Poll Post: Cold-Weather Leather

Club Monaco knows what's up.

Leather (as in leather & rouge). A while ago, you guys chose it as your favorite texture for the winter. Makes sense. Leather is a symbol of luxury not only in the world of fashion but also in society. It's classic and beautiful in a unique, natural way. Its durability and sturdiness make it a wardrobe staple. Leather is classic, but at the same time it's ultra versatile. It comes in many finishes and textures within itself, the three most popular being suede, patent, and matte (not necessarily in that order). It comes in tons of colors and is used alone or with other materials in mixed media pieces. Designers try out all kinds of trends on leather, like cut outs, for example. Although leather is made for year-round wear, the generally heavy material is great for showing off during the cold winter months. Neutrals are a great choice both because you can wear them often and because the muted colors are perfect for the season.

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Let's not forget about color. Keep in mind that you won't find many winter pieces in color. You'll mostly find layerable pieces like dresses, skirts and short-sleeved. High fashion designers are usually the ones to experiment with all-out leather cold-weather wear.

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Which pieces above are your favorite? Comment, email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com, and pin away! 

The Playlist That Got Me Through Midterms ft. Daft Punk

This week was midterm week at my high school. Testing started on Tuesday (which is why I missed Music of the Week this week), and I had one test every day but Wednesday, the only day I had two in a row. To keep everyone sane, the school lets everyone out right after testing is over for the day. So I came home at around 10:30 AM every day for most of this week. Of course, I spent most of my precious extra time being unproductive. This includes listening to music for hours on end. In doing so, I rediscovered Daft Punk.

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Everybody knows who Daft Punk is. At least, most people do, because of their Summer 2013 hit "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. (That's when I first really heard of them; I might have heard of them before, but it wasn't of any significance whatsoever til then.) And because they just won five Grammys last Sunday. Yeah. No biggie.

Daft Punk hugging after a major win at this
year's Grammys. I can't get it out of my head.
Fun fact: It lasted for eleven seconds. Too cute!!
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In case you didn't know about them: Daft Punk is a French EDM duo consisting of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo.  Bangalter's father, Daniel Vangarde, wrote the 1970s hits "D.I.S.C.O." and "Cuba" for Ottawa and the Gibson Brothers, respectively. Homem-Christo's parents' occupations were not in music, but they loved classic rock so Homem-Christo grew up listening to a lot of it. Although the duo met early, in the 8th grade, they initially didn't discuss their shared connection with music at all. He and Bangalter began the indie rock band Darlin' while attending secondary school with Laurent Brancowitz in 1992. Brancowitz would later leave and join the indie rock band Phoenix. Left to their own devices, Bangalter and Homem-Christo started Daft Punk in 1993 (That's over 20 years ago!!). Fun fact: They got the name "Daft Punk" from a bad review of their previous group, in which the critic called their music "a daft punky trash". Since then, they've released four studio albums: Homework, Discovery, Human After All, and Random Access Memories. They achieved critical success with their first two albums because of their unique style during the late 90s' house music movement. Human After All took on a more rock-y sound. After its release, they took their focus off of making their own music for a while and instead engaged in projects like Electroma and the Tron: Legacy soundtrack. Random Access Memories, released last year, was their first album in eight years; Human After All was released in 2005. It mixes modern style with 70's and 80's disco. 

Something unique to Daft Punk is their constant disguises. They've said that they wear them because they don't believe in the "star system" and don't want to be celebrities. They also use them as alter egos that visualize their musical mission to blur the line between human and robot. Said Bangalter of their decision regarding their helmets: "We did not choose to become robots. There was an accident in our studio. We were working on our sampler, and at exactly 9:09 am on September 9, 1999, it exploded. When we regained consciousness, we discovered that we had become robots." He also said that the disguises were actually inititally out of shyness. There aren't many pictures of them in public without the disguise of their hands or high-tech helmets. I personally think it's really cool. I love their robotic alter egos; they have an air of power and mystery that you just can't emulate as a human. I mean, we have enough pictures of them unmasked. Plus, they are super attractive as robots. 

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And finally, they're human after all...

