Some days, my outfit is inspired by my mood, others days it’s inspired by the weather, but today, my outfit was inspired by my hair— which was quite unremarkable, might I add.

On Friday, I’m scheduled for a Brazilian Blowout at my local hair salon, Hopscotch (Editors Note: Check out Hopscotch on ELLE’s “Top 100 Salons” in the August 2010 issue). Until then, I’ve decided to do as little as possible to my hair, which unfortunately means it will be in some form of an updo until Friday morning.

Today, I tried an easy bun I saw in the Beauty & The Blog post, “The Art Of The DIY Updo: Only 8 Bobby Pins Required.” It required me to separate my hair into two sections, twist and pin. For extra flare, and in an attempt to keep my the bangs I’m trying to grow out out off my face, I parted my hair on which ever side it wanted to be parted and French braided the front.

The end result looked like some sort of lazy ballerina hairstyle, and I knew my outfit had to match.

So, for the first time this summer, I threw on my favorite pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a black Twinkle by Wenlan top, and my perfectly high, black Calvin Klein platform pumps.

The end result was relaxed, comfortable, and work appropriate— if you work in a casual environment.

Only three more days until my blowout. Let the countdown begin!

Goody; walgreens.com. Forever21; forever21.com. Floreat; anthropologie.com. Steve Madden; zappos.com [Affiliate Link].

Sorry for the lack of posts of late, I’ve been working and distracted by the beautiful weather. I’ll try to do better, but the sun is going to keep warming my face, beckoning me to play outside.

I spent my Sunday afternoon watching the guy play baseball, sweating my toosh off, and batting away bugs while sitting under a tree.

I wearing an American Eagle Outfitters dress I bought over a year ago and Betsey Johnson sunnies.

More soon!

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Yesterday, My day started off with a coworker saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear pants!” As a matter of fact, she hadn’t. I usually come to the office in a dress/skirt and five inch heels. My alternative outfit is a slightly shorter dress/skirt and flats. However, yesterday I wore pants—cuffed khakis to be exact.

I recently read an article in Real Simple called “How to Cuff Your Jeans Stylishly”, and in a light bulb moment, I realized, I should wear cuffed pants and super high heels to work.

Cuffing or rolling one’s pant leg doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult, but there is a real skill to it. Real Simple broke the process down into two easy steps:

“Step 1: Grasp a bottom hem and fold it vertically so there’s a ½-inch tuck in front.

Step 2: Hold the tuck in place while you roll up the hem by about two inches twice. Repeat with the other leg.”

My pants were a little (read: a lot) more than bootcut, making my tuck much larger, but the end result was just as cute.

As for my pant wearing, I may break them out from time to time, but I will never forsake my flirty dresses and sassy skirts.

This morning, I plopped myself on a bench at my train station forsaking the God-awful hour I had to wake up. Then, I say a girl giving the strangest sideways glance at me. As she passed, she simply smiles and says, “I like your shoes!”

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself because: A) I could have sworn she was thinking something terrible (talk about giving people the benefit of the doubt) and B) These Michael Kors shoes aren’t even mine, they’re my mom’s.

Maman, as I often call her, happens to be a giant fan of Michael Kors— by fan, I mean she would stalk him if she knew how. She’ll buy anything as long as there is a MK somewhere on it, and these sexy platform sandals, which happen to be too big for both of us, are one such purchase.

However, I’m not complaining. Not only did I choose to wear the unbelievably cute, not to mention tall, sandals, but I was complimented on them within the first 30 minutes of use. Think of all the compliments I’ll get in 12 or more hours of wear!

Michael Kors, I salute you, for adding to my vanity and making amazing clothes and accessories.

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It’s almost Mother’s Day, and I could probably write forever about why she means so much to me. However, she doesn’t read my blog, and she’d never know.

I will say my mom is the only person who can affect my wardrobe decisions. Not only do I often go shopping with her, but if I put on a outfit, and she doesn’t like something about it, I’ll complain and try my best to stand by my wardrobe choices but will inevitably go and change.

She’s a genius, she’s caring, she works her ass off, she’s classy, and she’s the reason I wore this surprisingly sexy Calvin Klein wrap dress yesterday.

