I'm Back!

Oh how I have missed actually blogging!  A little over a year ago, my close friend introduced me to tumblr and I became so addicted to perfecting my tumblr blogs that I left this one in the dust.  But the type of blogging that happens on tumblr, while fun, does not have the same genuinely creative and original feel that blogspot has given me.  To be on tumblr is like using a cake mix but deciding to add a little cinnamon or nutmeg to the commercially-bought batter, whereas blogging on blogspot is more akin to using a recipe you found years ago to make a cake from scratch and using your own form of each ingredient along the way.  I love the freeness and the ability to say what you want to say without being judged by the tumbr community for "ranting" instead of regurgitating the images already reblogged over 10,000 times.

I have been experimenting more with my own looks and have found many new sources for blogging inspiration, as well as getting back into reading all of my magazines that I fell behind with during this semester at school.

So prepare for a new and exciting energy that is coming to Buttons and Bouquets!  Hope you enjoy all that is to come ~

Happy New Year!


B+B

Delightful Style of the Deathly Hallows stars

Not only has everyone been raving about the latest Harry Potter movie, but they have been falling in love with the stars' styles as well.  Emma Watson, who plays the knowledgeable Hermione in the series, has been an "up and coming" fashion icon herself.  But the triple threat (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Ms. Watson) are becoming very popular topics in the fashion world.  Not only do their characters in the movies have a very natural and wearable style, often layering quirky prints and knits, but the stars themselves are becoming magically chic trend setters themselves.  The picture above (from a past edition of Teen Vogue magazine) is one of my favorites- their elegance played down with whimsical prints and dishevelled hair.  The picture to the right (from google images) shows Watson in a scene from HP7.1 wearing an outfit that would surely get you compliments if worn into town for a cool fall day of window shopping!

If you have been paying attention at all to fashion lately, you surely have heard about Watson's lack of locks.  Not terribly long ago, she decided to go in a "new do" direction, leaving her curly tresses for a modern pixie.  Said Regis Philbin on "Live! with Regis and Kelly" last week, "You look like Audrey Hepburn!" (and it was very apparent that Watson took this as a great compliment).  Very true, her new look was an excellent decision and is the image of elegance.  Perhaps something you might try soon? ...I think you have a few months before it will be warm enough to do the deed without chilly-eared regret.

So, use this look to inspire you as you go out and about on these crisp fall/winter days.  Layer up with solid sweaters, showing just a bit of layered long-sleeves and blouses.  Simple jewelry takes a back-seat to the statement collars and bulky buttons, which accent your collar bone (extra tip: try brushing the lightesttt bit of shimmer powder/bronzer from the dimple of your collarbone and out to each shoulder blade.  this catches he light and makes it stand out just enough.  but, don't forget to blend!).  Post your favorite Harry Potter fashion scene here and share you HP-inspired looks!

Fashion GUYcons- Vampire Weekend

For anyone who hasn't yet, I suggest that you plug yourself in to some Vampire Weekend to enjoy a truly unique sound and one of my favorite groups.  For those of you in the know, VW does not only create great music, but also dresses to the nines and have brought back the ivy league look in the states and abroad.

I pulled some pics to show you just how chic these gents can be (please note that ll pictures were taken from google images) and you may just want to Run to Cape Cod and see for yourself.  Notice that each member always has their own way of pulling off this style- the layering, the scarves, stripes versus plaid versus pastel, and the right keds or Sperry's.  Don't want to pay Ivy League prices for their looks?  Check out your local Good Will, flea market, and discount stores to find unique pieces like these for a very smart price.

Take some inspiration from their pastel polos, classic striped sweaters, and fun glasses, and maybe you too can get an A+ in the Ivy League look.

Tweet me your VW-inspired looks @HauteForHelp !

From Fanning to Fashionista!

Earlier this year, Dakota Fanning was featured in Teen Vogue (a shoot from which this picture was taken). Up until recently, Fanning hadn’t really been on our (my…) fashion radar. But, with her return to the spotlight (especially with her role in the crazed Twilight series), the paparazzi are capturing more and more evidence that this girl’s got style!

Although she’s often seen sporting the more girly-grunge look, Fanning went girly-glam for with Teen Vogue. For those of you gearing up for Fall Formals and Homecoming, use Dakota’s chunky heals, tulip/pouf skirt, trimmed waistline as inspiration for a killer look!

Post a picture of your DakotaTV-inspired look below!

Girl of The (Violet) Hour

Ashley Greene is known to many as the face of Alice Cullen from the increasingly popular Twilight series. However, Ms. Greene has taken her time in the spotlight to show us how talented she is in both her acting as well as her self-styling! If you haven’t already, I suggest you take some inspiration from Ashley the next time you are getting ready for the next (and swiftly approaching!) cocktail or holiday party. Chances are, you will receive a lot of compliments for your chic, sleek, unique look.

