from my closet: spring '11 resurrections

With my spring clothing budget looking to be spent only on dresses for formals and (dare I say it) GRADUATION, it's time to go recessionista chic and shop my closet for this season's trends. What goes around does indeed come around and this time the 70s are back in the form of platforms, bellbottoms, John Lennon glasses and cool blues and whites. A flower child myself, these pieces have been long-time lingerers of my closet and will once again see the light of day. (Now that the long-awaited spring is finallyyyy here.) 

Here's what I found:

{white blazer, garance doré}

I bought a white blazer from Zara a couple years back but wore it only a few times before stowing it away with my glittery leopard halter and homemade denim bermuda shorts. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I felt like a mad scientist ever time I'd try it on. Lucky for my cute little blazer, spring '11 says, "Bring on the lab wear!" and bring it on I shall. Maybe even with a pair of cropped white jeans? Now we're talkin' spring's other sartorial demand: MONOCHROME.

{denim flares, unknown}

My first pair of designer jeans were super-flared Seven Brands with lime green pocket stitching. Short and lazy 15 year-old me never got around to hemming them and before I knew it, I became a strictly skinny jeans kinda gal, sending the Sevens straight to the back of my denim drawer. Inspired by my newfound appreciation for 70s-style bellbottoms, I finally had these babies shorted last month and have been rocking them with heels ever since.

{turquoise nails, the man repeller et moi}

After reading today's Man Repeller post, I was reminded of the most amazing turquoise nail polish I sported much of spring '10 after spontaneously purchasing a bottle from an H&M in Amsterdam. (That picture of my toes was taken in Sevilla. Adorbs, huh?!) I've already painted my nails this color today and I'm pumped to make it my go-to color for the second spring in a row.

{black kork-ease platforms, zappos}

I was fortunate enough to snag these babies from a Teen Vogue closet giveaway on one of my last days as an intern there a few summers back. I wasn't so keen on them at first but became a quick convert when I realized that they are the most comfortable height-boosting shoes in existence. Conveniently for me, flatforms are the sandal of choice this season and come next month I'll be running all over NYC in these guys.

{rockin' round sunnies in paris}

These badboys hail from a tiny vintage store in Rome my friends and I discovered last year on my 21st birthday. We all found absolute gems in that shop that day, including my favorite navy quilted, chain link bag. (Also pictured) I sported these sunglasses today for the first time in months, SEASONS even, and I won't be putting them away any time soon.

What items from your wardrobe will you be resurrecting this spring?

Tell me in the comments!

Peace, Love and Neon,

Marisa

all things neon: orange lace, and fp spring '11

FABULOUS news kiddies: this spring, NEON is here. to. stay. I dare say it shall live on forever, even if no where else but my closet (and this here blog, of course). But as long as designers keep sending acid brights down the runway, my favorite stores will continue to dream up neon confections at lower prices that satisfy my perpetual thirst for the brightest of colors and allow me partake in the fun.

H&M, my top pick for fast fashion mega-retailer, is notorious for taking close inspiration for its designs from the runway, which is great for us fashion victims. So when my best friend Alex pointed out this dress to me there, my second thought was: "OH HI Proenza and Christopher Kane Spring '11! So wonderful to see you at H&M on Newbury Street!"

(My first thought, of course, was: "PUT THAT THING ON MY BODY RIGHT THIS SECOND.")

{sequin slip: free people, necklace:

marc by marc jacobs, shoes: nine west}

A modest $19.95 compared to its $5,000 counterparts. Heck, it's practically FREE! How's that for rationalizing unnecessary dress shopping?

But even beyond the price, the dress is perfect. The sleeves make a statement with their elbow-grazing length while avoiding full sleeve overkill. The silhouette is a shift dress, NOT a body con dress, thank todd, meaning that the use of sheer stretch lace here is flirty not slutty. The length is short enough to wear out at night, but long enough to feel comfortable walking into Chabad for Shabbat dinner sporting it. And the color? Well, that just goes without saying.

