Mallorie's Swimsuit Picks

I know it's been forever, but I've been working on a fashion blog at school and Elise has been busy doing some ace reporting at State. Excuses aside, it's getting to be that glorious time of year - no, I'm not talking about midterms, I'm referring to Spring Break. This post is for all of you heading closer to the equator within the next couple weeks, or everybody who spends their free time window shopping for Summer (guilty). My 10 favorite bikinis of the season are as follows (in no particular order):

(Red Carter, Mikoh, ASOS, VPL, Tori Praver, VPL, VS, Mikoh, VS, UO)

Clearly I'm obsessed with a few new trends: (p)leather, bandage detailing, & a whole new spin on the string bikini. Happy shopping & party on.

- M

time to get ill

The menswear trend is a little stale at this point. To be clear, looks truly and artistically informed by men's fashion (such as a to die for 2 piece suit a la Victoria Beckham) can be gorgeous and powerful. What I tire of is designers making oversized items and declaring them "boyfriend" wear. Ideally, finely crafted m4w(men's for women) pieces should make you feel strong, fresh, and provocative - not homeless. Are you seeking that elusive sense of confidence and refinement that comes from wearing garments with equal parts masculinity & moxy but aren't exactly ready to slip into your tuxedo pants? Work in some menswear inspired accessories instead, like a fabulous bold faced watch with presence to spare. It's a dose of testosterone you won't regret later.

- M

La Mer

UO

Aldo

Kenneth Cole

Burberry

the warm and fuzzies

faux fur is here to stay, much to the smug satisfaction of those folks over at peta (not that i'm complaining, just caught off guard by this new common ground). since writing my entry about express, i've had fur on the mind and i can't seem to escape it, what a terrible dilemma. from old navy to anthropologie to marc jacobs, the trend is available at all price points. while the faux fur vest is without a doubt this fall's boho chic darling, its tendency towards boxiness doesn't necessarily flatter every figure or body type. but fear not, for those in need of an alternative faux fix there are other silhouettes to consider: the faux fur jacket itself as well as coats/sweaters with glamourous fur details. go faux. please scroll down now and forget i said that.

- m

JACKETS/SWEATERS

BB Dakota

Rezrekshn

Anthropologie

VESTS

Boston Proper

Jessica Simpson

Alice + Olivia

Rebecca Taylor

COATS

Topshop

(sorry to be sneaky but this is from last season - so no link.

if someone finds it, please let me know. i NEED to own this.)

Alice + Olivia

Free People

Rachel Zoe

Mood Monitor

When it comes to getting dressed in the morning, I am a firm believer that there should only be one real factor; your current mood.

The beautiful thing about fashion is the way it enables you to be anyone or anything you want; it would be silly not to take full advantage. Look at your closet as an endless possibility and suddenly it will be. Jeans and tops should be much more than inanimate objects; they should be a gateway into a whole new you.

That being said, it would be silly to deny the greatness of a few fashion staples. There are some things that belong in every girl's closet, no excuse. A long cardigan in a solid color may seem boring when you're checking out, but trust me, that super bedazzled dress only seems useful in fluorescent lighting.

All too often I have been out shopping, made what I considered an epic purchase, and then worn it a grand total of once before shoving it to the back of the closet. The key to creative dressing is not owning a million statement pieces, but knowing how to mix up all the basics in an interesting way. Belt a long cardigan with a super short dress and then leave it open with jeans; suddenly it becomes one of the easiest things in your closet to wear.

When shopping, it is important to think about how often you are going to use something. If the answer is more of a hesitation, don't buy. Unless, of course, it's completely impossible to resist.

xo,

Elise

legs for days

in years past, i have been more than a little anti legging. while i still don't approve of certain combo's, such as leggings with mini skirts or shirts that aren't tunics (excusing pocketed jeggings for this rule, of course), i have caught sight of of some show stopping pairs that i know i need and i'm sure others will want. what could be more chic for fall than a pair of kickass leggings, a funky tunic, a cardigan/blazer, and some beat up boots, cheeky shooties, or glammed out gladiators? nadaaaaaa. looking this put together has never been this effortless.

