This year, the designer labels seem to agree the t-strap “flip flop” is their casual trend of choice. It’s like the gladiator sandal from the past two seasons that decided to shed its straps.
The look is either a single, feminine strap or adorned with chucky stones. You could also opt for something a little more durable and simple.
Honestly, I don’t think any of these are MUST HAVES, but trust me when I tell you, you will find something you love at every price point in this fun flat.
- By Kallah Maguire, The Stylist
What’s a girl got to to do to get some fashionable sunglasses that don’t break her bank? All together now… Visit Forever 21! The cat eye sunglasses that Alexander Wang sent down the runway for his RTW Spring 2010 collection are highly coveted – but also highly priced.
Spring lines are just hitting the stores so guess what, so are their cheaper counterparts! Clever girls (which I know you all are) will hop on over to the hardware store or hobby shop for some gold, silver, or bronze paint to add the finishing touches to their new Forever 21 find. DIY fashion upgrades are brilliant, and when people start asking you where you got your fabulous sunglasses you can say “Oh these, they’re custom, I actually designed them myself”. Priceless, and all for around $13.00!
Pictures courtesy of Style.com and Forever21.com
I’ve actually been planning to write a post on my experience with cheap sunglasses for while, but kept forgetting about it until Kallah brought it up today.
Before my last trip to Mexico, I wrote about the stylish sunnies I found for a bargain at Anthropologie, shown here.
See, they’re cute.
For three weeks I ran around on the beach while not having to worry about scratching expensive lenses. Before this trip I was terrified I would ruin my Guccis, Oliver Peoples, etc in the sand or from throwing them in my bag.
Although no one else could tell they were $4 shades, I could. For some reason, the lenses got dirty quicker and were harder to clean. They were greasy even after I washed they off. Looking through them was also different. It felt like the plastic was thicker, my view was clouded, and the tint made everything look flat. Basically it left me frustrated and missing my designer frames.
All of that being said, I would still buy the cheaper version for the beach or if I wanted a trendy frame like the Alexander Wang cat-eye style that would only last a season.
Woven Leather!
Espadrille Wedges!
Studded Cuffs!
Two-tone Metals!
OH MY!
Spring styles you’ll want in your wardrobe. Don’t want to splurge for the real deal? Not to worry, you’ll see variations of these trends all over the place.
(Top to bottom: Elizabeth and James, Christian Louboutin, Balmain, Valentino. All at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills. Contact Charles for more info.)
Reader Lauren wrote in that she loved the silver and gold hardware on Reece Witherspoon’s bag, but couldn’t find the designer.
This is when we put those swollen college brains to the test! I asked my intern Giselle to track it down and brilliant DG at USC did! The designer is……
**PHILLIP LIM**
Not a surprise now that you know right? Buy it here for $895.
Thanks Giselle!
-By Kallah Maguire, The Stylist
Now that you’ve seen all of Mary’s amazing New York Fashion Week coverage, I’m going to help you translate it into your own personal style! 6:30pm this Thursday, February 25th at the eclectic boutique EM&Co. in West Hollywood (CA) – I’ll be sharing some of the secrets about how to dress to get the kind of attention you want, and I’ll be demonstrating with three live makeovers!
The Get Up Girl’s “Girls Night Out” is hosting this fun event, and their founders Margalit and Shannon will be there to share some tips from all of their years as life and career coaches. Snacks, drinks, gift bags, and insider tips on how to take your style, life, and career to the next level are all included in this fun filled evening – So be sure to RSVP asap, oh and did I mention that the event is FREE ; )
If you can’t join us in person don’t let that stop you – we’ll be podcasting the entire event so stay tuned for that link!
Hope to see you there!
RSVP here
Image courtesy of me (it’s my wardrobe styling), and Gilbert – the most amazing photographer I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with!
UPDATE!
Huge success, the makeovers were so much fun and all of the ladies looked amazing! I’m dying to get the pictures of the before and afters up for all of you to see but it’s taking forever to get them. Promise I’ll post them as soon as they are in my hot little hands ; ) Best part of the evening – All of the makeover ladies purchased their outfits, I take that as a huge compliment!
- By Kallah Maguire, The Stylist
The Nutritionista and I were chatting away this weekend plotting a delicious contest for all you MTM readers, and eventually (as women will) got around to the topic of fashion and style. Miss Nutritionista mentioned that she feels she hasn’t developed her personal style as much as she would like to, and that she’d love to know how to go about doing so.
Therefore I’ve put together five steps that will help most anyone find their own style, while having fun in the process!
Step 1) Buy a notebook to keep tabs on your style inspiration.
