Basics for a Bargain: The Plaid + Statement Necklace Combo for Fall, Inspired by Katy Perry, Rachel Zoe & More!

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Alissa

My posts are a bit far & few between these days- I’m working on my grad thesis, but that hasn’t stopped me from being inspired to expand my wardrobe & accessories choices this fall. The season is certainly in full swing & I’m thinking about my cozy / glam look for Thanksgiving. I have the plaid + statement necklace combination on the brain, especially since my statement necklace obsession is at its peak. Who wouldn’t be too? There’s so much inspiration every time I check out my favorite celebrity style blogs & Pinterest, when style stars are winning the statement necklace game. This includes the always flawless Olivia Palermo, The Honest Company founder Jessica Alba, pop star Katy Perry, The Real cohost Adrienne Bailon, the fearless Rihanna, former Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester, model Amber Rose, & stylist / designer Rachel Zoe.

I couldn’t NOT share some of my favorite street style images from Pinterest, which have inspired this latest post. There are so many different color combos & metal choices to wear when considering plaid & jewelry. The pairing instantly dresses up a work look, makes date night a little more flirty, & mixes up your weekend favorites for a more glamorous options.

It was tough narrowing down which plaid shirts & statement necklaces to select & feature, especially when I have a budget in mind for my readers & savvy shoppers who are looking for affordable fixes to any wardrobe rut. Also, I was eager to select a variety of jewels like rhinestones, beads, or pearls to coordinate with varieties of plaid shirts for any body type. Style knows no size, after all!

SHOP: 1. classic plaid flannel shirt ($22.00, was $26.94) in red tartan @Old Navy (available in sizes XS – XXL) & bib necklace ($14.90) @Forever 21, 2. vintage wash plaid shirt ($29.95) @Love Culture & statement necklace ($16.99) @Charlotte Russe, 3. Attention plaid shirt ($15.39, was $21.99) @KMart & coin fringe necklace ($6.99, was $12.90) @Wet Seal, 4. plaid shirt ($38.50, was $55.00) in blue @Avenue (available in sizes 18-32) & leaf necklace ($10.40, was $12.99) @Target, & 5. plaid button down shirt ($40.00) in black / white @Dress Barn (available in sizes 1X – 3X) & Apt. 9 pearl necklace ($13.99, was $24.00) @Kohl’s.

If you’re still stuck on how to style this already seemingly busy pairing, what with some major bling over a pattern, think about basics that are not only rich in texture, but luxe in hue. Tuck your plaid shirt into slim bottoms like a pencil skirt or your favorite dark denim skinny jeans. Since fall is all about layers, try out a faux fur vest in a neutral or stylish jacket to reinvent your ensemble.

SHOP MORE: 1. side split midi skirt ($25.50) in burgundy @Missguided, 2. high waist skinny jeans ($69.50) in indigo @LOFT (sign up for emails & get 40% off), 3. faux fur vest ($26.97, was $54.00) in black @Nordstrom Rack, & 4. crepe jacket ($24.99) in red @H&M.

Which plaid & necklace combination speaks to your style? Which celebrity’s statement jewelry game inspires you? For more stylish posts, check out budget-friendly earrings inspired by Jennifer Lawrence & Angelina Jolie, Olivia Palermo’s cover shoot for Holt Renfrew’s new site, how to get Victoria Beckham’s menswear look for less, & Louis Vuitton’s The Spirit of Travel campaign starring Michelle Williams & Alicia Vikander. Happy Styling!

Cover Craze: Olivia Palermo Channels Victorian Style as Holt Renfrew’s Debut Muse!

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Alissa

The world’s style crush / obsession on Olivia Palermo is stronger than ever, & what better way to celebrate the modern-day style icon than continue to feature her impeccable fashion sense in the debut feature for Holt Renfrew, not a print magazine like I usually feature in Cover Craze, but an online magazine premiering with Olivia. The photoshoot was inspired by fall’s best Victorian-inspired pieces, from designers & labels like Altuzarra, Manolo Blahnik, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloe, Self-Portrait, Valentino, & Michael Kors, as well as beauty brands that furnished Olivia’s look including Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford, Nars, & more.

