Today's Trends Volume 1

 

     This trend-I can't even explain how excited I am about embracing.  If you were anything like me in high school, I dreamed of playing sports, but my awkwardness could just not translate into being the All American sportster. Why did I want to be so athletically involved you ask? Not because I had a competitive urge to win or anything crazy like that. I wanted a Varsity Jacket. In high school the kids with the Varsity Jackets paraded through the halls displaying their athletic achievements. As their feet pounded the school highways, it seemed as if a theme song blasted that everyone could hear. Their steps acted as the base that set the melody of the school day and it just cemented their amazingness. One of those kids, was never me. Bummer, right?

     So, here we are in 2014 and I can live my old school dreams. This trend is not you traditional Varsity Jacket either. With many clothing lines putting their spin on the Varsity Jacket, you can definitely find a look that caters to your personal style. For instance, both of the pictures featuring the Varsity Jacket are just from the September 2014 Nylon Guys Magazine. Many other magazines this month are also displaying completely different takes on this jacket. The best thing for you is that this can be completely wearable and affordable and it just might be my favorite fall trend.

 

        

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @GildaRedfashion (also shout out to @Anabel_Atkinson , my fellow blogger who looks fabulous in the picture above).

As always, Let your Fashionista Flag Fly!

His Name is...

     I will admit, since this show started back when I was in high school, I don't think I have missed an episode. The way the cast along with their paired partners begin and end a journey we all witness on the dance floor and in training is exquisite and many times emotional. Of course, I am talking about Dancing with the Stars.  Every person tends to have a favorite celebrity or even partner- I love them all, but my favorite to watch is Mark Ballas. First of all, let me say that I believe he is completely under rated. Every time that he and his seasonal partner begin their routine, I am always excited to see the choreography that is in store and I know that if it is so brilliant on television, it has to be ridiculous in person. So, what does this have to do with Fashion you ask? After watching every season, one of my very favorite things is to see the costumes that Mark and his partner wear weekly.

      Every costume created for the show is absolutely stunning, but while some tend to play it safe, every look Mark wears is daring, innovative, and seamlessly helps create the vision that Mark has in mind for us to see.  It would be very easy for him to where a very basic ensemble, but instead he allows his partners to step onto the floor feeling a character that they are intended to create. When all the right moves are hit along with what can only be described as stitched brilliance, it is like witnessing Houdini perform one of his greatest tricks or even like watching water glide down a glass- smooth and not skipping a beat.  My personal favorite was from Season 12 with Chelsea Kane- their Jive to "I write Sins not Tragedies". It seemed to not only capture his flare and brilliance, but also the costuming is ridiculous and shows his fearlessness towards taking fashion risks(The link for the dance is below the picture) and by the way, I still feel like it deserves all 10's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVhMY0TOVAE (2:07 is where the dance begins, but hey, if you've got the time, watch the whole thing).

 

     Even if you are not the biggest into watching reality television, I suggest you take a look at the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars and consider that these costumes are not only going through the conception period but are also completely developed within that one week period.  It is stunning and magical every week when you really think about how long a garment can usually take to develop, sample, and move to your finished product. In closing, please feel free to follow me on Twitter @GildaRedFashion and also as always, Let Your Fashionista Flag Fly!

 

(Make sure to vote for Mark and his new partner, Sadie Robertson on the upcoming season of DWTS and I almost forgot, check out his music too!) 





When I wake up in the Mornin...

 

     Last Saturday, my sister and I decided to sit down for some bonding time and we seriously burned a hole in my Netflix account. Not with several shows or movies, but with just one(numerous episodes of course).  Saved By the Bell, still one of the best shows to ever grace the airwaves, and at the time it originally aired, it also had it's hold on fashion worn across America(I can say this is for certain since one of the strangest sights is seeing west coast fashion spring up into Kentucky).  In the 90's when this show was so big, I wasn't even in school yet, but my neighbor, Tiffany was a preteen and probably the coolest kid ever, as far as I was concerned. She was in a sense babysitting me, but I thought we were just two cool kids hanging out.  We would sit at her house and soak up every second that the sensational six appeared on the screen, engraining their lessons and looks into my brain. She even had the Board Game where you could win a date with Slater, Screech, or Zack-I would always cheat and end up with Zack(finally I have a clean conscience). 

