3 BERRY GOOD REASONS TO BE SWEET OVER SOUR!

Are you ready this season to tip the scales in favor of being sweet over sour?  Some of you may find this super easy, while others this is mission impossible! Hands down, the word sweet has more positive connotations than sour. When someone thinks of sweet the words pleasing, lovable, mouth watering desserts, and gratifying automatically come to mind, whereas sour evokes the words acidity, tart, displeasing, lemons, and morose. In a perfect world everyone should tip the scale of being sweet, however in fashion there are still those that are sour! Too many times they often see wearing berry sweet colors only possible for the lips and nowhere else.  That’s why this season it’s all about indulging into the berrylicious and for good reasons too! Read on how to make this year the sweetest one yet!

SWEETS DO A BODY GOOD!

There is something about the word sweet that appeals to everyone. Who doesn’t appreciate a sweet decadent dessert, or a friend who has sweet disposition, I know I do! Well just like the tagline, Milk Does a Body Good, in fashion, sweets do a body good! Typically wearing sweet colors like a berry shade is flattering on all skin tones, and body types. Going for a richer berry hue like I did will slenderize your frame and brighten your skin tone.

STYLE TIP: SHOW OFF YOUR BEST FEATURES 

Since berry is a great color that flatters all figures, pick a style based on features you want to show off.   This is the perfect time to flaunt what you have without having talk about it. In my case, I wanted to show off my arms, and torso area, so I went for textured sheath dress that had more of tailored silhouette.  

HITS THE SWEET SPOT!

Living out your dream is about finding your sweet spot. However, most of us fail to ever know what a true sweet spot really is, because of fear to change, failure, and unpredictability. Similarly, in fashion many times people often become stuck in a wardrobe rut and end up adopting a sour style. Hitting a sweet spot is the perfect expression to shine!  Often times wearing sweeter colors like berry allows one to think out of the box, because it pushes their imagination to think beyond the basic black, grey, or white ensemble when it comes to styling.

STYLE TIP: THE SWEET COLOR AS THE CENTERPIECE

When creating kick ass outfits, it’s always a must to start with a centerpiece. I did exactly that by choosing the berry sheath dress as my centerpiece. From there on I decided upon an accent piece which was a black solid color pump that had gold embellishments in the pattern. Finally, for my designated pop piece I opted for the long gold-knotted necklace to ensure an extra oomph of excitement!

SWEET BEGINNINGS

For each bitter ending there is always a sweet beginning. This concept is fairly true when it comes to fashion retransformations. For starters, when one wants to turn over a new leaf in the style department, the first thing they do is to stray away from sour colors and go more for berry sweet colors.  This sets a great precedent for the next season in creating killer style! Not only does it create more interest but also like U2’s acclaimed song Sweetest Thing, wearing berry sweet colors will get you remembered as the sweetest thing!

STYLE TIP: VERSATILITY

When searching for clothing or accessories that are berry sweet, focus on styles and hues that you can get maximum wear.  Remember take in account your lifestyle, and existing wardrobe to determine what berry colored piece would blend in.  For example, if you’re a person that cringes at the thought of wearing bold berry hues, then start small and go for jewelry that you would wear more than once.  On the other hand, if your one who just loves to play around with color like myself, you may want to be more daring by going for a dress, but you also can focus on simple everyday silhouettes like I did.

HERE ARE LINKS TO BECOME BERRY SWEET: *=top choices

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=dress&ProductID=2000058318&VariantID=

Textured Chevron Sheath Dress at  Forever 21 $12.90 *

http://www.lulus.com/products/all-the-stops-berry-pink-halter-top/171314.html

All Stops Berry Top at LuLus  $34

http://www.lulus.com/products/berry-blast-fuchsia-handbag/168058.html

Berry Blast Fushia Handbag at LuLus  $39 *

http://us.asos.com//TFNC-Prom-Dress-In-Pleated-Chiffon/1

Chiffon Pleated Dress At Asos  $66.33

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=sweater&ProductID=2000058297&VariantID=

Ribbed Knit Turtleneck Sweater At Forever 21 $8.90

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=DRESS&ProductID=2000138529&VariantID=

Crushed Velveteen Cutout Dress at Forever 21 $14.90

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/265430.uts

Faceted Stone Statement Earrings at Charlotte Russe $6.00

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/264594.uts

Strappy Halter Skater Dress at Charlotte Russe $13.49

for more information go to www.frugalfashionite.com

FALL’S LOVESUIT IS THE PLAYSUIT!

