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Happy Feet!

Although the fall season can be beautiful with its multi-colored leaves, it can be a tremendous pain for your feet to be stuck in your closed-toe shoes all day. But a lack of peep-toes and flip-flops doesn't mean that your shoes have to be dull and boring. Keep your feet happy this season by following these simple tips.

Cover Up Your Toes: It’s really important to wear socks with your shoes and boots so you don’t hurt your feet, but socks can disappear with the snap of your fingers. They get lost in the dryer, the back of your closet, or just in little spots you’d never think of. So invest in some cozy, comfortable, and bright socks made of cotton so they’re easy to spot and less likely to get lost.

The Comfort Factor: The cuteness level of your shoes is completely irrelevant if every step brings you nothing but pain and suffering. You need comfortable boots without sacrificing style. At Jessica Simpson, their sleek leather and suede boots come in flat varieties as well as wedges and heels and they’re perfect for staying comfortable, warm, and fashionable. And until October 31 you can get $20 off purchases of $100 or more (code: JSCOCT). So get to clicking and start investing in a pair of boots that will make you scream with joy instead of pain.

Sit Back and Relax: After a long and hectic day, it’s nice to come home and pamper yourself. But sometimes we forget to pamper those feet of ours that need just as much tender loving care as the rest of the body. Try soaking them in a tub of nice, warm water while you’re just lounging around at home to give them that smooth, silky feeling. A healthy dose of a luxurious moisturizer and a little massage will definitely make your feet smile.

Saba Kerendian

Saba Kerendian is a frequent contributor to CouponWinner.com

5 Pieces from Marilyn Monroe’s Wardrobe We Want Today

Having watched a Marilyn Monroe documentary, there couldn’t be a more excellent time to talk about her lovely clothes. While the icon was far more than the sex-on-wheels type she portrayed in her films, clothes lovers will quickly latch on to her natural sense of style. Since we might have spent hours paging through pictures of the actress--we’ll never admit it, though!--we thought you might be interested in some pieces every Marilyn Monroe-lover should have.

Slinky, Ruched Dress

A dress covered in ruched lines isn’t just a fashionable piece--it’s another way to flatter your figure. This dress should be constructed from soft, stretchy, thick jersey fabric, and it can have cap or long sleeves to complement. Buy one that’s a size smaller if you feel comfortable with something more body-con, because it will look stunning.

Boat-Neck Top

A boat-neck blouse is a fun spring or summer selection to have, and if you really want to channel Marilyn? Grab a pair of pegged, slim pants with a crease down the center, and wear a pair of ballet slippers to match. Boat-neck tops are classic in stripes and daring in prints, so pick what suits your closet best.

Headscarf

A headscarf that wraps around your head is a perfect statement piece, particularly when you’re zooming in a convertible. Simply tie a scarf up and around your hair and loop it around your neck, and you will look like a startlet of yesteryear (without the tragedy). We like lightweight headscarves in white, pastel, and cream.

Wide-Strap Shift Dress

If you are buxom like Marilyn, then you’ll want something that can conceal your rigging underneath your dress. Choose a wider-strap shift that can hide your straps more easily, preferably with a scoop neck, and then pair that with some lingerie pins to hold your straps in place.

Strapless Dress with a Short Train

Going to a black-tie event? A strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves is exactly what Monroe wore in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and we hardly need to tell you how successful her choice was. If you can wear a strapless dress, then this is a look you must try at least once.

Don’t be afraid of wearing some costume jewelry, either! We haven’t hidden our appreciation for glass and paste gems, but a necklace with a central stones, surrounded by sparkling mini-gems, is something that happens to look absolutely perfect with a Marilyn-inspired dress.

Fancy Finery from ASOS and Celebrity Style Quotes

Celebrity-inspired looks start here, and so does our week. Check out these gorgeous pieces from ASOS while reading through some truly inspirational style quotes from the masters.

(Uma Jane Dress)

COCO CHANEL: "I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny."

"Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury."

(Collar Dress)

Manolo Blahnik: "About half my designs are controlled fantasy, 15 percent are total madness and the rest are bread-and-butter designs."

Bruce Oldfield, The Independent: "Fashion is more usually a gentle progression of revisited ideas."

Yves Saint Laurent: "A good model can advance fashion by ten years."

(Embroidered Belt Detail Dress)

Oscar Wilde: "Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months."

