I don’t know what I was trying to do with my hands. Whatever it was, it wasn’t quite working, was it? LOL

The pieces I wore are ones that I pull from my closet over and over again. Here they are:

Vince Camuto Denim Jacket, Free shipping and free returns. $99. Finding the right denim jacket can be tricky. If they are cut too large, they will make you look bulky. I love this one from Vince Camuto because it’s fitted and not too long. By layering a longer T-shirt or tank under the jacket, you make your top half look longer (great for short-waisted women) and slimmer (great for anyone). The top I was wearing under my jacket is actually a ruffled minidress I saw at Forever 21. I wore it bunched up a bit, and it hid the croissantummy I developed in Paris last week. A black ribbed tank from Old Navy (they’re about $8 each) works great too, or there are a multitude of tanks out there with spandex in them to hide a muffin top. This jacket comes in white too, great with bright denim for summer!

Skinny Camo pants. Free shipping and free returns. $48. These are the pants I was actually wearing at the concert. I loooooove them. Normally I wouldn’t wear moto boots (see below) with the camo pants, but I was going for a rocker chick look. I have been wearing them with ballet flats, a long cardigan and a scarf. In the summer, I will wear the pants with a striped sailor shirt or a T-shirt with a collar. (If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love to juxtapose hard and soft or feminine and edgy).

SoftWalk Motocycle Boots. Free shipping and free returns. $148.95. I was very iffy about buying motorcycle boots because that’s not my typical style, but I find that I wear them ALL the time! I wore them a lot in Paris last week, and they were perfect for the beer scum floor at the concert last week. I’ve worn them with a long maxidress, skinny jeans, shorts and tights, etc.

Top Shop Spike Bracelets. Free shipping and free returns. 5 for $30. My wrists are very skinny, so I wear a men’s watch and a couple bracelets to hide them. I would break these bracelets up and wear them at different times with other bracelets in my jewelry box. These would be great with a pearl bracelet (say it with me: juxtaposition) or mixed with other silver and gold link bracelets.

Vince Camuto Leather Bracelets. Free shipping and free returns. $58 each. I got the leather cuff I’m wearing at a store in Paris for 10 euros, but I think the ones below are totally chic and a great price. Depending on how you want to wear them, you can make them look rocker or more sophisticated. I would wear some thin link bracelets with them to add to the look.

Bonnie Jonas Mixed Chain Necklace. Free shipping and free returns. $38. What an amazing price for this really interesting necklace!!! I love it!

Here are some tips for how to dress cool without trying too hard:

• Pick easy pieces that don’t look overworked (a plain jean jacket vs. a studded jean jacket).
• Make sure everything fits you perfectly (this is a very, very underrated part of looking chic!!!).
• Jewelry pulls the look together but don’t wear anything too match-matchy. It should look like you’ve thrown it all together quickly, even if you didn’t.
• Wear pieces that are an updated version of a classic (like my camo pants in a skinny silhouette.
• Jewelry doesn’t have to cost a lot, but it shouldn’t look cheap. I mix real and fake together, a trick I learned from reading about Coco Chanel.
• Leather instantly adds a touch of cool to an outfit. In the summer, a leather bracelet is tres chic. It’s usually more comfortable to wear than a metal bracelet, and the price is usually better than for other jewelry.

If you’re a Cheap Trick fan too, here are a couple pix from the concert.

Hard to tell what Robin Zander looks like because he had a hat on that covered his eyes

We were really close to the stage!

This is a terrible photo, but I think the background colors would make a great silk print. I can’t help but relate everything to fashion!

xoxo

Illysia

The post How to Dress Cool Without Trying Too Hard appeared first on Madly Chic.

