Suzie Says: TOMS + Target

Target debuted the Target + TOMS Limited Edition collection, featuring apparel, accessories, shoes and home goods for women, men and kids, all under $50.  The best part? For every gift you buy,the TOMS/Target partnership will be providing shoes, a blanket or meals to those in need.  

I checked out the Target + TOMS collection first-hand today and it's great! On my gift list is a poncho, retailing at $28 (this purchase provides one blanket to those in need)...

TOMS for Target Poncho

I'm also coveting a coordinating graphic tee which retails for $16 (this tee gives a week of meals to those in need):

TOMS for Target Logo T-Shirt

To date, TOMS as a company has given more than 10 million pairs of new shoes to children and has helped restore sight to more than 200,000 people...(did you know that children cannot attend school in many countries without shoes?)   

By gifting the TOMS + Target Collection this holiday season, you'll be giving back to those in need as well. 

Suzie Says: Great Tips for Protecting Your Wardrobe from Real Simple

I found this information in Real Simple Magazine and just had to share because I know we all want to protect the investment we've made in our wardrobe!

Here are 10 extremely helpful tips - for more tips visit RealSimple.com!

1. Don't Drive in Good Heels: the floorboard scuffs the heels and the pedal scratches the toe. Drive in flats or buy heel protectors by Smart Heel ($9)

2.  Never Hang Pearls:  This weakens the silk threads that hold the necklace together.

3.  Launder Whites After Every Wear: Though it's tempting to re-wear, body oils and perspiration will cause a once bright white to take on a yellowish tint.

4.  Don't Overwash Darks:  Frequent washing will fade black...run darks on a short cycle in cold water and allow to air dry. Blot stains; rubbing will create a lighter spot.

5. Beware of the Dryer:  Excessive heat makes fibers brittle causing the fabric to break down.Combat by removing lightweight items, camisoles and everything containing spandex 10 minutes prior to removal of heavier garments such as sweatshirts and jeans.

6. Sole Protectors: Have a shoe maker attach rubber bottoms to shield leather soles from water absorption and wear and tear. Although they can cost about $10 they can extend the life of your shoes for years. 

7. Alternate Bras: Allow a bra to rest a day in between wearings to the elasticity has a chance to bounce back.

8. Never Leave Sneakers in the Car:  Extreme temperatures - hot or cold - will wear down the rubber and heat can warp EVA (the material in the midsole) which can result in less shock absorption for your feet during workout. For the same reason don't dry running shoes on a radiator or in a hot dryer. Let the shoes air dry.

9.  Dry Clean All Separates of an Outfit Together: Otherwise one piece will fade at a faster rate than another. When dry cleaning suits, three or four times a year is sufficient, according to John Mahdessian, President of Madame Paulette, a New York dry cleaner.

10. Wash Unstained Jeans Every Third Wear: Melissa Ladines, a fit expert for Levi Strauss states that "Most people wash their jeans too often".  If you want to preserve the deep dark rinse skip the clothes dryer and let them air dry to take them to the dry cleaner.

Sneaky!

Inspiration from Pinterest

One of our cardinal rules has always been to keep all gym clothing -- including sneakers -- exclusively at the gym and to lose the sweats and sneakers once your workout is done. All rules, however, are made to be broken, especially when it comes to fashion, and recently we've been noticing some very stylish sneaker ensembles. For inspiration, look no further than the photo above from Pinterest. (For more non-sneaker-related style inspiration, check out our Pinterest page.)

Nike Air Max in Mercury Grey & Flash Lime @ $90

The Nike Air Max, in a variety of palettes, warrants a re-examination of the no-sneakers-outside-the-gym rule, and would look chic if worn with cropped pants and a tailored top, like the J.Crew model below.

J. Crew model rocks sneakers with her stylish ensemble

Cut It Out

Gwyneth Paltrow, who needs no figure-flattering, rocks a cut-out dress from Michael Kors

Could clothing with cut-outs really be figure-flattering? Yes, according to leading stylists. The secret is that these styles draw attention to the cut-outs, which actually can have a slenderizing effect.

In order to tackle this trend in a figure-flattering way, you need a strategy. According to stylist Basia Richard in InStyle Magazine, this trend can suit most figures, but you have to be strategic with placement of cutouts. The key is to highlight areas you're proud of -- those with curvy shapes might go for a top with cut-out accents on the collarbones, while fitness buffs could draw attention to the midriff. Also, good tailoring helps ensure that the cut-outs fall in the exact spot you intend. 