And don't I look ready to attend my very own NEON TEA PARTY?! That's always the point, after all.

Here are the images of what inevitably inspired this thrilling creation:

Christopher Kane SS '11

Proenza Schouler SS '11

{all images style.com}

SWOOOOON! Oh how I wish I had to budget to acquire the real things for my wardrobe!!

While we're on the topic of neon and Proenza (what else would we be talking about, let's be honest), looky looky the resemblance between something off the same runway and something I tried on yesterday at Free People.

Free People

Proenza

SPOOOKY!

And while we're on the topic of neon and Free People, look what else I got yesterday:

Neon pink flowy collar blouse! $88 YES YES AND YES!

And while we're still on the topic of what I got yesterday at Free People:

English rose print flutter shorts with lace trim!!! $58 Wow, what a combo of elements.

In conclusion, yesterday was quite the exciting day for my closet and I am BEYOND ready for warm weather to arrive and let me wear my new purchases.

More Spring '11 neon enthusiasm to come.

Peace, Love and Neon,

Marisa

styling tip: freshening up winter looks

It's late March in Boston and, surprise surprise, it's still freeeezing out! Not to mention today's random flurries. Having just returned from sunny and 80 Atlanta, I'm especially bummed about being back in the arctic tundra that is the Northeast. While my body aches to be swathed in flimsy tanks and flutter shorts, I am forced to keep my pants on. Literally.

Today I bring you two styling tips picked up from fashion month's especially gorgeous street style images. Both are examples of how wearing accessories in a new way can freshen up overly recycled cold weather looks---and can be carried out through spring. (If it ever gets here!)

up top:

{tommy ton for style.com}

{streetfsn}

Wear a necklace like a bow tie!

Add a statement necklace to a button down button all the way up, making sure to place the necklace neatly under the collar.

*Also, check out the double watch action in the second picture! Love this. Honestly...WTF does too.

down low:

{both tommy ton for style.com}

Wear socks with heels!

Socks with heeled sandals allow you to break out those pretty new spring shoes now. Contrast colors and patterns for a bold look.

my take aka today's outfit:

{necklace: free people, shirt: j.crew}

{shoes: nine west, socks: monoprix,

worn with skinny jeans: madewell}

Whattup crappy quality Photobooth images.

Here's to hoping for a warm April full of pantsless heel+sockage!

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

recent acquisitions: summer 2010

While I have not been going crazy with the J.Crew purchases (most of what I buy is on sale even before my discount) or any purchases for that matter, I have picked up a few OUTSTANDING items this summer.

1. Panama hat, purchased at a gift shop in Sevilla, España

This hat goes with everything and looks good on literally everyone--even those claiming not to be hat people (cough cough, Alex Black). I love throwing on this baby with both casual and dressy outfits to add a special summer kick to the look.

2. Sequin striped sailor shirt, J.Crew

I posted this shirt on a recent NTP post as a J.Crew item that I was dyingggg to have--et voilà! Now it's mine! I found a returned XS in the stock room and made it mine that day! It's a good thing the shirt runs super big because the XS fits my Medium frame like a glove!

3. Embellished white fabric earrings, J.Crew

First of all, these earrings remind me of Prada earrings from Summer '08 when I was working at Teen Vogue. Those were black fabric with green stones and I was IN LOVE with them and their matching bib necklace. Like the sequin striped shirt, these earrings were probably a return and were on sale for $29.99 even BEFORE my discount! It's fate.

4. Miu Miu Spring 2006 sandals

{one of my favorite Miu Miu collections of all time!}

These shoes are by far the purchase of the summer. I found them two days ago at a tiny consignment shop at 350 East 9th Street run by a darling French-Algerian man named Matiell. I saw the shoes in the window, discovered they were my size, saw the price tag ($66!!!!) and knew they were mine. And Matiell was so sweet he knocked off $6 and gave my friends good prices on their purchases as well. I'll definitely be back there to see what other amazing pieces I can score--maybe he'll even knock off $200 from a $400 emerald green silk Chanel chain link purse. Hey.. a girl can dream!

