High heels with no heels?!

Every season trendy clothes change pretty dramatically. What you wore the most last summer could not be popular at all this summer. Silhouettes go from tight to baggy, and back to tight again. What hasn't changed dramatically in terms of the silhouette have been high heels. The colors and designs are different every season, but it is expected for a high heel to have a "high heel".

Well, this upcoming year, you will start seeing shoes like these.

               

Yes, there are no heels. Women's Wear Daily and Style.com  have introduced these styles. Some of them are even crazier than these two! As hard to believe as that is.

Instead of balancing on your whole foot in these, you will have to rely on the front of your foot to balance. 

I haven't seen too many of these in stores yet, but I can't wait to try them on! 

Themes to help you pick an Easter and Passover outfit

Dressing for religious holidays can be difficult. Do you play to the wants of family or cater to your fashion desires? My dad, for one, would prefer it if I wore a parka everywhere. Dressing for these events when I was in my rebellious teen years was almost always a debacle. The skirt I picked was too short or the shirt I thought was alright wouldn't make it past my bedroom door.

Well, I am here to tell you that you can, in fact, submerge your fashion and family wants into lovely Easter and Passover outfits like this Glamour photo below.

There are a few themes to look for in selecting a respectable outfit. One is length. Dresses and skirts that go to the knee or under create the ideal silhouette. If you want to wear a shorter hem, wear tights underneath. That way you can still be covered. 

The tightness of your outfit is also important. Flippy skirts and a-line dresses are always a safe bet. The pencil skirt in the picture above is more form-fitting, but the pattern does not place emphasis on the body itself. If a top feels too close to the body, pair it with a blazer or loose cardigan. 

Heels. Do not go too high with the heel. Look for a cute kitten heel or maybe even a short boot. 

These are all ideas that can be easily paired to today's fashion. Actually, skater dresses are really in for this spring season. These kinds of dresses flare out while still flattering your body. 

Express has a lot of good options. And they are having a 40% off everything sale right now! 

Look for a skirts heavily patterned, like in my first picture. This idea does a really good job of incorporating spring into conservative holidays. Make sure to balance out a bold print with neutrals though. You don't want to look too busy.  

  

For guys, chinos can be easily dressed up or down. So if you aren't into wearing slacks these are a good option. 

Location, Location, Location

I am from Texas. Even though my family and I moved to Colorado when I was 9 years old, that southern side of me still exists. I have been feeling the shopping bug lately and today I got to thinking about a store in Texas my mom and I always try to go to when we are there. It's called Dressin Gaudy.

I have been reminiscing about the bright colors and different designs I could buy there and then I thought, why can't I get that stuff here?

It is so interesting to me how the location you are at dictates the fashion you gravitate towards. Really, this is an obvious thought. Of course where you live will decide what you buy fashion wise. However, during seasons like summer, when the temperatures in states like Colorado and Texas are similar, why isn't there more of a variety?

Let's compare Dressin Guady with a popular boutique in Fort Collins, Colo., Cira Ltd.

                                                                                                                                                                                  
The outfit on the left is from Dressin Gaudy. Almost all of the colors in this ensemble are bright. The pants are intricately patterned and made to compliment the very pink tank top.

The outfit on the right is from Cira Ltd. This is more of a forest green color. There is a pattern to the dress. However, it is done in black so it does not pop as much as the pants do in the picture to the right. This outfit is also accessorized with neutral colors. The Dressin Gaudy outfit is accessorized with more color.

Both of these outfits are cute and I would buy both of them. It is just so interesting to me that the styles evoke such different tones.

Now, of course there are exceptions to this idea. GG Boutique is one. That store has lots of color and I love it! It's just an interesting thought to realize that, when I shop in Texas, I am looking at a different tone of style than I am when I shop in Colorado.

This is not necessarily an informative post, more of just my way to leave you with something to think about for the day.

Computers: The next accessory in fashion

Fashion is always, in a sense, innovating. Designers look at the progress the world has made around them and create pieces that compliment, and sometimes accelerate, these changes.

According to Forbes, this idea of innovation has taken on a whole new idea; technology. Using devices like 3D printers and scanners, designers have been able to make clothing that are essentially computers.

Microsoft Research made the dress below. You can text a message onto the dress, where the message will be displayed as you wear it. This is possible by attaching a laptop, projector and four circuit boards to the dress.

 

Essentially, whoever wears this dress is creating their own piece of fashion. No one else will have the same message you choose to display.

A technology-designed dress was even debuted at this year's Fashion Week in Paris.

 

Yes, the dress pictured here is a 3D pattern. I repeat, a 3D pattern. This was a collaboration between designer Iris Van Herpen and MIT Media Lab's professor Neri Oxman.

