Knee Socks

One of my favorite things in the world are socks. Whether they are matching who not, they make feet fun. But lately, socks have come up from the ankle. For the up and coming spring season, I can see socks sticking around. And not just any kind of socks. Knee socks. They are everywhere! They also have a high price tagg. I have a problem with spending $17.00 on one pair of socks. That's what I call poor choices. So instead of looking at the typical stores, I am on sock websites. Yes, their are sites the sell just socks.
So I found a site called socks4life.com that has a variety of patterns and color in their knee high sock page. All of the options in the collage below are under $5.00 which is much more reasonable.

If you are unsure of how exactly you should wear knee high socks it is actually really simple. I will be showing you guys a how to wear these socks. Check back soon!

Disney Princesses Rethought: pictures

I'm sure that we all know who the Disney Princesses are. But lately, they have been getting some interesting make overs. These new looks range from hipster to zombie and show off a more grown up side to our childhood movie heros.
Personally, my favorite princess was Cinderella. She really earned her place in the kingdom and the biggest moment of the movie involves a shoe. This is totally up my alley.
Lately though, I have been interested in all of them in their new spots. My interest started when Glamour featured a picture of the 'hipster' princesses last year. Since then, I have been really happy to see all the spin offs of the girls.
I know this is totally unorganized but these are some of the most common ones that I have seen:

I love these pictures because, first of all, they are art. There is nothing better than people taking something that everyone thinks they know amd reinventing. These drawings show the princesses cover Vogue in couture gowns, following the hipster fad, and being covered in tattoos. And these are just some of the ones I have in my images alone.

These inspiring females have become one of us.

Basics

I think we can all agree that nobody wants to spend a bunch of money on basic clothing. I mean, $20 for a plain white t shirt is a little ridicolous. The problem is that when you suddenly need a white tshirt and you don't have one. That's something that should never happen when you shop as much as I do. And what is even more annoying is when you are struggling with a cam i shortage. So I decided to look for a few deals on some basic clothing. I know for a fact that Forever 21 has some great deals on basics, but I like options.
One of the most advertised deals that I see is at Wet Seal. It's a 5 for $20 deal on their basic pieces. There categories for the special includes crop tops, tanks, camis, tees, shorts, and leggings. Glancing through the selection, I saw plenty or variety. There were prints and neutrals with a lovely mix of color. My favorite option was the shorts. Even though they are not denim like I normally prefer, they are very cute.

Of course Forever 21 does have some great buys. If you go on their site you can find the basics shop. Everything in their basic collection is under $20. This includes tops, dresses, and jeans. That makes for a great deal if you are looking for anything from a cam i in three different styles to a plain pair of denim capris. And you might question the quality with these prices but I have purchased one of their $1.80 camis and a $7.80 pair of jeans and they both have great quality.

Wet Seal's Season

I know that I mentioned the new selection for Wet Seal and I really think that I did not give their decesions for the season the recognition that they deserve. While sitting in class today I decided that I will indeed be making a few purchases from them for spring. The nice thing is that the tops I am looking at easily translate into the summer season. I hate when something is only apropiate for one time period.

First of all, I am really excited to have tank top backs because next will be shorts and tanning. But I have to say that I do not like when people wear all knit, stretchy tops. I think that summer is a great oppurtunity to wear some really cute clothes. That is why I love the black top. I really cannot give up black for a whole season as it is one of the prodominate colors in my closet. I like the ease of wearing black as it is simple and has the potential to portray any attitude. This top is a little softer than, say, the amazing black leather jacket. I love the lace around the neck and the shape it is cut out in. As for the middle top, the print sells it. The cut of the top is very appropiat which is a huge plus. I love the string hanging down on the side to keep it from being too basic. The white top is just a huge fan of mine. I love that style. The little bit of print is not too intense but adds a little something. Also, the sleeves are so comfortable. I had two tops like that that I use to wear all the time. They flowed and were so comfotable. This one would be even better since it is not a crop top.

So I have a really big obseesion with long earrings. I own so many stud sets and rarely wear them because I feel that drops are so much prettier. The beaded pair is a change from silver or good which I often catch myself gravitating towards. They would match a wide variety of looks like metal does but I've a boho touch. But, again, I gravitate towerds metal which makes the heart eatting great to. They have the dangle I love and the hearts are cute. The middle is a set of headbands. There is lace, floral,and a nice brown. I normally shy away from brown with my hair color but I think pairing it with the lace would look super cute.

