With the constant influx of exciting colors, textures and prints for Spring this year we can’t help but love the resurrection of the popular 60s trend: tie-dye pattern!  Tie Dye is all about a relaxed, fun hippie vibe, which is why we deem it as a “must try” this season.  Although it may bring back reminders of your childhood in the 80s (or 60s) and sarongs from a beach vacation, go forward this season with tie dye denim.

We are especially loving J Brand’s latest tie-dye style in the 810 “Mid Rise Skinny” leg jean.  Paired with a breezy black or white sheer top over a bandeau or even just a basic t-shirt, these jeans will undoubtedly add a new level of dimension to your legs.

J Brand 810 Tie Dye Mid Rise Skinny Jean

Celebrities who are also fans of tie-dye jeans

Rihanna & Ciara Charley 5.0 Blue Tie Dye Denim Skinny Leggings

Kim Kardashian in Jet Jeans

Victoria Beckham in Balmain Tie Dye Jeans

Gwen Stefani in Current Elliot Tie Dye Skinnies

Trendsetters either love tie dye denim or hate it- what’s your take? 

With summer approaching and the temperatures warming up, there’s something about a white outfit which instantly comes across as fresh and crisp.  Despite the fact that most designers’ spring & summer collections heavily feature white, reasons to wear white in the heat go beyond style statements.  Because white reflects all wavelengths of light rather than absorb them, white fabrics are often worn at this time of the year to keep the wearer cool.  Black fabrics on the other hand, absorb the sun’s  hot, fast-moving UV light, and hence translates into heat being attracted by the substance.

Now that today’s science lesson is over, here’s one outfit to help you survive the rising temperatures.  We can’t help to think that Elle Macpherson looks rather “cool” in her chosen outfit !

Featuring (clockwise from top left):

• Helmut Lang Asymmetrical Draped Cropped Blazer
• Giuseppe Zanotti Black Strappy Sandals with Crystal Spike Studs
• J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny in Creamy White
• Paige Skyline Skinny in Optic White
• Studio 54 Earclips by Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier
• Wildfox Young & In Love T-Shirt Clean White
• Jones New York Gold Plated Crystal Circle Cuff Bracelet

For most the world, March 23, 2012 had been highlighted in the calendar for several weeks: the first film of The Hunger Games  trilogy hit cinemas.  Given the worldwide success these novels have had, it’s unsurprising that fans are so hungry for the movie’s release.  In fact, box-office forecasters had predicted that the movie has a strong shot at shattering the record March debut of $116.1 million debut for 2010’s Alice in Wonderland.    However for the small minority who haven’t read Suzanne Collins’ novels and is wondering what all the hype surrounding this film is about and whether it’s worth the trip to the theater, we’ve compiled 5 things you should know to help you better make your decision about whether or not the film is worth a watch:

1) There is action and violence

Without giving away the story, Hunger Games is based on the “fight till death”.  Be prepared to witness various dangers including mutated beasts, video game-style traps, and of course 20+ young combatants looking to murder one another.   If you’re worried that the movie’s duration of 142 minutes will put you to sleep, there are plenty of thrills and chills to be had.

2)  There’s no soapy “Twilight” romantic stuff

Although the trailers may suggest that main characters Gale & Peeta would emulate the love triangle in The Twilight Saga, such an assumption is erroneous.  There is no space for time or energy to be wasted on sappy love stories: once the games begin, the characters’ only concern is keeping him/herself alive.

3) It’s not just a clone of that film you saw before

Sure there are obvious shades of influence all over Suzanne Collins’ work, but the fact is that Collins succeeded in creating her own unique characters, narrative and thematic angles.  While The Hunger Games does intersect with other, similar stories at certain points, it is also more modern and topical than any previously made movies.

4) Director Gary Ross has skills

Although his name isn’t one you’re immediately familiar with, critics can confirm that the man has definite skill.  The Hunger Games is only the 3^rd feature film which he’s directed but his other 2 entries on the list (Pleasantville & Seabiscuit) both received multiple Oscan nominations.  While most movies which are based on books are said to undermine the novel, such is the opposite with The Hunger Games:  more than just translate the book to screen intact, he’s said to have improved upon it in some ways.

5) The cast has skills too

Even though The Hunger Games is filled with fresh faces, don’t assume they aren’t seasoned enough to deliver a compelling movie.  In terms of acting talent, The Hunger Games is far from amateur hour.

Will you be catching The Hunger Games on screen?

