It Girls

Lena Dunham's brainchild has officially won me over. HBO's Girls, in which she plays struggling writer Hannah, as well as director, producer and writer for the series, was so good that I no longer consider Gossip Girl my favorite show. (WHAT?!?) I've watched every single episode of Girls, some of them more than once, and each was more hilariously raw, real, and somehow relatable than the next. 

With my former love, GG, it's easy to pick my favorite female character. Blair, obviously, because try as Serena and her ever prominent cleavage might, they can never match up to B's scathing one liners. With these four, though, I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite. I see a bit of myself in each of them. I think all girls will, and I think that was Dunham's goal. Jessa goes through life barely trying and still manages to charm the pants off everyone she meets with her endless wavy hair, killer style, and British accent.  Marnie, the uptight overplanner is classically beautiful and always seems to follow the rules, even when she doesn't want to. Hannah is the only one who gives the impression that she can pinpoint what she wants, to be a writer, but is caught somewhere between believing in her abilities and being dangerously hard on herself. In the dramatic season finale, she admits she's "more scared than any other person on earth." Shoshanna, hyper fast talking Shosh, is still a virgin and it's painfully obvious. Everything about her, from her teenager-y ensembles to her girly bedroom complete with a Sex and the City poster, is sickly sweet.

Not only are the characters more familiar and endearing than those in Gossip Girl, they are noticeably less calculated. So are, for that matter, the dialogue, situations, and New York City itself. GG seems like a fantasy world, something you could aspire to but never attain. The lives of these girls are never something you'd aim for, but if you found yourself in their most-likely-not-designer shoes, you'd have no choice but to laugh and embrace it.

I've never ditched my own abortion to hook up with a stranger in a bar bathroom or gotten married on a whim, never drank so much champagne that I made out with Bobby Moynihan, never got peed on in the shower, and never ran pantsless down the street after accidentally smoking crack. I probably (hopefully) never will, but I was thoroughly entertained living vicariously through Jessa, Marnie, Hannah and Shosh and learning from their mistakes. Ignore all those spoilers and watch the full season marathon Saturday on HBO.

Right now I'm about to search for Lena Dunham's film, Tiny Furniture. Vogue just named her It Girl in the July issue, so I'm not about to question my new obsession with her, only feed it.

Maxi Madness

Skirt hems, which have previously brushed our thighs, knees, calves, and everywhere in between have recently fallen toward the floor. Much to the delight of grunge goddesses and sister wives alike, maxi skirts and dresses have flowed and floated to the forefront of fashion. In most cases, their bohemian feel connotes a charmingly carefree look. While I'm all for being a free spirit and styling your maxi in a way that is comfortable for you, (JK fashion is pain.) there is one thing (JK there's an endless list of things.) that I absolutely refuse to condone. If you're nowhere near model height, which FYI is at least 5'8", you have no business slopping around in a maxi with FLAT SHOES. I get that we weren't all born with the genetic fortune of mile-long legs. And maybe you're a busy hippie love child with lots of important errands to run, like shopping at farmer's markets and discovering obscure bands and whatever, so you think sandals are a must. Think again, sista, cause it's not that hard to walk in wedges. Either suck it up and throw on some kicks that void your height challenged-ness, or have a blast dragging your hem through errant cigarette butts and garbage juice. I've seen this hideous scenario occur enough times that I deem it a serious problem. To combat the horror, I've put together some fab maxi/wedge combos that should provide an appropriate distance between your garment and puddles of unidentifiable street liquid. Should you choose to ignore my advice, and your precious maxi winds up looking like something dredged up from a homeless lady's shopping cart...I WARNED YOU.

Use these Polyvore sets as style inspiration. See all the details here.

Romeo, Romeo

Above is a preview of Wildfox's Fall Collection inspired by ROMEO & JULIET! Wildfox is the best at turning whimsical, romantic themes into highly lust-worthy fashion gold. Transforming something as seemingly highbrow as Marie Antoinette or Shakespeare into a line of kitschy, cheeky T-shirts is beyond genius, and the brand hits the mark time after time. I need to put some money aside to blow come July when I want a look reminiscent of the most famous star-crossed lovers.

Foreva Foreva-eva Foreva-eva

I've been in such a shopping mood lately. I'm never not in a shopping mood, but in the past week my urge to buy has been heightened to the extreme. Everything I see looks like it belongs in my closet. I want floaty dresses, airy tops, comfy cute sandals, and accessories to match. It's summer all of a sudden, and I need to look like it. Generally, I try not to go on reckless shopping sprees, so I gave myself a limit of $50. I was thinking, Self...what are you gonna get for $50? That's a ridiculous limit. But I pulled up forever21.com, because anywhere else I would get one thing for $50 and I wanted LOTS of things. I was immediately confronted with a close-up of pretty, pink haired Charlotte Free. I love when actual models model for fast fashion brands rather than what's-her-face who won ANTM 3 seasons ago. Annnyway, here's what I got to add to my summer wardrobe.

