Current Styles

Don’t let the cold weather be your excuse for sweats!

Darcy — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:25:54 +0000

After my experience of walking to school and work everyday, I’ve come to realize that it is a lot harder to dress good, while staying warm too. It’s easy to find a comfort of a black North Face jacket, with plain jeans and Ugg boots…everyday.

But the problem with this look is that you become content with settling for less, and all the adorable clothes in your closet just become moot and you see them once in a great while, maybe for special occasions.

My goal this winter is to find clothing items that we women can rely on. Clothes that are cute, stylish, and of course, WARM. Take a look at my pics for this week that I found using magazines, articles, reviews, and my own personal shopping and buying!

1) A Wool Sporty Hoody - Find yourself a good fitted hoody that has a nice collar and buttons. One with a waist wrap and cuffed sleeves is preferred.

2) A thick shawl or scarf - Infinity scarfs are great because they are really thick, warm, and trendy. Choose a neutral colored scarf or shawl that you can wear with almost anything. Scarfs always look cute with a nice jacket and keep your poor neck safe from that wicked wind!

3) Warm High-top Boots - You can look in any direction and find women wearing boots nowadays. You can find really cute boots at almost any clothing store. My suggestion is to get at least one good pair of boots without a high heel that are suitable for all weather conditions. A pair of suedes that lace up are a good choice because the material is sustainable and the lace-ups are durable and add a fun edge versus the typical zip-up kind.

4) Weatherproof BIG bags - You need to fit everything in it, you need it to be safe in the rain. Find a good bag that you can carry your essentials in! And guess what? They don’t have to be an expensive leather bag. A fine-knit material is just as good in harsh weather conditions while walking outside. Get a bag that is black, brown, or gray so that water isn’t totally noticeable and so your bag won’t clash with what you’re wearing.

5) Convertible wool gloves - Have you ever tried to text or get money out of your wallet with super-cold hands? It’s nearly impossible! Get yourself a GOOD PAIR of gloves! (Not the $1 kind from Fred Meyers) The convertible ones are great because you can wear the mitten while walking from point A to point B, and flip back the ends to have the glove for times when you need your fingers.

In my opinion, you shouldn’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars on good quality clothing items, especially when they are much needed to keep you warm! I think it’s extremely worthwhile to invest in items like the ones above. My travels have been much more enjoyable!

Are They Ever Going Away? Trends that keep coming back for more.

Darcy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:20:11 +0000

In the last decade, we have a seen a variety of trends come back from the grave and make a hit in the present-day fashion era. For instance, the Gaucho pants were popular for quite some time around 2004-2005. The flare jeans have been coming and going for the last ten (plus) years. Leg warmers, leggings, animal print, heavy jewelry, flapper-style dresses, Twiggy-style, and the masculine silhouette of the 1920’s are some uprising trends to name a few. So why do these trends keep coming back? Who decides, “Hey, I think that would be cool to wear even though it’s 60 years obsolete”?

I’ve always wanted to know how designers and stylists come up with their ideas and who thinks of them first. I decided to research these resurrected trends a little more in-depth and attempt to discover what they are, why they returned, and which versions of these styles are hot, and which are just wannabe trend-setters.

After researching many magazines, articles, and websites, I found 10 common trends that were innovated many to few years ago, and are live and thriving in today’s fashion.

1) The Leather Bomber Jacket
Originally intended for the cockpit crews during World War II, this leather piece caught Madonna’s eye in the 80’s fashion revolution, and continued to catch on due to its chic and tough look combined into one.

You’ve got to be careful with these jackets, however, because many of them will fool you into thinking they are the bomber jackets we’re talking about. Look for those that flatter your image and appear to be authentic and simple. Stay away from those with belts, logos, embroideries, or extremely tight sleeves. These guys are trying too hard.

2) The Baby Doll Dress
Beginning in the 60’s, this empirical-figured dress has been a sweet, flirty, and fun way to dress up (and also dress down) due to its versatility of style. This dress has never retired because of its sweetness and forgiveness that allows petite and plus-sized females to be able to rock this dress.