Grab shots of your favorite looks and trends from magazines, quotes from designers that you find particularly fabulous – like Coco Chanel “Fashion fades, only style remains the same”, and start building your own personal look book.
Visit your local book store or library and check out some fashion history books. Note the celebs and designers of yesteryear that had timeless style because trends are not everything, and Jackie O. and Gilbert Adrian can still probably teach you a thing or two!
Step 2) Borrow clothes from your friends so you can try new looks.
It’s cheap, easy, free and fun to borrow – not to mention a great way to test drive some new styles. Don’t forget to ask your friends if they’ll dress you up because they may have some great ideas about how you can rock their unused grandpa vest or summer dress!
Experiment with your newly fortified wardrobe over the next week or so and see what is “so the new you” (like the Hello Skinny Jeans, or the Oliver Spenser Jacket), and what’s not. If you fall in love with something that you’ve borrowed perhaps your friend will be kind enough to sell it to you, or let you take them out for a drink. At the very least they’ll tell you where they got the fab piece that you’re coveting.
Step 3) Take the look book to the next level with daily photos.
My clients love this! After a shopping trip I’ll incorporate all of the new pieces into their existing wardrobe and take pictures of them in the new combinations complete with shoes and accessories. You can do this, or you can simply snap photos of your outfits every day before you head out the door so that you can remember all of your best outfit combinations, and improve on ones that were lacking a little. Make notes next to each pic about what worked and what didn’t. This is also a great way to get a really accurate list of what you need to add to your wardrobe.
Step 4) Conceptualize your burgeoning new style and write it down.
This does not have to be perfect, and you can start out small. Descriptive words are you best friend when it comes to picturing your new outfits, so feed your imagination well. Start with the core outfit: “blood red fitted calf length skirt 50’s skirt, with asymmetrical top” or “flat front trousers, with a loose fitting linen button down.” Then as you get more of a handle on what you like, start adding shoes and accessories to each outfit. If you get stuck, roam around The Sartorialist for inspiration from some of the most stylish people around the globe.
Step 5) Be patient, fearless and have fun finding your own personal style!
When I start working with a new client it takes about a full year of seasonal, lifestyle, and event updates to really cultivate a great wardrobe. So, will it take you a year to change your style? No. Will it take you some time to figure things out and collect all the bits and pieces that you need once you start to define your style? Yes.
BE DARING! Try new outfit combinations that you’d normally steer clear of, keep the amazing finds until you can make an outfit out of them, make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to refine / redefine your look. You’ll feel more and more confident about yourself though this process, and confidence is always sexy!
xooxox,
~K
Images courtesy of The Sartorialist
-By Kallah Maguire, The Stylist
It’s official – Shop It To Me is the best way to stay on top of trends and Of The Moment designers! Not only can you personalize your profile by selecting your fav designers to arrive in your inbox when they go on sale, in your size (of course!), but you’ll also be given tips as to who the hot designer are right now.
Just sign into your account, click on the Edit button next to Brands, then click on “Of The Moment” tab and viola! You are privy to a list of the latest and greatest designers that are burning up the runway!
Your fav celeb’s bag, coat, dress, slacks, etc are on sale at Shop It To Me in your size, so don’t waste any time – take advantage of the deals and steals before your best friend does ; )
ShopItToMe.com
By Kallah Maguire, The Stylist
I know you’re hard on your messenger bag, backpack, fill in the blank, that you beat up on a daily basis. What if I told you that I know a brand that makes awesome dude bags that are durable and cool looking at the same time? Would you be promising me chocolates and flowers to get the name?
Ok, ok! It’s Billykirk, a brand conceived and designed by two brothers that knew what they were going to call their company before they knew what they wanted to sell! Billykirk is handcrafted by Amish leather workers in Pennsylvania, and then finished by the brothers themselves. You know the Amish don’t mess around when it comes to quality, so it’s no surprise that Billykirk is one of the highest quality leather bag and accessory lines out there today.
Their prices range from $65 for small leather accessories to $345 for the leather bags. So whether you are riding your bike over to Scoops on Heliotrop for some hand-made ice cream, sailing in Santa Monica over the weekend, or want to be the coolest dude on your next camping trip, Billykirk has something for you.
Feel free to send me Valerie Confections and flowers anytime ; )
Billykirk
Billykirk.com
Stockists
Meet the designers and hear about their brand and inspiration – video
Read the Billykirk blog, and join their fan page on Facebook
Images courtesy of Billykirk.com
Valerie Confections
ValerieConfections.com
3360 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90004 map (213) 739-8149
Also carried at these fine retailers, stockists
Follow Valerie on Twitter @ValerieConfctns, and become her friend on Facebook
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