STYLE EVOLUTION: What I Wore in High School 1999-2003

I know it's late April when I start seeing the sidewalks of Charleston and Huntington covered in pastel-colored ball gowns and too big tuxedos.

Then, I start thinking back to my prom, and then I start thinking about high school, and then I remember that this year is my 10 year high school reunion. Yikes.

I thought it would be interesting to post a little bit about who my fashion icons were at the time, and what I wore:

Liz Parker from the TV show Roswell | Joey Potter from the TV show Dawson's Creek | Jackie O
Ali MacGraw from the movie Love Story | Everything from the movie Blue Crush

If I were to really describe my fashion sense during high school, I'd describe it as a preppy surfer girl, which more or less equals out to Abercrombie & Fitch, during its heyday. I liked simple clothes that were easy to wear, which I still do. I was also very much into vintage clothing, especially flares from the 1970s. I'm one of six kids, and at the time there were a couple of kids in college and some of us still in prep school so money was pretty tight. I couldn't afford the Abercrombie that everyone else was wearing so when I was stuck shopping at Goodwill for clothes, I decided to really go ahead and embrace vintage.

My mom was another one of my inspirations. My mom grew up in San Fransisco during the 1950s and 1960s. Yes, she hung out at Haight-Ashbury during the Summer of Love. I loved going through the few pictures she had from those times and getting a sense of the styles that people were wearing and then trying to recreate them from the racks at Goodwill. I found the best vintage shop in Huntington around that time, it was just a little hole-in-the-wall by where the Village on Sixth is now located. I had no trouble finding the flares I loved so much there. I got all sorts of jeans, sweaters, and amazing tee shirts from there. It also sold the finest in head shop paraphernalia.

However, there was one little thing to keep in mind about my high school years. I wore a uniform from the age of 6 to the age of 18.

This is based off my senior year. I had to wear khakis or navy blue pants or skirts. We had polo shirts with the school logo on them that came in white or navy, and on cooler days we could wear a plain navy sweatshirt/sweater. My accessories included Wallabee shoes because they are the most comfortable shoe on earth, a yin yang necklace because that was the thing at the time, and I had a giant tote bag that I used instead of a backpack.

Here's what I wore on the weekends:

Flares, camp shirts, and chunky turtlenecks were favorites of mine. For a few years I incorporated a hint of military into my closet because I found some old Army shirts at Goodwill and loved them. There's the obligatory surfer-inspired gear all high school girls wear at one point. I had a crazy collection of messenger bags during high school, I still love them today. For shoes I typically wore my Wallabees from my school uniform, and the original Candie's slides. This was back when they were $50 and sold at Nordstrom instead of Kohl's.

I won't lie, I would still wear 70% of the clothes I owned in high school.

Here's one of my senior portraits:

Sweater? Check. Low-rise flares? Check and check. Converse? Check, check, and check.

The Battle For Flatlandia: Who Makes the Best Flats?

In the country of Malli on the subcontent of East Retailia, an ongoing conflict known as the Battle for Flatlandia has consumed most of the female population for the past several years. After years of dictatorship by a man known to the nation as Pointy Stiletto (real name: Jimmy Choo), the women of the small but influential region in Flatlandia rebelled. While they were not successful in completely overthrowing Pointy Stiletto from Malli, they managed to gain a foothold in their native homeland. After a brief period of peace the residents began to turn on each other in a power struggle for dominance in the countryside, which was quickly filling with refugees from the Blahnik Mountains in the north, the Louboutin jungles to the south, and the Vivier river valley which was dangerously close to Flatlandia. The sudden influx of shelter seekers to the Flatlandia plains had originally confused the residents whom were often the butt of many a Mallian joke. Factions began forming, with five main groups controlling most of the Flatlandia Plains while dozens if not hundreds of much smaller groups remained in the shadows. Some of the groups, such as Madewell, J.Crew, and Gap were similarly armed in materials and workmanship but demanded high prices for "security." Others such as Old Navy and Target were very popular due to their friendliness to the pocketbooks of the Flatlandia population, offering similar "protection" for much less cost.