Left: Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Right: Thomas Bangalter
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Here's what I've been listening to this week. It's not much, but I've had each one on replay. The first three are from Random Access Memories and the second two are from Human After All and Discovery, respectively. I have yet to discover Homework. However, I need to get more into Daft Punk all around because I still don't have an idea of their sound.

   

 So what do you think of Daft Punk?  Just heard of them? Already in the fandom? Leave a comment or email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

Five of My Favorite Foods to Sneak into Your Diet For Better Hair, Skin, Nails, and Overall Health

As I've said multiple times before, I am looow maintenance. I put significant effort into daily life but I don't like doing so for things I'm not super passionate about. One example: eating healthy. I'm a fairly active person- I love tennis and sprint on the Spring track team at school- but making over my diet is a whole other story. Although I personally don't have a huge problem with this because I eat home-cooked Indian food every day, my diet could still use some improvement. The same goes for most people. For some, a busy schedule keeps them from watching their diet, while for others, their income does. Neglecting your diet will inevitably lead to some sort of health problem, big or small. Many times the first signs show up in our hair, skin, and nails, three things no one wants looking bad. Beauty aside, it's always important to keep up your health. Whether you need a few ideas on how to be even healthier or are looking for some solid sources of nutrition to enrich your currently lacking diet with, here are five foods you can easily accomplish your goals with.  

Chia seeds

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Chia seeds are native to Mexico and are commercially grown there, in several northern South American countries, and in Australia. They pack a lot of punch for their tiny 1-mm wide diameter- they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. These seeds are great for weight loss because of their unique water-absorbing properties, which help keep you full. These properties also allow you to use them to make chia gel, which in turn can be used to make chia pudding or can serve as a nutritious vegan egg replacement. Incorporating these seeds into your diet is so easy because of their small size and tastelessness. The best part is that you only need two tablespoons a day to get your daily fix of this superfood. The seeds can go unnoticed in everything from breads to smoothies. Sprinkle them on top of salads or mix them into dips for crunch. Add them to baked goods for extra texture and thickness. Blend them into smoothies for creaminess or simply mix it in if you want some crunch. There are so many possibilities. The only downside is the high price, which can be attributed to the exclusivity of the chia plant to the specific regions I mentioned earlier. One way to beat this is by buying online. If that isn't an option, I strongly recommend going to your local grocery store (even if the price is high and the bag is small) and at least trying it out once. 

Yogurt

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Yogurt is a staple in many diets across the world. Its simplicity makes it easy to incorporate into a multitude of dishes. It's also cheap, which makes it easily accessible for many. I'm lucky enough to have homemade yogurt on a regular basis as a part of my Indian diet! As a dairy product, it helps keep bones strong with calcium. It also contains vitamins B and D and the trace minerals potassium and magnesium. Perhaps most importantly is the "good bacteria", the little guys that make the yogurt itself. They help with your digestive processes (take it from JLC) by aiding the existing bacteria in your system. They can't be found in such abundance in many other foods. Yogurt is a very simple food and therefore is very versatile. Just remember to always buy low-fat or fat-free varieties to keep unnecessary fat out of your diet. Although you can use regular or Greek yogurt, Greek is more sought after for its thick texture. The only difference between the two is that Greek yogurt is strained so there's less water and more yogurt per serving. You can use yogurt as a base for dips or icing or as a replacement for sour cream (which is full of fat and is basically tasteless anyway). You can add it to smoothies, baked goods, or to your next saute for added richness. Best of all, you can enjoy it alone, maybe with some mix-ins like nut butter or chocolate chips. 

Spinach

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Spinach is native to Southwest Asia but is eaten widely all over the world. It's full of trace minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spinach is very simple and nutritious green that retains its distinct mildly sweet taste that pairs well with a variety of foods. You can use it as a replacement for lettuce in everything from salads to sandwiches. Since it cooks down quickly and easily, you can saute it with pasta, rice, other veggies, or alone. It makes a great pizza topping along with freshly sliced tomatoes and mozzarella. Bake it in casseroles and other savory dishes. Finally, one super popular way to use spinach is in green smoothies. The mild taste keeps it from overpowering the flavors you actually want to taste.

