A Couple of Important Winter Fashion Tips

Bulk up

Packing on extra pounds is the last thing anyone needs this time of year. And while adding armor to battle the cold is critical, it’s unnecessary to turn yourself into a shapeless heap of heavy layers. The main problem is that bulk can gradually snowball beyond control. It all starts with an oversize knit under a thick sweater. Then, a massive ankle-length wool coat finds its way into the ensemble turning an otherwise idyllic winter wonderland into a catastrophic clothing avalanche. Picking pieces that are fitted and constructed from modern lightweight fabrics like Thinsulate does away with the need for anything busting at the seams with duck feathers.

Solution: Thermal tees, cashmere hoodies, tailored topcoats, not leaving the house for six months

Mix and mismatch athletic gear

Different missions in life call for varying plans of attire attack. You would never wear seersucker shorts and Havaianas to a wedding. So, why put on a dowdy fleece with a suit? Indeed, it’s occasionally acceptable to infuse technical gear into everyday winter-wear -- a nylon vest under a tailored sportcoat would work well. However, using your ski jacket with its zipper-dangling pass for a night out on the town is a downhill disaster. The same applies to winter gloves. Get separate sets for work and play.

Solution: Invest in a slim wool coat, a heavier nylon jacket with removable layers, a versatile raincoat, and if you’re the sporty type, at least two pairs of gloves.

Looks for Less: Black Friday

If you don't know about Black Friday then you must have been living under a rock your entire life! This Friday, November 25 is the biggest shopping day of the year! Some stores are opening as early as midnight! This is your chance to get the best deals on whatever fashion items you may want, so rest up and get out there on Friday! Happy shopping everyone!

Trend Reporter: The Snow Boot Gods Have Answered Our Prayers!!

Winter has arrived and inevitably so will the snowstorms. People (like myself) have a sort of "love/hate" relationship with snow. Sure it is beautiful to see snow covered trees and for a short time everything looks pretty wrapped in a blanket of snow, BUT what do we wear on our feet?? The go-to boot for the cold is a nice and warm UGG boot, however, one drip of moisture turns them into a stain-ridden disaster ($200 out the window). Then you look at other typical snow boots and I'm sorry but in my opinion they are just ugly-brown with beige rubber bottoms... Fine your feet are warm and most importantly dry but is it worth it? Regardless, the wait is over and my prayers have been answered!

                                                      Sperry Top-Sider is an All-American company headquartered in New England who are famously known for their comfy and cute boat shoes. Sperry was all the trend this past summer giving the brand a lot more attention from the style savvy shopper. Their focus, as with the season, has shifted and they are now providing the same style savvy shopper a reason to wear their brand throughout the winter months as well. I am happy to introduce Sperry's new snow boot collection with a photo shown above. This is just one of the many boots that they have but for me I really liked the black knee high boot with the buckles (oh how I love buckles). It has finally given us a new chic way to battle the winter storms!!! I am obsessed and you should be too...

Looks for Less: Rue La La

I know that there are some people out there who want to buy designer clothes, but are on a budget.  I have a solution to that problem: Rue La La! Rue La La is a website that offers deals for different designer clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. every week.  All you have to do is become a member on ruelala.com, and they will start sending you emails for all kinds of deals! Happy shopping everyone!

What Not to Wear: Women

Matching outfits are cute only if you’re under the age of four. And that’s only when you’re matching a person you were born on the same day with, twins, triplets, etc. I remember times growing up my mother would match my sister, who is two year older, and I. So annoying! Now why it is that grown friends find it cool to go out in public matching is beyond me. Yes you have the same taste and found the same really cute dress at a bargain. It is perfectly ok for you both to buy it. But it's a no-no to wear it at the same time, to the same place. Take turns wearing your dresses individually. Allow others to see you shine on your own without giving people the constant urge to compare you to the girl standing next to you.

Mens Fall Fashion Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks to looking great this fall!

By MikeCo

Looks For Less: Jeans

Jeans are a piece of fashion that is never going away, but you do not have to pay a lot of money to find a nice pair of jeans.  I buy all of my jeans at Forever 21.  They have them in all different washes and in black, and they are only $10.50.  They fit great and they are comfortable!

You can also find jeans in some very unexpected places, like Old Navy!  They have some really cute jeans for under $30, and the great thing about them is that they don't say that they are from Old Navy! Old Navy understands that girls don't want people to know that they are wearing jeans from Old Navy, no matter how cute they may be!

What Not to Wear: Women

This is more about what you should wear ladies. Sometimes a belt can be your best friend. Ever bent over or sat down and felt a breeze, belts are excellent at keeping the wind away and your underwear hidden. And even when you’re on a stroll, it keeps your pants up, helping you stay less exposed.

