Cat Scratch Fever

These tees by Forever 21 are a definite “No ma’am.”  Trust us: the world is not ready for your tribal cheetah, jaguar sublimation or galactic tiger to be unleashed.  There are more fashionable ways to let your inner fierce kitty roar without looking like an alley cat.  

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Check out haute mommy Beyonce in these Elson silk crepe tapered pants by A.L.C., worn with a loose-fitting neutral blouse and the to-die-for (and sold out)  Christian Louboutin Unbout Illusion pumps (LOVE the way the PVC and patent leather cap toe create a d’Orsay look).

Images via Forever 21

You’re Never Fully Dressed Without…

When Prabal Met Sally

If you like  Prabal Gurung’s edgy yet feminine aesthetic (and we  certainly do!), you will LOVE his collaboration with Sally Hansen: a line of nail wraps featuring his designs!  The chic look was seen on the models in his Spring and Fall 2012 runway shows, and now you can own a piece of his collection for less than $10!  Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen Nail Effects (in “Good Morning Glory” and “Sweet Marble Floret”) invite you to “peel and apply with no dry time” and claim to “last 10 days.”  The collection is a limited edition and is available at drugstores nationwide.

Images via Getty Images and Sally Hansen

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Okay, the ’80s weren’t so bad after all.  As seen on People.com, chokers, bared midriffs, cropped denim vests and waist-tied blouses are back.  The ’90s were a bad decade for me: Bongo denim outfits, Guess jumpers and column dresses, berry lipstick and (*shudder*) bangs.  I’m not enthused about seeing the era remixed.

Absolutely not.

I don’t care if Salma’s choker does have a “YSL” embellishment; please stop trying to make them happen. 

Really?!

Waist-tied shirts and “grunge chic” have also been spotted.   But somehow it looks just as sloppy as it did in the last century.  Leave it there.

Side note (and proof that the ’90s weren’t a total fashion disaster):  Guess? turns 30 this year!  And to celebrate, they featured Claudia Schiffer in a remix of their iconic ads.  Be sure to check out the photos!  Our favorite?

 

Images via People.com and Huffington Post

I Love the 80s: NEON

What goes around definitely comes back around.  Raise your hand if you owned a pair of these Reebok Freestyle  Hi lace-up sneakers during the “Let’s Get Physical” aerobics craze of the ’80s, or wore them on the playground (*raises hand*)?  These call to mind a pink pair I received as a much-loved hand me down from my older cousin Raven.   Rocsi Diaz (co-host of BET’s ‘106 and Park’) rocks a neon green pair while enjoying some downtime in NYC.  Notice how she’s paired them with a neutral, casual outfit (not skintight leggings and a leotard)?  Get your own pair here (they’re advertised in island blue, neon purple, hot green and neon pink with “reignbow” laces).  Then all you need are a Skip It!, a side pony and an NKOTB poster for your bedroom ceiling.  Totally rad!

Seriously, neon is an important spring trend; but wear it at your own risk. The point is not to look like Rainbow Brite.  If a neon sheath (as seen in the slideshow) or pant is too much color at once,  an easy way to incorporate the look is by limiting the bright color to your shoes or handbag.  Balance a neutral outfit with bright shoes and bag, or try the reverse (a bright dress with neutral accessories).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Another note about Ms. Diaz’s casual ensemble:  need I say don’t get caught running errands around town in your saggy pajama pants and dirty flip flops? Follow her lead: keep it casual AND chic.

Images via YBF, People & Reebok

The Look for Less: YSL Tribute Sandals

Haute mommy Christina Milian (The Voice’s social media correspondent) gives us a POP! Of color while out and about in LA in neon pink skinnies and towering heels. 

Love the look of her YSL Tribute stilettos (available at Net-a-Porter) but not the $795 (plus tax and shipping charges, darlings!) pricetag?  Check out a similar pair: “Toleo” by Vince Camuto in snake-embossed beige and “Mojito”  mint green (a very hot color for Spring).  The 4″ heel, 1″ platform is available at Macy’s and Dillard’s online, for $98 (yes, plus tax and shipping.  Macys.com does not have the mint green pair).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Images via YBF, Net-a-Porter and Dillards

What’s in My Purse?

