YSL, no longer.

FASHION NEWS!

The iconic label Yves Saint Laurent has dropped the Yves. Goodbye, YSL...Hello...SL?

If there were Facebook buttons on real life situations, I would dislike this. {side note} Facebook needs a dislike button. Sure there are plenty of things to like on Facebook, but trust me, there are plenty of things to dislike also. Point made.

WWD confirmed this morning that new YSL Creative Director, Hedi Slimane, has in fact decided to change the iconic Yves Saint Laurent name to Saint Laurent Paris. Slimane stated that the brand needed to re-brand itself, and along with that re-branding a new, more contemporary name was in order. As reported, the fashion house will not eliminate the known YSL logo completely. The logo will still be visible and present on shoe soles, cosmetic cases, and various other products. However, I can't help but wonder, if the idea is to re-brand the fashion house, why keep the iconic logo? Is this because the company knows that many products are purchased solely on the fact that they are YSL? Why not try to phase out the old logo? Perhaps brand products as YSL for Saint Laurent Paris? 

Whatever their reasoning my be, I would still like to dislike this decision. When Karl Lagerfeld leaves Chanel do you think they are going to let the new creative director come in and say, "we need a re-branding, let's try a name change." Absolutely not. 

There are reasons that these fashion houses have been around for as long as they have, and though they must be at the leading end of fashion, it doesn't mean they have to lose what they have always been known for, or known as. Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, and now Saint Laurent Paris? Just don't roll off the tongue quite as nicely as (que terrible French accent) Yves Saint Laurent.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Weather Forecast: Massachusetts

Saturday: Rain

Sunday: Rain

Monday: Rain

Tuesday: Rain

Wednesday: Rain

WTF, New England?! How am I supposed to get as tan as a Mexican on the weekends when there is nothing but rain? (no offense to anyone of Mexican decent here...I honestly admire your skin tone.) I enjoy a nice afternoon shower every now and again, but 5 straight days of rain?! Please tell me that this whole global warming business hasn't pulled a fast one on us and exchanged our weather with Seattle! I will undoubtedly fall into a rain induced depression as fast as Kim Kardashian moved on from Kris Humphreys.

To avoid the rainy day depression, break out your best rainy day fashion essentials. Rain is one of the best ways to show how creative you can be with your wardrobe and accessories. You shouldn't have to match your wardrobe to the colors outside.... taupe, grey, beige. Be colorful! If you've got a caramel colored rain coat (like myself), then wear bright, vibrant, rain boots. Add a pop of color to your outerwear to brighten the world around you. Or use a large yellow umbrella for an awesome color pop in your accessories.

And don't forget about your hair. We work so hard to polish our look but with the rain, polished hair seems to be impossible. Embrace messy hair!! With the right products and the right amount of effort (or lack there of) you can accomplish the perfect messy hair. And with messy buns and pony tails all the rage right now, you can pull off this look for work or play.

{sorry blondes, I'm partial to brunettes}

What is your favorite rainy day look? With the next few days of rain, I could use some suggestions.

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

Fail.

Once again I have failed on my attempt to capture memories via photos.

And I had a great Memorial weekend full of fun to share with you guys!

Fail.

And now it is Friday, and it's time for another fun filled weekend, and I've neglected to post anything all week. 

Double Fail. 

Sorry about that. 

Memorial Day weekend was perfect....well aside from me over overindulging on {vodka tonics}on Sunday night...triple fail. The weather was beautiful. Highs in the mid to upper 80's and the hot sun against the cool breezes from the lake...*sigh*...perfection.

We drove up to Lake Winni Friday evening after work looking forward to a fun trip, but no one had more fun than our precious pup. He loves short car rides, but long rides are his favorite. There is nothing like sticking your head out the window and smelling the sweet exhaust from all of the passing cars on the highway. 

Saturday we spent the morning on the Lake and braved the cold waters as we reached one of the many sandbars. It was nice and relaxing and just enough "lake time" before we had to head out to the boyfriend's cousin's graduation party. This is where I really failed at taking pictures. 