Bananas

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I must admit that I rarely eat bananas right out of the skin. Although that's technically the healthiest way to enjoy it, there are so many other things to do with this unique and conveniently low-priced tropical fruit. They're a good source of potassium, manganese, fiber, biotin, and more. I love frozen banana treats because the texture always comes out so good. Make chocolate covered banana pops or coins with some melted chocolate, bananas, and a freezer. Freeze bananas whole and blend them up for a raw ice cream substitute. I always use them to make frozen smoothies. If you need an egg substitute, simply replace each egg with one mashed ripe banana. Bananas are great in baked goods like quick bread and muffins because they add texture and moisture. 

Unsweetened cacao powder

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Chocolate is good for you. Wait, what? Let me explain. Hershey's chocolate, what with its high fructose corn syrup and illegal amount of sugar, is bad. Chocolate in its raw form, aka cacao, is good. Whether it be in baking square or powder form, cacao is an amazing source of antioxidants and trace minerals. Here I featured cacao powder because it's the most versatile form. You can add it to milk, smoothies, and other drinks. Add it to baked goods for a chocolatey kick. Mix it with chia gel for healthy DIY chocolate pudding. You can basically add it to anything it can be dissolved in when you're having chocolate cravings.

Which ideas sound good to you? I know I need to get baking with spinach and cheese. Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com with your thoughts and ideas.

Poll Post: Mixed Prints

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Hey guys. It's the first Poll Post of 2014 and I'm ready.

I've been against mixed prints for as long as I can remember. As more and more people catch on and prove me wrong, however, I now feel obligated as a blogger to give it a second chance. Ironically enough, it was probably the worst fashion faux-pas commitable before it became a huge trend. Mixing prints is basically all about visual appeal, so in a way there's not much to it. Just play around until you make a match made in heaven. But if you've been avoiding it and that seems daunting, have no fear! There are just a few basic things to keep in mind when taking on this daring trend. 

1) Keep your overall ensemble simple. Mixed prints make a statement, so let only two printed pieces take the spotlight. Any more than that will look chaotic. Try not to add too many other pieces and accessories. What you do add should complement the mixed prints. Also, highlight either the prints or the underlying elements. 

2) It's gotta be symbiotic. For those of you who forgot everything you learned in high school bio the second the bell rang, my nerdy side is trying to say that both prints have to work with each other. I don't say "balanced" because that's too specific. It means that they can't clash. But clashing- granted, harmonious clashing- is the entire point of mixing prints. So while you can balance your prints, you don't have to. Remember, in the end you have to ask yourself if it looks good, because that's all that really matters.

3) Look past the prints. It can be really hard to like an outfit with clashing pieces. Everything looks off and it just doesn't look good. But if you look past the prints while putting it together, the outfit as a whole will look really cool. What I mean by "looking past the prints" is that you should focus on the color scheme, cut of each piece, texture, and other elements before you look at the prints.

Finally, remember: don't just mix prints for the sake of doing it. If you are unsure, just look in the mirror and decide if it's truly aesthetically appealing. 

Since I don't do this often, let's look to the real experts for some inspo.

Leandra Medine, aka The Man Repeller

My favorite pieces here are the jacket and shorts. The top features a small print but mostly serves as a neutral. I personally don't understand the choice of shoes here, but I guess when you're mixing prints, why not?

Camille Charriere of Camille Over the Rainbow

Camille keeps it simple in this all-neutral ensemble. She keeps the focus on the prints with the simple color scheme- her simple black bag and nude heels are understated and don't clash with her top and skirt. The prints work well with each other; the medium sized animal print draws your eyes down from the bold thick stripes. 

By Rebecca Laurie of Raspberry & Rouge

I found this blog back when I started leather & rouge while checking to make sure that the name was all mine. While I wouldn't wear this look, it's not completely unacceptable as the pants' light pastel print is brought out by the strong leopard print of the shoes.

 If you liked the examples above check out my Blogroll gadget (on the bottom of the left sidebar) to find the links to the websites. What do you think of mixed prints? Which picture was your favorite? Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

Music of the Week: Mind Over Matter + More

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I'm not sure where I've been (a theory: on Tumblr furiously reblogging pictures of the Arctic Monkeys), but wherever it was, I've been missing out on Young the Giant. I explicitly remember that they were the first alt rock band I really got into when I first began diverging from the monotonous pop anthems of the radio in middle school. Young the Giant has a poppy sound that translates to indie rock because of the strong guitar, passionate vocals, and uniquely mild feel. These were my favorites, all from their self-named debut album, in middle school.

