Haute Headlines: My Review Of ‘The Great Gatsby,’ Selena Gomez’s InStyle Cover, Jennifer Lopez Returns To Kohl’s For Fall, & More!

I haven’t posted in Haute Headlines for a while, but I recently came across so many awesome news stories that I had to feature. Of course, there’s plenty going on this spring, & even more to look forward to this coming summer. What stories are you following this week? Who is your favorite celebrity to talk about? Happy Styling!

*Check out the video for Selena Gomez‘s InStyle June cover*

*The Cannes Film Festival is around the corner. Check out the best red carpet looks*

*Nicole Kidman is the new face of Jimmy Choo shoes*

*Redbook shares 100 colorful wardrobe updates for under $100*

*My review for The Great Gatsby is currently up on Movie Buzzers*

*E!’s Fashion Police breaks out this week’s best & worst fashion moments*

*Zoe Saldana bares all for the Allure June 2013 issue*

*Christina Aguilera is returning to The Voice for a fifth season*

*Get a sneak peek at Rihanna‘s sequel collection for River Island*

*Donna Karan New York‘s latest ad campaigns are extra steamy*

*Jennifer Lopez debuts her Fall 2013 Kohl’s collection*

Splurge Or Save… On A Black Peplum Tank!

During a recent shopping venture, it occurred to me that my wardrobe lacks a peplum piece. This was surprising because of how flattering a peplum silhouette is for any & every shape. I’ve seen plenty of peplums on the red carpet, designed into gowns, styled with pencil skirts, paired with pants, & accented on cocktail frocks. This is seen on Glee actress Naya Rivera in a Monique Lhuillier sleeveless top with a printed pencil skirt. Also, Star Trek’s Zoe Saldana celebrated Prabal Gurung in a belted top & shorts look by the designer. Oscar nominee Amy Adams is feminine in a polka dot Jenny Packham design with Jimmy Choo stilettos.

Style muse Olivia Palermo matches a tweed Rebecca Taylor top with skinny jeans & silver pumps. Indian beauty Freida Pinto took in Burberry Prorsum‘s recent runway show in a jewel tone ensemble. Aussie actress Cate Blanchett attended the Dubai International Film Festival in a peplum top by Peter Pilotto with a pencil skirt & studded evening sandals.

When you’re planning to invest in a trendy piece, it’s always important to consider how often you’ll wear it to get the most for your money. This is especially true in the case of the Trina Turk peplum top ($228.00) from Nordstrom, which is also available in pink & white to lighten up your tougher looks as we transition from winter to spring. For a more relaxed look, you can head over to ShopBop for the Only Hearts ladder back peplum camisole ($110.00) to wear with skinny jeans, liquid leggings, or a satin mini skirt. Banana Republic‘s ponte knit peplum top ($49.50) offers a chic alternative to stuffy work looks with suit separates or printed trousers.

At a lower price point, the Romeo & Juliet Couture high-low peplum blouse ($34.30) from Last Call by Neiman Marcus has been recently marked down from its original $130.00 price tag. For my curvier Style Darlings, the Mossimo sleeveless peplum top ($22.99) is available @Target in sizes XS – XXL. Also, it’s sold in white stripes & orange stripes so that you can play with prints & mix it with a pair of floral cropped pants or a polka dot skirt. Lastly, the most affordable is the zip back peplum tank ($17.94) from Express, however sizes are limited & will probably run out due to the store’s current 40% off sale.

Clearly, peplums are pretty easy to find so many varieties, especially sleeveless ones that are perfect for layering over long-sleeved shirts in the cooler months, over a sheath dress to add more structure, & with any & every bottom in your current wardrobe. Do you follow the peplum trend? How do you like to wear it? For more from Splurge or Save?, check out previous posts including blue leather moto jackets, Kim Kardashian’s silver pointy toe Jimmy Choo pumps, pink jeans from Michael Kors & J Brand, Diane Kruger’s floral Stella McCartney pants, & polka dot pants from White House Black Market & Ralph Lauren. Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Kim Kardashian’s Silver Jimmy Choo Pumps!

Fashion critics & bloggers have been on the look out for Kim Kardashian‘s pregnancy style, which has included lots of pencil skirts, body conscious dresses, & empire-waisted looks to show off her growing shape & glow. Kim is never one to turn away from a high heel, & during a recent appearance in New York City, she donned the Anouck metallic leather pumps ($650.00) by Jimmy Choo from Saks Fifth Avenue. Not every expectant mom-to-be would be so bold as to keep up their pre-baby bump style with such confidence & sophistication.

Of course, that’s a heft price to pay for silver pumps, but the neutral metallic trend is coming back for spring, especially when paired with bright neons, soft pastels, & edgy embellished pieces. I recently shared a pic on Instagram featuring a shoe find in the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar of a killer pair of silver pointy toe heels, but I also found several options at lower price points for any budget.

This includes the Stuart Weitzman Daisy pumps ($335.00) from Zappos, Joe’s Jeans Delores pumps ($109.99) from 6PM, the pointed toe pump ($47.94) from Express, & the most affordable are the pointed hologram pumps ($24.80) from Forever 21. All of these are sexy additions to upgrade a jeans & blouse look for day, modernize a lace LBD, or satin shorts & a blazer for a night out with the girls.

For more celebrity-related posts, check out the latest in florals inspired by Selena Gomez & Dianna Agron, Drew Barrymore’s recent look on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the red carpet from the 2013 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, Marion Cotillard’s latest Lady Dior ad campaign, & Beyoncé’s debut as spokesmodel for H&M! Happy Styling!

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!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Studded Loafers By Jimmy Choo Vs. Forever 21!

During my recent ventures out & about, discovering the trends for spring, I was surprised to see that menswear-inspired loafers had made a comeback, but with Style Darlings like Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, & Kirsten Dunst spotted in them, I knew this trend wasn’t going away. I’ve yet to add some loafers to my shoe collection, but details like studding over a suede surface seem to be the most popular. I was pleasantly surprised to find these shoes at so many different price point & knew that I just had to include it in my latest Luxury Look-Alikes For Less post!

I’m certainly not endorsing the disappearance of ballet flats, but I love the idea of mixing such a masculine shape to feminine pieces, like a silk blouse & lace shorts or to dress down an LBD with a blazer & colorful tights. Today’s selection includes the Jimmy Choo wheel studded suede loafers ($475.00) in black from Neiman Marcus, which is of course a hefty price to pay for shoes, but if you’re looking for the quality of a luxury brand, by all means, break out the big bucks. However, for those like me who are always shopping on a budget, I recommend the studded canvas slip-on loafers ($24.50) in black from Charlotte Russe, which are also available in white, yellow, pale blue, & pink to fulfill all of your loafer needs. Not to mention that if you’re shopping in a Charlotte Russe store & have a student ID (high school or college), you can earn an extra 10% off your purchase (some exclusions may apply).

Loafers seem to be the best way to transition your wardrobe from winter to spring & I’m sure when we’re headed from summer to fall, the same will apply. Also, the studding embellishments add an extra metallic accent & will contrast nicely with lace, leather, or printed separates in your look. Are you on board with the loafer trend? Would you consider adding this style to your current shoe collection for spring? For more shoe-related posts, check out affordable shoes in emerald, Kate Moss for Stuart Weitzman, behind-the-scenes with J. Crew’s Jenna Lyons, & my favorite new stilettos from Forever 21! Happy Styling!