February 22nd, 2011 by crystal
I’m loving the maxi skirt trend I keep seeing in magazines and lookbooks this Spring. The problem is, these suckers are hard to find in stores. You can still find a maxi DRESS no problem, but a maxi SKIRT is another beast entirely.
First though, let’s have a little chat. The maxi skirt trend this Spring does not just refer to long skirts.
Maxi skirts that are stylish this Spring have a few things in common –
Length – Your skirt should graze the tops of your feet. Tea-length skirts are NOT what we’re talking about here. Those are still just a bit too Little House on the Prairie.
Fabric – This is a casual style. Look for skirts made from soft jersey materials for the ultimate maxi skirt option.
Style – The maxi skirt trend is pretty boho chic. Look for skirts that have a fairly low waist (right at about your hips), with a little draping or swinginess at the bottom to spruce things up a bit.
To sum things up, something like this is NOT the style we’re talking about.
The length is wrong, the fabric is wrong, the style is wrong. This is more like a skirt you would have worn to church in the 80′s….not a style for today’s maxi-skirt trend.
Here are a few options that ARE on trend…
I’m sure more options will start popping up as the season progresses. Let me know if you find anything!
What do you think of the maxi skirt trend?
February 17th, 2011 by crystal
Banana Republic claims the ‘Skinny Cargo’ is the must-have pant for Spring.
I’m not so sure…
I mean, I like the way BR’s professional stylists have coordinated the looks and posed the models just so to make the pants look stylish and chic. But, in real life, I think this look could go horribly wrong. The unstyled photos of the pants themselves are a good indication…
Why am I tempted then, to go buy a pair this afternoon and see if I can pull off the styled look? Damn marketing…
What do you think?
Two Years Ago – Nicole Miller Fall 2009 | DVF Fall 2009
February 15th, 2011 by crystal
One of this Spring’s top trends can be a little tricky to pull off. Go too long and you’ll channel the 1950′s poodle skirt. Go too short and you’ll look like a Dallas cheerleader. Without the right top or shoes, the look is just off. Here are some tips and considerations for wearing a full skirt.
Louis Vuitton | Vena Cava | Ruffian
Length
As I mentioned above, length can be a critical factor for pulling off this trend. Make sure your skirt is neither too short or too long – go for something right around your knee or slightly below.
Anthropologie | Urban Outfittters | ModCloth
Top
The full skirt will naturally accentuate your natural waist. Wear a fitted top that is either tucked in or cropped to just below the waistband on your skirt. For an added bonus, wear a belt at your natural waist.
Shoes
Though you can wear heels with a full skirt, this will make the look a bit more vintage. If that’s not your intent, go instead for ballet flats, riding boots or strappy sandals.
What do you think? Is it just right or still a little too vintage for you?
Last Year – Bottega Veneta Fall 2010
Two Years Ago – Charlotte Ronson Fall 2009 and BCBG Fall 2009
February 9th, 2011 by crystal
Boots are the perfect transition piece to work your wardrobe from Winter to Spring. Here are this Spring’s top 3 contenders.
Short Boots
Not exactly knee high, not exactly ankle short, these boots hit about 1/3 up your calf. Find them in slouchy, folded, lace-up or equestrian styles. Wear them with leggings, shorts or skirts – no pants.
Lace Up Boots
This is definitely my favorite boot trend right now. Lace Up boots are the perfect mix of feminine, vintage and utilitarian. I have a tall pair and a bootie pair and get compliments on both ALL the time. If you don’t go for any other trend this Spring, definitely go for this one.
Wear with skirts, leggings and shorts. Long lace up boots can be worn with skinny jeans, but short boots don’t work so well.
Equestrian Boots
This year’s equestrian trend has gotten a bit of a facelift. The traditional riding boot is more popular than ever – look for a pair with buckles or laces to set your boots apart.
Wear with tights, leggings or skinnies. Riding boots and bare legs aren’t a great combo.
What style will you be wearing this Spring?
February 4th, 2011 by crystal
Good hair color isn’t cheap – you want it to last as long as possible.
Here are 7 tips for extending your hair color.
Tip 1 – Color Dirty Hair
Don’t wash your hair right before having it colored. Dirty hair is easier for your stylist to work with but, most importantly, the natural oils found on dirty hair help your color adhere better.
Tip 2 – Wait To Shampoo
After having your hair colored, wait to shampoo for at least 24 hours. The longer you can wait, the more you will allow the color to completely absorb in your hair follicles.
Tip 3 – Extend Your Shampoos
This is true whether you have colored hair or not. The longer you can go without shampooing your hair, the more the natural oils in your scalp will work to moisturize your hair. Feel like your hair is too oily to go more than one day? Try to wash your hair every other day for a week. It will be oily at first, but eventually the oils in your scalp will begin to regulate themselves and your scalp will become less oily. Make sure to brush your hair every night to brush the oils from scalp to ends – this will help keep your hair nice and healthy and will also make your scalp less oily.
If you can shampoo your colored hair every 2 or 3 days instead of every day, you will extend your hair color monumentally.
Tip 4 – Color Gloss Between Colors
I mentioned this in ‘Establishing A Spa Routine’. Having a color gloss applied between your color treatments will give your hair a shiny gloss and will also make your roots less noticeable in those last couple of weeks before your next color.
Tip 5 – Use A Color Safe Shampoo
As you’ve probably noticed, shampoo the biggest culprit when it comes to fading hair color. Use a color-safe shampoo to extend the life of your color. I recommend Aveda’s Color Conserve, Fekkai’s Color Care or Clairol’s Shimmer Lights.
Tip 6 – Avoid Hot Water
When rinsing your hair, avoid super hot water as this has a tendency to strip your hair. If you can stomach it, switch your shower all the way to cold when rinsing your hair. This will also help to close the cuticle and make your hair smoother and shinier.
Tip 7 – Condition
Moisturized hair will maintain color a lot longer than dry, brittle hair. Extending your shampoos will help to keep your hair soft and sleek as will sparse use of blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons. In addition to those tips, make sure to deep condition your hair once a week.
What do you do to extend your hair color?
Photo Credit – marie claire
