On kissing terms

Since Emma's shown a liking for kissing accessories, I thought I'd post this one. I have to say I think a bangle is even better because you get to admire it yourself and though this one is a little pricey for Forever 21, I think it might just be pretty enough to be worth it.

kissing giraffe bracelet $10.80 from Forever 21

Forever 21 Friday

Finds for Emma, Rachel, Brittany, Santana, Mercedes and Quinn.

For Emma

Ruffled crinkle top $7.99

Sheer ruffle front blouse $9.99

Metallic hued floral ring $3.80

Ruffle sleeve top $9.99

Flower print angora cardigan $8.99

Flower charm earrings $4.80

Billions of bows top $6.99

Flower garden ring set $3.80

Bow front jacket $9.99

Boucle blazer $8.99

Crackled pop stretch bracelet $2.80

Crochet bib top $17.80

Lace yoke top $17.80

Silk blend rosy top $27.80

Lace trim peasant top $19.80

Feminine flower necklace $6.80

Forever 21 Finds: Rachel

I only need a little encouragement to keep me checking out the new arrivals at Forever 21 and being able to id Rachel's bow print dress, striped skirt (still available) and even Quinn's ruffle dress at a glance is enough for me. It's how I get my cheap thrills.

So first up we have dresses suitable for Miss Rachel F. Berry.

Dresses for Miss Rachel Berry by shinyprettythings 

My favourites are given the Rachel Berry seal of approval - a gold star. The blue and white floral print Flower Garden dress with the ruffled sleeves reminds me of Rachel's floral Marc Jacobs dress. The black Posy Print chiffon dress is a little like the long-sleeved confetti print dress from H&M that Rachel wore. I like the dress with the flap detail on the bodice and row of three buttons (again similar in design to one of Rachel's Marc Jacobs dresses) and the polka dotted chambray dress with piping is simply very sweet. But I do think Rachel would wear any of these. She'd surely have to have this star print dress though.

Belted stars dress $22.80

Forever 21 Finds: Santana

It's been a tough week for Santana but I'm sure new clothes will cheer her up. 

Colorblock bandage dress $24.80

Forever 21 Finds: Emma

Rosette knit cardigan $19.80

This coral cardi with rosettes just needs a turtle brooch for 

that perfect Emma touch

Ditsy roses cardigan $22.80

A sweet floral crewneck cardi with 3/4 sleeves in

pretty spring colours

High seas cardigan $22.80

Love the gold buttons and it's not dissimilar to the Milly tab
cardi. I think Emma would like the navy and white.

Girlish charm blouse $18.80

An unusual print for Emma, but the bow and waterfall
ruffle makes it possible, plus it's yellow.

Knit reader cardigan $20

Out of stock online but with the cute eyeglasses print and
bow detail it's worth keeping an eye out

Silk-blend dotted button up $22.80

Polka dots and a peter pan collar. Enough said.

Polka dot knit skirt $9.80

Okay, maybe not quit long enough for Emma,
but still cute.

Tiered scallop edge skirt $22.80

I think Emma would really like this scallop
edged coral skirt.

Polka dot peeptoe pumps $22.80

Shoes and polka dots - I'm not sure there's
a better combination.

Bambi tee $14.80

Not for Emma, but as an alternative way to pay
tribute to the doe-eyed one.

For Mercedes

Right or wrong, Mercedes doesn't get much on Glee so ya know I got her some stuff to make up for it. Stuff always helps.

Mix tape necklace $1.50 from Forever21

Forever 21 Finds: Quinn

I'm going old school with this dress for Quinn. It's very much season one and would have been perfect for Halo/Walking on Sunshine - one of my all time fave Glee performances. In fact I think everyone should have a dress that lets them channel all that energy and optimism and I love this one.

stitched polka dot dress with eyelet border $27.80

Forever 21 Finds: Brittany

One area season 2 has delivered more than I expected is with respect to Brittany's, Santana's and Quinn's clothing. Yep, you gotta look for the positives. Anyway Brittany likes her cropped tees and so I've picked out some with her favourite motifs - hearts and birds it seems. Oh yes and there's a magic bunny t-shirt too.

