SHOP RAINBOW NOW!

I should take my own advice and spice up my majorly monotone wardrobe with some kaleidoscope-inspired pieces. If I truly believe the theory that color affects mood, I should probably quit wearing so much black and look into some more colorful clothing options. The rainbow-colored garments, jewelry, and accessories in my Add Some Rainbow buyer’s guide are the perfect solution for those looking to brighten up not only their wardrobes, but their attitudes as well!

Pictured (clockwise from left): Totes Jumbo Stripe Umbrella Rainbow, Carnival Print Strap Dress,  Beaded Wire Hoop Earrings, Longchamp ‘Xlight Imprime’ Vertical Nylon Tote, Braided Mosaic Bead Cuff.

SHOP RASTA GEAR NOW!

Springtime symbolizes many things: birth, re-birth, new beginnings, growth, romance, etc., but this year, for me, spring simply stands for the season before summer. And with summer, comes reggae, which has been all I’ve been listening to for the past several weeks. I have found so many cute rasta-colored accessories and clothing, which I have included in my Rasta Wear for Girl’s buyer’s guide.

Once you see how cute these things are (um, a.k.a. the Rasta Bow Hair Clips!), I guarantee you’ll be switching your iPod to Legend quicker than you can say “I shot the sheriff.” Make sure you check out all the products I hand-picked for the guide - there’s definitely more than one page’s worth of rastafari-approved gear up on there!

Kidrobot, designer and retailer of art toys and apparel, has been around for 7 years and, since then, has collaborated with top international artists to create hundreds of limited edition, collectible toys that merge urban/street trends with fashion and pop art. Kidrobot doesn’t stop at toys, either. Founder, Paul Budnitz introduced vibrant men’s and women’s apparel lines in ’06, along with tons of Kidrobot accessories to choose from (keychains, books, backpacks, shoes, home décor, jewelry, posters . . . The list goes on).

That all being said, I love the unique aesthetic of the entire Kidrobot collection and have compiled lists of my favorite picks on Kazowie. You should definitely check ‘em out:

Click here to see Cool Kidrobot Clothes for Guys.
Click here for Girl Kidrobot Apparel.
Click here to check out My Favorite Kidrobot Toys.
Click here to view Random Kidrobot Stuff.

SHOP PICNIC DAY NOW!

Poll: Will you wear a dress or shorts to Picnic Day this year? Vote now!

Every year in April, my alumni college town hosts “Picnic Day.” This all-day event is “designed to showcase the richness and diversity of campus life, as well as the community” of the small town and has been a tradition for the past 95 years. It’s super fun to walk around town and celebrate springtime with friends literally from morning ‘til night. Picnic Day is one of the major events of the city which everyone knows about and practically everyone looks forward to. You’re going to be seen, so you’ve got to look cute!

I will be taking a drive up for my 6^th Picnic Day this weekend and I can’t wait to see all my old friends! My Picnic Day Picks buyer’s guide is full of tops, dresses, shoes, and accessories that are perfect for a day in the sun, whether you’re going to Picnic Day, or you’re hosting your own picnic in the park! The key is bright colors, light fabrics, and comfortable fits.

SHOP MORE PICNIC DAY PICKS HERE!

Pictured, from left: Not Rated Women’s Jammin Jelly Flat, Simple Woven Dress, Elastic Lotus Bracelet, Dark Wash Bermuda Short, Embroidered Flower Plaid Top, Petal Earring, Cavalry Twill Patch Pocket Pants, Stripe Boy Tank, and Stuart Weitzman Women’s “Cleopatra” Gladiator Sandals.

Tough-looking jewelry with feminine accents seems to be the hot new thang that will help us transition our accessory-wearing from the warm-weather days into the Fall months. I know you’re just getting into  Springtime wear, but fashion’s always two steps ahead, honey! This style of jewelry is hot for exactly that reason, though; it’s bold enough for the cold, but girly enough for the heat, a.k.a. it can be worn year-round and you’ll always be in vogue.

What do you think about tough-looking jewelry for Spring? Sport it or scrap it? Click here to VOTE NOW!

The Spring 2009 Fallon Jewelry line features super-sexy, machine-age spikes, studs, and stones. Stephen Webster, with Christina Aguilera as his muse, has also created a sleek new line of silver , scaly, shattered pieces that were made to stand out from the crowd. To really make a statement, sport a silver coiled serpant around your neck. Snake Jewelry is so sexy and daring! But is it a spring thing?

Gold is my new passion when it comes to flashin’ fashion. And I’m not talking about the 24 carat kind. I’m talking the shiny, reflective, metallic variety. Why I have not yet purchased a gold lame’ bikini is beyond me.