While the Michael Kors style worn by Gwyneth Paltrow above is a bit towards the daring side, Emily Blunt modeled a more subtle cut-out look from Pucci:

Emily Blunt in Pucci / USA Today

 For a less dressy, more day-to-day take on the trend, check out this top from Milly, which not only draws attention to the collarbone, but also has the added bonus of being on sale: 

Milly Top / Bloomingdale's

Slim-Down Styles For Fall

  

Blake Lively in White House Black Market Leggings / Lucky Magazine

This fall, you can shop your way to a slimmer appearance with new slim-down styles:

• White House Black Market has introduced their Instantly Slimming Collection, which features leggings, dresses and skirts, all of which the company says feature "size-dropping fabric" which "narrows your figure." After spotting Blake Livey (who certainly doesn't need slimming and is pictured above) in Lucky magazine wearing the Instantly Slimming Leggings, we are eager to give them a try!

• Spanx is launching a new denim line, which come in seven colors, and are a new way to look great and beat the battle of the bulge. InStyle Magazine's fashion editors reported the jeans run a bit large, so for an ultra-smoothing fit, they suggest going a size down. Jeans retail at $98, with very cool-looking waxed denim styles priced at $108.

 

Spanx Jeans Featured in Glamour Magazine

Well Suited for Fall

How fabulous is Jerry Hall in this Armani runway photo from 1980?

Everything old is new again as an iconic look from the 1980s is back for Fall 2013. Twenty-three years ago Vogue  declared the era of "power suiting" for women was over. Fast forward to the Fall 2013 runways and designers including Dior, Gucci and Armani all featured updated "power suits" for women, according to a great report from The Wall Street Journal.

Armani made his first women's suits in the 1970s, inspired by his sister Rosanna, who was looking for clothes to wear professionally.  For the new movie "Elysuim," which opens tomorrow, Armani created two suits for star Jodie Foster. 

Gone are the old silhouettes with their broad shoulders and padding. The new look is narrower and slimmer. Today's suits of moderate prices can be found this fall at places like J.Crew.

J.Crew

Wear These Shoes, Get Compliments

Prabal Gurung for Target $29.99

 
It's been a while since we've been able to blog but we had to take time today to tell you about these shoes. As you know, we are fans of the Target designer collaborations, and this week the retailer debuted the new Prabal Gurung for Target collection and the footwear is fabulous!

The red wedge sandals above look amazing on and literally caused a random fellow patron at my local Starbucks to yell out, "Great shoes!" And that was just the beginning of the compliments that ensued throughout the day.

These multicolor heels below also make an amazing statement. There are lots of other fabulous footwear fashions; check out your local Target store or Target.com!

Prabal Gurung for Target $39.99

Be Seen in Green

From "A Year in the Emerald City," WSJ

 

According to an article by Christina Binkley in today's Wall Street Journal, the color green will be the color pick of the year for 2013 --- a retro throwback to the 1980's in fashion, jewelry, housewares, furniture and even cars!  

 

Green was designated the "it" color by Pantone, a company who sells codes that manufacturers use to replicate colors that will determine the "it" color each year based on surveys, sales of color swatches and the opinions of the general public.

Deep greens were seen on fashion runways of the spring 2013 collections of labels such as Valentino, D&G, Marni and Roland Mouret.  

 

Akris Spring 2013 Runway / WSJ / Getty

 

Accessories such as sunglasses by Oliver Peoples will also be making you green with envy this spring:

 

Oliver Peoples / WSJ

 

For some emerald inspiration, check out Jennifer Connelly (below) and other celebrities in green in this Marie Claire gallery.

Dana's Dream Buy of the Day: Philip Lim's "All Eyes on You"

3.1 Phillip Lim All Eyes on You T-Shirt $550

I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a photo shoot and one of the highlights on the experience was getting to check out the fabulous fashions that were flown in for the shoot. One of my personal favorites was a fantastic look from 3.1 Phillip Lim, dubbed "All Eyes on You."

You can see the "All Eyes on You" T-shirt above, but you really need to see the amazing detail up close, so take a look at the image of the exquisite embellishments below as well.

I am totally coveting this look, but with a $500-plus price tag on the T-shirt version (Lim also has dresses in the "All Eyes on You" collection), for now I'll just be dreaming of all eyes on me in one of these amazing garments.

Susan Says: Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's

 

Katie Holmes in a Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's Dress ($70)

 

On November 7th Kohl's DesigNation will launch a line by Cuban-American designer Narciso Rodriguez. This limited-time collection will be available exclusively online at Kohls.com and in Kohl's stores.

