cute vintage inspired dress

lace, lace, and MORE lace - lace is going to be big in the summer. I got this really cute dress at forever21 for $25.

Topshop - dresses

Top shop is launching a series of party dresses mid april. It looks like they are very party-like. Lots of see-thru lace, lots of sequins --- basically anything over the top to make you stand out from a crowd. Check it out! Here are my favorites:

ms.blake

another great ensemble for blake lively - gosh, i'm so jealous of all her clothes!

mismatch nails!

saw in the magazine this really cool nail technique --- mismatching nails! The trick is to pick colors that are close in colors, for example hot pink and bright orange, blue and turquoise green. Anyway you paint all 4 nails the same color on each hand and then leave one fingernail a difference color (i recommend the ring finger). Repeat these steps for the other hand.

This was introduced by trend setters like Rihanna and Katy Perry ;)

H&M Spring Sale

H&M spring sale start today! They've got cardigans for $10, dresses for $20, tank tops for $5, and a bunch of other things.

thrift store

the other day i saw my friend carry this super cute, SUPER nice leather shoulder bag. I asked her where she got it - and I totally expected her response to be "oh, barney's" but to my surprise, she told me she got it at a thrift store.

I've never really enjoyed my experience at a thrift story. I always feel like the store is stuffy and everything in there gives me allergies. Until I saw her bag. It was nearly impossible to think that such a cute vintage bag, with such nice leather was...in a sea of...STUFF...that people didn't want.

So next time you decide to get a vintage inspired piece - hit up your local thrift store before you go. Google places like crossroads or buffalo exchange for second hand stores where clothes will be cleaned before they are sold.

cool color combos

current colors that i love and how to wear it:

- hot pink + orange (silk mini skirt + shirt OR structure skirt + flowly tank top)

- turquoise and teal (turquoise top/teal skirt in silk - cinch with a dark purple tie belt) inspired by gucci

- purple and green (dress in this color combo)

- gray and highlighter yellow (yellow tank top/khakis)

Tom's

Tom's came out with some wedges, this gives it a little more of a girly feel and I love how they're super comfortable. For each pair of Tom's they sell, one shoe will be donated to a child in need. Great by while performing great deeds? How can anyone pass up on this offer? =)

Cheaper Version of MJ dress

Been seeing this all over the magazines from runway to Michelle Obama --- one of the more ready to wear piece from the Marc Jacob's collection:

But who can afford a $300+ dress? Found a similar style at urban for a FRACTION of the price - $50. check it out!

Matthew Williamson @ Macy's

After a collaboration with H&M, Matthew Williamson's new "affordable" line is going to be available at Macy's in early April. The price ranges are actually very affordable (compared to their regular high end stuff) ranging from $25 (scarf) - $300 (leather jacket). I've seen pictures of the collection before and if you like mixed prints and colorful designs, this is definitely something that you will like!

Aldo Handbags

Aldo came out with some really cute purses for the Spring. Here are some of my favorites!

This is totally a replica of the hermes. I love the gold tassel. It'll look cute with a work/business casual outfit. And of course, skinny jeans/plain white tee and a black blazer!

This nautical look is so cute for the spring/summer. Pair this with an all white outfit (all white ensemble is totally the new minimalistic look!)

This satchel will look so cute with flowery print! Wear a flowery tank with shorts and pair with this oversized satchel!
Same material/color as the satchel but different style. I love this clutch/crossover bag. It'll be so cute with the maxi dress and a simple tank.

Target - Designer Collection is back!

Target resurrected some of their previous designer collections --- they only reproduced the key pieces that stood out the most from every collection. My favorite is the thakoon block color dress. I love the combination of the green and the blue. They also have this very cute pink Zac Posen sun dress that I like a lot. Go check it out!

Wedges!

Spring is all about long maxi dresses, bright colors, and...WEDGES! I went to Nordstrom last week and the whole shoe department was full of fun and strappy wedges. So the key to mastering this style is - platform wedges with straps. Few picks from the nordstrom website:

the next big thing this spring/summer

White eyelet dress! The weather is a little cold but you can certainly pair it with a leather jacket with a black bootie. Come summer, you can take all that off and just wear by itself!

MJ!

new mj purse - bold color is next season's theme!

Spring show trend: bows

What a cute trend...image pairing this with polka dots and ultra feminine pieces!

Blake as New Chanel Ambassador!

