Friday, June 29, 2007

Fashion Friend Finale - Week of 06/29/07


Couture in the City shares a great way to support the troops in style

Glimpse.com wants you to weigh in on the bandana trend

Fabulously Broke in the City thinks the Starbucks Travel Mug is a worthy investment for you coffee-holics who want to save money and the earth at one time

The Glam Guide points out Old Hollywood influences on Fall 2007 fashion

Catwalk Queen wants to know what you think of L'Oreal's latest air-brushing of Scarlett Johansson for ads

Shopping Tip: Get Your Electronic Warranties

Hello Shopaholics!

Hope you're all gearing up for an awesome weekend of shopping and fun with friends. Just wanted to drop a quick line to let you guys know that I won't be able to post any outfit pictures for a couple weeks...or any other "homemade" photos for that matter. Sadly, my digital camera is on the fritz. Luckily, I purchased a four year warranty, so I dropped my baby off at Best Buy last night, and they shipped it off to be fixed. Anywho, the lesson here is that if you're going to buy a digital camera, or laptop, or anything electronic, you should get a warranty. I recommend a warranty that will last as long as you expect

1. that you will actually use said electronic before getting tired of it wanting to replace it with another, newer version
or
2. that will last as long as you think the technology will be relevant

With technology changing as fast as it does these days, I wouldn't get a five year warranty on something that will easily be replaced in two. Imagine that you bought a digital camera a couple years ago...already, the cameras are much smaller in size, have cooler functions, and have much more memory. What good would a five year warranty have done you if you purchased a new camera within two or three of having bought your first?

Anywho, my camera is only one year old, so I'm good to go for awhile. Will I replace her before my four year warranty goes out? Most likely...but lesson learned, right? And now I can share it with you!

Fashionably Yours,

D

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Does the iPhone Bring Out Your Inner Shopaholic?

Do thoughts of purchasing the new iPhone bring out your inner Shopaholic? Do you have dreams of selling your belongings to save up enough money to purchase one? Do you dream about bringing your very own iPhone home with you from your next shopping spree?

With everyone in the world seemingly so abuzz with talk of the new iPhone, I wonder if everyone out there thinks it's as amazing as it's being played out to be. So, I created a little poll to answer the question:

What Do You Think of the iPhone?
Can't wait to buy mine!
Can't afford $500+
Over-rated: My phone is just fine
$500? I'd rather have some Louboutins!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Have you been saving up for months to buy yours or are you saving your spending money for designer goodies?

NOTE: Image from apple.com

Monday, June 25, 2007

Keep Your Cool - Chic Dresses for Outdoor Parties

Summer is in full swing, so your calendar is likely filling up with hot dates, shopping sprees, and lots of fun, outdoor parties, right? I don't know about you, but to me, there's not much better than a sun-drenched day with friends spent relaxing outdoors, sipping iced tea (or margaritas) and grilling out. For your next BBQ party, keep your cool with some super chic, lightweight summer dresses, like these:


Urban Outfitters (image and item) - Lux Tropical Ruffle Tube Dress


Betsey Johnson (image and item) - Carribean Stripe Linen Dress w/ Pockets


Lilly Pulitzer 'Mallory' Dress (image and item Nordstrom.com)

Pair dresses with
pretty metallic flip flops like these by J Crew, or try some girly espadrilles to add some height and summer style to your look.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

New-Grad Must-Haves: Get Work Chic

If you just graduated from college, if you're a junior getting an early jump on post-graduation prep, or if you're just a type-A high-schooler getting ready for your future, here are some must-haves for when you graduate college and are getting ready to start your career:

Suit


If you're looking for a typical office-job, you're going to need a suit, if not to wear to work, at least to wear to your interviews. When I graduated, people told me not to get a black suit because it was boring, but the truth is, black is always a great choice for work. If you can afford it, get a three-piece suit: blazer, pants, skirt. While you won't wear a full-blown suit to work (in most offices), you'll definitely get great use out of each suit piece, worn separately.

