Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: I’m Pumped For These Nine West Flats!

I’m not a fan of brown, but I do like the neutral shades of tan, nude, & beige to help bring out the simple elegance in a daytime look of dark denim jeans & a ruffled blouse with a cardigan.  For when I want to give my feet a break, or am just looking for a new way to put an outfit together, I like to look to my textured flats & here’s a perfect example if you’re looking to revamp your shoe collection for 2012.

The Nine West ‘Cacey’ flat ($39.50) in sahara suede shows off both suede & patent leather with a classic ballerina bow at the toe.  The flats also come in other styles & colors, including black & white polka dot, python, leopard, & black suede, but these are sold at the best price.

Because the color is so neutral, these can be worn all year long, especially with tweed trousers for work, a printed shirt dress in the spring, & romper & cropped cardigan in the summer.

For more great sales & quickie deals on must-haves, check out other Quickie Darling Deal & Steal posts, including a lace dress from Topshop, rust satin heels from Lulu’s, & my new favorite boots from Payless! Happy Styling!

12/26/11 Darling of the Day: Camilla Belle Shows Off This Season’s Essentials: Boots, Scarf, & a Leather Jacket!

It’s been unseasonably mild so far this winter on Long Island, but it seems that stars all over the country, including Camilla Belle here in Hollywood with a Tolani scarf, are gearing up for the change in temperature.  Wearing layered pieces like a leather jacket with a tunic top, scarf, skinny jeans, & knee boots creates a look with dimension, personality, & shows that you’re an on-trend Style Darling!

I’ve found some complimentary pieces to help achieve this look, especially if you’re traveling somewhere that isn’t quite winter, but might require some back-up items like a hat or scarf.  Check out the leatherette jacket with ruffle collar ($34.80) & plus size leatherette aviator jacket ($29.80), both from Forever 21.  The keyhole-back printed shell ($29.99) from The Gap brings out some of the texture in the look, especially when paired with Old Navy‘s The Flirt skinny jeans ($11.97).

The extra pieces to help pull the look together include the Bamboo black zipper riding boots ($49.99) from Lulu’s, Minicci Friday shopper ($26.99) in dark green from Payless, black silk / wool scarf ($39.99) from Banana Republic, & a North Face beanie ($30.00) from Macy’s.

What do you think of Camilla’s street style?  Would you wear an outfit like this? Where do you find the best faux leather for your fall / winter looks?  Check out previously posts from Darling of the Day, including Katie Holmes, Blake Lively, & Pippa Middleton’s fabulous coats! Happy Styling!

Runway Rundown / Watch This Style: Rachel Zoe’s 60s-Inspired Pre-Fall Collection + A Video Interview by Neiman Marcus Fashion Director, Ken Downing!

It’s not a secret by now that one of my favorite style icons is the one & only Rachel Zoe!  I’ve posted so much about her collections (here & here), as well as honoring her as Style Darling’s very first (& so far only) .com Darling! Also, for my column “A Dash of Fashion” on Culture Mob, I recently wrote about Rachel’s fabulous jewelry collection on sale @QVC!

However, courtesy of In Style, we have some amazing images of Rachel’s latest pre-Fall collection, which includes a lot of 60s-inspiration with her signature 70s / boho chic elegance.  Rachel told the magazine, “I am so madly in love with this Pre-Fall collection! I really wanted to add a lot of mod elements to this season, the 60s is truly one of my favorite eras… We also expanded a ton on suiting, which will always be my signature, but we added an amazing new pencil skirt which should be a staple in everyone’s closet. There are definitely still some elements of the ‘70s too and the leathers and faux fur are to die for.”

There’s definitely evidence of inspiration here from icons like Coco Chanel, with the glamorous & tailored suits.  Not to mention that the more delicate pieces like mini dresses in soft fabrics & glittery cocktail dresses show off a youthful flair that Rachel is famous for bringing out in clients like Eva Mendes, Anne Hathaway, & Molly Sims.

Take a look at some of the best images from the multifaceted collection that will be available at upscale stores like Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus. Also, check out the exclusive interview with Rachel, courtesy of Neiman Marcus where she talks about her vision for her collection, as well as her style dos!  Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes for Less: Encrusted Belts By Lanvin @Bergdorf Goodman Vs. An Under $5.00 Find From Charlotte Russe!

Do you need something special & embellished in a belt for this holiday season?  Well, check out these two belts!  Of course, nothing can compare to the luxury & craftsmanship behind the Lanvin label, one that is celebrated by actresses like Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, & Charlize Theron.  However, the price tag for a piece from the legendary brand is way out of budget, along with most of the other fashionable items sold @Bergdorf Goodman.

So in place of the crystal-encrusted clover belt ($1266.00) by Lanvin, here’s a much more inexpensive option that can be found @Charlotte Russe.  The black-gem stretch belt ($4.49) is currently reduced in price from $9.50 & will transform any sheath dress with some jewelry-inspired glamour.

For more Luxury Look-Alikes for Less, check out previous posts featuring embellished clutches, nude booties, & chandelier earrings! Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Replace The LBD With This All-Over Lace Dress from Topshop!

Need some ideas for putting together an elegant New Year’s Eve look?  Of course LBDs are classic go-to options, but how about something in lace?  This bonded lace pencil dress ($45.00) from Topshop is currently marked down from $80.00!

I added some accessories to help build the look in many different directions.  Try a pop of color in modest heels like the ‘Influence’ bow pump ($19.99) in red from Payless, or go a little daring micro fiber tassel side zip platform bootie ($22.95) in black from GOjane.

To help cinch in your waist, try a tonal belt like the geometric glitter stretch belt ($9.50) from Charlotte Russe, which will add a contrasting deco feel to the already elegant look.  Also, when it comes to jewelry, a busy dress like this one demands refined pieces like the MixIt jet black statement necklace ($21.99) from JC Penney, or @Kohl’s you can find the silver tone multi-strand bracelet ($19.60) by Jennifer Lopez.

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve?  What are you thinking about wearing? Happy Holidays & Happy Styling!