Spring Cleaning Your Closet: Tips, Tricks, etc.

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and your nose is beginning to run for no reason at all. It's springtime once again, and spring means it is time for new growth and rebirth. Springtime also means it's time to cracking on that over-flowing closet of yours. No more boots and coats, it's time to make some space in your favorite room! The Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com) has provided a list of twelve effective tips to getting that closet summertime ready! According to their spring cleaning article, "it's time to purge, donate and store." So let's get going!

Before:

The Tips:

1. Purge- anything that is beyond repair. Those torn-up Ke$ha tights have no place taking up valuable space in your closet. You can easily buy more (because you can get them cheapppppp) next winter.
2. Store- your "valuables." Not necessarily your jewelry, but any furs, leather or suede need to be stored away properly for the hot seasons. HP says, "Cover them with cloth garment bags and store in a dark, dry closet."
3. Store- Actually, REstore, your boots. If you're anything like me, you may have spent a pretty penny on an awesome pair of boots and there is no sense in letting them go to waste. Once you're done with your boots for the season, take the to your local cobbler to have the patch the soles and shine them for you.
4. Store- your sweaters properly. Granny used her mothballs for a reason, ladies. Without them those irritating critters will ruin your favorite top! Hang mothballs in some socks in your closet to keep the pests away. Or you can try HP's suggestion of using a couple cedar blocks in the closet, they work and they will give your clothes a nice, woodsy smell.
5. Donate- anything you cannot fit! I know they used to be your favorite skinnies, and if you could just lose a few pounds you'll be right back in them. Either lose the weight, or let them go! Donate all items that are still in good condition to your local Goodwill, or you can take them to places such as Cillie's or Plato's Closet to make a little cash from your gently used items (that's a PinkIndigo tip there ;D .)
6. "Edit your jeans." You buy jeans year-round thinking you love every pair, but in reality you only wear a couple favorites. Again, any items that are still in good condition can be donated to your local Goodwill/Salvation Army or you can sell them! Don't leave them lying around, however, they're just taking up precious space.
7. Donate- (or purge) your old coats and sweaters. The vintage look is always in, but you want it to look chic. You don't want it to look old, right? After you wash/dry-clean the items you can donate them to onewarmcoat.org
8. Restore- your old clothes. Maybe you've lost a little weight (go, girl) and some of your fave spring items are a little big this time around. No worries. Just take the items to a seamstress to have them tailored. It may cost a little, but it'll be totally worth it to see yourself in those awesome, FITTED clothes!
9. Donate- your bridesmaid dresses! And (for the younger girls) your prom dresses! GET RID OF THEM! You have no purpose for these dresses hanging around, but there is a girl out there who desperately needs one. Donatemydress.org guarantees your dress will find a good, new home.
10. Restore- your sandals. The same way with your boots, you may have paid a little much for those to-die sandals. So, naturally, you wore them every chance you got. Don't let them go to waste, take them to the cobbler as well. Get your soles and such fixed and wear them again this year.
11. Restore- your spring dresses! Same rules apply here as they do for your sandals.
12. ORGANIZE- Now that you've gotten rid of all the ridiculous clutter, it is time to whip that closet into shape. Turn all of your clothes facing the same way in your closet. Then, separate them by category: tops, skirts, pants, etc. Once in their respective places, you can then feel free to organize them by color within each section. Buy a shoe rack to hang on the back of your closet door, or if that doesn't work for you, buy a shoe holder that slides underneath the bed. Just pick them up off the floor basically.

After:

Now here's a tip from Chic, Stylish Us!

Don't be afraid to incorporate some of your fall pieces into your spring collection. Light sweaters and skinnies (especially colored denim) are perfect for those cool Spring nights. You can even rock a couple pairs of flats in the Spring.

Are you totally confused or have no idea where to even begin in your closet? Don't worry, doll! We know exactly what to do! Hire us at PinkIndigo to get your closet spring-cleaned for you. Feel free to contact us! 

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Kelly Rowland: Post Destiny's Child and Running the Game

She may be one of the founding members of the most popular girl group of all-time, but Kelly Rowland is a star all on her own and 2013 will be her year.

