Hot Shoes for Spring

Bootie? Sandal? Pump?
Whatever you want to call them, they are in for spring. Try pairing them with a flippy skirt, printed tee, and a blazer. Perfect!



Gladiator Sandals
Whether heels or flats, gladiator sandals are a MUST for spring!



A Flair for the Unique
Let your shoes do the talking this spring by pairing a unique pair of shoes with a simplistic outfit.

Alice + Olivia Branch Out for Spring

I was reading in my April InStyle yesterday that basic sequined dresses are out and ones with fun details of patterns are in. That seems like a perfect excuse to post a picture of this fab Alice + Oliva (who else for sequins?) dress.

I would have put it in with the ombre trend but I already had a blue to white dress of theirs that I couldn't bear to take out. I'm a little over the whole sequins thing, showgirls can only be in for so long, but this dress is unique and uses ombre which catches my eye.

As I looked through Alice + Oliva's page on Shopbop, they seem to be weaning off the sequins (just ignore the sequined, striped polo) I love the white hooded coat (also in black) that comes with/in a matching tote bag. Cute, but I wouldn't wear them together. There are some adorable little dress that need some flat gladiator sandals and they're good to go. My favorite is the Floral Blouson Sleeve dress for $330. It looks so fresh and adds to of springs key elements, flowers and brights!

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Designer Inspired, Not Imitated

As we all know, there is a huge problem in the fashion industry with designer knockoffs. As much as I like the idea of getting my favorite designer's look for a lot less, there is a reason they are my favorite designer; they designed it. So, on that note, I present to you items that have borrowed colors or ideas (isn't that what fashion is?) but are in they're own unique styles.

As you may have seen on my spring wishlist, I love this Marc by Marc Jacobs top. The red and cream are a killer combo and Marc has carried it on to a fab dress. You can buy the top at Nordstrom for $168 and the dress at Net-A-Porter.com for $428.




Forever21 has this great dropwaist dress for a mere $24.80. The similar colors, enameled buttons, and red on bottom are the only things that have been carried over from Marc's design. The sailor look, drop waist, and pleats are all major structual differences.



I wouldn't call this a knockoff and I wouldn't call it imitation. To me, this is what fashion is all about, constantly taking ideas of other and molding them into your own. Shoot me or hug me for these thoughts, but at least be nice about it.

Spring Wishlist

My spring desires with a widget courtesy of shopstyle.com. If you've never been to this site, it's a must go!

Hat Infatuation

I love hats. It might be because people say I have a face for them (what does that really mean?) or because Coco Chanel started out as a milliner, but to me, they are the perfect way to top off an outfit. With spring here and summer approaching, hats are more important than ever. We all know that the sun is terrible for our skin and hats are a great solution to keeping it off our delicate faces. Maybe hats and sunscreen are the fountain of youth?

I just discovered the coolest hats I've ever seen. They are from French milliner Lola and are tres chic, indeed! Here are some of my favorite styles:


Small raffia hat $271, brownsfashion.com


Small raffia and leather hat $251, brownsfashion.com


Straw hat with raffia stiching $231, brownsfashion.com


Coral linen hat $291, brownsfashion.com

I love them! Too bad they're a bit out of my price range.

To find out all of the places you can buy Lola, check out lolahats.com

Spring Trend: Brights!

My favorite of all the trends this spring is bright colors. It translates across all parts of fashion. As you can see, there is an abundance of bright clothing, bags, and shoes online. Instead of pairing these with black or white, try neutrals for a fresh look.