 

In 1996, Rodriguez garnered international fame when he designed Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress for her wedding to John Kennedy, Jr. On November 4, 2008, Michelle Obama chose to wear a dress from the designer’s Spring 2009 Collection to celebrate her husband's election. For the Kohl's line, Rodriguez was inspired by his love of Istanbul. Pattern interplay and minimalist design make the line irresistible and the pieces are crafted to fit flawlessly and gracefully. 

 

 

 

 

 

Stars such as Katie Holmes, Emma Roberts and Julianna Margulies stepped out in New York City in gorgeous dresses from the new line to celebrate the imminent launch.  Margulies, who wore a two-tone dress (retails at $64), is such a huge fan of the designer that he even created her wedding gown. Margulies told InStyle, "(Rodriguez)... cuts dresses to look best on a woman's body.  He loves a curve. And this dress?  It's just not going to go out of style." 

Juliana Margulies in Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's /Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America

 

There are lots of great, wearable styles in the Kohl's collection.  A black peplum top is  on my immediate wish list.

Black & Blue is Not a Fashion "Boo Boo"

Reporting about the top trends for Fall 2012, Marie Claire said, "The 'it' color combination of the season is most definitely all about black and navy blue."

The color combination was seen on the Fall 2012 runways at Carolina Herrera and DKNY, among others:

Carolina Herrera Fall 2012

DKNY Fall 2012

The look has also been spotted on the red carpet as well as the runway. Jessica Chastain combined two fall trends when she wore a black-and-blue dress in leather from Jason Wu to Fashion's Night Out in New York this year:

JUSTIN CAMPBELL/startraksphoto.com

Actress Sarah Paulson accessorized her blue Reem Acra dress with a black belt, bag and shoes at the 2012 Emmy Awards:

Source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America)

We love this trend because it looks great on women of any age, and it doesn't involve major shopping! In fact, you can try the trend right now by simply shopping your closet (or your mom's, daughter's, sister's or best friend's).  Just mix black and blue basics you already have, or punctuate a blue dress with a black belt like Sarah Paulson. 

Of course, if you do want to shop the trend, there are lots of great on-trend pieces in stores now, such as these blue heels with a black platform from Cole Haan:

Cole Haan Mariela Heels $328 @ Bloomingdale's

 Here's a color block sweater from Michael Kors:

Michael Kors Chunky Colorblock Sweater $348 @ Saks

And a fun cardigan from Gabriella Rocha, available at a discount at 6pm.com:

Gabriella Rocha Cardigan $67.99 @ 6pm.com

The British Are Coming (to Nordstrom!)

Topshop, on the top of our shopping list in the U.K., has partnered with Nordstrom!

Fourteen Nordstrom store locations are featuring the British brand, with 2,500 sq feet allocated to womens' apparel, accessories and makeup and 1,500 sq feet dedicated to mens' apparel and grooming items. If you don't live near the fourteen Nordstrom locations which carry the line, don't fret; some items also are featured online at nordstrom.com.   

Nordstrom is the sole department store to get the line; Topshop's other locations in the U.S. are in Las Vegas and Soho in New York City. 

Phillip Green, President of Topshop and Topman, told The New York Times that Nordstrom will be receiving weekly deliveries of merchandise so it will keep customers coming in to the store more frequently.  Kate Phelan, Topshop's creative director, recognizes that although  Nordstrom tends to cater to a more conservative clientele, "...we make them feel it is easy to mix a combat jacket with a lace skirt."

Some of our online favorites include this sequin peplum top:

Topshop Sequin Peplum Top $64 @ Nordstrom

 And this camouflage sweater:

Topshop Camouflage Sweater $80 @ Nordstrom

As a footnote to the story, Mr. Nordstrom sealed the deal with Mr. Green over lunch at a Nordstrom cafe (the Bistro) in Las Vegas, nearby to a Topshop store- the great food at the Bistro is another reason to love Nordstrom (as if the fashions were not enough)!

The Turtleneck Comeback

Everyone from Philip Lim to J. Crew is featuring turtlenecks as a must-have. Seen on the fall fashion runways, the turtleneck is having more than just a "fashion moment."

The Turtleneck Trend on HarpersBazaar.com

HarpersBazaar.com showcased the photo above in a feature on Pre-Fall Trends, highlighting how three major designers each styled the turtleneck: under a jacket at 3.1 Phillip Lim (left); under dress at Missoni (middle) and under a trench at Erdem (right).

