I thought I’d share some of my summer style and beauty tips…feel free to add yours in the comments section!

Room Scent=perfume?!

In my search for a unique perfume (one I could know I would not smell on every other girl I see, think Paris Hilton’s line, or Ralph Lauren’s Romance), I went to one of those really expensive boutiques in the good part of town. And within a few minutes of spraying stuff on the little tester strips of paper, I found it!

I went home to check out amazon.com (you didn’t expect me to shell out all that dough without checking for a cheaper price, right?)…Only to find out that the scent I am now obsessed with is ROOM DIFFUSER! You know, the stuff that makes your house smell good! But, I found out that this particular brand, Alora Ambiance, makes room fragrances, but their website says it’s safe to be used on human skin (but test a small amount on you beforehand to make sure you don’t have any bad reactions).

My favorite from this company’s line is Bella.

Fish Pedicures

It’s a new phenomenon in the nail world. Do your feet have lots of dry skin? Then the fish pedicure is for you, if you dare. The process goes like this:

1. Stick your feet in the water where several dozen (sometimes even hundreds, depending on the salon) garra rufa, also known as doctor fish, eat away at the dead skin on your feet. Don’t worry though, they’re toothless, so they can’t chow down on live skin, just the callused or peeling areas.

2. Take your feet out, and get a regular pedicure.

Women have been raving about the results…one woman in D.C. said it was the best pedicure she’s ever gotten, since it got rid of all of her calluses.

People who have gotten a “fish pedicure” said the fish on their feet gives them a tingling or ticklish sensation.

Need a visual? Go to youtube and type in fish pedicures (warning: gross images).

I’ll be getting one next week, wish me luck!

Rent a bag, sunglasses and jewelry!

Going to fashion week? Have a special occasion and want to knock everyone’s socks off? Accessories are the key to any outfit. So you if you don’t have enough money to get the really high-end stuff, why not rent it?

Just like Jennifer Hudson did in Sex & the City the movie, you can rent accessories online. I found this amazingly funky evening bag to rent for a night to remember.

On bagborroworsteal.com, you can rent the item for as long as you want.

Make a Phone Statement

I stood in line waiting for the new iPhone 3G, and my life has been that much better since owning one. Before the iPhone, I had a broke down basic phone that I was embarrassed to be on in public. As materialistic as this sounds, a sleek, sexy phone is nowadays just as fashionable as the latest Gucci bag. So do yourself a favor and upgrade that phone…but make sure you can afford it.

Happy shopping!

by AnnieChin
june 30th

People are wrapping themselves up in lightweight scarves even with the rising temperatures. Fashion blogs have been pondering the necessity of the summer scarf over the past few months – is it too hot for an extra piece of material? Are scarves just for cool days? Despite the nay’s, it looks like stars have been latching onto the trend.

Kirsten Dunst, Gisele Bundchen and Jessica Alba

Hilary Duff and Nicole Richie

The summer scarf has even become a unisex trend – just look at Chris Brown and John Mayer. As for the art of wrapping up, the possibilities are endless according to TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas:

“How to wear it
There are countless ways to wear a summer scarf. Standard methods include wrapping it multiple times around your neck and tucking the edges under, folding it in half behind your head and looping the open ends through the hole near your collarbone, or simply swooping it around your neck and tossing one end over your shoulder. Some of Hollywood’s trendsetters are tying the ends of square scarves together and wearing them in the style of a Western cowboy. Don’t be afraid to experiment: twist, braid, knot two together, or try tying a last-minute halter top.”

Wear a light, flowing scarf with printed material to instantly pull a plain outfit – tank and shorts or a plain dress – together. Dress your look up or down with the following picks:

A Peace Treaty navy plaid cotton woven handkerchief fringe edges from shopbop.com, $110.

Tapestry scarf with green, navy or watermelon paisley print and tassel trim from Lucky Brand Jeans, $58.

Sheer silk scarf with an allover teal or peach gray pattern and fringe ends from Urban Outfitters, $28.

Cotton scarf with blue or coral print and metallic striped tread and tassel trimmed edges on sale for $15.14 from ASOS.

Black and teal gauze printed cotton scarf with stitch detail at the edges from Free People, $48.

I have an addiction, and the temptation to fall prey to it is all around me. Shiny, silky, stretchy, pleated, and bright—clothes. My name is What2Wear, and I am a shopaholic.

