General Fashion

I am constantly looking for work-appropriate pants to wear with my earth-tone tops. I have such a hard time finding a pant that is not your typical brown or gray tweed flare wool pant from Express. Not that they don’t do the trick, but sometimes I need something different and a little more exciting.

I think these pants from ModCloth fit the bill!  They aren’t crazy, but they are different from your average work pant. And, because they are a little more funky, they would make a great day-to-night piece.

Linen pants are also my favorite thing ever! Problem is, it’s hard to find a pair that aren’t for lounging. These are more of a gauze fabric, but are still in the same category as linen. Bottom line, these pants will keep you feeling cool and comfortable.

These pants are a must for me and if they are for you too, go to Modcloth and shell out the $44.99 to have this staple piece in you wardrobe!

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with two very stylish ladies, Gigi Guerra from Madewell and Elise Loehnen, Lucky’s Editor-at-Large and the woman behind Style Steals. They were not only super sweet and funny, but they gave some amazing style tips and answered some of your Fall fashion questions! Here are the highlights from my interview…

Q: What are your 3 must have items for Fall?

A: It’s shocking that I’m not wearing jewelry right now, but to start it would have to be a statement necklace because I’ve never met a necklace that I didn’t like…it’s kind of my signature.  And not just one necklace, but multiple things that shouldn’t necessarily be layered but they surprisingly work together!

And I love button downs, but I like XS Men’s button downs.  I don’t like a woman’s fit, I like something loser, baggier and I like to roll the sleeves up and wear them with skinny jeans!

My third absolute must have is an ankle boot. These are from Madewell and I’m obsessed with them! They’re so comfortable and versatile!

Q: Speaking of ankle boots…one of my readers wrote in, “I love ankle boots, but have no idea how to wear them.  What’s the best way?”

A: I generally always cuff my jeans with them so I wear them that way and with a cardigan…I’m a cardigan collector.  Or you can wear them just with jeans and a blazer! Oh and you can also wear them with tights and dresses!

Q: If you can only afford one pair of jeans this Fall, what should they be?

A: I personally don’t wear skinny jeans, I feel too self-conscience so I like a straight leg and something that’s really clean….  And I love black denim.  So something that’s really straight, really classic, and that rolls easily.  Some brands I like are J.Brand, a French brand called Kooples and the rail straights from Madewell.

Q: What are some suggestions for dressing warm, but staying stylish?

A: Master the “double cardigan”! Wear a thinner cardigan under a thicker, bunchier cardigan.  It’s unexpected and it gives you five extra style points!

Also I don’t love turtlenecks, but I do think you can do a lot with a turtleneck and  a silky blouse.  You can layer it under!

You can also wear a chunkier sweater under a blazer or even wear a blazer over a heather grey sweatshirt…it’s kind of cute and sporty!

Q: What are your top 3 online sites for shopping and/or inspiration?

A: Elise: Urban Outfitters, Need Supply and Pixie Market for shopping.  For inspiration I love the Bleach Black Girls, Looks Good to Me and Lookbook.nu.

Q: What can we look forward to in the next issue of Lucky?

A: One of my favorite young actresses ever, Rachel Bilson, she’s so adorable and stylish…she’s in the issue!  And you can also get a look at our HSN Capsule Collection.  We had seven of our favorite Lucky designers, like Tracy Reese and Rebecca Minkoff create designs for HSN and most of the items are priced under $100!

Under $100 for Tracy Reese…you can be sure I’ll be checking that out!  And a huge thank you to Elise, Gigi and Robin for taking time out of your busy schedules for a Style Sitdown!!

This is why I love TJ Maxx…

This entire outfit is under $100 and those suede boots are under $80!

It’s no secret that on any given afternoon when I’ve got some time on my hands, you can find me browsing the racks at my local TJ Maxx.  They have an amazing selection of designer pieces for less than half the retail cost!

I just did a TV segment for Better at their NYC flagship and found two amazing Alice + Olivia dresses that were marked down to $99.99…now that’s a price this CheapChica can handle!