    How does this relate back to today?  While watching episode after episode, I noticed that some of their styles are making their way back to mainstream fashion again. High waisted jeans and floral prints- so happy, colorful and fresh to this day and automatically transport you to the warm summer breeze of Cali. Not to mention crop tops- these hit hard last year, but really at this time of year when in some locations, the heat wave is still blazing on, how can you beat it? Also, this fall, we are expected to see the revamped varsity style jackets making quite a splash.

 

     The next time you watch SBTB, take a look at the amazing ensembles that the entire cast wear. The garments are preppy, fun, and the stamp of their generation.  They were able to conquer high school, touring as a music group(Zack Attack), and the world and have each distinct character displayed within each stitch. So, if you were a fan, or if you've never watched before, take a look back at this amazing show and tell me what you think! Also, feel free to follow me on twitter @gildaredfashion . As always, let your fashionista flag fly, my friends!

    

     

Who are you?

     If you woke up today and someone asked you to describe the person you are, do you think you could successfully do this? Take this question and apply it to your style—at this moment, could you hammer down where your fashion loyalties lye so to speak?  I know personally for me, this was a hard question to answer for years as I operated in chameleon mode adapting to whatever setting I was placed in as if to be a part of the masses surrounding me.  If the groups surrounding me were an ocean, I became a drop of unnoticeable water.
      In Kentucky, the trend was blue jeans and simplistic tees, polos, natural (or at least appearing to be natural) hair colors, and toned down make up pallets. Guess what I wore—exactly this. I was afraid to be anything that made me unique. There was so many styles I wanted to venture out and try, but my fear of being different overwhelmed me and I didn't go for any  trends outside of my local surroundings. What if people judged me? What if I became an outcast?  The fears lied deep inside and placed a lock upon my creativity. The many pallets of color, textures that were waiting for me set there untapped.

 

     Right after high school I moved to the beach. Of course, county clothes are an unspoken language on the beach and so I adapted yet again. Did I make my own music, no. I followed the pace that had already been set. All of a sudden, I had Black hair, swim suits, board shorts, and was fake bakin'.  I even tried tanning beds and for a naturally fair complected person it led to nothing but burned skin and a couple of years later, biopsies at the dermatologist(which were luckily in my favor, but the fear of waiting was pretty painful in itself). No one could see me as I was disguised as just another person you pass. 

 

 

 

     After some time, I moved to the City.  The wonderful part about this is that being in a city, you are surrounded by a gumbo of different styles, fashions, and unique individuals.  Everyone is so different, no two drums played the same beat. Seeing all of these wonderful individuals made me think, was the person that I am in the fashion world represented in my closet? When I walked outside of my home, would people feel who I am, or would they get a carbon copy of someone else. After some time, my closet has developed my unique finger print.  I no longer play it safe and you are often to see a different picture painted every time you see me. One day, I might be wearing a vintage full skirt and pearls, then leather jeggings and stilettos, and after that there's a possibility of a pencil skirt and nude colored blouse the next day. I have discovered that my style is very vintage/eclectic.

     So, take this time to contemplate. Are you true to your inner style? If you see an approaching trend you're attracted to- like heavily jeweled tops or jeweled tone leather will you walk off the plank and dive into your adventurous self? Will you play it safe and be one of many? Do yourself a favor and be everything you can be! I can't wait to see what you do, when you are being everything you always wanted to be! In closing, feel free to follow me on twitter( @gildaredfashion ) and remember, Let your Fashionista Flag Fly!



 



     



The art of Twin-ing

     Siblings--when you're a child(if you are as lucky as I was) you were close to your Genetic Buddies.  My sister, Kristy and I are still close. We finish each other's(somewhere at this very moment she just said sentences).  There are many solid differences between the both of us in several ways. She's very outspoken and I'm more reserved, Kristy has a family and is a stay at home mom(her dream growing up) while I am trying to conquer all of my dreams for my career and I will worry about building my own family when it's the right time.  These blinding differences to our personalities have always been there, but for some reason, everyone always thought since we were sisters, we were exactly the same- this also applies to fashion(luckily my mom would let me wear most things I wanted to unless it was a family photo event or a holiday).
     There's a significant gap in my sister and I's age and that didn't phase family members from getting the both of us matching outfits that were really more appropriate for her age group. This isn't even the worst of it. I have pictures where we are styled in  matching overalls, turtlenecks, and scrunchie hair dos.  If you aren't seeing the trend, overalls for small children in the country(at least at this moment in time) were the equivalent of taking family pictures in white shirts and khakis. We were the equivalent of walking pop tarts.

