Guest Posting Over at the Lovely Miss Megs

As part of Lovely Miss Megs October Blog Party, I'm guest posting on some of my favorite Halloween themed TV shows today. Some of them are old classics while others are new favorites. Go check it out and pay a visit to her wonderful blog.

Guest Post: My Five Favorite Superheroes & What They Taught Me About Fashion

It's finally here! Comic-con! I have some awesome guest bloggers to occupy this space while I'm gone. Give them a warm welcome and don't forget to check out their blogs too!
     -Stephanie

Hello there Someday Smarter readers (boy is that a mouthful)! While Stephanie is off enjoying Comic Con (and making me ridiculously jealous in the process), I am here to keep you entertained. Oh who am I you ask?  I am Kate and I blog over at Divergent Musings.  My blog is a little bit of everything, life, style, and kittens. But I am not here to talk about those things. Ok, maybe just a little. Anyways, Stephanie and I share the love of a number of different things, including fashion/style, awesome television shows (How I Met Your Mother for the win), and most importantly, incredibly geeky fun stuff like superheroes, video games and comics (she is at Comic Con after all). So when she asked me to guest post for her, I was more than excited. Then I got stumped about what to write.  But after much hemming and hawing, I decided to share with you my love for superheroes AND fashion. I bet you didn’t know the two could be connected, now did you. So here it is, my five favorite superheroes and what they taught me about fashion.

5. Batman (Bruce Wayne)– One of the only DC superheroes that I enjoy, Batman is a mysterious and interesting guy.  A billionaire who lost his parents at a young age, as an adult Bruce Wayne wears perfectly pressed suits, never has a hair out of place, and has a perfectly chiseled jaw line.  He is a proper playboy, never settling down, and seems to only trust one person, dear old Alfred.  So what did this caped crusader teach me about fashion?  First, capes will NEVER go out of style.  Seriously, put one on and you will be instantly more badass.  The cape can be any size or color, and ones that have pockets to hide knick-knacks are even better.  Second, wearing black makes you seem more mysterious, which instantly makes you 100x times hotter.  Do you think Batman would be as fascinating if he had a skintight suit that was bright yellow?  I THINK NOT.  So the next time you are putting together your most mysterious and badass outfit, make sure you wear a lot of black…and don’t forget the cape.

4. Superman (Clark Kent) – The only other DC superhero that I enjoy, Superman is a man of few words.  Some may think this makes him come off as dimwitted and aloof, but frankly, that is what I find endearing about him.  He isn’t of this Earth, but lets be honest, he is still pretty damn smokin’.  Lois Lane, move on over, this one is mine.  As for what this odd young alien-man taught me about fashion?  Lets just go with the glasses. The perfect accessory to hide who you really are, make you look far more intelligent than you actually are, and I can’t lie, glasses are just plain sexy.  Sure he might not need them with his perfect x-ray vision, but without them, he would just be plain old Superman. Ok, I have to be honest, I always preferred him as Clark Kent, though I certainly don’t mind that skintight suit showing off his muscles.

3. Thor – Sure he might be an arrogant ass at times, but you have to admit, he could lay down a butt whooping in a heartbeat.  The son of Odin, and brother of Loki, Thor is known as much for his cocky ways as his giant hammer of doom.  Sure he lives in a faraway mystical land that only the gods can access, and a long distance relationship would be quite difficult, but for him, I would give a try.  So what does a Norse god offer in the way of fashion and style advice?  Well for this one, I think I might veer away from fashion and go more towards beauty.  You know those gorgeous blonde locks of his?  If you take care of your hair, brush it every day, and apply oil treatments to it on a regular basis, you too can have the luscious mane of a Norse god, and then girls (or ladies) will be fawning all over you.  And if we are being upfront with each other here, anyone who calls him a sissy-girl for that mane of beautiful hair, they will likely end up with a hammer up you know where.

