Orange Nails

Matchbook magazine (if you haven't subscribed yet, I highly recommend it) features the most gorgeous orange nail polish in their recent issue.

The color is Orange Fizz, and you can purchase it here. I like that it's bright, but not garish. The slight pink undertones keep it from overwhelming the rest of your beauty routine. Definitely a perfect spring color.

The Honeymooner

I love collections with charming stories. Lauren Moffatt's spring collection, entitled The Honeymooner, presents itself quite simply as "The Honeymooner and what she packed". This collection, in my opinion, just sings spring. The bright colors, floral prints, straw boaters, and platformed sandals are the perfect mix of ladylike with a touch of quirk. Overall, the collection is perfectly elegant and emits the sort of soft beauty and optimism of a newlywed.

Images via Lauren Moffatt

Design Your Own Dress

I'm always excited to learn about new developments in fashion. After all, as an industry, fashion is all about change. New designers, shapes, fabrics, media - the list goes on and on.

Bespoke fashion, or custom made clothing, is making a come back following the economic recession with an increased focus on quality of purchases. Mary Huang, an interactive designer, has released a new application called “Continuum” which gives anyone the chance to create their own garments.

According to Huang, the future of consumer products doesn’t just lie in more advanced technologies and materials, but also in the reevaluation of the conventional supply chain. Garments can be made to order in your exact measurements, exactly to a consumer's specification.

At the moment, Huang has created a prototype of the software as well as a few examples of dresses. With the help of Kickstart financing, she plans to finish the software and website and set up production to make the physical dresses and deliver them. Is this the future of fashion?

 Images via Ecouterre

April Showers

Rabbit, Rabbit! It's a well known saying that "April showers bring May flowers." Of course, you could bear said showers with a boring, black umbrella. Or, you could celebrate spring downpours with a cheerier version.

(Lane Bryant, $30)

(Old Navy, $8)

 

(Totes, $22)

With umbrellas like these, you might even find yourself wishing for a rainstorm!

This or That: Creamsicle

Creamsicles were among my favorite treats as a kid. The sweet refreshment is the epitome of summer. Not only do they taste delicious and cool you down on a warm day, but the distinctive orange and white color combination is so aesthetically pleasing.

 

This tantalizing melting Creamsicle...

... meets its carry on counterpart in this J.Crew overnight bag.

Images via Weheartit and J.Crew

Walking on Sunshine

Yesterday, I posted about my new yellow Converse sneakers. While it's a bit too chilly to wear shorts now, I can't wait to break them out with a pair of easy cutoffs and a breezy white tunic. A statement necklace adds a pop of color (and the yellow flower subtly draws together the outfit).

(Old Navy, $27; Leslie Danzis, $85)

(Paige Premium Denim, $129)

Bright, Sunshiny Day

I caved and bought my fifth pair of Converse sneakers today. In my defense, they were half off and I kind of, sort of, needed walking shoes for a trip I'm taking this week...

In all seriousness though, there's a reason I'm a Converse (semi)addict. They're more stylish than a pair of running shoes, hold up to daily wear and tear, and fit my narrow feet well. With the exception of my gold sequined pair (another amazing sale find), my other pairs are all rather neutral. I have a black, royal blue, and pale blue pair. And since the gold sequined pair are a bit more delicate and best reserved for special occasions, I'm really excited to add this bright pair to my closet!

Image via Kaboodle

GO Target!

The clothes section of Target is deadly. It seems that every time I stop by to pick up shampoo or a DVD, the racks of affordable clothing draw me in only to forget why I'm at the store in the first place. Target’s GO International collections have been particularly difficult to resist. After all, designer dresses and affordable are rarely in the same sentence. As a celebration of the 5th year anniversary of the collaborations, Target has re-released a 34-piece collection featuring dresses from 17 of the previous designers.

 (Tucker for Target, $40)

One of my favorite pieces from the collection is this navy Tucker frock. I love the demure boat neck which perfectly balances the scoop back and short hemline. The longer sleeves are very ladylike as well. My favorite detail though is the charming ruffle on the back. Worn with simple flats or dressed up with trendy accessories, this is the perfect LND (little navy dress).

