2011: New Year, New You

Happy New Years! I hope you all had a splendid new years eve, but even more importantly, I hope you all have a fantastic new years day.Today sets the stage for the rest of 2011. Today is a day for fresh starts. It's a day to decide how you can become a happier, healthier version of yourself. Take all of your goals and resolutions for the next 365 days, write them down, and put it inside your wallet as a constant reminder of the person you aspire to become in this next year. And of course, I must ask that at least on of your resolutions be fashion related. My fashion resolution for example, is to take bigger risks in my wardrobe. To take risks with your style, to step out of your comfort zone, and to find excitment in your everyday ensamble, are resolutions we could all probably add to our list. Here are a few fashionable ladies we can look to for inspiration in this next year.

Bring on the new year!

http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeauty/photos/worst-dressed-celebs-of-2010-2010212/11788
http://fashionlookbook.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
http://callitbeauty.blogspot.com/2010/08/style-crush-diane-kruger.html

Rihanna: Red, Red, and More Red

Rihanna has always seemed to be one of those women who can wear anything and make it look amazing. It's true that I occasionaly think Rihanna takes her fashion statments a step too far, but more often than not, I find myself lusting after the outfits she wears. Take this ensamble for example. Here she is at the the Westfield Shopping Cener in London on Thursday, November 4th for a Christmas lighting ceremony. I have to admit I have not been a huge fan of her vibrant hair color in the past, but after seeing this photo, I am officially on board. This high waisted red skirt is not only a fantastic pop of color, but it is almost the exact same cranberry red as her hair, and seriously, who else could pull off matching their hair to their clothes? What I  love even more about it than the color however, are the pockets that stick out on her hips. Doesn't it almost look like a pair of shoulder pads? On anyone else this would look completely bizarre, but of course it is increadable on Rihanna. Then take a look at this cropped, gray, corcet top. The front has a cute bralet style, and then she turns to the side and you suddenly see these black elastic stripes that give it a whole new twist. Finally, think about the great accessories she wears here. The adorable mini mouse style wite bow with red poka dots and the light pumps give what could be a very edgy look, a nice, sweet feel. She finishes it off with minimal gold jewelry of two small pendant necklaces and a gold bangle. Yet another fabulous outfit for Rihanna.

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/wennpic/rihanna_christmas_lights_007_wenn5565834.jpg

Matt & Nat

Matt & Nat has recently become one of my favorite bag designers. They have such a wide range in the styles of bags they design to fit with every outfit. From the edgy look of studs to the more mature parachute style bags, all are equally fashionable. They manage to pull off everything from a little clutch to a chic backpack. But even more importnat than their great designs, is the fact that all of thier bags are 100% vegan! This means that none of their purses are made with fur, wool, leather, suede, or any other kinds of animal skin materials. I happen to be a vegan, and I can tell you it is not any easy task to find great bags and shoes that fall into this animal friendly catagory. So this automatically gives them some bonus cool points in my book. If you havent checked out their bags yet, here are a few that might interest you.

http://www.mattandnat.com/

A Sequin Sensation

You may have noticed that I have been absent from Buckles N' Boots for a few weeks now, and it has been absolutely horrible! I was actually hired by the store Claire's to be the October style blogger on their website, which was a blast, but yesterday was my final day and now I can finally return to my own blog.
In other news, Tuesday was my seventeenth birthday and a special occasion such as a birthday calls for one thing and one thing only: a sequin dress! The best part of a birthday is finding the perfect outfit that will let you shine, literally. So a sequin mini dress was exactly what I wanted to wear for the celebration. Of course there are times when sequins can make you look increadably tacky and childish, I'm not disagreeing. But then there are the times when they have this amazing, magical power to transform any girl into a beautiful, dazzling, star. Here are just a few gorgeous ladies in sequin frocks.

Sienna Miller at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards in a stunning green sequin mini from her own label,  Twenty8Twelve.

As the face of the last Burberry campaign, Emma Watson had privledged of wearing many gorgeous pieces, but this shining gold dress was the most specacular show stopper of them all.

Nicole Richie wore this gold dress from her Winter Kate collection which is such a fabulous dress because even with the feminine, rich sequins, it still has a comfortable, boho vibe to it.