Alright guys, I am going to be looking at a lot of dresses and cute stuff in the next few weeks so you have got to follow @velvetgiggles to see it. I cannot post everything on the blog. I am considering starting another social media too. I am leaning towards tumblr but I know instagram is super popular. If you have a preference comment below and the dominate will probably win.

Books and Fashion

For those of you who didn't know, I am a huge fan of Pintrest. I follow all my favorite stores and often get to see what they currently have in a new way. Instead if looking at prices (a habit if mine) I get to focus just on the clothes. Anyway, Wet Seal has been pinning awesome stuff lately. They have a great store and right now have some nice peasent tops and feminine peibts which are preftect for spring. But what really caught my attention is the exact opposite. This tank top is pratically a cut off as it has raw edges on the sleeves.

Everyone has a fictional character crush. If you don't then please go to the library and pick up a book. Any book. Because this is something that everyone needs. And I don't mean Edward and Jacob. Not even Peeta and Gale. These guys have been forced into a visual appearance deemed attractive by society. Now, I'm not downing Twilight or Hunger Games. I love the Hunger Games. But the male characters in this books have been forced into a specific appearance. One of my goals as a writer is to leave room for my readers to imagine the characters for themselves. I think that leaves room to develop a real fictional crush.
My fictional crush's name is William Hayward from the Eden Trilogy written by Nicole Williams. Now your probably saying that you never heard of it. I really recommend this series to any and every girl. I loved it. It plays with your emotions and involves immortality, fighting, and love. But William is one of the most anazing characters I have ever read about. He is everything a girl could ask for and then some. I really fell for him and, honestly, wanted to steal him from the main character. If you want to read the series and have either Nook or Kindle the first book, Eternal Eden, it is free in both stores.

But you have to address the fact that popular novels do tie into fashion. If you haven't heard about it, The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene is about to become a motion picture. If you haven't  read it, shame on you. You need to go and pick it up sometwhere and read it. The cover has been adapted into a print replucates on tshirts and hoodies. It is not a picture of the characters. It has meaning.

Another connection writing and fashion have involves Polyvore. Polyvore allows you to create collages and outfits with a HUGE library of clothing to choose from. On multiple writing sites that I have been on, writers make that connection from a collage to help the reader visualize what the character is wearing. After all, a persons clothing defines everything from personality to time period. For example, I have been digging around in 90's trends to dress my main character.
Fashion has many connections to the World that we sometimes overlook. Books are just one example of how clothes control the world we live in. And you thought your smartphone was in charge.

Dressing Up

After the past few months of bitter weather, the prospect of a heat wave is a life savior. Honestly, it has been too cold to wear leggings most of the time. These conditions make it difficult to dress up beyond a nice pair of jeans. With spring right around the corner, it is time to take things up a notch. The best thing to do this with is a new dress. There is nothing like the first time you get to rock a dress. I have been looking around for the new styles just out for spring and I am excited.

First of all peplum is here and it's amazing. I just got a peplum top at the thrift store and might be wearing it tomorrow. But I really want a dress. My plan is to make one out of houndstooth material I bought, but I think having a solid color would be nice. And I found one for $8.80 on the Forever 21 website.

A site that has really sparked my interest for this season is rue21. They have a lot of floral and aztec prints available. I really love their new choice for the season. Most of their dresses are under $30 to make them very affordable.

One style that I am disappointed to see again is the maxi dress. I find them to be difficult to walk in. They also take away the airiness I personally look for in a dress. Yes, I still try to spin around with a big skirt. But I think that gives a femine touch. They also give an awkward proportion to someone with a short body.

Make Up Haul

Hey! So, I was at the store on Saturday and decided to go check out the beauty department. First of all, the grocery store I go to now sells E.L.F! I was so excited! Though they did have a more limited selection as opposed to Target, it was a good surprise. Aside from that, Wet n Wild was buy one get one 50% off. So I bought more make up at once this time then I think I ever had before. I normally only get 2 or 3 things and this time it was like "I"ll take this.. and this.. and this!"

