Buy A Fall Coat in A Color that Pops

One of the best & easiest ways to look chic this fall is to invest in a brightly- colored, tailored coat!  This instantly update any outfit and make you look fabulously in style and warm at the same time.  I love when fashion combines style and functionality—always, a plus!

Orange, royal blue and purple are some of my favorites!  I absolutely love the Double-Cloth Lady Day Coat from J.Crew.  Remember a classic coat is an investment for years so spending upwards of $300 plus on this item is not ridiculous!

Snatch yours up before all of the great colors get taken!

Try Boudoir Style

As of recently getting back from Paris, I have to come to realize that Parisian style is the best style.  One of the newest trends from across the pond is Boudoir.  Don’t know what that means?  Well, I didn’t either until recently!  Boudoir is French for a woman’s bedroom chamber’s.  Let me tell you they know sexy Paris, but you can do it here too.

Victoria's Secret Camisole

This style is easy and inexpensive.  Start with a sexy camisole.  It will  look like lingerie that you sleep in and you may not feel comfortable in it at first, but pair this camisole with a pair of cutoff jean shorts and some gladiators, and the look will balance itself.  It well be seductively casual and perfect for a heated August night on the patio for drinks with your flavor of the week (I call it that because that seems be my thing lately)!

Victoria’s Secret is a great place to find this look, and you will find extremely affordable camisoles.  You can even try the lingerie section of department stores.   The camisole in the photo above is only $29, and it would go perfect with a pair of well-fitted denims.  Even throw a light cardigan over this look to tone down the sexiness a bit.

A key aspect of this look, is wearing only one article of clothing that is boudoir.  You don’t want to look overly sexy or look promiscuous!

By the way, if you follow my blog, my last post was me packing before Europe, and I happy to admit that I did find that beautiful, orange handbag!

Some Quick Packing Tips for Your Summer Vacay

In thinking of the summer season and travelling, packing can be a very difficult feat for a fashionista—especially packing light!

Today, I embarked upon the task of packing for 10-day trip to Europe.  Step one for my packing dilemma, pick a color scheme.  In thinking of going day into night, I immediately thought, black.  It’s easy, clean, and mixing and matching basics always looks classic.

You always see photos of jet-setting celebrities in basic black separates when they travel.  Angelina Jolie always rocks this style with basic jewelry and a bad ass pair of aviators.  This is definitely the look I am going for while in Europe–effortlessly cool, and comfortable.

Step 2, was figure out a handbag.  One large enough and safe enough that the Italian gypsies wouldn’t get me—I have a perfect slouchy black, leather bag with a juicy bow on the side—a perfect day-to-night bag.  I orginally wanted to go white, but it is so easy to get dirty travelling and sitting on park benches etc., so I knew I had to stick with black.

Step 3, simple, inexpensive jewelry.  I was told I would be an obvious target for pick-pocketers if I wore my nice jewelry, so believe it or not, I am going with one long gold necklace, and a pair of turquoise studs.  I’m an accessories girl, so this is not easy for me.  I thought, the turquoise studs, are summery, and will brighten up my  simple, black attire.

So ladies, as you pack for your glamorous trips this summer, the best tips that I can give you are to stick to one color scheme and pack separates that go from day to night—oh yes, and pack a pair of comfortable shoes–flats are essential!

Oh, and always leave a little bit of extra room for your abroad purchases!  I’m hoping I come home with the PERFECT Orange Italian handbag!

Go Assymetrical While You Can!

Selena Gomez in an Assymetrical Tadashi Shoji Dress

The assymetrical trend whether it be a dress or shirt is usually short lived in the fashion world—I would give it one more season before it is over.  If you have not bought an item yet, do it now.  Ultimate fashionistas never let hot trend pass them by without testing it out! Check out  Selena Gomez Working it in this Tadashi Shoji dress, which is just one of many ways to wear this look.

