It's Thanksgiving! That means...

(Madeline)..I'm relaxing and looking at fashion on the internet - duh! While last time I came home there was all sorts of junk piled into my room - not my doing, but my families - this time all that was on my bed was two new Vogues that came under MY OWN NAME to our house.. YAY! So I've had a lot to catch up on. Some few notable upcoming fashion things to look out for that I've discovered through my perusing:

1)New and Upcoming designer Rosalind Keep! Her designs are really simple and cute! And can be bought on December 7th! It will be interesting to see what the pricing on these items will be, but I can't wait! really, really cute!

2) Rodarte Collection for Target. I mean, what is better than getting designer threads for Target prices. Legit nothing. If you don't know Rodarte - this is what they send down the runway at Fashion Week.

SO, they have designed a collection for Target, coming out on December 2oth! Merry Christmas from Rodarte! Here's what those designs look like!

I can't wait to get my hands on these!

(Sammy)...It's time to start thinking about the holidays (and my birthday!). The day after Thanksgiving is always known for its black Friday label, but in my house, it's the day I make my birthday/Hanukkah/ Christmas list. So today, I have been searching the web and all the magz for things that would add to my clothing/shoe/ bag collection or items that I simply must own. So far, the list is shaping up as follows:

1. Anything Marc
2. Anything Tory
3. Tall leather boots
4. Sassy fun every day shoes
5. Fun dresses
6. Sparkles, sparkles and sparkles

That's all for me. I'm off to go enjoy family time on this rainy day in the good ole 'ham! Hope everyone's holiday was yummy and if you think of something I should own for my birthday or a holiday, let me know!!

American Music Awards 2009

Sunday Night was the a famed American Music Awards and as always, red carpet fashion went big or went home. Here are my favorites from the night...


As always, Selena Gomez looks adorable and age appropriate! This dress is the perfect cut for a teenage girl and isn't too sophisticated. Something I admire in Gomez is she never tries to be something she isn't - she's down to earth and real. Her fashion sense is admirable and the slight wrap heel paired with the dress is simple and elegant as to not to take away from the intended glitz.

Rihanna's dress here is funky fresh- too bad her outfit for her performance was beyond atrocious. The cut outs on this dress here is a pure artistic feat- it could really hang on a wall and read as a masterpiece. The play off of black and white work wonders with the cutouts and the ruffle shape is unique. Rihanna went for a statement with this dress and she did just that. Let's face it- she's a knockout.

Carrie Underwood = FAB- U- LOUS. Underwood looked beyond gorgeous walking down the red carpet and when she performed. This dress here is flirty and fun while not being too revealing. She's sure to show off her bangin' legs in sassy heels. The clutch is necessary but doesn't distract from the outfit which is usually hard to accomplish. One thing I am a tad sad about is the fact that Carrie used to be a good example of a "normal" sized girl- she was healthy looking but now (don't get me wrong, she looks GREAT), I'm sad that she's lost a bit of her pizazz that came with her fuller curves.

Alica Keys is a one of a kind beauty. This color palate lights up her eyes. I cannot get over the gems on the dress and the shape of the corset. Check out that bling on the earrings- can you imagine wearing something like that?! Her soft blue eyes play off of the dress so nicely. Keys, you look so peaceful and classy- such a nice change from other trash walking down the red carpet.

50 cent. I had to rep some guy that looked sharp walking down the red carpet and my man 50 did just that. He is clean cut, keeping it classy, simple and elegant. Even without a tie or vest, the jacket and unbuttoned shirt work.

Ok. I couldn't find a picture of this but I need someone to empathize with me about the PAIN experienced from watching Lady GaGa perform in a nude body suit (if you could even call it that). She is a FAB performer but her costume choice was an EMBARRASSMENT. Not only could you see her thong, but I'm pretty sure she was wearing a nude diaper and had pointy things on her boobs to make them appear absurdly triangular. If you are going to make a statement on TV at 9 PM, make sure its appropate and sending the right message to the kids of America.

Ok. That's Sammy's rant for tonight. I hope you all have safe travels home for thanksgiving and have a very happy and full holiday!! Lots and lots of love and turkey!