Today, Young the Giant released their sophomore album, Mind Over Matter. The album's lead single, "It's About Time", was released on October 28, 2013. Overall, it's a little more energetic and not as mild as their previous work. The melodies are just as passionate but the background music is clearer and more involved. 

Mind Over Matter Album Artwork
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Here's a little bonus I found on Tumblr to put a smile on your face. See for yourself how the hideous plastic things on the bottom ("otamatones", apparently) totally, but nonetheless hilariously, butcher the beautiful "Greensleeves".





The original Tumblr post:

So what do you think of the new YTG single and album? What did you think of the outrageous "otamatones"? Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com with your thoughts.

Music of the Week: FTP's Back!

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It's a shame I'm not writing on time this week because an amazing thing happened yesterday. Foster the People released a new single, and they're releasing a whole new album soon!! 

Tobuscus <3
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I love Foster the People. I first started listening to them two years ago when "Pumped Up Kicks" went mainstream. I wasn't that into "Pumped Up Kicks", but its airy, laid back vibe led me to explore the rest of Torches, FTP's 2011 debut album. I instantly fell in love with it. With only ten tracks, there's not much to not like. Except for "I Would Do Anything For You" and "Pumped Up Kicks", all of the songs are upbeat in a sassy, eclectic way. The background synthesizer music is also unique to FTP. Here's Torches:

I like this whole entire album; there's not a single song that annoys me. My favorite things about it are:

• Mark Foster's voice He has a huge range and a really cool timbre 
• Opening music (Find two good examples in "Warrant" and "Helena Beat".) It sets the mood of the songs really well above all is super catchy and fun. 
• Lyrics Their lyrics are amazing.
• Catchy tunes I really like how their melodies are poppy and catchy but not annoying like popular pop songs. The indie twist to FTP's music saves them.

Now for the new stuff. Yesterday FTP released their first single, "Coming of Age", off their new album Supermodel, due to go on sale on March 18, 2014. Overall it has the signature FTP vibe I described above with more melodious vocals. I can't wait for the new album!

Fun fact: If you follow the "Coming of Age" link above you'll see that the video is a time lapse of the creation of a mural. It's a scaled up version of the Supermodel cover art and is in FTP's native LA. For more info, click here, click the "News" tab, and scroll to the bottom of the popup. 

The LA mural
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Original cover art
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I checked to see if FTP is going on tour for their new album. They are playing but for now have only scheduled festival tour dates. Coachella in Indio, CA and the Governer's Ball in NYC are the two big ones. Coachella will be early in April and is already sold out while the Governer's Ball is in early June and is still selling. Since I'm pretty close to NYC, I'd consider buying tickets; however, the $250 price tag poses an issue. Oh, well. I'm sure they'll be touring independently soon enough.

So, let me know what you think in the comments or in an email to leatherandrouge@gmail.com. See ya later!

Music of the Week: Songkick + My Current Faves

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Wait, it's not Tuesday? Sigh. I'm late. Well, it was bound to happen, so let's pretend it didn't.

As I mentioned last week, I'm going to an Arctic Monkeys concert soon and I cannot express how absolutely excited I am. I've heard (and seen on Youtube) so many good things about their concerts and can't believe I'm going to be seeing Alex/The Most Bada-- Guy in England (along with Nick, Jamie, and Matt, of course) live.

Tyler Oakley + GIFs FTW!
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Getting to the point now. This wouldn't have been possible without Songkick, the London-based concert tracking service I used to find my beloved show. 

I mean, technically, they found it for me. I made a free account, they used my Spotify library to determine which artists to notify me about, I got an email one fine day with "Arctic Monkeys" in the subject line, and the rest consisted of me freaking out along with amazing tickets.  

I strongly recommend Songkick to those of you who don't listen to mainstream artists because it's such an easy way to find concerts. It even makes life easier for mainstream lovers; instead of having to stay updated by friends or the radio, you can simply check your email. There are so many artists to see live and so many vendors to buy from, and Songkick makes it manageable for you to keep track of it all. For a more detailed description of the service and how it works, read the fourth point of this article I guest wrote on Allwomenstalk a little while ago. 