I bought this dress while shopping with my mom at Marshall’s last weekend. It was the first time in a long while that I’ve made a purchase without trying it on. All I knew was, I needed the dress because it was a wrap dress and it was bright red. What girl doesn’t need a bright red dress?

According to her, the dress inspired her to create the ultimate scheme, a surprise half-birthday diner with my guy. Since I was young, my sister and I would always celebrate our half-birthdays in an effort to score a few more presents. The presents rarely came, but the tradition stuck, and since her death I hadn’t done much toward birthdays or half-birthdays.

In an effort to get me out of my funk, my mom went to my boyfriend with this silly plan, and he went along with it. Their plan was totally successful and beyond cute. My mom not only told me I needed to wear this new Calvin Klein dress, but also told me I “needed to update the shots on my blog.”

Of course, I wore the dress and took the pictures.

Thank you, Mom/Mommy/Madre/Maman. I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much! You’re most definitely the best.

What I Wore:
Dress - Calvin Klein, $40
Necklace - H&M
Shoes - Christian Louboutin

I believed I mentioned my new penchant for dresses and skirts a couple of times in the past month. Initially I think I attributed this fondness to the onset of spring, but I’m not sure the warmer weather is the only thing effecting this change of heart.

My friends and I have been joking about me becoming a “real girl” due to various things that have happened in my personal life— things that the old me, circa two months ago, wouldn’t have been caught dead doing.

This transition into becoming a real girl and accepting my double X chromosome and everything that comes with it seems to have encouraged me to spend the last month, or so, baring my legs while slinking around campus in sky high heels.

Though I have been dressing like a modern day June Cleaver, I feel more confident and empowered than I have ever felt before. I know, I can kick butt, ace tests, stand up in front of a room full of people and give a convincing speech without skipping a beat, make guys swoon, and even go on an interview without worrying I’m going to fail.

It’s strange, in the 50s, women wearing pants was a sign of empowerment while a dress and high heels were seen as metaphorical shackles, binding women to the confines of a kitchen. Now, a woman wearing pants is a dime a dozen, while putting on a dress and a pair of power heels is the new confidence boosting outfit— I’m going to go out on a limb and assume I’m not the only woman who feels this way.

Does this change mean women have digressed, or does it mean we, like many others, have taken control of the thing that has demeaned and constricted us for so long? Have we turned the dress into a symbol of power?

Whether I’m being completely naïve or not, I hope to continue down this path of female enlightenment. As the famous song from the movie Flower Drum Song goes, “I enjoy being a girl,” but I’ll still take on any guy willing to arm wrestle.

What I Wore:
Dress/Ring – H&M
Necklace: Handmade by Me
Shoes: Joan & David

People watching is a favorite pass time of many. They flock to parks, cafés and beaches to quietly observe their specimens, but there is no people watching location like a fashion event. At any one event in the fashion industry, there are the overzealous newcomers, the jaded veterans, the awkward financial guys who are only there for the models, and the crashers.

Last night, I went to an art show and two separate fashion events— one was a presentation for Levi’s Fall 2010 collection and the other a preview of the Alice by Temperley line— and all the usual suspects were there.

The art show was for Ritchard Rodriguez. His art was interesting, but I rarely “get” modern painters. I was also informed I have a doppelganger who frequents the gallery and other art events— who knew!

At the Levi Fall 2010 preview, I listened to the melodic stylings of One Eskimo. I’ve yet to pass judgment on the band, so I won’t get into their music. I met quite a few fun people some really awkward ones. I stared awkwardly at the middle age guys in pinstripe suits while the hipsters waltzed around in ripped denim and slouchy knits, and then my attention was quickly switched to people on the opposite side of the spectrum that looked as if they had just come off the street to see what the party was about. A male model even winked at me, but I tend to avoid them at all cost— they’re either gay, intellectually challenged or both.

I also tragically realized, I’m not cool enough for Levi anymore. I can’t remember the last time I actually bought a pair of Levi jeans, but the collection is very edgy and Erin Wasson-ish. Never, will I be Erin Wasson. So, I’ll stick to the Three Fs— fun, flirty and feminine.

