Showing posts with label style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Online Fashion Finds: ASOS.com

"I like my money right where I can see it - hanging in my closet."
-Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City


There are not very many things that excite me as much as finding a great new online shopping site.

I love to shop and buy new clothes, and over the last five years I have been doing more and more of it online. It's such a great way to find unique and different things! I have also gotten very used to shopping on my laptop in my sweats.

For the last few weeks, I have been spending all my free time searching for cute dresses for the weddings I have coming up next month. I had a pretty good idea what I was looking for (something tailored and sophisticated, in a punchy summer colour, with a bit of edgy interest...) but just couldn't seem to find anything I could afford. Damn you Herve Leger and your thousand dollar price point!

Then last night I happened upon my very own e-tail heaven... ASOS.com. I am seriously head over heals for this site! They literally have thousands of dresses ranging in price from under $20, for their private label line, up to $700 for designer. They also carry a huge selection of clothes, shoes and accessories for women as well as maternity, mens, kids and beauty departments.

ASOS is based in the UK, but features an easy to use US dollar currency converter, US/UK size guide as well as reasonably priced international shipping in eight days (under $10) and four day international express. I also love that each product listing offers multiple images, in all offered colours, in addition to a runway video clip, so you really know what to expect before you order.

Here are a few ASOS.com pieces that caught my eye...



Frill Sleeve Body Con Dress



Premium Multi Ribbon Looped Bow Fascinator



Pleat Fold Detail Contour Dress



Shark Shoulder Longline Blazer



Ponti-Roma Tailored Pencil Dress



Cheetah Shoulder Top




I ordered two dresses today for express shipment... I'll let you know what they are like when they arrive. Fingers crossed!

I hope you like this site as much as I do!


Photo Credit:
Title - ASOS Magazine

Friday, June 18, 2010

Fashion Friday: Prints Charming

"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul."
-The Koran


I'm a little bit of a girlie girl, especially when it comes to floral prints. They are just so sweet and delicate and somehow understated. You just can't help but feel feminine and flirty when you wear a bit of Floral!

I was so excited to see that the prints being shown on the runways this season had taken a decidedly floral turn. Soft daisy, romantic rose and pretty peony prints replaced the hard geometric patterns of the past few years. Everyone from Balenciaga to Dior to Chloe were showing floral prints and flower inspired designs. Florals are everywhere! And they are fresh, airy and full of life.

Floral prints are not all created equal, and with the selection that is available, you can definitely find the type that suits your personality. Try a long flowing floral print dress, skirt or tunic for a breezy and laidback look. Feeling elegant? Try a structured and fitted floral dress or jacket.

Here are a few floral prints to tempt your inner girlie girl:





Floral Maxi Dress from the Gap
I just love the simplicity of this dress. I think it would be perfect with a cropped denim jacket and espadrilles.




Daisy Day Skirt from J. Crew
Floral skirts can be worn a million different ways! Try it high waisted, paired with a simple white T, leather belt and and flat sandals.




Floral Wayfarer Sunglasses from Garage
These are just awesome! Such an easy way to add a pop of floral to an everyday outfit. Plus, the wayfarer style looks great on everyone.




Love Moschino Cropped Floral Blazer
This is a bit of a splurge, but I love structure of this blazer. How amazing would this be with dark wash skinny jeans and flats? Plus, I am a big fan of the skulls hidden in the floral print... toughens it up just a little!




Rift Valley Shorts from Anthropologie
Floral shorts can be a bit tricky to pull off, but it you pair them with a solid colour top, some less girlie accessories and killer heels they can be pretty cool.




Featheroff Bag from Aldo
I'm a big fan of statement handbags, and this particular one definitely makes a statement! Just like the Floral sunglasses, this bag makes it easy to try floral. This handbag may be a bit trendy, but at such a reasonable price point, you can easily retire it after the season.




Printed Strapless Sweetheart dress from Victoria's Secret
This dress is so sweet! I love the ultra girlie combination of the floral print, sweetheart neckline and cinched waist... I doubt you could get more feminine! Getting a toothache? Try a fitted blazer to add a bit of edge.




Black Ditsy Floral Tights from Urban Outfitters
These aren't really warm weather friendly, but I just couldn't resist! I'd wear these to work with a black mini dress and boots.




Floral Ruffle Top by Rare from Topshop
You really can't go wrong with a flouncy floral top. The outfit possibilities are endless... under a blazer, belted with a sweater, tucked into a high waisted skirt or just thrown on with wide leg jeans. Summer perfection!




Short Jumpsuit in Prints from Victoria's Secret
I am so excited that rompers and jumpsuits are making a comeback. They are so cute and don't really require much outfit planning. Try this fun floral number on it's own, or try belting it layered with a tank top.




Pointy Floral Flats from YesStyle
These floral flats are adorable! They would be great with a full skirt and belted sweater or they could add a bit of interest to a T and jeans.


Have fun this season playing around with different florals! After all, if the old adage is true that April showers bring May flowers... at the rate we're going, Calgary should be in bloom all summer long!


