The Looking Glass

I was recently flipping through an old InStyle magzine & reading my favorite section, Ask Rachel. I noticed these cool earrings from a site called jewelmint.com at a mere $30. Being the bargain shopper I am, I had to check it out. Turns out the website is a jewelry collection created by Kate Bosworth & Cher. Registration is SUPER easy and a 10-question quiz follows to find your best suited pieces. And get this - each piece is only $30.00! It's really cool and I'm a little obsessed now, I have to admit. I guess I've been living under a rock because I'm sure this has been advertised like crazy & I've just missed it all.
If you want to sign up, contact us for a referral thing & we get credits!
xoxo

As Kate Middleton becomes Duchess of Cambridge, or Princess Kate, the rest of the world looks on in envy, wondering how we can become the next married-in member of the royal family (Prnce Harry, anyone?). For the  years she has been in the press as the girlfriend of William, I've always admired Kate's style. She carries herself with this poise and class unlike any other. She reminds me of a modern day Audrey Hepburn with a princess title. Her style is no different from her media image: classy, timeless, and elegant.

In true royal fashion, Kate wears gorgeous hair pieces. Her hats, similar to some of Diana's, tie together many of her looks.

Kate's dresses are to die for. She seems to be found of the designer Issa, a London-based company. I believe the light blue dress on the far right is an Issa piece. Even in "fun" going out pieces, Kate sticks to a classic and simple palette and doesn't over do it with accessories.















Despite her royal title, Kate can still look like the girl she used to be before St. Andrews and a celebrity status. In her street style, Kate is often spotted in riding boots, jeans, a jacket, and a tote in hand.

Feather hair extensions seem to be popping up quite a bit. Originally in the western half of the country, these Ke$ha-inspired hair pieces have made their way to The Dash. Our friend had gone to Texas & gotten one done. After receiving compliments and needing to raise money for a trip, she started doing them at a $10 rate.

I got one done a few weeks ago! Mine is a green feather, a zebra-striped feather, and a green zebra-like feather. Pictures are below. Excuse the horrendous quality, I apologize in advance. For anyone wanting to get one done themselves, you can buy kits online or just buy rooster feathers & jewelry beads. Clamp the feather into your hair using a small jewelry bead at the top. They last for a few weeks or up to a month. For a less permanent look, clip-in feather extensions (upper middle) are available, too.

After missing the MTV premiere last Monday of Skins, I (Sydney) decided to watch the UK version on Netflix instead. Not only have I now gotten all my friends, including Sofia, hooked, but it's 1000x better than the American version, as most originals are. Aside from the storyline obsession, Sofia pointed out the amazing wardrobe of Cassie, the blonde troubled teenage soul. Her clothes are very free-spirited, but come tied together with one great piece, like the gold oxford-like shoes she wore in episode 5, volume 1. Her wardrobe includes long skirts, funky knee-socks, and simple shifts and are "granny style" in the best way. Needless to say, Cassie's closet is just one other thing keeping us hooked.

                                                                     Love, S&S

Name: Elizabeth Eppley
Year, age: Sophmore, 16
Interests: Dancing & all forms of art

What inspires you: Movies & magazines, but mostly I
come up with it myself.
Where do you shop: Everywhere, my parents closet
Favorite designers: Marc Jacobs, Jeffery Campbell,
Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Lilly Pulitzer
Celebrity muses: Leighton Meester, Miranda Kerr,
Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox
Favorite trend: The slouchy sweater

The Golden Globes aired this past Sunday, the 16th, and with them came stars and starlets dressed in red carpet hits and misses. While I'm aware the main part of the Golden Globes is the actual winning of awards, I'm much more interested in what celebrities wore this year and what trends have hit the red carpet. (Although I was super excited to find out that Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her performance in Black Swan, and Glee won Best Comedy or Musical TV Show!) For those of you who missed the awards on Sunday, here our some of our favorite trends and best dressed actresses. Some other trends included For a full list, go to People.com, TeenVogue.com or Cosmopolitan.com.

(from left) Lea Michelle, Sandra Bullock, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson

Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elisabeth Moss

Hailee Steinfeld, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez

Emma Stone (newly blonde!), Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer

Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Leighton Meester

Glee Stars
I have to give a special shout out to all the Glee stars; it was an especially good night for them, both because of the win, and fashion wise. Every actor and actress on the show looked stunning.

