Best in Shoe

This deserves a standing ovation, the applause sign...the best in SHOE!
I know it is a standard, it is not new, but the Manolo Blahnik Mladari at Barneys for $585.00 is one of those classics that no matter the cost, you just NEED to have it. True, you may covet it your entire life, never actually letting go of the loot...but you KNOW if you had it, you would spend it on these. You just KNOW it...well if you don't I certainly do.
As a flats or wedge kinda girl, I must be taken, smitten, in love with a stiletto to let it touch my feet. I love my feet...and while I might suffer for fashion in other areas, my feet...my foundation, I don't play with. But to have the pleasure of these touching my feet...I wouldn't feel any ounce of pain. There can be no pain when you have something this lovely, and MADE for the foot of a woman!

Well, enough on my love letter to the shoe!
Just thought I would share!

Outfit ideas:

Fringe Benefits II

I lusted after these for a while, so I went ahead and bought them.
I will let you know how much I love them as soon as they ship.
Go to Free People to see these and other great finds!

Straight Off the Runway...

As an extension of yesterday's post, you can order the dress featured, made by the winner of the second challenge of Project Runway, Suede, by e-mailing your size information to nana.brewhammond@bluefly.com. The dress is going for $280.00. Not bad for a limited edition dress! This would be perfect for a homecoming dress for your teen!

Fashion TV

I love Project Runway...and the new season has started.
Last season's winner Christian Siriano is BY FAR my favorite winner of all times.
He has started selling some of his creations on Bluefly.
Go here to check them out.
Hey, it is all 20% off!

The 411 of Fashion, Part III

Well, hopefully you have learned a thing or two about style and fashion.
Think you know a thing or two...well take this quiz to find out now!

http://tickle.com/quizzes/show/13497042

The 411 on Fashion, Part II

Style Star

Style is the one part of fashion that we hear about most often. There are TONS of TV shows related to ones style: What Not to Wear, How DO I Look, Style Star...and even most of the talk shows do makeovers that are based on taking one from frumpy to fabulous. These shows, makeovers, and style, in general, are not JUST about clothes and accessories, they are about personality and attitude. You have to be able to match what your personality is to the clothes, and you come across as more confident, more in control, and more put together.
There are some basic style personalities: classic, trendy, sporty, flashy, and avant garde. Let's take a look at them and what defines them.


Classic: This style is characterized mainly by simplicity and function. The clothes obviously work as cover for the body, but they are also simple in shape, color, and form. Black, white, and neutral colors are the most used colors, and accessories and shoes are used to make the outfit shine. Usually minimal jewelry is worn to make the person in the clothes stand out more.


Trendy: Think of all the things you hear and see in magazines about what is "in", then wear those things in ways that flatter your body...you are trendy. The trends here: high plaform heels, bright colors, bold jewelry, and the animal skin on the clutch.


Sporty: Let's get this point, the jeans are not what makes this sporty, it is the way the jeans are used and accessorized. The plain white, but flattering, tank, the flats, the sporty bag, and the basic colors. This is comfy, but put together.


Flashy: It's gold, its bold, and its bright. Enough said.


Avant Garde: This is possibly the hardest style to understand. It is not just about wild clothes and big colors. What makes this avant garde, the way it is put together. The boldness of hte pieces, the different little style details...the gold piping on the shoes,the high neck on the dress, the bold pattern on the bag. It is wearable but it is also avant-garde.

The 411 on Fashion, Part I

Fashion is basic, it is the art of making products that clothe and accessorize the body. Fashion runs the gamut from classic to avant garde, handbags to bracelets, black to white...and everything in between.

Think of fashion as the umbrella under which everything relating to clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry falls under. Oscar de la Renta is fashion, so is Rachel Roy, so is Nine West, and so is Kenneth Jay Lane. Fashion does not have to be pricey, it does not have to be made of silks and lace, nor does it only fit the thin, or skinny.

Let's take a look at some fashion.



Here I have highlighted some of the more identifiable fashion.
There is Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel, two of the most prominent figures in fashion.
There is a representation of all that encompasses fashion, the Christian Louboutin shoes, with their famous red soles; the Louis Vuitton handbag; the Marilyn Monroe style dress; the Burberry trenchcoat; and the Tiffany diamond earrings. Now, while all of these things tend to be more expensive, they are by no means a complete collection of all that is fashion. Since most people identify labels with fashion, I have represented that here.

Fashion is by and large, what you do with it. It can be the most wonderful and magnificent showcase of who and what you are, or done wrong completely inadequate and well...WRONG.
We are going to attempt to rememdy some of that wrong!

The 411 on Fashion

People use many words interchangeably...you know...gorgeous and beautiful, dumb and stupid, thin and skinny...but are the words fashion and style synonymous, what about trendy and stylish?
Well, this week on Definiton of Style, I am gonna give you the 411 on Fashion, what it is, what it is not, and what it has become.

We will start this series tomorrow...so be sure to log on or subscribe so you can get The 411 on Fashion.

Movie Buff

If you like movies like I like movies...then you have a love affair with movies.
Well, you can now watch movies, even some new releases, on your laptop or computer monitor at Watch Movies .
You can go check out Casablanca, Sleepless in Seattle, Love Jones, Scarface, or even James and the Giant Peach. New releases such as Kung Fu Panda will provide watching enjoyment for you and the kids, and the Fast and Furious for you and Mr. You to watch.