Gobble, Gobble!

Happy (almost!) Thanksgiving! With almost a week to go (I really cannot wait), it's about time to start thinking about the perfect thanksgiving meal outfit. Let's be real...we order the turkey weeks in advance, set the table the weekend in advance and think about everything else...so why not give proper thought to our outfits?

What to wear to a family thanksgiving?

Sammy: In my opinion, it never hurts to be too classy around the fam. Whether it be a cute jumper or a turtle neck with funky fresh pants and bangin' accessories, family members don't want to see leg or cleavage. Always have shoes on, even if you're having the meal at your house- boots, fun flats or even little booties compliment every outfit.

Madeline: Thanksgiving is the perfect time to whip out one of your more conservative, although equally cute, looks. It might not be an outfit you would wear going out with friends, this is more about showing your family how mature and chic you can be. This outfit calls for some Banana Republic, Gap or J. Crew pieces, classics with a twist. Knitwear, silk blouses, or full skirted dresses are the way to go. Just be careful not to spill cranberry sauce or gravy on one of these pieces!

What to wear to WOW those friends you haven't seen since summer?

Sammy: Ok. Truth. Most of the fun of going home for thanksgiving (besides seeing your fam and best friends) is running in to the people from high school you thought you'd never see again or your friends that you haven't seen since summer. When you make your first appearance out on the town, out to dinner, or hitting the mall be sure you're looking fiiine. For a town get together, your outfits can be toned down from what you would wear out at school. Nice jeans and a sassy top are perfect- no need for heals either. Simply look put together and emphasize something you've been working out hard to achieve. If you're not feeling as trim as a turkey, dress smart so people can't even tell you had that extra piece of pumpkin pie- it's all in the presentation. Dinner plans require a similar outfit but depending on location, a cute jumper or fall dress (with tights and boots!) is always a fall back on outfit. For that black Friday rush- dress comfy and smart. Always apply under eye cover, you never know who you are going to see at any hour of the shopping experience and you certainly don't want to miss out on a super deal because you were embarrassed and hiding.

Madeline: Thanksgiving break is the first time everyone from highschool is back in the hometown, and its very important to be looking your best when you see your old friends, crushes and even maybe some teachers, for the first time in probably a year. Here is the time to pull out inspiration from some of your new friends from school, and maybe wear a look that your friends from high school wouldn't expect. Its better to be trendy here, instead of the more conservative look from the family dinner. When you're at a hometown football game, getting bagels for breakfast, or just running around town, its good to look fresh, and to not over do it - you don't want to look like you're trying toooo hard to impress. Jeans, boots and a simple top, combined with a chic fitted jacket can show that you're put together, but not trying too hard. Thanksgiving and fall fashion season calls for rich, saturated colors and fabrics, like maroon, purple, emerald green or navy, in a corduroy, wool, silk, or cashmere. The combination of any of these will spill luxury and chic-ness into the air around you.

Now...what to wear back at school AFTER Thanksgiving?

Sammy: Truth is, after Turkey day, there are only 3 weeks left of school before Christmas break so during the 2 weeks of classes, make a real effort to go big. Get dressed for class so when you slum it and bum it during finals/ study week, people know that you:
a) do have a wardrobe
b) know where the showers are
c) somewhat care about outward appearances
Although the weekends will not be as "high maintenance" with the stress of finals near, be sure to bring back holiday outfits (and trashy holiday sweaters!)

Madeline: Just because the end of the semester is nearing, doesn't mean your use of your entire closet has to thin. Thanksgiving break is the perfect opportunity to get some new threads, especially with the crazy sales and extra family time. Pre-final time can be stressful, but that doesn't mean totally succumbing to the power of comfort in sweatpants and sweatshirts. Definitely still get dressed for class, and if you really need to snuggle up and study, through on an oversized chunky sweater and leggings, definitely an upgrade from the full sweatsuit. Plus, feeling good about how you look good could even help you study better. Okay maybe a stretch, but its worth trying!

Safe travels home for Thanksgiving and from us to you- we are truly THANKFUL to have all of you as family, friends and followers! Peace, Love, Turkey and fashion!

