What's in Store

This week we’re thinking pink as we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are some ways for you to help support the cause and show you care:

FitSugar gets excited about this Pink Ribbon Sports Bra as an October must-have. You can support your gals, while supporting wider access to mammograms. The Breast Cancer Site will cover one percent of a mammogram for every bra purchased. While that might not seem like a lot, those percentage points add up!

Splendora shouts to all of us bagistas about the “Shop pink” mantra and Rebecca Minkoff’s pink croc patent leather clutch to help support Breast Cancer awareness, research and survivors. I always knew that shopping could be wonderful and beneficial for everyone!

FabSugar drools over Breast Cancer Awareness Bling and Mauri Pioppo Sundari Necklace. Treat yourself to some adorable pink rocks for the cause. In addition to the myriad BCA cosmetics and makeup offerings, a number of companies have come out with cute jewelry and other accessories that contribute a hefty chunk.

StyleHive boasts about Privo’s limited edition ‘Ribbon’ flip flop, dedicated to finding a cure for Breast Cancer. $2 from each pair sold will be donated by Privo to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The upper straps feature the universal ribbon emblem in full grain leather. The billowy, synthetic wool lining offers added comfort and delicate femininity. The footbed border and embossed outsole feature the BCRF’s commitment to ’stepping toward a cure’. The EVA midsole gives you added cushioning with lightweight support.

eBay Giving Works hosts loads of charity auctions benefiting the cause. For example, Munchkin, Inc. has enlisted the support of a diverse group of celebrities to sign and decorate Munchkin’s limited edition pink bath ducks scheduled for auction in October. All auction proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

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This week we found seasonal fashion trends and tips that will come in handy when planning your fall wardrobe:

Splendora spotlights Cole Haan Tall Kenna Boots to jump start the fall season. The luggage brown goes with everything, and the relaxed, sexy style works perfectly with your favorite jeans or skirt.

Constance White, eBay’s Style Director informs us that black is back as it’s uniform for any occasion this summer…a wedding, dinner al fresco, or a Sunday concert at the beach. Throw on some black skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a pair of black Ray Bans and you’re the “it” girl straight from the pages of InStyle! Of course, you can always have your black in a summer dress too.

SheFinds alerts readers about grey as a staple color this fall and the best way to wear it. Her tip is to find a key grey piece, be it high-waisted trousers to elongate your legs or a pencil skirt to accentuate your waist, have it tailored to perfection, and voila! You have found a way to incorporate almost all the latest trends using just one key piece. Pair your pencil skirt with a leopard print chiffon neck tie top or with a metallic mini jacket and black Mary Janes.

Jewelry Blogger Sandy Graham raves about turquoise as a fall jewelry trend and showcases her latest find — a vintage turquoise and coral beaded Native American cuff. Turquoise is always present and can be worn with jeans and a white cuffed shirt, a pale gray dress, a multi color long print caftan and many other things.

The Budget Fashionista recommends the Old Navy Baby Doll coat as a “What to buy” item for the fall. You can find it in green or black for more versatility.

Also, Regina Lewis touted comparison shopping sites on the Today Show. She said that price comparison sites give you a great initial snapshot of what the product is currently going for online. And she cites a new five-year forecast from Forrester Research that indicates people who are the biggest online spenders are also the most likely to comparison shop.

Now that’s shopping smart!

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This week we found amazing accessories to accent any outfit, whether fancy or casual. Glitzy, glamorous, oversized and purple have surfaced as accessory trends to be aware of this summer:

SheFinds seeks out the hottest new accessory and trend — drumroll please — the Cocktail Ring! It’s back, it’s beautiful and most of all it’s chic. These rings were first popularized in the ’40s and ’50s, but the oversize styling and glitz have made a comeback and the bigger, the better.

FabSugar raves about Devi Kroell’s Gold Clutch, for any fancy-schmancy party! Summer is full of soirees so finding one shouldn’t be a problem. The faux snakeskin on this clutch doesn’t scream “fake” or “cheap.” The thin chain strap can be hidden in the bag or can be worn around the shoulder, depending on what look you want.

