May 2009

Who new you could look this good for $50???

I just found all of these items on Forever 21 and immediately added them to my cart!  The dress is beyond adorable and the bead detailing on the bust make it look like a designer buy…and don’t overlook the fact that it’s made of a cool linen blend so if you have any outdoor celebrations coming up this would be the perfect thing to wear.

And don’t get me started on the shoes!  I’m loving the cobalt shade and the 4″ architectural heel is TDF…not to mention they’re only $22!!!  Finish off the look with a great pair of drop earrings like these for $7.80 or just sub in a pair from your own collection to add some glam to the look but skin the necklace…you already have enough going on around the neckline!!

In this new weekly feature, I’ve teamed up with  mystyle’s resident “star” reporter, Danielle Datu, who’s giving us the style scoop from her red carpet adventures with today’s hottest leading ladies!!

Mandy Moore believes in a woman’s right to shoes. “I think it’s the curse of being a girl. I love heels!” she dished while promoting her new album Amanda Leigh, which is in stores now.

The mere mention of designers like Givenchy, Christian Louboutin and Loeffler Randall is music to the singer’s ears. “They make really beautiful and special platforms. I don’t ever feel like I’m going to trip and fall in front of everyone when I’m wearing them on stage—they’re so easy to wear.”

But finding the perfect pair can be tough for the size 10 superstar. “Sadly, size 10 is always the first to go,” she cautioned. “There’s usually less of a variety in size 10 and only a few in each style. I sometimes miss out. So get to the store early at the beginning of the season!”

The “lazy dresser” one minute and vamp the next isn’t as picky when it comes to clothes. “At the end of the day, I really admire people who know who they are and challenge the way they express themselves, especially with fashion,” she said. “It’s important to have fun with your look.”

And finally, what secret beauty weapon does she want to share with the rest of us? “I have tubes and tubes of Aquaphor,” she raved. “I use it obviously for my lips, but I also use it on my cuticles and to make creamy eye shadow. Ah, I love it!” But not as much as we love you, Mandy!

For more great StarStyle, be sure to visit mystyle.com!

As many of you know, I just returned from a wonderful trip to Cairo where I found some of the most beautiful silks and textiles I have ever seen.  I’m a huge fan of scarves, especially silk ones, so while I was there I picked up many styles at the most amazing prices!  Since I’ve been back many people have asked me where I got them and unfortunately I have to tell them Egypt…but I recently came across a fantastic website called My Yellow Scarf that sells gorgeous chiffon scarves, similar to the ones I found abroad, at unbelievable prices!

They’re only offering limited colors (yellow and blue) for now, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that they add some more colors in the future and for only $18.99 you can afford to pick up more than one!

Now for the FREE stuff…

I asked the owner of My Yellow Scarf to team up with us to sponsor a fabulous giveaway of one of her beautiful scarves and she agreed!!!  To enter, simply sign up to receive The CheapChica’s Guide to Style via email by clicking here!  If you’re already signed up for it, then you’re already entered in the give-a-way!

And if you’re to anxious too wait (to win), feel free to shop on and enjoy FREE shipping on your order by clicking here! Good Luck and as always…happy shopping!

Note: This giveaway ends on 06/04 and the winner will be notified via email.  The contest is only open to U.S. residents.

I work in a very conservative and professional office so I’m not allowed to wear open-toe shoes during the warmer summer months.  I’ve tried to reason with HR, but they’re not budging.  Do you have any suggestions for shoes that feel more season-appropriate than my black pumps??  Thanks so much!

Carly

Dear Carly,

I totally hear you on this one, and you’re not alone.  Many offices still want to maintain a professional demeanor during the Summer months when people tend to dress more casual and comfortable but it can be hard when everyone around you is in flip flops and you still have to wear a suit.

One great way to feel fresh and updated, is to switch your wardrobe basics like pencil skirts and suit jackets to a lighter palette.  This will bring in new colors that you can work from and you can start to wear lighter colored shoes instead of those heavy black pumps.

I found this great pair of nude pumps for under $50 at Nordstrom and they’re the perfect blend of professional and season appropriate!  They’re a must have shoe for the Spring and Summer and since they happen to go with everything, they’re also a very smart investment!

UPDATE: For those of you looking for something in a lower heel, here are some great alternatives in the nude/neutral family…

So while the last thing you might want right now is a black blazer, this is the time to buy one!

I found this great slim cut style at Ann Taylor Loft and it’s marked down to $39.99, which is an amazing value for something you will wear over and over again!

The modern one-button style makes it just as appropriate for the office as it does for drinks or a date so feel free to layer it over a sexy cami or a satin top!  The fabric also has some strech to it so you can bet that it will flatter in all the right places so you don’t have to worry about the fit!