Unfortunately, my I-just-graduated-from-college budget does not go well with my need for new threads for every oh-so-special event that my social calendar is filled up with. So what’s a girl to do? Below I’ve outlined a plan of attack for all those women out there who suffer from this credit-crippling addiction.

Develop a fashion philosophy

Everyone wants to look stylish, but that comes at a price. What kind of fashionista do you wanna be?

Girl with many clothes…and maxed out credit cards: Women, take note. It’s great to go shopping frequently to look your best, but maxing out your credit cards is not the way to do it. You may look cute now, but you won’t when you see your credit score. Remember, you credit score affects everything you do. Here are a few examples:

Getting a job: some companies do a credit check on their job applicants

Getting a Car/Apartment/House: ’nuff said.

Dating/Getting Married: No one wants to be with someone in credit card debt, not a good look.

So before you take half your paycheck and head to the mall, take a minute to think about this:

1. Do you have enough savings to last you three to six months (if you were to lose your job or for general emergencies)?

2. Do you regularly invest for your retirement?

3. Do you owe any of your loved ones money?

I know this sounds crazy, but having good financial habits now is more important than getting those new Marc Jacob shoes.

Fashionista meets Suze Orman: This woman knows how to work her style savvy on a budget that she sticks to. So she’s got money in the bank and a trendy wardrobe, too. Sounds impossible? Not really. With a good budget and discipline, you too can be, as Lil Webbie put it, I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.

I’m striving to be the fashionista/Suze Orman hybrid, and here are some things that have helped me so far:

Say NO to plastic: Most people have heard that people should not apply for or use store credit cards because of high interest rates, increased debt and lower credit scores as a result of frequent shopping trips.

I say people should not use ANY credit card to shop. In fact, if you are a true shopaholic like me, I suggest not even using a debit card to pay for clothes, because you might end up with an overdraft if you don’t budget properly. Save yourself pain and embarrassment by budgeting how much you will spend on clothes each week, and take only that amount of cash with you when you shop. That way, you can’t go over your budget, overdraw your account, and you’ll never have to worry about the extra $40 or so a month you waste paying interest on a credit card.

Learn and follow the art of budgeting:

When you notice that something you want is one sale, do you:

a)     rush in and buy it, and another sale item, too

b)    quickly check how much you have left on your credit card, then rush in and buy it

c)     borrow money from your friend to buy it

d)    realize it’s not in your budget and move on

Clearly, d. is the answer to the question, but very few of us can actually walk away from a good sale. So my advice is…don’t. That’s right, DO NOT walk away from a sale, buy what you want, BUT, here’s how you do it:

1.     Depending on your salary, take a few weeks or months to save money specifically for shopping during sales or emergency needs, like a shirt you like that’s 50% off, or a new dress for a date.

2.     During this time, decrease the budget for shopping by at least 70% (so, if your normal budget put aside $100 for biweekly shopping, you now can only spend $30).

3.     After you get a good amount of money in there (I’d say at least in the hundreds range), keep the money in a separate account and ONLY during a random sale, at your discretion. And continue to a lot a part of your budget for shopping, apart from this separate account, so that you have this for-emergencies-only shopping account in reserve.

Get your staples

I just graduated from college. I’m about to start working, and I realized that I need all of these new clothes and accessories to transition into the new, grown-up world. I also have to save up to move into a new apartment. My solution? Get the staples for my wardrobe, and the rest later.

Staples are usually more expensive than your everyday shopping run. Some examples of my wish list staples include this Longchamp bag, for the essential work purse, and these sunglasses, which I can wear on a daily basis.

Staples will last you years, but can put a serious dent in your wallet. I suggest working on getting most of your staples before moving on to more frivolous buys.

Try making a prioritized list of all the staples you need, and make a long-term budget to make sure you get most of the items on your list by a pre-determined deadline. Then, and only then, should you go back to random weekend shopping.

 Shop Alone/Call on a friend

Whenever I’m tempted to go over my fashion budget, I call one of my friends for advice. Not the ones who have the same shopaholic tendencies I have, but the ones who are financially responsible and secure. After talking with one of those friends, it’s hard to pick up that cute dress when they are reminding you of the last time you overdrew your account because of random shopping.

If you don’t like to put your business out there, try shopping alone. This tactic is great for people who have friends with the same bad financial habits.

