I Love the 90s

Good Morning, Gorgeous! Lately it seems we've been talking a lot about the 70s when it comes to fashion, but today, let's talk about the 90s.


Recently I've been seeing a lot of outfit posts from some of my favorite bloggers that remind me of the 90s. Teresa wore a very 90s dress this week, Tanvi wore floral print skinny jeans that remind me of leggings I had long ago, Jessica has been sporting crop tops throughout the summer, Carrie can be seen in boyfriend jeans and chunky heels, and Sara is bringing back plaid. This trend is not just happening in the blogosphere, either. I have seen people wearing 90s inspired outfits everywhere- even if they don't know it.


Think about...when was the last time floral, hippie inspired dresses were popular? The 90s. The last time Keds were cool? The 90s. What about flare jeans and wide leg pants? You guessed it, the 90s. Even the ever so popular romper is nothing more than a reincarnation of shortalls (overall shorts). And of course, who didn't notice the reappearance of (cringe) Hammer pants?


But what about the 90s hair and makeup? Well, that's coming back to. This fall, it's time to put those straightening irons away. Hopefully none of us will start wearing poodle perms or "mall bangs" again, but softer looks with big, flowing curls are definitely making a comeback. Braids have also been seen all over, reminding me of the styles my mom used to create for me before I headed off to school. Not even the latest makeup trends can say they aren't inspired by the 90s. Deep wine colored lips, thick brows, and dark blue hues are all reminiscent of the trends that were popular when I first started getting into makeup.


So, how does one capture the 90s without falling prey to the not so hot trends of the time. Remember your history. Look back at photos of yourself from the time and see which styles are worth reviving and which should remain solely in history (this might not be useful if you were too young back then). Here's a look I put together reminiscent of the trends of the 90s (flares, dark lips, and soft, curly tendrils) without copying that era exactly.

The last time I wore a Fred Durst/Chicago Bulls inspired color scheme? 1999.

Blouse: Thrifted (Summer, 2011)
Tank: American Apparel (Fall, 2008)
Jeans: Citizen's of Humanity (Winter, 2010)
Shoes: BCBG Paris (Fall, 2005)
Jewelry: Bracelet- The Limited; Watch- Swiss Legend; Necklace- Martine Wester; Earrings- ??? From Venice Beach

Makeup: Lips- Lancome Lip Liner in Mauvelle, Lancome Lip Stick in All Done Up; Eyes- Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow, Smashbox Eye Lining Crayon in Black, Benefit BadGal Lash; Cheeks- Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Honey Dipped; Brows- YBF Brow Pencil in Taupe 

So if there is such a huge presence of 90s trends in fashion right now, why are so few people talking about it? Perhaps the influence of the 90s has been somewhat subconscious or perhaps it's been overshadowed by the hype of the 70s. Perhaps it's not being created on the runways, but rather on the streets. Regardless of where they came from, the fashions of the 90s are making a comeback and they won't be ignored.


But, why now? It's 2011, right? Right. It's 2011. What does that mean? That means generation Y is entering its prime. Those of us that grew up in the 90s are now working, having families, and influencing society. Those of us in our late 20's and 30's shared glory days with A.C. Slater and the kids of 90210, so perhaps nostalgia is contributing to this trend. Plus, not to get too political, but the 90s were good to us. By the end of the decade the economy was thriving and Clinton had a budget in place that would have eliminated the national debt and created a surplus by the year 2010. The 90s went out with a bang rather than the wimper that ended the first decade of the new millenium. I can't be sure, but I would be surprised if a longing for the way things were wasn't contributing to the revival of the 90s.


So, do you love the 90s? Have you noticed this trend slowly building across the country? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Chicago Blogger Meet-up Recap

Hello Gorgeous! This past weekend I was thrilled to take a break from my school work to go hang out with some fabulous bloggers from the Chicagoland Area! Some of these gals you might recognize from a meetup I went to at the beginning of the summer, but I also got to meet many other amazing ladies for the very first time! Lisa from Archives Vintage was sweet enough to put this event together (thank you!) and picked the perfect place for us to meet: Deliciously Vintage.

What I wore: Asymmetrical dress by Nanette Lepore (purchased at Off The Fifth for about 85% off); Pumps by BCBG Paris; Zebra Print Clutch by Halston; Watch by Swiss Legend; Jewelry by Tara Lane Designs.
Thanks to Sara of It's About the Look for taking my photo before I had to leave to pick up my very drunk fiance from a five hour long beer tasting. :)

Showing off our Kensie treats from the fabulous gift bags Tabitha put together! L-R: Emily of Sartoriography, Andrea of Blonde Bedhead, Tabitha of Defining Tabitha, Randi of Not Just Mom, Yours Truly, & Sabrina of Defying My Closet; Photo by Juliana of That Shop Girl

More Lovely Chicago Bloggers- doesn't everyone look fabulous?!

