Design Trends from IKEA: Colored Floor revolution

I'm sure by now you're well aware that IKEA is jumping on the mid-century design bandwagon and releasing a whole line of mid-century inspired gems. Great. Awesome. Love it. Looks great. Except, when I was looking through the new IKEA collection there is only one thing that really, really stood out to me...

White Hot Summer Outfit Ideas

Summer fashion trends come and go. Neons, florals, boho — we see it all on a rotating schedule. Even though I'm always in love with new summer trends, there's one that I'm always really excited to jump back into and that's white. It's called a white, hot summer for a reason! There's just something so essentially summer about tan skin, white dresses, and bright details.

Interior Design: Watercolor Walls

Phew, let me tell you something about moving. It is the worst. Moving sucks. Dragging moving out over the course of two weeks, sucks even more. BUT, I'm finally here. I've done it. I've moved! There are still a million boxes to unpack and a ton of things to do before this new place feels like home, but it's getting there. One long, busy day at a time. Anyway, getting settled also means getting back to blogging! (My favorite, obviously.) 

With all of the planning I was trying to do for the new place, I found a bunch of interior design inspiration and a few things that I had never seen before, like watercolor walls! Yep, can you believe it? My first thought was "How do I do this? What kind of paint do I need?" and then I quickly realized that this technique was a little something called wallpaper. Which, whatever, I probably would have royally screwed up a wall trying to watercolor paint it. The wallpaper is probably the smarter choice. Either way, these walls are awesome, inspiring, and add color and movement to a room like you've never seen.

Tuesday Inspiration: Brocade for the Holidays

Now that we've finished stuffing ourselves after Thanksgiving, it's time to start hunting for that perfect holiday dress. I'm not ready to commit to anything yet, and I have a relatively small budget to work in, but there's nothing wrong with a little window shopping is there?

In perusing the internet for ideas, I found that one of fall's RTW 2012 trends would make the perfect holiday outfit: brocade!

Tuesday Trendspotting: Birch Woody Design

Birch, birch, birch, birch, BIRCH! I love it. I think it's such a cool looking tree. The wood patterns are just so different from other trees that they really do lend well to new designs in fashion and interiors. I've seen an amazing birch print wallpaper for a while now, but lately it seems like I've been seeing the white and black pattern everywhere. I'm thinking that I might need this iPhone case or these pretty vases for my apartment.

Tuesday Trendspotting: House of Harlow and Winter Kate Fall 2012

Ok, that's it. It's August, the summer shorts and tank tops are being put on sale. You can now buy your bathing suits for next year for less than half the price. It's time to talk fall. I'm working on developing an idea of what I want my wardrobe to look like this year. I work in an office, a regular nine-to-five, but it's a really relaxed atmosphere so I don't really need lots of tailored tweed, but I do still need to look profesional. Somehow, magically, House of Harlow and Winter Kate have managed to put together a collection of fall looks that are fun, playful, and classy. I think I found my ideal wardrobe. via Fabsugar

Tuesday Trendspotting: Midriff Madness!

Baby, it's hot outside. And humid and muggy outside. What better way to stay stylish and cool then to wear an adorable skirt and a cute midriff top? Now I talked about how I feel about showing off my midriff in one of the past outfit posts, but you have to admit it is a cute look. If only I was more comfortable wearing them more often. I own a couple midriff tops that have been sitting in my dresser for a few years actually. I've just never had to guts to put them on and flaunt around town with my beer belly hanging out. But hey, if you got it, flaunt it!

Long story short, just because I don't think that I can rock the midriff top look personally does not mean  that I don't think it's a cute trend for other people. So I picked out some of my favorites that I've found around the internet, all of which I would totally buy to let collect dust in my dresser.

on Etsy

Tuesday Trendspotting: Minimalist Chic

Every time I start browsing next season's collections, I feel a little weird since it's still so hot outside and I have't even worn all my summer dresses yet. But I can't help and get excited about fall's new looks. And by fashion standards I'm late in the game as it is, so I'll just start talking tweed, leopard print, and merino now without guilt.

I have always claimed that summer is my favorite season. Of course, growing up it was and for good reason. Summer equals no school, pool parties, and infinite ice cream. However, since my free and careless summers are a thing of the past, I'm starting to realize that fall is a much more accommodating season and it's definitely become my favorite season for fashion. Although that might also have something to do with the fact that I'm a tights and leggings kind of gal. It's harder to look presentable in a mini skirt and bare legs at the office. Which is one of the reasons I went ga-ga over this collection from Juliette Hogan. It's minimalist but gorgeous. All the pieces I would be able to wear to the office and then out to the bar once the weather started cooling down and I adore that. I've never been one that stuck to strict "office wear" so I think all of these piece are conservative enough to wear to a meeting, but don't drown your personal style.

Tuesday Trendspotting: Hats, hats, hats!