 Happy shopping…and saving! 

by AnnieChin

may 29th 

Parts of the fashion world are proclaiming that the dress has lived on for too long. Guy Trebay wrote in the New York Time’s Fashion Diary:

“The eye is looking for something new, and so is the psyche,” Anne Slowey, the fashion news director of Elle magazine, said last week from the set of “Fashionista,” a new fashion reality show in which she will play herself, a fashion editor, only meaner. “The dress has been done to death,” Ms. Slowey added, “not to sound really cliché.” 

Now, Ms. Slowey added — meaning not now, exactly, but months from now, in September — the thing it will be necessary to own in order to appear fashionable will be ‘the pant.’” 

But I’m not ready to say good-bye. All the dresses featured in the entry were short ensembles we associate with the sunny months. I propose a flowing, sophisticated yet casual and cool style. In floral prints and vibrant colors with crochet or ruffled details, these dresses are meant to stand alone whether on the beach or during a night out. They require minimal accessories and show off a slimming silhouette. So while the dress trend may seemingly be last, let’s live the summer with one of the following picks … 

Kimchi & Blue In The Valley Dress from Urban Outfitters, $68.

The ruffle-trimmed v-neck dress falls to the calf in a sheer rayon material with adjustable straps. The baby doll silhouette is available in yellow, desert flower and white.

Lux Daydream Dress from Urban Outfitters, $78.

Jersey knit, ankle-length dress trimmed with crochet insets available in white and brown. 

Lotta Stensson Dress from Bluefly, $72.

Stretch jersey knit, v-neck dress with shirred detailing on the sides. The sleeveless form-fitting dress is available in plum and black. 

Madras Patio Dress from the Gap, $78.

An airy stretch cotton/polyester blend dress with adjustable spaghetti straps and a front scoopneck that ties into a keyhole. The racerback dress falls to the ankle with its tiered bottom and is available in original and blue madras colors. 

Alice + Olivia Orange Belt Butterfly Dress from Bloomingdales, $396.

Black and white butterfly print silk dress with double v-neckline and adjustable orange sateen belt. 

T-Bags Long Banded Tank Dress in Floral Fever from Revolve Clothing, $250.

Rayon vibrant floral dress with green empire waistband and adjustable braided straps.

TriciaFix Odella Long Dress in Purple Butterfly from Label Spree, $98.36.

Butterfly print dress in a chiffon material with a halter top and a gold empire waistband that laces up in back.http://www.labelspree.com/tricia-fix/odella-long-dress-in-purple-butterfly/product.html 

Ella Moss Joni Long Dress from Standard Style, $171.

Two-toned jersey dress with halter bandeau top with hidden pockets. Gray and pink material gathers at the bust.

Although there are many types of swimsuits out there, the bikini continues to be the most popular. Here are some of my picks for this season.

Textured or Ruffled=Different!

 (1)  (2)    (3) 

Tired of the same old solid color bikini? Try one with a little texture or ruffle to it. I’ve seen lots of bikinis this season with sequins or belts attached to make your swimsuit more memorable among the many itsy-bitsy-teeny-weenie-yellow-polka-dot-bikinis.

Bottoms

There are so many types of bikini bottoms now.  Whether you like wearing low rise string bikini bottoms or high-waisted boy shorts,  J. Crew offers all kinds of bikini bottoms in lots of colors. So if you have a bikini top, but don’t like the bottom it comes with, check below to see if you find the kind of bottom you like.

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 Accessorize!

What’s a day at the pool or on the beach without a cute bag to carry all your stuff in? Below are a few must-have items for a day in the water.

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Happy shopping!

by Couturable

may 22nd

It definitely feels like everyone has a pair of gladiator sandals for summer — those strappy metallic and leather shoes that are of slightly more material than a pair of foot thongs. I attempted to sway myself from my ballerina flats obsession by trying on a pair, only to realize that my feet — damaged from years of ballet training — were not in proper pedicure-pampered position for such daring sandals.

So, what’s a girl to do when she needs proper summer footwear without the excessive skin? This dilemma has plagued me for years — so I finally did some research on stylish alternatives to the popular gladiator sandal.

Open-toe flats

(1) (2) (3)
Not quite sandals, not quite ballerina flats — open-toe flats are lightweight, versatile with shorts or summer dresses, and interchangeable as both dress shoes and casual shoes.