EATING

I love to meander around Paris and often end up in an area where I don’t know the restaurants very well. When that happens, I always head to the nearest brasserie (fancy version of a diner that serves food all day) and get a croque monsieur, which is a ham and cheese sandwich. It’s almost a French institution, and you can never go wrong with it. Below is the one I ate this trip. Not only is there a bit of cheese inside to keep the ham company, but there is always melted cheese on top. The quality of the ham is always very good as is the cheese, and that’s the key to it being so yummy!

I walked by this food store in the Marais and had to snap a photo. Its called Thanksgiving (20 rue Saint-Paul, 4th Arr), but it’s specializes in items from Louisiana. I don’t quite see the connection. Am I missing something?

There’s a street that is a 5 min walk from my apt in the Marais that has one good restaurant after another. It’s called rue Dupetit Thouars (3rd Arr). I ate at Les Vitelloni one night and had the grilled seabass below. It tasted as good as it looked.

Colette (213 rue Saint-Honore,1st Arr) was one of the first concept stores that existed. It has books, CDs, home decor and clothes. I had lunch here last week – quiche lorraine. I love how they put a bit of salad with everything you order. Makes me feel a tiny bit healthier.

SHOPPING

Kookai is a French brand of tres chic clothing. There is an outlet store on the corner of rue St. Denis and rue Reaumur (2nd Arr). There have a big selection and everything is at least 30% off.

Cos carries great basics at a good price. It reminds me of what DKNY used to be years ago. The store is always packed. It’s on rue de Rosiers in the Marais (4th Arr), a street that has lots of fab boutiques.

Colette is a fun store to browse around. I like going there because they have about 50 mannequins on the clothing floor, and I love how they pull the looks together. They even had the black leather shirt I was longing for from the spring 2013 Yves Saint Laurent collection (I showed a photo of it in my post on fashion history here). Unfortunately, it was 3,950 euros – a bit out of my budget. LOL.

The silly little guys below were on the placemats in the restaurant and on the wall of the bathroom (one for both men and women, a relatively common practice in Paris). I’m not sure what “big up” means. It’s a funny contrast from the ultra chic decor and clothes.

Monoprix is kind of like the French version of Target. They have beauty products, and I could spend all day examining the creams and shampoos. They also have amazingly fantastic kids clothes (black pointelle dress for a girl anyone? Linen button-down shirt for a boy anyone?). I also like their lingerie. It’s typically French but at a fraction of what you would spend in a boutique.

This window below cracked me up.

So what’s trendy in Paris right now? I saw very chic women wearing converse low-top sneakers. They were in last summer, and they’re still going strong. Patterned harem pants, lots of florals and colored denim were everywhere. And the classics are always there: striped shirts, skinny jeans and ballet flats never go out of style.

If you want more tips on where to go in Paris, read the mini guide I posted last year: Paris Mini Guide

xoxo

Illysia

The post Eating and Shopping in Paris appeared first on Madly Chic.

Somehow I love this collection of thread that was in the window of a tailoring shop

Even though the weather wasn’t cooperating, these flowers reminded me that it was supposed to be spring

Love these orderly, perfectly placed chairs

Macarons are a specialty of Paris. The colors and the boxes really appealed to me. In fact, there was a family ogling the window for ages, so I couldn’t get a direct photo!

Have you even seen such fabulous shoeboxes?

I’m sure the city of Paris doesn’t like it, but I like the graffiti here; it’s so much more artistic than at home

This is a famous painting by a Paris artist named Raoul W. I’d love to know how much he charges for his compilation of toy cars

xoxo

Illysia

The post Paris in Color appeared first on Madly Chic.

The long-awaited movie version of The Great Gatsby hits the screen today, and I’m so interested to see what Baz Luhrman does with his version. The 1974 version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow was unforgettable if only due to the costumes. In fact, Theoni Aldredge won an Oscar for best costumes for the film. If you’re interested in learning more about the fashion in this movie, check out the article I wrote about fashion in film called Reeling in Style on this page: Published Work

The runway has been rife with the 1920s the past few seasons due to the popularity of Downton Abbey and in anticiption of this film. Here’s how to get the Great Gatsby look. (Click on the photos for more details about the item.)

