Pan Am

The TV series Pan Am started tonight and I'm quite excited about this season. It centers around the iconic Pan American airline during the 1960s. A stewardess was something to be aspired to because they were "a new brand of woman." It's official: I'm definitely going to be a flight attendant next year. I still just think that 21 is too young to settle down at a job where I have to sit at a desk all day. As much as I love writing, I need to see the world and until I get that out of my system, I'll be continuously restless.

Anyway, these outfits are based off of what stewardesses wore in the 60s. Outfits now aren't nearly as cute (but I still totally want to be a flight attendant).

Skirt - Topshop, Blouse - Vivienne Westwood, Pumps - DSquared, Bracelet - Monet

Skirt - Topshop, Blouse - Dorothy Perkins, Shoes - Christian Louboutin, Necklace - Kenneth Jay Lane, Ring - House of Harlow

Dress - L. K. Bennett, Pumps - Versace, Clutch - Heidi Mottram, Earrings - Worthington

100 Years of Style

I realize it's been an incredibly long time since I've posted, but I just started my senior year of college a year early. To make up for my complete lack of posts during all of August, I've come up with a long and detailed post with outfits spanning inspiration over 100 years. Most of these outfits could still be worn today, but I probably wouldn't suggest wearing anything from the 90s (that decade had awesome kids shows - and a big shout out to TeenNick for putting the 90s shows back on the air late at night - but the fashion was horrendous). I personally am a big fan of the 1920s and the outfit I put together for that decade is one that I would definitely wear myself.

The whole inspiration for this post was a video about 100 years of style in East London:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7JxfgId3XTs

I'm a huge fan of that video and really, I think we could all afford to dress a little more like women did in the earlier half of the 1900s; it seems much more classy than the way some people dress today (see my last post on leggings for how I feel about clothing in 2011).

1911

The fashion in the 1910s was soft and feminine; waists were more defined. Skirt lengths rose to actually show some skin, so many women began wearing stockings. While Kate Middleton is now bringing back the trend of wearing pantyhose, we're in 2011 and I think a little bare skin on your legs is perfectly acceptable.

Skirt - H&M, Blouse - James Perse, Shoes - Moschino, Necklace - Guinevere, Bag - Mulberry

1921

Fashion in the 1920s entered the modern era. Women began wearing more comfortable clothing (i.e. shorter skirts and pants). Womenswear was extremely influenced by the "Roaring Twenties" and the Jazz Age. If I could go back and live in a different era, it would be this one simply because of the flapper outfits.

Dress - Alice + Olivia, Pumps - Sam Edelman, Hat - Jessica Simpson, Pearls - American Eagle








1931

Fashion in the 1930s was much more conservative than the 20s because of the Great Depression. Clothing was less extravagant and there was an increase of use in man-made fabrics (including rayon, which is my favorite fabric - seriously, if you've worn rayon, you'll understand why it's my favorite). Waistlines moved away from the drop waist and back to a natural waist in order to give women a more "womanly" hourglass figure.

Dress - Vivienne Westwood, Shoes - Alexander Wang, Earrings - Irit Design, Clutch - Topshop

1941

The 1940s continued the use of clothing that gave women the hourglass figure. Tweed and wool were the most popular fabrics, leading to the new fashion trend: the two-piece skirt suit. Skirts were A-line and hit around the knees. (Fun fact, the bikini was invented in 1946.)

Skirt suit - ASL, Shoes - Christian Louboutin, Ring - The Stones, Earrings - Jennifer Meyer, Clutch - Chanel






1951

Pencil skirts (an article of clothing every woman should have in her closet, handy for interviews, dates, or a girls' night out) were introduced in the 1950s. This was the decade of pin-up fashion, which is cute, but can look trashy if not done well. Poodle skirts were popular for a while in the 50s, but they weren't very practical, especially since they had to be worn with petticoats, which just seem like they'd get in the way.

Skirt - Alexander Wang, Top - Full Tilt, Shoes - Gianvito Rossi, Bracelet - Miss Selfridge, Bag- Valentino








1961

Mod (short for Modernists) was a British style adopted by most people in the 1960s. There were bright colors, big buttons, boxy shapes and geometric patterns. Also in style were go-go boots and the pillbox hat (inspired by Jackie O.), but I'm not really a big fan of the 60s look, so this is kind of a variation of what it could have been if people then could have dressed a little better.

