The Weekly Fashionista: Sunglasses & Sandals (S^2) (Part 2)

Happy Thursday Readers,

Hope your summer is going well! I’ve been writing, editing, and getting caught up on book reviews but never fear because The Weekly Fashionista is baaaaaaaack!!!

And boy do I have a ton of summer fun posts for you 🙂

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It took a year but welcome back to Sunglasses & Sandals (S^2) for part 2: Sandals! (read Part 1: Sunglasses)

Sandals…a summertime necessity. As the American Actress, Zoe Saldana once said, “I don’t like things like little sandals that look fragile. I like to look strong and commanding.” It is with this in mind, I write this post.

Sandals are the ultimate statement “accessory”. And for the purpose of this post, I’m going to widen the definition of sandals and include wedges as well as many types of open-toed “sandal-like” shoes (even though I know some of you don’t consider those to be sandals).

The Wedge

A perfect choice to dress up any outfit, they’re especially good for graduation(s) (heels on grass/bleachers…no thank you!) or even those new jeans!

Patterned –

Add a little spice to your look with these patterned wedges,

a perfect way to dress up a casual outfit.

Splendid.com, Kikka wedges, $128

Source: WireImage, Bauer-Griffin Online

Solids – Simplify your life with a solid wedge…

and they can really brighten up your wardrobe.solids are great because they go with almost everything

For instance,

check out this solid wedge from Forever 21,

it’s coral (one of the colors of the season)

& it’s only $29.80!

Flats

Flats can be a wonderful way to relax while still looking cute. I can’t stand when my foot slides around in shoes so I’ve picked out some of my favorite flats that while thin are still supportive.

Try the Southwestern Thong Sandals ($14.80) from Forever 21, pictured left.

or

This Sam Edelman ‘Gabrianna’ Sandal ($129.95 Nordstrom),

for a comfortable yet cool (very detailed beading patterns) fit!

What are your favorite summer sandal choices???

Whimsically Yours,

PnC

P.S. Check in next week for The Weekly Fashionista: Maxi Madness (yikes!)

-Patrice

The Weekly Fashionista: Holiday Edition

The holiday season is a great time to wear those wonderfully hideous holiday sweaters, and if you are one of those people, that’s great but for those of us who don’t have ugly sweaters/act like we lost the one given to us last holiday season (and the year before and so on)…this post if for you 🙂

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Sequins

Sequins have always been an in and out fashion trend however this holiday season has seen more and more outfits with a “shimmery pzazz”.

One of my personal favorites is a Sequin Sheath dress by Lauren Conrad (Kohl’s, $40)…I recently bought it and am in love with it!

Gold

Almost anyone can work gold, a gold dress can be the perfect outfit for any holiday party.  

Below are two of my favorite gold dresses from ASOS:

TFNC Dress Sequin Bandeau with Hi Lo Skirt – $96.75

 TFNC Dress In Scalloped Sequin – $58.05

Burgundy

Last but not least there is burgundy, the color of the season

Instead of a little black dress why not try a little burgundy dress…it’s simple and gorgeous:

Then there’s my personal favorite this burgundy suit set from Nordstrom ($34.50)…I could definitely see Chuck Bass wearing something similar to this 🙂

Topman Skinny Fit Blazer – $280

Topman Skinny Fit Blazer – $120

What are your 2012 holiday picks…do you rebel from ugly holiday sweaters???

Whimsically Yours,

PnC

The Weekly Fashionista: For the Love of Scarves

Scarves, Scarves, Scarves, Scarves, Scarves!

I love scarves.  They are the perfect accessory to any and every outfit.  And…as much as I love summer, it’s finally Fall or Autumn (whatever you prefer) so now you can wear scarves and not look ridiculous.

Now as with everything, buying a good scarf depends on how well you know your scarves.  Scarves can be found everywhere this time of year, from Claire’s & Charming Charlie’s to Target, H&M, Nordstrom, Burberry and beyond!  For all scarves are NOT created equal.

As for my favorite scarves there are the tube/circle/ infinity scarves that can be found as low as $9.95 at H&M.  I’m sure there are cheaper ones somewhere but I think H&M does a fine job at providing a product that is both affordable and well made.