This suit - Blazer and Trousers (image and item) - Banana Republic in lightweight wool. I love BR clothes - they're well made, fit well, and look really polished.
If you can't afford BR, I also like The Limited - they have nice suits for reasonable prices.
If you can afford more, definitely get a Brooks Brothers suit. They're making lower rise pants now for those who prefer pants that sit lower on the hip, but overall, their suits are in classic cuts that are sure to last you years.



Shoes

Good shoes are a must. Don't skimp on shoes or you'll be wishing you never did. Remember, even if you work in an office, you'll be on your feet all day, even if it's just getting up to grab coffee, walking to the printer, walking a block to grab lunch, it adds up, so a little extra money put towards your tootsies can go a long way. I don't mean you need to go get a pair of Christian Louboutins (of course, if you can afford them, go for it), but you can easily get a nice pair of shoes for less than $150. If you're not used to wearing heels, I'd stick to less than 3" heels. The shorter the heel, the easier they'll be to walk in and the more comfy they'll be, and actually, in some super-formal offices, too-tall heels are considered inappropriate.
These shoes are by Cole Haan (image and item) - Jessika Slingbacks
If you can't afford these, try Nine West
If you can afford more, try some other Cole Haan styles (they have lots of great, classy shoes) or J Crew


Button-Down Shirt

You'll need a button-down shirt to wear with your interview suit. Blue is traditional and the most popular color I see by far at the bank (where I work right now). Maybe it's because I work in the Corporate Investment Banking division, but half of the people I pass are in blue button-downs with black pants. Other colors are acceptable, especially for us girls, but if you can only afford one or two, definitely get one in blue. Now, you can buy a button-down from just about anywhere, but I'm in love with the non-irons by Brooks Brothers. Now, maybe it's because I'm not a fan of ironing, but it just seems that whenever I get a regular (non-non-iron) shirt, it never comes out the same after I wash it. Meanwhile, everytime I wash my Brooks Brother's shirts, they look crisp and fresh as soon as I take them out of the dryer. Oh, and if you do get these, don't leave them in the dryer or they will wrinkle - hang them up as soon as they're done drying and you'll be good to go.

This non-iron button-down shirt (image and item) by Brooks Brothers
I don't have any other recommendations on non-iron button-down shirts (b/c I've never seen them anywhere else...at least not for women), but trust me, these tops are well-worth the investment. Look for when they do their "3 for..." sale to get sweet deals on a trio of tops.



Purse

A simple purse is not necessarily a "true" must-have, but it is in my book. You don't want to carry your fave fuzzy-pink purse that you took to all the frat parties into the office. Remember, you want to look professional because you want to be treated like a professional. Get a simple black purse to start and then work your more-fun-totes into the work-week once you get a better feel for what's appropriate.

This purse by Perlina (image and item from Nordstrom.com)
Also, try Nine West, Cole Haan, Kenneth Cole, and TJ Maxx



The above picks are just my personal recommendations, but there are always exceptions to the "rules". For example, if you're going to apply for a more artistic job, you may get to use more of an "artistic license" while putting your work outfits and interview outfits together (you may even need to to let your personality shine through).

Those low on funds can take advantage of the summer sales going on now to stock up on work-appropriate apparel. Trust me, when I graduated, I was b-r-o-k-e, so these type sales are great for getting new career gear.

Anywho, looking professional will get you in the door...once you're hired, keep a look out to see what other ladies around the office are wearing and try to match their level of formality. Too informal is bad, but so is too formal. Just get a feel for the environment and you'll be good to go. If you want, you can click on the "Business Casual" label here in the blog to see some outfits that I wear to work, though you'll have to style yours based on your own office environment.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

National Pink Day

Today is National Pink Day! As I'm a fan of the color pink, I figured I'd pass on the news. Not too much info on this on the web - I just happened to hear about it on the radio today.

Pink isn't exactly the "It Color" at the moment, but here are some finds for you pink fans out there:


...for the sophisticated pink fan:

Dooney & Bourke Large Lock Sac
Image and item from Nordstrom.com

...for your sassy hot-pink summer outfits:

Kate Spade pink strappy suede 'Ignite' sandals
Image and item from bluefly.com

...for the pink party-goer:

Forever 21 Bamboo Tube Dress
Image and item from forever21.com

...for the pink princess:

Juicy Couture 'Victoria' Leather Band Watch
Image and item from Nordstrom.com

...and finally, for you more-domesticated pink-inclined fashionistas:

Shop For the Cure - Pink Cookware Set
Image and item from neimanmarcus.com

Neiman Marcus actually has a few items for sale under their "Shop For the Cure" section - click here to shop. Make your kitchen pink-chic for a good cause.

