It's been a long time.....

I hope everyone *snickers* is having a safe and happy holiday!! As you can see it's been a minute since the last update. It's called V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N :)

I'll see you kids in 2007!

ROAD TEST: STRAIGHT LEG JEANS

Okay, I've been a boot leg girl for a while now. Having seen the skinny leg jeans being worn so well by various coworkers I decided to switch things up a bit. If you notice I mention denim a lot it's because I wear jeans everyday and they help me pay my rent (I work for a denim company).

Fast forward 3 months and I have had to resign myself to the fact that most skinny jeans are just too severe for my body type (I'm 5 '3 " with a healthy appetite). However, I am happy to report that straight leg jeans are a slightly more forgiving silhouette that lends itself to a similar aesthetic of a "skinny" jean. With a slightly wider knee and leg opening you can wear them, eat a meal, and not look crazy afterwards. I purchased 2 pairs --see pic at inset--from the Gap (their regular jeans don't even fit me...go figure!) and have received such comments as "Have you lost some weight" and "Nice jeans". So maybe getting rid of some of that excess fabric at the bottom can actually have a slimming effect....hmmm.

WINDOW SHOPPING

I'll be adding these to my Christmas list (if only I could stop shopping for myself maybe I could afford to buy gifts for others *sigh*). A girl can never have too many shoes right?

THE BIG BANG THEORY: WHO ROCKED IT?

So everybody and their grandma has been rocking bangs lately, hell..I'm even thinking about getting some. But I don't think that anyone has done it quite as well as this young lady....

Naturally, this begs the question: Who rocked it best?

Janet is the originator of many a trend, but I think she's been one upped on this one. My bet is on Dora. I'm also feelin' her Louis nap sack, where she's undoubtedly holding all her work at.

p.s.- Chanda J. this is why we are friends! Also, I die a little inside every time you do your Dora impersonation :)

NOTICED: WHITE BOOTS/SNOWJOGGERS

on the stars......

on the street..... (spotted @ the Sartorialist)

****

Uggs are sooooooo last season! Apparently these are all the rage with the Hollywood set; Meet the Snowjogger:

The sneaker/snow boot hybrid retails at around $80 and comes in a wide variety of colors. I'm sure that these could be cute under the right circumstances.

I'M SUCH A F***ING LADY!

Sunglasses, $24.99; Any sunglasses;Ruffled blouse, $21.50; Wet seal, Faux fur jacket, $39.99;La Redoute; Pave cocktail ring, $45, Banana Republic;Pencil skirt, $68; Arden B; "Lucero" pump, $79; Nine West; Clutch, $34; Amici accessories

NOTICED: ASHANTI

spotted @ YBF

I'm usually indifferent about 'Shanti, but I must say that I'm diggin' the eyeliner. The overall look gets an A++.

STREET STYLE

I spotted this pic while surfing the net. The more I look at it, I think I rather like it. Even the baby is fly!

STYLE STAR: LAURYN HILL

Where has this chick been? I'll be glad when she works out whatever it is that she seems to be going through lately so that we can see more of her! Lauryn Hill is such a fashion chameleon with an innate sense of style that [insert why-is-she-famous female R&B star's name here]'s glam squad would be hard pressed to effectively recreate. Even if they did, you can always tell when someone is playing dress up in somebody else's clothes.

SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES

.....but I don't wanna go back to work!!!

TO THE EXTREME

Julie jean, $195; True Religion

vs.

Wide leg sailor jean, $198; Marc Jacobs

I love how fashion is all about extremes right now. Both styles are available at net-a-porter.

THINGS TO DO: 2K7 EDITION

As 2006 comes to a close, one can't help but to think about what the next year will bring. I realize that certain areas of my life could use a vast improvement and that I am the one responsible for making these changes. I don't generally subscribe to the notion of making empty promises to ones self, so I tried to come up with a list of general resolutions that (with actual execution) could lead to more specific results.

Some of the things I want to accomplish personally are also things that will be applicable to my closet and upcoming clothing purchases. What? After all, this is a fashion blog :)

1, 2, & 3) Take more risks, etc...The first three things on the list kind of go together. This applies to life and fashion. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut, so I'm thinking that I will try to participate in more activities that aren't a part of my normal routine (work, gym, home...repeat x4). I don't know what these activities are yet, but I'll get to that later.

I get bored very easily so to keep my look fresh, I can A) deviate completely from what's tried and true or B) tweak it a little w/ unexpected accessories, color, or silhouettes. I'll probably do a combination of both.

