by cheapchica11 on April 20, 2009
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!
by cheapchica11 on April 20, 2009
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!
by cheapchica11 on April 19, 2009
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!
by cheapchica11 on April 19, 2009
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.
T
here 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!
by cheapchica11 on April 18, 2009
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!
by cheapchica11 on April 17, 2009
Building the face for spring is easier than you think and concealing is the trick! By minimizing darkness under the eye and redness/discoloration on the face- your eyes will naturally look brighter and that’s before you’ve even applied any color!
After applying tinted moisturizer, apply a corrective concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer with a brush to areas of the eye that are dark like the inner bridge of nose, the hollow of eye, the lash line and the corner of eyes which can sometimes be a little red. Be sure to use a brush as these areas of the eye are much smaller than the average fingertip and applying concealer where you are not dark only enhances areas that are.
Another tip…avoid lightening and brightening products such as YSL Touch Eclat which are better for applying around the ocular bone, laugh lines and temples to enhance and wake up eyes and complexion rather then conceal.
The best eye brightening treatment to use on the lid is a crème eye base like Laura Mercier’s Eye Basics in Peach. The warmth of this shade works on almost all skin tones and instantly wakes up the eye. You can even adding a shimmer on top to help maintain your eye color throughout the day!
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
by cheapchica11 on April 16, 2009
Whenever I meet interesting people, I always try to remember to ask for their business card …you never know who you’re going to meet and when you might need them in the future! I’m always looking out for cute business card holders and everything I find is just too corporate for what I do until I found Bambina on Etsy!
She makes beautiful leather goods and my favorite (and New York Magazine’s) thing on her Etsy site is her adorable Metro business card holders for only $10! They come in a wide variety of stylish colors and sumptouous leathers and you’re sure to find one that works for you! I have a few people on my mind that deserve a “thank you” gift and these might just be ther perfect thing!
by cheapchica11 on April 15, 2009
It’s been a long time…since I lived in Madrid…that I’ve seen so many women wearing sweaters around their shoulders and looking oh-so-chic while doing it. I noticed a lot of women in Colombia sporting this look and what I found most interesting was how they managed to look sexy and modern, and not at all stuffy or preppy.
The key to this look was mixing classic pieces like a cardigan and a crisp white shirt, with sexier pieces like shorts, stilettos and edgy accessories. This European look is one of those styles that generally alludes me, but after looking at some pictures from the D Squared S/S fashion show, I think I’ve got it down…
Here’s an assortment of items that will help you incorporate that same style into your Summer wardrobe in a way that’s budget friendly and that doesn’t sacrifice one ounce of style!
by cheapchica11 on April 14, 2009
I’ve had my eye on this one since the Spring preview, but the $89 price tag was killing it for me! You can now take advantage of their 25% off sale which brings the price down to $66.75 for the Kentaro sandal! The sale includes some other cute styles, but this style is by far the stand-out shoe of their Spring collection! It also happens to come in black so act fast before all the sizes sell out!
by cheapchica11 on April 14, 2009
I’m a total wedding band junkie…I’ve only been married for a year and a half, and I already own two wedding bands (I have a very generous husband!) and plan on adding more over the course of our marriage! Some days I feel like wearing a big ring and other days I want something that’s small and more comfortable on my finger… and just like my shoes, I want to have multiple options!
My mom recently bought me a gold Michael Kors watch and since I’m not one to mix my metals, I haven’t been wearing it as often as I would like to, so I’ve been looking for a wedding band in gold that I can wear with it.
Then I remembered the amazing Cartier Trinity band I once saw on Cameron Diaz that perfectly blended Yellow Gold, White Gold and Rose Gold and would be the perfect solution to my dilemma…then I came back to reality!! I have no idea how much her band costs and I’m honestly scared to find out, but I did find this nice replica of it for only $105…
so the questions is, would you wear a replica or is this as bad as carrying a faux designer bag???
