Everything that drew my eye had a psycheldelic-rock chic feel when I paired it up - a little glam rock here, some weekend bohemia there…  I mean, hippies are out out, but that tye-dyed bohemian look is still hot when given an ultra-modern twist.

I love the way it looks layered under a blazer or cute bomber jacket, or and it takes on a new flavor with a shredded tee and some killer heels.  Check out these modern spins on this psychedelic favorite featuring  some of Tarina Tarantino’s arm candy.

Go for that modern glam-rock look; sleek, with a few bright baubles to catch the eye.  Always the girl on the go, pick up a svelte little day planner to keep your busy life organized, and hide it in an oversized bohemian-fringed bag.  This look has a “saucy artiste” feel, and without being overly pretentious it’s sure to turn heads.

A little more playful and flirty, this look packs a little more punch with a punch-colored bag by C.C. Skye.  The leather bomber gives this look a harder edge, but with the sleeves pushed up to a 3/4 length, you’ve got room to adorn yourself.  Pick bright lucite bracelets from Tarina Tarantino and this ultra-chic broken mirror bracelet from C.C. Skye.  A rolled-up boyfriend jean gives this look a weekend feel - for an afternoon of shopping, or an evening of drinks.

I love that tye-dye look paired with the bright colors of Tarina T’s jewelry.  Give a modern edge to your tye-dye to make it wearable in this millennium.

I knew Manhattanite wanted to start carrying Tarina’s line, but I wasn’t sure if that magic would be happening.  So it was a magical surprise to find the site littered with her pieces, including these sparkling and basic lucite bracelets.  I love them for the vibrant colors and stackability– how playful and sexy are they when worn in multiples?  At $38 a pop, it’s easy to spring for an armful, too (available in jet black, crystal, emerald, black diamond, fuschia, and grape. I’m eyeing the black, crystal, and fuschia, myself, though I do love them all).

Her collection of crystal flower earrings are amazing as well– I love imaging the studs on my teenage nieces and the drop earrings adorning my own ears.

How about you sparkling Manhattanite-rs? Are you Tarantino fans too? Loving this collaboration?

Let’s preface this post with the fact that my work attire is business casual. With all the choices out there, one might think business casual would be an easy wardrobe to build. This isn’t the case though, when it comes to bottoms - I need something besides the standard skinny jean or legging.  I need something that is polished, not distressed. Business casual invokes the image of something chic, that can be dressed up or down.  It’s what Kasil does best.

Manhattanites has just what I’ve been looking for, but have been unable to find: Kasil.  Kasil’s jeans are gorgeous – what designer, David Lim calls “painting with denim”. The extreme blues make other washes pale in comparison and the cut reflects the company’s “High Society Tailoring” background.

Kasil Hepburn Trouser

Kasil Tribecca Trouser

Either of these trousers would be perfect, paired with a long button-down and a well-cut suit vest. It’s a look that easily transitions from work to happy hour when paired with the right shoes, and some great jewelry.

The extreme colors are reflected in Kasil’s other styles – the Olivia Jean is the perfect color in a versatile boot cut, and the Stevie Jean is a sexy dark-wash, slim-fit – more versatile and comfortable than the standard skinny. This is your casual Friday meets smokey-eye, weekend sex-kitten look.

Kasil Stevie

The designer’s style screams vintage inspiration – in color and composition. Nothing is more apparent than the way the line is named: Benetar, Hepburn, Stevie. The high thread count quality and wash techniques are sure to build character every time a pair of Kasil jeans is worn.

Denim is alive! Denim fades, wrinkles and creases over time the more you wear. Random holes and rips that suddenly appear are all natural characteristics of your jeans.

That’s the beauty of denim, each hole, rip, crease, wrinkle, dirt, or paint that has become of your favorite pair is a story that is told within your life.

~ David Lim

I am so happy that chains, studs, and hardware trend is still cool because that’s totally my kind of trend. The more hardware something has, the better. With that being said, you know I am excited about Cecilia De Bucourt’s newest pieces on Manhattanite.  They are like the epitome of tough-girl-sexy-chic.

I am drooling over the endless possibilities that the Square Stud Vest in Grey Tie Dye has to offer. It’s the perfect addition to the simplest outfit. Jean + tee shirt + vest = boom, you’re done and you’re awesome too. You could also slip it over a little black dress and then add a boyfriend blazer on top of that for a unexpected masculine/feminine mash-up.

If you are the going out type of girl, then you may want to invest in the Dripping Chains Top. You can totally go all crazy with it by pairing it with shorts-shorts and thigh high boots (I did say crazy). Or you could keep it clean with a basic pair of black skinny jeans and heels. Either way, you can’t really go wrong.

Shop for Cecilia De Bucourt now>>

Warning! Do not cross these waters unless you are absolutely sure that you are the right shape for this fairly new trend item that we like to call the “jegging” or “pull-on jeans”. Gyspy 05 has developed a legging that looks like a jegging whereas in actual fact, jeggings are more like denim leggings. Am I confusing you?