While all of their stores do offer a different selection of clothes, I suggest you look for a store with “The Runway”.  This department stocks BIG designer names like Robert Rodriguez, M by Missoni, and the aforementioned A&O for up to 70% off!

And now you can save even more money at TJ Maxx by entering the TJ Maxx/Cheap Chica’s Anniversary give-a-way!

One lucky reader will win a $50 giftcard!  To enter, leave a comment on this post with the best deal you’ve ever found at TJ Maxx! The last day to submit your comment is Saturday, so don’t let this savings opportunity pass you up!

I said we’d be back with a vengence so let’s get this party started right…

One of the best places to shop online is chickdowntown!  Whether I’m looking for inspiration or creating a wish list, they always have something that suits my many clothing moods and I love their mix of price points along with their selection of designers including one of my personal faves, Elizabeth and James! 

If you don’t know (and you should), Elizabeth and James is the incredible line of what I affectionatley call “anything-but basics” launched by the Olsen twins back in 2005.  The line features chic dresses, jeans and tops that are a perfect mix of masculine and feminine and now you can win one of their signature tees for FREE!

All you have to do is go to chickdowntown.com, look through the E&J collection and then comment on this post with your favorite item!  Your comment will serve as your entry to win one of these deconstructed tees in your choice of white, peach or grey…so good luck!

And be sure you check out chickdowntown.com’s amazing selection of top contemporary designers like Vince clothing!  You can also follow Amy (the owner!) on Twitter and Facebook for chances to win Chickdowntown gift cards and other great giveaways!

NOTE: This contest ends on 8/14 and is only open to residents of the USA.

So while this may be totally depressing, I am starting to think about the upcoming season and nothing gets my heart racing like new boots!  They’re my favorite accessory to the Fall I’m always on the lookout for a new pair to add to my embarrassingly large collection!

I typically buy my boots on EBAY for two reasons…first, they’re cheap and second, they had better boots back in the 70’s and I’m a total sucker for vintage!  And while some of you might think it’s super gross to wear used shoes, that’s why they have cobblers!  For $10 they replace the insole and deodorize them so they are as good as new!

But it’s been a week of rule-breaking and today I couldn’t say no to these Dolce Vita pair at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.  They were marked down to $119 and after applying the cash I made from a quick trade in at Plato’s Closet, it brought them down to $90 which is a great price to pay for these simple, yet totally amazing  boots!

They’re super-soft, you can wear them tall or scrunched down and they’re skinny all the way down the boot shaft so if you’ve got skinny ankles like me they don’t look ridiculous on!  And the heel is that perfect inbetween height…tall enough that I don’t look like a midget, but short enough to walk the city in!  So if you’re looking for a truly wonderful pair of new Fall boots you should make these serious contenders…and they come in black or brown!!

Yes ladies, the answer is yes.  These are in fact the totally amazing, work of art “shoes” by Emma Cook for Topshop and I am now the proud owner.  I paid 95£ and I didn’t even bat an eye.  When you see something this special, you don’t ask how much, you just say YES!

I went to the biggest Topshop ever and could have spend the entire day there, but unfortunately I have this little thing called a job so I had limited time to spend!

The clothing is out of this world and I wanted sooooo many items but I don’t have an unlimited budget so I settled for an adorable blouse that looks like something right off the runway and a super cute mini in Purple and Orange!  I convinced myself that these are two things I could never find in the states so I paid a little more than I normally would (35£ and 28£ respectively).  I’ve been working super hard lately so I treated myself to an afternoon of shopping and fantastic people watching!

TIP: Take your time in there and don’t get overwhelmed.  Go section by section and if you can, get one of the FREE stylists to help you out! They’re super friendly and can help you navigate the store like a pro!

So I’m in London for work and since it can’t be all work no play, I spent the whole day checking out the many (MANY) shops this fabulous city has to offer!

Now I’ve been to London before and all I remember is that everything was really really expensive…not the kind of city a CheapChica can do much shopping in!  So this time I enlisted the help of fellow blogger and London resident Hannah from London-Rose.  She was my shopping guide and totally hooked me up!

