SwayChic Denim Jacket

 
I've been in need of a cool denim jacket -- the kind you can pair with anything to make it edgier or wear on top of a summer dress when it's chilly at night. It's been long enough that I haven't owned one, so when SwayChic let me choose something from their website to review I picked their Acid Wash Denim Jacket.

It came to me wrapped in turquoise tissue paper, like I was getting a present in the mail! Lately, it's been a little too cold to wear because New England calls for winter coats long after spring break. But I finally took it out today and loved how it looked with my psychedelic dress and new Urban Outfitters sneaker wedges.

The jacket is 100% cotton, made by Thread & Supply, and costs $39.95. So far, it's held up well and is comfortable. Since it is denim, it's a little stiff, restricting movement in the arms, but with a couple washes it will probably break in a bit. I really like how the acid wash is more unique than a typical light-wash denim jacket so it'll jazz up simpler pieces.

SwayChic is like a less-expensive version of Nasty Gal. It has the same edgy hipster style of clothing, carries different brands, and even the models have a similar look. As much as I love Nasty Gal, a denim jacket for under $40 is a little more college student friendly than one for $100. Sway has a lot of great options for trendy part dresses and vintage-inspired clothes.

In other news, I just bought these high-top sneaker wedges at Urban Outfitters and haven't been able to take them off! I've been wearing them all weekend because I'm so happy with them. I've been wanting a pair since the trend first broke out and just happened to come upon these at Urban's college night sale. An extra 30% off and I wasn't going to pass these up...even for a pair of black over-the-knee boots that were only $5!

Just last weekend I had a previous Urban excursion and got these earrings and an awesome dress (which will be in another blog post to come). I've been needing tiny gold studs for my second holes so I liked this duo of black stones and gold skulls. 

Photo credits: Andy Cahill

Disclaimer: The product given to me by SwayChic was free, however it is important to me to write my honest impression of the company and products, without bias.

Quick Nail Fix

     I always get tired of my manicures lasting only a few days. You paint them at the beginning of the week and by Wednesday the polish is chipping and you've already broken a nail. Usually the tips are the first to chip, so I came up with a way to touch up your nails mid-week that will at least last you through Friday.

Here are the steps (you can thank me later):
     All you need is tape and an accent nail color (it could be a complimenting color or just a neutral). First, tape each nail so that only a sliver of the top is exposed. Then, paint the exposed strip of nail, carefully peel off the tape, and you have a new manicure! It's so easy, it only takes a few minutes, and it will dry fast because you're only painting a small portion of your nail!

Boldfacer's Stylemakers Pop Up Shop

     Last week I had the opportunity to attend Boldfacer's Stylemakers Pop Up Shop at the W Hotel Boston for my internship. Since much of my Thursday nights are taken up by classes, I was only able to be there for the tail end of the event, but I was still able to meet some interesting people and of course...look at beautiful clothes. 
 

Marc Andrew Deley, president of Crammed Media, and Lisa Pierpont, founder of Bolfacers.com

     Organized by Boldfacers' founder and editor-in-chief, Lisa Pierpont, this pop up shop featured clothing from the closets of Boston's elite. Fashion designers, news reporters, and businessmen and women sold their designer pieces to shoppers for a fraction of the price and donated their profits to charity.

I met actress Traci Bingham from Baywatch.

The room was filled with racks and tables, each one labeled with the owner's name and job.

These spiffy brogues look amazing for being used.

My boss's table of ties and fedoras.

This dress was my favorite!

Colleen Atwood Nominated for Oscar

     "Snow White and the Huntsman" was yet another rendition of a classic fairy tale, so not much about the movie was exceptional. There were enough twists to keep it entertaining and the special effects added intrigue, but the performances were mediocre. The real accomplishment of this movie, however, was the costume design by Colleen Atwood. She has recently been named an Academy Award nominee for Best Costume Design and there is little doubt in my mind that she won't win it.

    All the nominees for this award coincidentally designed for a period film, one being the much lighter take on Snow White called, "Mirror Mirror." This means they will undoubtedly be judged on accuracy for the time period, in addition to the quality of the clothes and how the designs fit the characters. But what will set the winner apart is how the designer strayed from what was expected and took a hold of their own style.

     Colleen Atwood certainly accomplished this in her designs for "Snow White and the Huntsman." Her costumes for Queen Ariana alone took the movie from a typical, medieval set fairy tale to a dark, modernized battle against evil. The queen's clothing could almost be seen on royalty today because of the materials and techniques she used. One dress had a leather bodice with a peplum structured from embellishments that looked like wooden sticks, while the rest of the dress was made to look like armor with scales of metal. The wedding dress featured at the beginning of the movie had a simple corset bodice and slightly more dramatic pleated skirt, but what made it stunning were the large, intricate shoulders that looked like framework belonging to the walls of a building. A more gothic inspired, off-the-shoulder dress even has a neckline bordered with real bird skulls.  Of course, the queen's wardrobe wouldn't be complete without her now iconic feather cloak. It has a high, protruding collar, while the body of the garment has movement and body, created very thoughtfully with hundreds of feathers.

      Atwood clearly used every material possible to contribute to the immense drama her costumes provided the film. Her designs were so complex I can't imagine how long they took to make, and in my opinion are no match for the other Oscar contenders. In 2010, she won the same award for her designs in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." Only having seen the movie and not knowing as much about her work, I predicted she would win the award based on the creativity and quirk of her costumes. Hopefully, she'll grab another award this year! 

Boston Fashion Week 2012: Candice Wu

     The last collection to show at Boston Fashion Week, Candice Wu's couture was my personal favorite this season. It was not only an inspiring visual experience, but the level of quality and exquisite design trumped all the shows before it. The looks were strong, structural, and edgy, using lots of black, faux leather, studs, and military elements.

     Hair and makeup heightened the drama of these already showstopping looks, but the jewelry and headpieces took the show to another level. Designed by House of Cache, jewelry loaded with spikes and chains were piled on every model.