Tops & Dresses

Paul & Joe Chatel kimono blouse $540
Calypso victoria dress $250, calypso-celle.com
Alice + Olivia pleated dress $330, neiman marcus
Butter BY NADIA dress $175, calypso-celle.com
Chris Benz jenna top $695, net-a-porter.com
Rebecca Taylor cami $250, pink mascara

Bottoms

3.1 Phillip Lim skirt $320, net-a-porter.com
Rich and Skinny cropped jeans $170, shopbop
Brooklyn bright mini $34.50, delias
Vanessa Bruno skirt $338, net-a-porter.com
Marc by Marc Jacobs shorts $178, shopbop
Sailor mini skirt $15.80, forever21
Miu Miu mini skirt $915, net-a-porter.com
See by Chloe shorts $230, shopbop
Alice + Olivia cropped pants $242, shopbop

Shoes

Jimmy Choo love sandals $585, net-a-porter.com
Stuart Weitzman pumps $298, saks fifth avenue
Tory Burch patent flats $195, shopbop.com
Robert Clergerie sandals $440, barneys
Louboutin cutout pumps $795, saks fifth avenue
Chloe pinstripe flats $595, barneys
Bruno Frisoni pumps $795, saks fifth avenue
Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti heels $660, eluxury.com
Miu Miu crisscross flats $380, net-a-porter.com

Bags:

Marc by Marc Jacobs airliner clutch $328, barneys
Lanvin hurrah satchel $1,950, barneys
Coin Purse $18, anthropologie
L.A.M.B. love asti bag $725, eluxury
Fendi borderline clutch $1,040, net-a-porter.com
Marc Jacobs mary tote $1,095, eluxury
Bebe bali woven clutch $139, bebe
Chloe saskia tote $2,160, net-a-porter.com
Zac Posen satchel $1,595, intermix online
Marc Jacobs key pouch $165, eluxury

Spring Trend: Ombre

Another one of my favorite spring trends is ombre. I love the fading color idea and these pieces showcase this seasons best at all prices!



Top row (l-r):
Arden B. top $68 (arden b.), Lux fade to black dress $58 (urban outfitters), Alice + Olivia rosette dress $300 (net-a-porter.com)

Bottom row (l-r):
Maison Martin Margiela Plexi Wedge $645 (eluxury.com) Juicy Couture Ombre Hat $75 (shopbop.com), Guerlain Ombre Éclat Shadow Palette $57 (eluxury.com)

Spring Trend: Floral Dresses

Florals are a major trend this spring and this year's way to wear it is bold or nothing! Here are some of my picks for great flower prints.

$$$

Carolina Herrera flora dress $4,290, neiman marcus
Balenciaga layer dress $3,329, brownsfashion.com
See by Chloé Print Dress $520, saks fifth avenue
Christian Dior full dress $6,080, brownsfashion.com
3.1 Phillip Lim dress $595, neiman marcus
Etro chiffon dress $1,583, brownsfashion.com

$$

Little Joe by Gail Elliott "Nadia" dress $315, net-a-porter.com
Tibi silk jersey dress $350, net-a-porter.com
MICHAEL Michael Kors silk dress $159, nordstrom
MaxStudio floral dress $158, maxstudio.com
Cynthia Steffe dress $198, bluefly.com
Milly graphic dress $385, net-a-porter.com

$

Jaclyn maxi dress $49.50, delias
Cutesy jersey dress $90, bluefly.com
T-Bags mini dress $120, net-a-porter.com
Cumberbund dress $128, free people
DKNY smocked dress $79, macy's
Printed skirt dress $36, alloy.com

Looking Classy for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick, the patron saint of all things Irish, has a quite unholy bash every year. Growing up, it was a must to wear green or you would be pinched all day on the playground. In college, it's an excuse to dress like a hooker in anything that's green. Some people like to wear green on the day and some do not. It's all about personal preference.

Now, there isn't an official color of green that goes with the holiday but you know seafoam just wouldn't work. It's got to be loud, bold, and well, a kelly green. How Irish! There are ways to look classy in green on this day of beer but you have to know how to do it right. Here are three looks at three price ranges that show how to look cute but not like a leprechaun.

