how to wear skinny cargos

{barneys.com}

I'm still looking for styling ideas to help me get more use out of my army green skinny cargos ...

Barney's has a style guide on their website called 11 Ways To Cargo that shows dressy and casual styling ideas. I noticed lots of tucked-in button-ups and lace-up flats, but I preferred the looks with contrast like pairing with a lace top and ankle boots or a sequin cardigan and black heels...

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• skinny cargos...i actually love them
  

work pants for fall

{crisply pleated trousers}

I am on the hunt for some new work pants for Fall and I love all of these interesting new styles that stray from the boring ole suit pant that re-appears every year (you know the lined wool pants that I'm referring to...). These have interesting details like high-waists, pleats, tapered ankles, paperbag waists, and cropped lengths.

And it seems that they would all look amazing with another favorite Fall trend...ankle boots!

All of these are available at anthropologie.com.

{after five trousers}

{paperbag crops}

{seamed & slouched crops}

found my camel coat!

{michael michael kors double-breasted overcoat}

Of course Michael Kors would have lots of camel for fall! Why didn't I think of it before? According to Michael's style guide, Fall 2010 is all about cashmere, camel, and fur...

I found my lovely new camel coat at the Michael Kors store...and it's exactly what I've been looking for! It's not super edgy, but it is a classic that I will keep in my closet forever. It's a dark camel (the picture really does not do it justice) in a double-breasted trench style with shiny gold buttons and a thick waist belt. It will be great for day or night and I see myself wearing this everyday...

I think this coat might only be available at Michael Kors stores because I haven't been able to find it anywhere else online...

{j.crew wool cashmere icon trench}

Thanks to Tippy for this gorgeous cashmere camel trench find at J.Crew...definitely another great option...

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discount on ugg boots for fall...and knowing when to wear them

{whooga short grey sheepskin}

Everyone loves to hate ugg boots, but if you have ever lived anywhere with bitterly cold temps then you have to admit that they are the absolute greatest invention ever! They might not look super fashionable, but they are basically like wearing clouds of softness and warmth on your feet.

Whooga offered me a pair of boots to try out and I chose these fabulously cozy short sheepskins in a lovely shade of grey that I have already been snuggling my feet into on these cool Northern Cali nights. If you're a little tired of the "UGG Australia brand" and want to find a more budget-friendly option for warming your winter feet, Whooga let me know that they are a real Australian company who uses real Australian merino fleece for creating authentic ugg style boots in the traditional design. You can read more about the superior ability of their sheepskin on their website...

Even though I'm one of those who have loudly proclaimed myself as an ugg-hater in the past, after living in New York for four years I'm willing to admit right here that yes, I do wear uggs. If you live in a city with a winter season and you don't own a pair of uggs then you are seriously crazy!

The secret to staying fashionable and enjoying the ridiculous comfort of uggs is knowing when to wear them and when not to. Use them in the way that they are intended...to treat your to feet to warmth and comfort!

Tips for wearing your uggs:
Wear them on your commute, but put your beautiful uncomfortable heels on when you get to work. Wear them with your sweats and your fleece hoody for walking the dog, picking up your take-out, hanging around the house, or heading home from a workout.

Whooga is nice enough to offer a special discount of 10% off to all Hello Kelli readers! Use the discount code 325KELL when you make your purchase online...it will be available for the next two weeks.

Thanks Whooga!

dreaming about handbags...

...proenza schouler PS1 leather satchel ...alexander mcqueen knuckle duster clutch
...chloe marcie bag

{images: net-a-porter.com}

fashion trend vocab... descriptive or annoying?

What are your favorite trendy fashion terms that are just way overused but somehow you find yourself still using? Do you love them or hate them??

I even annoy myself when I write a post and use these terms that don't always describe exactly what I want to say, but I know that some designer or blogger has already coined the term and it's gone viral and everyone will know what I'm talking about. If you looked any of these words up in the dictionary the actual definition would have nothing to do with the fashion trend they are currently associated with. And if you looked up the original fashion trend, you might find that it has nothing to do with what it has evolved into. The more the word is used, the more the meaning is stretched and the less descriptive it becomes.