Lovely Liberty

Any lover of prints would find themselves in heaven inside Liberty & Co.'s London shop on Regent St. The store has a well known reputation for fashionable homewares and eclectic designs. Liberty of London, an accessories brand associated with the shop, is also recognized for its recent high profile collaboration with Target in early 2010. The shop today is a destination within itself, filled with an array of fashion, cosmetics, accessories, gifts, and furniture.

When it comes to spring accessories, Liberty has created a darling set of knot watches featuring a number of their trademark prints.

(Melly Rose, Melly Silver)

(Edenham Silver, Wiltshire Rose)

(Mirako Gold)

The watches retail at £55 and can be tied in a number of ways to provide the perfect pop of spring for any outfit.

Bright Blooms

Yellow is one of my favorite colors. And orange is quickly making a case for the second spot. Combined with pink, these three colors have always been one of my favorite warm color palettes.

Now that spring has arrived and flowers are blooming, I've been thinking more about  my favorite flowers, gerbera daisies. And what did I realize? Why, they're yellow, orange, and pink! Hard to tell which I loved first, so we'll just say I've been drawn to both all along.

Image via Amazonia Flowers

Pops of Pink

While I enjoy feminine things, I often shy away from pink for fear of appearing too "girly". I've recently come across pink shoes in a number of iterations, and a bright pop of color in footwear is something I can always get behind.

 

(Kartell, $135)

 

(Bloch, $119)

(Adidas, $70)

(Keds, $35)

Color blocking is a huge trend for this spring, so why not let your feet get in on the action?

Bottega Veneta Fall 2011

I know Milan Fashion Week was ages ago by the standard of time of the fashion world, but I keep finding myself musing about this collection. I love the ladylike silhouettes and of course the pops of color were appreciated. You can see Tomas Maier's experiments with textures throughout the collection, though some were much more successful than others. Here are a few of my favorite looks.

I love the bold orange hue matched with equally outrageous textures. How fun is that bag?

This sleek draped dress is accented perfectly by the lace detailing.

Two very similar looks, both equally beautiful. I like that there's a sort of dark mystery despite the refined, ladylike construction of the outfit. It's amazing the story that textures can tell.

Images via Style.com

Tip Your Hat

When it comes to the perfect hat for spring, I'm convinced a straw fedora is the answer to the seasonal topper dilemma. The classic shape of the fedora, reworked in a lighter, breezier material is perfect for the transition into spring. I'm envisioning these hats paired with Breton striped tops, cropped trousers, and white sneakers for a preppy look. They'd be equally cute with a flirty sundress, pair of sandals, and bangles to channel a boho chic vibe.

(DKNY, $48)

(J. Crew, $34)

(David & Young, $18)

Freshly Neutral

While I have a seemingly endless obsession with bright colors and loud prints, I like to think that there's a more refined, elegant side that appreciates quiet neutrals just as thoroughly.

Not only does this shot have me craving ice cream, but it also reminds me that subtle colors (here a pale pink and yellow) look gorgeous paired with neutral counterparts. The result is very refreshing, but not bland. I think an outfit pulled with three of the above colors in mind would look stunning now, but incorporating more brown and yellow would work just as well in the fall. Who knew you could find style inspiration in food?

Image via weheartit

A Bright New Look

New Look approaches the color blocking trend in three short words: "BRIGHT. BOLD. BLOCK." Simple enough. I love these three vibrant and versatile pieces for the spring.

A loose, airy t-shirt tunic in a shocking fuschia (New Look, £15).

A skinny belt in a bright cobalt shade, perfect for cinching over cardigans and sundresses (New Look, £3).

A functional coral cross body bag with turn lock detailing (New Look, £11).

Color Blocking and Brights, Oh My!

I can't get enough of Zara's lookbook styling. The iterations on the color blocking trend are so effortless, yet eye-catching. I love the bright, citrus colors and the warm, sunny feeling they bring to the outfit. The jumper balances out the short hem of the skirt, but the loose knit keeps it from looking too stuffy.

(Zara)

Unrelated to color blocking, but to its credit still bright, how neat is this necklace? It's handcrafted in Ghana as part of the Bluma Project. I like the playfulness of the beads and fun tie, but it's not juvenile. It's the sort of necklace that can dress up or down an outfit, and unique to boot.

