What's in Store

This week we found stylish and fashionable wear to help to keep you warm during the winter months:

Splendora ogles the Supreme Being Millie Jacket - an omnipresent cold weather staple with a twist. While winter pea coats seen on the streets and in stores often blend together indistinguishably, Supreme Being has created an inspired alternative with their Millie jacket. Its mixed fabrics and nipped-in waist with long hem looks both feminine and industrial, keeping you warm without sacrificing superb design.

SheFinds dotes on the pinstriped wool cloche hat from Helen Welsh. This flirty, ’30s-inspired cloche hat is THE winter accessory and goes nicely with a kicky houndstooth swing coat. The pinstripes lend a menswear-esque feeling of order, but the black velvet bow and sweet shape make the overall effect decidedly feminine.

Stylebites blogs about oversized sweaters and reminds us that this season is all about staying cozy. Wearing voluminous sweaters is the easiest way to keep warm when the weather turns wicked. A sweater can look proper when worn over a white shirt and tailored trousers, or, if long enough, can be belted as a dress. Aside from having the vital details, like billowing sleeves or ultra-long lengths, these sweaters all come in this season’s hottest color-gray!

The Budget Fashionista goes gaga over The Red Coat. One of the hottest color trends in coats this season is red. Whether it’s a bright cherry or a muted burgundy, the color adds a much needed break from the traditional (and sometime boring) black coat. Check out the faux fur collar on this coat, which looks fabulous while adding much needed warmth!

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Great news for all fashionistas AND holiday gift givers - 7th on Sale, a fashion charity auction of over 4,000 designer donated and authentic items, just launched on eBay.com on November 15 and runs through December 6.

This is the largest designer sample sale in the world with arguably some of the best prices. Bidding for women’s, men’s, children’s and home items starts at 90 PERCENT BELOW RETAIL.  You read it right. That means a starting bid for say, a $3,000 Prada bag, would be just $300.

Shop for items from more than 500 top designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera and MANY others. Each item is on sale for seven days and new listings are added daily so check back often before Dec. 3 to see all the new items available to win.

The icing on the cake is that all proceeds from this eBay Giving Works auction benefit AIDS charities, with up to $500,000 matched by the M.A.C. AIDS Fund.

Now if that’s not a reason to bid…

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This week, we found great pieces for men to style it up this fall and winter:

Forbes.com showcases casual pieces that are not only comfortable, but extremely stylish as well. Whether you are dressing for casual Friday or everyday at work, Thomas Pink’s Casual Mallard Plain Men’s Shirt will become a staple in your wardrobe. The brushed cotton shirts are cut to fit a well-built physique, helping you show off that body you’ve been working on all summer.

Highsnobiety.com raves about the Moncler x Junya Watanabe Fall/Winter 2007 collection that is celebrating a comeback with the new pieces. The line sports colorful, sporty pieces as well as dressier designs. The collection’s down blazer is great for guys who need to stay warm in winter weather, without sacrificing their polished look.

Mens.Style.com highlights the shoe that will never go out of style: Converse’s Chuck Taylor. Japanese musician and influential streetwear designer, Hiroshi Fujiwara, created his own take on the classic shoe for its 100th anniversary. Fujiwara’s creation is selling out everywhere has hit prices of $150 on eBay.

Omiru.com styles men in a timeless and versatile piece: the blue blazer. To keep this piece from looking frumpy and “old”, the blog suggests to sport it with a crisp white oxford shirt or a graphic tee.

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Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang have officially hijacked haute couture. As part of September Fashion Week in NYC, designers such as Betsey Johnson, Heatherette, Isaac Mizrahi and others, created one-of-a-kind runway items inspired by their favorites Peanuts characters for the MetLife Snoopy in Fashion collection. There are even some celeb-created items by Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View. Now during the month of October, they’re all available online at amazing prices!

The entire Snoopy collection is being auctioned off this month on eBay. Proceeds from the auction benefit Dress for Success, a non-profit focused on the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a support network and career development tools.

