Hasta La Ideas

A bride’s dress is something the guests and groom have been envisioning since the very thought of her big day. Just as she has the right to flaunt, the Mrs.-to-be is also entitled to some mystery. These days, gown selection can seem a bit overly traditional, with an abundance of styles that are recognizable under any fashion era: the strapless, the halter, the short-sleeved. Add a spank of spunk to wedding tradition with a trend recently rocked by First Lady Michelle Obama with the one-shouldered gown. The subtly different style of gown is flashy enough to show the bride’s glamorous glow, yet is still enough of a tease to get the groom counting down to the end of the night. Go ahead — give your man the cold shoulder one last time… and remember, if Michelle Obama can pull it off, this classy style could be the perfect pick for your perfect day.

I like nature as much as the next person. I love going to gardens and nurseries to check out flowers and plants (that I’ll probably kill if I ever take them home) and I’m all for hiking the trails. But you’re probably never going to find me roughing it in the mountainside without any running water or my blowdryer. Since I can’t bring plants home, I’ve been looking for things from nature I can’t kill. Luckily, I found the Gianna Rose Atelier Robin’s Egg Soaps. At first glance, they look like real thing. Don’t worry, no one robbed a mother robin of her eggs! These soaps are vegetable based with soothing chamomile extracts. Plus, oatmeal and wheat bran give these eggs their exfoliating speckles. Now I can get a touch of nature every time I wash my hands without harming any animals or killing innocent plants!

Price: $20.90-24.90
Who Found It: BarenakedChef was the first to add the Gianna Rose Atelier Robin’s Egg Soaps to the Hive.

Ask anyone what they have the most in their wardrobe (besides underwear and socks), the answer is most likely t-shirts. I recently made an inventory of my closet, and let’s just say that I don’t need to buy anymore t-shirts for a long time. Just why are t-shirts so popular? They come in all colors, styles, and fabrics from cotton jersey to bamboo. You can also find t-shirts from a variety of price points. Some can be over $100 while others can be less than your regular cup of coffee (hello, Hanes!). Most importantly of all, they’re comfortable! A lot of times, comfort doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with stylish, but I like to think of t-shirts as a blank slate. Pair a t-shirt and jeans for your everyday errands or tuck the shirt into a high-waisted skirt, add some chunky jewelry and you’re ready for a night out on the town. Here’s my list of top essential t-shirt styles everyone should have in their closet.

1. The classic crew neck: definitely a basic staple. These are the best to wear to the gym or even to work if it’s a super casual office.
2. A V-neck tee: it can bare a little more skin than crew neck shirts. I like to wear them with necklaces that rest just by the hollow of the neck.
3. A pocket t-shirt: these have a casual menswear feel, perfect for brunch with your best friends or a lazy day at the park.

Read on for more essential t-shirts! Then click the slideshow to see where to get them!

Your new fashion mantra: “Instead of my LBD, for my next date, cocktail party, wedding, or other excuse to dress up – I WILL wear color.” This sweet Tibi frock has an exuberant print that’s completely irresistible in a cut that’s begging to be taken out and shown a good time. For a picnic, BBQ or beach party, go more low key in flats (try Juicy Couture’s “Violet” toe-ring espadrille sandal, a casual-chic tote in “Teaberry”, and a fabulous straw hat), But when the sun goes down, step out South Beach style in vibrant grass-green heels, a coral bag, and jewelry with fringe. Worried about how to balance so much color at one time? First, focus on one or two key hues in the print – in this case green and coral – in order pick accessories that coordinate in a non-clashy way. Then, evaluate whether the background of the print is cool or warm. Here, it’s a warm beige, so a warm-toned metal such as bronze or gold is your best choice – and the reason that with this dress, gold-toned jewelry works so well. Click over to Fashiontribes to see how and where you can get a bright fashion outlook.

I have a philosophy that men should have a solid assortment of neutral-colored pieces in their wardrobe– and when I say neutral, I am not just referring to black. I am referring to the earthy prismatic rainbow that includes gray, khaki, brown, navy and, of course, the good ol’ standby, black. Choosing neutral pieces is like picking a canvas for you to paint on. When choosing something like a Ralph Lauren poplin barrel shirt, think of a pop of color that would compliment it (I’ll go over choosing fun colors later). The best thing about neutral colored clothing is that it goes with just about everything, which makes it anything but boring. You can even go with neutral accessories that stand in the background of your colorful garb. A khaki Kenneth Cole messenger bag is a universal accessory as is the neutral colorblock tie by Thomas Pink. The trick about neutrals is to have a balance, because if you wear too much black, you run the risk of looking like an undertaker– and no one wants that. Take a look at my slideshow for more neutrals to choose from.