Lea Michelle, Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron

Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Heather Morrison

Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Chord Overstreet

Love, S&S 

Hey guys, it's Sydney. I feel like I've been gone for a lifetime, but I guess in actuality it was only a week. Time flies, I suppose. I was back in Key West attending my abuela's funeral - sad for the obvious, but glad to have been able to go & honor her the way she would have wanted. Having a Key West native father, I can't say I've ever really been to the tourist attractions down there, but I do love that little rock. While there, I definitely took advantage of the perfect weather (70s with a sea breeze). Some of my adventures & favorite places are photo-documented below. It's been a crazy new year with a rough start - hopefully it'll pick up soon! I hope you all are doing well! Stay tuned for more posts to come.

Hey you guys, it's Sofia. I've recently gotten into lookbook again (i was obsessed over the summer, but I only posted one look.) Anyway, from time to time I'll be posting new looks & sharing them on the blog. Please hype! If you have a facebook, you can hype them, which basically gives me more credit on the site.

The photographer herself, Ashland Kittrell

So putting up these pictures took longer than we had planned, especially because it's exam time! Unfortunately, the only ones we could put up are mine (Sofia) because Sydney had a family emergency and had to go to Florida for a while. Regardless, here they are!

Hanna Marin

Spencer Hastings

































Aria Montgomery

































Emily Fields
 


































Sorry for the bad photography on Emily's, my brother did that one. Overall, I think Pretty Little Liars week was a success. Can't wait for Gossip Girl week!

                                                                  Love, S&S

Pretty Little Liars, a show on ABC Family based on the book series by Sara Shepard, is premiering season 2 tomorrow night. For the occasion, we thought we'd play a game of dress up and we hope you guys will participate! For each day next week (well, Monday-Thurday) we will dress up like a different character. They all have a different sense of style, so its a fun way to remix our wardrobe. We'll be posting pictures of our finished outfits at the end of the week; if you choose to participate, feel free to email us your own to be shown on the blog! (Send to Sydneysofia.thelookingglass@gmail.com) For those who've never seen the show, we have a quick bit about each character and how they dress... but really if you have time, go on abcfamiy.com and watch them ASAP! The show is about four best friends (Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily) whose best friend Alison was murdered. A year after her death, the four began receiving anonymous texts from "A" threatening to reveal their darkest secrets. The show is suspenseful, exciting, and full of great fashion since each character has a unique style.

 Hanna Marin

Hanna is definitely the most "girly" of the four friends. Her wardrobe is very feminine and flirty, with lots of fitted tops and high heels. One thing Hannah wore often in season 1 was ruffled-top with shorts or miniskirts (seeing as it's winter, pair those skirts with tights or replace shorts with jeans). Hanna wears all sorts of bags --clutches, totes, shoulder bags, etc.-- but they should be colorful and in no way subtle. She wears long necklaces, dangling earrings, and chunky bracelets. For Hanna's shoes, high heels are a must (lots of wedges in the summer and heeled boots in the winter) but if you dont own any you can replace them with ballet flats.

Spencer Hastings

Spencer Hastings in the over-achiever in the group. She is academic, athletic, and tries to be perfect in everything she does. Her look very much reflects this perfect, polished lifestyle. Argyle sweater, plaid skirts, and crisp button downs are completely Spencer's style. Pair simple dresses with menswear blazers and briefcases/messenger bags. As for shoes and jewelry, try oxfords or ballet flats and simple stud earrings with pendant necklaces. Spencer stays polished, so don't go for a "no makeup" look, but nothing crazy either; bronze, browns, and nude colors look best on her.

Emily Fields

Emily is the sporty one in the group, and she definitely dresses for comfort. However, that is not to say she sacrifices style. Emily wears loose-fitted tops (try dolman or raglan sleeves) with jeans or denim skirts. She wears simple, bold colors and is also a fan of stripes. She also wears v-necks with cardigans or sweatshirts. Emily wears athletic-type shoes (you probably wont catch her in heels) like sneakers, converse, or keds. She carries messenger or gym bags, if any, and not a lot of jewelry other than small hoops or studs. Obviously, Emily keeps it simple, so she wears little or no makeup. Concealer, chapstick, and some mascara are probably it.

