Basics For A Bargain: It’s Finally Spring & Finally Time For Florals!

There’s still a chill in the air here in New York, but it’s finally starting to look like spring. There’s change in the air & I know I’m really excited about it- & not just for my change in wardrobe. However, speaking of spring fashions, the go-to print of the season is florals & I couldn’t turn my back the trend, especially when I’ve been seeing it everywhere! For example, A-list celebs have been wearing florals even during the winter, ushering in the warmer season. Miranda Kerr is all smiles in a floral skirt with a leather Prada tote while taking in the day in Sydney. Elizabeth Olsen mixed her floral top with a mustard coat & skinny jeans. Actress Diane Kruger attended a press event for Farewell, My Queen in a 10 Crosby Derek Lam ensemble.

Superstar Selena Gomez hit the SXSW Festival in a matching bustier & skirt by Dolce & Gabbana. Two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain wears an Erdem sheath dress with nude Christian Louboutins. Lastly, former Glee star Dianna Agron attended a luncheon with The Hollywood Reporter in an Oday Shakar floral dress with suede Jimmy Choo heels.

Not to mention that there have been plenty of florals hitting the runways this year, including luxe vintage from Valentino, 80s-inspired rocker chic designs from Betsey Johnson, youthful & bright patterns from Tracy Reese, Lanvin‘s elegant & sophistication, & Erdem‘s playful & refreshing angle on flowers.

Whether it’s on clothing, accessories, or mixed & match (which I only recommend doing with caution), I made a few selections from some of my favorite stores to share how you can wear the latest floral pieces on a budget! The best piece to start building the perfect spring wardrobe is a dress, like the Merona sleeveless tulip wrap dress ($19.00) from Target, which has recently been marked down from its original $24.99 price. The flattering wrap shape is perfect for accentuating your shape & the navy background adds a regal touch is paired with basketweave espadrilles or bright ballet flats. Next is the LC Lauren Conrad floral ruffle tank ($25.20) from Kohl’s, which is a feminine topper piece to wear with dark denim jeans, white skinny pants, or a denim skirt.

Don’t be afraid of florals on your bottom half, especially with the 4 1/2″ belted printed flat front shorts ($32.94) from Express, which add some tropical flair to your look & will dress down a lace blouse. I love the idea of sequins with florals & this skirt ($34.95) from H&M is a stylish marriage of both. This will pair nicely with a chambray button down shirt for a fashionable day out & about or with a solid pullover & pointy toe pumps for a date. Lastly, floral pants are also one of the biggest trends this season, especially in a looser cut to provide plenty of flow & movement, which is why I choose the Full Tilt skinny harem pants ($24.99) from Tilly’s. The chic black, gray, & white color combination is understated & can be coordinated with pastel pieces like coral or mint.

As for accessories, these bright colors will make your outfit pop, especially since they’re so effortless to match with wardrobe essentials. For example, the sequin tulip print pumps ($27.80) from Forever 21 are flirty & will add extra dimension to cuffed jeans & a ruffled top. Also, for a more subtle floral shoe, the novelty ballet flats ($39.95) from Gap. The soft pink & red tones in the shoe can offset any striped tee & jeans look in a ladylike way.

Part of what I love about spring is that I can still wear scarves, which can bring a lot to a look, like the ground floral scarf ($14.99) from Payless for a denim jacket & LBD with ankle strap platforms or a maxi dress & cargo vest with gladiator flats. Lastly, I’m not really a hat kind of girl, but in some cases, you need to protect your face from the harsh rays of the sun, especially this early in the season, which is why I picked the pop floral baseball cap ($8.99) from Charlotte Russe.

What do you think about the latest floral trend? Which pieces would you wear? What’s your spring wardrobe budget? For more affordable fashion posts, check out how to get Drew Barrymore’s latest look without breaking the bank, suede studded loafers, the best green pieces for spring, a budget-friendly spring look with pieces from Old Navy & American Eagle Outfitters. Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Get These Green Pieces For St. Patrick’s Day!

A friend of mine recently asked me what the big color for spring was going to be & from my research & observation of trends, I saw that emerald green was getting to be very popular, amid the rise in pretty pastels & trendy neons. Nearly everyone looks great in emerald, so I thought, what better day to talk about some amazing emerald pieces than on St. Patrick’s Day!

I know when I’m putting a look together, I usually stick to classic black & white pieces, but there’s nothing better than a special pop of color, especially when it comes to green. First, the Merona 3/4 sleeve v-neck cardigan sweater ($19.99) from Target is the perfect topper to any polka dots, graphic print, or houndstooth sheath dress for both the office & a family party. Speaking of dresses, I love the stretch cotton skater dress ($27.93) from Express (which is currently on sale for 30% off) & the AB Studio lace sheath dress ($25.60) from Kohl’s (which has recently been reduced from its original $64.00 price). Both are reasonably priced & can work for any season if paired with cork wedges or even opaque tights & a boyfriend blazer.

