Glitters

I was FINALLY able to upload the pictures of my new (old) stuff!



Anyway, I'm watching Sonny with a Chance right now and I don't know why I am finding it so funny. The girl is trying to undress the "doll" she got as her Christmas present (Joe Jonas). Hehe...I love it when Disney shows have those little moments where what they say goes right over kids' heads but the older people watching get it...

Omigod. Now they're spoofing Jersey Shore/Jerseylicious/Real Housewives of New Jersey. This is too funny. You don't even understand.

Ok, so, back to today's topic: Nail polish! I have recently acquired some new polishes, and, since it's the holidays (Hanukkah starts tomorrow! Woohoo!) I wanted to talk about the glitter polish trend! Although sometimes associated with little kids, glitter nail polish is a fun way to add a party to your nails! Wow, that sentence was cheesy. Maybe I should turn off the TV before it rubs off on me too much...OPI released a collection this winter (it's the Burlesque! collection) that is half glitters, plus brands like China Glaze have been getting on the glitter bandwagon. I ordered Chanel Illusion D'or on ebay the other week and it arrived right before Thanksgiving...oh it looks so cool. Like gold glitter flakes, but there is a smattering of iridescent blue flakes that give it a mermaid-y feel. Another option you have when wearing glitter is to layer or not to layer. Sometimes you don't need to layer, like with the Burlesque glitters, but without layering most glitters are usually sheer. I recommend putting it over black (pick a good one like Sally Hansen Midnight in NY because it has a little bit of underlying shimmer to make it interesting and not just another "flat black") or over another complementing color. Right now I am wearing Lippmann Some Enchanted Evening (pink hexagonal sequins and pink holo glitter) over a nude mixture of OPI Barefoot in Barcelona and an Essie sheer. Either way, glitters are a great choice for the holiday season, New Year's, or even just because! Trust me - you won't be able to stop staring!

Tip: glitters are a pain in the ass to take off, but I have a foolproof system: take a nail polish remover pad and wet it with remover, wrap it around your nail, then wrap a piece of tin foil around it. Leave it on for a while to let the remover sit, and when you take the foil off, voila! No polish! Try it out for yourself!

New Vintage Loot

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break! Mine was...eventful? First, every Thanksgiving my family and some others have a big event at the park called the Turkey Bowl, and this year my family friend, H, was going to sponsor it as his Mitzvah Project. Minor setback, seeing that on the day of he had a 103 fever...then the day after Thanksgiving, I ended up in the hospital because I thought my appendix was exploding...it wasn't; don't worry. There WAS one very good part of this Thanksgiving, though, and that was that my grandma and aunt came down from NY and took me antiquing on Sunday! Woohoo! I got some preeety good loot...
The first ones are crystal and from the 1940's. They feature screw backs. A screw back is like a clip on in the sense that you don't have to have holes to wear them (By the way, I do. Have holes, I mean). They're really not uncomfortable at all. They're not even that heavy. They're really cool...I'm quite enamored...

Next is a pair of big pearl clip ons. Oh, how fab are these?! Imagine...these, my hair up in a top knot, fresh sugar plum lip tint, and my big black bow-tie thing (with my school uniform, of course)! I am actually dying. I think I'm saving this look for Wednesday, though.

Ruby drops. Oh, these earrings. Well, when we first saw them the man at the store had to call the dealer because they didn't have a price, and he accidentally told her they were "ruby-like" instead of rubies. So, when we went to pay, there was a bit of confusion. They ended up being more expensive (the original price we were told was $28, see how crazy!), but it's understandable. Imagine...we almost got away with it though! And we still got 10% off...But, back to the earrings. These earrings. They're just gorgeous. And they cut me at the perfect place, and they stand out from my hair. I can't even understand why I was contemplating these at first. Hanukkah present well chosen.

Lastly, the pearl necklace you see was my great grandma's. My grandma took them in to be restrung, and ended up giving them to me because she never wore them and knew I will. They're stunning, really and truly. And, the guy who restrung them told us that, even though they were really old, he could tell they were really good quality pearls. See that little gold circle? That's what my aunt called a "pearl shortener". You take the necklace, fold it in half, and then hook the circle to the two ends to make it a choker. Pretty savvy, huh?

