the ombré effect

i don't know if you've seen or heard about my favorite hair trend, but ombré hair has been steadily gaining ground as one of the most coveted looks this season.  it's not technically a new trend -- it's been around for some time now -- but lately every celebrity i see has some variation on the look.  and i'm jealous.


originally seen in an issue of lucky, i thought the idea of ombré hair was really cool -- and it kind of goes against that old adage that says dark roots are tacky. ombré hair is like dark roots x500 and this may be why i love it so much.  but what's also great about the double fade effect? it can be done almost any way you want -- from subtle to severe, highlighting from your ears down or just the tips, fading to bleach blonde or to a less-shocking copper.  the options are endless.  and as someone who has never died her hair (other than the occasional kool-aid purple streak, but that's so high school...) i'm almost too fascinated by the ombré trend.  my best friend is determined to do it this spring, so hopefully i'll be able to share some real-life pictures?? {this is your cue, betsy}


until then, a nice group of celebrity looks to inspire us:

{ subtle gradient fade / whitney port }

{ a little more definition / rumi neely of fashion toast }

{ razor-sharp contrast / lily aldridge }

winter florals

the lack of recent posts is appalling. i can't believe it's been nearly a MONTH! i'm both sorry and ashamed for my lack of creativity/time management skills; starting the new semester and balancing class/extracurriculars/my social life has been surprisingly difficult. but i'm happy to report i have a fresh and inspiring idea to share with you for the first post of 2011!


as most of you have probably already experienced, gray winter skies, bone-chilling temperatures and shoe-wrecking slush start getting old after the first few weeks of winter. and every year i have the same panicked thought -- is there really 3 more months of this icy abuse?! unfortunately, yes. and saddest of all, the first area of my life to see the negative effects of the winter blues is my wardrobe.  i find it increasingly difficult to dress in anything other than leggings, hunter wellies, and oversize sweaters (my friends have even started to notice my "uniform").  i usually try to remedy by boring, uninspired ensemble with a stack of bracelets, but let's face it -- i'm a winter zombie.  


a quick way to revamp your tired winter wardrobe is with a splash of florals -- no matter how  out-of-season they may appear on the hanger, you can winterize any floral piece with dark colors, a boyfriend cardigan, black tights, or rugged boots.  here, liz is wearing one of our favorite summer skirts, which we normally pair with a loose white racerback tank and flat sandals -- but for winter, we added a black silky shirt and chunky black heels (not pictured, unfortunately -- but if you're a sex & the city fan you'll be happy to know they're knockoffs of THESE famous carrie shoes...)


not once do you think "summer" when you see this outfit -- it's downright wintry, but fresh and cheerful too.  it makes me feel instantly sunnier (pun intended) when i wear it out on a chilly january night - try any of the lovely pieces below for some much-needed growth in your winter wardrobe:

{ forever21 blushing floral cropped top, $13.80 }

{ urban outfitters canvass plimsoll sneaker, $20 }

{ nasty gal blooming skinny belt, $18 }

style on!
II emily

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

so fab.

i have met very few people in this life that do not at least respect or mildly enjoy the beatles. and those individuals that refuse to admit the sheer and utter genius that was, is, and always will be The Fab Four are obviously lying to themselves, and so i can hardly stand to associate with them. (my close friends know better than to doubt the godliness of john, paul, ringo, and george in my presence.)

i can say with 100% certainty that i was born in the wrong era. i should have been one of those obsessive, lovesick girls clinging to the gates of Shea Stadium in full skirts and curled hair. in fact, i might go so far to say that i was one of those girls in another life (not that i really believe in reincarnation; but in this context it is a rather appealing concept...!). watching footage of beatles concerts--and particularly the reactions of the audience--immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia and joy for me. as much as i enjoy listening to my beatles records in the car, in my room, or on my way to class, nothing in this life will ever compare to a beatles show; i'm sure of it.

if you aren't quite as dedicated to the beatles as i am and don't own every album ever recorded, it's okay. because lucky for you, the beatles are now on iTunes. (my jaw literally dropped when i logged onto the apple website to discover this; i was floored.) most everyone has been acutely aware of the fact that this was simply not the case for so many years, and so this is really quite newsworthy for music fans the world over. i still have mixed feelings about the whole thing (their record label honestly is just selling out...) but what am i going to do about it except spread the word and get everyone to buy beatles music? do it!!

oh, and while you're at it, go buy this awesome tee from urban outfitters; it's been on my christmas wish-list for weeks! i like to think of it as a modern interpretation of a beatles fan's wardrobe.

rock on,

liz

give thanks!

i think thanksgiving is usually the same for every family; we all get together, eat the same types of food, watch football, and engage in various lazy-night activities like watching john hughes movies and stealing extra helpings of french silk pie. this is usually how it is for me -- thanksgiving never really brings any surprises.

this year, however, was quite the odd holiday.

this year, instead of the usual group of 12 at my house, all of my family members from chicago drove down -- creating a total of 21 house guests. there was never a dull moment, especially considering the number of little kids scurrying around and everyone's slightly-ridiculous sleeping arrangements.

most notably, the dinner was different than any thanksgiving i've ever seen or heard of! among other things, there were 2 types of stuffing (one was a dark lebanese version with chestnuts and several spices i can't even pronounce), a plate of pineapples, 5 pies, a massive platter of mac & cheese, 2 servings of cranberries, pickled green beans, a massive ham, and 2 turkeys. and yes - one was fried. and it was delicious.

my parents bought a legitimate "butterball brand" turkey fryer specifically for the occasion, and i couldn't help but snap a few pictures when everyone gathered in the garage to watch my dad ceremoniously sink the bird into a vat of sizzling oil. it was quite the opposite of your traditional oven-roasted turkey, and i'd say it was the epitome of a very different (and extremely memorable) holiday. :)