Bling Rings

Balenciaga S/S 2013 Rings. Image Courtesy of My Daily Edition

Just as an FYI, H&M is selling some Balenciaga inspired stacking rings at a cool $5.95 a set. I purchased in two sizes to ensure I could cover as many digits as possible.

If you managed to pick up those released earlier in the season, you can come pretty close to the original look, which would otherwise run you up to $750.

In other news, I finally satisfied my dainty ring craving from this summer, as exhibited by yesterday's finger fiesta.

Rings from Ula on Lexington, H&M, random shop on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg

Happy Weekend everyone!

Feeling Blue

In the process of magazine recycling, I ripped this page out of Elle to add to my inspiration notebook (I am too old school for Pinterest). Blue is my favorite color, only further evidenced by my matching manicure.

Huge fan of that Lanvin statement necklace

To achieve my blue topaz manicure, I used one coat of Matésse Elite in Neon Lightening Blue and two coats of Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Tender Teal. For a similar look, swap out the now discontinued (I think, mine is at least 5 years old) Matésse for any teal base like Sally Hansen Xtreme wear in Blue Me Away. Top it off with Sally Hansen Spectrum.

Now all I need is the ring to match the manicure. This Eddie Borgo piece would definitely be on my dream birthday wish list.

            

Eddie Borgo ring   (see more eddie borgoes) Image credit: Polyvore

 All that glitters is certainly not gold.

I Happen to Love Trigonometry, But Fashion Math is Much More Fun.

I would like to begin this post with a personal thank you to all of my coworkers who complimented my outfit on February 10th (I meant to post this the same week so I apologize for my lapse in blogging). Not only did it tug at my little stylist-at-heartstrings, but it is now archived in the "go-to outfit" section of the fashion reference library known as my closet. And, since my blog is dedicated to individual style on a budget, it is quite fitting that both pieces I wore that day are from H&M.

The boots are Lanvin Fall 2009, purchased at Loehmann's for about 85% off, and I extend an apology to the woman who was following me around hoping I wouldn't buy them, because she is missing out on a lot of shoe admiration.

Note: This outfit contains black and navy. I have learned that this is a viable color combination despite initial reservations, and now I kinda dig it. So you have my seal of approval to wear it too, not that you need it.

And now onto some other ensembles that give great style at a great price:

GAP open cardigan + American Apparel braided belt = DVF-inspired wrap worthy of a street style snapshot. I like to pair mine with gray over-the-knee socks from H&M and a more fitted bottom, mostly because I spend too much free time stalking Lookbook.

White burnout tee + H&M spandex mini = simple East Village Evening outfit.

Worn specifically with Hue Super Opaque black tights and sample sale Giuseppe Zanotti booties. (Best $15 I ever spent! And no that's not a typo.) Other footwear alternatives: $35 H&M wedge booties or $28 Forever21 Workman Lace Up Booties. I just like to write the word "booty."

Forever21 floral chiffon dress + J. Crew Outlet argyle cardigan + Buffalo Exchange Vintage GAP belt = a lesson in layering, a tutorial in textures, and a play on pattern mixing. I'm all about the Jenna Lyons J. Crew styling aesthetic of mashing up lengths and textures and patterns, then cinching it all together with a belt. I'm still perfecting my own version, but this is a pretty decent replication for my body type.

Express Tuxedo boyfriend blazer + gray American Apparel Tri-Blend v-neck + Hue black leggings + multiple Trash & Vaudeville studded bracelets = Kate Lanphear Rock Chic. I have made clear my obsession for Kate, so this equation needs no explanation.

If you can't tell, I have a mild case of fashion schizophrenia. I don't think I have one distinctive style, but rather I dress for my mood, which can change every day or every minute.

Now it is your turn to come up with a style equation that multiplies the contents of your closet! Let me know what you come up with!


I would also like to apologize for the crap quality of my pictures, as I rely solely on my BlackBerry and Photo Booth for iMac. One day, I promise to upgrade. If I can just stop buying nail polish and shoes...

On St. Marks. Get Studs. Go.

To be perfectly honest, I wish I posted this a year ago, when it was most relevant to me. But I'm frequently lazy and forgetful, and now, perhaps this post may be past its prime. I prefer my blog to set standards of style rather than to follow them. If it didn’t, the title of "trendsetter" would be completely inaccurate, wouldn't it? I apologize for my tardy reporting and I hope you can forgive me for it.

If you buy magazines, read fashion blogs, walk down the street, or go in to a store, you are probably well aware that studs are huge this fall. Studded shoes, blazers, jewelry, belts; you name it, it has been punked. I would not be surprised if right this very moment, Sid and Nancy are rolling over in their graves. However, despite its fast track to fashion overkill, studs are a trend that I still totally dig. In fact, I've been into this 80s throwback since picking up the September 2008 issue of Elle magazine, and obsessing over Kate Lanphear and her masterful styling.

As strange as it sounds, it was a High School Musical cast spread that inspired me to attain the punk rock vibe. Being that Kate is consistently faithful to the origins of her look, the majority of the cuffs featured were available at Trash & Vaudeville, and at incredibly reasonable prices. Sure, I may have felt like a poseur walking into that store--as I am far from punk, rock, or goth--but there is nothing wrong with trying to reinvent your style, or at least giving it a swift kick in the ass. A little edge goes a long way.

While I am still drooling over and longing for two of Kate's signature bracelets: the Hermes Collier de Chien and the pyramid cuff I can only find similar in this Noir version, I have managed to stave off the desire to spend excessively by recreating her layered look with the Trash and Vaudeville cuffs ($10-$30) mixed with some Tiffany chains I've acquired over the years.

