2011-Bring on the Glitz!

O.M.G. I'm appalled by how long it's been since I've posted.....many apologies. You'll be happy to know that my New Year's Resolution this year will be to be much better about regularly posting on this blog....along with saving more money so Thompy and I can buy a house, but that really doesn't effect all of you, my lovely readers! 

My first order of business? Outfit you for NYE, obvi! For an event like a New Year's Eve party, I never want to wear something that I'll be devastated about never wearing again. One rogue champagne spray, and an expensive silk dress is totally ruined. My solution....shop at Forever 21 or H&M. They're always chock-full of sparkles and flirty silhouettes (that you can totally get away with at New Years),  and you'll never feel guilty about spending any money. I'm loving these cheap and chic looks...all under $50!

{Sequin Front Shoulder Dress, $23, Forever 21}

{Tiered Pleat Dress, $23, from Forever 21}

At this price, you'll be paying more for your cocktails than for your outfit!

{Sequin Bodycon Skirt, $20, Forever 21}

L-O-V-E the black and white color-blocking.

{Sequin Colorblock Bandage Dress, $28, Forever 21}

This is what I'll be wearing on Friday night! With black tights and a motorcycle-style leather jacket....I'll look so bad-ass :-)

{Beaded Crepe Chiffon Dress, $35, Forever 21}

The polka-dots on this skirt make it sweet, while the high hem-line makes it flirty!

{Polka Dot Taffeta Skirt, $14, Forever 21}

{Tiered Sequin Halter Dress, $33, Forever 21}

{Embellished One Shoulder Dress, $28, Forever 21}

I mean, come on. If you're going to be forced to wear a party hat, it may as well be this one.

{Sequin Glitz Fedora, $11, Forever 21}

What will your party outfit look like this year?

Last Minute Gift Guide {Your Greatest Guys}

Whether it's your dad, brother, boyfriend, or hubby, lets face it....guys are tough to shop for! It's so much easier to pick out gifts for your gals (probably because we just buy things that we want for ourselves). I always wait until I'm done shopping for my whole family before I try and tackle Thompy's list, because it just leaves me stumped every year. But no more! LB is here to provide you with some last-minute ideas for the deserving man in your life. (And just like how we shop for our girls, these are mostly things we want our men to want......what? Fashionable girls need fashionable guys!!!)

{Bowery Messenger Bag, $98, J Crew}

{Straight fit Jeans in Classic Dark Blue Wash, $55, Gap}

{Timex Core Easy Reader, $50, from Zappos}

*A tried-and-true classic*

{Clark's Desert Boot, $95, from Zappos}

{Handmade "Safe" Paperweight, $42, Uncommon Goods}

{Waxed Cotton Down Vest, $89, LL Bean}

{Rayban Clubmaster, $105 (on sale!), Zappos}

{Leather Beer Holster, $30, Red Envelope}

{Fine Lambswool Half-Zip Sweater, $50 (on sale!), J Crew}

Happy Shopping!!!!!

Last Minute Gift Guide {Your Fashionable Girlfriends}

With only 12 days left to shop for Christmas gifts (if you count Christmas Eve!), I figured it may be helpful to offer up a few suggestions. This installment of the Gift Guide features perfect presents for the stylish ladies in your life...and in the spirit of LB, everything shown is under $100. (Because we all need a little cash left over to buy the perfect NYE outfit, natch).

{Black and Gold Earrings by Made Jewelry, $42, via Moxsie}

{BCBGeneration Clutch, $64 (on sale!), from Zappos}

{O'Clock Watch (in multiple colors!), $40, via Moxsie}

{Round Glass Stone Key Fob, $30, Ann Taylor}

{Vintage Pajama Set, $70 (add a monogram for your preppy pals!), J Crew}

*Give and Give Back!*

{Women's Gold Glitters, $54, TOMS}

{Dangling paper airplanes necklace, $68, from Fred Flare}

{MM Couture Sequin Top, $72, from Piperlime}

{Juicy Couture Leather Gloves, $95, via Piperlime}

Stay tuned for more Gift Guide (because the men and the parents need gifts too!!

The Boy's Club

I love to wear flats during this time of year (even though the thought of exposing my ankles to the freezing, blustery air on a day like today is making my teeth chatter!), but I've grown a tad bit bored with what I've got going on in my closet right now.  So to put a little excitement into my flat shoe collection, I've decided to embrace the menswear trend and adopt a pair of oxfords.

The pinnacle of the American Oxford. 

{Bass Enfield Oxfords, $70, Bass Shoes}

I love the preppy, Americana feel of the oxford shoe...just throw on ankle jeans and a cable-knit turtle neck, and you're good to go!

{Prada Woven Lace-Up Oxfords, $590 from Neiman Marcus}

{7 for all Mankind Margo Denim Oxford $195, Neiman Marcus}

These are my ultimate choice....just in case Santa is reading this blog!

