Merry Christmas!!!

Just a quick post to say Merry Christmas lovelies!

This is what I wore to hang out with the family on Christmas Eve!  Just a little holiday glam! Now it's time to watch the Lakers put the smack down on the Heat.. Lol! :)

Thanks for stopping by!!!

AffordableScarves.com: More Than Just Scarves!

I recently won a Affordable Scarves giveaway on Taira's blog Lahteadah!  Well, like a good fashion blogger, I had to do a little research about the site, and I found that they were a sister store of one of my favorites... Handbag Heaven!  Without even looking, I instantly knew that they'd have quality scarves at affordable prices, but boy oh boy was I surprised to see that Affordable Scarves also has a fab selection of other cozy accessories including hats, gloves, and PONCHOS!  Why am I so excited about ponchos, you ask?  Well, you all might remember H&M's early fall campaigns featuring Daria Werbowy wearing a fabulous v-neck camel poncho for only $19.99.

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Umm yeah... so how long do you guys think those things lasted in stores? I certainly couldn't find one at any of my local H&M stores.  And what about all my fashionista's who don't have an H&M store in their city! 

Well, my friends don't fret because if you couldn't snag the H&M poncho, Affordable Scarves  has got you covered!  you can get the Laurene V-neck Poncho for....$15.26.

Laurene V-neck Poncho | Available in Back & Tan |  $15.26

You know, I've already got mine, and I love it.  love how the v-neck allows you to layer collared shirts, turtlenecks or whatever under the poncho.  I layered it over a cowl-neck sweater tunic for some extra warmth on drizzly day. And of course, I am rocking my bright red Sami Satchel from Handbag Heaven.

Now, as I mentioned before the fab finds don't end at scarves and ponchos.  They've also got a wonderful selection of gloves, adorable snow hats, and headbands.  I am loving these extra long Bianca Convertible Mittens for $13.56.

Bianca Convertible Mittens | Available in Gray, Dark Gray, Tan, and Brown | $13.56

If you like what you see, head on over to Affordable Scarves and check out the goodies.  I promise you'll find one, two...three things that you love! Oh, and for all you fellow animal print fiends out there, they've got wicked selection of leopard print scarves! I am sure that I'll be adding one, or two, or maybe three to my leopard print collection. Lol!

Well, as you can see I have fallen in love with another affordable online retailer, but it gets better!  Again, being a good fashion blogger, I decided that I just had to reach out to Affordable Scarves for some kind of partnership.  Remember  One Scarf, Five Ways , and How To: Tying a Scarf .  Well, I am going to be partnering up with Affordable Scarves for a guest post on their blog in the very near future, and it's going to be all about tying scarves! Yippee! Stay tuned for more info... and go check out the scarves in the meantime!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Stripes and Fur

Today's outfit is not brought to you by the Inspiration Calendar... it is simply inspired by the frigid temperatures here in ATL.  Sunday evening Fab and I ventured off to the mall and I have to say that I have not felt the kind of cold we walked into....EVER!  It wasn't so much the temperature but the wind chill.  I thought my cheeks were going to freeze and crack!  Fabrice has a harder time than I do with the cold because he has poor circulation and his hands and feet take FOREVER to defrost.  Anyway, enough abut the cold and on to the outfit. Again, sorry about the poor quality of the pictures! It's way to cold to take pictures outside and finding spots inside the house with decent lighting is tough.

Jacket: Wilson's (old) | Turtleneck: H&M | Jeans: Philthy Ragz (local Inglewood Boutique) | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Bag: Handbag Heaven "Sami" ($46.71) | Necklace: Forever 21 | Socks and Tights: Target ($3 & $5) | Gloves: Gift from Grandma

I have never been a fan of turtlenecks because as I've mentioned before I am always hot, but I am LOVING turtlenecks these days.  They are perfect in these cold temps.  I love this H&M striped turtleneck, which is actually a dress/tunic! It's incredibly lightweight so it's not too warm even though it is a turtleneck., and the fabric is super soft. It's just a great versatile piece and stripes are always fashionable.

Relaxed fitting boyfriend jeans are also a great option for cold weather.  I layered tights and socks under my jeans for extra warmth. Layering under skinny jeans is not so easy so the BF's are a good alternative. 

Now, I also realized that while I love my Sam Edelman's, I'm not in sunny CA anymore (I hear it was 85 degrees this past weekend).  I am going to need a pair of CLOSED TOE brown lace up boots pronto!  It wasn't so bad with the socks and tights, but these would have been out of the question if it was raining.

Oh well!

So what do you guys think of my new red bag?! I love it (of course!).  I have had it for a couple weeks now but this weekend was my first time breaking it out and it was actually an exchange of another bag that I bought about a month ago and returned because I didn't like the color as much in person.  Well, first of all let me say that I had a great experience with Handbag Heaven's return process.  I just called the customer service number on the website, and they gave me an RMA #.  I sent the bag back in it's original box (paid for my own return shipping) and my exchange was shipped out on the very same day that the return was received (they paid for outbound shipping of the new item.)  I had zero complaints!  The best part was I loved my new "Sami" bag.  The faux leather is soft and the texture is great.  The hardware looks expensive and sturdy.  I love this bag so much that I'm tempted to buy it in a couple other colors (it comes in black, purple, pewter, brown, and cream).

