Trend Tip: Spring '13 - For "Her" and "Him"

This post marks a "first" for this blog - a hers and his post complete with male presence!  My participant would like to make it clear that I did not style him; he is fashion savvy all on his own.

I'm writing this to illicit feelings of Spring - even though most of the country seems to be stuck in post-Winter funk.  I decided that the gray clouds are not going to keep me from rocking some of the irresistible Spring trends I'm seeing throughout the fashion world.  

For her, florals (as usual) are in.  Below, I model one from Target.  Originally $25 in store and online, I managed to score my piece at a local store for only $7.48!   Online, it's being listed as $17.  Still not a bad deal, and the piece is incredibly versatile with pops of gold, light yellow, mint green, navy, cobalt, and red.  There are so many tops you can pair this blazer with!

As for the top underneath, this is a crocheted piece I picked up from a local thrift store a few years ago.  It's a versatile piece - able to be paired with outfits for Fall, Winter, and Spring!  Lace/open knits also happen to be on trend for Spring of 2013.  Layered underneath the floral blazer, I have a winning look.

To finish it off, I've decided to don red jeans (colored pants are always a good choice nowadays) and a neutral, brown boot.  My accessories are simple - thin, red headband, a set of three mixed metallic bracelets, pearl earrings, and a gold locket.  

Get my look!

Floral blazer: Target; $17 //  Knit top: Cavenders; $28

Red jeans: Wet Seal; $20  //  Mint bubble necklace: Etsy; $4  //  Mint braided ring: Forever 21; $3.80  

Pearlescent studs: Forever 21; $1.50  //  Brown booties: $31; UrbanOG 

For my readers' use, I've styled it a bit differently.  Mint is one of the most popular colors for Spring, so I thought that should definitely be more present.  We bring this green shade out of the blazer by adding a necklace and ring of the same persuasion.  I've kept the earrings as similar to mine and also added similar booties.  You could further copy my look by adding a headband or even Emerald nail polish. (Pantone says it's all the rage...)  





Now for the men.  This is Rene - boyfriend and wardrobe extraordinare.  He is here to show you what the guys should be searching their closets for this Spring.  This is a look for the "dapper man".  It's a little bit vintage, and a lot of color.  (Not an uncomfortable amount, I'm sure you'll agree.)  

Get his look!

V-neck argyle sweater: Target; $11  //  Green chinos: Land's End; $40  //  

Top-sider oxfords: Sperry; $50  //  Horn-rimmed glasses: Tobi; $16

Once again, we have the colored pants.  These are Land's End - one of Rene's favorite places to shop.  I recently popped into the store on State St. in Chicago and they have tons of pairs for the upcoming season.  This is a trend you cannot miss out on!  Many of the pairs are also currently on sale.  In my opinion, this is a win/win.

Unfortunately, the argyle sweater in our set falls short of being as colorful as the one in the pictures.  Fear not!  I feel like this look is even more user friendly because of the toned down purple piece from Target.  I find that some men are too afraid to wear a lot of color.  This sweater seems like a happy medium for both sides.  The shoes are a simple neutral to off-set the colors in the rest of the outfit.  Don't forget the horn-rimmed glasses!  They complete the vintage flavor of the look.





I hope this post inspired you to throw caution to the wind and break out those Spring clothes.  We'll make our own brightness on these icky days!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

*Late* Lunch Break: Five Stylish (and Simple) Sweaters for Guys

This post was inspired by one of my guy friends who owns only a few pullover sweaters and absolutely NO CARDIGANS!  I thought this very hard to believe, so I've put together this set in order to give those who are sweater-challenged options for staying warm this Fall.

1) Striped Cardigan @ Target

2) Button Mockneck @ Brooks Brothers

3) Shawl Collar Cardigan @ H&M

4) Pescadero Cardigan @ Dockers

5) Wool Blend Cardigan @ Old Navy

I tried to keep this mini collection simple with basic colors and minimal pattern.  Pairing each sweater with a tee or long sleeved shirt that "pops" (i.e. a teal shirt with the white sweater, a green shirt with the burgundy cardigan, etc.) will easily boost your wardrobe for the season at hand.  No more excuses!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

Spring Sale Links!

Today's little Friday supplement is for all you ladies AND gents! I've rounded up some great online sale finds from some of my favorite retailers - Forever 21, Topshop, and Kohls. There's also a coupon involved! Let's jump in...

I'll do the guys a favor and post their set first...

Kohls: Chaps plaid ties, Apt. 9 plaid ties,

Croft & Barrow shirt + tie combo in Fern and Aqua

Men 21: Woven shorts, Leatherette boat shoes

Topman: Purple chinos, Red trainer socks, Spotted socks, Aztec print socks

I tried to cover all of my bases for this set. Spring was the ultimate focus with my picks, but I also added a dash of adventurous color. I recognize that taking this "color leap" isn't for everyone. It is recommended that you start slow - dip a toe in the water - before you take the plunge into different colors. For example: try the darker purple chinos that are understated before going for the aqua oxford.