Penelope Cruz, W Magazine Sept issue

You can wear your turtlenecks standing alone like Penelope Cruz did above on the W Magazine September cover. Cruz was styled in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci stretch wool turtleneck with an incredible 18k gold-plate and lapis Lynn Ban statement necklace.

Or you can wear the turtleneck as an underpinning, as shown on the designer runways featured above. This can be a great way to extend your wardrobe and transition your summer pieces into fall, which is something we blogged about the other day.

For example, the turtleneck was shown under sleeveless dresses, as shown on the J. Crew runway:

Layered Turtleneck at J. Crew

FABSUGAR has an entire feature entitled, "Celebrities Wearing Turtlenecks 2012," which highlights how 7 stars did a spin on the turtleneck in 7 different ways to kick off the fall season, with everyone from the ever fashionable Kate Middleton in an olive green turtleneck dress cinched with a black belt to Gwen Stefani in a printed turtleck under a leather jacket with skinny jeans. Check it out for some style inspiration.

Shop your closet (or your mom's or daughter's!) right now for this fall staple.

Now & Later: Wardrobe Transitioning 101

Katie Holmes, Lily Allen & Kate Moss wearing shorts & tights on People.com

Fall is synonymous with shopping for new, transitional wardrobe items, but maybe we can skip some of the shopping? 

With the arrival of the fall season, many of us tend to re-arrange our closets, relegating our summer clothing towards the back and bringing the darker hues forward. 

But as temperatures fluctuate, it is possible to continue making good use of summer favorites with just a little bit of thought and flexibility. 

With the state of the economy, Dawn Del Russo, fashion expert and author of 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle (as told to The Costco Connection, September 2012 edition) advises: "It would be a shame to go and buy new clothing just for fall and then possibly not get to wear it because there's a sudden unexpected hot spell.  Better to save your money and splurge on solid winter pieces like boots or a coat instead of buying in-between clothing you don't necessarily need to have."

So here are some tips to extend the life of your summer wardrobe as outlined in The Costco Connection by Rachel Stafler, a fashion and beauty freelance writer:

Don't be short on shorts:  Keep shorts long into fall by wearing them with tights.  Legwear is also key to transitioning summer skirts and dresses into fall.  Look for shimmering metallics and geometric prints.  "You can completely transform your look by changing what you wear on your legs,"stated Laura Godsall, founder of online tights retailer AlexBlake.com. "With a couple of new pairs of tights you can make a statement and follow the latest trends."

Layer upon layer:  Keep your t-shirts and tank tops around in fall by adding layers like blazers, button-down shirts and cardigans.  According to Lucy Sutherland Knaus, a New York-based fashion stylist, "Start with a bright tank top, throw on a button-down shirt and then top with a sweater if needed. ........you can peel off or add layers as the weather changes through the day."

Winter brights:  Jewel colors are abundant this season.  However, don't ditch the neons ......a brown sweater works well with coral jeans.  Surely we all are aware that the "don't wear white after Labor Day" "law" has been repealed, so think white pants with boots or with a darker top and heavier jewelry. Winter white is always right!

If you do go shopping... : According to Del Russo "If you want to buy a few new pieces, keep an eye out for embellishments, like pyramid studs on jewelry and gold rim on scarves and clothing.  Fall can be a great time to reinvent the wardrobe you have."

Hey, Big Spender!

Vera Wang and some of the other biggest names in fashion are all over 45!

When it comes to style, guess who are the big spenders? 

 AARP The Magazine's September 2012 issue reports that the big spenders for apparel are women in the 45-plus age range.  In fact, mature women spent $42.8 billion on apparel for the year ending April 2012. That's some serious spending!

George Simonton, a designer and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, says that these sales are boosting the appeal of older designers. 

It's amazing to note that such iconic designers as Ralph Lauren (age 72), Giorgio Armani (age 78) and Oscar de la Renta (age 80) are all over 70 years of age. 

Other designers in the 45-plus age range include some of the absolute biggest names in fashion, such as Vera Wang, age 63; Isaac Mizrachi, 50; Diane Von Fursternberg, age 65; Michael Kors, age 53; Christian Louboutin, age 49; Donna Karan, age 63; and Karl Lagerfeld, age 78.

It seems that some of the most coveted designers and some of their most loyal (and deep-pocketed!) customers are over age 45!

Fall for Burgundy

This Fall, the color of the season is burgundy, which was widely featured on the Fall 2012 runway, so much so that Marie Claire magazine, in their report on Fall 2012 runways, declared, "Burgundy is the new black!"