This Weeks Fashion Deals For Men

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30% off w/ coupon

Nautica sale: 30% off sitewide, stacks with sale

Nautica cuts 30% off sitewide via coupon code "VIP30". Plus, it stacks with sale items, which are already marked up to 80% off. Shipping starts at $8, or get free shipping on orders over $100. That beats our mention from four weeks ago, which featured a weaker base sale, and is among the best discounts we've seen from Nautica this year. Sales tax is added where applicable. Some exclusions apply. Coupon expires November 3 at 2:59 am ET.

 

 

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20% to 80% off

6pm sales: 20% to 80% off Calvin Klein, 50% to 75% off boots

6pm discounts a selection of men's, women's, and kids' shoes and apparel, as noted below. Plus, all orders qualify for free shipping with no minimum purchase required. (A $6.95 shipping fee typically applies.) That puts many items at or near the lowest total price we could find. Sales end November 3

 

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Extra 50% off w/ coupon

Kenneth Cole: Extra 50% off sale items + 10% off coupon

Kenneth Cole takes an extra 50% off all sale items. (The discount is reflected at checkout.) Plus, coupon code "WELCOME10" knocks an additional 10% off. That's tied with our August mention as the best percent-off discount we've seen from Kenneth Cole since 2009. Shipping adds a flat $4, although orders over $100 get free shipping. Sales tax is added where applicable

Trend Reporter: Bright Jeans

The days of having only two choices for jeans, either light wash or dark wash, is over! Brightly colored jeans have been popping up everywhere on everyone. They come in red, blue, green, yellow, and I have even seen multiple shades of pink. It's a great way to contradict the ever-dull and ever-dark colors that usually come about in typical fall fashion. Bright jeans are mostly straight leg but can also be found in a boot cut as well, for those who aren't into straight legs... The price ranges (like regular jeans) anywhere from $20 to hundreds of dollars. Some stores that you can buy them in, (based on budget of course) could be Forever 21, Old Navy, Express, Nordstrom, and any other store that sells jeans- like I said they are everywhere now! So what are you waiting for?  You can wear virtually anything in your boring dark fall clothes for tops and shoes, but now step it up with a pair of bright jeans!

What Not to Wear: Women

Ever found the perfect dress only to put it on and have your rolls protruding. Wearing it any ways and pretending not to see the fat is never ok. Don’t get caught like Gabourey Sidibe. Simple solution is to grab a girdle. They come in all shape and sizes depending on your problem area. Go from flab to fab in seconds.

How To Tie A Scarf

• What You Need To Know
• The most popular knot is called the Parisian.
• Short leather jackets look great with most knot styles.
• Colored and patterned scarves are a great way to add visual interest to your look.

Parisian Knot

The Parisian is the most popular knot. Here’s how to tie a scarf in a Parisian knot: Take the scarf in both hands and fold it over lengthwise; drape it around your neck; insert the loose ends through the loop hanging in front of you and pull them through. You can play with the tautness of the knot and the thickness of the scarf by doubling the scarf lengthwise, if you wish. This knot looks great on a short leather jacket with a notch collar left down. On a very cold day, you can tuck the scarf into the jacket and pull the zipper up.

Once-Around Knot

The once-around knot is your entry-level knot for all those brisk days when you need a little extra comfort but don’t want to go with complete arctic readiness. Most men will use this knot for a quick commute to work or an evening out with a fitted blazer. The point of this knot is casual warmth. To learn how to tie a scarf in a once-around knot, drape the scarf around your neck allowing one end to be longer than the other. Take the long end and bring it around your neck and let it fall over your chest. If you have a long neck, overlap the scarf in back just a bit so that most of your neck between the jacket and the base of your skull is covered

Loose Once-Around Knot

The loose once-around knot is more about fashion and having the scarf with you “just in case.” Pair the scarf with a duffel coat or any hooded snorkel jacket for a rakish look of adventurism. When it comes to knowing how to tie a scarf in a loose once-around knot, the same rules apply as the regular once-around knot: Drape it loosely as though you haven’t the time to finish the job right.

Twice-Around Knot

The twice-around knot challenges the Parisian as your go-to knot on those cold days. In fact, if you like the Parisian knot, you might change up your look with the twice-around just for fun without sacrificing warmth. Unlike the Parisian, however, you’ll require less of a collar on your jacket because this knot takes up a lot of room. Here’s how to tie a scarf in a twice-around knot: Begin as you would with the once-around with both ends hanging in front of you, but make sure one is significantly longer than the other. Take the much longer end and circle it around your neck twice; do this without making the knot too tight. Getting the lengths of the ends to match up or come out relatively close will take a bit of practice, but a knot like this will make all the difference on a cold day. This one is perfect for crew necks and Mandarin-style collars on a short leather jacket (and is easily tucked into the jacket for extra warmth).