Get the Songkick app:

• App Store
• Google Play
• Spotify

To wrap things up, here's a little playlist of what I've been listening to on repeat lately. 

Don't worry, I'll be talking something other than Arctic Monkeys soon enough. My favorites out of these are "Reckless Serenade" and "All My Own Stunts". I also love "Wanna Be Yours". It's so romantic but lusty at the same time. I haven't been listening to it as much because I've been through that phase with it already and the first two on the playlist are much newer to me. So yeah, I do favorite favorites. Favorite-ception. All that.

And then there's the track in dead last, which is totally random and unlike the others. I first heard of it from Troye Sivan while discovering him and his delightful Youtube channel. It's a super chill R&B tune that'll make you feel oh so cool. 

So, try out Songkick and let me know how that works out for ya! Let's also discuss my current faves and topics you wanna see next Tuesday in a comment here or in an email to leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

5 Ways to Rock the Color of 2014

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New year, new Pantone Color of the Year. In 2014, it's Radiant Orchid, a pretty pink-purple with a range of shades that screams everything from elegant to trendy. Let's take a look at some of the best pieces to showcase it with. 

1) Flirty Dress 

Frock and Frill Drop Waist Dress with Scallop Embellishment, $120.69 (on sale), asos.com

There are so many things I love about this dress. The beading detail, scalloped hem, trendy drop waist, and beautifully draped back (follow the link to see it) all make the gorgeous color pop. This is a great choice for nights out; I'd wear it everywhere, but the short hemline says otherwise! For something more office or school appropriate, check out this equally chic pencil dress, also from Asos.

Style with:

Metallic Leather Box Clutch 
Royale Chic, $78, nordstrom.com

Metallic Leather Ankle-Strap Heels
Manolo Blahnik, $725, saksfifthavenue.com

2) Colorblocked Heels

Jeffrey Campbell Inaba Heel, $148, nastygal.com

The pairing of this shoe's cool, purple-based gray and lilac harmonize perfectly with 2014's Color of the Year. Although the featured shade leans on the fuchsia side, it's still got some serious purple undertones in it. This shoe would go great with a variety of outfits because of the bright color and suede material. Offset it with a structured, pure white shift at work along with a pair of statement earrings and dress it down with some dark high waisted skinnies and a mohair knit. 

Style with:

White Shift
Susana Monaco, $189, shopbop.com

Purple Statement Studs
8 Other Reasons, $40, djpremium.com

OR...

Fuzzy Relaxed Fit Sweater
3.1 Phillip Lim, $385 (on sale), lagarconne.com

Dark Wash High-Waist Skinnies
Aqua Jeans, $78, bloomingdales.com

3) Graphic Tee

Bright Bloom Crop Tee, $42, nastygal.com

Go graphic with this printed crop tee from Nasty Gal. It has a sharper hint of purple in it than the previous picks and features a few other shades as well. The abstract floral print is modern and feminine while the cropped cut allows you to play with proportions. This is a great casual tee because it effortlessly elevates your look but keeps it playful.

Style with:

Knife Pleat High-Waist Skirt
Topshop, $80, us.topshop.com

Black Leather Ankle Boot
Kenneth Cole New York, $94.96 (on sale), nordstrom.com

4) Bright Sweater

Hyped Up Sweater, $78, nastygal.com

This sweater is ideal for those lazy days when you wanna look good without trying. The oversized fit is trendy but comfy and the electric color will steal the spotlight in every outfit.

Style with:

Black Moto Jeans
Paige Denim, $289, nordstrom.com

Neon Studs
kate spade new york, $38, macys.com

5) Cool Necklace

Hammered Ombre Necklace, $8.80, forever21.com

This necklace is so unique. You'll literally never find anything like it anywhere else. The texture and jewel tone color scheme are super trendy, especially with the touch of purple at the end. Since it'll make a statement, build outfits around it.

Style with:

Black Silk Jumpsuit
Theory, $535, lyst.com

Metallic T-Strap Flat Sandals
Charlotte Russe, $10.99 (on sale), charlotterusse.com

How are you planning on trying out 2014's Color of the Year? (I'm not sure how I will be, but I know I am cause purple's my favorite color!) Let me know what you think in the comments or in and email to leatherandrouge@gmail.com.