A reason to get out of bed: Face À Face Eyewear

- Babydoll's Nuts and Bolts!

Today was the worst. Why? I'm hot, hungover, and sick. Worst combination ever.

Though I knew I had to drag myself out to bed to post about these sunglasses by Face À Face (Style Name: Betty2; Style #: 53 23). They are metallic and the most amazing shade of purple in real life. I love the curvature and this is a piece that breaks the mold with the scrolling on the lens. You can search for a place near you that sells this particular pair here on their website.

This French based brand has some amazing eyewear. These just happen to my favorite, so you would be remiss not to check out the rest of their collection here.

Thoughts? Remedies? Leave them in the comments.

Sartorial Watermark: Signature Style

-my signature

Everyone has a signature piece. Something that they always wear all the time, a certain color they claim for their own, or even a certain style they purchase repeatedly. Over time it is something they become known for and it starts to become a bit odd if they don't wear it. I mean, remember the time Posh didn't wear flats?

- bauer-griffin

What's mine? Black leggings. I seriously wear them pretty much every day and refuse to wear them in any other color. My husband once made a joke that if I was given a chance to design a legging collection a la Lohan I'd make them "in every shade of black imaginable".

- fabcrush

Though, sometimes I do regret wearing them on days like today when they soak up the sun and crank the heat index up about another 10 degrees for me. I usually just grin and bear it. Now it looks like I no longer have to all thanks to Uniqlo's dry technology! It "combines breathable fibres with cross-woven nylon, removing sweat at the humidity level and keeping the wearer dry and comfortable underneath their clothes, whilst ensuring a smooth and silky feeling next to the skin". They offer wearers "superior drying action with anti-odour and anti-bacterial properties and ensuring dry confidence throughout the day".

- UNIQLO

I loved their heat tech leggings, so more than likely I will picking them up either today/tomorrow. I absolutely need a pair for the BBQ I am hosting this weekend. After all, nothing is more unfashionable than being a sweaty host!

Do you have a signature piece? Leave it in the comments!

Friend Friday: Blogger Narcissism

Katy Rose of ModlyChic has sent around another round of questions for the Friend Friday project. This week: Blogger Narcissism!

1. Do you think personal fashion blogging is inherently narcissistic?

The reason I write about fashion as I am sure many other people do is that they think they have a P.O.V. and want to share that with others. I think as long as people keep it about that and not themselves you can avoid being labeled narcissistic. It can be tricky though as fashion as a whole is a lot of navel gazing.


2. I think we can all agree, that certainly some blogs are personal odes to the blogger. In your opinion what makes a blog narcissistic.


In terms of fashion blogs, I think it begins and ends with the blogger's approach to outfit posts. If they are the only focus of the blog and lack any dialogue on the fashion choices behind them then that is most definitely narcissism-ahoy. There is nothing wrong with outfit posts in and of themselves, but when it is just obviously fishing for complements it annoys me. Blogs that do this also have very little posts on fashion itself outside of the clothes on the blogger's back, which is also another red flag for the blog being narcissistic. It is great to have a POV on fashion, but by only using it to explore your wardrobe choices is limiting.


3. Would you classify your blog as narcissistic? Why?

In all honestly, it is a bit. I have trouble about writing about things that I do not find interesting or match my fashion POV. Like, I refuse to include certain brands that I do not like or have value. I feel like I would be letting my readers down, but it does make for lower page views. I try to find the obscure and stylish, which makes my POV a bit narrow sometimes.


4. How can we combat the idea that because we share personal style thoughts/pictures we are automatically full of ourselves?


I love to ask people who bring this up: Do you ever talk about fashion with your friends? Have you ever commented on an awesome piece in someone's wardrobe? Someone's haircut? Do you ever admire your outfit in a mirror? Then guess what? You are doing the same exact thing I am doing!

Fashion in itself is our way of communicating who we are as people. Once you have studied fashion as a true field (meaning: historical, sociological, and craft) you would understand that. Those portraits of people hanging in the museums that people ogle day in and day out were made for the same reasons as outfit posts.

