Out & About: RiRi in ruffles

Who: Rihanna

What: Heading to the Louis Vuitton store around CHamps Elysees with bf Chris Brown

Where: Paris, France

Wearing: Sunglasses, a black cardigan with major ruffles, skintight pants, and black boots

When: December 18, 2008


No matter what, Rihanna manages to look fierce 24/7. She tends to choose really strong, outstanding pieces--like this top completely smothered in ruffles--and wears them with total confidence and a devil-may-care attitude, which is one of the things I love about her fashion sense! This head-to-toe black ensemble is just another of her ballsy signature looks.

(Photo Credit: JustJared.Com)

A long-sleeved minidress

On this model, this Savee Couture floral minidress looks a little sexier than I envision it on myself--what with her tan, blonde hair, and cleavage! But when I saw it, I was instantly attracted to the Japanese-style cherry blossoms print and how the colors--beige, pink, green and black--looked so striking together. I think this could be a fun piece to play around with, especially since I rarely wear floral patterns. I also have a thing for minidresses with long sleeves, which I think adds a nice balance of modesty to an otherwise skin-baring outfit. 

You can find a collection of amazing Savee Couture dresses at ShopLAOnline.com. While you're there, be sure to check out these other fab designers: *Sky Dresses, *Ella Moss, *Frankie B Denim, and *LaROK Leggings & Tops.

Fluid modern cuffs

I recently blogged about how I'm looking for the right pair of bracelets or cuffs to wear as my signature accessory. While on the hunt for the perfect pair, I came across these modern looking Elizabeth and James bold silver cuffs. I'm such a fan of the line's clothing, so it's easy to translate that love onto the jewelry that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are selling under the line. I mean, take a look at this beauty! The cuff is big and bold, possessing a kind of fluid, organic quality about it, with the cut outs and curved shape. My only gripe is its price, which is a whopping $525 for mere sterling silver! We're not even talking 18k gold here. Apparently, the cuff is sold out on Revolve's website too... and here I thought we were in a recession! For now, I'll just have to admire from afar and scrounge eBay for this lovely creation.

On Sale: Ed Hardy's shin boots

I'm going to take this opportunity to express how much I love my Ed Hardy shin boots, which I've blogged about in the past. I wore them for the first time to the office the other day (thank God for workplaces that allow us to dress pretty much however we want!) and got an avalanche of really nice compliments. Of course, there was a smattering of glitter on the floor when I got up to leave, and some other people in the building (who must adhere to stricter dress codes) gave me strange looks in the elevator, but I was so excited to show off my awesome shoe purchase! It has recently come to my attention that the boots, in this brown version on the left, are on sale, about $30 less than when I bought them at the Wild Pair store. So if you're itching for a new pair of stylin' kicks, hurry and snatch them up before they're all sold out!

Sampling Myne

Last week, my friend told me about an awesome Daftbird and Myne sample sale in the Los Angeles Apparel Building downtown. I'm so glad that I stopped by because I picked up some awesome pieces that will bulk up my winter wardrobe and will be easy to incorporate into my spring outfits as well! I bought this navy silk shirtdress from Myne's Fall 2008 collection, which I thought would go well with these strappy Guess boots and a pair of patterned tights. The soft cowl neck draping, small gold buttons, and side pockets are the kind of thoughtful details I appreciate in clothes... so I'm glad it's all Myne!

Dressing for Vegas

Since I'm planning on a trip to Vegas sometime early next year, I've been on the lookout for some Sin City-appropriate clothes. I was staggered when I walked into Divine boutique and spotted this Ema Savahl corset dress hanging on the rack. This lovely beige version on the left is nice, but my top pick is the version in black with taupe-colored detailing and crystals, which I couldn't find a picture of anywhere on the web. The contrast of the two colors--dark and light--make the dress that much more outstanding. Although Ema Savahl's creations are often worn by celebs like Paris Hilton, who favor the flashy, showy designs, I think this dress is the perfect blend of sexy and unique. Its shape gives the wearer a lovely babydoll figure, and the heavy Swarovski appliques and swirling pattern make you stand out in a crowd. It's a dress I'd definitely wear to party hardy in Vegas or even on my next birthday... it's never too early to start planning, right!?

An early Christmas present

Hurray! After coveting it for several weeks, I am now the proud owner of this 3.1 Phillip Lim belted equestrian vest! It was given to me as an early Christmas present and I'm simply over the moon about it. This classic piece that will never go out of style is made of the most thick, high-quality wool blend. The vest cinches in your waist and is flattering on nearly every figure. So far, I've experimented wearing it with cigarette jeans and a tight skirt, and the outfits have always turned out super chic. I have a feeling I'll be rocking this vest for a very, very long time!

Out & About: Feathery fun

Who: Jessica Szohr

What: Attending the Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style launch

Where: Los Angeles, California

Wearing: An Elizabeth & James tunic with feather detail and tight black leggings

When: October 2, 2008


I just recently blogged about Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr and how much I love her cheeky, slightly irreverent style, and she's already popped back up on my fashion radar yet again! I somehow missed her rocking this outfit at an event in early October, but I'm glad to see that she's a fan of Elizabeth & James as much as I am!

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

A twist on the classics

Club Monaco is simply spot on with this outfit on the left. First of all, it gives off some of that Gossip Girl and Blair Waldorf-inspired vibe, without seeming too uptight. A striped red turtleneck and high-neck white button down shirt are perfect for any girl attending the Constance Billiard School for Girls, while layered gold necklaces, a ruffled chiffon skirt, and patent leather belt offer a funky twist to the usual preppy basics. Leather gloves in matching red top off this perfectly accessorized outfit. I need to get myself to the nearest Club Monaco ASAP!