Jelly flats

(1) (2) (3)

Remember jellies from first grade? They gave me massive blisters on my feet, so I would take them off and walk on the hot sidewalk in my bare feet. Hopefully adult jellies are more comfortable…

Slip-on sneakers

(1) (2) (3)

I used to believe that fashionistas didn’t wear sneakers — naive, yes? Slip-on sneakers are just as comfortable as any pair of sandals and won’t reveal any scruffy toes.

Still, I aim to beautify my feet this summer — a pair of sandals would still be a nice wardrobe staple, after all.

God Bless America!

This weekend is the official kick-off to the summer- Memorial Day weekend!!! Every year, the best season is opened with lawn parties, BBQs, and Hamptons beach parties, so its important to dress for the occasion. I like to be traditional and be patriotic throughout the weekend, wearing red, white and blue. Now, before you go nuts- not all together or with twin sets. Some of my favorite designers presented Resort 2008 collections with pieces that mesh perfectly in to the celebratory landscape that is Memorial Day! Use these as inspiration for your patriotic weekend wardrobe.

Alberta Ferreti pairs roomy shorts with stripes and solids to create a casual and comfortable nautical look.

Michael Kors, the quintessential American designer, uses crisp lines and classic American design, offering a cute little white dress for a twilight cocktail party  and a sweet as pie striped coverall for the beach.

Bottega Venetta adds a bit of European flair to classic bathing suit cuts and sun dresses. Don’t be afraid to stray a bit from the traditional, as long as its YOU!

Carolina Herrera, class defined. This sweet sailor-inspired dress is perfect for Fleet Week and the ensuing Memorial Day celebration weekend. While modern and crisp, still traditional in its cut and feel. For a more dressed-up affair, Herrera offers a whimsical dress in beautiful red florals.

Rachel Roy, American designer on the rise, offers a modern version of the shirtdress- the style, the cut and the bubble hem all add to the fierceness- perfect to transition from the beach to a party. Her red strapless dress is perfect in its simplicity. The draping adds flair while the color adds punch!

Who said long dresses were for night?!?! Maxi dresses are elegant, sexy, and slightly bohemian for daytime. YSL offers this maxi dress in a vibrant and alive print. To make it more casual, tie the halter at the bust and add a pair of flat sandals- see www.bernardofootwear.com for awesome options!

I hope you all have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend! Post your outfits for this weekend’s festivities!!!

xoxo

All photos courtesy of www.style.com

In honor of last week’s Earth Week, here are some ways for fashionistas to go green.

Forever 21 Tee

Be thrifty 

You’ll find some of your most treasured threads at your local vintage and thrift shops. So, in the name of helping the earth (and hopefully saving some money), visit your local thrift stores before going to a traditional chain-clothing store. You’re more likely to find unique clothes there—no more worries about going somewhere and finding someone wearing the same dress!

Click here to find the nearest thrift stores in your city.

No bottle poppin’, use  a filter

We all know the benefits of drinking water can have on your skin and overall health.

Aside from recent reports of the possible health hazards of plastic water bottles, buying these bottles in bulk to stay hydrated is costly for you and the environment. In California alone, more than 1 billion plastic bottles are thrown away each year.

Buy a home water filter system for your kitchen faucet and refill a bottle before you go out. Some positive peer pressure: Eva Longoria does it, you should too!

Say no to catalogs and junk mail

Why should you do this? I’ll let the facts speak for themselves…

• Over five million tons of catalogs and direct mail ads end up in American landfills each year.
• Forty-four percent of thrown away junk mail was never opened
• Over 100 million trees’ worth of American households receive unsolicited junk mail each year

In the age of the Internet, do you really need a catalog delivered to your home? Cancel all your catalog subscriptions and shop online by going to this website. If you’re not into going out to shop, buy your clothes online instead of through a catalog.  And while you’re at it, opt out of prescreened offers. The more people that do this, the more corporate America will get the idea and stop the waste of paper.

Refill your makeup

If you’re like me, your makeup collection is an essential part of your beauty repertoire. Some companies offer makeup refills without the new packaging. Stila, Clinique, and Aveda offer refillable products.

Increase your green IQ

There’s no better way to save the environment then to learn about how to do it. There are plenty of Websites where you can do this, and here are a few I’ve found useful:

Glamour: “30 little ways to save the planet:”  My favorite! I got some of my “green” tips from here.

About.com: Environmental Issues Great place to get some basic stats on how much we’re hurting the planet, and how to stop it.

