February 2009

In case you didn’t get exactly what you wanted for Valentine’s Day…return his lame gift and get yourself to Target to check out the fabulous baubles from jewelry designers Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon. Their exclusive collection consists of necklaces, rings and earrings but IMO the real standouts in this collection are the cuffs! They’re priced from $39-$49 and will be available in Target stores and online on February 15th.

…this was too beautiful not to post!  The very talented Monica from The Mo and Minikille Dressing (and the artist responsible for the girls in my header) sent me this and I wanted to share it with you!  I hope your day is full of LOVE…

A girl can never have too many minis, right? They’re a fun and flirty alternative to a dress and I recently started building my skirt collection, because it’s in a severe fashion rut. I always opt for jeans or dresses, but lately I’ve realized that skirts are much more versatile and make for a much cuter outfit overall!

If you usually stay away from skirts, this is the perfect time to try them out again! This seasons minis feature much more forgiving silhouettes (think full and A-line, not skin tight), higher waistlines, and various lengths…opt for a micro-minis if you’ve got the legs for it or pick a more modest hem line if you’re a little on the shy side.

Mini’s also look as good with tights as they do with bare legs, so start stocking up now and you’ll be able to wear them all Summer long!

Style Links:
Shirred Mini, $24
Tiered Skirt, $48
Cadette Skirt, $32.99
Printed Mini, $19.50
Graphic Mini, $39

For the longest time I kept calling this style of clothing a “romper” but our friends across the pond in the UK have come up with a much better name…a playsuit!!

I think that moniker perfectly captures the spirit of this one-piece and should you choose to try out this look, style it in a playful way…think casual fabrics, fun colors and kitschy prints.

I’ve been looking for a playsuit for quite a while now, but I was only able to find dressy, silk-y “going out” versions, and IMO those are a fashion don’t.  They give off too much of that “Jenny From the Block/On the 6″ vibe.  I suggest wearing these in a much more casual way, like with cute sandals on a warm summer day or as a bikini cover up at the beach!  The ones above are all from ASOS and you can click here to check out their entire “playsuit” collection!

$200, Cynthia Vincent

One of the biggest trend for Spring 2009 will be an updated version of last year’s Boho-chic and the Fashion powers that be have coined this new trend, Tribal.  I happen to love this concept and think that there’s no better time to break out the hippie inspired accessories like fringe bags, shoes, jewelery, etc….than during the upcoming warmer months!

I found these adorable flats at Piperlime but the $200 price tag totally killed it for me… until I recalled that I had spotted a similar pair of shoes at Wanted Shoes.

$39.99, Wanted Shoes

Their version comes in Black, Natural, Orange, Brown and it’s a dead ringer for the Cynthia Vincent ones at a fraction of the cost…$39.99 to be exact!

I totally expect this to be the sandal of the Summer to don’t hesitate to buy them just becasue there’s an inch of snow on the ground!

Style Links:
Earrings $2.80, Cosmetic Bag $17.50, Rosette Top $19.99, Ballet Flats $19.50, Floral Skirt $17.80, Red Sandals $19.95, Scarf $12.50

$23.60, Go Jane

Ahhhhhhhhhhh….the ankle wrap sandal! I am totally loving this shoe right now and if you’re looking for that perfect transitional shoe to get you from Winter into Spring… this is definitely it. I think this will be one of the hottest styles for the upcoming season and I can see this looking incredible with everything from the new boyfriend jean to mini-skirts (my new obsession btw)…and pretty much everything in between!

This grey one happens to be my favorite because I think the color works as a more modern and updated neutral, but if it’s not your taste, you can’t go wrong with black or brown, can you now?

And if you’re still on the fence about the about the cut-out bootie like I was, I think this is a great stepping stone to that style…and for only $23.90, you have to at least try it!

Now for the giveaway…

Thanks to the wonderful and generous people at Go Jane, two lucky readers will win this shoe in your choice of color. All you have to do is:

1. Visit www.gojane.com;

2. Look through their amazing selection of budget-friendly shoes and then leave a comment on this post with your favorite style and your shoe size;

3. On Tuesday, February 17th, I will pick 2 numbers at random and the authors of those corresponding comments will win this fabulous ankle-wrap shoe in their choice of color!

GOOD LUCK!!

NOTE: Winner will be notified by 3pm on 02/17/09 in a separate post and via email. Contest is only open to US residents.

The new Liz Claiborne collection from Isaac Mizrahi does not disappoint…well maybe except in prices, but just wait for those great Spring sales and I’m sure many of the pieces will be more budget friendly!!

The overall styling is what truly sets this Liz collection apart and I know many of those standout pieces will look great when incorporated with some of the items already in your closet!  And while I loved all of these looks, I’m really excited for the rest of the collection which is available on 2/20!  Here’s a sneak peek..

So this bag isn’t even out yet and MKO is already carrying it!!  I hate her…no I actually heart her and I’m just being a green little monster.  

Anyway, this studded masterpiece is from Wang’s upcoming Fall collection so I expect to see many other fabulous accessories during his “presentation” next week!!