Fashion Bug Wont Break The Bank
December 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Worried about breaking the bank to look great this holiday season? Me, too.
Check out Fashion Bug, the popular clothing store chain that features all the latest trends this fashion season, including knits for layering and patent leather footwear. To complete the winter look, try suede knee length and ankle boots, patent leather shoes and even ballet flats in new designs. Also available are belts, handbags and jewelry. I don’t know about you, but I love prices that don’t break the bank!
Besides, right now, Fashion Bug is offering 25 to 50% off!
Flats Never Go Out of Style
December 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Okay, so it’s winter and you’re probably not thinking too much about flats, especially when this season there’s so much talk about boots, but sometimes feet crave comfort over heels. That said, here are some good choices for flats:
Pleated Satin from Gap
These pleated satin flats from Gap are so comfortable - who can resist? Not only do they offer comfort, but they come in fab jewel tones, from pink hibiscus (above) to military blue. These would look great with pencil pants.
Yours for $39.50 at Gap (http://www.gap.com/).
Clean Plaid by SO Carriage
This SO Carriage flat is both comfortable, preppy, classy and sassy! These would look great with demin jeans for a casual look, or spruce ‘em up with a skirt, white blouse and blazer.
Yours for $29.00 at Kohls (http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/homepage.jsp).
Sequins from Old Navy
Here’s a pair of flats that are perfect for the holidays! They come in a variety of colors, including navy blue, gray, or this season’s “it” color, purple. These would look great with a party dress, slacks or even tights.
Yours for only $19.50 at Old Navy (http://www.oldnavy.com/).
Stefany Patent Leather
This flat by Stefany is ultra light and boasts a cheerful bow. Known as “the shoe that breathes,” the Stefany is waterproof, which means they’ll keep your feet dry on a snowy day, so consider wearing a pair of these instead of boots with dresses.
Yours for $110.00 at Zappos (http://www.zappos.com/welcome.zhtml).
Justin Timberlake Joins Forces With J. Lindeberg
December 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Justin Timberlake and his clothing label, Wlliam Rast, have joined forces with J. Lindeberg and will feature a new sportswear line, scheduled to be ready in the Fall of 2008. Timberlake and long time friend and business partner Trace Ayala have secured a deal with Paris68, the Lindeberg’s New York based design consultancy.
Timberlake told WWD:
“I have always admired the modern designs and sophisticated aesthetics of Johan and Marcella Lindeberg. I am really excited that we have the chance to develop these strong collections together and that my vision for a complete William Rast lifestyle brand is in the hands of two of my most favorite designers.”
Faux Fur Is In
December 3, 2007 | 1 Comment
Who says we have to sacrifice luxury?
This knee-length hooded coat from Coldwater Creek looks like it was made from real fur, but you can rest assured no animals were put through torture when you wear this luxurious hooded coat. Besides, at only $111.00 and a variety of sizes to choose from, you really can’t go wrong.
Yours from Coldwater Creek.
Fashion Trend: Gloves Are In!
November 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Okay, women, do you remember those short white gloves that you had to wear for your friend’s wedding, and then stuck in the very deepest recesses of your closet - only not getting rid of them because you would have felt bad? Or those long, black gloves you wore to prom?
Well, now you can wear them - and be in style, because gloves are stylish like they haven’t been since the 1950’s. Good news, right?
Victoria Beckham, who is always the height of style, first models her hot boots and now her hot gloves. And they are hot! If you threw out those bridal gloves, they’re on sale for only $10 almost everywhere. If you’re looking for something new, you can try driving gloves, which are short and black - a boyish look for bad girls. Long gloves are also in - they offer warmth and style! These can be colored, chunky, or thin… this season, anything goes.
Women’s Clothing Necessity: The Camisole
November 22, 2007 | 1 Comment
I love camisoles (camis). My roommate makes fun of me for it, but I can’t help it. I think I have a cami in almost every color (no purple), and that’s because they’re very versatile. Some are just plain, some have lace, and I recently bought one with a little embellishment along the top. I can wear them at home, out on a date with my boyfriend, to bed (so comfy), for Holidays, or even to Church - with something else.
Today, cami length varies as much as the color, so they can be worn under the long shirts that are fashionable, or help lengthen out a short shirt. They can also offer a splash of color, or an embellishment. That’s why I love my lace ones - the lace can peek out - just a little bit - under or over the shirt. You don’t need to match a shoe color or purse color with the cami… think of it as an accent, like a pair of nice, long fashionable boots.
