365 days later

It's almost 2011, and what better way to bring in the new year than by wearing a fabulous dress?  On new years eve, sparkles and glitter are the norm, but these dresses also catch my eye (from Nastygal and Asos).










While my pale skin and red hair would never let me pull off this dress, I absolutely love the shocking red color on a somewhat simplistic silhouette.


I randomly stumbled upon this dress while trying to find a picture of my own Alice and Olivia party dress which I will probably be wearing tonight.  I am in love with this strapless dress by the same designer.  It manages to use the NYE-desired sparkle with a very feminine skirt, creating a look reminiscent of an ice skater.  The best part?  This dress allows for a great statement heel.  I know Christmas is over, but is it too late to make a wish list?

Foot Fetish

Flipping through the pages of this month's Vogue as I sat on my 3rd flight in less than a week, I came across an article about up-and-coming shoe designer, Nicholas Kirkwood.  The blend of classic beauty and innovative design quickly captured my eye.  Here are a few of my favorites.

 

A girl can dream, right?

Black Swan

After first hearing about the movie from a friend who attended the premier at the Venice Film Festival, I quickly became intrigued by Natalie Portman's dangerous role in the Black Swan.  Upon viewing the film a few days ago, I have to admit that I am still somewhat confused, a little scared, and incredibly awe-struck.  What does this have to do with fashion, you might ask?  Well, there are few things that I find more beautiful than a skilled ballerina leaping and pirouetting, and one of those things are the feminine, fragile outfits which said ballerinas adorn.  As can be expected, the costumes in Black Swan, which were inspired by a Degas sculpture, were nothing short of amazing.

Oh Christmas Tree

Since my Christmas vacation in London was canceled due to the worst winter weather the UK has seen in 20 years, I decided to drown my sorrows in the only way I know how--shopping!  Of course, I justified my purchases by reminding myself that I would have spent much more money in London.  Here are a few of my new favorite items.

Steve Madden Haylow Sandal

I fell in love with these timeless strappy patent leather heels the second I laid eyes on them.  A nude heel will never go out of style, and these shoes can turn even the simplest of outfits into a classy, put together look.  

Mango Lace-up C Fringe Heeled Ankle Boots 

I am absolutely obsessed with these black leather lace-up ankle boots from Mango.  I love the play between the hard black leather and the feminine fringe.  They look great worn with skinny jeans or a simple dress that needs that little extra something.  So in love!

Burberry Burrington Deep Black Jeans

The second I saw these jeans yesterday, I knew I would be purchasing the annual Christmas gift to myself (which is really just a justification to spend money on myself during the holiday season, but it gets the job done).  Not only do they have an extremely flattering fit, but the ankle zippers and hardware on the front pocket (which is hard to see in this picture) create a subtle bad-girl vibe.  Admittedly, the price is a little steep, but the quality of the denim and unique details make these skinny jeans worth every penny.

So if you need a reason to cheer up this holiday season--or even if you don't--go out there and buy yourself a Christmas present.  Think of it as a gift to your wardrobe, who has stuck beside you through thick and thin all year.

The riding pant

As an avid equestrian, I have to bring up the obvious--the riding pant.  This trend is very popular right now, especially when worn with winter boots that look shockingly similar to the custom-made Vogel riding boots with the punched toe that I have in my closet.  I have to admit, I have a love/hate relationship with this look.  From a fashion standpoint, I have a soft spot for the classy yet sexy ensemble.  It's simultaneously traditional and trendy, and can be worn very differently depending on what top and accessories it is paired with.  As an equestrian, I kind of hate this look.  I mean, I've been wearing this outfit almost every weekend since I was 7 years old...where's my credit!?  I used to be embarrassed to walk into the grocery store after a long day of horse showing while sporting my sleek Tailored Sportsmans and black leather tall boots.   It gives off an almost impostor-like vibe to me--you don't ride horses, but you want the world to think you do.

Admittedly, these Zara riding pants make a nice sharp outfit.

The upside is that if I ever decide to hop on the bandwagon, I already have the look in my closet!  Proof: a picture of me wearing an eerily similar outfit to the one above.

Sidenote:  A few years ago the trend of colored riding pants hit the equestrian scene.  I have to admit, I love my navy blue pair.  Do you think this will hit the fashion world, too?

I'm dreaming of

I have a newfound obsession with fur vests, and I just can't seem to get them out of my mind.  It all started with the Oscar de la Renta 2011 pre-fall show, which showcased the most beautiful brown fur vest I've ever seen.

In fact, I am madly in love with this entire outfit.  The hair, makeup, and attitude make me want to be this woman.  Also, it reinforces the idea that my wardrobe is in desperate need of leather leggings (I just need to stop eating first).  This fur vest, which is of course infinitely out of my price range, is absolutely beautiful.  This is the stuff dreams are made of....well, my dreams at least.

A blog was born

I first entered the world of blogging at the beginning of this semester, as a way to keep my friends and family informed of my adventures abroad.  However, I was quickly bored by telling stories of what I did on a daily basis, so it turned into a compilation of witty stories attesting to my streak of bad luck.  Turns out, I'm not the worst writer in the world.  As my semester has come to an end, I realized that I don't want to give up on my blogging dreams.
A friend of mine has her own fashion blog, and while I was reading through it I realized that I don't quite have enough knowledge of the subject for which I am so passion about.  So instead of wallowing in self-doubt, I decided to create my own blog.  With the help of Tom Mckee (who runs his own sports blog) , my blog inspiration and boyfriend extraordinaire, Fashion Bank was born.  Here I'll write about my new favorite trends, post pictures, and basically just create a little fashion world to share with you.