Think Pink

It's been a while since I had a chance to post--fashion week, holidays, birthdays and other fab events can keep a girl busy! And there's so much to write about, like all the gorgeous styles that I saw from my front row view of across-the-street-while-running-to-get-food during my lunch break. But right now, I'm thinking pink. Not pink as in my pretty bow, but pink as in the pink ribbon of the upcoming breast cancer awareness month. It seems like more and more companies in the fashion and beauty industries are coming together and working to raise awareness and gather enough money to fund treatments and cure research. Avon is sponsoring a walk for cure where women raise money and walk 30 miles for the cure. PrettyCity.com is working together with spas and hair salons through out NYC to raise money for the Y-ME national Breast Cancer Organization to help provide information and support to anyone touched by breast cancer. Ralph Lauren created a line of exclusive 'Fashion Targets Breast Cancer' Polo's for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer charity, available on Net-a-Porter.com, a new site that I'm looking forward to exploring. Marc Jacobs created a special charm bracelet available on Shopbop.com and Coach has a really cute pink ribbon key chain. Seeing the fashion and beauty industries create something that is not only designed to beautify but also to help women--now that's a way to give back and show some love to it's supporters!

I know I mentioned a few things, but let me know if there are events and products that I missed!

Here are some links and pictures:

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer: http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_homepage

Pretty City: http://www.prettycity.com/pink/sneakpeek/

Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization: http://y-me.org/

Ralph Lauren FTBC Polo's: http://www.net-a-porter.com/FTBC/FTHomeFlash available on http://www.net-a-porter.com/

Marc Jacobs bracelet: http://www.shopbop.com/

Coach Key Chain: http://www.coach.com/content/product.aspx?product_no=10095&category_id=73

Also, visit http://teamsugar.com/bookmarks/tags/breast+cancer for other great products that contribute to Breast Cancer charities. Because if you're going to shop this October, it might as well be good for you and good for a worthy cause. Hmmm shopping and helping...look you're multi-tasking again!

Vests all around

I've been seeing a lot of vests around town lately. Over the years they have been on the edgier side of fashion, like biker cheek leather vests, or punk rock denim vests. In the past few seasons it has been a men's wear inspired suit vest redesigned to be worn by women over dresses, sweaters, T-shirts, peasant blouses and what ever else worked with it or under it. But lately I seem to be noticing a few new types of vests or garments with vest potential. The first is a knit sweater vest that I saw in the window display of Ralph Lauren's new Rugby store on University place. It was paired it with very tight jeans, booties, a white shirt underneath and a thin belt right around the waist. Hello preppy cheek! The other kind is actually like a sleeveless T-shirt tunic, worn either layered over other T's, or as I saw it today around Bryant Park, on its own over leggings, with a men's wear inspired vest over it. That was a great look and pairing two such different yet potentially similar garments together...serious fashion know how and vested genius. Maybe it's not a traditional vest, but definitely another great way to layer and add some extra glamour to your outfit.

Unfortunately I couldn't find any pictures of the Ralph Lauren Rugby vests so here's one from their Polo Collection (from ralphlauren.com) and an imitation Rugby vest and a very cute tunic that can be worn as a vest from Forever21.com.

Vera Wang for all

So I finally finally got my hands on the super large September issue of Vogue today. I spend the day flipping through it and got only about half way into it. I could have finished it all, but I like reading the articles and taking my time looking at the ads. And I did a quick run to the mall with my mom to look for fall work clothes (didn't find work stuff but I finally found purple tights just in the shade I was looking for--by DKNY).
But back to Vogue and what I found--Kohl's, a nation wide retailer, is introducing a line by Vera Wang! The clothes, shoes and accessories looked very cute and trendy and the prices seems very approachable to those of us on a tight budget. The line, called Simply Vera, is made up of separates and dresses, shoes, coats, accessories, undies and what looks to be like very cute hats, scarves and gloves. And also a home line, to work with both your personal and your home decor styles. Now it's obvious that Kohl's is trying to take on Target and their recent stylish and affordable lines by high end designers like Proenza Schouler. Thanks to Target's brilliant advertising campaigns, they are a hard competitor to take on, but this new line should get some new clients for Kohl's, who generally carry more traditional, perfect for a BBQ in the 'burbs type of clothing. So for people like myself who are not big fans of the retailer, not only because of the rather boring clothing selection but also because of the long hours they make their employees work (I used to work next to a store way back when in high school), this new line is a great reason to walk in and spend some money. But only in the name of fashion!

