Many clothing retailers are capitalizing on after-Christmas sales this year. Shoppers were out in full force this Saturday morning making the most of the remaining winter, holiday seasonal sales. Some of my favorite Fashion, Friendly & Frugal retailers were practically giving apparel away! Stores such as: Gap, Macy's, Steve Madden, and Nordstrom offered items anywhere from 20% up to 70% off! So be sure to take full advantage of these final holiday sales before the first shipments of Spring merchandise flood the malls.
Just found this at UrbanOutfitters.com. He may have lost many of his prestigious endorsements, but he is infamous for many other things now that his private life has backfired in a very public way. This shirt ($24) is yet another slap in the face for Mrs. Tiger Woods, but it is beyond hilarious. Would you sport this?... bad Tiger!
First of all, I am in love with this color scheme. Purple is still very in right now and can be found in many different flattering shades for various skin tones. The colors here are dark but not too dark because the purple dress balances well with the black booties, sapphire polish, and the silver embellishments add a pop of special new year's cheer. (Dress: Arden B $68; Shoes: Steve Madden $89.97; Nail Polish: OPI $8.50 - "Light My Sapphire")
Black is always a girl's best friend, especially for a New Year's Eve party. However, pairing this LBD with a pair of fabulous gray suede pumps and some hot blue polish livens up this otherwise solid black garment. You will most definitely receive a New Year's kiss when the clock strikes 12:00am in this savvy ensemble. (Dress: Arden B $68; Shoes: Steve Madden $109; Nail Polish: OPI $8.50 - "Blue My Mind")
Dark colors are not always appropriate for a New Year's Eve bash. Depending on the location and theme of your celebration, something light may be much more suiting. This dress plays off of gold and neutral hues and paired with those caged pumps... it is unstoppable! Neutrals are always chic (you will be sure to stand out in this party outfit anywhere). Just be sure to spice things up with some metallic, skin tone tights! (Dress: Nordstrom $88; Shoes: Steve Madden $49.98; Nail Polish: OPI - "Brisbane Bronze")
Last and most certainly not least is this ridiculously fun romper. The spaghetti straps paired with the light silky fabric creates a fun and flirty ensemble great for any slightly casual celebration. However, this romper merchandised with these silver platforms and hot pink nail polish creates a funky and fresh party outfit. Isn't New Year's Eve all about fun anyways?! (Romper: Urban Outfitters $68; Shoes: Steve Madden $99.95; Nail Polish: OPI - "That's Hot! Pink")
Now, even though MAC is my most favorite make-up, I have been able to find some substitutes for my MAC essentials when I am trying to take it easy on my finances. The greatest part about drug store make-up is that you can almost always find great deals. Right now, CVS has some kind of promotion on nearly every brand of budget-friendly make-up.
Let me begin by saying a big THANK YOU to all of my followers (yes, all fourteen of you)! Your continuous support and comments mean the world to me. Please continue following my blog and feel free to post comments or topic suggestions. Let me also extend a thank you to those of you bloggers that are not official followers; I appreciate your interest. As always, keep an eye out for updates, especially at the beginning of each month ("Rent's Due" - Oct/Nov/Dec). The holidays have kept me busy away from my computer but the new year is right around the corner and I look forward to adding much, much more to my blog! Happy Holidays and be safe celebrating for the next few weeks.
So, right now I am absolutely in love with everything in the image above. The color scheme, the simplicity, and the versatility with all of the items (oh yeah! and the prices). Online shopping is definitely a hobby of mine, and searching out the best deals on the Internet makes my bank account very happy. Check out the deals I found below:
Well, more specifically I am referring to scarves, not wraps. It is finally December and the Rent is Due! And what better way to celebrate the first of the month than to cue you in on a very Fashion-Friendly & Frugal holiday find. A few posts ago I brought up a few tips for budget holiday shopping in "Happy Sales!". This post is straight-to-the-point and all about scarves, one of the hottest, most versatile accessories and gifts of the year!
Due to the fact that the latest trends are never further away than me picking up my computer and jumping onto the Internet, along with my obsession with online "window shopping", I have added another fabulously frugal element to my blog... "What's in MY Shopping Bag?". I may not be able to buy everything I place in my online shopping bags, but I can always edit my purchases and be sure I am buying something I absolutely love. So check in for updates with my shopping bag and see what catches your eye (good or bad). Besides, online shopping can be very budget-friendly, as long as you can catch sale items early on while your size is still available!
As many of you have already guessed, I am absolutely infatuated with skinny jeans. It took a few seasons and multiple trips to various fitting rooms until I finally warmed up to this trend. Recently, one of my friends asked about curvy girls and skinny pants and I became very intrigued. In an article I wrote nearly a year ago and re-worked for my blog a few weeks back, I discussed issues with body types and trends. Once again, I will stress that what you wear and how you wear something depends on your confidence. 
An expandable waistline is the dreadful stereotypical thought that comes to mind when we all think of apparel in relation to Thanksgiving. With all of the wonderful holiday feasts we enjoy each year, it is no wonder that people are so into comfy clothing during this festive season. However, what does one wear to a fancy or even formal dinner during turkey day? Which style has the upper hand? How do you decide? This is survival of the fittest: comfy versus fancy Thanksgiving apparel.
