#One style fits all

Probably the most versatile item of clothing that any women can own is the pencil skirt. It is the one piece that can transition between formal professional attire to causal with a slight change in shoes. The pencil skirt is also the ultimate body shaper and perfect for all body types. I can honestly say that I have never seen a body type that a pencil skirt doesn't suit. For the minimal curvy women (I say minimal because all women have some curves, and curves are something to be proud of!) a pencil skirt can accent the curves in the right way and extend the length of the legs. Women with long legs are admired, but if you don't naturally have extra long runway model legs (which most girls don't) then a pencil skirt perfectly creates the illusion that you have the long legs. Pencil skirts go up past the hips and past the knees, paired with a nice heel you now have perfect runway model like legs. Women come in many shapes and sizes so it is difficult having a fashion blog that fits all. Hence why I am a firm believer in offering advice and options not pictures of myself wearing clothing that fit well on me and my body type. I love reading blogs and seeing what others wear but its not always feasible or probable for my body type. However there are a few staple items that are versatile and flattering for all. Just like investing in a nice black pump I am a firm believer in owning a good quality pencil skirt. I will warn you that once you experience the perfect pencil skirt and will get hooked and start going pencil skirt crazy, but I think everyone will approve that if there is one thing to go crazy about it's a classy style. So for one style fits all here are some of my favorite pencil skirt options: (I will admit I am a bit bias, BCBG makes my favorite bondage style pencil skirts that accent every curve so elegantly)

Such as this BCBG Knee Length Skirt

I know that most young ladies would not initially consider St. John but this skirt is something I could she the Duchess Kate wear, classy and timeless!

I've featured an A.L.C. item of clothing on this bog before and I stand by my recommendations, this skirt is another example of the brands quality!

Once you have mastered the black, you must dive into the various other colors and styles. I love colorful and fun pencil skirts such as this Diane von Furstenberg on and the Floral Etro print skirt, talk about spicing up an outfit!

I suggest you look for a pencil skirt that has a little bit of stretch, it allows for a bit for flexibility in sizes and does a superior job at accenting those lovely curves.
















Thank you for reading and talk to you all soon!

#I am a purse-son....

See what I did there? Many women have a love hate relationship with purses, they are stylish and can add character to an outfit but are a commitment and can be heavy burden to carry. Purses are not for ever women but I don't understand how those women carry anything. Our jeans are not designed to carry our wallets in the pockets nor are female wallets designed to fit in a pocket. Plus there are phones to carry and possibly a mirror and lipstick. So unless you wear bulky clothes all the time, purses are essential.
Now that I established that purses are essential, the next step is finding the one universal and timeless handbag!
The handbag that I dream about is this cross body Chanel bag,

Chanel shoulder bag (see more black quilted purses)

However, I don't have the disposable income to purchase it, so like many other things I am always on the look out for something comparable and a much more acceptable price point. The quilted shoulder bag is elegant and a perfect size, big enough to fit a wallet, phone, keys, and your favorite lipstick but not to big that the burden of carrying it around outweighs the benefits of having it. Since I am assuming most women cannot afford an original Chanel bag, there are many designers that make comparable ones. If you only want one bag then I suggest you invest in the cross bag, its elegant enough to wear at a special event but can also be dressed down with a pair of jeans and t-shirt. Here are some of my favorite alternatives, I own the Kate Spade one and I get constant compliments on it. (Is definitely one of my favorite purses!)

Tory Burch "Natalie" is also a great alternative, the quality and style is perfect.

 Coach has amazing classic styles and what is there not to love about this simple yet elegant "Poppy" Leather Flight bag?







If you are willing to spend a little more this Marc Jacobs bag from Neiman Marcus is a beautiful investment: 

If I haven't mentioned it before, I love purses and I am definitely a Purse-son!! For a Tuesday that is as witty as I can be. Have a wonderful day!

#sassy pants

I am sure everyone has those days when sniddy comments and a sassy attitude is the one way that you will be able to get through the day, especially around certain people.
Well I am firm believer that a sassy attitude is greatly complimented with a sassy outfit, particularly sassy pants.
Vibrant prints, animals prints and geometric shape prints are on everything lately and I love it. There is nothing like spicing up a simple work outfit with a bit of print. The print adds personality, style and just enough sass to get you through the day. Below I have a few pant options that are perfect for in and out of the office!
(FYI: Zara is having a sale and they have such amazing options for printed trousers!)

This printed trouser with the side stripe is perfect, with a simple, plain top it would be perfect in any office and for a night out with the girls!

I love these Banana Republic pants, affordable and sassy!

