ORANGE - in the fashion world, it’s been dubbed Spring/Summer 2013’s new neutral! We saw orange pop up in last year’s collections, but you’ll see orange all over for 2013! The color can be incorporated as the focus of an outfit or just to add a little pizzaz! Here’s some orange pieces to get you started creating your Spring/Summer wardrobe along with great accessories (clockwise in photo above: starts left):

Alice + Olivia Linds One-Shoulder Dress $237

Matthew Williamson Neon Oversized Sunglasses $97.80

Nicholas Jasmina Snake Sandals $259

Elizabeth and James Thorn Ring $175

Loeffler Randall The Mini Rider Bag $395

Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart-shaped Headphones $42

Tory Burch Enamel Bangle $165

Smythson Keep Calm and Carry On Textured Leather Notebook $80

ADD MORE ORANGE TO YOUR LIFE:

- Party in Pink for Breast Cancer -

Rewind a few months as I’ve fallen behind on some posts:

Hotel Zaza played host this summer to a crowd (of over 500) of Houstonians decked in pink attire from head to toe benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation - Party in Pink! I donned my azalea colored CrOp by David Peck high-low hem dress styled with a neon belt for the occasion filled with cotton candy, people on stilts, candy apples, cupcakes, a kissing booth, DJs, and a dunk tank with Bachelor Pad’s Kalon McMahon and Erica Rose as the dunkees. TOOTSIES handed out pink wayfarer styled sunglasses and even the lights were a pink hue. My friend and fellow blogger Magen had a ball trying all of the pink sweets and enjoying the “carnival” atmosphere. A pink party is always fun, but a pink party for a cause is even better :)

A post of the fun ways to style this dress to come soon showcasing looks you’ve seen here and one or two more!

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WHAT I WORE:

Dress: CrOp by David Peck Zoila Dress in Azalea

Belt: B-Low The Belt Jerry Belt

Handbag: Elaine Turner Cork Top Handle Clutch (small tote in cork here)

Wedges: Jimmy Choo Neon Floral Wedge (similar patent wedge here & tote in same print here)

Guten tag!

Another travel outfit post from day 4 of our European vacay. The trend you’re probably noticing in the travel attire is comfort. Very important for the sightseeing with lots of walking. I took an easy tan and white striped Splendid top and paired it with Citizens of Humanity cutoffs and white Tory Burch flip flops with (my fav part of the simple ensemble) a fun pop of color in my Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac bag. The neon orange was a fun accent and a great bag for traveling.

Here’s the day in Germany highlights:

Our trip took us from Brussels to Boppard, Germany (after traveling on the Autobahn) where we began a cruise down the river Rhine. We saw many castles and cute towns, and I had some yummy German potato soup that is in the photo of me sitting on the boat. Castle after castle lines the river with one now a famous hotel along the Rhine. We departed the river cruise and back on our coach at St. Goar, Germany. But, that was far from the end of our castle sightings of the day. We then drove a little more to the Pfalz castle which is the only castle in the middle of the river.

From the Pfalzgrafenstein castle, we drove along the Rhine headed for Heidelberg. Just when you might think we’d seen all of the castles, we saw many more along the way to Heidelberg and took in the beautiful green countryside.

A visit to the Heidelberg Castle (beautiful and where I am in the first and last picture above) was a must with a gorgeous view of the river and town (also pictured above) followed by a walk around the town. It was beautiful with the buildings and mountains and the castle and river… Just what I imagined a German town would be. The photo above of the room with all of the words carved in the wall and photos is a fraternity bar/pub that is full of signs (street signs, biohazard, you name it), photos of college guys, and names and messages carved everywhere! My husband tried a local German beer while we soaked in the eclectic surroundings. Heidelberg was one of the few cities missing the luxury designer shopping, but the town is full of personality and I fully enjoyed taking it all in. Auf Weidersehen! (I felt like Heidi Klum on Project Runway saying that to people in Germany!)

What I Wore: Top: Splendid

Shorts: Citizens of Humanity

Flip Flops: Tory Burch

Sunglasses: Ray Ban Aviators

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac in neon orange

Earrings: Jac Boutique

Nails: Sally Hansen

- Neon & Polka Dots, Part 2: Lisa Vreeland Book Signing -

When Lisa Immordino Vreeland married the grandson of Harper’s Bazaar’s first fashion editor, she joined a family who boasted fond memories of the “High Priestess of Fashion”, Diana Vreeland. Diana Vreeland joined Harper’s Bazaar as the Fashion Editor in 1936 trailblazing and providing the example of a fashionable woman - the original style setter. The controversial visionary has been credited with “making fashion modern”.

“Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel” is the result of Lisa’s in-depth research into the life and career of the writer and unconventional thinker who “established herself as a controversial visionary with an astonishing ability to invent and discover fashion ideas, designers, personalities, and photographers.” The book outlines 50 years of international fashion and the rich life of Diana Vreeland. “With more than 350 illustrations, including original magazine spreads and many famous photographs, this intensely visual book shows fashion as it was being invented.”