The article features Olivia’s own words about her where her flawless style comes from, her goals for the ever-changing world of fashion & technology, as well as her personal work ethics in building her brand.

What do you think of Olivia’s elegant photo shoot? Do you follow her fashion lifestyle on social media? For more posts featuring Olivia Palermo, check out her recent jewelry collaboration with BaubleBar, as well as red carpet looks in chic leather overalls, a Tibi tuxedo dress, & a stunning Valentino gown. Also, get inspired by a 300+ image gallery of Olivia’s street style & special occasion outfits. Happy Styling!

Show Me the Shoes: Affordable Fall Flats for the Office, Inspired by Emma Stone, Victoria Beckham, & More (Dedicated to Christine)!

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Alissa

I love getting inspired about fashion when chatting up my friends, & today’s post is no exception. My dear friend Christine, styling it up in New Jersey, recently shared her concerns about finding comfy, yet stylish flats for the office & my brain went spinning with inspiration. Given my crazy day-to-day schedule between two jobs & grad school, I’m constantly on the go, which also means that my collection of flats has grown exponentially with fashionable possibilities for a chic, professional look. To get started, I sought out some images of the best dressed A-listers wearing elements that make up a great work look, especially with a fall wardrobe on the brain.These celebrities include: Angelina Jolie, Camilla Belle, Emma Stone, Emmy Rossum, Jennifer Lopez, Karlie Kloss, Mandy Moore, Olivia Palermo, Pippa Middleton, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, & Victoria Beckham. Flats are certainly not a cop-out, adding a little extra splash of femininity against a cardigan & shirt pairing, sleek menswear look, blouse & trousers ensemble, & sheath dress.

And for some affordable flats to amp up your office style, consider a few elements for an interesting look: pattern, texture, & shine, which will also help transition any Style Darling from day-to-night, as well as date & weekend.

SHOP: 1. loafers ($14.99) in navy @H&M (also available in black, camel, hot pink, & gray), 2. boucle pointed flats ($15.00, was $25.99) in black & white @Charlotte Russe, 3. stud flats ($15.00) in black @Wet Seal (also available in burgundy), 4. pointed patent flats ($19.90) in black @Forever 21 (also available in nude), 5. Gigi flats by Christian Siriano ($24.99, was $29.99) in wine @Payless (also available in black & taupe), & 6. lace pointed flats ($34.90) in black @Express.

What do you wear to work? What details do you look for when it comes to flats? Where do you shop for your favorite office footwear? For more stylish posts, check out affordable plaid accessories for fall, florals to wear this season from New York & Company & Hollister, capes & ponchos inspired by Gwen Stefani & Jamie Chung, & Olivia Palermo’s BaubleBar collaboration. Happy Styling!

Accessories Access: Mad for Affordable Plaid Extras This Season!

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Alissa

Plaid is the perfect print for fall, calling to match up your menswear style with sleek separates & luxe textures. Celebrities have been on the plaid train for a long time now, & it couldn’t look any better on the following A-listers: Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Alba, Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, & Hilary Duff.

Easy ways to add some plaid to your wardrobe without breaking your budget is to invest in accessories to wear with a variety of looks. Plaid goes against classic staples like a button down shirt & skinny jeans, a sweater dress & knee boots, as well as a lace blouse with a pencil skirt. Anyone of any age can rock plaid, & here are some affordable accessories to get you inspired to build that street style-ready fall look.

SHOP: 1. poncho ($37.99) in black / white @Necessary Clothing, 2. shawl ($39.99) in stone @ModCloth, 3. France Luxe headband ($20.00) in navy / green @Nordstrom, 4. Remington headband ($5.00) in red plaid @Target, 5. scarf ($12.90) in navy / green @Forever 21, 6. scarf ($12.99) in yellow checked @H&M, 7. Volcom pixie tote ($30.99, was $45.00) in red @6PM, 8. Croft & Barrow wristlet ($24.00) in black / white @Kohl’s, 9. Kelly & Katie pump ($39.95) in multi @DSW, & 10. flats ($12.00) in black pattern @Wet Seal.

