Tag Archives: Dress Barn

Fabulous in 4 Ways: Floral Skinny Pants From H&M For Day, Date, Cocktail, & Weekend!

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Just b/c the holidays are mostly over, it doesn’t mean that the glamour has to end. The latest trends in spring fashion are slowly, but surely emerging & this includes floral pants. They’re not just for springtime, especially when there are so many chic & cozy ways to dress up or dress down florals when the weather is still chilly outside.  I’d like to take a look at some celebrity inspiration to see how the A-listers are wearing this trend.

Kristin Cavallari shares her chic maternity style in Joe’s Jeans with a basic black top & blazer to offset the vibrant pattern.  90210 star Shenae Grimes adds some punk flavor to her Alice + Olivia cropped pants with strappy booties & a leather top.  Playing with the same idea is Minka Kelly, whose Dolce & Gabbana floral pants are enhanced by suede peep toe pumps & a bright rectangular clutch.  Singer Lana Del Rey plays up her demure style in Citizens of Humanity pants under her trench coat with embellished ballet flats.  Lastly, Twilight star Kristen Stewart sticks to her favorite designer, Balenciaga, for her micro floral printed pants, paired with a Rebecca Minkoff blazer & a Juicy Couture tank.

Kristin Cavallari, Shenae Grimes, Minka Kelly, Lana Del Rey, & Kristen Stewart.Even if we look to the runways for Spring 2013, you’ll find that there’s plenty of floral on the bottom. Floral isn’t meant just for dresses, skirts, or blouses anymore. It can be an unexpected pop of femininity or juxtapose more masculine pieces for day or evening.  For example, we’ve seen this in collections from Jason Wu, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Lela Rose, Paul & Joe, & Tanya Taylor. Here, complimenting colors in your floral prints can work to accentuate a factor of luxury in your look, especially when it comes to jackets, cardigans, scarves, & heels.

Jason Wu, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Lela Rose, Paul & Joe, & Tanya Taylor. The pants in question for today’s Fabulous in 4 Ways post are the floral pants ($24.95) from H&M. Not only are these an amazing bargain, but I’m convinced that these can be worn in a variety of ways to get the most out of your wardrobe basics for day, weekend, date, & cocktail hour.  These may be a little hard to pull off in the office, depending on what your work dress code is, but for the more casual environments, I recommend a cute blouse & pumps to make your look polished & professional.

First, for daytime when you’re running some errands or meeting with your girlfriends for a casual luncheon (á la Sex & the City), I recommend playing with the colors in the pants, including the ruched panel cardigan ($9.99) in gold from Dress Barn worn over the lurex lace bra cami ($14.99) in true white from Express. When floral pants such as these are the focal point of your look, you can play with textures to add interest, which is why I’ve selected the Kenneth Cole ‘Slip Me One’ flats ($29.97) in red @Piperlime & the easy metallic combo of Forever 21‘s beaded hoop earrings ($5.80).

Keep it cozy when it comes to a weekend look, if you’re headed out to a movie during the day with your beau & then sit by the fireplace eating Chinese food. Yes, that’s what I’d like my weekends to be, which is why I picked the striped sweater with oversized cowl neck ($34.96) in herbal mist from New York & Company to wear with the Brash Zoey riding boot ($39.99) in black from Payless. The mixture of stripes & florals has fascinated me for a while, so when you’re cooped up with your significant other in the house when the weather is on the frightful side, experiment with your looks a little to keep things fresh.  However, if you’re headed out, I love the mix of tassels with the patent textures in the daisy fuentes Gemini studded cross-body handbag ($29.50) in magenta from Kohl’s matched with a little more spring fever in the floral bangle set ($7.80) from Forever 21.

When it comes to date night looks, you always have to consider where you’re headed.  Floral pants may seem busy, but if accessorized correctly, they’re the perfect foundation for a sophisticated & smart look to impress your date.  I picked the teardrop cut-out blouse ($24.99) in black from The Limited, a piece that is sure to make the rounds with other wardrobe staples like a pencil skirt, boyfriend jeans, & leggings.  Of course in skinny pants like these, a pair of DSW‘s BCBG Paris Preena pumps ($29.94) in fuchsia will elongate the legline & won’t be as intimidating as some seriously pointy toe shoes.  For a special finishing touch, I love the colorblocked flap crossbody ($19.80) from Forever 21 & Mixit hematite stone tassel drop earrings ($4.00) from JC Penney.

