Lana

The Sheer Maxi Dress by For Love & Lemons

Just like the boyfriend jean, the Foley & Corinna Mid City Tote, and high-waisted jeans, the sheer maxi dress is a trend that I first abhored before finally accepting its lure of a love/hate relationship and then inevitably gave in to its unique temptation. I’m still not sure if I completely feel that what’s basically just a mini dress that can’t decide if its warm or cold out is really my style, but once again, the fashion world seemed to pull off hacking at a trend as long as it took to get it right. I’m really digging the version of the sheer maxi dress by For Love & Lemons caught my eyes (along with the brand’s effortless bohemian feel that gives my favorites Gypsy 05 and Free People a run for their money), and that Antigua dress is quite alluring, isn’t it? I’m thinking a fancy French Riviera soirée at an open-air beach lounge at sunset…le sigh.

I think the reason I wasn’t partial to the trend at first is because it seemed to be limited to the only-stylish-for-the-occasion Coachella crowd and seemed too forced and “look at me.” However, like any new trend that pops up from time to time, this one didn’t die, and as new hot brands picked it up and reworked it, it turned into something even grownups could wear, and mean it. The contrast between the sheer skirt and the opaque…well, rest of the dress, used to be a lot higher with a very basic and boring cutoff between the two, and now it seems there are better and more elegant options that blend the two in a way that is more appealing to me, some pushing it even further and glamorous with embellishments and lace. I’d rock it!

Shop more similar dresses:

Lana

Leopard and Ombre

Leopard and Ombre - Front Shot

Top: Olivaceous, Jeans: Current/Elliott Leopard Skinny in Fig, Bag: Foley & Corinna Mid City Tote in Cobalt, Bracelet: Gorjana Wrap

Leopard and Ombre

Awhile ago I posted about the Current/Elliott leopard-print jeans as part of my ever-growing wish list. Well eBay won me over again…although I love the version in Sapphire that I featured in that post, I am a sucker for anything in burgundy. So, I jumped at the chance to snag a pair of them in Fig, the burgundy shade! I love these! They are also my first pair of Current/Elliott jeans and I can see what the big fuss was about them not long ago. They are low rise, but it’s hard to find low-rise jeans that fit my body shape without falling down throughout the day. They stay put, and they are a nice thick but soft denim. From many reports I have read about the brand in the past, I sized down to a 25 (I am normally a 26), which was a great idea. Current/Elliott is known to run a big large, with some people advising to size down two sizes! I found sizing down one was sufficient.

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Lana

Marc by Marc Jacobs Revives the Scrunchie

Marc by Marc Jacobs Revives the Scrunchie

The scrunchie. Did anyone really think it would come back? Has it truly come back, or is it being snatched up as fast as it is from some of these designers due to good old marketing and branding? I can’t decide…I’ve seen a few here and there, as nothing really truly dies, but thanks to a Refinery29 article, I now know it’s for real. As a kid I don’t remember wearing scrunchies all that much…my memories of the ’90s consist mostly of Tamagotchis, a bazillion keychains on my school bag, stirrupped leggings, jelly sandals (oh wait, those are back too! Blog post to follow?), fluffy hair, colorful clothing and sky-high ponytails…oh and palazzo pants (I will never forget my MC Hammer-fan girlfriend who kept me feeling pretty spiffy in mine). I don’t remember actually owning a scrunchie as a store find, despite my obsession with Claire’s and Afterthoughts in our now-defunct local mall. I was a crafty child—I loved to make things, and scrunchies was one of my favorite craft subjects!

Don’t get me wrong here, I love me some Marc Jacobs, and I do love the colors in these! But I think my scrunchie days are over…I’m not against them, per se, I just don’t think they fit my style, unless a themed party called for it. What do you think? would you? I know one thing, I love, LOVE the brief rush of nostalgia.

Here’s a few more on the market right now…more than I thought!