The romper is one of those pieces that remind me of dating.  Most of us at one time or another have gone out with someone and the first date wasn’t quite prince charming. However, there was something intriguing that told you to consciously give this person a second chance before giving them the axe! It may have been that second date, or even the final third date when you realized there was indeed fireworks! In fashion, unfortunately the romper is one those pieces that isn’t love at first sight, and you may have to date it in a sense of trying it out several times before deciding to commit. Are you ready this autumn to kick out the stale love for the lbd, and fall head over heels into a steamy love affair with the romper? If you’re open to this, then be prepared to make all your date nights super hot with fall’s hottest playsuit, or should I say lovesuit!  Read on to find out how to add some loving drama to fall’s most sought after one-piece!

STYLE WITH FALL FEVER

Fall fever is practically my nickname once Octobers hits! Friends and family that know me can find me apple picking, visiting haunted houses, eating pumpkin bread and of course trick or treating! So just as I’m all about fall festivities, I’m as much about focusing on fall styles when it comes to fashion.  To make the romper fall’s hottest ticket in town and give it some loving drama focus on fall silhouettes particularly longer sleeved styles like I did. If you do opt for strapless or sleeveless versions stick to fall themed colors in darker shades

SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS

In the dating game or when you are with someone long term eventually one reveals their true colors. With fashion when it comes to styling the summer romper in fall mode, focus on colors that are going to show who you are as well as take in account colors that are trending.  Being that I love to play with color, and especially ones that are trending I opted for a shade of green. Green is one key color that is huge for fall. The brighter shade of  green-blue that I decided upon not only reflected my friendly and free spirited personality, but also allowed for me to execute an effortless look.

 LAYER WITH SURPRISE

In the game of dating it’s best to unravel slowly with the intrigue of chipping away layer after layer until you reveal your true colors. Although the summer romper bares it all, by adding elements of layers it creates a more fall appropriate romper in addition to an element of surprise when your ready to strut your stuff! Think blazers, cropped leather jackets, and cardigans to keep your potential suitor yearning for more and have them thinking about you 24-7!

ACCESORIZE TO CREATE UNPREDICTABILITY

Have you ever watched a movie that you’re hanging onto your seat with suspense? I know I have! I’m a big sucker for thrillers, and the higher the suspense the more likely it will become a blockbuster!  Likewise, in fashion the way you use accessories to create unpredictability and excitement to your look is the difference between a flop and blockbuster too! In my look I decided to go for shorter necklace that had two gold links with a white pearl strand in the middle, instead of going for just a gold chain necklace I wanted to throw it off by going for a white strand of pearls.  Since the romper is a great canvas to show off a pair of unique shoes, I did just that by opting for a neutral color caged heel with lace detail.  To top off my look I added a plain grey color clutched with a silver detail on it to provide that yin-yang technique I talk about. The grey hue complemented the green romper while the silver detail contrasted the gold in the necklace.

Here are links to get Fall’s most sought after Playsuit aka the Lovesuit! *=top picks 

http://www.mystiqueboutiquenyc.com/shop/egyptian-princess-romper/

Egyptian Princess Romper at Mystique Boutique $36.99

My romper was on sale at Mystique Boutique at the Store for $10.00

http://www.charlotterusse.com/thumbnail/Clothes/Jumpsuits-Rompers/pc/2114/2628.uts

Crochet Bell Sleeve Chiffon Romper at Charlotte Russe for $28.99 *

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Clothes/Jumpsuits-Rompers/entity/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2628/269645.uts

Lace Yoke Sleeveless Romper at Charlotte Russe $26.99

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Clothes/Jumpsuits-Rompers/entity/pc/2114/c/0/sc/2628/271460.uts

