Give the Girl Her Own Damn Cover!

If you don't think that Brazilian model Caroline Trentini has earned her own cover of Vogue, just remember how many times Anna has made the poor thing jump.



Here are some of my favorite Caroline photos, sans the jumping.

Spend Your Beauty Money for Two Worthy Causes

Sephora is back with their Sun Safety Kit! It's only $25 and all net profits ($21.55 from every kit sold) goes to The Skin Cancer Foundation. The kit is only available April - June online and in stores so hurry up and grab one!

A Girl's Gotta Spa is auctioning off her beauty booty to help raise funds for a little girl in her area. What could be more important than helping save a little girl's life?

The Perfect Shop 'til You Drop Outfit

Need an outfit to wear for a day full of shopping? Over at FabSugar, that was the challenge and yours truly came out the winner! No prize, just everyone getting to see what my take on a perfect shopping outfit is. I used a messenger bag because I'm all about hands free shopping! It's a pain to have to hold on to your bag while attempting to dig through the racks! Ok, enough with the babble, here's the perfect shop til you drop outfit as approved my me and FabSugar.



For a much more affordable version (less than the price of shoes alone) check out this look:

Sunny Yellow For Rainy Days

I know yellow was last spring's "it color" and this spring it's about brights in general but I'm still hung up on yellow. It's just so sunny and cheerful! My favorite color combinations for yellow are with gray and cobalt blue. Here are some yellow items that brighten these rainy April days!



Lace bra $29.50, Old Navy; Petal necklace $25, Guess; Flutter sleeve dress $2,100, Fendi; Pleated tunic $19.80, Forever21; Rapallo ring print bikini top and bottoms $29.99 each, J.Crew; Sailing Crest Tote $250, Juicy Couture; "Couture" nail polish $3, Mode Cosmetics; Radiant Yellow false eyelashes $25, Shu Uemura; Patent flats $310, Belle by Sigerson Morrison; Yellow CZ ring $29.99, Target

My favorite items to pair these fab yellow things with?



Gray cargo drawstring jacket $29.80, Forever21; Cobalt drop necklace $44, Anthropologie; Gray Eyes palette $32, DuWop; Louise macrame clutch $258, Lauren Merkin; Lori patent slides $199, Juicy Couture; Studded wedge sandal $610, Marc Jacobs; 15 Elastic bracelets $62, Accessories & Beyond;

April Must Haves!

My must haves for April involve waterproofing for those rainy days and some springy colors to cheer up gray skies!



I am so happy that Juicy Couture made this Daisy Wish Necklace for $48. I'm loving daisies right now and it's so perfect for spring!

If a rainy day scares your hair into a frizz, this Coach Legacy Stripe Tara Hat for $148 is perfect. It's made out of weather resistant cotton and will hide all of your hair woes!

Rainy days can smell good but not always. With Demeter's Rain for $20, you can smell like the best rain possible. Who knows, maybe someone will pick up the scent and want to smell a little more of you!

No need to worry about your makeup running on a rainy day, Bare Escentuals has you covered. The Weather Anything Kit for $32 has everything you need to keep that eye makeup where it belongs!

I love the green in this Marc by Marc Jacobs Turnlock French Wallet seems to instantly brighten up anything around it. Just picture pulling it out of your bag while paying for your daily latte!

Leave it to Burberry to give you the chicest rain boot you've ever seen! The Wrap Rain Boots for $295 will make sure you stand out in a printed wellie crowd.

Fab watch maker Michele has a limited edition 'Garden Party' Watch for $1,325 that screams spring. With a bright pink strap and a diamond snail, you'll be carrying a little bit of a sunny day wherever you go!

Oh My Stars!

Skulls and crossbones are so last year. This spring's print du jour is all about stars. From the runways of Chanel and Yves St. Laurent to Kate Moss herself, stars are showing up everywhere. In a season that's major print trends focus on florals, tribals, and artsy, stars are a nice alternative to keep things punchy. Here are my starry picks in everything from clothes to beauty.

Clothes and Shoes


Jewelry and Accessories


Beauty

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!

Source

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.

Source

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!