Wash Away those Winter Blues

Posted on February 27, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

With spring slowly inching its way around the corner, there’s no better time to start thinking
about the new additions you’ll need for your spring wardrobe. One trend that is big for the upcoming warmer months is cool colors – every designer is experimenting with different hues and the best way to incorporate them into each fashionista’s closet. One of those colors is blue – azure, sapphire, cobalt, indigo – whichever shade you want to call it! It’s making a big comeback onto the fashion scene and into everyone’s spring closets. From dresses to bags, shoes to earrings, there are a variety of items that this cool color comes in, and is an easy runway trend to incorporate into your closet.

These are some of the pieces that I think really accentuate not only the hue but different aspects of your wardrobe, and will definitely add an unexpected pop that is sure to be a chic standout. And as I said before in my previous orange story, if you’re too timid to rock so much of the daring hue, try adding it in small doses. Like the Jimmy Choo Candy acrylic clutch for example. The best way to make the clutch stand out is to set it against a neutral background – try pairing it with a simple maxi dress and cropped jacket. If you feel more daring, try going for the J Brand skinny twill pants. I think the best way to show off these bright blue bloomers is with a neutral top, flat sandals, and a fun pair of earrings that further accentuate the color.

One of my most recent purchases is this silk blouse from J.Crew. I bought the blouse in royal blue, and completely fell in love with the color at first sight! Recently, I’ve been sporting my new purchase with my Vince skinny khaki pants, my suede chocolate driving mocs with blue piping by Tod’s, and my Henri Bendel Harry knot necklace. This cerulean blue will add an extra springy punch to any get-up.

So, they say it’s your Birthday…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

Well Happy Birthday to me! Well, almost… I still have a couple more hours to go before I turn the big 2-0. I’m hoping I’ll be able to turn over a new leaf for this decade that awaits me and make the best of all the adventures that I have to look forward too! But as tradition has it, I usually get a week of celebration, so why not start a little bit earlier than usual? Unfortunately, I’ll be busy this weekend with school activities, but will still be able to have a nice time with good friends, have dinner with my family, and have time to sing a little birthday song. For my birthday outing, I decided to wear a black tunic with black stockings and my brown boots for a fun dinner with my girlfriends. I accessorized my look with big gold hoops, and one of my favorite Henri Bendel black and gold cocktail rings. Oh, and of course the pink feathered laced birthday crown that my friend got for me (we decided to celebrate together)!

So, in the spirit of birthdays, I thought I would create a fun, birthday outfit that anyone can rock no matter where you’re going. If it’s out to the club or dinner with friends, you can stand out in this outfit and add your own personal touches to make it your very own! There’s nothing better than being the center of attention, and your birthday is the only day that you can do it without being totally conceited – so pull out all the stops! My suggestion, break out of the usual LBD routine and choose a mini-dress in either your favorite jewel-tone color or metallic hue. These two options are sure to be show stoppers! Pile on your favorite accessories – dangling earrings, cocktail ring and your most stellar heels to complete the perfect birthday bash ensemble. And you always need a little bit of sparkle, whether it be from some classy jewels, or from a plastic crown, to add that exuberant celebratory flair!

Bow Down to Queen Victoria

Posted on February 22, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

From posh and sexy to cute and quirky, Victoria Beckham turned around her design aesthetic for her new line Victoria, Victoria Beckham. This collection features a playful take on her signature style with bright, breezy mini-dresses and quirky prints, such as crescent moon shapes and pretty kitty portraits. This line has a more young and relaxed feel compared to her other luxe, sultry collections. This playful younger sister of the original Victoria Beckham line consists of carefree shift dresses that are fun, girly and effortless to wear. Beckham gathered inspiration from Emily the Strange, 60′s silhouettes and bold color-blocking patterns. Beckham wanted to create the perfect summer dress that any woman could transform into their own personal style.

These dresses are not only in fun, conversational prints, but they are easy to wear with anything. Take the red kitty cat shift dress for example, wear this breezy frock with a cropped cardigan and a colorful pair of flats as a simple yet chic everyday option. To dress it up for night, rock the pink and and black color-block garb with minimal jewelry and a pair of stellar heels. And for those chillier days where you still want to look cute in a dress, try pairing the cream drop-waist dress with a distressed leather jacket, black opaque stockings and a pair of lace up booties for some edge. Any of these options would be a great way to rock out your cute and quirky side!

Winter Whites Can be Just Right

Posted on February 20, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

Everyone says that you’re not allowed to wear white after labor day, but I’m all about breaking the rules. Wearing white during the winter can really give your look an unexpected modern and sophisticated feel and gets us in the mood for those spring and summer months ahead. When choosing to wear white in the winter, make sure you choose rich fabrics that can hold up against the winter chill. Cashmere, wool, tweed, or even denim are all great choices. Another tip to keep in mind is not to go for garments that are stark white – stick to ivory or off-white to make the color ease into the brisk weather.

