Fall to Winter Prep for Less

So a look I've been really into lately is preppy, taking notes from vintage looks and school uniforms. I know with our economy its hard to buy new things, so I've found some options for getting this look for less. Many of these items might already be in your closet!
1. Cardigans. I love this Fab Stripe Trim Cardi from Forever 21. Four different choices in color for only $13.50. I love the navy blue and the touch of muted yellow.
2. Again from Forever 21, I am constantly singing the praises of these Lindsey Skinny Jeans. They are only $12.50 and fit surprisingly well. I have 4 pairs and my favorites are the dark denim (shown here) and gray (in stores only).
3. These wedge loafers from CutesyGirl are by Bamboo, a brand I have good luck with, for the low price of $9.99. They come in four different and fun color combinations.
4. These Forever 21 glasses add a girly yet studious edge. They're only $7.80.
5. I really dig these Forever 21 lucite glasses for $4.80. They remind me of some glasses my mom has from the 80s.
6. A great basic and bottom layer, this Mossimo v-neck tee in white is only $7.99 at Target. I originally bought one because it is a stand-by for modeling work, now it is my wardrobe stand-by.

I am really liking more low-key colors for fall and winter, but I think you could do this look with some brighter colors and it would be super fun. The nice thing about it is it can be really simple and minimal accessories will work well. I think some other ideas to explore would be scarves, messenger bags, and corduroy. Maybe thats another post!

I saw the Hives and I looked cute doing it!

Ok, life has been tumultuous lately. So this is a rather simple post, but all I can do at the moment. Anyways, like I mentioned before I saw the Hives at the Warfield in San Francisco. It was an awesome show, so much energy! I opted for a simple outfit of skinny jeans (only $12.50 at Forever 21!), my new Vans Classics, and a black v-neck tee.

See. Simple but good for a rock concert! I wish I had a picture of my friend Antanell- that girl knows how to rock the clothing!

Closer picture of the shoes of awesome!

Candie's for Kohl's

So what do you think of the Candie's collection for Kohls? I saw it some weeks ago while some boys dragged me to Kohl's. (I was so exciting that day. I bought a black t-shirt (black v-neck has been one of my basics lately), some shorts from Soffe (we used to wear their sweats as our dance team uniforms, very comfy), and a video game.) Anyways, I saw the Candie's line then, and thought it was cute. It was one of those days though and I didn't try anything on, or even molest it to check the quality. I will soon though, I promise. But what do you think of the looks?
I think they are possibly office worthy in a trendy enough office, or mixed with other brands. (Also depending on the quality, if the look/feel cheap or not.) Also cute for going out, every day. I have always liked Candie's shoes, and generally the pairs I have bought in the past have been good quality. But it has been a few years. I do really like teal/brown dress. Overall there is alot of teal and metallic in the collection as well as a slight rocker chic vibe...which is easily toned down.

My Favorite Gladiators

Well, we all know by now that the gladiator sandal is a considerable trend force this summer. Many of us are still debating their longevity, wondering if we will be able to wear them next year? Regardless, they are a fun trendy piece for summer. I think gladiator sandals in brown will be the most useful. They don't stand out too much and will be good for the boho look that comes back all the time. I think they can also be incorporated into the nautical look very easily, although maybe another color would be ideal for that. Metallics are great too, copper being a fun alternative to brown. I like silver and gold but probably wouldn't buy them, I can't see myself wearing them that much. I also like them in white, but white is seasonal and very trendy- so I have to consider that. Also I've seen a few girls in black patent gladiators, but I don't think they're as easy to utilize. And there are other colors that are fun, but you have to consider their ability to be reused once the trend ends.

Below I've picked some of my favorites using my favorite trendy website- CutesyGirl.

1. My favorite overall are these Michael Antonio Hutt Flats. They are $26.99 and come in black, red, copper, gold, silver, and white. No brown unfortunately, but I feel that the shoe isn't too hardware (buckles) heavy and has more wear ability.

2. This Wild Rose Egan01 Flat is a little more trendy with thicker straps and more hardware. I would be worried about the thick straps cutting my leg line too much and also it being re-wearable in the future, but at $9.99 thats not a huge issue. They come in yellow, orange, pink, silver, black, white, and tan.

3. This is the Classified Retag Flat which also has more hardware but thinner straps, which I prefer. For $14.99 you can get it in black, brown, copper, and white.

