Fashionable Over Frumpy

Well it looks like winter will be arriving in CNY a little sooner than all of us had planned. Whether we like it or not, it’s time to pull the sweaters and coats out of the closet and pack up your tank tops and flips flops. That light coat that got you through the chilly nights in late August and September is just not going to cut it from here on out. This doesn’t mean you have to stuff yourself into a puffy, down feather filled parka  just yet, instead take yourself shopping for a new coat that will last you for years to come.

To give you an idea of what you should look, your best bet will probably be a classic pea coat, which is both functional and fashionable. Pea coats come in a range of patterns and colors now days but one of the best coat purchases I have ever made was a hooded, grey, double-breasted pea coat.

Above are three coats that look extremely similar in style and color. The only difference is their prices.  The coat on the top is a Belted Wool Coat by Miu Miu, which can be purchased at MyTheresa.com for a cool $1,827.oo The coat in the middle is a Belted Fleece Coat and can be found at Forever 21 for only $24.80, which you cannot beat when it comes to Winter fashion….I’m just sayin’. The coat on the bottom is a Grey Wool-Cashmere Double Breasted Belted Coat by Marc New York and can be purchases on BlueFly.com for $261.99.

The great thing about a coat like the ones shown above is that they will never go out of style. Pea coats were worn by our mothers, grandmothers and probably great grandmothers and have still manged to stay on Winter trend lists year after year. With that said, ditch your Northface fleece or favorite sweatshirt this Winter and slip into something warm and fashionable like the coats discussed here.

Famous by the 31st

Halloween is right around the corner, which means you fall into one of two categories. You are either in the group that has had their costume since the end of August, or the group that will be making their way to the mall or local Halloween store right around October 29th for that perfect Halloween costume.

Now, some people really get into Halloween and will spend $100 on a borderline lingerie style costume that they will (hopefully) never wear again. Others throw on a goofy mask or wig and call it a day. There is a happy medium though. DIY costumes are the way to go..I’m just sayin’.

So why not dig through your closet and become your favorite (or least favorite) celebrity this Halloween?  Transforming yourself into a celebrity is an easy way to dress up, while still managing to look semi-attractive (IF you pick the right celebrity) and it really doesn’t take much effort or money.

Here are just a few options to consider when picking your favorite little celeb-u-tard to dress up as.

Lady Gaga

This look will definitely be a favorite this Halloween, because admit it, you can’t get enough of her music and her style is unlike any other. 

First, you will need to start with a leo-tard (preferably black or white), leggings, body suit, elbow length gloves, anything tight and polyester that leaves little to the imagination. I say go with the leo-tard if you can rock it, because wearing pants would just go against everything Ms Gaga stands for. Next grab a huge pair of sunglasses (to help with your ‘Poker Face’), throw on a glitzy shawl or tailored blazer, and of course, get your hands on a long, blond wig if you weren’t blessed with locks of white hair.

All you need now is some sky high heels and you are good to go! Now have fun and ”Just Dance.”

 

Britney Spears

Everyone loves Britney. Even though she’s had her ups and downs, we still manage to obsess over her every move when it comes to being in the headlines. Now that she’s back on track and is looking better than she ever has, why not celebrate by dressing up in one of her signature looks of the past? I’m not talking the school girl outfit, I’m thinking more so the post-babies and shaved head look.

All you need to do to pull off this look is wear a white baby doll dress, UGG boots, huge sunglasses, and a blonde wig in a messy bun on top of your head or you can opt for the cowboy hat as seen in the picture. Optional accessories are a Starbucks Frappucino glued to your hand at all times, cell phone, and a stroller with two small children.

Phrases such as “Oops I did it again” and “Hit me baby one more time” will surely add to your act.

 

 The Jonas Brothers

 This costume idea works for a group of three girls or guys. That’s the beauty of the Jonas Brothers look. Whether you want to consider yourself a fan or not, you can’t deny that these guys are cute, fashionable and you have caught yourself singing “Burning Up” once or twice.

To look like one of the Jo Bros this Halloween, it may need some digging in your  brothers closet, depending on your ample supply of menswear. You will need a mix of skinny jeans, suit jackets, button up shirts, graphic t-shirts, skinny ties, and dress shoes.

To really make the look, a curly brown wig, flashing that promise ring and  borrowing a group of your little sisters bff’s to chase you around all night will really high light your star quality.

 Jon Gosselin

So fellas, if you are looking to be one of America’s most hated fathers for Halloween, I have your guy. Jon Gosselin of Jon & Kate Plus 8 has been in the headlines, non-stop since about May, and he has loved every minute of it despite the fact that it is over the divorce from his wife whom he has 8 children with.

