Fall 2011 Trend: Lace and More

I have always been a fan of the ultra feminine look of lace and leather.  From corsets to pants to dresses to shoes, you can up your look by adding a little of this trend to your wardrobe.  There's no need to go too far though.  The one or two pieces you have can take you through the season while giving you many compliments as well.

From the designers:

Bottega Veneta

Christian Dior

Cushnie et Ochs

Jason Wu

Dolce & Gabbana

Erdem

Iris van Herpen X United Nude

Lanvin

to the everyday shops:

Forever 21

Forever 21

Charlotte Russe

Forever 21

Forever 21

Forever 21

Forever 21

Forever 21

Guess

Guess

 you can feel divine and elegant in these looks.  More posts to come on my lace for the season.

A Peek into My Jewelry World

As promised, I wanted to show everyone a little piece of my accessories world.  I have loved jewelry for as long as I can remember, even during my tomboy years in high school. 

I went to NY & Company last night to take advantage of a discount ($70.00 off at least $150.00) and was immediately inspired by the latest jewelry.  With that inspiration, I delved into the pink, blue, and animal print clothing to then match the jewelry in the store.  The result: a new collection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and pins/hair accessories.  Ah, it feels nice to be a lady!

From the pictures below, you will see a variety of looks from different stores.  Costume jewelry is a fast and affordable way to keep up with the trends.  As jewelry fashion changes all the time, my main stores are the ones with deals: Forever 21, Charming Charlie, NY & Company, JCPenney, Macy's,  and for discounted high end brands, Nordstrom Rack just to name a few. 

I always add something trendy to my collection each season.  For this season, I specifically wanted a silver bracelet cuff as well as updated gold pieces.  NY & Company gave me the bonus of adding some subtle color pieces with the color and animal print clothing trend currently in the store.  I'll try to post pictures of my completed outfits to show how I use each accessory.  In the mean time, enjoy a peek into my world!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things: Men's Fashion

Some of my favorite looks for Men:

Express

Banana Republic

Kenneth Cole

Where else do you gentlemen out there like to shop?

Making Work Clothes Fun

When it comes to professional wear, you may feel trapped by the standards that be.  Luckily, many stores are now embracing the concept that work clothes can be fun, trendy, and professional at the same time.

Eventually, I'll post some of my very own current updates to my work wardrobe.  For now, I'll focus on a store that has evolved over time to become more trendy: New York & Company .  A few years ago, I could not shop at NY & Company as the clothes were cut wide (Side note:  The dress pants are still cut too wide for me, but it's like that for me at many places.) and not in my age range.  A few years later, I walked in amazed that I could purchase more than just the accessories.  The look and feel of the clothes changed dramatically.  NY & Company also managed to widen the age range of its clothing options by maintaining the trends throughout the year. 

NY & Company offers amazing coupon/discount opportunities as well.  You will often find a deal on the website, to use online or in the store, for $70.00 off a purchase of at least $150.00.  I capitalized on that deal tonight actually.  I walked away with new outfits for work and extra money in my pocket.

Here are some, not all, looks from NY & Company:

Source: www.nyandcompany.com 

Accessories Highlight: Forever 21

An accessory can take an outfit from zero to 100.  You can add that something special to your look without needing to spend a fortune.  I cannot tell you how many times Forever 21 accessories have saved my outfit.  Even when I wear something so plain, I know I can still receive a compliment from someone who noticed my ring, necklace, earrings, hat, scarf, or any other accessory from the place that makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.  While someone is giving me a high five for my accessory, I'm thinking in my mind, "this person has no clue I only spent so little for that item." 

In a later post, I'll let you all see into the world of my accessories.  Let's just say there are currently plenty to choose from in my possession at the moment. For now, I want to share with you some of the Forever 21 accessories I think are amazing right now.

What's the first thing you look for when you first enter the Forever 21 accessories area?  For me, I automatically look for the necklaces.  Enjoy!

Source: www.forever21.com