Folk Singer Inspired...

Inspired by the ethnic style of a folk songstress, this look infuses vintage charm with modern glamour. Matthew Williamson's ruffled dress with patchwork print, paired with purple suede boots incorporates a "home-made" untailored appeal with high-fashion elegance. Simple accessories finish the look with an eclectic cocktail ring, retro sunglasses, and a plaid beret cap. Folklore looks will be all the rage in the upcoming seasons. The look is easily obtainable by mixing fabrications, patterns, and price points. No matter if you are on stage as a folk-performer or simply just want that "I look good, but I didn't try" style, use your imagination and as always-happy shopping!!!

Check out my other looks on Shopstyle.com

Mix and (Don't) Match...

There are those of us that like to play it safe and follow all the traditional rules. And then there's those of us that like a little adventure and know how and when to break the rules of norm. I'd like to think I'm a part of the latter. As a child we're taught to match our clothes by color; shoes, belt, and bag should match. And to top it off, some of us even try to match their make-up with their clothing. How boring is that??? I mean, I understand as a child, we're taught the basics of color and we wore what our parents made us wear. And that was our foundation. But as you get older (and supposedly wiser) aren't you suppose to put your own spin on what you learned and make it your own. Take those basics and incorporate them into the person that you've become; create your own style.

I said all of that to say, have some fun with your clothes. It's not rocket science. However, it is an artform; especially when you mix your clothes not to match so perfectly. If you have to think about it too hard then go with what you know and stay match-perfect. Otherwise check these out and get inspired. Add some drama to your ensemble.

Olive dress, emerald green costume ring, bold yellow print clutch.

Tartan plaid pants, black/white boucle jacket, mustard crewneck; bring it all together with slick black accessories.

Purple couture styled dress, bold belt, and bright shoes.

Nicole Richie "gets it"; here she ever-so-elegantly wears a print kimono style wrap dress, snake print clutch, and bold bangles.


Happy Shopping!!!

Rootie,Tootie, Fresh, and Fruity...

No, it's not the IHOP pancake special!!!

It's the theme for spring!!! Just as the fall colors were in tones of plum and raspberry; the hues will continue to tease our senses with bold, vivid shades of banana, grapes, and cherries. This spring is all about bold, stand-out, hear me roar!!! Aside from daring statement accessories, the color pallet will be just as adventurous. Just always remember, less is always more. Keep it simple. When in doubt, go without! Okay, enough with the proverbs; bring on the color!!! Here are some of my favorites for spring in all shades of fresh fruit...MMMMM, juicy!!!

top-left to right>blueberry Suede Miu Miu Platform, $595; Derek Lam grape dress, $1890; orange Just Cavalli blouse, $680; bottom-left to right> cherry red Brian Atwood pumps, $560; refreshing lime Oscar De La Renta dress, $4950; banana yellow Jimmy Choo bag, $1395... All available on net a porter

Reader Response...

A Christian-Michaels Reader asks if there was a knock-off available on that Christian Louboutin"123 Double-Platform" sandal...

(You can't knock-off a Louboutin!)

Well, first I must clarify that "knock-off" is a dirty word in the fashion industry(and they're illegal). I prefer to use the term "designer-inspired". The difference between the two is that a "knock-off" is when one knowingly copies the design of another, uses less than quality materials to produce the item, and markets it with the original designer's name, at a much "cheaper" price (because it is cheap).

Some "knock-offs" are so good that to the naked eye it's sometimes impossible to tell the "real" from the "fake". This is why it's so important to know that certain designer goods are only available at certain department stores and boutiques. One must know the authentic qualities of a designer before purchasing. However, some consumers don't care and know that they are buying a "fake". But are happy to show off their purchase for "name-sake". And those people are easy to spot.

But never-the-less, "designer-inspired" is just that. It's when a company will design a product based on an original piece, use quality materials, and market the product with their name at a less expensive price than the original. And in my opinion, no one does this better than Steve Madden. His shoes are made of the highest quality leathers and fabrics. The workmanship is superb. And the prices are within reason. And more so, you can have certain shoes custom designed for your taste!-One-of-a kind on a budget!!

Therefore, to answer the readers question, I found these all from from Steve Madden...

"Sellena"$89.95

http://www.zappos.com/

"Next" $89.95

http://www.endless.com/

"Rockerr" $179.95

www.stevemadden.com

"Mega Platform" $146.94

http://www.asos.com/

Happy Shopping!!!

The Look For Less....

Check out this beautiful Carlos Falchi oversized reptile-skin bag...Available at Kitson for $2795.00...(Oh, it's on sale right now for $1397.50)

OR...

... you can opt to pay your mortgage and still be fly in this hottt "Reni" oversized faux reptile bag from Forever 21.. $29.80

Happy Shopping!!!

The "It" Shoe....

Here it is!!! The must have shoe for spring from none-other than Christian Louboutin!!!

Perfect to pair with those harem pants or the boyfriend jean!!!

Available at Bergdorf's...$1495.00

The Look for Less...

Check out this gorgeous silk animal print tunic from Bebe...

A mere $119.00

However..... Save some cash for drinks at the club, when you get the look for less at Forever 21.......

Only $15.80......

New Secret...SSHHHHH

I have a secret to confess.... One morning I was getting dressed and I noticed I was out of my Secret deodorant. So I used my husband's Speed Stick (Sports Talc)... Ladies, I must tell you that Secret is out of my life. I'm not buying it anymore. I used the Secret Invisible stick. And as it promises to not to leave those white marks, and remain invisible, it does not. The Speed Stick went on invisible(no matter how hard I rubbed on my armpit), it remained invisible throughout the day, and most importantly it smelled fresh all day(hahahah)... And it's not a masculine, cologne type scent.

I'm not telling you what deodorant you should use(as long as you use one), I just wanted to share my secret. Even though Speed Stick is made strong for a man, it's definitely gentle enough for a woman! LOL. Maybe, Mennen, the company that makes Speed Stick, should consider marketing this as a unisex product.

Happy Shopping!!!

Thrift Shopping...

I wanted to take some time to share my love of thrift shopping. First of all, I must say that in the small town where I live, thrift shopping has connotations for the homeless and underprivileged. And more so, I haven't come across any good thrift shops here. We have the local Salvation Army and a few consignment shops(which are actually okay). But for the most part, I thrift shop out of town and online. I have found some really great items. For me, thrift shopping isn't necessarily about finding a bargain. Although, you are getting great pieces for much less than you would at retail. Thrift shopping, to me, is about finding a one of a kind item; perhaps with some history and some vintage appeal. Thrift shopping is fun and exciting, especially when I stumble across that great high-end "must-have" designer item. Remember the old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." This is so true. The items in a "reputable" thrift store are usually donated "hand-me-downs" from people cleaning out their closets, getting rid of estate items, or simply wanting a tax write-off. The challenge is rummaging through it all to get to that pot of gold item. I do have one piece of advice when thrifting, the best thrift shops are found in upscale communities. Do I need to explain why???

Happy Shopping!

Here are some of my most recent finds:

Above:Best & Co.vintage mink stole from Goodwill in Orange County, CA; $31.74

Left: vintage necklace from Housing Works; Grammercy, NY; $85.50

vintage white rabbit coat from Psycho Sisters Consignment in Little Five Points Atlanta, GA; $50.00

brand new "A-Pocket" Seven For All Mankind Jeans from Goodwill of Orange County, CA; $47.30

vintage-looking embroidered Aryn K. dress from Goodwill of Orange County, CA; $52.51