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Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

Love It: Glitter. Yes, Glitter.

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012


In recent years, I have made a conscious effort not to dress in a cutesy, overly girly way. For two reasons- 1) I end up wearing those frilly pieces for one season and then I am totally sick of them and 2) I didn’t want to become a caricature of myself- talking beauty and fashion all day then skipping home in a pink poufy dress. This whole new self imposed style direction meant steering clear of things like, well, glitter.  But, perhaps in an act of rebelling against myself, lately I am obsessed with things that sparkle in the least subtle way possible.

Specifically, I am talking about Sparkly Soul headbands and Toms Shoes Glitters. Let me explain…

Sparkly Soul Headbands: Yes, they are colorful and fun, but they also happen to be the most amazing way to keep your hair out of your face while working out. They have a patent-pending design that keeps them exactly where you put them, no matter how vigorous the sweat session (as it is I have a tendency to sweat a lot, and to see me in Flywheel, you would think I had a medical condition or something- seriously, it is a tad embarrassing). While at first I planned on just wearing the headbands to spin, they have somehow crept into my everyday ensembles- making a boring ponytail, littered with frayed hairs along my forehead, appear sleek and styled.

Toms Shoes Glitters: I am not a Toms girl. Yes, they look cool on some people, but on me, they look ridiculous. However, when I saw Andrea Arterbery wearing a pair of glittery ones at the Dove event a couple weeks ago, I decided what the heck, I’ll give them another try. I ordered a pair for myself in the deep purple shade that Andrea had on (yes, I am a fashion copycat) and of course a pair of pink ones for Alexa. While I will admit, I have yet to wear them out, I do enjoy the disco touch that they add to my closet.

 

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New Favorite Color Combo- Neon Yellow & Red

Thursday, March 29th, 2012


I have been getting lazy when it comes to getting dressed lately- reaching for old standby dresses or leggings and tees in neutral hues every time I walk into my closet.

On a visit to Ann Taylor a couple of weeks ago (yes, I know, I am becoming a little obsessive but I tend to get that way), I picked up the neon yellow lace tank pictured above, figuring it was just the thing to lift myself out of my fashion rut. At first, I paired it with dark jeans and my beloved nude Brian Atwood Maniac heels- playing it safe and basic.

Then, I happened to be wearing said neon yellow tank when a pair of C. Luce red shorts I ordered from Piperlime arrived in the mail. I tried them on immediately (with online shopping, I try on clothes the second they arrive so that the box is right there in front of me in the case that I decide to return) and unexpectedly fell in love with the color-blocked look.

Since shorts weather seems to be a little far off at the moment (although yes, I did wear this outfit- shorts and all- in this Today Show segment yesterday), I get my neon yellow and red fix by substituting red Brian Atwood Maniacs (again, my obsessive fashion tendencies come into play) for nude ones. Then I throw a Piazza Sempione one-button navy blazer over it, stuff my lip gloss, iPhone and wallet into a red patent YSL clutch and skip down the sidewalks feeling quite stylish.

This whole experience reminded me why fashion is fun- there is no harm in experimenting.  If the resulting reflection in the mirror in is hideous, you simply change. But when you do happen upon a winning combo, there is no better feeling.

Now that I am all about mixing colors in unique ways, would love to know your favorite unexpected color combo- so do tell…

Note: Tank Top image c/o Ann Taylor, C. Luce Red Shorts image from Piperlime.com.

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FOUND: A “Long Enough” Top

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012


I spend hours online searching for seasonally-appropriate tops (sweaters in winter, now on to long sleeved tees for spring) that are long enough to wear with leggings and fully cover my backside. Subsequently, I spend even more hours packing up purchases to send back after I discover that when you put them on, they simply do not provide the coverage that is required, in my opinion, of any female over the age of 18 wearing leggings outside of a gym class.

Keep in mind, people, I am not tall- 5’2 at best- nor do I have an abnormally long torso. But for the life of me I could not find an easy-to-throw-on top to wear with my beloved Sassybax leggings that looked put-together and, most importantly, DECENT. To date, I have resorted to wearing my GapMaternity tops- sans baby bump, they are quite long. But given that my daughter is now 14 months old, they are pretty tattered and my husband groans in disgust every time I put one on. Rightly so.

