Saturday, January 31, 2015

The Week in Fashion



Tommy Hilfiger to Pen Memoir - Women's Wear Daily

Mulberry Debuts a Whole New Look in Spring Campaign - Fashionista

Kate Spade to Wind Down Kate Spade Saturday, Jack Spade Stores - Wall Street Journal

Kristen Stewart, Vanessa Paradis and Alice Dellal Set for Chanel Handbag Ads - Fashion Gone Rogue

Fashion’s Elite Forced to Choose Between Chanel and the Met Ball - The Cut

The Shoe Every Celebrity Will be Wearing This Spring - Who What Wear


Happy Saturday!!



Friday, January 30, 2015

Spring 2015 Couture: Part Two

OK, I have a new favorite Couture show: Giambattista Valli. I absolutely loved the romantic feel of the collection and the floral details were beautiful. I'm also loving the bow detail that was a key focus of Armani Privé collection. I generally gravitate toward dresses during the couture shows but the separates at Armani are a nice change that also make the pieces more wearable.

These are my top pics from the second round of shows:

Giambattista Valli


Giambattista Valli

Thursday, January 29, 2015

My Favorite Superbowl Game Snacks

The big game is just around the corner, and yes, this girly fashionista is most definitely going to be watching. And it's not just because my hometown team, the New England Patriots, are in it this year. I actually enjoy football. A lot! Just don't count on me to be wearing a game jersey. I have never been a fan of those pink jersey's that they make for girls, so I'll be sticking with my skinny jeans, cashmere sweaters and booties, thank you very much.

OK, this post is suppose to be about food, not fashion, so back to the game time snacks. It isn't Super Bowl Sunday without the snacks so I wanted to round up my favorite recipes that are perfect for this weekend, whether you're hosting a party or bringing something over to a friends house. Click through at the bottom for the full recipe.

Superbowl Game Snacks

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Spring 2015 Couture: Part One

We're snowed in here in New England but things ares just dandy in Paris with the Spring 2015 couture shows in full swing. John Galliano made his debut for Maison Margiela with a couture show in London earlier this month but I'm including my top picks from his in with the Paris shows for the sake of organization.

Top show show far: Versace, which I wasn't expecting. I sometimes find the crazy bright colors to cheapen the looks of some of the Versace pieces so I really enjoyed seeing a lot of classic black and white in this collection. 

These are my top picks from the couture collections so far:

Maison Margiela


Maison Margiela

Monday, January 26, 2015

Top Picks from the SAG Awards Red Carpet

Okay, all the red carpet images from the SAG Awards red carpet last night and, as much as I hate to say it, I was underwhelmed! I found so many of the dress choices to be just so-so. Not really bad, but definitely not great. 

Despite my SAG red carpet disappointment there were a few dresses that I really liked. These are my top picks from last night. 

Felicity Jones in Balenciaga


Gretchen Mol in Dennis Basso


Reese Witherspoon in Giorgio Armani

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Dominate & Conquer


Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Week in Fashion


Fendi to Launch E-commerce This Spring - Fashionista

The Rules of Style as Unofficially Told by Sarah Jessica Parker - Man Repeller 

André Leon Talley to Curate an Oscar de la Renta Exhibit - New York Magazine

Target Is Launching a Blogger-Approved, Plus-Size Clothing Line - Elle Magazine

Alessandro Michele Named New Creative Director at Gucci - Fashion Gone Rogue

Anthony Vaccarello Named Creative Director of Versus Versace - Fashionista

C. Wonder Officially Files for Bankruptcy - New York Magazine


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

January Wish List

January Wish List

Crystal Necklace // Blazer // Foundation Brush // Little Black Dress // Leather Tote

I decided to skip my usual December Wish List post because the holiday season is all about buying gifts for others instead of worrying about what things I'd like to buy for myself. Now that I've made it through a whirlwind holiday season, it's time for a fresh wish list.

I never use to believe that expensive hair dryers made a difference with styling but my hair has been nothing but frizz and flyways lately. This Cricket hair dryer is designed to reduce the frizz and up the shine factor. Its gotten amazing reviews and at $99, it's not nearly as expensive as other designer dryers.

New Year's has come and gone but I'm still loving the sparkle. This sequined mini is on sale at J. Crew Factory and it's perfect for a fun night out. Another great piece for a night out is this beautiful pink crystal necklace from BaubleBar. Priced under $50 dollars, this statement necklace is a bargain and I know I'll get a lot of wear out of it.

I came across this classic pink blazer when I was creating looks for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday (more on that later this month). It's a great investment piece that can be worn all year round. I'll pair it with skinny trousers, a dressy top and sky high heels for a night out with the girls.

