Bargain Bikinis!!

I know you might not be ready to see yourself in a swimsuit, but Memorial Day will be here before you know it and Forever 21 has just launched their first ever swimwear collection!

They have a variety of bikinis and even a few monokinis…which I’m not a huge fan of. I hate regular bikini tan lines, so I can’t even imagine having to deal with the tan lines from those things!

They also have prints galore (be sure to check out the neon splatter style!) so no matter what your taste, I’m sure they’ll have something that’s to your liking.

And since this is F21 we’re talking about, the suits retail from $12.80 for separates to $22.80 for a monokini. At that price, I’ll be curious to check out the quality and the elasticity…a dead giveaway of a cheap swimsuit! I’m quite partial to suits from Target, Old Navy, and H&M but another budget swimwear line is always a welcome addition for a bikini junkie like me!

Click here to find a store near you that carries the collection!

StyleFile: Cold Shoulder

Style Links (L to R): Grey Satin Bow Dress $43.50, Navy Striped Dress $37.50, Purple Bow Dress $49.50

Style Links (L to R): Star Print Dress $29.99, Color Block Dress $42, Nude Tunic $24.50

We knew the one-shoulder look would be a huge trend for Spring, but who knew it would stick around for Fall as well?  I saw many designers like Alexander Wang, Marchesa and Marc Jacobs send this style down the runway in updated fabrics and colors for Fall, but one thing remained the same…it’s still all about the shoulder!

I happen to love this look for the Spring and Summer and I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these dresses…but don’t think you have to wait until the temperature warms up to wear them!  Pair these with tights (try a ligher hue instead of black) and strap on those sandals for the perfect transitonal outfit!

Geek Chic

I can’t live without my MAC which is why I love my Macbook…it’s lightweight, does everything my desktop can, and even though it’s not the shiny new silver one, I still love it and honestly…I’m partial to the old school white ones!!

With such a sleek and stylish laptop, I can’t be expected to put it into one of those dorky, computer cases that they sell at Office Depot, so I’ve been searching for just the right case to carry my laptop in.  I saw this Goyard case in the January issue of Vogue and instantly fell in loooooooove, but the $830 price tag killed my crush.

Maybe one day if I ever become the CEO of some important TBD company I’ll reward myself with something this extravagant, but until then, I think something equally as stylish and much more budget-friendly, like this fab faux-croco one will have to do!

40% Off at Old Navy

NOTE:  This is in store ONLY, so click here, print it out and SAVE!

Get the Oscar Look…for Less

We all want to feel like a leading lady in our daily lives and even more so for special occasions, but since most of our budgets don’t allow for hair, make-up and wardrobe stylists here are some award-worthy looks inspired by some of the night’s most beautiful women…

Style Links: Dress, Earrings, Clutch

Style Links: Dress, Earrings, Clutch

Style Links: Dress, Clutch, Rhinestone Cuff

And here are some expert style tips from Naz Cupelian and Dominic Cruz to help you recreate the hair and make-up looks seen on the night’s biggest stars courtesy of Beauty Xpose:

Hair
Want Oscar-worth hair for your big night out?  International Hair Artist Naz Kupelian, a member of the elite Rusk© creative design team responsible for developing the latest hair trends, gives these tips for a soft, loose look with ethereal waves (as seen on Nicole Kidman):

1. Part your hair on the side, pulling it back loosely to the side with pins.
2. Get waves that begin from the eyes or the chin by wetting the hair and applying gel.
3. Then, comb your hair from front to back until it forms a “S” shape. Notice that the top of the hair is flat yet polished – the focus of the look is on the ends of the hair.
4. Dry your hair and then brush it again – this will give you the wave look to the front pieces.

Makeup
For makeup, it doesn’t matter if you’re going for smoldering or sweet – it’s all about the glow. Dominic Cruz, professional make-up artist and educational director for Kryolan Professional Makeup, says you can get your skin glistening in five easy steps:

1. First properly clean the skin to remove any oil or dirt from the skin.
2. Next add a daily moisturizer, wait two minutes,  and apply a light coating of a silicone-based primer to even out the skin, creating a smooth and flawless surface
3. For a natural look, use a tinted moisturizer, but DO NOT POWDER – it must remain dewy, which creates a healthy glow.
4. For a little more coverage, try a cream foundation.  Apply with a foundation brush, blot with a tissue to remove any excess, and apply a loose powder, working in small circular motion from the chin on up to the temples and down the nose.  Repeat on the other side.
5. For added glow, top it off with a little shimmer powder.

Deal of the Week: Flower Power

I’m a heels girl, for sure…but I also can’t pretend that I don’t carry a pair of flats in my bag to change into on the walk to/from work!  There’s no way I can get through an entire day in a pair of 4″ stilettos and unfortunately, my budget doesn’t have room in it for a chauffeured town car to shuttle me around the city at my beckon call!

