Thinking about prom? Hopefully this will make dress-shopping a little bit easier. Here's a list of some awesome places to find dresses at a descent price!
Some other places around the area: Ginger and Cream (Westwood), Party Girl (Tenefly), That Look (Englewood), The Fig Leaf (Maywood), Still hesitant about going to prom? Here's a nice article by The Odyssey to convince you why prom might be worth it. And if you're still not convinced, just remember that our senior prom is going to be...
0 Comments
It's easy. Just ask him.... Or him.. Or him. So how do they do it? It takes a few simple steps.
How To Be Fashionable: A Totally Nonsense Record of How I Try to Dress Myself Every Morning2/4/2016 I've been neglecting this blog. Clearly, senioritus (defined as a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance) has gotten the best of me and has not only destroyed my drive to do schoolwork but also my drive to do work, period. However, I have done a pretty good job sticking with my belief that the better I feel in my outfit, the better my day will go. I like this saying better than saying I'll just "dress better" because that entails not going out in sweats all the time, and once in a while you need a pair of those babies to snuggle with on a breezy winter day, so I just dress in clothing that makes me feel good. That goes with pointing out that dressing to make myself feel good does not come easy, and in fact has become a daily struggle.
And so, without further ado, a look into ways I stay fashionable (or try to). I first cannot function properly without my coffee. Before I even dare to venture into the depths of my closet, I need to eat something and fuel myself with caffeine. Then, obviously, I brush my teeth, which is only relevant because sometimes I'll brush my teeth while I'm picking out something to wear (killing two birds with one stone!). The first piece I pick out becomes my base. Whether it be a pair of shoes, a sweater, or pants, my outfit will be structured based on whatever I first pick out of the closet. For example, if I choose to wear my olive-colored leggings, I'll spend the rest of my time searching for a shirt that is black and preferably long. If I pick out my boyfriend jeans, I'll give myself some freedom on the type of shirt I pick, either a chunky sweater or something skinny with a cardigan. But if I grab my skinny jeans, I'll almost always choose something chunky. That is the basis of my method, the systematic approach I take in my morning. However, the problem occurs when the piece I want cannot be found, perhaps because it is in the wash or that it just doesn't exist and I've just made up the idea that I own the perfect piece to go with whatever I've grabbed. In this stage of my morning, I'll usually venture over to my mom's closet, which often comes to save the day. However, when nothing that I need exists even in her closet, that is when defeat takes hold.
I'll first freak out a while and dig through my drawers, toss a few items hopelessly on my bed, and when I realize that I only have five minutes before it's time to get to school, I make the choice between my two options: settle for whatever I'm wearing or start from scratch. Oftentimes, settling gets the lazier part of me, however I'll usually end up regretting settling midway through the day because I won't feel that great in what I'm wearing. Starting from scratch is daunting, but usually ends up being worth it. Lastly, I've found that my newborn fear of color has actually decreased the time it takes me to get dressed because everything matches. I suggest, for the sake of your morning mental health, you follow suite and find some type of "color pattern" you would like to follow, meaning that all of your pieces are of like colors and shades so that whatever you pick, you'll find something to match easily. For those of you thinking well why doesn't she just pick her outfit the night before? The answer is simple: my own laziness. However to avoid all anxiety, pick your outfit the night before. Did that help? No? Oh well-I hope at the least bit it was entertaining. -Rachel As the days grow darker and more depressing, just like my wardrobe, I figured it time to brighten things up with a lighter color palate than usual. Scroll through the pictures above, which mainly consist of me standing awkwardly in front of my garage door, and see if my #OOTD can inspire some brightness in you for the winter. Outfit details:
Sweater: Anthropologie Leather Jacket: Forever 21 Boyfriend Jeans: Lucky Brand Hat: J. Crew Ring: My mom's closet (Tiffany & Co.) (psst...click on the pictures!) Hello. How are you? (Cue Adele). If you are like me, you spend endless hours trying to make your jeans fit. It could be those $200 jeans you snatched off the rack from Nordstrom, which, no matter how much you squeeze, just won’t make it past your thighs (I swear I didn’t gain any weight this month…) It could be those Lucky Brands you bought in your size a few months ago and have somehow grown twice the original size in the waistband (to wash or not to wash these jeans?) and even the pair you thrifted over the summer. You remember, right? They were the ones you bought because you were going to create cute vinateg-y cutoffs out of them? No matter who you are or where you are, we are always trying to make our jeans fit. For myself, my petite stature has come to be both a blessing and a curse. Yes, I will admit that I smile a little wider when I enter the third floor of Topshop in Soho, which is entirely dedicated to petites, but the prospect of looking for jeans everywhere else has evolved into an entirely new ball game. I’m not saying that short people are discriminated against in any way. Many stores do cater to us vertically challenged folk. But for the most part, jean shopping results in very crinkled bottoms that can often become a denim half-sock because of how long the leg is. However, I am not a quitter. I am a firm believer in the beauty and simplicity of a good pair of jeans. I believe that a pair of jeans can completely reconstruct a boring outfit; the wash, fit, and flare all have the power to create a new meaning to your outfit. For example, the difference between your favorite oversized sweater and a pair of bell bottoms gives off an entirely unique vibe compared to that same sweater and your pair of trusty dark wash skinnies. The ability for your jeans to completely change an outfit's tone is a quality that is, perhaps above all other reasons, why jeans have remained such a classic closet staple throughout the years. They singularly have the power to convey any message you want through the clothes you wear. I’m going to assume that anyone who has kept reading beyond this point is a fellow lover of jeans. I’m so happy you’re stayed. We’re getting to the best part. Here are some tips on wearing/taking better care of your jeans, so you can maximize the beautiful relationship you have with them. Don’t wash them. I know. Ew, right? This one took me a while to get used to. I would throw my jeans in the wash every single time I wore them, and then I would wonder why they stopped fitting after so long. Washing wears your jeans out. Unless there is a stain on them or they start to sag, refrain from washing them. This habit gets easier with practice.
