White Out

Maybe it's all the wedding planning, and by that I mean my fab MOH finalizing plans for my wedding shower and bachelorette party and me being lazy and feeling loved, but I'm in the mood to wear white! Even though it will take at least one more bottle of tan moisturizer to make my appendages worthy to stand up to it, I can't wait to incorporate a few of these pieces with some tropical print, pastels, camel, stripes, black, or cobalt.   

:: A flounce skirt is more flattering than a skater skirt, and more playful than a peplum skirt ::

:: A drape collared vest adds structure and coverage for a silky tank on casual fridays ::

:: A textured peplum (with a back cut-out) is perfect with floral shorts at the the music fest ::

:: White oxfords add a gentleman's touch to a floral skirt or distressed jeans ::

:: A beaded necklace with gold and bronze tones (and no weight) will be your summer statement ::

Double Denim

I recently came upon a new to me fashion blogger - Wendy of Thankfifi - and I'm enamored! She lives in Glasgow, which I visited in my semester of studying abroad in Manchester, England. I've already been inspired by quite a few of her ensembles and can't wait to get our own dog that can become a model in my outfit pics. 

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and I can't wait to share the details of our trip to Traverse City with you next week, but follow me on Twitter & Instagram to stay up with our fun adventures!

Denim shirt, Worthington peplum top (similar), Gap legging jeans, Jessica Simpson flats (similar here and here), Stella & Dot Lilith Fringe necklace

A Full Peplum

When peplum first came on the scene, people were skeptical. Now, this silhouette is every where and I'm overjoyed (as I indicated in this post). However, I'm a bit bored with only pairing a peplum top with a pencil skirt. Why not a full skirt? Double the flare, double the fun! That's what I always say...

Worthington peplum pleather top (similar), NY & Co tee, Akira skirt (similar here and here), Hue tights, Nine West shoes, Nordstrom hoops (similar)

TROPICANA PEPLUM

Market HQ peplum skirt / White Suede top / Fiel Sol necklace

A few of my favourite things to kick off a new week.

Colour. Peplum. Statement Jewels.

Photos / Tina Kay

SHOP | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Bootielicious

Booties are my favorite type of shoe. I've got lace-up suede ones, leather high heel ones, and flat western style ones, so it was only a matter of time before an oxford calf hair variety made it's way into my closet. If you haven't jumped on the bootie bandwagon, head on over to the Lucky Community Bootie Contest to get some ideas on styling from some fellow fashion bloggers. 

XXI Dress, blouse & Coach cluch from Crossroads, Givenchy tights, Jessica Simpson booties, NY & Co belt & cape, Loft brooch, Revlon Berry Haute lipstick

Rock of Ages

After watching "Rock of Ages" last night, I am thankful to have this outfit post on the docket since it felt very 80's and right now, I'm feelin' the 80's. If you haven't seen the movie, it's a bit like "Hairspray," "Footloose," "Dirty Dancing," or "Cry Baby" (some of my all time favorites). The premise? Boy and girl fall in love, then uppity, righteous, or selfish people try to break up the relationship and stifle rock 'n' roll, but despite the efforts, love and rock 'n' roll prevail. The lesson? Don't stop believin' in either...ever.

Elle jacket, Akira skirt & sweater, Jessica Simpson heels, vintage necklace & earrings, Charming Charlie bracelets, Revlon Cherries in the Snow lipstick, Foster Grant sunnies

Mad Men

Although peplum is the most up to date version of a shift dress, pairing it with cat eye glasses and a couple pieces of jewelry from my Aunt Betty's collection, take it right back to the 60s. Now, if only that combination meant that I could sip on a martini with Don Draper...

XXI dress, Baccio 6 sandals, Crossroads clutch, Foster Grant sunglasses, Stella & Dot feather brooch, vintage rhinestone brooch and pearl flower bracelet, Kohl's earrings, and Stella & Dot and Charming Charlie bracelets

THE PEPLUM TOP

      Dotti peplum top & neon belt, Joe's Jeans, Arnette shades, Graine clutch

I've long been a fan of peplum shapes, with dresses and blazers filling my wardrobe, but surprisingly, this is the first peplum top.

It is such a flattering silhouette and works dressed up or dressed down. Trend or no trend, peplum will be a regular wardrobe addition.

BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | EMAIL | YOUTUBE

Peplum and Princesses

Marc Jacobs SS 2012

Every girl dreams of their princess moment ... don’t they? They dream that they will be rescued by their Prince Charming on a white horse. That they will get to wear an elegant ball gown in real life and waltz at balls and live the Princess Dream.

Perhaps this Princess Dream was brought about by various childhood Disney movies where the princess would always end up living happily ever after with her prince. Or possibly the multiple versions of princess Barbie which have been updated and revamped over the years.

The reason why I have been musing over princess moments is not due to K Mid hitting the headlines again (the modern day princess of the moment) or February being the month of love, it is more what is in style for Spring Summer 2012. The one trend that reminds me of princesses and dresses at balls is Peplum.

The Peplum style can be seen from the catwalks of Givenchy, Gareth Pugh and Marc Jacobs ... to name but a few.

Givenchy SS 2012

Gareth Pugh SS 2012

Women are inclined to dress to flatter their shape and this peplum style accentuates a part of the body which women (for the most part) wish to cover up; their hips. We live in a world dominated by celebrity and the hips are a part of the body that tabloid press ridicule over and over on female celebrities. Those ‘bad bikini’ images where ‘flaws’ of celebs are circled in order to humiliate them to the masses seem to favour big hips and thighs in their choice of mockery.

If these pap shots are anything to go by – too much in the hip area equals negativity. Even the phrase “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips” reminds us of the modern day obsession in keeping the hips trim and slim. This is not what the peplum style achieves; rather it accomplishes the complete opposite and seemingly accentuates the hips.

Not long after seeing images of peplum style fresh off the catwalk, I thought of Disney’s Cinderella in her ball gown. Cinderella in her ball gown is like a cartoon version of peplum trend. She oozed elegance and worked the ‘in at the waist out at the hips look perfectly’, but she also had a super tiny waist which us twenty first century uncartoon like bitches are unfortunately not blessed with.

Cinderella in the peplum style ballgown ? Yes. Average chicas without tiny waists, having curvy hips working the 2012 peplum style? No. Just no.

So for the majority of us peplum will not look good; it will give the effect that we had a moment on the lips, adding a lifetime to the hips. (Who wants that!)

Surely the peplum is a trend that should stay put in fairytales and the world of happily ever after (and tiny waists!).

This is one trend which we can exist without and can channel our fashion hot mess through other current trends ...

Sporty chic anyone?!