Well, imagine my elation when I was in Lululemon yesterday (true, I am usually elated every time I walk into Lululemon because I freaking love everything in there so much) and I spotted a super long tank top. I walked out with a black one, and while it is not the tee shirt I dreamed of (I am a big fan of sleeves, I’ve always had an arm thing) it does get the job done. Layering is required- so far I have paired it with a jean jacket, and today, a cropped boatneck sweatshirt. Even with a dressy blazer, this tank would look completely appropriate. The proprietary fabric that Lululemon uses has such a polished, matte finish to it, you never have to relegate it to strictly workout wear.

The only major downside that I must warn you of is that, due to the cut, you either have to own a racerback bra or go strapless. Or show your bra straps, but that kind of defeats the purpose of covering up your butt in the first place, if you catch my drift…

[Image above is from Lululemon website.]

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Best Spring Purchase To Date: Ann Taylor

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

 

I gotta say- Ann Taylor is KILLING it for Spring. It reminds me of Zara last year- you know, when all of the sudden you walked into the store almost every single item jumped out as a must have. And not in a trendy “Friday night party top” way, but in a “this could live in my closet for the long term and make me look amazing on a regular basis” way.

The other day, I picked up an incredible 3/4 sleeve top with a bell-shaped silhouette in a tangerine-meets-coral-gone-neon hue. The shape feels very mod, the color feels very current, and it wears extremely well. After a 16 hour day (which included an event to check out the Spring launches from Shiseido,where they snapped the photo of me above) it remained crease and wrinkle-free. I could learn a lesson or two in stamina from this puppy.

For some insane reason, it is not available online (gasp!).This means you have to get yourself to an Ann Taylor store, shell out around $88 (if I recall that was the price but they always seem to have some special discount situation going on in there), and walk out with a big ol’ smile, confident that you just made the best possible purchase to kick-start the season ahead, and then some.

Note: The top photo is to show you the color (and while you are looking, check out the pretty pink lipstick- part of Shiseido’s Spring collection), the bottom is to show you the shape. Between the two, you should have a pretty decent idea of what you are getting yourself into should you decide to seek out said top.

The necklace, by the way, is from RichRocks- it is one of my staples for on-air days because it is lightweight yet somehow doesn’t make any of the jingling noises that usually annoy the sound people on set.

 

 

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My Two Cents: How To Make a Sale Purchase You’ll Be Proud Of

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

 

As far as fashion retailers are concerned, Spring has sprung. But really, it hasn’t. So may as well take advantage of the final markdowns on winter merchandise while you can still get some wear out of them, right?

I have made many a bad purchase decision under the influence of deep discounts- but this is not one of them. Purchasing this Milly coat on sale in Boca last month took about, let’s see, 45 seconds from rack to register. And while often times a quick draw of the credit card like that can signal a piece that is surely to never be worn, in this case, I did good. Because I have worn it many times since, and truly believe it is timeless.

So here is my take on end-of-season sale shopping- don’t buy the basic that is *almost* perfect. There is usually a reason a clearly classic piece is on the sale rack- something in the fit or wearability is off.  Instead, look to statement pieces that resonate with your wardrobe.

In my case, I always reach for jeans or leggings and a black cami when I don’t know what to wear, then I throw a jacket of some sort on top.  I have a rack full of well-tailored blazers and easy-to-wear lady like swing coats and such. Hence it makes sense for me to scoop up a piece like this. It is bold, so not every woman across America would think to purchase it. As such, there it sat on the sale rack, sandwiched between oversized sequin sweatshirts and crazy floral print ruffle blouses.

However, it is just bold enough to freshen up my go-to uniform and therefore will forever be deemed a sale purchase I am proud of. Which is not something I can say for many of the ill-fitting black pants or white tee shirts I have excitedly hoarded at sales in the past.

Do tell- what is your best ever sale purchase?

And if you don’t mind, share your sage sale shopping tips with the rest of us, will ya? Thanks.

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My Shop It To Me Pop Up Shop. Treat Yourself. It’s Tuesday.

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

 

In high pressure situations, my brain has a tendency to want to go the other way. Like, before my wedding, when the pressure was on to get skinny, I gained weight. Same with pre-Spring Break shape-ups in college. Around the holidays, with all the pressure to buy the perfect thing for someone else, I end up buying many perfect things- for myself. Which is why when Shop It To Me asked me to curate a pop up boutique of my favorite fashions (all on sale, mind you!) for their Treat Yourself Tuesday campaign, I couldn’t resist.

