Fashion Blog

I have found that lately, I’m not only having writer’s block, but a shopper’s block as well. I can’t seen to find anything that I’ve been lusting over lately. I don’t know whether its that I’m working in a clothing store again and I’m on shopping burnout mode, or that my personality has just began to value shopping for my home over shopping for my wardrobe. I cannot stop buying things for the house! It’s my latest vice and has been this last year of living in my new apartment. I’ve completely indulged home-wise, splurging on backyard plants and cacti, bedding and fabric for curtains I made myself, and today…my latest binge? New hand towels for my bathroom, lovely soaps, a lovely sea foam green chenille bath mat, and of course…smelly candles in pretty vintage jars. What can I say. I am a sucker for home stuff. Deals? Sure, on some of it. But clothing deals are what I should be on the hunt for. When out at the shops recently, it wasn’t clothes I was pulling at and pricing, it was shoes. I’m good on clothes right now, it’s shoes that I almost need…and of course, want. Besides, right now is the weird in between time when it’s not quite end of summer, but not quite beginning of fall. The transitional time with weird color schemes and styles that are almost too warm to wear right now. Instead, we’ll focus on feet today. As usual, I found two pairs that I liked. One will be an instant hit, the other will take some thought and consideration. Now, at a first glance, this shoe may seem really hideous to many of you…

Gentle Souls ‘Dancin’ Jazz Oxford on sale for $133.90

But when you give it some thought and really try to picture it on your foot, it’s not so bad. I wasn’t sure about the ’slingback’ look on an oxford style shoe, but they are a great color, a classic color. Envision this shoe, with no socks, and a pretty floral dress. Mixing feminine with boyish looking pieces has been a hit all season and isn’t going away any time soon. I would actually wear these with some shorts, and and silky camisole or blouse, something delicate on top for balance.
My second faves were these chunky heels by BCBGirls…

BCBGirls ‘Edmund’ Sandal on sale for $64.90

I chose these sandals because I first off immediately liked the colors. The mix of nude and carmel brown is sure to match most dresses and color schemes, and the open toe would be fun to pair with black tights and a miniskirt.

Shop through a variety of women’s shoes at Smarter.com.

Kate Spade has been making great shoes for women for quite some time now.  Whether they are ballet flats, heels, or sandals–the Kate Spade look is unique.  Known for her simple and chic handbags which stirred up quite a frenzy a few years back, the designer has spread her wings and created much more than just handbags now.  The New York based Spade creates everything from baby gear, to clothing, to household items.  The ongoing theme or concept behind her designs seems to be a classic all-American aesthetic.  Think 1950’s-60’s retro chic, except modern day with a new twist.  These sandals I picked today are a perfect example of Spade’s ability to bring both worlds together…

Kate Spade Freda Jeweled Thong Sandals on sale now for $163.35, orginally priced at $350

I picked these because they look like something out of the ordinary, and aren’t too bad of a price for such a classy sandal.  The coral and turquoise color combination is really nice together and the large, vintage inspired jewel on top is really unique.  These sandals have that retro feel with that big floral jewel, but yet remain chic and somewhat simple at the same time.  I picture these on a pair of pedicure perfect feet and some sort of large sunhat on top.  Although this isn’t something I’d normally pick for myself, I was drawn to them nonetheless because of their striking color and detail.  I would take these on vacation somewhere and wear them to an outside lunch by the pool, because after all they do look quite glamorous!  Sandals with low heels like these usually wear well with cropped pants, skirts, or dresses.  Unsure as of whether I would wear these with jeans.  Depending on how and what you pair them with, the look could swing either way…preppy, or funky.  I would go for a more funky look with these and wear them with dress that was probably bright but not too loud.  In her clothing design, Kate Spade sticks to cute shift dresses that are simple and retro looking, in her most recent designs, she was inspired by Mexican Folk Art…hence the name of the sandals “Freda”, although the real Frida’s name is spelled differently. Here is a classic Kate Spade dress that would work perfectly with these sandals…

This Coconut Grove Ronnie Dress is on sale for $296 right now, katespade.com

The brown would go well with both the turquoise and coral in the sandals.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more women’s sandals.
Discounts on Kate Spade sandals.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again!- time to gather up your BFFs and raid the Victoria Secret Semi Annual sale.  Everyone needs a treat once in a while to cheer themselves up and VS almost always does the trick.  Here are some sweet pick-me-ups:

Push-up triangle top with double string bottom: top $22; bottom: $14.50

Halter cover up dress: $130

Plunge Demi Bra: $33.50

Organic Button-front romper: $22

Lace-trim silk teddy: $44

Ruffle neck top: $14.99 on clearance

Pyramid studded thong: $29

Body 3-In-1 Wash for Shower, Bubble Bath & Hair:  3/$25

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more bikinis, women’s cover-ups and women’s sandals.