I was so excited to go because NO ONE ELSE IN MY FAMILY TAKES ME TO THESE PLACES. So I have to wait for them to come down. Which isn't too often. I would so rather these kind of things then new...they're completely unique, statement making, and (the costume stuff) isn't expensive. Seriously, I got 4 amazing pieces (should I count the pearls? Whatever, I am) and it was all under $200. Try going into your neighborhood mall and pulling THAT one off!

EDIT: AHHH!!! MY PICTURE UPLOADER IS CURRENTLY DISABLED!!! PICTURES WILL GO ALONG WITH TOMORROW'S POST

Heels

I figured that since the other day I did flats, today I'd do heels.
But first, oh what a day I have had.
First off, since my family and some other families do this thing at the park Thanksgiving morning, I came to my grandma's house today to help her cook. I literally spent 3 hours on this stupid apple pie. It was the apple pie from hell. Now I am hungry. Yay!
Ok. So. Heels. Right. Everyone loves heels because they make you look taller and have the magical power to not only make your legs look amazing put also correct your posture. DISCLAIMER: I'm not saying walking in heels is easy though: case in point, my friend RS who can't even wear 2in heels or my friend NH who has literally fell on her butt multiple times. What I did a couple years ago to get myself used to heels was I took a pair and wore them around the house for a week straight. Any time I walked in the door, I put on my heels. Even if I was watching TV or going on the treadmill. My mom even had to take them off of me once when I fell asleep in them. Don't do that though; I'm just an extremist. But it is a good idea to wear a new pair of heels around the house for a while to break them in a little. Another way to break them in is to put a drop of rubbing alcohol in them and then put them on while wearing thick socks. Don't wear heels when you're going to a place where you're going to have to walk or stand a lot unless you're fully comfortable in/with them.
My favorite kind of heels are Nude Heels. They go with everything and look chic with the most complicated outfits. Plus, because they're nude, they elongate your legs. Amazing in every respect. Also, peep toes. My all-time favorite shoe is black patent Louboutin peep toes. To. Die. What I'm so over is strappy black heels. They've just been done.
Remember: Hoes, no toes. Toes, no Hose. If you are wearing an open toe shoe, don't wear tights. If not, by all means go for it!
You have to be careful when wearing heels (especially as teens!) that you don't look like a hooker. There are some questions you can ask yourself before leaving your house to prevent this...uh...resemblance:
1. Is the rest of my outfit skin tight? Is my skirt really short?
2. Are these heels too high in proportion to my height?
3. Would The Situation try to "smash" me?
If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, I would re-consider the outfit.

I just want to be 5 foot 6, but if that's not going to happen, at least I've got my heels!
Ps. How funny is it when Katie Holmes is standing next to Tom Cruise on the red carpet and she has heels on? :)

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! Yes, it's Friday!
Well, it's not actually Friday. Only for us because after today, there's no school for the rest of the week. With Thanksgiving Break fast approaching, I want to talk about something totally irrelevant to Thanksgiving, holiday shopping!
It seems Christmas has been coming earlier year after year (the Christmas tree at my mall has been up for over a week now), and everyone wants to get a leg up on sales. The first huge sale is the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday.
I used to get Black Friday mixed up with that other holiday where people put black stuff on their forehead. But that's Ash Wednesday. Sorry totally random but I just got reminded of it. Some people are Black Friday psychos who leave their house at like 1 in the morning (side note: my friend RS's dad wants to go to the mall at midnight this year to get first dibs. That's how ridiculous people get). Sometimes it's worth it, and sometimes it's not. The thing about Black Friday is that it lures you in with promises of golden sales, and then you get whacked in the face with the throngs of people racing to get the best loot. I am going to participate this year though because the best friend went last year and got awesome Ray Bans. I' m looking for an elliptical or a bike or something, so it's a good time to save on something big like that.
Also, about gifting. I especially find it hard to pick out the perfect gift for everyone. And, whenever people would ask me what I wanted I'd forget. Go onto thethingsiwant.com to make a personalized wish list that you can direct friends and family to. The first step is to add "Add to The Things I Want" on your favorite tabs, and whenever you come across something you like, you click it. It gives the website the price, place you can buy it, and any notes and it is automatically dropped onto your personalized wish list. Pretty chill, huh bro?

