Cannes I Go Next Year?

Some of the best looks emerge in the idyllic south of France every spring (Rachel McAdams's red Marchesa stunner, Elizabeth Olsen's head-to-toe homage to the flapper, Natalie Portman's white, structured confection), and this year's Festival de Cannes was no exception. With the help of designers like Dior and Calvin Klein, stars such as Marion Cotillard, Diane Kruger, and Jessica Chastain exhibited the annual fest's perennial penchant for all things summery and chic. And it appears that the #1 rule of Cannes is to dress to the nines but look utterly unperturbed doing so. Still one to gush over the mere idea of wearing lipstick and an $80 dress, it's no wonder I haven't received my invitation yet.

Still on my mind...

Marion Cotillard's gleaming golden belt and lemon heels

Jessica Chastain's neon coral

Kirsten Dunst's soft blue pleats

Naomi Watts's nude minimalism

Paz Vega's ankle-grazing tea length

Freida Pinto's pastel peplum and jeweled camo print

Salma Hayek's navy, sequins, and, er...cleavage

Marion's voluminous bun (wrapped in diamonds, no less)

Jessica's earring bouquets

...and her simple twists

The ubiquitous high slit (on Freida Pinto & Shailene Woodley)

Freida's retro, chevron two-piecer

Kristen Stewart's printed pants

And of course, everything Diane Kruger wore...

Lace-up + pleats

Seafoam + one-shoulder

Leather + studs

All-out glam + Old Hollywood hair

Lace + purple bloom

Embroidery + peplum (+ straight-off-the-runway Chanel)

Bold print + pointy toes

Feathers + killer heels

Checks + volume

Just chillin' (this is what she looks like just chillin', in case you were wondering)

All images via fabsugar.com.au and instyle.com

xo Heidi

Catty Girl

Cat-printed pleated silk crepe de chine dress, net-a-porter.com

In order to love this dress, it'd probably help to be a cat person, but being a dog person who just loves fashion is sufficient as well. I'm really into anything gamine lately (think style a la Felicity Jones and Alexa Chung), and the boxy cut and quirky print of this Victoria, Victoria Beckham frock deftly satisfies my keenness. I'd pair it with flat loafers and a breezy pony or braid throughout the summer, and come fall, I'd simply add black tights (textured or sheer) and a schoolboy blazer. Really, the only quandary that keeps this dress from being the cat's meow--I truly do crack myself up--is the $1000+ price tag. Solution? Forever 21, of course. Horses, cats...potato, pot-ah-to. You'll quickly forget species specifics when you score the following knock-off dress for a cool $27.50.

Tiny Horse Dress,  forever21.com

xo Heidi

[PRESS PLAY: "Road to Nowhere" by Talking Heads. Available on iTunes.] 

Honor Is (Not) My Middle Name

There's a fine line between what I would do and what I would not do for this Nina Ricci Spring RTW 2012 gown. Maybe it's the perfectly lavender hue of the dress or its sheer, bouncy flow that has me hooked. Maybe it's the golden metal trim highlighting the sweetheart neckline. Or maybe it's the way this cherubim grade gown would make anyone look like they fell straight out of heaven (never mind the fact that this model seems to be looking straight into your eyes begging for a cheeseburger). 

While ditching dignity for dresses is something with which college girls are very familiar (most just decide to do it by wearing them two sizes too small and 1 foot too short), I prefer going the extra mile when it comes to throwing my integrity out the window in the name of fashion. Really, it's all about finding the divide between wrong and super wrong. So without further ado:

A Lesson in Honor from Yours Truly 

Some Things I Would Do For This Dress:
1) Hold a worm for 1 minute
2) Eat a mussel or clam
3) Not speak for an entire day (or 2)
4) Give up Diet Coke for a year
5) Write someone a strongly worded letter
6) Kiss a stranger (and proceed to run away as fast as possible)
7) Bite the head off of a small insect
8) Drink 10 shots
9) Slap a nemesis (with harsh words at the very least)
10) Call someone a "douche-canoe"
11) TP a house
12) Get a tiny tattoo
13) Highjack a child's bicycle (and give it back shortly after)
14) Bungee-jump
15) Shoot a can 

Some Things I Would NOT Do For This Dress:
1) Hold a poisonous frog for 1 minute
2) Eat a dog or cat
3) Not shower for an entire month
4) Give up going to school for a year
5) Kill someone (I'm pretty very positively sure I wouldn't do this for a dress)
6) Do more than just kiss a stranger (even if I did proceed to run away as fast as possible)
7) Bite the head off a bat
8) Drink a whole bottle of tequila
9) Slap an elderly person
10) Call someone the c-word
11) Throw a brick at a house
12) Get a tramp stamp
13) Highjack a milk truck (imagine all the calcium-deficient customers who'd be after me)
14) Bungee-jump "Jackass"-style with homemade supplies from a local bridge
15) Shoot a Can-can dancer

