Company Spotlight: Blue Vanilla

Hello everyone! I am very excited to talk about a company today who's philosophy on affordable fashion is near and dear to my heart. Blue Vanilla is was started in 2011 by the beyond adorable best friends Megan and Dana. This dynamic duo creates beautiful jewelry for wallet-conscious fashionistas (like me).

Here is a quote from their web page to give you a feel for who they are:

"Our goal is to provide for the fashion loving, on a budget, loves a good find audience with high quality fashion jewelry that suits different tastes and styles.Our jewelry is great quality and we make sure every piece that arrives is something we would wear and love." 

 These wonderful ladies allowed me to choose any piece from their site to review and I chose the Mumba Necklace set (no longer available).  As you can see from the photos above, I have found a way to wear this necklace (and matching earrings)  with three different outfits in less than a week. Somebody is smitten.

 I wore this dazzling necklace on Monday to work with a red sweater and sparkly tank. The sparkles in the tank really played well with the sparkle of this beautiful statement necklace.

And I wore it today again to a business meeting this morning with hot pink, black and gray! 

 These gorgeous matching earrings are delicate and versatile. 

You all know by now that I LOVE a good deal so you know I am serious when I say these ladies make gorgeous fashionable pieces at prices that don't break the bank. Below are some of the pieces that I love, their prices and a link directly to them.

Mina Cuff:

$15

The Roped In Necklace:

 $15

Triple Threat Cuff:

  $12

The Mischa Earrings:

   $6

Right now the deals are even better!

Use special promo code: CLOSET to receive 15% off your total order!

This offer is good until April 1, 2012.

Click HERE to visit Blue Vanilla's website.
Happy Shopping!

What I'm Wearing: Spunk and Sparkle

It's only Tuesday? Bleh. I am already hours behind on sleep! But no rest for the wicked. No matter how badly I want to be asleep right now, I'm not gonna be the bum who skips her Zumba class. Does anyone else Zumba? I absolutely love it - I've never had so much fun working out (even though I likely look like a spider monkey on crack) and I sweat like a pig.

I needed a little fun and spunk in my outfit today so I grabbed my new pink pencil skirt, black sequined cami and a funky black and white python jacket. Because I had so much sparkle between the cami and jacket I kept everything else simple with black tights, black pumps and sparkly earrings.

Sequined Cami: The Limited via Second Chance Consignment, Jacket: Salvation Army
Skirt: Gift (JC Penney), Earrings: Maurices, Shoes: Calvin Klein via Karma's Closet Consignment

Here is how you can get a similar look.

Click the image below for price and retailer information.

All items are $35 and under!

What do you think of this look?

Un-"Accessible Style"

We've all heard the term "accessible style" in recent years thanks to the fashion choices of several powerful women. The catch phrase "accessible style" has been used to describe clothing that is easy to obtain and is reasonably priced for average American woman. While I applaud celebrities and extremely influential women for wearing pieces that are not $1,000+ each, I don't believe it's fair to market a majority of these styles as "accessible."

A couple of the pieces that Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama were praised for wearing (pictured above) are $375 (Diane von Furstenburg green silk dress) and $189 (Talbot's floral dress) respectively. If you read this blog, you are well aware I am frugal, far too frugal to pay hundreds of dollars for any one item and I am willing to bet I am far from the only one. The median household income in the United States is $46,326 - not exactly the kind of income that can afford a closet full of Diane von Furstenburg, Talbots or even J. Crew.

Olivia Wilde and First Lady, Michelle Obama in J. Crew

Yes, I said J. Crew, the company many have dubbed the epitome of "accessible style." I have honestly not set foot into a J. Crew in about two years. I realize that is a personal preference, but to me, even most sale items are not budget conscious.  Magazines also try to show inexpensive options and have sections with "deals" in them that make me, a middle class fashionista, cringe. If I do see something with a less than $50 price tag it is usually a hat, gloves or some other accessory and then I pout.

So in my opinion, What does constitute accessible style? I believe there are so many options no matter your age that ring in a lot cheaper, and are just as stylish as items from pricier lines. Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe offer trendy items and inexpensive prices for the younger set. H&M has become extremely popular with fashionable ladies and celebrities alike with their fashion forward clothing and reasonable pricing. I am also a fan of Target partnering with designers to give the average American the taste of high priced designers at a price that many can afford. I am happy to see these brands rising up and becoming more popular because they are catering more to average Americans like me.