As the Duchess of Cambridge, it’s not surprising that Kate Middleton’s wardrobe is filled with darker, and more netural, shades.  However it’s a refreshing change to see her brightening up her wardrobe by sporting J Brand’s 811 “Mid Rise Skinny” Jeans in Coral while paying a visit to the country’s female field hockey team in London recently.  Dressing down her look with a gray zip-up hoodie and Adidas sneakers, who would have guessed that this lady regularly dines with Her Majesty the Queen?

It looks like Kate isn’t the only Middleton who has swayed towards a more Spring look.  Her sister Pippa was spotted wearing a pair of Superdry Powdered Denim Slim Jeans in Poppy with black boots, a black blazer and checked shirt.

The big question is, which sister gets YOUR vote?

While we will always have a soft spot for the Duchess, we can’t help but equally love the way Pippa has styled her outfit!  Either way both sisters are proof that colored denim can be dressed up or dressed down depending on your agenda.

2 sisters…1 winner…Who wore it best?

I know what you’re thinking: “Neon colors are not for me!”   While not enough everyone can pull off the neon denim trend, here are some ways to make it a “do” rather than a “don’t” this season!

1. Consider your event: There’s a time and place for every item of clothing so be sure to check the dress code and be logical.  Going to your friend’s house or a night on the town? DO!  Attending a job interview or meeting your boyfriend’s parents?  Think twice!
2. Choose a color: Neons come in numerous different shades so experiment with various colors to find what works best on you and enhances your features.  For example, bright orange would complement tanned skin whereas bright blues can bring out blue eyes.
3. Match your neons: Teaming neons with neons can be a great look if done right.  Avoid using opposite colors together such as neon pink and red.  However, red and blue may go together because when combined, they make purple and can almost perform an optical illusion.
4. Stay true to yourself: If you don’t usually have a ‘loud’ personality per say, balance your neon denims with a neutral colored top and subtle jewelery.
5. Feel neon: Neon means florescent, bright and happy.  If you are going to wear neon, let your attitude match your clothes and feel energetic, bright and happy.  Be confident and smile…or in other words: OWN IT!

And now for a few of our favorite neon denims:

Beg, Borrow, or Steal Jacky-O Crop in Turquoise

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Lipstick

AG Stilt "Cigarette Leg" in Highlighter Purple

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Neon Yellow

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Blue Bonnet

And for those of you who want to merely wear a hint of neon, Hudson’s “The Lou Lou” jean is a perfect alternative: Coming in 3 washes, each sport a racing strip of orange, yellow, or neon pink fabric that glows in UV lights.

Hudson "The Lou Lou" Jean

Have you indulged in a pair of neon denims yet?

Whether you’re Irish or not, March 17th is as good a time as any to honor the Irish heritage and help usher Spring in on the 20th. Despite being a holiday to celebrate Irish heritage cultural and religious holiday, did you know St. Patrick’s Day actually began in America?  The day is generally characterized by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire, and the lifting of Lenten restriction on eating and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the reason.  To get into spirit, shamrocks, leprechauns and rainbows are amongst the various traditions which are brought out on the day!

Green beer, green leprechauns, green hats, green clothes, green everything on St. Partick’s Day.  Green is the color of Ireland, of mysterious deeds, of wealth and good fortune, of an awakening earth, of incoming spring, and of a verdant countryside.  It is no wonder that wearing a bit of green wards off bad luck…and in the case of Americans, wards off getting pinched !

Why not really rev up the fun this year by expanding your St. Patrick’s Day festivities to the food?  While anyone can throw some food color into a batch of cookies or eggs, true creativity is what will set you apart.  If you’re stuck on ideas, why not boost your dessert’s antioxidant value by trying out this recipe for Green Tea Pound Cake?

Green Tea Pound Cake yields 6-8 servings

 Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tbsp matcha (powdered green tea) – can change this depending on how strong you like your green tea.
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

1. Cream butter in a bowl.
2. Add sugar in the butter and mix well until light and fluffy.
3. Gradually add beaten eggs and whisk well.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, and green tea powder together and add the flour to the egg mixture.
5. Pour the batter into a buttered loaf pan.
6. Bake in a preheated 175 degrees C oven for about 30 minutes (or until a skewer comes out clean)
7. Eat and enjoy

How will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year?

Some people like to invest in stock markets, others prefer to invest their hard-earned cash in their wardrobe.  There’s nothing like wearing a classic, high-quality piece of clothing which will last us through at least 3 or 5 years.  While it’s never easy to spend big money on clothes or accessories, there are some things which make a bit more sense to pay more.