I picked up some new foundation a few week's back but applying it with my hands just isn't doing it. I read that this foundation brush is amazing and worth every penny. Here's hoping!

I've been cleaning out my closet and I'm down to one little black dress at the moment. This LBD from Ted Baker has a beautiful shape and cap sleeves, which is exactly what I want. Another bonus is that the exposed zipper in the back is gold, which I almost always prefer when it comes to zippers, buttons and clothing details. 

I have an old gold and pearl tassel necklace that I bought ages ago and it's definitely seen better days. This one from BaubleBar is the perfect replacement.  

I've got a great collection of classic leather bags that switch between on most days but I'm still looking for a light brown one. I saw the new Emerson collection from Tory Burch and fell in love with this tote because it's exactly the color I want and is a great bag to take back and forth from the office.

My coffee table book favorites are usually related to interior design but I read about A Field Guide to American Houses on another blog and was really intrigued. The design and architecture of a house is just as important as the furniture in the rooms and the paint on the walls, so I'd like to learn more about that this year.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

The Week in Fashion


Tom Ford Planning More Stores - Women's Wear Daily

Cathy Horyn Will Join the Cut As Critic-at-Large - The Cut

Taylor Swift & Karlie Kloss Were Shot Together for Vogue - Yahoo Style

What You Need to Know About the New CFDA Fashion Calendar - Style.com

Banana Republic To Host First New York Fashion Week Presentation - Fashion Times

The New York Times Is Launching a Men’s Style Section - The Fashion Spot

Dior bringing runway show to Los Angeles - Los Angeles Times

Frida Giannini’s Early Exit From Gucci Confirmed - Style.com


Happy Saturday!!


Friday, January 16, 2015

Shop This Sale: Anthropologie Winter Tag Sale

Right after Christmas Anthropologie kicked off its annual winter tag sale but the sale just got a whole lot better with an extra 40% off all items. If you're shopping online, use the code EXTRAEXTRA at checkout.

There are tons of great items to choose from but these are my top sale picks for clothing and accessories.

Clothes



Shoes & Accessories




Earrings // Blanket Scarf // Polka Dot Gloves // Booties

All House & Home sale items are also an extra 40% off. Happy shopping!!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Thursday Night Cocktail: Boozed Up Hot Chocolate


Recipe and Image via Nigella Lawson

Makes Two Drinks

Ingredients

2 cups milk
3 1/2 ounces best-quality dark chocolate, bittersweet or semisweet, as preferred
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons dark rum, or to taste

Directions

Put the milk into a saucepan and break the chocolate into pieces and add to the milk along with a cinnamon stick, honey, and sugar and heat gently until the chocolate is melted.

Add the vanilla and mix with a small hand whisk and still whisking, add a spoonful of the rum first and taste to see if you want more. Add more sugar if you want this sweeter, too. Take out the cinnamon stick and pour into 2 cappuccino or caffe latte cups.



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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Top Looks from Valentino Pre-Fall 2015 Collection

I like to do a series of posts on the collections shown during fashion week but I don't always have the capacity to report on all the intermediate collections like Pre-Fall and Resort. That being said, the Pre-Fall 2015 collection from Valentino was just too good not to share.

The detail and embroidery on the dresses was fantastic and I have a feeling that the shoes and bags are going to be incredibly popular when the collection arrives in stores.

These are my top looks:


Monday, January 12, 2015

Top Picks from the Golden Globes Red Carpet

Awards season is in full swing and that means it's time for some red carpet coverage! The Golden Globes were last night and there were some amazing looks on the red carpet. 

These are my top picks from last night: 

Felicity Jones in Christian Dior


Viola Davis in Donna Karan Atelier

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Get Out There


Sunday, January 11, 2015

Beauty Review: 'Diorshow Maximizer' Lash Plumping Serum


I discovered Dior's lash plumping serum when I was on a quest to give my lashes more oomph without the hassle of falsies or a prescription from Latisse. Don't get me wrong, I love a set of falsies, but not for my everyday look. 

This serum goes on right before your mascara, and what a difference it makes. My eyelashes appeared much more full and extended then they do with just mascara. I also found that after applying the serum, my regular mascara went on much smoother and didn't smudge or flake. Another added bonus was that when I went to remove my eye makeup, it came off so much easier then usual. 

I have paired the Dior serum with $40 mascara from the department store and with the $11 ones from the drugstore, and this product works great with both of them. So if you're looking for a less expensive way to plump the lashes, pairing this with your drugstore mascara is a great way to go. 