No, they do not sponsor me…hahaha, now that would be something.

These scarves are extremely easy to use.  I know you might not want to admit it but I’m sure there has been a time where you just couldn’t fashion your scarf as nice as you wanted it to look.  Well with these scarves you don’t have to worry about tying or crossing your scarf to make it look “cool” while still keeping you warm (for that is its purpose).  They are so easy to put on, great for throwing on last minute as you walk out the door.  They are also very warm, if you wrap them twice they will ensure that no wind gets anywhere close to you neck and chest!

Aside from the tube/circle/ infinity scarf (my newest scarfsession) I have my old friend, the Pashmina silk scarf (thank you Brad, for offering to model…tell Angie I said hi).

Pashmina silk scarves are wonderful for they can be wrapped various ways and they range from more of a fashion accessory that is warm but not snugly similar to the ones, Jessica Alba is wearing, all the way to thicker ones like the one Brad Pitt has on (in the picture at the top of the post).

I think Pashmina’s are super fashionable, the perfect way to channel your inner fashionista (or whatever you will).

I have found some beautiful Pashmina’s at Charming Charlie’s for $9.98 (they have a great scarf collection), however my best Pashmina’s have been bought at mall/street vendors in the city…ooo lala.

Whatever your style, don’t delay, go out n’ get your scarf, today!  

Visit Girlishh for a list of more scarf types 🙂

Whimsically Yours,

PnC

The Weekly Fashionista: Sunglasses & Sandals (S^2) (Part 1)

Happy Monday Readers,

Hope your summer is going swell! First I just wanted to apologize in the lateness of The Weekly Fashionista, I’ve been a very busy writing/editing my book, but enough excuses. This is going to be a two-post spanning, double whammy post. The first part will fous on sunglasses for men and for women and the second part will focus on sandals, so without further ado I give you:

Sunglasses & Sandals (S^2) (Part 1): Sunglasses

“With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.”
-Jack Nicholson

And to highlight some of these trends is one of my favorite celebrity couples: Posh & Becks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunglasses we all love them (well at least most people do), and I know personally I start my sunglass shopping early. Find the right pair of sunglasses for the summer is crucial. After looking for a couple months I found the perfect pair of sunglasses and guess what just happened…I lost them 😦 Now I’m on “The Hunt”, again. I’m from Texas and while I have never hunted, I do understand the concept even if I don’t approve of killing for sport. So, politics aside, here’s how to being “The Hunt”.

1. You need a budget – Sunglasses can range from a $5 pair at Forever 21 or Claire’s to a $4,084,967 pair of House Chopard sunglasses…why the most expensive sunglasses are never the best looking idk…Point being, know what you’re willing to pay.
2. You need to know what looks good (on YOU)– I don’t care who you are…DO NOT wear sunglasses that don’t fit your face. Oh, so everyone’s wearing aviators but they make you look horrible (they work for most but not all)…find another style for all you know you might start a new trend. Here’s a little something to get you started, Thank you Oprah 🙂
3. Don’t follow the trends – this is a spinoff of the last one but important on its own, trends have a short lifespan and everything comes back into style again (seriously why do you think so many of those 80s babies (not literally babies) kept their neons…). Wear what you want, if you wear a pair of oversized sunglasses just because you want to look like Paris Hilton (idk why) don’t start crying when you realize how ridiculous you look (some people look great in those, though).
4. Know when the sales are occurring and when not to shop – It really doesn’t matter how much money you have, in these times everyone needs to shop wisely. Get a newspaper or sign up for updates from your favorite stores to know when sales are occurring. And DO NOT go shopping for sunglasses during back to school season or christmas, unless your favorite designer is having 50% off their sunglasses don’t risk your life…to quote from my favorite movie…They’re “just plastic” (not always).
5. Don’t be too cheap – Buy those $5 sunglasses from Claire’s or Forever 21 if you want to, just know they might break…and if you have the kind of luck I do with things like that…don’t do it. I’ve spent enough money on $5 sunglasses for all of us. (That being said I understand that sometimes the price is irresistible, just remember it adds up.)

