Own: That Label M Spray and Kelly Madigan

So, it was time for the first of my two haircuts a year.  And yes, I went back to Alibi Salon, but this time it was different.  Every time that I've been to Alibi, I've always had a new stylist, but this time, I went back to Kelly Madigan and I'm so so so glad I did.  I would highly recommend her!

Anyway, if you remember, I've always been scared of product, but this time, I was ready.  I told Kelly to do her worst and show me what "product" was made of.  I tried mousse.  If you know me, you understand how momentous this moment was- the kind of leap of faith it was for me.  MOUSSE?  I would never, in my wildest dreams, put mousse into my hair without supervision.  My fear?  Helmet hair.  Eeeekkk.  Kelly looked me up and down and told me not to worry.  She reassured me that I was ready.  We took the step together.

She pulled out the mousse and this sea salt spray.

She sprayed.  I squinted.  It felt like that first moment at the dentist when he comes at you with the scrape-y thing.  I cringed a little, but when I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see a wondrously fluffy hairdo and some tres chic bangs!

Thank you, Instagram.

Am I ready for mousse yet?  No.  I still think it makes my hair feel a little stickier and stiffer than I like it to be.  Am I ready for sea salt spray??  YES!  I loved it.  It smelled like a spa had magically formed around me when I breathed in while Kelly was spraying away.  I bought it.  I love it.  LOVE IT.  Here's the SPRAY, by Label M:

On a regular basis, I don't  have time for all that fuss and styling.  My priority is always sleep and I'm not willing to sacrifice that for any kind of fashion.  This spray gives your hair a little bit of scrunch so you can bring volume back into day old hair, or if you want a little more wave for a night out on the town.  It gave my hair awesome texture.  Those days of product-shunning are over for me.  I'm hooked on this spray!

Do you have any can't-live-without hair products??

Ogle: Minimale Animale

Freshly coming off my vacation glow, I'm already thinking about where to next.

MIAMI.  

My brain keeps coming back to Miami (maybe because of the Ultra Music thingy going on down there?).  Is Miami my usual scene?  No way.  Not at all.  It's not even that cold in New York so it's not like I'm desperate for warmth either.  Well, you can't fight with what your gut tells you (or you shouldn't anyway), so I guess I should start to think about a weekend jaunt to Miami, right?

Well, if you've been to Miami, then you know the number of hot bodes there are just ridiculous.  After a winter of busting my own ass in the gym, I finally feel worthy of rocking an amazing and weird bikini.

There are tons of weird bikinis out there, but I want something that is a little weird and with a pinch of skanky.  Don't judge me for wanting both.  I think that fits the aesthetic that one would find in South Beach.

Enter MINIMALE ANIMALE.  The perfect union of scandal and eyeball-catching weird... they take me back to the early 90s.

I first saw the brand in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue of 2012-

Whoa, right??  Well, looking into the brand more, it's really cool indie swimsuit brand from LA.  Look here for more:

The Claudia Schiffer.

The Blondie.

The Cindy Crawford.

Something that this brand also opens up to the swimsuit styling world is swimsuit LAYERING.  In the Sports Illustrated issue, it looks like they have put a crop top over the Cindy Crawford.  

I would never think to wear anything over a swimsuit (or anything under it for that matter), but they offer a suit that's completely mesh that I could see layering over a strapless bikini (for security AND fashion purposes) and jumping into the ocean for some body wave riding.  If you want to invest in one of these cool suits, they're available right now on Revolve Clothing.

Own: Slip Dress

For the longest time, I've avoided lingerie-like clothing.  I've just always felt that lingerie had a place and it was under your clothes (or out in the open in your bedroom).  Given that I have a mild obsession (read: serious case of over-buying) with lingerie, that's weird, right?  I mean, I'm down with the tasteful glimpse here and there through a semi sheer shirt or the occasional cute bra strap peeking out, but I can't remember the last time I rocked a straight-up silky, lace top.  I may never do this.

BUT (there's always a but!) after seeing the most recent Jil Sander show, I was inspired.

Photos courtesy of Style.com

These looks from the Fall 2012 campaign really take me back to the day that I saw Carrie from Sex in the City in the naked dress.  Yes, you remember it.  Go ahead and click on that link to refresh your memory.

Anyway, I love the look.  I think it's airy and delicate and can be worn NOW.  I'm not waiting until fall to put on my near-négligée.  So here are lovely options I'm considering:

I love this one from Zara.  I think it's the one.  It's just flow-y enough and looks like it's not completely sheer.

One that's a little more form fitting is this one by T by Alexander Wang.

This one by American Vintage has a little bit more coverage for the more conservative naked dress look.

I think I'm going for the Zara option.  It's also only $26!  Score!

Obsess and Own: Geometry Rules

You know what?  While in school, I hated geometry (math as a whole, really).  I never really understood why people ever felt the need to study shapes (geometric is really the study of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, solids...just to be specific).

It only took me 20+ years to realize that shapes are great- fascinating, bright and lovely on clothes!  I feel like a 3 year old discovering cotton candy- I'm happy and drooling all at once.  

Anyway, after seeing so many runway shows for Fall 2012, I've been inspired to revisit geometric patterns and colors.  Now that winter will be over in a matter of days (DAAAAYYYYS!), color color color is what I'm craving.  Here are a few items that have really caught my eye.  Obsess, and even Own, if you dare.

Obsess: Marni Clutch- I've been looking for a new clutch!  this one is so cute and has some great colors to pair with fun spring dresses (namely that lovely teal-y mint color)

Own: Asos Geomtric Suit - If you saw the Derek Lam Fall 2012 show, then I hope you were as inspired by the patterned suits as I was!  I loved them and I think that this combo from Asos does a good job of giving off that same vibe.

Obsess: Ohne Titel Dress- While this dress feels a little more like a colorblocking situation, it's still feeling very geometric to me.  Can't ever go wrong with the simplest of colors either.  

Own if you dare!  But Obsess if you don't: Rag and Bone Alexis Top- I love this top.  I love it with jeans.  I would love it tucked into a high waisted jean worn with a pair of nude wedges.  Clearly, I have plans for this top.  Maybe I should own it??

What are your thoughts on the geometric shapes and colors?  Are you as awed as I am?  This might not be for most of you out there, but give it time...maybe it will grown on your like it did for me :)

And we're back!

My trip was lovely.  Thanks for asking!

We couldn't have had better weather.  A lot of my friends were skeptical of a vacation in Nicaragua, but I can say, without a doubt, they their beaches are absolutely gorgeous.  Have a look.

The blog machine will be up and running again this week!  Look out for more...I brought back some goodies  that I'm dying to show you!

Ogle, Obsess, Own is out for a week!

Where am I going, you ask??

NICARAGUA.

The Corn Islands.

See all you lovelies in a week!  Don't miss me too much.  <3