Celebrity Chic But Cheap: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow (picture courtesy of In Style)looks like alot of mothes out there, trying to hold their kids hands while carting around everything that goes with that job, such as a diaper bag, backpack, etc. I like that her hair looks a little messy and that her outfit is very simple and comfortable for travel, yet chic. And no nannies in site!

Here is my re-creation below:

The double-cloth Marie coat is currently on sale at J. Crew for $129.99. The Naturalizer boots from Zappos are $109.90 and have a wide shaft, for those out there who struggle with boots fitting over your calves (did I mention FREE SHIPPING BOTH WAYS)! The striped boatneck tee is $13.50 from http://www.yestyle.com/. The heavier-weight cotton leggings $25 from Hue.

Get Ready For Black Friday!

(Picture from http://www.guy-sports.com/)

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I thought I'd pass along some cyber sales for tomorrow (Black Friday) for my readers today:

At E Dress Me the Black Friday Sale is more spectacular than ever. Find $99 evening dresses and gowns at edressme.com for black tie events, New Year's Eve parties, prom 2009, sweet sixteen parties, pageants, winter formals and more.

At NY and Company Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings! $25 off purchases of $75! Valid until 12/14/08.

At the Gap holiday sweaters are: BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF* This sale begins Thanksgiving Day. You can combine any two adult sweaters or any 2 kids/baby sweaters to receive the offer (*Applies to regularly priced sweaters only.). This offer is online only and will last only thru December 1st.

At Handbag Heaven enjoy 10% off of everything and FREE SHIPPING!!!

At Payless Holiday BOGO Event: Buy One Get One Half Off Everything PLUS Free Shipping on orders of $60 or more. Sale ends December 21st, 2008.

A wardrobe Essential: The Classic Cardigan

I have been ignoring the cardigans in my closet for the last couple of years. Mainly because they are pretty plain (yet classic) and began to bore me to death! Even though they are closet essentials and will last for years, sometimes I get in a rut with my clothes and just give up on them, until I get inspiration from somewhere else to wear them again. Now I'm not talking about the newer boyfriend style. I mean the classic crew neck or v-neck button front style, shown right (from Ann Taylor Loft).

Much like my friend Denise, who has the habit of seeing a mannequin or sales person's outfit and buying it all as she sees it, I sometimes have to be inspired by others outfits in order to snap me out of my rut. This happened recently when I saw a women wearing a cardigan that had interesting ruffle and sequins details on it. Then I saw someone else wearing one with a great scarf around her neck and a brooch. So that made me re-think wearing cardis again, using a fresh eye. And also about adding a couple to my closet that have more interesting details.

Here are some of my inspirations below:

I could wear one with short sleeves, with a longer layering tee or turtleneck underneath,and a great brooch (picture below also from Ann Taylor Loft).

Or I could wear a scarf and a long layering necklace (picture below from Banana Republic).

Or, I can try a white shirt underneath and a thin belt over the cardigan (picture below from NY and Company).

Or, last, I could add some new cardigans to my closet with some interesting details, like the ones below from Apt. 9 and Daisy Fuentes for Kohls.

Readers, what from your closet has you bored to tears?

Winter 08/09:Stylish and Practical Flat Boots

Everyday when I look out at the vastness between my house and my car in the garage (OK it's really not vast but it sounded good), and think of how to manage walking through the mucky muck that is winter here, I search through my warm and comfy flat boot options. I live in an older style home, so if my garage were attached to my house, would I have a diferent perspective? Would I try to put on some cute heels, only to find that when I got to my destination I would have to walk through the sludge of a parking lot to get to the door? This is the life you lead living in a city that has real winter months. Even when I lived in NYC without a car (and house),I had to decide what to wear on my feet to walk to the subway that would keep me warm and dry. And so these kinds of warm things become ESSENTIALS here, in my climate!

So I actually get excited over cute flat boot(or slight heel) options, like Uggs and riding boots and Frye boots. All the boots below are $150 or less from Piperlime .

An Essential Wardrobe Staple: A Turtleneck

I love turtlenecks (AKA roll necks)! Not everyone does, I know. But in the colder months they are very comforting to me, much like putting on a favorite tee or tank in the summer. And every year I try to buy one that reflects the trend of the season. So this year, purple maybe, or a feminine detail? I own thin layering turtlenecks that can be worn under everything from jackets to swearters. Then I have some cowl necks that soften my look and are not as constricting around the neck, which I hear as a complaint from those who hate them. Then I have one or two that are chunky and keep me super warm when it's super cold!
But one thing is for certain: they are and will remain a wardrobe essential, so splurge if you must, on a favorite! Wear them with any kind of bottom you have, drape long layering necklaces over them or wear large hoop earrings, and you'll look chic and stylish!