The key is to buy super versatile items that defy fashion’s mercurial moods.  Chances are you’ll end up getting so much wear out of these elite pieces that it’s worth the price in the end.  Take a fur coat for example: let’s say you spend $1,000, and since it is well-made, it will last you for at least 5 years.  If you wear it 150 days a year, you’ll end up paying less than $1.50 a year….doesn’t sound too painful now, does it?  Apply this fashion math to you next big-ticket purchase and hopefully it will sway you in the right direction.

In the meanwhile, here are some pieces of clothing/accesories which we think fit the bill:

• Chanel Handbag:  These are the classic case of appreciation.  In the past decade, Chanel handbags have literally doubled in value.  For example, a reissue 227 was worth $2,095 in 2005 and went up to $4,700 in 2011.  For those lucky few who got their hands on the bag in 2005 can actually resell it and likely claim back a large portion of money.

• Cashmere: High quality cashmere looks better, lasts longer and feels cozier.  Whether it’s made into cardigans, crewnecks, turtlenecks or V-necks, sumptuous sweaters can luxe up any pair of jeans and give a pair of trousers a softer, more laid-back feel.

• Leather Pants:  If you know how to take care of it, leather lasts a long time.   They may cost a lot, but do remember that these are always in fashion, even if they are not in the mainstream fashion.  And the feel of authentic leather is too soft to ever be replicated.   One of our current favorites is J Brand’s Exclusive Leather Leggings.  These are made from 100% lambskin and come in a choice of 3 colors: black, grey and red.  All 3 are equally fierce!

J Brand L8001 Exclusive Leather Leggings - 100% Lambskin

• Luxury Watches:  Although their functionality stretches to merely telling time, luxury watches are definitely worth a buy…for the look, the quality, the finesse, and the reliability.  The quality and durability is such that it can be passed on to the next generation, and has a good resale value irrespective of its age.  Brands such as Cartier, Breitling, and Rolex fall under this classification.

• Cocktail Dress: You want to love your dress because you will be relying on it quite often, and you’ll want to feel confident and fabulous every time you put it on.  It should fit you to perfection and have an air of elegance with a hint of sexiness.

Jessica Alba in a glam Gucci cocktail dress

What do you consider to be ‘worth the splurge’?

Each year, new denim designers hit the market: some are a hit whereas other don’t earn the success they had anticipated (or perhaps deserve).  While we’re always on the look-out for up and coming brands, we want to draw attention to one of our newest favorites: DL1961.

What is DL1961?
A premium denim company based in NY that is redefining what it means to have the “perfect” pair of jeans.  Launched in 2008, DL1961 combines revolutionary fit with timeless sex appeal.  These jeans are designed to enhance body confidence and comfort simultaneously.

Why We Love Them…and Why you Probably Will Too?

It’s no surprise that jeans with a little bit of give (i.e. stretch) tend to be more comfortable.  We love that DL1961 understand the need for simultaneous style and comfort.  They are the only the only brand within the market that is made using patented XFIT technology fabric that contours to unique body shapes in order to provide the best body shape.  Custom, unparalleled fit AND comfort?  We bet you’re wondering how soon you can get your hands on a pair!

Emma Skinny Legging

Katie and Grace Straight Leg

Milano & Cindy Bootcut

Why Else We Love Them?

Ever experienced the “saggy butt effect”?  Or in other words, your jeans fit great in the store but after a day or 2 of wearing them, they start to unwarrantably sag and lose shape?  Because of the 4-Way Stretch Fabric used, none of DL1961’s jeans lose shape!

Who’s wearing DL1961?

Unsurprisingly, DL1961 is swiftly making it’s way around Tinseltown.  Fellow DL1961 fans include Courtney Cox, Halle Berry, Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan, Tiffani Thiessen, Nicky Hilton, Fergie, Blake Lively, Kim & Kourtney Kardashian.

Halle Berry

Rihanna

Courtney Cox

Lindsay Lohan

Any new denim brands which you feel deserve more attention? Please share!

Happy Friday, Denim Diary Readers!  Other than doing the Friday dance, how are you planning on spending your weekend?  If a trip to cinema is in the cards, why not check out either of the following movies: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close or The Iron Lady.  Both have received the Denim Diary stamp of approval!  If you’re unsure whether these movies are up your alley, here’s a bit more about each film…don’t worry, there are no spoilers !

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Oskar (Thomas Horn) is convinced that his father (Tom Hanks), who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother (Sandra Bullock) and driven by a relentlessly active mind that refuses to believe in things that can’t be observed, Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key he found in his father’s closet. His journey through the five boroughs takes him beyond his own loss to a greater understanding of the observable world around him.

If you’re looking for a movie which will keep you at the edge of your seat for the entire duration, this will definitely do the trick!