Fashion Feature Late-Really-Sorry-I-Blame-The-Birthday-Girl-Friday

Hi everyone. I couldn't post this past Friday due to a certain Ghost Adventure screening in my living room  with my brother and his friend HB and then on Saturday because of a certain bowling soiree of a certain friend of mine, but I really wanted to do a Fashion Feature for this week. And the person I wanted to talk about so badly was the one and only Alber Elbaz!

Alber Elbaz was born in Morocco and moved to Israel with his family when he was 10. After serving in the Israeli Armed Forces, went to college to study design. In 1987 he moved to the city and started off designing at Geoffrey Beene. After that he went to Guy Laroche, and eventually ended up at Yves Saint Laurent. When Gucci Group bought YSL, he quit fashion and even considered other careers and going to medical school. He decided not to, though, because  "A doctor will give you a Tylenol. I will give you a beautiful red coat, and you will feel as good with Tylenol as with the red coat". He arrived at Lanvin in 2001 and has been designing for them ever since. This year, he won the Designer of the Year Accessories Council Excellence Award from the editor of Bazaar, Glenda Bailey. Despite all of the glamour that usually comes along with being a world-famous designer, Elbaz likes to stay humble. In a recent fashion show for his Spring 2011 collection, he changed the models' shoes from super high titanium heels to flats last minute. "Damn it with image. If you don't feel good in something, you don't look good with it," he said about why he changed them. Now, Elbaz has teamed up with H&M to make a more affordable line for fashionistas (like us!) to get a taste of the luxury of Lanvin. "Ninety-five percent of women cannot afford [Lanvin], so let them have a taste. It's like if I was living in a palace and opened some doors and said, 'Have tea with me, taste the food.' It's not about giving away something that belonged to someone else; it's about sharing." The collection is set to be released in stores and online on the 23rd. I think it can be said that I'm prettyyy excited...

Now you know a little about Alber Elbaz! Peek at a sneak peak of his H&M line on their website!
ps. like his bowties?

his H&M line! ^

911 Thursday!

Guess what day it isss...the VERY FIRST 911 Thursday! My friend AB and her friend NP were trying to convince me it was Wednesday today. But it's not. Obviously. Today's request isss...

A,
Can you talk about shoes?
LK

Very eloquently put LK, but an extremely important topic nonetheless!
Quick fact: did you know that people's legs have different anatomy depending if they wear heels all the time or not?
NOW YOU KNOWWW!
God, I sound like Bill Nye the science guy...

Anyway, today, I am not going to be talking about the heel. We can save that for another day. Today's topic is then, obviously, the flat!
Ballet flats first. Ballerinas come in a billion different styles, cuts, and textures for every occasion. They are much more appropriate than heels for school and the day. Because the shape is so simple, you can do so much more to them. Try them in deep jewel tones this fall with luxe textures like suede and velvet and crystal embellishments. J. Crew has the ultimate selection.
Oxfords. My favorite shoe on the planet. I own a pair of gray suede oxfords, and I literally wear them every day of my life. The bottom is starting to peel off, that's how much I wear them. They add a polished vintage flair to every outfit, and are great for school. Also, make my feet look really small and skinny. I mean, it's not like I have huge feet to begin with, but they make them look tinyy.
Loafers. They're extremely uncomfortable when you first get them, but once you start wearing them in they get better. I have a pair of loafers (This season's "it" ones actually. They've been in every magazine. I'm rather proud of them :) and after wearing them around the house for awhile, they're super comfortable and I wear them all the time. Wear with a short skirt to contradict the extreme preppiness.
Moccasins. I used to have a great pair of moccasins, but they just fell apart. Make sure that you get a pair with a rubber bottom, or else they have NO lifespan. Also, remember that they stretch. A LOT. So if your size is tight on you when you first get them, don't worry about it.

