Spring Trend: Ruffles

I honestly don't know how I feel about this new Spring trend.  But no matter what I think you had best make some room in your closet for BIG ruffles.  Check out these pieces and let me know what you think?

Jessica Simpson

Etsy

Wild Rose

Alexander McQueen

Pencil Skirts

Fashion.

Is it just me, or do you squeal a bit with happiness when the new JCrew catalogue arrives in your mailbox?

I am just loving their new pencil skirts for Spring. These pieces are the perfect transition from work to play...a staple that I will most certainly wear over and over.




Now I just have to decide if I can pull off the green sequin number. I am kind of in love with it...

Fabulous Fingers..?!?!

Fashion.

Maybe it's because I'm well into my 30's, but these new nail polish trends just scare me. I don't think I can pull off pistachio colored nail polish...so I just search for my tried and true Essie Vanity Fairest and go neutral.

But after reading this article from Refinery 29, I'm feeling a bit like a fuddy duddy. I probably should mix things up a bit. I have been known to mix in a You Don't Know Jacques or Cajun Shrimp. But Crackle finish? No.

Do any of you dear readers have a fun nail polish color that an old-ish gal like me could pull of without looking like I'm trying to re-live my Teen Beat days?

Keeping Cashmere Clean

Fashion.

The feel of cashmere is something quite special indeed. And I've long read that one of the essential 10 (or so) items that every woman should have in her closet is a black cashmere turtleneck. Always in style. A classic iconic piece.

Well I fully intend to check that item of my wardrobe to-do list this year, but I have a feeling that I'll be wearing this soft piece of luxury an awful lot (ie. my winter uniform). The thought of adding yet another regular item to my drycleaning bill is just nauseating.

Which bring me to The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo.



I have heard wonders about this product and just read in Lucky that you really can wash your cashmere and wool with it. But I'm a bit hesitant to take the plunge with my soon-to-be coveted clothing essential.

Has anyone tried it? Did you end up with a barbie sweater or were you just as happy as some people claim?? This inquiring mind desperately wants to know.

Ona SLR Bags

Photography and Fashion.

Recently my husband and I have jumped into the world of "fancy" cameras by upgrading to a Cannon DSLR. To protect this expensive investment, we ran out immediately and bought a camera bag. But I wish that I hadn't been so quick to do so, because I just ran across Ona Camera bags. *Sigh*



Isn't this just gorgeous? Love love love. And this bag isn't just about beauty, check out the inside of it and how organized your camera supplies could be:



Again...sigh. And the man in your life don't need to be left out either. They have really stylish options for him as well.




So now I have a new deal with the hubby. He and I will work very hard to become really good at using our "fancy pants" camera, and then we will reward our hard work with a "fancy pants" camera bag :)

Hip Hermes

Fashion.

Hermes scarves are about as iconic as it gets, but the price and traditionalist idea of a neck scarf has always kept me firmly outside of the store window peaking in...never buying.

But in the last year, I have been loving the idea of wearing a scarf over my hair in a style reminiscent of Jackie O in the 70's. Heck...I'm even loving the Man Repelling turband that Leandra Medine sports.

And to further peak my interest, my aunt gave me a copy of the new Hermes lookbook...



Be still, my heart. These pics feature some great new punchier and modern takes on the Hermes scarf. And some of the creative ways that they feature using the scarves (as a belt, a bag, a skirt, a top) goes a long way in encouraging the investment.

Le sigh. I might have to wander in the store and take a closer look at these beauties.

PS. How gorgeous are these enamel bracelets too?

Classic Bridal Beauty

Gowns.

When I watched the Royal Wedding this April, I was absolutely taken by how classically lovely Kate looked in her gown. And I also thought, "well...it looks like the new bridal gown trend is going to be a bit more conservative." And you know what? I'm glad.



For the last few years, most dresses that had sleeves or covered your shoulders looked a bit dowdy. So why would you ever pick a dowdy wedding dress over a lovely yet more revealing strapless mermaid gown? Duh.

Now, designers are producing lovely options with lace sleeves, classic (non-cupcake like) shapes, and simple elegance. Can you imagine how timeless your wedding photos would be in these lovely gowns? I think it is absolutely refreshing. What do you think?








All dresses by Rosa Clara.

Bunch of Bangles

Fashion.

Stacking lots of bracelets is in. Stacking lots of bracelets that don't cost an arm and a leg makes me happy.

So these bracelets make me a Happy Hip Hostess. Yay!

Make Your Own Havianas

Fashion.

