Store Appeal

Gypsy 05 Celebrity Fashions

Hollywood California: Celebrities, fashion, glamour and… Gypsy 05? What exactly is Gypsy 05? Gypsy 05 is a clothing company founded by brother and sister duo Osi and Dotan Shoham. Born and raised in Israel, they gather inspiration from life, culture, the beauty of their foreign ancestry to create unique and colorful garments. They have gone on to receive lots of attention from celebrities and the media, and you can see their fashions in the wardrobes of tons of Hollywood lovelies. Check out some of their creations below:

Who doesn’t want to look like Blake Lively? Get closer to celebrity status with this stunning Gypsy05  Marlee Silk V Tunic, $79.00. The blue is absolutely gorgeous and would look amazing this summer!

Add some texture and pizazz to your outfit with this unique Gypsy05 Talya Scarf, $49.00.

And feel like an off-duty celebrity in this flowy Bella Silk Flutter Maxi Dress, $125.00, seen here on Jennifer Love Hewitt.

See more Gypsy 05 here.

Clinique: A Classic Favorite

You’ve probably found yourself walking right past the Clinique makeup counter time and time again. Yes it’s been around for ages, but that’s for a good reason! Clinique has been a trusty makeup and skincare leader since 1968. I always have something or another in the bathroom vanity from them, whether it be my mom’s signature lipstick or favorite eye cream. I can always count on Clinique to satisfy my skincare and makeup needs. Check out some of my favorites from Clinique below:

Get long pretty lashes with this mascara set, featuring a cute pink makeup clutch.

For breakout prone skin like mine, choose a lightweight oil-free moisturizer that helps clear up your skin.

And for a moisturizing lipstick that will outlast the others, try Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick.

Find more Clinique products right here.

Marc by Marc Jacobs: Online Bargains

Marc Jacobs is infamous for being creative director with Louis Vuitton, as well as his Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs brands. Seen in the arms of tons of celebrities and stylish people alike, you can’t go wrong with one in your arm too. But, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for the Marc Jacobs bag you covet. I’ve been finding tons of really great bargains online. Here are some Marc Jacobs bags I found that won’t leave you feeling broke.

This is an adorable classic, in a color that would go with any outfit in your closet. The Marc Jacobs Natasha Q Crossbody bag, only $138.99 (60% off of $348.00 original price) at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The perfect small classic leather saddle bag, in a trend forward olive green. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Turnlock Bell Saddle Bag, $90.99 (60% off of $228.00) at Saks Fifth Avenue.

This one is my favorites that I found, with it’s adorable slouchy silhouette and sleek grey color. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Little Ukita Satchel, $347.99 (30% off of $$498.00)

Find more deals from Marc Jacobs here.

LAGOS Fine Jewelry

Store Appeal: Philadelphia-based LAGOS Fine Jewellery has been creating unique, one of a kind exquisite jewelry since the 1970s. LAGOS is a jewelry collection rich in personality, bold colors, and luxe precious metals. Smokey Quartz, White Topaz and Citrine are just a few of the rare gemstones LAGOS uses, and the brand prides itself upon inspirational pieces.

Our Vote: LAGOS has many design collections for a wide range of tastes. From the Torque collection which features gemstones caps on open-ended bracelets, to the Passion collection which features the previously mentioned exotic gemstones, or rich collections like Diamonds and Caviar which includes earrings, necklaces and bracelets with intricate designed highlighted by diamond weaving.

Our Favorites:

 1.)    LAGOS Caviar Heart Locket – $285

2.)    LAGOS Pink Sapphire Heart Bracelet – $250

3.)    LAGOS Sterling Silver Caviar Hoop Earrings – $195

Bliss Skincare

Store Appeal: Every once in a while, you come across a brand or a business that is absolutely ga-ga about what they do and always makes sure their customers are happy with their products. Bliss Skincare is one of those. From their quality skincare products to their “Customer Serbliss” they are self-proclaimed as fun and unpretentious.  The body products have appealing fragrances like lemon+sage and vanilla+bergamont.  Bliss even has an entire product section devoted to cellulite (heaven!).