- mallorie

Kensie Smudgy Print Leggings

Missoni Space Dye Leggings

Moa Moa Lame Leggings

Forever 21 Marbled Leggings

Blue Juice Lovin LA Ruched Leggings

express lane

I'm not sure what rock I've been hiding under but apparently Express does have a point of view. I don't know how I established this opinion but for many years I have just assumed that they were just another overpriced store that perpetuated weak trends without making any statements themselves. Perhaps that evaluation was true and they have recently turned it all around, maybe they've been geniuses all along and I had no idea, either way I was pleasantly surprised when looking over their site today (online window shopping is my favorite form of torture when my paycheck is only a week away) and found a few must-have pieces: a geometric print sequin tunic dress, a BANANAS faux fur vest (a la RZ herself), and a sequin mini skirt. Why I suddenly think I am a stylist slash assume anyone cares how I would wear these pieces is a mystery at the moment but it seemed like a meaningful endeavor at the time. Also there is a moral here: no matter how much you die for something, if you can't imagine it as a component of an entire outfit (or several different outfits at that), you'll probably never wear it. With that, I will begin the looks and hope that this wasn't a complete waste.

1. geometric print sequin tunic dress: i almost had a panic attack when i saw this dress, i absolutely love it and could see myself in it no question. with that kind of immediate passion, i know i wouldn't be able to save it for a special occasion so, certain elements are necessary to dress it down. a levis jean jacket and dolce vita biker boots make for a very cool day look, i might even add some backseam tights or fishnets for a little extra edge. i adore playing feminine/sexy pieces against rougher/more masculine items - i think this look perfectly illustrates why.

2. sequin mini skirt: i know, the sequins are a little redundant but this look is completely different. skirts are a recent obsession of mine and this one is particularly beautiful. because the skirt itself has so much sparkle, i would wear a very basic slouchy black tee, like this one from forever 21, tucked in to make my legs look that much longer and off my shoulder to give me that rocker vibe. some people are so over the whole animal print thing, i know but i don't think i can ever turn down a good leopard so this jessica simpson platform was a given. i love that even though the print is unexpected, it plays up the glamour of the skirt while maintaining a little edge. to me, this screams hot club outfit.

3. faux fur vest: you know how earlier i said i didn't know why i suddenly think i'm a stylist? that might have been a lie. i have been watching entirely too much of the rachel zoe project as of late and i think the way i white-knuckled my laptop after seeing this beauty makes that obvious. just now realizing that all 3 looks have sequins . . . whatever, i'm a little too into embellishments but who cares - it's fabulous. back to the outfit. at first i was thinking an lbd with this vest, which could easily be done, but i think the grey is much fresher. the long sleeve mini from american apparel gives the dress enough presence that it doesn't get overpowered by the vest. and the shoes - do they really need an explanation? they are OOC(out of control for all you zoe illiterates out there) - cage wedges with chain detail? i mean come on, it's over. to all you wonderful people making those little pieces of heaven over at urbanog - genius.

- mallorie

Androgyny goes urban

When is comes to fashion, some things are just meant to trend constantly. No, I'm not referencing Twitter; what I mean to say is that some things are too classic to ever truly go out of style. Case in point? The Oxford style shoe. Originating in Scotland way back in the day, this shoe has been supporting stylistas everywhere for way longer than I would be willing to calculate. The greatest part about this shoe is it's versatility. From the typical flat to a cut-out version or even a heel, this shoe can take you anywhere you want it to. The Oxford is no longer just a hipster staple, ladies. Shorts, jeans, leggings, dresses; you name it and it works. A nice alternative to boring ballet flats, if you ask me. Big name designers picked up on the idea some time ago and now stores that cater to the masses are following suit; Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Forever 21 are just a few of the many stores who are putting this great style in stock. Back to school staple? I know it definitely is for me, in any case.

Cheers,

Elise

Anthropologie Cut-Out Oxford

Forever21 Traditional Oxford

Gucci Stiletto Oxford