This dress is best in an appropriate, calming color, and with a cut that isn’t too revealing—like a mediocre A-line.

Look out for over-revealing shapes that make this dress incredibly voluminous on a figure. Stay away from crazy colors and added features like ruffles, bows, lace, etc. This dress has a low tolerance for older women trying to look younger with little-girl style ruffles and ribbons. If you think you don’t belong in it, then you probably don’t.

3) Platform Shoes and Boots
From Stevie Nicks to disco-dancin’ lovers—The platform shoe has proved to be a versatile shoe for different people, events, and purposes. They have a fun and flirty effect, but they save your feet at the same time from miserable discomfort.

You don’t want platform and heel to be very much higher than a 4:1 inch ratio. After all, you want to be sophisticated and sexy–not a mall-prowling teen looking for eye candy.

Avoid the extreme heel, colors, and material.

4) The Peasant Skirt
From the 1950’s housewife, 1970’s free-loving hippie, and the everyday carpooling mom—The Peasant Skirt is a loved one because of its sophistication, easy comfort, and classy look.

The peasant skirt can come in so many colors and styles. They can be extremely unique and ethnic, or very simple.

Don’t go overboard with Kiera Knightly in Pirates of the Caribbean and get a skirt that is overly-dramatic.

5) The Tie-Neck Blouse
This blouse has been a way to express femininity, confidence, and modesty all in one for many years.

Look for tie-necks made by bigger designers that have more emphasis on the classiness and sophistication in the color, material, or fit. These ones tend to be made with better proportions and look flattering on a variety of women.

If its made by a cheap, mass-producing designer, you should stay away. This style of blouse is too sophisticated and sleek to be made by anything else than a designer that uses the best material and color. If you aren’t willing to spend the extra few bucks—Choose a different style of blouse.

6) Leggings & Skinny Jeans
Whether you’re layering for style or comfort, dressing down with an over-sized sweater or dressing up with a cutesy dress, leggings and skinny jeans have been made in many styles and look good in multiple ways. They are also a great way to show off legs or cute heels without showing skin.

For leggings, choose the darker colors that can be paired with multiple outfits or materials like cute lace or corduroy that keeps your look trendy. For skinny jeans, stick to figure-flattering styles that keep you looking flirty and fun.

A lot of designers got a little legging-happy over the last couple years with zippers at the ankles, intentional tears & rips, and extreme neon colors or animal prints. STAY AWAY FROM THESE.

7) Ankle Boots
It would probably surprise you to know that these little wonders were inspired by 19th Century soldiers. These boots are loved by many women because of their ability to be worn with all different types of calf sizes, and you can get the look and the height of a boot without having to go full-length under trousers.

Stick to simple, dark colors like black, brown, or dark blue.

Avoid crazy prints like snake print material or bright red. You also want to be careful of how pointy the toe is.

8 ) Patent Leather
Since the1800s, the high-gloss material has been hot over and over again. Patent leather gives your outfit an instant wow factor, but it’s still an approachable and wearable trend that can be simplified if needed.

This material is ok if it’s an accessory such as a clutch or a simple handbag, skinny belt, or pumps—especially in a basic color like black, nude, or red.

If you find a leather jacket that is half leather, half shiny jacket with shoulder pads—Turn the other way.

9) Wedges
Generations of high-stepping women have loved these shoes since the first pair was constructed from wine-bottle corks in the 1930s. They give women the psychological feeling of great height―but with much more comfort than typical heels.

They keep up with all that walking and talking that you do and do not wear and tear due to their material.

They are still cute, but closed-toe wedges are WAY more uncomfortable than open-toed wedges. Want to be safe than sorry? Stick to the open-toed.

10) Animal Print
Animal prints make women feel wild and fierce. That is why this print has been popular way back since the 1950’s, continuing to put women’s fashion on the rise.

Look for the larger-cat prints on clothing and accessories like cheetah and leopard prints.

Stay away from colored-animal prints or larger, out-of-scale prints that seem totally unnatural. You don’t want to look like your trying to hard to be a Sasha Fierce.

Forget Ordering Online—Find a Store Near You!