For a cocktail event, pants aren’t necessarily the first thing to come to mind, especially when a dress is so easy to throw on with some snazzy earrings & killer heels. However, if you’re running around & don’t have time to get that go-to LBD dry-cleaned, you can rely on floral plants to build an evening-ready cocktail look, including the gem collar peplum top ($30.00) in aubergine from Topshop with a built-in jeweled neckline that helps accessorize your ladylike ensemble.  Also, I’ve added the Abrianna heels ($34.99) in bone from ALDO with the sparkling sequin hinge wallet ($9.99) in champagne from Charlotte Russe. Lastly, b/c there’s so much going on in the look already, I didn’t want to bog it down with extra bling, but here’s your opportunity to break out a really fabulous cocktail ring like the affordable stretch oval ring ($12.99) in orange from Target.

Do you own floral pants? Would you consider adding them to your wardrobe? How would you style them? For more styling posts, check out my affordable LBD look, statement rings for under $10, & how to wear a metallic faux leather skirt in 4 ways! Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Work A Holiday Skirt Into Your Wardrobe ($30 & Under)!

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I’ve been turning to heavier textures for my work & can’t wait to start putting looks together for upcoming holiday gatherings too! For me, if I’m not wearing a dress, then you can be sure that I’ve got a holiday-friendly skirt in mind. I love all different fabrics & accents, which is why I wanted to share my five picks to wear without breaking the bank. 

I love a good tweed & houndstooth is one of my favorite patterns & @Dress Barn the houndstooth ponte skirt ($29.50) is a great buy for that transition from day to night by changing up suede ballet flats to studded ankle booties. For an edgier look, you can find the faux leather skirt ($24.95) @H&M, which will coordinate well with lush silk blouses, embellished tanks, & preppy knits for some contrast.

For a more feminine look, break out a softer hue with the solid trimmed jacquard skirt ($22.80) from Forever 21 & try it with this season’s top color, oxblood, with a leather jacket & some textured tights.  For the real party girl, though this isn’t an office appropriate skirt, I love the i jeans by Buffalo feather skirt ($25.00), which JC Penney has just marked down from its original $100.00 price tag.  With such a statement skirt like this, keep your other pieces a little more basic, but work a collar necklace or some stacked bangles in for extra sparkle.  Lastly, Target is one of my favorite stores to shop & the Merona sweater skirt ($26.99) adds a splash of animal print to any lace peplum or sequin top.  The cozy material is sure to be comfortable, while still showing off your flair for fashion. 

 What’s your holiday style? Do you have a go-to look for that upcoming office party? Do you prefer skirts over dress pants? Check out more affordable style tips including the best vests of the season, a great date look for under $100, & the prettiest ways to dress up your nails! Happy Styling!

Basics For A Bargain: Maxi Dresses Inspired By Olivia Wilde, Lauren Conrad, Lily Collins, & More!

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‘Tis the season for maxidresses, which will be staples in your warm weather wardrobe from now even until after Labor Day.  As you can see, there are plenty of celebrities wearing maxidresses in a bunch of different ways.  Belts, beads, heels, flats, & jackets are perfect for accessorizing these flowy floor-length frocks.  First we have Alessandra Ambrosio in a tiered maxidress with a Loewe bag, Beyonce in a printed maxidress with stilettos, Rachel Bilson in a Suno maxidress, & Lily Collins in a Peter Som maxidress.

Also, for some more celebrity-inspiration, there’s Lauren Conrad in a belted Heartloom maxidress, Olivia Wilde in a Yigal Azrouel maxidress, Emma Roberts in an Isabel Lu maxidress, & Nicole Richie in a floral printed maxidress. With all these celebrity images, you can see how a maxidress is perfect for a red carpet event, daytime luncheon, or summer date night.

I’ve searched high & low for the best & most affordable maxi dresses from my favorite stores to share with readers.  In an effort to offer up some variety, I’ve selected trends like colorblocking, animal print, ruffles, & chiffon, as well as patterns like stripes, paisley, & florals. These selections include the cheetah lace maxi dress ($28.99) @Charlotte Russe, the I Heart Ronson striped maxi dress ($32.00) from JC Penney, tube cup feather maxi dress ($29.50) from Wet Seal, paisley maxi dress ($50.00) from Dress Barn, New York & Company‘s floral ruffle maxi dress ($69.95), leopard maxi dress ($27.80) from Forever 21‘s Plus 21 collection, colorblock maxi dress ($25.00) from Target, & flounced racer back dress ($27.80) also from Forever 21.

