Tag Archives: Luxury Look-Alikes for Less

3/26/2013 Darling Of The Day: Copy Drew Barrymore’s Spring-Ready Look By Alice + Olivia & Rag & Bone!

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During an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Hollywood’s glamorous flower child, Drew Barrymore, hit the stage all smiles in a rag & bone Hillary blouse ($395.00) & Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet 5-pocket skinny jean ($198.00). The actress & wine entrepreneur looks youthful, on trend, & ready for spring in this outfit, which features some really famous & acclaimed luxury brand names in fashion today. Spending that kind of dough on separates can work if your main focus is quality, but for the rest of us, we can admire Drew’s polished & flirty look with similar separates that cost less & can mix well with other wardrobe staples any time of the year!

First, I picked the Merona pintucked long sleeve blouse ($16.08) in black Target, which is availble sizes XS – XXL. Not only will wearing this lightweight blouse look great with a patterned pant, but consider this for dressing up a denim skirt, headed to the office in a leather pencil skirt, or want to keep a monochromatic rocker look with liquid leggings & pointy toe heels. Also, I’ve been raving about floral pants for quite some time now (& really patterned pants all together), as seen in previous posts including Ashley Madekwe in Mulberry, pieces from Rihanna’s debut collection for River Island, must-haves for your spring break vacation, & Diane Kruger’s Stella McCartney look. Here, I’ve selected two pairs of floral pants from Forever 21, including the Aloha floral ankle pants ($22.80) & plus size rose print skinny pants ($24.80), which share a cimilar color scheme to Drew’s. Not to mention that these feminine flower-power bottoms will look darling mixed with a striped top & cork wedges or a polka dot peplum top & peep toe pumps, if you’re daring to try something new!

For more celebrity-inspired posts, check out Marion Cotillard’s return as the face of Lady Dior, Nikki Reed’s embellished blouse look for less, Beyoncé’s debut ad for H&M, & behind-the-scenes with Katie Holmes for her Allure cover shoot! Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Studded Loafers By Jimmy Choo Vs. Forever 21!

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During my recent ventures out & about, discovering the trends for spring, I was surprised to see that menswear-inspired loafers had made a comeback, but with Style Darlings like Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, & Kirsten Dunst spotted in them, I knew this trend wasn’t going away. I’ve yet to add some loafers to my shoe collection, but details like studding over a suede surface seem to be the most popular. I was pleasantly surprised to find these shoes at so many different price point & knew that I just had to include it in my latest Luxury Look-Alikes For Less post!

I’m certainly not endorsing the disappearance of ballet flats, but I love the idea of mixing such a masculine shape to feminine pieces, like a silk blouse & lace shorts or to dress down an LBD with a blazer & colorful tights. Today’s selection includes the Jimmy Choo wheel studded suede loafers ($475.00) in black from Neiman Marcus, which is of course a hefty price to pay for shoes, but if you’re looking for the quality of a luxury brand, by all means, break out the big bucks. However, for those like me who are always shopping on a budget, I recommend the studded canvas slip-on loafers ($24.50) in black from Charlotte Russe, which are also available in white, yellow, pale blue, & pink to fulfill all of your loafer needs. Not to mention that if you’re shopping in a Charlotte Russe store & have a student ID (high school or college), you can earn an extra 10% off your purchase (some exclusions may apply).

Loafers seem to be the best way to transition your wardrobe from winter to spring & I’m sure when we’re headed from summer to fall, the same will apply. Also, the studding embellishments add an extra metallic accent & will contrast nicely with lace, leather, or printed separates in your look. Are you on board with the loafer trend? Would you consider adding this style to your current shoe collection for spring? For more shoe-related posts, check out affordable shoes in emerald, Kate Moss for Stuart Weitzman, behind-the-scenes with J. Crew’s Jenna Lyons, & my favorite new stilettos from Forever 21! Happy Styling!

3/22/2013 Darling Of The Day: Nikki Reed’s Embellished Blouse Look For Less!

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This week, actress Nikki Reed, of The Twilight Saga fame, hit up Justin Timberlake‘s Target-sponsored release party for his latest album, The 20 / 20 Experience, in a long-sleeved white blouse with stud embellishments on the collar, curve-hugging black skinny pants, towering platforms, & added a bright pop of color with a turquoise clutch. Her look is hitting all the right notes here & I love the simplicity in her menswear-inspired outfit with some trendy touches that any Style Darling can pull off. The prove my point, I went seraching for similar items to complete an affordable outfit that a woman of any size can sport.

