What We Want : Bright Pants

Maybe it’s the chilly weather or the abundance of beige we’re seeing on the streets but we have been craving color in our lives! We just painted our walls with blue and teal stripes but it isn’t enough. We want more vibrancy to counter these overcast days we’ve been having.

Enter the bright pant.

While we haven’t been seeing them on the streets, we’ve found bright pants in stores all over. We suggest pairing these statement pieces with white tops and neutral colored accessories. Beige, light brown, and white allow the color to pop and keep the look sophisticated instead of clownish. For full effect, pair the pop of color with another bright pop via nails or a statement necklace. 

WHAT/ WHERE: 

(Far Left) Blue à Opening Ceremony

Green à Zara

Pink à Cycle

Yellow à Opening Ceremony

Light Blue àCycle

Light Green à Ralph Lauren

Light Yellow à Quicksilver

What We Want : Vesuvio Bakery

We have a dreadful sweet tooth. No matter what we eat or how full we may be, there is always room for dessert. Enter Vesuvio Bakery, home of the world’s best cookie.

 That’s not hyperbole. We will say definitively that Vesuvio Bakery in New York City holds the title for the most delicious cookies we’ve ever tasted. You’ve got to try one for yourself!

WHAT/ WHERE:

Cookies à Vesuvio Bakery

What We Want : Mini Menagerie

These woodland inspired accessories are so whimsical yet adult. We love all things miniature but sometime mini can become kitschy. Designer Mai McKemy manages to make her little pieces elegant.

WHAT/ WHERE:

Jewelry à Woodland and Belle

What We Want : Stamped

We Modern Renaissance ladies are loving all of the semi-DIY items we're finding on the market right now. One of the easiest ways to personalize an item is to stamp it. Here are some stamped items we're coveting:

We've got a reputation for our present wrapping prowess and one of our techniques that attracts the most adoration is our personalized paper. It's easy to duplicate! All you need is kraft paper (kraft boxes, manila envelopes, and paper bags work as well), ink pads, and stamps. We really like the effect of alphabet stamps. From a person's name to a festive message, stamped out letters really pack an intimate punch.

WHAT/ WHERE: 
Tank à Delias

Wall paper à Anthropologie

Pillow cases à Urban Outfitters

Door mat à Ballard Designs

V-neck à Anthropologie

What We Want : The Staycation

Maybe it’s this unseasonably warm weather (60* in February? Heavenly!) or just our usual wanderlust but we have been craving a trip somewhere tropical.

If you’re too tied up to get away or simply don’t have the cash to spare for a full-blown getaway, you can make your own little abode into a tropical paradise for the weekend.

Here’s how:

What We Want : Chic Tie- Dye

We are having a sudden and inexplicable love of tie-dye and dip-dye items right now. The look is anything but hippie or boho. Rather, the color combos and effect are chic and almost exotic.

The good news is, the look is easily replicated at home! The trick is using sophisticated colors and a well constructed fabric base. Rather than tie-dye a basic T-shirt, try a button down blouse or silk shorts.

Here are the steps:

1. Fill a medium sized pot 1/2 way with water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
2. Bring liquid to a boil on the stove and stir in RIT dye.
3. Bring liquid down to a medium heat.
4. Here's where you get the choice of Dip Dying or Tie Dying:
*To Dip Dye, simply dip the bottom 1/3 of the garment or accessory into the pot. After 2 minutes, raise the garment up so that only 1/4 of the fabric is in the pot. After 2 minutes, rinse the entire garment in the sink with cold water and lay out to dry.

*To Tie Dye, bundle the garment up and place rubber bands around the item in random places. You can either dip the garment in different colored pots or submerge the entire item in the pot. With this technique, only leave the garment in for a few seconds. Leave the garment on a trash bag while the dye sets into the fabric. After 30 minutes, rinse the entire item in the sink with cold water and lay out to dry.

*Note, newly dyed items should be washed separately for the first few washes.

WHAT/ WHERE:

Check Print Shirt à Burberry

Pillow à West Elm              

Tape à Crate & Barrel      

Sheath Dress à Bottega Veneta      

Dyeà Rit          

Jeans à Vince      

What We Want : Springing Forward

It's far too early to definitively state the key trends presented during New York Fashion Week. However, one trend has clearly begun to emerge: Dressed Up Denim. 

In fact, Women's Wear Daily just reported on Ralph Lauren's new luxury denim line called "Ralph Lauren Collection Denim". 

This isn’t merely denim trousers or dark denim jackets. The new dressy denim involves sophisticated dresses, luxurious trims, and refined accessories.

 Although we first spotted this trend in the high end market, we have found some fabulous yet affordable interpretations of the dressy denim trend.

WHAT/ WHERE:

Designer

Cocktail Dressesà Lanvin

Belt à Chloe

Trench Coat àBurberry

3/4 Dress à  Prada

Denim Suit à Ralph Lauren

Affordable

1 à YMC

2 à Karla Colletto

3 à Kuyichi

4 à New York & Company

5 à Gap

6 à Carven

7 àJessica Simpson Collection

8 àMarc by Marc Jacobs

9 àRepetto

What We Want : Checks

It seems that every time we open a fashion magazine we're told that stripes are "in". We're so tired of seeing stripes season after season. So we were pleasantly surprised when we saw this chic interpretation on checks:

While we can't afford those gorgeous designer creations, we can* afford these variations on the check trend:

*Ok, so we can't afford the Missoni either but a girl can dream!


WHAT/ WHERE:

Dress and Chair à Anthropologie

Braceletsà Green Raising

Dress à Missoni 

Tankini à Coco Rave

Blouse à Rag & Bone

What We Want : Fonts

The modern side of us just loves when customization is made simple. How can you make your business cards, resume, or stationery stand out?

There are thousands of fonts available to download onto your computer for free. From elegant cursives to hand-drawn alphabets, the sky is the limit.

 Don’t take our word for it. Here two examples where the font really makes a statement on business cards.

 WHAT/ WHERE:

Fonts to download à Search here or here!

What We Want : Dots

Polka dots feel passé but this messier take on dots feels just right. The look is unsystematic but clean—nothing grungy about it!

Don’t worry about spending an arm and a leg on this style. You can easily replicate it yourself. 

We'll show you how...

What We Want : Chic in Chains

For the past several seasons, while “rocker-chic” reigned over the runways, chain embellishments skewed towards the harsh, grungy, and tough. Androgyny and don’t-mess-with-me style took center stage.

It’s time for a palate cleanser...

What We Want : Pets In The City

We have been met with the same exact response every time we’ve told a friend that we want to potty train our cat like Robert De Niro’s character does in Meet the Parents: “That’s a movie. It’s not real.”

Well, all you doubters behold:

The City Kitty is a plastic device made of five removable rings that attaches to the toilet. You remove one ring a week, allowing for the cat to adjust to the reduced space upon which he can perch while doing his dirty business.

Just think, no litter box taking up prime space in your apartment! No need to vacuum those annoying bits of litter that get trapped in the carpet! What do you think? Are you sold or is this ridiculous?

If the City Kitty is up your alley then you’ll really love this next find!