Hats! Hats! Hats! Summer is the season for some of the cutest hats isn't it? Seems that way at least. Winter always brings about some knit and crochet hats, but nothing like the wide brimmed and structured goodies in the summer time. Or maybe hats just seems easier to wear when below zero degree winds are not blowing them off your head. Anyway, I've never really been a hat girl, just an admirer. I have the hats-look-totally-weird-on-me complex so I've always stayed away from buying them. As of last summer I've been trying to get over my hat-phobia and it's a slow process. In the meantime, I've been an admirer and it's been a great season to be that.

I've collected outfits and inspiration from some of my favorite fashion bloggers around the web to show you what I mean. I recently picked up a little hat from a thrift store in my neighborhood (pics to come in tomorrow's outfit post!) and I'm trying out the whole hat thing. I am not promising amazing things. However, I hope this collection of hat centered outfits inspires you to pick up a few new dome-toppers!

Mandi from Making Nice in the Midwest

Tuesday Trendspotting: Americana Love

The fourth is tomorrow and you know what that means! Lots of fireworks, beer, and BBQ. Does America know how to celebrate a birthday or what? Now I am by no means the most patriotic person in the world, but I enjoy getting time off, good food, and friends, so heck yea I am going to celebrate! Anyway, in honor of the 4th, I found this kind of fun collection from Free People that is definitely full of America Love. Some outfits I actually don't hate while others I would never wear, but they're still fun to look at. As a general rule, I try to avoid wearing red, white, and blue together because I never like looking like a flag, but Free People channeled that 70s vibe they love so much and really did a great job of putting together the "American Girl".

So get those bottle rockets in line and get the barbecue nice and hot, it's time to have some fun!

Tuesday Trendspotting: Floral Dude Shirts

As we know, flowers come back in style every year for spring and summer. That is just something that will never change because it's just such a logical print to have around during that time. The size, shape, and style may change every year, but the print will always be floral. When I was on ASOS the other day I found an interesting trend in florals: masculine florals. Now I don't know anything about men's fashion (which is why I don't talk about it much) so maybe this is something that comes around every year too, but I can't say I've seen a whole lot of men in floral print shirts that weren't overweight or on a vacation in the tropics.

Anyway, I'm not sure I totally hate this look. I have to say that I am more of a fan of the big print florals than the tiny print for guys. Although, I suppose anything that I've seen in the past dubbed as masculine florals has been the tiny prints.

ASOS

ASOS

ASOS

ASOS

ASOS

ASOS

This is a completely biased opinion because I'm having a small love affair with this male model, but I feel like you need a certain kind of "look" to pull off masculine florals well. If you have some tattoos and look a little rough around the edges, it seems kind of sexy. No? Just me? Alright, I'll shut up now.

What do you say? Masculine florals: Love 'em or too Hawaii Five-0?

Tuesday Trendspotting: Daring Denim

Have you bought a pari of overalls yet this season? You must have seen them. Seems that overall shorts are all the rage right now. I've even seen some full blown overall outfits. Crazy isn't it? Who would have thought those would come back in style? I haven't decided how I feel about it yet. I can't really shake the Dukes and Hazard, redneck vibe that overalls give off, but some stylish ladies that are far more fashion savvy than I are pulling the look off and well.

Either way, wearing denim in ways that you don't normally is huge for the summer. Besides overalls, I've seen jean vest coming back with a vengeance. I am totally out of the style loop on this one. The closest thing I have is a cropped jean jacket. What is it with this 90s revival of denim wear? Although, I have to admit that I am all about the denim vest. You may see that pop up on here, there is one I've been eyeballing.

The overalls and the denim vest are very grunge revival looks, which is something that's been trending for a while now. Generally, being a child of the 90s, I love the whole new grunge look, but I don't know. Can overalls really make it off the cow farm and back into the city streets?

Overalls

Overalls one and two

I don't hate this outfit with the overall shorts. It's pretty sweet with those leopard print boots. There's still something about it though that makes me feel like she just stepped off of the farm.

This outfit is actually really adorable. I love how she played up the overall shorts with the frilly top and the pearly necklace. It makes the whole thing much more feminine even though the overall shorts she actually has have some very masculine details. If I were to pick up a pair of overall shorts, it would definitely be these. 

This is my favorite outfit with overalls so far, but I think it's because it's a spin on them. I'm not positive these are even denim, but they are so straight and simple that I love them. I think if you catch me in a pair of overalls, they will have to be some sort of twist on the traditional denim. I saw a couple really cool pairs of vegan leather ones in this article. 

Again, I love the simplicity of this outfit. The button down shirt and simple black shoes make it seem classic somehow. 

Jean Vest

Again, mixing feminine and masculine with this pretty lace top and the sturdy jean vest. 