This includes the pyramid stud collar blouse ($22.80) from Forever 21, as well as their plus size studded collar Georgette top ($24.80), which is available in sizes XL – 2XL. Both of these tops can work perfectly with a textured pencil skirt at the office, under a blazer with leather leggings for a girl’s night out, or with dark denim jeans & ballet flats for a chic day out on the town. I turned to Old Navy for the bottoms & happily found the Diva skinny jeans ($29.50) in Black Jack, which are sold in sizes 0-20, with short, regular, & tall inseams, & in different washes including dawn, authentic, & rinse. Of course we know that the darker the wash, the better the look, but I’m always excited to share Old Navy’s selection in sizes when it comes to staples like skinny jeans!

As for shoes, I included two options: the nubuck platforms ($24.70) in black from GOjane, as well as Payless‘ Brash Kosmic platform pumps ($24.99) in black, which is a wide width option for those who have difficulty fitting in narrower shoes. I also added two clutch bags since I wasn’t able to find a studded match for the one that Nikki carries, but I loved the contrasting textures & color combination found in  Duro Olowu‘s snakeskin foldover clutch ($30.00) @JC Penney, as well as the simplicity of a patent exterior with Charlotte Russe‘s textured patent envelope wristlet ($12.99) in teal.

Lastly, the final touch to this look is Nikki’s rings which are always a fun way to accessorize any outfit, especially when there are so many subtle details like the collar & on the bag, which is why I thought the Jennifer Lopez silver tone simulated crystal stack ring set ($16.80) from Kohl’s was a good investment if you like to mix up your digit decorations.

While the combination of pieces comes to just over $100, this is still an affordable look inspired by a celebrity on the red carpet. For more red carpet fashion ideas, check out previous posts including the latest Top 10 Celeb Sightings gallery featuring Stacy Keibler & Jessica Alba, neon looks as seen on Beyoncé & Kristen Stewart, the ladies of Oz the Great and Powerful on their stylish press tour, & a complete look at this year’s Oscars red carpet! Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Diane Kruger’s Floral Print Stella McCartney Pants Vs. Under $25 Forever 21 Picks!

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While searching around the web for some blog-spiration, I was reminded of my post back in December about the super cute floral pants from H&M & how I styled them in Fabulous In 4 Ways. Then I saw a look posted on InStyle of Diane Kruger‘s recent appearance in Berlin for the premiere of her French film, Un plan parfait. She looked nothing short of chic & feminine in this vest & floral pants, both by Stella McCartney. I decided to find out how much they were since I’d been seeing the floral pant trend, especially in black & white, so popular for mainstream shopper son a budget. I soon discovered that they retailed on the official Stella McCartney website for $925.00, made with 100% silk.

It didn’t take me long to see that I just had to feature these amazing pants in some way, but I knew that as a budget shopper, I had to turn it around, which is when I headed over to Forever 21 & found the floral print pants ($22.80), available in sizes X-Small – Large, as well as the rose pattern trousers ($24.80), available in sizes 12-20. You can certainly get a lot of use out of these pants, no matter how much you pay, considering that they’re perfect for a blazer & bright blouse, feminine with a peplum top & peep toe pumps, or even great for a day with a turtleneck & ballet flats.

How would you wear these pants? Do you like the floral pant trend? Would you prefer a colorful print over the black & white? To shop Stella McCartney designs, you can find the luxury brand sold at Net-A-Porter, ShopBop, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, ASOS, DSW, Saks Fifth Avenue, & Harrods.

For more affordable fashion posts, check out my new shoes from Target for under $10 each, a first look at Lauren Conrad’s latest spring collection for Kohl’s, yellow dresses & pieces inspired by Taylor Swift & Anna Kendrick, & how to wear winter white dresses like Nicole Richie & Kerry Washington! Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Black & Gray Patterned Cardigans from Bloomingdales & Forever 21!

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I know I haven’t posted any of my own outfits on here yet, but I will & when I do, you’ll be seeing a lot of cardigans! It’s probably my favorite finishing piece to a look.  Some may say that cardigans are frompy or for old ladies, but I love that they’re more delicate than bulky jackets & come in so many different forms.

I saw the C by Bloomingdale’s Fair Isle open front cardigan ($152.00) @Bloomingdale’s & loved the color combination, but it was out of my price range, even though it had been marked down from $190.00. This is something so effortless to wear with a basic pullover & my favorite dark denim jeans on a fall afternoon running errands.  I even love how the picture is styled with a long pendant necklace- exactly what I would wear!

However, since we’re talking about patterned cardigans, I have to bring up the black & gray knitted geometric cardigan ($34.90) from Forever 21.  At first glance I thought the two sweaters were identical.  Alas, they are not the same, but since I love wearing black & gray during the cooler months.  Don’t ask me why, I think it makes me feel warmer!

