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vintage jewelry: who, what, wear…

vintage is undoubtedly hot right now. all the celebs are wearing it and all the fashion mags talk about it, but it can be a difficult thing to translate into everyday wear for the average person. think about it - pepto-bismol pink 90s bridesmaid dresses from goodwill don’t exactly fit the “vintage” category girls want to be seen in (unless you were at my 21st birthday “waltz” in tallahassee several years ago…), and you’re better off purchasing something new rather than the raggedy dior handbag filled with old gum wrappers from the local consignment. luckily for us, house of lavande’s vanessa nedvins (remember her from a few posts ago?) was nice enough to share the “who, what and wear” for going vintage.
who:jewelry is a great place to start when testing out vintage, because in my opinion, there are less chances to go wrong and anyone can wear it. age and style savviness are not factors.

vintage jewelry, specifically hol, is seen all over the red carpets and in everyday wear on many celebs. if you’re looking for inspiration, take note from ashley tisdale at the mtv movie awards, evan rachel wood at her premiere in paris, emmy rossum out for a walk around the city, or my personal faves rachel mcadams, sophia bush and leighton meester on other stylish outings. nedvins told me she found it especially exciting when nicole richie started wearing hol since she owns her own jewelry line and is such a trendsetter in the industry. when asked about other celebs she’d like to style, she mentioned kate moss or heidi klum since they are both inspirations in the fashion world.


zoe saldana wearing hol

what:
see my “behind the seams” post on hol or visit its web site.

as for what trends are in, nedvins says the “chunky 80s-style, club-kid feel” is and will continue to be popular in accessories for a bit, so vintage is perfect for picking up this trend. stackable bracelets are also in style, as well as layered necklaces (maybe pair one of hols jeweled czech pieces with a few long strands of pearls…), and statement necklaces of course. silver is also being asked about in the store a lot recently, which is interesting since gold had made such a strong comeback for a while.

wear:
wear pieces that make you feel special. nedvins believes customers should choose something that a.) brightens their face, and/or b.) induces a memory. she sees both types of purchases in her store: “many women choose specific house of lavande pieces because of an emotional tie - maybe the piece reminds them of something their grandmother wore. the younger set, however, is wearing hol because it is a way to be different and stand out. they can look stunning without wearing something everyone else can buy at the mall.”


1960 hattie carnegie ~ $348

the real where:
like most fashions, styles in vintage jewelry varies from one place to another. places like new york, chicago and palm beach all have different ideas and classifications for vintage and trends. nedvins says new yorkers are more fearless and riskier - think lots of plastic bracelets and other bold pieces - and the only other place similar to nyc is l.a. chicago, on the other hand, is classier and higher-end, rather than experimental like new york. think vintage chanel.and if you’re a regular to my blog or live in the area, you probably know that there is no other place like palm beach. according to nedvins, palm beachers either come in already knowing what they want, or they see something that strikes them and they just have to buy it right then. there’s no real rhyme or reason to their purchasing habits. palm beachers are also careful not to be too “old” even when wearing vintage, are slightly more reserved in their choices, and have more awareness between what is real and fake.

when:
depending on the style, vintage can be worn anytime, but hol pieces are perfect for adding an extra special touch to spice up an outfit for an event or interview, or changing a day-to-night look just by switching up a few pieces.


ashley tisdale wearing hol at 2009 mtv movie awards

why:
the real question is why not. wearing vintage gives you a tie to the past. vintage jewels are not able to be replicated and can’t be found in regular retail stores today. when you’re wearing them you have peace of mind that no one else will have the same thing, which can’t necessarily be said if you show up to an event wearing harry winston, van cleef & arpels or tiffany’s. and my favorite reason why: in my experience, vintage pieces are always fantastic conversation openers.


1960 unsigned multi victorian ring ~ $1,200

how:
if even after nedvins’ tips you can’t decide how to wear vintage jewelry, hol offers styling services to help choose what’s right for you (which i should have put to good use - notice how some of the pieces i was drawn to tended to overwhelm my weirdly tiny arms!). hol stylists use fabric swatches and/or photos of outfits and their owners to put together five or six looks with various ornaments before purchasing. many celebs and their personal stylists go this route, so you’ll be in good company!