As you can see, the yearning for couture can really mess around with a person's morals, and maintaining even an iota of self-respect can be difficult. Just remember where to draw the line, and you can be both daring and stylish (if someone was ever random enough to offer you a Nina Ricci dress in exchange for watching you humiliate yourself, that is). Also keep in mind that if you go to jail, you won't even have the chance to wear this fabric confection. You may be able to use it to buy yourself some inmate allies or toilet paper, though. Your call. 

xo Heidi

Weekend Wear

Right now, having just moved from my apartment to stay at home for a couple weeks, I'm taking on the weekend with a room brimming with clothes. Piles cover my floor and chairs, waiting to be sorted through and put in their rightful places. But somehow, I'm just not satisfied with my wardrobe (will I ever be?), and I sense a major closet clean-out lurking around the corner. I'm ready to retire that floral cardigan I haven't worn in 2 years, along with several dresses that haven't seen the light of day since before "Jersey Shore" was a thing. Some pieces I'd like to take the forlorn items' places? I've got many in mind, sixteen of which I've displayed above. If they happen to inexplicably pop onto my hangers in time for this weekend, I won't ask questions. Well, I will ask questions--and lock my doors--but not until I've giddily tried them all on.

Last-Minute Drinks: Shimmering Star Studs, $1.50, forever21.com// Limited Edition Twin Frill Dress, $170, topshop.com// Yellow Bag, $24.95, hm.com for store locations// Zigi Soho Lunar Metallic Pump, $59.95, dsw.com

Farmer's Market: Cherry Glitter Sun Dress, $72, topshop.com// Sandals, $24.95, hm.com for store locations// Baggu Elephant Print Bag, $20.87, asos.com// Dotted Straw Hat, $10.80, forever21.com

Brunch with Family: Co-ord Garland Floral Blazer, $130, topshop.com// Sliced Shapes Tank, $68, anthropologie.com// Jegging, $44.50, ae.com// ASOS VENUS Leather Flatform Sandals, $83.50, asos.com

Lazy Sunday: New York City Top, $12.80, forever21.com// Tie-Dye Knot Headwrap, $16, urbanoutfitters.com// Taha Loungers, $78, anthropologie.com// Minnetonka Tramper Flat Booties, $56, shopbop.com

xo Heidi

Double Take

[Emma Stone at the 2012 Met Gala and Rachel McAdams way back in 2004 at the Young Hollywood Awards]

While poring over pictures from Monday's Met Costume Institute Gala, I was delightfully surprised. I couldn't help but notice how much Emma Stone resembled a young-and-rising Rachel McAdams. The cheeky red mini, the flippy updo, the generous smile--8 years difference didn't affect the spitting image! At 23 and 33 years old, respectively, they're omnipresent in Hollywood at the moment. Other ways they're similar? While Rachel played a love interest in the Sherlock Holmes franchise, Emma will be hitting screens in The Amazing Spiderman this summer. In addition to having penchants for action flicks, they both have proven their acting abilities in comedies and dramas alike and starred alongside the lovable Ryan Gosling. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a little red dress to buy.

Images 1, 2 

xo Heidi 

[PRESS PLAY: "Half Mast" by Empire of the Sun. Available on iTunes.] 

Majoring in Anthropologie

Tied Spicifera Dress, Almagest Floppy Hat, Pointed Persica Necklace

I think it's safe to say Anthropologie has swept me off my feet. Or that I'm whipped. By a middle-to-high-end retailer. I only walked into the store for the first time 3 years ago, and since that very day, we've had an on-off relationship. When I sometimes decide that the hemlines are a little too "mommish," Anthropologie immediately puts out a stunner and I take back my unsaid insult. Or when I figure I won't purchase the $300 dress, so why even bother trying it on, that notion passes and I find myself pantless (in the dressing room, duh). And when I begin to stray from the store's whimsical window displays due to its price range being a bit too much for a college student, I always return shortly after, even if it's just to ransack the sale section. Because it isn't just the store's romantic artsiness and vanilla-y, pomegranate-y, olive leaf-y scented entranceway that lures a girl in and makes her take her clothes off. What is it, then? Well, I think these picks of Anthropologie's merchandise speak for themselves. 

Fun Fact: Since becoming acquainted with the store, my birthday wish as I blow out candles has become for Anthropologie to have a ridiculously huge going-out-of-business sale, but then, of course, for them to announce they were just kidding, but yeah, you can keep the scored clothes. Hey, it's my birthday. Let me dream.

Revisited Impressionist Bow Dress

Parvati Maxi Dress

Divination Asymmetric Dress

Alchemy Mini Dress

Botanical Patchwork Dress

Scattered Wing Romper

Cloud Curves Set

Searing Neon Set

Divided Tapestry Bikini

Juliana Patent Pumps

Revelry Mary-Janes

Mirela Fringe Necklace

Kuychi Necklace

Brilliant Haze Clutch

Multitude Hair Ties

Gila Bedding

Tea Time Chandelier

Good Evening Dinner Plate

Inspiration Dior Book

P.S. Anthro, if you're reading this, I'm sorry about the "mommish" comment. I was probably just taking lingering frustration out on you at the time. You know I love you. You're beautiful, baby. Let's not fight. <3, H

xo Heidi