I do believe that posting about fashion does make you full of yourself in a way. You have a POV and you are secure in it. Enough to share it with the world and open it to criticism. Why should that necessarily be a bad thing?


5. How do you explain what you do to others in a way that doesn't come across as narcissistic?

It is not narcissistic if you are right.

Then you just come across as overconfident to some, but secure to others. If you cannot do that then maybe you want to re-consider the position of your blog. I mean I am a complete wuss in social situations in many ways at times, but I defend my blog with a ferocity I have not seen in myself in awhile. I just feel that deep down that my POV is interesting and is useful to people, and if others cannot see that they are not worth my time.

Readers what do you think? Is the blog a bit narcissistic? Let me know in the comments.

What to Expect When You are Expecting: Fashion Edition

-Chic Tuition

A friend of mine recently sent me a barrage of texts of how unhappy she was about her current unfortunate situation. Apparently, the maternity offerings are just not quite up to snuff in her opinion or terribly expensive. She asked me to do a whole post about it, and who am I to turn down a pregnant lady's request?

I did a bit of poking around and unfortunately for the most part time has marched on but maternity fashion has not kept up. I mean take a look at this old pattern piece illustration? Can you tell me the difference between this and some of the items from Destination Maternity or A Pea in the Pod?


I mean yes they do have guest designers like Heidi Klum creating lines like Lavish by Heidi Klum and Loved by Heidi Klum. These, however, are just the best of a bad situation. I knew there had to be something better out there to satisfy those fashion diehards. There just had to be right? I mean after all there are all these pregnant celebrities out there looking fabulous like Amy Poehler, Alicia Keys, and Danielle Lloyds.


So, I began my search and came away almost defeated. 7 for All Mankind Maternity Jeans - expensive/poorly designed. Liz Lange Maternity - boring/stiff designs. It seemed that maternity was plagued with the same issues that bog down plus size offerings - lack of insight. Just because you are pregnant does not mean that you do not want to be fashion forward or overhaul your whole look as you are a mom to be.

Here are a couple of looks that I pulled together for my friend. She is a young school teacher, so what this what I tried to keep in my mind as I was playing virtual stylist. She is also quite thin when not pregnant (it is her second), so I wanted to create looks that were reminiscent what she wears then. Well, improved on a bit by myself of course! The other great thing about the items I pulled is that these items can mixed and matched. Thus, justifying the investment!


Work - Day: This dress from Moody Mamas is something I think anyone would want to wear - pregnant or not. Bright and vibrant this is the perfect dress to wear while working with children! She works in a school that does not allow bare shoulders, so pairing it with this cute sweater makes it work appropriate.

1. Moody Mamas - Sweetheart Dress (Sizes XS - XL; $190.00)

2. Spiegel - Whisper-Weight Cropped Cardigan (Sizes XS: XL; $17.00)

Work - Night: A teacher's work is mostly done during the day, but there is the odd occasion when they have to work the night shift. Namely - Parent/Teacher conferences. This outfit would be perfect for such occasions as it is extremely professional yet fashionable. I absolutely love the color of this top from TopShop and the fit of the pencil skirt by Isabella Oliver. Also, the cropped sweater featured with the day look can be paired with this outfit as well for a more casual look.

2. Spiegel - Whisper-Weight Cropped Cardigan (Sizes XS: XL; $17.00)

3. TopShop - Maternity Boutique Tuck Blouse (US Sizes 4 - 10; $50.00)

4. Isabella Oliver Maternity - Pencil Skirt (Sizes 0 - 14; $100.00)


Date Night - Casual: Being pregnant should prevent you from having a night out on the town! This more casual outfit on the left is still pretty fashion forward and is on trend via the lingerie inspired top. The Garbo Trousers from Isabella Oliver Maternity are also fantastic as they are fitted yet allow for your pregnancy tummy! This trench also from Isabella Oliver is the perfect way to complete the outfit, well that is if it is cold enough for it.

