How To Wear Ankle Crop Pants

Ankle crop pants are all the rave these days, but unfortunately they can go terribly wrong if you’re not careful! Here are a few tried and true tips for wearing this season’s hottest pant.

1. Your height is a factor

If you are under 5’3″ this is quite an unfortunate trend for you. All these pants are going to do is make you look shorter. Sorry to my petite readers, please pass on this one. Now for my average height readers who are approximately 5’4″-5’7″ you can rock this look, but make sure you are wearing heels! For my tall ladies 5’8″ and up, this is a dream come true- a hemline you don’t have to worry about, they are meant to be short! Yay!

2. Think about proportions

When wearing a cropped pant, you always want to keep in mind proportions. They cut off at your ankle, which will give the appearance of shortening your leg so make sure you are not wearing a tunic or a top that is longer than your natural waist. These pants often look best with a shirt tucked in and a cute belt!

Here is a photo with bad proportions:

Had she been wearing a heeled sandal and pulled them a little longer these would have looked stunning!

Perfect proportions:

Kate moss looks great with a little cuff on her pant, heels and a tucked in blouse!

3. Your shape matters

When hunting for that perfect ankle crop think about your shape. If you are curvy or pear-shaped, it is best to wear a pant that either has a slight flare or falls straight from the thigh. If you have a slim or athletic build, get a pant that hugs and tapers all the way down. This will give you more curves! When in doubt, the best shape for all body types is a straight leg.

Straight leg, which looks best on all body types.

Narrow cut, which works best on a slim physique.

Slight flare, which will work best with our girls with a little more curves.

You also want to consider your ankle versus your calf. If you are bigger boned, get a crop that grazes the ankle. Same goes for you if you have more athletic calves. If you have thin legs, you can wear a higher crop. With this in mind, don’t forget rule number 1!

4. Never forget about rise

No matter what pant you are looking for never overlook the rise of the pant. Unless you are super slim you probably should not be going for a low-rise. A regular or high-rise is best for almost all body types and this style looks super cute with a tucked in shirt! Make sure your “spare tire” isn’t hanging over the edges of your pants when purchasing. Try tucking your shirt in and dancing around the fitting room. If everything stays in place, then that is the right rise for you! If you are having a hard time fitting your thigh with your waist, (I suffer from this) invest in a cute belt. It’s a simple tried and true solution that often gets over looked! I’d suggest everyone own a skinny braided black leather belt, you’ll wear it with everything, I promise!

What not to do:

Something looks off in this photo right? This model is wearing a style where the rise is too low, and the trouser pocket adds too much emphasis to the hip. ( A trouser pocket is the style that has two side slits, which often gape if not fit properly.)

5. Have fun with colour and print

Coloured and printed pants are all the rage so go nuts! If you’re unsure, invest in cheaper pair. If you find you are wearing them all the time, then keep rockin’ this awesome trend! To stay on trend look for a floral print, mint green or red pant.

Inspiration: The Great Gatsby

Oh man, I cannot WAIT for this movie to come out!! It’s directed by the brilliant Baz Luhrmann, who also directed two of my favorite movies, Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge, and this film looks like its going to be of similar styling! I can watch this trailer over and over again. I love Dicaprio as Gasby, and Toby Maguire is the perfect Nick Carraway.

A few months back I decided I wanted to read the book, The Great Gatsby and I was surprised how great of a read it was. I was getting into reading classics and after reading MOST of Anna Karenina I switched to Gatsby…much easier! Than I rented the Robert Redford film from 1974- and boy do I get now why all the ladies-of-a-certain-age love their Robert Redford. Handsome devil he was!

Back to this version…have you looked at the fashion? I wish I could pull off the flapper dress, but the ’20′s simply were not made for curvy girls in fashion! (The 50′s and 60′s are more suited to our types!) But all the head bands, and hats look amazing! I’ve been obsessed with head-gear lately and I wonder if this movie will bring a surge in head wraps and head bands again. Side note, doesn’t Carey Mulligan make a beautiful Daisy?

Are you as excited to see this LONG AWAITED film as I am? With this cast I’m sure Baz Luhrmann will redeem himself after his last major film, Australia. Yikes. I still love him, because that wasn’t his fault! Nicole Kidman went overboard on the botox and couldn’t express anything on her face, which is really too bad- seeing as she was/is so beautiful and a great actress. There is my tangent…so here are some pretty killer head wraps I found online at Urban Outfitters. Would you wear one?

