OOTD

Find Holiday Dresses, Trendy Tops, and More at AX Paris USA

Cute dresses a AXParisUSA.com

AX Paris USA is a UK-based online boutique that sells glam, on-trend clothing at an affordable price point. I know that most of your dough is going to be spent on presents, so your budget for gifts for yourself is pretty tight. Don't worry- there are lots of cute pieces here that won't interfere with your Christmas shopping :)

More after the jump!



Mini Leather Look Skirt, $19.99



Color Block Knitted Top, $34.50

Batwing Sleeve Tobacco Jumper Sweater, $39.50

Sequins, one shoulder, polka dots, lace, bodycon, drapey, trapeze, animal print- name any trend and AX Paris USA's got it. The sale section has some cute tops and dresses at even better prices, so don't forget to check that page out, too!

HauteLook Sunday Night Blowouts

Forget Sunday Night Football, HauteLook is where you can really score on Sunday nights. At 4pm, HauteLook puts their extra inventory up for sale- jewelry, shoes, bags, clothes, and more. But there is a catch. There are only one or two of each item in stock, so you'll probably have to battle it out with other shoppers for the good stuff and grab shit really fast (just like a NY sample sale). If you have a dial-up modem, forget it.

Look for Less: Rhinestone Studded Wrap Watches

La Mer wrap watches caught my eye in a magazine a while back- watches with long, embellished leather bands that that wrap around your wrist a few times. I never liked those chunky gold men's watches that girls started wearing, so I liked that La Mer kept their watches feminine, with small faces, but added a unique twist (literally). The only thing was that they were over $100 a pop on Karmaloop. Why spend that much money on one thing when I could get a bunch of cute bangles, bracelets, and cuffs instead? But then, everytime I went on Karmaloop, I kind of regretted not having the money to get one.

Now, I'm glad that I didn't buy a La Mer because I found these gorgeous wrap watches at 15dollarstore.com for only $15 each:

Geneva Stud & Rhinestone Leather Wrap Bracelet Watch (leopard)

Check out the other colors after the jump!

Get Your (Wallet-Friendly) Fashion Fix at FUROR

Furor, a new contemporary and vintage clothing site that has cute clothes and accessories at the right price point. Each item is under $50, so you can help yourself to a few trendy pieces each time you visit :)
My faves:

Taupe Lace Zipper Top, $30. Black fishtail skirt, $38.

 

Classic (sort of) Cardigan, $40. Vintage design meets modern color

What are your favorite online clothing boutiques? Let me know!

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Bebe Furry Bomber Jacket Look for Less

Bebe Textured Fur Hoodie, $150, bebe.com

I spotted this Bebe hoodie in the New Arrivals section of their website and it reminded me of a similar jacket that I'd seen on ShopStyle. I looked it up and, sure enough, Charlotte Russe has a very similar bomber-style jacket, also black with grey fur, for about 1/3 the price. (The only major difference is that the Bebe one has a hood and the Charlotte Russe one has lapels.)

Charlotte Russe Ribbed Faux Fur Jacket, $43, charlotterusse.com

Both sweater-jackets are made of the same materials and faux fur, so it seems pretty ridiculous to pay over a hundred dollars for the Bebe one. I like the Charlotte Russe jacket better anyway because it's sleeker and has a more chic look, while the Bebe one has a sort of street-style  look because of the hood.

Spikes, Skulls, Rhinestones, and Bows: Hot Statement Jewelry at FilthyMagic.com

I just discovered the Filthy Magic online shop- it’s full of trendy clothes and accessories with an edge. Whether you’re a fan of gold or silver, rhinestones and bows or leather and chains, there’s something for everybody! Here are a few of my favorite picks from their jewelry collection:

Black Grey & Gold Cabochon Ring (more colors available), $20

Rhinestone Skull Ring with Bow, $30

Gold Leaf Feather Cuff, $17

Gold White Spike Bracelet (more colors available), $22

Studded Collar Doorknocker Bracelet (more colors available), $21

Gold Shoulder & Neck Chain (more colors available), $25

Pave Octopus Ring (more colors available), $23

 

Spike Hoop Earrings (more colors available), $17

Gold Spike Double Finger Ring, $18

Gold Mesh Bow Cuff Bracelet, $20

Which pieces do you like the best?

Are You Over- or Under-Accessorizing?

FAIL.

Yes, the hottest trends this fall and winter are meant to make bold statements… but not simultaneously. Someone needs to tell Myleene Klass (British TV and music star) about the “less is more” rule. She looks like Fall 2011 threw up on her!

