There is nothing so 50's glam as floral. But now that floral is returning, we don't want to look dated in the old-school grandma-esque florals. This is an especially dire outcome of thrift store shopping. You want to look modern, classic, but with hints of vintage.

Hints of floral.

One way to achieve this is by mixing the fabrics and styles in a way that references a vintage style, without mimicking it. In the Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter Collection 2010/2011 Collection there are a few excellent examples of this working successfully (and some not-so-much, IMO) Styles 15, 18, 19, 22 and 49 (minus the buttons on the jacket) are my favorite examples.

So how will a touch of floral and edgy materials give you a similar look?


Knee-length A-line skirts are as close to the mid-shin circle skirt that Vuitton features. The middle outfit is inspired by my favorite runway look from this collection, the combination of a leather jacket and floral skirt. Mind, the floral on my set is much bolder. But the jacket I pick does not have buttons that could have arrived in a time machine...

The pencil skirt was more popular in the 40's and 60's than the 50's...but paired with Victorian inspired-blouse and a floral bolero, you have a modern work outfit with vintage appeal. Belts keep the outfits cinched at the waist, maintaining the classic hourglass form. The floral patterns reference the 50's but what you pair it with keeps the outfit of being trapped in the past.

So what if I'm thrift store shopping and want a modern look?

The excellent thing about vintage inspired looks is that you can incorporate true vintage pieces for a similar look. If you have a little sewing know-how, you can alter thrift store pieces to make them fit like a glove. The straight, knee-length-skirt was big through the nineteen-ninety's. They did not have the form-fitting elegance of modern skirts, but if you found a skirt of this period (my recommendation would be to find solid colors)you can take it in to fit closer to the body. Or you could insert panels to create a layered circle-skirt. If adding a second fabric, I would suggest a more modern pattern. Then, like incorporating different textures, your skirt becomes evocative of a unique and modern look.

The fashion mags say that "fake" is never in style. I don't think that goes for expensive materials like leather. I believe that in order to pull off a look on a budget, fake materials are okay. You just need to remember the interaction between shape, personality, color and form.

I will talk about Shape, Color, Personality, and Form next time!

Another entry from your Polyvore-addicted fashionista!

Here's a 50's inspired set to ring in the new year:


I really liked Luis Vuitton's Paris collection for fall. I read a lot of bad press about the whole return to 50's style, though. Certain bloggers thought that it was bad to return to a style from an era famous for its exploitation of women, and the intensive segregation of gender roles.

However, I don't think exploitation has stopped. I think mini-skirts (though I love to wear them, sometimes myself) are more exploitative than the 50's-esque mid-length skirts and matching blazers.

In fact, I think that what is scandalous now is far different from that time. So when we renew the style, we do so in a context that will imbue new meaning to the shapes/forms and colors.

I personally can't wait for these classically-inspired designs to hit the local stores!

So last post, River called me on a boo-boo I made :(

I didn't introduce polyvore.com.

So what is it? Polyvore is a fashion-lovers-playground. You can put together sets that look like you tore them out of a magazine. For me, I like playing with form and finding that balance between classics and trends that is my own.


And sometimes, like this one, they are just for fun. It's all the benefit of playing dress up without the urge to buy immediately!!! I have found it helpful in narrowing my style down.

When I was younger I thought my style was all over the place. I thought I loved patterns and various colors, etc. I couldn't say how I elected to express myself with clothes beyond "like" and "dislike."

What have I found? I'm an earth toned kinda girl. I like classically fitting forms, and am unswayed by severe trendiness. But I like integrating partiocular trends into a classic wardrobe and donning the whole thing in a way that looks...modern, without exuding "trendster fashionista!"

This one is a good example of what I'm talking about:


Trends:
One shoulder, tiered skirt, ruffles, and the strappy sandals, and wide belt.

Classic feel:

Cinched at waist to prevent the loose-fitted top from diminishing an hourglass form. Chunky necklace so the right shoulder is not left completely barren, so as to limit the top's lack of symmetry. Using the frills and the skirt to echo a sort of girlieness throughout the ensemble. The contrasting belt is complementary to the top, and is a declaration that the wearer is consciously manipulating form. (Making clothes work in a way that they *may* not have been intended) The shoes pick up the tones in the top, instantly lengthening legs given a boost from the wedge heel. The illusion is furthered by the two complimentary browns, much like that of the top and the belt. Gold jewelry adds a touch of pizzazz, brightening the top and hands, for the summer outfit.

Matching:

I <3 matching. Because color creates illusion. The play of color, matching or contrasting, is something I believe needs to be done very consciously. I think color needs to match personality, skin tone, and the message you want to create about yourself.