So, LK, I hope that will help you with your fashion 911! I think I'm going to go to sleep now. I swear, schools should start an hour later on Wednesday so that students get to sleep in a little. Because I'm dying...XO!

ps. pictures not working again! arghhh! I really have no idea what's going on!
**must ask ridiculous computer friend AK. She will have the answer!

My Blazer

I have a story to share. It is the story of the White Theory Blazer.
Once upon a time, there was a lonely white blazer in a sea of black blazers. There was a little girl who visited the blazer whenever she was in the store, and they soon became fast friends. Every time the little girl visited the blazer, they would wish that the girl would be able to own the blazer someday. The sale-ygodmother looked down on the girl and the blazer and felt bad that they could not be together, so she cast a magical one day only sale on the store. The girl, convincing her parents that it was a smart buy because she would be saving 40%, spent up the remainder of her birthday Monday to finally be able to have the blazer.
Great story, huh?
That being said, guess what's in my my closet :)So, after a not-particularly-good day accompanied with a sore throat, when I arrived home I realized to my utter joy that my blazer had finally come!

This blazer is actually fantastic. I know a lot of the people who go to my school would be immediately opposed to such a blazer due to the pre-adolescent lower school scars of the white dress-up blazer, but please. Hear me out before you condemn it.
It's a long white blazer with a single button and satin lapels (I'm especially excited about this aspect). Structured, but the sleeves can be pushed up for a more chill look. I think I like them better pushed up actually. And unbuttoned; always unbuttoned please. I envision it over a  feminine dress - like my pinkish-nude beaded Halston dress - with nude heels, over a black dress with a big statement necklace, patterned tights and booties, with a cool striped top and city shorts, or even with skinny jeans and a black tank. The possibilities are endless! The white tuxedo jacket/blazer is your friend. Don't unfriend it because it's white. Woah...that sounds weird...and that would be racism! Woohoo! But seriously. It's TO DIE!!!

Editor's note: I also found a really amazing one in the Kate Moss designed section on topshop.com!

Concerts

First off, some of you may have noticed that I added a new feature to the homepage called "Call 911!". This is a new thing I'm testing out where you can send me any fashion questions (via prepconfidential@gmail.com) and each Thursday I'll try to address the best one on my blog!

Anyway, I was talking to my friend E about what she would want me to talk about today, and she wanted me help her figure out what she should wear to a concert she was going to soon. I figured this was PERF, considering me and my friends just got tickets to the Jingle Ball like, yesterday.

Ok, so the first rule that I would say about looking cool at a concert would be wear something funky. I like sequins especially, and my grandma has this ridiculous sweater-thing made of all black and white sequins standing up so they look like fish scales that I'm begging her to borrow. It sounds really weird but it's actually TO DIE. Remember if you're going for something sparkly keep the rest of the outfit low key (ie. sequin mini with white t-shirt) so it doesn't look like you should be hanging from the top of the arena with the disco balls.

Second, don't wear flip flops. At least, I wouldn't. It doesn't matter how adorable or new they are (I know, so not me). The truth is, the floor at concerts is DISGUSTING, with people's food and drinks and gum and what-not, and if someone spills something or accidentally makes a misstep when jamming out to whoever is playing, you're really going to regret your choice in footwear.

Be careful of what bag and outerwear you're going to bring. I know that in the rest of the world (aka. NOT FLORIDA) it's the time of year when it starts to get cold. I'm not sure if there would be coat check or things like that there, but in warm places like this we don't. If you're going to bring a sweater, either wear it or leave it. You shouldn't put it in your bag, because you shouldn't have such a big bag to begin with. Nor should you have a stupidly tiny one like a wristlet. There are so many people at concerts that unless you keep it zipped up and on your arm at all times you run the risk of it being taken.

Well, that's all I have on concert attire, hope it helped E. Oh, and if you're on the floor it might be a good idea to wear heels. Just to, you know, get some leverage. :)

Diets

I've been playing around with the layout as you can tell...I think I like this better. Looks cleaner. This weekend I went to an AH-MAZING party at club LIV at the Fontainebleu on Miami Beach. (note: Mazel Tov H!) It really is extremely cool. I was especially excited since the only time I had seen it was on TV. Major bummer we won't be allowed in for another couple years...