Target (similar) | Madewell | Old Navy | Gap | J. Crew

There is no absolute answer as to who makes the best flats. It really depends on what you're doing in the shoes and your feet. All the shoes I featured above are the ones I wear the most, and most of them are at least six months old. The blue Target flats I've had for at least three years that are still going strong. I have several pairs of flats from the Gap that just keep going despite me walking to the moon and back in them. Let me break down the pros and cons of each:

Do keep in mind that details in flats can vary, even those made by the same brand.

Here are some of my other favorite brands for flats:

Jack Rogers

Land's End

H&M

American Eagle Outfitters

Where are your favorite places to buy flats?

REVIEW: Eva NYC Shampoo & Conditioner

Available at Ulta & Drugstore.com.
 You can also buy it direct from the conmpany but it's twice the price.

I'm running out of my beloved Joico liters and I've been reluctant to buy new ones. Considering I do nada with my hair, I really can't justify paying $60-ish on just hair products. I can sometimes find them at Marshall's or T.J. Maxx but I've been striking out lately.

While browsing the selection in Ulta, I came across these two bright pink bottles. They were made for all hair types and had Argan oil, so I figured I had nothing to lose, I was going to have to try something new anyways. I didn't even smell them, I just grabbed them, paid, and left.

I research the hell out of anything cosmetic/beauty-related before I buy it, so trying something from a brand I've never even heard of is a new experience for me.

I'm really impressed with both of these products. A lot of products claim to work on oily hair but really don't. This one tamed my oil without drying my hair, and also made it super shiny and soft as well. The only test it did fail was my "can I get away with washing my hair every other day." Summer's coming up and with my hair going from just oily to BP-in-the-Gulf-Oily, I'm going to have to wash my hair everyday so it's not a big deal.

Did I mention how amazing this stuff smells? The shampoo has a vanilla scent with a hint of florals. It smells good enough I'd wear it as a perfume. The conditioner actually doesn't seem to have a smell to me.

There's a whole product lineup, some of which Ulta sells, including a dry shampoo which has been added to my shopping list, an Argan oil hair oil, and a deep conditioning mask amongst others.

They also make hair tools. This flat iron is so freakin' amazing I may have to get it to replace my Remington Straight-to-Wet from 2005 (I straighten my hair twice a year).

NEW SERIES! Wear This, Not That: The Black Blob

I'm really excited to introduce a new series on the blog today: Wear This, Not That! I was inspired to start this series because I see a lot of women in West Virginia wearing the same outfits that appear to be good ideas, just poorly executed.

The first in this series is an outfit I call The Black Polyester Blob. As you'll see below, this is a common outfit often seen in downtown Charleston and Huntington on any given workday, and occasionally at nicer events on the weekend. This outfit reminds me of those crappy polyester gowns you have to wear for graduation, nobody really looks good in them. This outfit is the same way.

I understand why people like this look. It's easy care and easy to wear. However, this is a very dated look and isn't as flattering as it appears to be.
1. Either a drapey waterfall cardigan or a cropped cardigan of some sort2. A tank top with lace trim on the bottom band
3. Polyester wide leg pants, sometimes with large cuffs on the bottom
4. Satin pleated shoes

What's wrong with this outfit? Firstly, there's too much polyester. Polyester is best in moderation, when you're wearing so much of this drapey material, you get an effect similar to wear a graduation gown, which is why I made that remark a minute ago. A lot of women assume drape = concealment which isn't always true. This outfit gives no definition to any part of your body, making you look like a giant blob.

2.The tank tops that have the elastic trim at the bottom need to go. Very often the lace is in bad shape and when that happens, the top is basically ruined, which is why I don't advocate people buying them in the first place.
3.The wide leg pant can be a tricky item to wear. A rule of thumb is that if one piece of clothing is drapey, say a cardigan, the other item of clothing needs to be fitted. If these were cotton or poplin pant, this outfit would look much better.
4. I remember when these pleated satin shoes came out. I was like 14-16 at the time, and they were originally meant for 12-year-olds to wear to their first school dance. If you'll look for them in stores, they're typically made by brands specializing in junior's clothing such as Bongo, L.E.I., and Candie's. These shoes look very juvenile and should be avoided no matter the outfit.