Alright, let's go through this. I got E.L.F. all over stick in pink lemonaide, E.L.F. eyelash curlers, E.L.F brow and lash duo, 4 eyeliners from Wet n Wild, 4 sparkly eye shadows, Maybelline Color Whisper in 'Who wore it red-er?', and Maybelline Bold Gold nail polish from the Color Show collection. I also got a new Almay eye shadow from my mother.

I have been dying to get some sparkly eye shadow for a few months now and always chickened out or was not willing to pay the price. The singles from Wet n Wild were a lovely $0.93 and came in a variety of shades. I decided to go with the obvious silver and gold, a blue to compliment my eyes, and a purplish since I am currently wearing a lot of pink and purples. 

Here are some swatches of the shadows. I love how clear the glitter is in each color. They definately require a solid base underneath as the pigment is not the strongest. I really had to dig in with my brush to pick up enough for the color to be visible and not just the sparkle. This isn't a huge deal for me since the sparkle is why I bought them.

These are the eye liners. I bought bronze, sky blue, navy blue, and white. I did not like how chalky the white went on. The other three had a little bit different of a texture even though they are all from the same brand. I am really excited about the sky blue. It has a slight shimmer to it. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. I promise you that I am not crazy for using odd eye liner colors. I know someone who does a rainbow with hers and it is one of the awesomest eye looks that I have ever seen. Ever.

Aside from the eye product, the only other things with color are the stick and Color Whisper. First of all, I was very dissappointed with the shade of the Color Whisper. I was looking for a very vibrant red and it is still borderline hot pink. If red is in the name then the color should be red. That is just the sensible thing to do. As for the color stick from E.L.F., I have only tried it as a face product so far. They say on the package that you can use it for anything and I am a little concerned about such a thick substance going on my eye lids.

A Little Floral

       

After a winter full of snow everyone must have a high anticipation for spring. At least I do. I am ready to shed my coat and bring out the pastels and floral and nautical. I'm not the only one with that on my mind. Pretty much any website you go on now is ready for spring. My favorite spring trend will, and will always be floral. I am super excited for another year of beauty with flowers. 

I love having the feminine design over black. The flowers pop more and give a lovely contrast. There is also a higher level of maturrity in this apperance. This top is sold on Forever21.com.

These three pieces are from Charlotte Rousee. I really love the heel even though I could never wear it. I think that shoes are the easiest way to spice up an outfit next to jewlery.

Modcloth

I have to admit that I had never looked at the Modcloth website until last night. I have made the decesion on looking for a 50's style dress for my garden party this summer. It turns out that Modcloth has a lot of vintage pieces. I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it.

What I love about this dress is that it is very feminine but doesn't have a bunch of lace and frill. I love the skirt. It is not a huge poof but it still has the volume that I prefer in special occassion dresses. The blue floral is also great for me because the shade makes my blue eyes pop.

But enough about my dress requirements for this summer, let's talk about their vintage selection. I am in love with their clothes. The clothing is very inspired by the 50's 60's and 70's but it's not grandma clothes. I try so hard to look in the young women age range and I feel like this site can help to achieve that. Between dresses and swimwear they are a vintage lovers paradise. 

This dress is a perfect representation of my favorite style in the world. I am a huge fan of dresses with high collars for everyday wear. The last thing you want to worry about on the go is a slip from the top. The high collar is very chic and not labeling of an overmodest, above all girl. With the flowly skirt, you have the perfect balance of simple and flirty.

I really like the top in this outfit. I own multiple ties and this is a much more feminine version of a mans neck tie. This also dispels the fear of picking the wrong necklace. As for the skirt, it is perfectly at the knee. A high waist is also a great proportion and balancing the assamble with plain shoes keep the appearance balanced. 

Flowers in the Attic

Today I watched a Lifetime movie called 'Flowers in the Attic.' I had recorded it last week and finally got the time to sit down and watch. I am a huge of Lifetime and yet again, they produced on amazing film. Based on a book series, the movie shows the life of four children who are trapped in an upstairs room. I don't want to give anything away, so you need to watch it.
But, as always, I found myself fixiated on the costume design. I have to admit that one of my weaknesses are periodic movies as they show the clothing of a different time. This movie was based in the 1950's and I adored the wardrobe of Cathy played by Kiernan Shipka. Honestly, I wish I had her closet in the movie. The outfits are basic but chic. These days, I feel like that appearance is becoming harder and harder to achieve without pouring in hours of time on your appearance.
Anyways, if you haven't seen the movie than you have no idea what I am talking about. So take a look!

