10 Awesome Bags for Fall
Fall is all about cozying up and feeling sexy with the one you love, even if you only just found him this season. And, like a man, a bag is a great accessory for any fall ensemble. We’ve made our fall 2012 handbag selections, and they are complete with color-blocked clutches, sophisticated totes, and hands-free crossbodies that are sure to please even the choosiest of ladies.
1. Skylar backpack by Simone Camille, $810.00
This is no ordinary school day backpack— fringe, embroidery, and embellishments take the convenience of the design to a whole other level. Style maven Nicole Richie was recently spotted with this black beauty. Carry by the handle or keep your hands free and wear it on one shoulder. Either way you’re sure to catch eyes.
2. Bobi Leopard Shoulder Bag, $559
Photo credit Bag Snob
Emma Roberts was recently seen wearing this leopard print calf hair shoulder bag, and we always love her look. Animal print accents are a modern staple and Emma pulls off the pattern beautifully by keeping the rest of her outfit simple and casual. The leather and gold chain strap can be removed, transitioning the bag to a nighttime clutch with ease.
8 Amazing Faux Leather Pieces
We love leather and spent the majority of our summer praying to the Fashion Gods for a good fall crop and boy, did they deliver. From peplums to pleats, leather is popping up in all kinds of silhouettes this season. If you want to get in on the trend, but aren’t into the real stuff (or the price), look no further— we’ve got your faux hide covered.
1. Topshop Clean Biker Jacket, $110:
The winter white of this motorcycle jacket lends a softer look without compromising the edge inherent to the style. Wear it with jeans to keep the look cohesive, or juxtapose the edge with a flirty dress. This perfectly constructed jacket falls in all the right places and comes in black too!
Glamour’s Beauty Editor Andrea Pomerantz Lustig on “How to Look Expensive”
Andrea Pomerantz Lustig is a veteran beauty editor with over two decades of industry experience. She spent nine years as Beauty and Fitness Director at Cosmopolitan and was editor-in-chief at sephora.com. Now her beauty tips, advice and solutions appear regularly in Glamour magazine. Andrea also carries a little black book teeming with of-the-moment industry contacts and celebrity stylists, so it’s no surprise that she’s known around Glamour as the resident ‘beauty sleuth’. In her new tome, How to Look Expensive, Andrea shares her secrets on looking glamorous with an everywoman’s budget. As we caught up with Andrea on her latest project, she dished about her personal style, favorite beauty picks and tips on how fashion-forward women can make the most of every dollar.
Top Ten Jeans for Fall 2012
When the weather turns, so must your closet, and this fall 2012 we’re seeing jean trends change as fast and as colorful as the leaves. No longer must we only choose from tried and true dark and distressed skinnies! Instead, this fall brings textures, colors, prints, and patterns, and we’ve got all your options covered. But remember, the most important part of jeans is the fit. No trend will look good unless you get the cut right for your body.
1. Boyfriend Jeans: 7 For All Mankind Crop Josefina Jeans, $225
Boyfriend jeans work well on many body types, but look especially great on ladies with straighter hips. Because of this cut’s looser fit, it’s best to have some structure up top, like a great fitting blazer. Styled up or down, it’s a solid look for tomboys and girlygirls alike.
Best Spring Handbag Trends
Your handbag is where necessity meets accessory… it’s what you tote your life in! But just because it’s an essential doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought. Your purse can be a stylish statement. This season’s hottest trends aren’t limited to just your wardrobe. Check out these picks for of-the-moment handbag looks.
ROMYGOLD Biker Slash Eliza II Hobo, $675
A slouchy hobo is a great way to get the boho chic look. This slashed leather bag in on-trend yellow looks amazing when paired with a floral maxi for a music festival or casual weekend brunch. Celebs including Vanessa Hudgens, Kim Kardashian and Katharine McPhee have been spotted toting ROMYGOLD bags.
DKNY Crocodile effect leather shoulder bag, $195
We love that the animal skin trend is sticking around. Take a walk on the wild side with this structured faux croc shoulder bag. It’s the perfect size to wear cross-body, freeing up your hands for shopping or a drink!
JadeTribe Nicole Messenger Bag, $189
If you prefer your fashion has a conscience, than this ethical and all-natural messenger is for you. In eclectic tribal print fabric with cool leather tassels, this bag is perfect for sightseeing or checking out an outdoor market.
Live Worldly Argentine Neon Camila Purses – $175
Another eco-conscious and for-a-good-cause line, Live Worldly’s version of the neon satchels you’re seeing everywhere are made from organic leather and are totally on trend. A portion of proceeds from this bright satchel goes to to the Nature Conservancy to protect Argentina’s grasslands…chic AND sustainable.