Summer to Fall 2007: Transition Chic Tote

In case you haven't noticed already (or just haven't been to the mall lately), stores everywhere are putting items on sale to start to make way for Fall 2007 fashion. I mean, Summer 2007 didn't officially start until just a couple days ago, but while we're all about putting our hottest summer outfits together, shops are gearing up to make way for Fall 2007 goods.

If you're still shopping for summer-worthy apparel and accessories, now is the time to start thinking about items that might transition nicely to the fall. I think this designer purse by Roberto Cavalli does just the trick:

Roberto Cavalli Acapulco Extra Large Hobo

This tote would work well with almost anything - from lightweight summer neutrals to fall tones to even black. I'm not a fan of mixing brown and black, but I think an exception to the "rule" can be made if the brown is a light-enough shade. Anywho, this purse would go great with shorts and dresses for now and jeans and boots once the cooler weather starts heading our way. It's Casual Chic and Transition Chic all wrapped up in one pretty purse.

NOTE: Image and item from eluxury.com

Friday, June 22, 2007

Deal Alert - Neiman Marcus Sale - Up To 50% Off

Neiman Marcus put lots of fun (but super-expensive) items on sale today, and you can save up to 50% off by shopping their Summer Sale. After spending a small fortune on my car recently, I'm not sure I can afford much (read anything) right now, but if I could, I'm eyeing these for work:


Miu Miu Vernice Pump - Was $370 - Now $194


Gucci Britt Mid-Heel Pump - Was $495 - Now $260


Dolce & Gabbana Leather-Trim Pump - Was $550 - Now $289

Although I've only picked a couple shoes to feature, there are also some sale items in their accessories (including purses), apparel and more.

Click here to shop the sale

NOTE: Images and items from neimanmarcus.com

SA How To: Tie a Sash

Shopaholic sweetie, CTPrep, asks, "I always have a hard time tying sashes, how did you tie yours?"

Well, CTPrep, I figured the best way to explain this would be with a video, so I've uploaded my first-ever video to YouTube, embedded in this post. This is my first, so it's not exactly the most professionally-filmed video ever, but I figured it would be better than a step by step written explanation, right? (I did add some written notes below the video to go along with the video, but you can probably just watch to see what I do)

Also, I'm not sure if there is an official "How To Tie a Sash" on the web somewhere (or otherwise) - this is just how I happen to tie mine. If anyone has a better method or additional tips, feel free to leave a comment.


Here are some notes to go along with the video:
*Basically, I start by putting the side of the sash (back/front-wise) I want to be seen facing out and position the ends so that they cross where I want the sash knot to sit
*Then, I tie the sash so that the ends are even in length and the knot hits at my hip. Try to keep the side of the sash you want to be seen visible (in the video, the floral side is still showing)
*You can stop here, but I recommend tying the sash again as it can fall off easily if you only single-knot it
*If you tie another knot, try to keep the side you want showing as you tie and flatten the ends towards your body so they don't stick out (away from your body) too much
*Also, check that the sash didn't get twisted up a bit around the wider section - in other words, sometimes the back-side can start to flip up, so you just have to turn the edges back under

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Casual Chic - Flats with Bling for Summer 2007

I've been looking for an affordable pair of flat sandals with lots of bling since last summer...unfortunately, the trend seemed to be with the brands that like to charge over $100, which I didn't (and still don't) feel like spending. Luckily, this season Nine West has stepped up with some cute designs like this pair:


Nine West - Carly - sparkly flats for $69

These sandals are perfect for those days when you want to sport a casual chic look that requires something simple, but nicer than your Rainbows.

