fashion fireworks and all americana.

flags. fireworks. freedom. family. festive fashions. fun. frolicking. and a tutu, of course.

the fourth of july brings out our patriotism...and apparently alliteration too. but it also brings out some pretty star-spangled summer styles in a range of red, white and blue, as i'm sure you've seen all over every pinterest feed this week.

here's a snapshot of a few of the head-turning americana looks from my own tequesta family party today and the silly sister and cousin of mine who were part of it. want to share your own? post them on our facebook so we can all see your all-american ensembles.

my gorgeous cousin, in her fringed, $5 flag scarf cape (god knows i love a good cape) and high-low flag dress from forever 21.

 p.s. love those sparkly studded sandals too, which are thanks to mossimo supply co. at target.

here's us hanging out on the golf course: me in my fruit-filled, button-up dress from urban outfitters circa 2010; patterned cut-off vest by material girl at macy's; ivory polka dot sunglasses by free people from my cali trip; my trusty key west kinos; russian red lipstick by mac; and creative comb-in hair colour in hot pink...which really didn't turn out hot pink on me. i think my vest ended up with more pink than my hair.

last but definitely not least (obviously...look at that thing!) my younger sister in her fluffy, frilly frock, in which - and i quote - "no one's going to be able to get near [her]," because "the radius is obnoxious." she made this tutu for the local two-mile tutu race last week, and getting a second run in it today made for a pretty darn cute idea if you ask me. and, i betcha she'll share how to make it with us in an upcoming post for anyone interested. it'd be a great birthday outfit, and not just for the u.s.a. here's a closeup:

her finishing touch was a braid and a bow. now, depending on how long you've been following, you can probably tell i am not a hair bow or ribbon kind of chick myself, but this girl can pull it off on a holiday. especially because i have a feeling she wore it just to put a smile on her patients' faces at work before the party :)

 

last but not least, i leave you these two gems. thank you, instavideo.

and i introduce you to: the "fourth of julyon." i can't lay claim to the creation of that phrase, but i sure as heck wish i could!

p.s. the looks on my mom's and cousin's faces are priceless. i sense fear.

flavor of the week: green tea.

after the seemingly endless photos of fashion and ferris wheels across the @pretaporterpb instagram feed last weekend, there's a part of me that is wishing i was in cali right now rather than jupiter, fla. the other part of me is looking forward to the yoga-filled midtown peace, love & wellness music festival with my sister today, and the palm beaches' own version of coachella in a couple weeks...sunfest.

to get a head-start on both events, i filled up on green tea and a fresh, homemade juice of energy-boosting fruits and veggies this morning, while putting together another board inspired by the famous steve madden troopa boots and the current flavor of the week. 

flavor of the week: green tea. by pretaporterpb

hollister co. crop top / bcbgmaxazria harness belt / forever 21 high-low skirt / steve madden troopa boots / vanessa mooney wrist-to-ring bracelet, urban outfitters / leather wrap bracelets, urban outfitters / bcbgmaxazria aviator-wayfarer sunglasses / essie nail polish

in my opinion the best part of this outfit (besides the boots, of course), is the leather harness belt from bcbg. i think it's time i add one of these to my closet...in time for sunfest, of course. 

the next best is the bike. did you know that sunfest has a bike valet? it's sponsored by the west palm beach downtown development authority, and while i may be a bit biased, i think it's a pretty cool program that gets you close to the entrance, while avoiding gas, traffic and parking fees. plus you'll get even more of that florida sunshine on your way downtown. now i just need a pretty green beach cruiser like this...because my purple road bike and red-trimmed tri bike don't really match my outfit.

red coat + the 'a' team.

those who are as obsessed with "pretty little liars" as me surely caught the big season finale last night. in typical teen soap opera fashion, it was as absurd and cliff-hanging than ever before. and i loved every second of it.