At a Star Trek premiere in 2009, Zoe Saldana looked outstanding in this Pucci dress which stands out not only for its  eye catching shine, but for the exciting pattern that the silver sequins make against the black.

So what do you think, which of these is your favorite? Who else has pulled off a great sequin dress recently?

http://profashionelle.com/red-carpet-gold-star-sienna-miller-twenty8twelve-fall-2009-green-sequin-dress/

http://justjaredjr.buzznet.com/2009/09/22/emma-watson-is-a-burberry-beauty/

http://nicolerichieanonymous.blogspot.com/2010/09/get-look_05.html

http://littlepaperdresses.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Got Boots? Neither Do I

After giving it much consideration, I decided not to continue the three day marathon of the fashionable actresses on Gossip Girl. I just wasn't feeling it today. Instead, what I have decided to focus my attention on is my unsatisfied yearning for a pair of great motorcycle/combat boots. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been dying to get my hands on a pair of  lace-up, rugged, kickers of my own for quite some time now. My sister had a pair of combat boots from her freshman year of high school and I never let her forget how odd they looked. But now these boots that my cousins and I all teased her about, have actually became stylish, and she's the one laughing at me! You see, now she has this killer pair of boots left over from her goth/punk days, while I, the sister that used to tease her about how bizzare they were, am stuck saving my money to find a pair of my own. I have finally taken the motorcycle-boot-hunt to the next step, the internet. Here are some of my favorites I have found online. Now the question is, which will be THE boot?

http://www.thisnext.com/tag/heutchy-black-leather-and-canvas-lace-up-shoes/

http://www.shopbot.ca/ps-bucco-women-s-17-207-lace-up-boots-20911211.html

http://lostinasupermarket.com/2010/02/blackberrett-vintage-lace-up-boots/

http://www.thisnext.com/tag/doc-martens/

Gossip Girl Style Crush #1: Leighton Meester

So just a heads up, the next three days will be dedicated to the stylish actresses of Gossip Girl. Although it's not my favorite show, I do find myself getting sucked into watching it every week. The clothes on the show are fabulous, but the actresses' off camera looks are what I really flip over. Today's style crush is the one and only Leighton Meester. There are some people who think she is wayyyy too crazy with her style choices, but that's why I love her! She takes such great risks with her clothes and just has fun with it. Once in a blue moon I disagree with her outfit choices, but most of the time I could just die for her clothes. She knows how to make a statement and always stands out from the crowd. I mean if you're going to be in the spotlight, why not enjoy it and dress crazy?

At Proenza Schouler's show at S/S Fashion Week in New York.

At a New Years Eve Party at Klutch nightclub in Miami.

In Versace at Fashion's Night Out in New York.

At Chanel's show at the A/W 2011 Fashion Week in Paris.

In Christopher Kane at the screening of Spread.

At the Jingle Bash in Madison Square Garedn in New York.

In Louis Vuitton at the 2009 Met Institue Costume Gala. 

At the after-party for the Romantics in New York City.

http://gossipteen.com/2009/12/13/leighton-meester-jingle-ball-belle/

http://style.thefablife.com/nggallery/post/leighton-meesters-fashion-mishap/page/21379

http://picofdaday.blogspot.com/2010/07/paris-haute-couture-fashion-week.html

http://style.thefablife.com/nggallery/post/leighton-meesters-fashion-mishap/page/21379

http://justjared.buzznet.com/photo-gallery/1899361/leighton-meester-met-costume-institute-gala-2009-01/

Aritzia: Possibly The Best Store Ever

Over the last two nights combined, I think I may have gotten a whopping total of nine hours of sleep. Tonight I will be going to bed around midnight, again, and I will be way too tired to drag my sleepy butt out of bed at my usual wake up time of 5:50 am. So to allow myself the extra fifteen/twenty minutes of sleep I so desperately need, I have decided to pick my outfit out tonight before going to bed, or even finishing my homework. As it turns out, almost my entire outfit for tomorrow is from Aritzia. The J Brand jeggings, Wilfred bustier tank top, and  big, green, Wildred sweater. I don't know how many of you already shop at Aritzia, but those of you who don't really should stop in. I think it's safe to say that Aritzia and Cusp seriously might be my two favorite stores ever! Here are some of my favorite new items in stock.

http://www.aritzia.com/