Shopping Bag Hags by CouponWinner.com

Maxi Madness

 
 

Floor-length maxi dresses are all the rage this summer thanks to their casual chic take on the typical summer sun dress. Perfect for outdoor music festivals, trips to the beach, or a girl’s night out, maxi dresses are your go-to wardrobe addition this season. Anyone can pull this look off, thanks to a few style-savvy tips we’ve compiled.

Necklace: Pendant necklaces are the perfect accessory for this flowy frock. The long chain length draws the eye down, lengthening your torso and making you appear taller. By visually creating a leaner line, you’ll not only look taller, but slimmer as well.  

Shoes: Wedge heels create the same illusion of height that is essential in a floor-length style, making you stand out from the crowd. The heel gives you a boost, and is a more festive alternative to traditional flats. Jessica Simpson has several summery options for your feet, and until July 10 you can get 30% off all sale items (code: PLUS30).

Purse: Rather than carrying around a clunky, oversized purse, go for a more convenient option. Pack your essentials into a leather cross-body bag, and get ready to go wherever your adventures take you. With its small size and handy zippered pockets, this style of purse can easily follow you wherever you go.

Grace Cahalan

Grace Cahalan is a frequent contributor to CouponWinner.com.

6 Ways to Wear Sparkle

This is, without a doubt, the time of year to be wearing sparkles of any kind, but perhaps you're not a glitz-and glamour gal. Since some of us—coughcough ME!--are more into sequins and embroidery on a regular basis, we can guide you on your path to getting more festive and fun=-lookipng.

 

(Arden B, Juicy Couture)

Sequined Hats and Berets

A hat with sparkles and pizazz is the perfect topper to a black dress, but few people choose this route regularly. A sequined beret doesn't have to be in black, either—it can be fashioned in an all-over spangle or dotted with just a few glints. Berets in a softer knit should be picked in silk and mohair, and summer-weight hats for southerners are great in metallic crocheted cotton.

 

Sparkly-Bow Shoes

Take me home! Where's Toto? You get the drift. Shoes with a sparkly bow aren't juvenile or silly if you shop for the right pair. In fact, shoes with a sparkly bow can look very stylish in an all-over color on the upper and trim, like gold or silver (or black or red). Shoes with a sparkly bow can features gems, knitted, metallic mesh, or sequins.

(Forever 21, Bogden)

Brooches with Bling

A brooch with rhinestones is an intelligent purchase, but this piece truly goes beyond expectations for shiny-shiny items. Brooches with bling can be shaped like fans, goblets, holiday bows, or kittens, for example, so you'll definitely find a piece that suits your personality. Brooches with bling can always be abstract or arty, too.

 

Rhinestone-Edged Glasses

Are you a fan of ironic eyewear? Rhinestone-edged glasses can have cat's eyes or square-shaped frames, but there's always that touch of flair along the edge of the glasses themselves. A thick black frame looks nice when the lines are broken up by a few sparkles, and rhinestone-edged glasses can be found in numbers online.

(ASOS, Kohl's)

Silver Panties and Leggings

Why not wear a pair of silver panties that heat up your underskirts? While basic black does the trick, American Apparel exists for a reason. Silver bike shorts are a funny way to retain your modesty and still look alluring with your layers over. If you cycle to work, then silver shorts or bloomers could become an indispensable part of your wardrobe!

 

Are you a sparkle-lover all year long, or only around the holidays?

5 Classic Style Icons

We all need some fashion inspiration time and again, but more often than not, our modern-day style icons come and go. In the fickle world of fashion, who and what was hot last season won’t be hot again. That’s where we come in, to give you a boost when you need it most, fashionably speaking.

Coco Chanel: Long, lean lines and an unapologetic take on the fashion world is what made Coco Chanel an absolute wonder. Whether you’re draping yourself in long pearls or looking at a new take on ladies’ suiting, know that Coco Chanel’s inspiration is one of the most classic choices one can make.

Evelyn Nesbit: This Victorian stunner started modeling in her teens, and she was “the” Victorian Era beauty in turn of the century America. While she looked lavish in red Asian robes and simply beautiful with high rolled hair, Nesbit is unfortunately best known as architect Standford White’s lover, who was later murdered by her husband, Harry Thaw.

