Fishnets: Yuck or Yay?

Fishnets are controversial, but they have been popular over the years regardless. They've been associated with goths, strippers, and Harajuku girls. Depending on who you ask, fishnets can be perceived as slutty or fashion-forward. They are, given the multitude of styles, quite versatile. Generally speaking, those with a smaller net are considered classier. Nude, beige, or vanilla fishnets are recommened for the office. Black and shimmery ones are best for formal events, and feel free to go for colorful ones for dancing or partying. Below you'll see different celebrities and how they style this particular trend, along with my commentary. I've mostly been seeing fishnets as a part of performance outfits (think Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Ke$ha, Katy Perry...hell, even Miley).

Lily Allen in UK Glamour

I simply adore this look. The red fishnets are very subtle and add a pop of color along with the red pumps. This goes to show you that fishnets can be worn with shorts for visual interest.

Taylor Momsen filming Gossip Girl

It's okay if you have tears and little holes in your black fishnets if you're going for a punky look. Add a leather motorcycle jacket and metallic pointy-toe shoes for an extra punch.

Megan Fox at a Jennifer's Body press conference

Her sophisticated plaid dress looks fabulous with vanilla fishnets and burnt orange heels. If you were dubious about whether or not fishnets could be "classy" look no further than here.

Kylie Minogue in Cannes

Kylie proves that you don't have to be in your twenties to pull off fishnets. A hot pink dress, gold heels, and black fishnets is not something you see every day, but I personally find it to be fabulous and perfectly befitting a pop star.

Sarah Jessica Parker at a premiere

Did she take style cues from Kylie? Strapless hot pink dress + black fishnets...although with different styling.

Ciara

Here's what not to wear with nude fishnets: red knee-high boots and a cut-out gold dress. The dress with the fishnets could have been passable if she chose, say, black heels? Anyway, I'd avoid wearing super short dresses/skirts with fishnets so you don't look trashy.

Blake Lively on the set of Gossip Girl

Fishnets come in fun colors and patterns. Blake tones them down with a neutral outfit and accessories.

Leighton Meester

Blue coat. Check. Blue bag. Check. Blue fishnets. Check. It's a bit much for me.

What's your take on the trend? Do like them colorful, or do you prefer classic black? What would you wear with them? I think this trend deserves a YAY if the holes are small. I personally get bored of wearing opaque black tights all the time, so fishnets are a good alternative. I prefer wearing them with a preppy ensemble so I get just a little edge. I also think it looks better than the over-the-knee sock trend that's been getting stronger recently, at least on myself. Athletic calves and thick socks do not match!

xx Chloe

Celeb Look: Come Hither

Victoria Beckham looked fierce at Range Rover's 40th Anniversary party in London. She swept her dark hair into a messy, textured updo but kept face-framing tendrils out. This put the spotlight on her glowing skin, perfectly blushed cheeks, and intense eyeliner. A light peach glossy lip complemented the peachy tone of her skin and was subtle enough not to compete with her eye makup. In a word, genius! The plus side is that you don't need a 100% steady hand to replicate this look. Don't sweat recreating this with my advice.

Get Victoria's look:
1. Start with your eyes. Apply an eyeshadow base: use primer if you have it, but a thin layer of concealer can work if you don't have any.
2. You'll need to break out a kohl black liner. Line your waterline, but be careful not to poke your eye. It's okay if your line isn't perfectly straight or varies in thickness.
3. Take an angled eyeliner brush and dip it in a charcoal shadow. Use this brush to go over the lines you just made, blending and smudging it outward.
4. Line your upper lashline, thickening as you go toward the outer corners of your eyes.
5. Do the same thing in step #3. Blend, blend, smudge, smudge. Use the brush to connect the lower lashline liner to that on the upper.
6. Dab a regular eyeshadow brush in a neutral taupe and blot your entire eyelid.
7. Apply copious amounts of mascara, but stop before they clump. After the mascara has dried, curl your lashes.
8. Clean up any shadow fallout before doing your base. Apply a teeny bit of a liquid highlighter to your foundation for a Beckham-worthy glow.
9. Apply a matte peach blush to the apples of your cheeks. Then swipe bronzer where the sun will hit you naturally: an arc under the cheekbones, a light dusting on the forehead and bridge of your nose.
10. Dab a regular eyeshadow brush in a vanilla eyeshadow. Use it on the inner corners, underneath the browbone, and on the top of your cheekbones.
11. Finish up the look with a matte peach lipstick. Top with a bit of a clear gloss for extra shine and fullness.

Products to Try:
1. Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner in Soft Black, $5 at Target
2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Oil Slick, $19 at Sephora
3. Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Perfectly Peach, $10 at CVS
4. Benefit Cosmetics High Beam, $24 at Sephora
5. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Peach, $6 at Target

xx Chloe

DIY: Coffee Hair Rinse

This post is for all of my brunette ladies! This simple and inexpensive hair treatment will intensify the tone of your brown hair and add to its shine.