{Camden herringbone brogues, $250, J.Crew}

{Lottie monk strap shoes, $225, J.Crew}

{Loeffler Randall Oona Mesh Oxfords, $375, from Shopbop}

Check out these two laceless options....much more affordable! Maybe it's the laces that make the above shoes so pricey :-)

{Jessica Simpson Mely Oxford, about $49-on sale!- from Endless}

{Steve Madden Trouser Oxford, $70, Piperlime}

Fashionable Friends: Sasha!

On a cold and rainy day like today, we all like to dress in our coziest gear. Sometimes, looking cozy and chic is tough to achieve. But my friend Sasha hit the nail on the head with this gem of an outfit. This look caught my eye because the collar of her cardigan drapes in a way to look just like a blazer....and I think we all know how much I love blazers :-) I love Sasha's style; it's a great mix of J.Crew and Madewell with off-beat Anthropologie sweaters and vintage jewelry from her mom's closet. So without further ado, today's Fashionable Friend: Sasha!

Here's the rundown on Sasha's outfit- and some similar pieces for you to try!

The Cardigan: Sasha's wear-it-with-everything cardi is from J.Crew, last year. Bummer. Try this season's version, on sale for only $88!

{Dream Shawl Open Cardigan from JCrew}

The Dress: One of our favorite staple-stocking stores is Forever 21. While it can be a little overwhelming if you walk in without goals (you just can't 'browse' at a place like that), all of us usually have awesome luck on their website. You can get a dress just like Sasha's here, for just $12!

The Scarf: A gift from Nordstrom. If you don't like to wear a whole piece in a bold color (like a sweater or a dress), try incorporating color into your accessories. Try this trick with the animal print trend, too. Love this infinity version, found on Zappos, for only $36!

{Fossil Jenni Scarf found on Zappos}

The Watch: Always the deal-seeker, Sasha picked up her awesome black watch at Target. When the eternal debate of gold vs. silver rages inside of you, wouldn't it be nice to reach for something as simple as black? Good thought....even better thought at $11!

The Leggings: Sasha's leggings are from H&M, our other favorite store for wardrobe staples. If you love to layer, then you know a good pair of leggings is a god-send. Try these babies from Arden B, (with the ankle button detail, love!) for only $24!

{Novelty Button Ankle Leggings from Arden B}

The Boots: This picture doesn't do the boots justice (oops!), but they are Frye. Sasha was lucky enough to get her boots as a gift (hint hint to anybody looking for the perfect present for the upcoming holidays). But if I said it once, I've said it a million times. FRYE BOOTS ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY. They may cost a little (or a lot) extra, but they will last you for years and years and years...you get the idea. 

{Frye Carson Pull-On Boot, $348}

I love this look because I love to layer neutral basics and add a pop of color or a fun accessory. What about you? Like layers or more minimalist?

Caped Crusader {part two}

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who would have thought that my find-of-the-year would come to me the day before Thanksgiving, and not on the day after! I found the perfect cape, at the perfect price of $33, and I didn't have to get up at 3am to get it.  I know what I'm thankful for this year :-)

{Love 21 Plaid Woven Cape from Forever 21}

Happy Thanksgiving, lovies! You all better cheer for Bama in Friday's game :-) Stay tuned for another installment of Fashionable Friends coming soon!

Any way you want it, that's the way you paint it

First of all, let me apologize for how long it's been between posts! I've been slacking due to my preparation for the upcoming holidays. Between making a Thanksgiving wreath for my mom and writing something hysterical for a surprise (that I won't go into detail about....don't want to give it away!), I've barely had time to sleep, let alone blog. But now I'm back! 

I realized earlier this week that I was really wanting a canvas bag to use in my everyday life. I have some cute re-usable grocery totes that my mom gave me last year...but they are that nylon material that screams "there's food in here!!!", so I don't love to use them to haul magazines or an extra pair of heels or my laptop. If I had my way, I would carry this Anya Hindmarch (of the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" trend) canvas tote. I love the orange color and the cheeky message....but not the $230 price tag. Boo.

{Available Canvas tote by Anya Hindmarch via net-a-porter}

If you're in the market for a tote that will let people know how you feel about the planet, this is a great option from Make Love Not Trash. 

{Fly Away Tote, $45, from Make Love Not Trash}

I'm head-over-heels for this adorable carry-all from 291....such a sweet message. Wink!

{291 Love Rock tote, about $26 on sale!, from Shopbop}

So what do I do when I find myself at home with an extra 30 minutes, some extra crafting supplies, and a desire for something that I don't want to pay for? I MAKE IT!

I started with a plain canvas bag, 2" letter stencils, some painter's tape, and some spray fabric paint. 

Spell out whatever you want your bag to read, and tape down the stencils.

Spray paint side-to-side...

and wait for your masterpiece to dry!

All in all, this little project cost me about $15. AND I LOVE IT!!!