Well, these leggings that you see in the picture are actually just faux denim leggings, which put them right in the middle of a pair of leggings and a jegging. Personally I wouldnt recommend heading out the house wearing leggings, a la Sienna Miller but if you really have to, these Faux Denim Leggings by Gyspy 05 are a better alternative, especially with the slight hint of jean stitching to cover up any visible “camel toe”, which is the biggest fashion faux pas when it comes to wearing the legging.

Not usually a fan of wearing leggings on their own, I am quite tempted to try this new trend as I know how comfortable these really are. I would also reccomend them for working out at the gym and yoga.

The dip-dyed ones have caught my attention most especially and these are the ones that will possibly be on your covet list too.

The distinct black and white faded wash is called “Fascination” and is a more interesting alternative if you are after a pair of black jeans. However, I find myself gearing up towards the pink-ish grey wash “Lovesick” since I’m more of a grey jeans fan myself, and its got the same colours of a sequined crop top that I have in my wardrobe. There is just something so elusively attractive about the hint of white, pink and grey combination that I cannot get over.

If you are not such a big fan of dip-dyed and full-length jeans itself, Manhattanite has updated two styles of the Camilla jean shorts in store earlier this week, also from the Spring collection!

Siwy Camilla in Surrender

Siwy Camilla in Jet

Part 2 coming up soon!

Rebel Chic x

As it turns out, there is a science to creating the perfect pair of cut-offs. Lucky for us (and the jeans in our closets), Siwy has figured it out. For $158 you can save yourself the drama of ruining a perfectly good pair of pants. And you can also walk around looking like a total hottie because these shorts are perfection. I have been living in my Siwy skinny jeans for months (I have 4 pairs and counting) and come summer time I will be living in Siwy shorts.

Available now: Siwy cut-offs in jet and Siwy cut-offs in surrender. Each for $158

Top 5 picks for baring Fashion Week or Mardi Gras:

1. Back-up shoes.  From romping around the city, to standing in lines, and dancing, no vixen will make it all day in those sky high stilettos.  Bring a pair of Aftersoles or CitySlips roll up ballet flats to swap out.  Both pairs roll up snug and small, so they take up minimal room in your mini-sized bag.  CitySlips also come in a bag that you can throw your stilettos in to after swapping in to your more comfortable shoes.

2. Hair Powder.  Great from going from that late night party to getting up early and those days you don’t have time for a shower!– hope from bed to out the door quickly for conferences or to catch the next parade.  I love Cake hair & body powder– and it’s available for darker hues and lighter hues.

3. Umbrella. Again, we’re going for minimum size in your mini bag, so I’d recommend the Travel Size Umbrella in Perch.  Sweet and stylish, so you won’t get embarrassed by its appearance or by getting caught in a thunderstorm.

4. Notebooks. What girl goes to fashion week with a place to jot down notes, ideas, reactions, and epiphanies about the collections?  What girl goes to Mardi Gras with paper for passing out and collecting the numbers of all the beautiful men (or women!) in the city?  Be chic and stylish with this Andy Warhol In Style Journal or this adorable chocolate stripes mini journal.

5. Headbands.  When done right, an instant stylin’ accessory and easy way to keep your hair out of your face.  Make sure your locks don’t get in the way when you can get that amazing photograph of Anna Wintour or from missing the jump for the best swag on the float.  I love this Head Dress Raw Silk Headband and, of course, this Lauren Moshi one.

What about you, New Yorkers? Anything you consider a must for Fashion Week that would due double duty for your weekend adventures during Carnivale?

I’m a heels girl, all the way, but there are times when flats are totally necessary. For example, when I’ve been running around in heels all day and my feet feel like they could fall off of my ankles. In those instances, flats aren’t really handy because well, I’m already wearing heels. D’oh!

That is why these flats are so flippin’ genius. You can roll them up and keep them in your purse. For reals, these shoes were made for me or something. I’ve got to have a pair in every color. Best part is, I can have a pair in every color because these shoes are only $22 a pair. Amazing!!

Some other hot spots where you can keep your handy flats (they roll up to the size of a cell phone) include; your travel bag, carry on bag, evening bag, your desk or the glove compartment of your car.

Are you convinced yet? If you are, shop for them now>>

Don’t you just love how (fashionably speaking) there is a solution to every problem? It seems like for every possible wardrobe malfunction, there is a solution. The latest solution comes from Miss Oops. It’s called the Boob Tube.

The Boob Tube makes your most inappropriate pieces, suddenly appropriate by concealing your cleavage with a comfortable band of fabric. To me, this handy contraption makes it super easy to go from work to play. For example if you have a hot date right after work and you want to show off your assets, rip off that boob tube once the clock stricks 5pm and you are all set.

Genius, right? But it now at Manhattanite for a cool $25.