Pencil, Well, Permanent Marker This In -fashion a la mode

See ya short skirts, well, not entirely. This spring and summer however, pencil skirts are a girls new best friend. Arriving in all new fabrics and cuts, there are plenty of styles for every girl to try. Of course I had to jump on this style trend (although trend might not be the accurate word to describe it, trend meaning that it will go out of style at some point- which with this classic cut, I doubt). I bought the skirt in a double cotton fabric (neon rose and a watercolor floral print), double-serge wool (mustard yellow, more for the fall, but can adapt it to the spring), cotton knit (a light blue), and a cotton paisley print. As you can see, I have done some shopping as of late.

Pair any of these skirts with a silk blouse, a chambray shirt, or even just a v-neck tee. You can wear them highwaisted or sitting on the hips; they truly are one of the more versatile pieces you will have in your closet. So go ahead and buy one, or like me, 5, and rock the pencil!

-N

(J. Crew)

(J.Crew)

(Rag and Bone)

(Alice + Olivia)

The Head AND the Heart?- Music a la Mode

Another day stuck in traffic on my commute home from work, trying to unwind and look for the perfect song to capture my mood- always a hard task. But today I hear something that makes my ears perk up... as I am flipping through the stations, I hear a song that immediately intrigues me. I crank up the volume, and work my memory hard (trying to even recall a few of my college studying techniques... King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk... Anyone??) to try and remember all of the words in this song so I can download it as soon as I get home.  Okay, so I admit, I couldn’t remember all of it (I do not have photographic, or immediate song memory), but what I did remember was a catchy chorus that went a little something like this: “I am on my way, on my way, I am on my way back to where I started. California, Oklahoma, all of the places I ain’t ever been to.. down in the valley, whiskey rivers, these are the places you will find me hiding.  These are the places I will always go.”  Ah, the music has the most beautiful harmonies, and combined with a refreshing folk sound as well as the building of the piano, and then climax of the song just made me so dang happy!  After I ran in the door and found the name of this mysterious song, I stumbled upon the creators of this masterpiece: an indie-folk pop band called “The Head and the Heart”.  Wondering why they choose this quirky name? I was too. Band member (and the only chick!) says, “So many decisions in life and in the music we love can come down to a critical tug between the logic in our heads and the hot red blood beating through our hearts.” Well ain’t that the truth? Speaks to me (as I know it speaks to my fellow emotional- music junkie Nicole.) This band decided to create beautiful music in the middle of that crux that we all often find ourselves in.

Six talented individuals got their first start after many frequent visits to the open-mic night at Conor Byrne in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood (ah, the ever-burgeoning Seattle, Washington- Americana music scene) in the summer of 2009.  They decided to leave their day jobs (don't we all) and academic pursuits behind, and start recording. After listening to their whole album, no, unlike I thought, it is not just a one-hit wonder…I decided the WHOLE album is amazing. But seriously, each song is seriously better than the next.  

Many of the songs are inspired from those first months we all grapple with involving; the multicolored threads of leaving home, finding home, and through that process of deconstruction, finding yourself.  The Head and the Heart write and play songs that speak to the newness of a fresh start, of the ghosts left behind, of moving forward- all brimming with a soulfulness and hope for a better life than the one we've all been sold. I mean, seriously. Talk to me. 

Once you hear these powerful voices melded together you start to believe that these six people may have been meant to be find themselves together in life.  The full, rich harmonies mixed with an assortment of instruments including a piano, cello, violin, even handclaps(!), create pure magic.  No trickery involved, the band claims that the more genuine and honest they are in their songwriting and performing, the more the people seem to relate to the transparency.  Yep, I like it. I like them- almost as much as I like jamming to them on my commute to and from work. 

So from my heart and my head I beg you to listen to them as you find yourself in traffic, like many of you will at some point. 

-R

She Wore An Itsy Bitsy... - fashion a la mode

My sister for years has been telling me how much she loathes polka dots. Hates them. Well my dear Paige, this is not your season. Dots are everywhere. Big and small, or a combination of the two, monotone black and white or a variety of colors. They’re covering dresses, pants, tunics, blouses and those naughty little unmentionables- undergarments. Whether you love them or hate them, you might have to give them a shot, because one thing’s for sure, you can’t get away from them.

The pattern surfaced in the late nineteenth century in England, and was used for formal wear. The famous small black dot-on-white print was seen everywhere from shirts, to children’s clothing, to lingerie. Once associated with the dance of the same name, a lot of people thought the pattern was named because it had some correlation to the dance. Untrue- it just happened to become popular around the same time. In the 1960’s, the song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” gave homage to the pattern and the song is one that not only gives a pleasing mental image, but gets stuck in your head too. In the 80’s and 90’s, polka dots were commonly associated with designer Carolina Herrera as she used the pattern for many of her dresses and clothes of the time.

But now, 2012, and over a century after the pattern surfaced, dots are back, and with a bang. I wore my J. Crew jacquard polka dot pullover blouse to work last week and literally had people coming up to me left and right commenting on it. Who would have thought a simple white blouse with navy dots could be something to rave about. You can pair a dotted blouse with a light wash denim for a casual, pulled-together look, a scarf with a button up for a splash of print, or if you’re feeling wild, pair a polka dot top with a bottom of the same pattern. You might be surprised to find this look works for everyone. Hopefully my sister will be a believer after she tries and tests it. 