Jeans - Goldsign, Oversized cardigan - American Apparel, Cami - Full Tilt, Shoes - Jimmy Choo, Sunglasses - Barton Perreira, Scarf - L'Inde






1971

The early 1970s continued the hippie look from the 60s with short skirts, bell bottoms and a generally androgynous style. Platform shoes were the norm until the late 70s when they were replaced by mules and ankle-strap shoes, reminiscent of 1940s fashion.

Dress - Sandro, Boots - Wet Seal, Headband - Tano Jewelry, Bracelet - Mixit, Bag - mstylelab

1981

In the 1980s, shirts were loose and pants were tight. The early 80s saw a rise in punk style: leather jackets, ripped skinny jeans and multi-colored mohawks. There were also those who wore jean jackets with patches, buttons and safety pins, which, if they could be found, could probably teach a history lesson on all of the social, political and cultural experiences of the decade.

Jeans - J Brand, Shoes - Converse, Top - Check & Stripe, Jacket - Jades 24, Belt - Helix

1991

Ok, here is where I start to lose a bit of faith in fashion. I was born in 1991, which apparently is when "anti-fashion" started. So I was born when no one cared what the heck they wore; I really should have been born in the 20s. Seriously, people wore anything in the 90s and it was just a bad decade for fashion. Don't dress like you live in the 90s; it's a terrible idea. Even though I tried to make it cute, there's no way to fix the way people dressed back then, and I can attest to that if you go back and look through my pictures growing up. Not cute.

Pants - Alexander McQueen, Blouse - Windsor, Boots - Dorothy Perkins, Earrings - All Saints

2001

At the turn of the century, people were still in the idea of "anything goes." Feminine styles were reintroduced later in the decade, but I can remember wearing something pretty much exactly like the below outfit when I was in middle school in the early 2000s (actually, I had this t-shirt). Then women went to Daisy Dukes, lots of flip flops and pastel colors. Vintage clothing came into style in this decade, reflecting style from a better time period. Hint for everyone who loves fashion: dress like you weren't born anytime recently.

Jeans - Ralph Lauren, Shirt - Crazy Dog, Shoes - Vans, Hat (or toboggan as it's called in the South) - Oasis

2011

And now we're at today. This is an outfit I would wear (you know, if I could afford a Harry Winston bracelet and Swarovski crystal earrings, but I'm in college, so I can't). Vintage style is still very "in," especially styles from the 50s, 70s and 80s (good choices people). Really all I can say about fashion today is don't wear leggings as pants. It's a huge pet peeve of mine.

Jeans - All Saints, Blouse - Wet Seal, Blazer - Rag & Bone, Shoes - Chinese Laundry, Bracelet - Harry Winston, Earrings - Swarovski, Clutch - Jessica McClintock

Leggings

If there's nothing else I've learned in my past two years in college, it is that leggings are NOT pants. I don't know who started this crazy trend, but it was never supposed to go this far. Originally, leggings were worn in the 90s as an accessory. Then they were brought back in the late 2000s as pants. And for those of you who still think this is ok, it is not. It is trashy. As you can see by this:

Leggings are not flattering to your rear. And it's obvious that you're not wearing any underwear. Do you really want the whole world to know that you're going commando? No. So wear leggings the way they're supposed to be worn. Leggings are good for when you're not sure if a skirt is too short or if it's cold but you still want to wear shorts. They are not an acceptable alternative to pants with a shirt that doesn't cover your butt.

I even asked a bunch of my friends, both girls and guys, whether leggings as pants were ok, and the result was a unanimous "no." After fifteen "no"s, I stopped asking. One of my guy friends even responded with a YouTube video of Darth Vader screaming "no." That should show: LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! If girls don't think it's acceptable, it's not fashionable. If guys don't think it's acceptable, why would you wear them?

