October 2008

If you’re up early today (7am) or happen to be home this afternoon (1-3pm) tune into QVC and and catch me doing my day job!  I’ll be presenting the latest styles in the Maxx New York collection and we have some really cute bags in the lineup…this one in particular is the one I have my eye on!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0QdN2fN4M]

This seems a little too “Devil Wears Prada” knock-off for my taste, but I’ll give it a fair chance and watch this weeks episode on the CW…I’m really just tuning in to catch Mr. Joe Zee, who I once worked for at W Magazine a long lifetime ago.  I hear some pretty nasty rumors about him and his new position over at Elle, but this is fashion people…rumors just mean you’ve arrived.

You’re probably wondering what in the world this word means or if I was just being really creative after a long Saturday night out and thinking up new names for the pain that I’m feeling due to wearing my 4″ Louboutins while dancing all night???

Well ladies, stiletto-tarsal is a real condition- the London Times even wrote about it- and probably one that you’ve suffered from at some point in your  shoe-obsessed life.  It’s that agonizing pain you feel in the balls of your feet when the soft tissue is worn out by over-enthusiastic stiletto-wear, but now there’s a treatment for the pain.  How you ask????

Botox.  What we thought was just used to remove all facial expressions from today’s A-list actresses, is now being used to treat foot pain.  Injecting Botox into the balls of your feet plumps up the area and results in a loss of sensation, therefore allowing you to wear your 6″ heels without ever feeling an ounce of pain. Any takers??  On the plus side, it also gets rid of foot odor!

I’ve seen a lot of really great leather jackets in black, but this one in particular caught my eye because of the gorgeous buttercreme color.  While this trend has typically called for more motorcycle- inspired jackets, I tend to prefer the more blazer-y ones, like the one below.  They can be worn in multiple settings, the have cleaner lines, and they work wonderfully as a layering piece.

Windsor "Rust" Faux Leather Jacket $59.90

Note: I’d leave this jacket unbuttoned…it might come off a little too renaissance festival when it’s done up.

I love finding a bargain more than anyone else and on my weekly trip to Wal-Mart (yes, I go there and I kind of love it!) I came across these adorable totes!

These bags aren’t your typical grocery totes that they sell at Whole Foods, these are actually made from 100% organic cotton and you never see something that’s actually organic retail for $3.00–well maybe an organic grape??

Pick some of these up as great gifts or keep them for yourself and use them for dry cleaning, as a gym bag and of course for all of your grocery trips!  Going green never looked so cute!

I am so not a lingerie girl…the whole thing feels really silly to me and I can’t pull off a teddy and maribou slippers with a straight face.  I’ve tried, but it’s so unnatural and feels too much like a scene out of a cheesy romance novel that I just can’t.

But every girl needs some sexy lingerie in her life and that lead me to my new favorite undergarment, the romper.  These one-pieces are really short so make sure you have the legs for them, but by not showing everything, and showing just a hint of skin, these vintage inspired pieces feel sophisticated and sexy, not slutty.  No zebra/leopard print panties wanted here!

As a bonus, you can even wear some of these rompers (the non-see though ones) layered under a cardigan sweater and pair them with lady-like pencil skirts for a look that’s appropriate outside the bedroom.

I held off on wanting to get one of those pimp-chic “Lauren” double finger rings for a while, but I’ve finally decided that they’re pretty cute.  I think it would be even cuter to wear your BFF’s name or your BF’s name instead of your own and declare to the rest of the world how much you heart them!

Just like Carrie did back in her SATC days, LC is rarely spotted without her trusty ring and she’s even been known to gift them to her frenimies! Lauren’s was custom made at XIV Karats in LA, but you can get yours online for under $100 if you opt for sterling silver…the gold one will cost you $198.

I saw this picture on The Satorialist and I instantly decided that I had to have a fur vest…I don’t care if it’s faux or fox, I just neeeeeed one.

The problem with said fur vest is that they’re a little pricey…YSL has one for $4000 and La Rok has one for $400, but it was nearly impossible to find one that fits into the CC criteria: stylish and under $50.

After much deliberation and research, I did finally come up with a great alternative that will look fantastic paired with skirts/tights, dark skinny jeans and my oh-so hot pLeather leggings! 

So which one is the bargain???  They’re both faux, but one of them retails for $828 and the other one for $34.50.  Click here to find out!

