Showing posts with label ASOS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ASOS. Show all posts

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Accessories Anonymous: Statement Studs

It used to be that to wear a large earring, you had to pick a chandelier, or some type of drop earring. These days, there is an abundance of amazing statement stud earrings and I just can't get enough! I'm in love with every single one of these. In fact, if any of you lovely readers out there want to express your gratitude for my ongoing commitment to quality style blogging with a small gift, may I suggest something below? Of course I'm kidding. I'm not giving any of you crazy stalkers my address! As if!

Anyway, back to the fashion. These are all amazing:

The color combination is perfect for spring! Love! 

Never Too Jaded Earrings, Modcloth, $12.99
Mad Men, anyone? I can so see these on Betty Draper. 

Cobalt Talon Studs, Bauble Bar, $24
These remind me of something Phylicia Rashad might have worn in her Claire Huxtable days. 

Mixed Gemstone Studs, ASOS, $25.43

Stone Bouquet Studs, ASOS, $20.35
(Exactly the same as the first pair, but in a different color. So glamorous!)

So, whether you're more inclined to wear dainty studs or bold chandeliers, why not give the statement stud a try? It might be a fun departure for you- you never know!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

I Know There Must Be a Clever Title for This Post, But It's Escaping Me For the Moment

I never thought this would be the case, but I'm actually really into the whole contrast-sleeve trend that's been going on lately. I saw it first several months ago, and thought, "hmm... that's interesting." The more I see it, the more I like it. I haven't actually purchased anything yet, but that's not to say I won't. Not sure what I'm talking about? Here are some fabulous examples:

Aryn K Sequin Sleeve Blazer, Bluefly, $44.09


It's not just for the ladies, either! Check out this fabulous mens' shirt:

And if you need any more evidence at all that this is a cute trend, just check out my girl Zooey Deschanel on a recent episode of New Girl: 

Love! 

So, what do you guys think of this look? Love it or hate it? Leave a comment and let me know. And as always, thank you for reading! 



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Accessories Anonymous: A Handbag Quest

I was catching up with Beth the other day when she mentioned her current handbag quest. In case you didn't know, Beth has a major obsession with handbags and is nearly always on a quest for one. Sometimes it's something specific and others it's just for something inspiring. Either way, I can always count on her to be on the lookout for something great. This time, she was on the hunt for a stylish cross-body bag that is big enough to hold a laptop and a notebook. That's a pretty tall order if you ask me. She said that all the bags she'd found just looked so much like briefcases that she wasn't interested. Or, they were a gajillion dollars and she just couldn't see herself spending that much. So, I decided to hop on the interwebs and see what I could come up with.

Here's what I found:


I like the woven detail- especially how exaggerated it is. The bag is also available in three other colors- orange chocolate brown and light tan, but I prefer the grey. It is definitely big enough for Beth's requirements, and I think it's pretty stylish, but let's keep shopping, shall we?

The All Star Bag, Modcloth, $59.99

I'm always a fan of a pop of color and you really can't go wrong with green. At 14.5 inches wide, it could definitely fit a laptop without looking like a briefcase or a standard laptop bag. It's versatile, too- the color works year round and the interior has multiple pockets. Seems pretty ideal if you ask me! 

If green isn't your thing, but you love the idea of a pop of color, check out this gorgeous satchel by ASOS:

Metal Corner Satchel, ASOS, $49.95 

The cross body strap is adjustable, and the bag itself is roomy with a zippered inner compartment perfect for staying organized. Organization is Beth's middle name, so I know she'll like that aspect of the bag at the very least. 

For a more casual look, I love this one from Etsy: 


It's stylish, for sure, but in a decidedly casual way. It's definitely not for me, but I imagine it would be a nice, durable bag for all those city subway rides. The seller offers it in several color choices,so you're not limited to a neutral brown. I admit, I browsed this seller's store for a while and liked a lot of what I saw. The prices are great, too. I kind of love this one: 

Project Bag, Etsy, $44

The interior of this bag speaks for itself: 

Am I right? 

So, there you have it- a handful of bags that (I think) meet all of Beth's requirements. The question is: do any of them make her swoon or drool or both? 

Do you have a shopping challenge for me? Send me an email or leave a comment and I'll see what I can find for you! 





