July 2009

With all those cute summer tanks out on retails floors, girls are always looking for a way to hide unwanted straps and avoid having to wear the dreaded strapless bra!

Well…. according to Strapperfect they have the perfect solution to hiding those pesky straps!  And while I’m sure we’ve all seen (and ignored) their super cheesey infomercials, once I finally paid attention I could totally relate to what they were saying!

I totally love the racerback look, but I don’t want to have to run out and spend money on a special bra to wear with my tanks!  So instead of buying a new bra, you can use their nifty strap holders to create the perfect back to compliment all of those cute summer tanks!

Strapperfect offers 9 strap holders in nude, black and white for only $19.99!  And I was just in Forever21 and overheard a girl talking about how much she loved her Strapperfects…she totally caught my attention b/c she did look quite fab in that racerback tank she was trying on!   She said they were a simple solution to one of life’s fashion challenges! So for anyone who has tried these, let me know if they worked for you!

And in the meantime, here are some adorable racerbacks all priced under $25 that might just tempt you to get those Strapperfects!

When you head to the beach this summer, leave the baseball caps to the boys and go for a funky fedora or a feminine hat instead to help keep you cool!

I happen to love a bikini with big brim hat, but I know that look isn’t for everyone…so if that’s too much drama on the sand you can always opt for the classic fedora.  They look good on everyone and if you look for one with a fun detail like this striped grosgrain ribbon, it’ll be the perfect accessory on the beach!

And more importantly, hats protect your face from the sun’s damaging rays so don’t skip out on one!!  Here are some options all priced under $25 …

And not Chanel this time…

This time it’s all about Alexander Wang’s Coco Duffle which I fell in LOVE w/when I saw MK Olsen sporting it months and months ago…sometimes I hate those  mini-moguls!!

Anyway, the bag is finally available at a few online stores (b/c there’s no WAY anyone in Philadelphia has it) but it’s going fast and with good reason…

It’s you really think about it, the bags is kind of like a mullet…business on the top and a total party on the bottom!!  If you’re interested in making a serious investment ($850 to be exact) I think you would get a TON of wear out of something like this and you would make this CheapChica very very jealous!!

Some stores always get it right!  Whether you’re looking for a carry-all tote for the office or a fabulous back to school bag that will hold your laptop, this purple Apprentice Bag from LuLu’s will suit all of your needs!

And it’s like having two bags in one…carry it by the handles or simply fold the top of this versatile handbag over and you have an urban chic saddle bag!  It’s got all the style of a big ticket handbag and it will surely make a statement on your shoulder, but you won’t have to break the bank to get it!  This lovely purse will only set you back $44 and with two great options to wear it it’s like getting one bag for free!

I’m going to assume that most of you don’t yet know who Cheryl Cole is, but you should definitely learn about her!  This British import is one of the starring members of the all-girl group Girls Aloud and she’ also happens to be a judge on X-Factor (the original AI)…

Anyway, she arrived at LAX looking adorably cute in this mini-dress by Marc Jacobs and looking like she was ready for her Hollywood close-up!  And can we just talk about those red-polka dot shoes for a second???  They’re totally amazing and they’re by one of my new favorite shoe designers, Charlotte Olympia!

The Greta linen platform shoes she’s wearing are on sale at Net-A-Porter, but they’re still WAY out of my CheapChica budget, so I  put together a loose interpretation of Chery’ls outfit with the focus on the super cute polka dots and affordability!

Both pieces do feature the super-sweet pattern, but when combined with an ultra-short hemline, oversized metal link bracelet and vampy nails, the look is anything but sugary!

Style Links: Pin Dot Silk Dress $27.80, Link Bracelet $5.50, Polka Dot Pump $69.99, Croc Clutch $17.99, Essie “Wicked” Polish, $4.75

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!!

The Hills are alive with the fabulous fashions of resident rocker chick Audrina Patridge. “I like to be girlie, but I also like to have an edge,” said the brunette hottie, who counts Sienna Miller as her style icon. “She has a boho look yet rocker look. She can put on a dress and a hat and something to make it funky. I love that! ”

The star of the upcoming slasher film Sorority Row drapes her to die for figure in awesome designs by Betsey Johnson, Alexander Mcqueen, Diesel and Dior. For killer jewelry, she swings by the flea market.

