Dainty little things...

As women, we have the innate privilege of being able to adorn ourselves with wonderful things that men just cannot get away with. I guess that's just one of the things we have on them. Whenever someone asks me the universal question, "If you could have chosen, would you have chosen to be a man or a woman?" I always respond that I would choose to be a woman, it's just more fun. Why? Because we get to wear dainty little things like these: Lulu Coco DesignsLaralewis
Christina P Designs
ShereDesign
Kacchan

Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 Fashion Show

I found this little treasure today...sit back and enjoy!

Things I'm loving for Fall 2008

Fall and Winter are coming! My favorite times of year because you can start wearing all those beautiful, rich colors and great fabrics. Believe it or not, in the winter months it does get a bit chilly down here in sunny Florida, I tell people all the time that the best months to vacation down here are from November to March. Why? No humidity, it's cool, breezy, hardly ever rains since hurricane season is over, and the sun is always out. Okay, so enough about the weather, I already have my eye on some of the new trends of the season... I say it's time to start shopping:

Rich knee length coats paired with flowy dresses cinched at the waist

One shoulder voluminous gowns

Slouchy Pants

Jewel Tones

Eclectic Patterns mixed together

Wednesday = Project Runway!

Being that it is Wednesday and Fashion Week here at Journeys of Mangonett, I thought it was necessary, nay, my duty to write about Project Runway!!

I have been a fan of this show since season 1 and have whenever possible used the phrase "That is one hot mess!" since Christian coined it in season 4. Every Wednesday I wrestle Mango for the remote and make him sit down with me to watch Project Runway...he fights it, but I think he's getting into the show (Shhhh! Don't tell anyone). This season is particularly exciting mainly because they have managed to cast different designers from the leather loving Stella to the 1940s Kenley. Of course, there's always the constants that we look forward to seeing every season, Mr. "Make it Work" Tim Gun, Heidi (who I have the feeling that if I met her in person I would just stare at the whole time), the always brutally honest Nina Garcia, and the man that creates clothes that make every woman drool, Michael Kors.

I'm loving the girls on the cast this season, I have a feeling they are going to give the boys a run for their money. Here are some of my favorites:

1940s Pin Up Chic: Kenley

She has such an adorable style, one that I have been seeing more and more in the media today with artists like Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel. What I love is that she has a definite point of view which is something that the judges are always screaming for on the show and I think Kenley is delivering. So far her outfits have been fabulous, however I have to admit, the last episode when she picked the 1980s sofa print and tulle, I was a little worried, but it came out adorable. Most of all, I love seeing what she wears every episode, always looking stylish and put together. I love her hair pins that she made herself...and thumbs up for rocking the red lipstick!

Unpredictable and Fun: Kelli

First episode, I was interested in Kelli, wanted to see exactly what this girl could do. I loved what she created for the grocery item

challenge in the first episode, I had no idea someone could make vacuum cleaner bags and coffee filters look that good! As a result, she won the first challenge! Yey! I hope she can keep up the momentum throughout the season, since the first episode her designs have made the judges happy (yes, even Nina) and she has gone on to the next round. However, if you ask me, I think she's one of those I that wouldn't be surprised if they end up punching Suede and Blayne... I probably would have by now.

Hip-Hop Underdog: Terri

Terri has sort of flown under the radar so far, which can sometimes happen in the beginning of the season. Usually, they cast a designer to represent the glamorous world of Hip-Hop and I think Terri is putting a pretty cool twist on it. So far she hasn't one any challenges, however her last outfit was one of the judges favorites...I'm looking forward to seeing what she creates in future episodes.

So if you haven't seen this show before, tune in tonight on Bravo, it's still early in the season, which means there's still time for you to get addicted! Enjoy!

Women are so clever!

The first time I saw this video, I was laughing for about 5 minutes straight. We all have those fashion magazines and catalogues hanging around the house. Well, here's a lady that found a clever way of how to use them...enjoy.

A girl and her clothes

While generations in the past have always had some sort of relationship or another with fashion, this generation has had a downright love affair with it. No longer do people watch the Oscars to see who won what award, but instead, the whole point of watching these award shows is to see who is wearing what. As a result, we all develop "style crushes" on certain celebrities because we love the way they dress...and here are some of mine:

The Brainy Artist: Natalie Portman

I love how she takes risks with the clothes she picks, however she still manages to look like herself.

One of my favorite looks of hers...
Stylish Business Woman: Ivanka Trump

You've got to appreciate a woman that is the vice president of one of the largest companies on the face of the earth, does a great job, and does it all in stilettos...

Quirky Rocker Chick: Katy Perry

I can't help it, but the outfits she comes up with just make me smile. It's that little bit of whimsy that all girls need in their wardrobe.

