Fashion's Night Out: 10% off at Forever 21, Beverly Center

To all my LA fashionista's (I miss you guys!). In celebration of Fashion's Night Out Forever 21 (or XXI as the sign says... Lol!) at the Beverly Center is offering 10% off purchases of $40 or more today, 9/10/2010, from 5pm to 10 pm only.

Click the image to print and bring it to the store with you!  Happy Shopping!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Forever 21 Polka Dot Platform Mary Jane - Part II

So, the question of the hour about these shoes was..."Are they comfortable?"  Well, first of all I guess I should say that expensive doesn't necessarily mean comfortable.  I have definitely bought discounted expensive shoes that have TORN MY FEET UP! That being said when I do understand people's hesitation to buy shoes from Forever 21 for fear that the cheaper fabrication might make them uncomfortable. Well, not to worry! If you are thinking about buying these beauties, you can rest assured that they are pretty damn comfy.  They have a nice cushiony insole, and overall my feet just didn't hurt at all after wearing the all day.

Dress: Forever 21 ($22.80???) | Shoes: Forever 21 ($25.80) | Flower pin: H&M ($3.95) | Bag: thrifted | Sunnies: H&M (2 for $10 sale...I need to buy some new sunnies)

My only complaint with these shoes would be they don't come in half sizes, so I had to go up to a size 8.  This usually isn't a problem as long as there is a strap, which these do have, but I have but because the heel is so high and the shoes were a little roomy, my foot was sliding forward and pushing against the front of the shoe.  This is nothing those little insoles can't fix and again I wouldn't attribute it to the shoe, but rather to the size.

So for the debut of my favorite new mary janes, I whipped out my good ol' F21 black and white striped maxi. The fiance LOVES this dress. It hugs every curve, so that's no surprise.  I actually wore this yesterday, and I tweeted a picture of it.  He actually went out of his way to send me an email to tell me how much he loved the picture! LOL!  You guys last saw this dress here, where I showed you five ways to rock it.... so add one more look to the list with the addition of my favorite new accessory -- the flower pin.  I gave the white one a break and replaced it with a black one, and I think it complements the dress very well.  I opted to leave a necklace behind and let the flower do all the talking... well, not really. I still have my giant hoop earrings and the infamous H&M bangle...LOL!

Well folks, I've gotta get back to packing so I have to keep this post brief. My boxes were picked up yesterday morning, and my car will be picked up on Saturday...aaaaaahhhhh pardon the sporadic posts over the next week or so. I've got so much running around to do... my blogging time has been replaced by errands and packing.  The thing is I have been taking pics everyday so I have several days worth of photos to post. I thought about doing one big post with all the looks from the past few days, but that would be BORING! So, I will post them as I am able.

I call this my Blake Lively pose.  Have you guys noticed that she always poses like this? It cracks me up!  If you haven't noticed it before, just pay attention next time you run across a picture of her. The hand is always on the hip, and her head is always cocked to the side. Lol!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Special Delivery: Forever 21 Polka Dot Platform Mary Janes

Look what was sitting on my porch waiting for me to get home last Thursday night....

Pardon the little elastic tie. I was in such a hurry to try them on, I didn't realize I hadn't removed it until I uploaded the pictures to the computer. Lol!

Don't worry, I will remove the stickers... Lol!

I love them so much!  I've been wanting to blog about them all weekend, but I went away for a weekend camping trip with the girls, so no blogging.  The inspiration behind these lovelies is no mystery...the Miu Miu Sparrow platform mary janes, retailing for a whopping $590...

Well to be perfectly honest, I am not sure that I would have rocked the birds even if I could afford them... but I will most definitely ROCK THE HELL out of the Forever 21 polka dot version and for only $25.80!!! SOLD!!! This is actually the first pair of Forever 21 shoes I've ever bought so I didn't know what to expect in terms of quality.  I have to say that I have no complaints at all. They look great and I can't wait to wear them.  Seriously I'm feeling like the possibilities are endless with these babies...dresses, shorts, jeans, socks, tights...LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.

So, I would love to link you guys to these but they have vanished off the Forever 21 website. I literally just ordered them last Tuesday, so I can't believe that they would have sold out so fast but maybe they did. I have seen a couple other bloggers post about them, including Karen at Where Did You Get That? so all of her 3000 readers may have jumped right on and ordered them on the spot. I haven't seen them in store here in LA, but I do believe they have them in store in NY.  Has anyone else seen them in store?

Thanks for stopping by!!!

I Heart My Rachel Roy "Oma" Wedges

As I am sure you guys have already figured out, when I love something I tend to wear it over and over again. Last Friday's outfit repeats two of my current faves -- 1) the cutoffs and 2) the Rachel Roy wedges!!! Love and LOVE!

I am so glad that I finally worked up the nerve to wear cutoffs to work because I am LOVING this look!