Which maxidress do you like the best? Where do you shop for maxidresses? How do you like to accessorize your spring / summer looks? Happy Styling!

The $100 Challenge: Two Stylish Spring Looks, Under $100 Each!

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There’s just so much to be excited about this spring & I know I’ve yet to post a complete outfit look! I’m psyched to share these two spring-ready ensembles, which cost under $100 each, hence why I’m featuring them in The $100 Challenge! However, this is a first for the category since I’m sharing with readers a look for Style Darlings who wear regular sizes & plus sizes, which can usually be seen in Darling of the Day.  I’m always encouraging readers to embrace their shapes b/c no matter what you look like, you can always have amazing style!

Let’s start with the plus-size look, which consists of many items from Forever 21‘s Plus 21 line.  It’s affordable & plus-size friendly, featuring casual apparel, as well as dressy duds.  There, you can find the peacock feather print top ($14.80), fringe trim open cardigan ($24.80), sleeping teddy bear shopper tote ($1.50), lace web medallion earrings ($2.80), & night sky bangles ($4.80). I also included the Fantasy jegging capris ($29.99) from Dress Barn & American Eagle Miles espadrille wedges ($19.99) in white from Payless b/c they’re available in wide width for those of you who are troubled by narrow-fitting shoes.  The grand total for this adorable casual & chic look is $98.68!

As for the look on the right, I also did some digging around @Forever 21 & found the striped rose tunic ($17.80) & frayed stripes scarf ($6.80). Then @Old Navy, I choose the crossbody saddle purse ($11.99) & satin covered bracelets ($10.50). To complete the looks, I found the Mossimo Supply Co. capri leggings ($8.00) from Target, Jennifer Lopez silver tone hoop drop earrings ($13.50) from Kohl’s, & Ciao Bella Ballad foldable flat ($19.94) from DSW. The total for this look is $99.03!

I love that both of these looks include pieces that can be dressed in so many different ways with items that we already own in our closet.  try the capris with a three-quarter sleeve button down & some ballet flats.  Of how about the crossbody bag & bangles with printed shorts romper? Oh the possibilities are endless! Which items are your favorites? How would you style these tops & bottoms? Happy Styling!

Inside A Style Blogger’s Closet: Ciao Style Darlings, From Italia!

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Ciao Style Darlings! My time in Italy is coming to an end, but I wanted to share a little something from my trip.

A few days ago the weather was particularly gorgeous, for it being January & all, so I took a stroll along the Arno river, wearing my favorite sweater dress with cable knit panel ($22.50) in green.  Also, I’ve been leaving my footprint all over Florence in my boots from Payless.

Additional favorites include my leggings from Target, as well as flats boots & another sweater tunic.

I should also mention that I’ve made a few trips to the local H&M, finding such affordable fashions, including a green short-sleeved dress. As it turns out the conversion from Euros to U.S. currency wasn’t pro-budget, but there were dozens of other sale items that I’m bringing back with me from the international retailer.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is my travel day, & then I’ll be waking up on Sunday back on Long Island, reacquainting myself with all the shoes in my closet that I’ve been missing.

Hope everyone’s having a stylish 2012 so far! Ciao! Happy Styling!

Inside A Style Blogger’s Closet: My New Year’s Eve Look At Half Price!

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My New Year’s resolution is to post at least one blog everyday.  I think at some post during 2011, I convinced myself that I could do two a day, but sometimes life threw other obligations in my way & that didn’t happen.  However, let’s start the new year off on the right high-heeled foot.

I wanted to share my look that I posted about a few nights ago, including the foil print laser cut sheath dress ($35.00) that I bought at half price from Dress Barn on Friday- the day before New Year’s Eve.  Then, on Saturday, my bestie, Rosie, & I hit up the mall for some great end-of-the-season deals to find ourselves a nice sweater & belt to complete our looks for the two separate venues in which we were attending festivities.