Aria Montgomery

Aria is the artsy one, and you could describe her style as bohemian with a punk edge. She combines feminine dresses with leather jackets, lace tights, and combat boots. Aria has a lot of statement pieces, which she pairs with jeans or leggings, and funky shoes. To dress like Aria, try fringe or leather boots with a neutral top and colorful sweaters. If you have a lot of clothes from urban outfitters, free people or anthropologie, they would be perfect for Aria's style. As for bags and jewelry, go for messenger bags (especially leather) and big, bright earrings and chain necklaces; Aria is not one to wear simple jewelry.


Ok, now you have the tips... raid your closets for four fabulous outfits! Here's the order for next weeks' dress-up:
Monday: Hannah
Tuesday: Spencer
Wednesday: Emily
Thursday: Aria
Like we mentioned earlier, you can email your pictures to us if you want them to be shown on the blog!


"We're still here bitches, and we know everything." - S&S

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you all rang 2011 in right. Here's to a great upcoming year, and all that it may bring; new trends, new opportunities, new memories, and (hopefully) a whole lot of fun!


With a new year brings resolutions, or so is the tradition. Resolutions, though hard to stick to, keep us on track for a little while, at least and are a great way to transition into the new year. If you want this year to be different than last, you have to make it happen! Here are a few of our own resolutions:

Sofia
1. Keep my room clean and organized (I just re-did it, and can't bear the thought of my beautiful new oasis ruined and covered in clutter.)

2. Stop spending money on things I dont need and start saving for a car.

3. Try harder in school and stop treating it like a joke. As hard as it is to admit, I need to stop thinking of school as nothing but a time to socialize and really buckle down.

Sydney
1. Eat more organics and eat more thoughtfully as opposed to mindlessly.

2. Live a healthy lifestyle in general. Do more yoga, continue to exercise regularly (but healthily!), try more natural remedies, & on it goes...

3. Do more charity work (& not just because my service club makes me.)

With a new year means new trends. For spring/summer we expect to see similar statements from last year revived. Things like jumpsuits/rompers, lace, clogs, crop tops, punk pieces, 60's 70's & 50's wear (see Sydney's Time Travel post), and bell bottoms are all said to be hits. As we rid ourselves of the dark hues and neutral pallettes of winter, we finally break out the purples, pinks, yellows, and blues. It couldn't come soon enough! (For more on color trends, follow the link provided: http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--spring-2011-color-trends-4884.html).

As you begin the new year, think up some resolutions & get going! Start a trend. Style your hair to that cut you've been too scared to touch. It's the perfect time to make the changes you desire. We wish you all the best in the upcoming year & that it's just as great as you hope it will be.

Stay tuned tomorrow for pretty little post...

Love,
S&S

Nothing says "New Years Eve Party" like sparkle and shine. Glittering confetti and sparkly streamers are in our midst, as well as girls buying sequined dresses, metallic makeup, and just about everything "new years appropriate" that they can get their hands on. If you aren't one to go all out with head-to-toe sparkle, glittering shoes are a great way to ring in the new year in style.

My all-time favorite (and favorites among fashion forward girls everywhere) glitter shoes are Christian Louboutin Peep-toes and Jeffery Campbell Lita Booties. Unfortunately, many people (namely, me) cannot afford these fabulous shoes: The Louboutins are $600-$700 and the Campbell boots are $160 on Solestruck.com

Glittery Louboutins in Oxblood, Silver, and Midnight

Jeffery Campbell Litas in Multi and Pewter

So I'm posting a DIY for all you girls who want these shoes cheap!

Supplies:

A pair of shoes: I chose black peep-toes from Charlotte Russe ($20) for the Louboutins and brown platform oxfords from Forever 21 ($25) for the Jeffery Campbells

Glitter bond from any craft store: I chose glue from AC Moore for $4, or spray adhesive for $6.

Any color glitter you want, but I recommend black, silver, or multi to make them look authentic, and keep them from looking tacky. You can get glitter from any craft store for about $5

Sealant to keep the glitter in place: I chose sealer from AC Moore for $6

Instructions:
First, take the shoes and either spread glitter glue all over them (except for the bottom side) or spray with adhesive, which is a little more expensive but a lot easier. If you use spray glue, put tape on the bottom side so it doesn't accidentally get glue on it.
 