Blazer: Up Against The Wall | Top: Target ($17.99) | Shorts: DIY | Shoes:  Rachel Roy "Oma" | Necklace: Forever 21 ($6.80) | Bangle: H&M ($3.95) | Bag: Thrifted | Sunnies: H&M (2 for $10)

This look was totally inspired by my friend Megan over at The Frugalista Diaries, but wouldn't you know it, I got my Look of the Day email from InStyle yesterday and Rihanna was spotted in NYC rocking cutoffs and a blazer too...great minds think alike?

photo credit

The Blazer:  A black blazer has to be #2 on my list of fashion must haves. I have SEVERAL black blazers actually, and they are all slightly different... this one is "the boyfriend" black blazer...I also have a black tuxedo blazer, a double breasted black blazer, one with gold buttons, one with fancy lining in the sleeves (looks fab with the sleeves rolled), a classic Kasper black blazer...hmmm is that it?  Maybe... I doubt it, but of all my black blazers this "boyfriend" blazer gets the most wear because it compliments everything so well. It is just dressy enough to jazz up jeans, (or cutoffs) but casual enough to throw on over a dress that you wanna bring down a notch or two.  True to the "boyfriend" look it has an over-sized fit through the body, but it also has great fitted 3/4 length, ruched sleeves that gives the illusion of pushed up sleeves without the extra bulk and the hassle of rolling and fussing with your sleeves all day. I love it, and the best part is I got it on the clearance rack at Up Against The Wall for about $30.  That was many months ago, but I did find this great option on online at Dillard's for $49.50 (click image to buy).




The Top: I went a little top crazy at Target a couple days ago. They have SO many cute basics right now for $20 or less.  This top was only $17.99.  Now here's the thing about shopping at Target...we all know that in like 1 - 2 weeks the price on this top is gonna drop to $13.13 or $10.80 or something ridiculous. I usually hesitate to buy anything at full price, but I made an exception for this top, and a couple others that I really liked. Anyway, they have them online too if you're interested. It's very sheer so I layered it over a black silk cami.  I love the look of black under light colored sheer fabrics. I think it's sexy! What do you think?

The Shoes: I have searched high and low on the web for these Rachel Roy "Oma" wedges online for you guys and they are truly no where to be found...unless I just suck at googling...which is always a possibility.  I did get them on clearance at Macy's and they didn't even have them online, so my thought is that they are truly gone for good, which is rare in this age of online shopping. I am pretty sure they'll pop up on eBay soon.

The Necklace: I bought this at Forever 21 a couple weeks ago.  Of course, it was super cheap at $6.80 and I just LOVE it.  I know I've said this before, but I am seriously the worst when it comes to keeping up with accessories, so I tend to stick with really cheap costume jewelry.  If I lose it, so what...I'll go buy another one. Forever 21 has the best prices on cheap and trendy accessories by far.  H&M also has some great buys sometimes, but I've noticed that some stuff is overpriced, when compared to similar pieces at Forever 21, and I am not sure the quality is that much better.  What do you guys thing? Do you buy accessories from either of these places? If so, do you think there is a difference in quality that would account for the price difference?

Thanks for Stopping By!!!

Watercolor

It's about 10:00 pm and I am just now getting around to my goofy pics for the day.  I am EXHAUSTED!!! For some reason, I was really tired all day and I left work with a pounding headache.  I had a few errands to run, and I was determined to get them done so I popped two Tylenol and pushed through it...and now here I am, still exhausted but determined to get this post done for tomorrow morning since I didn't post this morning.

Top: TJ Maxx, Tank: Old Navy ($2), Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: Same Edelman "Venice", Clutch: thrifted Necklace: Forever 21, Leather Cuff: Sherman Oaks Farmer's Market

So it seems that most of you agree with Fabrice on the hair cutting. Olivia, I have never had short hair so I have no examples of what it would look like. The shortest I ever cut it was to my collar bone, and that was only to cut off the remnants of my two year stint with reddish brown hair...which I loved by the way! It was just way too hard to maintain dyed hair, and I am way too lazy!

So, I got two suggestions from readers for my hair.

1. Shumpynella recommends that I check out Hairlista. I have actually heard a lot of good things about Hairlista amongst the mocha mommies of the blogosphere. Hairlista touts itself as "a Social Network designed to unite and educate women on healthy hair care practices, skin, beauty and much more." So, I haven't joined yet, but I am going to join this weekend when I really have some time to read through the site.  I will definitely be keeping you all updated on my "hair journey."

 2. Nikita over at The Fashion Files also commented, recommending that I try a Brazilian blowout. Of course, the Brazilian blowout is only the hottest thing to hit the hair scene since the flat iron.  There are even two girls at my job who've given it a try and they love it.  I'll be the first to admit that their hair is super shiny and voluminous, but for me the question is...ummm... well...I haven't heard much about black women using this technique for straightening.  Does it work?  and does it TRULY not damage your hair AT ALL?