2 years ago 

fab find: dvf at 70% off

i know i’ve been slacking and need to push some more style stories out soon (exciting news coming the next few weeks on gameday dresses, a chic new spa in town, florida fishing apparel for both guys & girls, and tips on wearing vintage jewelry…), but until then i wanted to post this week’s fab find.

one of my fav designers is diane von furstenberg, but unfortunately i can’t afford to add all her pieces i want to my wardrobe. when it comes to purchasing at full price i tend to stick with classic staples, like her wrap dresses, and i have a hard time splurging on the other items that catch my eye. lucky for me, the final summer sale can now be found on dvf.com, so i can get my fix on the fun pieces without the steep prices. and unlike many other final sales, the goods are actually still stylish and relevant, especially because in florida we can wear summery pieces all year round.

i like to use designer sales as a time to buy things i might normally shy away from - maybe pieces a little bolder than my usual taste, or something super trendy that isn’t worth spending the full amount on. so treat sales as your time to stand out and have fun. here are my discounted dvf picks, clockwise starting upper left:


donna cover-up in striped travelling knots in pink ~ $90 (originally $300). i’m all about the jumpsuits right now and this one is so feminine. meant to be a swimsuit coverup, but in so.fla we can get away with wearing it for more.

tes cover-up in warhol camo red ~ 67.50 (originally $225). such a cute cut and the print - inspired by andy warhol art - is a fresh take on the typical camo.

mecca shoes in red suede ~$84 (originally $280). as you’ll see from my post last week, i think every girl needs a pair of red shoes, and at a price like this, these wedges can’t be beat. if you’re not into bright red and want something a little more subtle, dvf also has them in brown “luggage” leather, which brings me to the next item…

25” rolling carry-on in retro frog ~ $135 (originally $475). dvf always finds a way to make this typically boring accessory hot. jump on this price while you can, but if you miss it, the loehmann’s in legacy place usually has some dvf luggage in stock.

2 years ago 

81 years of marriage backed by one dress

this past weekend provided evidence for something i’ve been trying to prove all along: the perfect dress will lead to a lifetime of happiness.

ok, so maybe it was the partner and not really the dress that equated to happiness, but when i looked at my grandparents’ wedding photos at their 52nd anniversary party this weekend, i was inclined to think otherwise. my grandmother was breathtaking in her stunning silk gown, with my tall, dark and handsome grandfather at her side. they look like a couple straight out of an old elvis movie.



but what caught my eye when looking through their wedding album were the wedding announcements. they were much more stylish in the 50s! they not only described my grandmother’s “floor length gown of off-white rice silk and lace with a sabrina neckline,” “long pointed sleeves and a sash at the hipline that crossed in the back,” and “fingertip veil…held by a lace crown accented with seed pearls and sequins,” but they also detailed the dresses, hairstyles and flowers of the bridesmaids, flower girls and even the mothers of the bride and groom. this is even more detail than you’ll find in the new york times wedding pages!



side note: this bridal gown (and the veil!) has actually led to a total of 81 years of marriage and counting, since my mother also wore it when she married my father in 1980. she made it her own by wearing it without the hoop and lacing the sleeves. though my mom wore it for sentimental reasons and not for the sake of fashion, she is so lucky she made this classic and timeless choice…have you seen any of the poufy-shouldered disasters from the 80s?!

now since both my mother and my grandmother both weighed less than 100 lbs on their wedding days, i won’t be able to fit one leg in the dress, much less wear it on my special day. my hope is to take pieces of it to add to my own when the time comes.

2 years ago 

you are not oksana baiul

while looking at photos on facebook last night i was reminded of a trend that i would like to go all tanya harding on…

figure skater dresses.


unless you are oksana baiul or have a body like jessica stroup, you probably want to stay away from this style. it’s not new, but lately i’ve noticed them popping up everywhere. american apparel made them famous, and i’ve seen copies on the racks of both urban outfitters and forever 21 recently (proving it unfortunately must be a growing trend), and while they always look cute on the hanger or on tv, most women cannot pull these off in real life. shiny nylon is rarely flattering.

most of my beef with this dress is due to the top. it is just not suitable for a bra, even strapless, due to its super-tight fit that shows every line. it’s a catch-22 though, because the material also doesn’t allow most of us to go braless either without looking like someone who could be found on the sketchier side of 45th. as a result, those who wear them are often stuck with a mishapen bust that, trust me, guys would prefer to have displayed on a better platter.