Tootsies hosted the author for an evening book signing where I spent some time chatting with Lisa. She actually had questions for me about blogging, which was a flip of the script! :) She was extremely engaging and we had a lovely conversation. Her message in my copy was about the inspiration Diana can provide through the book. The photos and covers included in the book are beautiful! Trend-setters everywhere should take some time to read the book and learn more about the woman who pretty much brought us all where we are today with all things fashion. It’s available on amazon here. Just the photo journey alone is enough to capture any fashion lover’s attention. See for yourself!

My Outfit:

I knew I wanted to wear this Alice + Olivia polka dot skirt again, and I recently bought the neon TopShop tank, so it only made sense that I try the two together. Black Christian Louboutin peep toe pumps coupled with (a Christmas present from my husband) the black Bottega Veneta knot clutch were an easy choice for accessories. I wanted to allow the neon to take front stage. My necklace is a versatile Silpada necklace and my right wrist donned a python Marni Rocks cuff. To allow the back of the tank to really show, I went with a fishtail braid and simple John Hardy studs.

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Tank: TopShop Fluro Strappy Back Vest

Skirt: Alice + Olivia Polka Dot Ruffle Skirt (no longer available)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin Very Prive Platform Pump

Necklace: Silpada

Bracelet: Marnie Rocks Python Cuff

Clutch: Bottega Veneta Nero Satin Knot Clutch

Look what was at my door for me when I got home yesterday! @RebeccaMinkoff neon orange mini Mac from @shopbop . Perfect for our upcoming travels! You’ll probably see this one in quite a few future outfit posts :) (Taken with Instagram)

- People StyleWatch Exclusive Deals -

Subscribe to People StyleWatch magazine for awesome deals like 20% off at Asos.com. One of my trusty fashion shopping mags, I anxiously anticipate its arrival in the mail every month, along with Lucky magazine. Neither have disappointed yet! Gotta love a magazine that shows you what stars are wearing and where you can get it (or something similar) WITH a discount! And, no, they didn’t pay me or give me anything to say so :)

Above pictured items from People StyleWatch:

 Love Chiffon “Hi Lo” maxi dress, $72.72

ALDO “McEnroe” cross-body bag, $65.44

ASOS “PLUTO Point Court” pumps, $109.07

You can’t go wrong with a high-low hem in a bold color or a neon bag. So fun and stylish for spring and summer.

Get People StyleWatch for $1.79 an issue:

https://subscription.peoplestylewatch.com/storefront/subscribe-to-people-stylewatch/site/pw-pcrho1210.html?pkw=PSPWMSTX081310SNND1975&link=1001707

- J Brand Fits at Tootsies -

Tonight, there was so much fun going on at the J Brand event at Tootsies here in Houston that I will have to share it all in two parts. First, let’s focus on the main event - J Brand Fit Specialist Oscar Adames and J Brand’s fantastic jeans!

At the J Brand event that included cocktails, a station from The Do Bar to style your hair, an eyebrow station, models throughout the store, cupcakes, and a DJ; I had the pleasure of visiting with the wonderful Oscar as well as witnessing his consulting with ladies trying on J Brand twill skinnies in a wide range of colors. In the second picture above, Oscar told me about all of the great (on trend for spring) neons available from J Brand like the electric blue and pink we’re holding as well as yellow. Other popular colors I saw flying off the rack were white and tan. Oscar and I were able to help my friend Paula (pictured with me in the last two pictures) purchase the white J Brand twill skinny jeans… She was definitely converted to a J Brand junkie! As Oscar said tonight, J Brand jeans are like a push-up bra for your behind. They really do lift and hold everything to make anyone’s backside look fabulous!

Fit tips from Oscar Adames, J Brand Fit Specialist:

 - The “sausaging” or “smile lines”, as the lines in the jeans on your upper hamstring and below your behind were referred to, does not mean the jeans are too tight when you’re trying on. As the jeans stretch out, these lines will smooth out.

- If you are concerned about gapping in the back of your jeans (at the top… the problem some women have when the waist is a little big), a little give when you pull on them is just fine. If there isn’t any room, then your jeans are too tight and will cut into your waist. Basically, if they lay flat without you touching them, the waist fits.

Not a J Brand follower yet? I highly suggest you go to your nearest retailer (Tootsies is a great place to start) and try on a pair. You won’t be disappointed. I personally own at least 4 pairs of the brand because I know the fit and I know that I’ll love them :)

Like so many, you may think J Brand is only about denim… check out their entire ready-to-wear collection at www.jbrandjeans.com

*Tomorrow, more from the fun event including a new skinny cocktail we loved and Fascinators (find out what these are!).

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My outfit:

Top: Miu Miu

Jeans: J Brand

Shoes: Miu Miu

Handbag: Miu Miu

(No, it was not a Miu Miu conspiracy… I just loved the pieces with these J Brand jeans!)