feminine, spring style

At work, I always wear a dress or skirt (seriously, always) and am often adorned with feminine details, especially ruffles and bows. Today I wanted to share a favorite work outfit for the spring: a bright pencil skirt and a top ruffled within an inch of its life.

Top, Anthropologie
Skirt, Nordstrom
Trench, Banana Republic
Shoes, Nine West (see my customized version here)
Shades, Rebecca Minkoff
Photos by Third Eye Chic

I love the pop of color this skirt provides and despite its bold hue, it is more versatile and wearable than I imagined. It looks absolutely ah-mazing with navy striped tops and other bright colors (orange in green in particular). 

As for pencil skirts, and I don't think I'm revealing anything major here, the top should be tucked in or if left untucked, belted at the waist. Pencil skirts are the ultimate in femininity and professionalism so aim to show off your silhouette and look polished.

A trench tops the whole look off. When not draped over my shoulders, I keep my trenches open, as Parisians do. How are you incorporating spring into your work wardrobe these days?

5 ways to preserve your blowout

I love getting a blowout because I feel confident with my newly shiny, bouncy, sassy hair. But how to keep that high going in the days after your blowout? Fear not, today I'm sharing my five best tips for getting the most out of your style.* Pictured below is my hair on Day 3 after the blowout. My bangs got wonky, so I pulled them back, but the rest still looks sleek (if I do say so myself).

1. Dry shampoo. It is the single most important thing you can do to add two to three days to the life of your blowout. Without it, you may be able to get an extra day. Spray twelve inches away from your roots, wait a minute, and using your hands or a brush, work the powder through your roots.

Using Got 2 B Dry Shampoo, one of my drugstore favorites

2. Avoid touching your hair, as much as possible. This can be difficult for me because I'm usually so in awe of my shiny, glossy hair that I want to play with it, but try not to. 

3. Avoid making creases in your hair, which can happen when you tie your ponytail too tight and/or because you're using a harsh elastic. Consider using the very gentle hair ties that are made of knotted fabric. You can find these anywhere these days and they're fantastic at not leaving a dent.

Hair Ties, Anthropologie
Image via anthropologie.com

4. Wear a shower cap when you take a shower to keep the steam from frizzing your hair. You can use the cheap-o plastic shower caps, which last several washes and are also ideal for deep conditioning your hair. If you don't have one, wrap your hair in a towel to keep it all covered. Here's my hair loosely wrapped in a friendly ponytail holder (see tip #3) and tucked in a shower cap.

5. After working out, use your blow dryer on the cool setting to spot dry the parts of your hair that may need it. Also, use dry shampoo (tip #1) to absorb any sweat that remains.

Good hair days don't have to be random--help yourself out with a few steps that hardly take any time at all!

*Adapted from Gust-o's 8 tips to make your blow-out last.

dear paris, i miss you.

When I'm feeling blue and missing Paris, I often turn to my photographs from a recent trip to give me a dose of Parisian charm. Given that it'll be at least a few months until my next trip, I'm sharing several pictures of Paris to carry me through, and hopefully give you a fill of the City of Light.

Street Artist in the 1st Arrondissment

Yum, Laduree

Laduree treats must be served in heaven

Contrasting architecture on the Champs-Elysees

A Notre Dame chimera overlooking the Seine and the Eiffel Tower

Yum...street crepe avec Nutella

A real-life princess in Versaille's Hall of Mirrors

Wherever your summer travels take you, I hope you visit a place that inspires and delights you!

making fashion history: dior's new look

When World War II ended in 1945, fashion, as it always does, soon reflected the new post-war world, and no one in fashion demonstrated that spirit better than Christian Dior, with a collection that was named the "New Look." But what was so new about his look?

Museum display of the New Look, Moscow 2011
By shakko (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

As World War II splintered Europe, nations rationed civilians' food and textiles to make sure the soldiers on the frontline had enough resources to continue fighting. (See what the women wore who took over men's factory jobs here.) Minimalism and functionality were key, even in dress. Skirts were to the knee and blouses were simply cut, as shown in the picture below. These rations were taken so seriously that Balenciaga's couture house was temporarily shut down in 1941 because it exceeded its allotted fabric rations.

Women celebrating the end of World War II, 1945
By Alexandra Studios [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In 1947, after the war and its forced frugality ended, Monsieur Dior debuted his Corolle collection, which featured the Bar Suit, the most iconic look of the group. The Bar Suit was new because the jacket had padded hips and more detailed architecture, while the skirt's hem was longer and fuller. The skirt required more than triple the amount of fabric than dresses made during the austere war years!

1997 Barbie wearing Christian Dior's New Look
Photo via Flickr, Vagner Carvalheiro

While a nipped-in waist and a full skirt was a common look among the corseted women from decades earlier, this look was new and fresh after the war, and it became the defining silhouette of the 1950s. The popularity of Dior's pieces invigorated his newly founded couture house and also revived Paris as a fashion capital of the world. This look is still celebrated for its femininity and is one of my favorite silhouettes because of the way it flatters my figure. Merci, Christian Dior!