So the next best thing IMO is a cute pair of flats!  They pack up nicely, they’re lightweight, and thank to some great designers over at Old Navy, now they’re ador-a-ball!  These floral flats are a must-buy for the upcoming spring season and they’ll look super cute paired with just about anything from jeans to dresses…only $19.50 at Old Navy!

Oscars: Best Dressed

All of these gorgeous women hit it out of the ballpark tonight!  It’s the Oscars and this is the occassion to go big or go home…they brought drama, shine, volume, exquisite detailing and each one of these dresses must have been from an Haute Couture collection because the were all unbelievable!!  I die!

Oscars: Worst Dressed

I’m really sad to have to include Frida Pinto on this list because she’s adorable (I totally heart Slumdog) and she’s had a great run during this awards season.  This blue Galliano did her no favors and it looks like some horrible, half-finished prom dress from the 80’s!  Beyonce is always a hit or miss and I’m so over this silhouette on her…we all know you’re “bootylicious” honey, so show us something else!  And as far as Miley goes…she’s only 15 and this dress is way too much fabric, embellishment, and volume for her.  It swallows her alive and it’s too much dress for such a young girl, who wasn’t even nominated…what was she doing at the Oscars anyway??

So who was your on your Worst Dressed list?  Do you agree with my picks???

UPDATE:  B’s gown is by House of Dereon…what a surpirse??? 😉

Oscar Trend: Naturally Nude

One of the biggest trends we saw last night was all of the the pale colors in shades of white, ivory, and nude.  While I’m not usually a fan on these colors on the red-carpet something about it made it feel fresh and modern this year.  I’m so tired of always seeing black and clearly so were Hollywood’s leading ladies.  The pleating, ruching, embroidery and lace details on each one of these gowns made them truly spectacular and unique in their own way.  Two of my favorite looks of the night were also part of this trend!!

And I can’t go without mentioning that Penelope is wearing a 60 year old vintage Balmain gown that is beyond amazing and btw, where do you even buy 60 year old Balmain???

Cheap or Chic?

So just in case you don’t recognize her, this is Carrie Bradshaw…I mean Sarah Jessica Parker sporting some interesting color…and I’m not talking about the darker locks.

Check out the seriously chartreuse heels she’s got on!  I happen to love them, but I asked around and that was not the general consensus.  I keep seeing this color pop up in stores, on the runway at Fashion Week, and now on one of my style icons as seen here.

I searched high and low and could not find an acceptable pair of shoes in this color…everything I found was totally unfortunate or just too green and I’m starting to think this might be one of those  illusive colors that you have to fork over the big bucks for!

So what do you think about this color trend?  Would you wear green shoes?

Way OTK Boots at Rodarte

Leave it to sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the women behind Rodarte to show us some of the boldest and most daring footwear to ever be seen during any New York Fashion week!  This kind of footwear/hoisery (?) is something I would expect to see at the couture shows in Paris but these girls never fail to bring it and I’m dying over these thigh-high, leather, bondage, multi-strapped, creations!  I doubt they will ever acutally make it into production, but they’re inspiring and over the top and isn’t that what Fashion Week is all about anyway??

Click here to check out the rest of their show!

Runway Rundown…on a Budget

Designers sent a lot of truly inspired, stand-out looks down the runway, but a few made me think I was experiencing serious deja vu!  Some of these trends are updates to many looks you might already have in your closet (thank goodness!), but just in case you don’t…here are some budget-friendly interpretations that will definitely put you ahead of the fashion curve!

Trend: Metallics (Gold, Silver, Gunmetal)

Click here for the budget buy!

Trend: Structured LBD

Click here for the budget buy!

Trend: Vibrant Blue

Click here for the budget buy!

Trend: Velvet

Click here for the budget buy!

Trend: Red and Pink

Click here for the budget buy!

Other notable trends were: skinny leather pants, capes, some kind of jacket with pronounced shoulders (the 80’s influence was everywhere!), a cocoon coat, lots of pointy toe shoes and some chunky bling in silver and pewter tones!

Brian Reyes: All-Access

I had one of the most memorable days of my life yesterday…the show was beautiful, I got to share it with my BFF (thanks for being my photog Melis), we were seated in the 2nd row, and Brian was an absolute sweetheart! I took a lot of photos so check out the slideshow below for some great backstage action, celebrity sightings (including one of Anna Wintour!) and a stunning collection.

I asked Brian a lot of questions but here are some of the highlights from our interview:

He doesn’t ever get nervous before shows…the show was inspired by strong, assertive, bold women…he loves Medellin…he prefers Mexico for beach vacations…his favorite type of music is Scores (like soundtracks)….his indulgence is downloading songs from iTunes…his dream client is Michelle Obama…he hearts Rachel Bilson…and the best advice he can give to aspiring fashion designers is to be patient.