The Clothes

• dresses with no wasitband or low waist.
• dresses cut straight ending at the knee
• swingy dresses that end mid-calf
• embellished dresses
• wide-legged baggy pants
• cable-knit cotton sweaters

Accessories

• cloche hats (see below)
• headpieces
• newsboy caps
• gloves
• t-strap shoes
• petit point (embroidered) handbags
• metal handbags
• small clutches

Jewelry

• chandelier earrings
• mixed media necklaces (gold with pearls a la Chanel, for example)
• feathers
• art deco (gold and black, graphic and strong design
• multiple strands of pearls

Have fun with it!

xoxo

Illysia

PS-I went to an amazing Haute Couture exhibition in Paris today at City Hall. I wasn’t supposed to take photos, but I just had to show you my two favorite dresses, especially since one of them is from the 1920s!

This dress was designed by Madeleine Vionnet in 1928. Hard to tell by my quick snap while the guards weren’t looking, but this is silk designed in different layers with beading at the edges. If you want to learn more about Vionnet, check out my post on the 12 Most Influential Designers of the 20th Century

This dress is soooooo beautiful in person!!! It was designed in 1948 by Carven, a French label created by Carmen de Tommaso. She began designing because she was 5″1 and couldn’t find elegant clothes for herself. Clearly, she succeeded!

The post How To Get The Great Gatsby Look appeared first on Madly Chic.

They say you only have 3 seconds to make a first impression. (Or is it 10? I can never remember, and who is “they” anyway?) Whatever the case, the same goes for Parisian doors. They make a huge first impression on me. I love the glossy paint, the ornateness, the ironwork, and even the metal gates when the stores close. You might think I’m crazy for sharing some of my favorite doors (and a few other photos), but maybe you’ll like them too. I hope so. Here’s your entry into Paris.

I love that this tobacco store has such a graphic gate

This looks so artistic to me. I’d love to have a painting like this!

It’s all in the details

The ironwork is so pretty on this door. I could see this design incorporated into a necklace

This color burgundy is so rich, I want to drink it!

The doorknobs in the middle of the door are pretty cool

Love the navy and gold combo. Have to remember to wear it together when I get home

I wonder if the store did this on purpose. I love the philosophical quote, “Time doesn’t exist.”

This is me in Montmartre where the Sacre Coeur church is. Notice how I’m clutching my bag. The area is well known for pickpockets!

Resting my weary feet in my apt before going out to dinner

A pre-dinner appetizer: Camembert cheese baked until melted. Delish! Seems like it would be easy to prepare at home. I’ll let you know!

Afternoon snack at home to keep me going. Yum!

‘Til later…

xoxo

Illysia

The post Entry into Paris appeared first on Madly Chic.

Below is a photo of all the clothes I brought for the week.

This is actually more than I would normally pack, but the weather forecast is 51-72 degrees, which is a pretty big range! My packing concept (doesn’t everyone have a packing concept? LOL) is to bring very basic clothes that fit well and accessorize them to add interest. So what is all that stuff above?

• 2 jackets: a jean jacket and a blazer for a nicer occasion
• 3 scarves because I will wear one every day
• 1 belt
• 3 sweaters: a long cardigan, fitted striped V-neck and a cashmere if its cold
• 1 blouse
• 3 short-sleeve T-shirts
• 2 long-sleeve T-shirts
• 3 jeans that go from dark and skinny (for at night) to stonewash and bootleg (for the day)
• The red rectangle in the middle is a packable Longchamp raincoat. It’s supposed to rain, and it will be perfect to carry in my handbag for when it does.
• 4 shoes: rubber ballet flats are in there because of the forecast for rain. I’m not bringing any heels because I’ll be walking around a lot, so comfort as well as cuteness is key.

