Romance in Fashion - February 2011
--- Felicia Chen
Valentine’s Day. It’s the holiday that singles dread and couples love. Regardless of whether you’re single or madly in love on February 14, it’s still a day to get dressed up and have fun.
For all the Single Girls:
Dancing the Night Away
Just because you’re single doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy yourself on Valentine’s Day. So gather up a group of your best girlfriends and embrace being single on Valentine’s Day by dancing the night away. This outfit is perfect if you plan on going clubbing or just partying with a group of friends. The sparkle will surely get someone’s attention and the red heels add a pop of color. The leather jacket will keep you warm from the cold February night when you choose to call it a night after a hard night of partying. Also be sure to pack a pair of flats if you don’t plan on walking all over town with heels on!
Movie and Chinese Food
Hanging out with friends or even a crush with a movie and chinese food is a good way to spend the night and just relax. A vibrant floral tank paired with jeans and an oversized, neutral-colored, comfy sweater is the perfect outfit for curling up on the couch. Keep the look low-key with a simple charm bracelet and flats.
For all the Girls in a Relationship:
Romantic Dinner
If your date has planned for a romantic evening on Valentine’s Day, then this outfit is perfect. A peach or nude-colored dress is simple but when paired with the right cut and draping, becomes soft and romantic. Black pumps with lace detailing adds interest to the overall look while a simple black box clutch and a gold pearl bracelet are the finishing touches and work together to keep the look clean.
Casual Night Out
For girls currently in relationships that started recently, Valentine’s Day may be more informal. A casual night out to an informal restaurant or the movies are possibilities and so you should dress accordingly. Keep the outfit fun and casual by pairing jeans with a black top and nude peep-toe pumps. Complete the look with cute rose earrings and romantic pearl bracelets.
*photos made by writer on polyvore.com*
Mall Crawl - February 2011
--- Christy Lin
On the subject of romance, people always talk about confidence: feeling your best, looking your best, just going for it. Well I believe that looking your best helps you in feeling your best. Regardless of how shallow it may seem you can’t deny that your confidence just shoots up a couple notches when you know you’re looking good. So here now is the Mall Crawl right in time for V-Day. Who knows, maybe trying one of my tips will give you just the boost you need to finally approach that certain someone. Or maybe you’ll blow them away so much that they’ll just have to approach you (with roses and chocolate!). Here we go!
In general, February seems to have this underlying theme of lazy and carefree. I suppose since everything ends up being tinged in some sort of love spell, you should probably be sure that your significant other can stand being around you if you’d rather wear flats rather than heels, or a t-shirt rather than a tux.
Now ladies first (oh, you guys are such gentlemen *wink*) ahem. I know for a fact that at some point each and every one of us has wanted to be able to pull off that ballerina, straight from rehearsal, worn, but still oh so cute look. If you’ve seen Black Swan (great movie) then you have the idea. Basically think of leggings, tights, or skinny jeans, a pair of chunky ankle high boots (flat, or just regular flats), and a slightly large, wide necked top that refuses to stay on one shoulder. Most likely a backwash of aforementioned movie, there is at least one of these looks in virtually every clothing store in the mall. Be careful with this, it’s easy to look sloppy, so it does take a smidgen of effort to pull off that sexy sort of carefree. What you’re looking for is still something that fits. It should hug your waist in minimal bunches or creases, and then delicately hang from your shoulder, think just a peek. I found the most amazing slouchy, one shoulder top at Anthropologie in deep red (ugh, I wanted to take it and run!), but there are plenty of other, less expensive options elsewhere. Most slouches seem to favor the right, it’s totally up to you though. If you can’t decide, just think of this: on which side are you more likely to use that flirty look you throw back at him walking down the street, making him wonder what it would taste like to kiss that little spot of exposed skin. I’m tellin’ ya, shoulders are the new ankles; just a hint of one is enough to send those guys huffin’ and puffin’ to break down your door.
Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. You’ve got an easy month too! Just go for neutral. Not your average neutral, they still have some color quality, like blue tinted grey, or a warm faded brown. What you don’t have to look for is buttons, or prints, or anything like that. Just a good, solid colored t-shirt and simple cardigan with rolled up sleeves with a worn pair of jeans and you’re good to go. If you’re not a cardigan kind of guy, then just a jacket that looks like it’s at least been on a road-trip and back. Single colored cotton button downs are a great way to dress things up under that cardigan if you need to, but just make sure what you pair it with is a good balance between casual and clean, don’t look stiff or sloppy! You should essentially look like you’ve had these clothes for years, they were lying around, so you decided to throw them on together and you don’t give a fuck what people might think. But of course, they’ll be thinking about how hot and awesome you look because you don’t give a fuck, and most of all, it works.
All in all, I say take advantage of this time in shopping. It’s a great opportunity to buy nice fitting, solid colored basics that always come in handy later on, and to be completely honest, they never really go out of style. As far as which colors, go for bright, rich, primary and secondary tones. Not neon, but something that will definitely stand out. I’ve seen a lot of orange and red around, the big color for women this month though, as seen on the Golden Globes red carpet, is green; deep, intense, emerald green. Fellas, again, stick with neutrals, even if it’s just black, white, and grey. Solid neutral colors though, remember that, save the patterns for some other month and worry about what you’re going to get your valentine this year (it’d better be good!). One last thing: COTTON! Whatever you decide to buy, make it comfy for both you and your sweetheart. Cuddling is the number one activity for Valentine’s Day! Or it should be. Make it happen.