NOTE: Image and item from ninewest.com

Monday, June 18, 2007

Forever 21 Does Cheap Chic Dresses

Anyone remember this post awhile back on American Eagle dresses? Well, apparently I need to get my a$$ over to Forever 21 asap to check out their super cute steals, like these:

Forever 21 - Jet Set Halter - $24


Forever 21 - Mandy Dress - $22.80


Forever 21 - Woven Cotton Dress - $19.80

I mean how affordable...I mean, adorable are these dresses?

NOTE: Images and items from forever21.com

Work Sweet, Work Chic

I love how this dainty, lacy, off-white blouse adds extra feminity to any bottom, from jeans to work-appropriate slacks. The satin bow gives the girly look an extra boost of "sugar and spice and everything nice":

Lace Top with Satin Tie - Banana Republic
Wide Leg Brown Dress Pants - Banana Republic
Off-White Peep-Toe Pumps - J Crew

Congrats Glam.com!

In case you haven't heard already, one of our fave sites, Glam.com, has reached new heights with the announcement that it has passed iVillage.com to rank as the #1 web site for women with more than seventeen million unique visitors per month! I'm so proud to be a member of this awesome network and site!

Click here for the full story

Congrats Glam!

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Casual Chic - Dinner Date

My SO took me out for a simple dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, and even though I could have made it with a T-shirt and jeans, I felt like dressing up just a tad:

I love how comfy and breezy this top is, but with all that volume, I had to pair it with some slimming skinny jeans to balance everything. The black cover-up was a must with the restaurant's frosty interior (lots of AC), and I tossed on a long gold chain necklace to tie the look together. Leopard-print peep-toe pumps add a bit of fun to the look.

Top - To The Max
Cover-up - Ann Taylor Loft
Skinny Jeans - Guess
Peep-Toe Pumps - Vaneli
Purse - Chanel (mais oui!)
Gold Chain Necklace - D Celestine

Louis Vuitton Does Watches, Too

When I hear "Louis Vuitton", the first thing that comes to my mind are those monogram purses you see everywhere. I easily forget about the luggage, shoes, scarves, and belts that they also make so chicly. What I didn't know was that they also make watches...and super chic watches, at that! Perhaps they've made said watches for a long time...I have no clue, but while browsing eluxury.com today, I discovered these babies:


Louis Vuitton Tambour Small Quartz Lovely Diamond Evening Watch $3,600.00


Louis Vuitton Tambour Medium Lovely Diamonds $3,600.00


Tambour Forever Silver, Red Alligator Strap $10,300.00

My favorite is the one with the red strap, mainly because it adds an unexpected pop of color on your wrist where you may normally expect the norm: silver, gold, black, or brown. Then there's the other reason. See, I have a special gift that I haven't told you guys about yet. Apparently, I have the ability to pick out the most expensive item of a store, no matter where I go. The red one was the first one I chose to blog about...lol. Then, take, for example, that I was in TJ Maxx the other day and saw a lovely little blazer. How much could it be, I wondered. I figured most of the blazers in TJ Maxx would be between $50 and $100, and I do believe that most of them are. The blazer I selected, however, was closer to $300...an Elie Tahari blazer down from $500. Nice! Figures...lol.

NOTE: Images and items from eluxury.com

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Fashion Friend Finale - Week 6/16/07

Couture in the City spots a red-carpet trend fit for any body type

ShopDiary shares a fab discount code for delicious designer clothes & accessories at Daszign.com

Catwalk Queen reports that Ashley Judd will be releasing an affordable, new clothing line to be sold at Goody's

The Daily Obsession tells you "How to: Give Yourself a Mani/Pedi"

Friday, June 15, 2007

Simple Outfit - Sassy Sash

So, I brought a friend by the shop where I got my Vera Bradley on sale, and lo-and-behold, they had new stuff on sale! While my friend shopped the totes, I started browsing the new sale items - flip flops, belts, sashes, scarves, cell phone cases, dog collars. I know you'll all be shocked when I tell you that I found a couple things to buy, including this sassy sash:

My simple black & white outfit gets a flash of color with this floral Vera Bradley sash in Botanica. Accessories are a great way to dress up the most boring business casual outfit. I also managed to pick-up a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon to stick to my top while I was out for lunch - they were handing them out on the street, and not only do I #1 love to support Breast Cancer, but #2 it matched my outfit! I mean, I would have worn it either way, but I thought it was a funny coincidence.