Monday, November 26, 2012

Holiday Style: Fancy Pants

Do you have holiday parties coming up soon? Are you trying to find fabulous outfits and dresses for these annual soirees? Well, my advice to you this year is to think outside the box and consider the oh-so-trendy fancy pants. I know that's not the actual term for the trend, but you know what I'm talking about. Sparkly pants, shiny metallic pants, sleek satin pants- I know you've seen them out there. They're all over the runways and red carpets and now it's our turn. Check out these awesome fancy pants I found all over the interwebs:

Spot Jacquard Trouser, ASOS, $79.16

These are also available in green, but that was a little too much for my taste. I love the pink, though! Jacquard is a slightly stiff, woven fabric often in an intricate pattern. It can be a monochromatic pattern, or multi-colored like these pants, but it has a rich texture to it because of the pattern. Instead of a printed pattern, jacquard designs are woven into the fabric. It's so rich looking, don't you think? 

Michael Kors Shantung Pants, Nordstrom, $995

Unfortunately, there is no missing decimal point in the price of these bad boys, but they're still fun to look at despite being way beyond reach. I would love the sport such a bold color pant to a holiday party. Some metallic heels and a cashmere top would be the perfect finish to these beauties. 



So, how does one actually put together an outfit with such outlandish pants? Here's how: 

1.) Keep the textures contrasting. Sleek satin, silk or taffeta should be paired with textured cashmere, fur or wool. 
2.) Wear heels. They not only lengthen, they shape. Heels make your butt look better. 
3.) Keep all other sparkle and shine understated. Sequin pants do not call for a glittery handbag or satin blouse. They call for neutrals. 

Here's one way to do it: 


So, have I convinced you to try this new trend? Are you ready to start shopping for a pair of fancy pants? I rarely wear pants at all, so I think I'll need more time warming up to this trend. If I was a little more leggy, I might get on board sooner. Leave a comment and tell me what you think! 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Starry Inspiration

Right before my trip to NC earlier this month, I received an invitation to a holiday party for everyone at work. I didn't give much thought to it until a few days later. The Professor and I were driving back to his house one evening and I noticed how many stars I could see in the night sky. It's amazing how the lack of light pollution helps you see so many more stars. It got me thinking about the kind of dress I'd like to wear to the party- an LBD with lots of sparkle.

Whenever I need a really awesome party dress, I head over to ASOS- they just have the coolest things!






I can't say right now which one I'm most drawn to. Honestly, there is a dress I saw last year that was a slim shift dress with an open back and long sleeves. I fell in love, but unfortunately never found it. I've seen similar dresses, but nothing quite compares. Don't you hate when that happens? 

Of course, there's always the option to make something fabulous. The holiday party is December 8th, so there's a bit of a time crunch there. I don't know that I want to put myself under that kind of pressure.  Also, the prices on some of these ASOS dresses are just so hard to beat, even if I make something myself. 

What do you think? Do you have a favorite for me? I'm always so torn on silhouette with dresses like this- the slimmer ones are so flattering, but I love the movement of a full skirt. And since there will likely be dancing, I usually lean towards movement over anything else. 

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Do you have a holiday party to shop for this year? Tell me about that, too! 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

I've been extremely fortunate that for almost the entire summer, nearly every one of my days off was blessed with beautiful weather. Today, not so much. It's rainy and cold and I just want to stay curled up in bed all day long. Yesterday, one of my coworkers commented on the fact that she doesn't own a rain coat. And now it's pouring outside, so Kristin- this post is for you!

This cool jacket caught my eye because of its great fit, textured fabric and cool pleated collar: 


I'm absolutely drooling over Banana Republic's Mad Men Collection Leopard Print Trench. The color is subtle and not at all over-the-top, so you could feel comfortable wearing this jacket every day! 

