by Eighty Jane on May 12, 2010
Ahhh, fashion magazines: those bastions of virtually unattainable beauty. As fantasy-ridden as they are, if you love fashion, you probably love to at least flip through some of the many style glossies on the newsstand. One of the most intriguing parts of every issue are the fashion editorials. Their purpose is to inform the reader of what’s current in fashion and to give inspiration on how to dress. Yet if you look at the fine print – that is, the clothing credits – on these spreads you’ll find that the clothing is pretty well out of reach for the average woman. For most of us, we might be able to splurge on one designer item that matches what we see in the pages, but to mock the looks piece for piece would be a budget buster. Thankfully, the fashion world works on a “trickle down” theory, of sorts. If Marc Jacobs, Chloe, and Valentino are doing something, you can be sure contemporary labels and department store brands are going to produce something similar. So the next time you see a magazine editorial and start to gush over the clothes, just remember that you can almost always get The Look 4 Less. [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on May 7, 2010
Another Mother’s Day is upon us. It’s the one day a year on which we all stop and recognize just how important our matriarchs are to our lives. Hopefully, you’ve picked up some special somethings for the moms in your life. The real gift, however, is simply spending time and spreading affection. And what mom doesn’t get joy from seeing her little girl looking all spiffy? Looking spiffy, though, can mean different things to different people, so have a look at the following tips to dress for Mother’s Day success. [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on April 30, 2010
One of the best things about the weather getting warmer is all the great outdoor festivals that take place during the spring and summer months. These include film festivals, art markets, and (my personal favorite) music festivals. Music and fashion are natural cohorts so the latter, especially, tends to draw a pretty stylish crowd. The key to dressing for a festival is to be easy, breezy, comfy. Remember: it’s important to be cute, but not if it makes you uncomfortable. The following styles make room for style and let you get down and funky at the fest.
CUT-OFFS
Coachella music festival is always a big celeb favorite. This year they came out in droves wearing a big Spring/Summer 2010 trend: denim cutoffs. Beyonce, Kristin Cavallari, and Lindsay Lohan opt for the itty bitty version of this style.
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by Eighty Jane on April 21, 2010
When stocking up on spring wardrobe essentials there’s more than sundresses and sandals to consider. Don’t forget that the perfect temperatures and blooming flowers of the season come at a price: RAIN!
On those cloudy days it’s sometimes tempting to give in to the gloom. Having a wardrobe to look forward to, however, is the perfect way to put the pep back into your step! Thankfully, rain gear no longer has to be utilitarian and boring. There are now plenty of ways to ward off the wet and maintain a high standard of style. [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on April 16, 2010
Everyone knows about the LBD (little black dress). It’s an essential component for any women’s wardrobe. What some of us forget, though, is the LBD’s counterpart – the LWD! The little white dress is the perfect staple for the spring and summer seasons. It’s an easy go-to for those days when you’re not quite feeling inspired. On the other hand, the LWD is versatile and can be accessorized to match your personal creative spark. [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on April 14, 2010
“Mad Men” star January Jones might be shaping up to be a glamour goddess on the red carpet, but the actress’ street style is decidely laid back. It might be because Jones’ character Betty Draper is so impeccably prim, that seeing her with frayed jeans and disheveled hair is so remarkable.
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by Eighty Jane on April 9, 2010
Ol’ Smokey Robinson really had it right. When he sang with the Miracles in 1960 he said “my mama told me you better shop around!” Of course, he was talking about women and marriage, but they are wise words no matter how to you slice ‘em. They definitely apply to shopping.
Recently I was cruising ASOS.com (looove that site) and came across these cute pink moccasins by Minnetonka. I was tempted by them, but with the midseason sale underway there were already several things in my basket that were priced way below the almost $110 they want for the moccasins. So I dropped the shoes in my “save for later” bin. On a whim I did a quick search for the brand name and what did I discover? The VERY same shoes for less than half price on two different sites!
The discovery just reminded how important it is to comparison shop. This is true whether you’re buying online or offline, but – for obvious reasons – it’s much easier to do online. Here are a few tips for digging up the best price. [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on April 7, 2010
As we get into the swing of the Spring 2010 season, there are few key trends that should appear on every fashion lover’s shopping list. One of them is military style. While spring is traditionally chock full of bright colors and floral patterns, the military trend challenges the true stylista to utilize an uber neutral palette and stark tailoring while remain light and airy enough for the heat.
While the military trend has been brewing for a few seasons, but until now we’ve seen it appear mostly for fall. But caution fashionphile! When trying out the style for warmer weather don’t confuse the heavy jackets like the very popular Balmain blazer seen in the Jak & Jil street style photo below on the left. A similarly heavy jacket is made somewhat lighter in the Denimology look on the right by pairing the uniform jacket with a white blouse and cut off shorts. Still, the tights and the heaviness of the jacket just don’t say SPRING.
For Spring 2010 military style is a more subdued, understated version of the trend. Instead of mimicking officers with elaborate golden embroidery, designer fashion labels seemed to draw from the simple attributes of a soldier’s uniform.
Chloe showed an austere military look with plain lines free from embellishments.
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by Eighty Jane on April 2, 2010
Carey Mulligan is fairly new to the Hollywood scene, but the British actress has quickly become known for having standout style. Now the entertainment world is buzzing with news that Mulligan will star in a remake of the classic musical comedy “My Fair Lady.”
The actress will be walking in some fairly hefty footsteps! The legendary Audrey Hepburn played lead character Eliza Doolittle in [click to continue…]
by Eighty Jane on April 1, 2010
It’s spring!!! Yes, it’s started officially a couple weeks ago, but with the start of April the new season is in full effect. One of the most invigorating things about changing your wardrobe over is letting your feet get some air after months of being cloistered in boots and thick socks. But your feet might be in need of pedi or two before you let them hang all the way out. Peep-toes shoes are the perfect transitional style for this time of year and this season they are paired with bows in all varieties.
Flats
Dollhouse – $13.62 (sale price) at buckle.com; KensieGirl – $39.99 (sale price) at piperlime.gap.com, Marni – $440 at brownsfashion.com; Miu Miu – $349.65 (sale price) at luisaviaroma.com
Wedges
Sperry Top-Sider – $90 at nordstrom.com; Timberland – $174 at coggles.com; Valentino – $495 at nordstrom.com [click to continue…]
