Coquette Has Her Eye On Bombako Headbands

imageIt’s no wonder why Gossip Girl brought headbands to the forefront once again, but these headbands by Bambako take them to a whole new level of sophistication. Details such as feathers, beading, and ornate ribbons make these a perfect compliment to any outfit without looking overly embellished or gaudy. For the Fall/Winter 2009 collection, designer Abigail Ricarte wanted to create pieces that were fun, strong, and ultra femme. “This season, I was really drawn to bold statement pieces by playing with different textures and heavy splashes of color in between. I wanted to appeal to a range of girls – from yuppies to hipsters,” says Abigail. And given the variety of her collection, from the glitzy Night in Tunesia to the laidback feathered Oh Hey band, we can’t imagine what type of girl wouldn’t be able to find something she likes! Head over to Coquette for more fall fashion!

LC Lauren Conrad For Kohl’s Appeals To Recessionistas

imageLike most celebrity designers with high-priced items, appealing to the masses has become the latest trend. Target, Walmart and Kohl’s have replaced Bloomingdale’s, Saks and Barneys. Who can afford those anymore? And so celebrities, or their advisers, got smart. Sell your clothes for less in highly trafficked discount stores. Genius! The latest celeb designer to jump on the trendy-for-cheap bandwagon is Lauren Conrad herself. While LC’s casual, Cali-chic pieces used to sell for upwards of $150, her line at Kohl’s, LC Lauren Conrad, is priced below $50. Consisting of laid-back tees, tanks, dresses and jeans, the line is actually pretty nice for casual wear. I even saw a pair of boyfriend jeans for $37! Her line debuted on September 15th in select Kohl’s nationwide and her second collection hit stores October 1st. Head over to WhatsWear to watch as Lauren explains her line and how she got ready for the launch.

Influential International Style: Freida Pinto

imageFreida Pinto is, of course, the notorious sweetheart in yellow from last year’s critically and commercially-acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire.” She wowed in her performance, with her poise being thrust into stardom, and moreover, with her red carpet skills. From her rave John Galliano to her clear penchant for Chanel, the girl can seemingly do no wrong. Channel Freida in your closet by taking advantage of traditional flattering cuts, whether it’s a one-shoulder top, or a nice wide boat neck. Choose jewel tones that flatter your skin tone. Perhaps most importantly, take a risk with embellishment – sequins, lame and bows – and keep it streamlined. No need for the Bedazzler here, folks. Check out my slideshow for some Freida Pinto-inspired fashion!

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The Hottest Homecoming Dresses For $100 Or Less!

imageNow that school has started and you’ve worn all your new outfits and caught up with old friends, rehashed summer memories, and compared schedules with classmates, the excitement of starting a new academic year has probably worn off. It seems like papers, quizzes, and reading assignments are the only things to look forward to now. Wait? Isn’t homecoming right around the corner? I remember the fun chaos that went into planning the perfect night of the biggest school dance of the year (well, except for prom) and plus, it was a school function that let’s you stay out past curfew! Sweet! So first things first, you need to find yourself a charming young man to take you, figure out a ride (is it going to be his mom’s Oldsmobile, or is there a limo in the mix?), then there’s the hair and make-up, and last, but by far not the least … you need to find the perfect dress! The thing is though, this is a high-school dance after all and not your wedding your planning so you may not be looking to blow your entire budget or have your parents take out a second mortgage to find the ideal gown. Let us help you find the best dress for you on your budget! And as long as it’s cute, anything goes these days from traditional floor sweeping gowns to higher hemlines so click on the slide-show to see some great ideas!

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Get The Sexy Nerd Look Inspired By Jenni Kayne Fall ’09

imageJenni Kayne is best known for her classically chic pieces that are a perfect fusion of wearability and edge. For Fall ’09, she added some nerdy touches to her designs, including large rimmed glasses, menswear inspired pants, and boyfriend blazers that look oh-so-cool and perfect for fall. A loose fitting leather mini skirt paired with opaque tights is sexy enough for night, yet the roomy fit and the covered legs make it totally day appropriate as well! Pair the skirt with a bone colored draped tee and a black boyfriend blazer when the winter chill starts to roll in for the perfect sexy nerd look. The final touches? A large wooden bead necklace and some totally sexy nerd round-framed spectacles. Check out the slideshow to see how to get the look yourself!