This Elizabeth and James wool-blend twill mini dress is a great option for a night out. By pairing it with black opaque tights and stellar black pumps, you’ll have a classic look that will shock the crowds. As an every day option, an off-white cable knit sweater is great to wear and still pulls of the winter white look. To keep up with this effortlessly-cool guise, add your favorite skinny jeans and these Jimmy Choo shearling-lined biker boots to keep your feet warm and frostbite at bay. Lastly, the easiest way to rock the winter white is to add a white trench coat or down jacket into the mix. A jacket can go over any outfit and doesn’t add too much fuss to the look. All these options will add just the right amount of frosty cool to keep you looking fiery all day.

Pretty as a Picture

Posted on February 17, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

Although this wasn’t their first appearance at New York Fashion Week, it was Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Picciolo‘s first time presenting the RED Valentino line at the event that all fashion aficionados look forward to during these chilly winter months. Known to be the “cheaper” version of the Italian designer’s lavish line, the two successors of Valentino Garavani were able to capture the essence of what the House of Valentino is known for – Pretty ladylike romance with a touch of charming seduction. They decided to forgo the runway for their first 2012 Fall Read-to-Wear collection debut at New York Fashion Week, and instead did a series of gorgeous looks with a sweet romantic backdrop that took me back to the 2010 Alice and Wonderland movie.

The model looked like a perfectly poised porcelain doll whom was being played with by the gentle hands of a budding stylist, who simply wanted to play dress-up with her figurine. The color scheme of the delicate doll’s wardrobe was unexpectedly lacking the signature Valentino Red that I was looking to find, but instead consisted of peachy pinks, iridescent ivorys and sultry blacks. The pretty, femininity exuded through the lightly colored pea coats, the satin peter pan collars and the simple lace designs. You could see fluffy organza peaking through collars and peeping out underneath skirts. With flower appliques and primp bows sprinkled through the collection, it was hard not to find myself dreaming of Degas’ beautiful ballerina paintings that exhibit the same feminine romance disposition as this Valentino collection.

Indeed, this collection is the epitome of ladylike, a spring trend that Valentino was able to transform into the autumn season. I don’t think you could defer from the genteel, sophisticated vibe of this collection. I would carry out the look alongside any of these lovely pieces with a pair of whimsy pointelle socks in either ivory or black, mary jane pumps in a muted pink, and a simple elegant clutch. To top of the whole look, add a fun hair accessory like this big bow headband for an extra notch of ultra-feminine chic. Remember to keep those pinkies raised while sipping your tea ladies, and this look will leave you sitting as pretty as a picture.

“Feel like a Woman. Wear a dress.” – Diane von Furstenburg

Posted on February 15, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

Diane von Furstenbug set a dark, mysterious and seductive stage for the debut of her Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection. The show started off with a slim fitting, one-shouldered jersey dress that hugged the models curves which didn’t prepare the audience for the exciting bold colors that awaited them. The black and grey landscape that was established transformed into beautiful, flowy draped dresses in shockingly bright color combinations. Furstenburg’s fun and playful side was enchanting – as seen by the surreal patterns she uses throughout the collection. Everything from music notes to chains, to jig-saw pieces acting as ornaments on a dress and adorning the ominous catwalk. Furstenburg is famously known for her creative designs and classic wrap dresses, with this collection, however, she decided to take her “wrap” design and form it into a playful jumpsuit that screamed sophisticated fun in every way possible.

Everyone with a Vogue or Vanity Fair subscription knows that Diane von Furstenburg was
creator of the revolutionary wrap dress that exploded in the fashion industry and into every high-society woman’s closet. After coming to America with 12 jersey shirt-dresses in her suitcase, she was named the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel in 1976 by Newsweek. This cotton-jersey blend wrap dress was a new movement in fashion, and showed that Furstenburg knew how to dress a woman’s body. In 1985, the fast-moving business woman decided to take a break from her ever-expanding company and moved to Paris. Furstenburg moved back to the states after spending 5 years over seas, and in 1997 was inspired by a young generation of trendy women who went searching for her original dresses in vintage shops. This revolution moved Furstenburg to re-launch the original wrap dress.

The wrap dress became a liberating style for woman that took the fashion industry by storm. Diane von Furstenburg is fearless in trying new color combinations and reaching that perfect combination of dignified yet quirky patterns. Any woman who puts on one of Furstenburg’s classic wrap-dresses will instantly take on a feminine, sophisticated persona. And in the words of Diane von Furstenburg, “Feel like a woman. Wear a dress.”

Shut it down… Sh-sh-shut it down!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

Again, I thought that the Zoe-ism was completely appropriate here. Just when you think your role model can’t do anything else to seem more amazing in your eyes, she releases a phenomenal Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection that makes you want to buy every piece at first glance. Rachel Zoe, who is not only my favorite stylist but also my favorite fashion icon, finally presented her design aesthetic on the runway after doing several seasons of presentations. I am ever impressed by Rachel Zoe’s growing empire and her aptness for knowing how to create a fashion forward collection for a functional woman… and also those who may be not so functional – we can’t all wear 5″ heels every day!