To mimic Ashley’s look, go for gravity-defying hair, smoky (brown) eyes, a single statement accessory, and bold but solid clothes.

So Here's The Skinny- The Skinny CHALLENGE!

   After going through a pretty rough period in late 2008 and early 2009, I realized that the emotional stress I was going through lead me to gaining quite a bit of weight- I'll admit that at one point I was 30lbs. heavier!  Since my realization, I have had no luck with working out (mostly because I am so busy that if I don't see quick results, then I move on to the next thing).  Being a senior, I want to get back down to a healthy weight and regain my old energy before moving onto the next stage of my life.
   For the last few months, I have been toying with the idea of going vegetarian.  I have a very serious admiration for fruits, veggies, beans, etc. ... but there are just some days where a slider just sounds too good to pass up.  So, I am making a full-fledged commitment to going vegetarian.  Shile some may argue that vegetarian is for the "granola communities" or is "an excuse of an ating disorder", I do have strong reasons for deiding that this is the right choice:

• getting more vitamins/minerals/antioxidants than from chemical/hormone fed meats
• lessens carbon footprint
• easier on digestive system
• there have been enough gory movies and disgustingly-visual-poster-wielding activists to freak me out into buying humane mousetraps!
• healthier lifestyle/diet! (as long as sensible portions are still maintained- BUT I still make sure my body is getting all that it needs)

I decided to go vegetarian, rather than vegan, because #1 it's too hard to be vegan in school because you practically have to pack your own food to go to a party! #2 I feel like taking eggs and milk out of my diet would be doing more harm than helping.  I am also not going to beat myself up over having a sensible portion of fish (what do you think- maybe only special occassions?), as long as they are wild caught AND on MarthaStewart's/WholeFood's list of seafood that is acceptible to fish. (Something everyone should check out before you go shopping, to make sure that you aren't supporting the breaking down of otherwise sustainable underwater ecosystems)
   In addition to going vegetarian, I am also going to cut processed sugars out of my diet!  Crazy, right?  Well, actually, my mother and sister have bothalready done this and raved about how much better they looked and felt.  I will still be using natural sweeteners and treating myself to a sugar-free chocolate every now and then (FYI to anyone trying to cut sugar- limit yourself to 1-2 a day, as too many can have a laxative effect and that is NOT a healthy way to live!).  But, this will mean no more sugary cereals, cookies at lunch, or big bowls of ice cream!  And that's the problem: my biggest weakness IS ice cream, and I know from experience that store-bought sugar-free ice cream is nothing like the real deal.  Guess who's pulled out the old ice cream maker to make some natural-sweetener ice cream? Errr... Ice Milk? haha I'll give you a hint- you're reading her blog right now!
   Periodically, I will be posting about my progress, vegetarian/sugar-free recipes to try (great for bringing to parties!), and new things I learn from my diet experience on my other blog: Quelle Est La Cote.  Check it out to keep up and support my progress (please☺)!  My hope for this "experiment" is, after the 3 month test period, that I will be looking and feeling as well, if not better, than I used to.  And how great must be that extra kick of confidence when you try on a killer outift and you know that you look as wonderful as you've been feeling.  Since I hear that the early period of dieting can eave you in a bit of a fog, maybe, in my chocolate and met and chocolate meat drought, some incredible inspiration and fashion revelation will cometo me like wonderfully stylish manna from heaven!  All I can hope is that early period is very short lived and the fashion (slash fashion blogging) stays fresh, fabulous, and more fierce than ever before!
♥♥♥♥♥
Thanks to you all!

How To Handle The August Rush

For many of us, August is a scramble to get all that one can out of the last few weeks of vacation, the starting of a new school year, stocking up for fall fashion, the end of all that summer sun, digging out that bag of no-goods for you fall yard sale, or one of the many other grand tasks that can make life seem that much more hectic.  And, to top it all of, it's as humid as the God above could make it.
So, while you're busy in that hot, heavy August air that seems to weigh you down and keep you indoors, here are some things to remember:

• Pack only the essentials in your purse!  No one wants to lug around a sack of bricks.  All the better to accumulate some nasty underarm stains, my dear.
• A packet of tissues and face wipes (such as Ponds) are perfect and easy to carry with you to tackle the worst of your smudge and fudge make-up drama
• Keep a hair tie and boby pins handy, just in case your hair can't stand up against the level of humidity.  If you know their may be some level of endurance put to the test (even doing your groceries on foot counts in this weather!), bring a cute headband or more decorative hair clip to fasten to your pony tail, so that you still look put together but your bangs aren't sticking to your face...because that's not cute
• Don't forget to drink los of water!  Even with all that moisture in the air, it's hot and heavy and making your own body cool itself off by means of perspiration.  Sooo, replenish what you're body is releasing and drink up! (drink up your H2O, that is)  When you stay hydrated, your body feels much better and stepping outside won't seem like such a crazy idea.

Hope these tips help!  Tell me: how else do you handle the August heat?