Thursday, June 30, 2011

Ripe Raspberry

Time for a new color! Today I decided to try on a brighter shade for summer. Until now I had never tried a bottle of Essie nail polish but had heard about the brand in several fashion magazines. I chose to try the shade titled Raspbery which I surprisingly liked! It's not quite red but more like a darker shade of bright pink. It was a toss up between this shade and the lighter shade, Pink Diamond but I figured I had another shade similar to the light pink already. Anyways, though I wasn't super excited about the price of the brand (I tend to stick with brands that are $5 and under), I definitely liked how easily and smoothly the color went on. Plus it was nice that I only had to apply one coat which saved me some extra time! I would recommend the brand and would give it a 4.5/5!


Essie Nail Color in Raspberry $7.99 (Walgreens)


Here's what it looks like on!

This is the other shade I was considering


Essie Nail Color in Pink Diamond $7.99 (Walgreens)

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Skirt + Romper = Skromper

Like the flirtiness of a skirt but the comfort that a romper provides? With the recent romper craze, designers have been looking for new ways to update the piece. Thus the skromper was born! Not sure if that's what you call it but I decided to combine the two words together (though I'm sure someone has already come up with this word already). Like I have mentioned in an earlier post, I don't find skirts to be flattering on me. However I do love the look and feel of a dress, so the skromper is a great piece that combines different styles together. Being short, many times it's hard to find dresses that cut off at a flattering length. Either they are too long (past the knee) or are dangerously short (tunics). But with the skromper, even though it may look like a short dress, you never have to worry about the skirt flying upwards with the safety that the hidden shorts provide! So try something a little different and discover if the skromper is something that you'd like in your closet too!

Skromper Options:



Skirted Floral Romper $22.80 (Forever 21)


Rose Print Romper $17.80 (Forever 21)


Ruffled Island Romper $22.90 (Forever 21)


Pins and Needles Halter Skirted Romper $54.00 (Urban Outfitters)


Material Girl Floral Printed A-Line Skort $21.99 (Macy's)

The skromper in my closet!


Princess Floral Tube Romper with Skirt $27.99 (Papaya Clothing)


To be honest it did take a little wiggle dance to get into this skromper. It doesn't have a zipper so you just have to step into it. It didn't help that the magnetic security sensor piece was attached right at the narrowest part of the garment. But it was so cute hanging in the store I couldn't say no! Plus once it was on it was super comfortable!


The shorts hidden under the skirt!

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

In-vest-ed

I've been wanting to do a post on vests for a while now but I always got distracted by something else! Luckily I was contacted by a friend who was in need of some different ways to wear her flowy vests. Wanting to provide some inspiration I put together a few different looks with one vest to allow for versatility. I love how vests act as a finishing touch to an outfit, really pulling it together to create a polished look. Hopefully I was able to help out my friend and provide some ideas! Remember! If you have a piece in your closet but are having a tough time figuring out how to incorporate it with your other pieces let me know. I'll try my best to help you find cute ways to create outfits with it!

Vests on Celebrities:


If you are looking to create a more dressy look with a vest, look to a more fitted style like the one Nicky Hilton is wearing! Sticking with neutrals is always a safe bet when putting pieces together, but don't be afraid to add a pop of color with a bright hued bag or pretty cocktail ring!


Are you a fan of the vintage-edgy look? Try combining a feminine skirt with a classic silhouette with an edgier piece like a distressed denim vest like Kate Bosworth has done. By keeping the rest of the outfit simple, adding a bright scarf is a great way to add some color to your outfit!

How to make three looks with a flowy vest

In-vest-ed

Vest: Sady Vest $35.00 (G by Guess)

To create a cute and comfortable everyday look for summer, layer the flowy vest over a floral and fitted bustier top to help create a flattering silhouette! The dark wash skinny jeans are a comfortable choice to wear during the day, but are also a chic option that can work great for a night out. Keep the look feminine with a cute pair of nude flats and top it all off with a shiny necklace to add a touch of sparkle to the outfit!

