Hair: My New Color

Please be aware that this is not the color that I want. I am disappointed. I was aiming for the girls color below. I knew there was some chance of getting a different expected color.  I took a risk.

My hair looks kind of reddish-brown now. My camera phone was not able to pick up all the detail but it doesn't look as red in person.

Hopefully:

1. This color will fade soon

2. I can get someone to redo it [using a developer]

I love the honey-brown as displayed on the box, but I am even willing to go as light as bleach blonde! Lol. I want to change my hair for once.

Recent Purchase: Faux Doc Martens

I got some black, patent leather, knock-off Doc Marten boots from Wal-Mart today! I had to quickly share these with you all. Can you believe it? I never thought [Wal-Mart] would start stepping up their fashion game. As you can tell, both boots are very similar in style. The real versions are below. The major difference is just the color of the rubbered sole.

In my area, [Charlotte, NC] they were only priced at $12. The real Doc Marten versions vary in the $100 range. So I pratically stole them LOL. They are only available in the store. They have sold rather quickly in Charlotte. I had to call different locations for them to tell me that they were not getting anymore shipments of them.

I wanted a pair of boots this season, so here are my first pair. A "what i wear_" post with these boots will definitely be coming soon!

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

Spotlight: Ralph Lauren

I have a great appreciation for American designers. The Europeans I think are the best, but they can't have all the credit.

Ralph Lauren is right now 70 years old. He was born in October 14, 1939. He is an iconic American designer. He was born in The Bronx, New York to Jewish Immigrant parents. His name from birth was Ralph Rueben Lifshitz. His last name later changed to Lauren when Ralph's brother changed it.

Lauren went to the Baruch College for two years where he studied business. From 1962 to 1964 he than later dropped out and served in the US army. He was discharged from the Army in 1968. Believe it or not but Ralph did not attend fashion school but he worked in Retail sales at Brooks Brothers. Later on in 1967, he opened a necktie store. He designed the ties himself and they were under the label Polo.

Timeline:
1972 - The famous short sleeve Polo mesh shirt with the logo on it was released. It was available in 24 colors
1984 - The Rhinelander Mansion was turned into the flagship store for Polo
1997 - Polo Ralph Lauren became a public company.
2007 - 35 boutiques in the United States.
2009 - He is declared the 224th richest person by Forbes. His estimated new worth is at $2.8 million.

Shoes: Osborn Designs

Here are the Kente Bootie from [Osborne Design]. They are so adorable. I am loving the colors even though they are loud as heck! The quality of the shoes looks cheap for $110.

what i wear_day thirty-six

Ignore the belly fat. I am suffering depression.

Leggings - Hot Topic

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

Trend: Shoe Jewelry

Hey Ladies, I know you all have a pair of old, boring heels in your closet. Here is a company that can help spice them up and make you look like you just spent hundreds of dollars on designer shoes.

Pictured above is the "Street Walk" chain from [www.LitterSF.com] The chains attach around the circumference of the shoe. This accessory will work best on a boot by the way. Believe it or not this is the most expensive shoe accessory coming in at $225.

This second piece is jewelry is my favorite. I could absolutely see Rihanna wear this out one night. The bullets on the back of the heel scream her name!

The Cassie Shirt

This is the Cassie shirt that was made popular by rapper T-Pain. He was the first to wear it. It is a shirt with the word "Sexytime" across the top and Cassie photographed nude in a seductive position. I am told it is from a sex-tape of hers. It's available for purchase at [www.Karmaloop.com].

I guess Cassie has no other talents that are making her money these days...

what i wear_now on chictopia

So I had an old Chictopia account before, but deleted that one and wanted to start over with a new account name. The new account is now at [www.chictopia.com/dressedmagazine]. Chictopia is a basically a great site to easily, showcase your personal style to the world. If you are a fashionable male or female check them out. It's fast and fun to use, you get to meet new people who dress like you and get feedback from them. A family is created on this site and I love it. If you have a Chictopia account go ahead and add me :]

There is another site similar to Chictopia that I like. [www.LookBook.nu] has a different spin compared to Chictopia. Everyone's picture that is uploaded is displayed in a feed format like on Facebook or Twitter. It's a great way to see a great variety of different styles all at once. LookBook revolves around the feature of photos being "Hyped". Hyped basically means everyone your outfit is plucking the right strings. At the moment, this is the most hyped look with 1175 points.

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

Shoes: Tom Shoes

I remember first when I first saw [Toms shoes]. They were being featured on an AT&T commercial. I didn't like the shoe. I was like are you serious? Shoes today are being made cheaper and cheaper. Why? I have no idea. Designers should invest MORE time into crafting a shoe, not less.
Outside of my ranting...
Overall the shoe has a different vibe from a similar crafted slip-on shoe. By the way the fabric holding the shoe together looks like it will unravel if you walk on gravel. No lie. I like how there a great variety of designs that you can pick from. They can be made super girly, or extra masculine. You chose. The price point for a shoe like this has to only be like this because of the popularity they are receiving. I could probably make this shoe myself if I had the time LOL. $60 is about how much you will spend on a pair of Toms shoes.

If you don't want to dish out that much for such a cheap shoes, Ked's has been had out there version of slip-ons that kind of look similar.

what i wear_day thirty-five

Doesn't it look like I am at a Ski lodge or something? I'm actually not. I'm outside of my apartment on campus.