The last stop of the night was the Alice preview. It made me realize how much I adore the designs of Alice Temperley in both the Temperley London collection and the Alice by Temperley collection. I couldn’t take pictures, but the animal prints were tie-dyed just enough to make me want to wear tiger stripes every day, and the navy military coat dubbed the Audrey Coat had my name written all over it— when’s my birthday again?

I’m not sure where I fall on the fashion event spectrum, but I had fun nonetheless.

A back view of my dress. I love the bow!

What I Wore:
Dress – Phoebe Couture (Gift from Lord & Taylor Prom-A-Palooza)
Jacket- H&M
Shoes – Christian Louboutin

I think I say it every spring— if not, I should— warm weather makes me want to dress like a hippie. Many times, I don’t always achieve the look because it turns into an odd rocker/hippie mix. Today, was no exception. My look was slightly hippie, but more utilitarian rock fan.

I adore the Jimi Hendrix tee I found in the men’s section of Target years ago. I don’t often wear tops with images or writing on them, but for some reason, I feel it’s acceptable for me to display my undying support this genius across my torso. Plus, a new Hendrix album, primarily recorded in early-1969, came out yesterday entitled, Valleys of Neptune. I won’t turn this into an album review, but I will say, there are some guitarists who can stir your body, some who can stir your emotions, and some who can stir your soul. Only Jimi Hendrix can do all three.

The way music and fashion influence each other has always intrigued me. It’s a very chicken-or-the-egg situation, but after discussing this with various people in both industries, I often chalk the influencing up to being a sort of dynamic equilibrium. I do, however, sometimes say, fashion is my heart and my music is my pulse— I may need fashion to live, but music let’s me know I’m alive.

Talk Back: How does music influence your sartorial choices, and vice versa?

What I Wore:
Top: Target
Cropped Motorcycle Jacket: Alexander Wang for GAP
Sunglasses: Forever21

However, when I got home, I was instantly brought back to Earth by my adorable, monster of a puppy Riley, who could care less about the “old thing” I was wearing and simply wanted to pull me down the street whilst chasing squirrels.

So, meet (re-meet) my puppy Riley…

Sometimes he likes to listen to me (especially if there’s a treat involved)…

Sometimes we like to box…

Usually, he’s just Riley the Destroyer…

But, who could get made at him with a face like this?

What I Wore:
Coat: H&M
Dress: Ella Moss (Received as a gift when I interned at Tractenberg & Co.)
Tights: Betsey Johnson
Boots & Necklace: Target
Scarf: Affordable Scarves (Received in IFB Evolving Influence goodie bag)

Today, I wore one of my new Twinkle by Wenlan Spring 2010 pieces. I tweeted about it, but the picture was , in my very self-critical opinion, horrendous.

I’ve loved the ‘Oil and Water’ print since I saw it being made— a lot of Wenlan’s prints are created by the design team and then sent to a fabric manufacturer. There’s something about the busy nature of the print that easily gets me through a gray day like today.

You can’t see the back, but it’s made of black and white striped fine gauge knit, adding an extra bit of pizazz without needing sequins, studs, chains, grommets, or any other glimmering details. It is the lack of necessity for such pieces of flare that make me love Twinkle as much as I do.

On a completely different but strangely connected note, there was an article on Fashionista about telling the world you’re wearing a sample.

“I’ve spotted at least three people proudly sporting their ‘Sample’ label. At ThreeAsFour’s show at Milk, a man took off his jacket to reveal a sample label pinned inside; a model threw a tantrum in sample-stamped shoes, and while waiting in line for Hakaan I noticed ‘Sample’ written across the back of of a woman’s army jacket in Sharpie,” writes Britt Aboutaleb.

It’s a known fact in the fashion industry many people wear loaned samples. It is also known that just  as many people, including models and interns, get “paid” in samples instead of cold hard cash. I’m not exempt from this process. While working at Twinkle, I had a clothing allowance and was able to convert my hundreds of labored hours into something similar to Twinkle Bucks to purchase samples or order pieces from the new season. This tunic is one of the many pieces I ordered using my allowance from Twinkle.

The question on Fashionista was whether it is “cool” to publicize that you’re wearing a sample?