Our Vote: The online store is as fun as the company philosophy. It’s a treat to surf the pages of their hundreds, if not thousands of products.  And while that many products can at first appear overwhelming, there are detailed descriptions, customer reviews and bundle packages galore to ensure that the shopper makes the right choice for themselves. With prices that hardly any spa can beat, the only danger of shopping this store is how quickly your shopping cart may tip over!

Our Favorites:

1.  Bliss FatGirlSlim – $60

2. Bliss Lemon Sage Body Butter – $28 and up

3. Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash – $9 (travel size), $22

Be&D Handbags, Shoes and Accessories

Store Appeal: Very rarely does an American designer craft handbags that could pass for the Old World glory that is seen in Chanel and Balenciaga – with the exception of Marc Jacobs.  But many American handbag designers have a very streamlined, modern interpretation, which is not a fault, but they find it hard to recreate what’s already been so successful in Europe for over a century.  American designer handbag line Be&D does a brilliant job of melding the two for modern twist on an old favorite, though this is not by accident.  Be&D, which was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, is now helmed solely by Dumain, who grew up with an affection for antique luggage and in college studied international business, Spanish and art. The handbags, shoes and other leather goods are modern and sexy, but carry elegant and flattering lines. Just what every woman wants.  My personal favorite is the Be&D Kan Kan Tote.

Our Vote: While the online store is easily navigable, the photos are only one-dimensional and can be a bit lackluster, particularly when trying to demonstrate the detail of the fabrics, materials and hardware used on the products. Nonetheless, the shopper still gets a decent idea of what the product might feel and look like in hand, and fortunately, the dimensions and vivid descriptions of the materials used in each product are listed.

Our Favorites:

1.    Be&D Kan Kan Tote - $1,390

2.    Be&D Rizzo Shoes – $458

3.    Be&D Dallas Tote - $895

Alexander McQueen – Legacy through Fashion

Store Appeal: In no capacity is it an overstatement to say that Alexander McQueen was a genius. He did more with clothing than most others could dare to dream. His collections mirrored the boundlessness of his imagination. While I’ve never been one for the oddities of fashion, something about McQueen’s visions, which often left the earthly realm, resonated favorably with the general public. It seems insulting to call his runway theatrics mere “fashion shows,” as they were performance art in every sense of the word. The fashion world lost a leader and a visionary – but his legacy lives on through his fashion. I have written about McQueen several times since I began fashion blogging in late 2008, and am privileged to continue doing so. His works of art became my immediate favorites because of his impeccable attention to tailoring and subtle detailing, like the sunbeam stitching found on his shoes and purses, and the hour-glass inducing curvature of his dresses. The McQueen brand is currently offering its spring/summer sale – 60% off – which in the world of high-fashion is both a steal and a crime. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of the McQueen brand, you do not want to forgo the Alexander McQueen sale.

Our Vote: There are less than a dozen McQueen boutiques in the world, so the majority of your McQueen shopping must be done online or in high-end department stores. This leaves many shoppers, such as yours truly, troubled with selecting a size, but luckily they have a generous return policy and customer service to assist. The website is a treat to navigate as it, unlike many other brands of the same nobility, provides high definition, multi-angle product shots of the products. The shopper may find it a bit laughable to click on “trousers and skirts” only to be met with geometric-print lycra leggings – not the typical “trouser” I’m used to, but the Brits are famous for their wry sense of humour. If you have a moment, check out the Alexander McQueen Experience which houses videos of his runway collections and a very moving tribute video.

Our Favorites:

1. Alexander McQueen Draped Jersey Dress – $750

2. Alexander McQueen Purple Skull and Bee Cocktail Ring – $280

3. Alexander McQueen Skull Brittana Clutch – $1,350