if you’re still itching to try out the look, do it like my friend did at a bachelorette party last year - in black with very feminine or sexy heels. she is the only non-celeb i’ve seen whose been able to pull off this look.

dark hues will cut down on the shine that comes across too 80s in other colors (yes people, it is possible to be too 80s). and since black is naturally slimming you don’t have to worry about the thin stretchy material hugging places you prefer to hide. and flats only make you look like a 10-year-old ballet dancer, so please stick to pumps.

and don’t wear it with a studded or glittery belt, which i shockingly saw last night. even though i don’t like the color or shoes chosen, an acceptable way to accessorize this style of dress is shown on the aa web site and below, belted with the brand’s signature sash.



urban outfitters also now carries the figure skater dress in a material and pattern that works a little better for those who prefer to stay away from the scary fabric like me.

what do you think of the trend? are you turned off of it too, or am i just bitter because i wouldn’t look like silver from 90210 if i were to sport the same style?

2 years ago 

i wear my sunglasses at night

friday night the prêt-à-porter girls & friends headed out on the street to do some of the latest “product testing.” we picked up some of this season’s hottest sunglasses - wayfarers - to get the public’s feeling on the shades made cool by audrey hepburn in the 60s, again by tom cruise in the 80s, and most recently by edward cullen. in reality, here’s what our night of “product testing” at rum bar actually looked like…


rather than purchasing the brand that made this style famous, we picked up these pairs for only $5.50 each from forever 21…because not everyone has the funds to spend $125 on ray-bans that will probably go out of style by the end of the year. forever 21 had plenty of colors to choose from, but the two i liked best - both shown below - were a white pair with green cracking designs, and a pair in purple houndstooth.



a lot of my friends joined in the fun, but there were also a few others i met along the way to answer the important questions in life, like: “would you wear these, and if so, with what outfit?”

1. brian said “i’d wear them with my birthday suit;” & nelly’s answer was “everywhere.”

2. the fab bartender casey said she’d wear them with “jeans and a t-shirt, of course!”

3. ashley (with isaiah) said, “i’m not usually a white person, but i’d wear them as beach glasses or driving glasses”

4. the bachelorettes: maid of honor christine said, “i’d wear them with this dress!” & bride lisa said she’d wear them with a bathing suit, as much as i tried to convince her to wear them with her wedding dress!

5. julie said, “maybe with a glamorous gown or a nightgown…” & lizzy said she’d wear them with “either a with bathing suit or out for nightlife”

6. probably the only time the auburn student will ever be caught in houndstooth, sammy would wear them “with comfy jeans and a v-neck;” & lacey said, “with skinny jeans and a v-neck or tank top”

7. when asked if he’d wear them, dru’s answer was “hell no,” but his gf said she’d wear them with everyday clothes

8. megan said, “i’d wear them with anything purple - it is the color of the season!” & bryn said she’d wear them with boat shoes

i wore mine with a gray tank tucked into a hot pink mini. so, tell me…would you wear these? and, if yes, then how so?

also, don’t forget to check out the full photo shoot on facebook, and let me know if you think of any fun products to try out next, or if there’s a place filled with fabulous fashionalities we should head to next!

2 years ago 

fab find: tory burch accessories

this past weekend i attended a junior league conference in macon, georgia. while back at home our jl meetings are typically a sea of pink and green patterns thanks to our lilly pulitzer sponsorship, i noticed a different brand accessorizing the ladies of the other southern states…

the tory burch logo was everywhere - on the shoulders of ladies travelling on the trolley to the so chi gallery, covering feet on heated walks through mercer’s campus, and on wrists of girls eating peach ice cream and chatting up the air force pilots on the pool deck of the hotel. so in honor of all the glamorous girls i met this weekend, here are a few colorful tory burch fab finds you can create your own summer memories with:

tory burch “cluny” multi-tone pump in camel and cracked metallic silver with
pink patent leather strap from footcandy.com, found through shopstyle.com
$197 (marked down from $395)


tory burch “kerry” resin clutch in teal ball from bloomingdale’s
$234 (marked down from $335)



tory burch “daniela” perforated flat sandal from footcandy.com,
found through shopstyle.com
$125 (marked down from $250)


tory burch degrade t tote in party fushia from bloomingdale’s
$276.50 (marked down from $396)


what’s your favorite item?