So go ahead, become technologically savvy...watch a movie on your laptop tonight.

Clothes Horse

You cannot have a wardrobe without the essential garments.
So here is our ode to the best clothing designs in garment history:

1. Chanel Jacket
2. Armani Wool Pants
3. Burberry White Button-Down Shirt
4. Diane von Furstenburg Wrap Dress
5. D&G black dress
6. Levi’s Jeans
7. True Religion Jeans
8. James Perse Ribbed Tank
9. Calvin Klein pencil skirt
10. C &C California Va Voom Tee
11. Waistcoat
12. Up and Coming Icon: Zac Posen Panelled Dress
13. Herve Leger Bandage Dress
14. Not Shown: YSL Women’s Tuxedo Suiting

Bling Times Two

Jewelry is one accessory that we just CANNOT live without.
Here is an ode to all the great jewelry of the past and present!
Clockwise from Center
1. Cameo
2. Name Necklace
3. Tiffany Solitaire
4. KLS Hello Kitty Diamond Ring
5. Dior Diorette Ring
6. Tiffany Diamond Studs
7. Gold Hoops
8. Swatch Watch
9. Rolex Oyster Perpetual
10. Movado Fiero
11. Tiffany Heart Bracelet
12. Charm Bracelet
13. Up and Coming Icon: Pandora/Troll Bracelets
14. Cartier Love Bracelet
15. David Yurman Bracelet
16. Gold Rope “Dookie” Chain

Put it in my HANDBAG

Second, from shoes, the most beloved accessory of all women is the handbag…and these bags are not just bags…they are “It” Bags. The bags that women flocked to and spent all their savings on…

Clockwise from Top
1. Hermes Birkin
2. Marc Jacobs Stam
3. Balenciaga Motorcycle
4. Louis Vuitton Speedy
5. Fendi Baguette
6. Fendy Spy
7. YSL Downtown
8. Chloe Paddington
9. Botkier Bianca
10. Up and Coming Icon: Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag

Icons

This week I will be highlighting iconic styles in fashion.
Today, we focus on women's number one accessory, SHOES!
These shoes range from sneakers to high fashion, and none of them disappoint on style and flavor.

Check out these iconic shoes:
Clockwise from the top
1. Tory Burch Reva
3. Nike Air Force Ones
4. Chanel Two-Tones
5. Manolo Blahnik Campari (the Manolo Mary-Janes made famous on Sex & The City)
6. Repetto BB
7. Adidas Superstars (shell-toes)
8. Tods Driving Mocs
9. Ferragamo Varina
10. Christian Louboutin Super
11. Reebok Freestyle
12. Dior Extreme...the new Icon (Sex & The City)

Richard Chai for Target

Target is doing it again...high fashion at a low price.
In August, check out Richard Chai for Target at your local store.
If this trench tells us anything, we are in for some great style!

To Bowl or Not to Bowl

This Bowling Bag from Stella McCarney by LeSportsac is not a bowling bag, it is a stylish piece of luggage that has lots of room, lots of style, and lots of color!
I love this brown and orange combo...and for $350..it is a little pricey, but at 16 x 11 inches, tons of pockets, and even a shoe compartment...it gives you alot of bang for your buck!

Well Heeled

Michael Kors is classic. His clothes and fashion are pieces of art made to withstand every trend and fad, and be clothes that you can build a wardrobe around. His shoes are typically well-made, chunky heeled, marvels that give you a boost of height, lots of panache, and a little bit of fashion forwardness (but not TOO much) so that you feel pretty and womanly.
However, the Berkeley T-strap, which has been seen on many a celebrity (not that that gives it any style credibility in my eyes...but anyway), and is certainly destined to become an iconic shoe. If we know ANYTHING about iconic shoes, they tend to be highly styled, vampy, over the top, or drop dead sexy...and this is all that and much more. The patent style gives it a hint of dressiness while the suede version is more fit for jeans and skirts.
Check it out at Zappos .

High Style not High Dollar

Old Navy is, like Gap and Banana Republic, its counterparts, a budget conscious fashion brand, that gives you style basics. While Banana Republic is more professional and the Gap more casual, Old Navy is where you can get pretty much ever fashion trend, from sequins, to brights, to flat sandals, and finally on to florals...for less than $40, guaranteed!

This dress above though, is the epitome of Old Navy style. The 100% cotton dress, with feminine flair and high dollar style on a budget. Nothing can beat the $29.50 price tag, hell...you could get all three colors. A style that can take you from a day shopping trip to a night time cocktail party...I mean, what more could you ask for?

Get on over to Old Navy for some great fashion!

Going on a Lion Hunt...

Diane Von Furstenberg is famous for her wrap dresses...but as of late, she has become synonymous with great prints and sexy dresses and separates that are a departure from her regular styles. That said, every woman needs something in her closet that makes her feel even MORE fabulous than her regualar self. This hot little number, with its safari print, sleek silhouette, and sale price at ShopBop will make you want to grad up one and take a walk on the wild side!

Big League Coach

This new Bleeker tote by Coach is stylish, sophisticated, playful, fun, and serious all at the same time. The style is simple, but it packs a mean punch. The soft leather, this maginificent neutral that goes with everything, and the feminine panache that takes it to major heights. You will be more than happy with this brand new baby hanging from your purse rack...your other handbags might get jealous!
Find it at Coach !