Speckled Crisscross Back Dress

I needed this dress with a pretty wrap hem to layer with a denim shirt or light cardigan when I'm attending a music festival, or flitting through a field, or roasting s'mores over a bonfire. These are all scenarios I most likely will not encounter this summer, but I have to be prepared.

Set of 4 Textured Rings

Even though F21's rings almost always turn my fingers green, I needed some new ones to enhance all the summery shades of nail polish I'm going to try. For $3.80, who cares about green fingers?

Essential Tie Collar Top

This classy little blouse has "me" written all over it. I picture it with printed shorts or skinnies, or tucked into a full skirt, with a messy topknot. Voila, easy outfits. 

Filigree Bib Necklace

I couldn't get over the chicness of this statement necklace at the unbelievable price of $8.80. I need more statement necklaces in my life, and more insanely cheap prices.

Essential Knit Cami

I had to get an essential knit cami to go under my essential tie collar top, of course. They were essentials. This was $2.80 and will go under anything and everything, so why not?

Braided Rope Belt

I'm always searching for a thin belt to cinch the waists of dresses, skinny jeans, etc. This one is fun and sort of nautical and will undoubtedly have 8230842095209 uses.

Rectangle Readers

These are for when I feel like being that annoying hipster-y chick who wears glasses even though she has 20/20 vision. Sometimes I just wanna look like a cute nerd, okay?

Threaded Thong Sandals

I love black and gold together. These would be perfect paired with gold jewelry. Basic, versatile sandals are a must.

Cropped Neon Tee

Finally, the cropped neon tee. I just assumed I would need a cropped neon tee for general summer activities/laziness. If you don't think you need a cropped neon tee for summer, you're lying to yourself and the rest of the world, so just stop.

In the end, I did go over my limit, but there was a method to my madness. I got free shipping for spending over $50 and a free subscription to Nylon for spending over $65. I spent $66. So for $16 more than I originally planned to spend, I got free shipping, free Nylon, AND more stuff. God, I'm becoming such a bargain shopper. Who am I?

TOP CHICRET!!!

Charlotte Free is the new face of Maybelline New York!

I wasn't supposed to tell, but P'Trique did first, so...

I think the pink-haired punk will give a cheeky, modern edge to the classic brand. I'll always swear by my Great Lash. Nothing beats the pink and green tube! P'Trique knows what's up. Loved the cameos by Derek Blasberg and Betsey Johnson!

(Saw it first on MTV Style)

Ombre Tresses

I've decided that my hair needs to be this color.

(The pic is Erin Wasson for Zadig and Voltaire.)

That is all.

Can't Ignore Denim

I was flipping through Elle when it hit me square in the face...denim is having a MAJOR moment. On practically every page I turned, a model was pouting prettily in some denim ensemble. Usually I wrinkle my nose at overalls, denim skirts, and denim-on-denim looks, but lately something about those styles screams "Chic!" I've compiled a pretty serious list of every denim piece you need to stay on trend this Spring/Summer. From colored, to patterned, to boyfriend, to classic, there's something for every denim lover.

The Re-Vamped Jean Jacket

ASOS Cropped Denim Boyfriend Jacket

Who wants a typical jean jacket when it can be this ridiculously cool overdyed peachy red color? How cute would this be over a patterned bra top paired with a high waisted skirt and wedges? Umm, can I have it now?!?

The Patterned Jean & The Pop of Color

 Elizabeth & James Low Rise Skinny Jeans/[BlankNYC] Skinny Jeans

The print of these crop-legged lovelies is called "Spearmint Python." They're begging to be further toughened up with a black leather motorcycle jacket and classic black pumps. You could always go floral print instead, but IMO python print is heaps more stylish.

I debated over every color in the rainbow, but eventually settled on this pretty turquoise hue. I've discovered that this color looks awesome with orange, which might sound weird, but trust me, it does. Another life-changing colored denim discovery I've made is that every color looks good with leopard print, as the model is demonstrating here. Pair these skinnies with an orange dip-dyed top and copy those leopard flats and your look is sure to be a color blocking win.

The Classic Denim Shirt

American Apparel Unisex Denim Long Sleeve Button-Up Shirt

Throw it over a bikini, your favorite tank, or a striped long sleeve tee on those random chilly days. Wear it with a light Springy scarf, over a casual dress, or pop the collar and tie up the ends. This denim shirt is definitely the most versatile item in your Spring wardrobe. It's a perfect go-to piece when you don't have time to put together a fussy outfit, or when you need to add another layer. Since it's "unisex" buy it two sizes too big, belt it, and wear it on its own as a dress. The "I stole this from my boyfriend's closet" look is always a good one.

The Crocheted Cutoffs

NastyGal Crochet Bonita Cutoff Shorts

I love the way these cheeky denim cutoffs are styled on the model. Since the crochet detail is so eye-catching, going for a simple easy blouse is key. Add a thin belt and some gold jewelry, and you're ready to parade those legs.