Are those jeans "loose fitting, destroyed, worn in, rolled up, roomy in the thighs, skinny at the ankle, cropped, with an oversized waist"? Or are they just "boyfriend"?

I want to call myself out right now and admit that I really hate these words because they're used too much and become less and less descriptive with each use, but I will continue to use them because we've gotta describe trends somehow, right??

annoying fashion trend vocab:

• boyfriend
• slouchy
• skinny
• gladiator
• military
• boot-cut
• high-waisted
  

Boyfriend and slouchy are my big ones...I feel like I use them in every post and read them in every fashion magazine. Will the last couple years be described as boyfriend, slouchy, and skinny??? Maybe I need to be more original...

everything i know about japanese digital perm

I have gotten so many questions about my digital perm that I've decided to do another post to try to offer interested perm enthusiasts some more info. Please post any more questions you have that I might not have answered and let me know if you have any Japanese salon recommendations in the U.S.!

I don't know why this type of perm isn't being done everywhere, but unfortunately it's not, which means that it's still pretty difficult to find a salon that offers this service...

Q: Can I wear my hair straight after I get a digital perm?

A: Yes, definitely! If you want your hair straight, really all you have to do is brush it. The curls are so loose and bouncy that they can easily be brushed out to straighten them. If you want super straight hair, just use a flat iron and your hair will be straight until you wash it again.

Speaking of brushing, I actually don't own a brush anymore since I only wear my hair in loose curls. I use a good strong conditioner, finger comb it when I first get out of the shower, and then no more brushing because they will pull the curls out...I actually love it!

Q: Where did you get your digital perm done in Japan?

A: I had my first digital perm ever in Harajuku in Tokyo at Anny Hair, although I'm sure that most salons on the same street will have talented stylists who know all about the digital perm. I recommend flipping through their many magazines to pick out an image that shows exactly the level of "curliness" that you want in your hair since the digital perm will be designed specifically for your style. The stylists I worked with at Anny Hair is no longer there, but I still recommend it!

Q: Where can I get a digital perm in the U.S.?

A: In New York, I used to go to Tany at Kiwa Salon (234 W. 27th St, 212.620.3846)

In San Francisco I go to Mr Kudo at Arty Salon (1680 Post St, 2nd Flr, 415.931.4405)

If you don't live near NY or SF you should find a Japanese or Korean hair salon in your area and call to ask them if they do digital perms. If they don't, they might have another similar perm service that works well on Asian hair that could have a similar look...

{Mr. Kudo and his assistant at Arty Salon}

Q: What type of hair does a digital perm work on? Does it only work on Japanese hair?

A: I asked Mr. Kudo at Arty about this and he said that he has tried the digital perm on a caucasian client and wasn't able to get the perm to work. According to Mr. Kudo, the digital perm was invented by performing experiments specifically on Japanese hair and the entire process was designed around this. I am half-Japanese and Mr. Kudo had some difficulty on my first visit because he had to adjust the design of my perm to work on my type of hair. You will notice that analysis of your hair is a very important part of getting the digital perm.

So the bad news is that unfortunately I haven't heard of any salons being able to master the digital perm on non-Asian hair...but hopefully there are some experiments in the works...

Q: How do you style loose curls and what products do you use?

A: Every girl with a digital perm probably has mastered her own special technique for getting her curls to look perfect. Here is my daily method that I learned from Tany in New York:

• When hair is wet, apply some sort of anti-frizz serum and finger comb through hair. I use Kerastase Oleo-Relax. Like I mentioned before, I don't actually use a brush or comb because I think it pulls out the curls.

• Separate the hair into about 5-6 sections and twist using your fingers (in that ditzy schoolgirl kind of way...)

