Trend Tracking : Street Surfer

As you can see from my past few posts, i'm SUPER excited for spring fashion. I'm particularly fond of a trend emerging that I like to coin the "street surfer" look. It's pretty much exactly the way I love to dress. It's a mix of carefree, beachy batik & bright splashes of color made into structured shapes like button downs or paired with a sturdy platform heel.

It's all about balancing the yin and yang in the outfit; polished shark's teeth on black cord at tory burch, and platform heels with a tie-dye mini dress at Proenza Schouler. I have a feeling my inner surfer girl is going to be quite excited with my spring wardrobe choices!

Are you feeling the street surfer trend or are you sick of the bohemian spin-offs?

xoxo, lauren

The Surf, Sun, and Sand are Calling my Name

I'll be departing for my sand and sun filled spring break in a mere 5 days! So, obviously I have spring break on the mind. I'm hoping that it warms up so I can get my bronze on.

Here's my list of 5 essentials for spring break:

1. Cute Oversized Tote: This canvas bag by Trina Turk has a bold pattern equally as cute to store suncreen and towel as a carry-all to take with you shopping.

2. Day to Night Dress: This dress by surf brand O'Neill could work as a cover-up for the beach or to dinner with the girls.

3. Mix & Match Bikini: I actually just bought this bikini at Target, it can be mixed and matched with solid red,yellow, and black. I love the rastafarian colors.

4. Dressy Sandals: Flip flops are overrated! I prefer a dressier sandal like these from Polished Sense by Lovely People; they're a bit more fashion forward & sturdier than a rubber pair.

What are your spring break plans?

xoxo, lauren

Purple Reign

Yesterday I was helping out all day at my fashion club's intern brunch that we host for all the merchandising & design students leaving for their final internships before graduation.

The theme was "Willy Wonka" and we had a flowing chocolate fountain & lots of desserts that I managed to avoid to keep up my spring break figure. I wore this comfy purple top, tucked into a body conscious mini paired with lace tights & ankle boots. My tights, by Red or Dead were a gift from the amazing Tightsplease.co.uk (they've got a huge selection of trendy pairs to pick from).

So many of my friends are departing for New York, L.A., and Miami to start their fashion careers. It's so exciting and scary at the same time that exactly a year from now I'll be in their shoes.

xoxo, lauren

Reader Style Spotlight: Amandine of Les Berlinettes

The second installment of Reader Style Spotlight features the gorgeous Amandine of Les Berlinettes. Check out her blog to read about style in the eyes of two Berlin fashion lovers. The dress in the picture is vintage & hat is handmade. I love the description of Berlin's personal style-- I'm such an avid thrifter, I feel like I could do some shopping damage in that city!

If you want to be the next reader featured just send me an email with your favorite look: lapetitefashionista@yahoo.com

xoxo, lauren

Window to the Soul

After looking through my folder of my latest saved "inspiration" images, it's pretty easy to see the things consuming my mind these days: tropical isles, pretty pretty clothes, coffee, and paris, messy wavy hair.

Here's whats inspiring me lately:

What's been inspiring you lately?

xoxo, lauren

Rocking the Tutu Skirt

I felt like it was about time I broke out my beloved tutu skirt again. It certainly requires the right ensemble, that's for sure. I paired it with a slightly midriff of the shoulder shirt with an eiffel tower screen print & woven tights. I think some red lipstick could have completed the look!

Two outfit posts in one week.. i'm shocked at myself! haha, I need to be more consistent! Anywho, this has been an awful week, but it's finally FRIDAY..so happy weekend everyone!

xoxo, lauren

Drumroll Please..!

And the Winners Are..

photo via Little Ramonas

Congrats to these winners chosen at random:

nuNAAT hair products: We Were Damsels, Fearless Passion, Style Phenomenon, and Stacy

Orient Diver Watch: Firefly Works

Keep checking back for more fashionable goodies and giveaways! I love being able to give back to my awesome readers!

xoxo, lauren

Cargo Chic

I'm so over this Winter weather.. I can't wait to get into my Spring wardrobe and out of all the layers.. though im not quite ready to store my leather jacket! I keep seeing tailored cargo pants in editorials, i think they'd look great with a strappy sandal when it warms up!

Also, make sure you check out my model & jewelry designer friend Carley's blog about her adventures and fashion and as a working model in Miami!

xoxo, lauren

Trendy Threads @ DVF

Ah fashion week. One of my favorite times of year..! I've just begun to sift through all of the shows thus far and saved some inspiring looks to my "F/W 2010" folder!

DVF is always a crowd pleaser, but I truly loved everything in her latest collection. Everything was exactly what the young, trendy fashion lover would love to be seen in. I think it's spot on in terms of trends to come (start building your wardrobes now ladies)!

I'll keep posting some of my favorite collections, but promise I won't overdo it--If you're in NY covering the shows, post me your links so I can live vicariously through you!

xoxo, lauren

IT'S SNOWING.. IN FLORIDA!!

When my roommates and I caught wind that the FL panhandle might be receiving snow we jumped at the opportunity to see history in the making. We hopped into my little yellow truck & went on a mini road-trip, sharing girl talk & waiting to see those magical falling snowflakes.

