Inside A Style Blogger’s Closet: New Year, New Bargains from LOFT, Target, & More!


One of my resolutions for 2015 includes spending less money on my wardrobe, mostly because I just don’t have as much space as I’d like for all of my favorite shopping finds. In a last stitch (no pun intended) effort to grab some must-haves, I asked Santa for a few essentials & picked up some great buys with all of the post-holiday sales / coupon deals.

Inside A Style Blogger's ClosetSHOP: rose garden cardigan ($49.99) @LOFT (extra 60% off sale styles – no code needed), belted chevron dress ($46.00) @Dress Barn (code 687 for 20% off in-stores), Xhilaration tights ($6.00) in burgundy @Target (5% off when you use your Target Red Card), & Chelsea flat ($19.99) in silver / gold @Payless (code 251458739 for 15% off, expires 1/4).

What bargains are you shopping for this season? Which stores are you hitting up for post-holiday deals? For more stylish posts, be sure to check out the Top 10 Style Darlings to Watch For in 2015, Oscar de la Renta’s Pre-Fall 2015 Collection, 365 best dressed looks from 2014, & bargain-priced scarves from Forever 21. Happy Styling!

Accessories Access: How To Style The New Warby Parker Fall Collection!


New York Fashion Week (#NYFW) is upon us (certainly my favorite time of year), but what’s also exciting is to keep an eye out for the newest collections at our favorite & affordable retailers that don’t preview their designs on a traditional runway. I know when it comes to accessories, I generally lean toward scarves & jewelry, but one important & oh-so fashionable accessory for both men & women is a chic frame of eyeglasses- especially styles from Warby Parker‘s new fall line of eyewear. Hey, guess what? It debuts today! Sporting frames just because you have to is a thing of the past! However, a brand like Warby Parker is a long-awaited trendy gift for those of us with eyes needing assistance. I’ve been wearing glasses for over 20 years & was psyched when I was approached by the company to showcase the new styles right here on Style Darling

Warber Parker collection

In getting to know the brand a little better, I learned so much & was especially impressed with the company’s target unisex audience: “those who own their style, exercise their wit, & add life to the party. Personality is what makes a good pair of glasses great.” Not to mention that investing in one of these 9 new styles (in titanium & acetate), you’ll be investing ($95.00 for a single vision pair) in a good cause since Warby Parker donates a pair of glasses to someone in need with the help of their partnered non-profit organizations. Click here for more info on this very worthy cause!

When I got a good look at the promotional shots & different styles, my blog-ready brain was eager to pair up some of my favorite designs with outfits for various occasions. This includes a relaxed day look for when you’re running errands & an evening outfit, á la Zooey Deschanel‘s lovable character, Jess, on New Girl. Also, I must share my vision for wearing chic frames to the office, as well as when you’re headed out of town for a weekend getaway of luxury & style!

Warby Parker - Hardy Striped Pacific Day Look

My first outfit can be easily recreated with basic wardrobe staples so that the Hardy frames in striped pacific can be the star player. Keeping  a budget in mind, I choose a short-sleeve bike graphic tee ($14.99) in blue from JC Penney & Old Navy‘s flirt skinny jean ($22.00) in eyre. To top off the look, I love the luxe feel of the zippered faux leather moto jacket ($24.80) in camel from Forever 21. Additional accessories to finish off the outfit include the American Eagle ‘Boulevard’ brogue flat ($16.99) in cognac from Payless, Freemont zipper tote ($29.98) in black from Francesca’s, & the Jennifer Lopez textured concentric hoop drop earrings ($13.50) from Kohl’s.

Then switch things up in the evening with a blend of timeless pieces that can be mixed & matched with other separates, especially when paired with the 80s-inspired Coley frames in crystal. This includes the ‘Gorgeous Gems’ dress ($21.99) from Modcloth (now 70% off), cotton slub moto jacket ($39.00) from Dress Barn, & buckled faux suede booties ($29.80) in light grey from Forever 21. For some extra flair, since the Coley frames offer so much versatility, I styled the look with the Mossimo Supply Co. stud belt ($14.99) in grey from Target, a super cute novelty cat wallet ($14.95) in black from H&M, & lastly, Charming Charlie‘s fair & square earrings ($6.00) & big bash stretch bracelet ($10.00) in silver.

