i want this. and that.

here is the problem with my job - if i'm not in the studio looking at clothes/accessories/shoes, i'm scouring the web to steal ideas for inspiration from other e-commerce sites.  and because of this i always have a want list. once i cross something off another thing appears on the list.  i like it, but my bank account doesn't!

1. l*space fringe halter top & classic scanty bottom, 2. zara court shoe with asymmetrical heel, 3. bauble bar neon color block collar, 4. cambridge satchel fluoro satchel, 5. stella&dot renegade cluster bracelet, 6. jeffrey campbell trudeau wedge sandal, 7. bop basics raffia tote

i just don't think i'll make it through the summer without these items.  i really wont make it through the summer if i buy all these items cause i'll be broke!  seriously, this is a vicious cycle that never ends.  i hope i'm not the only one who has a never ending list!  anyone??

minty fresh (spring '12 color obsession)

unless you've been living under a rock, you probably have heard that pastels are hot for spring '12.  yay!  pastels!  i'm much more of a pastel girl than a neon girl.  don't get me wrong, i love a little neon on my nails, but i don't think i could pull of a pair of neon yellow or green skinnies!  one of my favorite pastel colors for the spring season - mint green.  honestly, i'm not sure why its call mint as the actual leaf of the mint plant is not this color.  i suppose mint toothpaste is this color.  but really, who wants to wear something that is toothpaste green?  so i've rounded up a few of my favorite mint colored spring '12 pieces:

1. paige denim verdugo ultra skinny in mint, 2. asos pyramid metal tip clutch, 3. zara pleated trousers , 4. splendid striped jersey t-shirt, 5. topshop drop back sleeveless shirt, 6. essie nail polish in mint candy apple, 7. 7 for all mankind minty pump

if you follow me on instagram (@stylextraordinaire, if you don't you should!) you may have seen that i already bought those paige jeans (love!!).  what are your thoughts on the pastel color trend?  will you be wearing any minty green this coming spring?

floral obsession

i've kinda always had a thing for floral prints - whether its big, bold flowers or tiny, subtle flowers i will wear it!  so i'm especially excited about all the floral prints popping up for spring on everything from shoes to blazers to denim (yes!!!).  check out some of my favorite floral finds:

1. citizens of humanity mandy roll up jean natural floral, 2. citizens of humanity mandy roll up jean navy, 3. minkpink wisteria lane jeans, 4. asos blazer in floral print & asos cropped pants in floral print, 5. asos marley floral print espadrilles, 6. joie eleanor shadow floral blouse, 7. aldo menches floral backpack, 8. jack by bb dakota magdalena dress, 9.  rodarte for opening ceremony floral high heel booties  

i definitely will be adding some more floral prints to my closet for spring!  i think i need some floral denim for sure, its much cuter than the tie-dye denim (i saw a yellow tie-dye pair.  who though yellow stains on white denim was cute?!?!).  i how do you feel about the floral print trend?    

fall wish list

i've already added a few great fall items to my closet but, my fall wish list is far from complete!

1. pleated faux leather skirt - the first thing that went through my head when i saw this skirt from free people was "the ticket is the first notice!"  i love anything that reminds me of clueless, so this skirt is definitely a must have for me!  i've seen it in person and can tell you that it feels super soft - just like real leather but about half the cost of a real leather skirt.

2. lace up ankle boot - this is a classic style to have and honestly, i don't know why i don't have something like this in my closet already.  i love that there is a sherling lining - extra comfort!  and the best part is these booties are just under $100!!

3. polka dot blouse - after buying a polka dot dress this past spring (seen here, here and here) i kinda have a crush on the dots now!  i have been looking for the perfect polka dot blouse - but none have come close to being as perfect as the one from alexa chung's fall collection for madewell.  now if i could only find the extra cash to buy it... or settle for something cheaper.

4. silver watch - i've been wearing the same brown leather watch for like.. 2 years now?  it's just time for a change and i'm more of a silver girl than a gold girl.  i could also use a little bling i think!

5. black booties - another closet staple.  how do i not already have something like this in my closet?  must have for all year round and at $100 you won't have to feel any guilt.  i love a shoe that costs $100 or less!