2. Wolverine (James Howlett/Logan) – Oh Hugh Jackman, I mean Wolverine, how you slay me so.  Your inability to remember anything about your past, your giant adamantium claws, your rugged good looks…will you please be my boyfriend?  Ok sure, he might have a bit of a temper, and he has serious authority problems, and he is definitely damaged goods, and lets not forget, if you date him you are likely to end up dead, but I would still risk those claws being stuck through my abdomen for a night out on the town with him. When it comes to fashion, Wolverine has taught me that sometimes the simplest pieces are the best looking. Jeans and a perfectly fitting t-shirt can be a million times better looking than that $400 dress you were eyeing earlier. Especially since you never know if you are going to have to beat up some bad guys and get your clothes dirty and torn up (which can also look quite good, when worn by a rugged man with scruff and epic sideburns).

1. Iron Man (Tony Stark) – Tony Stark, let me count the ways that I love you.  And no, it is not just because you were played by THE Robert Downey Jr. in the recent movies. I love you because you are a bad boy gone good, yet you still don’t give a damn. You save the world, but you don’t let anyone tell you what to do. You don’t play well with others, yet you know how to play. You are both fiercely intelligent and a major nerd, yet you know how to be a playboy and pour on the charm. And dude, of all of the superheroes out there, you are one of the only that was not born with a power, or obtained one later.  Instead, you used your intelligence to create the most epic piece of machinery ever, and become one. That, my friends, is the definition of badass. And in the fashion world, you have taught me that sometimes more really is better. Your suit is ridiculously flashy, over the top, and nowhere near understated or mysterious, and that is what makes it so great. When you walk into a room, all eyes are on you, and you have everyone’s full and complete attention.

Honorable Mentions
Captain America – You make red, white and blue look like something we should all be wearing.
The Hulk – Green can be quite flattering and doesn’t make you always look Irish.
The X-Men – Matching outfits isn’t always just for twins.

Thanks Kate for this awesome post. Who knew that we can get style tips right from the pages of comic books. I also agree that guys with glasses are very sexy. Who knew that prescriptive lenses can be so swoon worthy. Once again thanks and don't forget to check out her blog!

Guest Post: So You Think You Can Cosplay?

It's finally here! Comic-con! I have some awesome guest bloggers to occupy this space while I'm gone. Give them a warm welcome and don't forget to check out their blogs too!


     -Stephanie
 

Hey guys! My name's Megan and I'm super excited to be writing a guest post for Stephanie while she's away at Comic Con! I hope she has a blast!

While she's running around dressed in her Ramona and Penny costumes, I'm here to give you a short introduction to the world of Cosplay. What is cosplay you ask? Well technically it stands for 'costume play' but it's easier to think of it as Halloween without the candy and on a completely different day of the year. It's a chance for you to dress up and act as your favourite character from video games/movies/tv shows etc, and meet other people who are fans as well. I personally started cosplaying 9 years ago when my best friend and I attended our first Anime convention. We've since moved on to bigger and better conventions and focused more on comic book and movie cosplays but the reasons behind it will always stay the same. We love playing dress-up!

Here are a few examples of my cosplays. On the left, my first steampunk costume thrown together the night before and it shows, in the top right my Zatanna costume (my friend is Catwoman) and in the bottom right is my Zombie Lady Gaga costume!

Now I admit I am not a professional cosplayer, but everyone whether professional or beginner has to start somewhere. For those of you interested in cosplaying for the first time, I've compiled a list of do's and don'ts based around my experiences that I think you might find helpful!

1. Start simple then work your way up to harder costumes. This is especially important if you aren't strong at sewing. Try finding characters who's costumes can be made using thrift finds then add the details necessary to complete the outfit.
2. Quality over quantity! I can't stress this enough! It's better to make one really well made costume and wear it over and over again than 3 slapped together costumes. People really appreciate craftsmanship.
3. Use common sense when picking your costume. Large wings and props often become annoying to wear or carry and can make it impossible to walk down crowded isles.
4. Practice posing like your character before you attend the convention so that getting your picture taken won't feel awkward. I know it sounds weird, but it makes all the photos of you look super cool! Here are two examples:

Boring Pose:

 Interesting pose:

See the difference?

