Uber Versatile Dress!

I was shopping in Shadyside yesterday and somehow found myself in Benetton yet again. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the light grey sheath dress I've had my eye on for a couple of months had taken a drastic discount. Now at an irresistable $30, I had to purchase it. I am absolutely thrilled about this piece. Plus I trust Benetton to make high-quality clothing since they are an Italian owned company. Its good to know it won't fall apart on me. Best of all, its machine washable! I really hate having things dry-cleaned. Isn't it just the worst when you really want to wear something but remember that it is at the cleaners?

Sheath dresses are incredibly versatile, so I know I will get a lot of wear out of this piece. For instance today, I paired it with a peach-colored GAP cardigan, belted with a skinny gold braided belt and my H&M leopard peep-toe flats. I added a somewhat funky silk chord necklace for a fun youthful effect. For class, I'd probably add my purple zip-up Betsy Johnson sweater I got a Buffalo Exchange awhile back and some simple black flats.

In the winter, I plan on layering the dress over a black mock turtleneck and black textured tights. Throw on a pair of flat riding boots and maybe a thicker belt in forest green and you're out the door. This winter look has a very Audrey Hepburn feel in my head. Alternatively, I might try it with a purplish blue mock turtleneck, already in my wardrobe and slightly darker grey patterned tights for a less conservative look with a little more color. I'd probably add the same black riding boots and skip the belt.

Best of all, this dress will slide seamlessly into my work wardrobe after graduation next year. It is quite business like. So for now, I can wear it in not-quite-so-conservative edgier ways and later tone it down for a more corporate work-appropriate feel. I'm thinking I might even be able to wear it out when my man takes me to a nice dinner. Add my most unique belt and my red patent lace-up peep toe flats. Top it off with a black shrug, I'm thinking this satiny cropped zip-up number I got in Switzerland during my semester abroad. All in all, I would definitely consider this piece a good buy. That's one dress done five ways! Talk about versatility! I will try to post some pics of these looks later this week. I promise the next post won't take as long as this one did! Sorry about the wait.

Bold Silk Shorts

      Buongiorno! Today, I will be talking about silk shorts! I've been seeing these in a lot of magazines and all over the stores. Usually, I don't really get into the summer trends, but this year I'm really feeling them. Probably because I'm not in my hometown this summer (where it was 108*F just yesterday) spending my days in doors and out of the dreadful heat. Instead, I'm farther north at in internship in my college town.

      But enough about me, lets focus on the fashion! So shorts are pretty basic in the summer. But usually when one thinks of shorts, one imagines cotton, denium, or maybe linen. Lately, however, we've been seeing designers crank out this summer favorite in a luxurious silk. It seems just slightly pajamaish, and the shinyness may be a little more of an attention grabber, but one you try on a pair, you will see just how beautifully they hang. And the fabric is so light and airy; its really quite brillant for summer. The silk does add a certain dressiness though, so you might have to dress them down for everyday wear. I'm pairing these with sandals (as I do everything in the summer), a cotton tank, and a light-weight cardigan. I like to balance out the amount of skin shown to keep the look a little more modest and far from trashy. Thus, a little more coverage is a must. Below are a few options that caught my eye from around the web.

Option 1:
      This trendy number is from Alexander Wang and for that reason a little on the pricy side. Sorry, but I always like to include a designer option just for kicks. The silvery-grey works great as a neutral and could therefore be paired with just about any top already in your wardrobe. I think the pleats in the front will also be quite flattering for girls who, like myself, have a little more meat on their theighs. You can find these babies at shopbop.com (click photo for link) on sale fore $115. Personally, thats a bit more than I'm willing to spend on a pair of shorts. But if you really like, more power to ya! Watch out though, doesn't look like there are many sizes left!



Option 2:
      These more reasonably priced shorts are equally cute, in my opinion. They again make use of the pleating in the front and come in either this jade color at left or a more neutral and versatile navy. Either one seems like a good option. I think I'd like the green with something cream or maybe even a pale yellow, while the navy I'd probably pair with a magenta top. These seem a little less shiny, so if you're not overly daring, they may be a better option. At about $30, they certainly won't break the bank. I think these may be my favorites, although they are a little shorter than what I normally am brave enough to sport. But if you've got great legs, these would show them off wonderfully!