Darcy — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:11:08 +0000

It’s extremely easy to see a pair of wedges or trendy sandals online and impulsively click on “Buy now”. I think we’ve all had the apparel shipping nightmare where our desired package finally arrives to our homes after a long shipping wait, and we find that the shoes we told everyone about and hoped to wear by tomorrow are WAY too small!

The obvious answer would be to physically go shopping in a store or mall, but let’s face it, we don’t always have the time and patience to shop around and find the perfect shoe. What if we could shop online, know exactly where to find the shoe, and maybe even call ahead and have the shoes put on hold on a store really close to you?

Well, ladies and gents, the rising development of the Store Locator for businesses is becoming quite the useful tool for both business owners and shoppers. As a business owner, you can easily integrate and customize a store locator into your site that allows your visitors to see which stores around their GPS location currently carry your store’s products. Better yet, the locator page has all the contact information for the stores so they can find an address and a phone number, making it easier to find or call ahead.

Brand-Apps, is a new site dedicated to the growing trends between business and customer relation. You can also visit their Facebook page here.

Never worry about guessing or assuming your shoe size online again! After all, many brands’ sizes run differently, and you never truly know if the shoe is the perfect fit until you try it on. Businesses: Make it easier for your customers to shop accordingly!

A 40-Something Fashion Epidemic

Darcy — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:08:16 +0000

Thanks to the real housewives of Orange County, Atlanta, New York, and Miami, women in their forties and even fifties are experiencing an epidemic that middle aged women have never experienced before. The age of the cougar is alive and breathing, and women, who some would say aren’t familiar with the current trends, are setting the trends.

My mom, for example, is a 42-year old hair stylist who has been single for five years and is unaware of her powerful beauty and style. After her last break-up, she didn’t exactly take significant amount of time to get ready in the mornings. She continuously wore sweats, sweatshirts, and tennis shoes, no matter where she was going.

Then, something happened. She began to accept the fact that her life wasn’t over just because she was a middle-aged single mom. She began to ask me time and time again for fashion, makeup, and hair advice. Let me tell you, as her (then) 20-year old daughter, I absolutely loved being her consultant. Now, I actually find myself looking to her for advice, sneaking into her closet for clothes, and getting jealous of the new clothes she comes home with. My mom, ladies and gentlemen, is a 40-something trend setter.

For the women, like my mother, who aren’t exactly 100% confident in their own skin, fashion has allowed us as women to hide our flaws with different styles. For example, the use of over sized cardigans, sweaters, and dresses with leggings allows us to focus less on our curves, and more on our clothes. It’s tough, sometimes, to be so happy about a new outfit, if we aren’t exactly happy with our bodies. As women, however, that’s just a price we have to pay. Confidence isn’t always the winning trait that we tend to have.

My mom has a few different distinctive styles that are her go-tos. The first fashion trademark she has, is her use of heavy and layered jewelry. If she’s feeling self-conscious in a new lower-cut shirt, she’ll pack on the necklaces. Enough for a little big of comfort, but not enough to cause back problems. Careful though, ladies. If you choose to wear layered necklaces, go light on the earrings, bracelets, and rings—you don’t want to be confused for a gypsy.

Another killer trend that my mom has adapted to is the over-sized belt around the waist. With a defined waistline, this style allows us to turn casual outfits into trendier, modern get-ups. What’s even better with the big belt, is putting in some high boots as well. Cowboy boots or high-top boots make a great addition to the look of the belt because it forces people to focus on those two aspects of the outfit. Belts and boots are attention grabbers because a belt is a larger accessory that typically isn’t worn around the waist, and therefore, stands out. It also is a definer, meaning that it defined the mid-section, creating a new shape. Boots are a great addition because, depending on their length, they make your legs appear to be longer than they really are. You are probably already familiar with the skinny jean and boot combo, which is worn because of this reason: WOMEN WANT LENGTH!