Air dry. Ugh. This one’s annoying. Whereas not washing actually saves time, you should take the long route in this case and air dry your jeans, as the heat from the dryer can be damaging to the denim. So your jeans smell? Throw them in the freezer. Or the bathroom while you’re in the shower. Any foul odors will evaporate. I promise. Turn ‘em inside out. In the case your jeans do need to spend some time with the mashing machine, turn them inside out to preserve the color of the dye. Hang your jeans. These babies need a lot of TLC! The unique fibers in denim mean that its better to let them breathe by hanging them in your closet or giving them a little bit of extra shelf room. Under-cuff. I love cuffing my jeans. As a short person, the ability to jean-cuff is a blessing. It’s like going to the tailor but not actually spending any money. A lot of people cuff up their jeans, but if your jeans are skinny enough, you can even cuff them the opposite way, as in, cuff them in to keep them straight and shorter. Summer BikinisSo summer is around the corner. Girls should be jumping for joy, but they're too busy trying to work off their winter weight for their summer bods. That said, not much from last year probably fits well. Time to go shopping! Normally, that excites me, but thats where the struggle starts; especially when it comes to bathing suits. It’s a struggle every year. So here is a list of (affordable) bathing suits (mostly tops) for all body types. Hope this reaches a girl who, like me, faces similar pre-summer issues! (Be sure to click on the pictures!!) The Push Up This one is fantastic for the smaller chest-ed girls. They come in plenty of patterns so you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll love. It will become your go to for swim parties, the beach, sprinkler runs, etc. Comfy, cute, and timeless. The Triangle This design is classic, timeless, and my personal favorite. My experience has been that these tops are best for bustier girls. They come padded, unpadded, in all patterns, go with all bottoms, are adjustable, sturdy, and overall reliable The Bandeau Quick, cute, and simple are some adjectives that come to mind when I think about bandeau style tops. They tend to be best for petite girls with a smaller chest because of their insubstantial nature. They for sure provide less support than a bathing suit with straps, though most come with attachable ones. The Halter This is the child of the triangle and the push up, perfect for most body types. This is truly the embodiment of the ideal top if you’re not sure what’s best for your body type. Comfy, cute, supportive, etc. Xo,
#Fashionable I’ll let you guys in on a little secret. I don’t know anything about fashion. That golden award can be given to my almost-too-perfect and effortlessly stylish counterpart, Serena. However, I’ll often try to fool you guys by cramming as much In Style magazine reading as I can between classes to give the illusion I am somewhat fashion-forward. Thanks to websites like Style.com, Harpers Bazaar and Pinterest, I have been able to pass myself off as someone who totally knows the inner secrets of everything from the cat-eye to harem pants. I’ve always wished myself to be one of those never-trying-too-hard girls we see on pins labeled “street style”, or the French celebrities who always look impeccable without looking overdone. Alas, I must stop lying to myself when I sadly admit that I am the biggest try hard I know. I’ll sit and stare for hours at my closet wondering what to wear to school the next morning, or spend my entire morning trying on everything in my closet and ultimately going with the first thing I had chosen after realizing how much time I’d wasted playing dress up. Due to my own embarrassing confusion, I'll often catch myself asking this question: what really makes someone “fashionable?” Is it the girl who can take our favorite closet stable white tee shirt and make it look like it came right out of Vogue magazine? Or the one who takes sandals and socks and somehow makes it work? (Aka the Man Repeller). The other day I was scrolling through some outfits from fashion week in London and thought to myself ,“What the hell are these people wearing? Is that what is considered fashionable?” If I was caught dead in half of those outfits someone might seriously mistake me for either a really short wooly mammoth or a really tall Dalmatian. There is something about these people though, that make us regular people stop and think,Wow, why can’t I be that fashionable? Our underlying envy might come from the thousand dollar pair of Jimmy Choos slung over their feet. Of course, it also might be the fact that the world actually seems to stop moving when we catch someone who perfects pattern-mixing, like polka-dot with leopard print. (#how?) Whatever the case, these people have the “it” factor that we all want, and despite the first urge to hurl at the sight of their over sized ponchos and giant cat-eye sunglasses, there seems to be a seductive appeal to their bold fashion choices. I suppose it’s more freedom of expression then anything, and that these heftily clad fashion-forward (faux-pas?) style gurus are not so much trying to be fashionable, but rather, they are trying new styles, ideas, or just being like me and trying way too hard. Regardless, I was clearly missing the fashionable-ness of the majority of the outfits, leading me to believe that my idea of fashionable was clouded in too many fashion magazines telling me about the latest trends and the ten reasons why I needed to buy those totally-overpriced blue Alexander Wang sandals. I’m beginning to learn that fashion, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. While we may continue to think what we want (cue Marilyn Monroe), let those who wear outrageous outfits to fashion week continue in their quest for whatever their stylish hearts drag them towards. I, on the other hand, will be spending the next few hours staring at my closet again because I have to figure out something to wear to work. Stay Classy Valley,