I have experienced mostly laid-back Thanksgiving dinners, which require nothing more than my attendance. On the other hand, I have also been to holiday gatherings with a prerequisite of looking nice without being too dressed-up. I personally prefer to be comfy and casual but every now and then, a fun and fancy Thanksgiving celebration is welcomed by my wardrobe.
The important thing to remember about a dinner with no dress code is that you should at least wear jeans. Stay away from sweats and pajamas (unless there is some outlandish PJ tradition your family abides by). Being comfortable does not mean looking sloppy. Wear warm, over-sized sweaters (or cardigans) paired with boyfriend-fit denim. You achieve the casual look while still being effortlessly chic in the seasons’ hottest boyfriend-fit trends! Leggings are a blessing and a curse this holiday season because though they can be forgiving once you are full, they are very reminiscent of cheap, cheesy expandable waist pants created for the typical tourist at Disneyland. If you must wear leggings this Thanksgiving, make sure they are in great shape and go for some form of embellishment (zippers, buttons, lace, etc.) in order to dress up your comfy leg wear.
Dressing up for Thanksgiving can be fun. There are endless options for you to choose from in order to celebrate Thanksgiving in fancy fashion. Whether you have a more formal dinner or you simply feel like dressing up, you can do so with much ease. Stay away from black and red. Save the red for another holiday and the black for a more somber occasion. Blue and grey are perfect for dressing up because they are the hot colors of the season and can be found in very rich and vibrant hues right now. Try a sweater dress, a great tulip skirt with some colorful tights, or a tailored pair of slacks (wide or skinny legged). You can do dressed up this Thanksgiving all while being comfortable.
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate what we are thankful for and your clothing does not have to be the centerpiece of this wonderful holiday. No matter what you wear, comfy and casual or fancy and primped, be thankful that you have a wardrobe to make these choices from. Happy Thanksgiving bloggers and followers!
This article was published in Issue 34 of The Betty at CSUN: http://www.csun.edu/~matthews/The%20Betty%20Issue%2034.pdf
*Image: http://whatshaute.com
Fashion is an amazing art form and the truly talented designers manufacture the most beautiful concoctions. However, copyrighting and trademarking one's work can be very difficult, as I learned from a guest speaker during my last semester in school. Because of the many loopholes around copyrighted and trademarked clothing, companies like Forever21 can exist and thrive. The downside to this counterfeit madness is that when a corrupt company like Forever21 produces a knock-off, they can potentially interfere with sales of the real/original garment. The end result: a struggling designer loses their money, credibility, and following because Forever 21 produced and sold a counterfeit item for a whole lot less money!
Plaid has been seen everywhere lately and it is no wonder this classic pattern has made a comeback... or an appearance? I have had mixed feelings about this current trend until now. The holidays have motivated me to find plaid garments that do not remind me of the holiday season and the decorations that follow. Flannel has always been a tricky material, unless it is in a sleeping bag, and plaid has always seemed so festive in a not-so-fashion-friendly way. My recent shopping ventures have definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities that plaid brings to the table. Here are some of my tips for trying out this holiday favorite:
Fastly approaching is yet another holiday season. The good thing about the holidays is that you can find fantastic sales at nearly any store. However, the down side is that you have to think about others and start your gift shopping (which is actually a very wonderful thing to be able to give others something from your heart). The big question is, "How do you budget your fashion urges into your holiday gift shopping?"
While walking around Fisherman's Wharf today, I realized a whole lot more than most tourists in the area. Because of my life-long passion and educational background, I tend to recognize what people are wearing before many other things; I pay close attention to my fashion surroundings. Not only were the tourists dressed surprisingly well, but most of the ladies at the piers were sporting riding boots. Yes, it is fall and boots are so perfect this season, but people were looking especially 
While many fashion forecasters find their inspiration in very unique places, it is no wonder that someone, somewhere saw these riding boots and thought they would be perfect for the fashion-friendly. They pair great with tights or leggings, skirts, and my personal favorite, skinny jeans. So this fall (and winter), join in on the wealthy sport-inspired trend. But hold onto these boots because they will be transitional with your wardrobe for years to come!
This is far out there, even for me, and I know when to appreciate a designers' artistic talent and representation of their individual view. However, Wednesday night I discovered that insects have silently crept their way into our fashion accessories for the moment (I hope this is only a fad). You heard me right, insects have invaded the fashion world. Now many of us have seen the infamous "Top Model" episode with the ever annoying Jade and quick-to-be friends with the cockroach. Designers have experimented with insects before, but never like this.
With just one or two more episodes left -depending on how Lifetime decides to air the finale(s)- Project Runway is proving to be one of its best seasons yet (even though Michael Kors has been noticeably absent for the majority of the season). Although many of this seasons designers have been uninspiring, the final three LADIES have more than made their mark in Project Runway history.
Fall is a season that I am not all too fond of, especially when it comes to fall fashions. I have grown to shy away from the infamous autumn color palettes of deep reds, greens, and browns. At the same time I have strategically stocked up on “cool weather” essentials during other seasons (whenever possible) in order to avoid cable knit sweaters, corduroy pants, and big clunky boots, which never flatter anyone’s calves. Over the years, my relationship with fall clothing lines has developed into the epitome of a love-hate relationship; I love converting to pants from shorts, and slipping into sweaters instead of tanks but I hate the typical hues and boring silhouettes. However, this fall season seems to be different… very different. I am suddenly obsessed with so many must-have items for this season!