2 years ago 

update: wellington gets all american - romper edition

the awaited american apparel store opened at the mall at wellington green last week. i couldn’t make it down there the first few days of its opening, but i still found a way to get my new retail fix. 


i’d been eyeing the piqué cross front-jumper ever since i wrote about it in my fourth of july post, and when i saw how cute a similar jumpsuit by aqua looked on jillian harris on the bachelorette, i knew i had to have it. rather than ordering online, my boyfriend who lives in wellington was nice enough to stop in and pick up the black romper on his way home from work (i only wish i could have seen the look on his face when he first walked in. typically a khakis-and-polo-type guy, the tight male v-necks and super short shorts probably resulted in a bit of culture shock!).



i just got back into town from a junior league conference in georgia and was almost as excited to see the jumper as i was the bf today (shhh don’t tell him i said that!). i’m liking black with brown right now, so unlike jillian who kept her outfit simple, i paired it with a brown woven hollister belt, my betsey johnson faux peacock feather necklace and my fav pair of black kino sandals from key west. check out the styling below:



the bf would probably call me a hypocrite for pairing black & brown since i always get on him for mismatching his belt and shoes, but i think it’s ok to accessorize black with brown, as long as all the extras are consistent and there are not a lot of other colors involved. for example, don’t wear brown shoes with a black belt and purse.

back to the new aa store now - have you stopped in welly world’s american apparel yet? if so, tell me what you think because i’m planning to stop in this weekend. what’d you buy and how are you styling it? details please!

2 years ago 

clothes for bros: nike id

clothes for bros - a spin off of brooke’s clothing line name from “one tree hill,” but a completely different meaning. men have style too, you know.

so if you were this guy, what would you wear?



ew, gators, i know. but my good friend and my sister’s best friend, jon, is looking to us prêt-à-porter girls (and guys!) for fashion advice, so even though he kicks for uf i gotta lend a hand.




he bought the sweet twisted sister shirt shown above from 80stees.com, and through nike’s fun “create your own” web site - nikeid.com - is trying to pick out just the right shoe design to match. what do you think?

or…




i personally like the second option because even with the touch of pink and silver, they’re mainly black and still masculine. i want to give him a broad opinion though, so list your comments below!

2 years ago 

will you accept this shoe…oops, i mean rose?

besides blair waldorf, the bachelorette’s jillian harris is probably the best dressed girl on tv. from her adbundance of scarves and flattering high-waisted skirts, to the hot pink maxi, black romper and super short, feathered lbd she wore last week, jillian always keeps her dates fashionable. but what do i look forward to each week besides hot and buff kiptyn now that jake’s gone? her selection of shoes.

my obsession with her shoes set in during the second episode, when she stepped out in her fun yet sexy red boots for the line dancing date. the boots are aldo’s “flosand” and originally only sold in canada until their popularity grew from show. they are a perfect option for summer boots and sold like crazy after their debut on the bachelorette. though most other sites are listing them as sold out, they can actually still be purchased on the web site with the aldo clearance code received in the aldo promotion e-mails: 5489548. when that style is finally sold out, here is another similar option, the farylrobin hydra boot at endless.com.



maybe it’s because i can’t wear them much in florida, but i seem to gravitate towards jillian’s boots more than her other styles. in addition to the red pair, i’m also a fan of the black fringe boots she wore in whistler and on other dates. though it’s only july, you can get a pair of your own at delia’s to get a head-start for the fall and winter.

last week it was jillian’s yellow patent leather shoes from the scooter date in spain that caught my eye (maybe because i’m still upset about missing my opportunity on the neon yellow louboutins severely on sale at saks couple weeks ago). i read on seenon.com that these were jillian’s two-year-old david dixons. you may not have your own kiptyn, but if you want your own yellow pumps, check out the very feminine miss sixty nabilah heels on overstock.com.



so i’ve decided that it’s officially not fair. jillian gets hot guys and a wicked wardrobe. i wonder what shoes she’ll break hearts in tonight…