Louise Brooks: A 1920s silent-film actress just has to be on your list of inspiring fashionable figures! With no sound during a film, looks and skill were all the more important for actresses in the 1920s. Actress Louise Brooks cut a sharp figure with dark bobbed hair and perfect cupid’s bow lips, plus the long, lean fashions of the ‘20s.

Grace Kelly: Princess Grace will always cut a striking fashionable figure in our hearts--she was made for the “Dior Look” of full skirts and nipped-in waists, and it’s hard to determine other Hollywood figures so perfectly frozen in time. Grace Kelly’s legacy lives on in her films like Rear Window and Dial M for Murder.

Joan Crawford: Joan Crawford is one of those figures who maintains legacy status not for being beautiful, but for being full of character. In Tim Gunn’s words, Crawford “made it work” with statement veils, heavy shoulder padding, suits galore, and exceptionally styled hair.


Who is your fashion icon, from either modern day to back in the past?

Stylish Solutions for a Blazer-Loving Girl

I love blazers, but my closet can only handle so many black blazers or lined solid pieces. If you are in need of a blazer with some flair, these are some options you can roll over in your mind!

I have a lot of these (Forever21.com)

Ruffled-Front Soft Blazers
Button-front blazers don't need to have double or triple-button fronts. Look for a blazer with a line of buttons and extra ruffles in between each of the closures. Some of the best fabrics to use with this type of blazer are soft wool and a sweater-like knit. Asymmetrical styles are the best. Live it up!

Knitted Sweater-Type Blazers
Sweater fabrics make great blazers because they hug your curves so well. Buttoned-up styles that flatter the body make them more versatile, because you can layer them underneath jackets in winter and over tank tops in the early fall. Blazers constructed from a special knit are lovely and hard to find, so if you run into one... snap it up.

Shawl Collar Blazers
Shawl collar blazers are such a perfect look when you're trying to beat the chill, and when combined with a hat? Even better. Shawl collar blazers have a deep and wide collar that can be flipped up around the face or around the neck. Cloche hats and fedoras wouldn't be out of place with this look.

Matching Scarves
Don’t forget that every cold-weather appropriate blazer needs a matching scarf to be worn with it. If you pick up a solid blazer, look for a pattern in jewel tones like stripes or heart patterns, just for fun. If you’re the super-saver type, then look for a black pashmina or scarf if you don’t have one!

Plaid, Plaid, and More Plaid
Plaid scarves are an amazing way to accessorize any fall piece, and they certainly don’t get enough credit. Some people think that plaid is all about the Christmas-y red and green pattern, but it can actually be found in multiple colored versions, including yellow and purple and teal and blue.

Are you a blazer fan?

Colors for a Fall Transition

Are you shopping, but worrying about what to do for fall? Don't worry, that's certainly not uncommon! These tips will help you choose colors that don't just look great now, but that will help you save money in the long run. Get shopping!

Dark Purple

A rich purple will look stunning when paired with dark brown and navy. It's a rich color that brings to mind harvest times and tasty berries of late summer/fall, so this color will keep you looking for accents and accessories to complement it. Dark purple is also killer when set into sweet stripes of your choice.

Cream

Cream is fall's answer to summer white. Cream blends well with forest green and eggplant, and it's a lot easier to care for than your traditional white. It's warm, it's fresh, and it's easy to match with patterns, so you can find a selection that perfectly in-tune with your taste and your aesthetic.

Gray

Gray jersey, gray wool blends, gray everything! This sophisticated color can span the seasons and leave you looking super fresh. For end-of-summer shopping, look for dark grey clothes flecked in white, paired with anything from black lace-front shoes to brown leather gladiators. Grey is an easy color to accessorize as well.

Raspberry

Another harvest-ready color for the picking! Red raspberry is a romantic color that's perfectly suited for fall fashion matching, and it looks great in the summer, too. If you want to simply accessorize a basic and move on, raspberry is a nice choice if you own jet jewelry and silver pieces. Wear a huge silver ring and some delicate earrings for an excellent contrast.

