Trending Now: $50 Or Less

Good evening lovelies! I hope you have had the most amazing first week and a half of September so far. Tonight, to make up for lost time I'm going to bring you a trend that is very hot right now, and break an age-old rule.

First though, the trend: Suede shoes. Celebrities have been seen wearing suede shoes everywhere. They are very very hot, and very appropriate with the cooler autumn months coming. Suede can definitely work for summer as well though when worn in adorable summer silhouettes.

Celebrity Suede Sightings

As you can see, suede can be worn in both warm & cooler-weather outfits, and even in bright colors! You don't need to stick to nature-colored hues; you can have fun and play around.

Suede Sightings: $50 or Less

KellyDay: $22.25

The perfect pair of summer wedges done in a bright purple suede. These will be your go-to shoe for spring, summer and into the autumn.

 

Wedge Bootie: $32.50

Adorable and goes with everything. These boots you can wear throughout the year; wear them in the winter with your skinny jeans tucked in and a cute sweater, or in the summer with a pair of shorts and a funky tee. The sky is the limit with these hot booties

 

Not Rated OMG: $44.99

The color and the fact that they're slouchy thigh-high boots alone should have you scrambling for your credit card. This particular shade is incredibly versatile and will go with any color you own and every silhouette. You will get more use out of these than you can imagine and you'll end up living in them.

The Adala XV Shoe: $27.95

Pretty much the coolest suede pump around thanks to that awesome detailing along the sides. The black piping, peep toe cut-out and funky platform shape help take what could be a plain pair of shoes into the coolest pair of peep-toe pumps you'll ever own. Compliments from everyone you meet guaranteed.

Now, for the next topic; White after Labor Day. A lot of people say this is a don't, but I say, who gives a flying freak?! I don't care if it's after labor day, white works for any season depending on how you wear it!!!! And just to prove it, i found some goodies.

White Willies: $50 or Less

 

Bluebonnet Dress: $29.99

This is very easy to transition from summer into fall and winter. In autumn, pair it with a sweater and some boots. In the winter, wear tights or jeans, a heavy jacket and boots and a fun hat and you're good to go. This works very nicely for any season, you just have to be creative with how you layer!

 

Amity Floral Short: $19.99

This little shorts are so fun, and still very appropriate for autumn. To transition these into winter, you'll have to be very creative and go with more of a sweater and heavy tights combo, but you have to play with the textures and patters to make sure they don't clash too much with the summer vibe of the shorts, but transitioning these for spring or autumn is a piece of cake.

 

 Paley Pant in Lined Linen: $29.99

Nice linen pants like these are always perfect for any time of the year because all it really depends on is the footwear and then you're good to go.

And there you have it lovelies; suede and dressing after labor day! <3

Perfumed Perfection

Good evening lovelies! I hope you all have had an amazing week so far. Luckily in 2 weeks my classes will be over and I will be able to go back to my regular updating schedule! To make up for lost time, I want to talk to you about something that most of us love but we don't really think about very much: perfume. Our signature scent. Yes, we have those designers that we love their clothes and so of course we want to smell like them as well, but is their scent really meant for us? Or is it just too overpowering and making us smell less than wonderful? Or do you not wear perfume at all?

While I can't afford miss Coco Chanel's clothing, I can afford to quote one of my favorite quotes of hers:

"A women who doesn't wear perfume has no future"

Now, Miss Chanel was famous for her opinions, and boy did she have many, but this is one of my favorite ones because I feel that it's true to a degree. Mind you, wearing perfume during an interview is a no-go, ever ever ever because you never know what scent your employer prefers, but other than that it needs to be worn, at least, in my opinion. 

Will you die without wearing it? No, but will you get complimented? Yes. I get complimented on my scent often. I sometimes hear "That smells like what my grandmother used to wear" and they smile sweetly and inhale, looking like they're with their beloved grandmother again. I personally take that as a compliment because A.) nostalgia factor, and B.) grandmothers always seem to know what's up.

The only one who has ever not liked my scent is my dear friend Andrew, but mind you he doesn't like any scent period; his nose is extra sensitive, so it's no big deal. What do I wear you ask? Betsey Johnson's scent that has sadly been discontinued. (I will buy out every supply I find until there is no more, and then I will cry because no other scent has ever mixed with my skin so well).

Of course, being a thrift addict, I refuse to pay a lot for my fragrance. How much do I pay you ask? Never more than $30, while this originally retailed for nearly $60. Where do I find it you ask? Tj Maxx & Ross. Don't believe me? Tj Maxx is one of the best-kept fragrance secrets. They always have the best fragrances for a mere fraction of the retail cost. 

Another great place to find inexpensive prices is:

http://www.fragrancex.com

You always must shop around ladies!