(Shopbop, $75)

Thank goodness for bright colors. Good bye dull outfits!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Last year, I managed to bake 9 dozen cupcakes in less than a month. This inspired a sort of unofficial mantra, "Every occasion is an occasion to bake." A month later found me singing a slightly different tune while baking 10 dozen cupcakes in one night (this time there was an actual event in need of dessert...), but I'm still great at seizing every opportunity to bust out a muffin tin.

 This week, I decided to opt for a muffin instead of my customary cupcakes. After deciding on cinnamon as the spice of choice, I spotted some green apples and decided to go a traditional route.

To keep the muffins from being too plain, I made a quick brown sugar and cinnamon topping. This slightly caramelized in the oven, giving the final product a sweet, crunchy top.

As for excuses to bake, I decided to whip up this batch of apple cinnamon muffins on Thursday. Flash forward to Friday afternoon, and they've all been given away or eaten. How do I interpret this? Only as another reason to bring out the muffin tin again...

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup melted butter

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup milk
1 cup finely chopped apples

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the sugar and melted butter. Add the egg and vanilla and beat just until mixed. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk, stirring just until mixed (do not over mix). Fold in the apples, then spoon batter into muffin liners. Bake 18-23 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

For Japan With Love

On Friday, March 18th, 2011 I'll be participating in the Blogger's Day of Silence. There will be no post as part of an effort by bloggers to acknowledge the devastation in Japan and to encourage individuals to send prayers and contributions to the individuals suffering.

Please visit http://forjapanwithlove.com/ for more information. Let's keep the people of Japan in our prayers. If each and everyone of us does what we can to help, think of all the lives we can positively affect.

Hoop the Loop

Like most other aspects of my life, when it comes to interior design I'm all about color and bright prints. Despite this, I've always viewed wallpaper as too fussy, and love finding alternative ways to bring a bit of cheer to a room.

While you could frame rectangular fabric swatches, I love this playful take using wooden embroidery hoops. The circular shapes remind me of fanciful bubbles floating up the wall, exploding in a rainbow of colors and patterns.

Embroidery hoops are available at most craft stores and are relatively inexpensive. Best of all, they're lightweight and a breeze to hang (no searching for studs!).

Happy decorating!

Images via Polli

Aww, Fudge

When you realize how easy this fudge is to make, you'll literally find yourself muttering "Aww, fudge." Fortunately, you can then console yourself with a square of this deceptively easy confection. Because of its simplicity, it's an extremely adaptable recipe. For St. Patrick's Day, you could substitute peppermint extract for the vanilla for a perfect treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Powdered sugar
• 1/2 c. Cocoa
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 c. Milk
• 1 Tbsp. Vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. Butter
• 1 c. Nuts, minced

Directions:

1. In a microwaveable 8x8 glass pan, combine the sugar, cocoa, salt, milk and vanilla. Stir together until partially blended (I like to use a fork).
2. Lay the butter in the center of dish. Microwave at high for 2 min. Don't worry if all the butter hasn't melted, it will as you stir. Be sure to scrape down the sides and then add the nuts.
3. Refrigerate for at least an hour in the refrigerator before cutting into squares.

Image from Spitalfields Market in East London (Great food including fudge!)

This or That: Bright Orange

Orange has officially become my spring color. After a visit to Zara and two H&M's on Sunday, I'm now the proud owner of a pair of skinny orange trousers. It was quite the exhilarating shopping experience, darting into stores and trying to spot a single vibrant hue. In celebration of all things orange:

This delicious orange rock candy...

... to go with that bright Milly shift.

Image via here

Take Flight

I'm loving this playful editorial with Karen Elson in March's V Magazine. The colorful background of this image is incredible. The simplicity of the outfit balances the drama of the setting to present a rich visual effect. Plus, doesn't that just look like an unbelievable amount of fun?

Image via The Fashion Spot

Gorgeous Gown

How incredible is this Atelier Versace Spring 2011 gown? The combination of the pleating, the bold color, and the incredible softness leaves me breathless. The look book certainly doesn't disappoint in terms of glamor and elegance. This is the magic of couture.

Image via Fashion Gone Rogue