“I find cute little things there that I mix with really expensive things,” she dished. Her fave types of baubles to buy? Chunky necklaces, pearls, diamonds and two- and three-toned jewelry. “People are always like, ‘Where’d you get that?’ But I have to tell them it’s one of a kind!”

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

NOTE: Congrats to Gabby Ortega…she’s the winner for this give-a-way!  The contest in now CLOSED.  Thanks for all the great comments!

Earlier this week Lauren (my fabulous assistant and fellow fashionista) got to try out a pair of jeans and now it’s my turn…

I took out two different pairs of Vanity jeans for test drive and I have to say that I’m quite impressed with the results!  I look for three things when it comes to jeans: Fit, Wash and Comfort.  No matter how good they make my butt look, I’m not buying them unless they feel like I want to live in them for days!!

I tried out the Kennedy Premium jeans first and while I loved the gray color, the demin was a little too rough for my taste.  It needed a little more stretch to have that really soft feeling, but I’m sure that after a few washes they would be really really nice!  These retail for $49.80 and they also come in several washes and styles and as part of their premium collection, they also have some super cute details on the pockets!  If you’re looking for the look of a really high-end Japanese denim then these are a great option!!

Next I tried on the Kennedy Skinny jeans in the Dark wash and I was in total disbelief!  I always have to hem my jeans (and all pants for that matter) but this pair with the 30″ inseam was just perfect!  If you’re petite, these is a great jean for you and since it’s a juniors cut you can count on the fact that they will fit.  I put on the 24’s and they were snug in all the right places but not too tight…they also made my butt look fab (according to my hubby)!  This pair is even less than the Premium pair and for under $35 I don’t think you’ll find a better pair of skinny jeans out there!

And my only real complaint was that I wish the fade wasn’t so drastic on the the thighs of this wash…but I can live with it since the fit was superb!  You can check out the rest of their denim selection which includes various inseams, fits, and washes right at eVanity.com!

Now for the really good stuff…FREE JEANS!!  To enter to win a pair of Vanity jeans simply go to their website, find your “perfect fit” and then leave a comment on this post with your selection for your chance to win that exact pair!  But do it quickly because this contest ends on Monday!!

Good Luck!!

Note: This giveaway ends on 07/20 and the winner will be notified via email.  The contest is only open to U.S. residents.

Eyeshadow application for summer can really harmonize with your skin tone no matter how fair or how tan you get.  Summer eyes really are the time to lighten up on the shadow and give your face a chance to glow overall without the ‘focus on one feature’ rule we tend to see in Fall/Winter.  With this said, go grab a tapered blending brush (MAC #224) and get ready to shimmer in the sun…

How do I wear shimmer?
Use a fluffy blender brush and place shimmer on the smallest, least exposed area of your eye i.e. if you have a tiny lid sweep shimmer across the entire lid.  On the contrary, if you have a fuller, exposed lid, shade shimmer under the brow.

Am I too old to wear shimmer?
No.  Shimmer shadow never goes out of style because it’s all how you apply it!  If you’re really timid about using- try a champagne or honey colored shadow (anything from the MAC Summer 2009 collection works great!) and place in the inner corner of the eye for a pop.  Cate Blanchett is infamous for sporting this look and it works on her smaller eyes to bring them forward.

You’ll never look as good as you do today…

Dara

UPDATE: Congrats to Jessica Boyce for winning this give-a-way!  The contest is now CLOSED.  Thanks for all the great comments!!

Finding a store I like online is like finding a needle in a haystack…it seems like more and more stores are popping up with really cheap prices, but none with any really chic buys and it’s made trying to shop so frustrating! Until yesterday…

I came across the cutest site called ShopMamie.com and they have an assortment of essential summer items that are sure to spruce up your closest! I liked the overall selection but what really caught my eye were their printed dresses. They have everything from girly butterflies to tribal patterns that will definitely get you noticed whether you’re in the city or on the beach!

So as usual when I find something I love, I pass the info onto you and I’m passing on something even better…a fabulous give-a-way!

I emailed the owner and she totally loved the idea of sponsoring a give-a-way of one of her top sellers…the Grove dress!  To enter for your chance to win, simply go to the Shop Mamie site, pick out your favorite item and then leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favorite item is.  One lucky lady will win the Grove dress in her choice of Tangerine or Teal…it’s that simple!

Good Luck!

Note: This giveaway ends on 07/22 and the winner will be notified via email.  The contest is only open to U.S. residents.