Clare Vivier Foldover Clutch in Aqua, $156
No longer is clutch synonymous with evening wear. A simple, oversized clutch can be a fabulous accessory for daytime.
Mark Rebecca Minkoff Delight bag $60
Rebecca Minkoff partnered with Mark for a super stylish and affordable handbag. The studs are the perfect rocker chic detail for someone who wants to try the edgy look.
Zara Suede Shopper Bag, $49
Nude is the new black… it goes with everything! Your new go-to purse goes with everything and fits everything too.
Jill Martin: Her Style Tips and Fave Product Picks
TV personality and fashion expert Jill Martin is the go-to girl for all things style. She is a regular contributor for NBC’s Today Show and is known for her popular “Ambush Makeovers” and “Steals and Deals” segments, and sports interviews for the NY Knicks. She is also the NY correspondent for Access Hollywood landing all big celeb interviews. I love that Jill always shares her insights on the latest trends and how best to shop on a budget. She also offers great advice through her fashion self-help books, “Fashion for Dummies” and New York Times best seller “I Have Nothing to Wear.” I caught up with the style maven to get some fashion and beauty tips, tricks and product picks!
MM: How do you best describe your look or style?
JM: Classic. I am most comfortable in jeans, a white t-shirt and ballet flats. The second I am done covering a red carpet, the heels come off and the Uggs go on!
MM: What are some recent purchases you are loving right now?
JM: My ALC Leather Dress (from 25Park.com), Alexander Wang long sleeve white t-shirt, fab turquoise earrings from Jennifer Miller Jewelry and hot pink Jimmy Choo sandals that I got at Bergdorf’s for 70% off!
MM: What is one timeless piece all women need in their wardrobe?
JM: A great pair of jeans!
MM: Who are some of your favorite designers in different price points and why?
JM: I love designers at all different price points: Dior, Michael Kors, Diane Von Furstenberg, Robert Rodriguez…and if you want a real deal, Zara has great pieces!
MM: What should every women splurge on?
JM: A great “schlep” bag!
MM: What are some things we can all do to de-clutter our closet?
JM: Go into your closet and take out your favorite things: blouse, jeans, sweater, slacks etc., and lay them on the bed. Then take out every other piece from your closet and if they don’t match up to the way you feel in your favorite items, then it’s time for them to go! I would rather you have 30 amazing pieces than 300 that are just “eh.”
MM: What are some tips for shopping smart?
JM: One-in, One-out (or for my mother, one-in, five-out). You shop smarter when you know you have to let something go.
Real Housewife Kyle Richards: Lifestyle Secrets and Tips from Her New Book!
Reality TV personality Kyle Richards of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is a mother of four, wife, actor, philanthropist and now author! How does she do it all? I personally caught up with Kyle to find out some of her best-kept lifestyle secrets, tips on how to look camera-ready and her favorite things. As you may know from watching the show, Kyle always has a point of view and loves to share it. She is one of my favorite Housewives!
MM: What inspired you to write Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All
KR: I grew up in house of all women–my mom, grandmother and three sisters (I actually slept with my mom until I was 15 years old). I was always known as the dating guru–giving my friends and family tips on dating like how to get a guy to call you back. My real inspiration for writing the book is that I want to help women have the best marriage and relationships while looking and feeling their best. If I wanted to write a how-to manual to give to my daughters on having successful relationships, this would be it.
MM: What are three tips or take-aways from the book?
KR:
1. Beauty: I am a girls’ girl and love make-up. If I weren’t doing what I do now, I would be a make- up artist (I always like to do my own make-up). Using individual false lashes takes your make-up to a whole other level. In the book, I share my technique of how to put them on. My favorite brand for lashes is DuraLash.
2. Fashion: Mix and match your fashion with clothing at all price points. I think women should shop smart–if you buy the basics in solids from inexpensive stores, no one will know whether you are wearing Dolce & Gabbana or Zara. Stay away from prints in the less expensive stores. I recently wore leather leggings from H & M for $35.95 on the Wendy Williams show and received lots of compliments on them.
3. Relationships: I have a great marriage but it’s not by accident. It’s a big job and worth it to put in the effort. I enjoy giving people the tools on how to have a great relationship. For example, Mauricio and I have a designated date night. We also like to stay home more nights than out if possible. My daughters certainly have big shoes to fill.
MM: What advice can you give women who are trying to juggle a career and family?
KR: Make things in your life as convenient as possible. One of the things that is helpful for me is having my dog groomer come to my home which cuts down on time spent running around doing errands. I don’t have a chef, nanny or driver so I need to simplify my life and stay organized.