Splendora oozes about Kym Gold-Lubell’s new line of “cocktail rings” as the epitome of bohemian chic for fall. The line called BabaKul, which is French for hippie, is hand-made and combines precious metals with oversized healing stones in designs inspired by flower power.

StyleHive is buzzing about purple and plum as this season’s must-have color for purses and handbags. Plum is versatile — it goes with both cool and warm toned accessories and jewelry and is just dark enough to make it low-maintenance. From chic little clutches to big slouchy totes, plum purses have never been sweeter than this summer.

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This week we found awesome accessories for all you fashion fanatics who like to add a bit of color, vibe and funkiness to your wardrobe:

Tis the summer season and protecting your eyes, while looking fabulous is just plain smart. Splendora names Marc by Marc Jacobs Plastic Aviator Sunglasses as a must have accessory.

FabSugar shines about the glamorous Glitterati necklaces by Sabrina Dehoff. The animals in this collection are made of plastic, detailed with gold.

Delight features the environmentally friendly Envirosax, aka pretty reusable grocery bags. These beauties are lightweight, portable, waterproof, and affordable. You can even choose from an assortment of five groovy bags rolled up in a carrying pouch small enough to stow into a glove box or a handbag. Supermarket in style!

The Runway Scoop promotes the quintessential fashion accessory — pearl necklaces. If you don’t have one, this is a must-add item to your jewelry collection. In fact, pearls are among the oldest gems in the world and were worn by Middle Eastern and Asian societies going back as far as 3500 B.C.

StyleHive raps about this gold-filled chain and gold-plated sneaker charms necklace from hip-hop handmade maven Lady Lesiure. Throw these around your neck, and tie once for a fun and casual look.


SheFinds gossips about Kate Moss being spotted wearing the Kim Alessi Large Cuff Bracelet. This cuff bracelet is 18k gold plated with embossed leather — playful and stylish when you want to feel sassy.

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 Last week for your gawking pleasure, we found fantastic trends and styles with some that just happen to be celebrity favorites:

 eBay’s Jewelry Blog by Sandy Graham features celebrities such as Jessica Stam in her opulent print dress with back straps made of tourmaline, amethyst and other jewels; Cameron Diaz in her fancy turquoise earrings and matching necklace; and Jennifer Lopez gleaming in her diamond encrusted hair clip.

Splendora touts the Laura Miller Asher dress as a “what to wear” this season. If you like dresses, this one has a wrap belt that nips in your waist for a flattering shape.

Constance White, eBay’s Style Director, blogs about her attendance at Vera Wang’s preview of Simply Vera. She shares with us that her collection will be available to millions of women in America and exclusive to Kohl’s come September.

FabSugar spotlights Cameron Diaz in her favorite frock, the little black dress. LBD’s are forever chic and a great investment piece to add to any wardrobe.

SheFinds boasts about Denise Richards love for shoes and the trendy Dolce Vita espadrilles she’s wearing. Let’s face it – shoes are a woman’s best friend, so check these out and run – don’t walk – to your computer and buy them online!

The Budget Fashionista uses Susan Sarandon as its poster child and gives “how to be fashionable after sixty” style tips and how to continue looking fabulous with age. The top of the list included wearing monochromatic pieces, trendy accessories and denim.

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Lucite is showing up everywhere this season, but there is a bit of confusion about what it actually is. So here’s the skinny: it’s plastic. DuPont invented Lucite in 1931 and started manufacturing everything from airplane windshields to jewelry with it. The plastic is still used for a million things, including accessories. The pieces out right now seem both modern and vintage, and are easy to work into your wardrobe.

Necklace

Load up Lucite necklaces and wear them with everything from jeans and t-shirts to day dresses at summer weddings. Mix shapes and sizes to capture the eclectic vibe of spring fashion.

Heels

It may not always feels like you’re walking on air, but in Lucite heels it will at least look like you are. Combine the Lucite trend with the wedge heel trend to appear twice as stylish with half the purchases.

Purse

My problem with most plastic purses is that everyone can see what’s in your bag. If you choose a printed one, your contents are concealed, but you still get the look of the season.

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Last week, we found costume jewelry and real gems that will quickly become your new best friend:

Splendora touts Richard Hutten’s Allumonde Ring designed exclusively for DESIGN21, a design community that connects members, socially conscious individuals, local governments, businesses and NPOs to address social concerns and create smart solutions through design.