Lana

TOMS Pairs Up with Paul Van Dyk

TOMS Pairs Up with Paul Van Dyk

TOMS x Paul Van Dyk Women’s Classics in Galaxy

TOMS Pairs Up with Paul Van Dyk

I just adore those team players in the highly-saturated and competitive fashion world that stay true to their strong humanitarian beliefs and never back down. The well-known TOMS has been in the game for quite some time, donating a pair of shoes to a child in need in need with every shoe purchase through their “One for One” campaign (to this day, they have donated over 10 million pairs of shoes!!!). To expand their efforts, they are constantly forming collaborations and planning new products to continue the cause of making the world a better place, one step at a time. This time, TOMS has paired up with superstar DJ and humanitarian Paul Van Dyk to create the limited edition TOMS x Paul van Dyk Galaxy Collection, which is “inspired by global citizenship”, and made up of these beautiful galaxy-print shoes and sunglasses emblazoned with the PVD logo. As an electronic music fan and DJ myself, I’m not a huge PVD fan, but I can appreciate his longevity and longtime influence in the music scene from day one, and being a humanitarian just gives him extra props from me.

Either way, I was immediately attracted to the print on these shoes! I still own no TOMS, unfortunately, but oh wow, I need these. Pronto…and how can I feel guilty if it’s all going to a good cause?

Check these out for yourself, below!

Lana

Red Engine Vamp Jean in Cashmere on Denimology

Red Engine Vamp Jean in Cashmere on Denimology

Red Engine Vamp Jean in Cashmere on Denimology

I’m normally not one for crop jeans, as I’m more athletic than leggy and they tend to make me feel and look stumpier than a nice long skinny jean does. However, in the summer, they are always desirable for that extra bit of skin exposure to keep cool and to show off a cute manicure and stylish sandals! Every now and then I’ll give them a go for this reason, but I will usually offset the crop with a low rise to at least elongate the torso a bit in case of the appearance of shorter legs. High-rise crops were off my radar before this review, and I think I might have a change of heart, thanks to Red Engine!

Red Engine has been on my mind for a long time, ever since I learned about them at a local boutique I used to design print collateral for. I was very happy to finally try them out for myself! The brand was created by denim fans Jim Boldes and Kristy Harlan, and is based on the appeal, both in look and in feel, of vintage denim. They are another on the list of denim brands proudly made in the good ol’ USA, specifically Los Angeles, California. Red Engine imports quality fabrics from Japan and Europe, and every pair is built and detailed entirely by hand, making each one unique. I had heard a lot of great things about this brand, and I have to say they lived up to my expectations! I first heard of Red Engine‘s Cashmere wash in an e-newsletter, which stated “our cashmere wash is the perfect mix of opulence and comfort. An ultra-stretch, super-soft denim that will never lose shape. Now, you can truly live in luxury.” I figured that was a great time to finally check the brand out!

Red Engine Vamp Jean in Cashmere on Denimology - Back View

The Red Engine Vamp in Cashmere was sent to me in my usual size of 26, hugging every curve with a 44% Cotton/42% Lyocell/12% Polyester/2% Elastane fabric blend, and as mentioned above, they have lived up to the claim—I’ve worn them many times without them stretching out! They certainly are soft too. I actually think the higher rise, which hits just below my belly button without feeling too tight or uncomfortable, helps eliminate the short, stumpier look that cropped pants can give (actually I think these make my legs look longer and slimmer), and I absolutely love the zippers! These definitely are cut in such a way that they are actually more flattering than anything on my curvier figure, but I am sure they would compliment any figure well. The wash is so pretty. It’s dark, but once you take them out in the sun, it shows its true colors of a pretty blend of a lighter, vibrant blue in the faded areas.

View the whole review on Denimology!

See my other Denimology reviews here.

