How do I wear that trend…fur clothing

Sep 9, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

One thing that was prevalent on the runways of fall fashion weeks was fur. Now, before anyone gets all angry and outraged with me about the use of fur and the murder of animals, I will be discussing wearing faux fur for several reasons.

1. Real fur is very expensive. I do not want to encourage you guys to wear a trend that’s going to kill your shopping budget for the month or year.  However, you can find faux fur items for very reasonable prices.

2. Real fur doesn’t offer as many options. Because real fur can be expensive and challenging to produce, you may not find a lot of accessories readily available. It could be tough to find a pair of cool fur earrings that are made of real fur.

3. Real fur is controversial. When people wear fur, it makes other people feel like they can approach you and share their thoughts on the fur industry-good or bad. While this may not happen every time, wearing real fur opens you up to this often political discussion and debate and there’s just no need to go through all of that when faux fur is readily available.

So now that I’ve discussed why I am not talking about real fur, here are some ways to incorporate fur into your fall wardrobe.

1. Accessories. I’ve seen fur shoes, purses, scarves and hats but I’m sure there are other accessories out there with fur on them. Accessories are a great way to indulge the fur trend in small doses. You can put on a fur hat and not be overwhelmed by fur.

2. Jackets and vests. A cute fur jacket or vest can be a nice addition to a basic outfit. Plus, you can find some cute faux fur jackets at really reasonable prices in stores like Rainbow, Dots or Walmart. You may not find them right now but if you’re on the look out, some will probably be in stores in the next month or so.

As you can see, fur can be a fun trend to enjoy as long as you do it with confidence. Because fur stands out, you have to make sure you’re wearing the piece and not letting it wear you.

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Product Review: Flats to Go by Kushyfoot

Sep 7, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

The fabulous folks over at Lipton Publicity sent me a pair of flats that fold by Kushyfoot. I’ve tried similar shoes in the past and while they are great to have on hand for when heels get to be too much, I often felt like my feet were bare. The shoes felt more like house slippers than outdoor shoes.

I was pleasantly surprised when I put on the Flats to Go and noticed that the sole was pretty sturdy. I decided to really put them through the paces to see if they could go the distance. I’d been wearing flats for most of the summer and I tend to be a bit of a Nazi when I want to get back in my heels. Rather than easing into them, I’ll force myself to get re-acclimated by wearing them to an event with no back up shoes on hand. Plus, my heels tend to start at three inches and go up so I might decide to throw on a pair of five inch pumps after being in flip flops for a couple of months. It’s not always nice for my feet but it does get me back into the swing of things quickly. Now, I don’t recommend this tactic for a heels wearing novice but us pros can handle it.

I digress…

This time rather than going all in with my heels, I decided to take the Flats to Go with me. They come in a cute little plastic case with a handle that I clipped to my purse so I wouldn’t forget them somewhere. It was very convenient. And sure enough, my feet began to hurt not long after I got out of the car. Rather than hobble around in the heels, I pulled them off and threw them in my backseat. Then I pulled on the Flats to Go and went about my day.

I felt very comfortable walking around in the shoes outside. The sturdy sole made them feel like actual shoes. I was pleased with them immediately and in an added bonus, someone complimented me on them. I was wearing the snakeskin Flats to Go and they did look more like ballet flats than fold up shoes. It was very cool!

The only negative with the shoes is the elastic around the foot started to dig into my ankle after I’d been wearing them for a couple of hours. I think this could be remedied by getting the flats a size larger than your shoe size, though. Overall, these are a great thing to have for those days when you need a break from your heels. I suggest getting them in a cute design or color just to add to the fanciness but you could stick with basic black and benefit just the same.

They cost about $10 and can be purchased from the Kushyfoot website or various stores like Walgreen’s, Publix or Rite Aid, among others. Here’s a link to Kushyfoot Retailers so you can find one near you. As the weather cools, we are going to need something other than flip flips to slip into when we need to take off our heels. These are a wonderful alternative.

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How do I wear that trend…polka dots

Sep 2, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

Growing up, I detested polka dot clothes. I think it might have had a lot to do with the fact that I was a child of the 80′s and 90′s and when trends were in, they were in very heavily. So when polka dots were trendy, they were everywhere. They were often really small print everywhere. It made the clothes look almost psychedelic and people didn’t wear them sparingly. People would wear a completely polka dot dress with a polka dot bow and maybe even top it off with a polka dot purse.

It was overkill.

Plus, I have a personal issue with patterns but I’m not sure if that contributed to the issue or was made worse by it. However, now that polka dots are back for the fall, I’m much more open to it. It does help that the dots come in a variety of sizes (I still am not a big fan of super small ones) and colors. You can get them on accessories like shoes and belts to add a pop of polka dots without overdoing it. This is a trend I think we all should explore and I’ve already set out to add some polka dot to my wardrobe. Here are some easy ways to do it.

1. Shoes. I am a shoe fanatic and I’ve seen some fabulous polka dot pumps that would be a great pop to lots of neutral outfits. This may be a touch daring but visit a shoe store and try on a pair. You may love it.

2. Belts. Everyone should have one or two belts that can be used as statement pieces. A black and white polka dot belt is a good way to do it in a classic color palate while adding a pop of texture and color to an outfit easily. This would go great with red, gray, orange or even with a basic jeans and t-shirt.

3. Hair accessories. If you wear headbands or hair clips, there are some very cute polka dot pieces you can wear as well. I would just caution against going too young. You can end up looking like you stole your little sister’s hair bows and that’s a no-no.

