Fresh Pressed Shirt Dresses For Spring

                                                                                          Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

In my mind there is nothing so quintessential iconic in 1940's fashion as the shirt-dress.  It's at once utilitarian and chic. Masculine and feminine, perhaps it's the dichotomy that makes it so interesting to me.  The shirt-dress is an all in one fashion powerhouse and because of that it reappears every season. Sure there are slight variations of pattern, color and silhouette, but it essentially remains the same, classic.  If you don't already have a shirt-dress in your wardrobe I highly recommended adding it to your fashion arsenal and if you already do I am sure you wouldn't mind adding another.  Here are some flirty shirt-dresses that are sure to put a little "spring" in your step.

Fresh Pressed Shirt Dresses For Spring by jrosestyle

Tee shirt dress, $85
Bright colored dress, $55
Striped t shirt dress, $90
Topshop tee shirt dress, $72
Miss Selfridge tee shirt dress, $68
Oasis flared dress, $95
Forever 21, $25

My ModCloth Picks Under $50

This week I am hosting a giveaway for a $50 ModCloth Gift Card, if you haven't entered yet click over to this post pronto. Which got me thinking, what would I buy from ModCloth if I had a spare $50? Well needless to say it was hard to pick one thing so here is a set of my favorite items that are under $50.  You have until Thursday March 22nd (9:00 PM EST) to enter. 

My ModCloth Picks Under $50 by jrosestyle

Who am I, I am a Collage

There are many facets of my personality that shine through at varying moments.  Like distant stars in a black sky the glint and glitter only hinting at the full person behind them.  I love a good collage and Polyvore makes it insanely easy to create beautiful and compelling collages.  What I also love about Polyvore is the community, with people all over the world able to connect, comment and like your sets.  There is also contests constantly running on the website and while I don't expect to win I love to use the contests as a source of inspiration.  The latest contest Polyvore is running asked the community to show who they are through a visual collage.  Here is what I created.

All About Me: A Snapshot of My Heart by jrosestyle

There are a few things I thought of after, but I feel like it the collage communicates a sense of myself without being overly busy.  If you are a member of Polyvore and created a set for this contest please share the link in the comments section, I would love to see it.

Style Muse Monday: Gwen Stefani Circa 1990

I don't have much to say about attending High School in the 1990's.  There are certain things from the 90's though that I could wax poetic on. One being fashion, two being movies and the third would be music. I love that the decades fashions were so heavily influenced by the music scene of the time. My style was certainly influenced by the musicians I adored. I have to say that one of the most influential people on my personal style in HS would have to be Gwen Stafani. Her 90's style was kooky and eclectic; a combination of rockabilly, skater girl and punk with a dash of global influence.   It was masculine; baggy pants, combat boots, and chain wallets. But it was also feminine; retro curls, red lips and cropped tops. The polarities of how she dressed herself was endlessly fascinating to me as a teen. So today's Style Muse Monday is dedicated to one of the first people whose style I tried to emulate, Gwen Stafani.

Gwen Stefani: 1990's Style by jrosestyle featuring roll up pants

Fall 2011 Accessory Report

If you only buy one accessory this fall to add to your wardrobe let it be the Wool floppy hat. The hat is at once structured and relaxed, formal and casual. It can be worn in a multitude of ways and as you will see below the addition of a hat to any outfit will add up to instant chic.

Style Muse Monday: Emma Watson

A multitude of adjectives can be used to describe Emma Watson's style. Edgy, chic, glamorous, eclectic and "very British" as Emma herself has said of her style. I stumbled across a picture from Watson's Teen Vogue cover shoot from August 2009. While the photo is a couple of years old at this point I thought that the style looked timeless and also provided a great lesson on transitioning summer pieces to fall. Take it as art or inspiration the combination of the rich burgundy blazer with crisp white is brilliant. Mix in some faux fur, edgy accessories as swipe of red lip and you are on your way to emulating Emma's posh eclectic look.

