Flat Brooke

Velvety Vixen

No longer just for horny robed men with pipes, velvet is back and better than ever! Modern cuts mean that velvet dresses are wonderfully wearable, (and just in time for the upcoming wintry weather)!

Infallible Forever21 has some great affordable apparel, as usual:

(I love how the floral pattern of the first and the sheer sections of the last two prevent the frocks from appearing too youthful!  ”Velvet Flowers” dress and “Textured Velvet” dress  priced at $27.80; the second option, dubbed the “Fitted Velvet” dress is available for $24.80.  Prices and images from forever21.com.)

Lulu’s has a stunning, (and stunningly affordable), option in gorgeous golden shade:

( Want to smolder at your next holiday party?  Look no farther than this molten masterpiece, aptly-named “Hot of Gold!”  DO. WANT.  And for forty dollars?  CAN. HAVE. Image and price from lulus.com.)

For those who may not want to commit to being fully-clad in the majestic material, consider accenting your wardrobe with these items from Modcloth:

(Modcloth never fails to present stylish and sophisticated options to its buyers!  In order:  ”I’m Pumped Heel” available for $34.99; “Glamorous Gait,” also known as Brooke’s next purchase, available for $34.99;”Tranquil Nights” available for $39.99.  Images and prices from modcloth.com.)

To feel good fabrics and prices,

Brooke

Bustier Your Spirits

Feeling like a walk, (or saunter), on the sexy side of life?  Slip into one of fall’s hottest pieces:  the beautifully bold bustier.  

It was difficult to locate items that didn’t look like they belonged to one of tomorrow night’s festive frolickers, but a few stores managed to exude the essence of chic, not cheap.

Forever21 brings the rocker edge:

(Sequins and leather and sex appeal, oh my!  First item available for $19.80; second piece available for $24.80.  Images and prices from Forever21.com.)

From JCPenny’s Olsenboye collection, a clearance item with a more girly take on the trend:

(Down from $50.00 dollars to $24.00!  Pair with a cozy sweater to bring this sweet and summery item into fall.  Image and price from JCPenny.com.)

Lulus has the last budget option with a little basic black bustier:

(Flirty for $30.00!  Sweeten with a full skirt and jacket or spice up with skinny jeans and heels.  Photo and price from lulus.com.)

For a bit more you can channel your inner Sophia Loren with this Modcloth morsel:

(Inspire amore in this little number for $64.99!  Price and photo from modcloth.com.)

To channeling your inner siren without splurging,

Brooke

Sheer Joy

Fall’s latest trend can only be described as demurely daring; rather than completely bare a sinuous stretch of skin, designers have opted to wrap it in sheer fabric, offering only tantalizing glimpses of what lies beneath.

(Olivia Wilde looking gorgeous in floor-length gown with some seriously sexy sheer sides.  Image from streetglamourtoday.com.)

We’ll start with the more casual options, offered by our ol’ reliable (Forever21):

(Forever21 has got a ton of great casual options under its “GLAM IN BLACK” portion of the website…these three immediately caught my eye for their interpretations of the sheer trend!  First item available for $19.80, second for $17.80, and third for $19.80. Images and prices from Forever21.com.)

Charlotte Russe has a few items that read more sexy siren than casual chic:

(Two trends in one:  lace and sheer paneling!  First dress also available in black and blue for $34.99, second also available in white for $29.99, and third also available in black for $29.99. Images and prices from charlotterusse.com.)

Sophisticated elegance is what Lulu’s brings to the table with its interpretations:

(I’ve gotta say, even though these are about ten dollars more than Charlotte Russe’s dresses, they’re  actually my three favorite options.  It might be that they would flatter my curvy body type; someone with a taller, slimmer frame might be better suited to Forever21’s rocker cool aesthetic.  I think Charlotte Russe’s could flatter the gamut of figures.  First dress also available in red for $39.00, second also available in burgundy for $41.00, and the third also available in red for $42.00.  Images and prices from lulus.com.)

To sheer will in bargain-hunting for trendy pieces,

Brooke

Red Hot

Want jeans as spicy as you are?  Look no farther than jeans in red, fall’s favored fashion hue.

(Hayden Panettiere rockin’ some jeans with attitude in the Big Apple. Sadly for us, her J Brand jeans are rockin’ a price tag of over two hundred dollars.  Image from denimology.com/price from polyvore.com.)

Wet Seal has some fantastic flares in “biking red” for sale for $19.50 online:

(Perfect for those who prefer a little looser cut! Image and price from wetseal.com.)

Forever21 has a similar pair of darker red flare jeans as well as a brighter skinny pair for a just a few more dollars:

(I’ve gotta say, I’m really loving the bright ones!  There’s something about that fire-engine red that really captures a spirit of youthful boldness.  Flare leg jeans available for $24.80; skinny jeans available for $22.80.  Images and prices from forever21.com.)

