Step back in time and put some sexy in your step with a pair of spats by Efia. Efia handknits all of her designs. Efia, an aspiring actress and accessories designer, is often inspired by handmade materials from other independent artists. She loves soft textures, natural fibers, interesting ribbons and unique buttons. And she loves to use rich bold colors as well as nice feminine touches in her designs. She not only designs spats, but also handmade scarflettes, scarves, and fingerless mittens. The Bluebird of Happiness scarflette is darling and will add such a splash of color to your winter wardrobe. And who can pass up accessories in this shopping season, they are your easiest way to extend your wardrobe. Efia even has some handsome man mitts for the guy in your life. We've picked some of our favorites accessories to share with you in our slideshow.
One accessory of the past that I wish had never gone out of style is the pocket watch necklace, or pendant watch. There's something so refined and sophisticated about this vintage-inspired timepiece, dangling elegantly from a chain and worn as a necklace, or placed carefully inside a breast pocket. While watches can also be beautiful, a watch necklace is not only eye-catching, but unique and practical as well. Is there anything else you could ask for from a piece of jewelry? With the layered look still at the forefront of jewelry trends today, a pocket watch necklace frees up a wrist from an everyday watch and allows you to pile on a few more bangles and bracelets. Plus, a pocket watch necklace nestled amongst other chains and necklaces adds interest and texture, giving the wearer a look that's both vintage and modern. Take a look at some of my favorites by clicking on the slideshow!
At the 13th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala the always striking Charlize Theron was a true vision in black. The bombshell paired a sleek leather skirt with a strapless top from the Row, creating a sexy yet sophisticated silhouette. She added touches of color into the look with a red Bottega Veneta clutch, a pair of diamond-accented pumps and a turquoise ring. By taking a minimal approach to the accessories, Charlize kept the look polished and chic and allowed her natural beauty to really shine. A leather pencil skirt is definitely a must-have this season and is super versatile. Wear it with a sexy top like Charlize or tone it down by teaming it with a billowy blouse or a sharp blazer.
I don't care what my credit card statement reads -- I say it's never too early to pick out the perfect New Year's Eve dress (unless you plan to really let yourself go at the dinner table this holiday season -- yikes)! What I'm really loving for the cocktail party season ahead is bustier dresses -- a little reminiscent of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" days (in a cool way, of course), yet updated with more subtle hidden boning, chiffon layers, and fun florals and lace. Bustiers juxtapose conservative structure with a snug fit that without revealing too much, yet unlike an old-fashioned corset, you can actually breathe. Blur the lines between girly and edgy with this studded belt bustier from Forever 21, or go full-on flirty with this floaty strapless sheath by Donna Morgan. Browse through the slideshow for a selection of my favorite 10 bustier dresses!
plain why I squeal with delight when I see these two colors together. I guess sometimes what seems like two fashion wrongs can actually make a big fashion right! And lots of folks agree. Like Jonathan Adler, for instance, who believes there's no better way to banish the blues than with this bright color combination. Or Alexander Girard and so many other designers in the 1960s who married these two tangy shades in home decor and advertising as well as in fashion. Today's slideshow features some outstanding vintage examples of this zesty color pairing, which is like putting on an instant good mood (or enjoying a nice big scoop of rainbow sherbet). Who can possibly stay dreary while wearing something this bright and cheery?
Say so long to pearlescent gunmetal and chromed-out silvers -- matte grey is the hot beauty shade for the chilly season ahead! Matte nails have already taken the beauty world by storm, but now other makeup products are following in hot pursuit! From soft stone gray to rich chalky charcoal, there's something about matte grey that gives the face an unexpected warmer look than the more common frosty silver shades. While I've noticed that grey shadow seems to bring the best out of green peepers, it's hard to find someone who can't pull off a dark slate eyeliner in place of your basic black. Plus, mattifying your lids leaves room for shimmer elsewhere (ie: cheeks or lips) and helps ensure a balance so that your face doesn't end up looking like a shiny disco ball! Watch the slideshow for a series of grey shades to consider adding to your cosmetics collection!
What girl doesnt love handbags? Not only are they practical and necessary, but you can wear them over and over and they are often provide that perfect finishing touch to the look you were going for. When fabulous handbags come at affordable prices, well thats just every girls dream come true and that is why I am loving swell.com. Based in San Clemente, CA, Swell is the # 1 surf apparel website that stocks Fashions hottest styles as interpreted by surfer and other beach inspired lines. I was particularly attracted to the site due to their amazing handbag selection which features the hottest trends- studs, fringe, hobo, embellished, over-the-shoulder, cross-body- at amazingly affordable prices.
Women have been secretly raiding their boyfriends' and husbands' closets for ages now. Finally, fashion has caught on and this trend, though relatively new, has been around for a few seasons which is ancient in the fashion world, and probably means it's going to stick around for awhile. Boyfriend jeans, tees, and blazers have become very popular and it's sure to stick around this fall and winter. With all the extra coverage and layers needed to keep you warm, staying stylish at the same time can prove to be a little more of a challenge. Our boyfriends' closets, with their blazers, cardigans, jeans, and tees, are full or inspiration for staying fashionably cozy this fall, but he'll be wanting to wear his own clothes for the same reasons!
Carrie Underwood has come a long way since her "small-town girl with the big voice" image on American Idol. Lucky for that image of hers, she's ditched the demure deer-in-headlights look and swapped it for an assertive attitude to match her sultry voice. I guess a load of confidence is easy to come by when you have a series of hit singles and Chace Crawford as your former arm-candy! Speaking of exes, in her latest video for "Cowboy Casanova," Carrie hits the saloon, looking stylish as ever, to warn girls about a bad boy's particularly womanizing ways... and shows him a thing or two! Don't forget -- Halloween is officially in the dust, so don't go full-on saloon girl when you try this look. Instead, stick to inspired pieces like a bustier dress, cute leather booties, and feather accents that only hint at Carrie's costume-y video.
When I hear the word velvet I think of three things- red velvet cake, the '90s and Stevie Nicks (not necessarily in that order!). Lately though it seems that velvet has entered my fashion vocabulary in a way that isn't making me cringe -- it's fashion forward, colorful, and surprisingly cool. This fall, the fuzzy fabric goes way beyond the basic little velvet blazer or velveteen rabbit bow headband. Marc Jacobs origami-folded bright yellow velvet into '80s space-age bustiers and dresses. Ralph Lauren gave us neutral toned draped jodhpur pants and Miuccia Prada incorporated hints of velvet into tweed skirts and jackets. If you must go the blazer route, try a different shape like Surface to Air's 'Bleys' jacket or go for a slouchy version like Gryphon's smoking jacket. Alexander Wang peppered his runway show with black velvet, in a super rock and roll way; try the cool oversized vest for a totally unexpected velvet touch.