One thing to keep in mind about camis, though: they often come with “bras” inside of the shirt. These don’t offer very much support, and they’re not very comfortable. With these, try it on, and if it’s not comfortable, you have two choices: cut it out, or find another one. I recommend finding a different one.
This plain cami is available at Wet Seal for only $10 in cranberry, pink, blue, purple (hmmm…), violet, aqua, brown, white, black, and gray.
This embellished cami is available at Sears (www.sears.com) for $20 in black and white.
This pleated cami is available at JC Penny for $30 in cobalt blue.
Vanity Stores also has some nice camis for under $20, and those are my favorite, because they have lace on top, and on the bottom, the straps are a bit thicker, and they wear well. Unfortunately, I can’t get pictures from the site, but the website is very user friendly.
Wear these in the summer as they are, with layers, or wear them in the spring or fall with layers, or wear them in the winter under a jacket.
Dress For the Holidays
November 19, 2007 | 3 Comments
I don’t know about your family, but in my family, Thanksgiving and Christmas are a big deal. A BIG deal. By that, I mean the whole family gets together, jeans are not allowed, and the same shirt from one holiday to the next, is, likewise, not allowed. For me, this is the perfect excuse to go shopping. For my brother, it’s the perfect reason to complain, and for my sister, it’s the perfect reason to stand, stumped - or steal my clothes. It’s a good thing I have a lot of them.
The good news holiday shopping doesn’t actually have to be that bad. I mean, think about it. Even if you stay within the boundaries of “standard” Christmas colors (black, red, green, gold and silver), you can still do quite a bit. Whatever you want to do, here are a few rules of thumb:
1- Be careful with embellishments. Embellishments are very stylish, but it’s really easy to overdo them, or to do them wrong. Embellishments draw attention to the part of the body that’s embellished, so they can look nice, or they can look really gaudy or tacky. Something like this cami (Sears, $13), which is available in black, white and mauve is nice because it has a simple embellishment that can dress up a look, and the undershirt can be worn under several different shirts or tops, and can dress it up simply. Since it’s across the chest, it accentuates the cleavage. Likewise, embellishments on a skirt will accentuate nice legs.
2- Dress sexy, but don’t show a lot of skin. Just as the cami emphasizes nice cleavage, a slit in a skirt or dress can emphasize the legs -without overdoing it. Embellishments or skirts with a pleat will do the same thing, like this skirt (Sears, $25), which is available in black and brown.
3- Buy things that can be worn more than once. A pair of black pants, or a brown or gray skirt can be worn with several different shirts in several different colors, so even if that’s all you have for the season, you can wear them to all the different parties and celebrations - for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, without having to wear the same outfit twice. Jewelry, and other accessories - handbags, for instance - can also make an outfit look different.
Picking the Shoes
November 13, 2007 | 2 Comments
Shoes are a tricky thing, but they really don’t have to be. I love the different types of shoes that are available today - and there’s no one forcing you to wear something you don’t like. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1) Heels or flats? Flats are nice for everyday occasions, I get it. And now, some of them are really cute and comfortable. I especially like the ballerina-type shoes. Some people also have problems walking in shoes, but you don’t need to wear a stiletto.
On the other hand, women really do look better in heels. It lengthens out and slims the leg, and makes them look more toned and just all-around better. So, while flats might be nice for, say, walking around, or chilling at home, or just daily activities, spicing something up with a heel goes a long way for a nice occasion. No matter how cute your flats are, they’ll never beat a good heel. I’m serious. Stand in front of a mirror, and step on and off one heel - it’s a world of difference.
2) Pointy or rounded or flat toe? I’m against flat toes, end of story. But as for the pointy or rounded toe - it’s really just what looks best on you. I can’t wear a pointy toe to save my life, which makes me really sad because I think they’re pretty. My sister and my roommate, though, look amazing in pointy-toed shoes.
3) Please don’t wear tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are acceptable for sports. Read: jogging, running, and walking. They do nothing for you. Not even the really nice ones. I promise. Oh, and Crocs… I don’t care how comfortable those things are: unless you’re in the safety of your own home, those are OUT!
4) My college roommate’s sister told my roomie and I, “Every woman should own a pair of red shoes.” So true. The color spices up an outfit, and they can be worn with almost anything. Black pants, white pants, jeans, skirts, and even some brown pants (red-browns, not green-browns). These shoes are Mark Jacobs, and they are a ridiculous $485, but you get the idea.
The thing about shoes is you don’t need to wear something that matches your purse or your shirt. Shoes are unique, and they should be treated that way.