The rules of keeping green in line:
*Pair with dark denim. This instantly makes the look a little dressier.
*Keep your palette simple. Think spring with accents of yellow and white. This look can carry you into summer!
*Stay with sophisticated silhouette. Nobody wants to see you in a green cami and or a hoodie. Sorry.

$$$

Top: Paul & Joe $540, net-a-porter.com
Jeans: See by Chloe $325, net-a-porter.com
Heels: Courtney Crawford $495, revolve clothing
Clutch: Oscar de la Renta $1,295, net-a-porter.com
Earrings: Juicy Couture "Daisy Butterfly" $58, nordstrom
Ring: Juicy Couture "Garden Party" $88, nordstrom


$$

Dress: Fashionista $90, bluefly.com
Heels: Kenneth Cole New York $117, bluefly.com
Clutch: Nordstrom $168, nordstrom
Earrings: Juicy Couture "Daisy" Studs $48, nordstrom
Necklace: Juicy Couture $48, nordstrom


$

Top: Old Navy $16.50, old navy
Jeans: Bailey Jeans $39.50, delias
Heels: Xhilaration $15, target
Clutch: Isaac Mizrahi $20, target
Earrings: Old Navy $7.50, old navy
Ring: Forever21 $4.80, forever21

Need a Bigger Beauty Fix?

If there isn't enough beauty for you in Chic to the Core, I suggest checking out Beauty Booty.

Not only are there reviews of makeup, fragrances, and hair products, but yours truly is one of the authors. Who else shares content? The fabulous Dana of Fashion Under $100, the adorable Tonya of Atomic Kitchen, and the spicy mamacita Rox who is whiz a Bare Escentuals.

Right up your alley, fashion lover! Go check out our blog and I promise, you won't be disappointed.

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March Must Haves!

This Corey Lynn Calter Hippie Dot Top is perfect for moving into spring. It's 3/4 sleeves will keep your arms warm but it has a light springy feel.

I wore Daisy Marc Jacobs all day yesterday and I loved it on me! This is a major must-have.

Since spring is around the corner, a fresh makeup palette is something you have to have in your arsenal. The Sephora Piiink So Belle Palette is only $20 and has great shades for spring!

I have been wanting these Cabachon Hoop Earrings from Banana Republic ever since I laid my eyes on them. They just seem to glow from within! Too bad they only come in yellow. I'd like them in every color!

I don't know about you, but I am loving Prada's bags for this season. This Napa Stripes Small Hobo is sure to stand out in a sea of one colored handbags.

I'm into brow wax as opposed to a clear mascara. They just look better in my opinion. I just stumbled upon Givenchy's Mister Eyebrow Fixing Pencil. It's not a wax and it's not a mascara. It's more of a glide-on brow pencil. Fantastic!

A Great Dress and A Bra Dilemma

I've been on a search for a dress that I could wear for Easter (yes, I treat myself to Easter dresses) and my husband's graduation in May. I found a great dress and after much deliberation, I bought it! About a week ago, I ordered this fabulous Corey Lynn Calter dress on sale from Neiman Marcus.

When I got the dress, it fit perfectly. The only problem is my bra majorly shows. I immediately thought of the bras made for deep necklines. I've found one for $28 which is ok for my budget. That would be perfect for the graduation. Since I want to wear this dress to church for easter, I was planning on wearing a brown cami underneath to help with the cleavage.

Now I have to find cheap shoes, clutch, and some fab jewelry!

Urban Decay Primer Potion Goes Under the Knife

Some of you may know that Urban Decay has been holding out on all of us Primer Potion devotees. Because of the shape of the genie packaging, most of the product goes unused and we never even know it! I was about to throw this tube away and but a new one because I thought I was out. Good thing I sliced it open, it would have been wasting money and makeup!

Here's the pictures of me slicing the packaging:

The tools: a small kitchen knife and razor blades.


A ridiculous amount of product left!


Scooped out as much as possible without cutting the bottom open. The container is an old BE Foundation jar.


The easiest way to cut the bottom is poke a hole and cut straight across the rim.


All cleaned out from the bottom...


and all clean from the top! I sustained a slight slice to my finger but it was worth it!


The final amount of product left in that sucker. I think a BE blush container would be the perfect size for this.

I'm going to email Urban Decay with these pictures and suggest that they change they're packaging. I mean seriously, what a waste if you don't cut the damn tube open! Now, that my lovelies, is worth the $15!

