Exposed

The Purple Boot:
Dress: Komplique Swimwear
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Bag: From India
Necklace: Gift

The Cocoa Boot:
Dress: Ethiopia
Shoes: Unknown
Necklace (in hair): Gift
Purse: Vintage

Too often people know all your business. The moments that are supposed to be private are broadcast to the whole world, and you're expected to be okay with it, because, well "that's the world we live in." But we shouldn't just brush it aside. As reality TV becomes the only program to watch, we're told more and more to be obnoxious, loud, and quite tacky. But life is not meant to be lived for anyone else. Maybe it's time to keep our business to ourselves and stop being so exposed.

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Printed

The Purple Boot:
Scarf (worn as a top): Vintage
Dress (worn as a skirt): ..Forgot...
Shoes: Anthroplogie

The Cocoa Boot:
Caftan and Necklace: Vintage
Scarf and Shoes: Unknown

Mixing prints is 'trendy' right now. And while at first I was apprehensive (Come on, mixing completely opposite in the same color doesn't work), I found myself really enjoying all the color and texture. Rather than just a piece of clothing, it felt like art. Pattern mixing isn't just checking for color, it's understanding how to textures and prints can complement each other. Just because two prints have the same shade of blue or both contain flowers does not mean that they will mesh. But the point of mixing patterns is have fun with your clothes, to be fanciful! It's no longer about how streamlined or sophisticated you can look, but how you can challenge yourself to view your closet in a new way. And while it might take longer to choose what you're going to wear when dealing with prints, the pay-off is worth it. With all that color it's hard to not be in touch with your childish side, it's like those days when you were little that your mother allowed you to dress yourself and you threw on everything in your closet. It's the joy of not looking 'perfect', of not having to worry if something is out of place because the print will camouflage any flaws. Hurray for prints!

What's a trend you'd never thought you'd like?

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Beach Bums

The Purple Boot:
Bathing Suit: Komplique Swimwear
Shorts: Waverly
Hat: Roxy
Necklace: and Bracelet From Hawaii
Sunglasses: Paul Frank

The Cocoa Boot:
Bathing Suit and Necklace: Vintage
Skirt: Chico's
Turban: Ethiopia
Sunglasses: Forever 21
Bag: Gift

This is our idea of the perfect summer. All we need is the beach and some sun. The Cocoa Boot is a California girl all the way. She's actually going there over the summer to study acting! I, on the other hand, struggled with this photoshoot. While I love summer I find that I always dress for fall. Everything that I picked to wear was black. Overall, the shoot reminded me of the recent video for Oliver Peoples' sunglasses, inspired by 70s and late summer.

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Dance Darling

As Google kindly points out, today is the birthday of one of the 20th century's most influential and amazing people, Martha Graham. She was a dancer and choreographer who pushed the human body beyond its limits and created some of the coolest movement ever! Dance can be such a great inspiration in fashion, with unusual ways of contorting the body, creating engrossing shapes which can be transformed into patterns, clothing, or anything your little heart desires.

images via google.com

Girlish

I am so sick of the whole 'tough girl' look. I don't understand why women aren't comfortable being feminine. I think it all started in the 70s, during the women's feminist movement. Not that I think women shouldn't have fought for their rights, but that in fighting to be treated equal to men, they forget that their power lies in their femininity.

In society, a women is considered weak because she shows emotion. Tears mark her as the 'weaker' sex. But I don't see what is so less about expressing oneself. It has been proven that bottling your emotions can lead to serious health issues, so isn't a woman truly being stronger by admitting how she feels and allowing those emotions to make her vulnerable?

Furthermore, a women's power lies in her sex appeal. Women have the ability to read relationships and social atmosphere, and manipulate that with their feminine wiles. A former female finance reporter would enter Wall Street's 'Boys club' in a pencil skirt and pumps. She could lull CEOs and major finance executives into a fall sense of security, making them believe that she wasn't asking the hard hitting questions because she had breasts. But when the article came out, it revealed secrets that the men hadn't even remembered to admitting to.

And especially don't forget the women in your life (especially after Mother's Day!). My mother was a single parent for many years. She worked a full time job and then came home and took care of me. It is her strength that inspires me to be proud of being a women and all that means.

Images Via: Cupcakes and Cashmere, Altamira NYC, Becausei'maddicted

Happy Mommy Day

Happy Mother's Day all.

These pictures are all by my mom's favorite artist, Mary Cassatt, plus I thought they were kinda perfect for this post :)

Let's Play Dress-up: Prom

Prom. Dancing and (Gorgeous!) Dresses. Done and Done. xoxo, CocoaB

Dress: Halston Heritage

Necklace: Gemma Redux

Shoes: Guess

Spotlight

The best part of romance and crushes and love is the mystery, the first beginning moments when you see a cute stranger and imagine all the things that could happen. Maybe I live too much in my own head, but that is the time when that person is perfect, they are simply everything you want them to be.

That's why I can't imagine being Kate Middleton. There would never be any secrets, your life would have to be an open book, forever stalked by the brutal British press. She must really love William to put up with the constant attention. Or maybe she likes it. But I prefer to live by keeping my true feelings private, allowing that person to stay perfect a little while longer.

What about you? Does your relationship need to be Facebook Official?

Images Via: Stylebubble,La femme, Chicago Looks