And to emphasize this point, I'll give a short anecdote of something my ex-boyfriend did. A couple months ago, my ex and I were putting away his laundry when we came across a pair of his long john pants. Now they were tight and black, and honestly, I thought they were mine because they looked so small. So he tried them on to prove to me that they were actually his, and they looked just like leggings on him. He proceeded to put on a white t-shirt and a pair of Vans before going out into his living room to ask his roommates what they thought while I laughed my head off. He looked ridiculous. Which is exactly how every girl who dresses like that looks.

Since I think leggings shouldn't be permitted unless you know how they're supposed to be worn, I've offered four suggestions for APPROPRIATE ways to wear leggings. PLEASE use these suggestions so I don't have to see a bunch of girls' commando asses walking around campus.



*I used the same leggings for each outfit (designed by Oasis).

Dress - Rue 21, Shoes - D&G, Necklace - Simply Vera, Clutch - Jill Sander

Dress - M-Butterfly, Boots - Alberto Gozzi, Bag - Nancy Gonzalez

Skirt - Styles for Less, Top - Full Tilt, Boots - Modcloth, Bracelet - Filthy Magic, Bag - Hurley

Shorts - Jades 24, Top - D&G, Flats - Palazzo Bruciato, Ring - Judith Jack

Thor

Again, I'm super behind when it comes to looks inspired by movies. (In my defense, I spent a glorious month in Europe before starting my extremely full work weeks.) I did get to go to the midnight premiere (and drool over the GORGEOUS Chris Hemsworth). Honestly, I did. You can ask anyone who was there. But seriously, LOOK at him!

Anyway, plot line, which, with Chris in it, really didn't matter much to me, but it was a fantastic movie. (Chris, if for some reason you ever stumble across this blog, look me up!) Thor's dad Odin casts him out of Asgard because of Thor's arrogance and sends him to live on Earth without his superhuman strength. He falls in love with a scientist and his strength returns in time to help him fight his brother Loki (long story - watch the movie to find out). And, you get to see Chris Hemsworth shirtless. That's all that matters.

Dress - Paul Smith, Shoes - Rupert Sanderson, Necklace - Full Tilt, Bag - Valentino

Jeans - True Religion, Top - Elie Tahari, Jacket - Charlotte Russe, Flats - Born, Bag - Burberry

(This is Loki - he's kinda cute if you're into brooding, emo wanna be bad boys who are actually just depressed because daddy loves his older brother better.)

Pants - Goldsign, Blouse - Paperwhite, Leather jacket - Theory, Boots - Gianmarco Lorenzi, Clutch - Need Supply Co., Bracelet - Dannijo, Ring - Prive

Dress - Vila, Ring - Rosa Maria, Earrings - Kenneth Cole, Shoes - Michael Kors

Harry Potter

Since the final Harry Potter movie came out last week, I thought it was only appropriate to do a Harry Potter-themed blog to get myself back into the posting mode. I went to the midnight premiere, and I can honestly say, my outfit as a Slytherin student was not as good-looking as I apparently could have made it (although in my defense, I don't have thousands of dollars to spend on a Harry Potter-themed outfit). For each house, I created an outfit that reflected an update of each house's uniform and an everyday outfit based on the house's colors.

Gryffindor

Named for: Godric Gryffindor

Values: Courage, bravery, loyalty, nerve, chivalry

Mascot: Lion

Colors: Scarlet and gold

Head of the House: Minerva McGonagall

Ghost: Nearly Headless Nick

"You belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart. Their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart."

Pants - J4AT4, Blouse - Jaeger, Shoes - Pierre Hardy, Necklace - Amrita Singh, Ring - Miss Selfridge




Blouse - Debenhams, Skirt - T by Alexander Wang, Shoes - Rupert Sanderson, Bag - Burberry, Bracelet - Kenneth Jay Lane

Hufflepuff

Named for: Helga Hufflepuff

Values: Hard work, tolerance, loyalty, fair play

Mascot: Badger

Colors: Canary yellow and midnight black

Head of the House: Pomona Sprout

Ghost: The Fat Friar

"You belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal. Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid to toil."

