As Mad as a Hatter

"What a regrettably large head you have. I would very much like to hat it."

- The Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland

In honor of the nation's latest #1 movie, Alice in Wonderland, let us discuss summer's necessary accessory...the hat.

Whether big or small, short or tall, a hat will make you look splendid,

Simply place it atop your head and let follow a smile that is candid!

Ok so my rhymes might not be as good as the characters in Alice, but hats tend to put me in a spirit of fun. If you don't normally wear them, they can make you feel like you are playing dress up or even alter your persona. They shield your pretty face from the sun, hide your messy summer hair, and add life to a dull outfit. Here are some of my favorites for this summer:

Floppy - Longing to stand out in the crowd? Go for a floppy style. These always remind me of a summer in the Hamptons... or at least my dreams of a summer in the Hamptons! Instant glamour and totally fabulous.

Forever 21 woven floppy hat

$10.80 at www.forever21.com

American Apparel wool floppy hat

$40 at www.americanapparel.net

Forever 21 Hamptons straw hat

$10.80 at www.forever21.com

Staring at the Stars

Short Brim Straw Floppy Hat

$28 at www.urbanoutfitters.com

Fedora - Yes they are still in! But opt for an updated version and go for color or a wider woven straw material to stay ahead of the curve.

Urban Outfitters straw two-tone fedora

$28 at www.urbanoutfitters.com

Staring at the Stars

weave straw fedora

$24 at www.urbanoutfitters.com

Miscellaneous - Has nothing caught your eye yet? Check out these three styles below. I love the cowboy hat for the beach, the newsboy for a day on the town (the girlie floral print is the perfect contrast to the boyish shape), and the bucket hat for an outdoor brunch.

Forever 21 beaded cowgirl hat

$12.80 at www.forever21.com

Anthropologie Femme Newsboy hat

$28 at www.anthropologie.com

Pins and Needles straw hat with bow

$28 at www.urbanoutfitters.com

With extremely reasonable prices, these hats are definitely worth a shot. Be brave and try a new style - The Mad Hatter will be pleased.

Dress on!

Lisa

Guys, Are You Well InVESTed?

Since I have had a couple of requests, today's post is for the guys. Lately I've been noticing an obscene amount of men sporting vests around LA, so of course my trendspotting instincts kicked in and I began keeping my eyes open. I must attribute this vest phenomenon to the erratic weather that LA is having. One day it's cold and rainy and the next is beautiful and sunny, so it can be quite difficult to know what to wear to stay comfortable.

Obviously vests have been around for a while, but a lot of non-hipster guys tend to be afraid. However, if styled right, I can be a huge fan of a man in a vest. But when trends come back around, it is important to pay attention to the details so that you don't just throw on a tech vest from "in the year 2000", in Conan O'Brien's words.

Now you have to ask yourself, what kind of vest man am I? Are you looking for something functionable, stylish, or sporty? Don't worry, I've done the leg work and I have you all covered.

Function:

These are the guys who are looking for warmth when they put on their vest. This leather piece from Urban Outfitters and beige Diesel are great options to avoid outdated vests.

Diesel Jomjil Service Vest

$220 at ssense.com

Standard Sleevless Moto Jacket

$48 at urbanoutfitters.com

Style:

For those a little more daring with their style, try these looks with a plain tee underneath and fitted jeans and you'll ooze confidence.

Diesel Stupefy Vest Lacoste Pima Cotton Sweater Vest

$100 at ssense.com $88 at nordstrom.com

Sporty:

For the golfers and tennis players, dressing right for a morning tee time or match means layering. Sporty vests can be a great way to keep your core warm but not hinder your arm motion. I like this RLX Ralph Lauren and Callaway argyle sweater vest to keep you playing and looking great.

Callaway Golf argyle vest

$74 at zappos.com

RLX Ralph Lauren

Tee Time Interlock Vest

$245 at ralphlauren.com

As we make the transition into spring, why not try out something new? I happen to think that an amazing piece of clothing is always a good inVESTment.

Dress on!

Lisa