Crafty Aprons, Bangles, and House Decor Ideas!

So the Monocle has been out and about lately working on all things design related; most recently, a trip to West Elm, Crate and Barrel, and Z Gallerie. Some fashionistas may find their lifestyles in the West Elm Catalog, with simple but classic pieces, mixed together to create a modern nouveau look. Some glamour girls may find their true selves in the glitzy and mirrored stylings of Z Gallerie, a store that hosts a variety of garishly good get-ups with handsome statement pieces.  Either location is a girl's best friend depending on the style, but never-fail options are always Anthropologie or a specialty furniture store with a theme (mine would be Art Deco). Here are a few snapshots I captured with my phone camera that I loved from each store.

 The turquoise and geometric patterns are a must-have in the Tiffany blue.

 Love the textures of the napkins and the plum color!

 Love this carpet; it's so oceanic!

 Place settings are fab with some bead work and lotus candle holders!

 Geometric chairs+leather padding=gorgeous!

Love the lilac with black & white.

The cool sapphire looks amazing with grey and white.

Other fashionable finds I have come across lately have been the awesomeness of the fun and crafty African-style bangles. They are super fun and easy to make, and I came across them from a fellow blogger first, The White List. I love the fun prints and bright colors!

via The White List

The awesome other crafty creation I have found were the fun stylings of these aprons from Etsy seller Shawna. Check out her cute Rainbow Brite Apron! 

via Etsy.com

I made an apron months ago, and was inspired by my love of making cupcakes. Here is a photo, but after seeing the awesome styles Shawna is putting out, it makes me want to go back to the drawing board!

Some other fun finds I've found had to do with a crested jacket from Ralph Lauren; add a Captain's Hat, specs, and a Cary Grant accent and you have Tony Curtis as Shell Oil from Some Like It Hot.

I was also fortunate enough to have a themed party I attended thanks to my friend Tiffany's birthday, and she and I both channeled Breakfast at Tiffany's Audrey Hepburn.

The last picture I have is a Kate Spade New York outfit in classic chic black and white. I love how black, white, and some red lipstick can make an entire outfit, with the right handbag of course!

Do you have any awesome apron, furniture, or classic must-have (like a crested jacket?) ideas? Leave it in the comments below! And check out Nerd News Now blog for a follow up to my last post about Fashionable Work Out Clothes and Workout Routine as the Nerd himself tries the patented punch-jump routine! 

New Year's Resolutions: Wear Stylish Workout Clothes!

Whether you are trying to stick to a resolution or just look super awesome when shaking your booty, a bright fun-colored workout outfit is a must this year! One of my resolutions that actually started before this year (so I would be prepared to work on it this year) was to lose weight and of course be more current with Fashion Monocle.

Every Fashionable Follower should have awesome workout gear and accessories to stay current and keep to resolutions, as well as a killer playlist! First off, let's talk clothes:

I love these bright-colored (and super-duper comfortable) sports bras from Champion and VS Pink.

These Champion reversible shorts are genius; color-coordinating just got that much easier!

Must-have bright colored sneakers from Adidas; I prefer their comfort (and prices!) to Nike.

Now to put those clothes to use:
A mini-gym at home starts with one thing, and grows with your dedication to the resolution!

Best way to keep a resolution is to keep it fresh: gear up and get out there for anything! When you get bored, you get lazy! I asked Santa this year for a punching bag, and when you combine that with a trampoline, you get:

My super fantastic punch-jump routine!