Below are a few of the comic strip-inspired items being auctioned off during the second “Snoopy in Fashion” auction wave, ending on Oct. 21. The third wave runs Oct. 21 - 31.

Lucy by Liz Claiborne

This jacket marks a classy and chic homage to Charlie’s gal, Lucy, who’s usually rocking a dark blue dress. Liz Claiborne designed this unique couture canvas jacket which comes with the small black top and rayon skirt shown on the model.

Woodstock by Laura Bennett

Laura Bennett playfully reinterprets Snoopy’s yellow feathered friend, Woodstock, as a cocktail dress! Bright lemon yellow silk is accented by feathers on this fun and flirty number. 

Peanuts by Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson created a flirty and colorful wool and acrylic dress which channels a whimsical Charlie Brown. It comes paired with red leather shoes from the designer.

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It’s that time again! The changing of the leaves means the changing of the seasons, means you need a new fall wardrobe! But, who can afford to get the latest designer sweaters, boots and coats, while still having enough for a $4 latte each morning? Luckily, there are amazing bargains online to be had this season.

From eBay Style Director, Constance White, I learned that this fall five of the key trends we’ll be seeing are “menswear,” “yellow,” “Anglomania,” “preppy” and “shine.” In a nutshell, dark yellow is a key color in the fall 2007 palette, alongside other colors such as periwinkle, moss green, dark teal, purple magenta and chocolate brown. Feminine inspired menswear is a key look for work wardrobes. “Preppy” speaks for itself and “shine” is anything metallic, but just a little more muted or subdued than the metallics of spring and summer. And what exactly is Anglomania? Anything reminiscent of gentrified hunting parties in “Merry Olde England.”

Here are some great finds in line with some of the season’s trends that I can’t keep all to myself!

Hayden Goldenrod Cashmere Sweater

This color is so IN for fall. Buy a size or two larger than you normally wear so it hangs longer and pair it with some thick tights instead of pants.

Retails for $279, get it at Shopping.com merchant Bluefly for $129.

Tahari by Arthur S. Levine Black Pinstriped Blazer

Tahari is perfect for professional women that want to imbue power in the boardroom without looking like one of the “boys.”

Retails for nearly $200. Get it at Shopping.com merchant SmartBargains for $69.99.

Alvin Valley Tan Tweed Pedal Pushers

These pedal pushers channel English riding breeches to a T. Wear them with the jodhpuresque boots below by Gucci to complete the Fox and the Hound look.

Retail for $255, get them at Shopping.com merchant Bluefly for $153.

Gucci Brown Leather ‘Pelican’ Boots

If wearing these boots with tweed pants is just too “Prince Charles” for you, wear them with a dress or skirt to look like a true lady.

Retail at $1,095, get them at Shopping.com merchant Bluefly for $876.

Laundry by Shelli Segal Black Cashmere Cardigan

Who knew a professor’s cardigan could look so good? This sweater is femmed up with small, lady-like buttons and a wrap-around tie. Wear it with slacks at the office, and a flirty skirt for dinner.

Retails at $275, get it for $89.99 from Shopping.com merchant SmartBargains.

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This week we’re exposing celebrity sightings both on the red carpet and on the street. We’re also sharing their brilliant style sense that unveils fall fashion trends:

Constance White, eBay’s Style Director gives us the 411 into the 59th Emmy Awards and what the ladies wore on the red carpet. America Ferrera and Kristen Bell both arrived in blue gowns in hues we’ll see all over this fall. Minnie Driver and Heidi Klum pulled out secret weapons of their own: pleats, another 2007 fall trend. Last but not least, Rebecca Gayheart wore black, which is also following us into fall as the must-have color in your wardrobe.

Jewelry Blogger Sandy Graham also raves about recent red carpet fashion. Marcia Cross and Debra Messing both looked gorgeous in their turquoise and diamond shoulder swipers, and how on trend! Ellen Pompeo wore a strapless gown with a gold vintage tasseled necklace. Hayden Panettiere looked like a princess in her peach taffeta empire waist gown with a built in jeweled medallion, paired with small button earrings.