If the pale leopard print is too neutral for you, you may want to try a bolder print. I like to wear bright colors and bold prints on rainy days- it helps combat the gloominess. This striped trench might just do the trick, especially if you had a nice bright red umbrella: 


Sometimes you just don't feel like wearing a trench. But what other options do you have? Well, this cape is a great start! The color is so rich and the silhouette is so retro-60's- it's perfect over a pair of skinny jeans or a fitted skirt with tall boots: 
Botany Professor Cape, Modcloth, $69.99

Another cool silhouette option is the slightly boxier swing coat style. This military-inspired version keeps the look crisp and clean while also featuring cool details like epaulets and big, silver buttons: 
Ahead of the Fleet Jacket, Modcloth, $154.99

Don't let a little rain get in the way of having a fabulous day out on the town. Just grab your Wellingtons and an umbrella and one of these fabulous raincoat options and head on out! Enjoy this rainy day, everyone! 





Friday, August 26, 2011

Houndstooth of the Baskervilles

No, this post has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes. I stink at word play.

Anyway, I've noticed over the last few seasons that oversized houndstooth is everywhere. And I think I love it! Check out these fabulously bold pieces:

Clutch in Large Houndstooth, Tamra's Bag (Etsy), $25




Sequin Houndstooth Skirt, ASOS, $100.62

While I like the interesting color combinations of some oversize houndstooth prints out there, I have to say that given the boldness of the print itself, it's often best to stick with the classic black and white or grey and white version. Too much print plus a bold color can be very overwhelming. Try on different size versions of this print to see which one works best on your body's proportion. Or if you're unsure about wearing a top or dress in the print, try just an accessory like a scarf or a shoe or even a hat. The exaggerated print is what makes it trendy, though, so be sure to select a version of the houndstooth that is clearly oversize and not the classic version. 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Accessories Anonymous: Un-Bow-lievable

There are some things that are so quintessentially girly that you can't help but feel completely feminine when wearing them. To me, flowers and bows are two of those things. My personal preference of the two is flowers- I love floral prints, flower brooches and pins, even flower jewelry. I've got floral shoes, dresses, skirts, blouses, scarves, hats, and even purses. I've never really been a fan of the other side- bows. But then I noticed one of my coworkers- Sadie- has a tendency to wear bows all the time and they always look great. She tends to pair them with more edgy pieces and the balance of the two works really well.

In honor of Sadie and her bow obsession, here are some great bow-inspired accessories I've found for you:

 

Darling Dottie Hair Clip, Modcloth, $12.99

Sweet Bow Necklace, Cocoro Jewelry (Etsy), $17

Autumn Kiss Brooch Pendant on Bow Pin, Tina Tarnoff (Etsy), $45

Valentino Couture Patent Bow Pump, Neiman Marcus, $745


Elasticized Bow Belt, Yes Style, $9.60

Even a die-hard floral fan like myself can't help but be won over by these absolutely adorable bow accessories! What about you? Would you wear any of these pieces? Do you wear a lot of bows? Leave a comment! 

Friday, June 17, 2011

One Dress Three Ways

You've all been there, I know it- you have at least 3 or 4 weddings to attend over the next two months and between the showers, bachelorette parties and the actual weddings themselves, you're financially tapped. You want to wear something different to each wedding, but realistically, you can't afford to do so. The solution? Find one amazing dress and style it in a completely different way for each event. Of course, this will work best if each wedding is with a different circle of friends. One of my super stylish co-workers, McKenzie is in this exact situation and she found a completely fabulous dress to work with:


This dress is fabulous for so many reasons- the vibrant color, the sexy halter neckline, the on-trend ruffles, the waist-cinching belt- need I go on? I didn't think so. It's also an excellent base to start with to create three very distinct looks. And that's exactly what I've done for you. Each look takes its cue from the shoes- I like to start there and work my way up to finish the rest of the outfit. McKenzie is very tall and able to pull off that hemline even in flats (Good thing she's so fabulous or I might have to hate her for that). Unfortunately, the rest of us aren't all quite as blessed, so I've opted for heels in all three outfit options. 

Oasis Dress



From left to right we have the neutral look, the boho quirky look and the glamorous metallic look. 

The neutral look is basically understated elegance. The shoes are nude, but also modern and summery and they allow the dress to be the star of the outfit. The earrings are as basic as can be while still dressing up the outfit and the clutch is the one "wild card" item. You could certainly go with a more neutral bag if snakeskin isn't for you. Overall, the effect of these accessories is that the complement the dress without distracting from it in any way.

