Get Nicole Richie’s look for less than $220.
Audrina Patridge was this year’s fashion stand out at the “The Hills” premier – the fact that she’s the only ‘non-designer’ in the group, sort of makes you go ‘hmmm’, but let’s move on to the positive! Since a few people asked how to get her look, I tracked it down to the source…
It is the “Waikiki Dress” and it’s available in black, jasmine (yellow), & this beautiful shade of aquamarine for $245 (with free ground shipping in the US) from What Comes Around Goes Around.
--- *** ----
Dress from Preen’s Fall 2007 line, Decades Two may be able to find it for you.
I’m not a “pink” person, but every Spring I end up buying at least 6 items in pink that I swear I’ll wear … & every Fall I send them off to Goodwill with tags still attached. But this year I’ve already gotten my pink-fix & broken the cycle of wasted closet space, thanks to Smashbox’s O-Gloss.
I LOVE the delicate pink shine & have been wearing it all week, but this wonder-gloss promises to react to each wearer’s individual skin chemistry & create a custom shade, & since I really don’t understand the science, I wanted to be sure it actually delivered. Three friends & I applied the gloss from the same tube & … AS PROMISED … we each got an individual shade of pink that *worked with our natural skin tones. Sephora carries this “magic-in-a-tube” for $22.
*Note: If, like my friend “B”, you dye your hair to the extreme opposite of where it started, fake-bake your skin orange & wear strange colored contact lenses the gloss may not work with the ‘new you’ … but, like B, gloss is probably the least of your problems.
For those who’ve made it through summer in their 3rd – or even 2nd – trimester, wearing high heels & a smile, I salute your poise & willpower. But for anyone who wants to scream, “it’s not a glow, it’s sweat!” a little style & some pampering can go a long way.
The only problem is that maternity style usually comes at a huge mark-up. And, as anyone who’s BTDT will tell you, don’t rationalize a price by saying you’ll wear it for another pregnancy since many womens bodies change post-pregnancy, not to mention you’ll rarely think this year’s splurge is chic 2, 3 or 5 years later … and that’s if it’s still in your closet. So before you blow your entire budget on a single item, here are some cute alternatives…
Lets start with jeans. Most women refuse to give up jeans & end up paying a steep price — $150+worth of steep — for the maternity version, but these Maternity Boy Fit M jeans by Topshop for $70 (35 pounds) in a lovely fade & brushed cotton are a stylish & comfortable alternative!
Quick style tip: if you’re not ready (or don’t want) to head to the maternity section just yet, & have a spare pair of low-to-low-mid-rise jeans that are a bit loose (think ‘fat-day-jeans’), a tailor can swap out the regular waist band for an elastic band, generally for less than $25, that will allow you to keep wearing them through the mid-stages of pregnancy (depending on weight gain & how low you carry), & this pair also lets you ease back into jeans post-pregnancy without the need for 3 pairs of Spanx.
But if you’re not a jeans person, or have a low tolerance for heat & know that anything tight will be unbearable over the summer, these comfy loose linen trousers with tie belt in WHITE or BLACK are perfect for a day at the office, a weekend in the country, lunch with friends or just running errands around town. Available at Topshop for $56 (28 Pounds).
And while some women won’t give up their jeans, if you’re like me, going from pretty bras to those industrial looking things can be devastating. An easy-on-the-wallet alternative are these pretty maternity & nursing bras from Topshop for only $28 (14 pounds): the Padded Maternity Bra is available in stripped pink; the Spot Maternity Nursing Bra is available in peach; & for something a little sexy the Geo Lace Maternity Bra in black is just the thing!
And the one thing everyone can agree on and can always use more of … PAMPERING! Manhattanite’s Haute Mama Skincare Section has 5 amazing selections priced from $30-$65, focused on what pregnant women want. And their Haute Mama Gift Section has some amazing, fun & useful items from cards to gift packs, “all out of” notepads, journals, massage lotions, & my personal favorite … the DIY Pregnancy Belly Cast Kit for $45!
above (l) Smoothie Kit, $58; (r) Congratulations Kit, $50
So relax, enjoy your summer, keep cool … & CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I’m not a big fan of logos, so it’s no surprise that I’ve stayed away from Juicy Couture’s sweatpants, tees and accessories. I do, however, really like their crop of swimsuits for this year. They’re creatively made, playful, and provide great coverage without making you look 90.
Here’s my favorite Juicy picks from Bloomingdale’s.
Clockwise from top left, Smocked bikini, $94/67, available here. Metallic Stripe Swim Dress, $164, available here. Chiffon and Gauze bikini, $76/ 80, available here. Beach Halter Swimdress, $164, available here.