4) Go for what you want. But first I have to figure out what that is, focus, and make an genuine effort to achieve it. My problem is that lately, what I want tends to change on a daily basis. At one point my goals were always so clear, now for some reason everything is a little fuzzy.

On the fashion tip, I have 20/20 vision about what my wants are. I always have a running list of items that need to be added to my wardrobe. So I am looking forward to crossing some of those items of the list next year.

5) Be grateful. Instead of complaining about all of the things I don't have and justifying the pursuit for acquiring more things(see #4), I will attempt to be grateful for everything that I do have in the meantime.

6) Know when to let go. The sooner I apply this principle to my life/closet, the better off I will be. I have a bag of clothes right now that will probably never see the light of day again just waiting to be hauled off the Salvation Army. Why am I so hesitant to give things away that I know I won't be wearing again?

In my real life, I am starting to realize that there is a difference between giving up/failure and simply separating myself from of situations that aren't working for me.

What's on your list for 2007?

GIVE 'EM THE BOOT!

When is boot/coat...I meant Fall/Winter weather going to kick in?!? It's still like 70 to 80 degrees here in Los Angeles during the day. I guess that just gives me more time to get my cold weather uniform together.

I've been looking for a tall boot with a semi-sensible heel that won't have me wanting to saw my feet off by the end of the day. I think the ones featured below just might work. There are so many boots to choose from this year-- heel vs. flat, tall vs. bootie-- that I'll probably be revisiting this subject again!

Lace up boot, $159.95;Steve Madden

Button Leather Boot, $310; Dolce Vita

Firetrap Multi-Stack Leather boot, $ 285; Asos

THROWBACK JOINT

Piggly Wiggly Tee, $22.50; Alloy

I wasn't expecting it either...

LOUNGIN'

I think R&R (rest & relaxation) gets a bad rap. I'm all for hustlin', but a girl has gotta have some down time. I've got a few more weeks before I head back East for X-mas vacation, but honestly my mind is already on "Out of the Office" reply mode.

I'm tempted to pack nothing but PJ's and leave my get it right, get it tight, "you can't eat a full meal in those" jeans in the closet. Unfortunately, I never know who will be stopping by my mamma's house and I can't be having people thinking that I've let myself go! And that's where these come in:

Knickers, $14.99;Target

Sporty ballet top,$24.50;Victoria Secret; Polo shirt, $90; Ralph Lauren;Plaid fitted shirt, $39; American Eagle

Heart & Arrows thermals, $88;Primp;Revolveclothing

Roller short, $22; Boy shorts, $13.50; Calf socks, $8; American Apparel
Maybe I should wait til company leaves to roll around in my undies... :)

I understand the feeling that one must be G'd up 24/7, and I've seen women walking around in god awful sweatpants and XXXXXL T-shirts (!) all in the name of comfort. Personally, I'm feeling much better knowing that there's a happy medium between the two.

BEAUTY BEAT: E.L.F.

Beauty that won't break the bank is the philosophy behind E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips. Face.). The company offers the latest beauty innovations at prices that range from about $1-$9. We're talking full tubes of lipgloss, blush compacts, eyelash curlers, brushes and make up cases. I personally can't really be bothered with make-up on a daily basis, but when I heard about this site I thought that it might be worth passing on. I'm sure shopping here will be akin to being a kid in a candy store for you beauty mavens. All products below (and many more) are available at eyeslipsface.com

Soothing lipgloss, Natural Radiance blush; $1

Shine eraser blot tissue, Natural lash kit; $1

Clutch Make-up bag; $8

Gloss giftset, $8.00

VIBRANT THING

Solange, Iman, Gabrielle, and Rihanna prove the power of color

There has been much ado about the little black dress (also known as LBD) lately. The fashion staple has been praised for it's chic versatility and flattering nature. I rocked a LBD of my own at a recent soiree and I looked pretty cute if I do say so myself. But guess what? So did the other 9 chicks that were sporting LBD's that evening.

I don't know about you, but I have absolutely no interest in looking like everybody else....especially at a social gathering. In keeping with that thought, opting for color is one of the easiest ways to stand out from the crowd. I'm not talking about tacky "look at me" neon colors, I'm suggesting wearing rich jewel tones or vibrant primary colors. These are easier to pull off and tend to be flattering on most skin tones. Here are some looks l liked:


Red tube dress,$168; Banana Republic; BCBG Drop waist dress,$129;Bluefly

Purple tube dress, $66.50; Criss-Cross halter dress, $54; both at asos.com

Slip dress, $194; Twelfth Street;shopbop.com;Empire Waist dress, $144;asos.com

Jewel accented halter dress, $144;Donna Ricco;Alight.com

Put these dynamic frocks together with peep or round toe pumps and fishnets for a quirky vibe. Think tasteful jewelry and strappy sandals for a more sophisticated look. Go ahead and try it, that little black dress isn't going anywhere.