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The Glamorous And Fashionable Martha Stewart

imageWhen you think of Martha Stewart, what first comes to mind? Probably that she’s a domestic goddess and a bit of a stickler. She’s a go-getter and is good at everything. We’ve always thought she was pretty, but did you know she was once a glamorous model? Tory Burch is currently spotlighting Martha Stewart on her website. Martha Stewart in her younger, most fashionable days. And when you see the pictures, you might not even believe it’s her. Tory writes about the time she went to visit Martha Stewart and saw a wall full of photos from Martha’s modeling days in the 1960s. She says, “It also struck me that everything Martha was wearing in the pictures looks so modern.” And we have to agree. In our favorite photo above, Martha is wearing a perfectly-fitting trench coat. One we would love to get our hands on today. Click on over to our friends at LimeLife to read more about the fashionista side of Martha!

Style Flashback: Rayanne From “My So-Called Life”

imageAdmit it, you secretly loved Rayanne Graff’s quirky, nouveau-hippie threads on “My So-Called Life.” She was the fun, free-spirited Laverne to misery chick Angela Chase’s Shirley, and her offbeat layers (plaid shirts over tank tops) and wild, streaked hair are the epitome of grunge-era style. But how do you make Rayanne’s look modern and chic? To the rescue comes our style expert Brian with some tips on updating Rayanne’s quirky look. Brian says: It’s true, from distressed jeans to slouchy, oversize blazers, designers are partying like it’s 1994. The key to pulling of the look in 2009 is picking pieces that are vaguely reminiscent of the era without being too costume-y. You’ll also want to mix them in with items that feel “now” to keep the look current. This paisley blouse by Candie’s has modern feminine touches (ruffles, a smocked hem) that totally update the retro print. Plus, the rich brown color feels current. Today’s version of Rayanne’s tight acid-wash denim is a pair of dark rinse skinny jeans. I love this pair by McQ. Completely unadorned, they’ll mix perfectly with anything in your closet. Keep your Docs for posterity’s sake, but slip into a pair of slouchy ankle boots like these by Deena & Ozzy. Studded detailing on the harness strap give them a rock and roll feel. The ’90s were all about mixing the formal with the casual (prom dresses with sneakers, anyone?), so top off this look with a pair of elegant drop earrings like these by Pade Vavra. Click on over to our friends at Lemondrop for more!

Influential International Style: Charlotte Casiraghi

imageIf there was one icon I could choose to dress exactly like, Princess Charlotte Casiraghi would be it. The girl has it going on – royal pedigree, killer style, and hey, she’s an editor-in-chief of Above magazine. Her style can be described as classically tailored, yet with a flair for rock and roll details. Whether she’s rocking skinny jeans and boots, and a gorgeous scarf, or making a public appearance in a fabulous black dress with lace detailing, she can make any outfit look spectacular. Having a busy day? Channel Charlotte and pick up your hair in a messy bun, and wrap a scarf like crazy around your neck over a simple t-shirt. Voila! You have a fabulous outfit… and didn’t even have to wash your hair. Check out my slideshow for some style tips from the royal herself! Photo credit: PR Photos

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Tie One On: Vintage Fashionistas Find Multiple Uses for Scarves

imageI tweeted the other day about an Apartment Therapy post that highlighted how beautiful shopping bags can look when framed and hung on the wall. Then today, I spied a lovely shot of a framed Vera scarf that also does double-duty when framed and hung as art. Now if you’re anything like me, you have more beautiful scarves in your drawers than any one fashionista could ever wear and thinking about them as art just may inspire you to bring them a few of them into the light of day. Or perhaps this idea is just the excuse you need to wrap your manicured hands around just one more silk beauty for your collection. Click the slideshow and you’ll find some vintage scarves that can adorn both your jacket and your mantle!

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Stay Comfortably Chic This Fall In Classic Corduroy!

imageWith Halloween and Thanksgiving lurking right around the corner, there’s no denying that the fall season and its considerably cooler weather has descended upon us. There are the basic fall fabrics that immediately come to mind – worsted wool, cashmere, denim blends and finished canvas materials – that automatically make us think warmth and coverage. However, there is one material out there that is perfect for fall and has not received the kind of recognition is deserves- corduroy! This material is thicker, making it perfect for the autumn chill. It’s pliable and can be blended with other materials, much like denim, but it’s even softer. It can come in a variety of colors or a versatile range of garments that are appropriate for casual weekends or to help make a fashion statement for the first weeks of school. Corduroy, unlike denim, can also be used to for pieces that can be considered work appropriate. That brushed wool blazer may seem a little too stern sometimes, but try one in corduroy and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the youthful business look it lends to the wearer. Look for a corduroy with a higher spandex percentage (no less than 2%, but no more than 4%) for a comfy must-have pant that matches everything your favorite jeans do, and more! Just click on the slideshow to see out some corduroy creations to add to your cooler weather closet!

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