Can you guys believe that Christmas is only two weeks away? My goodness! This year has flown by so fast.  My posts will probably get a little sporadic as the holiday approaches.  I am taking some time off work and hopefully Fabrice and I will be lounging and playing Rock Band in our PJ's! woohoo!  What are your plans this holiday season?

Do you see what I'm reading? Hehe :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Skinny Cargos & Red Pumps (Inspiration Calendar: Wk 1, Look 2)

I am a little grouchy about today's pictures.  I had a rough day in front of the camera. I just couldn't get a good shot.  I think the cold was messing up my focus. My hands were like ice cubes and my camera only allows you to set the self timer for one picture at a time. ugh! I am gonna post these pictures anyway and stop whining about it...

The Inspiration

photo credit

Cheryl Cole's look here is really nothing special to be honest, but it did catch my eye.  I bought a pair of skinny cargos many months ago and I have had the hardest time with them.  It's mind boggling really, because those damn J Brand Houlihans (which are currently on sale for $120 at Nordstrom) have been spotted on every celebrity in every magazine and on a number of fashion bloggers, too.  Needless to say, there is no shortage of skinny cargo inspiration in the fashion world.  Still, for some reason I just couldn't pull them off.  For some reason, this look spoke to me... Lol!  I loved that she rolled them up a little to expose the ankle and I loved the pairing with bright pumps. I even loved the raggedy  distressed sweater she's rocking with it. Not so sure about that hat, but if it was as cold where she is as it was when I was taking these pictures then I don't blame her!

The Inspired

Sweatshirt: Walgreens ($3.99) | Plaid Shirt: Old & Random | Cargo Pants: Sanctuary, Nordstrom Rack ($29.99) | Shoes: Go Jane ($26.50, sold out in Red) | Necklace: Forever 21 | Bag: Thrifted

Instead of a lightweight baggy sweater, I opted for a heavier plain old school sweatshirt.  I cut the collar (as I do with all sweatshirts) to create a Flashdance off-the-shouder neckline.  I've noticed a lot of dolman sleeve sweatshirts on the market right now priced at $50 - $400! umm WHAT!? Well, call me crazy, but in my opinion buying an over-sized sweatshirt and hacking off the collar gives the same effect. I bought this men's size small sweatshirt at Walgreen's for $3.99 and I love it!  It was too cold for the sweater alone so I layered it over plaid button up shirt that I've had for years. I think I bought it 2006 or 2007.  I can't say that I've worn in the last couple years but I'm glad I held on to it. I cuffed (rolling would be too bulky) my sweatshirt sleeves to expose the plaid sleeves and of course I've also got the plaid collar peaking out as well.  I think the plaid tied the look together and gave it some polish! (if only my collar would act right..Lol!)

Are you guys tired of seeing this necklace yet? Lol... I can't help myself! It's the accessory of the moment for me!  Anyway, as I mentioned before I've had these pants for a while and I had the hardest time making them work.  There was just something about the fit that I didn't like. A couple weeks ago the fabulous Courtnee of Moments of Whimsy rocked a pair of gorgeous pink cords that she had a similar problem with.  She mentioned that it just occurred to her one day that she should roll the ankles and viola! they were a perfect fit.  She is actually the one who got me to thinking about rolling these pants.  When I saw the photo of Cheryl Cole, it sealed the deal.  I generally think that skinny jeans look a bit strange rolled or cuffed so I would never have tried it if it hadn't been for Courtnee and Ms. Cole, but it works well with these twill pants.

So I have a hair update! I did my bantu knots again really late last night, but as you can see my hair looks TOTALLY different.  Even Fabrice asked "why did your hair come out like that?" Lol! Well, I took the knots out too early and my hair was still damp. Ugh! I assumed that letting them set overnight would be enough, but no, no, no! Oh well, you live and you learn.  I'll try again in a few days!

p.s. Our fab affiliate Alloy.com has an awesome pair of Skinny Cargos for $39.99.  I actually like the look of them more than mine, but I don't need to buy another pair of the same type of pants (boohoo!).  If you are in the market for an inexpensive pair of skinny cargos, I'd definitely give them a try!  Our friend Leslie at Fashion Du Jour picked up her skinny cargos from Alloy.com and she loves them. Oh, and you get 20% off with the promo code AHDEC20.

Click Image to buy!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Mixed Neutrals (Outfit Inspiration Calendar: Wk 1, Look 1)

If you're reading this then you are a fashion lover, and if you are a fashion lover you already know that Camel is the hottest color this season. The runways, magazines, and blogs have been flooded with images of luxe camel wool coats, and cozy camel sweaters.  Luckily I already had a few camel pieces in my closet so I didn't have to rush out and buy anything... not that that stopped me! Lol. I did buy a pair of light camel tailored shorts from H&M a couple weeks ago.  So you know I was thrilled when I saw the fabulous spread Tulin Sahin spread from Elle Japan on The Simply Luxurious Life!  I immediately knew that I had all the necessary pieces in my wardrobe to recreate this stunning look!

