on the bright side...

robert byrne once said, "Winter is nature's way of saying, 'Up yours.'" eloquent as that statement is... i can't help but agree; and with the fun and exciting parts of winter (the first snow, holiday cheer, and the like) drawing to an end, i'm simply dreading the next two months. february in particular has always been one of my least favorite times of the year. i mean, not only will winter simply not go away, but there's that whole valentine's day thing... what could be more torturous? 

this dilemma may be best remedied, i believe, through the unabashed, hell-if-i-care donning of bright, perhaps "summery" colors whenever and wherever possible!  think brilliant turquoise flats, a melon-colored cardigan, or a new take on fair aisle.  much like dior showcased in their spring 2011 runway shows, the season's favorite jewel tones can be livened up with pops of neon and electric hues, pulled together with bright poppy lips...

as someone who already owns lots of colorful wardrobe items, dior's poppy lips are the perfect way to incorporate new brights into my winter wardrobe.  gone are the days when a hot-pink nail polish satisfied my color cravings! instead, this awesome lipstick by Revlon (purchased by emily forever ago and recently found at the bottom of our makeup drawer) is superbly fresh and daring!  and to my surprise, it's also insanely flattering; i like to wear it with a simple, sort of vintage eye--nude shadow with black liquid gel liner, winged at the edges, and lots of black mascara.  who ever said the runway can't translate to real life? (ps: watch the show here to see these ideas come to life)


xo,
liz

it's all about the tuck

recently i've had one single criteria when shopping: can i tuck this in? (or in the case of pants, what can i tuck into these?) while this doesn't seem like that revolutionary an idea, for me it's quite the departure from my usual fashion tendencies.

as someone who favors loose-fitting tops (the bigger the better) over skinny jeans or leggings, i rarely wear anything tight around my waist. i do occasionally wear the ever-present high-waisted skirt, but even then i usually find a way to wear a loose crop top or boxy blouse over the skirt - once again avoiding the tuck. 


after some deep self-analysis, i realized i'm traditionally anti-tuck because of the 9 years i spent in strict catholic grade school.  i was continually forced to tuck my white polo shirt into my plaid skirt or khaki pants, and let me tell you, it was not pretty.  


 i was constantly trying to bend the rule; i even resorted to folding my shirt under so it looked like it was tucked in - but it really wasn't! ha! success!

needless to say my devilish ways were soon discovered and i was unwillingly forced to tuck, tuck, tuck once again.

apparently it's taken me 5 years to get over this fashion trauma, because i'm now enthusiastically embracing the chicness of a tucked-in shirt. it looks especially polished and feminine with higher-waisted skinny pants; i'm not talking mom jeans, but pants with a slightly higher rise that hits two inches below the belly-button look best (try these). adding a skinny belt reinforces the {surprisingly slimming} look, as do simple flats and a jacket cropped at the waist. the photo above, sourced from lucky (obviously) is the embodiment of all these tiny tweaks and tucking tricks - i love how her shirt is slightly bloused, and am still shocked by how strong her simple outfit is. talk about the definition of chic. i'll be referencing this picture a lot this season, save for the week after christmas... i'm guessing all the delicious holiday treats will not bode well for my waistline!

happy holidays!!! {and get tucking!}

II emily

wishful thinking

~ Holiday Wish List 2010 ~

{ click above to enlarge images }

{clockwise from top left: j.crew jeweled elastic flower belt, urban outfitters mixed media nomad necklace, j.crew marled knit snood, sparkle & fade sequin bomber jacket, j.crew toscana shearling earmuffs, o.p.i. burlesque collection nail polish in sparkle-icious, forever 21 silk blend velvet top, anthropologie promises to keep cardigan, alice + olivia for keds leopard sneaker}

i know everyone gets excited about the holidays, but i think i personally take the cake. i can't even guess how much hot chocolate and peppermint bark i consume "just because it feels festive," christmas lights and ornaments bring me a ridiculous amount of yuletide joy, and i power through my workouts with cheesy holiday music blaring in my ears.

most importantly, several long hours are annually spent making a huge wish list for my wary parents and sister. (i make gift lists for all my friends and family too, ok?!) but what can i say? this holiday was made for shoppers! this year, however, i'm trying to keep my wish list relatively short and only put things on there that i really love and that will mean something to me; i've found that this is the best strategy to a great wardrobe. instead of amassing tons of pieces i like and can wear with a few other pieces, i want a closet stuffed with things i can't live without -- getting dressed and looking put together would be undeniably easier.

at the top of my list? an ultra-embellished belt, glittery nail polish, luxe fur earmuffs, a slouchy sequin bed jacket, spotted kicks, a cozy wrap sweater and super-textured pieces like a velvet top, marled loop scarf and a rope-and-bead necklace.

happy wishing!

II emily