Category Archives for Fashion

Neutrals and Paris Cafés

Mmmm…Paris…

…And your abundant cafés,  fabulously mixed neutrals and bright red lips…

I was brought up to believe that navy and black can NEVER be together, and lipstick is for old ladies at church.

But you proved me wrong.

xx

hillary rose

PS:

Photos are owned by The Sartorialist…

(but this should be common sense seeing as how my photography is nowhere near this amazingness)

The Messy Bun

Once, I chopped ALL my hair off Audrey Hepburn-esque like in Roman Holiday.

All off.  All gone.

C’est chic.

…

Then I had the fun and slow process of growing it all back.  Sadly, growing hair isn’t as easy as cutting hair.  But my hair is finally past my shoulders.  And I’m able to [almost] contort my hair into different styles and look.

Like the, I just simply threw this on top of my head into a casually messy bun…

Or, in my case, I almost succeeded in casually throwing my hair into a casually messy bun…

bun

Hairspray and bobby pins and hair ties prove ever so helpful in this look.  One that is ALMOST as très chic as the Parisian women gracing the streets.

Or this one:

….

Practice makes perfect, right?  Even if it means practicing until the casual est parfait?

xx

hillary rose

PS:

This is more of my, I’M EXCITED ABOUT MY SEMI-SUCCESSFUL MESSY BUN face…

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PPS:

Messy buns do oh-so-well at looking fashionable at the gym while “working on my fitness“

Le Chat

I have a problem.

It involves “pinning” images to online inspiration boards and independent, four legged animals…

Of all my Pinterest boards, “le chat” wins in “the most pins” award.

But then again, who can resist cats wearing berets and pretending to be Parisian?

Despite folks’s beliefs that my outgoing personality renders me a dog person, I’ve always been a cat person.  And lucky for me, majority of the “Paris” population opts for this whiskered feline.

Including, Karl Lagerfeld and his lovely Choupette.

Now, if you haven’t heard of this adorable kitty, you’re going to have to do your own research on how this charming kitten stole the heart of Chanel’s creative director.  (Her presence has been known since this past summer…)

Meeting Mr. Lagerfeld is on my list of “fashion world to-do’s,” but, now, I think meeting Choupette is starting to rank higher.  Maybe in doing so, I can convince Mr. Lagerfeld to let me be Choupette’s “au pair.”

Thankfully, I’m in somewhat of luck.  For it is known that Mr. Lagerfeld frequents Café de Flore (as I have).  So, come springtime, I might be propping up at this infamous Parisian café stalking watching for Choupette and her Karl.

mmm…

Truth is, all I want is an apartment in Paris with a window, and a cat to join me while we sit on the ledge acting all introspective and French (Luckily, one of these should be coming true).

xx

hillary  rose

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LOOK! C’est moi avec mon chat, BC.  Note how my young, fashionable self pulled off that Santa hat. Sadly, I lost touch with my fashion sense until about college….

“Sometimes I think to myself in French and listen to old records from the ’60s”

Seeing as I am not currently in Paris (minor hiccups…don’t worry), I don’t have the wonderful opportunity to gawk at chic Parisian women while I trying to emulate them.  Instead of the catwalks being on Rue de Rivoli, I have the viewing pleasure of “Rue de Wal-Mart.”  And I can promise you (while even though some folks try), honey, it ain’t the same as Paris.

So, to prevent myself from going crazy over ill-fitting jeans and “Insert-Brand-Here” logo shirts, I take to my dearly beloved fashion magazines and blogs.  One of my favorites: Nylon.

And whilst I was perusing their lovely and oh-so-inspiring blog, I stumbled onto a post about this very enjoyable fashion film staring Lizzy Caplan.  But since Vimeo is being a bitch evil, here is the linky-link: Lizzy Caplan for Viva Vena.

xx

hillary rose

PS:  When I do have French women compliment me on my style, I secretly jump for joy and immediately want to frame the outfit.  For, you see, the French women aren’t very apt to give out fashion compliments (but French men on the other hand….)

PPS:  I shouldn’t be too harsh on “Rue de Wal-Mart” seeing as there are some (note some) stylish dressers around my small town.

Crocodile

What does every woman (and man) need to have in their closet? A pair of statement shoes.  Something you can put on your feet and add “OMMPHHH” to any outfit — even jeans and a tee.

My statement shoes — a crocodile number from Urban Outfitters – have garnered a slew of comments and looks.  I’ve been told I have “flavvoorrrr” by a passerby, and a museum security guard couldn’t seem to pull himself away from staring at my feet until he informed me how cool he found my shoes.

Then, since I am in the Capitol, I find male lobbyist glaring at my crocodile heels slightly confused….

   xoxo

Hillary Rose

 

NYFW Day One

While I’m stuck in “the Capitol,” all those lucky bastards  folks in NYC are celebrating Fashion Week.  Ohhh, how envious I am of y’all….

But I think I’ll live….I think…..

Thankfully, technology today allows one to pretend to be front row.  Live streaming?  Well, if you don’t mind if I do….

I actually used to live stream the shows in class.  Notes on one side of the screen and the video player on the other.  It worked until my professor would decide to wander around the room….

Well, I need to get back to jotting down the schedule into my planner so I can plan my next week accordingly.  BUT FIRST, let me share a couple of my favorite pieces from today.

BCBG Max Azria

Jenni Kayne

Nicholas K

Creatures of the Wind

(and no…there is no coherency with these images….just ones I find intriguing)

xoxo

Hillary Rose

 

{Outfit} Black

No.  I am not sad.  And I am not heading to a coffee shop poetry reading.

Wearing all black gives me a “blank slate” to dress up.  I can wear red lipstick without worrying about it clashing.  I mean, if I wore red pants, then I’d spend the entire day obsessing over whether or not the reds matched….

Plus, there is something so chic about wearing black.  I mean, Audrey Hepburn wore a lot of black, and she was a pretty happy person.

Actually my pants are pretty Audrey too!  Ahhh!

Also, note the lovely band-aid I am sporting.  In case you didn’t know, band-aids were all OVER the Fall ’12 runway…..

Just. Kidding.

It is actually a soon-to-be-another-scar due to a baked mac-and-cheese incident.  I don’t think I’m destined to have pretty, blemish and scar free skin….hmphhhhh….

xoxo

Hillary Rose

shirt: h&m // pants: h&m // shoes: urban outfitters // jewelry: gift // lips: covergirl (hot passion)

{Outfit} Professional

You graduate college.  You move to a new city.  You grow up.

Right?  Or, at least that’s what we are told.

In the past week, I have managed to take on another internship; and it’s one that requires “business professional” wear.  Yes, the same girl that was bragging weeks ago about not having to don professional wear in the most conservatively dressed city must now join the throngs….Well, to a certain extent.

Actually, I am going to ensure that I am able to stay true to my trendy self AND look professional!  (Truth: I actually now have an excuse to wear the pencil skirts hanging out in my closet!)

My goal is to be known as the cute and adorably dressed intern in the office!

And, of course, the professional outfits will take inspiration from Mad Men.  Then, maybe, I’ll find me a dapper man in this city…

xoxo,

Hillary Rose

PS:  Sadly, one cannot bike in a pencil skirt….At least not well……..

PPS:  Yes, I am sporting my signature lip color!

undershirt: american apparel // lace overshirt: american apparel // skirt: vintage // shoes: aldo’s (similar) // jewelry: vintage