Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Leopard, Metallic, & Rhinestone Flip Flops For Summer!

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Alissa

Memorial Day marks the start of summer for retailers & everywhere you look, cut-off shorts, maxi dresses, & swimsuits are invading the racks at some of my favorite stores. Also, you’ll find plenty of flip-flop options, including ones with leopard print, metallic finished, & rhinestone details, which are perfect for mixing & matching with a variety of summer staples. In my search to share some of the best deals, I couldn’t help but see these trends all over, including at luxury department stores by big brand names. Of course, my goal here is to find the most affordable picks, & that it’s so easy to find look-alikes without breaking the bank.

First, I love the look of animal inspiration for flip-flops, which can work with a polka dot shorts romper, neon bathing suit, or blouse & mini skirt look. That’s why I found the Sam Edelman Gracie flat sandal ($60.00) from Neiman Marcus, & compared it to the American Eagle Twinkle flat flip-flop ($7.99) from Payless.

Next, @Steve Madden, you can find the Sandstrom flip flop ($49.95) in platinum, but you can also achieve the metallic look with the faux leather thong sandals ($8.80) in silver from Forever 21, which are also available in black, gold, & rose. Also, dress up your flip-flops with a little sparkle, as seen with the GUESS flip-flop sandals ($49.00) from Bloomingdale’s. However, for your next barbecue or beachside getaway, check out the rhinestone strap jelly flip-flop ($14.50) in black from Charlotte Russe, which is also where you can score the Buy 1 Get 1 for $12.50 deal on footwear!

Which is your favorite flip-flop trend? How do you like to wear flip-flops? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out the best maxi skirts of the season, 7 must-have sale items for under $100, & a sneak peek at 3.1 Philip Lim’s collaboration with Target! Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Seven Must-Have Sale Items For Under $100!

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Alissa

Now that I’m in the throes of dual employment, it’s become clearer than ever to be conscious of what investments I’m making in my wardrobe. I always love to find end-of-the-season deals on sale, especially when they feel like brand new pieces the following year. However, I’ve been seeing a lot of cute separates & accessories that I’m eager to mix & match on these cooler spring nights, into the summer, & eventually include for some fashionable fall outfits. Making tiny purchases here & there are easy on your budget & can really change the way you reinvent old favorites.

Recommended sale items include Dress Barn‘s shimmer stripe sweater ($19.00) in silver, which is perfect for over a maxi dress with ankle boots, or how I recently wore it with leggings & sparkly ballet flats. Also, the Just Chic tee ($7.99) from Forever 21 is exactly what it advertises to be; try wearing this with leather skinny pants & a bold boyfriend blazer, or to dress down a peasant skirt & gladiator flats. I’m always one for a cute skirt, which is why I’ve included the striped jersey pencil skirt ($12.99) in blue from Old Navy. It’s casual enough to wear for brunch with a pullover & a denim jacket, but it can also be worn with a blouse & belted cardigan.

My favorite piece is the Drew dotted cuffed ankle pant ($22.49) from The Limited, which mixes spring’s trendiest fabric, chambray, with the always-classic polka dot print. These will pair well with a nautical-inspired top in stripes or a neon embellished blouse. Affordable accessories include the faux suede colorblock flat ($13.95) in red from GOjane, jewel drops diamondite stretch cuff ($9.25) from Claire’s, & the snakeskin embossed metallic skinny belt ($13.93) in ivory from Express.

The total for these pieces is under $100, ringing in at $99.60, which is quite the bargain! How would you style some of these pieces? What sale items are you eyeing? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out the details behind 3.1 Phillip Lim’s latest collaboration with Target, Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop jumpsuit look, spring-ready cardigans for under $25, & stylish shirt dresses for any size! Happy Styling!

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

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Alissa

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!

Show Me The Shoes: Crisscross Stiletto Sandals From Forever 21!

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Alissa

Retail therapy has been proven to cause endorphins of joy, feelings of success, & stress relief (or so I’ve heard & experienced), which is why women often turn to shopping in times of need. This little Style Darling apologizes for the inconsistency in new blog updates, thus breaking my New Year’s Resolution for sharing posts with readers everyday for 2013, but while I’m coping with the hardships behind a broken heart, I’m eager to get back on the horse & try to find some inspiration, even if it’s just in a pair of shoes. When clicking around the web, I found myself on the Forever 21 website & came across the crisscross stiletto sandals ($29.80) in black, tomato, & citron.

Of course these colors range from basic to flirty to bold, but they can work for a variety of occasions, including a night out with the girls in a sheath dress, with skinny jeans & a blouse for a weekend luncheon, or for happy hour cocktails with co-workers when you want to slip out of your regular office attire & into something more casual, yet dressed up. I’ve never been one to add a lot of texture or coverage over my ankles, fearing that it would cut off my legline, but I’m really drawn to the juxtaposition of a really sexy, slim heel that will emphasize any feminine outfit, especially with a rear zipper & faux suede outsole. The strong & edgy feel will sharpen any menswear-inspired pieces & can work for any season. Naturally, neons are big for spring & summer, but if you’re into a classic shoe, there’s always a sleek black pair.