How to find your perfect scent

Now, for those that aren't sure how to go about finding your fragrance, remember that the most important thing about a fragrance is to try it on your wrist and wait about 5-10 minutes to see how the scent mixes with your body's natural scent and chemistry.

In the latest issue of Allure, there is an article about perfume in France entitled "French Lessons" by Judy Bachrach. In it, it talks about the differences in how French women view perfume as compared to American women. They like their perfume seductive and subtle, where as American women prefer loud, in-your-face scents that say too much and are far too overpowering for the person.

For me, I prefer my scents subtle and sweet. If you're unsure of what to wear, wear pheromones. Yes, you read correctly, pheromones. I used to wear a few dabs on my neck a few years ago for a very specific reason: they always smell good on you. You don't need to think about if it will work with your body's specific scent because everyone has pheromones. Plus, everyone is happy when their pheromones are going, so you will always smell good and attractive to both sexes. You can buy them at any sex store.

Kim K: $50 or Less, FINALLY

Hello lovelies! I hope you all have had an amazing week so far. As we all know, Kim K exchanged vows yesterday and she is now a happily married woman! I am so happy for her that she found a good guy. For those that don't know, the dress code for her wedding was black or white, and typically white isn't supposed to be worn to a wedding aside from the bride. I like the fact that she did that, which was very similar to Beyonce's own nuptials.

In celebration of someone breaking the tradition, I'm going to bring you an all-white outfit fit for a wedding, even your own!

Kim K's White Wedding 

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/everything-you-need-to-know-about-kim-k-s-wedding/893

$50 or Less

 

Tinley Road 3/4 Chiffon Trim Rosette Top: $11.97

Gorgeous and roomy in case it's very warm and you need to breathe a bit.

 

Worthington Linen Pant: $13.20

The perfect linen pant.

Tinley Road Alisa: $14.97

Gorgeous, and though they seem high, they have that extra platform, so your feet wont be crying quite as badly as it might seem.

 

Swell White Howlite Bead Ring: $8.00

Of course, there needs to be at least ONE accessory present! It's not an outfit without a piece of jewelry!

Total: $40.14

There you have it; a perfect summer wedding outfit in case your friends want to follow suite with popular celebrities.

You and I

In celebration of miss Gaga and her fantastic career, this morning I am going to post her latest video for her hit song "You and I", one of my favorites of hers since it has her distinctive flavor that makes you want to dance and maybe have a brawl at a bar.

You can see in this video a metamorphosis of her style once again, as she has one quite often, but you see her going to a softer side in this video, and you can see it in her outfits now as well; she is swinging from extreme Judas garb to softer styles and makeup. How long this will last, no one will know, but she is beautiful in the corn field with soft makeup and hair framing her face.

Something about the chase; 6 whole years

Gaga's videos always have a meaning behind them, and this one I believe, though I could be wrong, talks about the ups and downs of love in a relationship and going through pain and joy, but no matter what loving the one you're with. 

I think.

Take Time to B

Good evening lovelies! I hope you've had an amazing week. Tonight, I want to talk about events that go on in stores in our community. Sometimes we think "Oh, i don't need to go to that event, I'll just stop by next week" because we live by there and sometimes we think nothing will come of it. But it is ALWAYS worth it to stop in! There are always new and interesting, and you never know what deals they might be having, and also you never know who you might meet.

This evening I went to the 4 year anniversary party for Betty Belts here in Ventura, CA from 6-10pm. It was an amazing event where I drank great wine, munched on delicious french cheese, and shopped quite merrily. 20% of the profits when to help the Matilija Coalition to restore the Ventura River.

bettybelts.com

B-eautiful B-irthday Finds

 

Leather Flower Ring: $10.00

I have one of these in black from previous work/jewelry exchange, and it is one of my favorite rings. Since I am not always the most delicate, my black ring is near death. I decided to invest in this purple ring to take its place when it finally goes to the jewelry store in the sky. These are my favorite, and I always get compliments when I wear them.

 

Sale Bangle $10.00

This cuff is also made of resin, but not surfboard resin. The pattern caught my eye, and no two bracelets are alike at Donna's shop, which is why I'm willing to spend my money with her.

 

Leather Cuff (Second): $12.00

Donna's cuffs are $34, but she has some that are second cuffs, so they are being sold for $12. I got a second one because I love the shade of brown: a perfect neutral to go with any color, even black. It is very light, and doesn't rub on my wrist. It also doesn't have that overpowering leather smell, which I've encountered when i've purchased at other places. I enjoy the smell of leather, but I don't want to smell like a tannery.