Option 3:
      Option three here I actually added to my wardrobe during my last trip to Express, one of my favorite shopping venues. These are really pretty flattering and the higher waist helps create that hourglass figure that women strive for. They are available in black or tea (at left), and are on sale now for $16! You can't beat that. The "tea" as they call it, is pretty much gold and a little on the bright side, so be forewarned. I don't think my boyfriend cares much for them, but oh well! I dress for me, not for him! The black does seem really fancy, so you may have to take some drastic measures to pair it down for the day.




Option 4:

      The last option I've chosen is again from Express and again going for a mere $16! Express really does have some amazing deals. I believe a good portion of my wardrobe was supplied by this chain and it all holds up pretty well. These are offered in a more subtle indigo or currant.




      Well, that's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this post and do let me know if you decide to try out this trend. Or if you've already been sporting silk shorts around town. I'd love to know how you wear them. Until next time!

Low-fat Delicious Dessert

      Ok. I just created a really good dessert that I thought I'd share. This blog is still very new and exciting to me, so I just want to write about everything. So, I'm trying to lose a few pounds in order to look better in that romper I'm so excited to go shopping for. Thus, when my sweet-tooth cried out, which it often does, I took a trip to my fridge rather than a trip to the fantastic ice cream shop that is literally down the street from my apartment (they have baklava as a mix in option -- thats how good it is). Instead, I found part-skim ricotta cheese. One of my favorite cheeses. It is so versatile and tasty! So I put about 2 spoonfuls of that in a short glass, added a splash of fat-free half and half. Then another splash of sugar-free Almond syrup. I love almond! Then I added a small handful of sliced almonds and two handfuls of fresh blueberries. I love eating fresh fruit in the summer. Its so light and refreshing, don't you agree? Stir it up, and you've got yourself a tasty low-fat dessert! I'm thinking I may try variations of this in the future with mascarpone in place of the ricotta and honey instead of the almond syrup. And maybe blackberries. Blackberries are my favorite!



      Do you have any healthy but sinfully delicious recipes you'd be willing to share? I'd love to hear about them!

United Colors of Benetton!

      I was in Shadyside yesterday, and noticed that Benetton is still having a store-wide 50% off sale. I don't think I need to tell you how amazing that is. I'm not sure if this is nationwide, or just my local Benetton, but I thought I'd let you know so you could hop on that. I bought a pair of poppy colored straight leg jeans there a couple of weeks ago for $10. Can't beat that. I'm wearing them today, actually. Benetton is really high quality -- its an Italian clothing company. I used to love seeing their ads in the subway stations of Milan. Very ethnic posters/billboards. There were Benettons galore! Anyway, Benetton has a lot of business appropriate attire, so for those of you, like myself, who will soon be entering the real world with real jobs and such, now would be a great time to pick up a few pieces to start building your work wardrobe at a discount. Of course, they do have everyday casual clothes as well--exhibit A - my poppy pants! The United Colors of Benetton also has a good line of mens clothing with nice polos and shorts. So if there is a Benetton near you, I'd drop in and check it out! If your not familiar with Italian sizes (they differ from European sizes), do try on the pants!


Check out their stuff online too!

Tocca Ferro!

      Ciao tutti! Today I awoke and after washing my face, looked into the mirror and saw that my skin is looking the best it has looked since I arrived at college three years ago. I have struggled with acne since high school and was desperate enough to begin the Acutane treatment the summer before I came to college. Unfortunately, as those of you who may have also done the treatment know, the results are not always permanent. By sophomore spring, my skin was giving me issues and I'm only just now getting it under control.

      I wanted to write this post for any of my fellow fashionistas who also struggle with trying to keep their skin clear. I believe sharing my solution and hope that it helps at least one of you!I don't have to tell you that clear skin is an absolutely essential element for every great outfit. So here is my new system:


      So I've been using this Thoroughly Clean Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil from Desert Essence for as long as I can remember. Since high school. Its pretty cheap-about $8 for 8 oz. And it doesn't take much. It gets your face squeaky clean, too. Just be really careful to not accidently get it in your mouth because it tastes truely awful! Anyway, its available at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. And, if you're lucky enough to live near an HEB (i.e. in my home state), you can usually find it there as well. So that is my first step.



      A few weeks ago, I decided my face cream was too heavy for the summer. So I had stopped using it, but then my face started to dry out, while still breaking out of course. So I went to Whole Foods, a mere 7 minute walk from my apartment, and picked up this witch hazel toner. Its an Aloe Vera formula, and is just moisturizing enough for my problematic epidermis. Also, I love that Thayer's makes scented formulas because to me, and I know this is weird, Witch Hazel smells like bacon.