What do you think of these shoes? Which color would you choose? Do you like the crisscross detail? How much do you like to spend on shoes when shopping on a budget? For more Show Me The Shoes posts, check out affordable footwear including how to wear flats, heels, & booties with a graphic tee, my latest shoe purchases from Target, Christian Siriano’s latest arrivals for Payless, & Rachel Zoe’s collaboration with ShoeDazzle. Happy Styling!

Ad Madness / Show Me The Shoes: Kate Upton’s Latest Campaign For Sam Edelman Shoes!

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Alissa

Model Kate Upton has been making headlines for breaking the rules of high fashion lately. The voluptuous Sports Illustrated model has recently scored a campaign deal for shoe designer, Sam Edelman, because photographer David Lipman says that “she isn’t thin,” according to WWD. While modeling strappy heels & sitting in a scattered sea of ballet flats, the blonde looks nothing short of amazing, certainly capturing “the spirit of youth & vitality.” Prices for the collection range between $60.00 – $150.00. To shop Sam Edelman shoes, check out Zappos, Nordstrom, 6PM, Heels.com, DSW, Bloomingdales, & Dillards.

For more celebrity ads, check out a behind-the-scenes look at Beyoncé’s Pulse NYC fragrance, Kate Hudson’s return to Ann Taylor, Raf Simons’ debut for Dior, & Natalie Portman’s Miss Dior Le Parfum commercial. Happy Styling!

Show Me The Shoes / Watch This Style: See What Shoes The Celebs Like Sofia Vergara, Selena Gomez, Rachel Zoe, & More Wore For InStyle’s Golden Globes After Party!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Alissa

So we’ve seen what the stars wore on the red carpet for this year’s Golden Globes, but it was at InStyle magazine’s after-party where the stars shared an exclusive peek at their shoes, including brands like Roger Vivier, Jimmy Choo, Casadei, Charlotte Olympia, Brian Atwood, & plenty more. The video includes interviews with nominees Sofia Vergara & Julia Louis-Dreyfus, celebrity stylish / designer Rachel Zoe, tween powerhouse Selena Gomez, the multi-talented Julianne Hough, Twilight actress Nikki Reed, British import Thandie Newton, Sucker Punch star Jena Malone, former One Tree Hill regular Sophia Bush, a neon-clad Michelle Monaghan, blonde beauty Malin Akerman, Smash sensation Megan Hilty, & Homeland star Morena Baccarin.

Which celebrity wore your favorite dress & shoe combination? For more posts featured in Show Me The Shoes, check out Fergalicious clearance items @DSW, affordable flats for under $25, & where to buy pointy toe heels inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker, Katie Holmes, & more! Happy Styling!

Show Me The Shoes: Fergalicious Flats On Clearance For Under $20 @DSW!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Alissa

Whenever you’re shoe shopping in the clearance or sale section, you’re likely to run into that problem of “They don’t have my size,” since an item is older & there’s less availability. Well, I can’t make any guarantees for DSW‘s stock, but I was clicking around & found that there are tons of shoes on clearance, for as low as under $20, which is how I started my search. I could post about high heels until the end of time, but sometimes, there are just some flats that just step right into my heart, including the ones I’ve featured by Fergalicious.

This includes the Alana zig zag flat ($19.94), which can be worn with any basics look, adding a flair of print & personality with the color combination. Also, the Alana leopard flat ($19.94) is a must-have. I love animal prints & this can really help transform some essential pieces like a black button-down & pencil skirt to a chic work look, especially when adding a metallic belt & an embellished cardigan. However, my favorite is the Alana zebra flat ($19.94) since the black & white pattern is my favorite & I’d love wearing them with a purple sheath dress & black tights, or leggings & a chunky knit tunic sweater. Lastly, add a little sparkle to your shoe-drobe (get it? shoe + wardrobe!), with the Alanis too flat ($19.94) in navy. They’re also sold in black multi & grey, perfect for staying comfy in a sheath LBD with a statement necklace or some bangles.

Which flats are your favorites? Do you ever find great deals on clearance? Now is the time to shop for great end-of-the-season bargains & to help you out, check out previous posts, including up to 70% off on the Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection @Target, 40% off on pajama sets from Victoria Secret, & bargain outerwear inspired by Claudia Schiffer & Gwen Stefani! Happy Styling!

Runway Rundown / Show Me The Shoes: The Entire 106 Piece Fall 2012 Collection By Nicholas Kirkwood!

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Alissa

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I talk about a lot of shoes here on Style Darling, but this is the biggest shoe gallery I’ve ever shared with readers- on top of this being my 600th post! As I was happily surfing through Facebook & Twitter today, I came across a link to Refinery 29 which included a 106-image slideshow gallery of designer Nicholas Kirkwood‘s Fall 2012 Collection of shoes. The line ranges in sandals, pumps, flats, & wedges- each sleek, flirty, fierce, & sexy for a variety of occasions. Here’s a chance for you to check out the latest trends in fall styles, including platforms & towering high heels that can match perfectly with so many colorblocked, solid, printed, or textured looks for the upcoming season.

For more shoe posts, check out Show Me The Shoes, including Lela Rose’s latest for Payless, Christian Siriano’s loafer pumps, & Prada’s fall runway shoes @Neiman Marcus! Happy Styling!