since "red coat" kept popping up all over this season, here are a few red hot items that might be better suited for the always stylish "a" team and friends foes to get you through the off-season. we much prefer these diagonal zippers, leather, leopard, studs and sans-sleeves to the boring apple-colored coat "a" wore...plus none have a hood to hide her face! 

red coat + the 'a' team by pretaporterpb   

clockwise from left: steve madden red coat, mod cloth / "always a step ahead" t-shirt, kidsonlyworld.com / distressed bomber jacket, forever 21 /embellished guess vest, shortyshorts on etsy.com / dolce vita red leopard print coat, urban outfitters


the "always a step ahead" tee is just a  bonus, as it's an on-trend and subtle way to show the show some support, and only those who watch will know what it's all about.

it's hard to wait for june 11 when the summer season starts up again, but until then, click here for an exclusive clip and look into what lies ahead that abc family posted on facebook last night.

monday morning quarterback: $30 or less

want to capitalize on the latest trends, but having trouble doing so while sticking to a budget? want a cute and feminine outfit to wear to the game but just can't afford pieces from the leona collection i suggested a few weeks ago? no worries. whether you're in college living off tips from the ale house, a young professional saving up to buy a house, or you just plain can't fathom spending more than you would on dinner for gameday gear, we've got a few options for you.

we've put together four stylish outfits featuring four current crazes for four different college teams - all totaling less than $30 each. tips on how to get the most for your money are also included, and feel free to switch out your school colors as needed.

team: louisiana state university
trend: tunics as dresses/fitted waist
tip: if you're not sure about something, wait for the sale
i found this pleated tunic a few weeks ago at urban outfitters, but didn't feel like spending $38 on something i'd wear as a casual dress when i already have so many stuffed in my closet. in turn, i saved about half the price when i found it for $19.99 during my second trip to shop urban outfitters' sale, which i talked about in a previous post. it's not the typical purple for an lsu game, but that's why it will make you stand out in the crowd - in a good way. plus, i paired it with a string of gold chains i got for $4.50 from macy's jewelry sale, and $5 metallic flip flops from old navy to give it some of that tiger gold.

team: university of alabama
trend: colorblock/high-waisted skirts
tip: stick to staples
a few staple pieces will always come in handy when you can't figure out what to wear. take my red kino sandals, for instance, which cost me $12 during my freshman year of college. these key west flip flops have been in style as long as i can remember and will always be part of my wardrobe ready to spice up any outfit. i paired them with a simple $9 white baggy tank from gap that is also sure to stay in style, and then to keep up with the trends pieced it together with a slimming, high-waisted, colorblocked skirt i got for $8.80 from forever 21. add a swipe of red lipstick and the result is sleek and clean with a few pops of color to remind everyone you're a bama fan...but you can add a houndstooth headband if you're still worried about it.

team: florida atlantic university
trend: layered look/fitted bodice
tip: take advantage of special promotions
not only is this bycorpus dress another item i found for $19.99 at the urban outfitters sale, but old navy's metallic flip flops were a fab find too. typically priced at $6.50, i bought these silver sandals along with a gold pair during a two-for-$10 sale. that was months ago, but similar pricing can still be found on non-metallics. buy two or more pairs for only $2.50 each. they're perfect for a game - cheap rubber sandals you don't mind getting a little dirty while tailgating. back to the dress...it may not exactly match fau's "french blue and silver grey," but the navy blue of the fitted sweetheart-style linen and flowy skirt attached to the ashy grey soft tank will keep you on trend for the game. and the super long silver chain from forever 21 was only $3.50, so you'll have a $1.50 left over to buy a hot dog at the game!