Remember: anyone can achieve their desired style with the right amount of determination and a little imagination. Moreover, it is worth every penny to mingle with the authentic punks to get the exact look that you want. Fashion is an experiment; not always aspirational or out of reach. In fact, sometimes it falls right into our price range. Now that deserves a gold medal in the Shopping Olympics.




Trash & Vaudeville is located at 4 St. Mark's Place (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

Arts & Crafty 101

As a kid, I was totally into arts and crafts. In school, at camp, in the home, wherever, whenever. In fact, there was a brief period during my childhood where I proclaimed that I was going to be an artist. You know, as a career. I loved to draw and paint, I even dabbled in lanyard key chains and friendship bracelets. For awhile there, I actually felt I had some talent. Soon enough, however, my little girl dreams were brutally crushed when I learned the unfortunate fate that befell most artists: poverty. At the time, I probably couldn't even comprehend what it meant not to make any money, but based on the tone of my parents' voices when they explained this to me, I came to the conclusion that it was not a path I would want to take.

Despite no longer yearning to be an artist, I did not lose my creative tendencies, but rather, I began to channel them into different mediums - clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry. I found a way to express my creativity through fashion, and instead dreamt of becoming another kind of artist. I considered many options, from writing about fashion, to personal shopping, even styling. I have toyed with all of these ideas, but one recently stood out to me as the perfect opportunity to put my latent artistic talents to work.

As an accessories freak, I tend to look for fun jewelry at stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters in order to build my collection without depleting my bank account. Sure, it's not the best quality, but it's inexpensive, and I can get the look of gold jewelry at a good price. However, because cheap "gold" jewelry is nothing but painted metal, the longer you own it, the more it loses color and starts to look like silver instead.

In the past few weeks, two pairs of my earrings were getting to be so faded, that they resembled nothing of their former selves: what used to be shiny gold looked instead like dull, gray, sadness. ::Pause for dramatic effect:: The choice was clear: my cheap earrings were in need of a serious makeover. See, that's the other great thing about not investing in jewelry. When you purchase something for $5, you lose that squeamish feeling at the thought of getting a little experimental. The task is simple, all you need is a few minutes, and a few bottles of nail polish. (And we all know how I have more than that!)

About a month ago, in a discussion with a friend of mine when wearing one of my lackluster pairs of earrings, I spoke to how I was most likely going to revive the muted metal by coating it in gold nail polish. My friend, being ever so crafty herself, explained that I did not necessarily have to stick to just gold, but that I could paint them however I damn well pleased. Poetic license, if you will.

So guess what? That is exactly what I did. I brought out some neon polish, a little glossy topcoat, and created my very own masterpiece:



Now, if that is not modern art, I am not sure what is. Class dismissed.

Flea Markets: Not Just For Floridians

When I hear the phrase "flea market" I conjure up fond memories of visiting my grandmother in Florida, taking day long trips to the indoor flea market. Once there, I would pick up puffy-paint splattered Keds, plastic watches, costume jewelry, and other random goodies I once thought made me cool. As I got older, the allure of the flea market faded, and I sourced my fashion choices from more mainstream retailers.

Between growing up in suburban Maryland and going to college in the Midwest, flea markets were not a common weekend destination. However, upon moving to New York, brimming with a plethora of street fairs and open air flea markets, my latent desire for bargain prices and one-of-a-kind pieces was rekindled.

In the summer, there are what seems like a million street fairs to choose from. Take a short walk around your neighborhood and you'll be sure to encounter at least one. Most of the time, however, the best part of a street fair is....well....the fare. With an abundance of smoothies, fruit, and funnel cake, you can easily inhale your weekly calories in a mere 20 minutes.

One summer, spending a day walking around the Upper West Side with my cousin, we stumbled upon the Greenflea flea market on Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets. Within a few minutes of our arrival, it was clear to me this was not the kind of flea market I was used to patronizing. Where were the tan grandmothers? Where were the wearers of fuchsia lipstick and fanny packs? What I did find, however, was a wonderful selection of artisan booths, vintage clothing and accessories, and random decorative nick knacks.

On my first visit, I picked up a beautiful little charm necklace by Belle Costes - delicate yet funky - and for only $55. Okay, so that is not super cheap in the grand scheme of things, but for a one of a kind necklace that no one else has or will ever have, I think it's a great deal. And despite having purchased it over two years ago, I still get compliments every time I wear it.

My second trip to Greenflea was with my parents, about a year later. We had wandered upon it and I convinced my mother and father that it would be worth a look. This time, I managed to walk away with another Belle Costes necklace, one with a chunkier antique look, that could be warn two different ways.



A little pricier at $65, I thought it was a steal. Another great vendor at the market, were the leather craftsmen of De Palma. Both my mother and I scored some fabulous handmade leather belts at $75 each.

One of the best things about splurging a little on one-of-a-kind pieces, is that it provides a unique addition to your outfit. And if there is one thing I adore, it is getting the opportunity to answer the question "Where did you get that?" with "A flea market" (but antique store, European country--or any other foreign country for that matter--will do). Nothing says personal style like owning something that is as completely individual as you are.

Finally, on my last visit to the flea market, I came away with my most bargain of finds. All fall season I had been dying for an oversized costume jewelry cocktail ring, and had my eye on this fantastic crystal studded Kenneth Jay Lane Tiger.

Unfortunately, at the ridiculous price of $198 (although I stupidly turned down an $85 price tag at a store where the tag was missing and the sales help were clueless), I was not about to purchase it. Luckily for me, I found the perfect alternative at the flea market, for the low price of $18, and am guaranteed to not spot another sporting my vintage piece.

Although I am not advocating that you spend your life savings on a fabulous wardrobe, I have nothing against a few splurges here and there for items no one else is going to have. However, it is possible to find great unique pieces for a price that is easy to swallow. Personal style is priceless, but while our creativity may be limitless, our credit cards certainly are not.