Here's how to make this outfit look so much better:

1. I kept the waterfall cardigan as it's a good piece for any wardrobe.
2. I traded the tank with lace trim at the bottom for one with lace trim at the top. I chose lilac because it's a great shade for spring.
3. What really saves this outfit is the fitted pant. This particular pair is very flattering. Yes, you'll probably have to spend four hours in a dressing room to find a pair that looks this incredible on you, but it's worth it.
4. To add some definition to the body, I chose this cute belt in a bright cantaloupe color to complement the lilac. I would wear the belt on the outside of the cardigan to make the bright punchy color stand out.
5. Matching accessories are always key.
6. I chose simple black shoes with slightly pointy toes because A) they're more professional looking, B) they make the leg look longer, and C) they're meant for adults and not the those with One Direction posters on their walls.

The Essie Spring Reds Collection

This isn't official Essie collection, more of a "wow, I've got an awful lot of red Essie polishes" collection.

I've been on a classic nail color streak lately. I've been sticking with colors that are either neutral, such as griege, or reds and pinks. While digging through my polish stash the other day I noticed I had a lot of reds from Essie and that a lot of them were really great colors for spring.

You can buy Essie products at most drugstores, Ulta stores and Ulta.com, or eNail Supply.

Chubby Cheeks: I've reviewed Chubby Cheeks before, and it's one of my all-time favorite colors. It's a sunkissed red with a touch of coral to it. You can find it at Ulta, should they ever decide to straighten up their store.

Silken Cord: A cool shade of red with almost an almost fuchsia undertone. Perfection in two coats with a great shine. The blue tinge to it separates it from most basic red polishes and is really worth buying if reds are your thing. Since it was released in the 2010 winter collection it's tricky to find, but you can get it for $6.99 through eNail Supply.

Geranium: I reviewed Geranium last year at the same time as Chubby Cheeks. It's a bright red with orange undertones and a shiny finish that slightly resembles a jelly polish. If you're looking for a happy, poppy red this is the perfect polish. This one can easily be found at most drugstores, Target/Walmart, or Ulta.

Head Mistress: This came out in last year's fall collection and you can read my review here. While this may appear to some as too dark for spring, it lacks the brown undertones that would make this a burgundy or oxblood. This is another blue-tinged cool red that--to me at least--is a darker Silken Cord. If you like darker colors but still want to be spring-y, choose this polish. It may still be available at Ulta, or you can get it through eNail Supply.

I've really pushed eNail Supply in this post because it's my go-to place for discontinued or hard-to-find polishes. Their customer service is also really helpful, they're pretty good about being able to suggest a product or help find a replacement for a discontinued product.

We'll Be Right Back After These Messages!

Exciting news, at least for me anyways! I am either getting ready or in the process of moving the blog to a self-hosted server.

If you're not sure what this means, basically it means I'll have a lot more control over the look and feel of the blog, and will have the ability to add a lot more in the way of interactive features. I'll also have some additional features on the back end of the blog (basically editing and such) that you won't see but will save me hella amounts of time.

The blog may disppear for a day or two, but don't worry it'll be back bigger and better.

In the meantime, follow me on Twitter @WVFashion for blog updates and other musings!

Rest in Colorful Peace, Lilly Pulitzer

It all started with a juice stand.

Lilly Pulitzer had just married Peter Pulitzer in the early 1950s and relocated to West Palm Beach from New York City. Her husband owned several orange groves and since she had nothing to do, she decided to open a juice stand.

The juices kept staining her dresses, so she had a seamstress design easy-to-wear shifts in bright colorful prints. These dresses soon sold more than the dresses and an American legend was born.  She became a household name when a former classmate, Jacqueline Kennedy, was photographed wearing the now iconic shift dress.