Achieving the look of a father who has hit his mid-life crisis and yearns to be a 20-year-old, will take the task of raiding an Ed Hardy fans closet. Jon decks himself out in the rocker threads from head to toe to the point where it is designer overload. Diamond stud earrings, sunglasses and mass amounts of hair gel will make you scream “bad father” as your creep around on Halloween night.

Toting around 8 baby dolls or a female, blonde, twenty something other half will make your Worst Father of the Year impersonation that much more convincing.

 

 

 Now gather up your supplies and go out there and stop traffic with your totally awesome costume. I guarantee you will have the paparazzi stalking you down in no time.

8 ways to wear a white t-shirt

1. not ready to put away your favorite dresses yet? throw one on over a white t-shirt and ta-da! you have an outfit that will work with the changing seasons we are now encountering. pair with leggings or opaque tights.

dress: $22 at forever 21

 

2. not ready to bundle up in a bulky, wool scarf yet? bring out your inner punk and wrap a checkered scarf around your neck to add a little color to your outfit.

scarf: $10 at a stand at warped tour lol

 

3. add a professional flair to a t-shirt in jeans with a button up jacket or blazer. works for casual Fridays at the office or with heels for a night out

blazer: $30 at kohl’s

 

4. if you are short on time and have absolutely nothing to wear, throw on a piece of statement jewelry to add instant style to your white t-shirt.

necklace: $8 at an antique show

 

5. just because winter is around the corner, it doesn’t mean you have to dress in boring shades. let the color live on in the form of brightly colored cardigans!

cardigan: $15 at old navy

 

6. if your not into the checkered scarf look or think it’s totally “out”, try a silk scarf that even your granny would be proud of.

scarf: $6.99 at forever 21

 

7. if you haven’t heard by now, plaid is in. very in. wear open or closed over your t-shirt with some layered necklaces to avoid the “farmer effect”.

shirt: $15 at forever 21

 

8. keep warm this fall with an Amelia Earhart inspired leather bomber jacket. looks great with jeans & uggs for the cool days that are upon us.

jacket: $29 at target

 

want to know other ways to get more wear out of those basic items in your closet? suggest some items for me to review and see what I can come up with! you never know what new ideas you will get… I’m just sayin’

Falling for Fall

So I got bored in-between shifts at the country club on Saturday and decided that I would take my mom’s camera (Canon Rebel XSi) out for a few hours and capture the beautiful fall scenery around my house. Luckily, we had a day of sun finally since the past week has been nothing but rain. Let me know what you think, I think they turned out pretty well for an amateur photographer, I’m just sayin’…

Forever 21 (even though I’m 22)

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Forever 21 is in no way a new discovery among us trend shoppers out there, in fact it’s more of a gathering place. 90% of my Friday afternoons at college were spent at Eastview Mall in Rochester, sorting through the racks of wild colors and crazy prints in search of that perfect outfit (or outfits!) to wear out that weekend. For a college student, this shopping ritual was manageable considering you spent on average $25 per outfit there.

 

Many people have mixed feelings about the shopping haven though. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that these clothes are not made of the best fabrics and that they will probably only last you a season, which confirms why they are given prices that are hard to ignore. Which is exactly why people who shop at Forever 21, love Forever 21. If you are big into trends and making a statement with what you wear, then this is the place for you. The store bases its lines around what is “in” at the moment, which then turns into disposable trends for us shoppers. I’ve definitely been a victim of the Forever 21 effect by buying something that was in one day and not so in the next. But you somehow convince yourself that it was a good buy anyways because you spent a grand $15 on it.

 

It’s a fact that you will walk out of that with at least several items you know you don’t need and probably won’t wear, but that’s the fun of it. I’ve purchased pieces from Forever 21 that to this day, are hanging in my closet with the tags on them. But just the other day, I was looking for something fun and different to wear to work and found a shirt that I had bought about 2 years ago and ::poof:: it was like I had made and instant purchase from my closet the second I ripped off the tag.

 

I made a visit to my local Forever 21 here in Syracuse today and made lots of fun purchases in order to get ready for fall. I got 2 “wintery” dresses, a white oversize button up, black leggings, charcoal and cobalt blue tights, a funky headband that only Blair Waldorf would wear, all for under $80. I had to force myself to leave the store before I even made it to the accessories section. If you know me at all or have had a glimpse of my jewelry collection, you would know why I do NOT need to even glimpse at any rings, necklaces, bangles, or earrings…I’m just sayin’

 

So there’s my rave about Forever 21 and love for the fact that I can feel perfectly alright about buying a bag full of cute clothes for myself without breaking the bank.