Happy New Year!

Okay, so this post is a day late, but I'm on Day 8 of working eight days in a row. Can you blame me for neglecting Bella Vogue for a little bit?

How was everyone's New Year's Eve? I ended up going to a house party with some close friends. Have you ever tried peach tea-flavored vodka? Oh my goodness, ladies and gents, it is to die for! Mix it with some lemonade, and I swear, you'll be hooked!

Anyway. Enough about my alcoholic tendencies. I wanted to share a few things from 2011 that I thoroughly enjoyed, from a fashion standpoint.

First, I am going to start with Beyonce's video for her single "Countdown". The pop art influenced video channels Fame with Audrey Hepburn, mixes mod culture with 1950s musicals, and never skips a beat.

So it's fitting that the next thing I was into throughout 2011 was Bold Color. Shown in a limitless mode, the vibrant hues of 2011 dominated the Spring 2011 trends, in both apparel and jewelry. Citrus shades and sunset tones offered a refreshing outlook of cheerfulness and playfulness to fashion.

Spring 2011 Looks From the Runway: Calvin Klein, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, and Michael Kors. 

Another favorite from this past year was lace. Lace was sprinkled throughout the spring, and became stronger through the fall season. I especially like sheer lace blouses, as you can always play it up by placing a bold color top underneath. 

Miss Me, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton all made a case for lace.

In 2011, the decade of the 1970s came back in a BIG way. Through prints, hairstyles, one-shoulder tops, velvet pantsuits, and all-around attitudes, designers went back to a time where Studio 54 was all the rage.

Looks from the Runway: Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, Tory Burch, and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

So now that you know what I was into in 2011, what is it that I am looking forward to? Well, to sum it up: I am excited for all of the fun prints and patterns, the new take on the Tribe Vibe trend, the 1920s silhouettes, and sport couture. Also, Pantone's color of the year is Tangerine Tango. How fun is that?! 

I'll be dreaming of prints & silhouettes in 2012: Peter Som, Oscar de la Renta, Rachel Zoe, and Altuzarra. 

What trends are y'all looking forward to? What did you like (or hate) about fashion in 2011? I wish all of my readers the best in the new year!

Photo Credit: Style.com and Harper's BAZAAR.

The Season For Loving.

I'm going to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my parents, who were divorced before I can even remember, were married on the holiday. Or maybe it's because this year's Valentine's Day marks what would have been the half-year anniversary of my last committed relationship (it's pathetic that I know this, but that's what happens when you write everything down in a journal).

Regardless of my singlehood, it doesn't mean I haven't been gushing over clothing recently and wondering what would look great if I had a Valentine.

The Scarlet Harlot Dress (aka Boudoir Babe from Forever 21):

Remember that scene from Gone With The Wind where Rhett Butler persuades Madam Belle Watling to lie for the raid party? Maybe not. Either way, although Belle's costumes in the film were mostly white or cream with a touch of pink, this dress reminds me of her and her, ahem, profession. I like the corset-look of it and the bow in the front. I'd match it with a pair of heels, the pair of Naughty Monkey's shown. If I were to wear this dress, I would do a full-effect with the makeup: smoky eyes and a red lipstick, such as Y.S.L's No. 16 Red Temptation. Add a couple gold-chained necklaces along with a black clutch, and I would be set! This dress could easily be overwhelming with the va-va-voom of it all, but that's why I like it: it has some spunk and attitude with a little sex thrown in. I would blow-out my hair for a bedroom look. What occasion would I wear this to? Alamo Drafthouse's Gone With the Wind Valentine's Day Feast, of course.

The Gorgeous Magenta Dress (aka Evening Chelsea Dress from Betsey Johnson):

Yes, this dress has my name in it. No, I would not pick a dress to wear that I didn't like. I adore bubble dresses and the color. Black is always slimming, while layered-bubble effect with the magenta is a little different. Like the previous dress, this one from Betsey Johnson has lace, and the sweetheart neckline is more accentuated, especially because the dress is strapless. I'd wear L.A.M.B.'s black open-toed Zelia Heel stilettos and little-to-no makeup (I'm a fresh-faced girl at heart, and pink always adds a little natural rosiness to my cheeks). I would wear my hair up in a messy bun. As for a purse, I'd go with the Bowtie Affair I found on Bag Haus. And where exactly would I wear this number? The Driskill Grill.

The Honey, I'd Rather Go to a Show Outfit:


Of course, all these outfits are for imaginary dates, but I can probably bet you that my next boyfriend will be a musician in one form or another, as my last two were. With that said, I like to go to concerts more than anything. I remember one boy telling me that I was absolutely crazy for wearing boots to one gig I went to at Antone's (sadly, it was canceled and the Kooks haven't been back to ATX since), but honestly, there is nothing better than a pair of boots for a show.

Why? The boots add height while still protecting my toesies. In fact, I can't think of a concert this past year that I didn't wear boots: even at Austin City Limits when it didn't rain, I wore boots! That's why I love these pointed-toe boots from Guess that I found on Zappos: not only would they would look great with the Dark Gothic Glam Skinny from Miss Me, they would give me the extra height I crave. Matched with the Daytrip Sublimated Floral Babydoll blouse from Buckle and the Heart, Lock, and Key Charm Necklace from RockLove Jewelry, I would probably wear black eye liner, a red lipgloss, and call it good. A little rocker, a little girly...definitely fits my style.

So...now that we all know I'm single for Valentine's Day, let's hope I'll be working! Does anyone have plans for the holiday yet? Decided what you're going to wear? Tell me all the fashion details!