If you prefer separates, then try H&M‘s blouse ($12.95) which can be worn knotted with skinny jeans & sneaker wedges for a casual day out & about, or untucked over some rocker chic leather leggings & metallic pointy toe pumps when headed out with the girls. Also, I recommend the Diva skinny ankle pants ($29.94) from Old Navy to be worn with a cable knit sweater for a preppy look or a flirty blouse & ballet flats when meeting gal pals for a luncheon. Not to mention that Old Navy has a special 17% off coupon code (ONLUCKY) which can be used on almost any online only purchase.

Add green accessories into the mix with some jewelry like the bubble bead statement necklace ($12.99) from Charlotte Russe, which is having a sitewide 20% off sale today, online only! Also, there’s Forever 21‘s iridescent arrowhead drop earrings ($4.80), which can be worn with a modern LBD & strappy sandals, or made exotic for your next vacation in a maxi dress & basketweave wedges.

I always love green in multi-color patterns too, which is why I selected the bright geometric scarf ($19.95) from New York & Company to wear with a denim jacket & jersey skirt while shopping, or to dress up any solid pullover & dark denim jeans. Lastly, you can’t talk about green without mentioning shoes & there are so many ways to wear the Worthington Pennie faux suede ballet flats ($28.00) from JC Penney like with a pair of neutral trousers & button-down shirt. Also, there’s the Payless‘ American Eagle sweetheart high wedge sling ($24.99) with a cotton wrap dress or a chambray tunic & colored denim shorts.

How do you like to wear green? Do you wear green on St. Patrick’s Day? Which are your favorite pieces? What’s your budget for new spring-friendly fashions? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out a budget-friendly spring look for under $100, the complete lookbook of Kate Young’s collection for Target, colorful crossbody bags for under $15.00, neon looks inspired by Beyoncé Knowles & Jennifer Lopez, chic spring break must-haves, & how to wear yellow like Emmy Rossum & Miranda Kerr! Happy Styling!

Inside A Style Blogger’s Closet: My New Any-Season Heels & Flats For Under $10 From Target!

I returned to work this week after a very eventful winter break & was happy to start wearing my newest bargain-priced purchases & even though I’ve been saving my pennies as a responsible adult, I still couldn’t help picking up a few must-have tops, skirts, dresses, & accessories. Among those recent wardrobe upgrades are two very “me” pairs of shoes that I was able to snag @Target. Hardly a week goes by where I’m not visiting the store & scouring through the clearance racks & when I had a $5 off on any $20 Mossimo brand purchase coupon, I knew it was going to burn a whole in my iPhone’s Target app!

After searching through the clothing racks & finding a cute orange & gold sequin sweater, as well as a grey crochet & neon encil skirt (both perfect for work!), I wandered over to the accessories & shoes to see if I could score anything else… & of course, I did! This included the Viveca blingy heel ($28.04) in emerald, which I was able to purchase for less than $10.00, as well as the Ona ballet flat ($14.99) in zebra, which was marked down on clearance for under $5.00. Of course the online prices are different from what’s going on in my local store, but these are can’t-miss end-of-the-season deals! My favorite color is green & I love any & everything zebra print, so this was a match made in shoe heaven!

For more shoe-related posts, check out Kate Upton’s latest ad campaign for Sam Edelman, 70% off clearance deals @Nine West, Christian Siriano’s latest arrivals for Payless, & Rachel Zoe’s styling collaboration with ShoeDazzle! Happy Styling!

The $100 Challenge: Pastels, Polka Dots, & Pops Of Color!

I’ve been up to earrings in fashion news lately, but I’ve definitely wanted to spend more time focusing on shopping tips for an affordably fashionable spring & that starts with pastel & neon jeans. I’ve yet to find a pair that works for me since I’m a little self-conscious about wearing the lighter & brighter hues on my curvier lower half, but the search isn’t over yet. One example that I need to pursue is the 1969 neon always skinny skimmer jeans ($21.99) in neon violet from Gap, which are also available in neon mint green. What I love about these is that they’re available in sizes 4-20.

I didn’t want to play down the fun color in the jeans, which is why I picked out the jumbo polka dot print shirt ($13.50) from Forever 21 & the ribbon & jewel bodyshaper tank ($8.00) in heather grey from New York & Company. Both pieces are perfect for mixing & layering with other basics like a pencil skirt, boyfriend jeans, or leggings.

For this look, I wanted to create a fashionable day outfit for any season, but with an extra punch of femininity & polish, which is why I picked Payless‘ Lower East Side Chelsea flat ($16.99) in black glitter. Also, I picked these shoes since I know that they’re super comfortable b/c I own the gold version. They’re perfect for wearing a demure LBD with opaque tights, or casually with leather shorts & a crisp white shirt. Additional accessories include the Mudd Kara triple-zip cross body bag ($23.80) in lemon from Kohl’s, carved roses Parisian charm necklace ($8.50) from Claire’s, & Forever 21‘s lacquered rhinestone studs ($3.80).

