Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SWIM Runway: Cia.Maritima

imageWell, if someone’s gotta bring the Latin flavor to the Mercedes Benz SWIM runway, it might as well be Brazilian beachwear designer Cia.Maritima! The show started off relatively slow, giving us a glimpse of some undoubtedly unique yet demure-looking prints that resembled a sort of desaturated stained glass pattern. However, things slowly began to simmer with the introduction of vivid ombre string bikinis and how-long-can-you-go bottoms, and then reached an eventual boiling point with the parade of barely-there leopard, zebra, and python-printed ensembles that left everyone feeling hot, hot, hot! Don’t get me wrong, the runway wasn’t all a parade of skin and snakeskin. The designer wowed with an impressive array of coverups in every cut and color — full-length tunics, sexy sarongs, flowing mini and maxi dresses, and even a pair of silky sheer pants. Take a look at some of the highlights in the slideshow! Photo Credit: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

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Lo Bosworth Dishes On Style And The New Season Of The Hills!

imageLo Bosworth’s most memorable quip about fashion may be “I have not found a cute white dress, like, ever. They’re all trashy and tacky.” This, of course, was spoken right before the screen cuts to a shot of Kristin Cavallari in a clingy sleeveless eggshell number (meow!). Die-hard watchers will remember that infamous scene from Season 1 of “Laguna Beach,” where we were first introduced to much of the cast that now makes up “The Hills” milieu. Now, it’s been five years… has Lo managed to ever find a decent white dress? “I have!” she laughed during our interview last week. “I just got a great white shift dress from Topshop that’s beautifully decorated with little black beads all over it. White doesn’t really do great things for me from behind, though.” Her candidness and reversal of judgment demonstrate a lot about her. Loyal but level-headed, the Laguna/Hills star may have strong opinions but isn’t inflexible about viewing them from another angle. It’s that same distinct yet laidback quality that also marks her personal style, which I happen to love — easy yet elegant. Her wardrobe must-haves? “I like to really combine high-end with low-end stuff, especially things that are more ‘evening’ with others that are more casual,” she shares. “[My style] is a good representation of a lot of LA fashion, and fashion just in Southern California: jeans, an amazing leather jacket, and a great blouse, purse, and heels… it’s a good look: casual and just easy.” I also asked Lo about stylists (she doesn’t use one and puts her looks together mostly on her own), favorite designers (Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Lanvin), and beauty obsessions (her new Shu Uemura sheer orange lip gloss). So will Lo, who’s just been given FLING Chocolate’s first-ever “Best Fling” honor for “her confidence in being naughty, but not that naughty,” be getting up to any trouble on the new season of “The Hills?” “For the next few episodes of the show, you’re going to see me moderating between a lot of people. I try not to get too involved in the drama and be the calm between the storms!” Let’s see: that’s “moderating,” “drama,” and “storms” all in one description. Yep — sounds like “The Hills” is back! Tune in to MTV for the season premiere on Tuesday, September 29 at 10pm! Photo Credit: PR Photos

Buzzworthy Deals From B*fly, Tobi, And Urban Outfitters! Plus, Free Movie Tickets!

imageToday’s Buzzworthy Deals aren’t your typical list of savings and steals- we’ve thrown in free movie tickets too. Interested? Read on to find out more!

Take 20% off your purchase of $100 or more at Urban Outfitters with code GIFTED, online only through 12/15.

Take $50 off your $200 purchase at Tobi with code 50OFF200.

All B*fly apparel and accessories on Bluefly are 20% off!

Universal Pictures invites you to a free advance screening of It’s Complicated, starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Just RSVP here to get yours! They’re available on a first come, first served basis, with showings starting Dec. 9th and ending Dec. 15th. The movie comes out on Christmas, but here’s your chance to see it before everyone else!

Check back Thursday for more Buzzworthy Deals.

Meet Manolo, Mingle With The Olsens, And Party With Opening Ceremony At Fashion’s Night Out!

imageAny fashion week brings with it a slew of star-studded parties, but next month’s spring 2010 shows in NYC will be ushered in by an absolute extravaganza- Fashion’s Night Out. The September 10th event will feature everything from model and celebrity appearances to in-store events and meet and greets, and of course, shopping! It’s being put on by Vogue, the CFDA, NYC & Company, and the City of New York, with the idea that engaging the city in the fun and excitement of fashion and shopping will restore consumer confidence once again. So what can we expect? For starters, Anna Wintour will appear at Macy’s in Queens (wow, who would’ve thought) to sign t-shirts (again, wow), Andre Leon Talley will host a game at Bergdorf’s. Coco Rocha will be doing a special performance at DKNY, Sasha Pivovarova will be showing her art at Henri Bendel, and it-girls like Harley Viera-Newton and Alexandra and Theodora Richards will be DJ-ing about town. Want more? Manolo Blahnik will hold a meet-and-greet, Oscar de la Renta will sing, Opening Ceremony is having a block party, and Chanel will have a customized handbag studio! Still not excited? Mark your calendars: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will be bartending at Barneys– is it bad that I want someone to order a black and Tanner? For more information on Fashion’s Night Out, including the festivities in other cities around the world and a more complete list of events, go here!