Both can be worn to add some texture to an outfit of a silk shell & pencil skirt, or wide leg trousers with a turtleneck.  There’s over $100.00 worth of savings between the two items, money that can be well-spent elsewhere, don’t you agree?

What do you think of cardigans?  Do they regularly rotate in your wardrobe?  Which would you wear?  Which would you actually buy?  Take a look at the last Luxury Look-Alikes for Less post, featuring Alexis Bittar vs. Jennifer Lopez for Kohl’s earrings!  Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: The Black Peep Toes from Payless That’ve Lasted Me All Day!

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I haven’t been loyal to any daily readers out there b/c I failed to post a blog for the day, but it’s still Wednesday & I’ve got a little time left & a little something to dish on.  See these shoes here?  I wore them all day today, from 8:30am until 10:00pm.  Of course my work day consisted of a lot of sitting time in my cubicle & then I drove back & forth to Southampton (1hr – 45min each way), so I’m cheating a little bit here. You dan’t deny that that’s a long day of the same pair of heels & I can’t complain one bit about how my feet feel!

I posted their red companion in a Quickie Darling Deal & Steal blog last month about suede shoes @Payless & I’m definitely kicking myself for not getting the red pair when I had the chance.  The sturdy heel & knot detail just scream a little bit Marilyn Monroe & they’re just so easy to add to just about any look.  Back in April, as seen in a Luxury Look-Alikes for Less posting, I was lucky enough to score the nude pair, which have lasted me all summer & into fall so far! They’re by far, my sexiest, most classic looking heels for when I want to be polished, but playful at the same time!

Right now these Fioni ‘Kutie’ knot platform pumps are on sale for $19.99, marked down from $27.99.  If you’ve got too many black shoes & are looking to spice things up with an unexpected pop of color, the navy ones are also on sale.  However, the black is only available in both regular & wide width sizes.

I wanted to share these b/c they were so stylish to go with my work outfit, consisting of a knee-length abstract print black & white pleated bubble skirt that I paired with a patent red Nine West belt & wore a tucked in black tissue tee to help show off my shape.  On top, I finished off my look with a white short-sleeved cardigan & went about my work day, earning a handful of compliments on my ensemble.  After, when I was headed to an Open House @SUNY Southampton for their MFA program (cross your fingers, I applied for the spring), I wanted to sit more comfortably in my car during the long, rainy commute.  So I changed into my dark denim bootcut jeans & a sparkly black long-sleeved cardigan over my untucked tee.  Somehow I had the time this morning to think of bringing my silver & gold braided belt to complete the very dark look.  I feared for the safety of my peep toes b/c it was raining pretty heavily, but now I’m home & they’ve withstood the elements successfully!

Do you have a pair of go-to comfortable heels?  Do you have any Payless stories?  Would you buy & wear these?  Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: The Big Jewelry Post Featuring Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, & More!

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Who doesn’t love fashion jewelry?!  For starters, the real thing is fabulous, but when you can find luxury look-alikes like these, who’s thinking about dropping some serious dough?

During my search, I came across these blue-stone hoop earrings.  One pair is $695.00 @Bergdorf Goodman, whereas the other comparable pair is sold @Kohl’s by the Candies label for under $10.  These are the perfect pop of color to bring out any eye color, especially with a boldly printed maxi dress, or if you’re sporting a ruffled blouse & skinny jeans for date night!  Next, if you’re looking for animal-inspired accessories, check out the Ikat bangle by Kate Spade from Neiman Marcus, however it runs $128.00, whereas the white leopard option is a mere $5.80 @Forever 21.  If you’re wearing solids like a sultry red, or a bright cobalt mini dress, here’s where animal prints work best in your accessories.

If you’re into two-finger rings, a la Gwen Stefani’s Rock Steady phase, check out what designers Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen have designed for their label, Elizabeth & James.  The sea urchin two finger ring costs $175.00 @Bloomingdale’s, but is comparable in the rock star chic sense to the Candie’s crystal two finger ring from Kohl’s for $11.20.  Lastly, I wasn’t intentionally looking to feature a second pair of earrings, but I couldn’t get over how similarly these drop earrings are & just had to make room for them! Between Nordstrom & Forever 21, both pairs show off gold tones, but vary in price from $4.80 all the way up to $262.00!  These are the perfect finishing touches on a look with upswept hair or a messy ponytail!

Check out our previous Luxury Look-Alikes posts for more great affordable ways to recreate these stylish finds!  Is there a piece that you’re looking for, but can’t find for less cash?  I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best to try & find it!  Happy Styling!