Lana

Silk Lined Raw Denim by Koben

Silk Lined Raw Denim by Koben

Silk Lined Raw Denim by Koben

I’m guessing by now it’s no secret I like to help out the little guys with awesome ideas…I’ve previously featured two Kickstarter campaigns: Barbell Denim and Art Wear by Sociale Revolution. It’s fascinating to see what creative things people are coming up in today’s very competitive fashion world!! I just stumbled across another great campaign, by a clothing company named Koben Jeans. There has always been a fascination with raw denim (denim that is untreated and 100% cotton), and I remember way back when Rich & Skinny used to line their waistbands with luxurious silk. Well, Koben goes the extra mile, creating raw denim that is completely lined in silk that comes in your choice of color, both for men and women! As Koben says, “Business on the outside. Party on the inside.” Say whaa?

Founder T Hughes was on the hunt since 2009 for quality, comfortable jeans that fit his casual yet professional lifestyle, and opted to create is own. He has experience both at Land’s End and J. Crew, so he kind of knew what he was doing. He took his favorite pair of jeans, lined them with silk, and knew he had a great idea on his hands. The greatness of his idea was further verified when he was on a long flight wearing these jeans and the air conditioning failed while he was asleep. When he woke up, he found himself sweaty everywhere except for his legs. Turns out silk has its own way of regulating temperature and whicking away moisture!

Silk Lined Raw Denim by Koben - Inside View

Koben Jeans – The silk on the inside!

So obviously, Koben jeans will help regulate your temperature (help you stay warm when it’s cold, and vice versa), and help you stay dry—silk actually holds up to 30% of its weight before it loses it’s ability to regulate temperature, according to Koben’s Kickstarter page. These jeans have also gone through nine revisions to get the fit just right, and are meant to be dressed up or down. To top it off, these jeans are made in Los Angeles, California, and the denim is brought in from North Carolina’s Cone Mills. The silk and stretch denim is sourced from China.

How freakin’ awesome is this? This is why I love denim! You really never know what is coming up next, and the magic really does lie within the individual, unknown creatives rather than the larger, more established brands. I love seeing things like this, and I truly hope to try a pair of these babies! I adore how they look cuffed, with that perfect pop of color!

Check out Koben’s Kickstarter page here, although it just ended with flying colors (I’m not surprised!)…but all of the information is available through the Koben website, right here!

Lana

A New Fusion of Art and Fashion by Sociale Revolution

A New Fusion of Art and Fashion by Sociale Revolution

A New Fusion of Art and Fashion by Sociale Revolution

Like the next fashionista, I love the large, established, tried and true seasoned brands. However, I also have an affinity for the little guys…it can’t be easy in this overly-saturated market. It’s fascinating to see how creative startups are nowadays, especially with Kickstarter projects like Barbell Jeans (previously featured on this blog) and now Art Wear by Sociale Revolution. Sociale Revolution is a collective aimed at making art more accessible and upfront by encouraging its use for social debate. The group states “We’re giving artists a grand state and making their art more accessible, all while giving back to our cultural roots.” This new Art Wear Kickstarter project is an extension of this vision, allowing artists to expand the influence of their work beyond the galleries and into the hands (or onto the bodies) of fashion-forward people everywhere for a truly unique movement of personal expression.

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Lana

Red Engine Scorcher in Moonlight Review on Denimology

Red Engine Scorcher in Moonlight Review on Denimology

Red Engine Scorcher in Moonlight Review on Denimology

My love for Red Engine continues! In the denim world, we hear a lot of claims about the softest jeans, the best-fitting jeans, the most flattering jeans, and so on…and while a lot more of the claims are true nowadays with all of the amazing denim technology there is out there, I seem to keep discovering softer, and softer, and softer jeans! Red Engine has been an incredible brand to try out, because they truly are some of the softest I’ve ever tried on. However, nothing truly prepared me for the real ability for this brand to break barriers of the silky kind before I experienced a seriously impressive version of their Scorcher skinny jean. So read on and take this one as a real treat…here is a Red Engine Scorcher in Moonlight review!