Long Sleeve Wrap Romper at $24.99 at Charlotte Russe $24.99

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=jumpsuit_romper&ProductID=2000059682&VariantID=

Chiffon Surplice Romper at Forever 21 in Teal $17.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=jumpsuit_romper&ProductID=2000119886&VariantID=

Textured Floral Lace Romper at Forever 21 $22.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=jumpsuit_romper&ProductID=2000058806&VariantID=

Surplice Halter Romper $17.80 at Forever 21  *

for more information go to www.frugalfashionite.com 

GUY STYLE GUIDE: 3 KEY PIECES TO STAY IN LINE WITH THE MILITARY TREND

Hut 2-3-4!  Fashionistos, are you ready to stay in line this season and march to the tune of the military beat? Do I hear a “Yes Mam?” Don’t to be scared, I’m not talking shotguns, grenades, or even a raid, but just pure soldier-combat inspired fashion. The military beat is stronger than ever this fall as plethora of army greens, uniform details, and arsenal of structured jackets climb to the ranks this season. These aaaa-tttention military inspired pieces will not only become part of your go-to fall uniform but also rescue you from being caught out of style; oops I meant to say out of line!  To move up in uniform read on…

CAMO ON ALREADY!

If your scared of looking more like a character from the acclaimed Movie Courage Under Fire, "Camo on already" you don’t have to dress full military from head to toe to embrace this menswear trend. Camo is the easiest way you guys can march to the military beat whether you decide to go with a bag, t-shirt, jacket, trouser, accessory, or even footwear you will definitely stay in line! So if you’re ready for Camo to infiltrate part of your wardrobe then start small with accessories or even go for something such as lining in a jacket.  Camo is a sure way to add spice to any of your current looks as long as you keep the rest of your ensemble simple it’s a winning look!

SURE SHOT OF OLIVE

What man doesn’t crave an occasional extra dirty martini especially with a double dose of olives! Trust me when I say this, you will get the same satisfaction from sipping  olive juice as well as wearing it! A slightly smaller salute to the military trend, olive is a key color in men’s fashion this fall.  Whether you want a full feast of olives in a suit, or prefer a little taste in a sweater or accessory, get ready to kick up your tastes and get others wanting a piece too! Remember wearing olive is a great way to breathe life into your wardrobe by replacing it with typical neutral colors like grey, navy, or brown. 

ARM YOURSELF WITH A PARKA

In the war of combat inspired fashion it’s always a safe move to arm yourself with a parka.  Whatever storm you embrace this jacket is not only weather proof, but it’s also style proof ! It goes just as great with a sharp tailored suit as it would with a pair of jeans and hiking boots. Become the leader you have always wanted to be with this piece, and expect a surge of everyone else to follow. With no doubt this jacket is a fail safe for everyday style, and to put you one step of others when it comes to killer style! For stand out style with this piece stay away from the colors like basic black or army green, instead focus on colors like navy, grey, and brown, and concentrate on those details like buttons, zippers, and more tailored silhouettes which are going to be the difference between a solider versus a commander in the game of fashion!

HERE ARE SOME MILITARY PIECES TO HELP YOU STAY IN LINE THIS SEASON

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=21men&category=mens-main

Olive Welt Pocket Shirt at Forever 21 $19.90

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=21men&category=mens-main&pagesize=30&page=2

Hooded Twill Cargo Jacket in Olive at Forever 21 $39.80

http://us.asos.com/ASOS-Parka-Jacket/13wrb6/?iid=3911364&cid=3606&Rf989=4886&Rf-800=-1,61&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Navy&totalstyles=8&gridsize=3&mporgp=L0FTT1MvQVNPUy1QYXJrYS1KYWNrZXQvUHJvZC8.

ASOS Parka Jacket $113.70

http://us.asos.com/G-Star-Shirt-Troupman-Short-Sleeve-Wave-Camo/13mtvj/?iid=3999990&SearchQuery=camo%20%20print&Rf-700=1001&Rf-800=-1,51&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Combat&totalstyles=19&gridsize=3&mporgp=L0ctU3Rhci9HLVN0YXItU2hpcnQtVHJvdXBtYW4tU2hvcnQtU2xlZXZlLVdhdmUtQ2Ftby9Qcm9kLw..