In summer, I practically live in flip-flops. And I know that I'm not the only one. My absolute favorite brand is Havianas. They are comfortable the very first time you put them on (no between the toe rubbing or blisters with these puppies) and come in a wide variety of colors. So I was extremely excited when I saw this:



That's right. Customized Havianas. Yes!!

I can't wait to create my own custom combo for the beach and weekends. And these would be great favors for a Spa event. Or a bridal party gift for destination weddings. Or to have on hand at a family beach house...match your decor perhaps. The possibilities are endless...

Shabby Apple Giveaway

Contest/Giveaway.

Recently, I was going through old photographs of my husband's grandparents from when they were courting and I couldn't help but think how fabulous they looked. Everyone just dressed so much smarter and women's clothes were made to make a women's figure look glamorous. Don't you wish that you could find some of those amazing, timeless wardrobe pieces today?

Well, you can. Shabby Apple has a huge selection of vintage inspired clothing that will make you feel as classy as Jackie Kennedy and as sexy as Joan Holloway. And I am ever so jealous that one of our readers is going to win one of my favorite dresses from their Berkshire Collection (pictured below).



You can enter our contest in two different ways:

Option 1: Visit the Shabby Apple site, choose your favorite dresses, and then leave us a comment about them below.

Option 2: Become a follower of their blog and then tell us that have in a comment below.

Either way, make sure we have a way to contact you in your comment when we choose the winner. You have until March 21st to enter and we'll be announcing the winner on March 23rd. Good luck!!

ASOS for the US

Fashion.

It's hard to believe that Halloween has passed. Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us. And I hate to hasten us along even further, but we have to start thinking about holiday parties. I'm already worried about what I'm going to wear to parties that haven't even officially been announced…and god-forbid that I show up wearing the same thing as someone else.

Thankfully I've found a new wardrobe weapon that is chock-full of a ton of great finds - ASOS.com. This UK online retailer is FINALLY available to those of us in the US. And no need to worry about expensive shipping...it's free for both purchases and returns. I took a quick gander at some of their party dresses, and I'm kind of loving these




And make sure to peruse the other areas too. There are a few outerwear pieces that I'm drooling over too...

Pint-sized Pretties

Tiny jewelry.

Lucky Magazine did a small feature on mini pendants that they spotted on some fashionable folk. I like the idea of a having a delicate everyday necklace that has a special meaning that only I might know...whether it be sentimental or silly.

I did a little surfing on CHARM Co and found lots of fun items. These are some of my favorites...they're just so stinkin' cute!!

Fashion Flashback

Shoes.

Frankly, this is not the kind of jelly that you are use to hearing about on Hip Hostess. It has nothing to do with cooking or baking but it will help you look super cute at your next party. I didn’t really like jelly shoes the first time around, aside from the fact that they were super comfortable. I very rarely like it when I see old trends come around again. I generally feel that you should learn from your mistakes and put them behind you…like leg warmers, extremely big hair and the Flashdance inspired one shoulder look. However, they brought the comfort of jellys back with entirely more style.

As of Saturday, I am the proud owner of the second shoe down and I have to day that I am digging the old jelly with the new look. What do you think?




Shoe #1

Shoe #2

Shoe #3

Shoe #4

An obsession continues...

Fashion Illustration.

I know I have a problem. I don't think it is 12 step worthy yet, but I am obsessed with fashion illustrations! And of course I have another object of affection, Mats Gustafson.

His watercolor illustrations are completely drool-worthy. Moody and minimalistic, they are less about details and more about the overall sense of style that each designer is trying to portray with their collection. And having worked with all of the majors (Chanel, Commes des Garcons, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar just to name a few), he has had great material to portray.

His prints are a bloody fortune, but I really think that one day in the future I must have one of these lovelies hanging on my wall.

Dress Dilemma

Advise Needed.

We recently received an email from one of our readers with a party fashion quandary. And while I definitely have my own opinion on this, I would certainly not consider myself a fashion expert. So we are seeking your opinions on this to best help our friend, Liz.

Here's the situation: Liz and her beau hold a Formal Black & White Party every year at their apartment. For the last 3 years, she has purchased a brand new dress. This year she is trying to be more frugal and would like to wear a dress that she already owns. She has a dress in mind (pictures below) that she wore on her birthday 1 1/2 years ago. Only about 10 of her closest friends saw it at that time...but of course there are probably pics on Facebook if someone really wanted to investigate. So here's the question:

Is it a fashion faux-pas to re-wear a dress? Should a certain amount of time pass before one should re-wear a dress to a special occasion like a formal dinner party or wedding?