Top: Party at Pemberley Top $39.99 (Modcloth)
Jeans: Olivia Dark Indigo Low-Rise Jegging $39.50 (Delia's)
Shoes: Lower East Side Chelsea Flat $16.99 (Payless Shoes)
Necklace: Crystal Key Pendant $9.95 (G by Guess)

Looking to create a great dressy outfit? Try pairing the vest with a pretty white top and floral bandage skirt to add some color to the outfit. To help show off a hourglass shape, add a belt over the vest to pull in the flowiness of the piece. If you like the flowy feel, you can use the belt just over the top and skirt as well. Finish the look off with a great pair of slingback stilettos and a sparkly ring for some added visual interest!

Top: Anita Lace Cami $35.00 (G by Guess)
Skirt: Rosette Bandage Skirt $30.00 (Nasty Gal)
Belt: Woven Double Buckle Belt $10.50 (Wet Seal)
Shoes: Slingback Stiletto Heels $22.80 (Forever 21)
Ring: Sparkling Bow Ring $8.99 (Deb)

If you want a more laid back tomboy feel to your outfit, layer the vest over a comfy striped tee. The short sleeves of the tee provide coverage for those who are weary of showing too much skin! Simply tuck the shirt into a cute pair of high waisted twill shorts to polish off the look. Add some gladiator sandals for a touch of edge and your outfit is finished! Want to take the look from day to night? Just add a metallic layered necklace to add some sparkle and a pretty turquoise cocktail ring to add a splash of color!

Top: BKE Stripe Scoop Top $22.00 (Buckle)
Shorts: Sailor Short $19.99 (Rue 21)
Shoes: Braided Gladiator Sandals $17.80 (Forever 21)
Necklace: Multi Lace Bow Necklace $10.00 (Peacock's)
Ring: Faux Gemstone Cocktail Ring $7.50 (Old Navy)

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Monday, June 27, 2011

Urban Invasion

Went into Urban Outfitters this afternoon to see what new things had come in and decided to try on a few things. I ended up purchasing a white lace dress which I thought was super feminine on and showed just the right amount of skin. There always seems to be something cute in there hidden amongst all the "not so cute" items! If only their clothes weren't so expensive...

TRTD's Urban Outfitters Wish List:



Lucca Couture Floral Vest $49.00 


Lucca Couture Woven Bustier Top $49.00


Lucca Couture Open Back Sundress $69.00


Lucca Couture Chiffon Scallop Short $39.00 


Kimchi Blue Victorian Buckle Belt $24.00 

The Dress I Purchased!


Pins and Needles Lace Dress $79.00



Inspired? Look for these items here:

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Ruffle Some Feathers

I love the ruffle trend because it helps to add some visual interest on top as well as a feminine touch. Ruffles are particularly helpful in balancing out a silhouette with a fuller bottom half. By adding volume on top, it helps to create a hourglass shape. Ruffles can also act as accessories alone in some cases. Be weary of over accessorizing in these instances, as adding too much can be a distraction rather than an accent.

Ruffled Options (all under $20!):



Fab Flounce Contrast Dress $14.50 (Forever 21)


Ruffle Trim V-Neck Top $15.80 (Forever 21)


Peasant Ruffle Print Tube Top $18.99 (Rue 21)


Ruffle Solid Shrug $16.99 (Rue 21)


Neck-Ruffle Belted Casual Tube Top $17.99 (Papaya Clothing)


Ruffled Tube Top Jumper $16.99 (Papaya Clothing)


Beaded Ruffle-Front Top $18.99 (Charlotte Russe)


Tropical Cascade Ruffle Cami $18.99 (Charlotte Russe)

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Block Buster

Had some family over today for dinner! It's been a while since I last saw them so it was nice to catch up. The weather was pretty indecisive, going from cloudy to sunny to rain and back to being cloudy! I decided to wear a black and white color block dress with longer sleeves to adapt to the ever changing weather. The thing I love about color block pieces is that depending on where the colors cut off, they can help to create a sleek and flattering silhouette! It's like the piece does all the work for you, and you don't have to go through the trouble of adding or minimizing things to make it flattering. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

Color Block Ideas:


Body Con Colorblock Dress $18.99 (Rue 21)
(I'm sorta in love with this dress. I love the feminine pink paired with the white, and the black band acts as a built in belt! Plus the price is pretty amazing don't you think?)