I do have some tried-and-true packing tips that I swear by:

• As you can see from the photo, every top goes with every bottom (except I wouldn’t wear the denim jacket with the stonewash jeans), and every shoe goes with every outfit. I have at least 30 outfits here, so I will be prepared for every weather.
• I always bring a small bottle of Wrinkle Away with me. It is an amazing product that loosens the fibers of clothes to get the wrinkles out. I spray it on my clothes when I arrive, and I don’t look like I slept in them. Be careful on delicates though. I stick to using it on sweaters, pants and T-shirts.
• I pack socks and tank-tops and undies at the bottom of the suitcase where the indents from the handles are to create a flat(ish) bottom.
• Then, pack flat! Think about it – the more you fold an item, the more wrinkles it will have.
• I’ve heard that you should pack your shoes at the bottom of a suitcase, but that never, ever worked for me. I always have some extra space on the sides of my suitcase, so I pack my shoes individually in bags and fit them in those spaces.
• I’ll layer a tank top under a T-shirt under the grey cardigan with my dark skinny jeans (with stretch!) and a scarf for the flight. I’m always cold on planes, but I can un-layer if I’m not.
• I always wear pants with stretch on the flight. They are much more comfortable than other pants, and you won’t show up at your destination with a baggy bottom and baggy knees.
• I have a carry-on that expands. I leave it small for the trip over. Then I can buy a few things, expand it and usually I don’t have to check luggage.
• For overnight flights, I LOVE Mac’s Dreamweaver eye mask (and I’ve tried every eye mask out there!). It is contoured, so it won’t smear my eye makeup. It doesn’t press on my eyes, so it is really comfortable, and it’s very dark. Find it here: Mac’s Dreamweaver Eye Mask

What are your favorite packing tips?

xoxo

Illysia

PS-If you want tips about how to travel on an overnight flight, check out this post

The post How To Pack For A Trip appeared first on Madly Chic.

Here are the gifts that I showed on the segment.

Clare Vivier Clutch. This clutch is so chic and goes with everything. I love accessories that do double duty, and this clutch also fits an iPad! You can find it for $154 at RozTayger.com, a shopping website that is beautifully curated by a fashion industry veteran Elizabeth Jeffers. And now through May 11th, you can get 15% women’s accessories when you use the promo code “mom15.”

Box of Godiva Chocolate and Feed 10 Bag. This gift will delight your mom and help fight world hunger with a box of Godiva chocolate and a FEED 10 bag for $50. FEED is a charity started by Lauren Bush Lauren. Each item you purchase has a set donation built into it to feed school children around the world. This FEED 10 bag provides meals for 10 school children. FEED has provided over 60 million meals since its founding in 2005. The bag is very cute and who can resist Godiva chocolate? You can find it at Godiva.com.

Houbigant Paris Eau de Parfum. If you wants to seriously spoil your mom, this eau de parfum is the way to do it. Houbigant Paris is a perfume company founded in Paris in 1775 and many celebrities and royalty have been customers including Napolean and Josephine, author Oscar Wilde and Marie Antoinette. This perfume, Quelque Fleurs, has over 250 ingredients in it and more than 50,000 flowers are required to make this one bottle. It’s $180 for 3.3 ounces and available at Neiman Marcus and NeimanMarcus.com

Isabelle Grace Script Name Necklace. This is a very thoughtful gift. These Isabelle Grace charms are handmade from silver and hand inscribed.  A necklace comes with one name charm for $135, and you can add extras like another charm or stones that are sold separately. You can find it at IsabelleGraceJewelry.com

Porn for New Moms. Don’t worry; it’s not smutty. The book Porn for New Moms is $12.95 and it’s filled with the funniest fantasies of new moms, like a husband who learned how to fold laundry while holding the baby. You can find it at bookstores or Amazon.com.