Funny Fashion Mishaps

We all have those moments...where you go: what was I thinking? what were they thinking? truthfully, sometimes all you can do is laugh. here are some of the recent moments I've been caught giggling...hope they give you a tuesday chuckle :)

1. Grey jumpsuit. Coming back from work at 9 PM on Monday, I was not only exhausted but also starving and freezing. Digging under my bed, and simply not thinking what I was putting on, I managed to throw together a grey jumpsuit. Basically... just don't do it. Monocramatic sweatpant outfits are never successful whether they are slate grey, cranberry or navy. Laugh about it...then change, fast.

2. Janelle's "birthday" outfit. It doesn't get much better than this outfit. Tiedyed socks, oldschool sweatshirt, a dress underneath and sweatpants with the elastic still attached. We took care of everything in this outfit- throw in a headband and call it a day.

3. Now this one I actually had to pause the tredmill to stop and laugh at. A professor at the gym had tucked his shirt into his undies. Legit, I saw the tighty whitey band and all. This moment made my workout, and possibly my week. Go ahead, laugh. I was crying I was laughing so hard.

4. Two best guy friends matching. When Matt and Brad (my two best guy friends) walked in to the basketball game, I literally just started laughing. They were dressed as identical twins, literally, and hadn't noticed until I pointed it out. Maybe guys really don't care enough to look at one another but two 6'2" guys wearing blue polos, jeans and zipups and walking side by side gave me a good little chuckle and embarrased them enough not to even sit in the same row.

Happy Tuesday! And stay safe in our pockets until Friday:)

Fall Flip!

As sad as it is, fall (more like winter) is here! Instead of dressing like you're beach bound, take that look from summer to fall fab or prepare that beach bum attire for the real winter wonderland... Here are Madeline and my favorite ways to flip that outfit!

Outfit one: Blue tank dress with white and plaid flat sneakers

Fall flip: Throw a tank under or a sweater over the dress so you have some warmth in the shoulder region. Tights are a MUST. Ladies, the weather is no longer appropiate for bear legs, no matter what anyone says. And instead of the summery sneaks, pair the dress with a boot. And there you have it, an instant fall approved outfit.

Outfit two: American Apparel highwaisted skirt (a fav!) and a plain v-neck.

Fall flip: This outfit is totally doable in the fall or winter so don't panic! Fall can be fashionable and fun. My advice, pair the solid skirt with a funky patterened tight. A boot is totally rockin here as well (for a more day time appropiate look, keep the pattern on the tight a little softer), or maybe a simple flat or converse if the air isn't too bitting. On top, you can ditch the v-neck and pair the skirt with a long-sleeved shirt or instead, keep the v-neck and go for the layered look with a sweater. If the sweater is going to be long, be sure it is a button up, we don't want you looking pantless!

Outfit three: Fall means football, hockey and basketball up here on the heights, and it's not always easy to accomodate the "Super Fan" Shirt...

Fall Flip: For football, warmth is KEY. I suggest pairing the superfan shirt with underamour and a nice warm BC sweatshirt. It's the thought that counts, right? Warm pants, socks and UGGS are a must if you are going to make it even into the 2nd half.

Now, for hockey, although its chilly indoors, you can get more creative because you don't have to deal with the elements. Find a cute patterned shirt for under your superfan shirt to let your individuality shine thru. Jeans are totally appropiate for this climate, and as always, keep those tootsies warm however you must!

Basketball is one of those "warm" winter sports, so unless it is truley bitting out, the simple superfan shirt will suffice. Never hesitate to accessorize- make a statement where ever you go!

Here are some outfits from Madeline's side of the world.

Here is one of my favorite summer floral dresses, worn with sandals and a belt, on a hot New York City summer day. Carrie continued to get use out of it this fall, pairing it with tights, super cute ankle boots and a sweater. Pairing the dress with black also makes it more appropriate for fall or winter, while also being a lot more practical and warm.

Another trick for warming up an outfit as the weather transitions into winter is to throw on a loose denim button down. Here Carrie wears the denim shirt over a tank top sheath dress with sparkly red tights. Here the tights make a big statement and perfectly compliment the neutrals of the black dress and denim shirt, and the shapes fit together perfectly.