I fully approve of Hayden’s pairing of her jeans with a tough leather jacket; these bottoms are truly ideal for a night when you want a vibe more punk rock than cute and casual.  And where better to find items that embody young punk rock than Hot Topic?  

(What’s great about these is that we finally have the option of finding both blindingly bright skinny jeans and the more elusive darker red skinny jeans all in one place!  First pair available for $29.00/second for $34.50.  Images and prices from hottopic.com.)

To awesomely-priced punk instead of budget blues,

Brooke

Bright, Bright Neony Day

Sorry for the week-long hiatus, everybody!  It was my birthday Thursday:)  

But I’m back now, with a new color trend report; neon yellow, in fashion terms, means the opposite of caution now!

I find bright colors like this easier to pull off as accessories rather than full pieces.  A little bit of neon will go a long way in adding  a pop to any outfit!

Etsy was the best source for affordable neon yellow jewelry; I found three great options for under $20.00.

In a bit of a punk mood?  Try these cool zipper earrings from “DPADClothing:”

(Only $12.00!  Image and price from etsy.com.)

Eager to find a piece that’s two trends in one?  Look no farther than these neon yellow feather earrings from “StyLynn.”

($13.00 for these funky feathers…Image and price from etsy.com.)

My last piece from Etsy is a statement necklace that errs on the side of the avant-garde.  Made of metal and yarn, this piece is perfect for a fashionista with a taste for the unique:

($17.00 from the shop “adoodle.”  Image and price from etsy.com.)

But Etsy’s jewelry isn’t the only way to incorporate neon yellow into your wardrobe; celebrities like Katy Perry have been “nailing” this color trend, as shown below:

(Purrfect interpretation from the pop diva.  Image from polyvore.com.)

A great option for the polish comes from trusty old Forever21:

(Available for only $2.80 from forever21.com)

To neon yellow in your wardrobe being “elementary”, my dear readers,

Brooke

Foxy Faux Real

Plush fur vests are draped across every fashion magazine on the stands right now; just as with the rebirth of the leather coat, this trend is harmful to animals and your credit score.  My budget solution:  let the (faux) fur fly!  

(This Piazza Sempione Fur vest that was featured in Vogue…I believe the price was an incredible $7,000.00! Image from piazzasempionekop.com.)

Thank goodness you can get this look without having to unclothe the animals who were rockin’ these furs originally.  I found similar items from Forever21, JCPenny, and Kohl’s for a fraction of the original price.

From Forever21, we have this bright contender for the budget faux fur crown:

(Forever21 Faux Fur Vest for $37.80.  Price and mage from Forever21.com.)

Buyer beware:  this is the definition of “statement piece.”  Put on your best rocker attitude and leave your inner wallflower gaping in the corner.

The second option, from JCPenny, is actually a few dollars less than the Forever21 option and is available in two colors.

(Faux fur vest available in black and white from JCPenny’s Olsenboye collection for only $29.99!  Price and Image from jcpenny.com.)

Leave it to the fashionable Olsen dopplegangers to come up with a cute, cheap, and surprisingly wearable piece; the more laidback ladies definitely have an option here that will easily pair with anything in their closets!

My last finds, from Kohl’s, were designed by famous fashionistas; both Jennifer Lopez and Vera Wang have created beautiful, affordable apparel for the store.    

(The white vest is courtesy of J.Lo’s line and is available for $63.00, while the darker option, from the venerable Vera Wang, is yours for $68.60.  Images and prices from kohls.com.)

The last options are a bit more expensive than the first two; however, they are each still enormous bargains compared to less animal-friendly pieces like the Piazza Sempione vest. For the quality and pedigree, these prices make sense.

To keeping warm without doing harm,

Brooke

The Price is Tight

In my last post I mentioned how tights can transition a summery piece like shorts into a fall-appropriate item; this ability makes them a must-have item for ladies in chilly weather who don’t necessarily want to toss out their favorite pieces and wear long pants all winter.

(The Pretty Little Liars in Pretty Little Tights…I love Aria’s lacey ones! Image from xoxomegzi.blogspot.com.)

(Great budget basics…the first and third options are $7.80 apiece and the second one is available for only $6.80!  Image from forever21.com.)

More daring styles require a more lenient budget; Modcloth has options more in line with their retro-chic aesthetic:

(1. Creme Fraiche Tights are usually $14.99; they’re sold out now, but notify modcloth.com and they are usually able to reorder them.  2.  You Seam Different Tights available for $17.99.  I love these…much more retro-sexy than chic. 3.  Laugh On Tights for 29.99.  This pair caught my eye immediately for the sunny color and gorgeous pattern. Images from Modcloth.com.)

My last find is from Etsy, with prices only slightly higher than Modcloth’s.  The shop is called “tattoo socks;” from the images below, you’ll see why:

(1.  Fabulous Forest Symphony Tights for 21.00. 2.  Follow Me Tights for 23.00. 3. Sexy Peacock Feather Tattoo Tights for 18.00.  Both less painful/expensive than a real tattoo and a surefire way to turn heads even if the remaining bits of your body are warmly covered up in your favorite winter coat.  Images from etsy.com.  Shipping not included in listed prices.)