Now if you are feeling froggy, jump out there and dive into polka dot clothes. You can do cardigans, shirts, skirts, dresses, etc. The sky is kind of the limit here but the biggest thing to keep in mind is to not go overboard. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a costume. Now go forth and wear dots!

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How to Cruise in Style without Going Overboard-Guest post by Clari Farkash

Aug 31, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

In light of a less-than-sunny economy, travel experts are touting the glories of discount cruises. If you’ve been lucky enough to snag a deal, you’re probably ready to put your savings toward a few ship-shape looks before you hit the deck. No need to go overboard with fussy accessories and extravagant wear. Just pack a few versatile pieces that will make you look as breezy and beautiful as the far-off horizon.

Wrap dress

Make a flattering wrap dress a staple in your cruise wardrobe. This one piece is easy enough to take you from the sun deck to the dining room with nothing but a flick of mascara and dab of gloss. Choose one that packs well into a pool bag — fine knit jersey and no-wrinkle cotton blends are perfect.

Espadrilles

This Spanish shoe may be the easiest thing to wear since house slippers, but style-wise, it’s the equivalent of easy European cool. They come in a variety of bright colors and are available as flats and wedge-heels. Perfect for shuffling to breakfast or getting your salsa on at night.

Pashmina

A silky pashmina is exactly what you need for an evening sunset or a brisk morning. During the day you can wrap it around your neck as a fashionable scarf and wear it as a shawl when it starts to cool off.

Straw sun hat

Naturally, any conscientious cruise queen will want to protect her skin with a sun hat. Since cruise decks tend to get windy, a chic straw hat is a good choice for attaching to your head with bobby pins.

Bathing Suit

The perfect vacation bathing suit is one that brings out the sexy, beautiful you. Finding a style that is just right for your body is worth an extra splurge, and you are better off with one that fits perfectly, than several that make you cringe in the mirror.

Clari Farkash is the designer of the Clarisse line of prom dresses, short dresses and homecoming dresses for promgirl.net. Clarisse dresses have been worn by such celebrities as Miss Galaxy International and Miss Teen Galaxy UK. Promgirl.net has been selling prom dresses and formal gowns from America’s top designers for over 25 years.

Note: As the summer winds down, this is an ideal time to get a great deal on cruise vacations and these are some great tips for looking fabulous when luggage space is at a premium.

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Product Review: Dr. Scholl’s for Her High Heel Insoles

Aug 26, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

I had the chance to participate in another Bzz Campaign. This time I was able to review Dr. Scholl’s for Her High Heel Insoles. Now I am already a fan of Dr. Scholl’s products for women, but I’m always open to check out new additions to the line. I signed up for the campaign and decided to really put the insoles through the paces when I got them. As a big fan of high heels (the higher, the better), I am also not a fan of being uncomfortable. I want to be able to put on one pair of shoes and wear them the entire time I’m out and about. I don’t really prefer to have to carry an alternate pair of shoes even though I do because many high heels have an expiration date and I refuse to wear only flats.

I have been wearing flip flops a lot this summer and I recently decided that I needed to get back into my high heels, especially as the colder months approach. I love wearing high heeled boots and pumps in the fall and winter months. I started small with the pads and wore them with a pair of about three inch wedges that often cause the bottom of my feet to hurt after I wear them for a while. I wore them out with friends and my feet were pain free the entire night. It was a typical night out dancing so I really put them to work.

Then I decided to step things up. I put on a pair of about 3.5-4 inch heels with the insoles and wore them to an event. It was an interesting situation because the shoes are a touch too big so they sometimes flop off of my feet even though they’re pumps. This happened but I was more annoyed at the flopping than the foot pain. My feet never hurt. The insoles were comfortable enough that I could struggle through the flopping.

Then for the final test, I wore them to another event where there were no chairs and no opportunities to sit down. They worked like a charm! I will definitely recommend these to all of you ladies who like to wear high heels or even flats. They offer a level of cushion that make it so much more bearable to walk in shoes for an extended amount of time. They cost about $12.99 in the stores and you can find them in the foot care aisle at places like Target, Walmart and Walgreen’s.

If you enjoy trying new products and sharing reviews, sign up to become a Bzz Agent at www.bzzagent.com.

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2011 Fall Trend Update

Aug 23, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

The temps are dropping! It went from the high 90′s to the low 90′s here in Atlanta this week. It’s almost jacket weather down here! Kidding but if you’re in one of those states that’s had three digit temps a lot this summer, you know what I’m talking about.

But I digress…

It is almost Labor Day which means that fall is right around the corner so we have to start winterizing our wardrobes but that doesn’t just mean buying a nice coat and some boots. Here are some of the fall fashion trends as featured during Fall Fashion Week, which means that a round of “How do I wear that trend” is coming right up too. Enjoy the trends and stay tuned for tips on how to incorporate each one into your wardrobe.

1.  Polka Dots

2.  Lace

3.  Bright colored pants

4.  Fur clothing

5.  Wide leg pants

6.  Fringe

7.  Wedge shoes

8.  Snakeskin shoes

9.  Patent leather

10. Ethnic

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Shoe Candy-Nine West Ample Pump

Aug 19, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

The other day I was watching television and I noticed some fabulous gray pumps (I don’t remember who was wearing them or what they were on, I only remember the shoes. I’m a shoe fanatic!) and I decided that I needed some gray pumps for my fall wardrobe. The cool thing about these shoes is that they can be purchased now while it’s still warm and worn well into the fall/winter months. These are a super cute pair by Nine West that are currently on sale on their website. I think every woman should have at least one pair of classic pumps in their wardrobe and these definitely fit the bill. Plus, the cloth and patent platform gives them a touch more pizazz.

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