Here are some other cute examples of summer dresses that can be turned into winter looks with tights and a jacket.

These few dresses can be transformed into this kind of look, with dark neutrals, rich complimentary colors, like deep brown leather and red or the fabulous metallic piping on Carrie's black jacket. Some dresses transition better than others, for example Carrie's demin dress is perfect for switching seasons.

My other recommendations for winter also include layers layers layer. Here I layer a t-shirt with a deep v-neck sweater and an old-school vintage leather jacket. Even for a casual look its good to stick with rich, deep colors, like black, gray and molasses brown.

Hopefully these tips help with your fall transitions!

Style Inspiration: The Sartorialist

For Madeline, what initially sparked and inspired the idea for the blog was the influx of popular an increasingly influential style and fashion blogs. Many young girls have really put their foot in the door to the fashion world by starting up a blog about their personal style, like Sea of Shoe's Jane Aldridge or Style Rookie's Tavi. But the pinnacle of all style blogs, the one that inspires us all is The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman.

I feel like this goes with out saying, but Schuman really set the pace. His beautiful photographs, good taste and eye for style and his ability to pull out the good in the tiniest details in street fashion have set him on the map.

I could feature thousand upon thousands of looks he has captured that have inspired me, but instead I will take a closer look at the style he's captured in pairs. Afterall, this blog was founded on the basis of friendship, right. His pictures of multiple people always catch my eye, just because they are rare, and the clothes really come to life when the person in them is interacting with others, and comfortable around their friends. Here are some of my absolute favorites.

These girls look beyond lux in animal print, and they make it look good next to one another. It may be busy, but the neutral pants keep the outfits in check. It would have been hard for Schuman to miss this fabulous pair.

Schuman also manages to catch celebrities from time to time, and I love how its an honor for them to be on The Sartorialist. In the photograph you get a closer look on this modelling pair, and see how they really look and interact when their not working.

A great thing Schuman has done for the world of style is pick up on men's fashion. The Sartorialist is one of the only blogs or forums in general that has majorly picked up on men's fashion and styling. I love that he shows real men, who have great fashion.

A lot of Sartorialist outfits rely on chic black ensembles, but this duo utilizes color and pattern to the fullest. They compliment each other really well, and its clear that Schuman picked up on their chemistry.

This is one of my favorite pictures mostly because the kids are so young, in Paris, and just look like they are having the time of thier lives. Schuman explores fashion for all ages, and shows style from all around the world.

I'll be honest. I have this picture on my wall. This truly demonstrates how fashion and photography come together. They look great, and the photo, as a photograph, is immaculate. Not only is Schuman a stylista (stylisto?) but a very notable photographer.

The thing to remember is that Schuman gets his inspiration from real people, on the streets. Just the more reason to keep looking fabulous!

Fashion is Timeless

Fashion is constantly changing, and it can be a challenge to keep up with the fads. That is, if you are not paying close enough attention. Taking a close look at today's fashion trends, it becomes apparent that each is reflective of fashion from an older era. You don't need to buy new things, just update some old things! The fashion industry is constantly recycling ideas and fads, so keeping old things and waiting for them to come back in style is not a dumb idea.

As Maddie run down the trends, Sammy's going to give you places to look for less :)... Sit tight and get ready to save!

Just some examples.

The 30's and 40's -

This T-strap shoe screams late thirties and forties to me. Brought back in modern colors, a healthy shine, pair with some opaque tights and a cute dress and you have yourself a modern outfit.

Always check out Zappos.com before you make any huge shoe purchase- you never know when you are going to find a steal, or a shoe that you love even more! Filene's Basement is always a bargain basement for tights so there is never a need to shell out serious cash at Bloomies or elsewhere.

The 50's

Highwaisted skirts are definately back in full swing. They can be done in the skinny mini-skirt version, but volume is always flattering and girly, two things you can't ever really argue with. American Apparel does a nice basic version here, but you could easily make more of a statement with a pattern or an applique or something else.