Deliciously Vintage was definitely a wonderful (albeit dangerous) place to host the event. We all did a little browsing while we were there and I saw so many pieces that I would have loved to take home with me!

This amazing dress on display in the front of the store was one of the many things I wish I could have purchased! If you live in or near Chicago, you should definitely check out this store. It's absolutely beautiful!

Here's a group shot of some of the amazing girls I mingled with. Unfortunately, I was already gone at this point, so thanks again to Sara for sharing this photo! Top Row (L-R): Randi of Not Just Mom, Emily of Sartoriography, Lisa of Archives Vintage (the fabulous girl who put this all together), Leilani of Thriftaholic, Sara of It's About the Look, & Nikia of ChiTown Fashionista; Bottom Row (L-R): Piper of Cheap & Chic in Chicago, Tabitha of Defining Tabitha, & Sabrina of Defying My Closet

For a full list of attendees, check out Lisa's Chicago Blogger Meetup Homepage. I had a blast catching up with the gals and meeting even more fabulous Chicago bloggers. It's always fun to meet the people behind the blogs you love, and the blogging community is always so supportive! Not only did I have a great time with everyone, but at the end we were also given some amazing gift bags Tabitha put together filled with treats from Uncommon Goods, eShakti, Kensie, Payless, & more!


Thanks again to Lisa for putting this together and Tabitha for helping with the gift bags! I had a wonderful time and look forward to hanging out with these amazing gals again soon!

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Back to School

Hello Gorgeous! As I mentioned yesterday, it's back to school time for me which means a busier schedule and a little more stress, but also some new school supplies! I've always loved school supplies and go crazy over notebooks, so I thought I'd share some of my must have items for the new semester!

Missoni for Target File Folders & Organizers - Available Sept. 13th!

Desk Organizer from Erin's Artwork on Etsy - Although most students don't have an office, when you're a grad student and are expected to live at school, they actually give you a desk, so I have to keep it organized! :)

Leather Bound Notebook from Leather Notebooks on Etsy - A sturdy notebook is a must for me as I always travel with my notebook and carry it to classes, talks, conferences, etc.

Panda Mug from Urban Outfitters - I'm the first to admit that I am completely addicted to caffeine (as are most grad students), so I love this pada mug and spoon combo that not only enables my coffee habit, but also looks cute sitting on my desk!

Messenger Bag from Nottoc on Etsy - A large bag that can fit my notebooks, supplies, baby computer (that's what I call my netbook), wallet, and cosmetics is a must have! I love this bag I found on Etsy because it's cute and has lots of compartments for all my stuff!

So are any of you career students like me? Or perhaps you have children that are heading back to school this week? If so, what are your back to school must haves for yourself or your children? I probably enjoy back to school shopping a little too much, but then again I am a nerd, so it's probably not too surprising! :) I hope you all have a great day!

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400 Followers Giveaway Winner!

Hello Lovelies! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Today is the first day of the fall semester for me, so I'm going to have a busy day/week. For now, I just wanted to announce the winner of the 400 followers giveaway! Congrats to Michelle D., who said:

For those who didn't win, don't forget that the Birchbox giveaway is still going on, so be sure to enter for another chance to win a fabulous prize! Have a great day!

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Birchbox Giveaway: Cynthia Rowley Tip to Toe Treats

Hello Gorgeous! Are you sitting down? If not, you better, because I'm about to blow your mind! That's right, I have some very exciting news for you all! Thanks to one of my favorite companies ever, Birchbox, I'm giving away not one, not two, but THREE Cynthia Rowley Tip to Toe Treats Boxes to my readers!

Here's a close-up of what's inside:

Each box includes: Ahava Placid Bath Salts in Green Apple, Ahava Dead Sea Mud, Ahava Wash Cloth, Incoco Nail Strips, Lather Bamboo Lemongrass Body Scrub, Lather AHA Hand Creme with Evening Primrose, & a Tweezerman Zip File (originally sold on Birchbox for $38).

As you all know by now, I'm crazy in love with the boxes I get in the mail each month from Birchbox (see here, here, here, & here to find out why). In fact, I am going to be super jealous of the winners of these three boxes because they are so fabulous!


If you still haven't heard of Birchbox, it's basically one of the most awesome services ever! For just $10 a month, you receive a cute hot pink box filled with 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes even full size items) of various beauty products. Not only do you get amazing samples to try, but the gals at Birchbox even tailor your boxes to fit with your individual beauty profile!

So how do you win one of these special edition, Cynthia Rowley curated boxes? Simple...

Here's How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry- You should be a public follower of Haute Lunch via Google Friend Connect (see sidebar) to enter. New followers are welcome!

• Visit Birchbox and tell me one thing you learned about the service. If you are already a member, simply say what your favorite thing about the service is.