All you need is two cups of freshly brewed coffee, but you may need an extra cup if your hair is very long and/or very thick. You should need four cups at most. I used a dark French roast for my dark brown/almost black hair. Be sure not to use instant coffee since the additives in it may damage your hair (yikes). Before you attempt this, I have to give you a few words of warning. If your hair is naturally light or bleached, the coffee will stain it. After you brew the coffee, refrigerate it for a few hours. If it feels hot to your finger, it will be even hotter on your scalp.

Here's what you have to do: After you've shampooed and conditioned, pour the coffee over your hair in the shower. Leave it in while you finish the rest of your shower. Gently rinse it out when you are done. Dry and style as normal.

That's it! It's really that simple. My hair is naturally walnut brown but I dyed it black in late April. Parts of my hair had faded dye, a mix of my natural color, and light ends. After the coffee rinse, I noticed that the lightened parts of my hair darkened to a deep mahogany brown, the tone was more consistent throughout my hair, and it smelled like a delicious cup of java. If you are a natural brunette and like coloring your hair darker, consider doing a coffee rinse to revive your flagging color in between dye jobs.

xx Chloe

Chloe's Favorites, Part 1

All of these finds you can get at your local drugstore. The only exception is my daytime gloss, which you can find at Bath & Body Works. I don't know about you, but my beauty addiction is not going to bankrupt me.

Eyeliner
Daytime: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Sapphire
Nighttime: Jordana Fabuliner Liquid Liner in Black
Chloe's Tips: The dark cobalt liner is great if you're on a rush in the morning and didn't get a wink of sleep since the blue makes the white of your eyes whiter (and presto! you look less tired). My go-to nighttime look is winged liquid liner. I *rarely* line my lower lashline with dark shades since it makes my eyes look smaller, so keep these on your upper lashline only for best results.

Eyeshadow
Daytime: Maybelline Expert Wear Shadow Quad in Mocha Motion
Nighttime: Maybelline Expert Wear Single Shadow in Amethyst
Chloe's Tips: With a quad, you can really vary your looks from day to day. If you have time in the morning you can contour. For going out, I use a shadow brush to dust my lids and then build color in the crease. The purple makes my hazel eyes greener, which is a bonus!

Mascara
Daytime: L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black
Nighttime: New York Color Waterproof Mascara in Jet Black
Chloe's Tips: I curl my lashes for 10 seconds before feathering on my daytime mascara. I rotate the brush so I coat every lash. I'll layer waterproof mascara over it and do the same thing until my lashes are thick, black, and hold the curl.

Lipstick
Daytime: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Heavenly
Nighttime: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Ballistic
Chloe's Tips: Layer the two lipsticks together for a sultry cool-toned red lipstick that's a touch off of wine. For an extra long lasting pout, line and fill in your lips with Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lipliner in Eastend Snob (a creamy, neutral pink).

Lipgloss
Daytime: Liplicious Lipgloss in Grapefruit
Nighttime: Cover Girl Amazemint Lipgloss in Unwined
Chloe's Tips: A sparkly neutral pink looks fresh and not overdone for day, and the shine makes my lips look plumper. I like to go sultry at night, so a minty wine color that leaves my lips sleek and colorful is my trusty look. Either way, I like my lips to smell nice.

xx Chloe

Shoe Porn

Warning: May cause an inexplicable urge to buy ridiculously awesome and expensive shoes.

I don't know if you noticed, but I'm a huge fan of Christian Louboutin and Dior heels.
xx Chloe

Glitzy is Glam

I've been saving this outfit for awhile, meaning to post it. While it is not anything particularly edgy or out-of-the-box, I truly admire Carrie Underwood's style. It's well-tailored, classy, yet it still retains a bit of sexiness and surprise fun. From the top, the oufit seems typical: white v-neck, black blazer, and golden hoops. On the bottom, the gold theme is expanded upon with a sequined mini and pointy toe metallic booties. Hey, if you've got nice legs, flaunt them! Flowing blonde locks, a smoky eye, and pale pink glossy lips complete the classy yet glam ensemble.

To replicate this look, you'll need:
♥ A white v-neck tee
♥ A black blazer (preferably one that hits lower than the widest part of your hips)
♥ A gold sequined miniskirt
♥ Gold hoop earrings
♥ Metallic gold booties

Products to try:
1. Gold Sequin Mini Skirt, $29 at Hot Topic
2. Faux Leather Trimmed Strong Shoulder Jacket, $98 at Express
3. Perfect Slub-Knit Tee in Bright White, $10 at Old Navy
4. Dollhouse Fina in Gold, $50 at Shoes.com
5. 24k Gold over Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings, $20 at Kmart

xx Chloe

Tell me what your go-to date night outfit is in the comments. Does it look like Underwood's outfit at all?