The first of those who established wearable technology have deemed the idea as wearable computing. So, if you wear one of these designs, you are wearing a computer that is operating for the purpose of clothing. It's kind of cyclical if you think about it. You are wearing the piece because it's computer-generated and, without the computer, there would be no piece to wear.

The fashion world has been working on textile innovations for years. For instance, they were able to invent thread that, when heated, sews itself up. However, this idea of a wearable computer takes that innovation idea to a whole new level. Designers can't be just about fashion anymore; they need to be about technology too.



                                                                                                                                                                        

Guys can wear scarves too!

Scarf fashions have blown up with women. You will see women wearing them in winter, spring, summer and fall. Pinterest has many posts on all the different styles women can use for scarves. What you don't see a lot though is ways that men can wear scarves. Even though women have mainly picked up the trend, men can certainly wear them!

This first picture shows a simple way to add a scarf to your wardrobe guys. Instead of closing up your jacket when it's cold, leave it open and layer that space with a scarf. Leave it long to keep you warm and to elongate your torso.

These other two pictures are what you can do when it's warmer. Add the scarf like one would add a necklace. Fold the scarf in these two ways, or whichever way you like, over a button down or short sleeve shirt.You can look fashionable and unique because chances are other guys you are with won't show up with this idea. 

You can find scarves at JcPenney and Macy's. 

GG Boutique: A women's boutique in Fort Collins, Colo.

The first time I walked into GG Boutique I was greeted by a plethora of colorful designs. I instantly wanted  to claim them all for myself. The staff was friendly and they gave me honest opinions about what I was trying on. I could see that this store was after my heart more than my money.

GG Boutique opened its doors on Aug. 23, 2012 by owner Laura Ludwin, 37, with the goal of offering customers more than clothes. Ludwin wants store goers to have an experience.

"I want to offer our customers an experience where they walk in and find [GG Boutique] to be a happy place," Ludwin said. "[I want them] to find something that makes them feel good without having to spend all the money they have."

One way GG Boutique achieves this is with the items they stock.

"What you see when you open a magazine is what we aim to have here at an affordable price," Ludwin said.

One of the most exciting things for me, as a customer, is that new items are on the floor every day. This is what sales associate Julia Chenoweth, 41, enjoys most about the store too.

"I think that always makes it fun and fresh, not only for the customers, but for [the staff] as well."  Chenoweth said.

The atmosphere created by the staff makes this a great store. For one, the employees refer to themselves as "Team GG". They have really created a family here, which Chenoweth embodies when helping customers.

"We try to get a feel for what it is they are looking for and what their style might be," Chenoweth said. "[So we will] be able to suggest things in the store they might like." 

Ludwin even named the boutique after her grandmother.

"I was extremely close with her," Ludwin said. "I [even] have her chandelier and dress in the store."

For Allison LeCain, 22, a Colorado State University student, the attitudes of "Team GG" made her first visit very positive.

"It was like shopping with a friend because they gave actual advice on what they thought looked good on me," LeCain said. "It seemed like they cared about making me happy with my purchase, not just making lots of money."

LeCain said the prices can be high for a college student's budget. However, it should still be on your frequent shopper's list.

"I would definitely recommend GG boutique to others if you're looking for a special outfit," LeCain said. "It may not be a store for everyday shopping since it is a little pricey, but they have really good sales and you can always find a stylish dress for a date night there."

GG Boutique has a Facebook page, where they hold giveaways every Monday so customers can win gift cards and post new looks.

The store is located at 204 West Laurel St. in Fort Collins, Colo.

"The best thing about it is that we've sold things to three generations," Ludwin said. "Daughter, mother and grandmother."

"They can all find something here," Chenoweth said.

What to wear with a button down shirt that isn't plaid

I got the shirt below from my mom. She got it in Singapore when she was on a business trip. I loved the gift! It's so different and pretty. I had trouble for a while figuring out what to wear with it at first though.

Well, now I have no trouble in pairing this into my everyday wardrobe so I thought I would share some of my outfits with you. Patterned button-downs may seem restricting, but there are many ways to wear them.

This first picture here is a favorite of mine to wear during the winter. I paired bright-colored skinny jeans with  the shirt tucked in, a sweater cardigan, black belt and black knee-high boots. Not much of the shirt shows because of the cardigan. However, what you do see offers a lot of visual curiosity.

The second picture is more of a spring look. The wind may be chilly so it's not smart to wear shorts, but you can get away with no jacket. Here, I put a light colored tank top under the black shirt. This makes the pattern pop. I have also chosen dark denim jeans with a colored ankle boot. The shirt is still tucked in with the belt, but the type of boot paired with the outfit gives this a different look than the first.

For a night out, definitely look at the last picture. The shirt is worn over a blue body-con skirt. Then paired with a dark red leather jacket and wedged black boots. The color contrast with the unique pattern makes for an awesome outfit!