My belt was from New York & Company, priced right for under $20.00. However, the belt is not available on the store’s website, but I had been seeking to find something with a basic patent leather face, perfect for cinching me in at my smallest point, especially since the dress was so fitted. Also, I wanted to find something that I could also wear to dress up a more casual item that I’d wear for work. The shawl collar cardigan ($17.80) in black was a great purchase from Forever 21, especially b/c Rosie was looking for a similar style for her dress.  Low & behold the only two on the rack were in our sizes.  We snatched those puppies up & headed to the cash register.

Also, the black opaque tights were a Dress Barn purchase & what I loved was the control top on them, which was just enough to flatten out what needed flattening.  Lastly, I gifted myself the satin bejeweled peep toe pumps some time ago from Forever 21.  I recently wore them to a friend’s wedding with this dress from White House Black Market, so I knew they were comfortable for a night out in celebration of the new year.

What did you wear when the ball dropped?  Are you heading out to the stores now to catch end-of-the-season deals?  Happy 2012 & Happy Styling!

Inside A Style Blogger’s Closet: A Last-Minute New Year’s Eve Invite = A Last-Minute Dress Barn Deal!

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Things are starting to look up for 2012 for this particular Style Darling.  Why, you ask? Last night, I was invited to attend a New Year’s Eve celebration, which prompted a fury of online dress scouring since I realized that all of my current dresses hanging in my closet were bought mostly for work, since I do like to look polished & trendy at my 40/hr a week job. I knew there were a few go-to stores to check out, but I was trapped in my cubicle, with only the guidance of the computer in fron of me.  I clicked through a flurry of websites, including New York & Company, JC Penney, White House Black Market, H&M, Forever 21, & Dress Barn.  Keeping in mind that I’m supposed to be on a budget since my departure for Italy is in less than two weeks, I had to find a great sale price for a lovely dress to ring in the new year.

I immediately fell in love with the foil printed laser cut sheath dress ($35.00) @Dress Barn, which was originally $69.99.  What’s even better is that I have a good rapport with the employees at the local Dress Barn, which I ran to during my lunch hour.  The ladies hooked me up with some black opaque tights since I didn’t want to venture out with bare legs on the chilly December evening.  Also, I was given a special rewards card to earn points for discounts on future purchases, as well as a great discount on the already reduced merchandise.

Since the festivities will include seeing a rock band perform, I’m thinking that I ought to dress down the sparkly number with a cute jacket or cardigan & some fierce gladiator-inspired shoes. Also, I’m thinking about adding a belt across the middle of the dress, just to help cinch in my waist.  Once I put my whole look together, I’ll try to post some pictures since I’m so exicted that I found such an amazing deal on such a flirty dress!

What are your plans for this Saturday night?  What are you going to wear? Have a happy & safe New Year’s!  Happy Styling!

10/6/11 Darling of the Day: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Isabel Marant Fur Vest, Burberry Aviators, & More Affordable Style!

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What better way to start off the fall than with a fur vest?  AND whenever I talk about fur, it’s always faux fur!  As soon as I saw Rosie Huntington – Whiteley‘s look while strolling through Beverly Hills on In Style, I knew this was going to be a Darling of the Day post!

The Victoria’s Secret model sports a casual white tee under an Isabel Marant fur vest with skinny jeans, Burberry aviators, gray booties, & a tote by Alexander Wang.  This is the best sunny day look as the seasons are changing, mixing your favorite basic tee & clean skinny jeans with fall favorites like booties & a vest.

To get this look, take a top like the kiss tee ($24.50) from Victoria’s Secret, which can be paired with a leather mini skirt or cigarette pants with a bib necklace or hoop earrings.  Skinny crop jeans ($44.99) from Gap can easily go from day-to-night by switching up wedges with knee boots or a tunic top with a dolman blouse. @Forever 21, this very affordable vest ($37.80) is perfect to also make an LBD & gladiator sandals a little more edgy or with a maxi dress & cowboy boots!

As for my plus-size Style Darlings, check out the white slub tee ($16.99) from Dress Barn, Forever 21+ distressed skinny jeans ($24.80), & an I.N.C. sleeveless faux fur vest ($39.99) from Macy’s.