MM: You have the most gorgeous silky hair. What are some of your favorite hair products?
KR: For shampoo and conditioner I like Pantene, and for styling I use Moroccan hair oil to keep fly-aways in place.
MM: How would you describe your overall style?
KR: Relaxed glamour.
MM: Who are some of your favorite designers?
KR: For clothing: Haute Hippie, Parker and Chanel. For shoes: Fendi and YSL. Handbags: I am obsessed with them (and love to collect them). Favorite: Chanel.
MM: What is your “never leave home without” accessory?
KR: Lip Gloss.
MM: You always wear great jewelry. Who are some of your favorite jewelry designers?
KR: Jennifer Miller for costume jewelry. And Nicky Hilton too–I know she is my niece but she really has great things. Jacob & Co. and Loree Rodkin for fine jewelry.
MM: What’s in your make-up bag?
KR: L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, eye brow gel (any brand), Bare Escentuals lip gloss, Dermablend cover-up, The Balm Blush in Hot Mama and black Urban Decay eyeliner.
MM: How you do to stay in shape? Favorite workout?
KR: It’s very hard for me to workout with my schedule. When I have time, I like to go on a hike in the canyons of Beverly Hills or Bel Air after school drop off.
MM: What are your favorite restaurants or nightlife hot spots?
KR: Of course Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants SUR and Villa Blanca. Mr. Chow, La Scala, Il Pastaio, Shu in Bel Air for sushi. I like Frida in Beverly Hills for Mexican.
MM: Where do you and Mauricio like to go on vacation and where do you stay?
KR: I like to rent a house in Lake Tahoe with family and friends and get away from it all. Picnics on the boat, barbecuing, just hanging out with my family.
MM: What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
KR: Hand bags. I am having a hand bag shopping hangover this month. I hope Mauricio doesn’t read this!
For more insider tips from Kyle, order Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All
 This sassy California native was born in Hollywood, California into an acting family. She landed her first role at age four in Disney’s “Escape to Witch Mountain,” where she played the younger version of her sister, child actress and fellow Housewife Kim Richards. Her other sister is Kathy Hilton, mother to Nicky and Paris Hilton. Kyle’s TV credits include “Little House on The Prairie,” “Carter Country,” “Down To Earth,” and “E.R.” Film credits include “Halloween,” and “The Watcher in the Woods.” Kyle is an avid advocate for the fight against cancer, even completing a 68-mile bike marathon last year to raise money to help fight the disease. Kyle is married to the love of her life Mauricio Umansky, one of the nation’s top realtors. Up next, Kyle is starring in the Lifetime original movie, “Deadly Sibling Rivalry,” and is also developing her own handbag line, working on her new lifestyle book, and creating her own skin care line with famed Beverly Hills spa Vera Bella. Her greatest passion, however, is being a mother to her four daughters: Farrah (22), Alexia (15), Sophia (11) and Portia (3). Kyle believes “If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun.” |
The Best Shopping Sites
We hunted down the best and most innovative sites to get all your shopping needs done in a fast, convenient way.
TheFind & The Find Mobile APP – TheFind lets you quickly locate anything you’re interested in from a selection of 500,000 stores from Amazon and eBay, to mom-and-pop online shops, and everything in between. Due to its enormous database of products, TheFind allows you to see all of the available buying options for that product available online and in your local store; so you’ll be sure to get the best price possible. TheFind Mobile APP is a free shopping APP that can scan barcodes and QR codes; helping you quickly and easily discover the best price on an item you’re interested in buying. Other great features-user reviews are available and you can also run a text search to see if an item is available in your nearby location.
ModaOperandi – Customers are able to pre-order the latest runway fashions from such designers as Derek Lam, Rag & Bone, Marchesa, and Rachel Roy. So how exactly does this work? A designer presents their fashions on the runway or in a showroom. After the show, M’O shoots photos of the collection. M’O then runs a three-day Trunk show which allows members to pre-order any looks from the designers completed collection (a 50% deposit is required). The designer then produces the pieces that are then sent to M’O for distribution. An added bonus: many of these looks aren’t available in stores; great for those looking for a special event outfit or love one-of-a-kind pieces. Requesting membership is required.
Suddenlee – This free-to-join site allows you to shop from over 300 retailers (Nordstrom, Gap, and Zara, among others) with one transaction, next day affordable shipping, and all purchases being consolidated into one box. This is the only website to offer this service. How Suddenlee works-once a purchase is made, shoppers are dispatched to buy your items and have them delivered to you in a timely and affordable fashion; great for anyone who dreads the typical 3-10 day delivery schedule or expense of having it overnighted. Since Suddenlee is a shopping service and not an actual retailer, they do not offer deals or specials, however, every Monday they provide a list of new sales on their blog. There is a service fee on all orders (fee includes obtaining the items, packing and next day shipping). To view cost, click here. Purchases from the first two stores are included in the standard rate table, $2.50 for each additional store.
