Store Appeal

Karen Millen: The Little Black Dress

Karen Millen is a glamorous and chic clothing collection brought to you from the UK. Founded in 1983, you can see the European tailoring and style that make Karen Millen special. All of their gorgeous clothing is designed in house, and the collections range from day, work, weekend, and formal wear.

I was especially attracted to the lovely party dresses in the Karen Millen collection. You can see the beautiful couture type details and craftsmanship in each one. Here I’ve picked out a few signature Little Black dresses, a key staple for every woman’s wardrobe. Take a look below:

Karen Millen Ruffle Prom Dress, $160.00. Strapless tutu dress with contrast silk satin panel corset bodice.

Karen Millen Satin Dress, $99.00 (Original price $380.00!). Satin fitted pencil dress with deep v-neckline ruffled small cap sleeve detail. The necklace is detachable so you can wear it with or without depending on the occasion!

Karen Millen Cupro Dress, $59.95 (Original price $350.00!) Soft cupro dress with deep v neckline and shoulder drape detail. I especially love the wonderful draping details on this dress. It’s chic and a bit asymmetrical for a unique twist on the little black dress.

Shop more Karen Millen here.

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.

Accessorize Yourself: Vivienne Westwood Rings

Store Appeal: Let’s talk  Vivienne Westwood rings. I’ve gone crazy for a bunch of her punk rock inspired jewelry after discovering a great collection of her stuff on beso. She’s got amazing rings with crosses, crystals, and little crests. It’s the perfect amount of punk! If you aren’t familiar with this British designer then get to know her! She practically invented punk rock style, with bands like the Sex Pistols rockin’ her gear since the 70′s.  Think fun, funk, and punk with a new wave twist. Her jewelry showcases this style, and it’s a mix of gothic and punk that’s perfectly brash and yet a bit girly and glamorous at the same time. (On a fun and interesting side note, according to wikipedia, “Joseph Corré, son of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, is the founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.” Cool, right?)

Our Vote: Love her website! There is an amazing retrospective of her work from the 70′s-present day with wonderful images to illustrate her unique fashion sense. I highly recommend you check it out. It’s well organized and the images are so captivating, but you do need a flash player.

Our Favorites:

1. Vivienne Westwood New Skull Ring, $399.00. Punk love!

2. Vivienne Westwood Cemetary Ring, $279.00.

3. Vivienne Westwood Mini Orb Ring, $249.00.

Accessorize Yourself: Cartier Watches

Store Appeal: The Cartier Watch. The brand is associated with prestige, elegance, and royalty; it’s legacy is in jewelry and watches. Doing my research on this French brand I discovered that in 1904 (according to the Cartier Wikipedia page) Cartier came out with the very first practical wristwatch. With a reputation like that it’s no wonder that famous Princes, Kings, and celebrities have been adorned with Cartier on their wrists for ages. Well not only on their wrists, Cartier’s diamonds and jewelry is renowned all over the world as well. Take for example this gorgeous image of Princess Grace of Monaco in her Cartier engagement diamonds. Absolutely stunning!

Our Vote: If money were no object then it’d be a natural choice to adorn my wrist with the Cartier watch of my dreams. These watches are $$$$$, but their fantastic history among royalty and their timeless appeal make them a treasure worth handing down to future generations. There’s no denying the beauty and class wearing a Cartier automatically brings to any woman, man, king, or queen. I’d like to think that one day I’ll be successful enough to own something with such history and prestige!

Our Favorites:

1. Cartier Santos Dumont watch, $10,985.00.I know this is supposed to be a gentleman’s watch, but I love love love it’s vintage look and the alligator band. So classic.

2. Cartier Tank Francaise Diamond Watch, $15,840.00.

3. Cartier Women’s Santos 100 Automatic Pearl Rose Leather watch, $3,750.00.

Check out more Cartier women’s watches here.

Urban Fashion: Baby Phat

Store Appeal: Baby Phat is the urban lifestyle and clothing brand brought to you by Kimora Lee Simmons. Who exactly is Kimora Lee Simmons? She can be considered a jack-of-all-trades with her many endeavors including modeling, acting, designing, and being a mom to two adorable little girls. She even had her own reality TV show (a guilty pleasure of mine in the past), Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.  How does she do it? I have no clue. I can barely juggle own life minus all those complications. So I guess she leaves a lot to be admired for. Now let’s take a look at what her Baby Phat line has to offer.

Our Vote: A lot of their stuff I dismissed right away because it’s just not really my style, but taking a closer look at their website I found that it’s not only apparel, but also shoes, accessories, lingerie, handbags, beauty, and even swimwear. There is definitely something for everyone, no matter your fashion sense. Like they say, never judge a book by it’s cover. And that saying holds true to this urban brand that is slowly morphing into a sophisticated and intriguing global brand, much like Kimora herself.

