Bold and Bright-Lipped

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm sorry, but I can't get enough of the holiday. Some people hate it, say it's a commercialized holiday - which, in some ways, it is. But, if that means I get chocolate, can wear more red, and can make a mess with some heart confetti - then I love it!

Typically for V-Day, I'd be decked out in a skirt or dress that reaks of blatantly holiday machismo. But, Mother Nature hates New Jersey this year, and on top of the cold weather, the snow that's been dropped on us is really killing my style vibe. I noticed I've been wearing a lot more black in my outfit posts... Subconsiously, I'm in mourning for the day that I can wear proper tights and frilly skirts.

However, the prism-print dress from Boohoo.com honestly lights up my day. To keep with this love-themed day, I'm finally going to rock my Pixie Market Lips Purse (which was featured in my DIY heart mani post). It was a Christmas gift from my present... Isn't it divine?

Fur Give and Fur Get Coat - c/o LuLu*s / Prism Print Dress - c/o Boohoo 

 Lips Purse - Pixie Market (sold out, but they also carry this red lips clutch!) / Black Tights - H&M / Patent Leather Wedge Boots - Modcloth.com / Green Retro Style Sunglasses - c/o SunglassWarehouse.com / NARS Satin Lip Pencil in YU

Have a fab Valentine's Day!

Show some love, and wear what you love on this most mushy of days!

British Invasion: UK Bands You Need To Know

My love for Brits isn't just limited to their tea, accents and style. Some of my favorite artists are from across the pond.

Music was always my first love way before fashion. In a former life, I was a freelance music journalist for magazines like Alternative Press, Outburn, Chord and Venus Zine, so my love affair with bands from the UK started years ago, and grew even more once I was bitten by the UK bug.

Here's some of my favorite British musicians and bands that you absolutely should check out if you haven't already.

Friendly Fires

From: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Sounds like: Dance party meets disco/funk/indie rock.

Why I like them: Friendly Fires was a hidden gem that I discovered last year, and since, have become one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time. Their cross-genre sound experiments with huge drums, party anthem vibes and whoozy-like beats. Think of them as a band that people ask to do do remixes of other songs... But apply this to their music. 

Plus, let's face it - homeboy up front ain't too shabby, either. 

Favorite song and video: "Skeleton Boy"

Lily Allen 

From: Hammersmith, West London

Sounds Like: Not Adele.

Why I like her: Lily Allen doesn't give a you-know-what about being prime and proper. She's the kind of English Rose that's blunt and cheeky, whether her lyrics are talking about her pothead brother, struggles with love or putting creepy dudes at pubs on blast. Ms. Allen also has an eccentric sense of style: She's been known to rock door-knocker earrings, oversized bows, an array of hair colors (pink and purple among them) and haute couture Chanel. My kinda gal. 

Fun fact: T-Pain sampled her song "Who'd Have Known" on his track "Five O'Clock In The Morning". Lily created this song first in 2009.

Favorite song: "Who'd Have Known"

Gorillaz

Photo courtesy The Gauntlet.

From: England

Sounds Like: Blur (because the vocalist in Gorillaz is Damon Albarn, singer for Blur) and people who probably take drugs when they write music.

Why I like them: Who doesn't love cartoons?! And let's be honest... It's the Gorillaz.

Favorite song: "Feel Good Inc." 

The Kooks

Photo courtesy of Sentamentalist Magazine.

From: Brighton, East Sussex

Sounds Like: British indie rock

Why I like them: The Kooks are just a straight up, indie rock band void of any unnecessary bells and whistles that could potentially get in the way. They have a true British sound that fans of legit rock music will appreciate. 

Favorite song: "Naive"

The Dutchess & The Duke

What Jen's Wearing:

Peter Pan Lace Top - Charlotte Russe

Pink Jeans - Forever 21

Cut-Out Peep Toe Pumps - Nine West

Black Leather Satchel - Zara (similar style here)

Faceted Triangle Bracelet - Forever 21 (buy it here)

Rhinestone Cord Bracelet - Charming Charlie

Pink Rhinestone Lanyard Bracelet - Henri Bendel

I'm convinced the British influence American fashion and retail more than anyone... Or at least me.

I'm not the first to make this observation, but I will say that I feel like it takes the U.S. months for us to catch up to trends that already happened in the UK.... like, two years ago.

Plus, being married to a Brit has it's advantages. During my last trip to England in 2010, I came across many shirts flirting with adorable Peter Pan collars. To me, Peter Pan collars wreak of baby doll cuteness. They're the ultimate in gawking at your age with something that is fashionably adorable, no matter how young or old you are. 

And you can thank Alexa Chung for inspiring this outfit. You should be jealous of Alexa Chung, actually. She can do no wrong... Google homegirl up. Peter Pan and her need to go into business together.

I swear England is so ahead of the fashion game... The rest of us, or those in New Jersey searching for fashion glimmers among a plethoras of malls, have to admire from afar, and dream of the day they get to visit Miss Selfridge, Oasis and River Island, again.