MAD IN PLAID

Disclaimer

What you are about to witness may cause internal radifications that will stay with you for the rest of your life (or at least until the videos over ;))

(blazer-worthington, dress-f21, tank-hanes, tights-target, flats-payless)

Foreva, foreva, eva!

As of a few months ago, Forever 21 officially bought out Mervyn's department store due to the recession and economical decline; as dissapointed as your grandmother must've been, their loss was definitely our gain! I hope everyone has been lucky enough to witness firsthand, the gigantic amazement that is now Forever 21: the department store! If you've ever been to Mervyn's to buy tube socks for your boyfriend or discretely purchase a new top (sshh), then you're aware of how large that store was; for that entire entity to be filled with nothing but the latest versatile, essential, amazing, and easy-on-the-pocket finds is basically the equivalient of heaven in Earth form, no?

(Kinda?) Fun Fact: Forever 21 actually has official names for each seperate department in their new home to generalize the style of clothing each section entails; these concepts are based upon Elle magazine's vision of current, popular trends among young women. The concepts change every six weeks, and as big as the new Forever 21 store is, it can be inexplicably frustrating when one finally gets the concept and product placement of all the sections down pact, only to find them completely different the next day.

Current Concepts:
Punk Princess (personal favorite): Exactly what it sounds like. A mix of girly glamour with a punk rock edge. Tulle lined skirts paired with studded corsets, plaid with distressed detailing, oversized bows and bubble hemmed coreset dresses...if I was a piece of clothing I would definitely live there!
Boheiman Rhapsody: Hippie meets gypsy. Flowy, sheer, tops and skirts, distressed flares, nuetral floral printed tunics, many vintage prints, prarie skirts, tie dyed maxi dresses...think Nicole Richie back in her hey-day/Kate Hudson via Almost Famous.
Out of Africa: Before the concepts were changed, this section was referred to as safari because it has many tribal detailed halters, flowy tops, and animal printed ruffles. Brown, beige, burnt orange, and sepia flood this section. One of it's best features are the rompers, ranging in color, detail, and print.
Petal Pusher: For the pretty, feminine, sweetheart in all of us. This section entails collared blouses, many soft florals, frills, and lace. Pink and cream dominate this area, and the ultra feminine skirts are sooo sickingly sweet, the urge to regress into your childhood days and throw an elegant tea party for your teddy bears is extremely hard to resist.
Varsity Blues: Yep, it's prep! Sweater vests galore, cozy trousers, and poor boy caps are just some of the fun, team spirited pieces one can find in this section. There are also super comfy and cute boyfriend cardigans and collared button downs that beckon you to purchase one in every color.
Easy Rider: Biker chick? Every weekend Forever 21 encourages its employees to dress in a certain concept based theme in order to exemplify the different styles the store has. The concept's idea is basically grunge with a Harley Davidson edge (body con dresses, oversized plaid, studded vests), it seems that some people had trouble understanding the look because in the break room where the current weekend's theme is posted, the flyer simpy read "Easy Rider: Make it Work."

In addition, the store's employees are separated into different quads, which ever quad rocks the weekend's theme the best wins a pizza party. Since I'm a visual merchandiser and don't work in a designated quad I am routinely excluded from the contest. Nevertheless, I still enjoy dressing in tie with the theme; am I the only one who loves themes? It's sooo fun, right? Kinda feels like a costume party...a little, haha.
And now that you know much more information about Forever 21 than one ever should, surprise an associate the next time you're there by referring to a section by name; maybe you'll get a discount!

Hello Kitty Day

Sooo I woke up feeling goood! You know one of those mornings where the day just feels promising and everything you do seems so relaxing and chill??? I said to myself "Self, I hereby declare today Hello Kitty day!" Throughout this miraculous day filled with amazing Fashion District finds and delicious sushi rice and seaweed from Grand Central Market, I randomly notified friendly looking passerby of the self proclaimed holiday! A few people smiled and pulled out their Hello Kitty wallets, key chains, or other memorabilia and cheered in the shared obsession, but most people were like "Really? It is?" wherein I boldly and confidently responded, all thirty two teeth on display, "YES!"