Shop It To Me – Forget spending hours trying to find the perfect look- Shop It To Me (free to join) updates you on your favorite brands in your sizes. To start, you begin by filling out a personal profile including your favorite brands, sizes and what you’re shopping for. Then the Shop It To Me team emails you information based on your profile featuring all the best online sales; as oppose to just listing sales that you may not be interested in. Another great feature-you control how often you receive these emails: daily, weekly, or twice a week. Shop It To Me is a sale aggregator, which means that you make all purchases directly from the brand or retailer. So how does Shop It To Me differ from other sites?- it takes all the work out of having to scour numerous websites for the rights items and sizes and finding coupon codes and sales; great for those with hectic schedules.When you join, you can get a $10 gift card to your favorite retailer for every 10 friends you get to join.
Bloom – Never again will you have to worry about buying the wrong cosmetics. This free-to-join “social beauty” site gives you the best products that have been most recommended for women by women with your interests and concerns. The Best4You recommendations is a list of product suggestions that are broken up into categories (cleansers, hair-care, make-up, bath & body). Once you choose your category, it asks you about your skin type, sensitivity, complexion type and eye color; a fool-proof way to get the right product every time. Bloom is a great site for those who love deals- consumers get 10% back on all beauty purchases that can be put toward purchasing any products. Customers also receive a BloomBox gift with every purchase filled with samples and products customized to fit your individual beauty needs. Now until the end of October, Bloom is running a “Share The Beauty” campaign where members are encouraged to invite 10 or more friends to join Bloom for an instant $20 gift code for use on a future purchase of $40 or more on the site.
Shop My Label – This new website lets anyone over the age of 14 to become an online seller (no sales experience required) without having to pay any start up fees, purchase any inventory or create your own website. Members create their own boutiques by choosing merchandise from roughly 1,000 retailers and merchants from the Shop My Label inventory. Once items are chosen, the store is then promoted through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and You Tube. Members have the freedom to choose items that they either personally like or are geared more towards their audience. Shopkeepers will get a 5% commission on each sale and perks for getting others to join; great for creative types and those looking to make a little extra income.
Fab – This flash sale site acts as a distribution channel for emerging, independent, and well-known designers/artists; a great site for those looking for unique home-decor pieces. The site features 3-day flash sales as well as longer-term Pop-Up Shops that stay on the site for a longer period of time (30-45 days). Members of Fab are introduced to at least eight new designers/merchants in each daily email and all items featured on Fab are available for purchase. As opposed to featuring a designers full inventory, Fab focuses on items that are new/in season and offer them at discounted prices. An added bonus: members are also allowed to upload photos of designs they like in a section called “inspiration.” Request membership required.
StyleBook App – The best way to a clutter-free closet starts here. This iPhone App ($3.99) lets you track your style inspirations, organize your clothes, create outfits and mood boards, and keeps track of your outfits on a daily calendar.
Winter Wardrobe Staple: 5 Great Black Coats
Now that it’s getting chilly, I’ve been on the lookout for chic and quality coats that I can wear for winters to come. Here are my classic picks with a fashion forward twist (covering various price points):
Helmut Lang Leather & Fur Combo Coat, BUY NOW $1,895
If you’ve been reading my posts lately, it will probably come as no surprise that I’m including a piece from Helmut Lang. This leather and fur coat is amazing because it combines the look of a trendy fur vest with the edge of a leather jacket–it’s certainly at the top of my holiday wish list!
Andrew Marc Military Coat, BUY NOW $595
A pea coat is a closet staple so why not update it with the military trend? I love the interesting neck and hem lines and the piping for an added touch of style.
Calvin Klein Drapey Wool Blend Belted Coat, BUY NOW $469.50
This beautiful Calvin Klein coat has a dramatic, oversized collar that is a great topper for a jeans and boots look or an office shift dress. Also, can be worn day to night.
ASOS Oversized Coat With Hood, BUY NOW $197.67
How cozy does this coat look? I love the built-in scarf and the cape style. ASOS also offers free shipping and returns so if it doesn’t fit, it’s no hassle to send it back.
Zara Coat with Leather Edging, BUY NOW $159
This coat is simple and streamlined but the exposed zipper and leather trim add an edge that makes this coat stand out.
Zara Madrid Shoulderbag, $79.90
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Zara Madrid Shoulderbag
Price: $79.90 |