Lo & behold right before we hit the Alabama state line, the snow started falling everywhere. We started sqealing like little girls & hopped out at the "Welcome to Florida" sign to take pictures with snow covered palm trees. It was one of my roommates first time seeing snow, so it made it an extra memorable day!

We found a cute bbq joint at the Alabama border feasted ourself and pulled over one last time to have a snowball fight. It was a day we Florida girls will never forget!:)

xoxo, lauren

Reader Style Spotlight: Miss Tofu

I'm so excited to post the first installment of a new series on La Petite Fashionista-- Reader Style Spotlight! It's a chance to highlight readers' personal style, as well as hear about some of their local trends around the globe!

The lovely Miss Tofu is the first featured guest! She has an adorable vintage inspired style with a dark, victorian spin. I can't wait to learn more about all over my awesome readers & fashion blogging friends!

If you would like to be featured, send me an email with a favorite outfit shot!

xoxo, Lauren

Fashion of Olympic Proportions

Is it just me or are the olympics more stylish than ever this year?! With Ralph Lauren as Team USA's sponsor the athletes in their ad campaigns look more like models than downhill skiiers and figure skaters! I love the Olympics; they seem to bring out such a sense of national pride for whatever country you hail from.

All of my American readers can keep up to date with everything Team USA is up to & support them at their site TeamUSA.org!

I died laughing at this feature ivillage sent me on some of the Winter Olympics' tackiest outfits ever. I can't wait to check out the fashion faux pas this year! As a former figure skater I have some not-so-fond memories of the get ups we'd have to wear. There is such a thing as too many rhinestones haha!

What country are you rooting for at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver?

xoxo, lauren

Bright Young Things

I was instantly drawn to these images of colorfully dressed Aussie girls.. honestly who else can pull off bright coral lipstick, shredded tie dye shirts, & gold lamé mini skirts?! I love the carefree sense of style and models that genuinely look like they're having a ball during the photo shoot!

When I found out the photographer, Nirrimi Hakanson was only SEVENTEEN years old, I was even more taken aback! I'm super impressed. She is incredibly talented-- take a look through her archives; this girl has a bright future in fashion photography ahead of her!

It makes me so happy to see pictures like these & read blogs like all of yours & see the future of fashion emerging!

xoxo, lauren

Fashion + Football = A. Wang's "Brady" Football Clutch

Alexander Wang's football themed S/S 2010 collection was chock full of perfectly americana and vintage football inspiration. (I still haven't forgotten about those messy braids!) How perfect (and overpriced) would this football clutch be for a Superbowl party haha?

It's awful, but i'm not excited about this year's game at all; I dont have any real attatchment to either of the teams. Most of my family is from Indiana so I should probably root for the Colts, but then again how hot is Reggie Bush on the Saints? I guess its a win-win situation. Maybe i'll just munch on chips and dip & watch the commericals!

Who are you rooting for on Superbowl Sunday?

xoxo, lauren

Chic Chocoholic nuNAAT Giveaway!

I'm a self proclaimed chocoholic. My best friend and I even have a "chocolate pact".. whenever the other is having a rough day or something exciting happens, we buy eachother our favorite chocolate. I'm a total sucker for dessert-y smelling beauty products too. Thus, I'm super excited that nuNAAT is sponsoring a giveaway of their Chocolat Special line, right in time for Valentine's Day! (Much less fattening than real chocolate too, hm?)

nuNAAT's Chocolat Special line contains their shampoo & conditioner with cocoa butter & brazil nut, as well as a deep conditioning hair mask and anti frizz cream-- all contain uber moistuzing components and have a delish chocolate aroma!

Each one of the 4 items is being given away meaning 4 people have the chance to win! The contest is open to readers from the US & Canada and Closes 2/14 at midnight.

To enter just leave a comment with what sweet you crave most! (Mine would have to be chocolate crepes..)

xoxo, lauren

Fashion Flashback: Senior Year

I'm loving reading everyone's fashion flashback stories for the "back in time giveaway"! I thought I'd share a few of my fun outfits back from senior year of high school. I love looking through the folder of outfit pictures. Back then I had such eccentric taste, I was so experiemental with fashion and finding my own unique sense of style.

I'd love to embrace that bit of senior year me--not being afraid to put unusual colors together, wear crazy thrift store finds, or pile on accessories.

What fashion advice would you give yourself a few years ago?

xoxo, lauren

P.S. Check out my "Conversation Hearts" Guest Post at Fashion Court to check out my Valentine's Day high school flashback!

Back in Time Orient Watch Giveaway

Flashback to 7th grade.. my "boyfriend" of the time, let me wear his big, silver watch around, sort of a modern day varsity jacket I suppose. I look back and laugh now at how goofy we were. I never realized all these years later I'd still love the look of an oversized men's watch on my wrist! It's one of my favorite go-to accessories. It perfectly balances my overtly girly style.

Nowdays, I'm an independent woman haha, but I don't need a boyfriend to rock his watch. Fine watch retailer, Orient is giving away one of their Orient Diver watches to a lucky La Petite Fashionista reader!

To win the watch featured, leave in the comments a favorite flashback fashion moment (what was your style like back in the day?). (this contest is open to US readers & will end on 2/15/10 at midnight e.s.t.)

-Get an extra entry for tweeting about the contest or posting it on your blog!

xoxo, lauren