To see more affordable looks, check out more posts from The $100 Challenge, including three all-black outfits, a black & silver look with pieces from The Limited & GOjane, how to dress up with black textured accessories, a striped & tweed cocktail ensemble, & a leopard print date-ready dress from Old Navy! Happy Styling!

Color Me Style: Chic & Affordable All-Black Looks Inspired By Rihanna, Alexa Chung, & The Spring 2013 Runway’s From Victoria Beckham, YSL, & More!

During a night-in with my boyfriend, I kept my look simple & casual in all-black with a comfy oversized sweater & leggings.  He shared with me how much he liked my head-to-toe black ensemble & how good I looked in it too. I like keeping my looks classic with black & white, black & cream, black & grey, or the occasional color blocking, but black is always somewhere in my look since it’s so slimming & fun to wear when you consider different textures like leather, lace, suede, or brocade.  So, I’m inspired by all-black looks by the following celebrities who have hit the red carpet or donned their monochromatic street style with the ultimate dark shade. 

Alexa Chung‘s all black look while deejaying in New York includes leather shorts, a three-quarter sleeve sweater, tights, & ankle strap platforms. During a recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Naomi Watts turned up the style volume in Calvin Klein Collection coat with Christian Louboutin booties, Jamie Wolf earrings, & a Joan Hornig cuff.  Rihanna plays with volume at her latest album’s release launch party with an all-leather look & pointy toe heels. Jennifer Lawrence gets some style tips from her latest collaboration with celeb stylist Rachel Zoe in this chic suit by Christian Dior & stappy peep toe sandals at a screening for Silver Linings Playbook.  Everyone’s favorite Sex & the City star, Sarah Jessica Parker, layered a quilted jacket over her black jumpsuit & unique tasselled necklace.

Supermodel Kate Moss made an appearance last year at The Hope Variety Show mixing her separates in a fitted blazer over a cotton top & gorgeous silk skirt.  Julianne Moore offers her take on menswear in a strong-shouldered suit with feminine earrings & wedge booties.  Oscar-winner Natalie Portman shows off her effortless style in head-to-toe black with a sheer blouse & straight leg trousers at the Nevada Women’s Summit this past summer.  Kate Bosworth gave her support to Chanel in the label’s embellished button-down, tweed miniskirt, sequin purse, & leather lace-up booties.  Trendsetter Diane Kruger took a risk in her all-black look in an embellished Chanel suit over leather leggings & boots while attending an event in Paris. 

You can also find all-black on the runway, with looks from some of the most well-known designers in the upcoming Spring 2013 collections.  Aside from florals, pretty prints, pastels, & bold colorblocking, black is & always will be a favorite among the fashionable.  This is evident with collections from Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Jason Wu, & Monique Lhuillier. 

I also couldn’t resist finding more head-to-toe black, especially when I saw the mix of casual chic, evening, cocktail, & work looks shown in the Spring 2013 collections by Zac Posen, Rachel Zoe Collection, Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham, Holmes & Yang, & Yves Saint Laurent.

My first look is a fabulous deal for under $100, & this one goes out to my plus size Style Darlings! With this fabulous & classic coated trim shirt with belt ($24.50) from Forever 21, sizes XL – 2X will look ready for the evening.  Also, to keep the look streamlined, you can find @Torrid, the Tripp NYC skinny pant ($29.99), which have been reduced from their original $48.00 price.  These are the perfect foundation for any dressy look, ranging in sizes 12-16.  For an evening of bar hopping, or dessert with the girls, I selected the Lindsay stud ballet flat ($24.50) from Wet Seal.  Also, for an extra splash of sparkly, the Apt. 9 two-tone kite earrings ($10.80) from Kohl’s are the perfect touch, especially with the contrasting metallic texture. 

For a sexy & feminine evening look, try out the sequin & peplum trends with the middle outfit, consisting of the sequin tank ($26.99) from Banana Republic & Arden B.‘s matte latex peplum skirt ($24.50). Also from Kohl’s, the Apt. 9 web net-to-waist tights ($6.99) are the perfect accessory to show off your legs with the Fioni Vice booties ($20.00) from Payless. 

Lastly, an outfit that’s slightly more expensive, but easy to coordinate with other wardrobe staples includes the seed stitch dolman sleeve tunic sweater ($39.99) from Express with the i jeans by Buffalo Paolo knit leggings ($25.00) from JC Penney. To help accentuate your figure, I’ve added the knot-front stretch belt ($12.99) from The Limited, which is perfect for any sweater or cardigan & blouse set.  Finally, for a modern twist on a basic look, the leather velvet wedge booties ($29.10) from GOjane add lots of texture & a sneak of some toe cleavage!

My three mannequins are affordable & perfect for any all-black moment you wish to have. Which are your favorite pieces? Do you like to wear all-black or do you prefer bolder colors? Which celebrity pulls off all-black the best? Happy Styling!