Additional Entries-

• Like Haute Lunch on Facebook and leave your user name in your comment (1 entry).
• Like Birchbox on Facebook and leave your user name in your comment (1 entry).
• Follow Haute Lunch on Twitter and leave your twitter name in your comment (1 entry).
• Follow Birchbox on Twitter and leave your twitter name in your comment (1 entry).
• Tweet this message and leave a link to your tweet in the comment: "Enter to win a Cynthia Rowley Tip to Toe Treats @birchbox via @haute_lunch! http://bit.ly/qPpTRg #spa #beauty #giveaway" (1 entry).

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry. You can submit up to 6 entries total. See below for contest rules and deadlines.

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. This giveaway is only open to U.S. Residents only (sorry international friends), ages 18+. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Friday, September 2, 2011. Three winning entries will be chosen using random.org and winner will be contacted via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

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Interview on "I Look Good Today"

Good Morning, Gorgeous! Today I am excited to be featured on "I Look Good Today," which is a fun, inspirational blog written by a sweet gal named Jamie! Jamie recently interviewed me about Haute Lunch and my latest venture, Tara Lane Designs! Head on over to her blog to check out the interview and get a special treat from me to all of you!

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Sole Society BOGO Event

Hello Gorgeous! I've been super busy today, but I wanted to tell you about the Sole Society buy one get one free sale before I forget! I snagged two gorgeous pairs of sandals I had been previously debating for one great price (plus they have free shipping <3 ). If you're not a member of Sole Society, you should definitely sign up! It is a shoe club that gives you recommendations based on your style profile. If you don't like your selection, you don't have to buy anything (but I usually LOVE at least one pair)! Be sure to sign up right away so you can shop the BOGO event before it's over! Here are the two pairs I got yesterday:

"Darlene" in Coral

"Sylvia" in Black

I'm so thrilled with these sandals- the "Darlene" sandals are even made of genuine suede! I can't wait for my UPS guy, John, to bring them to my doorstep! Be sure to head over now before they sell out!

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Weekly Preview: Sales on Beauty & Fashion

Hello Lovelies! It looks like this week is going to be one of the nicest in terms of the weather here in Chicago! Highs in the low 80s make me so happy and the lower temperatures are getting me excited for the arrival of my most favorite season of all, autumn! I love the weather, the changing of the leaves, and the smell of fall so much, but what really makes me love fall is the fashion! I don't think any season is more fashionable than fall! I love that you can add layers without having a heat stroke, but you also don't need to add so many layer that you look like the Michelin man. :) With that said, I'm definitely shifting my shopping focus from summer to fall, and here are some of this week's sales that can help you do the same!

Monday, August 15th:

Featured Sale: Favorite Handbags for Fall - 11:00am CST on Gilt Groupe

Philosophy Skincare - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

James Jeans & Rich and Skinny Jeans - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

L.A.M.B. Shoes - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

Charles David Shoes - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa

Badgley Mischka Dresses - 11:00am CST on Gilt Groupe

Fall Shoes - 11:00am CST on Gilt Groupe

Vera Wang Lavender - 11:00am CST on MyHabit

MaxStudio - 11:00am CST on MyHabit

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Shoes - 11:00am CST on MyHabit

BCBGeneration Shoes & Clothing - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Rocket Dog Shoes - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Buffalo, Jessica Simpson, & Betsey Johnson Outerwear - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Tuesday, August 16th:
Featured Sale: Seychelles Shoes Fall Preview - 11:00am CST on Gilt Groupe

Laundry by Shelli Segal - 10:00am CST on HauteLook
Dolce Vita - 10:00am CST on HauteLook
Bruno Magli Shoes & Handbags - 10:00am CST on HauteLook
Christopher Fischer Fall Preview - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa
Lola & Sophie Apparel - 8:00am CST on Swirl

Steven Alan Handbags - 11:00am CST on MyHabit

Senna Cosmetics - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Capote Knits - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Wednesday, August 17th:

Featured Sale: Stuart Weitzman Fall Preview - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa

Hale Bob - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

Romeo & Juliet Couture - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

Halston Heritage - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa

Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances - 10:00am CST on Biva

ABS by Allan Schwartz Jewelry - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Boutique 9 Shoes - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

Maduzi & Rock Revival Jeans - 10:00am CST on Beyond the Rack

Thursday, August 18th:

Featured Sale: Paige Denim - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

Jessica Simpson - 10:00am CST on HauteLook
Enzo Angiolini Shoes - 10:00am CST on HauteLook
Charles Jourdan & Botkier Shoes - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa


Friday, August 19th:
Featured Sale: 

Skova Jewelry - 

11:00am CST on Ideeli

Pure Sugar - 10:00am CST on 

HauteLook

GO SMiLE - 10:00am CST on HauteLook

Mulberry Handbags - 10:00am CST on RueLaLa

BCBGMaxazria Shoes - 11:00am CST on Ideeli

I realize I featured mostly accessories this week, but fabulous boots and luscious leather handbags are must haves for the fall! Is autumn your favorite season as well? What do you like about the precious days we have before winter sets in?

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