V-Style

Best Blogs This Week

Stiletto Jungle shows off three options for getting in on the multi-strand necklace trend.

All Lacquered Up shows you step-by-step how to save your split, cracked nails with Orly Nail Rescue. 

Gwyneth is spreading the detox joy and Allie is Wired has the details. 

Bag Bliss loves Alexander McQueen's Skull Knuckle Duster Whipsnake Clutch!

Bag Snob finally finds a Dior bag worthy of buying!

Beauty Snob is all about teeth whitening with Darphin Denblan.  

Coquette loves these transitional cardigans that are perfect for a summer breeze before that first hint of fall.

The Daily Obsession finds out what Pixi Beauty creator Petra Strand is currently obsessed with. 

I'm Not Obsessed shows you where to get 'Gossip Girl' Blake Lively's chic Treesje bag. Did I mention it transforms into a clutch? 

The Jet Set Girls fall in love with Lancome's Indigo Collection and offer an exclusive discount in Lancome stores.

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating Silk Robes. 

Second City Style's resident male editor attended Miami Swim Week and shares his views on hot swimwear trends for 2010.

Shopping and Info wants a Rick Owens black leather jacket for Fall.

StyleBakery.com shows how to cook up the perfect summer weekend look for under $100

Stylehive wants you to get gilded and glamorous with 24k gold beauty products!

The Beauty Stop has 5 ways to get rid of freckles.  

The Fashion Bomb compiled 100 Fashionable Items to bring with you on vacation--a one stop guide fit for any jetsetting fashionista.  

Visit The Shoe Goddess for a chance to win a $200 Saks gift certificate! 

Love that weighty bag and high, high heels? eye4style has tips on surviving your accessories from a leading physical therapist!

Giveaway! Win NuNaat Curly Hair Care Products

This month’s give away is from nuNaat. nuNaat offers a line of products specially designed to combine the latest available technology with a variety of natural ingredients, mainly found in the Amazon Forest. The natural ingredients used to make nuNAAT’s products are obtained through ecological processes and sustainable development, which helps to generate income for the local communities and contributes to the forest’s preservation.

The Giveaway includes these fine products for the lady with wavy or curly hair...

Naat Treatment Moisturizing Shampo: Restores hair’s natural sheen and softness while Cupuaçu Butter and Keratin gently clean and restore resilience to wavy, curly or very curly hair. Price $7.49

Naat Treatment Conditioner: Gives hair the extra conditioning by restoring elasticity and softness to curly or frizzy. Price $7.49

Nnaat Treatment Intensive Mask: For deep conditioning, naat Treatment Intensive Mask penetrates the hair shaft to restore strength and moisture in order to revitalize wavy, curly or very curly hair. Price $7.99

Simply comment below before August 6th to win this bunch of goodies. Good luck! Giveaway is closed - Congrats Vanessa S.!

Summer Hats For Men: The Straw Pork Pie

I don’t care if fall clothes are for sale. It just started getting hot. It is summer! That is one of the many things I don’t like about fashion, clothing companies are always pushing us around. Shoving sweaters at us when were sweating bullets, throwing shorts our way when our leg hairs are still frozen. I will write about fall issues when fall comes.

As for summer, whether you have a full head of hair or not, sun exposure on the top your noggin can result in a sunburn on your scalp. If you have a specific part on your head that always burns dab sunscreen down the hairline, but if it seems to vary or burn all over a hat is a must-have for your next beach or outdoor day activity.

Skip the baseball hat for obvious reasons (gets gross easy and is outdated). Instead go for a hat made of cotton, linen or straw; not tweed, felt or any other heat inducing fabric or weight. A driving cap, trilby, porkpie or fedora will all do the trick of keeping you undercover while sporting on point style.

I have enjoyed Brixton’s porkpie as well as Brooks Brother’s driving caps in linen.

Taylor Swift In Michael Jackson's Military Jacket

 
Michael Jackson’s passing has brought his music as well as his fashions to the front of our minds again. For some it never left. My favorite song? Probably Billie Jean. My favorite look? The sparkly military jacket, a version now available at chickdowntown.com.

Although there have been many versions of the sparkly military jacket throughout the years this one is looking particular fabulous. As seen on Taylor Swift, the BB Dakota version has olive-bronze insignia-inspired embroidery, mandarin collar with slight front opening, and figure-flattering pleats. Made of 100% cotton.

I recommend rocking it with jeans, over a simple dress or some leggings. I would also enjoy seeing it with some dressy shorts or silk romper. Swift, who has always been a fan of military inspired jackets, paired it with an exuberant dress or skirt it seems from the photo. I find the look a little too messy. I say stick to subtle patterns or solid colors with few or miniscule details.

$15 Ties at The Tie Bar

If you are unemployed you have become well acquainted with your suits and ties. Your days of business casual have gone to the wayside as you shuffle into interviews sporting full professional attire. It’s quite the catch-22. All of a sudden you need to be looking your sharpest and yet you have no money to accomplish the task.