The boyfriend and I looked very nautical with his striped seersucker shorts and boat shoes, and my white and navy chevron maxi skirt. Our afternoon (and into the evening) was spent on his Aunt and Uncle's large deck overlooking NH mountains while a fully stocked bar and homemade margaritas were at our discretion. But what was even better than the margaritas was the full wine tasting right there on the patio. If you live in Kansas, make sure you check out Prairie Fire Winery. Currently they only sell locally in Kansas, but the wines are delicious! It's a family owned business right in the heart of Kansas (and they use some Indiana grapes which I'm a huge fan of). As we sipped the night away there were smiles, and laughs, and poking fun at one of the girls who had gotten a little too friendly with the tequila. All the things I love. 

The rest of the weekend was spent on the lake, enjoying the boat, and using plenty of sunscreen. Here are a couple of pictures that I was able to capture from the weekend. 

Instragram was able to show me what I would look like with lighter hair...hmm..maybe for the summer?

Uncle and Nephew.

I will try not to neglect you all again this weekend and week. And I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and have big plans for this weekend as well. 

**have fun**  **drink responsibly**  **look stylish**

LBD...is there a new meaning?

May is almost over, which means June is right around the corner (you know, in case you don't know the order in which our months occur). And as any romantic comedy has taught us, June is the "unofficial" official {wedding month}. 

A month of love and joy, crazy Aunts and Uncles, and open bars. But before we go squeezing ourselves into our bridesmaids dresses that we ordered a size too small because "we have so much time to lose the weight," there is one night of pure drunken debauchery....the bachelorette party. 

"The Last Fling Before the Ring." 

"The Bride's Final At Bat." 

(for those baseball fans out there)

"Give her the kisses before she becomes the Mrs."

A night when the bride and her girlfriends head out on the town for a night of body shots, strippers, and funny penis shaped objects. A night for us all to remember...or forget...but then recall again the next morning after reviewing our vast collection of Instagram pics. 

But what are we wearing in those pictures? Much like the trend of a June wedding, the LBD is always a go-to when it comes to bachelorette attire. It's classy and sophisticated. It's very Aubrey Hepburn. Or in some cases it can be very risque and revealing. But in any case, the LBD is a staple in most women's wardrobes. In fact, most have more than one. One for a night out at a nice dinner, another for a work event, and another for a night out with your girlfriends when you want to "shake what your momma gave ya." The LBD, the go-to, the safe, and the easy.

But does LBD strictly have to mean "Little Black Dress?" Black is so......dark. When you're out for a bachelorette party you want to stand out! You want to walk into the club with a statement....like "We're here, bitches!" and watch as the eligible bachelor's form a line to get in on the bachelorette action. And let's be honest, even the most hideous male can join in on the fun....for one shot...only one! And then he must be on his way.  

Ladies, are we going to surrender to the LBD and what it has always stood for? I say no! Now is the time to redefine the LBD. Let's change the meaning to the Little BRIGHT Dress. We, as bachelorette attendees, have an obligation to the bride to make this the best night of her single life, and we will not do so if we are blending in with the walls and couches. Let's embrace the color! Stand out in neons and bold prints and patterns!

Or why not the Little BLING Dress? What says "buy me a drink" more than glitter and sequins? Your VIP table will certainly sparkle after a few Red Bull Vodkas while the DJ blasts "Call Me Maybe." Whatever your party decides when it comes to wardrobe, just remember...

*have fun*  *drink responsibly*  *look stylish*

Let's Talk F-A-S-H-I-O-N

Step outside. 

Take a deep breath. 

Spring is in the air....finally!

I always love the first warm days of Spring. The grass is greener, the sky is brighter, and even though the pollen count is staggering, this season's styles are nothing to sneeze at. 

Ladies, tuck away your UGGS. Fold your sweaters nicely in your cedar chest. This season is all about Pleasing Pastels, Ladies in Lace, and Bold Florals. 

Looking for inspiration? Check out the runway shows of some of my favorite designers. 