Nordstrom even has an entire category dedicated to this trend this season, under one-shoulder dresses.  This look is perfect for your summer wedding season.  Don’t go for a boring cocktail dress—spice it up with a one shoulder number (of course, not white, like Selena’s).  This trend looks great with a high ponytail and a short haircut.  Remember, always, wear dangly earrings with this look.

This trend will not last too long, but no worries, this look seems to come back for a season or two about every 10 to 15 years, so stay thin, so you can pull it out of your closet down the road!

Style Up Your Swimsuit With a Great Sarong

One of the best and cheapest ways to find a unique sarong to wear over your bathing suit is to look in the scarf section of any major department story—Nordstroms, Macy’s, Belk etc. all have a great selection and in a wide range of prices.

I’ve found a ton of great sarongs at discount stores like TJ Maxx & Marshalls.  Not to mention, street fairs in cities and local vintage stores.  Finding a great sarong will be so inexpensive and simple if you just go to the right spots, & this will make updating last year’s boring swimwear so easy!

Pair a solid colored bikini with a bold, bright floral pattern or graphic print, and you will take that everyday swimsuit into beach chic in no time.  Besides, you never know, when you are travelling who you are going to meet or where you will end up, so having a cover-up is essential in case your look will need to be taken into a restaurant, beach bar, or happy hour.

Try a great animal print with a neutral color, such as a leopard print sarong with a brown swimsuit.

If you have a patterned swimsuit, pair a solid scarf or sarong on the bottom.  If you are on the heavier side wear a darker color solid to diminish your lower half—-and well, let’s face it, if you’re thin you can wear anything as long as it matches!

The key to this is making sure that your sarong is a light, airy summer material.  If it is itchy, or hot—-WRONG ONE!

Remember always, always look your best because you seriously never know who you will run into, so why not always be prepared!  Just last week I was in Miami chatting it up with Governor Charlie Christ of Florida.  I was so thankful that I had on a bright sundress and looked put together!

So, go out and get yourself a couple of new sarongs for the season, and you won’t even have to splurge to pull it off.  You will look so much more put together on the beach with a glamorous cover-up.  Not to mention, you might even save some of that youthful skin from the sun!

Bring Back the Ruffled Skirt

Ladies, ladies…..pull out those 80s tiered skirts that we all remember from the days of the Simple Life & P-Hilton explosion.  Think, so 5 years ago!

Well, if you have stayed the same size, you are lucky, because short, ruffled skirts are back in.  Remember the Juicy Couture & Ella Moss skirts that were so popular, well thankfully they are so in!  Save your pennies and pull these oldies, but goodies out of the attic and dare to bare your legs this upcoming summer season.

However, this season, they are referred to as the “full-mini”—if you want to sound Vogue-savvy!  This time around, hike your short full mini up and tuck a shirt in.  This will completely update the look, and if you want to be a fashionista on a budget, it is a simple way to look chic for summer ‘09.

Get out and rock those legs in your full mini.  Your waist will look tiny & those legs will look skinny—a sure fire way to snag a boys attention on a hot summer night.  Knock em’ dead sisters:)

xoxo,

Katherine

Jazz Up Your Look With Swingin’ Shades

One of the easiest ways to look cool and casual is with a great pair of vintage or ultra trendy shades!  The best part about this accessory is that you can find plenty of stylish pairs for under $50.  Target and Urban Outfitters are two great stores to find an inexpensive pair—especially if you are one of those people constantly losing your sunglasses.

Check out the Rainbow Stripe Wayfarers at Urban Outfitters for just $18.  These shades are awesome and would look great on a male or female.

If you are looking for a designer pair of shades this season, but don’t want to break the bank, shop TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Bluefly for the more upscale designers at a discount price.  Bluefly features shades that span from Gucci to Marc by Marc Jacobs at discounts up to 40% off!

A great friend of mine has a sunglasses blog on the do’s and don’ts of men’s sunglasses.  Check it out to help your man look stylish this season.  Your date has to look great too!  Check out his blog at:  http://thesunglassesblog.com/.