John Fairchild: "'Style' is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style."

(Nikka Rooster Silk Print)

Elsa Schiaparelli: "Fashion is born by small facts, trends, or even politics, never by trying to make little pleats and furbelows, by trinkets, by clothes easy to copy, or by the shortening or lengthening of a skirt."

(Zebra Low V-Neck Dress)

Karl Lagerfeld: "Sunglasses are like eyeshadow. They make everything look younger and prettier."

"You can not take yourself too seriously."

"Fashion designers are dictators of taste."

"Coming out after a show is good discipline for me because I have to watch out that I don't look like an old garden gnome next to all these 20-year-old models."

"I hate the word 'cheap'. People are cheap. Clothing is either expensive or inexpensive."

(Gold Disc V-Neck)

Let's have a stylish start to the week, shall we? I'm already inspired for style greatness, and on a Monday, no less. . . this is something to be relished!

ASOS Awesomeness

(Lisa B Tie Caftan)

Why It's Hot: Super lightweight silk can still be an all-season choice. This all-natural fabric can keep you warm even though it's very floaty. You can throw it on over tank tops and bralettes for a very comfortable, loose look. Try it with a beany or beret with spangles.

Features: Deep v-neck, contrast trim, kimono sleeves

 
(KG by Kurt Geiger Woven Shoe Boots)

Why It's Hot: This luxurious braided style offers a fantastic texture with a soft tie. When you're pairing skinnies with booties, it's great to have some additional design details down below to captivate. Soft leather is forgiving for those who need to be on their feet.

Features: Platform heel, lace-up front, rounded toe

(Motel Knit Cardi) 

Why It's Hot: Longer cardigans are great for low-rise jeans and trousers to avoid any gapping. Drape yourself in cool oversized jewelry like hefty bangles and maybe even some pearls. Consider layering with a mini dress for a unique look.

Features: 50% rayon, poly and ribbed tonal stripes

(Paul's Boutique New Season Sports Bag; FCUK Tartan Purse; Nica Soft Flap Purse)

Why They're Hot: There are so many hot purses available this season, and these ones are just a peek. They're affordable on ASOS (starting at around $25) and continues upwards to $100+. The styles are cutting-edge and hit all price points.

Features: Faux leather for veggies, cool charms, and coin carryalls for everyone!

(ASOS Highwaisted Flare Leg Jeans) 

Why It's Hot: Highwaisted flares are not the easiest to pull off. These ones feature a shaped waistline that disguises any muffin top. It's a great choice if you like tops cut to hit above the hips, but you don't like to show skin.

Features: 2% elastane with cotton

(Princesse Tam Tam Paula Bra and Briefs)

Why It's Hot: Princesse Tam Tam lingerie is some of the best, because it's extremely high-end and well-constructed. If you need a "seduction bra (and let's face it, we all do), this is a good option for you.Matching panties have delicate details.

Features: Silk mix, velvet bow

(Gold Thread Blouse)

Why It's Hot: Romantic blouse with lace details make me think of Russia, and can be paired with poofy skirts, wide-legged pants, and dark denim. Follow this model's lead and cinch your waist for a fantastic silhouette.

Features: 100% poly, lace mesh and embroidery

Pieces We Love from Betsey Johnson

I'll just admit it flat-out: Betsey Johnson is my favorite designer. She went to my alma mater (Syracuse), and all her pieces have a funky, fun vibe. Things are poufy and bright, and to be honest, they are good to bring out your "fun, single" side. Even if you're um, not. If Betsey Johnson still wears her stuff, then you can, too!

(Funky Skull Wrap)

Vintage Betsey is interesting because it's substantially more wild. Skull logos are pretty tough when you thik about them, but for some reason, these ones are softened thanks to the shape. This cardigan is cropped in an almost ballet style, and you can pair it with ivory tops or light pink to soften it even further.

(Fairisle Cropped Sweater)

This funky piece in bright pink has a traditional pattern that, when combined with unexpected colors, make it really unique. I'd love to wear these cropped sweaters above with dark denim and long-line tank tops in deep colors like navy and brown.

(Buckle Up Intarsia)

Remember those "tuxedo" shirts from the '70s. This dress is like a cooler, more sophisticated version, and that's great for any style-conscious girl. Sophisticated black is awesome with cream accents, dramatic beads, and court pumps to match. If you want to give it edge, you can wear it with a waistcoat or vest and a great pair of thick stockings.