6. sequin skirt - i'm literally obsessed with this skirt from zara.  its beautiful!  i look at it everyday!  i haven't purchased anything from zara online yet and i'm thinking this skirt might have to be my first purchase.  or my next DIY.

7. faux fur vest - this was on my list last year but i never actually got one, so a faux fur vest is still on my list.  i love wearing print dresses and nothing looks better with a printed dress than a faux fur vest!  i need one in my closet!  

8. trench coat - another missing classic from my closet.  i've got a pea coat and military coat, so the obvious next coat purchase should be a trench coat.  i like the removable faux collar too - it's kinda like two coats in one!

hope you all enjoy your week, it's gonna be a crazy busy week for me!  also, remember to vote for me!  i would really appreciate it!

get jewel toned - pt 2

here it finally is, part 2 of my fall jewel tones post (see part 1), with citrine, emerald, and sapphire!  the weather is finally starting to cool down, so i can actually start wearing some of my fall stuff.  it even rained one day last week!! 

citrine - while i'm not quite a fan of the yellow jewel citrine, i do love love LOVE the color that is appearing for fall apparel.  it's a great color to add some brightness to what can often be a dark, grey, gloomy season.  i've got my eye on that horse print sweater!

1. free people skinny corduroy pants - under $80!

2. mustard suede slipper loafers

3. first frost circle scarf

4. equipment signature blouse in mustard

5. modcloth earth, wind, attire belt

6. bb dakota melton coat

7. asos sweater in horse print

emerald - i especially love this color for bottoms, skirts, pants, and corduroys!  although i'd avoid wearing emerald and garnet together, too christmas-y for me!
 

1.  asos midi skirt with grosgrain waistband

2. green spot tee

3. vanessa mooney the barbie stud earrings

4. les halles the straw legging jeans

5. dvf capreen mini dress

6. longing for snow gloves

7. gabriella rocha neve flat

sapphire -i'm drawn to the darker, navy blues for fall...  isn't navy the new black?  i'll just say it is.  the navy will go with practically all the other jewel tones for fall so, yes i have to say it must be the new black. 

1. j brand bright corduroy pencil leg pants

2. asos cape with fur trim

3. steve madden cirkus

4. premium wide leg trousers

5. free people floral pucker dress

6. leather cobalt blue satchel

sooo get shopping!  hope everyone has a great week!    

get jewel toned - pt. 1

i'm super excited that the color trend from spring/summer is sticking around for the fall/winter season. i've always been a fan of color, but for so long it seemed like all i had in my closet was shades of black, white, grey and browns. i started adding color to my closet over the summer and have a long list of items to get for fall.  now that summer is officially over (sorta... still pretty warm here in LA) its time to start adding the fall colors to my closet - jewel tones!

garnet -  this beautiful burgundy color is reminiscent of some of the produce that starts popping up in grocery stores in the fall (pomegranate & cranberries).  i love this color so much, it's hard to decide what garnet colored item i should add to my closet!

   

1.  alice & olivia aerin dress

2. asos coated cigarette jeans (on sale!!)

3. j. crew brompton satchel

4. topshop polka dot wide leg trousers

5. darling lace collar wool princess coat

6. tory burch eddie nuckbuck flats   

amethyst - i always see this violet colored type quartz stone used in jewelry and now the color is appearing in apparel, shoes, bags and scarves for the fall season.  the hue has quite a few different names this season, eggplant and plum are two of the most popular. 

1. free people silk knit crochet cardigan

2. modcloth stone leave me hangin' ring

3. alexander mcqueen skull scarf

4. rich & skinny legacy skinny jeans (already in my closet!)

5. butter london nail polish in hrh

6. j.j. winters crossbody bag in plum

7. sam edelman marina pump

8. bb dakota holly sleeveless dress - under $100!

carnelian - also know as rust, or burnt orange is one of my favorite colors this fall.  it goes really well with amethyst and sapphire, if you're wondering what to wear it with (or how i plan on wearing this color!)  

