Fall 2010 Purse and Handbag Trends

It is a reflection of who we are and what we need.  Think back to the last time you were looking through styles Coach, Louis Vuitton, Valentino; gingerly running your fingers over the new seams, zippers, looking at the pockets, leather, fabric.  All integral parts of defining a purse.  Now recall, how many times, that you feel in love with one and after looking at the price tag, reluctantly placed it back on the shelf, saying to yourself “Do I need this?… Really?”, “If only it had a divider, was a bit larger, smaller, different color, etc.”

This fall offers itself to a wide array of trends.

*  Leopard print is back.  What you have to watch out for is that and overkill of animal print can look cheap and tacky instead of fun and glamorous.

*  Clutch bags and cross body are seen from the sidewalks to the celebs.

*  Chloe is bringing everything back to basics this fall.  Sleek lines with almost a minimalistic feel are being referred to as this years “it bag”.

*  Valentino equates to lace upon lace and then some more lace depicting femininity above all else.

*  Coach bringing in a line of larger bags, with an emphasis on shoulder straps are showing a distinct trend towards matte and metallic colors this fall.
Seen at:  http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-handbags_features_newarrivals_1-10551-10051-5000000000000015027-en?t1Id=62&t2Id=5000000000000015027&tier=2&LOC=LN

So whether you are looking for shoulder bags, satchels, carry-alls, totes, hobos with or without a flap, cross body, swing packs this fall season is lending itself to a huge array of choices for this falls trends.

** Best bets for buying online AUTHENTIC merchandise:
bluefly.com
overstock.com
ebags.com
eluxury.com

By Launi K. Condit

http://stylecheckup.com

Fall 2010 Outerwear Trends

When it comes to rain, snow etc., like men, we never know when to expect the storm or how many inches will come of it.

San Francisco weather can be complicated without reason and turn on you without a moments notice. Clear, blue skies change in a blink of an eye. Jackets and  outwear are a must have even on the most beautiful days.

Everyday having the ability to act like fall, this years fall fashion trends are rolling in quickly and with brrrrr-iliant versatility. Classy chic, with elegant, updated capes to militant styles, taking a staple and adding a twist allows us to continue to update the classics. Simply better. If you tend to teeter on the conservative side, Marc Jacobs has introduced his fall line of peaceful grays from head to toe. Classy and elegant. Chloe, Farragamo has timeless Camel coats that none could resist this season. Unless you’re personality shines through with a touch of risque than layering with piece like that from fashion runway of Michael-Kors-Cowl cool neck sweater would add a bit of sex appeal to your .

So prepare for the seasons with excited anticipation and know that you’ll keep warm while layering these classy pieces.

By Launi K. Condit

http://stylecheckup.com

Sources

1… cool neck sweaters –

http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2010/02/14-of-the-most-wearable-fall-trends?intcid=toprail#slide=3

2. Soothing gray—and lots of it.
You know something’s a trend when Marc Jacobs does it. Jacobs’ fall collection featured layer after layer of soothing gray garments—something we’d thank him for if we ever got the chance. Wear gray = look cool? It doesn’t get any easier than that.

http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2010/02/14-of-the-most-wearable-fall-trends?intcid=toprail#slide=7

3. Camel coats collage

http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/look-forward-to-fall-fashion-trends-1355/

With only so many hours in a day and with so many choices for shopping, a girls got to know her way around San Francisco.

Some of the best shipping in the world is offered within it’s many diverse districts.  Whether you are looking for an affordable piece from one of the many thrift stores to a boutique catering to the top echelon of society and style, it’s all found within a seven mile perimeter.

Westfield San Francisco Centre: Market and Powell
Housing a five level Nordstroms, a two-level Abercrombie & Fitch a mecca of commercialism lending itself to all outlets found in malls across the country, also including high-end retailers.

Chestnut Street Shopping: Post and Stockton
An eccletic collection of high end boutiques to the beauty outlets.  Whether you are looking for memorable trinkets or instant favorites for all your style and cosmetic needs, Chestnut street has a wide array that will capture the hearts of all.

Union Square:  Post and Stockton
Centered around a column standing lone in a vast square, Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Levi’s stores surround the hopes and desires of every shopper.  Just beyond the first ring of stores lays superstores; Gump’s and Britex Fabrics, Armani, Diesel, Pada, Escada, Gucci, Agnes B., the list goes on and on.  The area lends itself to high end, high prices.  On the lighter end for the wallet; check our DSW, a large discount shoe warehouse and Imposter’s selling very classy faux, affordable jewlery.

Polk Street:
Polk Street may be better known for it’s rows of user friendly drinking pubs.  During the day light hours it still thrives with bustling life, whether you are looking for affordable dining or bottomless momosa’s Polk Street lends itself to fun day or night.  A great hidden gem of a store is the Fashion Exchange where one can buy, sell or trade high end, name brand garments for fractions of the original costs.  The quality is always present accompanied with the most affordable prices seen in the city, if you don’t mind shopping at a glorified thrift shop, it’s still worth the look.  1446 Polk Street San Francisco

Happy Shopping Ladies!