Red

Bold red never goes out of style. Whether you're wearing something complicated or simple, or a piece with just a touch of red mixed in instead of a ton, red is the right way to go. You may find that red mixed into a complicated pattern gives you a more elegant look than you're used to.

What's your favorite color to wear in fall? I'm also a huge fan of green and brown, but that's more on a personal note.

Talking About Tops

Got fit problems? These solutions will help you get your shirt fit under control! If there's something I love, it's solving issues in the wardrobe department, and I know that you will appreciate these little bits if you need some help solving problems as well.

Too-Long Long-Sleeved Shirts: Are your shirts sleeves too long? Try rolling them up to the elbows for a great look for summer, or wearing the shirt layered underneath a sweater or another long-sleeved shirt. After putting on the sweater over the long-sleeves shirt, “push” the sleeve back up into the sweater sleeves, affixing the cuff with the band of the sweater itself.

Riding Up Casual Tees: Casual tees are just perfect, but what about when they ride up because of static cling? If you don't have any Static Guard (a wardrobe essential, in my opinion), you can give your shirt a spritz with an aerosol hairspray. If you do n't have that, either, you can kill skin-shirt static cling by applying body lotion to your torso before tossing on your shirt, and then tucking the shirt in.

Slipping-Down Straps: Are your straps sliding down? Slipping-down straps are problematic, but they can be solved with a couple of tricks. The first one you can try is to tighten the straps themselves, and additionally tighten the underneath band to make it snugger overall. Try adding double-stick tape to the underside of the straps if you can. The next time you buy a bra, look for one with padded straps.

Too-Tight Bust: Is the bust of your shirt too tight? There's a special button called the Bosom Button, and it helps keep your top in perfect position. If you are in a pinch, wear a tank top underneath your shirt—a lace-trimmed camisole is best—or draw the eyes away from a straining bust with a brooch or bib necklace.

Sweaty Tees: Do you sweat a lot in summer? Try using clinical strength deodorant, and the next time you wear a tee that makes you sweaty, make sure that you lounge a little with your arms help away from your body. Instead of wearing a long-sleeved shirt buttoned-up, try wearing it loose and open instead—you won't sweat as much.

What's your biggest shirt-fit issue?

Dressing Down an Outfit

We definitely spend a lot of time imagining how we will dress up an outfit, but what about dressing things down? Sometimes you have a great piece that could really work on a night out, but it's just a touch too fancy. If you'd like some tips on taking a fancy dress and making it less dressy, then you've come to the right place, without a doubt.

Dress Down Tip 1: The overshirt, sweater, or wrap.
Take a jersey wrap dress or embellished frock and layer to take the design details down a notch or two. Instead of spangled fabric all over, you can wear a lightweight wool wrap or a silk shawl around your shoulders, and look dressed-down enough for a casual outing. Choose a structured, tailored blazer to wear over a fancy dress with a poofy skirt, and pair it with booties, or wear a low-cut cocktail dress with a large pashmina on top.

Dress Down Tip 2: Boots
Boots can add a casual air to the fanciest of cocktail-length dresses, and can give you that edge you crave. If you want to make things even more casual, why not grab a special bootie in suede fabric instead of shiny leather? That's far more casual... and it's super comfortable. If you want to go even further, there are plenty of boots available with studs and gems.

Dress Down Tip 3: Tights
Legwear can take center stage if you have a lot of fancier cocktail dresses in plain, solid colors. If you have a silk dress with a lot of interesting details on the skirt and bodice, try dressing it down with tights in a herringbone pattern, or simply an opaque style. Push yourself to try a new tights look, even if it's fairly simple. It will bring down the "dressiness" of your dress several notches at least.

Dress Down Tip 4: The vintage-inspired hat.
While a cloche is a sophisticated selection by itself, when you pair it with a fancier dress, it gets a little funkier and more daring. To make the most of this trend, select a sleek hat with a more casual design-- not just jamming on any old thing to make your frock look less fancy. Aim for wool, matte satin, or dupioni silk to start off with, and try to keep the brim manageable if you'll be headed out to socialize.

