Click here for more pics and all the deets on my latest OOTD post for the Urban Darling Blog!!

Click here for more pics and all the deets on my latest OOTD post for the Urban Darling Blog!!

I'm a huge fan of Piperlime for online shopping.  They offer a great variety of brands, encompassing clothing, shoes, and accessories.  And while I don't support paying full retail, Piperlime runs frequent sales and promotions.  You can often stack coupon codes on top of sale merchandise to get a pretty steep discount overall.  Plus I really do love the merchandise, and they do a great job of curating coveted items into easy to browse categories.  Above is my choice sampling of totally crave-able accessories from their recent list of "Obsessions".  With top picks from brands like Dolce Vita, Pour La Victoire, and Zac Posen, what's not to love?  For more fashiony goodness, check out all their obsessions here.             

I have to say that I'm probably not a huge fan of the Target designer collaborations.  Over the years I've found the items tend to look better in pictures than they do in person, at least once you try them on.  The styles are nice in theory and the prints are often eye-catching, but I think something is lost in the fabrics and tailoring.  I suppose that's to be expected when a designer launches a line with every piece under $100.  I'm not at all hating on these collabs, I just think they're a bit over-hyped.  Nonetheless I admit I'm curious every time a new designer rolls out.  The upcoming Peter Pilotto launch is no exception.  The colors and prints are undeniably enticing...which isn't surprising given Pilotto is known for his textiles and prints.  However, I can't say anything for certain until I see the pieces in this flesh when the line debuts on February 9th.  

I love the concept behind the jacket on the left, though this is definitely one of those see how it fits pieces...a jacket needs to be well tailored or it's essentially worthless.  The dress in the middle is super cute...those cool, breezy colors speak to me.  And I really like the crop top/pencil skirt combo on the right, though again I'd be curious about fabrication.  Cheap just doesn't cut it, especially with body-con styles.  Definitely appealing in theory though.

I'm mega-obsessed with the first look here.  I favor asymmetrical silhouettes, especially in a skirt...the look can be very slimming.  And I'm all for complimentary print mixing!  This outfit is bold but still fresh and modern.  I adore the bikini crop top featured in the second look, though I would probably pair it with solid black in a high-waisted pant or maxi skirt.  There's too much of the same print going on, the way it's styled here.  Finally, the a-line dress is totally killer.  That neckline/bodice combo calls to me.  If anything I bet this would be one of my favorites in person.  Though again it all comes down to construction and fit.  Often times these Target 'designer' pieces don't work for petites, which is also a consideration in my case.  I do find the sizing is a bit off as a general rule.  Regardless, I'm looking forward to popping into to Target on the 9th.  I hope that I'm pleasantly surprised!  Prices range from $19.99 to $79.99 for the items pictured.          

My last post was a rundown of my trip to the UK.  Of course I shopped while I was there, but I didn't go too crazy.  Pre-Christmas sales were slim, and afterwards (Boxing Day and beyond) the stores were packed.  All in all I bought three dresses...Check how I styled them for three very different looks!    

This is my rock and roll beauty queen look :)  I thought it would be fun to take an elegant pink chiffon dress and pair it with kick-ass black boots.  A fem dress doesn't always require ladylike accessories, and this is a great example.  Use contrast to make a statement and stand out from the crowd.  I scooped up this dress at a super inexpensive vintage-esque shop called 9 Pound Fashion.  i.e. Nearly everything in the store was only nine pounds (about $15).  All the clothes were new but they had a definite vintage vibe...and the quality was impressive for the price.  This dress especially caught my eye.  Styled with: Report Signature boots, Kate Spade clutch, JewelMint earrings, and Guess bracelet.   

This is an elegant cocktail look with just a little bit of edge.  I own soooo many black dresses, but this one was a bit different.  The sleeves and trim are lace, but the bodice is a sparkling textured fabric, and there's even a subtle faux-fur collar.  Since the dress has a gothic vibe, I chose to avoid black accessories.  Instead I opted for silver glitter pumps to compliment the sparkle in the dress.  I love the opalescent statement earrings, versus a necklace with this look.  This dress was also a steal at 9 Pound Fashion, though it's not available through their site.  Styled with: Boutique 9 'Justine' (the most comfortable pointed-toe pump ever), Nine West clutch, Topshop belt, and BaubleBar earrings.

