I couldn't resist, it was only $14

This was a rare find at Hollister and I can't wait to wear it over sundresses and sheer T-shirts as soon as the weather gets more on my level a.k.a. warmer than it is now. Maybe in the meantime I can layer it over turtlenecks?

A pair that doesn't fit

When I heard that Jimmy Choo and Ugg Australia were getting together, as in create-a-collaborative-shoe-that-somehow-embodies-sheepskin-and-fine-Italian-leather together, not meet-and-greet-at-a-fashion-event together, I was horrified.

Every little girl dreams of one day owning her own pair of Jimmy Choos, not Ugg boots. The limited edition collection will debut this October and will carry the same high price tag that comes with the Jimmy Choo brand. I was content with Jimmy Choo & H&M, but certainly not Jimmy Choo & Ugg.

My deep-rooted dislike of Ugg boots is something that I'll spare you, since the blog post can get long and ugly and I'd like to exhibit the same niceness that you, my reader, have given me. However, I don't believe I'm alone in saying that I can't see where this collaboration is going, nor do I wish to see where it's going. I wouldn't be so harsh to say that this effort is a waste of time, because there are still individuals that consider Uggs a fashion statement. Uggs are far too mainstream on college campuses (still!) and this overused trend is everything that luxury brand Jimmy Choo isn't.

What do you think? Is it a good move or bad move, on both of their parts? And if you say "good move" while confessing your undying love for sheepskin, I might have to immediately judge you.

I can't be that nice.

Playing in (and around) the ocean just got cuter

It's easy to strike up a conversation about the current water conditions or wave a friendly "Hello" to nearby ocean lovers while surfing. For major designer Cynthia Rowley, however, she chatted about much more than the changing tides when shredding with Randy Hild, Roxy executive vice president of marketing. The result of this specific surf session is Rowley's collaboration with Quiksilver's women clothing line, Roxy. Set to hit Barneys this spring, the line is exactly what one would expect from the whimsical imagination of Rowley and sporty, water-minded Roxy. The collaboration includes a surfer girl's necessities, like neoprene fabric, sandals and cover ups, but gives it a girly, neon twist with geometric patterns and colors so bright you'll need shades.

I've been into Roxy since I was a little girl due to my Jersey-shore roots, so this collaboration is a pleasant surprise. Since then, the amount of T-shirts I own with the Roxy heart emblem are innumerable, which is why this is a fashionable move outside of Roxy's usual territory (i.e. not slapping its logo on everything under the sun). I hope it takes more ideas from high fashion while keeping its beach origins.

Regardless, surfing and dressing in the winter isn't a fun task in the chilly East coast, so as a surfer and fashionista, I have a lot to look forward to come Spring.

Isn't he the best?

"It is always a little sad when you see things you'd love to wear but know that it would never look good on you. A chunky cardigan like his can only be worn well by someone bringing none of their own chunk to the collaboration of man and knitwear. It is a sad truth but I am wiser for knowing it and planning my wardrobe accordingly."
— Scott Schuman, The Satorialist

Daily inspiration

I've officially made LookBook my homepage.

The girl inside of me squeals with excitement

I'm a little late on Rodarte for Target since the collection came out last month (I blame finals and the holidays) but that doesn't make me any less of a fan. Although I'm crying myself to sleep every night since the leopard print coat is sold out in every Target in my area (in both New Jersey and Delaware), I'm honing in on this leopard print dress that little Dakota Fanning rocks in the December/January issue of Teen Vogue:


I haven't been this happy with a Target collaboration in awhile. Between the stone-washed denim with sailor-knot details and lacy dresses I wish I'd worn to high school dances, Rodarte for Target effectively appeals to the mass market while creating pieces that stand out in a girl's closet.

And don't forget that every item I've mentioned above is less than $50!

Story Time

When it comes to fashion, I usually choose beauty over functionality if a compromise cannot be made.

When I stayed at Camel Back last weekend, I initially chose the former. After a few rides down the mountain, I began to feel as if my face was going to fall off from frostbite, and it wasn't because my snowboard was flying a million miles per hour — it was just that cold. So my boyfriend suggested I wear one of these little diddys since he had one lying around his truck:

If you know me or at least have some sense of decency, you would know that I said, "No, thank you," as politely as I could. On Day Two, my face/head-region did not feel any warmer. I almost decided to end my outdoor activities. After much inner conflict and disagreeing with my boyfriend, I reluctantly placed the uncomfortable, ill-fitting, black fleece over my head and just like that, I was as stylish as the fella in the picture above. To my surprise though, my decision turned out to be a wise one — I didn't complain about a single weather-related issue and I even felt overly warm by the end of the day.

Conclusion of the story: Sometimes, it's OK to let go of your fashion inhibitions and do something that scares you. Especially if it means retaining a normal body temperature. And this word of advice also applies to those who wear these face-protector things on a regular basis: don't be afraid to lose it every now and then. When indoors, anyway.

Good cheer for all

Today is the day I officially enter Winter Break 2010. After I finished a massive English paper and a fun cumulative Biology exam (a.k.a. the only Lab Science I will ever take at the university) today, I decided to pat myself on the back and order these little babies from Aldo:


I almost clicked the "Check Out" button for a similar cage-heeled pair from Steve Madden until my cousin graciously showed me these. The Aldo ones proved to be $10 cheaper (They're on sale for only $40!) and also looked reasonably comfy. These are two features that I can appreciate since I'm a poor ol' college student who is still finding it difficult to put on heels instead of flats.

And if you're wondering what I'll wear them with (which I know you are), I'm excited to sport them with a girly-girl minidress in order to balance the masculinity with femininity or my gray wool shorts from H&M and a boyfriend-style cardigan. Or maybe I'll wear them with the gold and glittery dress I'm wearing for New Year's Eve. Oh, the options! I think I should stop myself here.

Now that all my Christmas shopping is done, I am completely taking advantage of all these last-minute deals that my favorite stores are offering. I urge you to do the same!

Happy (Almost) Holidays!

Penny Lane knows fashion

“Oh, that’s hard. I mean Valentino’s Valentino, you know? He’s an icon. But I love Giambasti Vialli. I’ve worn quite a bit of his things. I love, like, a big ruffle here and there. But honestly, I love all clothes so much. It’s like the best part of the morning, getting dressed. I kind of like all clothes. I just put on what I feel like. Some days I feel really girly, but sometimes I feel masculine. Today I just woke up and was like ‘I want to wear a suit.’ It’s Bottega Venetta, by the way.”
— Kate Hudson, on her favorite Italian fashion designer in an interview with NYLON

P.S. Props to Faran for doing a great interview! I loved her from my favorite fashion blog, Fashionista.

Fall in love

The first week of class is in full swing and students are spending more on textbooks than they spend on their monthly rent, enjoying the academic hush before the real schoolwork storm begins and most importantly, they're showing off fall's best denim.

Denim and fall go hand in hand, but I've grown tired of the most predictable form of denim, or as you can guess, jeans. This is why I instantly wanted this when I saw it in American Eagle:


Wearing this Western wonder would be too cowgirl if worn with jeans of the same color, so it's best to pair it with black leggings (which I know every lady on campus owns) in order to bring it home to the East Coast. Past seasons' colored jeans also sweeten up the look.

I admit I haven't done my annual fall shopping spree, but I think getting these from Steve Madden at least buys me a little time:


In this transition season, it's great finding pieces that adapt to whatever weather lies ahead. Not only are these black beauties adorable with summer's dresses and fall's denim, they'll be perfect with winter's tights and knits. Plus, they're extra-comfy because of the well-supported heel.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves quite yet. It's the first week of school, after all.