By Launi K. Condit

http://stylecheckup.com

Those glorious sunny days, depending upon where you reside, are coming to an end.  This is no reason for you to feel as if the sun kissed hues of your tan, as it fades away should make you feel down.  Looking flawless for fall this year is effortless.  Don’t let the coming gray days make you blue.

Treat yourself to some papering this fall: even if you’re on a budget in San Francisco
Great affordable tips for the working girl.

Shine Hair Styles: 280 Kearny
Friendly service, big smiles and they always welcome you back with a personal touch.  Quick, in and out service, at very low prices.  While it may not be a regal atmosphere, they do get the job done professionally, great place for eyebrow waxing.

Salon and Spa: 356 Kearny
During lunch hour as you walk by you will see numerous suited professional women flipping through magazines while receiving spa treatments.  Whether that be a foot massage to a manicure these ladies are efficient and thorough.

Oxenrose: 448 Grove Street
You enter into a world of classy, chic style.  Regarded highly for their individualized hair creations, you can go in for a new look or stay with your current style.  The basic haircuts start at $40.

Fall is your time to shine.

By Launi K. Condit

http://stylecheckup.com

Magazine. Magazine. On the wall – who’s the best read of you all?

Elle, Cleo, Marie Clarie, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Glamor, InStyle; the list goes on.  As busy females, no matter how much you adore the guilty pleasures of thumbing through the high gloss photos containing articles, advertisements, fashion updates – there simply is not enough time in the month to get through all of the print available.

With that said we must, like all other facets of our lives we must chose our reading with careful due diligence.  When perusing the aisles of magazines in a book store can be trying.  Each equipped with kitschy tag lines to catch our attention immediately, beckoning us to buy them on impulse.  Once digging deeper each has it’s own flair and style.

Following are the top voted fashion magazines for 20-30 year old women. Read more

Animal Print Trends Fall 2010

Fashion trends change as quickly as the tides.  Leggings once forgotten as 80’s style, best left in the past, have resurrected with a vengeance.  Take a quick look around, whether you’re in the heart of a metropolitan financial district or in the suburbs of a land locked state, you will see all colors, even jean motifs.

Leopard print hit the high fashion runways circa 2008.  Here we are in 2010 and the Celebs continue to be seen in animal print.  Elle Magazine recently suggested that the love for animal print is yet again the new trend for this falls fashion.  And this time it’s here to stay.

The incorporation of animal prints can add a certain element of flirty fun to any outfit.  The issue that I find is that when you wish to have an air of class as well as the Celebs seem to effortlessly pull off most do not accomplish such on a day to day basis.

Adding a little flavor to the ensemble means that it’s a delicate balance between style and grace and pure disaster.  Too much of anything leads to something distasteful. Far too many ladies are adding too much funk to an outfit.  Keeping things simple as you can see in the attached photos is the key.  Choice pieces accentuate the wardrobe without over adding too much zing is key.  Everyone loves animals.  Animal print is no different.  However, looking like an actual animal is not the desired outcome.

Good luck and happy hunting ladies.

By Launi K. Condit
stylecheckup.com

Fashionable Lauren Conrad

Because of Lauren, we will always know how to “forgive and forget” and old friend that has done us wrong.  Realize that the beautiful people too suffer through ill-fated relationships with harvested broken hearts.  However, her true passion for fashion has sparked trends spanning the globe.  Her simple style and elegance shines through her radiating self-confidence and how comfortable she is within her own skin. Read more

Over the Hills…but Still Appreciate the Style

I recall when it was all the rage to follow the life tribulations of one miss Lauren Conrad.  LC had become a household name and I fought to take any part of it.  I trulybelieved that such nonsense would make “me dumber by the second”.  What would come of investing any time or efforts into superlative MTV trash?  Then came that rainy Sunday with nothing on the agenda except a day of maxing and relaxing and a Hills marathon.

What I found was that these ladies were living the life.  Driving Mercedes, primping and pimping around with all of the “A” crowd, each character with their particular style.  Audrina relishes in defining herself with an edge.  A beautiful girl who brought large, wide, white sunglasses to popularity.  Few could pull it off with her natural good looks of being able to wear anything and make it unforgettable.

Heidi, oh Heidi.  What have we learned from her?  First off, stay far, far away from boneheaded boys like Spencer who seem to spend far too much time on the couch.  In addition, at times perfection does not equate to true beauty.  A mere few surgeries remain before she’s transformed herself into a living, breathing, walking Barbie.  Yet few believe that the new, updated Heidi beholds more beauty than that young, vibrant Heidi we first met at the fashion show years ago.  Plastic is not perfect.  Imperfections create character and without these imperfections, who are we except a simple, pretty, shallow shell?

Lauren.  Throughout the years she has been able to maintain strong moral fiber while her character has been tested over and over through lies and betrayal.  Her ability to stay grounded and comfortable in her own body draws all to her.  Secretly we hope with crossed fingers that everything will be okay.  While her style remains classy, she always is able to throw in a twist that gives her an individual flare that we all love and adore.

Over The Hills and with the plains looking bleak, LC has introduced her own fashion line for Kohls, continuing her style legacy with her active elegance to brighten our every days.

By Launi K. Condit
stylecheckup.com