My Lilly Pulitzer story began when I was 12-13ish, making the year 1996 or so. As a lover of bright, tropical colors and prints, her prints and ladylike styles stood out to me amidst the Abercrombie and American Eagle of the era. She was the first designer whom I really could recognize by aesthetic and she remains my favorite designer.

I consider Lilly Pulitzer to what I call an "heirloom" brand. What I consider an heirloom brand is one where people hang onto the clothes and accessories year after year. Last summer's dresses are welcomed with open arms this summer. It's the dress you try to borrow from your mom's closet when you're 16...and when you're 36.

Lilly Pulitzer also designed two lovely scarves for The Greenbrier:

According to The Greenbrier's website, the pink & green scarf contains "rhododendrons, The Greenbrier "G", the Springhouse, a Dorothy Draper clock, and The Greenbrier's arched windows." The blue scarf on the right has "the Cameo Ballroom, Victorian Writing Room, the Springhouse, and The Greenbrier front entrance"  They're $118 each, and you can click here or on the picture above to buy one.

The BEST Product to Help Hide Pores!

I have a backlog of products to review, so you'll be seeing those the rest of the week. You know, before I forget.

Sephora, $30

I had actually bought this last summer and for one reason or another it's just sat in my makeup box, lonely and forgotten. This past week, when I've been thinking about my skin way too often, I was complaining to myself about how large my pores have been looking. Then I remember I had this sitting on my vanity, and added it to my makeup routine.

For the record, you can't shrink your pores. Once they're big, they're that way for life. However, there are many products floating that claim to minimize the appearance of pores, this product being one of them.

To be brief, I love this stuff. It really does work. I saw probably a good 75% reduction in the appearance of my pores. I keep looking at my skin, just tickled by how well it looks.

This can also be used as a primer and I've noticed my makeup staying on a tad better through the day. It has a pinkish-beige color to it that disappears as you apply it. Word to the wise: a little goes a long way. I used too much at the beginning, and the product will "ball up," sort of like a sweater pilling. You might also compare it to eyeshadow when it gathers in the crease of your lid. The texture is very light and soft, like a whipped mousse. It helped keep some shine away during the afternoon and it makes your face super soft.

I can't recommend this stuff enough (heh, that rhymes). If you want, Sephora can make you a sample and you can try it for yourself.

My Weird Clarisonic Story

This is a bit of an odd story and I'm not even sure if it's worth telling but something just feels...off, even when I discuss it with friends.

This past Saturday, I was browsing the Sephora inside the JC Penney's at the Charleston Town Center. One of the first sections I always hit up is the clearance section, just to see if something I've had my eye on has dropped in price. Lo and behold, there on the bottom shelf towards the very back is a Clarisonic Classic. It doesn't have a price on it, so I ask. It's a mere $90. I've been debating on buying a Clarisonic for sometime (like, over a year) because I've decided I need something with a bit more oomph than my Olay Pro-X brush. My logic was this: I can spend $90 for the Clarisonic now, or pay $225 down the road. I chose to go ahead and get it.

The Sephora associate advises to charge it for 24 hours before use. I excitedly plug it in and start reading the instruction manual. Huh, there's supposed to be a blinking green light? I don't see one. I try a few more outlets and decided I probably got a dud. The Clarisonic has a warranty so I call into their customer service. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi, I bought a Clarisonic Classic two days ago and it's not charging. The instructions say there should be a blinking light and I don't see one.

Clarisonic Customer Service: Hmm, okay. What's the serial number on the handle?

Me: [whatever the serial number is]. I even tried it in different outlets and I know the outlets work find because I just charged my cellphone in the sam--

Clarisonic Customer Service: Um, ma'am, I hate to interrupt but when did you buy your Clarisonic again?

Me: Saturday afternoon, two days ago.

Clarisonic Customer Service: According to our records, this model was made four years ago.

Me: You gotta be kidding me.