Non-Iron Button-Down - Brooks Brothers
Black Pants - The Limited
Black Round-Toe Pumps - Michael Kors
Sash - Very Bradley

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Goddess Must-Have: The Goddess Guide

You are a goddess. You may not think you are...but you are. You may not be rich or famous. You may not ever have the chance to model for a fashion magazine. You may not have a closet full of designer shoes. And...You most likely do not have a chapter dedicated to you in a mythology book. I don't think any of this stuff matters. I think that if you haven't done so already, you need to find your inner goddess and help bring her out of her shell so she can shine. This may be an easy feat for some of you, but whether you're still searching for or you've already discovered your inner goddess, here's a little something that every goddess should keep on her nightstand (which is where mine is):

Author, Gisele Scanlon, has compiled her favorite goddess-worthy tips from her very own personal adventures, as well as, encounters with your favorite designers and fashion mavens into the hot pink and black velvet covered book, THE GODDESS GUIDE.

THE GODDESS GUIDE covers topics from "Style" to "Travel" to "Joie de Vivre." Inside these deliciously bound pages are tips like what underwear you can wear without worrying about icky panty-lines, what clothes to pack if you're headed to Paris, and how to keep your home spick and span in style. Gisele has even included interview questions and answers with your faves, like Christian Louboutin and Laura Mercier, who answer questions like "So, what's the secret to finding the perfect foundation?"

Don't think the tips in THE GODDESS GUIDE are for the financially-well-endowed only. Some of the simplest and most affordable tips of all are in these pages, like, "Place lemon slices in an open bowl in the bathroom to keep the air citrus fresh." Think about getting a copy for your friends, too. The guide would also make an excellent graduation present or a gift to a friend who's having a hard time right now (a rough break-up maybe?) to remind her that she is a goddess and deserves better.

I wish I could provide more details around the tips inside this book, but with an average of 10 tips per page (that's a guesstimate), and over 250 pages, I could do blog posts for months. Besides my random flipping through chapters, I've read about one third of this book, and I can't wait to see what other goodies Gisele has included in the pages I haven't yet read. My favorite sections, so far, include the section that tells you how to buy your perfect handbag, the Christian Louboutin interview, the section on Paris (b/c I can't wait to go back), and the section on how to hand-write letters (the old-fashioned way).

THE GODDESS GUIDE US-edition went on sale yesterday (June 12th) so get your guide today and be one of the first fashionistas in the US to get Gisele's best glamour tips. A world of fashionista tips compiled into one essential book is all yours for only $19.95. You may not be a celebrity, but with this book, you'll have the secrets to treat yourself like one at your fingertips.

Click here to get your guide

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Fashion Friend Finale - Week 6/9/2007


Couture in the City blogs on Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's new fashion line: Elizabeth and James

Catwalk Queen finds a T that will make you and everyone around you smile

Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour’s executive fashion editor at large, picks out the cheap shoes she'd actually buy on her blog Suze on Style

The Daily Obsession blogs on how JuicyTubes saved the day - read their story for details

Frugal Fashionista shows you how to get Jessica Alba's outfit on a budget

NOTE: Image source - people.com

Summer Dress Deals at American Eagle

I have a wedding to attend later today...I'm actually an honorary bridesmaid, so we were in Columbia, SC for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner yesterday. Anywho, The wedding isn't until 2PM later today, so I'm up and shopping the web from my hotel room...what else do you expect a shopaholic to do in her free time? Lol. Lucky for you guys I found three fab summer dresses on sale at American Eagle (ae.com) that I thought I'd share:


AE Patchwork Grad Party Dress Was $69.50 - Now $59.95
Not only is white super-chic for daytime attire, but the color will help reflect the sun, keeping you cool.


AE Strapless Party Dress Was $69.50 - Now $59.95
Ahh...the classic Madras pattern - eye-catchingly sweet - this pattern matches most of your closet, so you can easily choose accessories and a cardigan (should you need a cover-up for those chilly-indoor-events).