1. pendleton, the portland collectio

2. gap 1969 lightweight corduroy leggings

3. topshop pleated midi skirt

4. rag & bone floppy brim fedora

5. asos aran swing cardigan

6. asos ashford crepe lace-up ankle boots

7. topshop open back skater dress

yes, i know there are some colors missing (emerald, sapphire, citrine)!  check back in a few days to see my picks for the rest of the jewel tones!

rainbow bright

this season bright, bold colors are everywhere, popping up on every thing from nail color to airy chiffon tops, handbags and even shoes!  my favorite is definitely colored denim and these brightly colored bottoms come in every color of the rainbow... literally!

left to right: rag & bone capri in crimson, j brand low rise skinny capri in pale rose, river island fluro denim shorts, ksubi midnight runner shorts 

left to right: rag & bone skinny jeans in bright kelly green, hudson hampton cuffed short in blue, paige denim roxbury crop in sea glass, current/elliott the boyfriend short in dahlia

i have way too much black, white and grey in my closet, so colored denim is a really easy way to add some color to my wardrobe without having to buy a bunch of new shirts.  i've gotten enough of the warm colors in my closet (all jbrand, seen here & here), so now i need to get a cooler colored denim - blue or green.  my only hesitation with blue, is it too close to actual denim color?  what are your thoughts on colored denim?  love it or hate it?  let me know!

red white and blue

4th of july is just a week away, which means that its time to start thinking about outfits.  i'm not usually big on the whole wearing red white and blue for the holiday, but with colored denim trend right now i'm liking the idea more.  check out two looks with colored denim that are perfect for the 4th!

1. wildfox couture flag tee, 2. ray-ban new wayfarer, 3. jbrand cut-off short in bright royal, 4. woven red bracelet, 5. toms silver glitters, 6. longchamp le pilage tote in red

i will be at my mom's house in the high desert helping her set up for her 4th of july party so i definitely want a cool and comfy look for the day time.  this first look would be perfect for a day time bbq or pool party!  i love the longchamp tote in red - perfect to throw a towel, sunscreen and reusable water bottle in or as an overnight bag.  since we won't be having any fireworks out in the desert (its a major fire hazard, duhhh) i'll be wearing my favorite silver giltter toms for some sparkle!

1. ksubi super spray on narrow, 2. splendid striped cotton-silk blend tank, 3. bop bijoux star stud earrings, 4. asos leather bomber jacket, 5. madewell endless summer espadrille   

once the sun sets and the weather starts to cool down it will be time to cover up a bit more.  the splendid tank is a cotton/silk blend so it will be light and comfortable and look great with the red jeans!  while i probably won't actually be putting on espadrille wedges out in the desert at my mom's, madewell's espadrille wedge is perfect shoe for a evening of watching fireworks.  and if these two looks aren't patriotic enough for you, there are plenty of american flag inspired pieces out there for you to be as patriotic as you wanna be:

1. topshop american flag socks, 2. lauren moshi flag tote, 3. runawaydreamz vintage american flag shorts, 4. lita platform boot, 5. eagle earrings, 6. usa flag bikini 

 

does anyone have any special plans for the holiday?  or more importantly, special outfits?

trend watch: spring 2011

it seems like every year lines come out earlier and earlier, and i always find it difficult to look at fall when its 80 degrees outside, or swimwear when its 60 (which is cold for us socal people). the spring 2011 shows have be over for awhile now, but now that the weather is so warm i've started looking into what i need to add to my closet. i came across an article on style.com with 10 tips to update your closet for spring. while the average person can't really afford the suggested items, i've managed to find some great alternatives at a few different price points, all of which are more affordable than the suggestions.

1. a touch of YSL - you can get the same ruffle effect for a fraction of the price with the marc by marc jacobs cotton stripe dress ($ 248, shopbop), jen's pirate booty cha cha mini dress ($110, revolve clothing), or the layered ruffle dress from rare ($72, topshop).

2. something white - while i can't afford the minimal white dress from the calvin klein spring 2011 show, there are plenty of dresses that are just as cute and won't break the bank - indah cold shoulder dress ($148, planet blue), bb dakota terry draped dress ($70, revolve clothing), or the slice of heaven dressshop ($48, nasty gal).

