everybody is ugly

8 comments

Jan 04, 2009

Hey Uglies,
I’m excited to introduce to you this fantastically chic person, Taghrid, because not only is she one of Chictopia’s style icons but an established blogger in the greater fashion community. She’s very cool and her style is definitely worth emulating. Check out her blog for future inspiration!
xoxo
Juliana
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We’d like to start off knowing a little bit about you. Can you tell us your name, age, hometown, etc…
Taghrid Chaaban, 21, Los Angeles

Why and when did you start blogging?
I began blogging in April 08 after lurking for many many months on some of my favorite blogs. I was always looking for places to get inspiration and eventually I decided to start contributing.

What are you favorite and least favorite things about blogging?
My favorite thing about blogging is the people. I am so happy that I have been able to make friends with the sweetest and best dressed girls all over the world (literally). I also really enjoy doing it. My least favorite thing about it is definitely my shrinking bank account.

What is your fashion inspiration?
Anything can be an inspiration to me, whether it’s a person, magazine, or even a shoe!

*Who would you consider your personal style icons? *
Jane Birkin, Mary Kate Olsen, and Blondie are among many of my personal style icons.

How would you describe your style?
Girlie with sprinkles of fetish-y accessories.

If you could only get your wardrobe from one store, what would it be?
Nordstrom, my favorite!

Apart from fashion what are your other interests?
I am a giant art junkie. I literally drag any friend who is free to random art shows, to wander around and just drool. One of my indicators of success in life is to have a giant collection of beautiful paintings and photos, so whenever I have nothing to do I find new artists to obsess about. I can sit and read poems all day, and I really enjoy watching bad reality TV. Also, I secretly really enjoy school, and I am currently working on getting some law school to accept me for 2010. Cross your fingers for me!

What advice do you have for people wanting to start their own blog?
Don’t worry about anyone else’s opinions, or what anyone else is doing, and try to network with others as much as possible. There’s really a lot to gain in the blogosphere not just in terms of popularity but true friendships and a chance to really learn a lot about yourself.

What do you consider the biggest fashion faux pas?
Uggs, ed hardy, and victoria’s secret “pink” sweatpants outside the house. Horrifying.

If you could have any career, fashion or non-fashion related, what would it be?
I really want to practice law. But I’ve always dreamed of working at Bergdorf’s or Saks as a top dog buyer/merchandiser. And, someday I want to own/run a hotel. I’m really not good at answering these questions, all my answers are 5 billion parts!

34 comments

Dec 28, 2008

If you’re a thrifty shopper like me, then you’ll definitely appreciate the crazy sales that are going on right now. If you’re going to these sales at your local mall or shopping center, be sure to allocate enough time to shop because you’re going to have to dig if you want to get the good stuff.

I just bought the black sweater cape in the picture from H&M for only FIFTEEN DOLLARS! I saw a few coats and a bunch of sweaters on sale 70%. Zara also has a pretty good sale going on and it seems like most of the store is discounted. Their selection of sale coats (and a few capes!) is quite impressive and I’d suggest checking out their boots as well.

As for online shopping, a lot of the big department store sites (Saks, Barneys, Bergdorfs, etc.) are also carrying designer items that are 60%-70% so if you’re looking to splurge, now’s the time! I definitely took advantage of that and am currently waiting for a special little package to arrive from Barneys (I’m keeping what it is a surprise for now). If you have the time, look thoroughly through everything that’s on sale and maybe you’ll find something you’ve been coveting for a while. I know I just did ;D

I am currently in the LA area which means I’m at Old Town Pasadena almost every day. If anyone wants to go shopping with me, don’t hesitate to ask! I love dressing people up :)

xoxo,
annabel

p.s.
Ignore the fact that I can’t keep my eyes open in the pictures _

4 comments

Dec 08, 2008

A cursory look around style sites brings about one inescapable conclusion – the tuxedo is said to be back. The Sartorialist advocates wearing the jacket tight and small over a t-shirt with jeans, but that got me to thinking that the tuxedo jacket is a far too versatile piece for only one look. Over the next few weeks I’ll post a few more ways you can wear one.

This week is the crazy old man, and I use crazy here in the most affectionate way. Ever notice how effortlessly layered most old men are, while the younger folk seem utterly bamboozled by the concept? Here I throw a slouchy Lacoste cardigan under it, and pair that again with a wool striped tie. Textured, chunky, and warm – clearly I like my drinks straight and my politics sensible.

