Style Profile: Florence Welch

Can we all just stop for a minute and recognize how amazing Florence Welch is?

(If you don't know, she is the Florence from Florence + the Machine.
If you don't know, Florence + the Machine makes great music)

Her voice is both powerful and tender, her hair is fiery and fabulous, and her style is superb.

Plus she is british so she speaks english in a far more attractive way that I do. 

She effortlessly blends romantic and dreamy with edgy and punky 

and tosses in some eccentricity and weirdness to boot. 

I love her penchant for evocative bohemian prints and floaty fabric. 

And man can she bring the DRAMA.  

It's astonishing how hard she rocks her look, this sugar is taking no prisoners.   

Let her be an inspiration to us all.  Oh, I love you Flo.

Any celebrities/artists that you think have inspiring style?

Stay lovely!

♥ 

Claire

Trippy Business: Prabal Gurung's Orchid Rorschach Collection & OOTD

I've always been really taken with the use of symmetrical inkblot-style imagery, especially Rorschach patterns, in fashion. I think it began with Alexander McQueen (doesn't everything begin with McQueen?), but at any rate, it's a technique that has surfaced here and there on the runways but rarely in places where non-millionares can purchase them. 

The most recent appearance of of these acid trip-evoking textiles in couture was executed most elegantly by Prabal Gurung, a newer kid on the fashion block who has lived, worked, and studied all throughout Southern Asia. Here's a few pieces from his Spring 2012 collection:

Botany + Psychology: Prabal Gurung's Orchid Rorschach Collection by raincitystylistas2 featuring a floral blazer

Prabal Gurung floral print dress, $1,120 / Prabal Gurung floral top, $670 / Prabal Gurung floral blazer, $1,485

Imagine my delight when I found this floral shift on a sale rack in Turkey for under $20 USD! Though the pattern is much less subtle than Gurung's, sometimes you just have to wear the plainest shoes you can find and let the garment do it's thing.

 (Plus the *subtle* presence of flora on my pelvis is totally a metaphor for my feminine mystique!)

Do these kind of prints whet your whistles whatsoever? Alliteration. 

-B 

P.S. Happy September! 

UPDATE:  
Guess what Kate Middleton wore this week during her Royal tour of Asia with the Duke?

Product Review: LUSH Solid Shampoo and Conditioner

Ok, so about LUSH.  

They have a great philosophy:

-from the website

However, their products are really hit or miss.  

Luckily you have ME to let you know which products are amazing and which are not-so-much!  

Today, I wanna talk about the Solid Hair Products.  

First: the Solid Shampoo Bars.   AMAZING.  

They all smell good, and they are amazing for your hair, 

the packaging is super environmentally friendly (no packaging at all!) 

and you can always get the perfect amount in your hair (no more estimating in your hand) 

by rubbing it straight onto your scalp.  

I love Jumping Juniper 

(Juniper, lemon, and lime oils, Rosemary and lavender decoction) 

and Ultimate Shine 

(ylang ylang and violet leaf oils with some delicious gardenia extract)

 but I would visit a LUSH store, or the website, to find one that is just right for your hair.  

Second, Jungle - the solid conditioner.  

Avoid this product.  

It is expensive and it DOES NOT WORK.  

It boasts cocoa butter and fruit extract, but it is a FAIL.

There is no way to get it to actually apply to your hair, and it doesn't condition!

Such a bummer, it is a great idea.  

But DO go for their liquid potted conditioners, such as:

 Retread

"Fruity hair reclamation"

or Okra

"for hair in phenomenally bad condition"

 

These are yummy and make your hair ohhhhhhh so soft and luxurious.

To summarize: DEFINITELY invest in a solid shampoo and a liquid or potted conditioner.  

AVOID the solid conditioner.  

Ok, hugs and kisses

♥

Claire

NEW SERIES: Etsy Roundup!

We are pleased to announce a new series here at RCS! As some of you may know, we're pretty big fans of Etsy around here (and also the satire site Regretsy, which skewers the stranger items on the site). Not only is it a venue for purchasing unique items you can't find anywhere else, but your money directly supports small-scale crafters, designers, and vintage curators (Just watch out for those resellers though, a.k.a. avoid owl pendants).  

So, from time to time we'll feature some Etsy listings we've picked out of the fray, because they're stylish, intriguing, or simply amusing. We're always doin' it for the lulz.

Without further ado:

(From left to right: Finger Print Embroidery Hoop, Gem Brooch Set, Batman Pendant, Lionel Ritchie Tea Mug, Mermaid Fins, Crochet Viking Hat)

What do y'all think of our picks?

-Berit & Claire

P.S. If you have a moment, check out Berit's Etsy shop! Because what's a post without some shameless self-promotion?

OOTD: Floaty Fabrics

Today I did that thing where I combine two pieces that don't match at all, but somehow work because they share the same texture. This dress was a gift to me for Bayram from a Turkish-designed label called Yargıcı (Yar-guh-juh) that specializes in soft, feminine pieces nautical-inspired gear.

(Dress, Yargıcı; scarf, Grand Bazaar; boots, GeeWaWa; earrings, Mom's; bangles, Pull & Bear; necklace, Istanbul boutique)

-B