This stunning neoprene red dress was my only splurge, and I still got it for 50% off retail.  It was a truly last minute airport find.  The duty free shops at LHR Terminal 5 are oh-so-enticing, and Ted Baker is one of my favorites.  Stopping to try on this dress meant we nearly missed our flight (no joke) but it was worth it.  The dress retails for $248 on the US site, though I found it on sale and tax free for 75 pounds (about $125).  Styled with: Sole Society heels, Ted Baker tote, BaubleBar necklace, and H&M bangles.

* Items that aren't linked are no longer available.

After the exhibit, we wandered around Notting Hill and stopped by Jamie Oliver's Recipease for a quick snack. Check out those gorgeous meringues!  The baked good there were unbelievably awesome.

Mini Harrods at London Heathrow Terminal 5.  Nothing like the actual store (which is mind-blowing) but still very chic.

A small sampling of the sweet snacks I brought back.  This is basically what was left after I gifted out a ton of chocolate upon my return.  The chocolate packed away in my luggage made my suitcase overweight for the return trip...hunny bun was a bit grumpy about it, but the British Airways rep at the airport didn't seem surprised when I mentioned it was the chocolate. 

As a wardrobe stylist I love experimenting with fashion. Browse my closet and you'll see the stash is far from ordinary...prints and textures galore, shoes in every color, MAJOR statement jewelry.  I'm in my glory when I dig in and start throwing looks together...the more novel the better, most of the time.  However, there is one basic I can't get enough of.  The color black.  Black pants, black leggings, black dresses...it's pretty out of control.  And I know I'm not the only one.  My grandmother, who's chic in Chanel at age 90, is one of my style icons.  She wears plenty of color, looks lovely no matter what she wears really, but she swears by black as the ultimate classic.  Nothing more elegant she insists...she will always go back to this time and again.  And I wouldn't dare argue with her.  Which brings me to my current conundrum...boots.  Boots are my number one weakness when fall rolls around.  I always manage to spot about a hundred styles every fall that I wouldn't mind getting my hands on.  Seriously.  My wishlist is a million miles long, and there's plenty of color to be found, but there's also a lot of black. To help visualize the current scenario, I created two collages.  One depicts the black boots and booties I already own. The other depicts a good size sampling of the styles I'm after.  As far as I can tell, there's enough variation between these shoes to justify every single pair if I really wanted.  But you tell me...is it just too much?  Is there a tipping point, even for black?  To be fair, I wear every single pair of boots in the first collage.  Several of them are winter staples for me, and I absolutely love them all.                 

Boots I Own (clockwise from top left): Paper Fox by ShoeDazzle cut-out booties, Report Signature over-the-knee boots, DV by Dolce Vita cut-out booties, Irregular Choice hidden wedge boots, Report Signature buckle booties, and Steve Madden platform booties.

Boots I Like (clockwise spiral from top left): Miz Mooz 'Minnie', Guess 'Anavey', French Connection 'Mabel', Steve Madden 'Gadget', Jeffrey Campbell 'Tish', and Matiko 'Julian'.

One look I'm loving right now is big, full skirts. Not just the skirt but the way it's worn. Preferably with a simple tee, either cropped or tucked in. The idea is that the skirt is opulent and voluminous, so your top half should be understated...a modest complement to the not-so-modest bottom. The ideal skirt should fit at the narrowest part of your waist, to balance out the volume and prevent the appearance of added weight on your frame.  This is why it's also important that your top is either tucked in or slightly cropped to fall just above the waistline.  (You do not want a shirt that falls over the skirt as this would add bulk to your mid-section.)  Top off the look with one fabulous accessory, like a statement necklace, and you're good to go!        

When it comes to shopping for a nice, full skirt...I adore this option from nastygal.com! Nasty Gal styles it edgy for sure, but the skirt is super versatile. It fits high on the waist and has the right amount of fullness needed to master this look. Plus you can't go wrong with black and at only $68 it looks ultra posh for the price...do you see that silky soft sheen? You could absolutely rock this skirt for a holiday party or event in the next few months, and in fact I would recommend it! It's a chic, fashion-forward look that I myself plan to try out this holiday season.