And the women's set...

Topshop: Neon earrings, Mint top, Tiki brooch, Cobra ring

Forever 21: Picnic plaid skirt, Colorblock cardigan, Floral dress, Nail polish

Kohls: Floral crop top, Vera Wang scrunch tank

I shouldn't pick favorites, but the floral dress from Forever 21 would be the first piece I would buy from this set. It's easy to dress up or down, and the colors and style will be appropriate for the months to come. At $13.50, you can't go wrong!

Accessories were the funky pieces I picked out for the women's set. Topshop never fails to deliver. I feel like buying the Tiki brooch just to prove that I can pull it off. Admittedly, that's probably a bad reason to do anything, but I also honestly think it's different and super cute!

In addition to these sets, both girls and guys can use this Kohls coupon to get an additional 20% off via our old friend Couponjackie through Saturday, April 15th! Now that's an amazing deal.

If you have deals (especially from Kohls) that you want to see featured here, link me! I would love to see them and share them with the rest of you.

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

What did I do during Fashion Week?

Why all the pomp and circumstance for this specific post? What exotic location did I sweep off to during Fashion Week? Have I built up your curiosity quite yet? I should hope so! Well, now would be the time for the big reveal...

I spent the last week in L.A.!

Why you might ask? Well...I was at Gallifrey One...

Right now, I expect you to be staring at your computer screens in relative confusion. Don't worry, you're in the majority. You see, the one side of me you all get to view on this blog is my fashion forward/loudly creative/strangely daring side. The other side of me is less apparent. Today, you will all be privy to my glaringly geeky side.

I'm a little bit of a pop culture buff in my "other life". This includes being a unhealthily enthusiastic fan of a British sci-fi show called Doctor Who. Feel free to click on the link for a better explanation than I could possibly give on this blog. Okay, so you know what Doctor Who is, but what about Gallifrey One? Gallifrey One (or Gally - as goers affectionately call it) is a huge gathering of fans of this show. There we socialize, find ourselves in intellectual discussions, sing karaoke, and even costume. Yes, costume!

What does this have to do with fashion? Beside one of the websites on my Blogroll doing not one, but two, of their own posts on looks inspired by the show, there are an incredible amount of fans who wish to recreate and design costumes from the series to wear for their own benefit. As much as it is not focused on, costuming is a significant building block in the game of fashion. I'll draw the parallels for you.

1) Sketches

Every person who wants a well-executed costume or wants to launch a collection knows the importance of sketching. It's the first step of transferring the vision of your creation from the internal to the external. There, you get to express your color schemes, fabrics, cuts, and anything else necessary to the construction of your piece. For the costumer, it might be most important to transfer the necessary details of the original along with a bit of personal flare. For the designer, it's all about getting their personal vision across. Whatever the purpose, the endgame is the same - the artist displaying their work for the public. Whether your medium is the catwalk or convention hallway, there is a desire to make yourself known as a creator.

2) Labels

Because of the influx of "younger" companions to the Doctor coupled with a brilliant costume department at the BBC, many major clothing labels have been worn by characters on the show in the last six years. Brands such as Topshop, Free People, All Saints, American Apparel, and Uniqlo can be see on the main players.

(From left to right): American Apparel Dolman Hoodie, Free People Multicolored Scarf ,

All Saints Ovid Heels

(Left to right): Rose Tyler wearing the scarf, River Song sporting the heels, and Amy Pond modeling the sweatshirt.

In addition to costumers and collectors alike wanting the pieces seen in the show, they are also very happy with look-a-likes. Forever 21, Wet Seal, Miss Selfridge, Charlotte Russe, ASOS, and even department stores are only some of the places avid searchers have located pieces that resemble their favorites from the series.

Even men (Yes men!) can take a lesson in fashion from this series. The Tenth and Eleventh Doctors have clean, tailored looks with eye-catching details. The Tenth Doctor wears a suit and Converse while the Eleventh Doctor almost always sports a bow tie.

Ten's Chucks


Inspired by Eleven's bow ties

3) The Thrifting Connection

I'm sure you haven't failed to notice as my readers that I include quite a few thrifting pieces in my everyday wardrobe. When costumers, for an event like this, search for pieces they want to spend the least amount of money. Thrifting is your best option to do it on the cheap. The most ideal way for you to thrift for costume pieces is to also look for the items you can incorporate into your everyday wardrobe. It is possible, it just requires a little forethought. Whether it's a belt, jacket, or pair of pants - this is achievable! Planning out what your looking for ahead of time is not a bad idea, nor is carrying reference pictures around with you. I've heard it all!

I hope I've been able to successfully tie the world of fandom costuming (Or cosplaying - there I said it!) to fashion, and immerse you a bit into the world of Doctor Who.