David’s Tea Spring Collection and Mug. If your mom is a tea drinker, this is the perfect gift. It contains exotic teas to sample from around the world for $25.50. I also found a great mug for $19.50 that comes with a stainless steel infuser. Plus it has a lid to keep the tea warm. Find them at DavidsTeas.com. Or if your mom is a coffee drinker, you can get her a gift set with a French press and coffee.

I hope these gifts inspire you to find something great for your mom this Mother’s Day. She’ll love it:-)

xoxo

Illysia

The post Great Mother’s Day Gifts appeared first on Madly Chic.

DKNY Jeans Moto Jacket. This draped jacket by DKNY Jeans features soft knit fabric for easy wear and a flattering fit. The color makes it work with everything spring. $98.50

Free People Zigzag Moto Jacket. Stitched zigzag stripes add distressed detail to this denim motorcycle jacket for a boho-chic layered look. $94.99

Northface ‘Midori’ Moto Jacket. Everyone who I recommend this jacket to loves it. It’s great for those cold spring days because it’s insulated. I always travel with this jacket because its not bulky at all and takes up very little space in my suitcase.  Free shipping and free returns. $140

DKNYC Lace Moto Jacket. Tough moto styling meets modern romance in a cropped-length jacket covered in pretty lace and detailed with exposed zippers and bracelet-length sleeves. Free shipping and free returns. $149

KUT from the Kloth Knit Moto Jacket. This cotton/spandex jacket is fab for those casual days (it’s a great brunch jacket!). Free shipping and free returns. Was $78, now $58.49

KUT from the Kloth Moto Vest. A vest is such a versatile piece and this one is soft stretch cotton with ribbed insets at the sides. Free shipping and free returns. Was $69, now $46.23

Sand Moto Jacket. A light-colored neutral and exposed-seam construction update a soft leather jacket with vintage biker styling. Adjustable side tabs perfect the fit. Was $498, now $298.80

Mural Mixed Media Moto Jacket. This jacket does such a great job of mixing the hard moto edge with an ultra-feminine, vintage style. Free shipping and free returns. Was $88, now $58.96

Buffalo by David Bitton ‘Pluto’ Moto Jacket. I love the style of this leather jacket. The subtle wrinkling and slight puff sleeves really modernize the moto jacket. Stretchy knit insets under the sleeves create the perfect fit. Free shipping and free returns. Was $298, now $199.66

How to wear a moto jacket with style

• Wear it with a tank or T-shirt with a fun graphic or a saying on it (I wear mine with a muscle Tee that says “Holy Chic”)
• Juxtapose it with a flirty, short skirt and ballet flats or boots
• Be trendy and wear it with shorts
• Wear it over a maxi dress or maxi skirt
• Keep the hard edge by wearing it with skinny jeans and studded shoes or boots
• For a casual look, wear wide-legged jeans and ballet flats or heels
• Dress it up with a blouse and pencil skirt
• Soften it with a scarf

Thanks for reading!

Illysia

The post Your Essential Pieces: The Moto Jacket appeared first on Madly Chic.

Donna Morgan Tiered Dress. Asymmetrical tiers make this dress very interesting, and the silver color is a great alternative to black! $196.00

Pisarro Nights Dress. This short cocktail dress is chic and very forgiving. The sheer, bloused chiffon overlay floats over the bodice, and I love the cool kimono sleeves. $168

Suzy Chin for Maggy Boutique Sheath Dress. This scoopneck stretch satin sheath creates a beautiful bustline and the ruching at the waist and hips hides a tummy. $118

Diane Von Furstenberg ‘Bentley’ Dress. The gathers and splatter print make for a very modern silk-jersey dress. $365

Vince Camuto Print Chiffon Dress. Soft gathers drape from a cutaway neckline into the flowy bodice and accordion-pleated skirt of this chiffon dress. It’s so spring-ey and cute. $148

Hailey by Adrianna Papell Sequin Dress. Iridescent sequins curve around the sweetheart bodice and voluminous skirt of this mesh dress. The fit and flare style is very flattering. $158