 

    My point in this is that sometimes, siblings aren't involved in their fashion choices because the surrounding grown ups want to make them as adorable as possible. Would I go back and change it if I could-absolutely not. When I see my Mom or Granny look at these pictures I can feel their heart radiating such love and remembrance of days gone by. Their eyes being to swell and I know that dressing up in a Tweetie Bird Overall set was worth it a million times over. Sometimes, fashion moments that you wear belong to others whether it is for a family photo, a wedding, or because you have siblings- and this is okay. Just enjoy the memories you create.  Please feel free to share your sibling stories and pictures in the comments section or follow me on Twitter at @GildaRedFashion and as always Let Your Fashionista Flag Fly!

     

This one's for Loalee

 

     Three and a half years ago, I first laid eyes on my beautiful niece, Loalee as she took her first breath in this world. So much time has passed since then and although I have had the privilege to teach her so many things in this world, I have probably learned more from her including in fashion. Every time she sees a new piece of clothing there's no pre existing judgment behind its history.  No thoughts of "is this article of clothing currently in or out of style". She makes it her own with no fear of how others will perceive her. Loalee is free to paint with every color pallet, wear white after Labor Day, and she never regrets whatever look she assembles.

     Even though it is so much fun rotating out wardrobes and following the next big trend, it is also just as much fun to feel the thrill of being unique and coloring outside the lines of fashion. Mix patterns, textured fabrics, colors that usually don't mesh well together.... take risks! Feel as if a child does in the sense of appreciating all unique styles of fashion and not typecasting an article of clothing.  Here's a piece of homework for you: Tonight, walk into your closet and don't think of the way you usually wear your go to pieces. Let go of any clothing stereotypes and feel the fabric beneath your fingers. Begin to build a style that has never graced your frame before. Think outside the box and wear it proudly, just for you and don't consider how anyone else perceives it. Just enjoy this fashion moment for yourself. 
     My beautiful niece(and her little brother) are the best things to ever happen to me for many reasons. Loalee has taught me how to look through child's eyes at so many garments I have had for years as if I were witnessing the detailed stitching, woven patterns, hem lines, etc. for the very first time. In closing-Loalee, sweetie, this one is for you my little lady and to everyone else: Let you Fashionista Flag Fly!

Preserve=Life

     Everyday we make the choice to follow the same dotted line that we have consistently followed or veer off the path into something possibly rewarding and completely fulfilling. To some the idea of taking said risk is frightening and dangerous, but to others who have taken the chance before, they know the feel of capturing the great dreams they were chasing after with every muscle in their body. As your fingers collapse and tighten around that moment in time, there's nothing better.
     Blake Lively could've played it safe for the rest of her life. She is already a well accomplished actress, sought after by fashion designers for her brilliant style, and she does this all with a well placed head on her shoulders.  So, when she announced Preserve, I was pretty surprised by this initiative in a completely different direction.

  If you haven't visited preserve.us it has a little bit of everything from recipes to the gorgeous Greater Good Section. With every click, you will gather that Preserve.us has a real sense of community captured in every link. I won't go into detail-why should I ruin the feast for the eyes that waits you, but I will talk to you about the fashion piece.
     Within this site, you will find a couple of different fashion moments scattered throughout. The Shop window features many different types of items for sale and you will find garments peppered throughout(you do have the ability to break the shop page down by category as well). Surprise here-not just  Ladies clothing-menswear is available on here too(get ready to buy something stylish for the gentlemen in your life).  All items feel vey American Classic to me, flowy, well thought out, and most importantly beautiful.  My favorite piece I have to mention is the Pleated Skirt(which is a coming soon item). It's a very easily transformed piece that can go from nautical to feminine/floral very easily.  If the money's in the bank when this comes in, I might have to add it to my ever growing collection!

 

     You will also want to make a stop at the style articles.  Each story feels well thought out, smart, and the best part is that there's a link to shop the looks pictured. So as you are reading, get ready to dream yourself into each garment.  http://preserve.us/blog/style/backwoods-barbie/

 

   Really, it would have been very simple for Blake Lively to live out her life not going for this opportunity that you can clearly seen she is passionate about, but she did it with flying colors and I commend her. I know as one Fashionista to the next that it is very challenging to air your thoughts out as if they were your laundry hanging to dry, but it's the most beautiful thing inviting your new friends that dare to take a moment out of their day to read a piece of your heart.  I look forward to our next moment together and until then my friends, Let you Fashionista Flag Fly!