• For a naturally curly wavy look, I just apply a curl enhancing gel and let it air dry. I don't really have a favorite curl gel yet (give me recs if you have any!), but right now I'm using Garnier Fructise Curl Shaping Spray Gel and it seems to be doing the trick without being too sticky or stiff. I found a list on Elle.com of the Best Products for Curly Hair, so I will probably try some of those next.

• For a loose bouncy curls look (I call it my "Hills hair" because I feel like those girls always have professionally curled bouncy hair at all hours of the day) I blow dry the twisted sections. Start by drying the roots of your hair for just a few minutes and then blow each section dry while constantly twisting the hair around your fingers to keep the curled shape. I also twist the hair and then cup it in my hand (like a squished spring) and blow dry that way for awhile. Try to keep twisting the hair to keep it curled while also separating the sections a little to dry all the hairs in the section.

• To finish off the bouncy curls I use Nigelle Contrastmove Wax, but any fiber wax will work. If you haven't used a fiber wax before it's more like clay than regular hair wax and it's not greasy. Rub the wax on your fingers and then use it to shape the curls, especially the ends.
  

Q: How long does the perm last?

A: I get a perm probably about twice a year, but I think the hair stylists recommend that you come in every 4 months. The perm is fairly pricey ($150-$250) and takes a good chunk of time (3-4 hrs), which is why I stretch it to 5-6 months. Even though the perm starts to straighten a little after awhile, I would say that it never really goes away like the old perms did. The reason I end up going back to get a new perm is more because my hair has grown out than because my hair is straight again. But if you get sick of the wavy hair, you can always just brush it out and it will be straight.

Q: What if I don't want a layered haircut?

A: Then you shouldn't get a digital perm. The stylists who perform the digital perm treatments consider the specific haircut that is paired with the perm as a very important part of the process. If you don't want your hair greatly thinned out and layered, then you probably want to talk to the stylist about getting a different type of perm. I was very nervous about the massive amount of thinning the first time (I am used to having tons of hair and suddenly my ponytail was super skinny!) but it works perfectly with the curls and ensures that you don't get an 80's style frizz puff ball triangle head.

Any more questions?? Let me know...

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searching for a camel coat...

I am obsessed with finding a gorgeous camel coat!

The search is officially on! I've already decided that it will be my splurge item for fall 2010 if I find something perfect because I know it's a classic that I can keep forever and ever. Even though camel is a huge trend for fall, I'm somehow having a lot of difficulty finding exactly what I am looking for...

These are what have caught my eye so far...

{nordstrom.com: smythe "cadet" wool blend}

You can't tell in this pic, but it has an adorable peaked tail hem in the back and structured shoulders...but is it too trendy? I want something that I can where in 20 years..

{net-a-porter: dkny wool peacoat}

This is a very classic look and an affordable price, but I might want something a tad more exciting...

{saks fifth avenue: gucci kite cut overcoat}

Wow, how gorgeous!! And how cool would I be if I was considering a Gucci? Well that would be in an alternate universe of course...

pantone fall colors 2010

What's your favorite fall color?

The Pantone Color Report for Fall 2010 is available for download at the Pantone website:

PANTONE FCR 2010

The color report includes the ten colors that most describe the collections that were debuted at New York Fashion Week in February. As an architect I'm a huge Pantone user, so it's fun to see the fashion world described by this color matching system. The color report gives famous designers an opportunity to display their favorite color pick and describe how they used it.

Since I'm big into the natural earthy tones, I have already been drawn to the Woodbine and Oyster Gray, but I would love to mix some Lipstick Red or Lagoon into my wardrobe!

{image: Pop Deluxe}

Also, how cute are these Pantone coffee mugs that I found online? Pop Deluxe has 29 colors available that you can pick separately or buy in sets of 4 perfectly coordinated colors. They have a fun selection of their basic palette...

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rachel zoe project: rach v tay

{image: love, taylor}

If you are not obsessed with every show on the Bravo channel, then you can immediately skip reading this post...this is for my fellow unashamed Bravo reality addicts who religiously watch all episodes of the Rachel Zoe Project no matter how disgusting they may be...