1. TopShop - Maternity Peplum Tunic (US Sizes 4 - 12; $70.00)

2. Isabella Oliver Maternity - Garbo Trousers (Sizes 0 - 14; $126.65)

3. Isabella Oliver Maternity - The Trapeze Trench (Sizes 8 - 14; $223.30)

Date Night - Sexy: Going out on the town with that special someone? This is the dress you should be wearing. It hugs your curves in all the right places and better yet comes in a color that pops! Pair this Isabella Oliver dress with the trench coat featured to avoid making women and men stop in their tracks!

3. Isabella Oliver Maternity - The Trapeze Trench (Sizes 8 - 14; $223.30)

4. Isabella Oliver Maternity - Ruched Tank Dress (Sizes 2 - 10; $148.75)


Casual: My friend spends a lot of time at home because 1) she lives down South in a large home and 2) she has 2.5 year old. (Seriously her house is 4 - 5x the size of my apartment at least!) So, I wanted to put together something she could be comfortable running around in as well as fashionable. I looked at tons of jeans for her, but these ones from Isabelle Oliver are the best! They are low cut and the band does not seem intrusive. The fit on the leg is also very fitted, which is very necessary. As I said, she lives in the South and it gets pretty hot down there. No better reason then to wear this adorable tank top! This sweater from Spiegel also does the trick to avoid being frozen when met with ice cold blast from AC indoors.

1. Spiegel - Whisper-Weight Cropped Cardigan (Sizes XS - XL; $17.00)

2. Isabella Oliver Maternity - IO Jeans (Sizes 0 -16; $89.50)

3. Ripe - Twist Tube Top (Size XL; $34.00)

As I was roaming the internet searching for these items for my friend, I came across something quite alarming. The selection of plus size clothes was horrendous. And I thought it was bad just searching for clothes in my size regularly! The maternity clothes in plus sizes should seriously go into the category of Things That Must Not Be Named a la Harry Potter. They are that horrific! Fret not, however, I was able to track down some decent plus size options. It just required a bit of creativity.


Casual: This amazing top from the ASOS mama·licious line of maternity clothes goes up to an XL, which according to their size chart is an American size 16. If you are larger than that this item will most likely still fit you as it has an extremely loose fit coupled with enormous armholes. Pair it with a pair of leggings as shown here, and you would not look out of place strolling around the West Village.

1. ASOS mama·licious - Embellished Woven Tunic (UK sizes S - XL; $59.18)

2. duo Maternity - duo 22" Legging (Sizes 2X - 3X; $12.99)


Convertible: This dress can be worn in a million different ways to accommodate your growing bump. The white/teal combination is truly inspired and will always look fresh! This item also goes upward to a size 3X and due to its dynamic nature can probably be worn on larger frames.

1. Hayley by Hayley Starr Reversible Knit Wrap Dress (Sizes M - 3X; $38.50)

The one thing that my friend stressed to me is that she hated spending money on things she was only going to wear for a limited time. Fact is I am sorry to say that being fashionable takes investment! That does not mean, however, that you have to break the bank to be a pregnant fashionista. There are in fact a couple of options to make this happen!

1. Consignment Shops: Check out the consignment shops in the affluent parts of time. More likely than not you will be able to scoop up some discarded designer maternity duds. Also, there are shops like Belly Bundles that sell their maternity consignment merchandise online.

2. Rent: Yes, believe it or not you can rent maternity clothes by the week. RentMaternityWear.com offers one-week maternity dress rental rates starting at just $35. They carry brands such as: Christian Siriano, Maternal America, and Olian Maternity.

3. Sell Them After You Are Done: Sort of like renting, this options requires you to ditch the clothes after you no longer need them. Ebay is literally teeming with mothers looking for maternity wear, so this may be your best bet to recoup the majority of the cost. Also, this is what will justify you spending more on those transient pieces! The higher the quality - the higher the chance of resale.

Do you have any places or suggestions for my friend? I am also always looking for new ideas for posts. Have any ideas on either - leave them in the comments!

