mad for loving plaid?

I don't know what's gotten into me recently, but I can't get over the idea of a plaid midi skirt with a crop top. Plaid skirts in any form have completely captivated me. Now, I had to wear a plaid skirt as a uniform for 12 years of my life. So you can be sure that the mystique of the plaid skirt was lost on me. I didn't get the sexy school girl thing, or the proper British look. To me, my black watch plaid kilt went had-in-hand with going to school every day. That's not to say I hated it. I was actually a fan of having a uniform and loved the basic piece that we had to wear with polo shirts. I just was not going to entertain the idea of plaid skirts outside of the classroom.

So I guess now I'm just far enough removed from school to appreciate this wardrobe classic. The plaid skirt looks best when it's taken up a notch. It can be sexed up with stilettos and jewels, or juxtaposed with a sweatshirt. The key is to take this look in the opposite direction of knee high socks and loafers.

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computer commuter

Yesterday, as I was trapped in the Apple store for four hours while my laptop's hard drive was replaced (so sad), I got to thinking (as one will do when going crazy). iPhone cases have become as important an accessory for fashionistas as jewelry and shoes. Everyone's phone is always out, on their ear, snapping pictures, glued to the palm of their hands. Phones are probably seen even more than shoes, actaully! There's nothing cuter than a sweet monogrammed case or gold Kate Spade polka dots.

However, I haven't thought about a case for my laptop since college. In high school I had some ugly, grey sleeve I kept my computer in. It carried with me for a few years in college, until it fell to the wayside and I basically threw my laptop in my bag with everything else in my life, including notebooks, pens, wallet, drinks, etc. There were nights that I accidentally found myself at the bar with my precious computer by my side. Working in television news, my laptop serves mostly recreational purposes these days. It pretty much stays by my bed all day. But on the rare occasions that it gets taken out, doesn't it deserve a cute covering as much as my phone?

Since I became well acquainted with the Apple store, I noticed they had cute sleeves for laptops, including this Michael Kors and this Kate Spade. They're both polished, professional but pretty and stylish. Perfect for toting my computer with me.

for the man who has everything

My boyfriend's birthday is coming up and just as I finished up getting his Christmas gifts (I kind of nailed it this year, woot woot) I've started thinking about what to get him for his birthday. This... is not on the list.

Jonathan Adler has teamed up with Lacoste for some pretty fabulous collaborations. They've got polos, pillows, a tennis racquet cover... and semi-life-size Lacoste crocs.

I am partial to the gator. My Pre-K-12th grade school apparently didn't have a mascot for decades until the "gator" was adopted because all the girls wore Lacoste polos with their uniform kilts (I know crocs and gators aren't the same, but "croc" doesn't really sound right as an all-girls school mascot). By the time I was rocking the collared shirts, we'd moved on to the much less chic monogram of the school's name on the chest. So I love this symbol that's synonymous with over-the-top preppiness. But this gets a little out of control.

There are two ceramic versions available that come in gray and white and measure 18 inches long. I could get down with those. They'd look interesting and conversational on a coffee table or next to a sofa or side table. However, this beauty is almost two feet long and will only cost you $2,500. Don't worry, it's made out of pure brass. A 22-inch pure brass Lacoste crocodile box.

So while my lovely gentleman won't be lucky enough to get this present, I love the idea of giving that "man who has everything" the one item he definitely doesn't have yet. Hurry if you're thinking of giving this to your lucky guy! They only made 35!

christmas countdown

I went to Catholic school for 14 years, so I'm a firm supporter of an Advent calender that doesn't involve cardboard and old chocolate. Etsy store EcoMonster's DIY Advent calender kits are the perfect, modern alternative.

Every day leading up to Christmas, open an envelope filled with little craft supplies, like beads, glitter, stickers and stamps. The insides aren't the only treats, as the clothespins and envelopes give Christmas decor a nostalgic twist.

For those that aren't as religious (or are just behind the ball!) there's even a "12 Days Till Christmas" version.

winter formal: bow pumps

I love bows. In my hair, on my clothes, I'm never one to shy away from this girly embellishment. For a high school formal, a high pump with a bow is the perfect shoe to add to a festive dress.

As a petite lady, I don't believe I ever removed my shoes at a dance. Why would I? I love my shoes, and they're a part of my outfit... I just never got that whole thing. I guess it helps with the dancing, but the last thing I want when I'm dancing is to have my bare foot pierced by someone's stiletto! Therefore, the shoes should be comfortable. This doesn't mean a kitten heel. Please, never a kitten heel with a party dress. Ankle straps, platforms and high quality shoes can help with this.

Don't be afraid to let your shoes shine, either. Just because a dress has sparkle, or print, doesn't mean the shoes have to be dull. Just don't contrast with the dress (unless you're a master fashionista and want to do like, a polka dress with a leopard shoe or something, in which case... do it!).

winter formal: short sleeves

One of the main pieces of advice I give my sisters when helping them shop for events is to avoid the obvious, think about what other people would wear, and choose something different. It's not meant to be rebellious, I just feel like if you're going to put time and effort into shopping and getting ready, it's better to look unique and be a trendsetter than to blend in with all the other beautiful girls. Last week, I talked about color and material and showed a variety of metallic and sparkly dresses. Today, I'm focusing on sleeves as part of a silhouette.

These dresses all have short or cap sleeves and still look young and fun. A short sleeve is a cute option because it's kind of tongue in cheek. Most high schoolers' fashion sense is based around being hot. They're all "Ooh look! I have a grownup body now but haven't gone to college and drank 5 lbs. onto my thighs." It's all about pushing up the boobs and covering the legal minimum of leg. I hate it because telling a highschooler to wear actual sleeves to a formal is like telling them to put on a turtleneck. On the other hand, it gives the stylish highschooler an opportunity to stand out. It's always the fashion-forward dresses, not the slutty ones, that get the attention and compliments. I swear, nobody will even notice the extra two inches of covered skin.

P.S. Like all Doux Rousse posts, the photos are all linked to their original source. In many cases, that is the retail site where they can be purchased.

put a bow on it

Most people probably find this ridiculous, but I wore a ribbon in my hair until I was 18. We wore uniforms to our all-girls school and from the age of 4 until I was a legal adult, it was totally acceptable to wear a bow with your ponytail. There seemed to be a boundary though, when the uniform came off, so did the bow. I hilariously have one exception; I made a DVD with video of my dear friend and roommate Marie rocking a pink bow at a concert. None of us thought anything of it.

Generally though, the whole ribbon thing was associated with the blackwatch plaid kilts and polos. That's just one of the reasons I have reservations about digging into my ribbon drawer. Another reason is that I look very young, so there's a good chance if I was wearing a bow, someone might think I was in high school. Maybe even middle school.

The girls above look so sophisticated and timeless with their bows, though. Obviously, this look probably wouldn't fly at work, but I'm dreaming of weekends filled with donning a stiff bow with a voluminous, smooth ponytail, a smaller ribbon with a braid, or topping off a modern bun with a perky barrette bow. Even a half ponytail with a bow could be a sweet mix of Jane Austen and boarding school prep (you see that, right?).

I think it could look really retro and charming, but I would hate to look childish. And what I really don't want is to look sort of hipster or ironic.

What do you think? Go with the bow or is it a no no?