JS Boutique High/Low Dress. A watercolor print patterns an airy chiffon dress shaped with ruching at the crisscrossing sweetheart bodice. It’s called a high/low dress because of the hem, but I call it a mullet dress. Really, it is very trendy this season. $198

Adrianna Papell Beaded One-Shoulder Gown. I love this Grecian gown with metallic sequins and beads. The sheer mesh panels at the bottom create a slightly flared skirt. It also comes in charcoal and nude. $298

twobirds Convertible Jersey Gown. This might just be the coolest gown ever! It has a convertible bodice that can be tied and wrapped into more than 15 different styles, with the straps worn conventionally over both shoulders, over one shoulder, halter-style or strapless. And don’t worry about it fitting. It comes in two sizes: A for size 0-12 and B for size 14-20. It also comes in navy blue and plum. $310

Adriana Papell Tiered Chiffon Gown. Fluttery layers sculpt the bodice of this dress with a shutter-pleated waistband and cascading swirl of chiffon on the skirt. $198

Tadashi Shoji Lace Mermaid Gown. Elaborate, textured lace fashions this gorgeous gown with a bateau neckline. The bands around the waist and the subtly flared skirt create a beautifully feminine silhouette. $438

Adrianna Papell Sequin Strapless Mesh Gown. This gown has a ombre effect created with silver and gold sequins that is very modern and very chic. $278

Don’t these 12 gorgeous dresses make you want to go to a party???

xoxo

Illysia

The post 12 Gorgeous Party Dresses appeared first on Madly Chic.

Dr.Hauschka Skin Care Translucent Bronze Concentrate. My mom is the one who discovered this product made from mineral pigments, plant extracts and oils. It’s a liquid that gives you a hint of color wherever you need it, and the color looks so natural! I will be mixing this with sunscreen and putting it on when I go to Aruba in July. I also use it in the summer to give myself a bit of a glow when I am looking too pale and pasty. $39.95

Scotch Naturals Nail Polish – Loch Ness Mystery. Conventional nail polish had some bad stuff in it. Toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde are all linked to cancer, asthma and birth defects. Scotch Naturals polishes are eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, fragrance free and do not contain the toxic trio. They have a technology that provides a high-gloss, salon quality finish that dries to the touch in three minutes. This is such a fun color for summer! $15

Jane Iredale In Touch Cream Blush. This cream blush gives a soft, natural and dewy finish. I really love it (I use the color “Connection” for my pale complexion). It goes on very easily and smells like cocoa butter Yum! $27

tarte emphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner, Brown. This eyeliner has a very high concentration of pigment that lasts a long time, and it is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic, fragrances, synthetic dyes or petrochemicals. $18

tarte emphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner, Teal. I love mixing eyeliners. I wear two every day – one that is a neutral and one that is a color. This teal mixed with the brown above is beautiful. $18

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara – Blackberry. This is by far the best natural mascara that I’ve found. It has lash conditioning provitamin B5, vitamin E, oat and wheat protein conditions for healthier lashes. It’s a gentle formula, so it’s good for people with sensitive eyes or who wear contacts. This color has a bit of purple in it, but it also comes in black. $18.00

Gabriel Lip Gloss. Wearing a lip color with natural ingredients is very, very important because the average women ends up eating a good bit of what she’s wearing on her lips. I looooove this Gabriel lip gloss (I use Diva when I want my lips to look natural and Caramel when I want a bit of a darker color). It lasts a very long time, even through some meals, and it keep my lips moist for hours. It’s formulated with jojoba, aloe, chamomile and other conditioning plant ingredients to soothe and smooth sensitive or chapped lips. $16.75

Happy Earth Day! I’m always looking for great new natural products, so if you have any that you recommend, let me know!

Illysia

The post My 7 Favorite Natural Cosmetics appeared first on Madly Chic.