I have to say that her character is now being added to my list of style icons. I hope to find some similair looks thrifting!

OVERALLS!

It's time to talk about one of my childhood go to s in clothing that has come back around. Take a guess... OVERALLS!
Now, I know I normally try to really look around and include more than one website selling a style. But if you've been reading for a while you should also know that I don't like showing a lot of things that you can't easily afford. So of course I went straight to Forever 21 and they have denim, print, and solids and I just want to show you every single one and buy every single one and call it a day. But that's a lot of pictures and a lot of money. So I'm going to show you a few pairs that I really do adore.

All of these are under $30 which is great price wise. I do have to say that the way the styled the second and third looks is not their best work. I think the best way to go is a printed tshirt, sheer blouse, or a printed top. You have to realize that the rest of your body is neutral. Nothing is going to really pop if you do not use the top. The only time a solid top works is with the printed set. Then, you have to be careful not to overpower as always when winning patterns.

I also found a very interesting denim pair on the rue21 website for $39.99.

What I like about this pair is the v front. I have looked at many a pairs designer and department and haven't seen another pair like these. I do want to say that they are Almost Famous brand and are also sold at Charlotte Rousse for $35.00 discounted rjght now. I would not wear a graphic tee with these as I would the pair before. I really do enjoy seeing the solid color with these.
Also at Charlotte Rousse are these adorable shorts with suspender straps.

Aside from the great top paired with these, these are high waisted. That is a great look that I am currently wearing right now. I think that the suspender clip detail on the waist is adorable.

I hope you got some courage to really rock the overall look. I will be soon!

Bobbi Brown and Christian Siriano

Happy Saturday! I am sneaking in a post before i head off for a night away from the internet. I have so much on my mind. There is Fashion Week, trends, and a supply of Bobbi Brown cosmetics at Forever 21. So what do you talk about? Everything.
First off, I was doing my weekly Forever 21 check and saw an advertisment for Premium Cosmetics which really sparked an intrest. They now sell Bobbi Brown along with their own cosmetics line. Now, I have bought two things from their store line. I purchased a base coat and brushes. People, their brushes are not worth the money you pay. They are very stiff and do not brush over properly. I paid $4.80 for four brushes and never use them. But i am excited to see them expanding with another company. Though the prices for the new cosmetics are much higher than my personal budget.
As for fashion week, I have to admit that I have been totally out of it this week. I have been paying attention to Christian Sariano's prep for his show today. It upsets me that he isn't being shown on a live feed because I really love his work. Here is an example,

Now, he does have a selection of ready to wear but this is what I love him for. In my opinion, he makes some of the most elegant dresses out there, I am a huge fan of ruffels and femine looks. If you want more of Christain in the beginning, check out Project Runway Season 4.

As for trends, I know I told you guys the two things that I am really interested in right now are overalls/jumpers and long sweaters and I promise everyone that I will jump on that over the weekend and make another Sunday morning double post. But I have gotta head out in a few minutes.

Random Trends

I am sorry for a sloppy post. I had a ton of work to do for a club I run at my high school and while shopping for club material, I was stopped and ending up in the thrift store. I wish I had pictures and I am really working on that guys. I actually put a virus on my memory card somehow and can't use it now. So it stinks. Totally looking to fix it as soon as I possibly can.
So at the thrift store I got a musturd yellow knit sweater, an Effiel Tower shirt, and an adorable purple purse. I love it all so much and need the laundry process to go quick enough so that I can have the sweater for Sunday.
Anyway, I might be in love with a new style and that's hard because I am on a super budget that makes it hard to love new trends. This is why I need to take more sewing lessons and find someone to teach me how to knit. I really like the idea of making most of my clothes at some point.
The trend is long sweaters. I own one and wore it for the first time today and loved it. It was fun to wear with the hint of breeziness but still having the structure and fit that I am always looking for. And a lot of people were wearing them today which really just made me fall more in love with them. If you have no idea what I am talking about, here is an example:

So I'm probably going to post a ton of pictures on the twitter account @velvetgiggles. You really should follow it like NOW because I randomaly find pictures that I want to share with the world.
I also want to point out another look that has resurfaced that I love. When I was in elementary school overalls were on the outs. I still liked them and wore than and that was that. I think that they are a cute look that makes for an easy morning. This is as long as you don't go to farm with it. Style them right and wha la.