Finally, cuffed, 3/4 length tops are a great choice of top for those 40-somethings. They are slim fitting, come in nearly ever color, patter, and fabric, and go GREAT with that big belt! Cuffed shirts can also be combined with nearly any kind of jewelry, especially with necklaces because of their v-neck shape. Putting this entire outfit together: a cuffed button down shirt, skinny jeans, high-top boots, and layered jewelry, you’ve created the perfect 40-something outfit! Thanks mom!

The Comeback of the Masculine Closet

Darcy — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:29:55 +0000

A trendy lifestyle is beginning to make its way through men’s fashion nowadays. Not only are men realizing that they can follow trends and styles, but they are realizing they can follow trends and styles without losing their masculinity. A man who isn’t afraid to rock a blazer jacket or dressy jeans will show confidence and style.

Men’s fashion today is on the rise and becoming very classy and sophisticated. I believe that guys are becoming more aware of their possibilities; They aren’t limited to a basic t-shirt and jeans or basketball shorts. Unfortunately, guys are usually under the assumption that they don’t need to dress to impress, because no one expects them too. However, clothing brands and stores like Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, H&M, and Nordstrom are making things very interesting for guy’s fashion.

Take for example, the men’s blazer jacket. With almost any pair of jeans and a plain white tee, a black blazer can dress up a guy’s wardrobe and make him appear mature, sharp, and of course, fashionable. Another option is a simple, back, button-up vest that can be worn with almost anything. Overall, it seems that a popular trend for men is to take a well-known dressy clothing item, (suit/blazer jackets, ties, suspenders, etc.) and match it with a casual outfit in order to dress up the ensemble. Other jackets that are hot items include the bomber, military, and racer styles. Mistakenly, some men think that any piece of clothing that is considered “fashionable” can also harm their ego. Wake up guys and smell the brewing pot of trend: looking good doesn’t make you less of a man.

In fact, I’ve noticed that men who, not necessarily go above and beyond, but make a point to dress stylish are noticed more by women and appear “cleaner”. Presently, there is more of an urban-indie look that is rocking the streets of guy fashion today. The V-neck and dark, cuffed, skinny jeans are the essentials of a guy’s closet according to the recent trends. Sailor scoop-neck tanks are also a hot trend for the warmer spring/summer months.

If you think the trends and styles that we see in the U.S are born and raised here, think again. Most all of the high fashion trends that we see and obsess of here are born as European fashion, and eventually makes its way over to us through magazines like Vogue, Elle, GQ, etc. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune and rock brands like 7 For All Mankind or Citizen in order to experience the trend heat. A store like Urban Outfitters has a lot of wide focus on men’s fashion at a lower price including big designer jeans, shoes, tees, sweaters, and even accessories like jewelry and sunglasses. However, if you want an even better deal, companies like Forever 21 and H&M offer a ton of great styles for men at an incredible fraction of designer price.

Men should no longer have an excuse to avoid a trending style. Girls dig it, his wallet won’t hate it, and masculinity isn’t lost within it.

The Like and Dislike Stamp

Darcy — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:20:08 +0000

Late last summer, a digital design studio out of the UK called Nation, came up with an idea to take advantage of the popular “like” feature on Facebook. They thought it would be funny to have a way to take the online “like” feature and apply it offline to their co-workers paperwork. What started out as a joke, turned into a full-fledged idea which became the “like” and “dislike” rubber stamp. It turned out to be a big hit as the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, bought some of these stamps for himself.

The problem many Americans found was the high costs of ordering these stamps from overseas. However, several U.S. based companies have found a way to bring the costs down and sell them domestically. I searched on the web doing some comparison shopping and stumbled upon Stamp-Connection, which offered a superior like and dislike stamp set at the best price on the web. For only $9.95, you could get a high quality 2 stamp set (pre-inked and self inking), shipped out the same day as your order was placed. They actually have a pretty creative selection of other specialty stamps I discovered while on their site. I think that the prices were so low because they are a manufacturer and retailer, so there were no high import costs or middle man involved.

What I love is that you get not only the like stamp of approval, but also a much needed “dislike” stamp of disapproval. I’ve always felt that Facebook needed a “dislike” too, because there are plenty of comments that I am not a fan of or even neutral about and I really want to express that with a dislike button. Now I can quickly mark my opinion on all sorts of things.

