The $100 Challenge: Chic Spring Break Must-Haves For Your Next Vacation!

The weather outside is pretty nasty here on Long Island & while I’m trying to keep my head up & attitude positive, I know with the recent personal trials that I’ve been through, I need a vacation. Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to do so, but a girl can dream when there are still some shreds of dreams left to ponder. Also, after some inspiring messaging with another Style Darling, I decided to just throw myself into the online retail forum & find some amazing & affordable pieces, perfect for a Spring Break vacation or much-needed warm-weather getaway in my latest post for The $100 Challenge.

Whenever the temperature rises, it’s always stylish to add a maxi dress to your wardrobe, which is why I picked out the chiffon tribal print maxi dress ($16.80) from Forever 21, which can be dressed up with beaded earrings & platform sandals, or made day-ready with a chunky leather belt & gladiators. I also always love checking out the latest in spring shoes, which includes the Brash Molly side t-strap wedge sandal ($19.99) in black from Payless. They’re also available in coral, gold, & white- perfect for mixing with a cotton spring dress, cropped pants & a blouse, or with cut-off jeans & a graphic tee. When spring rolls around, I’m happy to switch out my heavy wool & knit scarves for something lighter & more feminine, like the daisy print infinity scarf ($9.99) from Charlotte Russe to wear with basics like a cotton tee & denim jacket.

Don’t forget that spring & vacations are all about embracing bright colors & while I’m not one to wear shorts myself, I love the shorts ($12.95) in red from H&M, which are also sold in powder pink, black, white, blue, pink, & yellow. For a nautical feel to your look, I recommend the striped roll-tab scoop neck tee ($13.47) in blue from New York & Company, which are a limited quantity item, reduced from their original $26.95 price tag. Also, florals are very popular this time of year, so if you’re headed somewhere chic, the a.n.a. ankle-length skinny jeans ($14.00) in all over floral from JC Penney are great for coordinating with different prints like stripes, polka dots, or plaids. Lastly, for some sparkle with versatility, I choose Old Navy‘s sheer sequin-chiffon tank ($11.99) in pink to wear with satin shorts & platforms for a night out with the girls, dark denim jeans & ballet flats for brunch, or a pencil skirt & boyfriend blazer when headed to an office meeting.

All of this also considers a $100 budget & the total for these comes to $99.19 (before taxes), which is pretty awesome for any Style Darling on a budget. Which pieces are your favorites? Which trends are you following to revamp your spring wardrobe? How much are you willing to spend on essentials for the new season? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out fabulous neon criss cross stilettos from Forever 21, 4 fashionable ways to wear a graphic tee from Old Navy, varying price points on trendy pink jeans, my latest bargain shoe purchases from Target, & floral pants inspired by Diane Kruger’s Stella McCartney look! Happy Styling!

Show Me The Shoes: Crisscross Stiletto Sandals From Forever 21!

Retail therapy has been proven to cause endorphins of joy, feelings of success, & stress relief (or so I’ve heard & experienced), which is why women often turn to shopping in times of need. This little Style Darling apologizes for the inconsistency in new blog updates, thus breaking my New Year’s Resolution for sharing posts with readers everyday for 2013, but while I’m coping with the hardships behind a broken heart, I’m eager to get back on the horse & try to find some inspiration, even if it’s just in a pair of shoes. When clicking around the web, I found myself on the Forever 21 website & came across the crisscross stiletto sandals ($29.80) in black, tomato, & citron.

Of course these colors range from basic to flirty to bold, but they can work for a variety of occasions, including a night out with the girls in a sheath dress, with skinny jeans & a blouse for a weekend luncheon, or for happy hour cocktails with co-workers when you want to slip out of your regular office attire & into something more casual, yet dressed up. I’ve never been one to add a lot of texture or coverage over my ankles, fearing that it would cut off my legline, but I’m really drawn to the juxtaposition of a really sexy, slim heel that will emphasize any feminine outfit, especially with a rear zipper & faux suede outsole. The strong & edgy feel will sharpen any menswear-inspired pieces & can work for any season. Naturally, neons are big for spring & summer, but if you’re into a classic shoe, there’s always a sleek black pair.

What do you think of these shoes? Which color would you choose? Do you like the crisscross detail? How much do you like to spend on shoes when shopping on a budget? For more Show Me The Shoes posts, check out affordable footwear including how to wear flats, heels, & booties with a graphic tee, my latest shoe purchases from Target, Christian Siriano’s latest arrivals for Payless, & Rachel Zoe’s collaboration with ShoeDazzle. Happy Styling!

Super Style Wishlist: Hamptons-Ready Dresses From Neiman Marcus!