2 years ago 

vintage jewelry: who, what, wear…

vintage is undoubtedly hot right now. all the celebs are wearing it and all the fashion mags talk about it, but it can be a difficult thing to translate into everyday wear for the average person. think about it - pepto-bismol pink 90s bridesmaid dresses from goodwill don’t exactly fit the “vintage” category girls want to be seen in (unless you were at my 21st birthday “waltz” in tallahassee several years ago…), and you’re better off purchasing something new rather than the raggedy dior handbag filled with old gum wrappers from the local consignment. luckily for us, house of lavande’s vanessa nedvins (remember her from a few posts ago?) was nice enough to share the “who, what and wear” for going vintage.
who:jewelry is a great place to start when testing out vintage, because in my opinion, there are less chances to go wrong and anyone can wear it. age and style savviness are not factors.

vintage jewelry, specifically hol, is seen all over the red carpets and in everyday wear on many celebs. if you’re looking for inspiration, take note from ashley tisdale at the mtv movie awards, evan rachel wood at her premiere in paris, emmy rossum out for a walk around the city, or my personal faves rachel mcadams, sophia bush and leighton meester on other stylish outings. nedvins told me she found it especially exciting when nicole richie started wearing hol since she owns her own jewelry line and is such a trendsetter in the industry. when asked about other celebs she’d like to style, she mentioned kate moss or heidi klum since they are both inspirations in the fashion world.


zoe saldana wearing hol

what:
see my “behind the seams” post on hol or visit its web site.

as for what trends are in, nedvins says the “chunky 80s-style, club-kid feel” is and will continue to be popular in accessories for a bit, so vintage is perfect for picking up this trend. stackable bracelets are also in style, as well as layered necklaces (maybe pair one of hols jeweled czech pieces with a few long strands of pearls…), and statement necklaces of course. silver is also being asked about in the store a lot recently, which is interesting since gold had made such a strong comeback for a while.

wear:
wear pieces that make you feel special. nedvins believes customers should choose something that a.) brightens their face, and/or b.) induces a memory. she sees both types of purchases in her store: “many women choose specific house of lavande pieces because of an emotional tie - maybe the piece reminds them of something their grandmother wore. the younger set, however, is wearing hol because it is a way to be different and stand out. they can look stunning without wearing something everyone else can buy at the mall.”


1960 hattie carnegie ~ $348

the real where:
like most fashions, styles in vintage jewelry varies from one place to another. places like new york, chicago and palm beach all have different ideas and classifications for vintage and trends. nedvins says new yorkers are more fearless and riskier - think lots of plastic bracelets and other bold pieces - and the only other place similar to nyc is l.a. chicago, on the other hand, is classier and higher-end, rather than experimental like new york. think vintage chanel.and if you’re a regular to my blog or live in the area, you probably know that there is no other place like palm beach. according to nedvins, palm beachers either come in already knowing what they want, or they see something that strikes them and they just have to buy it right then. there’s no real rhyme or reason to their purchasing habits. palm beachers are also careful not to be too “old” even when wearing vintage, are slightly more reserved in their choices, and have more awareness between what is real and fake.

when:
depending on the style, vintage can be worn anytime, but hol pieces are perfect for adding an extra special touch to spice up an outfit for an event or interview, or changing a day-to-night look just by switching up a few pieces.


ashley tisdale wearing hol at 2009 mtv movie awards

why:
the real question is why not. wearing vintage gives you a tie to the past. vintage jewels are not able to be replicated and can’t be found in regular retail stores today. when you’re wearing them you have peace of mind that no one else will have the same thing, which can’t necessarily be said if you show up to an event wearing harry winston, van cleef & arpels or tiffany’s. and my favorite reason why: in my experience, vintage pieces are always fantastic conversation openers.


1960 unsigned multi victorian ring ~ $1,200

how:
if even after nedvins’ tips you can’t decide how to wear vintage jewelry, hol offers styling services to help choose what’s right for you (which i should have put to good use - notice how some of the pieces i was drawn to tended to overwhelm my weirdly tiny arms!). hol stylists use fabric swatches and/or photos of outfits and their owners to put together five or six looks with various ornaments before purchasing. many celebs and their personal stylists go this route, so you’ll be in good company!

fab find: dvf at 70% off

i know i’ve been slacking and need to push some more style stories out soon (exciting news coming the next few weeks on gameday dresses, a chic new spa in town, florida fishing apparel for both guys & girls, and tips on wearing vintage jewelry…), but until then i wanted to post this week’s fab find.