What do you do? Look for deals. By the way I found one for you if you are looking for ties. The Tie Bar is an online retailer that sells hundreds of ties all for $15. They claim good quality so this might be quite the blessing considering the diverse designs and styles, both traditional and fashion forward.

Similar to big-name neckwear designers, The Tie Bar releases six new collections each year under lead designer Greg Shugar. Apparently they are all 100 percent woven silk ties so whether you simply enjoy an expansive selection at cheap prices or you need to watch your savings account, The Tie Bar might be worth a peak.

Nine West Makes a Nude Patent Leather Heel

I am feeling down today for a personal reason. My solution to the problem at hand seems vague at best. It is one of those issues that must pan out, or get worst before you face the difficult decision. So I sit down to write my daily blog and all of a sudden I don’t feel like writing about any of the ideas or press releases I put aside as interesting, news worthy even. 

I find myself thinking of the new shoes I ordered from Zappos a few days ago. Well, actually no, I was thinking of my problem, but once I directed my thoughts to fashion all I could think about were those shoes. Just knowing I get to slip into those babies tonight fills me with joy. Shallow? Perhaps. Materialistic? Probably. I tell you though; if a damn pair of shoes can cheer you up why not embrace it. 

I have been craving a pair of nude colored heels since I saw the most fabulous pair of Christian Louboutins on Victoria Beckham a couple years back. I am not dropping that kind of money on shoes, consider me an old immigrant woman; however, I don’t settle either.

So, I have been scouring shoe stores and websites far and wide to find the perfect nude heels for my wardrobe. Qualifications being: closed toe, patent leather, platform stiletto, comfortable. I found it! I adore it even more than Christian Louboutin's version (Sorry Big Red). Nine West Rocha. All perquisites are there and the almond shaped toe and added texture brings it from traceably trendy to utterly chic. Hot hot hot.

You know, I feel better already.

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Feathers & Flowers by Fine Line Accessories

I adore feathers in fashion. Feather earrings, feather prints, feather headbands… perhaps that is why I am aroused by Fine Line Accessories.

Fine Line Accessories is a collection of feather and flower delights for bridal, head wear, baby and jewelry too boot. Her custom jewelry and accessory collections are one of a kind, hand crafted and made of high quality materials. We have all seen similar creations around town (whether it be a trunk show or a beach boutique) and half of them look incredibly cheap.

Fine Line accessories are exceptionally well made, elegant and fabulously unique. When I opened the box with my Strut headband inside I didn’t know what type of quality I would encounter. Inside I found a high quality accessory that was also comfortable – no headband head ache even after a three-hour outing.

The gem behind these high quality pieces of gorgeous is Renee Martin. Renee has been handcrafting jewelry and hair accessories for herself and friends since 2006, but it was not until this year that she founded Fine Line Accessories. Bringing her designs to a wider audience, Renee focuses on high style and fashion for females ready to make a stylish statement. 

Can a Man Wear Pink?

Feminine colors on a man are not the best idea, but when it comes in the form of ties, those colors go from lady like to cutting edge.

Pair this Nautica two-tone purple and blue grid silk tie with this royal blue Banana Republic slim fit dress shirt. End it with black slacks, belt and shoes. With the assistance of the color purple, you are looking sharp, stylish and still mean business. The key to this masculine look is the solid square pattern and deepness of color.

 

Pink will be a little harder. To pull off a pink tie in a stylish manner, the pink must be muted and mixed with masculine colors. Try pairing this DKNY Varick stripe silk tie with this Banana Republic slim fit dress shirt in Charcoal heather and then end it with the average black slacks, belt and shoes.

Loyal Army Makes Cartoony Cool

I am a woman of chic, sexy and interesting tastes, but I can also enjoy cute and spunky. I find Loyal Army to be just that. The product is cute and cheeky, the website is adorable and the people behind it are sweet. Reminiscent of anime and girly comics, I fell for their graphic hoodies.  

Often I have to run out of my apartment for errands, quick jaunts, walks with the dog plus a hundred other reasons that force me out of my home office in a tube top and leopard leggings (you would not believe the clothes I wear if I am not scheduled to meet with anyone).

For each one of these truly casual occasions, I am at a loss when reaching for a sweater. I don’t own anything plain. My hall way closet is full of hard to clean coats, jackets, cardigans, blazers, ostrich feather shrugs and - whatever. Everything a crazed fashionista would need except a cute sweater I can move easily in and not mind perspiring on.

What a joy to now have these adorable Loyal Army cover-ups! They immediately cheer me up when I slip into them and although the outside of the hoodie feels a bit cheap, the inner fabric is a thin cloud of softness. Girls from 10-35 years young should be able to enjoy these washable girly treats.

Quality factor: The purses are fabulous but flimsy and the hoodies are of medium to low quality but the prices reflect this. I have not felt the t-shirts so anyone who does please let me know if you like the feel of the fabric.

SIde Note: Loyal Army Tee-shirts are laugh out loud and available for women, men and children. So cute!