It is classic to match, but it is not currently popular. But from me, you will see consist matching or complimentary colors. As I said before: I'm short. I use color and heels to give myself a taller presence. I have a very young face. So I use form to enhance my appearance of womanliness. The classic form suites my needs. The cautious implementation of trends to fit my style fulfills my inner fashion-lover :P

I work at a nail supply store part-time, and even though I'm not into nail polish, being the girl that I am, I still get a tad bit giddy being surrounded by so many different brands of types of polishes. I think the designer in me wants to color-code these polishes, organize, reorganize, and create different color palettes from the thousands of colors available. The OPI polish aisle is my favorite.

Click on the READ MORE link for pictures.

Hellooooo everyone. I'm back with a review for the Boscia Oil-Free Must-Haves Kit.

This time I'm trying a video review instead of a written review. Please let me know what you think. Please excuse the stupid picture YouTube chose for the video. I look like an idiot.

Polyvore offers a veritable playground for a fashionista. While the clothes in this set are way out of any ordinary person's price range, their patterns are common enough. So let me walk you through my rationale.

There is much talk in the fashion world about the "modern silhouette" as if we could somehow take a big eraser and get rid of the natural female bone-structure and start walking around looking like Vogue's starving models. My policy is work with what you got. Accent your natural form, in a tasteful, classy manner.

Trends are to be integrated in your daily wardrobe with care. Designers' runway outfits have been seen recently mixing leather with floral patterns. My variation on this theme is the lace and the skirt with leather accents. A cheaper alternative for daily wear is faux leather, or (my fave) satin. Satin is much more feminine than leather, but it has a similar glossy surface. It might be easier to create this look by finding a satin-trimmed A-line skirt, or by reviving an old skirt by sewing on a satin trim.

The open-blazer is another item that has been popular on the runway. In order to keep your form feminine, make certain that the clothes worn under the blazer are either:

a) fitted
b) cinched at the waist

If you are small-busted, B is a better choice. Keeping a shirt baggy around the chest, but cinched at the waist will obscure chest size.

High-waisted A-line skirts are awesome because they can give a girl with narrow hips the illusion of wider hips, and can slim wide-hips. Because the skirt is loose around that portion of the female form, it works to accent or even create the hip-waist ratio you want the viewer's eye to see. Because my bust and hip size are relatively similar, I choose fitted tops. If your bust size is smaller than your hip size, you want baggy on top. Or ruffles, designs, etc. Ruffles are very popular right now. They serve well to make a girl's chest look bigger than it is, by granting greater volume to that part of the body. But keeping the waist cinched is important for not looking like a pole.

I'm petite. This influences my color choice. Monotones make a person appear taller. So keeping the skirt and leg color the same are essential for making me appear taller than my 5 ft - 3 inch - self. I matched the blazer and skirt to continue this affect. The red shoes and sweater are designed to match, for the same purposes, but are picked for their stark contrast with the black. This draws to the form-fittingness of my top. This helps me retain the hourglass figure beneath the loose blazer that could, otherwise, give me the dread up/down pole appearance. Also, matching shoes to sweater rather than skirt makes the outfit look less "matchy-matchy" while preserving the benefits of pairing colors in this way.

Indications (Sephora): Perfect for oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin, this oil-free, 60% water based primer refreshes on contact while oil absorbers provide a smooth, matte finish all day. Light diffusers minimize the appearance of imperfections while vitamin C and peptides help even skin tone and promote collagen production for a flawless future.
Directions: Apply to face after moisturizer and before foundation.
Price: 0.5oz for $16, 1oz for $36, 2oz for $49

I've struggled with oily skin for years. It only takes about 3 hours after washing my face for my nose to produce enough oil to displace my foundation and create holes in my foundation where the oil was produced. Doesn't matter what type of foundation I wear, my face usually ends up looking like bacon in a frying pan by the end of the day.

I had high hopes for this Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light because
1. It has hundreds of amazing ratings on Sephora.
2. It's supposed to do a very good job at controlling oil, especially for the ridiculous price tag.

After doing some research, I've decided to pick up a 0.5oz tube from Sephora instead of the MAC Prep+Prime. I apply this after my moisturizer and before my foundation (Bare Minerals Original Foundation). It goes on smoothly and offers a bit of hydration to my face without adding more oil.

However, so far, I've seen no difference in the look of my makeup. My makeup doesn't glide on any easier with a primer and my face still gets incredibly oily after 3 hours. I've tried applying very little and I've tried applying a lot. No difference.

I'm disappointed. I was hoping this would at least help control some of my oil so I can actually last the whole day at work without feeling like I could fry an egg on my face. I'm glad I only bought a small tube to try out or else I'd be wasting a lot more money.

Rating: 2/5
Recommend: Even though I gave it a bad rating and it didn't work for me, I'd still encourage you to try it because it does work for many people. Buy the small tube first instead of the $49 bottle.