We all first fell for the gorgeous singer/dancer/actress/TV personality from everyone's favorite all girls R&B band, Destiny's Child, but today Ms. Kelly is becoming a brand of her own. The group called it quits back in '05, and Kelly's been hard at work on her own endeavors since (actually, even before they split she was making her own moves.) She's had a few hits and misses on the charts with her solo projects, but in 2011 she topped the R&B/Hip Hop charts with her album Here I Am (which features her HUGE hit "Motivation.") It's been ON ever since! Everyone in the music biz is trying to get Kelly on their track. In 2011 Kelly reunited with Nelly (previously dubbed perfect for one another when they released their number one "Dilemma" back in 2002) for their hit "Gone." She teamed up with Ludacris to "represent" for beautiful women across the world in 2012. Ms. Rowland also got together with Future on the remix for his hit "Neva End." Now in 2013 she's running the charts with her own smash "Kisses Down Low," produced by Mike Will! No announcement of when the next CD will be released but if it's anything like it's first single, it's sure to be another number one.

Kelly Rowland is more than her music though. She began acting back in 2002 with roles on series such as The Hughely's and Taina. She later appeared in various films, such as Freddy vs Jason (2003,) The Seat Filler (2004) and Think Like A Man (2012.) She got her first TV personality gig in 2007 as a choirmaster on Clash of the Choirs. In 2009 Kelly hosted Bravo's reality competition series The Fashion Show, and in 2011 she served as a judge on the UK's version of The X Factor. This year, however, we've seen Kelly Rowland at her finest as she hosted the red carpet pre-Oscars. She also hosted BET's biggest fashion event of the year Rip The Runway! This girl is definitely on the come-up!

(Kelly at The BET Honors)

Did we mention she's stunning? Kelly has always been beautiful, but lately she has been absolutely jaw-dropping on the red carpets. She is definitely making a name for herself in the fashion world! She has killed event after event after event! Kelly Rowland is definitely one to keep our eyes peeled for now, because she is giving it to us, honey!

Some of our favorite Kelly looks from 2013:

At the Grammy's:

At the Oscars:

At Rip The Runway:

OUTFIT CHANGE! She kept us guessing (and stunned) with her various outfit changes of the night:

(photo courtesy of therealmissdrea.com)

It's so amazing to watch this woman build her empire. Keep going, honey! We're all pulling for you!

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience

JT's back!! But sorry, ladies, he's clearly head-over-heels for his new wife, Jessica Biel. Justin's new CD, The 20/20 Experience, proves it.

Although his past hits may be notorious breakup anthems, the newlywed stud has found his other half and is ready to tell the world! Song after song on his latest album (produced by none other than TIMBALAND himself,) he's absolutely gushing over his Mrs. (How lucky is she?!) The CD was released just in time for Spring, and thank goodness it did! It's totally perfect for springtime. It has to be the feel-good album of the year! Suit and Tie is already a number one hit worldwide, and we predict there's at least four more! The tracks are fun and upbeat; the lyrics are absolutely lovely. Justin Timberlake is still classic JT, just with a "little pusher love girl."

Rip The Runway 2013

On Wednesday, March 20, BET finally aired their much buzzed about annual celebration of fashion and music, "Rip The Runway." The fabulous event was hosted by two of the most gorgeous people in Hollywood, Kelly Rowland and Boris Kodjoe. Mr. Kodjoe was definitely a sight for sore eyes, and Ms. Kelly held everyone's attention with a few outfit changes (each as fab as the next!) Performers of the night included Rick Ross and Meek Mill, Luke James, Watch The Duck, Sevyn Streeter, Omarion, Jaden Smith, and Trinidad James.

Not even gonna lie, BET really impressed me. I loved their idea of having different looks go down one at a time versus the usual designer after designer. I thought this was an awesome way of showing the clothes and showing how to wear them, instead of just trying to sell a name. The show was like a bunch of walking lookbooks and I couldn't get enough. It also featured a couple of debuts; one from Jaden Smith and the other from one of the hosts of the evening, Boris Kodjoe.

Rick Ross and Meek Mill killed the stage while the models rocked their "Lux Mode" looks. This segment was totally haute and very, very fashion forward. The show even featured some super chic pieces by major designer Moschino, as well as from Rihanna's new clothing line for River Island.