The Green Guide: A cool site with videos and tips on going completely green

Fix/give away your old clothes

Don’t throw away old shoes or clothes just because a button is missing or the heels are worn down, get ‘em fixed! There’s no need to buy replacements for these items if all they need is a tailor or shoemaker’s TLC. And it will probably cost less to fix your old clothes or shoes than buy new ones.

BYOB! 

It’s the end of the plastic and paper bag era. Stores are starting to offer reusable bags to customers. The goal here is to bring your own bag to use when you go shopping again, instead of getting new plastic or paper bags, which will inevitably end up in the garbage. Whole Foods offers customers reusable bags with cool designs that you can take with you when you go back to the store. It also makes for a cool tote to bring to work, the gym, and basically anywhere.

Happy green shopping!

by Couturable

apr 23rd

Hello, my favorite Upper East Siders—Gossip Girl’s back. Oh heck, who am I kidding? You can always visit the official Gossip Girl blog for your latest updates on the television series, but luckily doesthislookstupid.com can fulfill your style needs on a regular basis.

That said, with the popularity of the teen drama comes the popularity of the headband—yes, Blair Waldorf just might be the most influential trendsetter of 2008, beating out Sienna Miller and the Olsen twins for the spot.

I started wearing headbands a couple months before the show came out only because they were the only items that my mommy could buy for me that I’d actually wear. Lo and behold, a few months later, the craze over headbands exploded into the market and I was able to build a formidable and eclectic collection that I plan to continue to develop:

That said, I’m constantly asked where one can buy headbands similar those of dear Blair’s — from the large bows to the bright patterns to the sparkling jewels, wearing a headband is a very easy way to keep back flyaway hair and to dress up an outfit.

1. This Anna Vince ‘Felicity’ Bow Headband illuminates with gold sheen and black luxury — a much needed addition to any little black dress.

   

2. In case you’re looking for something a little less girly but equally as flashy, this Marc by Marc Jacobs Geogems Headband pairs well with any outfit and is a great alternative to the typical jewel or flower ornament.

   

3. This Skinny Feather Headband is both demure in quality and reminiscent of the Roaring ’20s — whether you’re wearing this at a party or to class, there really is no wrong occasion to wear it.

   

4. Now, for real flapper style — Forever 21’s Flapper Headband for only $4.80 can’t do you any wrong. You can then spend more on your dress, after all.

   

5. But — if you’re looking for something basic and simple, the Jennifer Behr Wide Patent Leather Headband is a classic necessity for building up a headband collection.

xoxo GOSSIP GIRL not quite.

by AnnieChin

apr 19th

Put aside the standard bikinis and plain ‘ol one-pieces. Glam up your swimwear this summer with one of these ten innovative styles – some with strategically placed cutouts that will leave behind artistic tan lines. Throw on your shades and sandals and you’re all set for a beachside party!

Eyes will wander to all the right places with this white one-piece. The three circular cutouts get extra attention with lilac outlines.
- Stephanie Hoos, $195.

This Brazilian inspired ruby red bikini has a one-strap top, which ties at the shoulder blade, is paired with a thick tie waistband bottom.

- Poko Pano at Couture Candy, $165.

Draw attention to your figure wearing a cutout side black swimsuit with embroidered trim. Change the bandeau style to a halter with a removable strap.
- Kenneth Cole Reaction at Spiegel, $78.

Show off your neck with a wide off the shoulder strap top. The matching black and white polka dots give a playful vibe.
- Salinas at Urban Outfitters, $39.99 for each top and bottom.

Look familiar? Flip through your celebrity mags to see Cameron Diaz surfing in a similar style. Alter a light blue bandeau with a multicolored necktie to go with the horizontal stripe low-rise bottoms.
- Cameron Diaz style design at ASOS, £10 for each top and bottom.

Fold a one-piece and get your scissors … or just play it safe with this crisscrossed cutout in black or gold.
- Oye at Couture Candy, $363.

An asymmetric coral swimsuit with allover ruching and one-shoulder neckline = sophisticated.
- Carmen Marc Valvo at Neiman Marcus, $165.

This is the kind of swimwear to achieve poolside glamour. The blue Moroccan print and bead detail highlight its plunging neckline and open sides.
- Milly at Shopbop, 207.

Tankinis get spiced up with an open, flyaway front and hardware detail.
- Victoria’s Secret top, $34. Choose from different bottoms.

Ditto with the turquoise and lime halter-top with an oval-ring wrap and scoop bottom. Get the same support with a new twist.
- Victoria’s Secret top, $62 and bottom, $42