April 2009

If you watched The Hills on Monday you know all about the “boys trip” that got crashed by LC and her crew, but what got my attention was the surprisingly stylish and unexpected choice of swimwear worn by Stephanie Pratt.  She’s not one that I typically look to for style direction, but I totally loooooooved her adorable ruffle bikini top!

I’m all about the bandeau this year, but I might have to make room for this top in my collection as well!  If you’re petite and small busted like I am, the ruffles really help add some fullness to my otherwise un-full upper half so this top is a definite winner and for only $18 you might have to pick it up in multiple colors…

The great thing about any solid bikini top is that you can totally pair it with bottoms you already own…but the matching ones for this suit are pretty cute and for only $14 I might be tempted to pick those up too!

Another great make-up tip from Dara…

Now that you’ve been building your face by correcting as opposed to layering it’s time to add some warmth and life into your skin for summer- no matter how fair you are! We can all afford to look like we’ve taken an expensive vacation to the islands even if it only comes in the form of a palette!

Bronzers are a fast and east way to lift the skin tone without making the mistake of attempting to use a darker foundation to get more color. Personally, I am a huge fan of Fresh ‘Here Comes the Sun’ which has 3 of the most versatile shades out in the market, and when applied with a large, flat brush, gives the most naturally sun kissed skin north of the Caribbean.

Or for more budget-friendly alternative that also has multiple shades, try Physicians Formula Organic Wear
100% Natural Origin Bronzer which will also give you that perfect glow with all natural ingredients that are extra good for your skin!

To apply, gently run the brush back and forth over the 3 shades (being careful to avoid over applying the darkest shade if you are fair) and sweep down the forehead nose chin and lower apples.  Avoid applying like you would a blush as bronzer can quickly make you look like Lindsey Lohan if over applied!!

Pro tip: Press the powder on the back of your hand first before applying to avoid streaking- it’s always easier to add than take away!

Remember, spring and summer is about making more of an impact with less effort and good skin will always take you further than any color can! You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

After taking a break from her Lauren Conrad Collection, Laguna’s biggest star is already back in business.  She’s teaming up with Kohl’s to launch the “LC Lauren Conrad” brand in 300 stores nationwide come October.  And while the line will start with apparel only, it could expand into footwear, jewelry, handbags, intimates and sleepwear …wow, she’s out to make some serious cash!  What’s next, an LC line of cleaning products???

So why Kohl’s…Conrad explains, “My family has always shopped at Kohl’s, so I’ve always known about them and I think that they do a really great job.”  Hmmm…I don’t know if I’m buying that for one second…I’ve never seen her or any of her frenimies going into a Kohl’s on The Hills!!

Lucky for us, prices for the line will range from $20 to $60 and they clearly represent a much more modest price point than the totally over-priced Lauren Conrad Collection!

I’ve profiled many of Lauren’s looks on this site and I do think she has a great style about her, not that it’s super original, but she alwasy looks super cute and chic so I will definitely be checking out her collection in the Fall…what about you?? Are you excited for this collection?  Will you give it a chance?

So what’s not to love about this incredible Isharya necklace???  It’s just the right size with the right amount of details to make it the perfect go-to kind of necklace when you’re looking to make a statement with your jewelry.  The only tiny problem is the $115 price tag and that’s down from $230 thanks to my new favorite designer discount site, The Outnet.

Nonetheless, it’s still gorge and I was on a mission to find something even remotely close when Forever 21 came to my rescue…for the 100th time.

Their version features the same rain drops petals in an almost identical pattern, but their price is much more recession friendly coming in at only $18.80.

I could see this necklace dressing up a plain white tee for a girls night out look or peeking out under a button down for a more office-friendly look.  You could even wear it with longer gold chains for a layered effet, but however you choose to style it, you really can’t go wrong!

I just picked this dress up at Forever 21 for three reasons…

First, it came in  the prettiest sorbet colors and I couldn’t resist; Second, it’s the perfect clean palette from which to build a fabulous outfit from…and last but certainly not least, it was only $12.50 so how can you resist!!!

All this dress needs is a few inexpensive accessories, like a great belt, and you’ve got yourself and totally WOW outfit that can be worn for multiple occasions!

Have a Graduation to attend…just add a woven belt in a neutral color, a cardigan and some kitten heels and your good to go!

Summer Wedding…pair it with a vintage inspired belt, killer jewelry and a great pair of metallic heels and you’ll look radiant!

No matter what the occasion, this dress will work like a charm!

So while I might be cheap about everything in my life, the one thing I do splurge on is my hair. I was born with dark, dark brown hair but decided later in life that I was much better suited as a blonde, so that means very pricey and frequent trips to Mark Garrison to see my amazing colorist, Patricia!

Well, I just tried to make an appointment with her and discovered she’s on vacation for TWO WEEKS!!  My roots are so bad that I’m almost embarrased to leave my house, which makes the fact that I’m supposed to have professional pictures taken on Monday even more painful!  So what do I do??

I’m way to scared to try an at-home DIY color treatment so I found a great alternative from Oscar Blandi that seems fool-proof!  Just apply the touch-up color to your roots (only where you part your hair) and voila…an instant color job for only $23!!   And if you happen to mess up…no worries because it washes out next time you shampoo!

I’ve been a huge fan of the company Report ever since I saw these FABULOUS shoes featured on the Today show a while back!  I thought they were the perfect way to incorporate some eye-popping Neon into my closet and I don’t exactly need to be forced into buying new shoes!  I immediately found them online and added them to my “want but can’t have” list because they cost a whopping $185… so unless someone really loves me and wants to send me a belated birthday present, then these babies won’t be making it into my closet anytime soon!