The best way to make sure that you’re not over- or under-accessorizing is to take inventory of the details in your outfit before you leave the house. Add one point for each detail:

1. Add up each color in your outfit
2. Eyeglasses/sunglasses
3. Shoes (+1 pt for each extra detail)
4. Handbag (+1 pt for each extra detail)
5. Tights/socks (+1 pt for each detail and color, if visible)
6. Colored nail polish (no points for nude)
7. Contrasting buttons
8. Contrasting belt
9. Jewelry: watch, necklace, bracelet, ring, earrings, etc. (+1 pt for each)
10. Scarves, hat, bows, ruffles, monograms, labels, contrasting trim, etc. (+1 pt for each)

Add up your total points. If you’re under 8 points, you’re under-accessorized. If you’re over 18 points, you’re over-accessorized. The key, obviously, is to stay within the 8-18 range.

Also, please don’t wear several animal prints AND an oversized fur coat at the same time- if the fashion police don’t get you, PETA will.

Spotted: Chic Convertible 3-in-1 Trench Jacket

This on-trend jacket from Avon can convert into 3 different looks: a safari-style vest, a chic bolero, or a classic trench! Definitely a steal for only $39.99!

And you thought Avon was only good for beauty products... ;)

Look for Less: Kim K's Turquoise and Gold YSL 'Arty' Ring

YSL Turquoise "Arty" Ring, $380 on Ebay

If you love Kim's turquoise Yves Saint Laurent "Arty" ring but don't want to shell out $400 for it, check out this similar ring I found on Ebay for only $7!

Gold Nugget and Turquoise Oval Ring, $7 on Ebay

That listing lets you choose from turquoise, black, or red stones. Other listings have even more options!

A good friend of mine spent hundreds of dollars on the cobalt blue YSL 'Arty' last year... I know she'd never buy "replicas" but, since the YSL ring is gold plated and not real gold, I'm sure this Ebay ring would be the smarter choice for anyone who would be okay with not having the real thing.

Happy shopping!

Obsessed: Nicole Lee Boston Bags

Want a handbag that will get you noticed? Check out Nicole Lee‘s super-embellished creations. She makes cute totes, wallets, and more, but I die for her Boston bags, little duffel-type barrel satchels that are like a party in pleather (but in a classic “LV Speedy” shape). Some of her designs are pretty crazy but sometimes a girl needs a little ostentation in her life =) 

 

My favorites:

Nicole Lee’s bags can be hard to find in stores (I’ve only seen them in Marshall’s) but, since they’re all a bargain at under $70, it’s worth doing a quick Google search. I found a lot of them at b4bags.com, bagmadness.com, mypursehub.com, and buckle.com. You can also check her official website for new collections and updates.

What do you think of Nicole Lee's bags?

How to Swap Your Unwanted Beauty Products, Clothes, Shoes, and More on MakeupAlley

I swapped this top and these boots on MakeupAlley...

...for all of this! MAC, Smashbox, and NARS makeup and 3 mini perfumes

Every girl has stuff lying around that she doesn't wear or use anymore or things she bought but never ended up using. (Impulse buys are a bitch, aren't they?) When my sisters and I were young, we had these garage sales called "Sister Swap" (I know, shut up) where we gathered up all of our unwanted stuff and displayed everything out in the hallway in front of our bedrooms. Then, we bargained with each other and traded our rejects for something we wanted.

Now, it's impossible to swap stuff with my sisters because we all live in different places and we all wear completely different styles of clothing and makeup. But there are places online where I can still trade in the stuff I don't want for stuff I do want, like MakeupAlley.com. Here's how:

Natalie Dee Keeps It REALLY Real When It Comes to Fashion and Makeup

I saw this on NatalieDee.com, a funny comic blog that my sister loves, and HAD to re-post it here:

Natalie Dee's comic, "It Doesn't Take a Genius to Know Wearing 15 lbs of Fabric is Going to Make You Look 15 lbs Heavier"

I feel you, girl.

And fashion designers aren't the only people she's beefin with:

This one's called "Thank for Ruining My Face for Commission"

Lol, tell us how you REALLY feel, Natalie Dee :)

Varsity Letter Sweater Trend

Rocawear Varsity Sweater Dress, on sale for $48, DrJays.com

Letterman Sweater Cardigan, $20, Forever21.com

Varsity Hues Cardigan, $80, modcloth.com

Cunningham Letterman 60s Sweater, $80, LAvintage.com

Stussy Ladies Lettermen Cardy Sweater, on sale for $50, Swell.com