Skirt - Tibi, Blouse - Pippa, Shoes - Manolo Blahnik, Necklace - Karen London, Earrings - Macy's

Jeans - True Religion, Shirt - Linea, Boyfriend blazer - ASOS, Shoes - Stuart Weitzman, Bag - Cole Haan, Earrings - Loni

Ravenclaw

Named for: Rowena Ravenclaw

Values: Intelligence, creativity, learning, wit

Mascot: Eagle

Colors: Blue and bronze

Head of the House: Filius Flitwick

Ghost: The Grey Lady

"Here in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, those of wit and learning will always find their kind."

Shorts - Vanessa Bruno Athe, Blouse - Debenhams, Bracelet - Chanel, Shoes - Footcandy, Earrings - Gabrielle Sanchez

Skirt - Yves Saint Laurent, Blouse - Biba, Shoes - Love Burlesque, Earrings - Max & Chloe, Bag - Marc Jacobs

Slytherin

Named for: Salazar Slytherin

Values: Ambition, cunning, leadership, resourcefulness, pure wizard blood

Mascot: Serpent

Colors: Green and silver

Head of the House: Severus Snape (and then Horace Slughorn)

Ghost: The Bloody Baron

"Here you are in Slytherin where you'll make your real friends. Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends."

Skirt - Gestuz, Blouse - Vivienne Westwood, Shoes - Zara, Bracelet - Camelia, Earrings - Amrita Singh

Dress - Diane von Furstenberg, Boots - Alexander McQueen, Cuff - Monica Vinader, Bag - Zagliani

Activewear for Under $75

I go to probably one of the most outdoors-y colleges in North Carolina, but I don't really spend a whole lot of time outside. I've always thought that it was just because I prefer staying in the air conditioning (or the heat, depending on the day) reading a book on the couch rather than being outside where I'd sweat and start to look gross. My newest revelation, though, is that I've just never come up with an outdoor activity I liked enough to actually convince myself to stay outside long enough to accomplish any type of exercise. Because of this, I've created a summer resolution - I'm going to exercise and spend more time outside. To help me with this goal, I created five outfits based on the five most participated in activities in Boone. (Although, at the same time, I'm a broke college student, so each outfit is under $75).

Hiking ($74.41)

Pants - Target ($12.99), Top - Target ($14.99), Socks - Old Navy ($6.50), Shoes - New Balance ($29.98 at Shoe Dept.), Water bottle - Nalgene ($9.95 at REI)

Running ($69.66)

Shorts - Old Navy ($15), Sports bra - Target ($15.99), Shoes - Fila ($29.98 at Shoe Dept.), Socks - Old Navy ($6.50), Ponytail holders - Target ($2.19)









Swimming ($72.97)


Top - Old Navy ($19.99), Bottoms - Old Navy ($17.50), Coverup - Target ($17.99), Sandals - Old Navy ($7.50), Towel - Target ($9.99)

Yoga ($49.21)

Pants - Old Navy ($14.99), Top - Old Navy ($12.94), Yoga mat - Target ($17.99), Headband - Target ($3.29)

Cycling ($70.45)

Bike shorts - Target ($7.99), Tank top - Old Navy (12.94), Shoes - Air Sports World ($19.98 at Shoe Dept.), Helmet - Walmart ($29.54)

The Royal Wedding

So one of the most eligible bachelors of our time is officially married (although Harry's still on the market for the time being). The wedding was beautiful, the hats were big, and most importantly, Kate's (sorry, Princess Catherine's) dress was flawless. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, this dress fit her well, and even though she was required to have sleeves, I can't imagine this dress without them. She wore a tiara, borrowed from her grandmother-in-law, with her veil, something that could be considered a controversy. Even Fergie (previously married to Prince Andrew) didn't put a tiara on until after she officially became a princess; however, I think the tiara pulled the whole outfit together beautifully. The veil itself was ivory tuile and the Royal School of Needlework hand-embroidered flowers on the edges. The lace on the dress was handmade in England specifically for Kate's dress, so no other lace in the world is exactly like it. Made of ivory and white satin, the dress had more fullness than I would have expected from her (I was actually expecting her to wear a dress closer to what her sister wore - a very simple white dress), but it worked for her.

For more information about the dress (or how she literally kept her dress under lock and key until she put it on this morning in order to keep both her husband and the public from seeing it) and the royal wedding in general, go to http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/.

*Photo credit: Yahoo!