According to Dior, the serum contains "a unique cell-conditioning complex made up of hydrolyzed soy proteins that promotes long-term lash growth, strength and vitality." I've been using this product for a while and I have found that my naked lashes look better than usual. You probably won't see as big a difference as you would with Latisse, but you also don't have the hefty price tag or side affects. 

For $28.50, the Dior lash plumping serum is a great buy and I highly recommend it. 

Saturday, January 10, 2015

The Week in Fashion


 73 Questions with Victoria Beckham - Vogue

Meet the grandmas-cum-campaign stars - The Telegraph

Ralph Lauren’s Restaurant Hosts NYC’s Famous and Fabulous - Page Six

How Stylish Male Actors Have Upped the Red Carpet Game - New York Times

Tommy Ton Talks Buying, Collecting, and Obsessing Over Clothes - Style.com

Coach Debuts Its First Menswear Line in London - Fashionista

Karl Lagerfeld Interviewed Justin Bieber - V Magazine

Classic Bags that Never Go Out of Style - Bag Snob


Happy Saturday!!

 

Friday, January 9, 2015

Top Picks from the Stuart Weitzman Sale

There is a fantastic sale happening at Stuart Weitzman right now with tons of boots, pumps and sandals marked up to 50% off. With boots marked down from $800 to $500 and pumps from $400 to $200, there are some great deals to be had. If you've been waiting for the right time to get designer shoes at a discount, this is the time.

If you're still looking for boots to get you through the rest of the winter season, they have plenty to choose from at steep discounts. If you're heading some place warm or just getting ready for spring/summer there are lots of great strappy sandals and wedges available.

Those great gold wedge sandals that everyone was wearing last summer are still available so get those while you can. I'm in need of some new pumps so I definitely have my eyes on the suede "Queen" style.

These are some more of my top picks:

Stuart Weitzman Sale

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Thursday Night Cocktail: Champs-Élysées Cocktail


Recipe & Image via Saveur

It's been a while since my last Thursday Night Cocktail post because my focus for the new FC has been on fashion and beauty. But you know what? Fashion and beauty peeps deserve drinks, too! So Thursday Night Cocktails are back on! Tune in each Thursday for fun drink recipes for all.

Ingredients
 
1 oz. brandy
½ oz. yellow Chartreuse
½ oz. lemon juice
½ tsp. superfine sugar or simple syrup
1 dash bitters
Strip of lemon zest, for garnish

Directions
 
Shake all ingredients together in an ice-filled cocktail shaker; strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest.
 
 
Cheers!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Get the Look: Pretty in Pale Pink & Winter White

I don't know who came up with the "no white after Labor Day" rule, but I completely disagree. I'm a huge fan of winter white, especially when it comes to skinny jeans. The winter season is so drab and a pop of white brightens things up a bit.

I am crazy about this look from Karolina Kurkova because it's weather appropriate without being heavy and dark, and the white jeans and nude pumps are seasonless pieces that can be worn all year long.
Get the Look: Pretty in Pale Pink

Oliver Peoples Sunglasses (on sale) // Vince Camuto Pumps

If you're like me and like to keep your ankles warm all winter long, just switch out the pumps for a pair of beige/brown boots or booties

Monday, January 5, 2015

New Fashionably Chic Feature: Save or Splurge

Save or Splurge 1


If you've read Fashionably Chic before, you know I feature a mix of high end designer clothes and accessories along with items from popular mid-priced brands like J. Crew and Madewell. I love designer clothes and luxury products just as much as the next girl but it's not always possible (or smart) to go 100% designer all the time. Who pays $200 or more for a plain white tank top that you can buy at Gap for $20? Crazy, right?

My personal style has always been a mix of high and low, so I try and reflect that here on FC, especially with my newest feature, Save or Splurge. A couple of times a month I will create an outfit two ways, one with high end designer clothes and the other with mid-priced ones. That way, you all can shop the items that best fit your budget.

Today's Save or Splurge look is perfect for winter with a classic black mini and chunky knit sweater paired with suede pumps, an oxblood bag (my favorite color of the season!) and a pair of simple gold knot earrings. Given the cold weather here in Boston, I'll be pairing this all with my favorite opaque tights from DNKY.

Leave me a comment below with any feedback on Save or Splurge or outfits that you would like to see featured next time.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Don't Be Like the Rest


Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Week in Fashion


The Ultrachic World of Olivia Palermo - Flare

The Latest Vogue UK Cover Is a Diversity Milestone - The Cut

Olivia Palermo, Simon Doonan & More Fashion A-listers Share their New Year's Resolutions - Fashionista

Pat Cleveland, on Working with Halston and Irving Penn for Vogue - Vogue

The Most Important People in Fashion in 2014 - Business of Fashion

The fashion handbook to 2015 - The Telegraph

Happy Saturday!!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Fashion & Beauty Resolutions for 2015


Well peeps, it's officially a brand new year and I'm am so excited to get going! For me personally, 2014 has it's ups and downs but overall it ended on a high note and I'm working toward more good things in early 2015, but personally and professionally. 

