Dec 31

Influential International Style: Kate Lanphear

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imageOh, to be Kate Lanphear! The acclaimed senior fashion editor at Elle and style icon to all urban girls everywhere manages to take grey and black and combine them, twist them, and surprise you with a few basic ingredients. Seriously, just do a quick Google image search – you’ll see Lanphear in jeans, t-shirts, blazers, and cashmere, and always looking chic. She’s a serious reminder that a minimalist closet can take you very far. Just stock up on a few key pieces and you’ll be on your merry way to super-star style status. Though Lanphear prefers Alexander Wang, Aussie Lee Supa Tubes jeans, and Balenciaga, there are definitely ways to achieve a similar look in your price range! Check out my slideshow for some starter pieces to an awesome style! Photo Credit: The Sartorialist

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Dec 31

Spaced Out: 10 Finds Inspired By The Moon, Stars, And Beyond

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imageThere’s water on the moon! Or, well… there’s molecular evidence of its presence. Which doesn’t sound nearly as exciting as “water on the moon,” but still somehow caused me to launch (ha) into a frenzied search for things trendy, wearable, and above all, covered in rockets. And stars. And planets! Interestingly enough, there were plenty of pieces to suit my craving. Tsumori Chisato’s bespeckled tights in cream are so whimsical with their teensy rockets and astronauts, I want to gaze at them all night (instead of staring out of my window). Leifsdottir’s silk sky print skirt is adorned with planets and a single ruffle, and would be so perfect with tights and a wool jacket. And the ‘Stellae’ necklace from Anthropologie satisfies my need for both a statement piece and something out of this world. Not so sure about wearing a galactic getup? Swipe some of Too Faced’s Galaxy Glam eyeshadow (Super Nova is my favorite) on your eyelids and take your smoky eye routine from smudged to stellar. See more space-inspired picks in my slideshow!

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Dec 31

Stylehive’s Stylescopes Show That Accessorizing Is A Cinch!

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imageIt’s no news that nowadays belts are more about fashion than function. Gone are the days that belts should only be discreet and embellishment-free for maximum waistband-cinching without the buckle bulges. Now they’re all about accessorizing, bedazzling, shaping looser ensembles, or even adding pops of color to otherwise drab monochrome outfits. So with all the stylish choices in the realm of belts, how does a girl choose? Look no further than Stylehive’s Stylescopes to see what kind of waist-hugger is written in your fashion future! Geminis can ditch the chunky jewelry and dress up an LBD with a hammered gold belt for some flash, and the Virgo gals can hop on the chain trend and toughen up a girly dress with this multi-strand silver belt. Take a look at the slideshow to see what kind of belt will make your sign’s next outfit!

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Dec 31

Real Leather Jackets For Under $250!

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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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Dec 31

Style Flashback: Lisa Turtle From ‘Saved by the Bell’

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imageJessie Spano was the brains and Kelly Kapowski was the beauty, but it was Lisa Turtle who had all the style. Saved by the Bell‘s resident style expert and gossip queen was sassy with sophisticated taste — heck, she was even accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology on the show’s finale. But could we pull off her over-the-top look? To the rescue with some tips on making it work: our in-house fashion expert Brian. Brian says Lisa’s wild style is back in a big way with graphic fit-and-flare dresses and light-wash denim jackets. Turn down the volume on her high-intensity style by sticking to tamer prints with fewer colors. Check out more of Lisa Turtle’s style by clicking over to our friends at Lemondrop!
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Dec 31

The Reluctant Givers’ Gift Guide

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imageEveryone has ’em: people who you’d prefer to send a gag to rather than a gift. The busybody mother-in-law. The frenemy who’s somehow firmly entrenched in your crew of friends. The jerky coworker you happen to draw in the Secret Santa pool at the office. Or maybe it’s the awkwardness that comes along with gifting someone you’ve just started dating. Manners dictate that you not overlook them on your holiday list yet how do you shop for people who, plain and simple, are unavoidable thorns in your side when it comes to gift giving? I recently attended celebrity stylist Robert Verdi’s guide to holiday gifting event, and got some inspired ideas for those one or two difficult someone specials that fall on everyone’s list. Check out the slideshow for suggested gifts and tips!

