Look for Less

How freakin’ cute is Rachel Bilson!?! I wish I looked like this just running around doing errands…

I want to first point out that the bag she’s carrying is the Chloe Marci Horseshoe Tote and it’s not even out yet!  How nice it must be to get free designer stuff before the rest of us normal people can even buy them!

I digress, the reason I picked this look is because sometimes the hardest thing to get dressed for is a casual day.  I want to look like I wasn’t trying too hard, but not sloppy…

Rachel does this effortlessly (the bag helps, let’s be honest) and this is a look that will work on almost any body type and it’s the perfect outfit for those in-between temperature days we’re about to have…and if you live in cooler temperatures like I do, just throw on a coat or a leather jacket to keep you warm!

Here’s Rachel’s look broken down piece by piece for those of us who can’t afford a $1800 handbag…

And BTW, I’m totally getting that ALDO bag...it’s clearly inspired by this Chloe bag and for only $50 how can you say no?

These shoes might have been born in the Spring of 2009, but that doesn’t make them any less attractive now.

I thought they were a total work of art when I first saw them walk down the runways  and now almost one year later (on Spring Fashion Week Eve!) I’m still in awe of just how beautiful they are!

I rarely meet a Louboutin shoe I don’t love, but for some reason, these felt more special than the rest of his red-soled creations…or maybe it’s just that I’m a total sucker for ruffles!

Either way, I was thrilled when I came across this very similar pair on Newport News.  BTW, if you’ve never shopped on this site, they are a little hit or miss, but when it’s a “hit”–it’s a homerun!

Their ruffle pumps come in both black and beige and they’re currently on sale for only $49! I’m partial to the lighter color b/c IMO, the black looks a little too heavy with all those ruffles…it’s a lot of “pleather” if ‘ya know what I mean!

I totally see these as a buy now/wear now shoe with textured tights, but come spring, they will look equally as adorable with flirty dresses or with my new obsession, full mini-skirts!

Everyone is talking about how big nudes are going to be this coming spring, so it’s no wonder trendsetter Olivia Palermo is already a bit ahead of the rest of us.

Sporting an all-over neutral-heavy look could be disastrous, but what I think makes Olivia’s outfit work so well is the fact that she cleverly pairs her beige accessories with a printed dress which instantly adds a splash of contrast… but not *too* much to ruin the overall effect.

Plus, sporting bold jewelry isn’t as in-your-face when the piece blends in a bit more with the rest of the landscape, if you know what I mean. Here, Olivia’s necklace almost looks like it’s part of her dress, (and I’m not usually one to laud the whole “matchy-matchy” thing)… its brilliant!

For the total look, casually swipe your hair back in a loose chignon and you are officially good to go.

Remember, it’s all about the power of pairing: look for prints, but in neutral tones; for jewelry that is bold, but composed of clear or cream-colored beads; and for booties that are daringly high, but sold in a more demure color.

Here are some items to get you started… !

I may be the only person on the planet who hasn’t seen Avatar yet, but I knew about Zoe Saldana long before this film and Star Trek ever came out!

I had the pleasure of interviewing this hot, young Dominicana in New York a few years back and even then, I knew she was going to make big waves in the film industry–remember how good she was at being the rebellious, back-talking ballerina in Center Stage?!?  She was so down to earth and totally sweet…she was willing to sit with me for a long interview despite the fact that we were attending a party at the now defunct G Spa in her honor!

I asked her back then how important fashion was to her and she made it clear that it was at the top of her list and seeing her on recent red carpets, I have no doubt that it’s still a huge priority.  I love seeing Zoe so well dressed for special events, but in her more casual, day to day life, you can tell how stylish she really is…

While the elements of this outfit are pretty basic (jeans + tee + blazer) if you look at them piece by piece, the end result is a look that’s effortlessly chic and so simple to put together!  Take a cue from one of Hollywood’s hottest starlets and get this look for yourself…

Phillip Lim sent this creation right down his runway, but that kind of workmanship and attention to detail will cost you big bucks!

Exposed zippers have been a huge trend recently and everyone is making their mark on the fashion front with various techniques and applications.