This collection reminisced in the glamourous late 60′s London style, that enraptured so many youths at the time and emphasized a new and modern feel. The clean, sophisticated look was composed of Zoe’s signature pantsuits that have a slim-fitted flair, that flatter every woman’s silhouette and reflect Zoe’s own personal style. You’ll be sure to want to grab one of Zoe’s fur jackets for fall’s chilly days, and also a vibrant printed dress for your relaxing, breezy weekends, and maybe another sequined mini-dress for a night out (we all have at least one in our closets). All these can be found in the new fall collection that Zoe made appealing to every working girl’s closet.

One of my favorite standout pieces from the collection was the long sleeved white gown, that flowed on the runway with a Greeceian elegance that made me dream of the warm summer days and countless beach parties that await. I would pair this gorgeous dress with a long pendant necklace and some fabulous wedges to finish off the Greeceian goddess look, and some big round sunnies of course! The woman who already does it all continues to impress the fashion industry and her fans with a one-of-a-kind collection that exemplifies her own personal style.

The Romantic Elegance of Tadashi Shoji

Posted on February 10, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

It’s unnerving to be thinking about Fall already when Spring is is barely here, and the humid months of summer are very far from our current wintry-mindset, but Fall is indeed on everyone’s mind with the beginning of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. With countless parties, runway shows and presentations, fashion lovers abound have been waiting for new wardrobe inspirations and new trends to experiment with. Having the first Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear fashion shows already underway, I would like to present one of my favorites from yesterday – Tadashi Shoji.

A new designer to my sights, Tadashi Shoji presented an inspiring collection of oriental, romantic elegance that captivated the audience. Born and raised in Sendai, Japan, Shoji began painting and drawing at a young age and had a fascination with fine art. Upon moving to Los Angeles to attend school, his life-long passion of fashion was reawakened within him. After realizing the lack of special occasion dresses in the contemporary market, Shoji found his niche in the fashion industry.

The 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection was filled with emerald greens, ruby reds and the most vibrant, tantalizing gold that brought on-lookers back to the Golden Age of Shanghai. The romantic lace patterns were intertwined within all aspects of the garments – as seductive high collars, elegant back panels, and sophisticated, intricate motifs. Pleats that looked like flowing rivers, digital floral patterns and scalloped sequin pieces also made their statement on the luscious gowns. The techniques used in this innovative collection not only showed Shoji’s knack for detail, but also his original mind for couture fashion. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of these gorgeous gowns on the red carpet at the upcoming Oscar’s.

Louboutin’s on My Mind…

Posted on February 8, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

After writing my previous post about Christian Louboutin’s 20th Anniversary Collection, I of course proceeded to look at not only all the shoes in the collection, but at all of the shoes currently for sale in the stores. I came across these Laos python beauties, one of Louboutin’s lower heel creations I must say, and started dreaming of the endless possibilities. At first, they may look hard to accompany an outfit, but in fact, the rainbow-spattered effect is the perfect canvas to create a fun yet sophisticated look. My first vision was pairing these pumps with dark skinny jeans and a loose-fitting tee, either in white or in one of the paint splattered colors on the shoe, for a perfect lunch-date type outfit. Don’t be scared to throw on a leather jacket if it’s chilly out, it’ll add a little bit of rebelesque to the look. This get-up will leave the shoes as the centerpiece of the outfit, and will surely get attention-grabbing looks.

My next hallucination took me to an evening guise that left everyone gaping, not only at the
heels, but at the whole ensemble. This look included a thigh-skimming cocktail dress in no other color than red – in order to match the red-laqured soles of the shoe, and to really make these pumps stand out. Add a neutral evening clutch and a subdued cocktail ring, and you’re ready to go. This escape from reality left me somewhat dazed, especially after I realized that my feet would not be adorning these shoes anytime soon… but hey, a girl can dream, right?

Louboutin’s Red Night Out

Posted on February 6, 2012 by thatgirlwhoboughtthejimmychooboots

This past week Christian Louboutin celebrated his 20th anniversary for creating his acclaimed to fame, show-stopping shoes. Bergdorf Goodman hosted the exuberant party in NYC where the color theme was none other than the infamous red that Louboutin is known for. The 20th Anniversary Capsule Collection was released in honor of Louboutin’s 20th anniversary, and will feature 20 new compositions, as well as pay homage to Louboutin’s most iconic designs from the past 20 years.

Louboutin started sketching what was thought to be at the time, devilishly high stiletto heels, after he came back from a few years abroad in Egypt and India. After taking a break from the shoe industry and trying his hand in landscape gardening, Louboutin returned to his original love – the crafting of a woman’s shoe. He opened shop in 1991 and realized that something was missing from the already well-polished stilettos he was creating, and one day decided to grab a bottle of red nail polish and started painting the back sole of the shoe. In this moment, the signature red-laquered soles were born.

Christian Louboutin went on to build his business and his luxury brand name, and is known among all fashion connoisseurs as the creator of the “it” shoe that woman’s feet yearn to wear, including my own! Beware, for these shoes are not for the faint of comfort; they allow for a sexy-confident booster and are the perfect center piece for any event or night out attire. Louboutin continues to create pain-stakingly gorgeous stilettos that add the right amount of glamour to any woman’s closet that keeps them coming back for more!

That Girl who bought the Jimmy Choo Boots

… and her journey to become the ultimate fashionista

Monthly Archives: February 2012