AE Sunset Dress Was $59.50 - Now $44.95
Royal purple makes you look regal paired with either gold or silver metallic accessories.

With the summer heat in full force, a chic, cotton, daytime dress is a must-have for Summer 2007, especially with deals like this at arm's reach!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Steal of a Skirt - Sweet Look for Work

Has anyone else noticed what fab sales The Limited has? I got this skirt for less than $15:

A dainty, ballet-pink skirt that hits just above the knee (do I look taller? :) ) with a simple black cardigan set, linen peep-toe heels, and my Chanel purse to raise the Chic Scale up a notch.

Hit up The Limited quick for some awesome sale items you can wear to work or play.

Pleated Skirt - The Limited
Cardigan Set - Banana Republic
Linen Peep-Toe Heels - Banana Republic
Purse - Chanel

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Fashionista Must-Have ($ Required)

I'm not rich...but if you are, you def need this in your Summer 2007 wardrobe:

Stella McCartney - Belted Mini Dress in Cobalt Blue (as seen in Vogue)
Image and item from net-a-porter.com

Perhaps one day I'll be able to afford something like this. I guess I could buy this if I didn't buy anything else all month...I could always start eating Ramen for lunch and putting my lunch money in a piggy bank? Hmmm...

...not likely...I like to eat! :)

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Setting Sights On: Gucci

I love my Chanel, don't get me wrong, but I'm kind of a "matchy-matchy" person. You know, the kind who doesn't like to mix black and brown, which brings me to my point. I get a lil uncomfortable leaving my house with brown shoes and a brown-toned outfit and my black, quilted Chanel. It's nothing that would keep me from actually leaving my house or being embarrassed of my outfit or purse (like anyone could ever be embarrassed of a Chanel), but I do think about it. Perhaps I could never wear brown again? Now, that's just silly...what I need is something different...something brown...something classic...something chic...something designer...something Gucci? Darn you shopaholicism!

Gucci Chain Large Hobo

Have you ever heard designer bags are addictive? Well, I'm here to tell you it's absolutely true! It may be awhile before I can afford another designer tote, but I'm willing to swear off other purses till I find my perfect brown-toned-beauty. Maybe when I have the money, I'll still have my sights set on the Gucci hauteness pictured above. *le sigh*

NOTE: Image and item from neimanmarcus.com


PS I would like to add that "light brown" and black is pretty cute...I'm just not a fan of dark brown and black...ick!

Reader Q: White Ankle Boots

Someone sent me a reader Q a couple weeks ago, and I've been searching my email all day to find it...only to realize that it's probably in one of my comments...I can't find it! Sorry! But I do remember the basic premise of the question. I believe you were asking if it was ok to wear white ankle boots and if so, what to wear them with.

I'm not really a "super trendy" person myself, so I actually never even got one pair of ankle boots...although there were some really hot ones over at
Rafe (who rocks and is also Filipino), but I couldn't afford them at the time that I wanted to get them. Anywho, as far as trends are concerned, it seems the ankle boot is out - I haven't seen them in mags, fashion blogs, or on TV lately. However, that being said, I believe fashion is more than just following the latest trend. I think fashion is more about personal style. If you love your ankle boots and can rock them with confidence, then rock on! They key to wearing something different is wearing it with confidence and not caring what other people think.

Here's Sienna Miller rockin some white ankle boot:


I think the white ankle boots would look good worn as Sienna wears hers - with skinny jeans. Also, similar to how I saw tons of black ankle boots paired with black skirts, I'd try a white skirt - probably mid-thigh to just above the knee in length.

Happy Outfit-Creating!

NOTE: Photo above found on a web search and is believed to be usable as fair use for commentary purposes only. If you are the owner of this photo and object to its use, please email me at shopaholicd at gmail dot com and I'll be happy to take it down. Thanks!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Fashion Friend Finale - Week 6/2/07


Couture in the City has a great recommendation for a hip Father's Day gift

Catwalk Queen blogs on Keri Russell's latest photo shoot for Interview

LookBook shows us how to get a chic summer look a la Mischa Barton

NOTE: Not sure where to credit the photo of Brad Pitt