Overall, the show was really incredible.  He showed some amazing dresses and I think that’s definitely his forte.  He used pops of color in shades of blue, raspberry and chartruse but a lot of the looks featured neutral colored patterns and earthy grey tones.

The shoes were provided by Manolo Blahnik and they were TDF!  They were solid pumps with snake zig-zag detailing on up the back and I’m telling you right now that the pointy-toe will be the “it” shoe for Fall.  The jewelry was a collaboration between Lee Angel and Brian and it was big, bold and blingy!  There were some incredible necklces and rings that I’m putting it on my bday wish list!

But perhaps the most talked about part of the show was the shoes, or the lack thereof.  I guess the Manolo’s were too big because they kept slipping off the model’s feet…

so for the finale, all the girls came out barefoot!  It was really cute and it totally shows Brian’s sense of humor.  Thanks to everyone at Brian Reyes for an incredible day and I can’t wait for the interview to air on American Latino TV in March!!!

From The Tents…

I’m at the Brian Reyes show right now, getting ready for our interview and I can’t wait to see his new collection walk down the runway… right in front of me!  In case you don’t know too much about Brian, here are some of his most recognizable looks worn by my favorite young starlets…

Look for Less: Kate Hudson

I admire Kate Hudson for her ability to be so carefree with everything…movies, travel, men, and style.  She’s a true fashion chameleon and always manages to look great whether she’s all dolled up on the red carpet, in her day-to day life or on the cover of a fashion magazine as pictured her.

This safari inspired look is one of my favorites for the Spring and I must get my hands on one of those jackets/shirts because they are the ultimate layering piece.  Her outfit might come off a tad “tarty” without it, but with it she looks like she just stepped off the Ralph Lauren runway in her glam-safari attire. Here’s how you can get Kate’s look for much much less $$, without having to sacrifice any style:

And, for the shoe record, I’m completely obsessed with her Christian Louboutin Petal Sandals…I know they’re not the most practical of shoes and knowing me I would surely manage to tear one (or most) of those beautiful crepe satin petals, but I can’t go without mentioning that I would probably give up some important body part to own them!

Style Links: Safari Jacket $78, Tank Top $19.80, Shorts $19.99, Necklace $4.80, Rhinestone Bangle $7.80, Ruffle Shoes $27.80, Studded Bracelet $6.80

Bag Lady

Two of the biggest trends in handbags for Spring 09 are fringe and chains…odd pair, no?  One feels while casual and carefree while the latter implies a Blair Waldorf friendly, upper east side sensibility.  Either way, you can’t go wrong with any of these choices in easy neutral colors so why not try both looks since all of these styles are priced under $50!?!

Style Links:
Tanaka $26.80, Forever 21
Cosmic Fringe Clutch $29.95, Free People
Bsally $39.95, Steve Madden
Hayden Harnett Chain Bag $44.99, Target
Chain Wristlet $49, Ann Taylor
Ruffled Purse $19.99, Charlotte Russe

The Winners are…

Christie G. and Erin Y.!! Congrats on winnnig the Go Jane/ CheapChica’s Giveaway!  

Thanks to everyone who entered and keep checking back for more great giveaways coming soon!

Deal of the Week: Eyewear

$18 Urban Outfitters

Sunglass trends come and go, so it’s best to not spend your hard earned cash on a pair of designer lenses. There are tons of resources out there that offer the latest trends at rock-bottom prices!

While classic looks (like a Ray-Ban aviator) will never go out of style, this season it’s all about the Round Sunnies. They’ve recently been spotted on many celebrities like Nicole Richie and most notably on Mary-Kate Olsen. She’s been sporting a pair of limited edition Chanel sunglasses that were probably a gift from Karl himself! But even if you could afford them, you won’t be able to find them…they only made 200 pairs so good luck finding them!!

Round sunglasses weren’t a shape I typically gravitate towards, but after trying these on at Urban Outfitters I was in love… I’m totally digging the $18 price tag, the shape and the half-tint lens gives them a very funky, 70’s vibe that will fit in perfectly with this Spring’s fashions!

The Supermelon

In case you haven’t heard of The Supermelon, it’s a fantastic blog that highlights the best in style, global trends, art, and travel from all over the world and on my must-read list every single day!

They’ve asked me to contribute to their site so I’ll be writing a monthly feature for them called “Runway to Reality” where I’ll use my best budget-fashion skills to interpret designer runway trends at a fraction of the cost…here’s a sneak peek at my first piece:

…can you guess which designer inspired these looks???  Click here to check out the rest of the article!

Pamela Love

Um, yes please…I’ll take all of them…and especially that claw cuff!  Her pieces were not only featured in the New York Times, countless editorials, and in a recent slew of Gap ads (adorning the wrist and ears of Carine Roitfield’s daughter), but they were also spotted this weekend on the runway at the Yigal Azrouel show!!!