Nonetheless, I instantly became a Report fan so when I was shopping at Nordstrom’s yesterday I checked out the rest of the collection.  I loved it but I was really surprised to see that they also made flats…unbelievably, dream-like comfortable flats!

I put them on my feet and they literally felt like slippers so I wasn’t walking out of the store without them… espeically since I need a good pair of flats for my upcoming trip to Cairo!  If you’re in the market for a great pair of flat shoes that are comfortable and stylish, I highly recommend these!   They also come in really cute colors like Hot Pink and Purple, but I picked them up in White!!

This week Lauren Loves…

I guess I would Categorize myself as a classic kind of girl. I love Broadway plays, old movies and the legend herself Ms. Coco Chanel. Speaking of Chanel she was always one to accessorize with strand after strand of pearls, but I’ve always found it challenging to wear them because I want the look to be fashion-forward and edgy, not prim and proper.

This past weekend I was in Forever 21 and spotted this gorgeous pearl necklace! The layers of pearls with the floral broach attached felt really fresh and new!  Not to mention this little “must have” is only $9.80! I couldn’t resist myself from buying it and I have to confess that I love it even more on, it’s so pretty, trendy and classic all at once. I absolutely love my new necklace!

So…if you’re deciding on how to wear this pearl trend, start by piling on the layers because the one strand look is definitely not on trend when it comes to wearing pearls! And if you’re wondering WTWW this look, keep it simple when it comes to your clothes because this season it’s all about the statement necklace!

Spring is the perfect time of year to incorporate skirts into your wardrobe!  It might still be a little too chilly to break out those summer dresses, but this the perfect opportunity to wear a skirt with a long sleeve top or with a pair of tights!  It’s an easy way to stay fashionable during this hard to dress transitional weather period.

Lulu’s never fails to disappoint me with their well-edited selection of affordable and chic clothes, and I just came across these two great tulip skirts for under $30…either one would be a fantastic addition to your skirt collection!  I love the unexpcted peek of white on the grey skirt and I’m a total sucker for those sailor-style buttons on the fucshia skirt!!

In celebration of Earth Day this week, I wanted to share two of my favorite eco-friendly sites with yall!

Green fashions and products often get a bad rap so Sprig was created to showcase the glamour in green!  The site presents a full, rich menu of little touches, easy strategies and small changes in becoming green.  The editors believe that no matter what you need, or what your heart desires, there’s an eco-friendly alternative and they’re there to help you find it!  Be sure to check out their fabulous collection of dresses, skirts and shoes and don’t forget to read some of their great articles which will help you go green without spending a lot of green!

Another fantastic eco-friendly site is Modify, which presents a unique shopping experience for the discriminating, eco-conscious consumer. Their philosophy encourages you to look and live better than ever with trendsetter designs that promote your ultimate health and well-being, goodness of Earth, and respect for its inhabitants.  All of their products come from designers who use highly sustainable and earth-friendly materials, such as organic fibers, bamboo, and recycled fabrics and while you might think that leads to high prices, most of their items are very reasonably priced, like this adorable dress!

So as you can see, you don’t have to plant trees or drastically change your life to give back to the planet, shopping can help too!

Finding a black sandal in the summer can be a real challenge…they often feel too heavy for most of the feminie and flirty fashions you opt for during those warmer months, but I just tried these on and I fell in love.

I don’t EVER buy black shoes, but I’ve been purchasing a lot of nude and ivory dresses/skirts over the last few weeks and I really like the juxtaposition of a black shoe with the outfit and it gives some balance to the lighter color I’m wearing on top.

Not to mention, investing in a black sandal is never a bad idea so if you have the extra $745 lying around I highly recommend these Manolo’s…but if you can’t swing it, no need to worry becasue Guess makes a shoe that’s almost identical!

You can pick these up for $90 and even though that’s not exactly “cheap” if you look at the price as a cost per wear ratio, I’m sure you’ll agree that they’re a great deal!

Here’s one of my favorite celeb-reality stars walking the red carpet at the Bravo A-list awards in a Marchesa gown.  I would typically shy away from a gown like this because I’d be scared that I would get totally lost in all the layers and layers of fabric, but on her teeny-tiny frame it actually hides the fact that she’s probably 20lbs underweight and makes her look healthy and radiant!

What do you think of Rachel’s look?  Do you love it/hate it …or think it’s a little of the “been there, done that” nature?  IMO,  I would have liked to see something a little more daring from one of my favorite stylists, but she does look really pretty!

This week Lauren Loves…

For all of you who never tried Mario Badescu’s drying lotion, you’re missing out! It’s the only facial product I swear by and every time I find those unwanted blemishes on my skin, one dab of drying lotion does the trick. This amazing product dries out blemishes within days and I never go on vacation without it.

There was a time when my face was really broken out and a friend of mine suggested that I try Mario Badescu, so I tried hers for a week to see if I liked it and WOW.. my face was clearing up in days! I couldn’t believe that after trying every drugstore product and making frequent (and expensive) visits to the dermatologist that this little bottle of magic zapped away those nasty blemishes.

And so.. I ended up buying my very own drying lotion for $17.00 which was worth every penny! Thanks so much Teresa, you truly are a saint for recommending me this fantastic facial product. So I am definitely suggesting that you tryout Mario Badescu because don’t you agree it’s time for you to love the skin your in!

With designers like Phillip Lim, Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson and my personal fave, Louboutin…the Outnet is the best place to score discounts on high-end goods!  They will carry over 500+ designers and will be adding new collections each week so check back often for the latest deals on all those “want but can’t have” items on your wishlist!