These Trina Turk "Mandie" Silk Pants look so comfortable and sassy, I need them!!

And finally these A.L.C. Sutro Pants that are on sale! I've been watching these for a while now!












I hope everyone has a fabulous Monday and a stylish week!

#acceptable wedge

I love wearing high heels but I don't think that my feet appreciate it very much. So a good alternative to the heel in the work place is the wedge. Now I am not promising that they are extremely comfortable but they are easier to wear than stilettos.
A while back I invested in some Kate Space Wedges, they are the perfect nude color and basically go with anything my nude or black stilettos would.
Granted wedges don't look as sexy nor do they make your legs look the way heels do, it still offers your booty the push up that a girl wants from heels. And yes, I am not afraid to admit it, I wear heels because of the way my booty looks when I wear them. I love comparing when wearing jeans, with and without heels and trust me there is a reason why heels make any occasion elegant and sexy. Heels are like body shapers for your legs, it gives lift in all the right areas.

Anyhow back to wedges: Here are some of my favorite wedges that would work for any office or even a night out on the town.

 Pour La Victoire Mai Wedge

Kate Spade can do no wrong!
Also check out these Kate Spades Wedges with a bow!

These Nine West's are also adorable and at such a great price!

CL by Laundry Nima Wedge Pump

#flower child

Florals are in, and not the whole your-grandma's-old-couch florals, because, believe it or not, there is a way to make florals modern and fashionable, and I love the skirts and dresses that are popping up at all the stores near you!
The key to wearing florals successfully is not overdoing it--such as a floral skirt with a neutral top or a floral dress with subtle and neutral accessories and shoes.
This Sunday, while at church, I realized that my aunt was wearing florals correctly and boy did she look adorable!! (My aunt is only three years older than me so it's okay for me to like her outfit!)

Here are a few outfits and other comparables:

 Floral skirt with a nice neutral black top! Summery, comfy and stylish! (Isn't my auntie a doll?)

 DVF wedges are so adorable.

  Vince Camuto has some amazing floral skirts this season.

Dorothy Perkins has great dresses at affordable prices. Their dresses are fashionable and allow for the perfect transition from day to night! Check out this Carnation shift dress for the perfect amount of floral and neutral.















Also check out Nordstrom Rack for their amazing sales on dresses, like this one:

Stay sunny and have a great Wednesday!

#Sunnies side up

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I have a serious case of "The Mondays" today--I had a bit too much sun this past weekend--so today is more painful than a normal Monday would be.
I got a pair of new sunnies this past weekend, and took them to the beach with me, but forgot the sun screen... Apparently being fashionable is a bigger priority than protecting my now red bum!
They are the first pair of sunnies that I purchased myself, the others I own were gifts! I felt like such a big girl and I am absolutely in love.
I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I can't afford to buy anything at its normal retail price but with stores like Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, and Loehmann's why would you ever purchase anything at retail?
So this season, I think that every fashion blogger own these Karen Walker sunglasses. But I feel that majority of people that follow these fashion blogs (like myself) cannot afford to spend almost $300 on sunglasses. So I decided to go on my hunt for something similar.

The trend this season for sunglasses reminds me of Megan Draper from Mad Men. I love her 60's style, clothing, and accessories!
I mean look at these beauties:

My goal was to find something similar within my price range. So here are the ones that I purchased from Nordstrom Rack and other options:




Mine: Kate Spade:

Another Kate Spade pair:

Completely out of my price range but soo in LOVE: Thierry Lively

So extremely affordable and stylish, I might get a pair of these from UrbanOutfitters

And last but not least, these Vogue Cat Eyes!

There you go. Now if only I remember my sun screen the next time I head to the beach!

#Bun in the "duchess" oven

Continuing from yesterday's post about starting the fashionistas young, going back even further, per the request of my best friend who is also has a phenomenal teaching blog at http://assistingdescubrimiento.blogspot.com/ (check her out), I want to talk about the lady duchess Catherine and her impeccable maternity style.
I am not pregnant and don't plan on being so any time soon, however, pregnant Lady Catherine's fashion choice is to die for. I mean, there are many women out there that are not pregnant and don't look as good as her. My best friend said it best: I love her so much I hate her. Granted it is easy to look fabulous when you are royalty, but it is not the brand of clothing she wears as much as it is the cut, shape and style. Now all stores, such as Forever 21, are replicating designer styles, so there is no excuse. Anyone can afford to be stylish, even on a budget.
If I haven't mentioned before, I am a law student, so trust me I am on a budget, but that doesn't stop me from dressing well while still being frugal.

