Balmain x H&M + Favorites

H&M, one of my favorite stores in the same price range and all-around awesomeness as Target, has recently teamed up with the celebrity-favored powerhouse Balmain. Known for their heavily embellished designs, they've been showcased on Kim Kardashian many a times as well as many other big-name celebrities.

The collection that was unveiled about a week and a half ago has over 100 pieces at more affordable prices than their usual line with items ranging from $17 all the way up to $650. While the more expensive items are pricier than usual for the H&M racks, it's still a steal compared to Balmain's usual $2,000 and up price tags.

My Favorite Pieces

$50 or less

(While the collection is available for purchase in stores, you can only view the collection online)

 

 Balmain + H&M Women's Tee: $34.99

I've come to that point in my style evolution where I love a basic tee that I can pair with pretty much anything and still have it look stylish and professional. While this has wording, it's one part basic, one part cool and all parts need to have, now.

 

 Balmain + H&M Sunglasses: $49.99

Really amazing sunglasses are pretty much a necessity in everyone's wardrobe, no matter where you live. Nobody wants boring sunnies: enter these beauties <.3

 

 Balmain + H&M Bra: $24.99

I love bralettes. I adore them. However, my D cups don't allow me to partake due to gravity (straps are my lifesaver). I live vicariously through everyone who can wear bralettes, so go my children, be free, and wear strapless bras for those who can't (me).

 

Balmain + H&M Men's Blazer: $49.99

No matter how old I get, I love wearing men's jackets with a t-shirt and jeans. The more embellished the jacket the better.

 

Balmain + H&M Headphones: $49.99

I'm a sucker for great headphones, and these are the most embellished I've seen yet without looking tacky.

Balmain + H&M Pouch: $34.99

This would make a perfect little pouch to slip into your purse or carry as a clutch.

Palm Tree Nation: $50 or less

It might be because it's summertime, or maybe because designers have fallen in love with palm trees, but lately fashion seems to be favoring the palms. Almost every day, I see someone wearing something that has some palm trees on it. Whether it's at the grocery store, at work, on when I log on to yahoo news and they're talking about what celebrities wore; people everywhere love their palm trees. Luckily for me, I love them too. I decided to find some gorgeous and affordable palm tree wears for anyone who loves the palms just as much as I do:

Palm Tree Nation

$50 or Less

Soak Up The Sun Beige Tropical Print Tote: $33.00

Adorable yet still the perfect size for all those papers and your laptop.

Impact Palm Sporty Dress: $25.00

Pair with leggings and boots for a more casual vibe or dress it up with heels for a date or a blazer for work. This dress is mulch-functional AND perfect for the summertime.

Palm Harmony Print Flare Skirt: $47.40

 While the palm trees say summer, the colors can easily take this skirt from summer to winter when paired with the right pieces. The easy shape makes this gorgeous skirt flattering on all body types.

Palm Tree Round Sunglasses: $36.00

A slight retro feel makes these fun glasses the perfect accessory for your beach day or date outfit.

One Fine Vacay Flat: $44.99

The bright blue and white makes these flats and the cutest shoes to throw on with your beach cover-up or farmer's market dress.

Vans + ASPCA

When Ralph Lauren partnered with the ASPCA in 2013 to create the "Dog Walk" campaign with special accessories designed for our 4-legged friends, I was instantly ecstatic about the partnership. Having grown up with a love of Ralph Lauren (thank you mom) and an extreme love of furry children (also thank you mom), it has always made me happy to see big name brands show their softer side and give back, as well as bring light to important organizations.

That's why when I was taking a quick morning break from being productive earlier, I decided to stumble around on the internet and look at cute animal videos. In the process, I stumbled across an amazing collaboration I hadn't heard about before: Vans + the ASPCA. This new collaboration that just launched brings some great duds to the public for a great cause with everything in the collection retailing for under $70. There's clothing, accessories, and of course, shoes. Below are my favorite pieces from the collection.

