Lovin' Le Fashion

I always think I know so much and then I come across something that makes me realize I don't know anything at all. The best part though is that I'm learning it right along with you! This weekend I followed a link from one friend's blog to Le Fashion, a cool girl's guide to everything stylish. She's a bit more bad ass than I am, so I love her clothing picks and live vicariously when I resort to my conservative uniform of button downs and skinny jeans. Not only does she post pics of high fashion spreads but she infuses her own kind of edgy style into the things she decides to write about. I think this is why I love blogs so much (and especially hers). Anyone can have a blog about fashion (ain't that the truth?). But what makes them all worth reading is that each person's unique sense of style shapes the way each blog is written and read. Mine may be a bit less serious than Le Fashion's but I hope you all get the same inspiration that I get from these savvy ladies.

(photo: courtesy of Le Fashion)

Easy Gift Giving Ideas

Now that the holidays are upon us, I'm trying to figure out some ways to kill a few birds with one stone. The easier the errand running, the quicker the trip, the better. I think this year's foolproof gift choice will be a coffee table book. I mean are you really that surprised? I just think they're so chic and flipping through them gives me so many ideas on a regular basis. I can flip through that same Sartorialist book day after day and find news ideas each time. So Amazon aside, there are some cute places where you can get some chic books and other miscellany. I happened into Anthropologie over the weekend, a store I used to LOVE but hadn't been into in years. They've scattered some of their favorite books around the store and each one is more stylish than the next. (Plus I got a gorge ikat porcelain bowl that I'm storing my bracelets in!) Topped with a beautiful bow and it makes the perfect gift for the girl who has everything. I got some books for my birthday this year and they're proudly displayed on my bookshelf. A great idea for an easy holiday--and inspired--holiday season.

(photo: courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

Coating up in Theory

Ok, the cat's out of the bag. The shopping hiatus is officially over. Maybe it was this Indian summer, but I wasn't quite feeling "fall-y" enough. I was feeling like I needed a new jacket or at least something to give me just the faintest feeling like fall may actually be here. (Plus there have been way too many nights out with friends where I felt like everyone else looked way cuter than I did.) As much as I wanted a crazy-cool leather bomber jacket, I knew that it just wasn't me. And what's the point of spending money on something you know you're not going to wear (or feel comfortable in)? So I stuck with the silhouette I feel best in: the blazer. This mixed-material version updates my favorite over-worn black blazer with leather sleeves and a wool bodice. Plus it's just sharp enough to make it stand out from the crowd. The best part? The black color and classic materials means I'll be wearing it for years to come. Mission accomplished and I'm one step closer to cooler climes. Now if only the weather would cooperate!

(photo: courtesy of Neiman Marcus)

FIRST LOOK: Madewell for Spring

Oh hey! Scouring the internet and I managed to find a first-look at the new Spring collection for Madewell. And I mean real first look, straight from camera phone photos that some editors took while previewing the collection. Can you say major? After first learning about Madewell I realized quickly that it was genius. Owned by J. Crew, I like to think of it as the Crew's uber cute and stylish little sister. I LOVE their colorful scarves but my favorite part about Madewell is the way they layer. I don't even have to look beyond their window displays to start getting ideas. Pairing textures and colors in the freshest way, Madewell always looks fresh to me and it looks like they keep on going. Alexa Chung's collection for Madewell may be sold out but some of this stuff looks just as cute. May just be good enough to get me to a mall. Time will tell!

(photo: courtesy of Fashionista)

Inspired By: The Series

As promised, another week and another amazing and uber-stylish friend is lending her insight and advice to all my readers! You guys obvi loved Kat, so now let me introduce you to Dalit! Always enviously stylish, Dalit has a knack for wearing the most awe-inspiring outfits that make you jealous. But, the thing is, she really manages to pull them off. Studs, major wedges, major style, she's got it all. So read on to find out what this stylista does for a living, how she's developed her own sense of style, and what she recommends for young ladies like us when it comes to finding fashion!

