The Best of Summer 2011 Swimsuits

One of my favorite ways to spend a hot summer day is relaxing by the beach, with my toes in the sand and a cold drink in my hand. The only way to make those days even better is to spend the day in an ultra cute and trendy swimsuit. The sidewalks are my runway and in this case, the sand applies also. Luckily for me and you, there are so many cute styles and endless options to pick and choose from. You will have no problem finding a swimsuit that is stylish, but also more importantly you feel comfortable in and flatters your body. Get ready to dive in to the cutest swimsuits for summer 2011.

A huge trend to look out for is vintage-inspired swimwear. Think old Hollywood glamour or pin-up bombshells. Swimsuit designers have modernized this look and made it completely wearable. Look for high waist bottoms, sweetheart necklines, halter tops, boy-legged bottom, vintage prints, and cinched-waists and shirred sides on one-pieces. I am loving these styles because they are fun, flirty, and chic without being too scandalous. Read more

Cheap & Chic Fashion Shopping Websites

A popular question that I am always asked by many of my friends are if I know of any websites where they can find cute clothes without maxing out their credit cards. I believe that the desire for cute clothes on a budget is a universal situation and I have racked up a pretty good list of reliable websites while finding deals for myself and for my friends. Finding great deals online can be easy if you know where to look. From one fashionista to another, please indulge yourself in my wealth of favorite cheap&chic fashion websites. Read more

Summer Fashion Accessories 2011

One of my favorite things to buy every season is accessories. Accessories tend to be the most popular and best selling product category due to the fact that new accessories are the easiest way to update your wardrobe. I find it much easier, and much more budget friendly, to buy new scarves, jewelry, or shoes each season than to buy a new closet. This summer, is all about the accessories and I have narrowed down this season’s hottest trends.

A huge color trend for accessories for the summertime is loud and bright hues of reds, blues, greens, and yellows. My absolute favorite way to wear this trend is in handbags. My secret weapon to achieving a summertime ensemble is to top it off with a bright purse and instantly your entire look appears fresh and fabulous. I am currently obsessed with Furla’s Candy Bag collection. In colors like bubblegum pink and lime green, they are seriously delicious and playful. Another handbag trend for summer is mini-sized, with only enough room for a credit card and your phone. My ultimate wish-list consists of this season’s Chanel clutches – super tiny, super sweet, and super perfect. Read more

We Love Versace!

One word that I am pretty certain every girl knows is: Versace. One of the biggest fashion houses in the industry, the brand has been creating cutting-edge and innovative designs since the company was born in the 1970’s. Brought to life by Gianni Versace, his first women’s line under the Gianni Versace Company was shown in Milan in 1978. Ever since then, the fashion world has required a dose of Versace’s unique designs and creative styles. Throughout Gianni’s years of success, he received international praise for always releasing novel and head-turning designs. In 1988, his unique cuts and vibrant-prints were recognized as he was awarded the Cutty Sark Award for the most innovative and creative designer in the world. In 1997, just at the peak of Versace’s success, Gianni was tragically killed. His younger sister, Donatella, took over the business and has led the company even higher up the fashion totem pole. Read more

Top 5 Best Facial Masks

I am a total sucker for trying new beauty products, but when I find something that I love and most importantly that works, I become a loyal obsessor forever (or until I find something that works even better). I will even stock up on my beloved favorites, so that on the day I run out I do not put myself through a mini panic attack. One of my favorite at-home beauty treatments are facial masks, which I indulge myself in about twice a week. Over the years, I have tried many different types of face masks. Some of them I try once and then push to the back of my medicine cabinet where they are forgotten until my next spring cleaning. While others become the new product that I can not stop thinking about, raving about, or using. Here is my top five list of the best facial masks. Read more

Life Advice from my Fashion School Teacher

Last week was the end of the semester for me, and it was exciting and even a bit nerve-wracking since it marked the halfway moment until I graduate from college. My favorite teacher this past semester, my accessories merchandising teacher, shared a few note-worthy words of advice with us as her final goodbye. She gave us some great tips, which apply to any and all majors, so I thought I was pass on her tips for succeeding in the real world.

1. Be nice. This is stressed by every guest speaker I have ever had at the Academy. Being nice can be extremely powerful and will cause people (the people who can help you grow in your job) to enjoy being around you and like you. Also, people in the fashion industry, and any industry for that matter, talk. If you were ever hard to work with or rude, the word will get around. Read more

Best Drugstore Shampoos!

I am totally guilty of spending way too much money on expensive shampoo in a beautiful bottle that I know will just look great on my shower shelf. Oh yeah, and apparently it will turn my flat, dry hair into goddess-worthy, show-stopping hair. But here is the thing – I have never bought the same expensive shampoo more than one time because I just can not find one that wins me over. Sure, they make my hair smell good and look healthy, but I can get the same results from a five dollar shampoo at Walgreens. I have tested many drugstore shampoos and until a fancy shampoo wins me over, I will continue picking my drugstore favorites. Keep reading to find out how my top five favorite drugstore shampoos weigh in. Read more

We love Chanel!

I can’t tell you exactly when it happened – it feels more like something that has always been a part of me. My love affair with Chanel, everything Chanel, is what I am talking about. I remember my first purchase from a Chanel boutique like it was yesterday. I was out shopping with my mom at the age of eleven or twelve, and I walked out of the store holding a red shaded Chanel lip gloss. It was all I could afford at the time, but I felt as if my entire life had changed. I doted around that lip gloss for months, wearing it daily and showing it off to anybody who would listen. And while I still can not afford anything more than just cosmetics and nail polish from the beloved brand, my Chanel piggy bank will one day accumulate enough for me to make a bigger purchase. Read more