Stylish with Substance

Happy Holidays to all! I know we're a little late for Yule and Channukuh, but happy holidays to truly all!!

Little Gifts...

For the guys... eye candy!

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="click for slideshow from The Sun."][/caption]

For the girls... Discount Designer Shoes! (or just Shoe Porn!)

Discounted ... on BlueFly.

Knitted bags are somehow not around the mainstream shops this season, instead, it's slippers. I wish it were shoes, but ah, no. Not this year anyway, though trends tend to evolve each year - something to look forward to. But winter 'tis the season for cozying our toes, anyway. Let the flats come back in Spring, after all!

Shop by budget:

Impressive:

Juicy Couture - on sale for $46

Recessive:

Old Navy - on sale for $10

Constructive: (crochet pattern)

UnRavel Me (on Etsy) - $4.50

Twilight, the cult vampire romance lit that has had followers in victorian and goth fashions, like frilly wrist cuffs, collars, etc., is finally out in theaters. The premiere, however, showed its human stars in their own tastes, and lead actress Kristen Stewart, donned this autumn's trend of colorblock. Far from punk, 80s, or flamboyantly colored, the frock is still only blood-warm in red, white and gray---but with modern sleek lines.

Remember, characters are played by mere mortal celebrities, with their own tastes, but does the lack of the huge trend that's currently nicknamed after the flick say something?

Will the underground scenesters, like Etsians (from Etsy.com) soon flock from their wrist warmers and lace to late 2008's in-scene fashion? Doubtful, but until now the insider trend of patched colors hasn't been in my view - will it expand to the other circles now?

You be the judge for yourselves; would you like to steal this style (like below)?

For all the recessionistas with a little extra cash, this entire ensemble (aside from the everclassic black pump and any accessories you'd add) costs a total of under $100! (sans shipping and tax)

This pairing blends vamp and Victorian lace
with a subtler take on colorblocking.

Top: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: Forever 21
Clutch bag (cosmetic case): Dooney & Bourke

trend - yikes?

so kate

Overall, it's a professional, in-step collection. And for the prices I hear of (Topshop is British, alas), $70 to $500, it's not to miss! The clothes hit stores October 25th. Just a few days away!

Style.com

Only with HP digital cameras, now photo shooting yourself won't make you want to do the real thing. Instead of adding 10 pounds (which I swear happens), certain digicams by HP can actually reverse the effect. You don't have to be a professional photographer, and no---not even a skilled graphic artist, to produce this *wow* effect. (And I can't even do it that well or easily as a graphic designer, myself!)

It's not done through a magic setting (like the macro flower or something), but with a quick click of a button as a photo editing feature, which is right on the cam, not on your computer. You really can get the results yourself and no one will have to know.

And the effect is natural too---the minimal setting is subtle, but you can up the drama if you're really feeling bloated and/or *cranky*.

Well is one of the cameras by HP with this feature selling for a budget price? The cheapest is $179.99, which isn't bad. Great for a nice camera, but it costs almost as much as my everyday one.

Perhaps the fatties (I say nicely!) of your family and friends can chip in to share one. And you can use it when photographing yourself, and not say your kids, dog, scenery, crafts and purse collection. Hey, that's an idea.

Or maybe we'll throw it in our "Sale Stalk" wish list and save up. The holidays are coming soon, it could even be an early gift, before any family photos are taken. Wait - don't shudder, if you have this cam, you'll think more along the lines of *shutter*.

Of course, if you're already in dire need of a new cam, then the HP ones are a great obvious choice, ranging in price and power-punching from the one linked above to the fully-loaded R967 version, still around only $270!

Never be camera shy again!

You can browse and luckily buy from her shop on Etsy, and while you're there, you may find yourself lost in the other independent jewelers and gosh - just anything that can be made with two hands! Fun. Thanks to indie jewelry designers, or any apparel and accessory makers working from their own homes, the public (you!) can look more attractive and stay unique!

And of course, keep reading Maria's thoughts on the workings of haute couture at www.therunwayscoop.com!

One last note, this designer jewelry offers EXTREME bargains! I ordered one piece, so trust me on this! Order order order before that silly girl realizes she should raise her prices considerably! Your gain is well ... her sale at least!

The following is a sponsored, honest, review.

Graphic tees are schmaphic tees (I know, I'm lame) unless they look like they're done in the style of hip, young web/graphic designers. And looking at the graphic tees on VJUCool.com brings back memories of my old graphic design website/'zine circle. Actually, the images really remind me of the queen of our "gang" and her style, I can so picture Leah working for this company. (And wherever she is, I know she's rocking and making good cash!) Seriously, the artwork on VJU Cool's tees are the tip top of the best.

Even better is they do have pretty stylish designs for girly fashionistas! And they're so detailed, to boot! Check out the "Enigmatic" Japanese-style tee. Gosh I could feature each single tee of art in the "Gorgeous" category on their own! They show off fabulista women, but the shirts are fit to both men and women, separately, and really, the art does appeal to both sexes.

Whether you're the modern artistic type, the sexy kitten, the vintage made mod fan or you just like eclectic clothing; different things in your wardrobe, really check out these products. You may find one or three things you want to buy.

The VJU Cool website's product links lead to Café Press, so printing, quality and sizing matches their high standards. Prices are in the $20 to $30 range.

Rock on.

Nanette Lepore shoes, which debuted just last year, are sugar, spice and everything just right; a mix of trendy now and Lepore girlishness. This season they stand on bases of chunky heels and wedges, with uppers detailed, scribbled, or at least colourful. A nod back to vintage times, most of these shoes would perfectly suit the antiqued images of pin-up girls - a la Betty Paige.

With pricepoints in the 400s, the heels are sky-high, but Lepore does a second range for Keds, sandals and ballet skimmers, some mimicking the "higher" designs. I urge fans (like I) not to let these lower-height and more affordable shoes go, and true devotees to scoop up at least one pair of these early-on haute designs for history!

Immediately we see Nanette knows her craft, and can make a shoe with the rest of the masters.

Purchase Nanette shoes at Neiman Marcus and her line for Keds at Nordstrom.

Powered by Qumana