Putting this together was quite enjoyable (dare I say, too enjoyable as my credit card bill this month will vouch)- every item you see is something I want in my closet (if I don’t already own it) because they fulfill my three fashion rules- timeless, easy to wear and very versatile.

Hope you will check out my Treat Yourself Tuesday Pop Up Boutique and treat yourself to a little (or a big) something. The boutique will only last until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (Tuesday, 12/20)- so hop to it. If you haven’t found the perfect present for everyone on your list just yet, maybe spoiling yourself is just the distraction you need.

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Go-To Outfits Are Everything.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

When I was dating, I had a go-to first date outfit. A dark pink ribbed Vanessa Bruno knit henley, black cami, Citizens of Humanity trouser flare jeans and pointy toe Gucci stilettos that I wish I had never given away. This made going on first dates much less painful- since given the choice, nine times out of ten I would have rather stayed home in my pajamas watching Dawson’s Creek. (Hey, it was 2003- Friday Night Lights wasn’t around yet.) But with the whole “what the F am I going to wear” part taken out of it, dating became much less stressful and I became much more open to meeting new people as a result.

While my first date days are long gone, the lesson learned from having that go-to outfit has stuck with me- and it really is invaluable. So, I have inaugurated a go-to “Saturday night double date” outfit.  See, Saturday night plans are rough lately- a full day with Alexa knocks me out. But in the interest of maintaining a life and staying sane (not to mention ordering in pizza from Vezzo two nights in a row would be embarrassing), Brian and I have made an effort to be good about making plans. But inevitably when 7pm rolls around, I throw a tantrum similar to the ones I used to throw before going out on a first date, begging Brian to let me cancel so we can watch TV and be in bed by 10.  Part of the anxiety definitely has to do with getting dressed- so now I have taken that out of the equation.

What is this outfit, you ask? It is comprised of favorite pieces from my closet that I always feel good in- and it is basic enough that when I want to switch it up a bit, all it takes is a few twirls of the curling iron, a makeup change-up and a little creative accessorizing.

Oh- and in case you are wondering- without fail, every time I motivate out oon a Saturday night, I end up being really thrilled I did. So any friends reading this who we have had dinner with recently- you can rest assured, we had a blast.

Hunter Dixon Ava Top, 7 For All Mankind Rachel Bell Bottom Jeans (blogged about here), Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps (blogged about here) and a big ol’ Dannijo cuff.

What is your a go-to outfit that makes a recurring occasion in your life less stressful? Do tell. I am always looking to add to my repertoire…

 

 

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The Fashion Holy Grail: A Chic Trench with a Hood

Friday, October 14th, 2011

I honestly do not understand why ANYONE would make a trench coat without a hood. Any sort of coat that could potentially be worn on even a SLIGHTLY rainy day should, by law, come with a hood. Either that, or the makers of said coat should allow me to submit my salon bills to them for reimbursement each time a perfectly good blowout is ruined by the fine mist of rain that the hood-less coat neglects to protect me from.

And I am not alone here. Every rainy day, I could not help but wax poetic about my fruitless search- and typically whoever I was lamenting to expressed the exact same frustration. Sure, there are plenty of raincoats out there with hoods- but if it is a more classic trench style you are seeking, the options are few and far between.

So, when I got an email from the very stylish Vanessa, an adorable producer I work with at E! News, embedded with a link to an item she claimed was  the answer to our  hair prayers, my online purchase was imminent.  Not to mention timely, given the recent influx of rainy days.

Thanks to the J. Crew Matinee Trench, I have never looked quite so chic on a rainy day- at least from my head to about an inch above my knees.

The cut is close to the body, the details are true to the iconic trench style, and the waist belt can be tied as tightly as you wish to create a flattering silhouette. And the gold hardware- gorgeous. Plus, they carry petite sizing, which for my 5 foot 2 frame fit perfectly- even the sleeves hit right where I want them to.

Oh- and it is now on sale for $119.99 in the light khaki- the only one to get, if you want my opinion.

The Matinee Trench easily looks like a $500+ coat. Only better. Because I bet that $500 coat wouldn’t be street smart enough to come with a hood.

In case you want to see the front view- here you go:

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Flats: A Fashion Confession.

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

I have a confession to make.