5. BE COMFORTABLE! You're going to be wearing this costume all day which usually involves lots of walking and lots of public interaction outside of the convention area. If you are a shy person then don't wear a skimpy outfit. If you normally wear flats, then don't wear super high heels. You want to be as comfy as possible if you want to enjoy the convention to its fullest.

1. Don't dress as a character from a popular video game/ anime/ movie if you have no idea who they are or what they are from. People will want to bond with you and talk about your character so make sure you are an actual fan of who you are dressing as. Also note, it's ok to dress as not-so-popular characters. You will always find someone there who knows who you are.
2. This brings me to my second point, don't be scared if random strangers come up to you and ask to take your picture. It just means they really like your costume and would like to show their friends how awesome it was.
3. Don't leave your costume making til the week before! I can't tell you how many times I've done this and my costumes always suffer because of it. Leave yourself LOTS of time to make mistakes and then you won't be so stressed to finish.
4. It doesn't have to be expensive to look expensive. Get creative and hit up the thrift stores, the clearance section at your local fabric shop or dollar stores. You'd be amazed what you can make for cheap.
5. Pay attention to what fabric you are buying. If your character's outfit looks like it's made of cotton, buy cotton. If it looks like it's spandex, then buy spandex. Please, whatever you do, do not buy shiny satin to make your costume! Same goes for wigs, cheap wigs ruin the look of a costume as you can see by my uber-shiny red wig above. Instead try sellers such as mildgreentea-1 on ebay who sell cheap but good quality wigs.

Now keep in mind these are just guidelines and observations I've made through my many adventures in cosplaying. We all know rules were made to be broken and all that really matters  is you have fun! Also, if you have any pictures of your cosplays, I'd LOVE to see them!!

Happy cosplaying everyone!!

<3 Megs

Thanks so Meg for the introduction into Cosplay. I like all the costumes you posted, but my favorite has to be the zombie Lady Gaga. Very creative! Also don't forget to check out her blog,  Lovely Miss Megs!

Guest Post: In Pursuit of Stripes

It's finally here! Comic-con! I have some awesome guest bloggers to occupy this space while I'm gone. Give them a warm welcome and don't forget to check out their blogs too! 
     
        -Stephanie
   
Hello! I'm Samantha, from SS Vintage, and I am currently crushing on Stripes! Fat, Thin, Black, White, Bright Colors, I love them all!

Stripes by SSVintage featuring stripe shoes

Stripes are timeless, and can go with just about everything! This season we are seeing them everywhere from Tops and Jackets, to Shoes and Hats, and everything in between. Stripes for Men and Women, in every color and size.

Here's some great orange stripes from the Marc Jacobs Runway-

You can spot celebrities all over rocking this trend!

If you're interested in Vintage Stripes, Pop on by The S.S.Vintage on Etsy, to see what I have in stock this week!

Do you have stripes in your wardrobe? How do you wear them, and what do you pair them with? 

Like Samantha, I think stripes are awesome and never go out of style. Thanks again for guest posting! Remember to take some time out to check out her blog and also her Etsy store. She has some wonderful treasures for sale!
   

Friend Friday: Spring Trends

As I was thinking about my top 5 spring trends, I realized that I already listed 3 of them on my guest post for SS Vintage. You can check the first 3 here. 

But in the meantime, here are two more spring trends that I can't wait to wear.

Wooden Heels

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Mary Jane Platform Clogs

Water Taxi Heel

Swedish Hasbeens

Maxi Dresses

 Forever 21 Summer Vacation Dress

ModCloth Viola Dress

LC Lauren Conrad for Khols 

(I bought the pink version of this dress and I can't wait to wear it for Everybody, Everywhere.)

Check out ModlyChic to see what spring trends bloggers 
can't wait to rock.