Just A Haute Mess: April 2012

Trend Report: First Place Finals Fashion

On Monday night, as I partook in my usual routine of watching "Make it Or Break it", I browsed through trends for this summer and there was something that really caught my eye. I had a true "light bulb moment". As I mentioned in my last post, my life has been a little crazy these past couple of weeks. With finals quickly approaching, and all of the running around I've had to do, its been crucial that I am dressed comfortably. With that being said, I have found the key to staying trendy even when your life is a mess! Designers, style gurus and fashionistas everywhere have been inspired by this summers Olympic games. The trend has been coined as "Olympiad", and if you have a desire to dress comfortably, then this look is sure to win the gold. This trend features athletic numbers, with a mix of color blocking and preppy stripes . Gear up in Marc Jacobs' noteworthy collection; it has a prominent athletic reference that roots for the home team in red, white, and blue. Have a look at my take on the Olympiad trend below, and happy studying!

Stay Chic,
Jade Alexis

ON THE RUNWAY:

MY TAKE ON THE TREND:

CLICK HERE TO SEE THESE ITEMS AND MORE AT TOPSHOP

Success at Success: A Weekend Recap

This past Friday was our big show "Clothing Optional" with Sincerely Fearless. And I must say, the show was a HUGE success. I am so proud of everyone involved and I feel honored to have been apart of something so unique. Speaking of honors, this weekend I won two book scholarships, was accepted to the art program here at the University, and I was announced as the new president of IStyle, a fashion organization on campus. (Talk about whirlwind of excitement!) With that being said, I have A TON of prepping to do before the semester ends. Between studying for finals, looking for internships and signing up for summer classes, I have to find new members for the executive board and plan Quad Day! Can you say stressful? I just hope that I can get everything done in these three short weeks that I have left. I guess I need to do a feature on "Finals Fashion" because no matter how rough times may get, there is never a reason to skip out on style.

Stay Chic,
Jade Alexis

P.S. Here's a look from Friday's event!

Smile Politely Feature Article

Today has been a crazy day for me; between last minute advertising, school work, and a dress rehearsal, I haven't even had time to pick out the perfect outfit for tomorrow. It's hard to believe that we are only one day away from the big show! Luckily, between all of the madness, I have received news that Sincerely Fearless was featured in Champaign-Urbana's number one online magazine, Smile Politely! Check out our newest article on smilepolitely.com, and do NOT forget to come out to Soma Ultralounge tomorrow night! The doors will open at 8:30 pm and the show begins at 9:30 pm. There will be a party beginning immediately after the show! Hope to see you there :)

Stay Chic,

Jade Alexis

P.S. you can buy tickets in advanced at sincerelyfearless.eventbrite.com

Beauty Buzz: Red Alert

Between the warm weather, late nights, a crazy schedule, the last thing that I want to worry about is reapplying my make up throughout the day. These past few weeks I have become obsessed with a natural make up look. I can not count how many time I have woken up with minimal time to get ready for class, yet this routine works perfectly for the five minutes that I have to spare. Regardless of the events for the day, this look can easily be taken from day to night. Simply start with your tinted moisturizer (foundation, powder, or whatever you feel comfortable with), add a swipe of mascara, and top off the look with a shade of RED LIPSTICK! Now I know that many of you think that red lips are too bold for daytime looks. However, when done tastefully, this look can fool anyone into thinking you have an entirely made-up face. It is best to aim for lighter shades during your morning and afternoon hours. To transform this into a look for going out, simple swipe your lashes with another coat (both top and bottom to really make them pop) and intensify your lip shade. Having such a light look on your eyes will balance out the color and refrain you from looking like the local "streetwalker". Don't be afraid to channel your inner Marilyn! Red is a universal color, regardless to skin tone and adding a dose of color to your lips will help you stand out again those other campus style stars. If you're worried about this trend still, here are some key rules to remember:

Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face. The paler the skin, the bigger the pop. Go light on the eyes and the blush, otherwise you'll risk looking like a clown. Skip eyeliner and go only for mascara (black for brunettes, brown for blondes and redheads), making sure to apply to bottom lashes (it opens up your eyes). Dust face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush (if necessary).

Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips. Red lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in lips with lip liner first.