Ann Taylor Fall 2011 Collection

I know I have devoted quite a few posts to Ann Taylor lately, but I have been completely blown away by the endlessly chic clothes they have been churning out lately. There are so many great pieces in this fall 2011 collection; capes, fur scarves, ankle boots it's hard to pick just a few favorites. While there are a lot of gorgeous things to choose from, some of the prices are a little out of my budget or would have to be an investment piece. If you are like me and are always trying to stay on budget while looking current, here's a tip.  Take a few key pieces from AT Fall 2011 and mix with the current fall pieces in your wardrobe and you will be set. I have taken the liberty of choosing about 9 pieces that I think cover the best of this season for under $100.  Enjoy!

The Book Clutch Crush

The Book Clutch Crush by jrosestyle featuring kate spade clutch

I have a bit of a crush. The object of my desire is utterly gorgeous and sadly completely out of my reach. No, I'm not talking about a person, I am talking about about Kate Spade's Book Clutch collection. These clever contraptions appear to be a book on the exterior, with a gorgeous cover and a brief excerpt on the back, but lo and behold they open up to reveal they are not a book at all, but a purse. Kate Spade's website currently has six classic titles to choose from, my favorites are the Emma and Pride and Prejudice clutches. While I adore the design to no end the thing that's stopping me is the price tag. Each of the clutches ring in at $325, yes I am swallowing back tears. Fear not, I am not defeated, I have compiled of list of book clutch awesomeness for under $100 (from the repository of crafty-ness Etsy).  

1945 Vintage Book Clutch, $45 from Etsy Shop Hoakonhelga

Pride and Prejudice Book Purse, $89 from Etsy Shop Spoonfulofchocolate

Little Women Book Clutch, $40 from Etsy Shop TheWriteStuff Design

Emma Book Purse, $70 from Etsy Shop Meitira

Shakespeare Book Clutch, $62 from Etsy Shop BiblioBags

They are pretty awesome, no?  I am even thinking I could try my hand at making my own book clutch, with the right cover and materials.  I will keep you posted if I try to DIY.

Style Muse Monday: Joni Mitchell

There is something about fall that brings out my inner wander.  I want to hop in the car and drive without a destination, occasionally stopping to take in the fall foliage and the delightfuly crisp fresh air that define fall. The resurfacing of my inner free spirit is certainly reflected in my wardrobe; light easy layers, chunky accessories and nice pair of well heeled boots. I stumbled across some images of Joni Mitchell from the late sixties early seventies. Her carefree layers, knee high boots and easy free flowing hair are the inspiration for the outfit below. 

Whose style has been inspiring you lately?

Catching Up With Polyvore Members in NYC

Last Friday I had the pleasure of joining Polyvore and some of the website's community members for a lovely lunch at Lavo in NY. I enjoyed chatting with the Polyvore team members about the site's features and with the community members on how they use Polyvore. I am always inspired by other women who are doing what they love and living their dreams, it was a great afternoon. The set below was created by Polyvore and I simply had to share it.

 

Catching Up With Polyvore Members in NYC by polyvore on Polyvore.com

Conference Bound: Look 2

Last Week I announced that I would be attending this year's Independent Fashion Bloggers conference in New York on September 7th. The date is fast approaching (13 days and counting) and while I am consumed with the business and technical aspects of making my blog better, I am also in a panic as to what wear. So today I am presenting a second Polyvore set of another possible outfit(Check out last week's look here). I was inspired by the archetype of the tough lady reporter in heels (of course). Think Rosalind Russell in "His Girl Friday" or Lois Lane from DC Comics "Superman". Tough as nails, on a mission, but always looking sharp.

Conference Bound: Look 2 by jrosestyle featuring gold jewelry

Well what do you think does this look top last week's or leave you feeling eh? What would you suggest I wear? Describe in the comment box and I just might make a Polyvore set based on your suggestion.

Color of the Moment: A Blue Mood

Color of the Moment-Blue Mood by jrosestyle featuring silk scarves

Color, color, color, it's going to be everywhere this fall. All you neutral neds and nancys better get used to it. Buh-bye beige, see you soft pastels and hellooo blue. Rich, radiant, opulent, royal blue to be exact. A color that in the past I had associated with a pie shape on the color wheel or crayon in a crayon box is now suprisingly sophisticated (at least to me). In my humble opinion(very humble), out of all the colors in the bright color brigade royal blue is certainly the easiest to wear. So will you don a blue hue this fall?

Nom, nom, nom. The comment box is hungry, feed it by typing something. The comment box is not picky, nouns, verbs, adjectives it's all good.