I need a comfortable yet stylish shoe. I’m a little hippy so I’d love a higher heel to make me look more slender. I take the train into center city Philly so I need something that is work appropriate and comfortable enough for me to walk my daughter to the school bus and then the train.

Any ideas?  Thanks a million.

Jazzy

Dear Jazzy,

You hit my sweet spot, SHOES!  And you’re a heels girl…I love that!!!  For some reason it’s really had to find fabulous shoes that are comfortable at a reasonable price.  My mom swears by Ferragamo’s, but we all aren’t blessed with her budget so we’ll have to make do with these from Easy Spirit.

Easy Spirit "Lauree" $79

I must admit that the notion of comfortable shoes made me think of ugly, orthopedic, grandma-looking ones, but brands like Easy Spirit and Aerosoles are taking it up a notch and meeting the need for a shoe that’s easy on the toes and eyes.  Some of these companies are even enlisting the help of hip designers, like Tara Subkoff, to help revamp their collection to appeal to a more fashionable woman.

Easy Spirit "Input" $49.99

I was a little sticker shocked (I hate spending more than $50) at some of these, but I guess there’s a premium on cute shoes that don’t hurt!  By incorporating patent and faux-snake details, which we saw all over the runways, these heels have all of the appeal of designer brands.

Both have a 2.5″ heel, a rubber sole which is a must in the city, and they are professional enough to pair with your work clothes but also fun enough to wear out to dinner or on a date.  BTW, they are also availabe in other colors like Chocolate, Bordeaux and Eggplant!!

After watching the Olsens on O today (that’s Oprah in case you didn’t know) I was really inspired by their collection, The Row, and realized how important basics are to everyone’s wardrobe.  As much fun as it is to dress up and buy fun pieces, I think it’s imperative that every woman own the following basics:

1. Black Pants   2. Blazer   3. Cocktail Dress   4. Black Bag

5. Killer Heels   6.White Shirt   7. Layering Pieces

Row by cheapchica11
Now don’t get me wrong… just because they’re basic doesn’t mean they have to be boring.  That blue sequin, flutter sleeve cocktail dress is not your standard issue LDB!  These basics should be go-to pieces that you can use over and over again, for multiple occasions, and they should be able to go the distance in your wardrobe.

If you can afford it, invest in great fabrics and great tailoring since you’ll be wearing these things an awful lot, but but if you can’t quite swing those Balenciaga pants or a Phillp Lim jacket then just improvize like I did– everyithing pictuerd above is under $50- and find yourself a great tailor.  Nothing says luxe like a perfect fit!

Another MUST WATCH to add to my TIVO list…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q27eqPxd_T8]

Loves it!  I can not wait to see my favorite Hills girl strut her stuff and style down the streets of the Big Apple…and I’m also just a little curious to learn more about Olivia Palermo and her socialite ways!  I’ve had enough of Whitney playing second fiddle to LC’s life and it’s about damn time her drama gets to be center stage!

BTW, doesn’t she look gorge in the preview?!?!?

I always feel more put together, richer and (pardon the pun) polished when my nails are professionally manicured vs. when I DIY it…so whenever I’m feeling the need to spend but don’t have the funds to do so, I opt for an $8.00 manicure instead and leave the salon feeling like a new woman! Everything in my closet looks better with chic, dark nails!

And since it finally feels like Fall (and Halloween is right around the corner!) I can now start wearing my favorite polish colors which all tend to fall into what my Mom calls, “Elvira colors”.  These are your usual suspects:  Chocolate Browns, Rich Reds, Aubergines and the occasional Grey if my nails need a break from all the dark polish.

The best part is- a bottle of OPI only costs about $4.25 if you know where to look …click the bottles for an amazing deal on polish!

Two of my favorite mini-moguls are releasing their new book today titled Influence.  The book features intimate interviews with photographers, artists and designers who have inspired Mary-Kate and Ashley and who have made their creative mark on a whole generation of young adults.  

The book will also include exclusive photographs of Ashley and Mary-Kate from world renowned photographer Rankin, and a wide variety of other never-before-seen materials and interviews from Mary-Kate and Ashley’s personal collections.

Given the twins power and profile, I’m sure they had incredible access to a bevy of usually reclusive and interesting people who will surely make for a great interview.  I’m also very curious to get an inside look at their lives as they really live them, and not how we see them through the paparazzi’s lens.  You can also watch their interview with Oprah later today on ABC.