Fashion In Flight: Aviator Glasses

"Any of you boys seen a fashionista around here?"

Your winter wardrobe has become repetitive and dull. Your winter boots need a coat of polish. 

Your go-to A-line is more safe than spunky. 

You've hit that mid-winter fashion crisis.

Never fear! Spring is on the way!

For some, it's about time to book those mid-winter vacations to someplace warm...and for others, its at least time to pretend you're beach-ready. While it's still a little early for the seasonal investment of high-lights in your tresses, here's a fashion staple that can take you to new heights as you wait for the temperature to rise: aviators.

Taking another cue from our dear Nina Garcia, the aviator-style is an "eternally and universally fashionable shade that instantly brings out that cool factor".

Available in a variety of shades and styles, Nina says that "the classic aviator is the Ray Ban". She suggests staying away from too much shine so save your money and shy away from overly reflective lenses and shiny rims. 

The One Hundred even recommends that "the rims should be in a matte tone of silver or gold" if you want your shades to look authentic.

But don't just take it from us. Celebs have taken this accessory to new heights from films to street-wear. Here's are just some examples of this piece's rise to fame:

"Keep it as close to the original design as possible.
Michael Kors and Ralph lauren do it very well."-TOH

• Madonna 
• Kate Hudson, Almost Famous
• Marlon Brando
• Paul McCartney
• Tom Cruise, Top Gun
• Steve McQueen
• Lauren Hutton
• Brad Pitt, Fight Club
• Jim Morrison
• Ringo Starr
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator
• Steven Tyler
• Jack Nicholson

Even if you're kicking around "in your oldest jeans or with your newest tailored YSL jacket", aviators will make you "look equally up-to-the-minute". 

Whether in the air or with groupie-flair, how do you rock this look? Send your street style pics to cosmopolitique@gmail.com, comment below with links to your gallery or post pics to our fan page! Maybe  we'll feature you in an up-coming post!

Until then, keep reading!

And don't forget to follow us @citygrlthoughts

Put Your Best Foot Forward...In Ankle Booties!

If we had to pick our favorite song about an item in our closet, we'd probably have to go with the Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". Little Miss Nancy was certainly stylin' in her mid-calf pleather little number that made her first single famous but in 2012 there's a new sheriff in town...the ankle bootie!

You may have seen any number of designers with styles to be coveted. Our favorites tend to be black or grey and made of shiny or matte materials (much like the ones Gwenyth and Sienna are sporting on the left). As always, its good to have something versatile that can be dressed up or down and make you feel fabulous no matter what. 

As Nina Garcia states in her book The One Hundred, "the ankle boot was originally intended to be hidden beneath classic trousers" but lucky for us, street style existed long before Ted Polhemus and designers soon caught onto the notion that ankle boots with skirts, dresses and drainpipes (see below) was a revolutionary step!

Not your mother's drainpipe pants.

But speaking of dressing, are there fashion rules for these little guys? 

Answer: Absolutely.

If you haven't noticed by now, Nina Garcia's book is sort of like the bible to us. Here are the 5 commandments to ankle booties according to Nina:

1. When wearing with pants, keep the colors the same. Black skinny pants tucked into booties will elongate the leg and make you feel fabulous.
2. When wearing with miniskirts, try them with black opaque tights to keep your line going and going. Unless you have fabulous legs, illusion is our master craft.
3. Make sure the bootie does not cut off straight at the ankle like a traditional bootie-these boots are made to be worn under pants and will chop off the leg and make it look stumpy.
4. It is a great alternative to the pump-always consider it if the pump seems too safe.
5. The bootie is a classic way to mix the masculine with the feminine, so don't be afraid to flaunt a little femininity when you have this more masculine shoe on. One must mix it to risk it...

Speaking of risks, how do YOU step out in these fashion favorites? Got pics? Send them to COSMOpolitique@gmail.com, post them to our Facebook fan page or send us a Twitpic by following @COSMOpolitique

And if you still need ideas, channel your inner Nancy and grab a black sequin romper!

What to Wear: In Your Concrete Jungle

The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her. (Mary Quant)

In light of the reason fashionable favorites (and faux pas) as awards season begins, we thought we'd explore our wild side as 2012 gives us a new year to explore with our favorite kind of print: Animal!

Taking another tip from the beloved Ms. Nina Garcia, today's focus is on the necessity and future of animal print in 2012. While it makes the cut for Ms. Garcia's list of the most important pieces every woman should have in her closet, its certainly a daring choice for those who are not as likely to take fashion risks. However, as Nina says, "the truly fashionable are always daring and never dull. They are willing to run with the leopards, the cheetahs, the zebras" and willing we are. 

But how do we celebrate the concrete jungles we inhabit without making our fashion credibility extinct? Start small. Animal print accessories are bold and slightly dangerous while still looking chic.

We loved the examples we saw on Fashion Binge but we're sure you can be trusted with the mission of finding your own favorites as long as you follow the card-NINA-l rules as you shop:

• Buying a print with pedigree. This is the best way to avoid looking garish. There are items that you can save money on. This should not be one of them.
• Wear only one piece at a time. Any more than that and you will look like fashion roadkill.
• Keep everything else simple, even severe. Pair the print with neutral colors. If you keep everything else classic, the print will carry itself.
• Keep the colors muted. Less is more, but none gets you nowhere!

Michael Kors 2012.

Are you a fashion wild child? How do you rock animal print in the workplace? At a lounge? Send us pics! We'd love to see what you come up with!

And tell us all about your fashion predictions for 2012 on our Facebook page or on Twitter by following @COSMOpolitique. Can't wait to see you in your natural habitat!

Fashionably yours, COSMOpolitique

Getting in 'line' during the holiday season...

It's almost December and if you haven't noticed, the weather outside doesn't quite remind us of the classic holiday season. What's more likely, is that you're thinking of saving the sweaters and other fashionable "trimmin'"'s that are typically reserved for a whiter Christmas.

Taking a tip from Nina Garcia's fashion favorites in The One Hundred, today's focus is on the A-Line dress; a versatile, stylish solution no matter your holiday weather. 

Photo credit.

As seen above, the A-line dress mimics the shape of a capital letter A and as Nina says, "It will work for you on your best day. It will work for you on your worst day. It will work when you don't know what to wear, for all occasions and in all kinds of weather. And no matter what, it will flatter your figure." Seems like a match made in Cosmo-politique heaven!

Still not convinced? Picture a black solid A-line, some faux jeweled baubles, solid black opaque tights and those great red pumps you have at the top of your Christmas list.

Build your own look at Polyvore.com!

Now you're ready to be "belle of the ball"...or at least the yule log!
Share your thoughts about this look and other holiday favorites below. xoxo!