one of my fav designers is diane von furstenberg, but unfortunately i can’t afford to add all her pieces i want to my wardrobe. when it comes to purchasing at full price i tend to stick with classic staples, like her wrap dresses, and i have a hard time splurging on the other items that catch my eye. lucky for me, the final summer sale can now be found on dvf.com, so i can get my fix on the fun pieces without the steep prices. and unlike many other final sales, the goods are actually still stylish and relevant, especially because in florida we can wear summery pieces all year round.

i like to use designer sales as a time to buy things i might normally shy away from - maybe pieces a little bolder than my usual taste, or something super trendy that isn’t worth spending the full amount on. so treat sales as your time to stand out and have fun. here are my discounted dvf picks, clockwise starting upper left:


donna cover-up in striped travelling knots in pink ~ $90 (originally $300). i’m all about the jumpsuits right now and this one is so feminine. meant to be a swimsuit coverup, but in so.fla we can get away with wearing it for more.

tes cover-up in warhol camo red ~ 67.50 (originally $225). such a cute cut and the print - inspired by andy warhol art - is a fresh take on the typical camo.

mecca shoes in red suede ~$84 (originally $280). as you’ll see from my post last week, i think every girl needs a pair of red shoes, and at a price like this, these wedges can’t be beat. if you’re not into bright red and want something a little more subtle, dvf also has them in brown “luggage” leather, which brings me to the next item…

25” rolling carry-on in retro frog ~ $135 (originally $475). dvf always finds a way to make this typically boring accessory hot. jump on this price while you can, but if you miss it, the loehmann’s in legacy place usually has some dvf luggage in stock.

81 years of marriage backed by one dress

this past weekend provided evidence for something i’ve been trying to prove all along: the perfect dress will lead to a lifetime of happiness.

ok, so maybe it was the partner and not really the dress that equated to happiness, but when i looked at my grandparents’ wedding photos at their 52nd anniversary party this weekend, i was inclined to think otherwise. my grandmother was breathtaking in her stunning silk gown, with my tall, dark and handsome grandfather at her side. they look like a couple straight out of an old elvis movie.



but what caught my eye when looking through their wedding album were the wedding announcements. they were much more stylish in the 50s! they not only described my grandmother’s “floor length gown of off-white rice silk and lace with a sabrina neckline,” “long pointed sleeves and a sash at the hipline that crossed in the back,” and “fingertip veil…held by a lace crown accented with seed pearls and sequins,” but they also detailed the dresses, hairstyles and flowers of the bridesmaids, flower girls and even the mothers of the bride and groom. this is even more detail than you’ll find in the new york times wedding pages!



side note: this bridal gown (and the veil!) has actually led to a total of 81 years of marriage and counting, since my mother also wore it when she married my father in 1980. she made it her own by wearing it without the hoop and lacing the sleeves. though my mom wore it for sentimental reasons and not for the sake of fashion, she is so lucky she made this classic and timeless choice…have you seen any of the poufy-shouldered disasters from the 80s?!

now since both my mother and my grandmother both weighed less than 100 lbs on their wedding days, i won’t be able to fit one leg in the dress, much less wear it on my special day. my hope is to take pieces of it to add to my own when the time comes.

you are not oksana baiul

while looking at photos on facebook last night i was reminded of a trend that i would like to go all tanya harding on…

figure skater dresses.


unless you are oksana baiul or have a body like jessica stroup, you probably want to stay away from this style. it’s not new, but lately i’ve noticed them popping up everywhere. american apparel made them famous, and i’ve seen copies on the racks of both urban outfitters and forever 21 recently (proving it unfortunately must be a growing trend), and while they always look cute on the hanger or on tv, most women cannot pull these off in real life. shiny nylon is rarely flattering.

most of my beef with this dress is due to the top. it is just not suitable for a bra, even strapless, due to its super-tight fit that shows every line. it’s a catch-22 though, because the material also doesn’t allow most of us to go braless either without looking like someone who could be found on the sketchier side of 45th. as a result, those who wear them are often stuck with a mishapen bust that, trust me, guys would prefer to have displayed on a better platter.

if you’re still itching to try out the look, do it like my friend did at a bachelorette party last year - in black with very feminine or sexy heels. she is the only non-celeb i’ve seen whose been able to pull off this look.

dark hues will cut down on the shine that comes across too 80s in other colors (yes people, it is possible to be too 80s). and since black is naturally slimming you don’t have to worry about the thin stretchy material hugging places you prefer to hide. and flats only make you look like a 10-year-old ballet dancer, so please stick to pumps.