Surfboard Resin Earrings: $44.00

Seems a bit pricey, yes, but every single pair is one of a kind. These earrings are made from surfboard resin shavings brought to Donna by a local surf shop. They collect the shavings, melt them into one batch, and bring them to her, so no two patches are alike, and no two pairs are alike because each concentration of colors is different because of how they're cut. They're also very expensive to make because of the process that is used to create the smooth finish and precise circles. They are light as a feather, and with all the different colors, they go with anything! Where you see purple showing through is actually clear resin which is showing the couch through the resin.

Leather Ring: $22.00

This beautiful ring was originally $44, but Donna is having leather rings for 50% off because there have been complaints that when you wash your hands, since the ring part is made of silver, that it warps the leather. I picked one up and intend to love it until the day I die; it is beautifully smooth red leather against gleaming silver, and I love leather and silver like white loves rice.

And, yes, while it seems like a lot, I was actually fortunate enough to trade for some of the items I featured in my post this evening. One thing local businesses are willing to do a lot of the time is trade, all you have to do is ask. I offered to give something, without expecting anything in return. Because of what I was offering her, she gave me a few of the items for free. I scurried home, picked up the items, and came back to do the trade. 

Remember, ASK. If you are not even willing to ask if a local business would like to do trade, then you will not receive good things in exchange for time, or other items you may not even want or need that could just be laying around the house going to waste. Don't be afraid lovelies!

Matisyahu: One Day

Good evening lovelies! I hope you all had an amazing week. Due to midterms, I was unable to post Sunday. Technically I shouldn't be posting now since I have to be up in 4 hours for school all day, but this blog is my baby; it needs to be fed!

Tonight, I want to talk about a particular singer's style evolution: Matisyahu

I myself have gone through a major style evolution over the past 5 years and found a style that is uniquely me and works specifically for me and my body type, and my personality.

I saw Matisyahu perform this past weekend in San Diego for the first time and I am thoroughly in love. I have been ever since he came out many years ago: i bought his cd immediately and it was and still remains a favorite cd in my collection. Since I study fashion though, I was going through pictures a few nights ago and noticed something very interesting about Matthew Miller: he has gone through a major style evolution. When he first started out many years ago, he looked like a very traditional Hasidic Jew, but as we all know, he is anything but purely traditional.

In an interview I saw it said he was still trying to find his footing at first when he first started out, and it showed through with his traditional Hasidic garb and clothes that just didn't fit properly, whether it was proportionally or personality-wise.

More importantly, for the men, his style has evolved a great deal. When he first started out, he dressed conservatively, and still does, but you can see he know dresses with a style that speaks of confidence and that he has truly come into his own and become very comfortable with himself. He dresses like a fashionable man, and it's fantastic. His style is very much so traditional meets modern, wearing funky kicks with his yarmulke and payots and form-fitted shirts and jackets. He is a cool dad, and now has a style to show it.

Matisyahu is an inspiration, and someone i've always looked up to. He did not grow up Hasidic and found it difficult to find a connection to the Jewish community, which is something I've experienced for a long time. I even contemplated converting to Hasidism or Orthodox to find that sense of community and connect to my Judaism, but ultimately i've realized I can't wear long-sleeves and long skirts year round, it just wouldn't work with me. 

His journey is not one for everyone to follow, but it is his own unique one, and the world is a better place because of it.

Matisyahu

Cool dad? Yes, I think so! I'd love a father with a style like his. His children are lucky to have him as a dad! And to give a shout out to Kenneth Cole for being so darn awesome:

How to wear silk pants: $50 or Less

Good evening all you wonderful people out there! Tonight, I want to bring to you a trend that most, and yes even I, felt was rather ridiculous at first: silk pants. When I think of silk pants, I think of pajamas, and I've seen them worn before where it has felt like they've been wearing their pajamas out, which is not something you want to go for. I feel like silk pants are very wearable, depending on the fit to your body. It's very important they're in an unusual cut or fit so that they don't look like pj pants. All you need are the fuzzy slippers at that point, really.

Tonight, I'm going to show you an outfit as to how to wear silk pants. Remember, silk pants aren't for everyone, but if you decide to wear them, it's the details that are most important here.

How to wear silk pants

Outfit

 

Women's Natural Drapey Jersey Tee: $10.00

The trick to balancing out the lack of structure with the pant is to have a fitted top. You'd obviously buy a top that's not overly draping as then the outfit will just look really sloppy.

Relaxed High-Fit Waist Pants: $22.00

An adorable print and very easy to wear, so long as the other pieces have structure. If you so choose to wear a pair of fitted silk pants, then of course you can wear an overly slouchy top, etc. I just chose this pair for the example because they're very adorable.

 

Braided Gladiator Sandals: $18.00

These shoes are adorable and work perfectly with the outfit because they balance out the print of the pants and are very on-trend right now. The structure of the shoe helps with the flowy pant as well.

Total: $50.00