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

Trend: Stuffed High Shoulder Pads

Celebrities have been pulling pieces from Couture lines a little more so lately. I'm stating this based on my girls Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Yes I know they are celebrities, but they are bringing the crazy and high-end designers more to the public eye not just their performances and photo-shoots, but to the streets.

The high shoulder pads are a new trend that I have been seeing both of them rock for a few weeks now. I didn't think it would keep going, but I have confirmation now. I personally love the look. It reminds me of the great Grace Jones. Yes, even a basic leveled shoulder-pad can be flattering on a statured women.

 It's almost slightly androgynous when women wear them. Grace was already the Queen/King of Androgyny and that was back in the early 80's. The average woman on the other hand will not spend thousand of dollars on shoulders like these!

Christian N. Phillips

what i want_gold

If I had to pick one over the other. I will consider myself a Silver guy. I only like gold jewelry as an accent. With that said this is a hot case I found from [Urban Outfitters] on a recent trip of mine. I would have gotten it if the price was right. POW! LOL. I love you still UO!

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

interview_andrew cash

I caught up with my RA of my building, [Andrew Cash] and we chatted a bit about his ventures in the fashion industry. Read along with us.

[dressed] So I see your new to the blogging game. What made you want to jump in and join the craze?
Well "Charlottedaydream" was actually started on a whim. I was in the Library between classes and I decided to start a blog. That is why you can never anticipate what I am going to post about. Usually I don't plan it out, it just happens when I get the urge. Consider it as a small window into my mind.

Your in school for both Sociology and Religion, what do you want to do with those majors?
Sociology is my main focus. Religion is just a credit filler that I think is interesting. In some way or another Religion affects us. Whether we actively participate in, or actively avoid Religion. As for Sociology, I plan on going to Grad school for it, and see what come about afterwards.

For fall/winter 2009 if you were only given $100 what is one thing that you would get if you had the money?
I would spend it on a pair of Chukkas. They are a great example of how an item can be dressed up or down based on the context of how you wear it. Plus, Who doesn't like a new pair of shoes.

I don't believe in labeling styles, but if you had to name your look, how would you do so? I also know that some people styles are limited based on their income. If you had to ability, what style would you like to incorporate as your own? I have a tendency to gravitate towards the more preppy side of fashion. Most of my favorite stores can get pricey (J. Crew, Banana Rep.), But if money was not an issue I could completely dress out of these stores.

I always break this one fashion rule: Some consider it outdated but, You will see me and my all white Converses all year round.

[dressed] is all about the fashion and style, but what is one song that you have on your iPod that you are rocking out to? John Mayer is my favorite artist and his new album just dropped, so that will most likely dominate my iPod time for at least the next week.

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

what i wear_day thirty-four

I am so dang tired of carrying around my little pink umbrella that I found a long time ago. Today in Charlotte we experienced a monsoon and was flooded with rain. My little pink umbrella messes up all my outfits because it doesn't coordinate well. By the way, I put a black umbrella on my shopping list.

This coat was dug out of Vintage pile. It's corduroy and very warm. I personally think this outfit would have been ten times better if I had some dark brown boots to break up the black I have going on. It's too much at the bottom. Other than that, that's the only critique that I have about me today!

Christian-Nathaniel Phillips

Shoes: Pearl Studded Chanel Pumps

So I found the Chanel heels that I'm featuring today over at Seaofshoes I visit her site daily by the way.

Jane says she received the shoes as a gift; lucky mother. There shoes are so hot, and not just because of the color. The choice of bold red and black already make it stand out. The faux pearls inset around the base of the shoe and stem of the heel shows that elegant design from Chanel. Only a classy lady can be allowed to put their feet in these.

Trend: Men's Leggings

Finally I found a well [dressed] man wearing leggings! I wrote an article about Russell Brand rocking a pair of leggings, but the way he wore them was all wrong. He had on flip-flops. #fail.

To analyze this outfit, the blazer structures the outfit well. The leggings are tight which creates two different proportions. There is nothing wrong with that, but DO NOT wear a top that is tight and a bottom that is equally as tight as well. If he didn't wear the blazer or some type of jacket he would have #failed as well. The sequined leggings are eye-catching but the rest of the outfit is simple. Well done.

Guess where this guy lives though...Paris. Go figure. LOL. All the best [dressed] live overseas. I told you all before that this was true. 

Johan, 19, Paris

Blazer by Guess

Sequin Leggings by Zara

Trend: Camail Jewelry

So I stumbled across the idea for this post from watching one of my favorite media personalities on YouTube; B. Scott. Pictured here is a camail head piece.

"Mail" or maile is literally an armour. It was used back in the 4th century BC in the Rome in battle. It was worn on different parts of the body to protect blows from sword fighting.

Here are different types of mail pieces:

Shirt - hauberk

Knee-length Garment- haubergeon

Waist-length Garment - byrnie

Leggings - chausses

Hoods - coif

Collar - pixane

This head piece is hot but it can only be worn at costume parties, themed night-clubs or sex shows. At the same time I can definitely see this worn at a couture fashion show. Here is a site that I found them on sale. 

Source: www.queensfashions.com