In my opinion, there is no need to do so. It isn’t as if you’re sharing a great sale tip with a friend. I don’t think it’s a gold star on my shopping record to say I’m wearing a sample. I’d also like to note, I only used my allowance on items I would have actually purchased, not simply because I was jonesing for a Twinkle sample.

Samples are everywhere, and you aren’t in an exclusive club or making a unique sartorial statement simply because you’re wearing one. Think about it, a sample sale is called a SAMPLE sale for a reason, and there are hundreds of them each season. Not to mention, those hundreds of sample sales are attended by hundreds of people. I see no novelty in said situation.

That being said, I, obviously, have nothing against samples and will continue to wear them and trade labor for them as I see fit, but I won’t be leaving the sample tag in, sorry!

What’s your take on showing the world you’re wearing a sample?

p.s. Follow me on Twitter

Yes, I did say magic, and that’s because I loved the collection. I’ll even go as far to say I liked Fall 2010 better than Spring 2010, and I had some hand in the preparation for the Spring show.

The dark fairytale theme of Fall 2010 starkly contrasts this Springs 80s glitz, Blondie meets Ono aesthetic, and the normally trapeze and girlie silhouettes were replaced by a more form fitting and sexy shape, all while maintaining the essence of the fun, flirty, will-keep-you-guessing Twinkle girl.

The Hansel and Gretel print seen in the vanilla sleeveless number to the left, is something I would wear all year, but was smartly contrasted by a white Chunky Knit scarf wrapped to the chin. However, it was this Nostalgia long sleeve dress that was my favorite. The parchment color is so utilitarian, but the shape is sexy and feminine.

Oh, and did I mention the necklace, and the rest of the jewelry, for that matter? It was just my style, chunk, chunk, chunky!

All I have to say is, congrats Wenlan and all the other lovely ladies whom I adore and who worked so hard on this collection. It was a total success.

p.s. To see what I wore,

It was much too cold to wear any of the Twinkle dresses I have, so I went for warmth with a bit of sex appeal instead. I love a backless look, and think you’ll be seeing my back more often!

I have a pair of jeans from sixth grade. The wash may be a little bluer than I would buy today, and the bottom a little more flared, but I wear them regularly, none the less. This isn’t a testament to my minimal weight gain since I was 10, but more of a tribute to the durability of said jeans. They aren’t designer and didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. Actually, they were, at most, $15 from T.J.Maxx and are by L.e.i. So, when asked, a couple of weeks ago, to help launch the L.e.i. Model Citizen contest, I jumped at the opportunity.

L.e.i. Jeans and Teen Vogue, are holding a contest to find the next L.e.i Model Citizen; a girl between the ages of 15-21 who best exemplify the values of L.e.i— life, energy and intelligence.

The contest whose grand prize winner receives a $100,000 college scholarship, a feature in L.e.i.’s Fall 2010 national advertising campaign, a Teen Vogue internship and more, is judged by some of fashion’s most influential women including Teen Vogue‘s editor-in-Chief Amy Astley, designer Rachel Roy, and models Chanel Iman and Ali Michael.

To enter the contest which begins today and ends on Mar. 23, 2010, you must create an original video, no more than two minutes, showing how you best exhibit life, energy and intelligence. Tell about your success, how you give back to your community, or even show a talent. What you do, is completely up to you.

I highly encourage you lovelies to enter, not only because a two minute video is super easy to make, but also because a $100,000 college scholarship is major not to mention you get an automatic, no questions asked internship with Teen Vogue.

In the insurmountable words of RuPaul, “You betta’ work!”

Keep up to date with L.e.i. Model Citizen contest on Twitter and Facebook where judge and rising supermodel Chanel Iman will be chatting live with fans on February 4.

If you need an example of what to do for your video, on the right is the completely low budget video I made using my cruddy webcam that makes everything look dark and the Windows Movie Maker skills I obtained during a journalism class I took a little over a year ago— I guess you will use the things you learn in class.

p.s. It’s so strange hearing my own voice, it sort of grates on my ears. So, tell yours I’m very sorry.

Sometimes, I feel as if I’m trapped in a fashion rut of oversized tees and denim. It’s as if I’ve fallen into the world of suburban soccer moms who are still working off the baby weight. The problem is I’m 21, don’t have a husband with a 9 to 5 finance job or my appropriated 2.5 children. So, what gives?