Delight.com spotlights Danielle Maveal’s Kissing Fish necklace with etched design on silver to bring you back to your BFF friendship bracelet days.

Stylehive.com highlights Marc Jacob’s bright red cherry shaped Pendant Watch. Quite fruitylicious, it has a stainless steel chain and is designed to be worn as a necklace.

The Jewelry District, by eBay’s Jewelry Style Director Sandra Graham, showcases spring must-haves such as colorful fun watches, jeweled flowers, pearls from ladylike to funky, and a black spiky necklace by Anna Sui.

The Budget Fashionista styles yellow gold circle vermeil genuine diamond accent earrings that can be worn with casual or fancy attire.

The Runway Scoop sports Etsy’s olive green, pink and purple crystal beaded watch.

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After a whirlwind New York trip this week, I finally have some time to digest all I’ve seen. New York women sure know how to dress, but more importantly, they know how to accessorize. I’m a staunch believer that the right accessories and accoutrements can make any outfit, especially if they include a real statement piece like the large Nine West metallic bag Constance White featured on TV earlier this week, a pair of red patent leather platforms, or a bold and bright cinch belt.

My favorite accessories of the season are the Lucite jewelry we’re seeing everywhere in clear and vibrant colors. I actually just bought this long necklace with clear Lucite chunks from Ann Taylor while in New York. They sell another Lucite necklace and a pair of matching earrings too. So far, I’ve worn it with anything from dark solids to whites or subtle stripes.

Don’t settle for just clear pieces. Check out this set of two, thick Lucite bangles in a deep pink, from Shopping.com merchant, Newport-News, which will add fun to any outfit.

Celebrities of course were the first to sport the look…I LOVE these crystal bead earrings that Jennifer Aniston wore in March in Beverly Hills. They’re by Castaway Jewelry and are set in gold and can add a touch of sophistication to an otherwise low-key outfit.

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This morning, Constance White, eBay’s Style Director, appeared on television shows across the country.  The topic: spring fashion trends. 

According to Constance, the key items women should invest in are a trench coat, a metallic handbag, a pair of Lucite platform shoes, teardrop earrings and a versatile spring dress. 

According to Constance, this spring, the hot trends include:

A light color palette with several bright, bold colors

As dictated by the top designer lines, the color palette for spring is light and bright with some key pale neutrals like white, silver, gray, off-white and yellow. We’ll also see some knock-em-dead bold brights such as true purple, fuschia, orange and kelly green.

Metallic bags and clutch purses

Metallic bags in various styles will be everywhere, from high-end lines like Chloe, but also from more affordable, everyday brands like Nine West. Clutch purses are trendy this season, in styles that can easily go from day to evening.

Cropped jackets and trench coats

Every spring light coats are key, but this year we’ll see more fashionable takes on the traditional trench coat. Designers have created trenches in beautiful hues and also bold, nature-inspired prints such as leaves, flowers, insects and animals!

Platform shoes and flats

Affordable shoes abound this season with platforms in heels and wedges, and particularly in patent leather or with a Lucite heel. Dainty flats are also a hot look as they go well with most outfits and can be found in a ballerina style or a dressier, open-toed style in this spring’s colors, metallics or nature-inspired prints.

Drop earrings and hair combs

Feminine accessories set the stage for glamour with hair combs and brooches with bright flowers, jewels and other natural elements such as colorful insects.

Strapless tent and trapeze dresses

Dresses add a touch of sophistication to any outfit, whether for work, leisure or socializing. Mix and match accessories and shoes to take the same dress from work to play. Casual, yet elegant dresses in strapless or trapeze styles keep a feminine silhouette without hugging too much skin.

Tailored shorts

Shorts and pants will take on a very tailored and fitted look this season with dressy trouser shorts in a Bermuda length that can be worn to the office, to cropped cigarette-inspired pants for a classic put-together ensemble.

What’s going out of style?  Constance said peasant skirts, chandelier earrings, bangle bracelets and pointy shoes.

Stay tuned for our top product picks in each category.  In the meantime, feel free to share your favorites.

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