Go International: Patrick Robinson

“I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence." - Yves Saint Laurent

I wasn't pleased with my local target's selection of Proenza Schouler pieces for the Go International line. I hope that the next designer flying into the mega-stores, Patrick Robinson, will have a bigger selection at my local Target. The Target Corporation announced that designer Patrick Robinson will be showing off his styles after Proenza Schouler takes a bow. I am excited for this designer, because his traditional, Abercrombie-esque designs are completed with a tropical twist. I am already in love with the neutral colors - brown and beiges and whites. Robinson also incorporates light and navy blues to make his clothes cool and soothing. The most exciting thing? There are matching bikinis to go with his beachy preppy collection! Oh - I must stock up before I go to Hawaii in June! Are you as excited as me?

Jinkies, Nancy!

"Style is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style." - John Fairchild

I would be blogging non stop if it weren't for the highly addicting Nancy Drew CD-ROM series. I ordered three of the mystery games from Amazon, and after playing "The Secret of the Scarlet Hand" for hours on end, I finally finished the case this morning! My computer is currently downloading "The Curse of Blackmoor Manor" which has been recommended by all the reviews I've read. In the games, you play Nancy Drew, and no matter where you go, there is always a mind-boggling mystery to solve!

One of my favorites so far was the fashion design-inspired "Danger by Design," in which Nancy goes to intern fabulous Parisian plus-size fashion designer Minette, who will not take off this scary phantom of the opera-esque mask. There is someone sending mysterious threats to the studio, and this is making Minette go crazy! Set in the beautiful city of Paris, Nancy gets to swim in the catacombs, bargain with market-sellers, and bake cookies with Minette's beautiful size 12 model, Jing-Jing Ling while solving a creepy mystery. I can tell you this - the fun never ends with these games.

So, playing the Nancy Drew games has inspired me to post about these ah-dorable fedoras from Gap. Do some sleuthing on your own with this menswear inspired cap - pair with a cropped double breasted trench and skinnies - and you're ready to be the next Sherlock Holmes!

- Lauren

"But Daddy - I Want a Squirrel...."

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months." - Oscar Wilde
We all want something, correct? Whether it be a MacBook, a million dollars, a boyfriend, a new wardrobe, perhaps? Well, Veruca Salt got EVERYTHING she wanted - which is totally not fair. Oh well - I guess I'll have to live without a laptop until I'm 14, but I probably will be able to snag a few trendy pieces for spring with a low budget. These, ladies and gentleman, are Lauren_the_it_girl's top ten styles for spring 2007:
1. shift dresses. check out Juicy Couture's psychadelic shift that graces the pages of the March Teen Vogue. Can you say A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E?
2. the boyfriend pant. Gap has got some new khakis that I'm ready to snag off the racks. In four different colors (white, black, caramel, and stone) these would be the perfect edition to my closet.
3. nautical flare. anchor necklaces, red, white and blue totes, and sea-worthy pants and shoes, this all-American tradition are sailing back into picture.
4. rompers are starting to pop up in stores like Top Shop, Forever 21, etc. I'm not quite sure about this trend, yet I'm sure I'll eventually see someone wearing one on the streets.
5. skinnies. i know - Vogue's January issue proclaimed skinny jeans are okay for spring. I think I'm going to invest in a pair of cropped skinnies from Seven For All Mankind that I saw at Marshalls the other day....
6. cropped trench coat. perfect for sunday school. The look is very city-girl chic. Note to self: don't buy one in mint green or baby pink, you may look like a nurse. :P
7. eyelet. In the Victoria's Secret clothing catalogue, I spotted the most amazing green eyelet halter. it is ah-dorable!!! this is such a fresh, spring-has-sprung kind of look.
8. patent. though most patent accessories remind me of the 80's - overly shiny stuff, I think that this trend could revive itself again. I've already spotted big red patent purses being carried around. I like the idea of patent wide belts as well. :)
9. Futuristic. The big fashion spread in the March Teen Vogue on silver, shiny, futuristic apparel really made me think: is this what style will be like in 50 years? I hope not, or I'll be a 63 year old granny wearing metallic jumpsuits and weird space goggles. My grandchildren will be embarrassed....
10. Personal Flair. Whether it be bows in your hair, a cardigan obsession, or green and pink striped shoelaces, I think everyone should have something that is their own style and something they adore - no matter if it is in or out.
Happy shopping!!!! I'm very excited for this spring,
.::Lauren::.