The Iron Lady

Two-time Oscar Winner The Iron Lady intimately portrays Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), the first and only female Prime Minister of the UK, during both her political prime and in her later years an 85-year-old woman struggling with dementia.  One of the 20^th century’s most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world.  During her term in office, she reshaped almost every aspect of British politics, reviving the economy, reforming outdated institutions, and reinvigorating the nation’s foreign policy.  Given Thatcher’s impact during her ruling as prime-minister, The Iron Lady is a must-watch for all.

And for those not slightly the bit interested in British history, it’s still a worth a watch to witness Meryl’s transformation.  There’s something transfixing about her very being, especially given her fantastically constructed prosthetics make-up.  We’re not surprised that Meryl took home the Oscar for “Leading Actress”.

Margaret Thatcher versus Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

What was the last movie you watched?

As tomorrow marks the Hindu festival of Holi, Denim Diary would like to wish you and your family a very bright, colorful and joyful celebration.  For those unaware what this holiday is about, here’s a little bit about it:

Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration.  It is the most energetic Indian festival, filled with fun and good humour; even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned.

Holi is also called ‘The Festival of Colours’, and people celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing coloured powder and dye around, all in good fun.  To fully immerse into the spirit, many opt for wearing white.  While the traditional attire like salwar kameezes and kurtas are still worn, many modern Indians prefer to celebrate the holiday in their favorite item of clothing i.e. their jeans!   For the sake of the latter portion of the population, here’s a selection of our current favorite white denims !

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Creamy White

True Religion Billy Giant in White

J Brand 912 "Low Rise Pencil Leg" in White

AG Stilt Cigarette Leg in White

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Aspen

Paige Skyline Skinny in Optic White

J Brand 72201 Lovestory "Bell Bottom" in White

At the end of the day, you’ll surely walk away with a brand new pair of colored denims…perfect for Spring 2012 .  Happy Holi, All!

With all the various styles of denim that have flooded Spring 2012 collections, we’re especially loving Hudson’s “The Loulou” Phosphorescent Skinny Jean.  Hudson prides itself on innovation and their newest style proves nothing less.   Taking colored denim to the next level, this style pays tribute to YSL’s “Le Smoking” tuxedo suit.

“The Loulou is about art and contrast of color. The idea behind the jean is really a clash of different inspirations originating with the tuxedo style and drawing on phosphorescent street art and graphic elements, architecture and even athletic uniforms,” -Ben Taverniti, Hudson Jeans creative director.

Next time you’re out raving, you can leave the glow sticks at home, as each pair sports a racing strip that…wait for it…glow in UV lights!  These are currently three color combos: navy with phosphorescent orange strip, burgundy with phosphorescent pink strip and olive with phosphorescent yellow strip.

We can’t help but admire the pant’s creative, street-inspired twist on the classic tuxedo pant. Who knew one pair of jeans could pull off so many trends? Tuxedo pant plus colored denim plus neon equals a jean that’s impossible to resist! They’re a chic, tailored option for denim lovers who are craving something even more adventurous than colored jeans.

Considering we are called the DENIM Diary, it’s no surprise that we live in our jeans!  Heck it’s no surprise that anyone is a fan of jeans!   While trends come and go every season, jeans are sturdy in the fashion world.  As wearing a good pair of jeans is like having a second skin, we can see why jeans are becoming more and more of an acceptable item of clothing for both women and men: comfort with a stylish edge!  Whether you want to dress it up, dress it down or wear it to lounge around in or to a dressy event, there’s so many ways to wear the same pair of jeans.

And the best part is, thanks to the ample options available, the jeans you buy can be as individual as YOU want it to be so that it best enhances your assets.  Bootcut, skinny, straight leg, bright colors, faded denim, dark denim: the choice is yours so choose one that really suits you…and of course enjoy the attention and envies from onlookers !  On that note, because you can never have ‘too many denims’ here are a few of our favorite styles from this season which are sure to carry you through many more seasons to come!

J Brand 814 "Mid Rise Straight Leg" in Moxie

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Vivid

J Brand 818 "Mid Rise Bootcut" in Starless

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Marine

J Brand 811 "Mid Rise Skinny" in Pure

Ben Affleck in J Brand Kane "Slim Straight Leg" in Aged Battleship

Citizens of Humanity Ava "Straight Leg" in Static

Citizens of Humanity Avedon in Satellite

Cameron Diaz in J Brand 912 "Low Rise Pencil Leg" in Monaco

Citizens of Humanity Kelly "Slim Bootleg" in True

Citizens of Humanity Sid in Khaki Twill

What’s the one pair of jeans which will always reserve a spot in your closet??