Style Icon: Courtney Love

I suppose Love needs no introduction, but I'll write one regardless. The talented trainwreck who is the lead singer of Hole, an accomplished lyricist and guitar player, Kurt Cobain's widow, drug addict, serious actress, and an all-around badass riot grrrl has definitely left her imprint on the fashion world and music scene. Her smudgy red lips, crazy peroxide hair, tattered babydoll dresses, gritty lyrics and feral screams have shaped the whole grunge scene. Love her or hate her, you can't deny that she is a unique individual (and it shows with her style over the years). She's equal parts hot mess, diva, visionary, and grunge princess, though more shaken then stirred. Hole recently released an album earlier this year (their last album being Celebrity Skin in 1998) entitled Nobody's Daughter, and "Skinny Little Bitch" has made the rounds on my playlist. I just watched a fabulous documentary on her, so that inspired this post.

Alert! Style Copycat: Gossip Girl actress/The Pretty Reckless lead singer, Taylor Momsen

xx Chloe

Tell me in the comments if you have a favorite Hole song! Mine is "Violet."

Disclaimer: I don't condone any drug use or negligent parenting.

Two Tone Hair: Yuck or Yay?

In recent years, two tone hair has been seeing a resurgance on our favorite celebs: Drew Barrymore rocked a blond bob with black tips at a Whip It! premiere, Rihanna (the hair chameleon) choose to add black streaks to her short blond cut earlier this year, and Alexa Chung usually has some variation of brown that fades to honey blonde. There are many variations to this trend that range from subtle to "OMG!?"

Of course, two tone hair is nothing new. I believe Blondie's lead singer and namesake, Debbie Harry, was the first to popularize the trend with her signature mane of peroxide blonde with dark brown underneath. (Correct me if I'm wrong!)

The culture vulture herself. I'm still sad disco is dead.

A more modern take on Harry's famed locks is beautifully done by Beyonce.

Her sleek honey blonde tresses give way to a chocolate brown in the under layers.

Another way to wear this trend is merely by lightening the ends to create a gradient of color. Depending on how you do it, it can look like you're growing out a dye job or have sun kissed hair.

I like Alexa Chung's suble take on the trend in this picture. I love how the walnut shade fades to caramel in a seamless way.

Cameron Diaz proves blondes can pull of the trend as well. Dark ash blonde transitions to a lighter shade. I think this look works especially well with curls.

It's hard for me to keep up with all of Hayley William's hair changes, but I was completely jealous of this auburn/cherry red gradient look. The color is bold, but the take on the trend is just as subtle as Diaz's or Chung's.

A more drastic take is the dipped ends look. This is a bit more dangerous, since your hair can either become punky or sloppy.

A buttery shade of blonde dipped in jet black? I'm on the fence with this one, merely because I know Drew has the personality to pull it off. It's still NOT my favorite look on her. I miss her red hair!

  

Lady Gaga's followed this trend numerous times (remember that blonde wig with the bright yellow ends at the Grammy's?), but this my favorite take. She proves you can have fun by dipping your hair in not-so-normal shades like lavender. Unlike Barrymore, there is more transition to the shade and isn't so abrupt.

Abbey Lee Kershaw rocked pink-dipped strands in a photo shoot. Brunettes are going to have to bleach their ends in order for the color to take hold. There are lots of temporary colorful dyes to choose from. I think brown hair looks super edgy when dipped in a more sophisticated red.

The two tone look also makes use of highlights. A major contrast is required from your natural hair color and the very visible streaks.

Rihanna's natural black was offset by majorly chunky and majorly blonde highlights. It looks punky and pretty on her, which is no small feat.

Joss Stone chose to work some thin raspberry streaks into her dark brown hair, concentrating the color in the front. I was in love with her hair when her "Introducing Joss Stone" album came out in 2008.

Back in Xtina's dirrrrty days, she was rocking this decidedly unglam (read: skunky) platinum blonde and black streaks combo hair.

What about Kristen Stewart's "Bella" hair color? Auburn was heavily streaked in a black base. It's a pretty and subtle take on the trend. Just remember to brush your hair or something, KStew!

My final verdict on the trend: YAY! I like to color outside the lines, if you will, and I find this trend can work on all lengths, textures, and colors. That's quite rare, isn't it? I would most like to attempt a look like Joss Stone's brown/raspberry combo or Hayley William's auburn/cherry red combo. I like the appearance of streaks as opposed to being dip-dyed. Once the dye fades, I think it'd be much harder to blend the ends into one tone if you get bored of the look. In Drew Barrymore's case, she may have had to chop off the black in order to get rid of it or dye all of her hair black to match. Too much fuss! Currently, I'm trying to grow out my hair and black dye I used to blend away my all-over blonde highlights. I'm too poor at the moment to buy hair dye, but I think I shall go redder my next dye job. Oh, and I think some burgundy streaks in it would be fun, right? I'm an incoming college freshman, so I think it's age-appropriate. 

xx Chloe

P.S. Post "Yuck" or "Yay" in a comment to let me know whether or not you're feeling the trend. It's okay to add plenty of qualifiers if you need to!