I’ve really enjoyed the fashion at Cannes this year…the women have looked gorgeous on the red carpet and it might also have to do with the fact that I have some very special memories of the festival!  One of my best friends and I actually walked the red carpet (behind Antonio Banderas!) of the Palais when we were very, very young and when we barely understood the magnitude of the festival!

Two of my favorites looks have come from Penelope Cruz and Angelina Jolie .  They’re both wearing mono-chromatic, head to toe nude for two very different occasions and it works for both!  This is one of my favorite “colors” to wear in the summer and these women totally pull it off!  I want to point out that neither of them are overly tan, so keep this in mind when you’re planning your look.  And if you’re trying to recreate this look on a budget, here are some great suggestions!

UPDATE: Congrats to TRUDE!  She’s the winner in the Bella Ro/CheapChica’s giveaway!!

I recently came across a super-cute store called Bella Ro that I have to tell you about!  They carry an eclectic selection of fun, contemporary styles and their prices are totally affordable!  Whether you’re looking for that perfect top for a girls night out or a fun day-dress for the upcoming Summer months, you can definitely find it at Bella Ro.

I particularly liked that many of their styles had an ethnic/boho chic vibe to them and that’s exactly what I’m looking for this season.  I want easy, effortless pieces that have great detailing like embroidery or fun cutouts and this top totally caught my eye!

Now for the giveaway…

Vanessa, the generous owner of Bella Ro has teamed up with us to sponsor a fabulous giveaway of one of her favorite items, the “Paddy Peacock” bangle!  But now we want to know what your favorite item is, so check out the full collection by clicking here and then leave a comment on this post telling us your faves!

Your comment is your official entry so don’t forget to leave one for your chance to win this cute Peacock bangle!  Good Luck and as always, Happy Shopping!  And don’t forget to use code cheapchica to receive 10% off your entire order!

Note: This giveaway ends on 5/30 and the winner will be notified via email.  The contest is only open to U.S. residents.

During my recent trip to Cairo I stayed at the most amazing hotel and I stopped by their Spa to check out the services and one in particular caught my eye…the lavender body scrub!  I totally needed something like this because my skin feels so dry and in major need of some serious exfoliation, but when I got a peek at their prices for the service, I immediately walked out!

Thankfully, upon my return home, I had a jar of Nettie Lavender Scrub waiting for me so I treated myself to a “home spa” night and the results were fantastic!!  The scrub smelled incredible and it was chock full of nourishing vitamins, antioxidants and moisturizing fruit oils so it left my skin baby soft and smooth!  And the smell….oh the smell!  The only real downside for me was that it didn’t come with a scooper…I hate putting my wet hands in the jar because I feel like it dilutes the oils.

Considering the hotel wanted to charge me over $100 for this treatment, I saved myself $88 by using the Nettie Scrub instead, which is only $12!

Exfoliating is one of the best and easiset thing you can do for your face and body so try out a jar in one of four great scents!  It’s also made of 100% all-natural ingredients with reusuable packaging so it’s not only good for you, but also for the environment!

And for other great product reviews be sure to checkout Test Drives on mystyle.com!!

It’s no secret that I have an affinity for the color yellow, so when I saw LC wearing this color in the most perfect way, I just had to post it!

I love the tiered ruffles and while this is a really bright yellow, if it’s too much for you, you can always take it down a notch and go for a more subtle hue.  You should also take a cue from her choice in neutral accessories, like those tan shoes and belt.  What’s great about them is that they’re the perfect compliment to the dress because they don’t compete with it.  When you’re wearing a color this bright, you don’t need much else so let that be the the focal point in this look!

If you have any type of event coming up…summer wedding, graduation party, wedding shower or just a hot date, this is a really cute outfit to be inspired by, so here are some great option for finding this look on a budget!

A girl can never have too many accessories!  They help update any outfit and these pieces by Beth Lauren are the perfect way to add some glam to your look, so be sure to check out her sample sale starting tomorrow on The Savvy!!

This week Lauren Loves…

When I was younger and I saw something that I liked my Dad would say to me “Lauren, do you need it or do you want it”…and every time I would say I wanted it, he would say “if you don’t need it then it’s not necessary”.  Well Dad, when I spotted this daring turquoise dress it was definitely something I needed.

I hate packing for any vacation, especially when it’s to the beach because I have to pack a million different items just to get me through the week. Not to mention all the other grooming and beauty products I have to include just to make my hair look good in all that humidity!

So when I found this dress at Anthropologie, I totally fell in love!  It’s ther perfect item to pack for your upcoming vacay and although it retails for $68, it’s completely worth it because you can wear it six different ways which averages out to $12 per look!