and don’t wear it with a studded or glittery belt, which i shockingly saw last night. even though i don’t like the color or shoes chosen, an acceptable way to accessorize this style of dress is shown on the aa web site and below, belted with the brand’s signature sash.



urban outfitters also now carries the figure skater dress in a material and pattern that works a little better for those who prefer to stay away from the scary fabric like me.

what do you think of the trend? are you turned off of it too, or am i just bitter because i wouldn’t look like silver from 90210 if i were to sport the same style?

i wear my sunglasses at night

friday night the prêt-à-porter girls & friends headed out on the street to do some of the latest “product testing.” we picked up some of this season’s hottest sunglasses - wayfarers - to get the public’s feeling on the shades made cool by audrey hepburn in the 60s, again by tom cruise in the 80s, and most recently by edward cullen. in reality, here’s what our night of “product testing” at rum bar actually looked like…


rather than purchasing the brand that made this style famous, we picked up these pairs for only $5.50 each from forever 21…because not everyone has the funds to spend $125 on ray-bans that will probably go out of style by the end of the year. forever 21 had plenty of colors to choose from, but the two i liked best - both shown below - were a white pair with green cracking designs, and a pair in purple houndstooth.



a lot of my friends joined in the fun, but there were also a few others i met along the way to answer the important questions in life, like: “would you wear these, and if so, with what outfit?”

1. brian said “i’d wear them with my birthday suit;” & nelly’s answer was “everywhere.”

2. the fab bartender casey said she’d wear them with “jeans and a t-shirt, of course!”

3. ashley (with isaiah) said, “i’m not usually a white person, but i’d wear them as beach glasses or driving glasses”

4. the bachelorettes: maid of honor christine said, “i’d wear them with this dress!” & bride lisa said she’d wear them with a bathing suit, as much as i tried to convince her to wear them with her wedding dress!

5. julie said, “maybe with a glamorous gown or a nightgown…” & lizzy said she’d wear them with “either a with bathing suit or out for nightlife”

6. probably the only time the auburn student will ever be caught in houndstooth, sammy would wear them “with comfy jeans and a v-neck;” & lacey said, “with skinny jeans and a v-neck or tank top”

7. when asked if he’d wear them, dru’s answer was “hell no,” but his gf said she’d wear them with everyday clothes

8. megan said, “i’d wear them with anything purple - it is the color of the season!” & bryn said she’d wear them with boat shoes

i wore mine with a gray tank tucked into a hot pink mini. so, tell me…would you wear these? and, if yes, then how so?

also, don’t forget to check out the full photo shoot on facebook, and let me know if you think of any fun products to try out next, or if there’s a place filled with fabulous fashionalities we should head to next!

fab find: tory burch accessories

this past weekend i attended a junior league conference in macon, georgia. while back at home our jl meetings are typically a sea of pink and green patterns thanks to our lilly pulitzer sponsorship, i noticed a different brand accessorizing the ladies of the other southern states…

the tory burch logo was everywhere - on the shoulders of ladies travelling on the trolley to the so chi gallery, covering feet on heated walks through mercer’s campus, and on wrists of girls eating peach ice cream and chatting up the air force pilots on the pool deck of the hotel. so in honor of all the glamorous girls i met this weekend, here are a few colorful tory burch fab finds you can create your own summer memories with:

tory burch “cluny” multi-tone pump in camel and cracked metallic silver with
pink patent leather strap from footcandy.com, found through shopstyle.com
$197 (marked down from $395)


tory burch “kerry” resin clutch in teal ball from bloomingdale’s
$234 (marked down from $335)



tory burch “daniela” perforated flat sandal from footcandy.com,
found through shopstyle.com
$125 (marked down from $250)


tory burch degrade t tote in party fushia from bloomingdale’s
$276.50 (marked down from $396)


what’s your favorite item?

update: wellington gets all american - romper edition

the awaited american apparel store opened at the mall at wellington green last week. i couldn’t make it down there the first few days of its opening, but i still found a way to get my new retail fix. 


