Starlet Redemption | Five Young Women Bring Class Back to Hollywood

Inspired by youth, Taylor Swift on my Magazine and Computer Screen

When I received my March Issue of Elle Magazine and found the effervescent Taylor Swift on the cover, I was reminded of the strong pull teens have on the market. Taylor Swift is an adult but the people who look up to her are in high school or younger. Seeing Ms. Swift made me think of who I used to look up to...

I'm a child of the 90s which means as I entered my middle school years the girls in all the magazines were drunken party hoppers who flashed their privates at paparazzi, did drugs in public and sold their own sex tapes. Don't get me wrong, I don't think these women were trying to do any harm except maybe to themselves; and I'd rather not feed into the whole cliche of "celebrity as role model" but I would be lying if I said my friends and I didn't tune into every episode of The Simple Life with Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton. I have distinct memories of me and my friends running around in our training bras giggling "That's hot." and pretending to hide from the paparazzi while chugging ginger ale in place of champagne. I idolized Lindsay Lohan from the age of 9 when I saw her in The Parent Trap. I instantly wanted be exactly like her. As the years went by and Lindsay started to shed her good girl image and her clothes, I mimicked her every move. I don't blame the starlets of those years for my behavior or my short skirts but I do wish there had been some classier young women around when I was that age. But there is hope for the next generation! The era of the hot mess is dead and  these five lovely girls are proof! Each of them is confident, fashionable, beautiful and sexy (yes, sexy) from the inside out.

CHLOË MORETZ

Age: 16
Break Out Role: Mindy Macready / Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass (2010)
Upcoming Films: Carrie

DAKOTA & ELLE FANNING

From Left to Right

 Age: 19, 14

Break Out Role: Lucy Diamond Dawson in I Am Sam (2001), Alice Dainard in Super 8 (2011)

Upcoming Film: Effie, Maleficent

ABIGAIL BRESLIN

Age: 17
Break Out Role: Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Upcoming Films: The Call


SALENA GOMEZ

Age: 20
Break Out Role: Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012)
Upcoming Film:  Behaving Badly

Free Yourself | Free People's New Social Media Platform

Free People has launched their new social media app, FP Me.

Here is the official post from the FP Blog, BLDG 25 but basically, its like LookBook meets Polyvore.

Customers now get their own profile where they can post looks, "heart" other people's pictures, add wishlists and create style story boards. Its so easy. All you need is an email address. Once you've joined the site, just take a picture of yourself in your favorite FP gear, then post it on any of the sites product pages. Here are screen shots of my profile and first look. 

I foresee a lot of afternoons lost playing around on this site and making new friends.

So what do you think? Is this just a ploy to get more customers or another great place to share your personal style?

Fashionately Yours,

V

The Met Presents | PUNK!

Each year I count the moments until the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute opens their spring exhibition. This May they are presenting PUNK: Chaos to Couture. The show will juxtapose Punk Rock culture and the couture fashion it has inspired since its beginnings in the 1970s up until today.

Costume Institute Curator, Andrew Bolton says, "Although punk's democracy stands in opposition to fashion's autocracy, designers continue to appropriate punk's aesthetic vocabulary to capture its youthful rebelliousness and aggressive forcefulness."  

The exhibition will feature over 200 looks from design powerhouses such as Dolce & Gobbana, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs and many more. I am most excited to see the offerings from the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte, Viktor & Rolf and Jun Takahashi of Undercover. The Costume Institute will also be showing looks from a designer that gave them success in the past, Alexander McQueen.

To celebrate the opening of PUNK, the Costume institute is throwing their annual Costume Gala on May 6th. The event will be co-chaired by my favorite punk inspired starlet and Academy Award Nominee, Rooney Mara as well s Lauren Santo Domingo, Co-Founder of Moda Operandi; Riccardo Tisci, Creative Director of Givenchy; and of course, the always chic, Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue.

The show will run from May 9 to April 14, 2013.

Here are a few of my favorite punk inspired looks from designers featured in the exhibition.

Alexander McQueen Fall 2001 RTW

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 Menswear

John Galliano Spring 2000 RTW

Undercover S/S 2013

MARC by Marc Jacobs Resort 2013

Rodarte Spring 2013 RTW

Viktor & Rolf Fall 2008 RTW

All photos from Style.com

Entry Level Glamazon | 3 Ways to Stay Fabulous on a Budget

As I lounge with my feet resting on my IKEA coffee table [$25], sipping Trader Joe’s Pinot Grigio  [$3], from my IKEA wine glass [$1], I can’t help but think about the importance of remaining stylish on a budget. Though I’m a proud member of the employed-recent-college-grad club, living in New York City is still extremely difficult and my entry level income just barely covers it. It’s a constant battle to remain financially responsible while refusing to lose my sense of style. Cheap and Tasteful are not mutually exclusive. These are my rules for staying on trend and under budget. 

BUY HIGH QUALITY AT A LOW PRICE

I know it’s hard to walk past those blazing SALE signs in H&M’s windows but try to resist! Don’t waste money on clothing that is borderline disposable. Stores like H&M & Forever21 are also so on trend that the items you buy there will be out of fashion before you get to the end of the checkout line. I must admit – I have found myself scouring through racks at H&M desperately searching for basics like soft well-fitting tees and light airy summer dresses, but I know none of these items will last through the season  or even through a laundry cycle. Look to stores like Nordstrom Rack, Century 21 or DSW for pieces that will stay with you without ruining your credit score. If the prices at stores like that are too much, even going to a store like TJ Max or Marshalls gives you a better chance at finding a high quality piece. You should also keep a look out for upcoming sample sales at your favorite stores.  

STALK YOUR PREY

If there's a particular item that you're absolutely in love with, don't commit to buying it on the spot. Get the item name and SKU # and hit the internet!  I fell in love with a pair of Dolce Vita clogs - pictured here on my instagram -at a sample sale (see rule above). The shoes were already half off their nearly $300 price so if they had my size, I would have bought them - unfortunately, they didn't.  I got all of the information from the shoe box and a year later I found them on Amazon for $50. That's a whopping 80% off! I realize its hard but with a little bit of research and a whole lot of patience, you might be able to find that piece you loved at a rediculously low price! 

TREAT YOURSELF

I would find it nearly impossible to stick to my rules if I didn't indulge on occasion. Be sure to budget in rewards for good behavior. I always make sure to set aside enough money for my bi weekly  bi monthly Mani-Pedi. Pampering myself keeps me feeling sane, beautiful and confident. If a time based reward doesn't interest you, save your money for this season's it bag or the newest iThingy. Whatever it is, splurge responsibly and always guilt free.