My favorite GG it girl is designated to be Chanel's new handbag ambassador - lucky! Can't wait to see her ads everywhere! Here she is looking stunning like always in head to toe Chanel.

Back!

Was out of a country due to a family emergency and didn't have access to the internet...anyway, back to the daily blogging.

Kate Spade's new side sling bag is the cutest thing ever! Best thing is that they come in eye-popping, summer colors. This will make every neutral outfit stand out! Pair with jeans, summer flower dress, white cardigan, basically anything! If you are not ready to spend $300 on a hot pink or a highlighter yellow bag - opt in for the tan. What do you think?

Zara Biker Jacket

I got a suede looking one at Zara's like the one above for $40. I've gotten a ton of compliments already (one specifically from someone who works at Marc Jacobs...I mean come on, she sees cute clothes all day so for her to say that something is cute must mean a lot!)

Dare to try the Maxi dress trend?

Just found a pretty understated maxi sheer dress at topshop...

Top Trends - Bold Color

According to InStyle, the hottest trend next season is going to be bold colors. Not just bold color alone but mixing and matching colors that you didn't think the color palette allowed. Designers like Gucci, Lanvin, Stella McCartney all have incorporated this concept in their shows during Fashion Week. Not sure how practically it will be for everyday wear but certainly fun to try mixing purple with teal or yellow with orange. The key is, keep it simple. Mix tops and bottoms with minimal details/designs. Can't wait till Spring is here!

Nordstrom to Acquire Online Retailer HauteLook

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/nordstrom-to-acquire-online-retailer-hautelook/?nl=business&emc=dlbkpma2

Wonder who's next, gilt? ideeli? ruelala?

Electric blue is the new black!

Granted Blake and Jessica will look good in practically anything they wear but I especially like the electric blue trend. It's just so expected on a dress! I think the key here is to keep a bare neckline so that it doesn't become overwhelming. Gorgeous!

Gap's New Modern Collection

Gap is finally doing it right! After years of decline in sales, it was about time for them to revamp their collection. I love them because they're good at what they do and can do it at an affordable price. The new line embodies this. Comfort is definitely the main theme here - but it's comfort mixed in with effortlessly chic that makes this line so brilliant. Can't wait to see this in store!

LC's Spring Kohl's Collection

Just got a sneak peak of LC's new line at Kohls.

Must have for the spring: Pink blazer, anything lace (looks great on casual wear), flower dress, and faux leather biker jacket in an unexpected color!

Zara Bags

Zara's spring collection is here! All of these bags have such a vintage feel especially the bucket one shown below. The envelope shape bags are everywhere now adays too and I like the contrasting color combination on this one. The strap side sling bag is versatile and can be wore casually with a military jacket. The tiny bucket one is cute for any occasion. Lastly, the tiny black shoulder bag is great for going out at night!

Alice + Olivia

l Alice + Olivia l

Today's featured GILT designer is Alice + Olivia. I picked a few of my favorites. Gold Sparkle Mini is perfect for a night out! I love the dramatic sparkles that are on the dress but the conservative neckline helps to keep the focus on the legs. ;) The cascade leather jacket adds an extra twist --- I love the girly detail because I'm not that big on the rocker studs. A body hugging, leather trimmed, bodycon dress is sure to make everyone take a second look!

Must Have Flats!

Yesterday I blogged about flats, today I will continue to blog about flats. But this time you are going to like it even more because I found a great deal! There's a take an additional 30% off all items in store at Old Navy so the flats shown below are only $15! Now aren't you glad I blogged about flats again today?

J Crew Flats

I much prefer comfort over style when it comes to work shoes! Check out these great styles from J.Crew, each pair is around $100 --- pricey but your feet will thank you later!

Enjoy.

OPI for Sephora

I used to NEVER paint my nails (I didn't even get a manicure during my high school proms). But this totally changed after I found out about OPI's collection at Sephora. The nail polish is SUPER easy to put on. It doesn't get all clumpy like all the other cheap brands you get at Target/Walmart. The OPI colors are sooo cute too. I especially love this collection below, the nude beige is so chic and will go with every outfit! I think it's a better deal if you get the miniature size set because a set of 4 is only $18 vs. $10 each if you were to get the regular size bottles. Seriously, I never use up all my nail polish so I think the mini size wouldn't be a problem.

