Store Appeal

Ted Baker Men’s Pants and Fred Perry Men’s Pants

Today we are exploring the wide world of fashionable men’s pants from the brands Ted Baker and Fred Perry. These are two amazing brands, and if you haven’t heard of them you are definitely missing out. You may think that a trouser is a trouser is a trouser  (how boring!) but I’m here to show you that there are small details that yes, even men can follow to update their wardrobes for the season. Say goodbye to your boring slacks and take a look at a few of the options below!

First we have Ted Baker Men’s Pants for $156.60. Ted Baker got his start in Glasglow in 1988, and has since become one of the fastest growing lifestyle brands in the UK. He’s known for his quirky sense of style, which you can see in the tiny details he puts into men’s clothing that set them apart from the drab  and boring “man uniform” we normally see. Perfect example is this great on trend dark olive pant!  Military inspired fashions have been seen all over the 2010 runways, with army/camouflage colors like khaki, olives, and neutrals showing up everywhere. This pair from Ted Baker are a great color and not so trendy that they don’t fit in with any fall outfits you are already planning.

Next up is a pair of Fred Perry School Trouser Pants for $79.35. Fred Perry is another amazing men’s brand that is definitely less colorful and quirky than Ted Baker, and more classic and preppy. But Fred Perry takes classic and preppy to another level with his sophisticated, clean design elements that are nothing close to boring. I chose this sexy tapered leg slack because of the unique skinny leg cut. It’s definitely for someone not afraid to stand out among the sea of straight leg slacks.

So there you have it. Two unique and stylish pairs of pants from two really amazing brands that really signify how to be confident and have fun with what you wear!

>shop more Ted Baker men’s apparel

>shop more Fred Perry men’s apparel

Go Buy Now: Army Jackets

Tastemakers and trendsetters everywhere are buzzing about a new wardrobe staple: army jackets.  Whether you’re wearing the real-deal or an amazing new design, army jackets are a versatile (and affordable!) addition to any closet.  Here are some hot, hot, hot army jackets on sale from my favorite stores!

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army jackets at Beso.com

> shop more army jackets

Favorite Kiehl’s Products

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Kiehls at Beso.com

I remember the first time I tried a Kiehl’s product.   It felt so trendy to be not trendy, that is, to use a line that was all about the product and not about some over the top marketing concept.  Their skin care didn’t have any crazy scents or overly cute names, instead things were presented in a very straightforward way, in almost old fashioned looking containers with matter of fact labels.  And they were and still are very much into giving generous free samples.  It is my opinion that established and successful lines with that kind of free sample policy do so because they know no matter how much they give away, you’re going to want to come back and buy.  They believe in their products, period.

My favorite product is one of their most basic, the Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser.  I challenge you to find someone that finds their skin irritated by their cleanser.  It is so gentle, smells so neutral and makes your face feel clean and soft.  It’s a great product and you only need a little bit so it lasts a while.  Some of my other top picks from Kiehls are their Supremely Gentle Makeup Remover and their delicious Gardenia Scented Hand Lotion. 

You can find Kiehls at Kiehls.com as well as most fancy department stores like Bergdorf Goodman.  And online, of course!

Fashion Bug: Something for Everyone

How many women’s clothing stores can you shop online where you can find clothes that are both stylish and affordable – and come in sizes 4-32?  This is what FashionBug.com has to offer, and they’ve got a huge selection!

Their motto is “Look Great, Spend Less” and their prices really do stand up to that – their best selling dresses are all $40 or less, some for $25.   You can find sexy bras for $19.99, panties for $12, and summer capris for $19-25.  Another great thing about the prices at Fashion Bug is that they are very promotional, you can almost always find good coupons for the site to get a percentage off your sale. 

In addition to their simple, stylish clothes they also carry a pretty decent line of accessories and shoes.  I saw a pair of gladiator sandals I just adored, and then almost squealed with joy when I realized they were $14.99!

Gladiator Tess Sandals, $14.99 at Fashion Bug

Chinese Laundry: What’s in a Name?

If someone told you they were wearing Chinese Laundry, would you assume they’d been washing their clothes at the local laundromat?   Well, in fact they’d be wearing a pair of fierce shoes.  Chinese Laundry has been making fabulous women’s shoes for almost 30 years.  They make everything from killer boots to vegan shoes.  

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Chinese Laundry at Beso.com

Now, I’m a flats girl.  They have a lot of good flats and sandals on their site right now, including a pair of black flats covered in black roses (sounds tacky, but it’s really cute!) and even pink jelly shoes with rhinestones. 

But if you are more into heels, check out these boots.  I love the western style and I think the perforated shaft of the boot (they are perforated stars no less!) is really unique and makes the boot a total must.  Ankle boots are really popular right now too, so this is good on both the western trend and the bootie trend.

Most of the shoes on Chinese Laundry’s website are under $100, so they are affordable as well as cute!