To make a long story short, I had to scan in my Sephora receipt and send it in the Clarisonic folks. Although it may be four years old, they're honoring the warranty and sending me the Clarisonic Plus, the model that replaced the Classic (I really don't see a difference, except there's a body brush head included). So I'm getting the $225 model I was really hesitant to buy in the first place.

The weird part is that I can't wrap my mind around is the fact Sephora is selling a four-year old product. The model is discontinued, which is fine as long as it still works. But this particular little brush has been sitting on a shelf in a Sephora warehouse or stores since 2009.

Maybe I'm making too much of this. I probably am.

I will state for the record that Clarisonic has amazing customer service. Other than the fact both the service agent and I were both shocked to find this brush was so old, it was super smooth and painless. The worst part was that I had to sit on hold for 25 minutes.

If you're interested in purchasing a Clarisonic, Sephora sells plenty that work.

You can also buy one through SkinStore.com, and take 20% off the purchase price.

REVIEW: Josie Maran's Argan Lip Treatment

If you're unfamiliar with Sephora's Beauty Bank, essentially it's a way of earning free products for shopping at Sephora. Fo every dollar spent, you get a point. When you get 100 points, you can redeem them for a travel-size product. If you save up 500 points, you can get a kit that usually has one full-sized product along with a few other travel-sized products. The kits usually end up being around a $40-50 value, which is nothing to sneeze at. I've been over 500 points for sometime, waiting for the right 500 point perk to come along. When purchasing my Illamasqua nail polish the other week, I was offered this Josie Moran perk and decided to take it.

The Argan Lip Treatment in this package is full size and retails for $18. The Argan Oil is a 0.5 travel-size bottle that retails for $14. The Bare Naked wipes and Argan Cleansing oils are both probably worth $20 together.

The Argan Lip Treatment is a creamy smooth balm that has the most delicious green apple scent. I also think there's just a hint of vanilla in there, too. I actually stood and smelled it for a few minutes, taking some big whiffs because it smells that good. The texture is very smooth and silky and not greasy at all. There's no applicator so you have to apply it with your finger, which some people like and some hate. I was looking at the lid, and I think you could jerry-rig an applicator in there pretty easily.

Despite the wonderful smell, the taste really doesn't follow suit. The closest I can describe the taste is that it's similar to that of Vaseline. Not great but not horrible either. It feels nice and light on the lips, and gives a pretty sheen. However, this lip treatment isn't very mositurizing at all. It disappeared off my lips in under ten minutes and left them feeling drier. I had a similar experience with Maybelliene's Baby Lips last year.

If I hate to rate Josie Maran's Argan Lip Treatment, I would probably give it only 1 star out of five. Yes, it smells amazing but it doesn't moisturize very well, essentially making this product pointless.

If you're looking for a moisturizing balm, spend a few dollars more and get Fresh's Sugar balms. They come in a variety of sheer yet buildable colors, and there's an intensive care balm as well.

For who lose their lip stuff on the daily, you can't beat Alba Botanica. They're organic, come in a range of flavors, it stays on forever, and it costs less than $3. You can find it at most drugstores, Walmart/Target, and Kroger's.

Oh, Shift!

Lilly Pulitzer is an absolute favorite of mine. I love bright colors and prints, so naturally Lilly and I would be a perfect fit for each other.
Lilly's offerings often have unique details that separates them from similar items you may find in say, Macy's or Kohl's. A basic navy blazer from Kohl's will be just that--a basic navy blazer. However, a Lilly blazer would have a scalloped hem or sleeves. It's those little touches that make her clothes so beautiful.  They're also easy to wear. To me, a Lilly dress and simple accessories can help me get out the door in no time.

I will openly admit her clothes are very much a niche market, mostly limited to those who are fans of preppy or Southern fashion. If you find her prints too whimsical for your tastes, she also offers many items with amazing textures and colors.

Also for a limited time, you can get a free keychain with any purchase and a charm bracelet with any purchase over $250 (not to mention free shopping!):

Since I've been in need of a new keychain, I went ahead and bought a phone case I've been lusting over for sometime:

U Gotta Regatta is probably my favorite Lilly print ever.