FabSugar informs us that the Fendi Baguette is baaaaccck! This just in: Sarah Jessica Parker was caught traipsing around Manhattan filming the “Sex and the City” movie, and this handbag that was her faithful sidekick is getting another spin today on the runway. The bag was first launched in 1997, so for its ten-year anniversary, it’s getting a makeover! For Spring, Fendi redesigned the bag in four sizes, from small to extra large. Many feature a detachable strap that turns the smaller bags into clutches and the larger versions into messenger bags. The bags are made in all different kinds of materials - from python to plasticized leathers - and many come lavishly embellished, too. Sounds like one of the original “It” bags may be “It” all over again.

SheFinds talks about chalky lipstick as a growing trend seen on stars such as Rebecca Romijn, Vanessa Williams and Debra Messing. The look is a little mod, but also a little morbid. The key is to compensate in other areas for what you’re lacking on the lips. Notice how Debra Messing worked smoky eyes, Vanessa Williams an allover bronze glow, and Rebecca Romijn bright pink cheeks and full dark lashes. If you want to avoid looking like a corpse, incorporating color and life into the rest of the face is crucial.

Stylehive gets giddy over Hillary Swank as the latest megastar to lend her name to a fragrance, joining the ranks of Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and JLo. Hilary debuted her scent “Insolence” and its accompanying ad campaign in London this week.

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“Without black velvet breeches, what is man?”
James Bramston, 1694 - 1744

There is a bit of a debate as to whether or not pants can be considered a trend in fashion. Were they around last season? Yes. The season before that? Yeppers. In fact, women have been wearing pants since the 1870s. During WWII women started wearing pants regularly for work and by the 1950s pants were a wardrobe staple. Moral of the brief history? Pants are here to stay, and trend or not, it’s worth investing in a fanny-tastic pair or two. Here’s how to wear the styles of the season.

Wide

Wide leg pants require more substantial shoes. A shoe with a square or almond toe and a thicker heel will balance the leg. Avoid looking shapeless and frumpy by keeping your tops fitted, your jackets cropped and if you wear an overcoat make sure it has a defined waist.

Slim

Unless you’re a Balenciaga diehard or a Tokyo rock star (or both!), forget about wearing chunky heels with slim pants. Instead, choose a classic pump to maintain the streamline silhouette. Play around with volume on top with capelets and trapeze jackets or go très moderne with something tailored.

Men’s

Think of the men in you life. How many of them wear heels with their pants? Few to none is my bet. So if you’re stealing their pants, style wise, take that to heart and wear flats. Ballet flats will keep the look feminine.

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With all the buzz about Spring Fashion Week, this week we’re sharing runway trends and secrets to tickle your fashion taste buds:

TrendCentral features four collections surrounded by industry buzz from New York Fashion Week:

Erin Fetherston: Best known for her girly princess frocks beloved by Hollywood indie fashion elite like Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Deschanel, Fetherston toned down her signature look for an upcoming line for Target. Done entirely in an icy palette of snow queen whites, ivories, greys and gun metal metallics, the Flights of Fancy collection was a more sophisticated take on her past looks, resulting in a chic minimalist aesthetic accented with kooky seashell prints and of course, Fetherston’s usual ruffles.

Vena Cava: Inspired by Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon and ’70s print design, the very original collection channeled film noir glamour via modern retro silhouettes, some pieces printed with Art Deco-style beer cans that the old school designers created not from Photoshop but through good old Kinko’s.

Preen: A favorite among fashion insiders and models such as it-girl Agyness Deyn, this British label just presented its New York debut. Done almost entirely in silk, Preen’s simultaneously sensual and graphic looks dressed up ‘80s parachute styles for a night on the town.

Karen Walker: This Aussie designer was doing highwaisted pants long before they became this season’s big trend, so it’s a good bet that whatever she does will be directional. Her Spring ’08 collection included slouchy wide pants and garden party florals paired with dark tights and tough boots.