A Welcome Contrast Dress $79.99 (Modcloth)


Sparkle & Fade Colorblock Dress $59.00 (Urban Outfitters)


Colorblock One Shoulder Ruched Dress $22.80 (Forever 21)


Colorblock Studded Strapless Dress $29.99 (Papaya Clothing)


Tokyo Fashion Colorblock Plaid Bow Dress $30.00 (Yes Style)

Here's the dress I wore today! 


Dress: Forever 21

Since the silhouette of the dress is a bit boxy, I paired it with a black belt! This is definitely one of my favorite pieces in my closet. Not only is it super comfortable, it can be dressed up or down, making it a versatile piece I can always count on! 


Dress: Soprano Clothing

Here's another colorblock piece from my closet. I love the lace detailing on the shoulders and how the purple color pops against the black. To be honest I haven't actually worn this dress yet. I've probably had it for a year and a half now but haven't found the perfect time to wear it! Hopefully I'll be able to wear it sometime this summer!

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Friday, June 24, 2011

OCD: Organize Closet Day

Since moving back home for the summer, things have been a bit messy. I've attempted to unpack all of my stuff that I had in my dorm, but things just ended up hanging out of garbage bags and pushed off to the side. Needless to say, its made my room quite the danger zone! Anyways, I decided to start with my closet today and organized my drawers as well as the clothes hanging on the sides. Take a look at my progress!


Here's what it looked like before. What a jumbled mess!


After! How'd I do?

I decided to organize my closet based on specific pieces. So for example, I grouped my dresses together based on sleeve type and color. The same went for everything else that was hanging (button down cardigans, open cardigans, tops, tanks, etc).


Here's a peek into one of my drawers! 


By folding my pieces this way, it makes it easier to see what I have without having to sort through the entire drawer! 

All in all it was actually pretty fun sorting through my closet and organizing my drawers. Now onto the next section of my room. If only cleaning all parts of my room were this fun...

Inspired to organize your own closet? Take a before and after photo to admire your progress! Let me know how it goes!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Black and Blue

I came across this outfit on Jessica Szohr and thought it was such a cute look! It is made up of such simple pieces with the plain black tube dress, denim vest, and black patent pumps. Yet when combined they create a look that is both unexpected and polished at the same time. Like the look too? I've created a similar look that you can try! I wanted to experiment with templates but wasn't sure if everything else surrounding the pieces in the similar look were distracting or not. Let me know if you like it or prefer the old look sets better!


Here's how to create a similar look:

Untitled

Dress: Cotton Spandex Jersey Tube Dress $29.00 (American Apparel)
Vest: Plaited Denim Waistcoat $29.00 (Select Fashion)
Shoes: Classic Patent Heels $19.80 (Forever 21)
Earrings: Daytrip Glitz Feather Earrings $6.00 (Buckle)

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Sheer Beauty

Whether it's the flowy fabric of chiffon or the net-like feel of mesh, sheer fabrics help to add a flirty vibe to an outfit. In many cases, dresses and tops will strategically place mesh fabric underneath a sweetheart neckline or tube top in order to add a touch of modesty to the piece all while adding a feminine touch. I've been in a dress mood lately thanks to the sunny weather so I found some cute dresses with sheer fabrics as options for you. But please do me and everyone else a favor when wearing a piece that is completely sheer. Wear a nude tank top or like-color shirt underneath. It's never attractive when you can see your undergarments underneath your clothes. Let's keep it classy everyone!

Sheer Dresses:



Thistlepearl Tulle Dress $79.00 (Urban Outfitters)


Lacy Wrinkle Dress $21.99 (Papaya Clothing)


Beauty Blogger Dress $62.99 (Modcloth)


Coquette Tank Dress $40.60 (Nasty Gal)


Vero Moda Sheer Layered Drape Collar Chiffon Dress $31.03 (Asos)

From my own closet!


Dress: Forever 21

Went into Forever 21 today and stumbled across this polka dot body-con dress. When I tried it on in the dressing room I thought it looked cute, but wasn't 100% sure I wanted it (I've been trying to save money!) But to my surprise, I found that it was only $8.80! I couldn't pass it up so I took it home with me. Was definitely one of the highlights of my day!

Inspired? Look for these items here: