Via thefind.com:

While deciding what to wear in the morning often turns out to be one of the most time-consuming decisions I make all day, it doesn’t always take me a long time to build an outfit. I often find that when I have post-work plans to look forward to, it tends to complicate my office wardrobe. I’m suddenly faced with the feat to plan an outfit that can take me from work to cocktail hour, while keeping things suitable for the office, but without looking like a total snooze when it’s time to finally unwind.

The solution? I find that a fashion-forward blazer (by Smythe) and the perfect pair of skinny slacks are often the key ingredients to a versatile work-to-play wardrobe — and from there you can choose more statement-making pieces to complete a look that wows while still staying professional. Downplay a shimmery sequin tee while letting it just peek from under your tailored blazer during the day, then shed your outer layer later for maximum shimmer when it’s time to hit your favorite happy hour spot. Opt for a pair of Reva flats during the day (so your feet aren’t killing you by the time you’re ready to hit the town!). Then step out for the evening in a pair of statement making Louboutin Fifi 100 satin and lace pumps! And for that last eye-catching piece, ditch the briefcase and bring along a festive Lanvin Mini Pop bag to make that final transition from day to night!

Step Into the Party Season with Style! Enter the NET-A-PORTER $5,000 Shopping Spree Giveaway by November 30th! In addition to the shopping spree of your dreams, the winner will also receive the support of a dedicated fashion advisor, and shop from the most coveted luxury brands in the world, including Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent and many more.

- Alex Gambardella

Back in my college days, when wearing my newest pair of Victoria’s Secret lounge pants was the height of my dressiness on any given morning, I’m sure I made a few sleep-deprived statements about how sweatpants would eventually become the new slacks. But does that mean I actually thought it would happen? Not a chance! So imagine my surprise when I began recently flipping through fall catalogs and spotting sweatpants disguising themselves as trendy cropped trousers — and actually succeeding!

I don’t know whose idea it was, but sweatpants are suddenly passing as acceptable dress pants. Pair them with a blouse, tailored blazer and a pair of pumps and you’re ready for work (what?!), or throw on a sequined tank and some lace-up booties and you’re ready to hit the club (less shocking, but still — what?!). While my inner lazy college kid is practically salivating at the idea, and I’ve seen plenty of ultra-chic examples of the look (after all, they don’t look sloppy when done right), I still don’t think I’d have the guts to pull off such a frowned-upon fabric in a dressy situation. What do you think; am I too old-fashioned, or am I right to be skeptical of sweatpants-turned-slacks?

From left to right: J. Crew Sunday Pant, L’Agence Drawstring Sweatpant, Monrow Vintage Sweatpants, and Oonagh by Nanette Lepore Marciano French Terry Pant in Black.

- Alex Gambardella

Save on Cropped Trouser Sweat Pants at Revolve.com from TheFind.com’s coupon site

From our friends at thefind.com:

With summer rapidly approaching my toes are eager to escape from the closed toed shoes and boots I’ve worn all winter and spring. And what better incentive to slough off the dead winter skin and give yourself a shiny pedicure than cute summer sandals? My favorite is the espadrille because it always reminds me of vacationing in exotic locales, but without the expensive plane ticket or missing luggage!

Espadrilles are characterized by their braided jute rope soles, but uppers can be made from anything from traditional canvas to brightly colored ribbons. I usually like to buy a platform wedge to get both height and comfort! My first pick would be the Michael Kors Juniper Espadrille with wide braided straps and 4.5 inch wedge heel. No matter what a fashionista tells you about heels and comfort, there are times where a nice flat shoe will give our tired feet a rest. The Deena & Ozzy Lace-Up Espadrille is perfect for those summer power shopping days with your girlfriends or enjoying live bands at a summer music festival.

Save on chic summer sandals at Macy’s from TheFind’s coupon site

From our friends at thefind.com:

It’s hard resist the trend for floral prints this spring. With the buzz around the Liberty of London for Target collection and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland film, fashion is a bloom with floral styles. Just this past weekend I attended a lovely Alice in Wonderland themed tea party in the hills of Marin. The party was hosted for children but the parents had a fabulous time as well – devouring scones topped with Devonshire cream, madeline cookies and a samovar filled with the most delicious chai tea you can imagine! For the tea party, I picked up a couple of Liberty of London dresses for my daughter and myself and so I am on trend for florals this spring! Here are my picks for the most fabulous floral styles to set your wardrobe all a bloom this spring.

Go for florals prints that look modern, not matronly.  Choose dresses with a modern silhouette in smaller floral patterns or larger abstract florals. A mix of two or three floral prints on a dress adds a unique twist. A feminine version of a pool-side worthy caftan is the Liberty of London Draped-Sleeve Caftan (upper left, at Neiman Marcus $330.00).Anna Sui is a master at combining florals for her signature boho chic look. Sui’s Printed silk dress (upper right, at Net-a-Porter $475 ) touts a floral print silk with bow tied high neckline and drapey peplums at the waist. Stella McCartney’s luxe ruffled wisteria print Strapless Ruffled Dress (lower right, at Bergdorf Goodman $1965). This ultra feminine a-line style has an empire waist, strapless neckline and ruffled hem. Floral accessories should be used with restraint with a maximum of one or two per outfit. How about this lovely handmade Multi-floral Lili clutch—Liberty of London cotton Medium clutch (bottom left – top, $69 at BagatellesAndCo’s Etsy shop)? I love the pretty colors on this cheerful floral clutch handmade in England by the designer and lined with corn yellow satin lining. Dolce & Gabbana’s Floral Print Patent Leather Sandal features narrow patent leather straps and is waterproof (bottom left – middle, at Nordstrom $495). Perfect for unexpected April rain showers! Kenneth Jay Lane’s multi-colored enamel and metal flower bracelet is embellished with glass pearls, blue beads and multicolored diamanté and has a push-lock clasp to fasten on your wrist.

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Metropolitan Pavillon in NYC is hosting its annual Vintage Clothing Show this weekend, composed of an astounding 90 different vendors. The collections fuse ‘80s funk with Victorian class, sprinkling garments with a bit of seduction from the ‘40s. And since estrogen tells us one can never have enough LBD’s, the epic vintage affair is displaying a special exhibit on the transient wardrobe staple. The show begins Friday, February 5th (1pm-8pm) and continues on Saturday, February 6th (11am-6pm). It is not limited to women’s apparel, so bring your guy along! The selection is sure to tempt both sexes (of which you can read more about here).

-Maria Eilersen

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From our friends at thefind.com:

Take a modern approach to basic black dressing this spring. Since black is such a dominant color this Spring, pair it with accents of gold for a dramatic effect.

Why not pair your favorite black jeggings, like these JBrand jeggings in black ($39 at Singer22) with an a standout leather jacket? To wear over your basic black tee, this standout Temperley London Ava studded leather jacket ($2,150 at Net-a-Porter) will get their attention. The gold pyramid studs add a bit of rocker flair to this sumptuous ruffled cropped leather jacket. Your feet will look lovely shrouded in black boots – a pair of CHLOÉ – Wedge heel boots ($425 at FarFetch,com).

Gold jewelry accents will perfectly unify this look. The House of Harlow’s starburst collection pairs perfectly with black. Check out the House of Harlow 1960 14KT Gold Starburst Cocktail Ring with black leather, and Leather Stations Necklace in black. The geometric shape of the pyramid studs mirrors the angular shapes on the Stations Necklace. You’ve seen Nicole Richie wearing the Leather Stations geometric shaped necklace everywhere, she often layers it with other necklaces from her line.

You have seen Nicole herself wearing these fab pieces in the magazines and in your favorite celebrity blogs. Now is your chance add these pieces to your own jewelry collection!

Enter TheFind’s House of Harlow Valentine’s Giveaway valued at $250 from our friends at The Trend Boutique.

From our friends at thefind.com:

White is on fire this spring. I am loving the cool crisp shades in bold shapes inspired by the season’s futurism trend. I hope you didn’t miss Kate Hudson’s all white Marchesagown at Sunday’s Golden Globes. The Marchesa gown and sky high Casadei platform pumps are a definite departure from Kate’s typical Malibu-inspired boho casual look.  And she looked ahhhmazing! We are not personally hitting the red carpet anytime soon, but we love the look of white this spring.

Set your springtime eyes on this all white body con bandage dress from Preen (Preen Power dress $1,185 at Net-a-Porter). Show off the body you’ve been working so hard at toning up since making your New Year’s resolution to get in one full Pilates class every day. Stretch out those gams with a pair of high stepping Fendi wood strappy platform sandals ($790 at Net-a-Porter). These chunky wood sandals would look great with shorts, dresses and even white denim jeans. On your shoulder this head-turning Rock & Republic Capri handbag ($632 at Zappos.com) is dual purpose. Wear as a more formal shoulder bag or as a cross-body bag for a casual look. Polish off your look with some opaque Rescue Beauty Lounge white nail polish ($18 at Beautysak). White sunglasses always look dramatic. Get a jump on the round sunglass trend for spring with these these round Christian Dior white ‘Josephine’ sunglasses ($143.99 at Bluefly). And what could be more white-hot than these Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal drop earrings ($80 at Net-a-Porter)? Fire and ice really do make a nice combination, don’t you think?

Save on your purchases with Coupon Codes from Zappos from TheFind.com’s new coupon site

Via our friends at thefind.com:

This has got to be one of the sweetest handbags I’ve seen recently from Marc by Marc Jacobs. The Petal to the Metal leather satchel ($200 at Net-a-Porter) comes in a shade of tobacco called ‘newsprint’, yet it’s style shouts indulgent cupcake from Magnolia Bakery. Overall this is a charming bag because of its compact size. Clearly it is an example of the affordable whimsy and wit so clearly defined and redefined again each season at Marc by Marc Jacobs.

The Petal to the Metal leather satchel is a pint sized messenger bag adorned with a small bird on its front flap. The front flap is accentuated with a zipper detailing around the edge, although not functional it adds an interesting texture and outlines the shape of the bag. Inside is a pouch compartment lined in an ’80s inspired geometric twill print. The closure is secured by a magnet on the outside and a small non-functional strap loops under the gold-toned dove. I am not sure why the purely aesthetic strap does not cross over the entire bag, it does dilute the look of the design a bit.  The dove has is embossed with a tiny circle so small you’ll need a magnifying glass to read the Marc by Marc Jacobs logo. The long strap and makes this messenger bag perfect for carrying only your most basic essentials. Overall I do like the look of this bag and it would make a perfect bag for a post-holiday trip abroad or a charming gift for aspiring fashionista teen. This whimsical bag is also the ideal accessory for adding a bit of eclectic fun to your casual weekend look. Pair with an oversized tee and or blazer, skinny black leggings and some oxford flats. ]]> http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/12/30/mj-puts-the-petal-to-the-metal/feed/ 0 http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/12/15/mistletoe-worthy-winter-uniform/ http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/12/15/mistletoe-worthy-winter-uniform/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:27:15 +0000 fashionpulse http://fashionpulsedaily.com/?p=6787 ]]>

From our friends at thefind.com:

Snowy days can present a wardrobe challenge if you are not properly prepared. For me a combination of military coat plus waterproof dressage boots and cossack faux fur hat are my standard snowy day uniform. This tailored look works for city streets and a few handpicked snowy mountaintop occasions. It may not work for sub zero temps, but it works for most winter days. A cossack hat covers your ears, keeps your hair in place and you won’t need to wear muffs. I own a cossack faux fur hat and I love how it adds a bit of cold weather whimsy and wintertime luxe to my look.

Dressage boots are the real deal, worn by equestrians during their romps in the ring. French bootmaker Aigle’s Dressage Rubber boots are sturdy and are made to slosh in the rain and mud. I picked up a pair of Aigle boots from Tal-Y-Tara, a local polo/dressage gear and tea shop here in San Francisco. The Aigle boots pictured here are also available from J.Crew for $195.

A military inspired coat adds a tailored appeal to this wintery ‘uniform’ and pairs perfectly with the dressage boots for a sleek look. Go long with this Marc by Marc Jacobs Wool-felt military coat ($399 at Net-a-Porter). Or opt for a shorter belted version like this charming Latte by Coffee Shop Double Breasted Military Coat with Belt ($285.60 at Bloomingdales).

Accessorize your winter Doctor Zhivago inspired look with the cossack fur hat and a pair of long lined leather gloves such as these from Alfani which sell for $53.99 at Macys.com. You’ll be glad you dressed up for the snow days ahead, you never know when you’ll get caught under the mistletoe! ]]> http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/12/15/mistletoe-worthy-winter-uniform/feed/ 0 http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/11/26/make-merry-with-marvelous-hair-accessories/ http://fashionpulsedaily.com/2009/11/26/make-merry-with-marvelous-hair-accessories/#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:10:35 +0000 fashionpulse http://fashionpulsedaily.com/?p=6522 ]]>

Via our friends at thefind.com:

Get prettied up for all of the holiday parties on your agenda this season. Embellished hair accessories can transform your evening look from ordinary to fabulous. Wear your favorite LBD with a dramatic hair ornament for an instant dash of glam. The hair accessories featured here can work with most hairstyles from shorter bobs to shoulder length layered styles or even the longest locks. Everything from crystal headbands to feathers and vintage findings embellish the loveliest hair accessories of the season. Coordinate the accents of color to your jewelry, handbags and other accessories for a pulled together holiday ensemble.

The ideal headband with a delicate look for blonde tresses is the Juicy Couture Crystal Heart Headband (upper left, $45.00 at Neiman Marcus). It features two crystal detailed golden puffed hearts set on a silvertone metal headband. Bottega Veneta’s embellished hair comb (upper right, $560 at Net-a-Porter) is made of black acetate with burnished silver-tone faceted stud embellishments. The whimsical Marc by Marc Jacobs Velvet bow headband (middle right, $120 Net-a-Porter) is a variation of the ginormous head bows seen on the runway. The adorable violet twill and plum velvet headband is accented with a stamped gold tone button. Jennifer Ouellette’s Velvet birdcage headband (Bottom right, $80 at Net-a-Porter) features a mushroom velvet medium-width headband with navy birdcage overlay along with a blue feather and bead embellishment, and a gray grosgrain ribbon lining. Adorable and petite, these Embellished Bobbies, (bottom left, $ 59.95 for a set of 8, at Victorian Trading Co) will adorn your locks with pretty handset crystals in a palette of colors on vintage findings. An Embellished Hair Comb, (middle left, $9.80 Forever21) will add a dash of holiday cheer with this a plastic comb embellished with plumes and entwined jute.

Save at Forever 21 with coupons from TheFind.com’s coupon site.