I'm loving the clothes...and the music!

While I'm tackling my closet this week, music is an absolute must. To me fashion and music go hand in hand, my two favorite indulgences. So for now, turn up your speakers and enjoy these videos. Since it's Fashion Week here at Journeys of Mangonett, I insist that while you are dancing in front of your computer you notice the great fashion that these ladies are wearing.

I love Estelle's chic dresses in the "American Boy" video, looks better than Kayne if you ask me! Rihanna's "Disturbia" video is a little crazy, but she looks awesome and her clothes are so much fun...check out the shoes!

My Closet and I

A closet can be a tricky thing, it can be filled with the most inspirational clothing in the world, however if you can't find anything, you end up frustrated and staring at it for such a long time that it makes you late! Hence, my daily dilemma.

Before I was married, I was one of those people that always had my closet impeccably organized. Tops had their special place, shoes had their own box, and dresses were displayed in all their glory. During the "moving in" process, I took over 85% of Mango's closet (most of his stuff is in the home office closet, and the other 15% is in the bedroom closet) and proceeded to hang everything wherever I could find a space, not really paying any attention to detail as I once did. So in summary, my closet is a mess and I'm sharing it with a boy...in all do fairness, his section is very neat :-) . The mess isn't very conducive to creating great outfits considering the I tend to pick from the same small section because I don't know (1) where most of my items are, (2) what still fits me or still looks good, and (3) what I exactly have. So this week I have decided to revamp my closet and in essence "create my own mall". Sounds like fun right?

In order to make this a little easier on myself, I decided to do a little bit of research on how to best tackle this project and after reading several articles, I compiled these basic rules:

1. Pick out your favorite pieces

If you are anything like me, you have things in your wardrobe that you absolutely adore. They have been with you for years, are timeless, and always make you feel beautiful. Take those out first, it's a great way to start building your wardrobe. There's a reason why these pieces make you feel great, what better way to start creating your dream closet then by using these pieces as your guide. Figure out why you love them, is it the fit? the color?or just the vibe they give?

2. Section off!

In an effort to not overwhelm yourself, attack your closet in sections: tops, bottoms, shoes, dresses, and accessories. Personally, I like to "see" everything, so it helps if you lay everything out on the bed (or the floor). This will help you in the editing process! I know it's tough and I usually need to psyche myself out for this, but it's time to be ruthless! This is a list of questions you should ask yourself while editing, I found it on Suite101.com and thought they were helpful:

-Have I worn this within the last 12 months?
-Does it fit me now?
-Do I feel good when I wear it?
-Do I look good when I wear it?
-Am I comfortable in it?
-Does it hold any special sentimental connection for me?

Something I have come to terms with, is not to keep something in hopes that you will eventually loose weight and fit into it again. I still have some of those articles of clothing that were just so cute and one point, however don't fit anymore. While they remind you of a certain time in your life, it's necessary to let them go. They are taking up space in your closet and are not letting you move forward...so get rid of them! Fit is another important issue. I've got a couple dresses, tops, and pants here and there that I love and even though they didn't fit right I managed to convince myself in the dressing room at the time that they worked. Well, they don't, those need to go. Sometimes, pieces just don't fit the same. I have a shirt that I loved all through college, I wore it constantly, all of a sudden it's too small in the bust (Yey! That means the girls grew!), it's gotta go.

As you eliminate pieces in your closet, think of it this way, you are making way for a better wardrobe that will work for you!

3. Make it a team project

In my opinion, this part can be optional. There are some people out there that need an outside opinion during this process and it can help to invite a friend over for a non-biased opinion on what should stay and what should go. However, there are other people (like me) and see this as "quiet time" to completely enter their own little world. While both can be a lot of fun, I suggest you start off with a friend...and cocktails.

4. Create you own mall

Now that you have edited your closet, it's time to put it together! Personally, I like to set up my closet like a store so that it feels like I'm shopping. Some people like to organize items by color, length, category, season, whatever works for you. In a tight space, I like length and color. Dresses go in the order of shortest to longest, tops by sleeve length, and pants by color (even the jeans). Oh! and just because it's a closet, doesn't mean you can't accessorize it. First thing, the hangers. If you use the same hanger throughout, it gives your closet a more uniform look and helps your clothes pop more. I really like these:

Both are from Bed Bath and Beyond and affordable for your closet makeover. The wooden hangers are great for giving your clothes support and creating that sleek, uniform look. The black velvet lined hangers are perfect for spaghetti strap tops or something with a delicate fabric. Another great go-to place for closet fun, The Container Store. If you haven't checked this place out yet, it's a must. They have everything you can imagine to organize your home. For your closet, you can find everything from clear shoe boxes to shelf organizers.