 

DVF Fall 2012 Runway Look (Credit: Imaxtree, as seen in Marie Claire)

 

Jason Wu Fall 2012 Runway Look (Credit: Imaxtree, as seen in Marie Claire)

Alexander Wang told InStyle Magazine, ""Burgundy is neither a brown nor a red, but it has the best qualities of both."  "Think of it as a new neutral.  Try it in place of beige, navy, gray or black," the designer added.

 

The color looks good with most complexions and was seen on Natalie Portman at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and on Emma Stone at the Golden Globes.  

 

Natalie Portman at the SAG Awards 2012

 

Emma Stone at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards

 

Proving that burgundy is not just for young starlets, Helen Mirren, age 67, donned a burgundy dress and looked stunning at a movie premiere last year:

 

Helen Mirren at film premiere

The color works well with shades such as ebony and white, sky blue, cobalt blue, forest green, burnt orange, peony and peach.  Try the trend with an investment handbag in burgundy which will go beautifully with either black or brown outfits or go for burgundy shoes to add a pop of color in lieu of black shoes.  For a monochrome look pair with a light blue pashmina.

 

Try the trend with these possibilities:

7 For All Mankind Jeans $189 @ Nordstrom

Rag & Bone Harrow Boot $495

Butter London Polish in Shag $14

Cool Weather, Hot Launches

The brand-new Fall fashion issue of InStyle Magazine is jam-packed with no less than 652 pages of fabulous fashion, accessories, beauty, celebrity fashion favorites and "Launches You'll Love," which will be available in stores in September. 

If you haven't already gotten your September issue, grab it at a newsstand soon. Meanwhile, here are some of the hot new launches which were touted in InStyle and about which we are very excited: 

Kirna Zabete at Target:  We have blogged about one of the previous "The Shops at Target" which features exclusive-for-Target merchandise curated from specialty stores across the country. This fall, a very popular boutique in New York City, Kirna Zabete, is creating a line for Target. The collection includes dresses, printed skirts, faux leather leggings, a faux leather skirt, a (genuine!) leather moto jackets and handbags and jewelry galore with prices ranging from $9.99-$199.99 (for the aforementioned leather jacket), so mark your calendars for the sale dates: September 9th to October 20th.  Susan is already "eyeballing" a tweed dress, which can also be worn as a "jumper" with a blouse underneath, which will retail at $45, while Dana is coveting the sealed-with-a-kiss envelope clutches, pictured below, which evokes fall's Surrealist trend. Check out the entire look book here.

Kirna Zabete for Target Envelope Clutch  $29.99

BCBG Generation:  BCBG's first full denim line includes two-tone denim,  faux leather detailing and muted hues on jeans which will retail at $98. Great denim at a great price! 

BCBG Generation Jasper Skinny Denim/Faux-Leather Pants $98

Jennifer Hudson for QVC:  Academy-award and Golden Globe-winning actress, Grammy-winning singer, American Idol finalist, Weight Watchers spokeswoman and all-around fashionista, Ms. Hudson's new clothing line, launching September 10, will flatter women of all sizes and includes fall coats, dresses and maxi-skirts with sheer overlays, all with prices not exceeding $170. Essence magazine has a sneak peek here.

Jennifer Hudson Collection for QVC

Nicole Richie for Macy's Impulse:  The House of Harlow 1960 designer will showcase tops, fitted blazers and maxidresses in her collection for Macy's launching Sept. 12.  The line generally reflects her edgy style. You can check out the styles here.

Nicole Richie for Macy's Impulse

 

Stubbs & Wootton for J. Crew:  Stubbs & Wootton's iconic smoking slipper is interpreted in a velvet flat emblazoned with interesting crests for J. Crew,  and is priced at $400.

Stubbs & Wootton for J. Crew Classic Velvet Slippers $400

Coach:  The Legacy Collection:  This Fall, Coach is building on its heritage with the Legacy Collection, including handbags, pumps, boots, jewelry, tech cases and sunglasses, all priced from $50 to $500.  According to Reed Krakoff, Coach President, as told to InStyle Magazine, "We haven't just re-introduced the styles... We've interpreted them for today, with bold color and better functionality for all the things women now carry, like phones and iPads."  Coach has sixteen handbag silhouettes - nine are twists on existing styles seven are brand new, with several new colors joining the classics. Among our favorite styles is the Tanner Tote in yellow.  Reed Krakoff told InStyle Magazine:  "Color is the new neutral.. Everyone's craving it these days. We thought, Why not do these iconic styles in an unexpected way?"  We agree! Read the story about Coach's history and the Legacy Collection here, and start shopping here.

Coach Legacy Collection Tanner Tote in Yellow $498