Steal Her Style: Blake Lively’s Summery Hamptons Look

imageBlake Lively is one of the most stylish starlets in Tinseltown — and she doesn’t work with a personal stylist. The outfit she recently wore to QVC’s Super Saturday charity shopping event in the Hamptons was molto bene and perfect for a breezy summer day. Blake paired a form-fitting white mini by Herve Leger with a tailored blue-and-white-striped Oxford, and the classic preppiness of the shirt balanced the raciness of the eensie-weensie skirt. She finished the look with a pair of brown patent round-toe pumps and a long chain necklace. Here’s how you can get her look for way less, courtesy of Lemondrop!

1. Elizabeth and James Schoolboy Shirt: This menswear-inspired shirt features ruched sleeves and back buttons to keep it looking fitted, not boxy. $264
2. Forever 21 Cut Off Denim Skirt: A crisp white skirt like this can be worn to a daytime BBQ or as an impromptu beach cover-up. $20
3. Matisse Pump: A thick wooden heel and shiny patent upper combine to make this pump a true eye-catcher. $42
4. Sequin Long Chain Necklace: Add some funky style to a more classic look with a fun, tiered chain necklace like this gorgeous silver version. $40

A Better Bargain: DAY Birger et Mikkelsen ‘Star’ Leather Riding Boots

imageDAY Birger et Mikkelsen is the brain child of lead designer Michala Weisneck, who fuses luxury with the modern and functional tailoring inspired by a Scandinavian aesthetic. The Danish brand launched in 1998 and is influenced by Asia, along with the glamour of vintage fashion and a whimsical twist for good measure. Weisneck honed her design skills at Christian Lacroix, Cacharel and Christian Dior before going to DAY Birger et Mikkelsen. What we love most about DAY Birger et Mikkelsen is the gorgeous styling and the reasonable “Frugalista” prices. A pair of leather riding boots for $300? We couldn’t believe it. Apparently neither could many other shoppers since the ‘Star’ leather riding boots in black are sold out at Net-a-Porter. We did find the ‘Star’ boots are available in brown at my-wardrobe.com for $260. To see more, click on over to our friends at TheFind!

Bib Necklaces: Definitely Not Child’s Play

imageBib necklaces have been around for many seasons now, but it seemed like the Fall 2009 runways like Marni, Marc Jacobs, and Dior were filled with these eye catching necklaces. And who could forget the amazing Fred Leighton bib necklace Amy Adams wore at the 2009 Academy Awards! Bib necklaces can be found in all shapes and sizes so it’s easy to find one that can match your mood or personality. While I’ve found some in the $800 range at Saks, there are plenty of under $100 options that make this trend totally accessible. The Stellae Necklace is a subtle and bling-less take on the bib necklace, or you can go all out with the Jet/Crystal Bib Necklace. Wear your bib necklace when it’s just a jeans and t-shirt day for a touch of glamour or with a strapless gown for maximum impact. Take a look at my slideshow for more showstopping bib necklaces, and remember, these won’t help when you’re enjoying your lobster!

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Real Leather Jackets For Under $250!

imageOh, the leather jacket. Never before has one piece garnered so much attention in the “save or splurge” category. You know the pros and cons of each by now, so let’s jump ahead to a much more exciting debate: real vs. faux leather. Faux leather is usually easy to distinguish from real, and a faux jacket can run you anywhere from $40 at Forever 21 to almost $200 at Urban Outfitters. While there are gems to be found, my guess is you’re giving up either quality fabric (not that good faux leather doesn’t exist) or quality construction– two things that can make or break your purchase. Real leather jackets, while often considerably more expensive, are generally going to be of a higher overall quality, regardless of the material, so if you plan on wearing your jacket regularly for more than one season, you may want to invest in the real deal. I’ve found several real leather jackets that retail for less than $250, and if you can dig up a coupon code or are brave enough to play the game known as “I’ll wait ’til it goes on sale,” you can snap one of these up for quite the steal. The trick is to look in places you may not normally frequent! So-called “mom brands” like Ann Taylor, Eddie Bauer, and Jones New York happen to have gorgeous leather jackets that easily rival the trend pieces you’d see in any high-end shop– at about a third of the price. Click on the slideshow to see them all!

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Bag Of The Week: The Matt & Nat Santogold Bag

imageI can’t decide what I love most about this bag: the trendy zipper details, the convenient interchangeable straps, or the fact that it’s totally affordable! Since I’ve been working on my holiday wish list, I’ve totally got my eye on the Santogold Bag by Matt & Nat. Its pebbled texture and exposed zippers give it an edgy feel while the pleating details give it a “naughty but nice” sort of vibe. Plus, it’s the perfect size for tucking under your arm, and with its interchangeable straps, it’s got the versatility of a clutch, shoulder bag, and cross-body all in one! Oh, and did I mention it’s totally green, too? Made from glazed PVC with a pocketed interior lining made from recycled plastic bottles, you won’t be feeling any guilt from Mother Nature.. or your bank statement!

What: the Santogold Bag by Matt & Nat
Price: $185
Where to Buy: Shopbop
Who Found it: xgalexy was the first to add the Santogold Bag to the Hive!

Karmaloop Introduces Cassius Eyewear!

imageCassius Eyewear is now available at Karmaloop.com! Super cool sunglasses brand Cassius caters to the ultimate fashionista. Oversized, lightweight and comfortable, these glasses are form-fitting and sit fantastically on the face. They bring an element of class and sophistication to your look with their great shapes and vintage feel. Styles to look out for are The Maher, The Gehry, The Lautner and The Nouvel. Get yours at Karmaloop.com.

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