Next, lay out some newspaper, or go outside, and shake whatever color glitter you want on the shoes. The color is completely up to you, but  I recommend black, silver, or multi. Put some rolled up plastic bags in the inside so they don't get glitter in them; no matter what you do, glitter does NOT come out of the inside of shoes.

Optional step: If you're making the Louboutin look-alikes, you can spray paint the bottoms red before you start to get the signature Louboutin red-soles.

Make sure the shoes are completely covered and then spray with sealant. The sealant will keep the glitter from falling off, and will keep them waterproof, so give it a healthy coat.

Finally, let them dry and voila! Glitter shoes! They're perfect for new year's eve, and parties in general.

Here's the finished product! Authentic look for a lot less. Here's how much it costs:

Real Campbells: $160                      Real Louboutins: $700
DIY Campbells: $40*                      DIY Louboutins: $35*

*Costs will differ depending on where you get supplies & what shoes you buy.

Enjoy!

Love, 
S&S

Hey readers, it's Sydney. As I sit home over break and look out at the snow covered grounds, I can't help but wish for warmer climate & summertime. I was looking over some 2011 Spring/Summer runway photos and noticed a flashback visible in so many collections. I sort of feel like designers do this every year - take great pieces or trends of the past, modernize them, & make it work for the current year. While I'm a sucker for the boho revival, I was waiting for a little more variety. Re-looking at these collections though, I'm finding some great wears that I thought I'd share with you guys.

1970s: Glam Rock
My first thought at the sound of "glam rock" is Kristen Stewart a la The Runaways - hardass and tomboy-esque. The Balmain show took this idea of blazers, acid wash, studs, glitter, & black, and made it very much a more sexy nighttime look with a badass edge. In a practical everyday sense, I'd definitely buy a biker jacket as the signature for this style.

1960s: Mod Woman
Last Year at Marienbad, a 1960's movie said to be one of the most boring ever made, was the inspiration behind Karl Lagerfeld's RTW line for Chanel. The monochrome pallette of the movie was reflected in typical Chanel fashion. In the first few looks, "the new lace" is said to have been discovered - holes. (Yes, I too couldn't imagine such a thing from Chanel, but it works). Suits were revised to an A-line body shape, or kept boxy, but paired with shorts. The fabrics were distressed and of course featured Chanel's classic tweeds. Little known fact, Coco Chanel designed the black lace gowns worn in Marienbad. Lagerfeld revisited this by the end of the show.





1950s: I Was NEVER The Girl Next Door
John Galliano's Dior show opener, the Betty page quote, set the tone of the upcoming collection. With nods at the 40's and 50's, Galliano stayed true to the fun, flirty, sailor-like look of the time. Mini or maxi dresses, red lips, fringed hair, wide leg pants, sheer fabric, espadriles, and high waitlines were all featured in the show. While most of these pieces can be revived from previous wardrobes, add subtle hints of the look by toning down bright primary colors with white or pale yellows. A statement necklace will also complete any unpolished look.



Summer may still be months away, but a girl can dream. In the meantime, stock up that closet with your own renditions of the runway wear. Stay warm, darlings.

Love,

Hey you guys, it's Sofia and I'm doing a solo post. So my brother dragged me to Tron Legacy yesterday and I have to say, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was a bit stubborn about the whole thing, but I'm glad I went. The plotline was a little thin (it was just a lot of riding around on bikes and fighting scenes) but what really impressed me about the movie was the light-up costumes.

Spring 2010 Iris Van Herpen


Lastly, Iris Van Herpen's 2011 Spring collection takes the cake. Not only do her fashions look sci-fi-stylish, her methods are the future of fashion. Her concept for this collection was the crystallization of water; the fluidity and randomness of water in a solid state. She created beautiful garments out of carefully stretched, cut, and draped leather which ended up looking like something worn by very-chic aliens. As for the collar and jacket that look like they're made out of water? She designed them on the computer, and printed them with a 3D printer onto plexiglass/plastic material. The 26-year-old designer has created a truly beautiful futuristic collection that people cannot stop talking about.