Cost Plus World Market: International Affordable

Novica Mate Gourd - Owl, $9.99

I am always a fan of stores that sell a wide variety of goods.  Even better if they are eclectic, obscure or otherwise interesting.  That’s why I am a huge fan of Cost Plus World Market.  This store sells crafts from all over the world at affordable prices.  You can find unique and beautiful furniture, accessories and decorations from multiple continents and dozens of country.  A quick browse of the site today lead to these great finds: a Balinese Kite shaped like a boat, ornate throw pillows from Central Asia and and a decorative wood bowl carved from a tree from Thailand.

The best part are that these items are all available for such reasonable prices.  Even the bowl, which is literally hand carved out of a tree, with the bark still surrounding the outside of the mango wood, is only $67.  Who else is going to have an actual piece of a tree from Thailand as a decoration in their house?

A lot of ex-pats are also a fan of Cost Plus World Market as they carry a lot of food items from other countries such as digestive biscuits, although most of these items are only available in their retail stores. 

Cost Plus World Market online has a huge selection if items ranging from furniture to towels to sculptures to baskets to accessories, rugs, lamps – you name it, there is a chance they’ve got it! 

This store is highly recommended for:
*Gifts
*Home Decor
*Affordable Furnishings

Clinique: Pretty, Simple Beauty with Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

I remember the first time my mother took me to a makeup counter.  It was seventh grade, and I had a special occasion coming up.  My mother promised I would be allowed to wear makeup to for the first time.   She took me to the Clinque counter at the mall and I remember how special I felt as the makeup artist sat me in one of their chairs and gave me a “makeover”.  I am sure there wasn’t much more than one eyeshadow and lip gloss, but it began my love affair with cosmetics that has lasted to this day. 

What I like about Clinique is the straightforward presentation, the almost clinical feel to their skin care and cosmetics – their makeup artists even wear lab coats at the store counter!  There are no super funky names or wild crazy colors, this is makeup presented in a a straightforward manner because no gimmicks are required to sell quality.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Neiman Marcus

$24.00

One of Clinique’s most well known products is the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.  This light yellow moisturizer is often called a moisture “drink” because it is so good at rehydrating super dry skin.  There are a few different formulations of this for different dryness levels for skin but if you are on the dry side at all, I highly recommend this product.

A Clinique product I’ve loved for years is their Eye Makeup Remover.  I prefer the one in the blue bottle, it’s oil free but yet gets even the toughest clumps of mascara off my tired eyes at the end of the day.

If you are not sure whether you are a lipstick or lipgloss girl I recommend their Almost Lipstick.  It comes in a lipstick-like applicator, but provides a light glossy color to your lips.  InStyle named it one of their 2009 Best Beauty Buys and I agree.

If you’ve never tried Clinique before and not sure it’s right for you, I’d say if you are a MAC girl who likes to look total glam day and night, this might not be the right line for you, as subtlty is key.  But I would still recommend you check out their skincare, self tanner, and makeup remover.  If you’re more of a Bobbi Brown kind of girl, who likes soft color palettes, then I’d definitely recommend you try this line.

eDressMe: Dress You Up

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edressme at Beso.com

They’ve got every style from ballgowns to minis for prom.  They’ve got boldly patterns dresses and subtle, muted colors. There are dresses with ruffles, tiers, beads, feathers and more.  Or maybe you just want a sleek sheath dress – they’ve got that too.

A lot of the dress styles are available in sizes 4-24 or even larger sizes, which makes this site a great destination for plus size women as well.  Although some of the designer dresses are very expensive, many are available for more reasonable prices of around $200-300 (we’re talking formal wear here, so you aren’t going to find many places to get that for cheaper).

New York & Co: Work & Play

New York & Company is one of my favorite stores because it is so wearable.  This isn’t a high fashion store – there are no brand names, no designers, just basic wearable cute clothes at affordable prices. 

New York & Co has great every day pieces you can wear to work – cute button down shirts, nice skirts and dress pants.   Check out the  New York & Co. Dresses and cute tops that you can wear to go out at night.  The prices are reasonable too and they are always having sales.  The dress above sold for $60 originally but it’s on sale now for only $19.99.  That’s practically H&M prices!  

I have an hourglass figure and I find that the pants fit really well – plus they offer up to a size 18 online!   I tend to buy a lot of lightweight summer tees from them as well to wear to work or on the weekend on hot days.  They actually also make great workout pants – it seems every store these days offers a workout line as well, but these really are good!

If you’re in the market for something easy, affordable and stylish, definitely check out NY&CO!

Ann Taylor Loft: Work & Play

After you leave college, the rules for wardrobe can change dramatically.  Most workplaces don’t allow you to wear sweatpants with “juicy” across the butt.  Same with ripped tights, converse, micro minis, liquid leggings or any of the other styles that you can get away with when you are unfettered by a professional office.

Enter Ann Taylor Loft.  This brand helps bridge the gap between college and mommy-hood, and yet is also worn by both those population segments as well.  The clothes are fairly simple yet stylish, clean lines with little details that prevent if from being too ordinary.

You will definitely find your fair share of sweater sets and pencil skirts but they also have more whimsical pieces.  Right now their big thing is ruffled and stacked pleating details. 

They also have a great selection of casual dresses, right now a lot of them are on sale for only $39.50!   If you’re in need of great office pieces that transition to a night out on the town, Ann Taylor Loft is a great place to shop.