Red Carpet Surfing Part 1
--- Christy Lin
O Hai! It’s me, Christy, here with EAL’s very first Red Carpet Review! (applause, maybe a few shouts of I love you). Awww, well thanks, you all are so kind, anyway, let’s get started.
First off, in the general scope of things, I am pretty much IN LOVE with Chris Colfer from Glee. His fashion sense that is. He never misses a beat from that zipper embellished vest at the People’s Choice Awards (PCA) to that super sharp Dior tux he wore for the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards (SAG). I’m not sure if he has a stylist or if he chooses his own wardrobe, but either way, someone is doin’ right by him. Someone who I was also very pleasantly surprised with thus far in show season is Kim Kardashian. First was the PCA, where she absolutely wowed me with her almost vintage-y strapless dress and relaxed up-do, and then the SAGs where she sported a very rich purple Marchesa gown, and quite the refreshing make-up job, leaving out her heavy blush, eye-shadows and fake eye-lashes. I personally think she looks much prettier that way, but hey, I guess I’ve just never really gotten caught up in all that.
Alright, it’s now time for best and worst. This will cover three shows from the month of January, the People’s Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards (which I just finished watching like 10 minutes ago). So here we go, beginning with the People’s Choice. I have to shout out to Kaley Cuoco, who is not only hilarious and absolutely sweet, she actually took on the red carpet, fully done up, with a broken leg hidden beneath a stunning snow-white floor length gown. I should also point out that Zac Efron, who I admit I’ve never really taken seriously, is now sporting a buzz-cut (compliments of his latest movie, in which he plays a US Marine) and it looks pretty damn hot.
My absolute favorite female of the night was Pauley Perette, (you might know her better as the gothy forensic scientist Abby Sciuto from NCIS). She came in a custom made dress, very simple and co-designed by herself and her friend, Terri King. Pauley actually explains that she dreamed about the dress, a corseted, asymmetrical, knee length gown, stamped across the middle with the anti-bullying NOH8 campaign logo. It’s definitely not what people are used to seeing on any red carpet, but for me it was perfect; simple, beautiful, and it spread a message. I mean honestly, can it really get better than that? Now I don’t mean to ruffle any feathers, but my pick for worst dressed of the night was Revenge of the Bridesmaids star Raven Symone. All I can say is, I could go the rest of my life without seeing another black ruffle and I would be totally ok. I might just be able to do that because all the black ruffles in the world were probably shipped in for that one jacket…thing, she decided to wear. Sweetie, I know your name is Raven, but don’t you think it’s a little strange if you actually start wearing one? Maybe you should let that top of yours free, let it find some lonely scarecrow in a pumpkin patch to pick and squawk at. Just saying.
Next up, the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards. There were a few notable red carpet wins: Catherine Zeta Jones, Anne Hathaway, sort of the regulars who you always expect to look good. Then there were the questionable ones like Sandra Bullock (got enough hair extensions there?) and January Jones (not quite sure on that one). And then, there was Helena Bonham Carter. I love how even at the SAG Awards people are still asking her about her wardrobe choice at the GGs. HBC arrived at the GGs wearing Vivienne Westwood, classic, a rather interesting hairdo, and, wait for it, mismatching shoes. One red and one green actually, I think she might have found one of Santa’s elves to make them for her. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved her outfit, it brought a smile to my face, and I was actually very close to applauding. Again, just one of those things that break the social norm, and it’s great. Favorite of the night was Olivia Wilde in Marchesa (honestly, how do you go wrong with Marchesa?), a very glittery, almost magical in a way, black and gold ballgown. Oh, and don’t forget the shoes, a very dangerous looking pair of spikey gold Christian Louboutins. God I would die for a pair of those, literally since I can totally see Editor Sarah clubbing me over the head with them to prevent me from shelling out the cash needed to purchase a pair.
And finally, yes we’re almost done, the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards. My picks for best dressed of the night include Dianna Agron from Glee in Chanel Haute Couture, Claire Danes in Louis Vuitton, and Julianna Marguliese in Yves Saint Laurent. Winner of the best dressed category however (see what I did there), was Mila Kunis. She rocked the Golden Globes in an emerald green Vera Wang, and then she completely lit up the SAG red carpet with a very light and fun Alexander McQueen. What I really loved about her SAG dress was that it flowed, like literally flowed, just like the flowers that were printed all over it. Her hair also, which was down and loose, just made her look young and like a free spirit, which is sort of the attitude she portrayed in Black Swan and which is the attitude I feel like she would let cross over into her everyday life.
Ok, this was very long (there’s music comin’ from somewhere to shut me up), but I got everything I wanted in so I hope you enjoyed it, and if you noticed, this is only part one of my overall red carpet review for 2011. Coming up next month are the heavy hitters: music’s biggest night, and the grand daddy of all award shows, or as they’re usually known, the Grammys and the Oscars. Now that is sure to be one hell of a review, so thank you all for this opportunity, I really could not have done this without you, and I will see you the next time around! *sniffle, wipe away a stage tear* (now someone get me a trophy and photo-op with Ryan Reynolds).
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