Per usual my "resolution" is to get on the gym wagon, not to lose weight but to give me a boost of energy and hopefully tone up a bit. I've worked out every day this week so I'm off to a good start. Fingers crossed I can keep this going all year!

So regular workouts is my official resolution, but what I really want to talk about are my fashion and beauty resolutions because, let's face it, as we start getting older, busier, more lazy, etc. some of our fashion- and beauty-related efforts fall by the wayside. I am completely guilty of it and I'm a childless, 28 year old fashion blogger! I have no damn excuse for letting myself go in the fashion and beauty department. In an effort to get back in the saddle in 2015, I've resolved to make some small changes that will hopefully lead to bigger ones....

  1. Get back on those high heels! I have become so used to wearing flats that my feet no longer no how to walk in my big girl shoes. Instead of attempting to strut around in five inch stilettos all day, I'm going to start off with my three inch heels and take it from there. My feet will kill in the beginning but I'm going to grin and bear it and try to remember that heels make my short legs look longer.  
  2. Start applying eye cream every day, twice a day. As a woman in her late twenties, I've always been told I look very young, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm not in a place where I need to be using a full range of anti-aging products but a good quality eye cream is a must for all woman from the age of 22 on. Not only do eye creams help prevent signs of aging, they also help with puffiness and dark circles, which we call know happen at any age. I started using Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate from Clarins every night before bed but I never use it in the morning like I should.
  3. Break out of the skinny jeans box. I love skinny jeans and my casual work environment means that I can wear them everyday of the week but it's getting a little monotonous. Thank God flares are in for 2015. I love the look of tailored, trouser-like jeans paired with heels and a great blazer so a couple of new pairs need to be purchased this month. I'm not ditching the skinnies (I love tucking them into boots) but it's time to expand my denim horizons.
  4. Sell or donate clothes that no longer fit.  Most women went through puberty in their teens but I guess I was a later bloomer. When I turned 27 my body changed quite a bit and I went up a dress and cup sized. I'm still pretty small, so no complaints here except for the fact that a lot of my clothes no longer fit right. Instead of keeping them in the closet taking up space, I've decided to sell most of it on Poshmark and The Real Real and donate the rest. It's a great way to de-clutter and make a little extra money at the same time. 
  5. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. The winter weather and dry heat always throws my skin off balance and when I get lazy about exfoliating it just goes from bad to worse. Obviously, moisturizing is key, but it won't do a thing if you don't exfoliate first to slough off the dry skin first. I have a great body brush that I need to start using every day before I jump in the shower. When it comes to the face, I prefer a manual exfoliant like St. Ives which I picked up at my local drugstore. 
  6. Shop my closet and plan outfits ahead of time. Even if I exclude the clothes that no longer fit, I still have a ton of stuff packed into my closets and bureau, yet every morning I struggle to put a cute outfit together on the fly. When I'm running 20 minutes late I don't have the time to piece together a great outfit for work. I'm lucky if my socks match (in my defense, it is winter and my mismatched socks are usually hidden inside of boots). Instead of morning chaos, I'm going to take a hour on Sunday to think about what I want to wear the next week, go through my closet to put together the outfits and then, if needed, get everything ironed so that it's on the hanger and ready to go.  
  7. Find the perfect shade of red lipstick. I'm one of those people that loves the look of a classic red lip but never wears it herself. I have tried several times to find the perfect shade for my pale skin tone but I haven't ever found one that I was really in love with. With winter in full swing, a nice red lip would be a great way to brighten up my look and add a little glamour to my makeup routine. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and do something I don't usually do: ask for makeup advice at my local department store beauty counter. I'm so not a fan of the in-store "makeover" but having someone test them out and apply it correctly is the only way to find the right shade. I'll be sure to report back on my experience at Bloomies. 
  8. Purge my makeup drawer and try new products. My vanity and bathroom drawers are littered with makeup that I either bought and never used or received for free and didn't want. If I'm not using it, it needs to go. The same goes for things I've had for way too long. I'm good about tossing out mascara every couple of months but I'm terrible at getting rid of everything else, which is super gross when I think about it. Once I purge I'm going to sign up for a beauty box of some kind so that I have the opportunity to test out new products, see what I like and, of course, share my reviews here on FC.
We're only two days into 2015, but I'd love to hear about your resolutions and how you're doing so far. Feel free to share in the comments section. 

Thursday, January 1, 2015