 

 

Shopping Find: Neon Plolish

Neon is hot hot hot for summer, and if you aren’t quite brave enough to add it into your wardrobe- add a touch of neon to your nails! Sephora is offering a bunch of different brands of neon polish and this is the one I purchased by Nails Inc.

20120516-144421.jpg

(Sorry for the bad photo from my phone!)

So far I love it, it goes on a little thin but dies fairly quickly. I’d recommend doing 2 to 3 coats and adding a top coat to make it extra shiny. I’ve seen that China Glaze has some neon shades too, but I haven’t tried them yet. Have you hopped on the neon trend? Will you be rocking some neon nails?

Celebrity Looks Of The Week

Neutrals seems to be the theme of this post, but these female celebs are popping their looks with killer shoes, bold sunglasses, and great handbags. Which of this week’s celebrity styles are your favorite?

LeeLee Sobieski **Black is the New Black Favorite**

Eva Mendez

Gwyneth Paltrow

Scarlett Johansson

Jessica Alba

 

Summer Sunnies!

Maybe I’m jumping the gun here, thinking about summer and all…but what can I say? I just want it to arrive already! Every summer I like to update and get one new trendy pair of sunglasses. Just a little tradition I have. Here are some of my favorites this year:

Elizabeth and James $190

AJ Morgan $26.11

H & M $12.95 ***Black is the New Black Favorite!

Top Shop $16.00

J.Crew $134.00

Top Shop $16.00

ASOS $20.89

 

A Look At…Free People

I just came across the newest Free People spread and I loved it so much I thought I’d share it with you. I’ve always been a little bohemian at heart so these clothes are right up my alley! What do you think about these photos? Any pieces you’re dying to get?

Ladies 2012 Trend Report

I’ve been browsing a bunch of different blogs recently, hunting down the latest trends to share with you for spring and summer. Are you excited as I am that spring is finally here?! (Didn’t it seem like it took forever?) Take a look at my Ladies Trend Report and be prepared to have a sudden urge to go shopping!

Pastels all over

Double Denim or the Canadian Tuxedo

Double Cuffs

Tucking It In

Ankle Crop Pants

Stacked Bracelets 

Pastel Hair

Floral Pants

Round Sunglasses

Cap Toe Shoes

Head Wraps and Scarves

A Touch of Neon

How To Dress Age Appropriate

Have you ever uttered the phrase “I’m too old for that!”? I personally have had that thought once or twice but quickly brushed it off. I can’t stand that phrase! So, I have one solid tried, tested and true tip that will make you hate that phrase. Want to know the secret to dressing age appropriate? Here it is… read carefully: If you love that piece of clothing, stand tall, put your shoulders back and rock it with confidence!! Simple as that!

One of the blogs I follow, Advanced Style, is really inspiring. It just gives me warm fuzzies all over! I hope to be this cool and still wear super fashion forward clothes when I get to the age of these lovely ladies:

Men’s 2012 Trend Report

Here is a visual look at some 2012 hottest menswear trends. Which are your personal favorites?

Exposed Socks

Saggy Pants

Colored Pants (especially RED)

Patches

Braided Belts

Cuffed Pants

Denim on Denim

   

Neck Scarves

                

Wrist Gear

How To Discover New Music

At work I am able to have headphones on all day, so I am constantly listening to music. I love that I have that option, but often I get bored with the same old stuff. It has forced me to be able to find multiple ways of discovering new music. My friends often ask; “Where did you hear about that band?” or “How do you find new music?” I’ll let you in on a few of my little tricks:

1. Listen to soundtracks

Right now I am listening to The Hunger Games Soundtrack, and there are four artists who I hadn’t heard of before and I plan on listening to each of them further! It’s one of my favorite ways to discover music, because you never know what you’re going to get! (For those who enjoy folk-country-indie you too, will enjoy The Hunger Games Soundtrack)

2. iTunes lists/charts

This is one of the best ways to find out if an artist has released something new. Now, you can now listen to 1 min and 30 seconds of each song per album, so this is a great tool if you haven’t heard of someone and you just want to check them out. Also, if you click to listen to an album and you enjoy it, look at the list underneath saying “Listeners Also Bought” because someone else may have the same taste as you! I’d also recommend taking advantage of the iTunes genius recommendations they’re usually pretty accurate.