Fall 2008 RTW: Gap, Jovovich-Hawk, Herve Leger, Tuleh

Gap
Patrick Robinson did not disappoint with his debut collection for Gap. Classics that Gap is known for (i.e. cords, blazers, denim, and cozy sweaters) were given a high fashion update. I can't wait for fall because I want every single item!



Jovovich-Hawk
Straying from their usual vintage bohemian vibe, the girls of Jovovich-Hawk put out a collection for fall that was all about being a muse to rockers.



Herve Leger
Yes, he can do more than bandage dresses! The ones he put out were fantastic but what I loved even more were the gowns. I smell some talent here!



Tuleh
This label is one of my guilty pleasures. For fall, bright colors, cinched waists, and gorgeous suede boots ruled the Tuleh runway. My favorite look is the cardigan vest over the dress with the fedora and green boots. You're sure to get noticed in these!

February Favorites

I'm loving this Atifa Satchel. It's a great gray/brown color and it's less than $30!

Barney's always has a great selection of jewelry and Rosanne Pugliese's Morocco Lace Earrings are no exception. Classic yet flirty, these are just my style!

As a major fan of Chloe, I want the Sue leather belt in it's killer purple. Only problem? $470 is a bit out of my price range. Thank God Net-A-Porter has awesome sales!

Speaking of Chloe, I would pair that belt with these awesome slim fit jeans.

It must be because I have Valentine's Day on the brain because I am seriously lusting after Christian Louboutin's Horatio Sling. Maybe it's the coral mixed with the red sole or maybe it's that they're subtly sexy. All I know is, I want them!

Hello, genius product! Tweezerman's After Tweeze Soothing Cream. My (under?)brows with thank me for this!

Fall 2008 RTW: Lacoste, ThreeAsFour, Sari Gueron

Lacoste
Now, I have seen some crazy runways before. Hay? Thank you Jean Paul Gaultier. Wood chips? Ah, Anne Kline. Weird lime green planks? Only you, Marc. What about a dancefloor and a windtunnel? Who else but Alexander McQueen! Now Lacoste can be added to that list with their sheepskin covered runway. Yes, sheepskin. Sorry about that, it's time to talk fashion!

When the show opened, I was scared. Drab gray jumpsuits with more drab head-covering scarves were marching down the runway. At least their boots were cute. Then Vlada walks out in a wintery sweater, parka, and boots complete with shorts and tights. Phew. That was a close one! All in all, I loved the collection and it will definitely be inspiring some looks this next fall!



ThreeAsFour
Is this really the design team has produced some of the wackiest looks in the past? ThreeAsFour let out gorgeous cocktail dresses, modern Katherine Hepburn pant looks, beautifully constructed gowns, and one amazing coat! I can't waitfor their collection at Gap!



Sari Gueron

Sari is a true girly-girl. She wants fancy cocktail dresses for night and casual wear for daytime. This explains why her fall collection was completely evening wear. She's branching out her design talents and launching a daywear line called Sari this season.

Fall 2008 RTW: Erin Fetherston

I must admit, I was not a fan of her collection for Target. It was a bit too cutesy for my taste. Erin's fall show started off with a lot of black but then transitioned into jewel toned cocktail dresses, flowing prints (better than the bunny prints at Target!), and finished with three white dresses. Much better, Erin! Here are my three favorites from her show:

A perfect mix of a casual tank dress made fancier by the blazer and tights.


A great little cocktail dress with gorgeous seam details.


From the waist up, it's a classic black gown. Let your eyes wander down though and you have a young, fresh take on that classic. Where do I sign for this dress?


For a full viewing of her show, check out Style.com

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Be Mine: Valentines Lingerie and Bedtime Accessories

Now that you've got a selection of chic cards, a sweet or saucy dress, and some fab accessories, it's time to focus on what goes underneath it all! Here's three sweet looks and three saucy looks at you guessed it, three price ranges.