4. If you like a little bit of a more simple style that isn't as heavy looking and re-wearable then these Classified Lunar Flats might work well. They are only $7.99 and come in black, gold, silver, and white.

5. These are a different take on the gladiator flat and are a little more dressy. These Qupid Benefit143b Flats are on sale for $8.99 and come in gold, silver, and black.

6. If you are scared of those straps cutting off your ankle this is a great gladiator inspired look, the Steve Madden Azucar Flats in gold. They are $54.99, but they're a good brand and have much more longevity. They will definitely go beyond the gladiator trend.

7. My last pick is also a different take on the trend. They are Steve Madden Knitte Flats in Silver for $59.99. They have a little wedge heel and are light on straps and hardware, so have more wear ability. I have a similar pair of Steve Maddens in white which are great for wearing everywhere. I like having the extra height also.

So... I think the key is to buy a trendy pair of gladiators froma throw-away brand for $7-15. If you want to invest in a better brand- make sure they are gladiator inspired and have more possibilities beyond the trend. And those ones that go all the way up your leg? Just keep away!

Look of the Day- Simple Dresses

Lately I have taken a liking to simple jersey dresses which I can easily accessorize. They are cute and even I feel casual enough to wear them out and about. (I'm not much of a skirt person unless I'm going out.)

This one was found at T.J. Maxx for $12.99 made by Tresics. You can find similar dresses by Tresics at ShopBarbara and other online retailers in the $20 range. The accessories I chose were a art deco pendant from Forever 21 which was on sale for $2.99. You should check out their website for other trendy jewelry. I also have my Steve Madden gold loafers which I found new at Thrift Town San Francisco for $3. That was a great find! I love Steve Madden, but if you're looking for something for just the summer I suggest searching CutesyGirl for loafers in any range of colors.

Fashion Fun- Paper Dolls for grown-ups?

I used to be a paper doll fanatic. Not only did I buy paper dolls and painstakingly cut them all out, but I also made my own. But these days I don't have time for those... But I'm reminded of my old paper dolls by a number of tools which can be used to shop and play virtual dress-up at the same time. These awesome tools serve a number of purposes. First- they are just fun to play with. Secondly- it can be hard to visualize outfits when you're shopping, so this makes it easier to see how things might work with other items or with items similar to ones you already own.

So what are these fantastic programs?
The first which I remember finding a few years ago is MyVirtualModel. Its a cool program because you can create a sim that looks like you and then see exactly how you will look in something. The downsides are that there are limited companies that use this program and some of them are hard to use. My favorite is the MVM for H&M...
Also available from MyVirtualModel is Adidas, Lands End, and Sears.
The Adidas site is good for work out clothing, but a little difficult to mix and match clothing between collections. Sears and Lands End are not very fashion forward and not worth the trouble. Hopefully we'll see more companies adopt this program. Another problem is that its almost impossible to layer clothing on this program.

But my favorite web site is.... Polyvore! On Polyvore you can browse thousands of clothes and accessories and drag and resize things to create outfits. It is easy to layer and find lots of items from different stores. You can even use their clipper program to import items from sites not already included. And each item has a click through link if you want to buy it! Lots of people save and publish their "sets". A few companies and magazines also hold themed contests. Here are a few screen shots...

So what are you waiting for? Go check it out and play! (See how I'm using that yellow?! =D)

I'm mellow over yellow...

It seems like yellow is a big deal this season. But I'm not really that crazy about it. I never have been, I have a (possibly irrational) belief that it doesn't look good on my skin. Whether this is true or not, I still can't get past it. But I have to admit that yellow makes the biggest statement. A yellow bag or shoe really stands out and catches the eye. One yellow sighting that really caught me was Hayden Panettiere's ad for Dooney and Bourke. The bright bag really draws you in and makes you want it (or just to look like Hayden). Some people do look amazing in yellow from dresses to tops and bottoms. For example...
1. Denise Richards is radiant in this color, 2. Hayden's Dooney and Bourke ad, 3. Eva Mendes goes bold, 4. Thandi Newton is gorgeous, 5. Hilary Duff looks charming in this mini dress.