Current Contemporary Trends

Darcy — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:42:19 +0000

If you are like me and like to stay current in decorating trends you will be happy to know it is easier then you think! When people think of contemporary they usually think of cold and minimal style but today’s contemporary trends are warm and comforting with out the clutter.

There are some basic rules to follow if you want to achieve a contemporary look. First of all simplicity and clean lines is what you are after when it comes to the over all look and feel. Your interior should focus on showing space instead of focusing on the actual items that take up the space. If you maintain your thoughts to color, space and shapes you will have a sleek and fresh look every time!

The next thing to keep in mind is color. In contemporary trends main colors are neutrals, black and white. With all of your main back drops using these colors you want to use bold accessories that will stand out in every angle. If you happen to have bright walls then the opposite rule applies you accessories should be neutral colors. Follow these color rules and you will be on your way to contemporary style in no time.

The last thing to remember is lines and spaces make or break your contemporary style. Clean lines is a must and with interior design less is more, the space between your accessories is just as important as the accessory it self. So never be afraid of bare space and learn how to embrace it with every accessory added.

Follow these tips and before you know it you will have current contemporary styles all around you.

2011 Style Trends

Darcy — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:14:54 +0000

What does 2011 hold for style trends and are you on top of them? Below are the some of the new trends to look out for this Spring and Summer.

1. I know it is 2011 but apparently the 70’s glamour is back in a whole new light. Be on the look out for elegant blouses and shimmering wardrobes as the 70’s comes back like never before.

2. We all know how popular the military trend was well in 2011 we are going from military to a little bit edgier the biker look.

3. Punk fashion is back and you don’t want to get this look wrong.

4. Not long behind the 70’s the 60’s are also back with hip-hugging sheath dresses and full circle skirts.

5. Skinny jeans are old news and so the new news is bell bottoms and flared to keep it funky.

6. Wide leg pants are back and better then ever.

7. Capri pants have never not been in season and this stays true to 2011.

8. You have seen it time and time again - dresses that are shorter in the front and longer in the back.

9. Jump suits are here with a whole new twist.

10. Be ready to show off those abs because the crop tops are back and hotter then ever!

My New Hair Style

Darcy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:05:28 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I love being a girl. No matter what time of the year it is, if I want to completely change my look I can change my hair color, get a hair cut and adjust my makeup accordingly and I feel like a completely different person.

I have been going back and forth whether or not to have long hair or short hair. I got married last August and I grew my hair out for a year for the wedding. So after the wedding the first thing I wanted to do was chop it all off - and I did!

Since I cut it off to about shoulder length, I have been letting it grow out ever since. It has been about six months so I finally have some length back. Now it comes down to this question - do I keep the look I have had for the last few months or should I start looking at new hairstyles?

My whole life I have always had the pattern to go blonder in the spring and summer time and darker in the fall and winter. The problem is I have been blond now since last summer and I am getting bored with it.

I think next time I go to the salon I am going to get a whole new look! I want to add a bunch of brown back into my hair and just give it a little more of an edge. The picture I attached is what I have in mind.

I will keep you all posted on how it goes…

Wish me luck!

My Tattoo Removal

Darcy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:39:03 +0000

Have you ever thought about having a tattoo removed? When I was eighteen I made the mistake of getting a tattoo and now that I am older I really regret this decision. I have been looking for a good Los Angeles laser tattoo removal clinic. Since I live in the LA area I prefer a dermatologist who is close, but also someone I can trust.

Celibre is not only close to my home, but they offer advanced laser dermatology to meet all my needs. They do everything from acne treatment to Botox to tattoo removals. Los Angeles Dermatologist Celibre offers over 30 years of custom injection and laser removal experience so I know I can trust them with my skin.

My mom is currently in the market for a wrinkle removal treatment so when I go in for my consultation she is going to come as well to talk to the dermatologist about the different options available to her that will best fit her needs.

She has thought about having Botox done but she is also interested in laser removal treatments. I am so excited for our appointment! I will be sure to keep you posted on how everything goes.