Express

February 24, 2011

Lightweight Circle Scarves For a Cozy Spring Transition (thefind.com Guest Post)

Guest Post via thefind.com:

If there’s one tidbit of fashion advice we can take from spying on all the New York Fashion Week attendees, it’s that circle scarves are still undeniably in. Of course, despite the fact that it’s getting increasingly sunny here in the Bay Area, it is still freezing over in NYC, so it makes sense to stay bundled up. But realistically, you don’t need to be shivering to need an excuse to wrap up in a cute infinity scarf. As we transition from winter to spring (and even through the nippier nights of late spring and summer), lightweight jersey or gauzy-textured scarves come in handy as a way to add color and accessorize while not looking or feeling too stuffy or totally seasonally-confused. Add a pretty colorful infinity wrap to an otherwise simple sundress, or dress up a plain tank or tee with a luxe silky printed scarf. It’s the perfect way to cover up in these awkward in-between-seasons days and nights without breaking a sweat or clashing with your outfit!

Pictured above: Tolani Infinity Silk Scarf, Diane von Furstenberg Brennah Circle Scarf, Multi-Pattern Infinity Scarf from Express, DKNY Tex Stripe Silk Georgette Scarf, and Harmony Lane Infinity Knit Scarf.

– Alex Gambardella

July 2, 2010

Travel Safe and with Style

by fashionpulse

Summer is the time for travel and whether you’re renting a yacht in Ibiza, backpacking through Budapest, or venturing on a road trip with the entire family to Aunt Bertha’s farm in Minnesota, you need to travel smart. But I’m not going to remind you to pack your passport and warn you of the 100ml carry-on liquid restriction; instead I am going to unveil the secrets of traveling fashionably.

Don’t pack three suitcases and a duffel bag for a week long vacation. Even if you were Victoria Beckham and Anna Wintour’s spawn fashion baby you could not squeeze that many wardrobe changes into a day, so travel light. Bring only what you know you will wear and pack it into a stylish suitcase like this Croc Cabin Suitcase by Jasper Conran at Tripp, $107.63. Your luggage will be your traveling home while on vacation so shop for one that matches your personality. Find a suitcase that you really like such as this J.Crew Globe-Trotter Suitcase because for the amount of time you’ll be lugging it around in the airport and train station, you better love it!

October 16, 2009

Wardrobe Jackpot: Boring Stores Reinvented

by fashionpulse

Via CollegeCandy.com:

This recession totally sucks. But, if you ignore the unemployment rate and rising cost of beer, some good is definitely coming from it. And one of those positives is the fact that the plummeting sales of retail chains has caused them to re-evaluate their brand and reinvent themselves for fall. Suddenly stores that used to make me feel nauseous (boasting window displays stuffed with mom jeans and fugly tablecloth patterns), actually have some adorable stuff that us college girls would actually consider wearing.

For the closets of fashionistas, this is great news. Now there are a dozen more stores that we can peruse online during class and drool over on our weekly treks to the mall. (Plus now when my mom calls and tells me she’s going to Ann Taylor to pick up a suit jacket, I can ask her to pick me up a cute skirt to add to my care package!)

Check out my favorite extreme makeovers (that don’t involve sexy Ty Pennington) below:

The Gap

Then: Uber boring button up shirts and polos.
Now: Cute staples essential to layering.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The perfect dark wash jeans – soft, stretchy and with the perfect butt pockets – for us girls with some junk in the trunk.

gapjeans garpshirt gapskirt

Express

Then: Going-out clothes that were borderline trashy.
Now: Chic party clothes that are fun, but not slut-tastic.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Fail-safe dress for girls’ night out. The clean lines of this color blocked, one-shoulder dress make it effortlessly chic while still being young and trendy.

expressdress expressneclace expressjacket

Ann Taylor

Then: Boring mom clothes
Now: Classy pieces that have some edge to them
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Edgy, heeled boots. The wrap around leather strap adds just the right amount of personality and these would look pretty killer over a sexy pair of skinnies.

anntaylor boots anntaylorcoat anntaylorsweater

New York and Company

Then: All the store had was 40 different black pants that all looked the same and some really fugly jumpsuits.
Now: Totally on top of the trends (I’m talking leggings, tunics, ruffles…) at prices that wont break the bank.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Go-to pencil skirt. It will be there for you through dinners, parties, weddings and any other occasion that forces you out of your sweats and into real clothes. (And did I mention it’s only $32?!)

nyandcskirt nyandcdress nyandcleggings

Old Navy

Then: Cheap, shapeless clothes
Now: Cheap, adorable clothes
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The ideal fall jacket: satin lined, waist cinching, wide brimmed, bold colors… should I go on?

oldnavycoat oldnavyshirt oldnavydress

Banana Republic

Then: Stuffy, sophisticated and over-priced pieces.
Now: Hip, trendy, and totally catering to 20-somethings (with a large bank account).
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: This darling sheath dress. It’s totally party worthy, but belt it and throw on a cardigan and some tights and it works for an important class presentation, too!

September 11, 2009

Reaching New Heights with Over the Knee Boots

by fashionpulse

Limits are being stretched…up to our thighs. This season the must-haves in footwear are over-the-knee boots, ever since they were spotted on the runways of Marc by Marc Jacobs to Yigal Azrouёl and celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Kate Moss, and Hayden Panettiere. While the trend is exploding, the trick is to keep the look classy and not trashy, especially if you’re buying a pair with a heel over 2”. To offset the exuding sex appeal of these boots and make them more day appropriate (and less Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman), layer a pair of opaque tights or jeans underneath, and keep your top half relatively covered with something like a Shaker-Stitch Cowl-Neck Sweater , $59.50 from Express. Also keep an editing eye when accessorizing because these boots are the statement piece of any outfit — guaranteed.

Our Picks:

1) Women’s Turbo Wedge Boot, $49.90 by Chinese Laundry

2) Tripin Boots, $89.99 by Chinese Laundry

3) Key Boot ,$59.50 from alloy.com

4) GUESS ‘Rumala’ Over the Knee Boot , $199.95 by Guess

-Jaimie Sanita

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