I picked up an exposed zipper silk shirt at Top Shop on my last trip to London and I get more compliments on that one item than anything else I own.  I think it’s the combo of the hard metal and soft fabric that makes people respond to it…

Well, you can always count on Forever 21 to be on top of the latest trends, so click here to pick up their take on Lim’s zippered dress.

This version only costs $32 and while it may be more tunic length than dress length it would look super cute with some textured or faux leather leggings.

BTW, this also comes in Ivory which I kind of prefer to the black!

I need them…I’m only 5′0″ so I’m all about the highest heel possible…too bad these cost $630!

These are the Casadei Signature 3504 Triple Platform pump and both Kate Hudson and Sandra Bullock were wearing them tonight to give themselves an extra 5.5″ over their fellow Hollywood A-listers.

Now for the rest of us that don’t have multi-million dollar paychecks, Miss Me has a similar “triple platform” pump that comes in grey, black and tan.

You can get these at DSW for only $44.95 and that’s a price we can all afford for some extra inches!

I never need an excuse to wear glitter (or anything sparkly for that matter) but New Year’s Eve gives me an even better excuse to go out and buy the shiniest accessories I can find and feel no guilt over my purchase…or so I thought.

I feel in deep, deep love with these pink glitter “Barbie” pumps at Saks but I just couldn’t pull the trigger…the $675 price tag along with my New Year’s resolution to buy less and make more of what I already own held me back.

The thing I love most about Louboutin is the way his shoes are shaped and the way the heel is cut.  Many have tried to replicate this ultra sexy, feminine silhouette but they often fail miserably…especially when they try to do for some of the more special and unique shoes like these.

So you can imagine how happy this shoe afficionado was when I came across these:

While they don’t come with 5.5″ heel, a hidden platform or in Pink like the originals, they do look damn good and they also come in some pretty festive colors that are perfect for starting the New Year off on the right foot!  And for less than $30 you can afford to buy them in all three colors and add a little bit of sparkle and shine to all of 2010!

Getting dressed on a 32 degree Winter morning can be so hard and so much effort…

I never know what to wear and while I want to make an effort to look cute, the temperature makes me want to wear a Snuggie and Uggs! But then I see pics of everyone’s favorite City girl, Whitney Port, rockin’ a cold chic look and all my enthusiasm comes running back.

I love how she’s paired a leopard print coat with a simple ensemble of black and brown and she doesn’t even come close to looking like Theresa on The Real Housewives of New Jersey! The busy print works becasuse she’s kept everything else classic and neutral…a lesson we should all take note of.

Here’s an easy and inexpensive way to re-create this look when MTV doesn’t pay your bills…

When it comes to celebrities who look fashion forward and chic, Rihanna never disappoints.  This is one girl who knows how to dress.

Lets face it, whether it’s stepping out of her hotel or up on stage, she always manages to look amazing!  She’s frequently photographed wearing top designers (that we all wish we could afford) like Chanel and Balenciaga.  So when I recently spotted her this hot little geometric and futuristic LBD I thought I’d have to add it to my long list of dresses that I couldn’t afford.

But believe it or not, this fabulous LBD retails for only $85.00 at StyleQ.com–which also happens to be a store that you need to know about!

They are one of the best edited shops on the web, and while most of their prices are in the $100-200 range, from time to time you find a truly unbelievable deal like the Funktional Cage Dress Rihanna is wearing!

And if you’re as big of a celebrity fashion fan as I am, you’ll also love the first hand style advice from some of Hollywood’s biggest stylists.  The site has a “celebrity tab” that features names like Rachel Bilson, Rihanna, Scarlett Johansen and Leighton Meister.  Click on their names and you can watch their personal stylist fill you in on everything from their look to what styles work for them best and lots of interesting fashion tidbits!

It’s a great way to learn more about your favorite leading leadies and the way they dress…not to mention a great place to look for inspiration for you next outfit!

I’m not usually a fan of Fergie’s style or animal print dresses for that matter, but in this case both actually work for me!  Head to toe, this is an easy to wear look that’s perfect for a date or a night out…including all of those Holiday parties you might have coming up!