Nikki Hilton and Katie Holmes in H&M

 This is my plea to the media: Show actual affordable options (i.e more pieces that are $50 and under) that will appeal to the average American without making them feel like they have to max out a credit card to stay on trend.  I commit to always keep this blog about affordable fashion. I may not always show styles that appeal to you, but hopefully I will give you ideas to make choices that will save you money. Hopefully the shift toward actual affordable items will continue to happen, because all women have the right to be fashionable on any budget.

What do you consider to be "accessible style"?

What I'm Wearing: Rhythm Nation

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, well except the chilly air, but I won't complain about the sunshine. It's invigorating! I was eager to get back out this fun striped skirt that I've only wore once so far. I get a little mad at myself when I rediscover something in my closet that I love and realize I've barely wore it. Oh well, I'm making up for it now.

My mom thrifted this gorgeous cobalt leather blazer for me. Have I mentioned how awesome my mom is? Well she is, and she has amazing taste. This particular blazer has massive shoulder pads. I feel like I belong in an 80's music video so call me Janet, or Miss Jackson if you're nasty.

Sweater: Rue 21, Blazer: Thrifted (Thanks, Mom), Skirt: Express, Necklace: JC Penney

Tights: gift, Boots: Second Chance Consignment

Here is how you can get a similar look.

Click on the image below for price and retailer information for each item.

How are you liking this look?

What I'm Wearing: The Life Aquatic

Today was all about mixing colors in the same color family. I started with this electric blue skirt and went from there mixing in the ice blue top and tights and capping it off with a deep teal cardigan. I kinda feel like a mythical sea creature in this outfit. This is the part where I break into "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid (my favorite Disney movie). Feel free to cover your ears just thinking about it.

 The chunky necklace pulls all of the colors together nicely.

 Skirt: Salvation Army, Top: Dress Barn, Cardigan: New York & Company, 

Tights: I can't remember, Necklace: Maurices, Shoes: Loft

Here is how you can get a similar look.

Click the image below to get price and retail information for each item.

What do you think about this colorful ensemble?

What I'm Wearing: Bang Bang

Happy Hump Day! I got my hair did! My hair was looking a little dull and brassy so when my awesome stylist, Jodi, suggested to go darker all over I was 100% on board. I was also feeling nostalgic for my blunt straight across bangs I had a few years ago, but didn't necessarily want the same thing. She suggested blunt swoopy bangs and I love it. What do you guys think of the new hair?

Unfortunately it was raining when I left the salon and I didn't have an umbrella in tow so my hair got a little fuzzy.  Rain is a hair-related buzz killer.

I bought this adorable jacket at a consignment store last week and I am just so in love with it. I was excited to break it out. I stuck with the old stand by red and cream to go with it. I always get referenced as a go-go dancer when I wear these boots. I don't know how to take those comments.

Jacket: Juicy Couture via Second Chance Consignment, Skirt: Clothes Mentor, Leggings: H&M
Boots: Consignment Shop (I don't remember which one), Bracelets: Target and Salvation Army

Here is how you can get a similar look.

Click on the image below for price and retailer information for each item.

All items are $43 and under!

How are you liking this outfit?

What I'm Wearing: Typical Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, wonderful people! I hope you are all having a fabulous week so far. I woke up with a case of the Mondays today in terms of lack of outfit inspiration. I huffed and I puffed and I blew my closet up searching for something, anything to speak to me. Only my closet was giving me the silent treatment. I dug through my sleeveless shirt drawers and pulled out this leopard print, bow adorned top. So I just threw on some skinny brown pants and a cardigan over it, belted it and ran out the door. Did I mention I was running late?

I sat around thinking all day that this outfit is pretty boring, but perhaps the leopard print and accessorizing saves it. What do you think of it?

 Leopard Blouse: Forever 21, Cardigan: Target (gift), Pants: Express, Shoes: Tahari (gift)

                                 Earrings: Body Central, Handbag: Guess (gift)

Here is how you can get a similar look.

Click on the image below for price and retailer information for each item.

All items are $38 and under!

I also gave myself a fun manicure in a refreshing color.

This is L'oreal "Now You Sea Me"

How do you like it?