Did you know...?
The best way to beat the blues is to workout. It also staves off getting colds by boosting your immunity! Plus, with all my tips for looking fashionable, you can't help but wear awesome workout gear to help you get moving! And if you can't workout solo? Your local YMCA and city guide will most likely offer monthly classes, not to mention gyms like LA Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, and other gyms will offer the first day, week, or even month free of charge! I recommend a spinning class because you can control the levels you push yourself at, followed with a cool-down in yoga. And if you love to dance? I once took a hip-hop aerobics class in college, and, well, the routine was something like this...:

And for more motivation? Take your peepers to http://downtownn.tumblr.com/, a great place to get motivation!  Make sure to take in some awesome tunes for your i-pod, because according to statistics, music makes up almost have of our motivation. If you keep the music going, you can keep getting giggy with it. And for the ultimate motivation? Try working in some cool runners magazines, or Health magazine, or my newest one: 21 Days Belly Melt Workout!

Last but not least, don't forget to take time; it won't happen overnight, but it will happen. :)

Fashionable Followers, I wish you the best New Year!

Fashion Tips and Reviews

First of all, Fashion Darlings, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

Second, I would like to begin this blog by saying I do not agree with Vogue's Best Dressed Magazine.

Shocked? Surely Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour did not make a mistake! Well, after reading the magazine cover to cover, I discovered some irrepressible faux-pas. First off, the cover of the magazine boasts "Dynamic Duos", a sister feature, where Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are mentioned along with Catherine and Pippa Middleton, Dakota and Elle Fanning, and Beyonce and Solange Knowles. Why weren't eclectic sister-duo Zooey and Emily Deschanel mentioned? I think some credit is due there, namely for the fact that they are not only trendy, style-inclined sisters, but they also are incredibly creative, a talent that requires (in this writer's eyes) to be mentioned! And especially this year, with both sisters success in television, I think it definitely deserves some notion. Here are a few picture examples as to why the sisters should be included:

Second, I have to say that while Vogue managed to hit the nail on the head with some style icons, especially the nice transformation of funny girl Emma Stone, they managed to leave out such trendy idols as Coco Rocha. Since her wedding first debuted in 2010, Coco Rocha has been a captivating model for her adoring audience. She is not only a fashion model, muse, and wife, but she is also down-to-earth and can relate more to the common person than model Tyra Banks any day. She is fun, quirky, and smart, with an appreciation not only for high-fashion, but also for mainstream brands like J.Crew and Zara. Her updates on her blog, http://oh-so-coco.tumblr.com/ leave us wanting more. I mean, what model would post a picture of her nose as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? 

Lastly, such beauties as Mila Kunis, Katie Holmes, and Rachel Bilson should have made the cut in favor of Michelle Williams. And snooze-fest Pippa Middleton:  Don't get me wrong, darlings, I love the dear sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, and her style is fantastic. But, of course it would be; she is the sister of a Duchess! If my sister was a Duchess, I'd look pretty damn good too! To me, while she isn't royalty, Mila Kunis expressed poise and grace accepting invitation to--and attending--the Marine's Military Ball. How classy! 

On a side note, I have spotted some trends I would like to mention in regards to jewelry; there is something classic and worldly about owning jewelry from other countries.  I have stumbled across two such examples within days of each other, the first being an Egyptian hieroglyph necklace, and the second a Greek antique-finish necklace. Now an easy way to incorporate foreign jewelry without traveling is to either raid your mother's jewelry box, or snag some of your own using this Egyptian Jewelry website Nilestone. And get your Greek on at GreekJewelryShop. If you prefer some handcrafted vendors, check out this necklace by SilverBlueberry and this one by PiecesOfll.

And here are a few Fashion New Year's Resolutions to consider:
-Be confident in yourself and what you wear; if you feel uncomfortable, than you will look uncomfortable.
-Embrace classic clothing and try trendy accessories; they cost a lot less than a new wardrobe.
-Try a Spanx or two; you may enjoy it.
-Embrace some lace: add a touch to a t-shirt, skirt hem, or sleeve, it's a nice way to keep it classy.
-Try turquoise: did you know it will keep you anti-inflamed and protected? (At least that's what the Native Americans believe).
-Go to a bra fitting ladies: 80-85% of you are wearing the wrong size! That means back problems and posture issues.

Hope you have a wonderful and healthy New Year!

-FM