Forever 21 Friday: Brittany by shinyprettythings

Also we have shorts (with and without suspenders), a jumpsuit (the bamboo print is reminiscent of the H&M bird print one Brittany wore), floral print jeans (yes the blue and white pair look a little odd in the picture because they've been styled with Rachel's shoes but without they be just fine for Brittany).

More things for Brittany by shinyprettythings featuring suspender shorts

Brittany would definitely wear the feather earrings. The zebra ring and panda tote are just there because I like them. And the tops, well Brittany likes owls (yay!) and while she may not know which flags these are I'm sure she'd wear either.

A Rachel Berry star buy

Star charm necklace $1.50

If you like Rachel's style but can't afford her $195 Ryan Ryan star necklace here's a super budget version from Forever 21 with a dinky 0.4" rhinestone encrusted star charm. It's funny isn't it how Rachel's jewellery is almost always so subtle unlike herself.

I'm going to go look for Emma clothes now before I have to change the name of this blog to 'What would Rachel Berry wear?' ... although I'm pretty sure that's probably already trademarked, as it should be.

So you still want to dress like Rachel Berry? Skirts

It's pretty simple, if you want to dress like Miss Berry, you will need skirts and they must be mini. That's the most important rule. Other than that you may choose plaid, polka dots, prints, stripes or denim.

Mini skirts for Miss Berry by shinyprettythings featuring mini skirts

So here we have a selection of Berry-esque skirts - there are kilts, flippy skirts, button-through skirts and skirts with bows. There are florals, diamond prints and dots. My favourites are the ones marked with gold stars - the plaid skirt with pockets, the stripe button-through skirt, the navy a-line tie-front mini with contrast piping, the floral button-through and star print button-through, the tangerine paperbag waist skirt, the yellow circle skirt with gold buttons and the navy diamond print skirt.

Of course there's always a multitude of minis suitable for Rachel at Forever 21. Here are just a few of them

More skirts for Miss Berry by shinyprettythings from Forever 21

Striped Skirt w/ Belt, $22Retro Daisy Skirt, $18Heartbreaker Skirt, $18Dotted Ikat Ruffle Skirt, $20
Angled Stripes Skirt w/ Belt, $18Striped Ruffled Skirt, $17Chiffon Polka Dot Skirt, $14
Popping Posies Skirt, $13 Forever21.com - Bottoms - Skirts - 2000010166, $8.50

And of course we shouldn't forget Rachel's other favourite store - Urban Outfitters.

Untitled by shinyprettythings featuring skirts from Urban Outfitters

Kari Skirt, $59Cooperative Button-Up Skirt, $59Kimchi Blue Button-Front Paperbag Skirt, $54
Cooperative Buttoned Skirt, $49Sparkle & Fade Pleated Chiffon Miniskirt, $49Cooperative Buttoned Skirt, $49UrbanOutfitters.com > Cooperative Printed Skirt, $38UrbanOutfitters.com > Cooperative Printed Skirt, $38UrbanOutfitters.com > Cooperative Printed Skirt, $38UrbanOutfitters.com > Cooperative Button-Up Skirt, $59UrbanOutfitters.com > Kimchi Blue Paperbag Skirt, $49UrbanOutfitters.com > Urban Renewal Blossom Paneled Mini Skirt, $49

The Cooperative printed skirts are at least very similar (if not identical in style) to the simple floral and bow print skirts Rachel wore in "Grilled Cheesus". I really like the Cooperative buttoned skirts too and the Kimchi Blue paperbag skirts, as well as the contrast-edged button-up skirts.

Just add a Rachel Berry worthy top or knitwear (also here) and you'll have yourself a Rachel outfit. To complete the look add coloured tights, knee socks, legwarmers or ankle socks (as you see fit). And loafers are the footwear of choice, of course.

So you still want to dress like Rachel Berry? (Part II: dresses)

Okay, well, it's actually a little easier to understand nowadays since she's been wearing pretty vintage-inspired (and in some cases actually vintage) dresses, giving her an all together more sophisticated and put-together look. I'm approving of her shift from argyle to polka dots too! Good move Miss Berry - I hope this isn't a passing thing.