It really is better late than never, though, as there are now so many contempo designers flashing back their clothing, shoe, bag, and jewelry lines to gold’s glory days of gaudiness. The result is flashy, yet somehow classy. I love 2009! Anything goes! And I say go for the gold. Sexy gaudy gold, that is.

Seen here: Marc Jacobs Quilted Metallic Leather Stam Satchel, American Apparel Shiny Legging, American Apparel The Shiny Sash, Just Cavalli Just Joy Logo Ring, and Louis Vuitton Graphic Wedge Sandal.

See tons of my favorite sexy gaudy jewelry too! So hot! Trust me, you want to see this.

While looking into the perforated boots trend this morning, I came across a pair of Free People Oxford Ankle Boots, which inspired me to create the Anne Frank 2009 and Anne Frank Shoes shopper’s guides.

Wartime fashion, including makeup, hair, and jewelry, has always intrigued me. The boxy, yet flowy collared knee-length dresses with feminine hourglass cuts are flattering to all body types. They have a lasting elegance that combines style and practicality. The overall style and fabrics of the early 1940’s were simple, due to shortages from the war, but the women always found a way to spice up their looks with dark matte lips and elaborate curls, (even if their ringlets were peeking out from under a hat or Rosie the Riveter headscarf).

Today, I’ve created some Mod-Vint (modern-meets-vintage) “Anne Frank” looks that merge early 40’s fashion influences with 2009 flair. The look is formal and feminine, yet comfortable. Spritz on some Chanel no 5 or l’Air du Temps and you’re good to go: modern vintage is SO Anne Frank!

Shop the shoes here!

Shop the clothes and accessories here!

Reading the “color issue” of my beloved InStyle magazine really inspired me to branch out from my everyday blacks, browns, and greys, especially when it comes to makeup and nail polish. And WOOHOO!, the fashion pros even gave me permission to “go ahead and clash my nail polish” with my makeup and clothes. So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! Yesterday was yellow eyeshadow and gold Keri Hilson earrings. Today, green shadow and lavender nail polish (with glitter, duh).

Color really does affect your mood, so if you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, I highly recommend some shimmery Diamond Powder makeup, a colorful Jeweled Cuff Bracelet, or some Oscar de la Renta Embellished Espadrille Wedges to cheer you up. Hot.

Also pictured, Lorella Satchel by Guess Handbags and Emilio Pucci Blue Napa Lame heels.

Here are some of my favorite color/mood associations:

Red: Passion
Orange: Creativity
Yellow: Joy
Green: Ambition
Blue: Tranquility
Purple: Wisdom

Check out my Colorful Spring Trench Coats buyer’s guide to see some bright, sexy trench coats that are popping up everywhere in the city this Spring! I want a RED one!

POLL: Whose clothing line do you like better, Aubrey’s or Paris’s? VOTE NOW!

My friends utter the name Aubrey O’Day at least once every time I see them. So, while I only have a vague idea of who she is (I think “Making the Band”? Danity Kane? Is that right? Someone help me here), it still surprises me that I just discovered today that she has a clothing line. And surprise: it’s actually pretty cute. I would definitely consider wearing some of these items. The line’s called “Heart on my Sleeve by Aubrey O’Day,” and it features t-shirts, undies, and accessories for guys, girls, kids, and dogs (interesting) with hearts on the sleeves. (O’Day says that so many people have told her she wears her heart on her sleeve, so she went literal with it. Tads skeptical that she came up with the concept on her own, though).

CariDee English and Jaslene Gonzalez (winners of ANTM Cycles 7 & 8, duh) model some of the clothes, which I’m loving, (except CariDee kinda sucks). I’m liking that the clothes all have the same sayings on them, regardless of whether they’re for men or women (a.k.a. “After him the fairytale was over” and “I love men,” with the”n” crossed out). I also dig the canvas bag, but I’m not so sure there should be a comma in the sentence printed on it. Hmm…??? Either way, I want these tops. They rule. Let’s. Get it.

I’m basically positive that the only time I have ever stepped onto a skateboard was when I was about 5 years old. And I didn’t even step onto it, I sat my ass down and rolled to the end of the driveway of my neighbors’ front yard. I did this probably about six times before I became extremely bored and went back home to play with my treasure trolls, vowing to never set foot (or ass) on another skateboard as long as I lived. Nineteen years later, I purchased a Nor Cal sweatshirt. Does this make me a poser?

I don’t really care. I needed something with a huge “Nor Cal” logo emblazoned on it for the few unfortunate times I visited Southern California (why can’t Disneyland be up here?). Plus, the clothes and accessories are cute. I say, if you’re proud to be a Northern Californian, it’s okay to rock Nor Cal gear. I especially love the orange and black SF Giants Dugout Nor Cal tee and the cotton/polyester Stateline Handbag! Hot.