3. Last FM

If I am listening to an artist I love, I will Google “similar artist to…” and Last FM is usually the top link with an extensive list of artists. They start from the most similar to least similar and its a great place to find more indie artists.

5. Keep up with your favorite local bands

Follow your local band on Twitter and Facebook and read their updates. They will often do shows with other artist you may love, or post about some of their favorite bands. ***Shameless plug time: check out my band Steel Audrey and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Every Monday we do a music post!

6. Grooveshark

This site is the best. It’s changed the way I listen to music. It is a great place to “test drive” an album before purchasing, plus you can create and save playlists. An awesome new feature to Grooveshark: when you search they will recommend similar artists. So, take advantage of this, when creating your playlists! Feel free to follow me on Grooveshark!

Hope this helps you on your journey discovering new music! If you have any other tips and tricks feel free to comment! Happy Listening!

Fashion Picks of the Week

Its Friday and I thought we’d take a peek at this weeks hottest fashion! Looking back at celebrity street style and red carpet fashion, which is your favorite ensemble of the week?

Tom Felton.

What a great edgy look for guys to try out! (**Tip: Don’t wear socks when your ankles are exposed!**)

Michelle Williams in Valentino.

She is positively glowing! Love this color on her.

January Jones in Jenny Packham.

Channeling a more 1960′s look, I am loving the ice blue on her and the pink streak in January’s hair!

Elizabeth Banks in Bill Blass and Jennifer Lawrence Ralph Lauren Collection.

The yellow is a fun bold choice for Elizabeth, and Jennifer is wearing the perfect dress to accentuate her small waist.

Liam and Chris Hemsworth.

Liam is classic with black and white, while Chris is a bit more casual with his suit. Chris has my personal favorite look of the week. Its versatile for all men. You can just modify it with jeans to make it a bit more casual, or dress it up with an unbuttoned white dress shirt.

Beyoncé with baby Blue.

Loving those sunglasses and flats Beyoncé is wearing! YES that’s Beyoncé in flats?!

Drew Barrymore with her finance.

Always a fan of Drew. Pretty sure I could make this outfit happen tomorrow, all I’d need to do is make a quick run to H & M for some teal pants!

All images provided by my favorite celebrity blogger: Just Jared

 

 

 

Get The Look: The Hunger Games

March 23rd brings us the release of the book turned movie The Hunger Games, and I thought I’d get you excited with some fashion looks from the film. This post is inspired by our favorite tribute Katniss Everdeen. Personally I am looking forward to seeing Jennifer Lawrence take on the roll, I think after seeing her in Winter’s Bone that we know she will do it justice. Are you as excited for the movie as I am?

Hunger Games Fashion

 


Rag bone v neck tee
$105 - lagarconne.com

CALYPSO ST BARTH v neck tee
$65 - calypsostbarth.com

All Saints bomber jacket
$495 - allsaints.com

J Brand slim fit pants
$245 - stylebop.com

Frye brown knee boots
$296 - heels.com

Miz Mooz tall boots
$102 - bluefly.com

Rucksack bag
$60 - topshop.com

White pearl jewelry
$2,400 - alexisbittar.com

Earrings
$15 - amazon.com

Hunger Games
$7.19 - target.com

Spring 2012 Colour Trends

Spring 2012 Color Trends

Moschino Cheap & Chic sandals, $770
ASOS platform shoes, $152
River Island peep toe shoes, $107
Sandals
ASOS suede heels, $98

Shopping Find: My New Favorite Jeans

After years and years of hunting, I’ve finally found them; MY NEW FAVORITE JEANS. Surprisingly inexpensive (coming in at $49.95) and so-far resilient, these babies are the most comfortable jeans I’ve (dare I say) ever worn!

These dream jeans are from a little store called H & M. They are a high-rise skinny jean which is amazing for those who struggle with the “back gape.” But do you want to know the best part about these jeans? They STAY skinny all the way to the ankle, no matter what size you buy; which means you can fit them into your boots! When heading into your nearest H & M look for the jeans called “High Sqin.” They come in various washes.

Coming in at a close second is another H & M pair called “Regular Waist Slim.” They have all the perks of the Sqin, but have a slightly lower rise.