3. a crazy print - prints are big this spring, and pretty easy to wear if styled right! i especially love the mixing of prints! - joie marika abstract floral top ($188, revolve clothing), french connectionvintage print top ($89.65, asos), topshop hawaiian print short sleeve shirt ($70, topshop).

4. the new length - this will be the hardest trend for people to adopt, probably because its just a hard length to wear. i will only be adopting it if i actauly go to a store and try it first - which doesn't happen often (love my online shopping!). t by alexander wang modal rayon over the knee skirt ($125, revolve clothing), minkpink crossroads long dress ($80, shopbop), polka dot calf skirt ($60, topshop).

5. a hit of color - wearing all colors can be difficult and daunting, but like prints, if the right pieces and accessories are chosen can look amazing! achieve a look simlar to gucci's without going broke - red crepe fold over hareem trousers ($80, topshop), splendid scoop neck shirting tee ($68, shopbop), gold driven jacket ($99, modcloth), chiffon and satin ruffle clutch ($34.48, asos), elegantly waisted studded twist belt ($49.50, shopbop).

6. a shirt borrowed from the boys - crisp, white, and collared, every boyfriend will have one in his closet, but if you don't feel like sharing (or he doesn't) you can get your very own - funktionaldraped silk button down ($86, shop nasty gal), white viscose grandad shirt ($70, topshop), oversized pocket boyfriend shirt ($43.10, asos), stole-n glances scarf ($33.99, modcloth).

7. sheer, not shock - add a little lace to your closet without looking like you're wearing your underwear on the outside - black lace kimono sleeve dress ($100, topshop), chandelier lace waisted fishtail skirt ($60.34, asos), free people embroidered lace top ($58, revolve clothing).

8. trouser jeans - a higher rise and a wider leg, the trouser jean will be replacing skinnies for spring - 7 for all mankind the trouser ($169, revolve clothing), free people sailor relaxed flare ($98, freepeople.com), rio blue high wasit kickflare ($60.34, asos).

9. a platform wedge - definitely the best shoe to wear with a trouser jean is the platform wedge - jeffrey campbell daisy wedge platform ($168, freepeople.com), jeffrey campbell i got sole heel ($130.99, modcloth), sam edelman wynn open toe platform booties ($126, shopbop), matiko mari wedge ($90, revolve clothing).

10. an envelope bag - oversized for daytime or smaller for night, the envelope clutch is versatile and you can carry all you need in it - bcbgeneration charlie ($118, piperlime), burgundy faux sting ray envelope clutch bag ($50, topshop), portfolio envelope clutch ($34.48, asos).

happy shopping readers!

trend watch: fall 2010

i've been work as a stylist in the photography studio at an e-commerce company for almost 3 years now, and while it has been a learning experience i haven't really been able to do that much of my own styling. we are basically just following notes and guidelines from each of our clients, which means not a lot of creativity on my part, and lately many clients have been hiring outside stylists so we decided to have a little shoot to show what we can do, and i was focusing on the trends for fall 2010 (and i was def pretending to be grace coddington).

i put 6 looks together, covering a variety of looks and styles:

vintage rabbit fur collar jacket, c&c california dolman top, , jbrand jeans, rock&republic shoes, nicole miller belt, madewell bracelet (no longer available, but they have some other great options!).

paige premium denim jacket, nicole miller dress, nicole miller necklace, rock&republic shoes

ella moss top, jbrand jeans, 7 for all mankind shoes (no longer available, but these would also look great), oliver peoples glasses (no longer available), kooba cuff, hobo international bag

RVCA top, ella moss skirt, 7 for all mankind shoes, forever 21 socks, nicole miller glasses, TKO watch

splendid jacket, ella moss top, ella moss leggings, london fog boots, kooba bag, rotary watch

splendid sweater, RVCA shirt, 7 for all mankind jeans, rag & bone scarf, hobo international belt, kooba cuff, kooba bag, vera wang lavender label flats

i tried to put together looks that were not only my style, and i think i achieved it pretty well. i wouldn't actually wear every look but i do know someone who would wear each look. the shoot was so fun, and i really hope that i can do more things like this in the future. it was also really nice having access to so much product, as most of the items i used were from our warehouse, so i didn't have to go out and purchase anything extra!