One of my favorite American Apparel high waisted skirt knockoff comes from American Eagle (and Target has great ones too!). Other stores have different fabrics and colors that American Apparel might not have- and while American Apparel is all the rage at different schools, it might be nice to have something not everyone else has! Give it a whirl, be a bargin hunter! (and my AE skirt has adorable buttons setting me apart from everyone else!)

The 60's & 70's

The 60's usually conjure an image of hippies and flowerchildern alike, but lately some seventies styles (Disco mania) have been spotted in stores such as this decadent fur collar found on this jacket or the graceful Dolman sleeves found on countless shirts. It's important to pick out what's graceful. Subtlety is key when drawing from these bold fashion era.

It's fun and easy to find bargin deals for the 60's and 70's. An old pair of jeans or a camp dyed shirt can easily become a rockin outfit if you put in a little TLC and creativity! As for the 70's (disco fever!) check out forever 21 for some disco ball inspired sequines or other trendy stores. The colors and textures of these decades are still thirving and can be found all over the place. (Don't forget awesome teased hair and hippie headbands! SO FUN.)

The 80's

The 80's are a particularly fun period to draw inspiration from especially because the fashions are so fresh in our minds. We can remember our mothers in old photographs as we don't large shoulder pads and oversized blazers.

I can't get enough of my cut off sweatshirts and tops, and like the 60's and 70's the 80's are totally a chance for a little DIY project! Just recently I took an old soccer t-shirt and made an awesome cutoff scoop back out of it. The neck of that sweatshirt too tight? Snip it, pair it with a vibrant sports bra, sweat band and leggings and you and Richard Simmons are ready to jazersize the day away!

The 90's

Even fresher in our minds are the clothes from our childhood-- pretty flower patterns, velvet, stirrup leggings, what else could you ask for? Wearing clothes that come from nineties styles brings us back to our childhood and make us look and feel young again. Perfection.

No need to look to far for the 90's... floral trends are HUGE this season and velvet will be surely making a comeback this winter season! Peacoats are timeless pieces that are always done so timelessly done by the GAP, J.Crew and Banana.

Hope your enjoyed our skipping thru the decades- enjoy the weekend and happy Novemeber!

Make Something Out of Nothing

My studio art class was given the assignment to "make something out of nothing" meaning to take some recycled material (any recycled material) and create a wearable article of clothing/ jewerly/ etc. Here are some of the genius things that the class came up with... cheers to you!

This dress was made out of trashbags. The skirt was three- tiered and reinforced with wire and the boddess was created around a bra- genius creation. The dress looked beyond legit and the revealing back was a simple touch that made the dress become even more alive.

Here we have me looking like a goof with my insane curls and handmade short-alls. The "sexy shortalls" as my prof described them as were made from a single pair of my moms old jean capris. Everything was hand stiched and reinforced with iron-on hem...quite the labor of love. You can't see it here, but the back of the overalls is completely bare. It's a take on a halter, backless look and looks poppin' with a leaotard. I can't wait to wear these!

Ok. If I could have bought one thing from this "fashion show", I would have brought this very piece. The entire necklace is made out of pennies and quarters- drilled and held together with little metal clips- this piece totally took time and looks fab. The natural layout of the change falls perfectly around the neck and makes the piece look like anything more than $1.67.

This clutch is beyond fun. Made from a Trader Joes paper bag and reinforced with pink painters tape, the compartments inside are ziplock baggies. The "flower" button is a waterbottle top and then the handle is made from homemade paper beads- such a blast from the past.

Here we have Rachel modeling her homemade plastic bag scarf. Genius. After making a roll of plastic bag yarn, Rachel was able to knit her piece and the final texture is luxurious. So different and quirky but I would wear it in a heart beat.

Liz's dress was also made of plastic bags. What I absolutley fell in love with about this dress was the plastic bag flowers. For my BatMitzvah, my dress was covered in big hodgepodge flowers and this aspect totally reminded me of it. Reinforced with gromets, Liz's dress was sturdy and fabulous.

I could not believe all the amazing things that the people in my class came up with. It's really amazing to think that these materials were all salvaged from the trash, donation bin or recycling bin. Before you toss something- think twice. Until next blog...stay safe in my pocket!