Fashion in the City: Summer Escapes

Some people believe New York is at its least fashionable in the summer. I mean it is true that the sweltering heat melts makeup, frizzes hair, and comfort overrides style. Even worse fashion week (depending on your POV) is either lone gone or far is also either long gone or quite a ways off to even consider serving as a distraction. There are, however, believe it or not tons of fashion events to attend if you find yourself without the means to distract you from the city's brutal summer heat.

Department Stores

Trunk Shows and the Like: These are events that are held at various department stores as well as other retail locations and are used to get potential consumers next to product. There are literally tons of them going on in the summer. Check New York Fashion Magazine's Event Calender and Daily Front Row Calender for constant updates. Free samples and fun activities such as tarot card reading at the recent Bloomingdale's Dior Magic Show event make it a win.

1. 06/30/10: 12 PM Preview the fall collection from Lela Rose during a trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman. 754 Fifth Ave., nr. 58th St. (212-753-7300); 12–4.


2. 07/01/10: Chat with Alexa Galler of Eighteenth, Heather Klar, and Xing Xu of Kallisti during We the People’s “Meet the Designers” series. Guests will also receive 10 percent off purchases throughout the evening. 156 Stanton St., nr. Suffolk St. (212-533-1091); 6–8.


3. Through 07/04/10: Check out organic nail polishes and scented nail polish removers during Karma Organic’s trunk show at Henri Bendel. 712 Fifth Ave., at 56th St. (212-247-1100); 10–8.


4. Through 07/04/10: Perfect your lashes and brows with a consultation from Shu Uemura’s expert, Soul Lee. Bloomingdale’s, 1000 Third Ave., at 59th St. (212-705-2000); M–F (10–8:30), S (10–7), Su (11–7).


5. 07/13/10: 11AM DvF Fall 2010 Trunk Show, 872 Washington Street, NYC, 11AM to 7PM.


6. 07/14/10: 12PM Sizzling Summer Beauty at Sephora, Complimentary makeovers with Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson. July 14 - Sephora Times Sq. July 15 - Sephora 5th Ave. July 16 - Sephora 34th St.


7. 07/19/10: 6PM Bloomingdale’s 59 th Street unveils the brand new ASSOULINE in-store shop with a multiple Assouline author book signing. Various authors will be attending. Kelly Killoren Bensimon, author and former editor of Elle Accessories, who currently stars in the Bravo's hit TV series Real Housewives of NY. Robert E. Bryan, fashion journalist and historian living and working in New York City. Pamela Fiori, editor at large of Town & Country. Lisa Marsh, fashion industry veteran and self-professed foodie. She has worked on staff at Women's Wear Daily, DNR and The New York Post, and currently is a freelance journalist. (This event is worth it alone just to see Kelly's cray cray up close and personal.)

Sales: These are huge during the summer as stores have to make way for the fall stock. The most anticipated being the Barney's Warehouse Sale. I rarely hit the actual sale, because it is a madhouse and product is picked over. My plan of action is normally to go to Barneys a week before the Warehouse Sale. Items are already discounted to prep for the move and the merchandise selection is better in quality as well as selection. Also, no one can put on a price on avoiding the mayhem of the sale. Believe me no matter what you say to yourself - waiting till the end for the deal is just not worth it. Everything is just way too picked over and damaged.

Just a sidenote, but if you need to make space in your wardrobe stop by one of the Green Market locations to recyle your old items. Most items that get tossed into the trash go directly to landfills and the majority of these items will not biodegrade. GrowNYC has a stall there that collects items for textile recyling and donation.

Museums

These normally fill up quite quickly with tourists, but low and behold there are still a couple of events of interest to fashionistas. Thanks to the MET's American Woman: Fashioning a National Identitiy that I blogged about previously there are a couple of events that might be worth a visit.