Carelessly chic

Some people may disagree with me, but I'm totally in love with Jessica Szohr's carefree style. Take this outfit she wore to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach grand opening just a few weeks ago--a sheer loose blouse tucked into low-rise, skinny dark jeans, a peek-a-boo black bra, a stack of bracelets shoved onto one wrist, and a feminine fedora hat. The Gossip Girl star embodies that whole aura of indifferent dressing: casual yet trendy, a tad sexy without looking trashy. And of course Jessica's fun attitude just completes the whole look! It's funny because even though I adore Leighton Meester's style, I also really like her costar's way of dressing, which is totally the opposite of Leighton's in real life and on Gossip Girl! It just goes to show that there's room for many different style aesthetics and you never have to limit yourself to one.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Abstract blue

Online dress shopping can be so dangerous--it's just one beautiful dress after another. Yaya Aflalo's Yale dress immediately jumped out of the page with its lively blue watercolor print. The abstract swirls of blue and white completely cover the silk frock, which also has this subtle floral jacquard pattern you can only observe from up close. The wide scoop neck, elbow-length sleeves, and belted waist are all conservative enough for work, but those brilliant blue swirls practically beg for attention. This is the type of dress where you don't need any accessorizing--it's a thrown-on-and-go piece that can take you just about anywhere.

Phillip Lim's Cadet jacket

The other day, I was browsing through the sale racks at BCBG and found a beautiful gray jacket with ruffles down the front and fell in love almost instantly. It was painful to walk away because even though it was on sale, it was still a tad too much. In an attempt to make myself feel better, the next day I browsed my favorite online stores to look for a jacket that I'd like even better. That's when I found the 3.1 Phillip Lim Cadet jacket, which clocks in at an impressive $595. First of all, it's in my fave color red. I love the military-style buttons, asymmetrical gray ribbon panels down the front, and 3/4 quarter length leg-o-mutton sleeves. It's super chic and I'm completely crazy about it! For the past two weeks, I've been pondering whether or not it's worth the hefty price tag. I'll be monitoring it closely and crossing my fingers that it'll go on sale soon!

A functional day dress

I was browsing through the racks at Cusp at the Century City mall last weekend, when I stumbled upon this black zip up jersey dress from Twenty8Twelve, Sienna Miller's clothing line with her sister. On the hanger it looked a little simple, but after trying it on, I completely fell in love! The zippers running up the sides can be adjusted however you wish and add a punky twist to the dress. And it's so easy to create different kinds of looks-- wear it with stockings and lace-up boots, with skinny jeans, or layered underneath a blazer. Gotta love a piece that's so functional and goes with pretty much anything!

Edit: I just spotted it last night on the latest episode of Gossip Girl, "It's a Wonderful Lie." Jenny Humphrey (aka Taylor Momsen) wears it at home when Vanessa is over visiting!

Signature Accessory: Gold Bracelets

Little known fashion fact about me: From the time I was four up until I was 17 or 18 years old, I used to wear a thin gold bracelet around each wrist. They weren't fancy--just 24k solid bracelets, not very thick--but I wore them every second of the day (even when I was taking a shower or swimming) and literally grew into them. The last few years I wore them, I could not take them off even if I wanted to because my wrists had grown too big for the narrow bracelets. We finally had a jeweler cut the bracelets right off my arms and my mom has them stored away somewhere. But I recently started thinking about how much I loved wearing them because of the story behind it (everyone would ask why I wore these bracelets, and I'd explain how they were a gift from my grandmother) and they were my signature accessory. Now, years later, I'd love to have another pair of signature bracelets--or even cuffs--to wear. I've been perusing Tiffany & Co. for some good options. The crazy Jean Schlumberger twist bracelets are gorgeous but pricey. I like the idea of these modern Etoile bangles with a few diamonds. This classic bracelet is probably closest to the original ones from my childhood. The Elsa Peretti Wave three-row bracelet (pictured) offers a more elaborate twist, while these Frank Gehry Flux cuffs really make a bold statement. I'm completely torn between all these choices, but somehow, I'm sure price will factor into this big time! If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Out & About: Pretty in plaid

Who: Rihanna

What: Rehearsing onstage for the American Music Awards

Where: Los Angeles, California

Wearing: A fitted plaid shirt, skinny dark jeans, thin brown leather belt, hoop earrings, and dark sunglasses

When: November 20, 2008


Even while simply rehearsing for the big show, Rihanna makes a fashion statement. In my opinion, she completely owns this outfit. It's a simple combo of dark jeans and a casual button-down shirt, but she makes it work with fitted pieces and strong accessories.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Flowers in your hair

I've always loved the thought of wearing flowers in your hair. During my sister's wedding, our stylists wound fresh flowers in our hair and the pretty floral additions lent our outfits a very fresh, youthful vibe. No wonder ban.do, founded by two Los Angeles native stylists with a great eye for color, is at the top of my go-to list when seeking gorgeous hair accessories. One of my faves is this eye-popping fuchsia silk flower attached to vintage silk netting. It's so versatile that you can tie it in a myriad of ways for different looks. I like the way it's styled on the model. The enormous flower--so pretty, so whimsical!--rests on the side of her head, as if she'd just plucked a fresh flower and pinned it to her hair. Beautiful!