Our Favorites:

1. Baby Phat Marianela Open Toed Cage Heels, on sale for $82.03!

2. Baby Phat Checked Button Up Top, $27.03.

3. Baby Phat 2405 Women’s Sunglasses, $45.99, pictured below.  Cute, right?

4. Baby Phat Patent Leather Hobo Handbag, $125.00.

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

Watch Yourself: Movado Watches

Store Appeal: Movado. Translates to “always in motion”. The name speaks simplicity, drama, class and style. My man is a watch kind of guy, and a Movado watch has been next on his wish list. Why? It’s simple, understated luxurious appeal has made it timeless and unique throughout the years. The company has been around since 1881 (!), and even today the company’s legendary Museum Watch with it’s gold dot at the top center has stood the test of time, with a gorgeous and growing collection of timepieces.

Our Vote: I’ve got to say these are some really sexy watches. That simple, elegant style is the epitome of timeless. The detail on these are absolutely stunning, and the quality is unparalleled. These are gorgeously engineered timepieces, perfect as a graduation gift or for marking an unforgettable occasion.

Our Favorites:

1. Movado Women’s Moderna Goldplated watch, $329.00.

2. Movado Sapphire Crystal watch, $1377.00.

3.  Movado Series 800 Black Chronograph watch, $720.00.

Dress to Impress: Bloomingdales

Store Appeal: Looking for  the perfect dress for that summertime dinner party, beach barbecue, or first date? Queue Bloomingdales! (affectionately known as “Bloomies” to beloved customers). The Bloomingdales dress department has everything, from casual and chic to sophisticated and sexy. I found a huge array of dresses to choose from, and the Bloomingdales focus on high end, designer labels really makes their selection unique and outstanding. They’ve got all my favorite brands, from quirky/playful Alice + Olivia to sexy and feminine Rebecca Taylor, as well as much much more.

Our Vote: The website is chock full of clothing, accessories, and shoes galore (including men and children’s wear) so it’s easy to get distracted by all the goodies tempting your every click! By narrowing my search to Bloomingdales women’s dresses (and being able to sort by occasion) the process was quick, easy, and fun. I was also able to take a look at all the dresses on sale, which definitely made my wallet a little happier. There are some great bargains to be found on the website, so definitely take advantage!

Our Favorites:

1. Theory Speckle Print Silk Dress, $221.25.

2. Trina Turk “Lucia” Linen Dress, $268.00.

3. Diane von Furstenburg Cotton Voile Maxi Dress, $288.75.

David Yurman Men’s Jewelry

If you are looking for a nice gift for your husband, father, brother or even a business associate, take a peek at David Yurman Men’s Jewelry.  They have a collection of really sleek men’s rings, cuff links, money clips and watches.

Some of the rings look like they’d make really good wedding rings, and although David Yurman jewelry can be very expensive,  many of these are actually reasonably priced and would make great wedding bands for your soon to be husband.

Take a look at the Men’s Royal Cord Silver Ring:

David Yurman Men's Royal Cord Silver Ring, $250

David Yurman watches are also great – truly stunning but very pricy – ranging from $2500-$10,000.  However, designer watches tend to be the men’s version of women’s obsession with designer handbags, so if you were looking for a show stopping gift for your man and had the money to spend you should consider David Yurman.

Accessorize Yourself: Nordstrom Watches

Store Appeal: Nordstrom is a one stop shop for many people. This fabulous department store offers men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as handbags, accessories, and my new obsession: watches! Chunky, oversized watches have made their trendy debut on many a celeb, and that’s what I’ve been on the lookout for.  I’ve even been stealing my boyfriends watches to add a tomboy contrast to my girlier outfits.

Our Vote: Nordstrom carries a wonderful selection of both men’s and women’s watches in their online watch shop. Super detailed search options allow you to narrow down your choices and find the watch of your dreams.

Our Favorites: I kept my focus on sleek, black watches and there was a tempting number to choose from. Here are my favorites from the men’s (top row) and women’s (bottom row) watch selection at Nordstrom.

From left to right:

1. TAG Heuer ‘Carrera’ Automatic Watch, $2000.00.

2. Armani Oversized Leather Strap Watch, $195.00.

3. Kenneth Cole Round Digital Watch, $85.00.

4. Movado ‘Sapphire’ Watch, $1895.00.

5. Marc By Marc Jacobs ‘Pelly’ Small Watch, $200.00.

6. Emporio Armani Women’s Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch, $245.00

Related articles by Zemanta

• Nordstrom to open 2 new Nordstrom Rack stores (sfgate.com)
• Countdown to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (youlookfab.com)