26 comments

Dec 15, 2008

Queuing for fashion is a peculiar business but it’s also a great leveller. For once, money can’t guarantee access to the best stuff. You have to wait in line, in the cold, with a hangover.

Sometimes – like at the Angels Vintage Sale – a three hour wait can result in nothing better than you’d find in the local thrift store. But sometimes getting up a little early can be worth it. At the Comme des Garcons for H&M launch a 8:30am arrival meant I had some choice out what was on offer. But it wasn’t completely civilized.

When shopping at events like these, the fact is you need to grab. But grab politely and with digity. Whilst others were elbowing each other violently to find the prize pieces I went about calmly picking up any of the jackets in a smallish size then editing it down later. And before long I had a armful of stuff and was met with a much quieter shop floor. Most people seemed to get in and out extremely quickly, presumably heading off to work afterwards after as I did myself.

Walking away with two jackets and a shirt, I was happy that the die-hards and eBay sellers had prevented me from even catching a glimpse of the £199 frock coat. I spent that money in a sample sale the following week.

Did anyone else strike it lucky at CDGxH&M? I’d love to see…

10 comments

Dec 02, 2008

Hey Uglies,
I’m super excited to introduce our newest TeenUgly contributing writer and one of my favorite Chictopians, QueenElizabeth. Not only is she super cute but she’s got beauty and brains and that in itself is pretty damn chic. So anyway, here’s her guide to raiding your parents closet…and the fact that she lives at home makes her practically a pro.
xoJuliana
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Being a teenager means living with your parents – a fact that sets us apart from (the majority of) adults, and sometimes has an influence on the way we dress. Living at home can mean having less freedom, but it also has an unexpected benefit: the ability to borrow clothing from your parents. You’d be surprised at some of the things they have lying in the back of their closets, and borrowing clothes from your mom or dad can be a great way to add to your wardrobe. Here are some tips on adapting your parents’ old clothes to your own style.

What To Expect

Simply asking “Hey Mom/Dad, do you have any clothing you don’t wear anymore that I could have?” can yield some unexpected results. Even if your parents wear bland, boring office-wear every day, you can probably still find some interesting pieces that they’ll lend you. As an example of what you might find, I’ve borrowed silk blouses, printed scarves, and big, crazy earrings from my mom, most of which were from when she was younger. A trip to your dad’s closet (with permission, of course!) might lead to finds such as oversized sweaters, plaid shirts, and even neckties if you feel like going for a menswear-ish look. And you never know what kind of gems your parents might have lying around. In my case, those gems include a purple Christian Dior coat and a mink bow tie!

Keeping It Modern

A lot of the things I’ve gotten from my parents are from the 80’s, and it’s really easy to look dated in these clothes if you’re not careful. To make these pieces look more modern, try wearing them in different pairings or in different ways than they were meant to be worn. This shoulder-padded blouse can look cool and relaxed with jeans and tons of necklaces, or Victorian when worn backwards with a high-waisted skirt. Neither one of these outfits screams “80’s”, while wearing the top with a pencil skirt, big earrings and pearls practically begs for turquoise eyeshadow and a bad perm. (What not to do, picture 3.)

Make it more youthful

Along those lines, it’s possible to look frumpy in your parents’ clothes, since (obviously) they were made for adults. Although this purple dress has a great 40’s shape, leaving it at its current length would have made it too old-looking for everyday wear. An easy way to fix this is to belt dresses and hike up skirts to make them shorter, or (if your parents let you) hem them for a neater look.

And remember, ask nicely!

There might be some things your parents might not want you to wear – in which case, be respectful and acknowledge that. (After all, you are still living under their roof.) But in all likelihood, your parents have clothing that they’ve stopped wearing long ago and would be more than happy to give to you. So good luck, and happy closet-raiding!

9 comments

Jan 04, 2009

Okay, so has anyone seen this thing? It’s the most amazing invention since sliced bread. For those of us who don’t have a boyfriend/roommate/sibling that supports our Chictopian addiction, this is a great alternative!
Seriously, every Chictopian should have one!
If you missed out on the chic reward, you can also buy it here at Amazon.

 

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