      Recently, I was extremely frustrated with my skin and happened to find myself near a Sephora. So, I went in and asked a friendly saleswomen what masks she had that would banish my acne. She sent me home with a couple of samples, and at left is the winner. This Fresh Umbrian Clay Treatment is a miracle product, at least for me. You can use it as a mask, or spot treatment by putting it on any blemishes before you go to bed. It will dry and not make a mess all over your pillow. I practice the latter technique. It is expensive ($48), in fact I've yet to actually purchase it. I'm still living off my sample. For this reason, I highly reccomend asking for a sample to test it before diving in and purchasing. Sephora is incredibly accomodating and will hook you up. For that reason, I love them. I really believe this product has greatly contributed to the improve quality of my visage. High praises.


      The last element of my skin routine is the addition of Vitamin A. I take one gel capsule in the morning with my breakfast. This is because Acutane is a natural derivative of Vitamin A. Thus, I thought a little bit extra in my diet just might do the trick. Afterall. when you're on it, Acutane really does work, however the results just may wear off a few months after you stop the treatment. I urge you to be careful with this if you decide to add Vitamin A to your routine. Its a fat soluble vitamin so any excess doesn't flush out of your system like some Vitamins. For that reason, you can end up with too much Vit. A in your body and that can really wreak havoc on your system. So don't take more than the recommended dose, and maybe mention it to your doctor.

      Anyway, that's my routine that is working wonderfully for me. I hope writing about it doesn't jinx me. Knock wood/Toccca Ferro! --Italian culture lesson: Tocca ferro is what the Italians say for knock wood. It means touch iron. Its a superstitious thing that should be said in order to prevent jinxing yourself by mentioning aloud something in your life that is going well.

What are your secrets for clear radiant skin?
Hope you all have a terrific day!

The Splurge

Do you ever find you've fallen in love with something that, if purchased, would cause the sudden demise of your bank account? And although you know that you cannot truely afford said item, daydreaming about it seems to consume a sizeable portion of your free time?

For me this item is the Chanel 5159H sunglasses. I've been seeing the advertisment for them in every magazine lately. Well, in the 2 magazines I've read lately. I find even the ad itself gorgeous. I am a sucker for black and white, afterall. Unfortunately, at around $400, I cannot even pretend that if I skimped a little I could afford them. But aren't they just beautiful! My hope is that if I see them in a store, I will try them on, see that they look awful on me, and thus be able to forget about them. But until that moment, you can be assured that I will be pining for them with my every spare moment! If you happen to run across a good pair of knock-offs, please let me know! I will be forever indebted!


E tu? What was your biggest splurge? Have you ever given into an urge to buy such an expensive item?

Rompers: Do or Don't?

For awhile now, I've been pondering this whole romper trend. At first I really did not care for it, but I think that they are beginning to grow on me. If accessorized correctly, they can really look quite sophisticated and cute. In particular, I have found a couple I find especially fetching.


This cute kelly-green option from Rag and Bone is at the top of my list. However $450 seems like too much to invest for a fleeting trend. Also, it is 100% silk and therefore dry-clean only. I try to avoid dry-clean only pieces if possible. Although I do adore silk, I find that it wrinkles very easily. Doesn't a piece that requires excessive ironing just seem a little too high maintenance for something called a "play-suit"? I do love the style and the color, however. I like to balance shorts with a little more coverage uptop just to keep the look a little more on the modest side. For this reason, I am a fan of the sleeves and the boat-neck gives it that little extra flare to keep things interesting. I can see myself pairing this with a cute beaded belt and some flat gladiator sandals.




Here is a more affordable option from Top Shop that I find quite tasteful. Blue is probably my favorite color, at least for the moment, and I like the built in waistband. It seems to fall at the natural waist, which in my opinion is a flattering look for most women. At $90, it won't exactly break the bank, but I still consider it a bit of an investment. Again, for this I would probably accessorize with what I refer to as my She-Ra belt. It has a large red stone in the center of gold wing-like hardware and is set off on each side by several large rhinestones and gold hardware that reminds me of something the Mattel action-princess would have sported. Its horribly gaudy, but I love it.


Since, I'm still a little iffy on this trend, I don't really want to invest too much in a new romper. I have a shopping outting planned with a fashion forward friend of mine for the coming weekend, so I'll let you know what I find.


What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts about the romper trend. It seems all the fashion icons of Hollywood are sporting them. Would you wear one? Know where to shop for modestly-priced pieces? Can't wait to hear your thoughts! Until next time!