Warby Parker - Coley Crystal Night Look

 

For a professional & polished look when headed to work, I immediately thought of the Oliver frames in striped olive. The hue is spot-on for fall, & perfect for coordinating with neutrals like black, navy, chocolate, & charcoal. I was excited to style these frames with Dress Barn‘s solid cowl neck tank ($19.50) in olive, Jaclyn Smith’s tuxedo style knit jacket ($13.99) in black onyx from KMart, LOFT‘s ponte trouser pencil skirt ($69.50) in black, & DSW‘s Franco Sarto ‘Mumba’ pump ($29.94) in black.

Warby Parker - Oliver Striped Olive Work Look

Accessorizing when it comes to work looks can be tricky, especially when you want to impress your boss & colleagues, which is why I simply added the braided chain bracelet ($9.97) from New York & Company & the diamond texture full tights ($16.03) from Express. Both mixed metals & textured tights are staples for any fall wardrobe & allow for a sophisticated layered & interesting overall look.  

Warby Parker - Annette Petal Tortoise Weekend Look

Finally, my absolute favorite new design in the Wary Parker collection is the Annette frames in petal tortoise, which immediately makes me think of spectacle-wearing icons of old Hollywood. These are perfect for the weekend look since they capture the playful side of any Style Darling. I started building the outfit with the patterned cotton shirt ($29.95) from H&M, Old Navy‘s sweetheart gray super-skinny jeans ($34.94) in mudcave, & the Rocket Dog ‘Sayla’ vintage worn boots ($49.95) in mushroom from Zappos. For such a minimal outfit, I wanted to dress it up with some elegant & effortless accessories, which is what a weekend look is all about. For example, the gauzy crinkled infinity scarf ($9.99) from Charlotte Russe works well with the colors in the shirt. Also, I haven’t shared anything with pearls & here’s my chance with the pearl hinge bangle bracelet ($34.00) from BaubleBar & Ann Taylor‘s modern pearlized triangle studs ($29.50) in gold.

And since we’re still on the topic of glasses, I wanted to share some more notable designs in the collection, for their shape, colors, & androgynous appeal:

Warby Parker Fall Collection frames

The above styles include (clockwise, starting at upper left) Baxter Ti in sugar maple, Chandler Ti in English oak, Durand in whiskey tortoise, Greenleaf in woodgrain tortoise, Annette in striped sassafras, & Eli in crystal.

And if looking like a real life Clark Kent or the (insert your hometown here)-equivalent of Tina Fey isn’t enough, here are a few other incredibly attractive famous people to help inspire your frames fetish for fall! Whether you’re trying to recreate a vintage look, sport some menswear inspiration, or play with different trends, eyeglasses are a must-have, as seen on actress Anne Hathaway, musician / singer Alicia Keys, No Doubt frontwoman & fashion icon Gwen Stefani, R&B crooner Ne-Yo, mega hottie Ryan Gosling, & talented boy-next-door Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Neyo, Ryan Gosling, & Joseph Gordon Levitt.

Which frames are your favorites? How would you wear some of these new designs? What trends are you most looking forward to during this season’s fashion week? Who are your favorite spec-donning celebs? For more fashionable posts, be sure to check out Emma Stone’s Venice Film Festival looks, buzzworthy music videos from Iggy Azalea & Nicki Minaj, shoe inspiration from Tom Ford, & budget-friendly skirts as seen on Chrissy Teigen & Lily Collins. Happy Styling!

P.S.: Thanks to Warby Parker for the exciting opportunity to form a marriage of stylish eyewear with Style Darling! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Fierce Tights From Fred Flare!


I realize that I’ve posted lots about tights & stockings, but if you didn’t gasp with adoration for these fashionable leg coverings, then you’re not really a Style Darling! One of my favorite ways to style a dress / skirt look this season is with tights & tights with texture, design, pattern, or delicate details are no exception to this.

While casually clicking around the Fred Flare website, I found these two pairs of tights on sale & I’m two minutes away from breaking out my wallet to buy them online, but I know I’m on a super crazy budget since I’m leaving for Italy on Wednesday.

The polka dot New York tights ($19.99) have been marked down from $30.00 & would instantly make any LBD look a little more flirty & playful.  Also, I’d even wear these to the office with something simple like suede pumps & a black cardigan.

The midnight garden party tights ($9.99) have also been reduced from their original $15.00 price tag & would transform a sheath dress from sexy to super deadly.  The mixture of something so feminine as lace against edgier fabrics like leather or metal embellishments can bring your outfit to a whole new level.

For more posts & advice on tights, check out clearance deals @Torrid, Vera Wang tights @Kohl’s, & my mod look from Halloween! Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: The Prettiest Pattern Tights By Vera Wang!