—River

Indications (Amazon): A light conditioning, leave-in Systeme that eliminates flyaways, leaving hair more combable. Contains the Biolage Leave In Botanical Complex that combines pure botanical extracts of Kelp and Hops.
Directions: After shampooing, spray evenly on damp hair. Comb through. Style as usual.
Price: $17-ish

My sister at The Saucy Choppers introduced Biolage Hydratherapie Daily Leave-in Tonic to me a few years ago. After showering, I spray a liberal amount onto my hair, then comb through. It doesn't smell much like anything—almost unscented, but it is a killer for battling tangles.

I'm one of those people whose hair tangles so much that I lose hundreds of strands of hair each time I brush. I spend about 10 minutes just to brush my hair after I shower. This product saved me time and energy. No longer did I have to deal with the frustration of seeing a ton of my hair fall out each day. Brushing my hair became a breeze.

My hair is also very dry, but I haven't really noticed a change in the texture of my hair when I use this product. It doesn't seem more moisturized, but my sister swears it does wonders for her hair.

I took half a point off the rating because I wish it was more moisturizing for me and smells a little nicer, but that's just a preference.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes! For the worst of all terrible tangles.

—River

Directions: Apply to entire face avoiding eye and mouth areas. Leave mask on for 1-2 minutes, then lightly massage for added exfoliation and rinse well. Use 2-3 times a week.
Sample: .17 oz
Container: 3.5 oz
Price: $48

My boss gave me a few samples of this Noevir Quick Recovery Mask a few weeks ago. If used sparingly, the tiny .17 oz sample will last about two weeks.

After removing my makeup with a face wash, I applied a pea-sized amount of the Quick Recovery Mask to my entire face. I leave it on for about two minutes and then exfoliate gently using my fingers. Then I rinse well.

The scent from the mask was pleasantly minty. My skin also felt cool and tingly while the mask was on. It gave me a particularly soothing experience. If I close my eyes, I can see myself being pampered in a beach-like spa drinking a mojito.

I have extreme combination skin, meaning my T-zone (forehead and nose) produces a ridiculous amount of oil in one hour while my cheeks suffer from flaky, dry skin. What I noticed right after using this product is that my skin is thoroughly moisturized. Rather than leaving my skin peeling and dry like many other face wash, my skin felt not only clean, refreshing, but also moisturized. I didn't even need to put on moisturizer.

The price is a little high, but considering that .17 oz can last two weeks, I have calculated that 3.5 oz will last approximately 20 weeks (about 5 months). I wouldn't run people over just to get to the next Noevir consultant to buy the mask, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get the sample. It's been a long time since I've been absolutely sold on a product.

Rating: 5/5
Recommended: YES! \o/

—River

Hi! I'm a petite girl who loves her clothes.

I have a not-so-secret obsession with dresses and skirts. I like classic silhouettes. The hour-glass shape is the most overtly feminine shape out there. I think dressing is about creating a 3-D illusion. Clothes can make you feel good, because when worn well, they can cause people to see things that just aren't there :P But it's also fun because personality informs color, pattern and style. So combining personal preferences with dressing for body-type can grant any girl a classic hourglass, even when she tends naturally to another form. But as no girl's body shape and personality are ever identical, no girl will ever have the same style. Not precisely.

So for me, it isn't about imitation, or rebellion. It's about adaptation of trends, modern and classic to fit form.

My main focus, then, will be on evaluating trends, DIY, and keeping fashionable on a low budget. But some of my other interests include a fascination for small businesses. So I've decided that I'm going to sprinkle in features and interviews with local artisans starting their own lines.

Hope you enjoy my exploring! :D

Drea

Me!

Hello lovely readers. You can call me River. My name is difficult to remember, but being undecided as I am, I had a hard time deciding on a new name, so I thought I'd name myself after a thing I like. "Mountain" or "Rocky Road" seem a little weird, so I decided on using the alias "River" instead. It's just an alias, so maybe tomorrow I'll be Rocky Road?

This is the post where I tell you my life story and go into detail about how hard my life was because I was deprived of a pet monkey and how I have survived in this cruel world full of injustice to all furry kitties and short people like me ...

This post serves as a little introduction to my roles in this blog. I was called on to write about makeup in general, but I think I might cheat a little and discuss skincare and nail care also. I'll write about both old and new products, reviews, and give beauty tips. I hope you'll find my posts informative, and if not, at least a bit entertaining.

—River

P.S. Thank you Drea for a wonderful introduction. Please forgive my occasional, terrible grammar.

This is a compilation blog. Currently our writers are River, Ciara and Drea. We each have a distinct approach and different opinions about fashion and beauty subjects. As such, the creators of this blog intend it to be diverse. We will discuss makeup, accessories, and DIY. There will be product reviews, artisan interviews, and opinion posts. We will cover new trends, as well as the maintenance of classic looks, and even address issues of body shape and appropriate attire for events. Through our broad range of topics, we'll hope to keep you guessing.

Videos, pictures, and step by step instructions will help guide you through our various journeys. So now, it begins....and I hope you find new questions among our eclectic answers! Feel free to leave all inquiries below and you might just find a post here addressing them soon after.