FASHION POLICE

Violator #1:

Sir, we got an anonymous tip (thanks cjm) involving you and a sweater that apparently belonged to a Mr. Bill Cosby in the late 80's to early 90's. **T.I. gives me the innocent look**....Well, I see that you have no prior fashion violations so we'll let it go with a warning. (I am not a hypocrite dammit! I'm still your #4 fan) Something tells me that he had to reach waaaaaayy into the back of the chifforobe for this one.

Violator #2:

Ma'am we're going have to take you down to the station for further questioning. WTF??? Why does Blu always have to be the fashion "don't"?

STYLE STAR: JENNIFER LOPEZ

Jenny from the block is featured on the cover of Bazaar's December "Best Dressed" Issue. Lopez takes the top honor as best dressed. In regards to her love of fashion she comments:

“I love the fantasy that fashion brings; it can make you aspire to a better life, like it did to me. Though people might make fun of some of my outfits, I hope- and I think- they respect the fact that I love fashion, and I go out and do it.”

....Let the church say, "Amen".

Nine times out of ten Jen steps out looking like "That chick"....you know the one whose fashion/make-up/shoe game is always tight. I adored her Sweetface fashion collection, which some criticized as being for people who don't understand "real fashion". Though I don't like how the media made her out to be the first women with an ample behind, I have always admired her unapologetically opulent approach to fashion. These are some of my favorite Jennifer Lopez fashion moments. Enjoy!

HEAD OF THE CLASS

Hats shouldn't be relegated to "bad hair day" duty.

Top:Goorin wool plaid fedora, $48; Kitson; Obey plaid cap, $31; 80spurple.com; Four button pinstripe hat, $28;Intuition

Middle: Knit beret; $25;www.shopintuition.com; Kangol "Modelaine" beret, $27.99; hats.com

Bottom: Navy knit newsboy, $19.99; tashascloset.com; Paul Frank snap button hoodie, $28;karmaloop.com

**dedicated to MCJ**

OBJECT OF DESIRE

I am not a label whore (well, maybe a little),I usually don't like things that are so obviously designer, and I hate small purses. For some reason when I spotted a similar version of this bag I couldn't help but to be slightly fascinated by it. The version that I was lusting over was more like a clutch with a clasp closure. It's sort of gaudy and I have no idea where I would wear it, but when has that ever mattered?

PZI jeans

Perazzi (aka PZI) jeans promotes their merchandise as "grown and sexy" specific and promises the ultimate fit for curvy women. The Atlanta based company specializes in mid-rise jeans sizes 4-16 that are designed to fit the woman with a slim waist and ample hips. As a woman with this particular attribute, I appreciate their efforts in acknowledging this under served market. The pants appear to be flattering and most importantly affordable. Here's a peek at their product offering:

See pzijeans.com for more.

FASHION TV: UGLY BETTY

I don't even have a television and I love this show. Thank you ABC for making the episodes available online! Ugly Betty chronicles the adventures of Betty Suarez (played by America Fererra) who is the smart but unfashionable assistant to the editor-in-chief of the high fashion publication, Mode. Although Betty is in desperate need of a make over, you can't help but to admire her spirit.

The supporting cast is equally hilarious and endearing. Vanessa L. Williams is a delight to watch as Wilhelmina Slater,the manipulative creative director of Mode. Her facial expressions are priceless and lines like, "He's making me look like Miss Jane Pittman" (in reference to her younger date) and "Were you looking at me when you suggested Qwansa" (in reference to a holiday magazine layout) pretty much sealed the deal for me. Salma Hayek acts as executive producer and guest star.

Ugly Betty airs Thursdays @ 8pm on ABC.

STYLE HUNT: HOOD STAR...YOU FOUND IT!

It has come to my attention that the hoody I was searching for in an earlier post is part of the Dereon collection. There's usually about a 30% chance that anything cute Beyonce is wearing is actually associated with her own clothing line. So, imagine my surprise when my friend Chanda told me it was available on back order on the Dereon website.

I'm not sure if I'm feeling the fur lining which allows the jacket to be reversible, but I'm still thinking about coping it.