Go Rocker (Part 2) With the Essential Skinny Jean

Achieving the rocker look, especially for daytime can be inexpensive and simple.  The most basic article of clothing to help you give off this Blondie-esque look is with a great pair of skinny jeans!  An essential for a blossoming fashionista.

Plus, these days, you can find skinny jeans anywhere from Target to Saks, but the most important part is that they fit you well.  If you run on the heavier/shorter side, make sure to wear a darker wash and heels (always, always!).  If you are thin and fashionably adventurous, go for an old school acid washed pair, and rock it out like David Bowie in your 80s gear—-totally in this season.

A great part about looking rocker chic in the skinny jean, is that it can go from day to night.  For day-wear, throw on a pair of flat boots, gladiator sandals, or even some Converse Chuck Taylors.

For a night out on the town, throw on those studded heels (I talked about those in my last post) with your skinny jeans of course, a fitted,vintage tee, some funky bangles and hoop earrings, and you will be looking effortlessly rocker in no time.  Urban Outfitters is a great one-stop-shop to achieve this look and thankfully there is one near Raleigh in Durham at Southpoint Mall.

Check out the picture below of Jessica Simpson to help you achieve this rocker look this weekend.  She casually stylish in her Rolling Stones tee, wedges, & skinny jeans.

So, ladies for your Saturday night, do you dare to rock out with this new look?  I definitely will be struttin’ it rocker style come Saturday evening!

Tough It Out: Go Rocker! (Part 1)

So, we all see pictures of Kate Moss or Sienna Miller and think, “I could never pull off that rocker look.  That’s too hip/trendy for me.”  Well, that is not the case ladies.  All of us can look that stylish without breaking the bank!

The first simple step to achieving this look is with a pair of studded heels.

In fact, studded heels have become so popular this season, that Nordstrom even devoted an entire shoe section on their site to women’s shoes with studs on them, so these will not be difficult to find.  Check out the section, and see what works best for you.

My favorite pair under $200 at Nordstrom is the Steve Madden ‘Revenu’ Pump. A pair of shoes like this will instantly give you a bit edginess and stylish flare for the night.

Think of your studded pair of shoes as a way to update your wardrobe without having to purchase lots of new clothing.  An accessory like this can instantly update your style, and you can pair them with a variety of outfits—dressy shorts, skirts, jeans, or with a dress.  These shoes will be more versatile than you think, and everyone has plenty of black to pair them with.

This look would be ideal if you’re going to rock concert (only inside—we don’t want to mess up those gorgeous “hello lover” shoes—S.A.T.C reference, of course) or if you are going to dinner or out to a hipster type bar or restaurant.  Think a summer night out in the Village in NYC.

After all, for those of you who have been paying attention to fashion week over the last four years, shoes have become the main attraction of each collection, with daringly high heels towering 5 inches or more.  Clearly, these shoes are only made to be worn in three-hour increments, but oh, the price we pay for style and beauty.

So this season, get head over heels for a studded rocker pair, and see how the look works for you.  Who knows, it might even bring out your inner bad girl, ala Kate Moss & Serena Vanderwoodson, for you Gossip Girl Lovers!

Look out for my next post to get the entire head-to-toe badass, rocker girl look!

Get California Chic With a Colorful Cardigan

One of the easiest looks to pull off this season is California cool.  A quick & inexpensive way to create this look is by wearing a cardigan in a bright color that POPS!  Think mango, grass, coral & definitely yellow!  Throw this cardigan over a vintage tee with some slim-fitting Bermuda shorts and hopefully those unique flat sandals (that you went out & bought right after my last post;), and you are going to instantly look California cool & very chic!

Need help finding this bright cardigan?  I love this one in the link below from Banana Republic in Canary Yellow! 

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5036&pid=646619

For just $49, you will instantly update your style.  Not to mention, you can wear it for a night on the town, to work, or any day wear—even over your swimsuit as a cover-up.  Plus, if you want to be a fashionista, but are on a budget, versatile pieces are the way to go.  Go out and treat yourself to a bright colored cardigan and get California cool with your style!