I checked out all of the shops along Oxford street which include stores like Primark, River Island, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful, and my Mecca…TOP SHOP! Here are some pics and some quick reviews of what you can expect to find in terms of price and selection:

Primark

This store is beyond crowded so be prepared to push and shove.  The reason for all the people is the prices…most items are under 20£ which is very CHEAP in London.  There’s some cute stuff but it’s one of those stores that you have to really dig.  I got an adorable asymetrical dress for 13£ which looks like it’s Chloe but that was it…everything else looked so chintzy and I had to get out of there…oh and the line to check out looked worse than the ticket counter at US Airways so budget extra time for this!

TIP: Go here first…it will make you very price sensitive for the rest of your shopping day which in London is a very good thing!

Dorothy Perkins

I was really excited to go to this store in person because I always shop around on their site and too be perfectly honest, it was a little disappointing.  The selection was just ok and nothing to write home about…especially at those prices (25-50£).  Save your money for Topshop!

B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful

This shop is like a treasure chest for make up fans! The products are all packaged in beautiful pots and tins and the presentation is TDF!  I would buy everything just to have their beautiful containers fill up my bathroom counter, but I settled on two items one of which is a gift for a very special friend! Lip gloss started about 8£ and perfumes started at around 12£ for a travel size.  The store is lovely and the flagship I visited on Oxford St. was a real treat for the senses!  You can find make up, skin care, fragrance and it all feels very special and unique…like your own personal beauty secret!

I heart London and can’t get enough of all the adorable shops, but up next is my Topshop review…stay tuned for a total shoe-gasm!

According to the New York Post, Rachel Zoe is seriously pissing off her celebrity clients like Debra Messing and Cameron Diaz. So much so, that Debra supposedly gave the tiny fashionista a pink slip!  Her clients are annoyed that Zoe is working on her reality show too much and losing focus when it comes to her first job (and the reason she even has a TV show), styling.

Rachel can do no wrong in my book and as far as I’m concerned these stars are just jealous that they now have to share the spotlight with Rachel and that the rest of us get to pick up on her styling tips free of charge!  And Debra Messing, really??  She’s got bigger, brighter stars to worry about like Oscar nominated, Anne Hathaway!

Some seem think that Rachel needs her celeb clients to survive in this business and make a good TV show, but let’s not forget that this woman’s life would be worth watching if just for the clothes and accessories…and Brad of course!

Bring back my ZOE TV already!!

NOTE:  This is in store ONLY, so click here, print it out and SAVE!

Christie G. and Erin Y.!! Congrats on winnnig the Go Jane/ CheapChica’s Giveaway!  

Thanks to everyone who entered and keep checking back for more great giveaways coming soon!

In case you haven’t heard of The Supermelon, it’s a fantastic blog that highlights the best in style, global trends, art, and travel from all over the world and on my must-read list every single day!

They’ve asked me to contribute to their site so I’ll be writing a monthly feature for them called “Runway to Reality” where I’ll use my best budget-fashion skills to interpret designer runway trends at a fraction of the cost…here’s a sneak peek at my first piece:

…can you guess which designer inspired these looks???  Click here to check out the rest of the article!

I LOVE these ads!!!

You can’t actually buy anything from the McQ collection until March 4th (unless you live in NYC and then chck out the pop-up store on February 14-15th!), but this is a nice way to pass the time until them…click here to preview some of the looks!!

…and HOPE and style.

Michelle Obama in Isabel Toledo and Jimmy Choo shoes.

I’m guessing this is a new collection for the retailer, kind of like Twelve by Twleve??  The name is a little confusing but exciting at the same time…Shibuya is one of the most fashion-forward places on the planet and also happens to be the home of Tokyo’s newest fashion district so I’m hoping for some really unique and inspired pieces…at really affordable prices!

But the styling of this promo photo are sending me some mixed messages…a jean skirt and one of those crushed straw cowboy hats (that kind the Real Housewives of the OC looooooove) aren’t exactly fashionable.

So what do you think…what should we expect from this new collection?