This week’s deals include not one, but two pairs of women’s sandals–both great for summer.  I don’t usually go for heavily embellished shoes.  Every once in a while, I like something with a big jewel on it, after all, a little flash never hurt anyone.  What I have found myself drawn to in-particularly are metallic gold shoes.  I picked up a pair a few months ago, they were wedges with a rounded closed toe and t-strap.  Very cute, very comfy.  I thought they’d really give just the right amount of dazzle to an old t-shirt and jean shorts…my idea of a funky, summery outfit–good for a night of bar hopping or seeing a band.  So once again, my eye went to the metallic gold, and these Sam Edelman ‘Luna’ Sandals are just my style with their chunky heel and snake embossed slingback strap.

These were originally $138.95, and are now on sale for $68.90.

These are my pick for nighttime footwear, and my pick for daytime sandals are these DV by Dolce Vita ‘Mercury’ Sandals - $89.95 originally, now on sale for $44.90.

These would look great with a dress or jeans…

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more Sam Edelman sandals.
Discounts on DV by Dolce Vita sandals.

Max Azria, the designer behind BCBG, has been doing his own singular creations for a while now. Although much simpler and basic, much of Azria’s eponymous designs are reminiscent of the BCBG “look” that you will find on the racks on runways.  I like both but if I was forced to choose would probably opt for Azria and his designs.  The style in which he designs is just a bit more straightforward and grown up, feminine but not overly girly.  Below are my three favorite looks from his Resort 2009 Collection…

In this collection, Azria was inspired by the needs of one of his design staffers who had recently gotten married and was preparing for her honeymoon on a remote island which was only allowing her to take a single suitcase that weighed 20 pounds.  So Azria followed with featherlight silk and and separates in muted solids and in this grayish watercolor print. There were long dresses with floor dusting hemlines as well as plunging necklines. These items all seemed perfect for any honeymoon…gauze dresses

Monrow Stencil Knit Racerback Dress $187

This dress would fold up nicely in any suitcase without probably getting to wrinkled…

Sam Edelman Greco Sandal: $89.95

I love the mustard yellow leather on these gladiator sandals, these would work well with the dress.

Delicately layered necklaces like this Lauren by Ralph Lauren Double Strand Petal Necklace ($44) always compliment long dresses.

Image Source: Style.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more racerback dresses and long dresses.
Discounts on women’s sandals and layered necklaces.

As far as trends go, makeup palettes weren’t the only thing boasting bright colors this season.  Accessories are coming in electric shades of pink, green, yellow and blue…hues that are all eye catching and playful.  If your first instinct is to play it safe and pair bright accessories with plain white dresses and tees, don’t listen to it.

This is a pretty cute and bright yellow bracelet from Banana Republic…this would be so easy to wear whether you are layering it with other bracelets for an eclectic look or just wearing it solo with shorts and a fun, graphic print tank.

Banana Republic Cabochon Bracelet $39

Birds in Flight Racerback: $10.80

I also really like the Falcon Wing Tank even though and even though its only black and white, the design on it is pretty cool.

Falcon Wing Tank: $15.80

I do love these bright blue sandals…made with snakeskin printed leather, and they have a zipper detail on them that is amazing!

Pour la Victoire ‘Ella’ T-Strap Sandal:  $225

The Sabina Leather Satchel is made with butter soft leather and comes in a wide range of colors, but I was drawn to the Emperor Purple…

Sabina Leather Satchel: $198

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more bracelets and women’s tanks.
Discounts on Pour la Victoire sandals and leather satchels.

Scallop edges were big in this collection, an interesting design element that Hannah MacGibbon (the design brains behind Chloe) kept as a main thread in almost every look.  Beautiful pastel shades of apricot, yellow, chartreuse, blue, beige and green were a refreshing treat for the eyes, and an unmistakable nod to summer.  High waisted shorts, jumpsuits, billowy blouses and coats all adorned with scalloped edges dominated the runway.  Every look had me pumped for summer!  I loved every single one, but below are my favorites.