After watching more than enough episodes of What Not To Wear, I’ve realized, when I wear an oversize t-shirt, it isn’t about comfort or convenience, it’s about trying to hide from the world.

Unlike most people on these fashion makeover shows, I am not hiding do to weight gain or loss— I love my body— I’m hiding because despite my need to be social for my career’s sake, I would much rather hide and not be seen. There are days like today when, yes, I want to just go wild, wear a bright dress, heels, and statement jewelry. I do like to dress nicely, and hopefully stylishly, but I’ve yet to learn how to navigate a world where people, generally women, compliment me on my clothing and style while others, generally men, launch unsolicited “Damn, girl!” missiles at me.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to be complimented just as much as the next being, but I always feel awkward when trying to graciously accept said compliment. In American culture, the polite thing to do when complimented is to reciprocate the action, but what if I can’t? I don’t want to lie. Also, in no way, shape, or form do I feel it appropriate to be yelled at from across the street, psst’d from a moving vehicle, or sexualized in any other way by a man I don’t know or have any intention of getting to know.

Earlier this week, I wrote of Tanya Gold’s hate letter to fashion, and though I still feel there is no escaping the fashion industry as she tried to imply, I still struggle with various aspects of consciously taking part in fashion, style, and trends, and sometimes wish it would all just disappear, or at least, I could disappear.

How do you deal with the ins and outs of fashion on the days that you simply want to hide?

What I’m Wearing [Monday]:
Sweater Dress – H&M
Leggings – ?
Shoes – Christian Louboutin
Necklace – Handmade

What I’m Wearing [Today]:
Dress – BCBGeneration
Leggings: Target
Shoes – Christian Louboutin
Rings – Ceasar’s Design, Various
Necklace – Handmade
Bracelets – Handmade, Vintage, Various

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Contrived to Charm, a wonderful Etsy Seller who sold hand-tolled leather belts that pretty much made me salivate on my laptop when I saw them? Well, I went ahead and actually purchased one of the belts— the ‘Villainess Belt’ to be exact— and, I’m so excited about getting the chance to wear it and its 3 different matching ribbons— I received the extras because I had to wait a little longer than normal, no biggie!

When there is a choice of whether to wear a belt or not wear a belt, I tend to pick the former. Belts are the one accessory that can completely change the look of your body. If worn high, a belt can elongate your legs and vice versa for the torso. They can add a bit of wow to an outfit, give you curves, and even make you look thinner. They’re little leather wonders.

Since the ‘Villainess Belt’ I ordered from Contrived to Charm is a corset style belt, I can pretty much cinch my waist down to nothing. However, it’s quite painful squeezing your insiders together, thus, a nonexistent waistline is a non-option. I will, however, suffer in the slightest and cinch my waist a bit smaller, so I can feel like the Vargas Girls whose corsets gave them dangerous curves an the tiniest of tiny waists.

What I’m Wearing:
Dress – Twinkle by Wenlan
Cardigan – Threads
Belt – Contrived to Charm

I once had a dream I was sitting on the cream marble floor of a strange, all-white room with giant windows, toiling over a cool woven necklace that I had to get done by the end of the night so I could ship it to the manufacturer. I was stressing out, and almost in tears because I thought I would never get it done. I, apparently, was a jewelry designer in this dream. I, also, was in some sort of relationship with an almost-40 rocker/actor— guess who? Obviously, it was just a dream.

All dreams aside, in the last couple of days, I’ve made a couple of bracelets, nothing special and the two necklaces I’m wearing.

Both necklaces were made using aluminum chain— gold for one black for the other— and glass beads, but the looks are very different. The gold necklace is very simple with only a few beads dispersed throughout, while the black-chained necklace has a smattering of glass pearls in various sizes an colors with two large green stones book-ending the dangling beads.

Part of me wants to start selling some of the jewelry I make, but I would hate to part with a one-of-a-kind piece and making a duplicate would be time consuming because I’m not one for measuring lengths or counting beads. I just do what looks good on me.

I have the rest of January to be creative, and then school starts. I’m sure there will be more creations to come!