1. 07/17/10: 11AM Teen Festival Of Fashion: From Suffragists To Sirens, Spend a Saturday with Heiresses, Gibson Girls, Bohemians, Suffragists, Patriots, Flappers, and Screen Sirens in the exhibition American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity and enjoy a day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Join in fashion activities, including a style studio, a session with a perfumist, fashion films, and a special hunt in the galleries! And help us celebrate the winners of the T-shirt design competition at an award ceremony. Come dressed to walk the red carpet in your favorite T-shirt or as one of the American Woman archetypes. 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Carson Family Hall, Uris Center for Education, ground floor


2. 07/06/10: 2PM American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity Films, Charles Dana Gibson: Portrait of an Illustrator (1997) Josiah Emery, director. Explores the origins of the Gibson Girl, the first popular image of the American woman (28 min.). The Flapper Story (1985) Lauren Lazin, director. Examines the social phenomenon of the flapper during America's 1920s (29 min.). These films are shown in conjunction with the exhibition American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity. Free with Museum admission. Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall, Uris Center for Education.

Fashion Events

Not everyone escapes to the Hamptons and as such there are still some fashion parties going on in the City.

1. 06/28/10: Get $65 haircuts and $35 blow-dries at Mizu, where all proceeds will benefit HAIRraising, an initiative that raises funds for the Children’s Hospital of Boston. The day will end with a cocktail party featuring drinks from Ty Ku and hors d’oeuvres by London Lennie’s. Special guest Molly Sims will also make an appearance. 505 Park Ave., nr. 59th St. (212-688-6498); 8–6 (haircuts and blowdries), 6–9 (cocktail party). To book an appointment, e-mail hairraising@mizunewyork.com. To RSVP for the cocktail party, e-mail rsvp@mizunewyork.com.


2. 06/29/10: BCBGeneration hosts the first installment of StyleCaster’s summer concert series, featuring an open bar and music from Beach Fossils and Mick Boogie. Santos Party House, 96 Lafayette St., at Walker St. (212-584-5492); 9–11. To RSVP, add StyleCaster as a friend on Facebook.

Have any events that you want to add? Leave them in the comments. I'm always looking for something interesting to do!

Friend Friday: Beach Rituals

Katy Rose of ModlyChic has sent around another round of questions for the Friend Friday project. This week: Beach Rituals!

- You're headed to the beach/pool, what's in your bag?

1. Frozen Alcoholic Beach Provisions: I throw some Hendricks Gin ($29.99) and pineapple juice in the freezer the night before to ensure that it is frosty enough to beat the heat. At the beach, I mix my drinks in my Kleen Kanteen reusable water bottle ($19.95). It keeps the sand out and the drink moderately cool.


2. Two Towels: One for lounging on the sand and one to dry after after taking a dip in the water.


3. Clothing that is Not Optional: My Dita Supa Dupa Sunglasses ($225.00)
   (like the one featured from Kohls for $26.99) over my suit as a coverall, because they are much more functional than a coverup.


4. Technological Necessities: My iPod touch serves 2 purposes. One is to entertain me while taking a break from frolicking in the ocean, and the second is the built in timer to ensure sunblock reapplication. Same goes for the wrist timer (like this one featured on amazon for $39.95) - that way if I am away from my ipod I know when to re-apply. I burn really easily so it is essential!


5. Sunblock: Without it on the beach I'm toast. So I use Shiseido SPF 50+ Sun Protection Lotion ($38.25) for my face as it does not have that greasy texture other sunblocks have these days. I also use Aveeno Active Spray SPF 70+ ($10.99) for my body as it gets all the hard to reach places.

- Be honest... how do you feel about sunscreen? How often do you put it on?

It is essential for me or else I fry like bacon. Hence the timer. If I fall asleep and forget to reapply I get bright lobster red. Normally, if I reapply every 2 hours I am safe. Even waterproof ones require re-application too people!

- Do you have any sunburn remedies?

Aloe Vera gel of course. Kiehls Cucumber Toner (4fl oz for $11.00) works wonders. Oh and this weird Japanese thing that my husband's mother uses. It smells "interesting" but when I get a bought of super sunburn it takes the edge off. I also take some Vitamin E pills too to speed up the process.

- Do you use sunless tanning products? Which do you use, why is it your favorite?