I'm not going to lie, when I first heard of the neoprene trend I was a bit shocked. I mean come on, wearing a scuba suit in public? How was the general public going to go for such a far out idea? Actually, pretty easily. In fact I saw more people roaming the streets of New York last spring rocking scuba than people strutting their stuff in daisy dukes. Whether or not you're into the trend, it looks like it's here to stay (at least for a little while). When the idea of stylish scuba was first introduced I honestly never gave a thought of its resurrection back into the fashion world. But low and behold, neoprene is back and fortunately, better than ever. So as an ode to the renewed trend, I thought I'd share a few of my fabvorite looks with you guys-- Scuba's Back (and Better than Two of Zac Posen's Spring 2015 Resort Collection Neoprene Gowns Want to know where you can get your share of neoprene? Here are just some of the many neoprene pieces you can score: just click on the pictures to purchase! Or feel like getting crafty? Check out this simple no-sew project to make your very own neoprene skirt! What are your thoughts on the renewed trend? Care to share? Leave your comments below! Stay classy Valley,
Instagram Addict: Accounts to FollowThe Man Repeller "Man Repelling isn't about getting dressed and saying 'How am I going to repel a man today?' It's about dressing for yourself and liking what you're wearing." -Leandra Medine (The Man Repeller) Leandra Medine, or what most of her followers know her as, "The Man Repeller" is interestingly stylish, uniquely-quirky, and is the ultimate fashion addict. Aside from her wildly entertaining Instagram posts, her blog is indescribably humorous and well-informed. You'll find some great tips hidden in her eccentric posts and multiple pairs of jumpsuits. Fashion Grandpas Never has an Instagram account made me smile so much as this one. But what, you may ask, is a fashion grandpa? Simple. A fashionable grandpa. But are grandpas even fashionable? Your skepticism is clouding your better judgment... ....is it even up for discussion anymore? New Fork City You do not have to love fashion to love food. You can be like me, and have a heart big enough to fit the both in, but in the case you are not, here is an account that will either lead you to your totally mundane kitchen in hopes of satisfying your unsatisfiable craving, or halfway up the George Washington Bridge to chase down whatever uber hipster place the guys at New Fork City have last hit up. Either way, be sure to give them a follow. VuTheara Are you dreaming of Paris? Oui? Moi aussi! Designer/photographer VuTheara Kham captures wonders like the Jardin de Tuileries and Montmartre so that the rest of us drooling over the god-likeness of Paris and all the Parisians occupying it can get a glimpse of what life is like to live in that mystical land. EvaChen212 Eva Chen is the adorable editor-in-chief of Lucky Magazine and a self-described obsessive shopper. She is most famous for her taxi cab Instagram posts, that always include crossed legs, an awesome pair of shoes, a bag and a piece of fruit (I think we all know this is my favorite part). She also just had a baby named Ren and together they are the cutest mother-daughter duo ever. Are there accounts you love that we didn't mention above? Comment them below so we can check them out! Stay Classy Valley,
Fusion Fashion Show 2015Last Sunday I had the amazing opportunity (Thanks to Mrs. Molino) to attend the Fusion Fashion Show with my Clothing Construction class. But before I get into the specifics of what I saw and what we, as a class, loved, I think some background on the show would do some good. The Fusion Fashion show is a fashion competition (showdown?) where The Fashion Institute of Technology and The Parsons New School for Design go head to head to compete for a spot in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The smackdown (okay maybe a bit dramatic) has been going down for 16 years now and has become a tradition both schools take great pride in. Lets just say the competition is fierce and we definitely saw that this Sunday. We were amazed by the designs only to find out that they were all sewn by Freshmen and Sophomores!! What?? Crazy, since they were all magnificent. You can take a look at the designs below! There were quite a bit of them (625 pictures to be exact) so I've broken them down to the class favorites. FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) went first-- Then came Parson's (The New School for Design)-- All in all, it was amazing experience! It felt like a mini throw back to my Mercedes Benz Fashion Week expereince last September (let me know if you'd like a #tbt post on that)! The winning school was (drumroll please...) FIT! Even though we were all sure it would be Parsons, both schools did a fantastic job. The below pictures are from the winner of the competition (she's from FIT) and she was by far my favorite designer out of all of them! Let me know which outfits are your personal favorites from those above and in the meantime, feel free to browse the Fusion website here and enjoy some more pictures from the trip below! Stay classy Valley,
|