When it comes to plaid, amp up your look with a little luxury, playing up your jewelry style based on the colors in your plaid. The richest colors include navy, green, burgundy, rust, burnt orange, gray, & purple, which are easy to find in stud earrings, decadent ear crawlers, statements necklaces, cuffs & bracelets, & cocktail rings.

SHOP: 1. Helen Pavé square studs ($14.00) in navy @Francesca’s, 2. stone ear crawler ($7.99) in gray @Target, 3. faux stone cocktail ring ($6.90) in green @Forever 21, 4. enamel hinge bracelet ($20.96, was $29.95) in burgundy @The Limited, & 5. spirit beads necklace ($20.00) in light orange @Charming Charlie.

How do you like to wear plaid? What’s your favorite accessories for fall? What jewelry do you find works best with plaid? For more posts, check out fall floral separates for every size, affordable capes & ponchos for any body type inspired by Gwen Stefani & Jamie Chung, Olivia Palermo’s new jewelry collection for Bauble Bar, & Sienna Miller’s three-piece menswear outfit for less. Happy Styling!

09/30/2015 Darling of the Day: Sienna Miller’s Three-Piece Jacket-Shirt-Jeans Outfit for Less!

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Alissa

Sienna Miller has had one stylish year, killing it at the Cannes Film Festival, & every red carpet she hits. The actress recently lent her support to the 2015 Social Good Summit where she mixed up fall’s best with a chic menswear look in a striped button-down shirt by Frame Denim (shop here) with black skinny jeans, a beaded black tweed Chanel jacket (shop similar here @Nordstrom), & black patent Mary Jane chunky heels (shop similar here @Saks Fifth Avenue). Get inspired by her menswear take with these affordable look-alike items, playing with texture, print, & layers for Style Darlings on a budget & any size.

SHOP: LOOK 1: textured scuba zip-front jacket ($40.00) in black @Dress Barn (shop plus size here), tartan plaid pocket shirt ($17.90) in black @Forever 21, original skinny jeans ($25.00, was $29.94) in black @Old Navy (available in sizes 00-20), chunky ankle strap heels ($24.99, was $46.00) in black @Cato, LC Lauren Conrad filigree ball stud ($10.00) in gold @Kohl’s, & GUESS enamel crystal ring ($13.50, was $18.00) in gold / black @Macy’s. LOOK 2: textured knit zip-front jacket ($40.00) in black / white @Dress Barn (shop plus size here), gradated stripe shirt ($22.90) in white / black @Forever 21 (available in sizes XL-3X), curvy skinny jeans ($25.00, was $29.94) in black @Old Navy (available in sizes 00-20), Gabriella Rocha ‘Sutton’ mary jane heels ($35.99, was 59.00) in black @6PM (available in wide width), Apt. 9 square stud earrings ($8.99, was $12.00) in rose gold @Kohl’s, & GUESS multirow crystal stone ring ($15.00, was $20.00) in rose gold @Macy’s.

Do you like Sienna Miller’s fall menswear look? How do you like to layer separates for fall? Where are you shopping for fall’s best trends? For more posts, check out previous posts featuring affordable looks inspired by Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, & Emily Ratajkowski, as well as the complete red carpet gallery from this month’s Emmy Awards. Happy Styling!

Ad Madness: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s New Campaign for Paige Denim!

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Alissa

Model / actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is always on point when it comes to red carpet looks, street style, & when she’s working it on the runway & on camera. As the face & body of Paige Denim, the humanitarian for UNICEF & AIDS research advocate, continues to take the fashion world by storm with the brand’s newest campaign for fall denim. The collection includes plenty of leather outerwear, classic button down shirts, henleys & pullovers, printed jackets, & cozy knits, all of which will inspire your fall style.

PopSugar reports: “The supermodel, who collaborated with the brand’s founder Paige Adams-Geller, showed up to their initial Fall 2015 campaign meeting with shots of Kate Moss’s iconic model off-duty looks all over her Pinterest board. That served as the inspiration for the Autumn shoot, where Rosie worked with celebrity stylist Cher Coulter to channel Kate’s rock-and-roll appeal — a fitting tie-in for the brand’s new lineup of seasonal denim and its first collection of outerwear.”

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for Paige Denim 03