So as someone obviously interested in the business and art of styling, I have to be intrigued by a show about the (probably self-proclaimed) "most famous stylist in the world" Rachel Zoe. As a lover of the Taylor character on the show (I must refer to these "reality stars" as characters) whose addiction to wearing Wayfarers indoors, 24/7 bitchiness, and realistic inability to deal with the annoyingness of Rachel and Brad was a reason to actually sit through the entire hour of the show, it is completely weirding me out that this entire new season is focusing on Taylor bashing....it's really just not classy to use national tv to attempt to blacklist a former employee. Yucky yucky.

So of course I've been searching for the little white-haired stylist online and I found her at Everyday Minerals with her own blog called Love, Taylor. The blog is quite cheesy and happy with outfit posts, styling tips, Everyday Minerals make-up plugs, and zero Rachel Zoe bashing. I think I will follow her on twitter for a little while and see if the real deal is at all interesting...

Ok there's my reality tv fluffiness for the day...

more on skinny cargos

{image: revolveclothing.com}

Now that I've posted about skinny cargo pants, I've been noticing them in Fall ad campaigns everywhere! Check out this trend guide in Revolve Clothing's online magazine entitled "precious cargo" for styling ideas....

precious cargo by Revolve Clothing

I don't love all of the looks, but I like that they styled the pants in lots of different colors with various tops and shoes and provide links to everything shown. And please disregard the horizontal hippie-inspired headband in all the looks...really not a good look for anyone except maybe Nicole Richie...

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skinny cargos...i actually love them

{image: Nordstrom.com}

Leighton Meester is wearing them on the set of Gossip Girl and all of your favorite jeans designers are carrying them in their Fall collections, but are skinny cargo pants actually cute??

I have to admit that it took me about a year to try this skinny version of what Abercrombie survived on back in the mid '90s. The idea of dressing up cargo pants and pairing them with heels just sounded too ridiculous to me...but now here I am and I find myself actually loving my new pair!

I snagged my own pair of Sanctuary "Peace" Skinny Leg Cargo Pants at the Nordstrom sale in Herb (Army Green), but they still have them available (at full price...sorry I didn't tell you earlier...I just wasn't sure how I felt about them). If you're not willing to drop $250 on some trendy cargos that might go out of style by next year, I would definitely recommend these at only $118. Here's why I am loving them them:

• military green is one of my favorite colors for everything...such an under-appreciated neutral
  
• more comfortable than skinny jeans
• more flattering than flared baggy cargos
• surprisingly do look cute with heeled booties! (although I wear them with flats)
• the pockets don't actually add bulk...they actually are flattering because they break up the skinniness (if that makes sense)

My Sanctuary cargos are pictured above and I actually am obsessed with the gray lace-up military boots that are also pictured (another exciting Nordstrom Anniversary Sale find!)...but we'll talk about those another day...if you are interested, they are Charles David "Regiment" Boots, now available at full price.

{j brand "houlihan"}

I like all of the seams and zippers on these...embellishments break up the skinniness! I wouldn't wear them with clogs, though...too much "Fall Trends 101"...well, maybe you can pull it off with the right styling...

{current/elliott slouchy skinny cargo}

These look pretty darn comfy and would have been perfect for summer...

anthropologie: winterize your summer looks

{summer}

Any ad that shows you how to style a piece is so much more successful than an ad that shows a piece on its own.

I love taking my summer dresses into fall and winter by adding layers, cardies, tights, socks, and boots (or if you live in San Francisco, this might just be taking my summer dresses into summer...seriously does it ever get into bare leg season in that city?). Summery colors and prints are a fun way to brighten up your dismal winter wardrobe, so I try to find ways to layer under and over my sleeveless dresses so I can wear them year-round ...

Anthropologie dropped a cute little email in my inbox that showed ways to style one of their simple cotton summer tank dresses for colder temps. I'm not sure if I'm into the coat layered over coat look (winter), but I love the styling of the different styles of boots!