3. Fshnonmymind over at Notes From the Dressing Room asked if I would consider wearing a short weave as an alternative to cutting, so I can get the look of short hair without the commitment.  I have a few friends who wear weaves solely for the purpose of versatility. It allows them to wear short styles, and experiment with color without damaging their hair. It really is a great option for trying new things! But, I have tried weaves and they are so uncomfortable for me.  I got a few tracks sewed in once just for fullness.  I was on a weekend trip to Laughlin with my friends and I literally took the tracks out in the bathroom of the hotel. Lol! I was really kinda bummed because I loved the way it looked, but I didn't like how it felt. 


I honestly have no clue what I want to do with my hair, but I do know that I am tired of the ponytail, so if I don't cut it, I at least want to get a grown up hairstyle of some kind....if you know what I mean.  So, please continue to give me suggestions. I am all ears!

On the outfit, I love this skirt. I bought it a couple years ago and I've worn it a handful of times. It is super high-waisted and very full so it can be a little unflattering with the wrong top.  It definitely looks best with a simple tank, or a plain crisp white blouse.  Today I tried adding a little something with the denim shirt.  I actually loved it in real life, but didn't care for it in the pictures.  What do you think? Hate it or Love it?

Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

Not So Mellow Yellow...

First things first, yes! These are the same jeans I wore yesterday. Lol! What can I say I love the fit.  Now that we got that out of the way let's move on to the top....

 This blouse is yet another one of my thrift store finds. I was drifting from rack to rack at the Goodwill, and I saw the bright yellow sleeve poking out from the blouse rack.  I rushed over and pulled out the blouse to reveal a gorgeous cowl neck collar.  It was ALMOST love at first sight...almost. In theory, I love the bright yellow but in reality it is not really my yellow.  It's just a tad bit too mustard-y, and in my opinion it washes my complexion out. I do better with lemon-y yellows.  So, I decided to pass and I hung the blouse back on the rack.  But, I got that feeling...you know the one where you feel like you can't live without it? You start styling it your mind... you pick out shoes, and accessories...yep, that feeling... and then SOMEONE ELSE PICKS IT UP!!! and you could just kick yourself. Well, that is precisely what happened.  Someone else picked it up... but...they put it back and that was all I needed. I rushed over, grabbed it, and threw it in the basket. At this point, I still wasn't sold but I didn't want anyone else to snag it... at least not while I was still in the store!  So, I grabbed all my goodies and went into the fitting room, and that is where the magic happened...

 I slipped this beauty on over my head and it really was love at first sight. I really loved the fit, and the shoulder action and the sleeves...I still had concerns about the color, but I figured I could fix that with the right accessories.  I happened to have a pair of jeans in the fitting room with me because my original purpose was finding a pair to cut up for a pair of cutoffs (another story for another day!).  I threw on the jeans and instantly decided that this blouse had to be mine.  The bright mustard-y yellow looked FAB.u.lous paired with denim and that was all I needed!

I picked the blouse up from the cleaners last week, and I've been looking at it every time I open the closet, but in true Eboni fashion I was waiting for an occasion to wear it.  Well, today, I just couldn't resist any longer (my overflowing laundry basket didn't help!), and I figured why not get more use out of my new favorite jeans.  I thought my trusty dusty scarf tied as a belt added a nice classic-modern touch, and paired with my navy blue vintage clutch (also thrifted), this outfit is so super ladylike and fun!

I got a few comments about my new earrings! Not that any one is counting but I've had them about a week and this their third appearance. I absolutely love them! As I mentioned before they are the "High Glam Hoop Earrings" from Forever 21.  They retail for $5.80 and you can buy them online here.

Now, I have to tell you that I was thrilled when I found these because I had just seen these gorgeous POParazzi Swarovski Crystal Bamboo Earrings.

photo borrowed from FASHION du jour

Our friend Leslie over at Fashion Du Jour received a pair from her hubby a couple weeks ago, and I've been lusting for them! You guys know how I love hoop earrings.  They retail for $120 and that is just not in my budget soooooo I was very pleased to find the Forever 21 embellished hoops, and of course they were right in my price range.  That is not to say that I wouldn't LOVE to have the real deal, too!! But I am happy for now :)

One last thing! I have meaning to say THANK YOU to Miss Catherine over at the ABC's of College! Catherine was so kind to contact me for an interview for a feature she runs on her blog called "Dress Like a Fashionista." Catherine's blog is focused primarily on advice for prospective college students, but I love that she throws in an element of fun with her fashionista feature.  Besides, we've all heard that old adage you have to Dress for Success.  Anyway, it was a great honor to be asked to participate.  It's always such a great compliment when someone admires your style.  Head on over to Catherine's blog and check out the interview when you can!

Thanks for stopping by!!