Up until last week, my go-to flats were the Tory Burch Reva ballet slippers with the big Tory Burch gold medallion logo on top. Technically, I am very much aware that there there is nothing wrong with that. I mean, I adore Tory Burch. I especially adore Tory Burch shoes. But to call myself a “style expert” and wear the one pair of shoes that millions of women across the world owned, loved and moved on from probably 2 years ago, is, well, embarrassing.

To be fair- they are without a doubt the most comfortable flats I have ever owned, and they look great with everything in my closet that would ever be appropriate to wear with flats. But they are ubiquitous. Actually- they WERE ubiquitous. In like 2009. Since then, even the most hard-core Tory devotees (i.e. my mom) have “graduated” to her more subtle/less logo-tastic offerings.

Except me. See, I never found a pair of flats that wowed me to the point that I simply had to own them- so I figured, if it ain’t broke…

And then, I spotted these:

A friend of mine was wearing them- and when she told me a) they were comfortable and b) she got them at ZARA, I had to have them immediately. As in, I went online the second I got home and ordered a pair. And have worn them every day since.

Pointy toe flats that are COMFORTABLE? Amazing.

And on top of that, an on-trend yet timelessly sophisticated style for UNDER $70? Knock me over with a feather.

Or in this case, a flat.

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As Seen on TV: Today Show Coats Under $100

Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Can’t think of a better way to start the week then over at the Today Show, right? This was such a fun segment to put together, especially since I am a very selfish person (I’m an only child, it isn’t my fault) and happen to need a new coat badly- so this became my excuse to scout and shop for fashionable finds under $100.
You can view the segment HERE (tried to get all fancy and embed it but just couldn’t get it to work, go figure.)
Below, the 5 coats that I fell in love with and featured this morning. Take a look and let me know which is your favorite- I can’t buy all 5, so consider your comments to be my straw poll to decide which one(s) are going to take up permanent real estate in my coat closet.
Look 1: Caped Crusader
So sophisticated and glamorous, not to mention easy to wear,  the cape is the must-have shape for Winter. Two style notes though- first off, capes really are best worn with jeans or trousers, they look pretty silly with skirts. And secondly, make sure you have a bag option that doesn’t involve going over the shoulder, because it just isn’t physically possible  to make that work out comfortably. Trust me, I tried. 

Worthington Cape- $74.99 at www.jcp.com

Look 2: Orange Crush
The great thing about a coat- it covers everything, so it matches everything. If you have a closet full of neutrals, seek out a colorful coat and all of the sudden, you are no longer that predictable girl always dressed in black and grey. Even if you are underneath- you will at least have them fooled temporarily.  Love the lines on this coat- gives it a very modern feel, making it seem all fancy and expensive, even though it isn’t. 
Fire Lily Burnt Orange Coat- $91.00 at www.lulus.com

Look 3: Coat Gone Wild
Combining two big trends for Fall- animal prints and men’s car coat silhouettes, this coat from Old Navy is a subtle and sexy option. You want your coat to make a statement, but not too much of one considering how often you will be wearing it. Perfect for dressing up or down, I especially love this style for taller frames. If you are on the shorter side though, you can totally pull it off- just seek out a coat cut for petites- altering the car coat style too much can off set the proportions so you lose that menswear effect. 
Wool-Blend Car Coat- $99.94 at www.oldnavy.com

Look 4: Posh Parka
The perfect mix of fancy and function- adding a simple faux fur collar to a utilitarian classic makes it effortlessly glamorous.  And who doesn’t love tucking in under a warm hood? Note- on the runway, we saw models sporting coats in at least 2 sizes too big- it is all about the slouchiness- like an outerwear take on boyfriend jeans. Oh- and a lazy girl fashion tip- if you are avid online shopper like I am, sign up for www.ShopItToMe.com, where I came across this coat.  When you create your profile, you can specify you want to be notified when outerwear from your favorite brands and retailers goes on sale in your size and voila- deals appear right in your inbox. 
 Style & Co Parka- $68.99 at www.ShopItToMe.com

Look 5: Cropped Shearling
Part aviator, part mountain man- the cut is figure flattering and feminine, while still allowing for ultimate warmth.  This one from Lulus is a practical and on-trend alternative to last season’s motorcyle jacket craze. Especially since shearling can be a very overwhelming material on a smaller frame, the close-to-the-body cut here is key. Obsessed. 
Urban Behavior Jacket- $81.00 at www.lulus.com

 

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