The ankle socks are one of my favorite looks for Fall...

{spring}

{fall}

{winter}
{Images: anthropologie.com}

bee house teapots

I am in love with the beautiful colors of these japanese ceramic Bee House teapots...

I indulged myself with a lovely matte rose version that is a happy little plump pot and perfectly sized for the one to two cups of green tea that I like to enjoy every evening. The teapots come in every size and shape imaginable, so it's quite fun to just poke around on the Bee House website...

I discovered my Bee House teapot at Teavana but I've seen these at coffee and tea shops all over. There is just something so cute and satisfying about the shape of these pots...

gap pants are back

So I took about a ten year hiatus from shopping at The Gap...no offense to this mall staple, but I thought of myself as too "edgy and fashion risky" to shop at this plain jane store where I used to stock up on too-short cotton tees in every color of the rainbow and patterned shift dresses in middle school. I had an idea that The Gap was mostly about mom jeans, ribbed tees, and khaki slacks...but I'm happy to report that I was wrong!

Well, to be honest, maybe they have "been back" for a long time and I was just too caught up in department store shopping to give them a chance, but their new ads and capsule shoe collections have me running to the mall asap! Denim-inspired styles and clean pants are in, so the Gap can stick to what they're known for and still be fashionable.

{gap slim crop pants}

I ended up loving their black slim crop pants. I basically live in skinny black pants at work, so finding an affordable pair was quite exciting ($49.50 full price...I think I can trade in 4 pairs for one pair of theorys...) They also had cute boyfriend jeans and some slouchy cotton trousers than can be rolled up for a boyfriend trousers look.

{gap always skinny zipper jeans}

Now I just need to find out where to get those cute peep toes...

dolce vita sale

{dolce vita noah}

If you have a love for sky-high heels with leather, straps, and studs then you will be as excited as I am about the dolce vita sale that is going on right now. The sale is advertised as having an extra 25% off and free shipping...the only catch is that all sales are final, so you better love what you get!

I am still fairly obsessed with all dolce vita shoes. They all have a similar rock and roll style, but somehow I just find myself wanting more. Someday I will get tired of the over-the-top straps, studs, and leather, but until then I am loving this line.

Unfortunately the dolce vita capsule collection for Target was so disappointing that it's not even worth posting about...the idea was amazing, the execution was not.

Here are a couple cute sale picks (sorry about the tiny pics...)

{dolce vita colette}

{dolce vita spencer}

{dolce vita irene}

{images: shopdolcevita.com}

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back for fall

I have obviously taken a long break from Hello Kelli, as is evident by the lack of posts since June 1. I decided to take the summer off, but now Fall is coming up and I want to get excited about fashion again.

I will report back about my last Norma Kamali for Wal-mart post soon...but I will say that I definitely did not return anything! Definitely a success...

In addition to reporting about fashion, I will also now be including skin care posts! I wrote a daily article for Splendicity.com (before it disappeared) and I would like to continue to share my thoughts and experiences about new skin care products and procedures. I have tons of samples that are sitting in my apartment, so I am thinking about doing a big Giveaway...although I don't want to pay for postage so I'll have to figure out a way around that.

What am I excited about for Fall?? I will do a complete post soon, but right now I'm loving lace-up military boots, cashmere sweatshirts, skinny cargos, fluffy arm warmers, designer collabs everywhere, anything in military green or navy, and oh and I can't think of anything else but there is so much more...

norma kamali for walmart

I just received a pile of clothes that I spontaneously ordered from the Norma Kamali collection at Walmart after reading reports from other fashion bloggers like Julia at Fashion Pulse Daily that this re-occurring capsule collection is worthy of the designer's name. I ordered every item that looked interesting that they had in my size on Walmart.com (or what I think is my size...sizing at Walmart is something I have yet to experience), which added up to a pleasing grand total of only $118 including the 97 cents shipping and handling per item.