team: university of central florida
trend: vests/leggings
tip: shop forever 21
for newer teams that are just becoming popular like ucf and fau, it's not as easy to find cutesy team tops like those for fsu, um and uf from places like victoria's secret and urban outfitters. you'll have to be a little more creative, which is why forever 21 is great. with a huge color palette and cheaper prices on trendy items that go in and out of style, you're sure to find something fashionable within your budget. grab something people wouldn't expect you to wear to a game: basic v-neck cami for $3.80, a dark grey vest for $9.80 and simple black leggings for $5.80. add old navy's gold flip flops, a $2.80 cuff and a gold belt (ok, so i cheated and wore this one from hollister, but you can pick one up from forever for about $7.80).

to make these even sweeter, all outfits are equally as appealing for a night out as they are for game day...just fling off the sandals and slide on a pair of pumps.

i wear my sunglasses at night

friday night the prêt-à-porter girls & friends headed out on the street to do some of the latest "product testing." we picked up some of this season's hottest sunglasses - wayfarers - to get the public's feeling on the shades made cool by audrey hepburn in the 60s, again by tom cruise in the 80s, and most recently by edward cullen. in reality, here's what our night of "product testing" at rum bar actually looked like...

rather than purchasing the brand that made this style famous, we picked up these pairs for only $5.50 each from forever 21...because not everyone has the funds to spend $125 on ray-bans that will probably go out of style by the end of the year. forever 21 had plenty of colors to choose from, but the two i liked best - both shown below - were a white pair with green cracking designs, and a pair in purple houndstooth.


a lot of my friends joined in the fun, but there were also a few others i met along the way to answer the important questions in life, like: "would you wear these, and if so, with what outfit?"

1. brian said "i'd wear them with my birthday suit;" & nelly's answer was "everywhere."

2. the fab bartender casey said she'd wear them with "jeans and a t-shirt, of course!"

3. ashley (with isaiah) said, "i'm not usually a white person, but i'd wear them as beach glasses or driving glasses"

4. the bachelorettes: maid of honor christine said, "i'd wear them with this dress!" & bride lisa said she'd wear them with a bathing suit, as much as i tried to convince her to wear them with her wedding dress!

5. julie said, "maybe with a glamorous gown or a nightgown..." & lizzy said she'd wear them with "either a with bathing suit or out for nightlife"

6. probably the only time the auburn student will ever be caught in houndstooth, sammy would wear them "with comfy jeans and a v-neck;" & lacey said, "with skinny jeans and a v-neck or tank top"

7. when asked if he'd wear them, dru's answer was "hell no," but his gf said she'd wear them with everyday clothes

8. megan said, "i'd wear them with anything purple - it is the color of the season!" & bryn said she'd wear them with boat shoes

i wore mine with a gray tank tucked into a hot pink mini. so, tell me...would you wear these? and, if yes, then how so?

also, don't forget to check out the full photo shoot on facebook, and let me know if you think of any fun products to try out next, or if there's a place filled with fabulous fashionalities we should head to next!

out of the closet: in my yellow skirt

ok, so i'm a little behind in my posting, but in my last post i talked about my mom's holiday dress, and my easter outfit turned out to have a story too.

i typically wear this forever 21 faux silk skirt to work or out at night, but because of the yellow color, i thought it might work for easter too...which got me thinking (and experimenting!)...there are actually a lot of ways to wear this gold skirt...

on sunday i wore it with a white ruffled shirt and accessorized it with gold coach sandals, a gold bangle from forever 21 and gold hoops (not seen here) from anthropologie. this dressed-up daytime look is good for a brunch or afternoon tea.

this is my favorite because the colors don't really match, but it works anyway. i also love all of the pieces separately, which helps. they include a red ruffled tank from zara, black michael kors gladiator heels and a simple black bangle from forever 21. this look is good for going out to dinner and then wherever the night takes you.

with an intricately patterned, silk bcbg blazer, kenneth cole satin shoes and layered gold chains, this look is good for a dressed-up work event because it takes a simple suit up a notch.

so this is one i was experimenting with...i thought it would be fun to wear the bright blue leggings with the shiny gold skirt. the plaid jessica simpson wedges add the perfect touch for a summer night out, while the white, sleeveless tommy hilfiger top and vintage pendant are just extras to the already color-energized outfit.