(Tiana Ankle Boots)

These ankle boots hit a major trend: they are textured, the perfect height, and they have a great zipper that we've seen on high and low boots. I might not be the biggest fan of "shooties," but these ones are just tops. These boots will work with leggings, skinnies, dresses, and even a playsuit if you dare. It's romper time!

(Strapless Flare Dress)

Betsey Johnson's synonymous with casual style, but that doesn't mean you can't wear something on the formal side instead. This dress has a cool sparkled effect, so it's not like all your Little Black Dresses are going to look similar to this one.

(White Square Watch Case)

This would make a great gift. This resin bow watch is available in a Limited Edition version, and when it's presented to a lucky someone in this cool box, I guarantee you it'll be the best present she's gotten all year. A true Betsey Johnson stunner.

Summer Stuff from Singer22

I really recommend items from Singer22, which covers top celeb fashions from our Hollywood starlets like Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Katherine Heigl, and Rachel Bilson. If you're the celebrity-following type, a juniors shopper, or just a fashionista looking for a new piece, this is the place to go. They are so good, in fact, that I signed up for their daily newsletter to get alerts on celebrity pieces on pre-order and other exciting tidbits!

(Tea and Honey Camomile Top in Vanilla)

Who It Suits: Nicky Hilton enthusiasts will of course adore this top in cream and black, but other people who will want to scoop it up are those who love silk top in a more modern shape. This can be worn alone as you see here, or paired with something more complex like a tulip-shaped skirt and shrug or a voluminous scarf.

Wear It With: Both casual and smart pieces, high heels or flip flops, chandelier earrings, dressed-up leather accessories.

(Tolani Lightweight Scarf)

Who It Suits: This scarf is gorgeous, so anyone with good taste will just adore it, but I have a certain group of people in mind for this one, really. If you are into budget-friendly choices that really blend into a variety of outfits, I recommend Hilary Duff's scarf of choice from Tolani. It is available in a lightweight wool and can be a year-round accessory if you'd like.

Wear It With: Jeans and a tee, jumpers, vintage gear, and don'tbe afraid of other patterns as well! Just make sure that they are small when you are pairing them.

(Love by YaYa Cotton Spandex Jersey Top)

Who It Suits: The Audrina top is dark, slick, and sexy, and that's what you should be like, too. Go dangerous, go bold, even if it's for once in your life, and select thigh-grazing skirts and pin-thin jeans to wear with this artistic shirt. A wide v-neck band is just the icing on the cake, and will frame a long neck and bust just perfectly.

Wear It With: Attitude!

(Monroe Navajo Top)

Who It Suits: This top is for anyone who appreciate Rachel Bilson's quiet approach to things. She's understated and pretty, and her top is, too. Tuck this top into a high-waisted skirt for a streamlined approach, and keep the accessories to a minimum with this one.

Wear It With: Basic items with simple lines and high-heeled pumps for day, and possibly a headband at night!

(Alice and Olivia Ombre Dress)

Who It Suits: Despite the daring nature of this dress in the picture, it can look a lot sweeter. With a little glowing tan and your hair in a chignon, this dress could almost have a Grecian appeal. It's worth a try-on for any lady, and will surprise many with its artistic shape and figure-flattering cut.

Wear It With: Stiletto heels with large ankle bows or pearl earrings.

(Jee Vice Sunglasses)

Who It Suits: Lindsay Lohan shades are for the girl with the heavy-duty drama. Are you always making a fuss, in a mess, or generally just running into trouble that you seem to always be able to talk your way out of? Congrats, these Lindsay lenses are perfect for you!

Wear It With: Slightly rumpled clothes and flowing hair.

Who's your favorite celebrity?

Stealing Style from Celebrities

Everybody might not be able to be a celebrity; however, with the right attitude, a few fashion staples and great accessories just about everyone can look like a celebrity. The key to a silver screen, fashion-forward wardrobe is the ability to never look over done and to pay great attention to the small details. So Ring the Alarm, with a few simple tricks you can look just as bootilicious as Beyonce and as polished as Jessica Simpson.

