Fashion Friday: A Nostalgic Fashion Date with Kate!

It's all about Kate! Nope, not Middleton, try the more flashy Kate aka Kate Spade. Ms Spade not only produces the most quotable ad campaigns, but also offers a fashion brand that is fun for any age. Although the line is completely appropriate for all women to display some expression, there's something nostalgic about the designer. More specifically, youthful expectations. You know how as a child every little girl idolizes and dreams of being Eloise? Kate Spade is somewhat reminiscent of an adulthood Eloise. Sure, the character is just a fun, creative outlet, but Kate Spade's designs touch on that childhood love of individuality. The colorful prints send you right back to that familiar happy place of carelessly wandering around Manhattan and dining at The Plaza. The designer identifies the brand as "playful sophistication" and that's exactly what it is! Whether it's the glitter from my Kate Spade wallet, jewels, or iPhone case, the brand always adds a sparkle of optimism to my day. Hence, why I absolutely adore Kate Spade!

"Playing dress up begins at age five and never truly ends."

-Kate Spade

How To...Color Pop!

As someone who likes wearing dark colors a little too much(it's chic and fierce okay!), I love that summertime forces a major revamp in the wardrobe. While bright colors and florals are nothing new for the season change, summer 2012 is offering a much more diverse and bold way to play with colors. Here are some easy, fun ways to color pop while barely digging into your pockets...

Colored Hair

What better way to enjoy the carefree attitude of summer than sporting some colored hair tips to go with your tan! It can be tricky to do this if you're in professional environments pretty frequently so stick to the basics. If you have dark hair, stick with dark colors, like purple. If you have light hair, try a lighter shade like pink. Personally, I have an auburn hair color so I went with a fuchsia color. I also decided to go subtle and make my color pop a single hair extension, instead of using the dye!

Color Block/Pattern Mixing

It's a big style trend and not as difficult as you may think to pull off! All you need to do is stack up on one or two colored style pants( I got mine at Express), and experiment with different color shirts you have. Again, stick with your basic matching color rules- red bottoms with pink tops or blue bottoms with greenish/aqua tone tops. Color blocking with blazers is also a fab way to strut into your workplace while being stylish but not too over the top. Throw in some patterns like Cheryl Cole, above, did and you're even one step further! (Definitely recommend Kate Spade for color and pattern inspirations!)

Bright Nails

If you're still feeling too shy to make big splashes of color, at least play up your nails! Essie, for instance, has fab colors like these. Don't just stop after applying a simple neon color. Go for the classic different colored ring finger, which has become a huge hit this year! Self done bold nail polish or even manicured gel nails are a great summer investment.

Find your color this summer and have fun with it! As long as you find a basic match between a couple(or a few!) colors, you're sure to look amazing while rocking the color popping.

Fashion Friday: Top Five Favorites of the Week

5.

Smash

As a musical theater lover, I can't wait for the premiere of Smash! A show about what goes on behind the scenes during a Marilyn Monroe musical? Already sounds like perfection to me.

4.

The film production of Les Miserables has been off to a rocky start, so I had to let out a sigh of relief when Amanda Seyfried was casted as Cosette. The young actress is easily going to be a scene stealer while owning that iconic wedding dress and belting out the classic songs. Amanda has plenty of experience for this part thanks to her musical background. Here's to hoping the character of Eponine is also played by a well trained actress...

3.

New year, new designer guilty pleasure! As 2011 was winding down, it seemed Kate Spade was everywhere. The adorable brand sells irresistible clothes, jewels, shoes, phone covers, purses, and much more! Looking forward to investing much of my shopping time at this store this year.

2.

After an extremely long and unnecessary hiatus, the Vampire Diaries finally returned last night! Don't let the fact that it's on the CW keep you from watching this show. Not only does it have the hottest cast on television(Ian Somerhalder, swoon!), but every episode always ends with such a crazy cliffhanger that you'll be left begging for more. Although the show might not be known for its fashion, these characters are pretty much throwing a different party/fundraiser every week so there's plenty of couture eye candy to go around.

1.

This past week, Dior announced Mila Kunis as the new face for the brand. I would love to meet whoever is behind Dior's marketing team because they can seriously do no wrong! Charlize, Marion, Natalie, and now Mila? This fashion label has the best advertising campaigns with the some of the top leading ladies in Hollywood. 

Spotted AD: Understated Is Overrated

While I was doing some shopping in SoHo this past weekend, I made sure to stop by the lovely Kate Spade. Not only are Kate's designs insanely adorable, but I'm in love with the setup of the actual store, especially the one in NYC! Whenever I step into a Kate Spade store, I feel like I'm entering a Parisian boutique. The chic designs are as girly as one can get, yet they have an appeal to older women. In fact, I even informed my sister that there's a strong possibility she'll be wearing a Kate Spade dress as my maid of honor (Side note - if you haven't noticed yet, I'm kind of wedding obsessed). During my shopping trip, I noticed the brand's recent bold ad: "Understated Is Overrated". Totes agree Kate! Some may believe less is more, but when you can deck yourself out in sequined shoes and flirty dresses (with fabulous silhouettes!), who's really complaining? The advertisement is very catchy and I plan on obnoxiously using it for every future shopping trip!

"She had a cocktail in her hand and confetti in her hair."

-Tagline for Twirl, a fragrance by Kate Spade