The Inspiration

photo credit

The Inspired

Coat: Old Sample | Turtleneck: Peter Nygard | Shorts: H&M ($24.95, kinda pricey) | Belt: hmm, super hold? | Tights: Target | Booties: Sam Edelman "Venice" ($99, Nordstrom Rack) | Earrings: Dots | Bag: Buffalo Exchange

I have to ay that I was quite proud of my remix. It wasn't bad at all! I have had this turtleneck sweater for years now. I bought it at a Nygard factory store in Gardena, CA.  It's right next door to my mom's church (City of Refuge) and we used to stop by after service for a little shopping fun. the details on this sweater are amazing. It has fabulous velvet cutouts on the sides and elbows.... so cute!  I also love the ragland sleeve! I love pieces that have subtle design details. They really make all the difference.

As you can see I went ahead and belted my sweater just like our inspirational look, but I have to tell you that after looking at the pictures I decided I liked it better not belted so I took off the belt.

The shorts are such a light camel that they look khaki in the pictures, but they are truly a very light camel in a faux wool (is there such a thing?) fabric. They are slightly high-waisted too, which I love! I have a feeling they are going to get a lot of wear. By the way,  Fabrice doesn't get the whole shorts and tights in the winter thing....

Him: why are you wearing shorts and tights? It's cold out side. Why don't you just wear pants?
Me: because it's cute.
Him: *shrug* (followed by a look of confusion)...okay, if you say so.

To make the inspirational look all my own, I decided to play with the idea of mixed neutrals.  I bought these gray tights at Target a while ago.  Now that I am seeing them in pictures they are a little more blue than I'd like, but they still work.  I think I am going to have to buy another pair of gray tights, though.  Anyway, mixing neutrals is a great way to add depth to an otherwise bland outfit.  Here, the splash of gray acts as a pop of color even though gray is also a neutral shade.  Mixing neutrals is also about mixing various tonal shades of the same color.  Playing with texture and fabrication will also serve to add a little depth.  Who What Wear's Trend Report shows us all the fabulous ways your fave celebrities are mixing neutrals this fall.

So, I am sure that you all noticed that I am rocking bright red lips in this post! I am pretty sure that every 6 months, I decide I want to start wearing lipstick again. Lol! I've been seeing red lips everywhere lately, and I felt like a new tube of red lipstick was calling my name... then I got my November issues in the mail and enclosed I found not one, but TWO Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick coupons.  Well, if that ain't a sign, I don't know what is (Lol, as if those coupons are not in there every month...please disregard my silly justifications!)  Anyway, I went with "Red Revival" and I do love it! It's perfectly matte and long lasting when paired with a soft nude liner. Fab and I went out for sushi and after an entire sushi boat and two shots of sake later, my lipstick was still going pretty strong... impressive!  It also looked great with a thin layer of Cranberry tinted lip gloss from The Body Shop.  The best part? It came off with ease at the end of the night. Gotta love it! You can pick up a tube for yourself at your local drugstore or Target for anywhere from $5 - $8. 

So how did my inspired look compare to my inspiration?

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Sequins Are Always Appropriate!

...as long as you know how to dress them down! Unfortunately, my life is not filled with galas and cocktail parties, but that doesn't mean I don't love to by cocktail dresses and pretty gowns from time to time. Lol! I will admit they are a weakness for me and if I catch one that I love on sale...it's mine! Even if I have no upcoming plans, and that my friends is how I ended up with this leopard print sequin cocktail dress, which I bought TWO YEARS AGO and have never had an opportunity to wear. (pardon the poor lighting. taking pictures inside is an art I have not yet mastered!)

Well, a couple weeks ago I was DETERMINED to wear the darn thing. Fab and I were going to dinner with a friend and I just went for it....and by it, I mean a totally revamped dress down spin on it.  Here is what I did....

I broke out my trusty dusty denim shirt layered over my olive green v-beck sweater, and threw on some brown leggings and brown leather booties! Viola! My cocktail dress is now in my winter wardrobe rotation!

I just can't figure out why I didn't think of this sooner. I've been staring at this dress in my closet for what seems like forever!  Of course, I went for the sequin skirt look here, but I think it would work well worn as a "casual" dress too... just thrown on a chunky sweater and boots, or tights and oxfords.

Side note: This my friends is what you get when I take my own pictures with a tripod... variations of the same pose against a blank wall. LOL! I'll work on it, I promise!  Anyway, back to the outfit. I know that you all have something in your closet like this...a dress that you bought for a special occasion and haven't worn since... you've contemplated getting rid of it, but you love it too much...Well, I say break it out and dress it down. You'll feel casually fabulous all day (or night) long!

My goodness, the lighting is bad in my house! Hmmm, not sure what do do about it... we have recessed lighting...suggestions?

Thanks for stopping by!!!