Rule number one is simple…know day from night. Elementary, eh? Well, believe it or not, to most people it's not as simple as it may seem. The biggest faux pas is too quite simply be overdone. Notice the keyword in the sentence was simply, meaning simple. As a rule of thumb, whether in fashion, or writing or talking, "Keep it simple, stupid." Now, with that said, let's move on. The quickest way to look like a joke instead of a starlet is to wear intricate and strappy shoes that are anything but comfortable on a bright sunny day. And unless you want to look like the celebrities from the Playboy Mansion on the show the Girls Next Door, save heavy makeup and tiny clutch bags for your late night rendezvous. Instead opt for the big oversized bags that work better for daytime and are oh-so stylish. However, leave the big time celebrity prices for the stars and opt to shop savvy at places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Filenes Closet which carries the best quality for the least prices.

The second rule to pulling off a silver screen look is to create your own signature style by accentuating your positives. Do not copy off of one person as it may not look good on your shape. Take advantage of your plusses and your negatives. For instance if you have a wider waist, but a lovely thin and defined collar bone opt for wrap dresses and blouses with deep plunging v necks. This will accentuate your lovely features around your collarbone area while cinching in your thicker waist making it appear thinner. For pudgier tummies and great backs and broad or full beautiful shoulders try oversized blouses that drop tightly below the stomach and gracefully fall off one shoulder. No matter what type of shape you have remember our first rule of keeping it simple so that you avoid busy prints that add to much. Stick with solid in bright colors and of course mettalics and black is always sexy.

Believe it or not, the best dressed part of your wardrobe is quite simply your hair. By nature, no matter how great your ensemble looks on you, if your hair is not well groomed it is still a fashion no-no. Make sure you incorporate both of the fashion rules into your hair styling. Big overdone hair will certainly take away from a classic look as well as you should definitely make sure that your hair fits your face. If you were blessed with bold striking feature like Heidi Klum or Vanessa Williams make sure you wear your hair back and away from your face. You can make a simple pony tail look stunning. Be able to change or play your hair up with the different items in your wardrobe. Therefore it is a true fashion no-no to pick a short choppy hair cut that is not able to be changed or moved.

So now you have all the keys to open the right doors in fashion, style and grace. By utilizing these simple rules you will look as gorgeous as a celebrity without all of the drama.

by Tiffany J. Prewitt

Kickin’ Up New Fashion with an Old Soul

With so many pictures, articles and what-knots about the ever-so famous Beyonce Knowles it makes you almost just want to hate her. I myself find myself wishing for a less visible Beyonce and dream of Beyonce withdrawal, but to no avail. Dubbed as ‘America’s Dream Girl’ she is singing on our radios, acting on our television set and now she is trying to get in our closets. To many, that’s just crossing the line. The mere fact that the woman is everywhere and on everything is enough. Couldn’t she just be great as a singer/dancer/actor/beautiful person? No, she had to go and be a designer too. The sheer mention of her moving into yet another superstar status category just seems to be a little over the top, makes you wonder if she is truly self-absorbed and just refuses to stop until she takes over the world. However, after close investigation of her line, I feel quite ashamed as the entire line is homage to her talented grandmother who made a modest living in the ultra racist south as a designer.

House of Dereon is indeed named after her grandmother, Agnes Dereon of Southern Louisiana who was a headstrong designer in the racist south in a time when it was exceptionally hard for Black businesses to flourish. However, the talent of Ms. Dereon kept her doors open and gained her fame and high-class clients both white and black from all over the Southeast. A true entrepreneur with an over-aggressive, can-do attitude Ms. Dereon designed custom clothing, drapes, linens and beddings along with custom crocheted and knitted items. No stranger to hard work, the talented seamstress passed this talent along to her daughter Tina, the mother of Beyonce. And from there Tina Knowles took all of the creativity that was innate from her mother and became a couture designer. Beyonce is just the kick of the Dereon line, nothing else…the person who had the power to kick it up a notch and get it started. Her mother is the designer and her late grandmother is the soul of this fashion majesty.

And it is actually a good line. With items that are able to wear all day and not just on the runway, House of Dereon is a winner. The best part of their line is of course their jeans. Say hooray for the woman with curves! Finally a line that caters to the ‘bootilicious women’ and other women with ethnic shapes that boast tiny waist and robust, high round derrières. House of Dereon jeans are darted in the back so that they stay up even when you sit down, and they fit snug around the waist, but yet allow fullness in the buttocks area. Praise them for no more panty show and the all-too uncomfortable feeling of constantly pulling a too loose waistline up. Say goodbye to the ugly pucker in the back of jeans when you take a seat and enjoy their very feminine pocket designs to enhance your great figure.