It was late, and I was tired.  When I finally sprawled across the sofa after a full day’s work, plus evening errands and arriving home to cook dinner and confront laundry and a full dishwasher – how does one person generate so many dirty clothes and dishes in a week? –  I was exhausted, and I had a pounding headache.

“Ahh!” I remembered. “I have Blue Oil!”  I scrambled (okay, slowly roused) myself up and dug down into my purse for the vial.

Just what is Blue Oil, you ask?

In one word: magic.

In more precise terms: it’s a “balancing concentrate” from Aveda that combines blue camomile and peppermint into an acupressure and massage therapy aid.   When applied to the temples, middle of the forehead, and back of the neck, its soothing aroma and cooling effect promote stress relief.  A helpful salesperson at the Aveda store at the Summit offered it to me during one particulary harrowing shopping experience (around the holidays; the less said the better) and it has been a lifesaver.  A little dab’ll do ya, and purchasing a rollerball for yourself might be the best $15 you ever spend.

I don’t leave home without it, and it helped me sleep last night. (I’ll worry about the laundry later.)

Aveda products can purchased online at aveda.com or at various locations in the area, including the Aveda store at the Summit.  For more on its holistic approach and earth-friendly mission, click here.  Need more time to relax, relate and release?  Be sure to check out the spa packages at the local Aveda Institute!

Image via aveda.com

Mad Men Season 5 Airs; SCDD Shops!

Mad Men’s highly anticipated, hotly debated Season 5 aired last night and – without giving anything away- it’s safe to say “the time’s, they are [definitely] a-changing.”  SCDD won’t parse the details and speculate about future plot twists here (that could go on forever, as internet chatter about the newest season hit fever pitch the past few months).  Nay, we’ll celebrate the show’s pitch-perfect attention to detail.  I squealed out loud when I saw little Sally Draper’s sunshine yellow Springmaid bed sheets; my parents had the exact same set which they received as a wedding gift.  Want a set of your own?  Check them out on Etsy HERE (alas, this listing ’tis only the flat sheet).

What other era-perfect goodies did I browse?  How about Joan Holloway Harris’ signature statement piece: the gold pen necklace?  Femme fatale attitude sold separately.  Or how about that super chic pram she strolled her new baby around town in?  This Silver Cross Balmoral pram sold by Posh Tots “combines stately elegance with an air of true nostalgia” and retails for $3,995 (although it’s missing the little privacy curtain).

In the age of iPhones, crackberries and Androids, how many of us maintain a hardcopy desk calendar or handwritten schedule?  Pete’s secretary Clara had a nifty trifold version, and Kate Spade periodically offers a similar pink version. This one is on Ebay.  Or might you be interested in playing solitaire with a real deck of cards for a change?

Wondering what to get the man who has everything (including a secret identity)? Then a pure badger shaving brush or silver-topped walking stick may be right up your man’s sartorial alley. And if you’re planning to serenade him with his own special “Zou Bisou Bisou” moment, this dress by Posh Girl Vintage is close-up ready.

For more Mad Men clothing and cosmetics, check out the collections at Banana Republic and Estee Lauder.

I have an early meeting with Coca Cola on Staten Island,

Alexis

Images via AMC TV

The Look for Less: Celine Color Block Clutch

Colorblocking is a MAJOR trend for Spring 2012.    Whether you rock a striped blouse, skirt, or dress or decide to accessorize a neutral ensemble with colorblocked  accessories, this is a trend to try.  Today I’m going “resort prep” with a black tee and slacks, aqua sweater, Chanel-esque Jessica Simpson color blocked flats, and pearls.  I like to dip my toe into some trends; over-investing in pieces that I can’t wear into the next season (or the next) is not part of my style philosophy.  So I’m using this trend to insert a pop of color or a little visual interest into my everyday look.

That’s also why I love P.S. I Made This, which takes of-the-moment pieces and re-interprets them in a budget-friendly, super chic way, all way encouraging readers to get crafty!  Erica Domesek’s ideas are genius!  She’s  reimagined Celine’s colorblock envelope clutch at a fraction of the price using a tote, bright vinyl, and hardware.

Ready to DIY?  Click HERE for a nifty video (I’m going to need those bracelets you’re wearing in it, Erica. Please and thank you!).

And if breaking out the glue gun is not your style, this super cute clutch and crossbody bag by Francesca’s Collection are just as cute, and under $40!

Images via P.S. I Made This and Francesca’s Collections

Blog at WordPress.com.