Back to today's subject: Diets! With all of the social pressures to be skinny, teenagers of today have been forced to resort to fad diets, starvation, and, worst of all, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Today I'm going to address what works and what plans you should chuck.

First of all, fad diets. How many of you have been reading a magazine that says something like "Star talks about how she lost baby weight fast and keeps it off!", then it goes on to talk about how they eat like, ostrich eggs and acai berries imported from Brazil with electrode enhanced water for breakfast? Yeah, no. There's a reason these are fads: they come in, everyone thinks they're great, you try them out anddd....eh. Nothing really happens. The success stories you read about in magazines don't mention that stars have rigorous personal trainers and stylists that dress them in the most flattering clothes possible. The one diet type that is both celebrity endorsed and (I hear) actually works is Weight Watchers. And possibly Jenny Craig. But things like Jenny Craig are for people who are really uncomfortable with their weight/ their weight is affecting their health. Not for everyday teens. Next up on the chopping block, starvation! When I think of starvation diets, for some reason I get reminded of the part in The Devil Wears Prada where Andie tells Emily she looks great and Emily says something like "I'm on this new diet. What it is is I don't eat anything at all, and when I'm about to feint I eat a cube of cheese". Many people think: If I don't eat, I'll reduce my calorie and fat intake and therefore lose weight. This is not how it works. When you don't eat, your body goes into starvation mode and eats away at other resources, leaving you without energy and feeling crappy. Especially as teens, you need food for energy that you eventually will burn off during the day. The trick is to savor what you're eating and eat it slowly, which prevents overeating. Prolonged starvation is just as bad as bulimia. Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binging (you eat a ton of food) and purging (you throw it all up). This is actually disgusting. I don't understand why anyone would purposefully make themselves vomit. Not only is it horrible, but it also wears away at your teeth enamel and causes bad breath. Bulimic people don't get the vitamins and protein they need, which is harmful not only in the present but also in the long term.

So what do I prescribe? Put away the calorie counters and scales and just eat healthy. Eat things that are filling and full of protein, so you can eat less and still feel full. What I have found is that just by cutting out sweets and dairy (cheese is EXTREMELY fattening. I take calcium vitamins instead) can help you lose weight. Remember that if you're going to stick to a diet, do it because YOU want to, not because someone is pressuring you into it, and make a plan. But above all else, be active! This is a lot, coming from the person who hates the outdoors and is the most uncoordinated person on the planet, but all you need is one sport or one activity you like to do, and you're good. Don't stress out now about your weight - you have your whole life for that!

Fashion Feature Friday

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted so much this week....the whole daylight savings fall behind thing is really messing me up...
Anyway, today is Fashion Feature Friday! Every Friday, I'll feature a new person in fashion (aka. designer, model, writer, editor, socialite, actor, etc.) to help you, my dear reader, be well versed in the business of fashion. Your first feature is a model, Karlie KIoss!
I love knowing models. I don't really know why. I just love looking at an ad and going "Oh, that's *insert model name here*!" This is especially relevant to Karlie Kloss, because she is one of the super It Girls of the moment. Every other ad features her, plus she's made a cameo on Gossip girl and has been featured in  the November issue of Vogue Magazine (I was ripping out parts of her section to put in The Book the other night).
Karlie was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to St. Louis, Missouri when she was 2. She studied ballet, and after signing with Elite (you may know it as the agency that the winner of America's Next Top Model would win a contract with) in 2007, she rocketed to fashion success. She has appeared in Teen Vogue editorials 4 consecutive times in a year, walked the runway for Calvin Klein, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Chloé, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf, starred in ads for Nina Ricci, See by Chloe, and Pringle of Scotland. In 2008, Kloss moved from Elite to Next Agency. She landed her first major cover of Teen Vogue the same year, alongside models Chanel Iman and Ali Michael. She opened for Carolina Herrera, Doo.Ri, Rebecca Taylor, Marni, Pringle of Scotland, and Pucci shows that fall, and closed for Doo.Ri, Jill Stuart, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Matthew Williamson, Alberta Ferretti, Just Cavalli, Pringle of Scotland, and Pucci. She has appeared in spreads for many international magazines such as Korean W, German Glamour and Japanese, Italian, British, French, and Chinese Vogue. She and fellow Teen Vogue cover models Chanel Iman and Ali Michael landed a Lord and Taylor ad in 2008. Between 2008 and 2009, Kloss was featured in runway shows for Isaac Mizrahi, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ohne Titel, Willow, Christian Dior, Gareth Pugh, John Galliano, 3.1 phillip lim, Jason Wu, Thakoon, Sonia Rykiel, and Yohji Yamamoto, and became the face of the perfume Lola by Marc Jacobs, Hermes, and Dior. She has also been featured in countless spreads and covers for many magazines. Karlie Kloss is 18 years old.
I hope today's fashion feature has given you a little incite into the world of fashion. Keep on the lookout for Karlie Kloss!

