Hot Trends - Upfronts

I am really loving the selection of shoes on Piperlime lately. I have been featuring shoes from their site a lot over the past couple of weeks, for good reason. There are so many hot shoes to choose from. The powers that be are currently featuring three trends to be on the look out for this upcoming Spring season. The first of which is Upfronts. Naturally, I thought I'd feature a few that I'm after.

I already featured a few pairs here, here, and here. Upfronts are shoes that often feature strappy or woven details across the vamp. You'll also find a few pair with wide leather bands as well.

Jester - Charles David

Not only does this hit the Upfront trend but it also hits the wedge trend which I will be talking about tomorrow. I love the pearlized copper hued leather and the gold studded accent on the platform. The cut-out wedge detail is also spot on. You are bound to garner compliments everywhere you go if you are sporting these. This is a hot shoe at a great price and if copper isn't your thing they also come in black.

Pour La Victoire - Felicia

I have had my eye on these little beauties for a while now. I'm torn between which color palette I prefer. I love the shape, the color block detailing, and the platform styling. I don't have anything like them in my shoe wardrobe and I am dying to add these to my collection. You will find the chartreuse and black on Piperlime but you will have to visit this site for the gray and black. Which do you prefer?

Nine West - Lawrence

If you like the Felicia by Pour La Victoire but you aren't willing to fork over the dough the Lawrence by Nine West will certainly give you a similar look for a fraction of the price. View them from the top they and are just about an exact match. The Nine West version varies with it's cone shaped heel and lack of a platform. This is a great shoe that will give you a leg up on the trend at an even better price.

trip trapping

2009. cool. a drug deal on my street woke me up last night. they were so loud, and took about 10 minutes to make the exchange, man, thats not how i would go about things. writing loads at the minute. really like the idea of keeping the albums coming, making each one a little different maybe... collaborations and such. aiming to get back in the studio with rhys very shortly. got some ideas. i keep laughing at this:

happy new year.

Good Deal for Spring!

I know my blog has been slow going in 09 so far, but it's not a sign of things to come, I promise. I'm just enjoying my time off from work- going out with my girl friends and getting into all kinds of trouble! haha

Anyway, a fellow blogger is selling their unworn Louboutins that are "a little too big" for their size 8 feet on ebay. I have them myself (I wore them for my engagement photos for our wedding magazine shoot) and LOVE them! They're super cute and high and perfect for warmer weather. 

Here's the ebay link! Check them out- they're starting at only $100. My first pair of Louboutin's were a pair of his espadrilles. Just an FYI ;)

Don't Get Depressed Because You Can't Study Ballet Yourself and Learn At Home

I hear significant discussion about learning ballet dance at home without a teacher. Even by persons who aspire to professional ballet performance, starting at a late age. This is thinking in a bubble. Instructional ballet videos, and ballet theater performances are excellent learn-at-home guides, if your own ballet is done in a dance class.

You cannot learn ballet at home without a ballet teacher. Experience with gymnastics, Pilates, or martial arts, will not help you learn ballet by yourself. It WILL help you learn ballet, in a ballet class, and help avoid dance injuries.

Body awareness, physical strength, balance, flexibility, all contribute to learning ballet. But not without a ballet teacher. Don't get depressed about this, every problem has a solution.

If you love ballet, and if you love yourself, take ballet with a teacher. Don't waste time with instructional ballet videos or dance manuals if you don't have a ballet class.

Ballet teachers also buy teaching manuals to learn the finer details from. Does this mean anyone with no dance background can buy one and start ballet teaching? Of course not. Same for ballet training. You need someone to be watching your ballet positions, ballet movements, and ballet technique, and correct you.

If you have gained discipline and strength from some other training, that is wonderful. Look back on that former training and ask yourself, could you have learned all that by yourself at home from a DVD?

If your problem is lack of money for dance classes, ask your parents if you can find a way to change their budget, as in, what they spend on you. Would you be willing to wear cheaper clothes, or do you have to have the finest fashions? Would you be willing to get a job? Do some local babysitting? Even if you are under age to work, in most places your parents can get you a work permit. Is it astonishing that I would suggest this?

Would you be willing to learn to make pizzas for your family instead of ordering in? Or anything else like that? These ideas may sound silly to some, but if you're really serious about ballet classes and you show a mature approach ("I am willing to give in order to get") to your parents, they will probably respond more enthusiastically.

So, I have not given any instant solution here, but you will find one. Don't waste time feeling depressed if you think you cannot get into a ballet class and have to accept that you cannot learn ballet yourself at home. Just get a strong focused intention started toward getting what you want. Once you are in a class, gradually build a dance library about classical ballet technique, that will help you progress faster and avoid dance injuries.

HellooOoOoO 2009!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

How fast did 2008 go by? Seriously?!

I am really excited about '09- I have a good feeling about it.

So last night Ben and I were pretty mellow. We went to dinner with a group of our friends and then to a couple of house parties. We went home minutes before midnight to have a private new year's kiss. ;)

Anyway- I rocked my new dicso pants and my always amazing YSL Trib Too's. They're getting easier to wear each time! I barely even needed a sitting break last night. ha ha.

What fun things did you guys do!? I'm sure you all did much more exciting things than us.

What are some of your resolutions? I never do those things 'cause I feel like I'm destined for failure. I always try to think of a really good one and come up empty handed. Maybe if you tell me yours I can steal one and take credit for it. 

Bwa ha ha.

Happy New Year from Benjamin, Banksy and of course, me! I truly love you all and am looking forward to 2009!

(disco pants- American Apparel, bangles- Cartier Burberry and Forever21, studded belt- Forever21, vest- Silence&Noise, tanks- American Apparel, shoes- YSL)