(Rihanna for River Island)

(Moschino)

Jaden Smith debuted his street couture line MSFTS on the runway, while also performing his song "MSFTS Anthem 2." Wow. How talented can a fourteen year old boy be?! He acts, sings, dances, and he really has a knack for designing. If you told me two days ago that I would want to buy an outfit designed by Will Smith's son, I probably would have laughed at you. Now, I can't wait to own a few pieces. The line is mainly couture hoodies and tees, but they stand true to the description of "street couture."

Fave look from the collection:

I never would have thought Jaden Smith designed this! But I love it!

The "Red Carpet Ready" looks where presented while Luke James gave a lovely performance. This segment featured stunning evening looks from designers such as Faviana, Sandros, and Bishme Cromartie (to name a few.) The looks were very elegant, and very, very glamorous.

The final look of the collection featured actress/model Bria Murphy wearing a super chic Wesley Nault sheer, nude dress. Perf!

Boris Kodjoe debuted his line of awesomely tailored suits for men and women, called "Alpha." Sevyn Streeter performed her hit "I Like It." We liked it, too, girl! I mean, who doesn't love a man in suit? And who doesn't respect a woman in one? The collection was very clean cut, and majority of the pieces are easily transitional from the office to drinks after work.

Honestly, I had never heard of Watch The Duck before Wednesday. Once they began playing, however, I loved them! They were so different, it made them the perfect choice to pop off the "Fashion Freedom" segment! Art and fashion definitely collided in this collection, giving off the edgy-chic feel. There were spectacular headpieces designed by Miss G Designs and ill dresses from Lie Sang Bong, Nicolas Lebran, and rompers by Malgorzata Dudek.

"Size Sexy" was probably my favorite segment! Omarion performed while the models worked that runway! The collection featured very flattering, fun, plus size pieces. The designer that stood out the most, however, was definitely Shanda Style. Honey, Shanda knows how to dress a woman! Her designs were so absolutely stunning, it didn't even matter that they were plus-sized designs; they were just beautiful pieces.

The final segment was titled "Resort." Obviously, this was the beach wear section (soooooo ready for summer btw!!) We loved the beach designs from Jungle Gurl. They were so fun and flirty, perfect for those sunny summer days! Another sexy hit was Love Love by Jami; they offered a cute variety of sexy one-pieces and haute, vintage two-pieces. The trendiest rapper in the game, Trinidad James (duh! lol,) performed while the models showed off their beach bods. This show featured Michael Kors, and tons of gladiator sandals (super haute for spring!!)

Spring has sprung! Finally!!

That's right, ladies! It's time to break out your fave tank and throw on your chicest pair of shades! Springtime is among us once again!

This is the greatest season in fashion because the first trends for the new year [of fashion] are finally out on display for all to see. How will you keep up? Don't worry! That's where we come in. ;) Prepared just for you, we have the top five hautest trends for Spring 2013.

5. Black and White

*photo from pintrest

So I know what you may be thinking: "Black and white for spring?!" And my answer to you is YES, BLACK AND WHITE FOR SPRING! Black and white for summer, for fall, and winter!! That's what makes this trend so haute (year-round haute!) Sort of like an "investment piece." An investment piece is what you purchase that can truly be worn over and over, season after season. It's just so classic, and yet so very, very, chic. 

How do you wear it? WITH COLOR, OF COURSE! My go-to color for Spring is mint. But my suggestion color to try this spring is definitely emerald. Emerald was featured in the SS13 collections of Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore and Marimekko. Try a fierce clutch or awesome statement necklace. My personal favorite accessory for the season, however, has to be nail polish. Go for the black and white look with an awesome emerald color on the nails for a modern take on the classic chic.

