Flat 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

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