Readers, how do you feel about turtlenecks? Do you love or hate them?

Here are some of my favorites I found while browsing around:
The LONG grey tissue tee for $12.99 (I have this in every color), the black tiered turtleneck for $19.99 and the brown spanish stripe turtleneck for $12.99 are all from Target.

The berry cowlneck sweater for $69, the purple belted turtleneck sweter on sale for $39.99 and the colorblock sweater for $69 are all from Banana Republic.

The brown chunky knot roll neck for $70, the knitted cowl neck also for $70 and the asymetric cowl for $65 are all from Topshop USA.

Stylish Person of the Week: Lindsay

My choice for stylish person this week is Lindsay. Lindsay is the merchandising manager at her family owned interior design shop, Punch Jordan, as well as a barista at Starbucks. I was inspired by the punch of color and fun she decided to bring to her otherwise plain black coat, which can get lost in the sea of other black coats, in a city where snow is looming and dressing warmly is required. I told her she was channeling Carrie Bradshaw when she decided to wear a giant red flower on her coat. Linday would fit in perfectly with my post earlier this week about adding a standout detail to an otherwise dreary winter wardrobe.

Lindsays's flower is from H & M, her classic coat from Calvin Klein, her wide leg jeans from Target, and her flats from the Gap. Today my focus will be on buying a substantial and classic neutral coat. Once you buy one you love, you can bring in some color through a flower, like Lindsay did or a fun scarf, hat, purse or pashmina.

Here's my re-creation:The giant red flower below is available in other colors for $10.50 from The Limited. The wool blend coat for $148 is from the Gap. Add your own favorite jeans and shoes, and be a standout in an sea of black coats, bags and shoes!

Celebrity Chic But Cheap: David Beckham

I happen to think David Beckham is dreamy (not as dreamy as Edward from the Twilight series, but he is a fictional character). So I'll stick to real life dreaminess. Not only is David handsome, a seemingly good father and husband, but is stylish to boot. Having said that, he probably could wear a paper bag and still make it work. Here (picture courtesy of popsugar.com), he is dressed casually for a basketball game with his boys, but still manages to look cool, with his sweater tied ever so casually around his neck.

So for all the Edwards or Davids out there (there is one living under my roof), here's my re-creation below: The carter navy plaid shirt for $39.50 and the boot fit jeans for $49.50 are both from the Gap. Layer with a tee underneath and a shirt or sweater tied loosely around your shoulders and off you go to Dreamland......

Readers, who do you find dreamy?

Make a Statement: With Statement Jewelry

As I've mentioned in a prior post, wearing chunky or layered pieces of jewelry is one way to not break the bank and to update your style this season. Of course it was famously shown by Givenchy on the Fall 2008 runway (picture courtesy of style.com), but to intepret it from runway to real life would not look quite so.....bold or messy. But the idea definitely is catching on. I've noticed lots of longer layering pieces being worn or just BIG pieces. Even in my jewlery business, customers are favoring and ordering larger tags clustered together in bracelets or necklaces, like, below (How do you like that for shameless self-promotion?). Just take several necklaces and put them together, or add a chunky brooch, like the F21 picture below. It can look classy and modern.

Here are some other interpretations below from Forever 21 and The Limited at prices that won't break the bank! Plus how great would they look with turtlenecks for the season?

It's In the Details

Sometimes when glooomy weather looms and you find yourself dressing accordingly, it's refreshing to own something that adds that extra detail, whether it be feminine or just fab, and draws your eye to it. A pop of color, or a sewn detail, or something frilly and feminine. This season and next, flowers, ruffles and frills are all the rage to balance out menswear influences. But sometimes it's hard to feel that kind of fun in colder weather.

Here a few examples to help you, below:

The lily patent flower tote for $49.95 and the Stephanie ruffle tote for $77.95 are both from Handbag Heaven. Handbag Heaven has FREE SHIPPING and 10% off everything in their pre-holiday sale!




The American Eagle Wellies for $36.99 are from Payless. As are the Lela Rose flats for $29.99.

City Style Ruffle jacket for $69.95 (spend $75 and get FREE SHIPPING) and City Style flower pendant for $16.95 (buy one get one 75% off) from NY and Company.