You can be sure that this summer when I pack for my mini getaway this will be the first thing to go into my suitcase…along with some fabulous shoes and accessories, becasue you can totally change the look of this dress with just that!

Yes ladies, the answer is yes.  These are in fact the totally amazing, work of art “shoes” by Emma Cook for Topshop and I am now the proud owner.  I paid 95£ and I didn’t even bat an eye.  When you see something this special, you don’t ask how much, you just say YES!

I went to the biggest Topshop ever and could have spend the entire day there, but unfortunately I have this little thing called a job so I had limited time to spend!

The clothing is out of this world and I wanted sooooo many items but I don’t have an unlimited budget so I settled for an adorable blouse that looks like something right off the runway and a super cute mini in Purple and Orange!  I convinced myself that these are two things I could never find in the states so I paid a little more than I normally would (35£ and 28£ respectively).  I’ve been working super hard lately so I treated myself to an afternoon of shopping and fantastic people watching!

TIP: Take your time in there and don’t get overwhelmed.  Go section by section and if you can, get one of the FREE stylists to help you out! They’re super friendly and can help you navigate the store like a pro!

So I’m in London for work and since it can’t be all work no play, I spent the whole day checking out the many (MANY) shops this fabulous city has to offer!

Now I’ve been to London before and all I remember is that everything was really really expensive…not the kind of city a CheapChica can do much shopping in!  So this time I enlisted the help of fellow blogger and London resident Hannah from London-Rose.  She was my shopping guide and totally hooked me up!

I checked out all of the shops along Oxford street which include stores like Primark, River Island, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful, and my Mecca…TOP SHOP! Here are some pics and some quick reviews of what you can expect to find in terms of price and selection:

Primark

This store is beyond crowded so be prepared to push and shove.  The reason for all the people is the prices…most items are under 20£ which is very CHEAP in London.  There’s some cute stuff but it’s one of those stores that you have to really dig.  I got an adorable asymetrical dress for 13£ which looks like it’s Chloe but that was it…everything else looked so chintzy and I had to get out of there…oh and the line to check out looked worse than the ticket counter at US Airways so budget extra time for this!

TIP: Go here first…it will make you very price sensitive for the rest of your shopping day which in London is a very good thing!

Dorothy Perkins

I was really excited to go to this store in person because I always shop around on their site and too be perfectly honest, it was a little disappointing.  The selection was just ok and nothing to write home about…especially at those prices (25-50£).  Save your money for Topshop!

B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful

This shop is like a treasure chest for make up fans! The products are all packaged in beautiful pots and tins and the presentation is TDF!  I would buy everything just to have their beautiful containers fill up my bathroom counter, but I settled on two items one of which is a gift for a very special friend! Lip gloss started about 8£ and perfumes started at around 12£ for a travel size.  The store is lovely and the flagship I visited on Oxford St. was a real treat for the senses!  You can find make up, skin care, fragrance and it all feels very special and unique…like your own personal beauty secret!

I heart London and can’t get enough of all the adorable shops, but up next is my Topshop review…stay tuned for a total shoe-gasm!

In this new weekly feature, I’ve teamed up with  mystyle’s resident “star” reporter, Danielle Datu, who’s giving us the style scoop from her red carpet adventures with today’s hottest leading ladies!!

Credit: Alex J. Berliner © Berliner Studio/BEImages

Kim Kardashian used to stop traffic with curving-hugging Hervé Léger bandage dresses, but if you’ve been keeping up with the reality star as much as I have, you would have noticed that she’s done a complete 180.

“My style used to be overly voluptuous. I’m still sexy, but a little bit more understated. Effortlessly chic,” she explained to me at the Pink Agenda’s Pre-Mother’s Day Bash at the W Hotel. “There’s not as much thought put into it. I don’t match everything like I used to. I used to be obsessed with matching everything.”

Kim, who wore a sheer top and high-waisted bubble skirt by H&M (”I love it there!”), vintage chain fringe necklace and Christian Louboutin pumps, now shops Forever 21, Burberry, Marc Jacobs and Marchesa— “designers that I probably wouldn’t have been into before because I was so focused on tight, revealing outfits.”

After running into the raven-haired fashionista on a number of occasions and marveling at her impeccable beauty, I just had to ask her about her makeup must-haves. These included foundation by Make Up For Ever and Giorgio Armani. “I’m also a big fan of any kind of blush,” she dished. “You always need blush in your purse to make you look a little bit alive.”

At night, it all comes off. “My mom tells me that I have to wash my face with a hot wash cloth everyday and make sure I take off all of my makeup,” she said. Mother knows best!

For more great StarStyle, be sure to visit mystyle.com!