(Anthropologie)

(J. Crew)

Let's Set the World on Fire. fun. -music a la mode

As I sit down to write this, it is 7:35 on a Friday morning. Woof. If you need a visual image of what I may look like right now, its pretty similar to the Some Nights album cover… sitting lounged on a chair, in last night’s lace skirt and a hoodie, in taking as much caffeine as I can per gulp of my Starbucks. Mornings should not exist before 10 am. Some Nights is playing in the background and as I was originally gonna write about something completely different, I decided to write about something a little more “friday”.  fun. came out in 2008, and surprisingly I hadn’t heard of them until about three weeks ago when my friend from work turned on their pirated album (sorry…) over the loudspeaker. My initial reaction after finding out he hadn’t chosen Keith Sweat (no offense to all you Sweat fans) was “Aaron, what the hell are we listening to?” The intro song to their album sounded like a musical. The only way I could describe what I was listening to was comparing it to a blend of Queen and the Little Mermaid. Yes, I compared fun. to an iconic band and a Disney children’s movie. (Truthfully, they’re a lot more than that, so don’t let my initial reaction scare you off.)

I bought their first CD “Aim and Ignite” three days later, because I am a music junkie, and because after giving them a chance I actually loved them. I throw around that word a lot when it comes to music, and one of my musician friends says I have the musical mind of a sponge (I like everything), but seriously, this is different. Their first CD topped the US Billboard charts at 71… not the best, but hey, at least they were on it. Their two hit singles from that record “All the Pretty Girls” and “At Least I’m Not as Sad (As I Used to Be)” are catchy to say the least. My favorite song from the album, and their first single as a group, “Benson Hedges” is quirky and original and its meaning- don’t try and make me something I’m not, accept me for who I am, is an idea that all of us can appreciate. Nate Ruess, the lead vocals for the group, does have the pipes much like Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury I mentioned earlier. Now add that amazing voice to the many instruments of the group: trumpets, guitars, pianos, synthesizers and even a flugelhorn- this group is unlike any I have heard.

In 2010, the group toured with Jack’s Mannequin, Paramore and Relient K, getting their name out there, and later that year they released the single “C’mon” featuring group Panic! at the Disco. 2011 was the year that they started getting more notoriety for their music, when they announced that their next single, “We Are Young”, featuring singer Janelle Monáe, was to be released. This song was then featured in an episode of the TV show Chuck, all you Gleeks out there probably heard it remade in Glee, and was finally featured in the Super Bowl XLVI commercial for Chevrolet’s Chevy Sonic also featuring the well-known band OK Go. Super Bowl face time is big time. Who wouldn’t want to listen to a song with the words ringing “So if by the time the bar closes/ And you feel like falling down/ I’ll carry you home/ Tonight/ We are Young/ So let’s set the world on fire/ We can burn brighter/ Than the sun”. Kind of endearing, kind of empowering, an anthem for 20-somethings all around.

The release of their 2012 album “Some Nights” has so far peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard charts, and number 1 on the US Alternative Billboard chart. It is one you need to buy. Frankly, that, and my venti iced sugar-free cinnamon dolce latte (Starbucks snob), are the only things getting me through this morning.

So go buy the album, or at least give it a shot. I need to go figure out what I am going to wear today, easily the hardest decision of my morning, every morning. Like fun. says, “I’ll put one foot in front of the other one” and go. Simply put.

-N

The Not So Neutral - fashion a la mode

For most of us, the winter season is that time of year where we go nuts for neutral colored pieces. Beige, grey, black, cream, you name it. In my case, I think I even go a bit overboard when stocking up on these wardrobe "staples". But March arrives tomorrow (for me spring is nothing but a dream in my far future, hello Minnesota snowstorm!) so as you can imagine, I am longing for some color to spice up my life and take me to that imaginary beach that I won¹t be going to...yet at least.  Just our luck and thank goodness- these days, stores are bursting with rainbows of color, so much so that it literally lifts my spirits walking in a store. (Unfortunately, this is not an exaggeration, poor passersby probably think I'm nuts.) Some of this season¹s hottest colors are absolutely gorgeous- bright tangerine, solar-power yellow, bright, cabaret pink, soft teal, and cobalt blue.  No matter where you reside or what the temperature is outside, there is no need to wait to experiment with these eye pleasing colors. Don¹t just let your eyes feast on the bright colors in the store front windows and mannequins! Invest in a few eye catching brights to liven up that monotone closet and perhaps, melt away those winter blues (and this snow?) If you have a tan sweater, throw on a tangerine scarf, belt or what the heck, tangerine pants! Don¹t hesitate to try a new color you have never worn before,you never know, rocking bold colors might even renew your optimism and energy in your life!
 