When you wear animal prints on a dress or even a skirt or top, make sure it’s an over-sized print.  Anything on a smaller scale can look cheesy and dated but an over-sized graphic print will always come off chic and modern.

For the cooler temps, a jacket is a must and a fitted leather jacket is this season’s must have, so don’t be afraid to layer one over a girly dress.  This contrast in styles is what makes the look exciting…and to continue that edgy vibe add a pair of booties instead of heels!  You can even add tights if the temperatures where you are happen to feel anything like they do in Philly!

Top it all off with a black, but never basic clutch and you’ve got a look that’s worthy of a red carpet! Here’s how to get this look on a budget…

UM..? Can we say cute or what?!?

It’s no wonder why we love watching The City. Reality TV’s sweetheart, Whitney Port looks amazingly chic in this mix-n-match ensemble. I love seeing celebrities dressed in something that crosses between funky, yet polished at the same time. And this is one look that does it well!

This year, the blazer has fallen into so many categories… from work mode to the boyfriend look that we all love. But to feel really current, instead of a solid colored blazer with traditional tights or leggings, why not choose a plaid one like Whitney did here? I’m a huge fan of her choice in clothing because it’s always somewhat unexpected and nothing ever looks too too safe.

Plaid is one of the hottest trends you’ll be seeing this season! I love her choice of a striped shirt with a plaid jacket, which allows the looks to be funky and chic all at once. And choosing a solid color, like black on the bottom, will always finish your look off right!

Her 80’s inspired earrings, chunky watch, neutral handbag (that I’m dying for) and studded pumps are added on for a chic finishing touch. Ms. Port has stolen the spotlight from LC this season and I can’t wait to see what else she will be pulling off this winter.

This is a look that can be worn practically anywhere and for a fraction of Whitney’s oufit, here are some items I’ve found for you….Enjoy!

Good things come to those who wait!  These Christian Louboutin Nitoinimoi boots made their debut in countless September issues and had millions of shoe lovers all over the world saying “I need them“!

Well, now you can have them and you won’t have to spend $1200 to get them.  Go Jane has a very similar suede and pLeather version for less than $30 that comes in black, brown, tan and even red!  And if you buy them, leave a comment and let me know how they fit…I’m curious to know if they’re as painful as they look!

I spend last weekend in New York City with my sweet husband to celebrate our wedding anniversary and the one thing we both love to do while we’re in the city is shop…yes, I am a lucky girl!

While we were at Saks I tired on the Louboutin Feticha (above in black) and fell in love, unfortunately my husband did not agree…he said they looked too “smushy”! I think he was referring to the short toe box which IMO is fantastic b/c it makes your feet look tiny so if you’ve got a big foot, there shoes will give the illusion of a very small foot!

Anyway, I left with dreams of all the outfits they would compliment so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw these Fawson shoes at Aldo.  They come in black leather, grey suede and tan suede and retail for $90 but I suspect they’ll be on sale in a few weeks so hold off… if you can resist!

Nonetheless, these shoes are such a great “inspired by” version of the Feticha and the perfect pump for work or play!!

To be perfectly honest, I haven’t set foot inside an Arden B. since my retail days back in college.  I worked there for a hot second when I was nineteen and swore I would never go back…well, until now.

I’ve been obsessing over several Herve Leger dresses since I missed the sample sale on Gilt Group last month (BEYOND upsetting) and have been scouring the internet, specifically Ebay, for a lower priced alternative but no such luck…enter Arden B. in the Cherry Hill Mall.

With my trusty and painfully honest assistant I sucked it all in and poured myself into this dress to see if it was skanky or sexy… and the final answer was sexy!  Even Lauren approved.

I totally love the dress and it’s going to make it’s debut very soon, once I go out and buy myself a pair of SPANX…this dress does not forgive!  Not to mention, it’s priced to move at only $68 so if you’re looking for the Herve look without the hefty price tag this is an awesome buy!

Now, here’s the caveat…you CANNOT wear this dress if you have boobs…and by boobs I mean anything larger than a full B cup.  It’s skin tight and the given the way it’s cut, you might come off a little “tarty”…but it works for Kim Kardashian so if you’ve got it (and you’re brave) flaunt it.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you about all of that unwanted attention you may get on your next girls night out!