What's easier than adding a little bit of biker chic to your outfit with some motorcycle boots or cowboy boots and some distressed denim? This gal knows what's up.

The vintage shape of this denim vest gives it something a little different from the jean jacket without sleeves that we're all used to seeing. 

Jean vest one and jean vest two.

Do you see what I'm saying with the whole 90s revival? If you're looking for a few other ways to wear denim or a couple other ways to revive the 90s, check out these items from my shop.

A vintage jean mini dress, 90s floral print maxi skirt with a high slit up the sides, and a fuzzy leopard print mini skirt should be enough to let out your inner grunge child right?

So tell me, how are you wearing your denim this season?

Tuesday Trendspotting: Urban Safari

It's barely felt like spring's been here, but it's been in full swing for a while now. That means that before I know it, it's going to be 100 degrees in Chicago on cool days. So I'm trying to think summer even though it kind of still feels like winter here. Well you know what summer means! Shorts, skirts, strapless dresses, bright colors, and safari themes. It happens every year so it shouldn't be a surprise, but I love it every time anyway. I'm totally a sucker for that urban safari trend, probably because I wish I was actually going on a safari. Who doesn't want to stare at lions and feed an elephant, right? Anyway, the patterns and color schemes just seem to fit those 100 degree days so perfectly. I already gave you guys a taste of it in the Ayres collections, which played up the urban safari thing heavily.

I'm getting pretty excited to be wearing light weight dresses with fun colors and prints again soon. I might need to get that romper for Nasty Gal, it's totally me and looks perfect for trips to the beach, shopping, or even summer music festivals. I'm love rompers in the summer, they just make such easy outfits, although they do make it damn near impossible to go pee, but I guess beauty is pain or something like that right? Anyway, the urban safari look isn't for everyone, but if you love prints and colors and mixing in neutrals then it's something you should totally give a shot!

1. Modcloth Safari Dress

2. Nasty Gal Tribal Printed Jumper

3. Madwell Mixed Fabric Bangles

4. Michele Tahitian Gold and White Chunky Watch

5. Modcloth Gold Tiger Ring

6. Karen Millen Mirror Print Pencil Skirt

7. Burberry Prorsum Woven and Printed Wedges

8. Michael Kors Lizard Embossed Hobo Bag

What summer trend are you looking forward to this year?

Tuesday Trednspotting: Cut It Out!

This is a trend that I completely understand for the summer months. The hotter it gets, less clothes any of us want to be wearing. But let's be honest, is it a trend everyone can feel comfortable wearing as a dress or a shirt? Probably not. I know I wouldn't feel ok walking outside in some of these cut out dresses. Luckily, the cut out trend is exploding and you can find it everywhere! I've tried to create a collection that includes a little bit of everything - accessories, shoes, clothes - so that if you love the trend you can pull it together in any way that works for you. When it comes down to it, that's what sets apart good style from bad style - knowing how to dress to flatter your curves, not throwing on trends just because they're out there.

I love the way one of my favorite bloggers, Violet Bella, pulled this cut out trend off. She's got this gorgeous fitted black dress that's cut out all around the shoulders. That's one hot dress! It's exposing as much as a strapless dress, but the cut outs somehow make it seem sexier don't you think?

Here are some more styles of cut-out fashion to make it your own:

via ASOS

via ASOS

via ModCloth

via Lookbook

via ASOS

via ASOS

via Lookbook

via Heels

via BCBGMAXAZRIA 

via Topshop

So what do you think? Is the cut out trend totally hot or would you rather see it go?

Tuesday Trendspotting: Bird Watching

I think by now we've all seen the "Put a Bird on it" skit from Portlandia or at the very least heard enough about it to know what it's referring to so I won't bore you with too many corny joke references, but I have to admit it's the first thing I thought of when I started spotting bird prints across the world wide interwebs.

I mean it totally makes sense. It is springtime after all. Every spring you'll see florals, pastels, and nautical themes. I like to look out for what else gets thrown into the mix. These flashes of bird prints have been pretty refreshing.  I've been seeing the bird prints on bloggers and in almost every online shop I visit regularly so it's been so hard for be not to cave and buy something! I really like what I found on Dorthy Perkins. You can see the shirt I picked out below, but they have tons of bird print clothing and even the same print in several different styles which I love! Don't you hate finding an awesome print, but wishing it was a dress or shirt or whatever? I hate that, so I love when companies stick with a few different fabrics and turn them into a bunch of different styles. I know Tulle is really good at doing that too. Sorry, my 3 years of working in a small boutique is showing. 

Anyway, birds! They're hot! Get on it! Or something. Besides, they're just a pretty print to have in your collection that will be good for every spring. Some prints are just evergreen.

via Oasis

via Dorothy Perkins

via Lookbook

via Fossil

via Lookbook

via Topshop

via Lookbook

via Modcloth

via GarÇon

You know what I want to know:

Hot or not?