Here's to hoping.
-R

Wednesday a la Mode (Round 2)

Mondays. Monday. Mondays. Literally the bane of most of our existence. But not this Monday. Why you must ask are we this positive in a time where pessimism usually reigns? Well my friends, Randi and I are back. We are going to start out by saying that we let you down with that last pitiful attempt at a blog which most of our friends raved about. Life got in the way, or maybe we just got lazy… (I can safely assume on my end, the lazy factor had a big part). But we are back and promising that this will be an upstanding page to check weekly with our insight into fashion, music and entertainment. I mean lets face it; we’re both in the real world now… I think we have a little more insight (and a little more income to further that insight) than we did before. PLUS, we swore on my iPhone’s Bible app that we would bring you at least a few blogs a week, so you know we can’t be going against our omniscient Father... As we were discussing our new and improved Wednesday a la Mode over some fantastic Pei Wei (which if you haven’t been- you’re an idiot, go NOW) we came up with some pretty fantastic ideas and are really excited about this new chapter in our online ventures, as well as our lives.

Upon finishing our meals, we read our fortune cookies, after finishing the cookie of course (old traditions die hard), and the fortunes definitely rang true to our new goals: “Success is a journey not a destination”, and “An exciting opportunity lies ahead”. If those don’t say “get this started” I don’t know what does.

So bring it on Blogger, the Jersey Queen and I are back to stay, and we’re looking to take over this damn site. (I may be a bit excited but bear with me…. As y’all know, I’m overly excited, not witty, so this is all I had to offer you).

Peace and Blessings, and we’ll see you on Wednesday. I mean this is called Wednesday a la Mode isn’t it? ~N 

winter a la mode

Winter is here. Snow is not.  Regardless, we press onward into the holiday season, dreaming of cable knit sweaters, delicious warm beverages, and a stroll through our (imaginary) winter wonderland.  Dream on, my friends. If your a sucker for all things cozy like me,  here's some festive imagery to inspire you this Christmas.

fringe on- fashion a la mode

Ah, so blogging has come to a stand still for a solid week.  The leave of absence, however, didn’t mean our wheels have not been spinning.  What initiated this recent exploration into the world of “fringe” was my landlord’s jacket that has been hanging in the garage since we moved into our humble abode (pictured below).  This white, somewhat hilarious, fringed jacket often has me wondering, could one of us actually rock this? Well, it may be a stretch (It does belong to a male) but it was the muse that had me looking into different ways fringe is being worn in spring 2011.

Fringe is being featured this spring 2011 and being worn in a sleek and smooth form (sorry for those of us like me who love flappers, the roaring 20’s and literature like the Great Gatsby.)  But no worries, fringe is being displayed through jewelry, shoes, purses, shoes and other forms so feel free to get creative in your selection process.

Nate's Jacket he left in our garage.

topshop

urban outfitters

urban outfitters

topshop

topshop

urban outfitters

Roses Are Red, Unless They Are Gold- fashion a la mode

Every season we are left playing the same game we played the season before. Guessing which of the metals we will be wearing. I was told a couple years back, while on a shopping trip in Nordstrom, that silver was not my metal. Mind you, I was wearing silver rings, earrings and a watch. Ouch. Every since that fateful day, I have tossed all of my silver to the side for the other metal, gold. I wear my great-grandmother’s gold ring on my right hand ring finger every day, and resort to gold necklaces, charm bracelets and earrings when I wear jewelry out. A lot of my friends will comment and say that I am one of the only people that wear gold, it’s an “old” thing… whatever that means. Well- listen up friends. Gold is in and it is big. Ha.

Tiffany&Co.

Rose gold jewelry has taken the Spring 2011 jewelry scene by storm, leaving all the silver to sit in your jewelry boxes and tarnish for now. More exotic and feminine than the usual yellow gold we are all used to seeing, rose gold comes in style in big statement pieces. Heavy necklaces, huge watches and hefty earrings in the classy shade of gold are everywhere. Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, J. Crew and Tiffany’s are among the stores carrying these must-have accessories. Michael Kors’ rose-gold Glitz Watch is stunning, if you can only buy one piece, try and find that or something similar.

Michael Kors

Forever 21

I am left smiling really big over this, I am finally able to wear all of my “old” gold jewelry and blend right in with the spring trends that I am hoping carries over to summer, fall, winter…

Taking Charge of the City- fashion a la mode

Olivia Palermo, famous for being American socialite, model, and cast member of the reality television show, The City, has recently been named one of the 50 most stylish New Yorkers on stylecaster.com.  After stumbling across this article, I proceeded to search the web to get a peek at what she has been wearing in 2011.  (I mean, is she worth all the hype?)  Ah, what I found out is that she is indeed a fashion icon and worthy of recognition.  She seems to be right on board with the new fashion trend of pretty feminine things and such including high-waisted skirts (long and short), fun floral prints and flouncy sleeves (and look at her in those maxis). You name it, she is debuting on the streets of the big apple.  Check out some of these recent snapshots of Olivia and you too might be convinced.  

50 Most Stylish New Yorkers

So yeah, most of us don't all get the paycheck that socialites and MTV star's receive, however with a little guidance from our ever so helpful blog, we too can take charge of our city (watch out Arden Hills!...I mean that's a city too.)