G Star Shirt Troupman Short Sleeve Wave Camo at ASOS $96.65

For more information go to www.frugalfashionite.com

4 FRESH WAYS TO TIGHTEN UP YOUR STYLE!

Fashionistas, it’s that time of the year you’ve held out to the final second, bared those legs a few weeks longer, but it’s officially time for “Tis the season of tights!” The good news is that just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you have to ditch your skirts or short dresses, but you can still hold on tightly to all that itsy bitsy clothing by rocking a pair of tights.  From classic opaque to something sheer to naughty lace to retro fishnets, it’s a tight race, but I managed to narrow 4 fresh ways to tighten up your style!  Read on there’s a tight look for everyone to get legs wet!

BLACK OUT

Get ready this fall for the black out of a century, one that is slowly creeping into your dresser!   So obviously I’m not talking an electrical blackout , but I’m talking a full on black out of tights!  Like a timeless lbd,  black tights, commonly known as the classic opaque are probably the easiest tights to wear everyday. Whether you want show off the perfect colored heel or want to wear under a black and white ensemble you can’t go wrong.

SHEER SELECTIVELY

For those of you that sheer selectively when choosing tight looks, watch out for sheer tights because they have definitely made a huge come back this fall. Whether you opt for sheer nude, beige, tan, black, brown, or even crème get ready to be on the A-list with these tights! Unlike the classic opaque which acts more like a canvas to highlight a shoe and pairs well with ultra short skirts, and dresses, with sheer tights it’s better to opt for bolder and  longer skirts and dresses as the centerpiece when building your look.

LACE UP

In the tight race of fashion it’s always best to lace up before darting off into the crowd! This is one tight you definitely can lead others in making a style statement. Whether you want to lace up with skorts like I did, or with a bodycon style dress the possibilities are endless.  When wearing lace tights it’s best to stick to solid color pieces because it creates a perfect balance, where as if your wearing a busy pattern the eye is going to compete between the two.  I did just that by pairing a solid color grey skort with a burgundy sleeveless high neck top. I completed my look and added an extra oomph of edge with a black bootie that included a buckle and side cutout. 

FISHIN FOR COMPLIMENTS

The easiest way to get pat on the back or praise is by rocking a pair of fishnets! Rather than fishin for compliments let the tights do all the fishing. Fishnet tights are great to be paired with easy neutral looks like a little black dress or solid color neutrals. Remember don’t mix a busy pattern or heavily textured tights with an equally busy top, dress, or skirt.  The tights should add a bit of pop or subtle sexiness, not look like a bunch of pieces jumbled together.

HERE ARE LINKS TO TIGHTEN UP YOUR STYLE  *=top picks

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Accessories/Tights-Socks/entity/pc/2116/c/0/sc/2674/270590.uts?colorCode=301687717_001

Fishnet Tights At Charlotte Russe for $6.99

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Accessories/Tights-Socks/entity/pc/2116/c/0/sc/2674/268787.uts?colorCode=301675574_001

Sheer Bow Garter Tights at Charlotte Russe $7.99

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_legwear&ProductID=2000059814&VariantID=

Lace Knit Tights at Forever 21 $6.80 *

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_legwear&ProductID=2000059816&VariantID=

Floral Fishnet Tights at Forever 21 $6.80 *

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_legwear&ProductID=2075154684&VariantID=

Classic Opaque Tights at Forever 21 $5.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_legwear&ProductID=2075145522&VariantID=

Semi-Sheer Tights at Forever 21 $5.80

3 RED-AY OR NOT WAYS TO GET THIS FALL HEATED UP!

Are you red-ay or not for fall’s most controversial color? It’s all over the runways, stores, and streets and it’s red hot for fall! Wearing this fiery hue is like surfing a tidal wave one minute you can rock this trend to a high ten like the celeb Amal Almaddin did at her wedding weekend, or you can come to a crash if you don’t know how to proceed. Can you take a wild guess what it is? It’s Red, the sexiest color alive and is a color that is often associated with passion, power, sex appeal, danger, war, energy and strength. Red, controversial by nature, is a love it or leave type of color, because it’s so beautiful to look at, but so hard to pull off in panache! So that’s why I have put together 3 Red-ay or not ways to get this fall heated up!