So I’m on Day 3 during my participation here at the Southampton Arts Conference, out on the East End of Long Island, where I’m not only spreading the Style Darling word, but also meeting lots of great, friendly, brilliant, creative new people.  Not to mention that I’m getting inspired by the summer-time attire, including gauzy white dresses, chic khaki crops, ballet flats, jeweled sandals, & plenty of printed skirts.  I’ve been doing very well for myself on the style side, earning a reputation for being told “Heeey! Nice shoes!” This has triggered yet another edition of Super Style Wishlist, where I invite my readers to join me in drooling over some of the most fabulous flirty dresses, perfect for a day in The Hamptons!

 

I clicked through my favorite high-end retailer, Neiman Marcus, & found some adorable summer-ready dresses, perfect for wearing right now (although today is quite the rainy day). The price tag is quite a bit beyond my budget, but the styles & designers are always important to consider! For example, the Kate Spade New York Jane printed dress ($458.00) caught my attention immediately b/c I’m always drawn to bold black & white graphic prints.  This is darling for a day of poetic musings with a neon patent leather belt & neutral wedges.  Next, the M Missoni hexagon striped knit dress ($895.00) is a more vivid statement for the season & can be dressed down for day with ballet flats & layered beads. 

Every summer girl needs a maxi dress & I’m loving the contrasting neutral tones in the Jay Godfrey bell v-neck maxi dress ($440.00), which immediately brings to mind some chunky platform sandals & hoop earrings.  Lastly, the Theory short-sleeved shirt dress ($285.00) is a classic must-have with wedges & drop earrings, or sandals & a medium-sized tote.  Happy Styling!

Super Style Wishlist: Celebrate Style Darling’s 2nd Birthday With A Dress By Monique Lhuillier!

Even though the month of March is almost over, I’m proud to announce that this month marked Style Darling‘s 2nd birthday! We’ve been through a lot via the blog in the last two years, but my goal still remains the same: to embrace celebrity-inspired style-on-a-budget.

However, for the sake of celebration, let’s throw the budget out the window for just a moment & take a look at this masterfully-crafted abstract black & white Monique Lhuillier strapless graphic cocktail dress ($2690.00) sold @Neiman Marcus.  I love the print, shape, & overall feel of the party dress.  You know I’m a sucker for anything in black & white too!

Now, if money wasn’t an issue & I had a fantastically demanding social life & red carpet appearances to fulfill, I’d wanna wear a frock like this! Of course, I’d pick out some boldly-hued round toe pumps, find a fierce cuff bracelet, & straighten my locks to a pulp as I pose for the paparazzi in this dress. This is a mere dream… that’s what Super Style Wishlist is here for after all!

I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all my readers, followers, friends, & family who’ve been supporting the Style Darling story all along.  It means the world to me to have an outlet where I can share all of my favorite fashionable finds & create a world where fashion rules the land & we just live in it! Being able to do this has given me a great number of opportunities, including my current position as a professional full-time fashion writer for Ladies Outfitters.

Hopefully, I’ll find more time to keep up with the self-imposed goals that I have for Style Darling b/c there’s always something going on in the world of fashion.  Also, as the seasons change and trends make their way into stores, there’s always some style advice that I’m seeking to provide.

Thanks again for sticking by me even when posts have been far & few between! Let’s have another stylish & fabulous year of blogging! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: Style Darling Wishing You A Happy New Year (With Some Help from Sex & the City)!

While preparing for my very lovely & exciting New Year’s Eve date tonight, I started thinking about the year 2011, which is when Style Darling really became a vehicle for me to share such a big part of myself as not only a writer, but as a woman, friend, world-traveler, & shoe lover.  I’ve had some personal highs & many recent personal lows, but during these last few emotional months, this virtual forum is where I can not only share what I love about fashion & style, but for the loyal readers that I do have, I’d like to think that I’ve set up a little community here where all styles & walks of life are welcome.

Even though I didn’t expect to have plans tonight, especially by the side of the individual with whom I have said plans, I’m super excited that I was able to find such a great deal on a cute dress to share with everyone.  Which brings me to think about some of my favorite icons of style… I wanted to share this video I found on YouTube of what’s probably one of the best New Year’s Eve movie moments, of course from the Sex & the City movie, starting with Miranda’s late-night phone call to Carrie.

Ladies, we’ve all been there, feeling lonely & down, especially when there may not be a romantic partner in the picture to share the special event of the changing of the year, but I’ve learned that in spending so much time all year building friendships, laughing, & experiencing life, no one is ever alone.  If you have a close group of friends, let them be your soulmates & every other guy (or whoever it is that you prefer) just enters & leaves your life if / when it’s supposed to happen. Love yourself.  Love style.  Love life. Happy New Year! Auguri! Be safe & responsible! Happy Styling!