Hair

People with brown eyes want blue eyes, and people who are tall want to be short. You always want what you don't have, especially when it comes to your hair. With so many easily accessible ways to change your hair, remember to take care of what you already have.

The problem with irons: a straightening iron can give you shiny (because it properly seals the hair's cuticle) straight hair in an instant. I like to use mine to smooth out frizz on an especially humid day or on special occasions. When you get to the point of straightening your hair every day, there is a problem. Too much heat styling - especially if starting when you're a teen - can seriously damage your hair. The iron essentially takes your hair and crushes it between 2 burning hot panels. After a while, hair loses softness and split ends pop up faster. There are anti-damage shampoos and conditioners, but they can never fully reverse the damaging effects of over heat styling.

Curly hair: people with super curly hair hate dealing with frizz. I am so jealous of them. Curly hair is so pretty and different, and with all of the products available, it's easy to eliminate frizz. I'd start with trying Moroccanoil, because I can speak highly of its anti-frizz magic powers. There are also curl serums to enhance curly and wavy hair.everyone has straight hair. Dare to be different?

Hair color: you only have one natural hair color. once it's gone, it's gone. Unless you have gray hair, why dye it? Especially as a teen. Hilights are also a tricky matter. People with dark brown hair should not be getting blonde blonde hilights: you'll end up looking like a skunk! And don't even get me started on colored streaks on the bottom of your head. LEAVE IT ALONE!! And always try to leave the serious jobs to the professionals.

Just like everything in life, you have to embrace what you've got in order to figure out what to do with it. If you really hate the struggle with your hair, there are ways to change it, but that should be a last resort only. Your hair is a unique part of who you are - why flatten it!

Iconic

Iconic is my mom's favorite word; she uses it to describe everything.
So today I would like to talk about Icons. Not like the type of icon on your computer that you click on to get here (lol I'm so funny!), but the people in society that stand for or are known for something that influences your life. What do you think of when I say Marilyn Monroe? Sexy, probably. Right? So she could be considered a Sex Icon. The artist Andy Warhol, who was known for depicting famous icons (not just people; don't tell me you've never seen his famous Campbell's Soup cans), did a large silk screen of her in different colors, because, just like the soup, she was an icon in our society.You don't even realize it, but Icons are everywhere. A friend recently got me a book for my birthday of all the biggest fashion icons past and present. Think Jackie O, Kate Moss, Brigitte Bardot, Rachel Zoe, Madonna, and so many more. My biggest icon would probably be Audrey Hepburn, because she was always classic and elegant and also balanced a career with  philanthropy. Who are some of the icons in your life? Why are they icons to you?

Audrey Hepburn

Madonna

Marilyn Monroe

Elizabeth Taylor

Jacqueline Kennedy

Sophia Loren

PS. happy belated bday E! Miss you and can't wait until you come and visit me and your gay uncle! hahaha <3

Tights

As the temperature drops, I figured I'd talk about some stylish options for cold weather gear. Today's topic is great because it helps transition outfits from summer to winter, keeps your legs warm, and are appropriate for school....tights!
So many tights trends floating around these days: leopard, floral lace, knit, patterned, colored....Here's what to look for and what to leave behind.

Store:
Leopard tights: um....ew? I can't really even say anything more about these. Unless you want to end up looking like Ke$ha, leave the leopard tights in the store. Actually, let's stay away from animal print tights altogether.


