Retail Therapy: Capital Fashion

Sorry for the lack of posts!  I am currently in Ottawa on an elective, and I'm just now gaining my bearings again.  The time difference has been killer.  Clinic was canceled Wednesday morning, and I didn't have the keys to the place I'm staying at, so instead of coming back and sleeping like I really, really wanted to, I headed over to the closest mall I could find and tried on a handful of items.

So I was a little disappointed in the mall I went to-- there were maybe 6-7 stores there that I could see holding some interest for me, and I had about 5 hours to kill.  The only place I tried stuff on was at Ricki's, and here's what happened.

This skirt was just hanging out at the front, laid on a table in all its glory.  I tried it on for kicks, and to my surprise, it fit (I'm usually sized out).  I feel like this is probably due to my declining exercise efforts, but I'm working on it (or I will... tomorrow).  I really love the pattern and the colours of this skirt.  It's bright but also subdued thanks to the palette, and that's what drew me to it in the first place.  The fit looks great from the front, but the side does me no justice and I feel like it makes me look dumpy.  I'm not terribly pleased with the fit from the back either.  I feel like this may not be the skirt for those blessed in the posterior region.  Also a sales associate asked how everything was fitting, and I told her that usually stuff doesn't fit, but this skirt did, so I was happy.  She responded by saying that she also tried the skirt on and the size 0 was way too loose on her.  Way to make me feel self-conscious about stuffing my booty into skirts, sales associate!  Sales associates take note:  don't say that shit.  It ain't cool.  Overall, this is something that reminds me of J. Crew, although I like this print way better than I like most of their printed skirts, and the price is much more appropriate in my opinion.

Verdict: Pass.

Daily Dose: Pink Lady

I am way behind on my outfits.  I think this one is from February.  (I'm sorry!)  I loved this pink blazer the moment I saw it, and although its not the greatest quality, I'm enjoying the time we have together before the inevitable pilling nightmare begins (it’s a knit).

A student wears prada

I just got back from California, having completed my mission: a family friend requested that I purchase a Prada handbag for her, and I did.  I carried it back, having some suitcase room issues, while I was bouncing around airports (Palm Springs, San Francisco, Vancouver).

It's weird for me to carry a designer handbag.  I'm not a handbag girl.  I bought a purse out of necessity about three years ago when I needed to look nice for medical school interviews, and I chose a navy blue hobo-style shoulder bag from Nine West for about $100, which I thought was pretty damn expensive for what is essentially a container.  Since then, I've been very happy with that bag and it still looks new.  I've also accrued an assortment of other handbags, including totes and clutches, most of which I bought because they were dirt cheap, they came free with a purchase, or I didn't actually buy and they just mysteriously appeared.


I have definitely also never bought any type of clothing/fashion item this expensive.  My personal philosophy on designer items is that 1) I generally don't like how they look that much anyways, 2) I feel like I could find something cheaper that looks essentially the same and 3) I don't feel the item is worth the price.  Oh, and also I'm a student and don't actually have money.  So it was really interesting for me to think about my first brush with a designer bag.

  

Bold prints and batted lashes: How to adapt spring’s runway looks to your wardrobe

I present to you below vitamin J's first ever guest post, courtesy of the lovely Jax Kimball!  Jax is a self-professed beauty addict who's looking to get some writing experience before starting her own blog, and approached me with the following article.  She's definitely given me some ideas for the spring (and summer)!

Read on!

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This Spring is big. Big like a triple sundae. Big like Michael Jordan’s feet. Big like a double-decker bus on a back road. To celebrate all this big is betterness, the fashion world has been adding a little bit of bigness to the list as well. Runway looks for Spring 2012 are all about big prints and bold makeup. What makes this spring’s looks different from the 80s crazy shoulder pad and Full House hair look is that it’s tempered by a bit of restraint. Clothes are cut trimly, hair is pinned back, and with the exception of fearless eyes, makeup is toned down.

The great thing about this blend of “out there” and pulled back is that you don’t need much to pull off the new trends. All you need are a few key wardrobe pieces to mix with articles of clothing you already have in your wardrobe.

1. Find a statement piece

Mara Hoffman Spring 2012 Lookbook

via Mama’s a Rolling Stone online

Large and brightly colored prints have been all over the place. Mara Hoffman’s spring collection exemplifies the kinds of prints to go for – abstract geometric, modified animal (I know this sounds like genetic engineering – but go with it), neon tribal, etc. Mara Hoffman’s collection emphasizes pant suits and dresses – but a pair of harem-esque pants with a crazy print or a pair of patterned pumps or blazer would be just as much of a statement.

2. Pair statement with sedation

Roberto Cavalli Ready to Wear Spring 2012

Via FirstH-Mode online

It’s not enough to have just anything with a print. You want to balance the bold clothing article with simple, chic pieces to create a rounded look. Think Duchess of Windsor meets Madonna. There are some basic pieces you should already have in your wardrobe: a simple cami, a loose sheer shirt, a black blazer. And though it might not be considered an essential wardrobe piece, if you don’t have a pair of harem pants yet, you should invest in a pair for the spring – either in black, gray, or olive. Now put your statement piece together with these basic ones. If you’re having trouble envisioning how to pair crazy prints with a toned-down look, check out Roberto Cavalli’s spring collection. Wild pants with a sleek black blazer, a loose skirt with a gold tiger-print jacket, a metallic and peach skirt with a sheer black shirt and sedate black blazer. (So Roberto Cavalli was really into blazers this spring…)

3. Beach face

Spring 2012 at Tracy Reese

Imaxtree.com via Harper’s Bazaar online

There’s no point in going all out in your wardrobe if your makeup doesn’t match. Similar to the trend in fashion at the moment, makeup is blending bold with restrained. Face makeup is generally nude – as little as possible on the face with bronzer or blush on the cheeks to create a “just finished working out” or “just got back from the beach” look. I’ve been totally hooked on this blush from Tarte called “blushing bride” which, applied directly below the cheekbones gives a natural, healthy glow.