This is a pair of denim overalls which is the style that you have to be careful with. I don't want to see anything but chic. And I think the chic comes from a black pair like these:

I'm actually totally just going to go on overall and sweater overload now because these are not super duper safe trends.
Well, it is time for judging on Under the Gunn and I have a designer that I am totally addicted to right now.

Fashion Week Schedule

This is the schedule for fashion week everyone!
It is one day away from the kick off of Fashion Week and I am super pumped. I went through all the designers featured tomorrow and got pictures for all of them. I am very excited to see these talents shown tomorrow. I really encourage you to check it out. If anyone wants me to post all of them I can. Just let me know.

A Little More Red, A Lot of Excitement

More red before Fashion Week! Who's pumped? I'm pumped. I checked out the list today and decided that I will be showing you guys 1 look from each designers most recent collection prior to this season. This way, we can all get aquantited and be able to fully enjoy fashion week.
But before that, I have some red for you guys!

I really had a lot of fun looking through all the red clothes I could find and limited myself to these. I like the variety from laces and ruffles to a basic hoodie. I believe that this is one of the most versitale colours you can find as it makes any attire look stunning. I will probably share more red after fashion week, but I am really excited to cover the shows. I just wish I was there...

RED

I really have a Taylor Swift and red obsession and there is finally an oppurtunity to do these both at once. She did a Red tour if you are not a fan. The show was great, but the incorporation of color was spectacular. There were backgrounds, instruments, and clothing all in a vibrant shade of red. Plus, who can ignore her red lips?

These are some of my favorite looks from her off all time. The color looks great and really shows power. When I have to do things that require emotional strength, red is my go to color. I can't explain the emotional impact that the color has. When the first red dress shown above swished out, it was an impact. This is what you want to achieve by wearing the color.
I think red is the easiest color out of white, black, and grey to expand to if that is your main color pallet because it matches great with all those colors. It brings that pop without being super colorful or covered in prints.

A Few Little Decorations

So I know that PB Teen is really expensice and I wanted to show you guys some more affordable choices.
These are from Walmart, Burlington, and Five Below. It's still great and looks very awesome.

This is okay, but I really like going to thrift stores and Pintrest to find ideas for rooms. I encourage you to do that. 

But I do want to see your room ideas! Tweet me pics at @velvetgiggles and make sure to follow.

Chanel Interuption

I'm sorry guys but I am in love with Chanel Couture collection! So I have to share a bunch of pictures because it is just amazing.
I am really a Chanel obsession. I think it's some of the best designs out there and even though I don't own any, but I consider it my favorite clothes.

              

PB Teen Room

Okay, I found my dream bed. Yes, I have been obsessing over home goods and furniture and decor and it's crazy. I have been focusing on Pottery Barn Teen and most of this post is from them. The prices are soooo high. Like, my furniture now was from a yard sale. These prices are just, wish. But I want it!                            
  
So this is my furniture I really want and your probably like "that's a lot of storage."
I have a LOT of stuff that has to be organized in my room. I have a ton of magazine subscriptions, I scrapbook, there's art stuff. I also have a cd problem. I really like buying cd so that's some space by itself. And then, if that's not enough, I am currently dealing with 5 borderline 6 open novels or first round drafts that I am writing. I have all my papers in boxes stacked up around my room and it is really inaccessible.
Did you see I didn't even mention make up or jewelry or clothes?
I love the bed and desk because of all the shelves you have to use. I'm a fan of going vertical with storage because it keeps the floor open and is a little less cluttered.
As for all the baskets, I was not happy with the pricing at all. I found these baskets.

Aside from the furniture I found that they had some really cool de or. I picked two lamps that had the feminine touch and then some storage and organizing pieces. They have a great selection but not all exactly what I was looking for. All of the items shown in this collage is under $100.

Aside from the baskets, everything in this post is from PB Teen.  I hope you like it and give the site a browse.