disney couture? i don't believe my ears.

(image courtesy of nytimes.com)
i love thursday's. i always look forward to thurday's because i get to read the styles section from the new york times! it's my favorite section from the periodical.. something to read between classes and something to keep me awake during boring lectures.. oops, did i just say boring?!

did you get a chance to pick up a copy of yesterday's edition? the top headline in styles reads, "disney, by design." i could hardly believe it.. disney, the untouchable media conglomerate who created the masterpieces i grew up with, will now be making couture clothes? i feel like i just fell down a rabbit hole..

sure, large corporations are known to dilly-dally into other markets and disney has done their fair share, from amusement parks to bedding. i don't doubt their accessibility to incredible resources, both personally and materially, however, clothing from disney should not cost more than what can pour out from a child's piggy bank.

disney keeps a tight grip on their brand image and jumps on a law suit at the drop of hat, so why are they loosening the reins now? i don't see the parallelism between wide leg jeans, long sweaters with a cowel neck, and cinderella's ball gown (unless of course you happen to be the ultimate fashionista tween!)

i can't imagine feeling comfortable walking into a formal in a evening dress that bears a label with a pair of ears and a script D. my suggestion? create a new brand within the corporation. disney did this when they jumped into computer animation with pixar. too bad walter is already taken..

Fashion Is Asymmetrical

in life there are three things we cannot live without; food, housing, and clothes. these staples are the basic necessities of life, but who says that they have to be conventional? the world's greatest chefs create gratifying, mind-blowing, gourmet cuisines. with simple combinations of ingredients that balance each other all the flavors can be tasted and appreciated. architects use lines, simply the connection between two points on a plane, the simplest geometric variable, to create unparalleled designs that can't help but leave their audiences in wonder. designers bring cloth and fabric to life. the master of a needle and thread creates artwork unlike any other.

fashion is not meant to be bland or boring. fashion is a personal expression of creativity through one of life's staples. clothing gives every individual the opportunity to be an artist. even the standard jeans and a white t-shirt becomes something more with personal flair. every style becomes unique when you put it on because your decisions are a reflection of who you are. will you add a belt? jewelry? how about sneakers or flats? is your hair styled or swept back in a ponytail?

you can tell a lot about a person through their clothing. and first impressions leave a lasting impression, for this reason i agree with coco chanel when she said "i don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. and then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. and it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny."

yesterday i was wearing a long sweater that fastens in front with an over-sized safety pin. when i closed my sweater i left one side hanging below the other so that they didn't meet up and form a "perfect" horizontal line at the bottom. when a friend asked me why my sweater was uneven, my response was... "fashion is asymmetrical."

so remember fashionistas: there are no rules, just suggestions.

SHOOTIES!!!!

okay, so unfortunately this name hasn't quite caught on as i hoped it would.. but i just love these shoes. this season they have been plastered all over the fashion mags, showcased in shoe stores everywhere, and spotted on the feet of quite a few [uber-fashionable] co-eds hitting up the college bar scene.

the shootie is a combination between the stunning shoe and the beloved bootie. i have seen this amazing concoction referred to as: the bootie (but it's not since your toes are out there for everyone to see! i mean, come on, you wouldn't call a peep toe a pump, now would you??), cut out sandals, etc.

i recommend going for this style in a solid leather color. but to stay with the trends, throwing in a little bit of hardware doesn't hurt. (in my opinion, peuter is best because it's the most neutral metal). try out the

i myself couldn't resist this trend so i bought a comfortable, affordable pair downtown.

(pictures courtesy of stevemadden.com) see any difference between these two? well, other than the price there isn't much change. steve madden makes both of these. the one on top is sold through the "madden girl" line, while the one on the bottom is sold through "steven." price difference? 80 bucks! $59.95 compared to $139.95... are they nuts?

unfortunately i don't forecast this trend pushing forward much past this year, so i would opt for the madden girl line... go splurge your extra eighty dollars on a night out! or, check out ruelala.com and find a great deal on designer labels with their fabulous on-line sample sales! it's my new fetish

ps - up-and-coming trend: over-the-knee boots! check out calvin klein's flat, black suede one at lord and taylor

match your hardware

good evening, fashionistas.. i recently received a comment/post that i think it a great topic to cover. especially for those non-fashionista friends and readers that frequent this blog.

if you check out the link above (it will bring you to my high-heel heaven post, almost a year ago) you will see peters inquiry: "what does it mean to 'match one's hardware?'"

well, peter.. (hi, by the way!) ..to explain "match one's hardware" it is best to first define exactly what hardware is. hardware, in the fashion sense of the term, is any metal accessory you are donning. Such as; jewelry, belt buckles, and even metal clasps on a murse/purse (for those of you not aware, a murse is a man purse.. a fairly recent addition to the dictionary actually!) some shoes have little metal clasps or adornments, these would fall into "fashion hardware" as well.

to "match one's hardware," i simply mean that you should wear all hardware of the same color. so if you are wearing silver jewelry and find it necessary to wear a belt, try choosing one with a silver buckle (or without metal). i am actually a huge stickler about this when it comes to purses. i can even get anal to the point where i won't wear a prada bag if i have gold jewelry on why? you got it.. because the prada label is a little silver metal plaque.

now, i know that clashing was in last season so silvers and gold were seen together rather often. but in general, a fashion recommendation (rule's are no fun, they leave no room for imagination and experiment, so if you feel it necessary to pair gold and silver, you go right on ahead!) anyway, a fashion recommendation that i tend to follow is matching my hardware. however, there is wiggle room! pewter. yes, that fantabulous color that really looks as though silver and gold were put together in a blender.. it can go either way! so, if your finances are like most other college students, purchase pewter.. i guarantee that you won't regret it!

Gracefully Gray

I just love my new polish that i got for this fall. I haven't seen too much of this shade around yet, but I expect to see this color all around, very shortly!

gray... it's fantabulous doubled on your fingers and toes! or you could pair it with that bottle of black you still have.

i just bought the opi color, "you don't know jacques" and it is awesome! i have it on my fingers and toes, at first i was a bit nervous thinking that it may be a bit dark for early september but it's a great transition shade for the season change. my mom pointed out that it may make me look a bit washed out, but it pops rather than blends. i would describe the opi shade as a taupey-gray, almost as if there is a hint of brown. it is just grand!

here are a few pictures of my nails, the quality isn't the best... but in person they are just great!!

i highly suggest purchasing this polish.. it's sure to be a hit on campuses and streets nationwide. ps- better go out and get your quick, i had to go to two places to find a bottle, and i snagged the last one!!