Those are some of the popular ways of wearing a scarf. Winter is approaching and this is a great time to start learning.

This Weeks Big Fashion Deal For Men

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40% off w/ coupon

Tommy Hilfiger coupon: 40% off sitewide, even sale items

Tommy Hilfiger cuts 40% off sitewide via coupon code "THTAKE40". Plus, it stacks with sale items, which are already up to 60% off. That's tied with our Monday mention (since expired) as the best discount we've seen from Tommy since Black Friday of last year, when it also included free shipping. (We've listed several 30% off coupons, typically only valid on a smaller subset of items.) Shipping starts at $7.95, but orders over $150 qualify for free shipping. Sales tax is added where applicable. Deal ends October 27

Looks for Less: Shopping at Marshalls

Marshalls is one of my favorite stores! They have a ton of cute clothes for really low prices.  I go there at least once a week, and I am always able to find something that I like.  They have an awesome juniors section with lots of tops, dresses, jeans, and sweaters from many different designers.  There is something there for everyone! They also have a HUGE shoe section.  You can find shoes from designers like Jessica Simpson, Steve Madden, and Coach all at discounted prices that everyone can afford.  So head down to Marshalls ASAP, and see what you can find.  Happy shopping everyone!

What Not to Wear: Women

We get it, they're comfortable. But honestly you should never be caught wearing crocs unless you’re at home or working in a hospital. Instead grab a nice pair of black ballet slippers. They're cute, comfortable and they go with almost everything.

Looks for Less: Polka Dots

Polka dots are in this season, but not everyone can afford the designer clothes pictured to the left.  However, I have found plenty of polka dots in stores that I shop at all the time.  I found polka dotted dresses, skirts, tops, and even hair accessories at affordable prices.  To the right, you can see just a few examples of some pieces from Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe.  All of these pieces are under $25 and there are plenty more to choose from on the stores websites.  I hope that I am able to help everyone in their search for affordable fashion!  Happy shopping everyone!

Trend Reporter: Capes and Poncho's

Capes and ponchos are in this Fall whether you like it or not. For those who are still unsure, it is very important to know that in 2011, ponchos aren't only for the rain and capes aren't only worn by superheros-so enough with that. I think it is about time that the world embraces the fact that a woman can look beautiful and chic without having to show any skin at all. Capes and ponchos are a great way to be warm and comfortable while of course, most importantly, being super trendy! A "fashion blind-eye" may ask what is the difference between the two? And there is only one simple answer: capes have buttons down the middle or side to get on and off   What is better than being able to be covered in a warm cozy blanket? Well wearing a cape or a poncho is a perfect way to start. I am obsessed and you should be too...

Trend Reporter: Wedge Boots

 With the days becoming shorter and colder it's time to start thinking about Fall Fashion-in my opinion, the best season to dress for! Goodbye flip flops and boat shoes and extend a warm welcome to this season's hottest shoe- wedge boots. Immediately people correlate wedges with sandals and inevitably Summer, but not anymore. These boots come in knee-highs, booties, suede, black, brown, and basically any form you can think of. Not only are they ridiculously stylish and sexy, they are also SO comfortable. I am going to embrace comfort and style as it does not come around often in terms of shoe attire (except for UGGs-duh) but as most of you know, UGGs are just in an entirely different category. Here's a link to Aldo's which has a huge selection of wedge boots that you can take a look at: http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/women/boots/wedge-boots. You can also buy them virtually anywhere now and for cheap. I got a pair this weekend at Marshalls for $50! I wore them all day (12-hour day mind you) and I did not even feel like I was wearing a high shoe. Ladies, these boots are the answer to our prayers! I am obsessed, and you should be too...

What Not To Wear: Men

Winter is fast approaching and I want to share one small bit of advice for what not to wear when the snow starts coming down.
Big, beefy jackets had their heyday years ago -- and they didn’t get any second looks back then either. Intuitively, it makes sense that thicker means warmer. However, toting yourself around town with more rolls than a pack of hot dogs isn’t the way to do it. You’re better off layering with several well-fitted pieces than a single jacked-up jacket. And for those who just can’t resist puffing up, there are more sensible and slimmer options these days.
Solution: Insulate-lined peacoats, padded and quilted jackets

Looks for Less: Bright Pants

As college students or recent grads, we all know that money is tight, so I'm here to help you to find Fall's hottest looks at a more reasonable price.  I have found this entire look at Forever 21 for under $100! This is just one of the looks I put together, but there are many variations of these pieces on their website www.forever21.com.  Happy shopping everyone!