4. Baring the midriff, and high-waist pants.

*photo from pinterest

This trend is so sexy, and so NOT slutty. The high-waist bottoms are perfect for accentuating the legs, and giving the illusion that you're taller than you really are (this is awesome news for the 5'5" & under 

crew, such as myself.) This look can easily work for night or day, such an awesome transition trend. If
you're going out, try a solid color crop-top paired with a high-waist sequenced skirt or pant (for the
girlier type) or go for leather (if you're feeling bad.) Maybe you're going out to lunch with your
fabulous girlfriends, my suggestion would be a graphic or printed top paired with some vintage high-
waist denim. Make it fit you & your personality, it's such an haute trend for any occasion. It's also a
great way to show off your sexy shape. Baring your midriff is like giving yourself a new waistline, the
high-waist pants are just that perfect accent to make you feel and truly look like a super model. 

3. Prints

*photo from http://patternbank.com

all outfits are Peter Pilotto S/S 2013

Prints are absolutely ev-er-y-wheeeerrreee this season! Bright, colorful, wild, floral, blocky... you 
name it, it's so in. The thing I love the most about this trend is the diversity in it. So many different wonderful prints to choose from, how can you possibly pick one?! My suggestion? Wear more than one 
(by more than one, I mean two... three is seriously pushing it.) Mix-match prints is super bold, & it can 
give you that high fashion look you crave. Note: just because the prints are different, it does not mean 
they will look good together. IT CAN GO HORRIBLY WRONG EXTREMELY FAST IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL! lol! Make sure your colors flow together and the prints compliment one another. Remember!  "MIX-MATCH", not "not matching at all." Try some floral leggings or denim with a striped top (my preference is vertically-striped because it will elongate the torso, but if you're confident enough I would definitely choose horizontal, too.) Pick the prints that match you & wear a solid color heel and work, girl.


2. Leather

Jason Wu, Mandy Coon, and Alexander Wang at Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.
Photo: Getty Images

You're probably sitting there, telling me that leather is nothing new. & you are absolutely right. It's been around forever so that means it will BE around forever. (remember those "investment pieces I was talking about before? *hint hint*) Leather is that classic bad-ass, rock-n-roller, punk way of being absolutely fabulous. Plus, it's an instant confidence booster! An easy way to get into this trend is probably just buying a little leather dress to start off. And no, I'm not saying it has to be black leather either! Check out these colorful leathers spotted in fashion week:

 Reem Acra, rag & bone, and Derek Lam at Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.

Photo: Getty Images

See what I mean?! How freakin' haute!!! (SN: this look will actually be fabulous with my pick for the number one trend!) My office suggestion? A sexy chiffon blouse paired with a leather pencil skirt, matched with some very strappy heels. My suggestion for the night out? THAT JASON WU DRESS PAIRED WITH THOSE VERY SAME HEELS. lol, can you guys tell I'm biased in some ways? As always, I say choose what's you!

1. COLOR! (and patterns!)

Of course! What else would the TOP trend for SPRING be?!

The flowers will be blooming soon; you should be, too! Colors and patterns are a great way to show your personality, and to make a bold statement this season. MIX IT UP, GIRLS!! Wear black with brown! Match floral with cheetah! Calm down, calm down! I know it's a scary thought. You're breaking all the rules, right? But, see, that's the great thing about fashion: there are no rules! Take a risk this season, do what makes you feel your best. Nothing is more beautiful on a woman than confidence! My suggestion? Wear it however you want. Try using this trend along with one of the other top trends of the season, and you are sure to be the hautest thing not on a runway.

Keep or Toss: Wedge Sneakers

Tom-boy fashionistas everywhere rejoiced this past year after Isabel Marant debuted the first wedged sneaker. In case (for whatever reason) you do not happen to know what a "wedged sneaker" is, it is simply a shoe appearing to be a sneaker but it actually has a wedge in the heel. Surprisingly simple, right? And yet, this simple shoe has taken over the fashion industry in just a short amount of time. Since its debut, this trend has been spotted everywhere (literally, everywhere) from Isabel Marant all the way to Skechers. 

breakfastatcindis.blogspot.com

Even the classic sneaker brands like Nike and Reebok are getting in on the action!

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Although the trend may be one of the biggest things happening in fashion this year, it's not all positive attention. Some reviews of the shoe read, "What's the point?" Others called the shoe "flat-out ugly!"

So we're curious, how do you feel about the trend? Is the wedged sneaker a keeper, or should we just toss it?

Michelle O. Makes Jackie O. Proud!!

