Mmmm... Fresh!

I am loving this mint green trend. It's like the refreshing, cold sweetness of a Melona bar on a summer day.

If you haven't had one, you really need to look into it. They are South Korean honeydew melon creme bars and are delightful. Get them at your local Asian market (they are worth the $10 a box).

I'm also loving the return of super lady-like pieces mixed with menswear. So you can imagine my glee at seeing still from the Jonathan Saunders show.

Nothing creates an hourglass figure better than a structured shirt tucked into an a-line skirt. This is my summer uniform- ask anyone. I also adore those sandals with the wee bows. Tres adorable!

Sadly, I haven't yet put my hands on any minty fresh pieces that are perfect for me. So, I am looking forward to adding  splashes with accessories. First on my list:

 Essie 'Mint Candy Apple'. Just the right amount of blue to tone down the yellow in my skin and the perfect touch of green to make it fresh and young.*

Asos belt

Minty penny loafers

Mint looks great with lilac

Wear your mint with:

All of your neutrals, especially: khaki, white, grey, navy
Other tertiary colors like: turquoise, coral, orange, fuchsia




*a full-size bottle of Flowerbomb Bombilicious lotion to the person who sends me this color.

Pretty Grunge

When I was about 11 I started wearing combat boots with dresses and ripped jeans with flannel. I listened to REM, watched 'Clueless', played viola and thought I was grunge.

I look back on this and remember that it was probably one of the first times that I experimented with fashion and just wore what I wanted. Sure, it wasn't particularly good-looking, and the kids at school probably thought I was a nutcase and living under a bridge, but I dug it.

To this day, I have a particular affinity for a hot pair of combat boots, a good old plaid shirt and some ripped stockings. I just think it's cool. Pairing a girly dress with a leather bag and some boots creates a sort of hippie devil-may-care aura.

Rachel Bilson rocking Pretty Grunge

I especially love spring fashion with some killer boots.

All Saints 'Damisi' Boots

Lace peplum top

Grungy skinny jeans

Studded bangles

Or how about this

Asos boots

Modcloth jacket

Swiss dot dress

Barbed wire ring

I can't explain it. It's just hot. Women turning menswear on its head and making lace look tough.

Put Katniss Everdeen in a dress and she'd throw on her own hunting boots and give you the finger.

That's what it's all about.

My boots? Well, they're these:

By Request: Winter Hats

Winter is a great time for hats. Apart from doing quite a bit to keep your entire body warm, hats are an under-used fashion tool.

It's important to understand the different types of hats, how and where to wear them, and some general hat etiquette. I will tackle the first issue in this post.


I will start with a classic. The Beret.

Lauren Bacall in "The Big Sleep"

Traditionally made out of felted wool, they can also be woven, knitted or crocheted. Berets can be worn in a number of ways.

Pretty much Beret 101.

I like the look of a felted beret on top of the head and pushed slightly to the side. It's jaunty and has attitude. Be careful, this can look costume-y so be sure you wear it with Confidence.

Adorable with long, loose curls

Personally, I wear my berets in a style similar to the photo above. I pull it straight down onto my head and then push the fabric backwards and slightly to the side. This way, it functions as keeping ma tete warm, while adding style.

Next, is the cloche.

Clara Bow doing it Right

In French, cloche means 'bell', and the shape of this hat should tell you why. Cloches are a structured hat that are usually made out of felted wool or other sturdy materials.

There are a few ways to wear a cloche, but the most traditional is pulled all the way down and covering the ears. See Miss Bow above.

Tao Okamoto

This cloche still retains its bell-shaped crown, but she has pulled it down in front over her forehead, leaving her ears bare.

Continuing on, we have the fedora.

Kate Moss mixing cranberry and grey

Again, these are typically made of felted wool, but can come in a variety of materials, including straw. Fedoras have wide brims, a crease at the crown and is often pinched in the front. What we typically see worn today (ad nauseum), is actually called a trilby.

Note the difference in brim size between Emma Watson's trilby and Kate's fedora.

Trilbies have smaller brims. Note that all trilbies are fedoras, but not all fedoras are trilbies. Got it?

Zara Phillips wearing a classic fedora. Note the wide brim and pinches.

While we're at it, can I please just send out an S.O.S. to stop wearing these:

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz

They are over. They have been run into the ground and there is now no unique or ironic way to wear them. Pick different colors and go with a wider brim. Please? Just for a while.

Oooh look, these are fun: Trapper hats

Marge Gunderson works it in Fargo

Originally used by hunters and well, trappers, these hats are usually made of canvas, flannel, or a water-repellent material and lined with fur. Note the distinctive flaps over the ears. These can be tied under the chin or tied on top of the head.

Faux-fur lined trapper

These hats are ideal if you live in cold climates. And I mean cold. Please don't wear these if you live in temperate or sub-tropic regions. You'll look like this:

Ashley Tisdale

A Fool. Does she need the hat to keep her arm while she drinks that iced coffee??

Next up is the beanie!

Taylor Swift and her sunny yellow beanie

Beanie hats have typically been very tight to the head and worn by skiers and the like. Now, they come in slouchy varieties and guys are using them to cover up their bad hair days. Excellent!

I really love a beanie. They are perfect for winter in more temperate climes.

Sandra Bullock keeps warm

Just be careful that you don't end up looking like a bum in this hat as it's slouchy nature can look a little unkempt.

My personal winter hat inspiration?

Freda Gustavsson

Buy yourself some winter hats here:

urban outfitters
john lewis
asos
modcloth
village hat shop

Scarves for Men Are Also Scarves for Women

I really like scarves. A lot.

A well-rounded scarf collection can make any wardrobe incredibly diverse. I wear scarves like pieces of Flair.

Of course, I deeply love a classic silk scarf, but I am also quite fond of men's scarves.

Men's scarves vary slightly from those for women. Traditionally, theirs are thinner and shorter and are designed to be worn with a blaze or tuxedo jacket.

They can be worn like ascots

Ashton Kutcher wearing a low ascot

 This style works for people with long necks. If you carry weight in your chin, I would avoid this look.


Laid over tuxedo jackets

Aspinal of London

Knotted around the neck and under the collar

Brad Pitt in Cannes

Or, tucked under the lapels of a jacket

Peter Facinelli

This is how I tackled the look

This is an Olive Drab-colored wool scarf from Russia. Because it's so warm and, since I wanted to look a bit more feminine, I chose to wear it over a dress instead of a button-down. I folded it in half length-wise (I think in Kindergarten we called this 'hot dog style') a draped it over my neck. I then put my blazer on top, taking care to allow the scarf to stick out an inch or two above the lapels.

I let the ends hang loose below the stance of the jacket. This is totally acceptable but you are certainly able to tuck the ends underneath the blazer, or use the scarf with a jacket that has more buttons. Men's scarves should not be tucked in to your waistband as a general rule, but whatever floats your style boat. This look also works with a shorter woman's scarf as long as it is rectangle-shaped or folded to be so.