Let's start by looking at the possibilities from Rachel's favourite non-designer/affordable shops - Forever 21, Urban  Outfitters and H&M.

Rachel wears lots of Forever 21 -  dresses, sweaters, coats and tops. And the most recent sighting of her at Breadsticks has her in the 'silky diamond print' dress with its delicate print and sweet row of bows down the front

It was available online up until about three weeks ago in the colour Rachel wears but unfortunately is no longer, though you may still find it in stores. But you can currently buy the same dress online in a grey/tan colourway for $23

Also available right now are these pretty dresses which would fit nicely into Miss Rachel Berry's wardrobe

Forever 21 Friday

I'm so excited about this bow front top, reminiscent as it is of the Kate Spade Cloey top. It comes in this charcoal colour which looks to have a bit of a metallic sheen

Bow front top $28.00

(ignore the hot pants, I know you'll want to pair it with a pencil skirt as Emma would)

It also comes in this very pretty pale apricoty cream colour which I think Emma would really like and would work so well as part of a tone on tone peachy monochromatic outfit a la Emma in Acafellas.

Emma-inspired Forever 21 Fashion

It's been a while since I've checked out Forever 21's gleetastic offerings so this post is a round-up of everything potentially Emma-esque - I'm saving the Rachel Berry clothes for their own post. And I'm very excited because I may soon actually get to shop in a Forever 21 store! I know they've been in the UK for a little bit but I've been determined that my first trip to Forever 21 should be at the South Towne store where I'm convinced Margie still sneakily shops despite Nicki's intense disapproval. Okay, back to Glee and my favourite potential Emma tops.

Falling blossom top $24.90

This pretty print top with pleated cap sleeves 

and a bow at the neck would suit Emma well.

Flying butterflies top $15.80

With its all over butterfly print and pleated neckline
I think this top is very Emma

Bow tie blouse $16.90

The mint and lavender colour combination would work well 

on Emma and of course she'd like the bows.

Cameo lace cardigan $19.80

With a printed lace collar and cameo buttons, this cardi 

combines whimsy with vintage charm just as Emma does.

Marc Jacobs-alike

Left: Marc Jacobs Ramsey cardigan Right: Forever 21 snap front sweater cardigan

So I may have developed something of a small obsession with the Marc Jacobs Ramsey cardigan recently and as a result I think I could be seeing it sometimes when it isn't even really there. This time I don't think I'm imagining it though. It seems that Forever 21 are doing a very similar (though of course not quite as perfect) version of it. Great navy, red and white colour combo? Check! Trompe l'oeil collar and pockets with gold buttons? Check! Red and white cuffs? Check! It's just missing the gold 'buttons' down the front. And it's not Marc Jacobs of course. But for a cost of $27.80 instead of $228 perhaps you'll be prepared to compromise.

Glee-ful finds from Forever 21

It seems like ages since I've been shopping at Forever 21 so I thought it was about time I had another look with Glee in mind. The find I'm most excited about is not something Emma's ever worn, and quite possibly not something she ever will wear, but it's a cardi I made a set with on polyvore months ago and it's available again. Maybe it's just a sign of the times but in these dark days it made me happy.

Emma in green and purple by shinyprettythings featuring a waist belt

Other than that we have pretty floral and polka dot blouses with ruffled sleeves, a couple of swing coats and some bow and corsage adorned shoes. As well, of course, as the usual assortment of brooches, bracelets and earrings. I love the bird earrings and all the leaf ones too.

Emma-esque at Forever 21 by shinyprettythings featuring a heart necklace

And I couldn't help but pick out some things for Rachel.

Rachel Berry-esque at Forever 21 by shinyprettythings featuring a floral skirt

There are a couple of great dresses with all over bow print, a real favourite of Rachel's recently, and both styles are similar to dresses she has worn. The polka dot dress with ruffles would also be perfect for her. The floral mini skirts are excellent Rachel Berry basics and I love the owl tote.