Photo Credit: fashionchicks

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Summer Lovin': Simple and Sexy Summer Hair

"Beauty is the promise of happiness."
~Stendhal


Are you kidding me with this weather? It's the middle of June and we've only had 3 weekends that even slightly resemble summer! Where is all the sunshine?

I'm not going to lie, for a few weeks I was actually kind of enjoying the rain and grey skies. It can be so relaxing to curl up, wrapped in blankets, reading books and drinking tea while the rain splashes outside... but enough is enough! We get such a short summer as it is. I'm starting to feel ripped off!

In an attempt to somehow appeal to the universe or kick start the sun gods, I decided to post about simple and sexy summer hair.

A girl can dream right?

If nothing else, maybe I can stop fighting my rain induced curls and try to camouflage them in some summery undone updo instead!

Here's hoping!

In my mind, the perfect summer hair has to be easy to do, a little undone and a whole lot of sexy. While most of the styles I'm suggesting are cute and flirty, they are also a simple and fast to achieve. Let's be honest, the last thing you want to do is spend hours getting ready when there are so many fun summer things you could be doing instead!

I always find that it helps if your hair hasn’t been washed for at least a day. Part of what makes all of these styles so great, is that they don't have to look too perfect. It's all about that laid back, natural vibe.

In the summer, I don't use much in the way of hair product, but there are a few things I can't live without...



Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner is my summer hair staple. The tropical smell is heavenly and it leaves hair super soft and bouncy. And for the environment conscience, it's sulfate and paraben free, uses organic ingredients and the bottles and inks used are recycled and compostable.



MOROCCANOIL Oil Treatment is magic. It eliminates frizz, strengthens your hair and creates brilliant shine... and the smell is delish! It goes on ultra light and doesn't have any residue, plus it cuts down on your drying time. Bonus! Best of all, they don't use any animal products, they don't test on animals and they use recycled packaging whenever possible.



It might seem dramatic, but I'm seriously obsessed with Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray! This salt water based spray creates the perfect beachy waves with just the right amount of hold. Plus I absolutely love the matte finish! I use it on damp or dry hair all summer long.



Now that we have your hair ready for summer, here are a few recommendations for simple and sexy summer styles. All of these styles can be modified to suit your individual style and hair type, and feel free to be creative. You can get away with a bit more fun in the summertime! If you feel adventurous, try adding in a braid, twist or fishtail to any of these. Dress them up for night by adding a hot hair accessory like a flower, headband or a sparkly clip.



Pretty Waves

Work a bit of Surf Spray through damp hair. Scrunch, braid or pin up hair (whatever texture you prefer) and let dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser. When dry, gently tousle and touch up as needed with a mid-size barreled curling iron. Looks even better the second day!



Pouffy Ponytail

Spray dry hair with Surf Spray and scrunch to add a bit of texture. Using a comb, backcomb bangs or a small section of hair in the front, and pin straight back, making a small pouf. Use comb again to backcomb the roots of the hair at the crown. Pull half your hair back into a loose and messy half ponytail and use bobby pins to secure. Loosely pull remaining hair into a ponytail and use an elastic to secure at the base of the bobby pins. Pull out a few pieces around your face to make it look a bit messy.

Low Beachy Bun

Spray dry hair with Surf Spray and scrunch to add a bit of texture. Using a comb, backcomb the roots at the crown. Pull half your hair back into a loose and messy half ponytail and use bobby pins to secure. Loosely pull remaining hair back and twist around itself creating a loose and messy bun. Pin in place using bobby pins. Consider adding a small french braid like pictured for a little additional texture and visual interest!

Half Back Braid

Work a bit of Surf Spray through damp hair. Scrunch, braid or pin up hair (whatever texture you prefer) and let dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser. When dry, gently tousle and touch up as needed with a mid-size barreled curling iron. Separate the top quarter of hair and begin french braiding a 2 inch section of hair, above one ear straight across your forehead adding hair from the upper section only. Continue around the entire crown until you are back where you started. Secure the end of the braid and every few inches with bobby pins.

Messy Top Knot

Spray dry hair with Surf Spray and scrunch to add a bit of texture. Gather hair onto the top of you head and twist around itself creating a loose and messy bun right at the crown. Pin in place using bobby pins. Pull out a few pieces around your face to make it look a bit messy. This can also be done with wet hair!





Surfer Girl Side Pony

Spray dry hair with Surf Spray and scrunch to add a bit of texture. Using a comb, backcomb the roots at the crown. Loosely pull hair back and then to the side. Secure with an elastic, or pin in place using bobby pins for a messier look. Pull out a few pieces around your face to soften. Consider adding a small french braid like pictured for a little additional texture and visual interest!

Summer is a great time to experiment and have fun with your hair. I hope these ideas help you create your very own sexy summer hairstyles.

Now all we need is the sun...



Photo credits:
Trio - Genevieve Gail
Waves - cosmopolitan
Pouf - Mouton Salon
Bun - TotalBeauty
Braid - Sugarscape
Knot - La Jeune Marie
Side - Cupcakecloset