Other summer 2010 purchases include Essie's Lilacism nail polish (seen on my fingers and toes in the above photos), a new pair of black lace-up Docs on sale at Urban for $39.99 (!!!), and THIS sequin mini stripe tank in grey from J.Crew.

I am building up a pretty spectacular wardrobe, if I do say so myself!

Alright kiddies, my friend Rebecca is coming over now and we're gunna make some lunch.. I'm thinking something including poached eggs. Yum!

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

summer '0neon: me in necklace form

Walking past the Free People store on 3rd and 75th with Alex on Saturday, I found my soul mate. Hanging on a mannequin in the window, paired with a simple white tank and denim cut-off was the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on: a neon pink, chain-and-stone oversized bib necklace! I saw myself in necklace-form in that window and immediately dashed inside, heading straight to my soon-to-be possession. I picked it up and absolutely flipped: not only was it exquisite, but it was also affordable at only $32!! Totally meant to be!! (If you've been shopping with me, you probably know that I believe in shopping destiny- case in point, my excitement at being cosmically united with the magnificent neon creation.) So I bought the necklace and obviously wore it all weekend.

{first outfit with the necklace to spend saturday afternoon eating

our way through street fairs downtown}

{exploring the west village and checking out street art with my mom on sunday}

I also wore it to dinner at Mezzaluna with Avery on Saturday evening paired with my new violet silk-lace-and-rhinestone top from the Phillip Lim sample sale and to my dad's for Memorial Day dinner with the neon yellow tank under a blue-and-white tye-dye tank dress from Zara, shiny black AA leggings and my new studded black sandals. It's quite surprising that a neon necklace can still look fab with neon tanks galore!

It kind of looks like those beyond-amazing Lanvin Spring '09 necklaces, don't you think?

{picture from style.com}

Expect to see more of the chronicles of the neon soul mate necklace!!

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

WELCOME TO THE THE NEON TEA PARTY!!

What is The Neon Tea Party?

The Neon Tea Party is a blog about all things fashionable, fabulous, girly, trendy and amazing.

Stay tuned for trend reports, restaurant reviews, shopping lists, adventure ideas, and more, obviously.

Also, the banner and layout aren't finalized, but I'm too excited to launch my blog, so this will have to do for now.

In the mean time, check out my new favorite store, pinkyotto -- it just opened on Newbury a couple weeks ago and I'm in love.

I wasn't planning on buying anything, I SWEAR, (I had already been shopping all day and bought two pairs of ripped denim shorts, a tye-dye tank dress and the perfect black halter romper with ruffle at the neck [!!] AND picked up my two pairs of Chanels from the shoe repair), but I was pressured into it by my friends. Obviously I couldn't say no.

After trying on an AMAZING off-white lace skirt with little lace star explosions [obsessed], a grey silk short-sleeved shift with a black lace panel down the front and back and fringe on the bottom, and two other printed silk masterpieces, I decided on this:

Perfectly simple, yet still funky and totally me. I couldn't resist the little owl print. (I had actually tried on another dress in the same fabric.)

Definitely check out the store-- there's no way that you won't find a treasure among the racks and racks of unique printed dresses of amazingness. FYI, there is not one, but THREE locations in New York. (A fortunate discovery just in time to return to the city for the summer!!)

Oh and look for an editorial about the store in the first published issue of The Buzz. I already spoke to one of the owners about doing a collaboration for the magazine!!

Okay, now I actually have to work on my Spanish paper now. Le sigh.

Check back soon for post numero dos.

Peace, Love and Neon,
Marisa

P.S. Check out this video of Boston University's best a cappella group, the Dear Abbeys, performing one of my favorite Coldplay songs. (Who am I kidding? Every Coldplay song is my favorite Coldplay song.)