To getting a leg up in style,

Brooke

Inexpensive Emma Watson

Living in the South means you have three choices when the weather’s hot and humid, (which it usually is):  bum it in your athletic shorts, give Daisy Duke a run for her money,  or find some smart-looking shorts in a quality material.  Given the choices, I would take a style cue from film actress and fashion darling Emma Watson and opt for the third selection.  (If it’s cooling down where you live, this post still applies; just add tights for a fall weather-appropriate take).

(Emma looking amazing in lace shorts.  Image from socialitelife.com)

She looks fantastic, but I’m going to take a wild guess and say that this outfit is probably affordable only to an actress as successful as Watson.  Luckily, Modcloth and Forever21  have a budget friendly take on two key pieces of this outfit:  the lace shorts and the blush blazer.  Several sites offer good deals on the nude pumps.

After seeing the shorts selection, I would turn to Modcloth in a time of style need.  Every other store, including my beloved Forever21, has options that are either more casual than upscale, or more dowdy than stylish.  Need proof?  Look no farther than these “Take the Cake Tea Shorts.”

(A bargain for the quality at $44.99.  Image from modcloth.com)

You’ve seen the blush blazer before, as worn by the gorgeous Blake Lively two posts ago.  Here it is again, from Forever21:

($29.80 from forever21.com.  It’s turning out to be quite the versatile blazer: useful for creating looks both uptown and quirky chic!)

Finally, the nude pumps.  Sometimes timeless transcends trends; a nude heel will never not be in vogue, (as an added bonus, they make your legs look crazy long). 

I found two options for the heels, courtesy of amiclubwear.com and payless.com:

(First pair from amiclubwear.com for $18.99, second from payless.com for $34.99.  Whether the nude veers towards pink or beige, each pair of pumps is a deal!)

To the inexpensive emulation of an icon,

Brooke

Budget Blake Lively

It seems like Forever21 has taken its fall cues from a certain blonde Gossip Girl …while I was in there today, I spotted three looks so stylish even Queen Bee Blair would approve!

The first look is a reduced rate Gemma Redux-like necklace.  Blake Lively and her character both have a fondness for costly baubles like the one below.

( Gorgeous necklace, but hideously expensive:  a similar necklace in the same style costs $369.00 from gemmaredux.com.  Image from thisnext.com)

Luckily Forever21 feels your pain, and has this little beauty for only $9.80!

(Just as pretty…and dare I say even a little bit more wearable?)

The second look is a red hot leather jacket that flaunts Blake’s ability to pull off downtown chic just as well as uptown luxe.

(You’d need a Van der Woodsen’s salary to afford Helmut Lang’s “Moto” leather jacket for $1295.00…Image and label from justjared.buzznet.com)

And the Forever21 doppleganger:

$47.50 worth of attitude!

The last look is an office-appropriate blazer that perfectly punctuates Blake’s navy dress…for $135.00.

(Photo from celebrity-gossip.net; price from polyvore.com)

Again, the Forever21 version is not an exact match, but could easily give off the same feel for $29.80:

(Blazers are some of my favorite pieces to buy from Forever21; I’ve never been able to find their equal for the price.)  

Xoxo, (and have fun channeling your inner Gossip Girl now that you can afford it!),

Brooke

Second Star to the Right and Straight on ‘til Morning

You don’t have to travel all the way to Neverland to snag a fantastically trendy Peter Pan collar!  Celebrities such as Alexa Chung and Emma Watson have turned the look into a fall must-have; (don’t worry, Americans can pull off this trend too!)

(Image from bloglovin.com.  Love that she kept it street chic yet sophisticated!)

The best budget-friendly option I’ve founds is from our old friend Forever21.  Again, I couldn’t seem to find it online, but luckily I had snapped it up last week in the store.

This top was less than $20.00; the excellent price was only one of several reasons I snatched it from the rack like there was no tomorrow, however.  The Peter Pan collar, as a youthful look, can easily become too juvenile, but the quality of fabric and simple black and white color assures the modern look will not stray into childish territory.  

To be extra careful, I pair this top with black skinny jeans and heels.  Come to think of it, Forever21’s black skinny jeans are online, and at an excellent price.  Be sure you know your European size though, as it seems this shop is following the trend of confusing its shoppers with its sizing system.  When I went in the store, I was like, “try on ALL the jeans!”  (I swear the hyperboleandahalf meme has penetrated my subconscious by now.)

( For only $10.50, these jeans are yours, ladies! Picture and price from Forever21.com).

Almost an entire outfit for around $30.00 sounds like a fantasy worthy of J.M. Barrie’s imagination to me…thanks again, Forever21!

—To fulfilling budget fantasies,

Brooke