Diane Kruger in Giambattista Valli

Diane Kruger certainly deserves all the spotlight. Whether it is in the front seat of a fashion show, an awards night, or just a night out she's always prepared to wow the audience with her sense of style! Minimalistic structured dress mixed with layers of animal print --- brilliant!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

I found the most adorable V day gift! But I have to admit, I hate Valentine's Day because it's a complete hallmark holiday. Businesses just hype it up because they want to make money and jack up all the prices to normal stuff that they sell already. Restaurants just get all crazy because everyone wants to be "romantic" and eat out --- why do we have to set a special day to be couply? I don't think I'm the bitter type (and to answer your question, yes, I do have a boyfriend who loves the whole flowers/chocolate thing) but still, I think I just hate it when I know I'm getting ripped off!

boldloft.com is the place to buy this stuff:

D&G Sweater

I fell in love with this D&G sweater that Serena was wearing on this week's Gossip Girl episode. I love the unexpected composition of the sweater --- when you think of fair isle print, you think of big chunky knit. But the one shown below, is made of sheer see through material. It gives it a feminine touch with the cinching around the waist and wrist. Very chic...

I went on the D&G site and found out that it was on sale for a little less than $300 (somewhat affordable). I wanted to splurge but turns out the product was already sold out. Guess that's a good thing...

Kate Spade on Gilt

I was on Gilt at 9:04 am (sale starts at 9 PST) and within 4 minutes, almost every item was already in a member's cart.

There were a lot of selections --- all of which are both wearable for night and also work appropriate. Couple of key pieces that I liked the most:

1. Satchel - this is the exact same shape as the LV satchel bag (but $500+ cheaper). It's lightweight and you don't have to worry about the bag when it rains!

2. Large tote - probably more stylish and versatile than the longchamp totes. The straps really give it a spin to the design of a regular tote.

3. I've got a weird obsession with polka dots. It's just so cute but yet sophisticated at the same time. Sorta feels like it brings out the youth in most people when they wear polka dots without trying too hard to be young.

4. Still debating if I should get these. This is an item that's worth a one time splurge but there are years of shelve life on it --- I bet these boots will stay in style for years to come. Should I...?

I don't usually shop on gilt because their stuff is still so pricey even after the discount but the site definitely has some good deals!

Trend Report: Maxi Skirts

I've been seeing these EVERYWHERE - this trend is definitely taking up the streets. I personally can not pull off the bohemian style. I think I can do a maxi dress but definitely not a skirt. Maybe you can?

*image source: club monaco

Club Monaco

Went into Club Monaco and saw a ton of cute stuff in there. Couple of my favorite outfits from their site:Scallop shorts: very Chloe. I see these all the time at Forever21! Pair it with tights in the winter or wear them alone in the summer! Best if you pair a silver, gray, or offwhite top. Keep the color scheme minimal - you want the attention to be on the shorts!

Mixed Colors: Don't be afraid to try out different colors! Especially in the winter! Try peach with salmon (like the one shown above). Or how about pink and red? Turquoise and purple? Just make sure you keep the more neutral color as your top and brighter color for the bottoms. I don't really like it paired with black tights. I think it's cute if you go bare and wear strappy nude shoes or nude pumps. Keep the focus on the outfit, not the shoes!

Glitter/Sequins Cardigan: Show your inner diva during the day! With the sparkly cardigan trend, you're bound to find a perfect one! Try going to Gap, Banana Republic, or H&M. I'm sure you'll be able to find one no problem.

Jeans!

Got these Levi's jeans for $10 - free shipping! Amazing cheap huh? Enter EXTRA50 at checkout.

Cute Cropped Cable Sweater

Found this on the forever21 website! Super cute, might go and pick it up after work:

Earrings!

I've been on this earring frenzy lately. I found some super budget friendly ones at Forever21. The cool thing is that they have new shipments all the time! All these earrings shown below are only $1.50!

I like the first one because of the color. The aqua color can make any plain outfit pop --- pair this with a LBD or a dark gray cami/tank top. The next one is very casual. Pair this with jeans on the weekends and tie your hair up in a high pony tail. Or you can wear wife beater with this with your hair down. The gold feathers are super cute. Pair this with soft/girly colors - champagne, light pink, peace, off white...basically anything girly. I think my favorite ones are these pearl ones. These will look good with something that's more sophisticated --- will definitely look good with an updo. The last one is very casual. Pair this with jeans on the weekends and tie your hair up in a high pony tail. Or you can wear wife beater with this with your hair down. The last ones are just so chic. This one is a no brainer, pair it with a pair of jeans and a white tee!