The boho quirky look does just the opposite- it uses the dress as a jumping-off point for adding fun, boho-esque accessories to create an outfit full of punch and personality. From the floral wedge shoes to the colorful jewelry, this look is not for the wall flower. And while some might say it's not dressy enough for a wedding, I disagree. There are weddings of every level of formality and I've definitely been a guest at more than one wedding in which a more casual outfit is the most appropriate one. 

Finally, I had to go for an ultra-glam option and what better way to glam up an outfit than with stunning metallics. I love mixing metallics together- silver, pewter, gold, bronze- they all work so well together and by mixing it up, the look is totally updated and modern. 

So there you have it- three completely different styling options for one fabulous dress. I hope this will give you some ideas for the events you'll be attending this summer. And maybe McKenzie will be gracious enough to let me post photos of the styling choices that she makes with this fabulous dress! 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Online Shop Review: ASOS

A friend and coworker hosted a fabulous holiday party this past December and she wore the most fabulous dress- a dress I envied quite a bit. She looked so amazing- it was a truly unique LBD. Months later, I asked her where she got it and she excitedly told me about ASOS- an online store for all types of fashions- clothes, accessories, shoes, etc. She was excited to tell me about it because she had noticed a day or two before that her dress had been heavily marked down. I was so excited at the possibility of not only getting that dress for myself, but getting it at a bargain to boot! Minutes later, I'd registered with the site, added the dress to my shopping cart and checked out. I was so excited to know that dress would be on its way to my house in a matter of days. Check out how cute it is:


It also came in red: 

Honestly, I die for this dress in either color, but the red happened to be available in my size, so that's what I ordered. A few days later, I came home from work to find a package waiting for me. I ripped it open, only to find they'd sent the wrong dress entirely. It wasn't even the same brand, color or size. In fact, they sent a dress about 6 sizes bigger than what I'd ordered. Honestly, the fact that it was a dress was about the only thing it had in common with the dress I'd ordered. Disappointed and dejected, I went to bed. 

The next day, I woke up and researched the ASOS return method for when you receive the wrong item. Apparently, they have an email address "wrong@asos.com" for just this type of situation. I found that a bit odd. I emailed my predicament, hoping they'd simply switched my order with someone else's and that it could be resolved. Unfortunately, all I ever got were automated form-emails explaining the return process and offering me 10% off a future purchase in the next couple of weeks. The thing is, I know it may seem like an isolated incident to you, but the entire situation felt very contrived to me. Because my dress had "sold out" in the meantime, there's no possibility of exchanging the wrong dress for the right one. Explain that one. 

Basically, even with online companies, I expect the highest level of customer service, particularly when something has gone wrong. I've never felt less taken care of than I did with ASOS. And as for my friend who recommended the site? Well, it turns out she's had similar problems with the company, too- they sent her a leather bomber jacket when she'd ordered a trench coat. And then gave her a hard time about returning it. So while she may have gotten a fabulous dress from them a few months ago, their performance is far from stellar for her as well. 

Have any of you tried this company? Have you had good or bad experiences with them? I'm curious to hear what your experiences have been (if any). In the meantime, I suppose I'll have to make do with the other red party dresses in my closet. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Carly Foulkes And Amazing Pink Dresses

Have you guys been paying attention to the T-Mobile commercials with Carly Foulkes? I die over nearly every one of the fabulous pink and white dresses they have her in for each of those commercials- they're all SO adorable! The vintage silhouettes, the bold prints, the flattering necklines- I love everything about them!






My favorites are the last 2, but you can get a look at them in action in these actual T-Mobile commercials: 



The commercials may not be the most brilliant ever written, but I'm happy to watch them for the fashion alone.  So by now you're probably wondering where to find your own adorable pink dresses. Well, I've found them for you: 


Polka Dot Dress, Delia's, $44.50 


Aqua Avril Dress, ASOS, $304.81

Swing Petticoat Dress, Starlets & Harlets, $129.99 


Few of these are quite as fabulous as Carly's in the commercials, so maybe my Etsy shop will need to have a few additions in bright pink and white prints. But first, one for me! The tough thing is finding fabrics in such awesome prints, but trust, I'm on the hunt. If you're interested in being the recipient of one of these dresses, email me and we'll talk measurements and whatnot. 
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