Now that I have thoroughly lectured you…here are my top picks, enjoy!

Men

• AX Armani Exchange Metal Aviator Sunglasses -$65
• Ray-Ban ‘Bubble Wrap Aviator’ 63mm Sunglasses – $130
• Ray-Ban ‘New Wayfarer’ 55mm Sunglasses – $125
• Ray-Ban Clubmaster – $144.95
• ASOS Clubmaster Sunglasses – $17.03 (regular price but as of today 8/20/2012 they were on sale for $5.11)
• Fossil Nick Polarized Round – $70
• Fossil Taylor Large Polarized Aviator – $60
• Mosley Tribe Lyndel Sunglasses (Beckham is wearing these & yes, they’re my favorite) -$180

Those are only my top picks if you want more suggestions, click here or here 🙂

Women

• Madwell Sunny Day Tortoise Shades – $49.50
• Small Metal Aviator Sunglasses -$20
• Silver City Aviator -$160
• Love at first Sight Sunglasses – $9.97
• Kate Spade New York Metal Aviator (These are my afvorites…they’re cute, classy, & girly) – $128
• DKNY – DY4080 – $89.95
• Ray-Ban Jackie Ohh II – $150
• Mango Carey Effect – $29.99

**The pair Victoria Beckham is wearing is from her collection it is DVB #3. The retail price is $300 dollars. I cannot find them anywhere however if you’re interested happy hunting**

Those are only my top picks if you want more suggestions, click here or here 🙂
What kind of sunglasses do you own? What are your favorite picks?

Make sure to check back next week for Part 2: Sandals
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Whimsically Yours,

PnC

The Weekly Fashionista: The Lace Edition

This is a special edition of the Weekly Fashionista post, usually in this post we would cover three hot fashion items but

in honor of this season’s hottest trend we have decided to only focus on one thing:

Lace

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Lace is everywhere and on everyone.  It is the perfect summertime fabric: it is light, breezy, flirty, pretty, and it comes in many colors and styles.

You can get a lace clothing item in any shape however the most popular lace items are the lace top and the lace dress.

The lace top is a marvelous thing.  It comes in many varieties.  You can buy flowy lace sleeveless tops, snug lace long sleeve tops, or you could just buy a shirt that has lace designs intermixed with other fabric types.

In my closet I have a sung quarter-length lace top that has flower designs, a lace top that has lace on the front and with a cotton front underneath and on the back, and a plain lace tank top that is almost completely see-through.

I think what I love the most about lace tops is that they are great for layering.  You can wear a bandeau bra under one for a night out, or you can put a colorful tank top under one and pair it with some black slacks or a pencil skirt for a fun addition to your usual business casual attire.

A lace top is a must, I prefer white lace because I feel that it is more versatile for my layering taste but black and pink lace are other popular lace colors that look great as well.

The lace dress:

Lace dresses come in many styles, just like lace tops.  I have a cream colored lace dress with quarter length sleeves that comes to my knees.  It is gorgeous.  It can be easily dressed up and down.  I have worn it to go to places and events such as brunch, the mall, church, and even to an interview (when paired with a nice black blazer and flats).

It too is a must have item.

I also have a shorter pale pink lace dress that I often wear on a girl’s’ day out with a cute pink or black belt.    I got it at Forever 21 for around $15…it was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made at that store.

But say you want something a little more “sexier”, something that will still be appropriate to wear during the day time but good for the nighttime as well.  If that is the case then I suggest you go and get you one of the ever popular tight lace dresses that I see popping up everywhere.

You can find them and other lace dresses and tops at every women’s fashion/department store that is similar to the likes of Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Love Culture, and H&M.  The prices range from $6 (the lowest I have seen for a lace top at Love Culture) to who knows what, although usually you can buy a good lace dress for no more than $30.

So in honor of Whimsically Yours, The Weekly Fashionista, and of course lace…go declare yourself a lace shopping day, it will be some of the most fun you will have shopping for clothing.

Whimsically Yours,

PnC