PRETTY IN PEPLUM

Are you red-ay or not for bombshell curves? What better way to whittle your waist and show off bombshell curves then with the iconic peplum?  A double dose of old school sex appeal when wearing a red hue in a peplum style. If you are the one-piece kind of fashionista, these dresses are available in different shapes, lengths, designs and fabrics.

STYLE TIP : LET THE ACCESSORIES TELL A STORY

This is a great styling technique that I love to use in achieving balance but creating interest in solid color looks. If you have been following my blog you can go back and brush up on this technique in my article “Jump into VIP Style.” This technique is all about letting the accessories tell a story, so I’m not talking the fairytale story, but have one accessory act as a big beginning, another accessory act a steady but subtle middle, and the final accessory be that great ending!  I will go through the example with my look.   My beginning was the eye-catching silver and black necklace, the middle part was my solid color black pointy heels and the fantastic ending to my story was the cobalt blue style clutch. I decided to create a big pop factor by opting for a blue color clutch to create a striking contrast against the red.

JUMP INTO VIP STYLE

If your not ready for bombshell curves, but are Red-ay to jump into VIP style, then this playsuit is a must for you! Forget the basic black jumpsuit this fall and heat up your cold fall nights with a red-hot jumpsuit!  If you worried about looking like a holiday themed costume, focus on feminine silhouettes, and stay away from the brightest shades of red. 

STYLE TIP: ZERO IN ON THE SHADE

Once you pick the shade of red you want to rock, zero in on the color. Analyze the exact shade by categorizing if it’s brighter, lighter, darker, cooler, or warmer.  If it’s super bright like cherry red, then you are going to want soften this brightness by picking accessories that neutralize the color. On the other hand if you pick a darker red that has more brown in it like burgundy or one that has a lighter hue, then go for accessories that are more daring in terms of color and design. An easy way to remember this concept is if you opt for a brighter red then go softer with the accessories, and vice versa.

HOT IN HEELS

Are you red-ay to be smoking hot in heels? Just like the Hot Wheels, you can “lead the way” in style or “go with a winner” with red-hot heels!  Perhaps the easiest way to sport the color red and get the fall heated up is in stilettos.  The easiest way to wear red heels is either with all monochromatic black ensemble or using the heels as an accent to a pattern already in garment. 

STYLE TIP: START BACKWARDS WHEN BUILDING YOUR LOOK

With a red heel or shoe it’s important that you start backwards in building your look. Rather than picking out the garment first, start with the red heel as your centerpiece and then pick pieces that are going to compliment the red shoe. If you don’t wear black head to toe when sporting a red heel, try pairing it with neutral colors like navy, white, or grey.  If you want to be more daring and go outside of neutral colors when pairing your red heels, try using the color wheel as an aid In creating more daring color combinations.  It’s best to try to stick to three colors within your look, so you create unity.

 RED-AY OR NOT LINKS *=top choices

http://www.wetseal.com/flirty-peplum-tank-dress-50506002.html#start=68&sz=36

FLIRTY PEPLUM TANK DRESS At Wetseal $26.90 *

http://www.wetseal.com/back-zipper-peplum-dress-49163896.html

Back zipper peplum dress at Wetseal $13.99 - * My dress

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/273244.uts

Long sleeve surplice jumpsuit at Charlotte Russe $32.99

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/273018.uts

Racer Front Halter Jumpsuit at Charlotte Russe at $29.99

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/264777.uts

Double Ankle Strap Pointed Toe Heels $28.99 at Charlotte Russe*

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/entity/273267.uts

Pointed Toe Stiletto Pumps at Charlotte Russe $28.99 *

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=DRESS&ProductID=2000122529&VariantID=

Textured Bodycon Peplum Dress in Burgundy at Forever 21 $19.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=F21&Category=Jumpsuit_Romper&ProductID=2000120391&VariantID=

Strapless Pleated Jumpsuit at Forever 21 $24.90

For more information go to www.frugalfashionite.com