Pleasing Pastels

- 3.1 Phillip Lim: The collection is effortless. The blouses are free flowing. The pastels are muted, yet optimistic. The pants are structured and add the perfect amount of tailoring to this collection of deconstructed masterpieces. 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for the 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring Show

- Louis Vuitton: Now, I love Marc Jacobs for his own line, but Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton blows my mind. This collection is the epitome of feminine elegance. There are pastels and lace, color blocking, and feathers. In one word, stunning.

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for the Louis Vuitton Spring RTW Show

Ladies in Lace

- Valentino: Lace was apparent in nearly every piece of this Valentino collection. But in true Valentino style, this collection mixes the hard and the soft. Black leather dresses with lace embossing, a nude leather dress with a modest hem line, lace details at the shoulders, and sheer sleeves (amazing). Every garment is expertly done with just the right embellishments. And pockets! Where were we before the introduction of pockets?! 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE for Valentino Spring 2012

Bold Florals

- Diane von Furstenberg: DVF updates the wrap in her Spring 2012 RTW collection. Her collection has a little bit of everything. Light, airy blouses, sheer fabrics, and lace detailing. But what caught eye were her bold floral prints. She has created a beautiful display of florals throughout her collection, from her iconic wrap dresses, to printed trousers. However, the stand out pieces to me? The amazing floral jumpsuits! You've outdone yourself, Diane. And I thank you for that. 

photos courtsey of www.style.com

Click HERE to watch the DVF Spring Show

- Peter Som: The Peter Som collection SCREAMS bold florals. The flowers seem to explode off of the garments in a dramatic fashion. While the gentle touch of a cropped jacket pulls the look together. The use of mixing pattern and texture is done brilliantly in this collection. A. must. see.

photos courtsey of www.style.com

**sorry, no video for this show**

These are just a few of my favorite looks for Spring. And because, once again, I did not win the Mega Millions,  I will be working on ways to get these and other great looks for less. I will keep you all posted on my challenge and maybe even provide a few Polyvore looks for you, my loyal readers.

p.s......

don't even get me started on handbags!

Calling All Tech Savvy Fashionistas!

Tech Savvy in my definition means you have an iPhone (or a comparable phone) and you know how to take pictures and use apps. So if you know how to do that, *Congratulations* you tech savvy, little lady!

While I was tweeting yesterday, I happened to come across a tweet from Rue La La (if you aren't a member, click on the link and join the party!) talking about one of their favorite new apps. And as I am a huge fan of Rue La La and die if I don't check out their deals everyday at 11:00am, I thought I would check out this app that they are raving about. 

It's call Thre.ad. And it kicks ass. Thre.ad is like you took all of your best, most fashionable, pictures from Instagram and adding them to your favorite pin board from Pinterest and made them available for the world to see, and you get to see all of theirs too! But these are pictures of what people are actually wearing on the street, styles that inspire, and people who aren't afraid to be trend setters. I have been a member for about 10 minutes and I'm already obsessed. I can't wait to stop people on the street and snap their photo! 

 

And the best part about it is you can access your profile from any computer. This isn't a strict iPhone only application! You can register online and send in your photos that you've taken on any device. It's like a gathering place for the worlds most fashionable people! Who doesn't love that?! I encourage you all to get a Thre.ad account today...in fact, right now! Why wait? And add me! My username is Marcie (real original, I know!). 

I promise you all that this is going to be the next big thing..............and if it's not.....you can have fun with it for a while. 

Check out Rue La La's blog about thre.ad here...

Love it or leave it?

So I don't know about all of you, but this beautiful weather that we have had here in New England the past few days is getting me excited to bring out one of my fashion favorites. Maxi skirts! Ahh! I'm obsessed! I've been obsessing over maxi skirts since my first purchase last fall and I can't get enough. My most recent purchase was this awesome maxi by Pure Sugar. Its navy and white, its got small chevron stripes (obviously trendy), and its pleated all over....and it is amazing. I will have to post a picture when I wear because the description really does not do it justice. 

Now that you are all aware of my maxi skirt obsession. I want to know what all of you think....kind of generic I know, but...