And for some foreplay:

Beauty Tips to Beat the Winter Blahs

I don't know about you, but every year about this time, I get very bored with winter. The spring clothes are coming into stores and the next fall season is about to take over the runways. Thank heavens for beauty. I mean, what else can give you such a pick-me-up in the time of dull winter blahs?

First off, get your hair trimmed (or chopped!) and either a fresh dye job or a clear gloss. Nothing makes me feel as fresh and renewed like a new cut or a shiny coat of brown. My inspiration for my hair color? Rachel Bilson's hair on the cover of Lucky magazine. It's rich and gives me a serious chocolate craving!

Next, give yourself an at home exfoliation for your body and face to slough off that dead winter skin. I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub in Gentle for my dry skin. If you have oily or combination skin, there is an Apricot Scrub for you too. When it comes to a body scrub, I like to make my own out of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and good old granulated sugar. Make sure that your mixture is thick otherwise, the sugar will dissolve.

For a a punch to your winter makeup, try the snowbunny look. Think pastel eyeshadows and thick black lashes. Revlon's spring collection has the Soft on the Eyes palette for $10. For a more more luxe version, try the Bare Escentuals Blendable Eye Collection - Watercolors for $36.

Final winter blah remover? It's inspired by one of my favorite color combinations and it's for your nails! Try painting you fingers a deep purple like OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark and paint a thin red stripe on your left or right ring finger. For the red, I recommend OPI's O'Hare & Nails Look Great! Now you look like you belong in a Miu Miu ad!

Source, source, and source

Here Comes Fashion Week!

Get ready all you fashionistas! Fashion week is right around the corner! NY Mag has an easy to follow schedule of all the shows. What shows will I have my eye on? Here's a what I'll be watching next week.

Jan. 31
Earth Pledge FutureFashion Show 6pm
Sustainable fashion is this shows objective and designers presenting looks include Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent plus a ton more. Now, I may not be the most green person (ok, I'm not really at all) but I'm really excited about this show. Everything is sustainable and ecofriendly (again, not a huge deal for me). I'm mostly excited that these fashions are meant to be washed in your washing machine and are easy to care for. To find out more about Earth Pledge FutureFashion, click here.

Catherine Holstein (not sure on the time)

Feb. 1
BCBG MaxAzria 3pm
Erin Fetherston 7pm
Katy Rodriguez 8pm
Project Runway 8pm
I've always just watched the shows on the finale but this time, I want to see those designers now!

Feb. 2
Lacoste 10am
ThreeAsFour 6pm
Maybe their show will hint at what's to come at Gap?
Sari Gueron 7pm

Feb. 3
Elisa Jimenez 9am
This is out of pure curiosity. Will there be any visible spit marks on the runway?
Jovovich-Hawk 9am-5pm
Hervé Léger by Max Azria 11am
I cannot wait to see the dresses at this show!
Gap 12pm
Tracy Reese 3pm
Diane Von Furstenburg 4pm
Tuleh 7pm

Feb. 4
Peter Som 9am
Carolina Herrera 10am
Love me some Carolina!
Oscar de la Renta 1pm
Doo.Ri 5pm
Proenza Schouler 8pm
Even though they've been snubbing fashion bloggers wanting invites, this show is a must-see.

Feb. 5
Hollywould 9am-5pm
Monique Lhuillier 11am
Marc by Marc Jacobs 4pm
One of my favorites!
Matthew Williamson 5pm
Another favorite.
Narcisco Rodriguez 8pm

Feb. 6
Michael Kors 11am
Yet another can't miss show.
Milly 12pm
I love this line. I can't wait to see what's out for fall!
Anna Sui 3pm
Marchesa 4pm-5pm
3.1 Phillip Lim 5pm
I'm so excited for this show!
Temperly 7pm

Feb. 7
Alice+Olivia 10:30am-12pm
Zac Posen 8pm

Feb. 8
Ralph Lauren 10am
Marc Jacobs 7pm
Meaning, his show should start around 9pm.


Stay tuned for follow-ups on the shows!