Splendora goes gaga over the Stuart Weitzman Cambridge Pump as the “what to shoe”. Lots of ladiesfrequenting shows at Fashion Week wore oxfords and wingtip shoes. These pumps are perfectly androgynous; the lace up front is a nod to mens’ footwear, while the high heel makes them more delicate and irrevocably femme. Wear them with a frilly chiffon number or a tailored blazer and high-waisted slim jeans. They’ll work with either ensemble.

FabSugar posts about the Going Tribal trend showing itself on the Spring runways. An array of batik prints, nature-inspired, exotic and tropical prints will provide fabulous fashion fare. DKNY went tribal with a more subdued palette, youthful shapes, and obi belts; Oscar de la Renta knows how to deliver tribal to purveyors of luxury, and Diane von Furstenberg’s “Under the Volcano” theme gave way to vivacious tribal delights.

The Budget Fashionista raves about Spring 2008 fashion trends and shares what is “in”. The list includes: feminine dressing, thin belts, head scarves, long pencil skirts, sequins, metallics, silk jersey and chiffon, hats, clutches, dressing up; the colors orange, rose, lavender, green, and silver which is the new neutral. She says that the key is to focus on fit and quality and to shop now for spring/summer colors like lavender.

Forbes.com pens about luxe for less Laptop Bags and includes the Coach Logan Bag made with water-resistant tanned leather. This case features two pockets in the front compartment, pen holders, a business card holder and an adjustable front buckle closure. Who said that professional, functional and fashionable don’t go together?

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So, I can’t explain it…but I felt the need to buy a rocket t-shirt that I saw in the celeb rags this weekend. You know, the Made U Look Rocket t-shirt. Apparently, Jessica Simpson and one of the Bradgelina tots have been spotted wearing them.

Anyway, it’s really ugly and I only plan on wearing it to the gym. Why am I so psyched? Maybe because I won it on eBay. It’s true what they say about windorphins. If you’re interested, there are a few more up there and some Shopping.com merchants are carrying them. I’ll let you know how many looks it really gets me…

What have you bought just because you saw it in a magazine?

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This week we found cool trends and innovative products for Back-to-School:

Engadget writes about changes to SanDisk’s Sansa media players in order to attract the back-to-school masses. Perhaps the biggest change comes to the company’s WiFi-equipped Sansa Connect, which retains all the same specs but gets a full hundred dollars knocked off its price tag. The other refresh comes to the company’s Sansa Shaker line, which gets a new 1GB model that’ll retail for an average of $50. Of course, while SanDisk is pitching this as a back-to-school promotion, there’s nothing to stop anyone from taking advantage of it for themselves.

Gizmodo goes crazy over Safe Books Ballistic Bookbag, which is actually bullet-proof! These backpacks are claimed to offer as much protection from a shooting as police armor and are aimed to protect kids from all of the 21st century dangers schooling entails.

The Budget Fashionista highlights trends from Paypal’s recent back-to-school survey on the attitudes and thoughts of parents and kids regarding Back-to-School shopping and fashion. Check out these interesting findings:

• - 9 out of 10 high school students expect their parents to pay for most, if not all of their back to school purchases.
• - Kids expect their parents to spend on average $350 on back to school clothing, while parents expect to spend around $250.
• - Girls take their style cues from traditional pop style icons like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen twins while boys take their style cues from celebrities they want to hang out with like P Diddy, Justin Timberlake and Jack Black.
• - Also, while boys think baggy jeans are cool, parents and, most importantly, girls don’t think they are appropriate.

FabSugar raves about fall jackets! There are so many different styles and colors one can work with. So, check out the fresh back-to-school outerware options.

SheFinds alerts us about back-to-school deals at eBags. Get an extra 10%-off plus free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Find modern, functional laptop backpacks, messenger bags in funky patterns (they make a great weekend carry-all), and sleek totes for work. The sale ends on 8/26.

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