5. Work it!

This is the fun part! Put some outfits together now that you can find everything and you know what you have. If you have a friend over, this can be a lot of fun, sort of like a mini fashion show.

6. Shopping...

Now that you know what you have, you can figure out what's missing. This can help you update your wardrobe. If you are anything like me, you have a lot of basics, so some funky pieces and accessories can be a big help. Or maybe, you need basics! Over the weekend I read an article about a woman that had experts come in and revamp her closet. They convinced her to invest in a great pair of sunglasses, a pair of jeans, and a simple black T. Pretty basic huh? It seems to be Angelina's staple of style, and that's good enough for me!

*Side note: Is baby Shiloh beautiful or what?

7. Don't forget your underoos!

I've come to realize that something we often tend to forget about until we are running around late for an event and yelling, "why don't I have this?!" are the necessary under pinnings to an outfit, like bras, panties, etc. I've always heard that what you wear underneath is the most important part, and I couldn't agree more. I can recall several times where I was wearing a great outfit, and felt uncomfortable because I had on the wrong bra.

I'm not one for the bright colors when it comes to bras, I just don't want to put the brain power into wondering whether or not the color will show through, so I stick to the three basics: white, black, and nude. A girl needs at least one of the following:

1. A hangout bra - this is a bra that you can wear around the house to relax and still look "held together", it doesn't have wiring, but gives support. My favorite is the Calvin Klein 365 Cotton Seamless Soft Cup Bra ($32):

2. Strapless - I admit this is not the favorite, mainly because we automatically think of having to pull it up. However, if you get one that fits properly, you won't have to do it as much (I'm not gonna lie).

3. Push Up - I like this one, because it helps you show off the goodies! However, I tend to leave it for special occasions and sometimes a dress just looks better with the girls a little higher.

4. Your everyday bra - This is different for each woman. Basically we try on a zillion bras until we find "the one" and are loyal to it. I have my everyday bra in all three colors and I love it. For me, it's the Infinity Edge Demi bra ($40) at Victoria's Secret, it's comfortable, fits great, and looks wonderful under my clothes:

5. Racer back bra - This was the one that until I got it, I had about 5 tops that I couldn't wear. It's an essential for those sleevless tops that cannot cover your bra straps. Personally, I love the one from the Pink line at Victoria's Secret, it's the Totally Smooth T-Shirt bra and has a back closure for your racer back tops:

6. Sports bra- this one is a must for exercising! It keeps you supported while you're burning calories.

7. Your fun bra - Like I said, I'm not into the bright colors and "attachments", but every girl needs a bra that they feel sexy in and it's pretty, almost too pretty to cover up.

One of my favorite pieces in my underwear arsenal are my Spanx! These are by far one of the greatest inventions for women ever! It's amazing what Spanx can do and I am a huge fan. For those dresses that tend to be unforgiving, these can totally smooth you out and practically make you look like you dropped a whole dress size. Bonus, they don't give you that "muffin top" effect like with other shapers and don't roll down, so they stay put and don't give away that you have a little help looking fabulous. My favorites are the Power Panties at just $30 a pop, I have them in nude and black!

Wish me happy vibes on tackling this project. I have a feeling this is going to take over my bedroom and Mango is going to be hiding out in the family room playing Wii. Just in case I loose my editing nerve, I have my sister on speed dial.

My Muses of the Week: Vogue and Fashion Addict's Diary

Happy Monday!

Like I promised, it's officially Mangonett's Fashion Week! Get ready because this is going to be a lot of fun! This week I have not one, but two Muses of the Week, I couldn't really decide between the two. There are so many great fashion blogs out there, I'll probably be mentioning more of them in the future. However this week, these are my favorite two...

Vogue's Style File Fashion Blog

How can you mention fashion and not talk about the go-to place for everything fabulous, Vogue? One of the oldest magazines in the fashion world, this is the place you go to for hardcore, up-to-trend news. However, since it's hard for me to wait for the issue every month, I was pleased to discover that they have a fashion blog! It's authored by several writers who collaborate and report about hot fashion items and news from the fashion world. I love their feature called "Model Behavior" which features different models from around the world, both super and up-and-coming, my favorites are the quirky ones!

Fashion Addict Diary:

Above is the picture of the fashion addict herself...hello, you are not alone. This has quickly become one of my favorite blog reads because she combines her sassy wit with awesome fashion news and great editorial pics. I just can't stop scrolling down the page and reading older posts. Her daily fashion accounts are short and sweet, usually filled with great photos that leave you wanting to go out there and hit the mall. If you aching for even more great fashion blogs, check out the amazing blog roll. It's definitely not helping this fashion addict!