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Dec 31

College Candy Presents 8 Under $20: Old Navy!

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imageFor many of you, school has already begun or will shortly, which means new additions to the wardrobe are necessary. Woohoo! But you don’t have to spend a lot to update that 2008 fall wardrobe. Old Navy is a great place to get cute basics at super reasonable prices. Just pair these items (many of which are on sale!) with the trendier items/accessories in your closet for a brand new look. Here are a few pieces I found that’ll be great for the upcoming months:

Jeans: Jeans are obviously a wardrobe staple in every college girl’s closet, but sometimes we need a little variety. I say that every gal needs a cute pair of khakis. You can wear them with a polo, a basic button down or a tee. I totally love the green of these ones. They’re a little different, but still totally neutral so you can wear them with just about anything!

Cute Tops: I’m really digging the cut and print of this shirt (though they also have it in solid colors if print’s not your thang). But what I really heart about this tank is that you can wear it on its own before it gets too cool and also rock it under a boyfriend blazer for those chillier days.

To see these great items and more at a great price, click on over to our friends at College Candy!

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Dec 31

Keep Your Noggin Warm With Our Top 10 Earmuffs And Berets

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imageIf you’ve ever visited or lived in a big city, then you know that there are a variety of characters one can encounter on the streets. My way of avoiding most of the unsavory individuals out there is to put on big headphones and blast some Lady Gaga. That way, my ears are warm and I avoid being bothered. But there are times when I don’t feel like listening to music AND I’m freezing to death. That’s where a nice pair of earmuffs and a chic beret come in. Earmuffs can be made with anything from cozy cashmere to faux fur. You can wear them with the slouchy berets I’ve found and if you don’t want to do double duty, just pull down the beret to cover your ears! I’m in love with the Oversized Button Beret found at Free People. For earmuffs, my choice would be a pair of Unisex Ear Muffs from American Apparel. Check out my slideshow to see all the goodies that will keep your ears and head toasty.

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Dec 31

Cold Weather, Short Shorts?

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imageYes, it may seem rather silly to wear shorts in winter, yet it’s so brilliant! I think it’s especially funny since I don’t particularly like wearing shorts in summer, yet there is something about layering the shorts over tights and wearing them with boots that make the seem more modest and less beach-bound teenybopper. But to do this trend right, you can’t just simply throw on your lightweight summer shorts over tights and expect it to work. Choose a winter weight fabric that’s appropriate for the season like wool or tweed for day or silk, leather or sequins for night. The one pair of shorts that can make the cross over? denim cut offs. They have a great rock and roll Erin Wasson feel when layered with legwear and cozy sweaters. Once you have your shorts picked out pick out a base layer like opaque tights, or get try some of this season’s patterned or embellished tights for a little something extra. On top, the more layering the better, and definitely play with proportions. A micro mini short looks great with a looser sweater or top while a more fitted knee length trouser short needs something a little more fitted like a sharp little jacket or coat (extra style points for a blazer with strong shoulders). Check out the slideshow to see some of our top picks that will show off your legs even when temperatures drop.

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Dec 31

Go Wild With A Faux Fur Vest This Fall!

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imageMy favorite boho-chic models and celebs like Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and of course Rachel Zoe have all been seen throughout the years wearing fur vests. A fur vest is a fun trendy piece to keep around to add a little punch to an otherwise boring jeans and t-shirt outfit. I’m always tempted to buy one for myself, but I’m skeptical about the vest making me look chic rather than like a bulky Eskimo. It also doesn’t help that I don’t agree with buying fur when plenty of faux fur options are available. So I got to searching for animal and cruelty-free fur vests that look like the real deal and found tons at every price point. Trust Urban Outfitters to have a super shaggy fur vest for only $88. If you’re looking to splurge, go for the Gryphon Rocker Vest with eye-catching metallic beading at the neckline. For more faux fur vests, check out my slideshow!

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