However, if I did happen to wear yellow. These are some pieces I would go for...1. I love this light colored Zephyr Top with flutter sleeves from Anthropologie, $29.95. 2. Simple but lovely, is the Coti Dress by Shumaq. You can find it at CoutureCandy, $225. 3. My favorite thing about this Kersh Cardigan is it's puffy short sleeves. It's cute for spring and is such a neutral buttery color that maybe even I could wear it, $15. 4. A coat by Kushcush that is raw silk and has beautiful vintage feel. Also from CoutureCandy, $428. 5. This Lux Christiane Mini from Urban Outfitters is a bold color, it will definitely brighten up any plain white top, $24.99.

But if you're like me and don't think it looks good next to your skin, maybe use it to accessorize? Below are some of my favorites, in a variety of price ranges.
1. Love, love, love this style. I think I would also like them in white, but this color is pretty devine. Secreted Away Heels from Anthropologie, $178. 2. The nice thing about this Designer Details Citrine Hoop Necklace is that you can add some yellow to your look without it being too much, $15. 3. I love this modern looking Concave Enamel Ring, $3.99. 4. A strappy sandal is a great thing to have when you're going to be prancing on sand or grass, heels are just too much of a pain on soft surfaces. Patent is in (as well as yellow), so get these Liz Gladiator Sandals by Isaac Mizrahi for Target, $24.99. 5. Carla Mancini's beautiful yellow Small Clutch is made with Italian leather and definitely "pops" at CoutureCandy, $194. 6. A simple accessory such as the Windowpane Headband from Anthropologie can perk up any outfit without much fuss, $28.

Store Review: T.J. Maxx

I was really excited to hear that a T.J. Maxx was finally opening near me. Its doors finally opened this past weekend in Daly City. I found time for a visit on Monday and was immediately sucked in. The presentation of the two-floor store is great. Unlike Ross or even Nordstrom Rack the employees are always straightening the merchandise, making it presentable and pleasing. Often the mish-mash of shoes at Ross makes me want to scream, but I definitely didn't have that problem at T.J. Maxx.

Speaking of shoes, there was a very good selection of enjoyable brands such as Steve Madden, Nine West, and Tahari. Most of them were in the $20-30 range. I even saw a few pairs of Cavalli's!

The hand bag selection was my favorite part. I spent close to an hour looking through them. I saw many mid level designers such as Coach, Bettseyville, Dooney and Bourke, Juicy Couture, and Michael Kors. These bags were still running in the $70-200 range. If you wanted something cute and less expensive they have a good selection including Kathy Von Zealand and Nine West. I really like the Michael Kors bags but can't quite afford one right now. I think that is going to be a future purchase though.

Juniors clothes were impressive in selection of styles, but not selection of sizes. I wear an extra small in most brands and found close to nothing in my size. In my size I found some sleek styles by Donna Karen New York but that was about it. Shorts and capris were a little more abundant in the small sizes, as were sun dresses. I don't know if this is just because small sizes aren't made in very large quantities or because the store is new and was raided by fashion hungry, skinny girls over the weekend. I did take a look at woman's wear also and saw a number of great brands and styles. I don't really have too much expertise on which sizes are hard to find, so you might have to check that out yourself.

One thing I was hoping to find was a new swimsuit for the summer. Again the sizing was difficult, very little in the extra small to medium size range. I was hoping to find some monokinis, as I've been struck with the notion that they are much hotter then the usual bikini. But there were a lot of attractive, larger size swim suits. Including some really nice Michael Kors tankinis. I did end up buying a Michael Kors swim cover up for $15 that was originally $100. (There were a lot of attractive cover-ups from skirts to tunic styles, really great for time spent out of the pool.)

Mens wear was minimal compared to women's, but still a nice selection. Underwear and lingerie really wasn't anything special. It is about the same selection you would find at Ross, but you can expect it to be on the right rack at T.J. Maxx. They had some nice perfumes, including L.A.M.B., Sarah Jessica Parker, Escada, and Versace. The only thing is you can't test them, so know you like it beforehand.

Not clothing related but definitely worth mentioning are the house wares. I am definitely going to get some new towels there, and the wall art selections are very sophisticated and don't look cheap. The kitchen gear they have in stock is also a wonderful addition to any home.

Well, I know I'm sold, but why don't you go check it out? Happy shopping!

If you go (about 5 minutes away from San Francisco State University, near Safeway and Trader Joe's):

West Lake Center
100 West Lake Ctr
Daly City, CA 94015
Phone: 650-991-1006

Mon-Sat: 9:30a-9:30p
Sun: 11a-6p