i’d been eyeing the piqué cross front-jumper ever since i wrote about it in my fourth of july post, and when i saw how cute a similar jumpsuit by aqua looked on jillian harris on the bachelorette, i knew i had to have it. rather than ordering online, my boyfriend who lives in wellington was nice enough to stop in and pick up the black romper on his way home from work (i only wish i could have seen the look on his face when he first walked in. typically a khakis-and-polo-type guy, the tight male v-necks and super short shorts probably resulted in a bit of culture shock!).



i just got back into town from a junior league conference in georgia and was almost as excited to see the jumper as i was the bf today (shhh don’t tell him i said that!). i’m liking black with brown right now, so unlike jillian who kept her outfit simple, i paired it with a brown woven hollister belt, my betsey johnson faux peacock feather necklace and my fav pair of black kino sandals from key west. check out the styling below:



the bf would probably call me a hypocrite for pairing black & brown since i always get on him for mismatching his belt and shoes, but i think it’s ok to accessorize black with brown, as long as all the extras are consistent and there are not a lot of other colors involved. for example, don’t wear brown shoes with a black belt and purse.

back to the new aa store now - have you stopped in welly world’s american apparel yet? if so, tell me what you think because i’m planning to stop in this weekend. what’d you buy and how are you styling it? details please!

clothes for bros: nike id

clothes for bros - a spin off of brooke’s clothing line name from “one tree hill,” but a completely different meaning. men have style too, you know.

so if you were this guy, what would you wear?



ew, gators, i know. but my good friend and my sister’s best friend, jon, is looking to us prêt-à-porter girls (and guys!) for fashion advice, so even though he kicks for uf i gotta lend a hand.




he bought the sweet twisted sister shirt shown above from 80stees.com, and through nike’s fun “create your own” web site - nikeid.com - is trying to pick out just the right shoe design to match. what do you think?

or…




i personally like the second option because even with the touch of pink and silver, they’re mainly black and still masculine. i want to give him a broad opinion though, so list your comments below!

will you accept this shoe…oops, i mean rose?

besides blair waldorf, the bachelorette’s jillian harris is probably the best dressed girl on tv. from her adbundance of scarves and flattering high-waisted skirts, to the hot pink maxi, black romper and super short, feathered lbd she wore last week, jillian always keeps her dates fashionable. but what do i look forward to each week besides hot and buff kiptyn now that jake’s gone? her selection of shoes.

my obsession with her shoes set in during the second episode, when she stepped out in her fun yet sexy red boots for the line dancing date. the boots are aldo’s “flosand” and originally only sold in canada until their popularity grew from show. they are a perfect option for summer boots and sold like crazy after their debut on the bachelorette. though most other sites are listing them as sold out, they can actually still be purchased on the web site with the aldo clearance code received in the aldo promotion e-mails: 5489548. when that style is finally sold out, here is another similar option, the farylrobin hydra boot at endless.com.



maybe it’s because i can’t wear them much in florida, but i seem to gravitate towards jillian’s boots more than her other styles. in addition to the red pair, i’m also a fan of the black fringe boots she wore in whistler and on other dates. though it’s only july, you can get a pair of your own at delia’s to get a head-start for the fall and winter.

last week it was jillian’s yellow patent leather shoes from the scooter date in spain that caught my eye (maybe because i’m still upset about missing my opportunity on the neon yellow louboutins severely on sale at saks couple weeks ago). i read on seenon.com that these were jillian’s two-year-old david dixons. you may not have your own kiptyn, but if you want your own yellow pumps, check out the very feminine miss sixty nabilah heels on overstock.com.



so i’ve decided that it’s officially not fair. jillian gets hot guys and a wicked wardrobe. i wonder what shoes she’ll break hearts in tonight…

vintage jewelry: who, what, wear…
fab find: dvf at 70% off
81 years of marriage backed by one dress
you are not oksana baiul
i wear my sunglasses at night
fab find: tory burch accessories
update: wellington gets all american - romper edition
clothes for bros: nike id
will you accept this shoe…oops, i mean rose?

About:

prêt-à-porter or ready-to-wear (off-the-rack or "off-the-peg" in casual use) is the term for factory made clothing, sold in finished condition, in standardized sizes; opposite of haute couture.

prêt-à-porter palm beach is therefore an informal, off-the-cuff view on fashion to guide you on the style map around palm beach and beyond. rather than featuring content that is made to measure or specific to one type, prêt-à-porter palm beach offers style news in many sizes to fit everyone.

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