Tanning in general is just not for me. I like how pale I am and work at it to stay that way. I also have super sensitive skin and as such I am pretty sure the products would irritate it.

Also, I tried bronzer once when it was really in to be tan. I looked ridiculous. It now sits in my makeup bag unused and forlorn.

- The best part about the beach is...

Not so much on the American beaches, but in Italy the chill of the water on a hot summer day.

When I was younger I studied abroad in Italy and my boys took me to the shore one day. The sand was pure as the driven snow and also white hot! I expected the water to be pretty warm too, but I was shocked when it was breathtakingly refreshing. I really miss it sometimes especially when the heat in NYC feels like the 9th level of hell would be preferable.

What are your beach rituals? I'd love to hear them. Leave them in the comments!

What to Wear: Janine Basil Fascinators

Phillip Treacy's Rose fascinator sure has been making quite the rounds. Seen on both Pam Anderson and Heidi Klum lately - Fashionista was forced to ask who wore it better?


The question that I wanted to ask in return is how would you wear it? I mean we all cannot be Sarah Jessica Parker at the Sex in the City Premiere (I or II - take your pick). So, how do we get by with including funky headwear into our wardrobes?


Janine Basil that's how. Based out of the UK and operating a little under a year this designer has been getting press all over the place. Sometimes, even the unlikeliest of places like gawker's scifi blog io9.

Funky and functional her pieces are all about taking a risk and having a bit of fun with your wardrobe. As you can imagine, she has so many amazing pieces on etsy I found it hard to decide which ones to include! I guess that should say a lot about her awesome collection - no?

Enough chatter, onto the headpiece porn!

1. Tattoo Fascinator ($30.00): As long as it is 11-13 characters you can have whatever you want permanently "inked" on your heart tattoo. Can you think of a better way to commemorate your love - well I guess besides tangling with an actual tattoo artist's needle?


2. Floating Pink Butterflies Fascinator - ($35.00): One of Janine's strong points is creating whimsical sculpted pieces. Take this piece in particular, one wrong move and this could have been a contender for regresty. Lucky for us, this piece came out nothing short of amazing!
   


3. Pow Comic - Fascinator ($125.00): Finally a fascinator that does my enormous head justice. Covered in rhinestones this piece definitely screams personality, but do I have enough to wear it? I'll have to get back to you on that one.
   

Thoughts? Leave them in the comments.

What to Wear: nOir jewelry

As you all know I am a huge fan of vintage and re-purposed vintage jewelry, but nOir JEWELRY may just tempt into buying some modern pieces. Founded about 14 years ago by Leeora Catalan and based in NYC, "Noir’s fresh and cheeky take on style blends glamour with an edgy street influence". In short, all the makings of a craveworthy collection - even for notoriously picky me.

There are so many amazing pieces in the collection, but here are just a few of my personal favorites.

1. Goldie the Elephant Ring (5-7, 10; $175.00): This is what I love about nOir Jewlery - they take what I normally hate and make it into a must buy! I usually love my rings simple and sleek, but I just cannot help myself from falling in love with this elephant ring. Made of Cubic Zirconia and Rhodium plated brass this ring could seriously bring any outfit up a notch.


2. Cactus Ring (Sizes 6-9; $135.00): Same goes for this unique piece. I know the design name references cactus, but what I love about is that it reminds me a flower just about to bloom. This adds a bit of mystery to the piece in my mind as you would never get to know the color or type of the flora about to burst onto the scene. Solid brass plated in 18K gold with Cubic Zirconia Stones as thorns this ring will be sure to add a bit of daring glamor to any occasion.
   
   
3. Mercutio Bracelet ($60.00): I never have been much of a bangle person as I feel the design lends itself more often than not to bulky as well as cumbersome construction. This piece could not be any farther from that due to its elegant execution. It comes in several variants, but my favorite one shown here made of Gold and Rhoduim. The color combination and design being such an attention grabber this piece will be sure to turn heads no matter the destination or the pairing!
   