So here is the lady of the post. It should probably be illegal to look this adorable but unfortunately the laws are different in England. I also have some affordable alternatives to create the same look on a reasonable budget....

I just about died of cuteness when I saw her in this polka dot dress!! The style is perfect--a flowy skater-style skirt with a higher waist band. It accentuates a thin frame while still accommodating the bun down below.
Asos has great clothing at an affordable price. This Polka Dot Skater Dress  is only $30.55. Add a little blazer and you are pregnant in style!

Maggy London from Nordstrom

I am sure there are nonpregnant women that can't pull off this dress as well as the royal lady does! The floral motif has definitely made a come back and this preggo duchess knows how to keep her bump in style.

From the Asos Maternity Section

An Asos Maternity Option or these two nonmaternity options that stretch and can be worn after the bun is out of the oven:

Asos Floral

Asos Mirror Floral

#start them young

Although I don't have children, whenever I go shopping with my mother we cannot help but stop and buy some of the adorable children's clothing we see. I know it may sound weird, but at my parents' house, my room has a nightstand devoted to children's clothing of all sizes that my mother and I purchased so we always have a gift lying around.
When I was a little girl, I was a total tomboy, but I always made sure that I played in style. I always had to have nice shiny shoes and a poofy dress. I loved dresses and the embroidered stockings from Kids R Us, which no longer exists.
I love walking down the street and seeing a stylish little munchkin. I am not advocating spending a fortune on clothes for little kids, but places like Target, Old Navy, Gap, H&M, and Zara have adorable clothes for munchkins at great prices. Munchkins are already little terrors--why not make them cute ones?
 

Here are some adorable outfit suggestions for little ones!
P.S. You may also want to check out this pinterest board, cute clothes and clever stories for an imaginary well-dressed child: http://pinterest.com/tiffanywbwg/my-imaginary-well-dressed-toddler-daughter/

Can this summer dress be any flippin cuter?! Check out H&M's summer inspiration for kids, stylish and affordable!

Sassy and stylish

Such a stylish kid!!

#fashion is art

One thing I love to do is view the lastest runway lines from my favorite designers that I could only dream of one day wearing.

Some fashion designers are true artists, creating a masterpiece.

I know that some people may think that admiring clothing or fashion designers may be a superficial and superfluous hobby but just as much I would pay to admire art in a museum, certain couture designs are timeless and worth admiration. There are many designers do not design clothing for the masses to duplicate but rather design to make a statement. It's a form of expression, something worth appreciating.

Even when I visit museums, I love viewing the jewelry and clothing, it's such a beautiful way of  better understanding how people lived, thought, and expressed themselves in that time period.

Therefore, fashion is an art form and my current obsession with the Valetino Fall 2013 Couture design is the epitome of elegance, the colors, the shapes, fit, fabrics combined is a stunning display of pure art!

My plan for preparing for Fall (my favorite season out of the year) is to mimic this collection and stock up on beautiful browns and golds with gorgeous designs and spectacular shape and fit. I can't wait to shop for similar look alike pieces for this upcoming season. Just like Adele sang, I will find someone like you!

If Valentino's line was a Man, he would be perfect, it has looks, class, wealth and knows the way to women's heart except these women do not look to happy... I guess they aren't eating enough ice cream! 

The back of the this coat is seen in the second photo above...I swoon!!!

The dress and coat of the first outfit is to beautiful for words!

                                     

#Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous holiday and wonderful Independence Day. Please don't forget to thank our troops for their service and everyone stay safe! Enjoy the fireworks!!

#mega trend

In continuance from yesterday's post, I wanted to continue by posting what trend I hope comes back that I am obsessed with.... elaborate hats and fascinators!!!
Like most people I swooned over the hats at the royal wedding a few years ago and the continuous collection the Duchess and the Queen showcase. I love going to consignment shops and finding the most beautiful over the top hat, if I could afford them and had more occasions to wear them to I would invest in hats like I invest in purses. Wearing a hat or fascinator screams sophistication and class, you look important, stylish and absolutely darling!

Weddings, tea parties and Kentucky derbies should definitely not be the only reasons to wear such an extraordinary head piece...so maybe I will just have to start this wishful mega trend.

Who knows maybe they will make a come back sooner than you know!

Here are some of my favorite pictures and finds!

I fell in love with these two pieces Catherine wore instantly, the Duchess is the epitome of elegance and sophistication!

Another Etsy find! One of my favorites from this site!! 

From Etsy, so many great options!

Nordstrom's Kentucky Derby style!

   

Who doesn't just adore the Audrey Hepburn look!