It is the opinion of Hip Hostess that Liz can definitely re wear the dress (which is gorgeous, by the way). We don't think there is a stead-fast rule of time that has to pass, but instead it depends on the occasion and mix of people. In this case, there is definitely enough variance to make it work. What I would suggest is mixing up hairstyles, shoes, and accessories to make the entire overall look different. Below are some hair, makeup and accessory ideas that I think would look nice. But what do you all think?

1. Braided updo and drop earrings. 2. Crimson lips with subtle eyes.
3. More red lips and neutral eyes. 4. Cat Deeley's faux bob and fantastic diamante bangle bracelets.
All from Instyle.com

Etsy Spotlight: Erin Leigh Heart

Fashion.

With the complete lack of shows on the tube during summer hiatus, I find that I have even more time to peruse my favorite websites. And of course, Etsy is at the top of the list.

I have a wedding or 10 to attend this Summer and Fall so I've been looking at dresses of all sorts to mix things up. But I don't want to spend a fortune. And that's when I came across Erin Leigh Heart. She has some amazing pieces with fantastic details all under $100. And if you want a chance to see what inspires her, check out her blog as well. I think you're going to like it!

Whitten Grey

Kids clothing and a great cause.

Hip Hostess would like to introduce you to a wonderful little girls clothing line called Whitten Grey. This up and coming designer has really nailed simple, sophisticated and playful all at once.

This line would be perfect for flower girls who are headed to a laidback country or beach side wedding. The designs are cute enough to make everyone ooh and ahh. And the materials are organic and breathable, so your stylishly sassy flower girls will be comfortable. Trust me nobody needs uncomfortable flower girls right before the walk down the aisle.

Also a bonus program they call Project Grey Dress provides a dress, free of charge, to a girl in need with every WG dress bought. This is a triple deal: Adorable dress, give back to charity, happy flower girl. If only everything was this easy!

From the Runway to the Wedding Aisle

Wedding Style Inspiration.

In our lives, most of us are not going to get a chance to work a runway like leggy supermodels but the wedding aisle is our equivalent. So I believe that haute couture fashion shows are the perfect place to find inspiration on how to look fierce on your big day. Here's some of the Spring/Summer '09 looks that would easily transition to your big day.

Clockwise from top left: A chic rolled updo with sultry eyes and subdued lips is very elegant at Caroline Herrera. A classic french roll with headband looks very polished with an exaggerated cat eye at YSL. Ralph Lauren's beachy waves and natural makeup would be a great look f0r a destination wedding. Taylor Swift's red carpet look strikes a balance between relaxed and tailored hair & makeup.

Valentino shows off layers and draping in these stunning designs.

Jenny Packman uses feminine ruffles in select areas to create an ultra feminine look. Elie Saab makes this form fitting dress less severe and more romantic with all over rusching and ruffles.

Elie Saab continues to stun with this beautiful full skirt trimmed with organza roses. And the sexy feather-like details on this other ES dress make me wish that throwing a second wedding on our one year anniversary were socially acceptable (and affordable).

Recessionista

Fashion.

Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with the arrival of Spring? I really love the warmer weather, but I hate the transition between my Winter to Summer wardrobe...probably because it's pretty non-existent.

I recently read the newest issue of Glamour, which had a great idea of creating a weekend uniform - something that you don't have to think about too much that works every time. They suggested a great pair of jeans, form fitting t-shirt, and fashionable sneakers. This all sounds well and good, but when I put that on I look just like I did in high school and not like a savvy downtown girl. In order for me to pull this look off, it is also key to mix in some very "now" accessories - lightweight scarves, sunglasses, a cute little clutch.

So I took a weekend trek to Soho, searching for unique pieces that I could mix into my "uniform." Apparently, these boutiques do not realize that we are in a recession. Hello! My investments are taking a nosedive, couldn't you just take off at least 20% for sympathy?

Demoralized, I headed to Target to buy not-so-exciting things for the home. What I ended up with was a treasure trove of accessories at amazing prices. Everyone knows about the designer collaborations with Target (Hayden-Harnett, Sigerson Morrison, etc), but I'm here to tell you that their usual brands have stepped it up a notch as well. Here are some of my favorite finds:

Converse kicks for $34.99. These pics don't do them justice. The wedge shoe is adorable in person.


Xhilaration clutches all under $12.99. The website has a fraction of what I found in the store. BTW...a little Soho boutique that I visited wanted the exact same thing (same quality and all) for $75.

Sunglasses and Scarves - all under $20. I've long been a fan of their shades because I refuse to pay too much for an accessory that I am definitely going to break or lose within 6 months. Plus they don't have obnoxious blaring logos on the side.

And not to forget the gents. Converse kicks at $34.99 and retro looking t-shirts for under $15...because I am WAY over Ed Hardy.