   
4. Venus Necklace ($435.00): Statements necklaces are normally hit or miss. Designers more often than not miss that fine line between fashion forward and bejeweled baby bib in my humble opinion. This Austrian crystal cluster necklace in red thankfully escapes this fate. The gold plated brass metal finish coupled with the bright red crystals is edgy and sophisticated at the same time. This is also what prevents it from becoming dated as well as ensures that it can be worn with pretty much anything!
   

Any other indie jewelry designers out there that you love? Leave them in the comments!

Love at First Sight: The One that Might Get Away

Has this ever happened to you before?

You are walking around a department store completely disinterested. Then all of a sudden out of the corner of your eye something grabs your attention. When you finally reach it you know that it is: THE ONE. That special piece you always needed to complete your wardrobe, but never knew it?

This happened to me just this weekend at Bloomingdales. I was wandering the store trying to recover a bit from the oppressive heat and humidity beating down on the city, and then I saw it. It was love at first sight.

I knew it was wrong and I was going to wind up burnt, but I just could not help myself. This dress was everything everything I had ever fantasized about and more. The blue was bold, the material a stiff yet supple poplin, and the design itself was just as quirky as I am. The only problem with this DVF dress? The largest size was a 14. Even though I knew to expect as much my mind was still reeling. There was no way I could squeeze into the dress.

Then it hit me - didn't Dianne Von Furstenberg sell dresses online in a size 16? Maybe. I could not remember for the life of me. So, I kept hope alive and sought out the Tonnes Dress I so desperately wanted on DVF's website. It only went up to a size 14 and for some reason was paired with a studded belt.

Now I have 2 choices. One is to let the dream of that dress die or torture the hell out of myself for the next two months to get to wear it. I say this all just having eaten pancakes for breakfast, so I guess you all know what the safe bet is readers.

Any of you have a "one that got away" story to share? Leave it in the comments.

What to Wear: I see London, I see France

- Christian Dior, The Little Dictionary of Fashion

I was stopped dead in my tracks when I read this the other day. It made me slightly ashamed of my own undergarment collection as there is no way I would consider them refined. Even though these various bras from Target and Victoria's Secret perform their function, they do truly leave something lacking in that regard. I vowed to do something about this immediately, but I wanted to go beyond the banal purchase from Townhouse. I wanted something with a little personality but still refined, which is hard to find when wear a larger cup size.

Here is what I found dear readers! I hope you love these pics as much as I do. Also, since I tend to be on the larger side I did my best to include those items that go up to a D and beyond DD+!

1. Agent Provocateur - Fenella Bra (Sizes 32A-36E; $170.00): Sleek straps, cream satin, and black crepe! What more is there is to ask for in bra that manages to be cute and sexy at the same time? I love how low cut it is and often times as it is extremely difficult to find that in larger sizes. This one is definitely my favorite out of the bunch for what it is worth!


2. La Senza - Maria Bandeau Bra (Sizes 32A-38F; $32.54): The straps on this in the DD+ sizes skew to the larger side, yet they still refrain from being a huge impediment in regards to wardrobe choices. This bra is a fantastic buy as it could be paired with everything from a Tshirt to a sexy top. I mean gives someone a bigger confidence boost than hiding titillating undergarments in plain sight.


3. Kiki de Montparnasse - Muse Corselette Bra (Sizes 32A - 36D; $275.00): My favorite part of this piece is that the clasp is in the front. I know its intended purpose is to make it easier for nocturnal activities or maybe a bit of afternoon delight. For me, it is such a great selling point as I could imagine easily slipping it on in the morning when I am struggling to get out the door. Trust me guys sometimes even us girls have a hard time getting those things on/off. The unfinished look of the design reminds me of old time corsetry, which I am sure is the point when you consider the name of the design.

Oh and I thought I would pass along this helpful tip while I was at it. Many times I have been able to find my cup but not the corresponding band-size necessary. That is where these babies come in: Fashion Forms - Soft Back Bra Extenders ($12.00). You can pick them up at Victoria's Secret and most likely your local drugstore as well.

Thoughts? Places to shop for amazing bras? Leave it in the comments.