Dalit making major moves on the job.

Q) What is your job?

A) I'm a corporate Photo-shoot Stylist at Forever21.

Q) How did you start styling?

A) While working retail, I was constantly inspired by the outfits pulled by the costume designers that would come in.  I loved working with them and helping them find the perfect pieces to create a character's outfit. Then one day, I had one of those "ah-ha" moments (the kind that has been right in front of your face for years) and decided I would become a stylist. On my days off, I immediatly starting doing test shoots with friends that were in photography school, or revamping closets for family members and assisting with fashion events at various boutiques. I tried everything! After a few months I had enough private clients and business to style full time.

Q) How would you describe your aesthetic?

A) Quirky, unexpected and boarder-line weird. (For the record, I couldn't love this description any more).

Q) How do you differentiate yourself from major/mainstream stylists like Rachel Zoe, Nicole Chavez, etc?

A) I look at styling the same way I look at painting--everyone has their own style and understanding of an outfit. I admire other stylists, artists, and photographers but I strive to create something unique and my own. I usually style based on my mood and always go with my gut instinct. (SO refreshing!)

Q) Do you have a "signature" style?

A) My styling signature changes week to week depending on what inspires me, the interesting people I come into contact with and things that happen in my life. But, my love for sequins will never change. (Um, amazing!)

Q) I know you're really into vintage, any tips for shopping vintage?

A) Yes I LOVE vintage, the best pieces in my closet are from Goodwill!! The key to vintage shopping is giving things a chance, don't just look at something quickly--try to image how you would wear this piece and if it would work into your wardrobe. 

Q) Favorite wardrobe item?

A) My favorite item changes literally every week--currently I'm obsessed with a giant disco-ball Noir cocktail ring I found in Phoenix on a girls weekend. 

Q) Any tips or words of advice for young women trying to develop their own personal sense of style?

A) It may sound cheesy--but, just be yourself. When you wear things that make you happy your personality and inner fashionista will shine through!  (WELL SAID!)

REVOLVE Relaunches

Just a quick reminder that REVOLVEClothing.com just relaunched with some really inspiring editorial. Their magazines, lookbooks, and awesome videos are total eye candy! After swinging by their relaunch party last night I'm in awe. They're doing a great job, giving Shopbop a run for their money, and giving me new tips and ideas every time I visit. Make sure to visit for a quick treat or instant inspiration!

(photo: courtesy of Revolve Clothing)

Weekend Read: Editors as Fashion Icons

I've always been a firm believer that celebrities are the WORST people to look at for style advice. Sure, I read US Weekly, but these modern day "icons" are generally dressed by stylists and are less than original. So who to look at? My choice is the editors who get to experience the coolest fashions before anyone else. I think what sets them apart is that since they get to see the clothes come down the runway first, they get to decide what they actually like, wearing what they want instead of what someone tells them they should wear. The New York Times got the memo and has a great article in the Style section about this "editor as icon" theory. They're usually the ones being snapped by street style photographers and they're becoming more and more famous as the days go on. This is a great read for the weekend and an important reminder to set your sights away from the L.C.'s and Jen Aniston's of the world. If you want to find "real" style, developed in a unique and original way, turn your focus to magazine and digital editors who are really the ones at the forefront of style.

Like I've said before, magazines should talk with you and not at you. You need to be able to interpret trends for yourself, not just wear what others tell you to wear. It's an important distinction which I am glad this article makes. A few choice quotes to drive my point home...

The women photographed on those sites “are presenting fashion masterpieces,” Ms. Fung enthused, “and, for the most part, my job is to try and interpret their ideas for myself.”

Those people offer a glimpse of fashion that is “more authentic and eclectic than the fashion magazines,” said Ms. Chayot, 21, one that is “more obtainable for me.”

(photo: courtesy of the New York Times)