How fly is our First Lady? Hm, try Vogue-magazine-fly (again!)

Michelle Obama graces the cover of Vogue magazine once again, but this time she's solo (for a little while.) Mrs. President talks about her and her husband's main focus in the April 2013 issue (on stands March 26th,) which is their family. She addresses allegations of her and President Obama not socializing enough in Washington stating, "Our job is, first and foremost, to make sure our family is whole. You know, we have small kids; they're growing every day. But I think we were both pretty straightforward when we said, `Our No. 1 priority is making sure that our family is whole." Mrs. O says the pressures of the White House are very, very real. Barack and Michelle just simply prefer to spend any free time with their daughters. 

Michelle may be on the cover alone, but she is accompanied by her husband in the article. The adorable couple takes turns telling what they have learned from (and about) one another during their "twenty-some-odd" year relationship. They also talk about keeping their marriage strong and how they don't let their political rise to fame affect their relationship. Michelle's mother lives in the White House with the couple, and Michelle admits to her mother being one major reason the First Couple has remained so strong. The First Lady says,  “My mother doesn’t do interviews. but let me tell you: She is not long on pretense. She’s the first one to remind us who we are. And it’s been very helpful having her living with us. . . . We can check reality against her sensibilities."

President Obama admits that Michelle upgraded him, "like Beyonce in that song!" (How adorable is that?!)

Spring/Summer Beauty

According to Elle magazine (aka the bible! ha!) this season is all about making pretty statements. Whether that may be bold or easygoing. 

For a laid-back, more natural look go for matte skin. No more dewy, shiny skin! Use a foundation or powder free of luminizers (no sparkle or shine.) You can add some warmth to the look with a matte blush and/or bronzer. Another Spring/Summer beauty trend is fuchsia lips, you can try this look out with the matte skin for a super hot, mod-chic twist.

If you're feeling playful, try lower lash liner. We love the classic cat-eye; however, the lower liner 

gives that "punk, tough" look, adding the perfect amount of edge for Spring. Elle suggests (& I totally agree) to try the look with a teal liner on the bottom. You'll be the hautest thing not on a runway.

You can never go wrong with a neutral, smoky eye. It's literally perfect for everyday, day or night. You can always play it up by adding liner (top or bottom) or a bold eyebrow. Or you can just leave it plain! No matter what you choose, you can't mess up.

If you're feeling a little daring, blue on the eyes is perfect for Spring. You can go major with matching liner and mascara on top of the blue shadow, or you can down play it with just a liner on the eye. 

What about your hair?!

If you're a lover of the classics, you can always be super chic with super straight, sleek hair. Laurent Philippon says the look is for the "confident woman." Sounds like you, right? Add on a severe braid for a bit of edge no one was expecting.

But if you're looking for a change you can try dual texture hair. You're probably thinking, "what is dual texture?" Basically, it's waves.. well waves mixed with a new texture. It's "modern and effortlessly rich," says Redkin creative consultant Guido Palau. Part it to the side so it's not too feminine.

all photos

The Hautest of Hautest Fashion Bloggers on Instagram

Top Ten, Baby!!

1.) Tuula (IG: tuulavintage)

Tuula Vintage is a fashion and travel blog run by Jessica Stein. Not only do you get to see her fabulous style, you get to see all the fabulous places she travels to as well.

follow her blog  photo cred

2.) Wendy's Lookbook (IG: wendyslookbook)

Wendy Nguyen is a fabulous fashion blogger whose blog is packed full of inspiration! It's the Instagram of a picture perfect life; stunning clothes, awesome food, and amazing travels.

follow her blog    photocred

3.) Fashion Toast (IG: rumineely)

Rumi Neely runs Fashion Toast. It's a super chic blog with the perfect amount of edge, totally fab.

follow her blog    photocred

4.) Song of Style (IG: songofstyle)

Aimee [aw-mee] Song runs Song of Style, it's an awesome peek into her super chic every day life.

follow her blog   photocred

5.) Gary Pepper (IG: garypeppergirl)

Now being recognized as the best known vintage outlet in the world, Gary Pepper's Instagram is full of life and inspiration.

follow her blog  photocred  shop

6.) The Man Repeller (IG: manrepeller)

Definition of a man repeller:

–noun

outfitting oneself in a sartorially offensive mode that may result in repelling members of the opposite sex. Such garments include but are not limited to harem pants, boyfriend jeans, overalls (see: human repelling), shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs.