There’s something about French Men…

…I don’t know what it is, but if you’ve seen the silent film The Artist, you will know what I am talking about. There is a certain charisma that French actor Jean Dujardin exudes off the screen. Something that not just any actor could pull off without speaking!

When I stumbled across these photos in this months GQ I had to share with you! Jean Dujardin to me seems like a more charming, dashing version of Jon Hamm. Maybe it’s the accent? Check out this great quote from his GQ interview; “I learned to tap-dance for The Artist. I love dancing in general, and making girls dance. My generation doesn’t do it enough.” YES! All men take note.

Enjoy the fashion in this photo spread. Lots of stylish plaid suits to come for spring/summer.


Notice, no socks? If you are wearing a light summer suit it is essential that you do not wear any socks! Which means you’d better be wearing some nicely kept leather loafers!

Plaid shirt with a plaid suit. This works because of the ratio the shirt to the suit. The shirt has more of a bold larger check, and the suit is subtle. The pocket square keeps it nice and classy, despite the lack of tie.

This is a bold look, you’d have to be very confidant to pull this one off! Reminds me of 1970′s James Bond. If you want to try this, avoid over referencing the 70′s by keeping your shoes modern and your lapel and shirt collar narrow.

Every guy should try this look. It’s a classic, and one of my personal favorites. You could wear this with dark jeans for a semi-casual look or wear the full suit to a wedding, without overdoing it. Notice the pocket square? I’m sensing the pocket square is the new tie.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the trailer for The Artist. (I recommend checking it out before The Oscar’s on Feb 26th, because its sure to win)

Best And Worst Dressed at the 2012 Golden Globes

The 69th Annual Golden Globes were on Sunday, and the red carpet fashion was quite tame this year. We saw lots of pale pinks and grey as well as a few peacock blues. Here are my votes for the best and worst dressed at the Golden Globes. The best dress are in order of my favorites. Take a look and tell me if I missed any of your favorites!

Best Dressed:

Nicole Kidman in Versace.

I can’t remember the last time she looked so amazing! She looks like a beautiful Greek statue! This shape is stunning on her, and it seems like she has stopped getting work done, which means we can see her smiling again!

Sophia Vergara in Vera Wang.

It’s not that different of a look for Sophia, but she knows what works for her curvy body type. I loved the colour and the close up red carpet shots, the bottom of the dressed looked really beautiful.

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen.

I don’t know what was but she was glowing last night! I’m not normally a huge fan of her on the red carpet but she looks absolutely stunning here. I especially love her make up, very subtle but enough to make an impact.

Claire Danes in J. Mendel.

She was one of the first people I saw on the red carpet and I instantly loved her dress. She always opts for something pretty classic, but the back adds an edgy twist.

Salma Hayek in Gucci.

I loved the close up shots of this dress. I liked that it was a bit different from most styles that were on the red carpet. Just when you think Salma couldn’t be more beautiful she knocks one out of the park!

Charlize Theron in Dior.

At first glance I wasn’t sure about this dress, but the more and more I saw it I grew to love it. I also loved her hair and make up. It completes the overall look perfectly.

Worst Dressed:

Most people on the red carpet played it pretty safe and looked beautiful, but unfortunately there was 2 people that didn’t quite do it for me. Here are my picks for worst dressed;

Zooey Deschanel in Prada.

I hate to say this, because I am a huge fan of Zooey’s but this dress was not flattering on her petite frame, and her hair…yikes. You can’t really tell in this photo, but in some angles, one of her layers looked like side burns…not a look you want to go for. On a brighter note, her make up looked amazing!

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace.

When she first hit the red carpet I didn’t mind this dress, but as the night grew on she looked uncomfortable and cold. The fabric of this dress cheapened it to me, and I did not like how thin she looked last night.

 

Did you enjoy the awards last night? I felt Ricky Gervais was quite safe last night…there was a few good one liners from Seth Rogan and Meryl Streep! I’m glad The Artist won a few awards, it was a great film. Michelle Williams did a great job in My Week With Marilyn so she deserved the win, even though I’m not sure why it that film was categorized as a comedy/musical…The Golden Golbes are usually a hint as to what we will see at the Oscars, so it should be interesting to see if a few of the same people bring home the win!