I Go To School With Fruit Loops On My Chest....

“I don't think women should look like costumes. I don't think they should look like fashion victims. I think these (clothes) are for women that want to look sexy. They want to look smart.” - Ralph Lauren

As Heidi Klum says on the television phenomenon Project Runway, "You're either in, or you're out." Well, does that apply to the comfy, cozy screen tee? Known as both a fashion do and a fashion don't, the basic tee has been modified thousands of times to advertise food brands, tv shows, movies, and music stars. My question is, "Are they cool for school?" or should you stick with a bold pattern instead of the advertisement-on-the-boobs look? Not all screen tees look like this, though. Juniors stores such as Delia*s often have the cute, cozy cotton shirt with a cute pun on it, or funny drawings of fruits with faces on the chest. What annoys me are the Bobby Jack monkey shirts, with lame scribble and a cartoon monkey wearing grills or blowing a piece of bubblegum plastered on the front. There is no class at all in a shirt like that, yet are the fake "vintage" brands such as Junk Food able to be pulled off when paired with the right accessories? Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

I'm Singing in the Rain (La-de-da-de-da-de-da)

“If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties? How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck?” - Linda Ellerbee


February showers bring March flowers.... and Target brings wellies back in style! Shopping at Target for shoes is not my cup of tea - the local mega-store I go to has a terrible shoe section. Luckily, Target.com has all the cute styles that aren't available at home. So, while browsing the shoe section I found these gorg pairs of rainboots (or as the English say, "wellies") that are a both a deal and a steal. My personal favourites? The citrus, floral, and magic carpet patterns!

1/8/07: The Best of Both Worlds

"So soon as a fashion is universal, it is out of date." - Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
Teeny bopper Miley Cyrus is not only a singer, actress, and fictional popstar - she's a fashionista for the pre-teen crowd. Clad in apparel that pre-teens love (and moms allow), Miss Cyrus is a good fashion role model for younger girls. Back in the mid-90's, when pop sensations Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera ruled, their tiny baby tees and microminis weren't exactly the kind of clothes that would be appropriate for the young crowd that worshiped their music. Miley stars as the title role of Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart on the hit Disney Channel show, "Hannah Montana." On the show, she wears cutesy middle school garb: brightly colored sweats and knit shrugs with pink skirts twisted with messy rock n' roll hair or straightened chic hair. Though her clothes on the show might not appeal to the teenage or early twenties crowd, they are what young girls dream of wearing. But off the set, Miss Cyrus is rockin' and rollin' her 5'4 figure with two inch knee high leather boots and glamorous glitter from top to bottom. On the red carpet, Destiny Hope Cyrus (her birth-name) can be sophisticated and chic, rock n' roll stylish, or Tennessee cowgirl hip. There are plenty of fansites that are dedicated to Miss Miley, so google Miley Cyrus and you are sure to find lots of information about this rising starlet. Teenybopper magazines such as Teen, J-14, Popstar, M, and Tiger Beat report that Miley shops everywhere from H&M to Intuition. She has worn Primp thermals, puffy jackets, Louis Vuitton handbags, you name it. No doubt about it, Miley Cyrus has style - on set and off.


























Miley Cyrus looking quite colorful with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, at the CMA awards (above)

Miss Cyrus and Emily Osment playing Miley Stewart and her pal Lily on the hit show "Hannah Montana" (above)

















Miley looking cute in a floral skirt and green knit shrug on the show (above)




















Miley Cyrus (as herself) at Disney Channel Stars Meet the Press TCA Winter 2006 (above)

1/7/07: Runway Looks: A Young Girl's Commentary

"Fashion was made to become unfashionable." - Coco Chanel

Due to unknown circumstances, Blogger is not allowing me to post pictures, downloaded or from the web, onto my posts, so until that gets solved, I'm just reporting without the visual representation. I've noticed a trend in the spring 2007 collections: bright blue. Not just bright blue: Electric blue, bright royal blue. I was once at a small boutique, Red Stella, while vacationing in Gualala, California. That day I wore a bright royal blue sweater with big wood buttons that I had bought at H&M. The women who owned the store told me that the color of my sweater would be a huge hit in spring of 2006. Well, they were a year off. This spring is the season for blue :) stock up before it's all gone. - Lauren_the_It_Girl