Although we all are probably on overkill right now from being spoon fed so much Beyonce, take a deep breath and check out her and her mother’s fashion line. Not the brainchild of the much too popular pop star, but just the beauty of a strong heritage and true fashion talent.

by Tiffany J. Prewitt

Fashion Week, A Natural Celebrity Draw

Fashion Week has hit in New York and in honor of the event, I’m going to be writing about some of the most star-studded shows that were put on this week. What exactly is Fashion Week? Well, if you live under a rock (or on a rock, as I do), I’ll explain it to you. Fashion Week is when major designers showcase their upcoming fashion lines. It is a celebrity studded event and Fashion Week can make or break you. For an up and coming designer, this is THE place to be, hence the popularity of a show like Project Runway with Heidi Klum which gets the final three (actually four), to show off their talent to major players in the fashion industry.

One of the star-studded shows this week was the Zac Posen (http://fabsugar.com/33706 to view the entire collection). In the front row, the likes of Rachel Bilson, Nicole Richie, and Rhianna could be found eyeballing the latest in fashion trends. Zac Posen was a menagerie of evening wear, elegant in golds, whites, and a handful of pinks and reds. The material was mostly satin, the look, decadent. Expect to see some of these creations on the red carpet sometime soon. Most of Zac Posen’s creations were flowy rather then form fitting, perhaps leaning towards the trend of banning skinny models from the runway. Though the shape may be forgiving to those with curves, the satin may be too clingy to problem areas to hide them. There was no lean to a certain era; instead, Zac Posen seemed to cover the last century—variety was a big theme in this collection.

Michael Kors (to view collection, http://fabsugar.com/130751/130709 ) has been a well known designer for a number of years; his popularity has increased tenfold due to his regular appearance as a judge on Project Runway. Who would be surprised to see a number of celebrities at his runway show? Heidi Klum, Serena Williams, Nicole Richie, Hilary Duff, Winona Ryder, Sophia Coppola, and many others attended this fashion week event. Evening gowns in camel, black, and white were highlights in this fall collection, along with sequins and satins, a hint at a trend to come later this year. Coats and jackets were mainly tweeds and double-breasted—classy, yet wearable, some reminiscent of Jackie O. With his simple, yet clean lines Michael Kors fall collection definitely leaned towards the younger demographic. Don’t forget to look for tall fur hats coming into trend in the months to come! The models were wearing it on the runway, and Melania Trump was wearing it in the front row!

Because Fashion Week is pretty extensive—I’ll try to cover it the best I can in the weeks to come. Unless you’d like pages and pages worth of blogging, I’ll break up coverage during the weeks ahead. More celebrity spotting and fashion to come!

by Susan Bynum

Wanting Moore from Mblem

With a lag between major awards shows, I’ve decided to go back to the category of celebrity clothing line. Mandy Moore has been in the news recently for her budding relationship with Nicole Richie ex-flame, “DJ A.M.” Adam Goldstein. What many of us might not know, however, is that Mandy is another celebrity entrepreneur. With singing and acting both tackled, Mandy ventured into the fashion industry in 2005 with a sweet, simple clothing line called Mblem (www.Mblem.net).

Mandy’s spring 2007 line consists of tanks, tops, and dresses, all easy to wear and functional for daytime to night. Everything is pretty basic, no frills, sequins or beads, so it’s great for practicality. The lines are all clean and simple, but not outstanding, not unlike the actor/singer herself. My favorite tee, the “signature tee” also happens to be the most daring—a black tee with a plunging neckline—very pretty and very sexy. Other tanks and tees consist of a spaghetti strapped, pink and white striped tank, very cute, a three-quarter length lavender v-neck, which would be great with jeans, and more along that line.

The spring 2007 line also seems to be the first that Mandy’s ventured into the world of dresses. There are about four in all, each is knee length, and again, are all very safe, with the excepting of a lavender dress with a plunging neckline, again, my favorite. Prices are currently unavailable on Mblem’s website, and this line hasn’t gone out to stores yet. Check in the spring season for prices.

For the available collections, you can shop at www.shoplastyle.com and www.rawclothing.com. Prices range from $120 to $50. Though this collection is cute and stylish, I still find myself craving more from Mblem. The colors are pretty, the lines are nice, but there is nothing there that will place the spotlight on you.

by Susan Bynum