Inspiration

Mc Luvin - Animal from Disque Primeur on Vimeo.

Nike SB: "Support your Local" from Charles Lanceplaine on Vimeo.

Fishtail Braids

Big beautiful braid

OB = Olsen braid.

I remember back in the glory days when Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears were at the peaks of their teen pop sensation careers, basking in the golden rays of fame. I speak more of Christina Aguilera in this particular case because I'm thinking of a very specific interview in which her hair caught my pre-adolescent eye. It was messy and braided to the side in a quickly thrown-together kind of way. Now, we all know that it probably took 6 hairstylists 3 hours to create the look, but the point is that it didn't look like that one bit. The braid part is really struck me, though. It was a fishtail braid, one of my favorite kinds of braids that I love doing in my own hair because its not too hard and looks unique. I can't seem to find a picture of Ms. Aguilera from that interview but I've posted some photos for you to catch a peek at the sweet style. I've been loving braids in general, anyways - they're like the fringe I posted about, only twisted together! There's something very natural and unpretentious about braids, perhaps even hippie-esque and dating back to the 70s, that makes for an "I did it myself" feeling. I like that.

Clean fishtail braid

Braided belt by Jay from Project Runway (episode 7)

Messier fishtail braid by Fergie

A random braid of tires in Chelsea on the west side of NYC

Song of the day: Seth Troxler - Aphrika

Velvet is back

A classic velvet look... I wouldn't exactly recommend.

I want to call this trend-spotting but I'm not 100% sure yet. I've seen it around and I've seen it incorporated into every sort of outfit possible. Jackets, button-down shirts, small details on blazers, whole pants (no, I'm NOT talking about the tacky kind that give inappropriate superlatives to your derriere such as "tasty" or "Juicy") and shoes.

I think it's better to classify these as lounge loafers.

Christine Centenera, Fashion Editor at Australian Harpers Bazaar. I found her through Wide Awake Thoughts, who found her on aperfectguide.se. I find her stunningly classy and chic, just like her velvet dress.
Cropped jacket. $260 at TopShop. Thanks, Kate.

The trimming on the lapels adds sophisticated flare... DAMNIT D&G, why can't I buy you?

I like this Elizabeth and James version at $545. FYI: E&J = one of the Olsen Twins' lines, named after their siblings; how sweet of them to incorporate the other members of their family into their glamorous lives! (not bitter, promise)

As a final side comment, I'd like to note that I've seen several different versions of male-worn velvet. One friend has a wonderful velvet blazer with satin lapels, all in black. It's a really great jacket and looks classy, dressed up and dressed down all at the same time. Another has what we call the Hef (as seen in the first photo) - it's burgundy but thankfully doesn't look like he just walked out of the Grotto with seven Bunnies clad in ears and tails. I wish I had photo evidence of this back-and-shoulder-magic (It's all about the shoulders and back in a men's blazer, gentlemen (in my opinion)).