Rule No. 3: Pick the right color. If your complexion is pink, you'll look better in plum shades, while girls with yellow tones are flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base.

Rule No. 4: Don't let nails clash. Non-red nail polish is preferred when you're going red on the lips. A clear polish or light color is cool, and dark polish is a trend that shows no sign of going away anytime soon. If you want to go red on the nails, make sure the color matches your lips.

Rule No. 5: Blending is in. Few makeup artists stick to one shade of any lipstick, they tend to blend a few to create the perfect colors. If you've bought a red lipstick shade that's too bright, dark or whatever, don't throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red.

Rule No. 6: Choose lighter shades if you are older. Our lips thin as we age and dark lips can accentuate them. To keep lips from looking too severe, try a rosy red or avoid red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade, playing up your eyes instead.

Be Bold and Stay Chic,

Jade Alexis

Coming this Friday-"Sincerely Fearless Presents: Clothing Optional"

If you are in the Champaign-Urbana area this Friday, April 20th, then Soma Ultralounge will be the place to be! This will NOT be like any fashion show you've ever experienced. I'd say its more of a Runway Extravaganza! Check out the official flyer and sneak peak video for the event. And most importantly, dont forget to check out sincerelyfearless.com

UIUC's College Fashion Week

This past week, I caught a glimpse of the limelight by participating in the University of Illinois' second annual College Fashion Week. Just as they do in New York and Paris, the week was celebrated through a series of events. These included a Kick-Off Concert with Beats Antique (Monday), an official Campus Style Competition and open-casting call with Ford Models (Tuesday), a Networking Conference sponsored by Ford (Wednesday), a Fashion Night Out party (Thursday), a "Happy Hour" Thrifting Bazaar/ Poolside Fashion Show (Friday), the Premier Runway Event (Saturday), and a Trunk Show (Sunday). In addition to providing style savvy students with their fashion fix, College Fashion Week turned their many affairs into a philanthropy event for the Red Pump Project; an organization dedicated to the fight for HIV/AIDS (theredpumpproject.org). Unfortunately the founders of CFW will be graduating at the end of this semester. However, there is no doubt that they are leaving behind a legacy and a great support system who will make sure that this week carries on. Overall, I'd say that the week was a total success and sorry for those of you who missed out. But don't worry, there's always next year ;).

Stay Chic,

Jade Alexis

P.S. Check out these photos from the week!

Entrance sign for our kick off concert at the Canopy Club.

On Tuesday, students await their big break at the Ford Models Open Casting Call

The flyer for the Open Casting Call.

I just so happened to pick the winner of the Campus Style Competition, Catie Harrell!

Me and some of the CFW staff at the Networking Conference on Wednesday

The reps from Ford Models after speaking at the Networking Conference.

An excited fashionista at Thursday's Thrifting Bazaar.

Some of the swanky finds that were for sale.

Coming Soon: Clothing Optional

Approximately a month and a half back, a friend of mine, KateManoucheka Airey, approached me about helping her plan the first even runway extravaganza for her online boutique sincerelyfearless.com. The site features pretty swanky accessories that any fashionista would love. We have been working hard to coordinate the show (which will be held on April 20th at 9pm) and it appears that it will be a huge success. On Tuesday, we were given a FULL FEATURE in the Daily Illini, UIUC's premier newspaper. I am extremely proud of Kate and excited to be apart of her journey. Check out www.dailyillini.com (search "Sincerely Fearless") to read the article and stay tuned for more information on the upcoming show.

Stay Chic,

Jade Alexis

P.S. The article features a photo that I am in as well ;)

Garters & Grunge

As many of you know, I am determined to get my hands on anything fashion related while being stuck in Chambana (that's Champaing-Urbana for those of you who are unaware). This past week I received an amazing opportunity to connect me back to city life and style. I was slected to be a campus representative for Akira Chicago! Not only is it one of my favorite stores, but I discovered that it was started by a University of Illinois alum. Can you say ironic? I am blessed to have this position and extremely excited to see what it holds for me. Check out my first assignment with Akira on polyvore, "Garters & Grunge", and be sure to visit shopakira.com for these awesome garments as well as other great deals.

Stay Chic,
Jade Alexis