–verb (used without object),-pell·ing, -pell·ed.

to commit the act of repelling men:

Girl 1: What are you wearing tonight?

Girl 2: My sweet lime green drop crotch utility pants, of course.

Girl 1: Oh, so we’re man repelling tonight?

*DISCLAIMER: the above conversation took place in this room 5 minutes ago.

follow her blog   photocred

7.) The Blonde Salad (IG: chiaraferragni)

Chiara Ferragni pays amazing attention to detail, and it reflects on her daily, completely inspirational looks on IG.

follow her blog     photocred

8.) Le Blog de Betty (IG: leblogdebetty)

Betty's IG is like her blog, everything she loves. She's got great taste, and that's why we love it, too!

follow her blog      photocred

9.) Sydney Fashion Blogger (IG: sydneyfashionblogger)

SFB is an Australian based (duh lol) stylist and a creative producer for Bauer Media. She has an absolutely stunning wardrobe and she shares every fab piece with the world!

follow her blog

10.) Alice Point (IG: alicezielasko) 

Alice lives in London and she leads a totally chic UK life. She posts the best pics of parties, events, fashion and everything else London has to offer.

follow her blog  photocred

Who's the Real Queen of the Fashion Jungle?

In this world, image is everything. There are two women God gifted us with on this earth who know fashion better than anyone: the infamous June Ambrose and notorious Rachel Zoe, respectively.

Although they may be the best, they are definitely NOT the same stylist. Ms. Ambrose is very much into patterns and graphics. She loves making things work that no one thought could. Whereas Rachel Zoe is so laid-back California mixed in with a whole lot of New York chic. What do they have in common (besides being the two most fabulous women walking the earth?) Neither one has had any formal fashion training. Wow.

Originally from Antigua, June Ambrose faced tons of ridicule for her foreign culture and even more foreign fashion sense (in an interview with The Examiner Ambrose reveals she used to have bottles thrown at her for being different.) Ambrose got her break into the styling business while doing an internship for Uptown MCA Records in 1990, here she met Sean "Diddy" Combs which led her to the vast music clientele she has today (artists such as Beyonce, Jay-Z (her favorite, I believe) Kanye West, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, and the list goes on and on.) She learned what a fashion stylist was and thought, "I could do that." Oh, and yes, she did do it. Immediately she put a lookbook together and began her networking (hints the incredible client list she has today.) June had her own reality show, but for reasons I'll never seem to understand, VH1 decided not to pick it up for a second season. :( That isn't stopping her, however. June is still making major moves and flying all around the world, working with awesome artists and creating fabulous looks we all could only dream of! She's a trend-setter as well, June Ambrose is notoriously known for rocking her turbans. Yes, people, June Ambrose started that super chic trend.

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(Isn't she totally precious?)

Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig was born in the fabulous New York City. Before she became a stylist, she studied sociology and psychology at George Washington University, which is where she also met her husband (and business partner) Roger Berman. She also worked at Gotham and YM magazines, which is where she found her love of styling. And thank goodness she did! Rachel Zoe is probably the most notorious fashion stylist ever. Her client list goes all the way from Brenda Song to Anne Hathaway (and she's recently teamed up with the new and improved Miley Cyrus -see our previous Miley blog for deets.) Everyone wants this girl on their side! I mean, who wouldn't? Rachel Zoe practically invented the whole "boho-chic" look! Rachel isn't only styling these days, she's also got a totally fab fashion line out (which has already debuted during Fashion Week and is available at Neiman Marcus.) In addition to her fashion line, she's teamed up with ShoeDazzle.com and has her personal selection of the hottest shoes of the season available for you (and me!) Her show just began it's fifth season and it airs Wednesday's at 9:00/8:00 central on Bravo.

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They've both got it all; the career, the money, the wardrobe, and the family! And they're both totally running the game right now! I honestly could not choose between the two! So I'm asking y'all, who really is the queen?