PLAY BALL!

First off, Happy Memorial Day to all! While many have headed to the beaches for the official start of summer, some have gone to enjoy America’s favorite past time—baseball! Here’s footwear that is an oldie, but a goodie— Keds x Opening Ceremony “Champion Series” baseball sneakers. I’m far from a sneakerhead, but as a baseball fan— a Yankee fan to be exact— these would be the perfect shoes for attending a game. Surprisingly, these were found super discounted at a Daffy’s in a mall in Jersey and modeled by the bf while we were on a hunt for casual shoes for him. However, I could not convince him to get these because he does not like to be held responsible for maintaining white shoes (reasonable, but not so fashionable :-P). I would have gotten them for myself had it been in a smaller size. It’s rare that I would go crazy over sneakers (like running into a mermaid riding a unicorn fighting a dragon rare) but these are just simply a subtle and fun way for me to show some sportsfan pride without going overboard. Put together with a pinstripe jersey, denim shorts, and this watch from Geneva Watch Group and it would be a perfect outfit for a day at Yankee Stadium :) How do you incorporate sports with fashion?

CONSIDER YOURSELF JUDGED: The SparkRebel Mad Men Contest

Guess who’s judging SparkRebel’s Mad Men Style Contest? Yeah, none other than yours truly! Based on my own Mad Men Style Collection, seen here I’ll be picking the best collection to win a $250 gift card to Unique Vintage! There’s only 2 days left, but if you are as obsessed with the show and its vintage styles like I am, you’d have no problem putting things together. Good Luck and may the persuasive powers of Don Draper be with you!

MY MAN-DATED FASHION SENSE

It’s no secret that I love to mix masculine and feminine styles. It’s become my signature style. Maybe it’s because I’m most comfortable taking the best from both worlds— comfort and structure from menswear and delicacy and elegance from womenswear… and I’m always experimenting with balancing the two. This was just one instance…

After the Burkman Brothers x Urban Outfitters viewing, the very awesome Naina of SidewalkCatwalks and I walked over to Bryant Park for some impromptu picture taking. These images were taken by her (thanks!).

What I Wore:

• thrifted J.Crew sweater vest
• rag&bone blazer
• Current/Elliott jeans
• H&M necklace
• Dolce Vita for Target shoes
• Bob Mackie Wearable Art scarf worn as headband
• Botkier bag
• steampunk owl ring from the Christmas shops at Bryant Park
• penguin iPhone case— a gift

#blue #betty goes #green for the last #frappuccinohappyhour #instamood #greentea #instafashion #sunglasses #nyc #vintage #mothersday #tribute (Taken with instagram)

Casual Touring with The Tourist by Burkman Brothers

The Tourist by Burkman Brothers for Urban Outfitters collection in a few words: Summer casual dressing made easy. The collection, which debuted on May 10, 2012 at the 5th Avenue Urban Outfitters, encapsulated the feeling of an effortlessly stylish tourist. Bottled water, exotic flavored pouched olives, and free tour books accented the feel of the event.

Doug and Ben Burkman are former Gap designers who took the retailer’s all too simple aesthetic and breathed some fun into it with their eponymous line. The Tourist is an embodiment of an easygoing wanderer in Greece donning khakis, tanks, and a rope sandal. Perhaps what really says Greek isles in the collection is the fish shirt. I love the fish shirt, which is also the brothers’ favorite piece (as told to the UO blog). It is a great rendition of the short sleeve white shirt and with a whimsically fun pattern spaced out enough for even the most fashionably timid man to wear with ease. And priced at only $40 in comparison to the usual $100+ shirts Burkman Brothers sells, it’s quite a bargain….I’m definitely considering getting one for myself…it will be a bit of a challenge to style a short sleeve men’s shirt…I’ll keep you posted ;-)

The other stand out piece are the rope sandals. Very unique in look and craftsmanship— almost Ancient Greek by design, but probably not so practical. Upon feeling it, I determined it to be slightly rough to the touch and callous inducing when worn for a long amount of time.

Other than that, I say, get thee to Urban Outfitters and nab some of The Tourist Collection so you can look like a carefree traveler this summer whether in the concrete jungle or in the sands of Santorini.