Bargain Chic

Couture Halloween

October 30, 2009

Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays. Although I don't dress up or celebrate it the way I used to, I still enjoy the silliness and spookiness of it all. This year my work had a Halloween BBQ and a few people dressed up, including me (I was Betty Draper from Mad Men). It was so much fun to have one day where people indulged in a little fantasy -- whether it was something scary or ghoulish, or outrageous or funny.

And that is what made me starting thinking about the fantasy element of fashion. There are a few designers, like Galliano, Lacroix and Gaultier, who transform their fantasies into beautifully dramatic clothing and display them in fantastical and theatrical runway shows.

Below is the inspiration for this post. It is a Galliano dress from his Spring 2010 Ready to Wear show in Paris. To me the dress exuded a slightly macabre yet deliciously seductive sensibility. Exactly what the fantasy of Halloween is all about!

John Galliano, 2010 Spring Read to Wear
(photo credit: style.com)

Bargain Looks

Zoe Lace Dress, Bebe, $139; Polaris Dress, ModCloth, $99.99; Flutter Tier Ruffle Dress, White House Black Market, $98

Where the Wild Things Are

October 18, 2009

Just like the title from the beloved children's book, Where the Wild Things Are is a great testament to the fashion world's raucous love affair with animal prints. Whether it be the sultry spots of a leopard or the unruly stripes of a tiger, fashion is indebted to these frisky felines. And this season, animal prints are all the rage.

Taken in small doses -- a belt, shoes or a bag -- this bold print can add a bit of spice and sexiness to a simple outfit. Or, in bigger doses, like a dress or blouse, the look can be dramatic and awe-inspiring. Just be careful, though. Too much animal print can make you look more like a cat on a walk than a fabulous woman on a catwalk.

Designer Look

Leopard Sheath Dress, Oscar de la Renta, $2190; Leopard Tie-Front Blouse, Dolce & Gabbana, $1195

Leopard-Print Pump, Dolce & Gabbana, $695

Bargain Look

Cheetah Print Sheath Dress, Jessica Simpson, Macy's, $128; City Style Puff Sleeve Knit Leopard Top, New York & Company, $24.46

Women's Coddle Pump, Not Rated, Endless.com, $44.95

Fifteen Minutes of Fashion Fame

October 9, 2009

It seems over the past few years every celebrity with fifteen minutes or fifteen years of fame has started a clothing, accessory or shoe line. Many of these attempts have failed and been forgotten, while a few have managed to succeed and have longevity in the fickle fashion world.

Of the celebrity fashion lines that have risen above the fray, they all vary in price and style. From Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's Elizabeth & James' purposefully disheveled and trendy fashions to Bono & wife's eco-friendly t-shirt and casual wear Edun brand, some celebrity clothing lines are, in my opinion, a bit overpriced and, well, boring.

But then comes a long a few gems. And by gems, I mean clothing and shoe lines that are trendy yet chic, classy yet daring, and affordable yet luxe-looking. Yes, there are some celebrity clothing lines like L.A.M.B. and Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve that are on the pricier side, but their stuff looks high quality and, yeah, wearable.

Here are a sampling of some celebrity clothing and shoe lines -- which, by the way, have some hits and misses in their collections, but nevertheless have a few stellar pieces that stand out.

Watercolor Ruffled Dress, LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's $41.99
(Not a huge fan of Lauren Conrad, but a friend told me about this cute dress from Lauren's line at Kohl's and found it adorable! And, well, also the inspiration for this post.)