The thing I really like about Chloe is that the designs are truly feminine, yet not overdone into a super-girly mish mash of things.  These designs are clean, simple, yet incredibly chic.  It goes to show that working with a little bit of color can go a long way.  It’s going to be hard to resist buying and wearing a one-piece jumpsuit this summer.  The trend hit hard last summer and will return again this year.  I love them!  Onesies are so easy to wear and accessorize with.  I have learned that going one size up is definitely not a bad idea, though.  This will allow it to fit baggier and not so tight around the crotch and rear…unless of course that’s the look you’re going for.

This Silence and Noise Ruffle Front Onesie totally reminds me of the looks from Chloe.  A way more scaled down, inexpensive version of course, but the thought is there.

Silence and Noise Ruffle Front Onesie: $68

And although this Kimchi Blue Strapless Tie Front Onesie is floral, the shade of pastel aqua is fitting.

Kimchi Blue Strapless Tie Front Onesie: $58

Take note of the fact that neither wedges nor heels were really seen on this runway, instead models wore beautiful sandals that laced around the ankle.  These OTBT ‘Libia’ Sandals ($77.95) have tasseled ankle ties and come in this fun shade of canary yellow.

I thought that this Nanette Lepore ‘Oracle’ Jacket would look great over either one of these onesies.  The linen blend is nice and lightweight for summertime, and the elongated shape of the jacket gives a more casual feel.  Although the price tag is steep at $425 , getting the idea for which shape of jacket to choose is good.  This would also look totally great over a tank and shorts.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more OTBT sandals.
Discounts on Nanette Lepore clothing and Chloe clothing.

My mother used to tell me the only proper shoes for traveling were Adidas sneakers, and for the longest time I believed her. Those of us with unsteady arches are familiar with the pains that accompany a day of walking in heels or flimsy flip flops, even if it’s just around the office or boardwalk. The problem is, so many of the fashionable shoes of our time are not made to properly support the arch and roll of the foot, so after thousands of steps (which is quite feasible in a day of touring a museum or even bar-hopping) our feet are screaming for relief. To find well-made, supportive shoes ready for serious walking require a trip to a totally different type of store: usually, the hiking or heavy-duty mountaineering departments. It may sound strange, but these designers have started to develop shoes with the same support of a hiking shoe, but lighter materials and a more fashionable look. Give them a try, and your feet will thank you for it:

Some Favorites:

The Merrell Zodiac: fun, flirty, and lightweight, with a good grip and the sturdy Merrell hiking tradition to hang your hat on ($80).

The Athleta Siren: a funky take on the sneaker: not your ordinary lace-up ($80).

The Chaco Women’s Intersect Sandal: A little bit more of an investment than your normal kick-around sandals, but they’re totally worth it ($30).

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more Merrell gear.
                                        Shop for more Chaco gear.

These dress sandals are super sexy.  Gosh, and the 4 1/4” heel makes them even more sexy!  They also come in turquoise (my fave) and grey.  Make sure you have a super clean pedicure when you wear these as you want sexy toes to go with your sexy footwear.

Report Signature Women’s Flo Dress Sandal: $ $87.73 - Special offer price at Endless.com (Was: $107.22)

They do look like they might hurt, but who cares!  Just slap on some of those Dr. Scholl’s inserts I’ve mentioned before.  They make some especially for open toed shoes.

*Remember:  Endless.com is another awesome store that offers free overnight shipping and free return shipping!  

Shop through all women’s Report shoes at Smarter.com.

There are times when a designer goes to ‘the other side’ and decides to design somewhat affordable clothing lines for major name retail corporations. Cynthia Rowley was one of the pioneers in this movement—she launched Swell-a pink, girly collection of home items- at Target stores several years ago.

Although Swell has since then been phased out, Rowley did pull yet another trick out of her sleeve– Whim, a collection of items geared for summer outdoor entertaining, clothing excluded. It’s obvious though that Rowley is certainly saving her design genius for her actual clothing collections. Her most recent is oh-so-pretty, she stuck to a soft blue and gray color palette—something very easy on the eyes. She even dabbled in the resurfacing tie dye look, a bit of a risk, but executed quite well.

     Aqua Women’s Ombre Halter Dress in heather gray $98, Bloomingdales.com

     Juicy Couture Faux Horn Cuff Bracelet $128, Nordstrom.com

 Jeffrey Campbell ‘Maze’ Sandal $99.95, Nordstrom.com

 Robert Rodriguez Black High Sheen Bouffon Shift Dress $184.99, bluefly.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more halter dresses.
                                        Shop for more cuff bracelets.
                                        Shop for more women’s sandals.