Feel free to comment here or send pictures of cosplaying you've done that might tie into your everyday ensemble!

Until next time!

~ they seek her there

P.S. - Welcome to all of my new readers due to last week's convention! I'm so glad to have you.

So you want to dress like...Sherlock Holmes & John Watson

I've been told that I watch too much TV. This is a fact that I will happily admit to. I also have somewhat of a bad habit of watching too many movies. In this day and age when movie tickets are $10 at best, I still spend my hard earned money gazing at the beloved silver screen. Oh, I know I'm not the only one.

Now, one of the biggest conventions in modern TV and cinema is the detective story. Today, I'm posting about not just any particular detective story, but one that is very dear to many out there - Sherlock Holmes.

I would hope, dear readers, that you are more than familiar with the characters of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from the lovely Sherlock Holmes stories penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I hope that you are also familiar with the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and the Jude Law. In addition to this new take on Sherlock Holmes, there is a modern retelling of the story which stars two (virtually) unknown British actors - Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. I suspect Martin Freeman will soon be a household name, however, as he is now Bilbo Baggins in the new Hobbit movie!

I digress. If you haven't seen the new Sherlock Holmes movie (A Game of Shadows) that came out around Christmas and (even more likely) haven't seen the TV show put out by the BBC, then you're in for an amazing treat today. The outfits I've put together for this post are inspirational collaborations which draw in key elements from the new movie and the BBC series. Let's get started!

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

This movie is all about travel and gypsies and catching Moriarty...and Watson's honeymoon. Without giving too much of the plot away (as I have been known to be a bit spoiler crazy), Holmes and Watson spend a significant amount of their time traveling with a group of gypsies across Europe.

Above, we can see our heroes in the wardrobes which they wear for pretty much the entire movie. Not too much variation here. For my Holmes-inspired outfit, I've made the scarf he's wearing the focal point of the set. It's entirely bohemian and has so much variation in color. A great accessory to base an outfit on!

For Watson, I went a similar route. Whether or not this is because I'm obsessed with scarves is besides the point. It's also winter right now, and a scarf is an essential part of bundling up in the cold.

Here, we can see said trademark scarf which Watson wears for most of the movie.

Now for what I came up with...

For Holmes:

Shirt; Skirt; Scarf; Tights; Socks; Boots; Cuff

Miraculously, I was able to find a scarf that strongly resembled Holmes' own from the movie. This look combines high fashion accents (like neutrals) with bohemian touches (the boots, scarf, skirt).

For Watson:

Sweater; Top; Trousers; Blazer; Booties; Scarf

I haven't put a flashy accessory in the Watson-inspired outfit as he is a former military man who dresses in neutrals and military-style jackets. You can see that the blazer is tailored with a high neck. This is the military touch in the outfit. The booties are my "gypsy touch" in this set, and you can see the look-a-like scarf which ties the whole look together in colors that just happen to end up matching. Very bohemian.

Sherlock (BBC Series)

This series has only produced six episodes to date. It's a sort of miniseries if you prefer to think of it that way. It stars Benedict Cumerbatch (War Horse; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Office - UK; The Hobbit) as his trusty doctor sidekick John Watson. These are modern retellings of the books with Holmes not being so bohemian any more, but more "designer label" driven. There is quite a bit of discussion in fan circles if the man wears Armani or Dolce and Gabbana. Watson has maintained his "everyman" look - wearing only simple shirts, sweaters, jackets, and trousers.

Above is pretty much the staple clothing choices for our boys. As you can see, John looks a bit more practically dressed whereas Holmes is wearing a suit, pressed pants, and dress shoes. The blue scarf and the coat (complete with red button hole at the collar) are staples of his character.

For Sherlock:

Blazer; Top; Trousers; Shoes; Earrings; Ring; Scarf; Coat; Socks

This look started with the shoes. I wanted a piece that would tie the original Sherlock Holmes to this modern adaptation. Oxfords were the solution. Sherlock wears neutrals in the series, with small pops of jewel toned color. His shirts are usually a rich scarlet or deep purple. I tried to bring that in with the shirt and the earrings. It goes without saying that the coat and scarf are a must. The signature look cannot be complete without them.

For John:

Jacket; Sweater; Shirt; Skirt; Boots

I again went with the "less is more" approach with my John-inspired look. John is nothing but practical - the complete opposite of his colleague who is nothing but flashy. One of John's staple looks in the series is also his cable knit sweater. There are also occasions where he is seen wearing generous amounts of plaid. I've combined these two looks into one fashionable statement that has just enough color to pop.

It was undoubtedly interesting to warp menswear into something fashionable and functional for women. Next time, I would love to do a menswear (for men!) post. If you are a man and a reader of my blog, please feel free to comment or send me and e-mail about what you would like to see! I'm always open to ideas!

Until next time.

~ they seek her there