I wish you could see the button detailing on the collar of this blouse, it adds interest to such an otherwise basic top (did I really just use blouse in a sentence? I can feel my low rise skinnies turning into mom jeans :/ ). Also, I have a bad habit of shredding many of my tights, it just looks a little too put together/plain Jane for meeh when they're perfectly solid. Oh, I'd also like to introduce you to the Kanyeeezies, I was very much in lust when I saw these sunnies perched on the rack at a Downtown botique, I think they add a little supa fly swag to the ensemble.

(beanie- random, sunnies- fashion district, jacket-bitten by sjp, top- vintage, scarves- target, armwarmer- wet seal, tights- claires botique, legwarmers- fashion district, chuck taylors- journeys, hk purse- target)

Feliz Domingo

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Have a beautiful breezy Sunday...

pc: lelove

Street Geek

Sometimes I'm a little too loud. Somedays I wear Chuck Taylors with dresses. Everyday I wear two different earrings. With jeans I tend to wear my belt backward. There are times that when completely sober, I have trouble walking in a straight line.

Does that qualify meeh as a geek???

What is a geek to you???

(sweater-steve n barrys, button down- rave, pants-dickies, glasses- chinatown)

Michael Cera is the best geek ever. I'd overfill his mailbox with a bunch of orange tic-tacs any day.

Atteeeeeention!

Aaaaah, I'm being attacked by military jackets!!! EVERYWHERE!!! Thanks a lot Balmain, you trendsetter, you! Although I am a 'true fashionista' (heh, heh) and hate the thought of following trends b/c I'm sooo uber-fashionably, uniquely, creative, and independently stylish (riiiight)...I must admit I am loooovin' this military jacket thing going on EVERYWHERE!!!
I was in this boutique in LA the other day called Fame and there was this gooooorgeous, flyyer than falcons, bombness-infested military inspired jacket! It was fire engine red with luscious gold detailing, and hit the hipbone with perfection! Sadly, I failed to purchase it (recession, hello, haha) and even sadderly, failed to take a picture of it, grrr... But mark my words when I say it was BANGIN' to the umpteenth power! It better be there when I return or I'm getting a real military jacket, a real military rifle, and hunting down the evil shopper who dared to purchase the jacket that rests safely in the lay-away section...of my mind.
We're not surprised that Rihanna rocked the trend amaziiiingly, right? And although I've heard that she's recieving some heat for her MJ's hey day inspired hairdo...it completes her look beautifully and she pulls it off sooo hard! Memo to those living under a rock: Rihanna is the shyzz-nizz, indeed!

pc: denimology

p.s: ...and while I looove Rihanna, I must take this oppurtunity to vent that I absolutely despise (x1000) when people wear long sleeves with shorts...grr...you're either hot or you're cold, hot or cold dammit, you can't be both! That goes for pairing heavy knits with sandals too...yeesh...I feel a 'fashion dont's' post coming along...

Back to the Future

Does the weather of a season always tend to remind you of that of the previous year??? Yeah, it does for meeh too. Waking up to the same breezy sunshine; my many shades of pink, silver encrusted curtains casting a bright, florescent hue to my entire room...a satisfying sense of deja vu washes over me.
Last spring I was all about 'hippie' style, i.e: peace sign everything, flowy this, oversized that, scarves as headbands, the whole she-bang. I remember it just feeling right. The weather, the clothing- accentuated my casual, laid back, sleepily happy, spring like persona perfectly!

And with all the recent ravenous talk of Balmain's rock 'n roll inspired spring runway, methinks this season's trend is slowly but surely reverting once again back to the days of hazy euphoria and contented bliss, dancing under the stars and partying like it's 1982. I'm excited to buy a big bottle of Clorox bleach and reincarnate some of my old favorites into new favorites with the help of a good seam ripper, a bathtub of bleach, and my trusty fabric shears.

Currently feeling: pale colored hoodies, acid wash, distressed denim, nuetrals (x1000-sooo yum right now), low top sneakers, long stretch v necks, simple, midriff bearing tanks, sheer, flowy sundresses, understated florals, and sun bleached, wavy locks...

I've dug up a few looks from this time last year when I would've given anything for a vintage record player, a beautiful glass bong, and a road trip to nowhere, dippin' in one of these; I'm dying to buy one btw ;)))