So I will sift through my loot and report back about the fabric quality, sizing, and integrity of design. At first glance I have to say the clothes seem pretty impressive for the $15 - $24 price tags...

meet doozer

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post. I was planning on taking a little time off to get organized about pursuing other interests in my life (started studying for ARE exams, set up a watercolor studio on my dining room table, and am now on a training schedule for the SF Half Marathon) but I didn't realize I had let so many weeks slip away...

Today I am sharing something completely unrelated to fashion...my puppy Doozer! Named for the miniature green construction workers and architects on my favorite childhood TV show Fraggle Rock, this little fluff ball is the greatest companion in the world.

And now you can vote for her in 7X7's Search for the Cutest Pet in SF!

She is number 106 and you can vote here. Isn't she ridiculous??

So that wasn't related to fashion, but I wanted to share, maybe get some votes, and get started with the blogging again....

eugenia kim and cynthia vincent for target

{Image: Target}

Designer collaborations featuring Eugenia Kim for hats and Cynthia Vincent for shoes are releasing today at Targets everywhere. Bloggers have been talking about these collections for weeks because of the New York Pop-Up stores and the few Targets who happened to have early releases...but today's the real day when most Targets should start carrying the collections.

Although not a big wearer of hats myself, after writing daily about hats for Splendicity for the last year I developed a love for Eugenia Kim and her stylish designer hats. Hats can easily go either super cheesy or super glamorous so I was excited to discover a go-to hat designer who has reliably classy designs. Eugenia Kim hats are sold at high-end department stores for $300-$400 each, so it's pretty cool that her new Target collection has fedoras and engineer caps for less than $20.
Cynthia Vincent's collection of gladiator wedges, colorful flats, and strappy sandals are also popping up in Targets today. These designer collaborations sometimes sell out super fast and sometimes stay around until the sale racks, so you'll just have to check a Target near you or Target.com to see how these collections fair.

I'm headed to the Atherton Target in a couple hours and I guarantee there won't be a big rush...not too many fashion-obsessed in the Peninsula...

{Images: Target}

designer $1 sale slash network crash

I am beyond curious about how this Outnet.com $1 sale will fair. The idea is simply mind-boggling...how could an online store that only sells designer clothing sell everything on their site for only $1? So far the only catch is that each person can only buy 1 item. Could this really be the only catch? I feel like I'm on Project Runway waiting for Heidi Klum to come out and tell me that there is "just one more thing"...

It looks like the RSVP list is already closed, so for all of you (including me) who have already signed up, I will see you at the craziness that is the Outnet.com shopping cart where we will all race to purchase whatever we can find within the few seconds when the site has not crashed and there are still items available. Somehow I predict that even if I sign on right away, everything will be gone.

I am so very very curious....

fashion stake: investing in young designers

{fashion stake}

I am very curious and excited about this new idea because it fits in so well with fashion blogging and the idea about instant connections between designers and the we-want-more-fashion-now public. Fashion Stake isn't open yet, but I'll keep you updated when it is...

New website allows anyone to invest $50 in young labels (NYMag)

"Fashion Stake": Crowd sourcing for the fashion business (HuffPo)

pendleton blankets for all

It seems that those brightly colored thick wool Pendleton blankets that kept me warm through those cold and rainy seasons while I was growing up in Portland, Oregon will now be popping up in college dorm rooms around the world.

Pendleton for Urban Outfitters brings you Navajo print towels and blankets

{pendleton saddle blanket}

I never would have guessed that the distinctively patterned blankets would be such a hit outside of Oregon, but after the success of the Opening Ceremony collaboration last year Pendleton has now paired with Urban Outfitters to create a lower-priced line of products that includes blankets, wallets, and bath towels. I imagine that the blankets are slightly thinner than the originals, but now that I live in California I like the idea of a summer-weight Pendleton blanket.

I can definitely imagine throwing one of these on my couch for movie watching...

You can find out more about Pendleton Woolen Mills online.

{pendleton glacier national park blanket}

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