Fishnets: unless you're pairing them with a sophisticated pencil skirt and blouse, fishnets are a serious no-no. Be careful when wearing them to verge into hooker-y by keeping the pattern small: smaller pattern, more sophisticated.

Floral lace: I'll admit, there was a time where floral lace tights WERE in, but then they got oversaturated and were replaced by the more wearable patterned tights.


Neon:  If you must, try a gumball blue or orange but keep them footless. Neons are unflattering for clothes, so why in the world would you want them covering your legs? Enough said.


Score:
Patterned: I like these the best. The pattern is the best when it's small and more detailed so they avoid fishnet territory. The kind of patterned I'm talking about is a crocheted-geometric-jumble o stuff, completely different from the afformentioned leopard and lace styles. Must be black (or white, sometimes- see white tights). Add a city-fashionista element by wearing them under shorts.


Colored tights: candy colored legs! Try red, blue, green, orange, purple....whatever you like really. The trick is to keep it perfect paint color shades - like when you open a tube of oil paint and it's not too dark or bright. Light and bright are different btws; light makes it more pastel while bright veers it too close to neon (see neon tights). Oh, and be sure to keep your outfit neutral (or, if you're more daring, in the same color family).


White tights: a bit controversial whether these are hot or not...I'm making an executive decision and declaring them officially cute. Don't wear them with other light colors or then you'll look like a baby shower threw up on you. Can be patterned, but it's kind of hard to find a really cute pair of patterned white tights - believe me. I've been on the hunt for a while now.


Cable knit tights: cute. Adds a bit of texture to an outfit. Pretty self explanatory.

Opaque vs. Sheer black: I like opaque better, but whatever you want I guess. If you're going for sheer though, don't get it too sheer or else it will look like your legs are outlined with a black pen and that's just really awkward looking. Add socks over black tights for an even more fashion-forward look.

Tights are amazing under skirts, shorts, or dresses, but NEVER mistake them for pants. Unless you're a ballerina. Go on tightsarenotpants.com for more info on THAT.

Suglasses

Helloo ...sorry I haven't been up to date on posts lately...kind of dealing with a lot of projects at once...

So today I'm going to cover something super important to make it up to you: sunglasses! You may think sunglasses are one of those things that look good or don't look good, but, like choosing a dress, there are many styles of sunglasses that flatter a range of face shapes. The first step to determining what style of sunglasses will look best on you is determining your face shape.
1. Pull your hair back in a ponytail or away from your face. Following from your hairline to your jaw, what is the general shape of your face?
2. Find the widest part of your forehead and compare it to the widest part of your jaw. Which one is wider?
3. How prominent are your cheekbones compared to your forehead and your jawline?

Oval face shape: the length of your face is about 1 1/2 times the width
Round face shape: your face is almost as long as it is wide
Oblong face shape: looks like an oval but has more length and less width (basically a thinner oval)
Square face shape: your hairline and your jawline are about the same length
Triangular face shape: your jawline is wider than your hairline
Heart face shape: your forehead is wider than your jawline

Whatever your face shape is, you should wear the opposite shape sunglasses. For example, if you have a square face shape, you can wear the big round Audrey Hepburn glasses or even cat eyes. If you have a round face, go for square of more angular glasses. Try to match the size of the sunglasses to the size of your features, so if you have small delicate features, smaller glasses would probably look best. The perfect sunglasses can also make a perfect face. If you think your nose is too long, sunglasses that have a metal strip running across the top of the lenses will visually cut your nose in half, making it look shorter. If you think your eyes are close together, sunglasses with decorations in the temples focus attention outward and make your eyes look farther apart. For wide-set eyes, look for a dark of thick bridge to draw attention inward.

I'd give you some pictures, but I don't know how to do that on my grandma's computer - AHH! I'll just say that my favorite on me is the big glasses, but since my face is less angular I like the type that have sharper angles. I like the look of Ray Bans, but they just look SO horrible on me. My friend N, who has a round face, has a pair of Aviators that look really good on her, while they don't look so great on me, so it just goes to show you that it is different for every person. Even after determining your face shape, you should still go into the store and try the sunglasses on before you buy them, because knowing your face shape is really only to steer you in the right direction.