Red Engine Scorcher in Moonlight Review on Denimology - Back View

Cardigan: American Eagle Outfitters Lightweight Boyfriend Cardigan, Hat: Gap, Bag: Vintage Coach, Sandals: Bamboo

I was told about the buttery softness of these jeans before they were sent, so I was really looking forward to checking them out. When I first opened the box, I initially squealed at how BEAUTIFUL the wash is, but combined with how incredibly soft these are, I knew I had the real deal in front of me. Since I knew I had to go with a smaller size due to the sample only being available in a 25, I just crossed my mental fingers real hard that they’d fit…and they did! The silkiness of these jeans made them slide right on, and although they’ve stretched out a tiny bit, they have kept their shape over many wears. As for the mentioned wash, it’s a gorgeous vibrant blue with attractive fading and whiskering, and I really like the contrast orange stitching, both overall and in the trademark Red Engine squiggly embroidery on the back pockets. I had my doubts that these were even denim, because they feel like they are leggings actually made of silk, but they are a nice light 52% cotton, 45% Lyocell, 4% Polyester and 2% Elastane. I know I have other jeans with very similar blends and they don’t feel even close to these luxuriously soft babies! The only downside to this fabric is that they can snag easily, like tights…on my first night out with these I snagged a ring on my right leg, and my boot snagged a thread in the back of my calf, but fortunately they weren’t so bad that they stuck out like a sore thumb. These jeans are stretchy enough that I was able to kind of work the threads back into place, but I gotta be careful with sharp or snaggy items around these! Needless to say I’ll be more careful with jewelry around them…and may not wear anything that overlaps them, like tall boots, anymore!

Read the rest on Denimology!

Check out my other Denimology reviews here.

Shop my look!

Lana

New Bold Printed Jeans from Joe’s

New Bold Printed Jeans from Joe's

From L to R: Skinny
Ankle in Cheetah Print, Skinny Ankle in Wood Grain Print, High Water in Diamond Vortex

As I’ve mentioned before in previous posts, I wasn’t always partial to printed jeans. Some trends hit me and never really catch on (high waisted, hairy, crotch-hugging denim diaper shorts, anyone?), and yet some take a little time, like the printed denim trend did. Granted though, most of the first ones I saw were all flowery prints that reminded me of a grandma’s drapes…and I don’t really like antique, ornate looking prints, or anything too flowery to begin with. I like bolder patterns—the closer to colorblocking, the better. I’m still shying away from printed leggings (well, I’m not much of a legging person anyway, except for the denim version) but I’ve been fascinated lately with some of the printed jeans that have been spewed out by some of the denim industry’s biggest contenders. Check out these new bold printed jeans from Joe’s Jeans, one of my favorites!

I’d say my favorite out of the three is the cheetah print…maybe because Current Elliott’s famous cheetah print that’s lasted through the years finally settled in with me (check out these babies!! So hot! But sold out…nggh). What do you think?

Lana

Closed Pedal Star Patchwork Denim Pants Review on Denimology

Closed Pedal Star Patchwork Denim Pants Review on Denimology

Closed Pedal Star Patchwork Denim Pants Review on Denimology

As the denim world evolves, we see styles come and go…skinny is in, skinny is out…bootcut is in…no, bootcut is out again and now high-waisted flares are in…wait no, skinny is trying to come back in but they aren’t skinny enough so welcome to the jegging…and so on, and so on. I’ve noticed the industry get rather creative over the last several years, with styles such as printed denim, different variations of existing cuts, textured denim…you catch my drift. One style that seemed to grab the industry by the cajones was patchwork denim, coming on strong and showing it wasn’t planning on fading away anytime soon. Most patchwork denim didn’t really resonate with me all that well, since it all seemed pretty consistent and I just simply wasn’t much of a fan of the look, until Closed came along with their own rendition of the trend. You may have seen my editorial on it awhile back! With that said, today I am stoked to bring you a Closed Pedal Star Patchwork Denim Pants review!

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