On a day-to-day basis, I’m wearing some sort of textured tights around the office & when going out with friends.  I’ve recently put a nasty & irreparable hole in my favorite zebra tights, but while on the search for a replacement pair, I found these Simply Vera Vera Wang tights, which are on my stocking stuffer list!

The checked control-top tights in plum ($14.00) & floral ribbon tights in black ($14.00) are currently part of a Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off sale @Kohl’s.  Usually I don’t spend more than $7.00 on tights or stockings, but when there’s a sale like this, it’s hard to resist! Both pairs are available in multiple colors & if you are a cardholder, you can get rewards up to an additional 30% off!

When you have such an elegant pattern like these on your legs, you have the opportunity to mix up prints with an abstract sheath dress, wool suit, or blouse with shorts look.  Also, pairing legwear like this is perfect for mary jane platforms, ankle booties, or knee boots!

What kind of tights are you wearing this season?  Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: My New Favorite (Semi-Formal) LBD!


During what was supposed to be a hunt for bargains at the Tanger Outlet in Riverhead, I had one of those shopping-with-my-bestie-Rosie moments @White House Black Market & decided (with her consent) to try on the same dress that she was trying on, not thinking for a moment that I’d end up getting it!  However, even though I was very tired- trying to fight away a bad sinus infection- I had enough energy to slip into this strapless satin sheath dress, which hugged my curves in all the right ways. It did not fit my shopping companion, so Rosie wished it well for me.  It was very funny when we both stepped out of our dressing rooms, we looked like bridesmaids.  She eventually found a dress for herself (similar to this one), but in this in-the-moment fitting, I fell in love with the flattering simplicity of the pleated dress & just had to bring it home to make friends with my other dresses!

The very enthusiastic fitting room attendant insisted that I try the confection of an LBD on with heels, which only made it worse- but better really.  Seeing how the whole look would come together with dress shoes very similar to my own, I had to have it.  Although the price tag of $89.99 was way more epic more than what I was looking to spend, making a smart investment in a dress that I can wear to any fancy occasion for any season was reason enough for me. After all, the dress was marked down significantly from $168.00!

In addition, I did manage to score a delightful hot pink bubble skirt for $19.99 & a fun lace-trimmed black & white cami for $9.99 (similar to this one) from their front & center sale racks, which made me feel even better about my time spent there.

When you shop at WHBM, if you give them your info at the time of purchase & spend over $300.00, you’re automatically going to receive another 5% off on future purchases.  Perhaps until you spend some other high bracket amount & maybe that percentage will go up? Not sure- I’m not there yet! Every now & again I’ll take the road trip out to the WHBM outlet just for the sales, which are soooo much better than the sale racks at th elocal store in the nearby mall.

I’m attending a wedding of another close friend in a week & even though I wasn’t necessarily looking for a new dress to wear, this little black number is perfect! Since it is starting to get chilly this September, I’ll pair the dress with a cute lace jacket that I bought a while ago from Charlotte Russe– one such jacket that I wore with another darling WHBM floral dress which was purchased last year & worn to 2 other wedding.  Depending on the weather, I’ll break out some pretty textured tights & probably opt for a bright satin heel.  One of these days I’ll get to posting my actual ensembles, but until then…

Are you a WHBM shopper?  Do you have any fun LBD stories?  What’s the most you’d spend on a cocktail dress?  Do you have any go-to dresses for weddings?  Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Bargain Belt & Tasteful Tights Find @Payless!


During a recent trip to Payless, with my special 20% off birthday coupon, I was on the hunt for some basic accessories to help usher in my in-between-seasons wardrobe since the weather isn’t too chilly for layers, but calls for something a little less light.  Make sense?

Well, much to my dismay, there were no BOGO 50% off sales at the time of my visit, but I did manage to score these scroll print tights in black by Minicci for $7.99.  I love the pattern & it’ll go so well with my tweed skirts for the office or an LBD for a cocktail occasion.  They’re available in sizes small, medium, & large & are the perfect addition to any mini skirt & knee boots look when you don’t really wanna show off too much skin.

Also, while I was there, I was looking for another basic, yet chic belt that I could wear with chunky pullover sweaters or with a flyaway cardigan to help cinch in my waist.  The wide stretch belt in black by Minicci was on sale from $12.99 to $7.99! I love the subtle hardware look on the face of the belt, which would juxtapose so nicely against something lace or pastel.

By the time it came to ring me up, I saved over $13.00 with my coupon & the sale price for the belt, so I didn’t fret too much about not benefiting from the store’s usually fabulous BOGO 50% off sale.  What are your recent bargain finds?  What do you love to shop for @Payless?  Where do you get your most fashionable belts & tights?  Happy Styling!