Vans + ASPCA

Kids Classic Slip-on: $40.00

Cat Collage Tee: $30.00

Beach Girl Trucker Hat: $24.00

Backpack: $40.00

Fashion Week Street Style

For every fashion week I get really excited, but not just because of the runway. What the designers send down the runway is usually amazing and makes me wish I had a bottomless bank account, but the part I really love is the street style shots that surface from each week. To me, the street style aspect of any event is really where the true style is at, because you see real people styling high-end and low-end in a completely fresh and innovative way. It really helps get my creative juices flowing as to how to style in conjunction with the latest trends, while still being able to add my own spin.

I'm still trying to determine who was my favorite designer from this round of shows, but I have sorted through all the street style pictures from each fashion week that I could get my hands on, and below are my absolute favorites.<.3

Christmas Wish List

Hey lovelies! This post was meant for Sunday, my usual time, however, due a fun illness with heavy antibiotics, this is coming a little late. Today I wanted to do something fun as I'm nowhere near fully recovered: a Christmas list! I've found some really cool and unique products over the last year that I've put to the side and saved, so i thought would be fun to share as a kind of wish list. I hope you enjoy!

Christmas Wish List

Bill Murray Dot Tee: $55.00

Bill Murray. 'Nuff said.

Z&L Medallion Slipper: $48.00

World Map Watch: $29.50

Revlon Gold Series Titanium Coated Lighted Slant Tweezer

Tassel Trimmed Aztec Poncho: $48.37

There you have it; a fun, eclectic wishlist that hopefully will give you some great gift ideas for others or for yourself. Have a happy holiday lovelies <.3

The Black Friday/Cyber Monday Conundrum

Hey lovelies! I'm sorry for the delay in posting, we have internet again! Woo-hoo! Here's a video I quickly made tonight for you guys.

Really important, I realize in my video it sounds like I'm bashing Black Friday, but that's not what I'm trying to do at all. Shopping in person on Black Friday in my opinion is worth it for the really pricey/large items like kitchen accessories, electronics, health gadgets, etc. That in my opinion is really worth fighting the crowds for. However, if you have to travel long distances and you're after ONLY makeup/clothing/accessories, in my opinion it's not that worth it because so many companies are now doing Black Friday sales online so you can shop from home for Black Friday and have it delivered right to your door for something that there's a larger quantity vs. only 5 of a specific trampoline that was marked down to $75 from $400 (Random example). Also, Cyber Monday sales are really amazing for all of the items as well, and of course most companies do free shipping or the prices are slashed so low it's worth it to pay for shipping.

I periodically check into my favorite stores, and so I don't feel the need to fight Black Friday crowds because I get great deals years round.This year I saw a lot of companies throwing out sales and deals that I have seen at previous points throughout this past year, which is why I am not as thrilled with Black Friday this year.

I'm my opinion, I recommend keeping close tabs on your favorite companies throughout the year via email list. Some companies of course only take discounts for Black Friday, and if that's the case then buy then, but for the most part more and more companies are doing random sales throughout the year to encourage buying during slower times. I know that Black Friday is built up as the day you run around fight the crowds, but if you can avoid it, shop at home on the websites or wait til Cyber Monday. Like I said, unless you are going for the larger/pricier items, then in which case fight those crowds!

I want to point out that various sites are having several deals today for the Cyber Monday holiday are continuing and the links are below. I hope you guys enjoyed my little show and tell!

Cyber Monday - Extended

Modcloth: Extra 25% off of with code CYBERMONDAY

Saturday: 30% off of everything with code OHWOW

Neiman Marcus Last Call: 40% off of everything + free shipping with code CyberMe

Stylemint: 1 for $10, 2 for $15, 3 for $20 with code CYBER

Baublebar: Free shipping + 20% sitewide with code CYBER20

Shoemint: Extra 25% off sale items with code EXTRA25