essdras M. Suarez of the Globe Staff for the Boston Globe; (2) Bruce Franklin and Christopher Bennett, the designers behind Robot & Brucling, wearing their own bowtie fashions, also photographed by Essdras M. Suarez of the Globe Staff for the Boston Globe.; (3) The Chelsea, also by Robot & Brucling, as photographed by Michele McDonald for the Boston Globe--also available for purchase for $45 from Robot & Brucling (online at www.robotandbrucling.com).

Love It or Loathe It? Episode 8: Silly Bandz for Adults???

I simply had to laugh when I saw that Silly Bandz made the New York Times fashion headlines in my iGoogle today! For those unfamiliar with Silly Bandz, they are essentially rubber bands--in an array of bright colors--that are shaped like objects such as a peace sign, a guitar, or an animal. They are designed to be worn on the wrist, but they revert back to their original shape when taken off. Apparently, they have been the hot item amongst today's youth (much like I snap bracelets were in my day--can I get an Amen?) for some time now--and according to today's Times' article, Older Audience for Child’s Bracelet Is Not a Stretch, adults are now getting in on the silliness too! In fact, my adorable college-age sister told me that one of her friends wears a single silly band on her wrist--and that it serves as a fun conversation piece.

Anyway, with my love of bracelets no secret, I'm sort of intrigued by this still-rising trend that has taken over one demographic and moved right on to the next. But now I want to hear from YOU! The question for today's episode of Love It or Loathe It? is (appropriately) a bit silly: Silly Bandz for adults--love it or loathe it? And why? Send me an email or post your comments!



Image: an edgy adult wearing Silly Bandz just like the kids, photo from The New York Times article, Older Audience for Child’s Bracelet Is Not a Stretch by Kayleen Schaefer; full article available online by clicking here.

Heart This

Perhaps a certain part of me is still very much a little girl, but I just loooove things that sparkle! When I was a teenager (and even through part of college), this meant that I wore a lot of shimmery powder and glittery eyeliner. But now that I'm all grown up with an office job, I've had to resort to other means of sparkle--namely the subtle sheen of a good bronzer; a blinged out cocktail ring or another piece of statement jewelry; or a bit of glitz on a fun headband. You know, the little things. That said, you can only imagine how excited I was to come across the opportunity to heart something entirely new: the ban.do heart.

Yet another piece of adorable hair candy from the LA based ban.do, their signature red heart doubles as a hair clip and a brooch--allowing you to have your hair accessories and wear them too! Okay, so maybe this is not the hair clip for a serious board meeting, but that's the fun of it; when it doesn't work for wear in the hair, pin it to your tote, blazer, or cardigan. Wherever it goes, it will bring a little pop! of color and a little bit of sparkle with a price tag ($15!!) that you're guaranteed to heart.



Images: the ban.do heart $15 from ban.do, available online at www.shopbando.com.

Another Installment of Fashion At Home: My Husband Is Sometimes Right

It's been a while since we last chatted about fashion at home, but you may remember that this topic is often the source of marital discord and/or compromise in my happy little family. Nonetheless, the result is always a good one, for Dallin and I eventually find a way to blend our decorating wants into a well balanced aesthetic, somewhere along the lines of "traditional with a twist." Having recently moved (once again), we are now (once again) facing the somewhat daunting task of decorating our new home, the place where we hope to stay put for a while--especially now that we have a little one of our own on the way...

That said, given my husband's penchant for interior design and his self-proclaimed "creative vision," we have found ourselves navigating the sometimes turbulent waters of creating a space that simultaneously reflects both our unique and combined tastes, doesn't break the bank, and looks absolutely impeccable without being overtly catalog. Perhaps for this reason, we are still unpacking, long after our May 1 move-in date. However, it apparently took Michelangelo four painstaking years to paint the Sistine Chapel, so sometimes good things come to those who wait.

With our living room nearing completion, we recently shifted our focus to the dining room. After nearly four years of marriage, I'm excited to report that we finally have a dining room, and so it's been exciting for us to venture into this uncharted territory. We were lucky to inherit the fabulous farm-style table that was a fixture in my dining room growing up, and we recently proved ourselves worthy of it, after lugging it home via Uhaul alllll the way back from my family's home in Western Massachusetts (NOT an easy task). However, the chairs were another matter entirely. Understandably, my mother is still using the dining room chairs that my father hand painted for her in the charming Quimper style years ago. So, we were left to our own devices as far as seating--and that's where things got...interesting.

My first thought was to find some rustic wooden chairs and perhaps a matching bench, and I even located a few contenders at Pottery Barn. However, my husband saw things differently, arguing that--if I had my way--our dining room would look like it came straight off the pages of the Pottery Barn catalog, devoid of character and originality. As it turns out, his vision was one of mixed media, pairing our wooden farmhouse table with steel chairs. At first, I balked at this suggestion: metal chairs with a wood table?! But then he actually showed me the chairs he has been obsessed with since practically forever, and I started to see the light. But not for nothing, I have to mention that the chairs in question hailed from the pages of my mother's Sundance catalog--so it seems you can never fully escape all things "catalog." Just saying.

Here's a fun fact: Dallin's beloved steel chairs actually have quite the history! Yes, they may have found their way onto the pages of Sundance, but their story neither starts nor stops there. Rather, it all began once upon a time (in the 1930s, to be precise) when Xavier Pauchard designed the iconic Chaise A as part of a collection of galvanized steel furniture under the Tolix brand. Given its inherent form and function, the Chaise A immediately took off, becoming a ubiquitously favored seating choice--from cafes and bistros to army barracks and hospitals. Then, in the early 1980s, the Tolix A Chair, also known as the Marais AC Chaise, was reissued. Again, it was well-received, this time by both the public and professional designers alike who also valued its chic design and durable structure. Now, you can find this fabulous chair (in its original burnished steel, as well as bright colors like blue, red, or yellow) everywhere from the furniture shops of France, to antique fairs and flea markets across our great nation, and even on the pages of Sundance, Pottery Barn, and Crate and Barrel. Imagine that!

So here's the truth: in this particular case, Dallin couldn't have been more right, or his creative vision more cool. Still, we have never been a couple that does things precisely by the book; believe it or not, we ultimately moved away from the Tolix design, in favor of another galvanized steel chair, whose design was slightly more worn and industrial--an ideal compliment to the deliciously distressed cracked white paint along the lip and legs of our table. The end product?--sheer perfection that is impeccably country chic without even a hint catalog. What else can I say? My husband is sometimes right.

Fun facts about Tolix chairs, thanks to Paris Parfait (http://parisparfait.typepad.com/). Images, in order of appearance: (1) 1934 Dining Chair from Sundance, as shown on the Sundance website (www.sundancecatalog.com); (2) Wynn Ladderback Chairs in french white $229-299 by Pottery Barn, available online (http://www.potterybarn.com/); (3) Another view of the 1934 Dining Chair $245, available from Sundance; (4) Lyle Side Chair $199 by Crate and Barrel, available online (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/); (5) Another view of the Lyle Side Chair, as shown on the Crate and Barrel website.