if you like lsu, this one's for you! as a former nole, i'm not necessarily a fan of the school myself, but purple and yellow have always been my two favorite colors. i put this look together because i love my purple converse, but it's hard to wear them without looking like a little boy. dressed down with the bright skirt and girly graphic tee though, it's good for a day of shopping, meeting up with friends or even a football game!

this final look is better for fall or winter florida because i was just too hot even modeling it outside! i paired the skirt with a black lace camisole, a pleather bomber jacket i bought online from sears for $9.99, and suede ankle boots from banana republic. i think this look makes you seem a little dangerous, but still feminine.

what do you think? which was your favorite style, or how else would you wear it?

ahoy matey!

i practically grew up on a boat so when nautical pieces start popping up each spring or summer, i'm excited. though anchors, sailor stripes, beach blues, white linens and other navy-inspired pieces don't necessarily ever go out of style, they are definitely in style for spring '09.

this white blazer by dex in the window of rhythm clothiers caught my eye while at cityplace in west palm beach. the navy blue trim and embroidered anchor give it a casual yet classy feel that's great for day or night this time of year. the striped vest, also by dex, and chunky necklace give it the full yacht-appeal without going overboard.

one of my other favs is the dress below, purchased from banana republic, also at cityplace. i had been looking at the dress, which also came in a gray and white striped version, for a few weeks until i noticed it went on sale and then i pounced! unfortunately for me it doesn't come in a petite and was too big for me, but as you can see below, it fit my mom perfectly and looks amazing on her! she wore it for our easter brunch, perfectly paired with her neutral, very palm beach jack rogers sandals and my layered silver and teal style & co. necklace (which i bought on sale for only $6 from macy's at cityplace).

it looks fabulous on my mom, but beware! she is a skinny mini and horizontal stripes unfortunately do not look as good on all people as they do on her. if you are particularly busty or broad in the waist or hips, you may want to try the nautical theme in some other fashion rather than stripes.

another way to dive into the marine theme is by sporting boat shoes or even keds. decked out in a non-traditional plaid and tweed-like pattern, i'm planning on purchasing this pair i found online from forever 21 for only $18.80.

what do you think of the nautical theme, are you embracing it like me, or is it over-played?

gray is the new black

ok, so i know i'm not really ahead of the game on this one considering i only discovered gray nail polish in january and am just now posting about it, but i am still loving it. gray was a hot color for winter this year, but as a paler and less harsh version of black or silver, i think it can be incorporated into spring and summer fashions too.


my favorite is the above "on the prowl" color from mac's hello kitty line, but it's apparently everyone else's too because it's sold out online and at every store i went to! in the meantime i found a way to get my fix from mac's darker metallic "nightfall" and a bluish-gray l.a. girl polish i got from urban outfitters for only $5 (also sold at forever 21).

i was excited when i first learned of the gray polish trend because i had already been using sephora's wet & dry pale gray eye shadow for a while to line my lids. i had always heard purple tones make green eyes really pop, but since using this product i noticed that gray has the same effect.

gray is also good when i'm stuck in an outfit and neither black or brown quite matches...which is why i purchased this puffy jill stewart handbag that gets me through at least half of the days in a week. there are some great stone-colored chloe handbags on bluefly.com if you'd like to get one of your own, but if you're not sure you want to throw down $1,000 or even a few hundred like me, old navy and target have a few good picks.


lastly, here is a way i found to incorporate gray into my spring outfit. mixed with white checkers and subtle pink lines, this shirtdress from forever 21's new heritage line is perfect by day with gray or pink opaque footless tights and sandals, or by night with my washed out gray jeans (of course!), silver heels and dressed up accessories.


what do you think...can gray be a spring/summer color or is it strictly for winter? how would you wear it?