My favorite part of this whole look is the gray faux leather shooties ($29.00), which can be found at Old Navy, marked down from $32.94! They look just like a beloved pair that I bought from Payless a few winters ago!  Aviators are everywhere & the silver & black pair ($5.80) is cool, timeless, & sporty. As for a bag, @H&M, this spacious shoulder bag ($17.95) in rich golden brown is a functional & fashionable option to carry around all your favorite belongings.  It’s neutrality is what you need for a day-to-day basis & it’s the ultimate piece to rely on when jet-setting around the globe any time of the year!

All the pieces can be alternated with so many other excellent pieces in your wardrobe, so investing in skinny jeans, booties, & a vest like this makes for so many different looks!  For more on Rosie, check out Basics for a Bargain & Red Carpet Review.  Also, to get more dish on how to dress like a celebrity, check out previous Darling of the Day posts featuring Jessica Biel, Anna Paquin, & Kristen Stewart! Happy Styling!

Basics for a Bargain: Slip Into A Sweater Dress with Inspiration from Angelina Jolie, Nicole Richie, & Cameron Diaz!

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It’s fall, which means that it’s time to take out your favorite knits & sweaters.  The easiest way to start your outfit is with a sweater dress, both comfy & chic.  I’m on the prowl to get one for myself, now that I’ve discovered that I too can wear leggings!  Like it was really such an epiphany lol! Anyway, you have your basic black dress, basic cocktail dress, but what about your basic sweater dress?  You can pair it with tights & knee boots, or flat boots & a crossover bag, a scarf & sunglasses, or some opaque tights & a belt.

To get a little inspired for this basic, I’ve found a slew of famous faces donning the very fall-forward look.  Cameron Diaz slipped into a Bottega Veneta with color Jimmy Choo sandals at the premiere of Knight & Day last year.  Heather Graham sports a black & white striped Diesel turtleneck sweater dress with metallic pumps. Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta Jones wore her gray sweater dress with leggings, a short-sleeved cardigan, slouchy boots, & a scarf while running errands on a chilly November day in New York City.  Lauren Conrad attended an event for Kohl’s in her black sweater dress with matching gladiators, by LC by Lauren Conrad.  Nicole Richie also did some self-promotion wearing her own House of Harlow 1960 ankle boots & a dark green sweater dress at a signing for her book, Priceless.  Angelina Jolie enjoyed a night out in Manhattan, wearing a navy cableknit sweater dress by Loro Piana with Salvatore Ferragamo knee boots.  And way back in 2006, Eva Mendes was super stylish, wearing this Max Azria turtleneck sweater dress with killer brown knee boots & stunning silver cuff bracelet.

These seven sweater dresses will instantly update your dress collection for the season & impeccably show off your figure!  @Macy’s you can find this Style&co. sweater dress / cableknit tunic ($26.98) in espresso.  The ‘Happy Place’ black & taupe sweater dress ($49.00) from Lulu’s is a little more sexy & wild for a sweater dress, but with the right black tights & black patent leather pumps, you’ll look fierce in this 80’s-inspired dress! The third pictured above is the one I want!  I’ve never actually bought anything from Dress Barn, but this cabled sweater dress with envelope collar in fern ($39.99) best represents my style in the form of a sweater dress!  The neckline is modern & flirty, but the cableknit calls on everything I love about preppy style.

I thought it was fitting to find this next dress @Forever 21, which is a burgundy ‘Angelina’ sweater dress ($27.80), since I featured Ms. Jolie up top. The matching belt is super cute & allows for its wearer to mix it up with something in leather.  The dress is also available in cream for the same price.  While clicking around my favorite store, White House Black Market, I saw that the black bateau neck sweater dress ($29.98) was marked down from $100.00! I should warn my readers before clicking that it is only available at this time in size: XL.

As for my fuller figured Style Darlings, I went nuts when I saw the ivory cabled sweater dress ($49.00) @Dress Barn, which I definitely want for myself, but it’s not available in my size.  This would look very chic with a gold belt & metallic ballet flats for a day at the office, or spice it up with something red for the upcoming holidays.  Also, the gray ruffle front sweater dress ($64.90) isn’t necessarily a bargain @Avenue, but is sold in sizes 14-28. It’s professional enough for work, but dressy enough for a special occasion dinner with your beau.

Check out my previous Basics for a Bargain posts, featuring classic items like leather pants, pencil dresses, & more! Do you have a sweater dress?  Where did you get it? Would you wear one of these sweater dresses?  Which celeb looks best in a sweater dress?  Happy Styling!