Maxi Skirts

Love it or Leave it?

Leave your comments below! Lets start a discussion!

all pictures courtesy of Pinterest

*which all of course came from some other website*

Outfit of the Day

Happy Monday, Everyone.....maybe it's not happy because..well..it's Monday...so perhaps..."Happy-one-day-closer-to-this-weekend-Day!" Yes, that's better.

Here is my first {Outfit of the Day} post as requested by my good friend Katie. Today's outfit isn't that exciting....because its Monday...and because I'm still recovering from the weekend..."damn you vodka tonics! damn you!"

I love scarves. All scarves...big ones, little ones, fat ones, thin ones.....if I think my outfit is boring I put on a scarf. In the middle of summer, I wear scarves. Scarf with my bathing suit...sure! wait.....no. I have a ton of scarves. An entire bin full actually....I even have Ed Hardy scarves.....that's embarrassing...I need to get rid of those. 

The Breakdown: Manic Monday

Ralph Lauren Polo Button down

Scarf

Citizens Denim

Frye Boots

Jason "Wow"...I mean Wu.

Target has done it again. Target recently announced that it's next designer collaboration will be with 26 year old designer Jason Wu. This morning the Today show on NBC interviewed Jason Wu and got a sneek peek of his new collection. It's beautiful. And affordable. And ladylike. And I want it all! 

And while you're out...don't forget to pick up the necessities for evening. For those of you who may not follow sports, February 5th is also the day of the SuperBowl. So you go out in the morning and get amazing new clothes, and your man gets to watch football...seems like a win-win to me, right?

Back in the Big Apple

I was very much looking forward to my work trip to the Big Apple. I hadn't been back to the city since I graduated from FIT and I couldn't wait to hit up a few of my favorite restaurants and of course do a little shopping. I was told we would have some down time while we were there and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get all of my new clothes for my upcoming Florida vacation. Needless to say - I had no time for shopping. *sigh*

But shopping or no shopping, I had a wonderful time on the trip. We were to NYC to participate in the 101st NRF (National Retail Federation) Big Show 2012. Isn't it ironic that I am able to attend events like this only after I leave the fashion industry? We had a successful trade show and met with several retailers from across the industry. From big names like Nieman Marcus to small retailers whose names I can't remember. And I was fortunate enough to sit in on a discussion presented by David Wolfe of The Donegar Group that focused on "Fashion and the Future."

He presented up coming trends in silhouettes, color, patterns, and textiles. It was wonderful to hear that color is back. Forget all of your black on black ensembles. It's time to bring bright colors back into your wardrobe. I know we started to see some of this coming back when the colored denim was a big trend last spring and fall, but more and more designers are embracing the color movement. From 3.1 Philip Lim to Marc Jacobs to Chanel, designers across the board are showing optimism in their collections through the use of color. And retailers take note, The Donegar Group is predicting that shades of bright blues will be the first color to be embraced by the general public. So take your cobalts and put them in your A location, they are going to be the hot item. 

We also discussed how the fashion industry needs to redirect their focus from the ever popular market of 18-34, and refocus on those who are a little more mature, 55-75 market. It was inspiring listening to Mr. Wolfe talk about how clothing should no longer be classified as "age appropriate" but rather be classified as "ageless appropriate." Encouraging retailers and designers to provide fashionable pieces that are appropriate for all ages. Longer hem lines, and long sleeved blouses....concealing more, instead of covering less. He explained that designers need to refocus on the baby boomer generation...the generation that is still highly focused on fashion...and the generation that has the money to spend on luxury items. 

It was nice to be back in NYC and discussing fashion with industry professionals. And even though I wasn't able to go shopping, I was able to learn about the upcoming trends, so now I am even more prepared to stock my closet this spring. 

And for those of you who want to be on the cutting edge of fashion - 

"leopard is out...zebra is in." 

- David Wolfe.

compliments of Style.com

3.1 Philip Lim Spring RTW 2012

Check out the runway shows for Spring RTW 2012 on Style.com