Here are some pics from the new line from Kohl's.com:

Bright and shiny and big, oh my!

It shines, it sparkles, it blings and takes the spotlight away from you! You know what I'm talking about--it's big, overwhelming jewelry. It jumps out at the passer by, stealing all attention not only from the person wearing it, but also the outfit that that piece of jewelry is supposed to compliment. Like a necklace that hides the neck of the woman wearing it. Or so many rings that one can barely see the fingers (women's hands are beautiful and should always be shown of).
But don't worry, I'm not writing of big jewelry pieces all together, I just think that like all good things they should be done in moderation. Like one big ring and that's it, or a large necklace that is either long and works with a simple out fit, making it glamorous and sophisticated, or short and fit around the neck and collar bone, highlighting that part of the body. My favorite rule of thumb: if the accessory is more noticeable then your neck/hand/wrist or your entire outfit, then you should take it off. And of course, the size of the piece should be proportional to your height and weight. Check out the pictures below for some example of accessory do's and don'ts--I know that sounds cheesy, but I just had to say it :).

The first picture is one of a big piece of jewelry being too much, in the second picture it's just right, complementing the outfit, not taking the spotlight away from the model or her outfit. The third image shows how a dramatic accessory can give a simple outfit a very dramatic and sophisticated look. (Pictures courtesy of shopbop.com)

Seeing red

Checking out the stores and spending time surfing the web for the latest styles and the best shopping deals, I can't help getting red! No, I'm not mad or angry, I'm just getting in the mood for the fall's hottest color! Red is everywhere this season: on the runways, in stores, on line, and now it can be on you.

How you ask? Easy! If you're a big fan of the color and feel comfortable strutting down the street with all eyes on you, then deck your self out in dresses, boots, jeans or whatever else comes to mind. If you prefer a more modest or conservative look, try pairing a few choice red accessories with this season's other key color - grey. This also works if you're on a budget - pick up some cute red bangles from fab budget friendly retailers like Forever 21 or Mandee and you're ready to go. And if red is absolutely not your color, go for other shades in bright, primary tones, and you'll be styling all season long!

Check out the style possibilities from Forever 21.com, mandee.com and style.com:

A Mom's New Best Friend

Keeping your children looking great can be difficult for the mom-on-the-go. Since you are a style queen yourself, you want to keep your kids looking just as cute without the hassle of having to run around town looking for the best deal. To solve all your mommy shopping woes one mother from Arkansas launched a website where mothers can trade their children's gently worn duds for new finds. The process works like this: send in your children's clothes and get points assigned per piece. Then browse the selection of clothes priced by points. Select your new items and pay only $2 per point. And presto you're done! No shipping or membership fees required. Try the site yourself! Visit http://www.changingyourclothes.com/

Scarf it Down

Scarves were originally meant for the oh-so-cold weather of the winter months. Wrapped around the neck, they made the cold seem friendlier and snugglier. But scarves are stepping out of their conventional role and becoming a wardrobe staple in any climate. Now being made in lighter fabrics, wrapping a scarf around one’s neck is not only a way to stay warm in the coldest of cold, but a way to brighten up an outfit. Paired with jeans and tee shirt, a bright colored scarf makes the look pop with almost zero effort. Oh and did I mention how patterned scarves can complete any look? Check it out below..

A yummy scarf to try: Spring & Clifton at Maneaterthreads.com