Slimmin’ Down Without Losing a Pound
November 7, 2007 | 3 Comments
While fad diets speed by without any warning, it’s hard to figure out which diets are healthy, affordable, and most importantly - actually worth the time and effort. Here’s a nice loud “cheers” to those who are blessed with a good figure, good genes, or good eating and exercising habits.
For the rest of us, we’re always looking for tips to look slimmer while we’re trying to actually get slimmer. Want to know the good news? It’s simply a matter of what you wear. Here are some simple style tips, so you can look lighter - and feel better, too.
1) Wear dark colors or stick to monochromatic color schemes. Then, you can dress it up with some nice accessories - a colorful purse, a gorgeous necklace, a colorful and unbuttoned blouse, etc. Throwing in the blouse gives you some color so that you don’t feel dull and boring, and you can still wear bright colors you like. Also, wearing a pencil skirt that ends below the knees lengthens out your legs so they look much longer - and you look much lighter. Be sure it doesn’t end in the middle of the hips. This style doesn’t look good on anyone - even uber-skinny supermodels - and anyone who says otherwise is lying.
2) Wear tailored outfits. Clothes that accentuate your shape and follow your natural waistline will make you look much slimmer, especially if you add a bent - showing just how slim your waist is, and accentuates that slimness. The belt also draws in other’s eyes. Wearing big, baggy clothes doesn’t make you look better. My super-skinny sister does me a favor by wearing baggy clothes that don’t do anything for her, and as a result, we look about the same size, even though she’s much smaller than I am.
3) Don’t wear skinny jeans. They might be called “skinny” but it’s a misnomer. A better choice is a dark jean that makes you look slimmer. And don’t wear them too high, and don’t let them drag on the ground. In other words: buy pants that fit, and not pants that “are a little tight, but then I can wear them after I lose four or five pounds.”
Beyond those tips, all I can tell you is to wear something you like. If you don’t like it, it shows, and your discomfort and your dislike of what you’re wearing and your dislike of it will show, making you look worse. Wear something you love. Also, good posture - stomach in, shoulders back - makes you look slimmer and taller, too (and it’s also good on your back!).
Fashion Must-Have: The Trench Coat
November 6, 2007 | 4 Comments
With winter coming on quickly, finding the perfect winter coat is becoming more and more important. And this season’s fashionable coat is the trench. These jackets are lightweight, often come with a waist-accentuating tie belt, and double-breasted, often with an empire waist.
How do you pick a coat - in particular trench coat? A coat should be an accessory of sorts, adding to your everyday clothing, not taking away from it, and it should be something you like and think you look good in. The coat is the first thing people will see of you for the winter months.
The first step is to think about your normal wear. Do you like the layered look? If so, you’re gonna want a coat that has plenty of room to wear comfortably over your clothing. Do you head home or go out after work? If you go out, you’re going to need a coat that serves both purposes. You don’t want to feel like you need to leave your coat in the car. What’s your shape like? A straight cut should streamline a curvy figure, and a flared look will give curves to an otherwise-straight figure. Which fabric? Cashmere is almost too shear to be worth the purchase, as it wears down quickly. Something with wool is stronger, and wears very well. And waterproof material, especially a waterproof trench, is a great buy. Wool will add a bit of warmth, making it an even better buy.
The last consideration is what I would consider the most important: color. With popular colors reverting to 80’s-like colors of ochre, yellow and teal, it’s probably best to choose something a little more variable - a color that’ll stay fashionable, and won’t make you sick every time you see it on the hanger. Early fall’s color was white, but late fall, and early winter suggests a red. Shades of black, brown and gray, are also a good purchase. Choosing a color that flatters your skintone is always wise, but if you fall in love with a trench coat that doesn’t, you can always throw on a scarf, or something that will.
Like with anything else in this world, Trench coats come in a wide variety of prices.
The black and red trench coats pictured above are available at Overstock.com for only $50 a piece. Though they’re short, I love the single row of buttons, matching the color of the jacket.
This black all-weather pleated trench coat is available at Nordstrom’s for only $148. The tie around emphasizes the waist, but I’m not a big fan of the zipper.
This Trina Turk Sterling Red Trench is available at Nordstrom’s for only $237. I love the big, bright silver buttons and the red tie around the middle. Again, the tie flatters the waist and the buttons are just pretty. This jacket is also available in black.
I think this trench is just gorgeous. The lambswool will help it wear longer, and the tie, the buttons and the color are just gorgeous - although white’s not necessarily recommendable. This jacket is only available online at “La Redoute” for $199.