Fall Shopping for Budget Buffs

I'm desperate to shop for cool weather stuff, but fall shopping can be tough with a reduced budget. If you crave inexpensive and expensive pieces like overcoats, knee-high boots, and clutch purses, you should check out my list of quick buys.

Old Navy: Old Navy is my favorite place to shop for coats and overcoats, and that includes their overcoat sweaters. You can pick up a smart piece under $50 in a zesty pattern like stripes or geometrics, and their fleece jackets are just perfect for the gym, for hiking, and for weekend fun, too.

Spiegel: Spiegel is always really cutting-edge and contemporary, and you'll love what they offer. If trendy is what you're after for a price that's 50% lower than what you might expect at department stores and other stores with similar offerings. Their sales are great, too, so be sure to swing by at the end of the season.

Topshop: Topshop isn't the cheapest place to buy clothes, but it offers very high-quality items that can last for seasons. Slip into a mustard-yellow toggle coat that will never go out of style, a black funnel neck coat, or a woolen winter vest that works perfectly over those aforementioned Old Navy sweaters.

Chico's: Chico's is another smart place to shop when you're looking for more mature pieces, from blazers to jackets. If you're going to be headed off on a winter vacation, you'll love Chico's wrinkle-resistant collection that will ward off all those nasty crinkles you get when you are jet setting.

White House: White House offers some of the best mixed pieces for low prices, including marled wool and colorful knits to ward off the blustery weather that you might face when the winds blow. Pair them with knee-high boots or leather pumps, and don't forget a pair of thick tights, too.

Where are some of your favorite places to shop for winter?

Related Tags: Old Navy Coupon Codes, Spiegel Coupon Codes, Chicos Coupon Codes

Where to Buy Affordable Accessories

Do you like dressing up in lots of different accessories? After all, they are the budget-minded girl's best friend, and that means that you can spruce up all your outfits with simple stuff like headbands, jewelry, and plenty of cool additions like hats, spike heels and booties, and nice scarves and pocket squares. Here's where I buy some of my favorite pieces!

Spiegel: Spiegel's accessories are pretty high-fashion and always hit a great price point. Leopard print belts and cute berets make up a good deal of their fall looks, but they offer more than just that. If you need to dress up a special outfit, Spiegel is one of my favorite go-to accessory treasure troves. They also have good jackets, by the way, so you might want to try buying more than one outfit.

Forever 21: Need that little something that seems to be expensive everywhere else? If you like bow hairbands, feather earrings, and chunky rings, this is the perfect place to go. Forever 21 is a mall staple, so many of us can stop by and pick up plenty of stuff, and they always offer plenty of different styles in varieties of colorways.

Urban Outfitters: Funky and daring, Urban Outfitters might have some expensive clothes, but they always offer surprise trinkets for less. Earrings and necklaces often go on sale for less, and don't look cheap at all! Look for pieces with feathers, rope, leather strands, and plastic links to pay less for high style.

Anthropologie: Anthropologie is an intelligent place to pick up slim belts and other accessories for just over $20. If you adore tiny belts to wear over frocks and t-shirt dresses, you might want to stop here and then J. Crew to compare looks and prices—and if you have a tight budget, you'll come trotting back to Anthropologie.

Michael Kors: With reversible belts in black and brown, these special little leather numbers are a lifesaver. Divide the price in half, because it'll match with twice as much, and don't forget to try it out and treat it well when you are dressed up in a coordinating number. All you need is a pair of black and brown woven leather sandals to watch with either.

Related Tags: Spiegel Promo Codes, Forever 21 Promo Codes, Urban Outfitters Promo Codes

Fashion Musings

Are you looking for the perfect way to get yourself out and about—and fashionable—this year? How about a trick or two by your favorite fashionistas, the girls who dare to wear the most stylish of looks? I've been soaking up some of the best stuff out there, including from Garance Dore and Susie Bubble. Since I've been checking out what they are loving this fall, I will be passing along some of my top choices now—feel free to shop around for the very best of fall looks, 2009-10.

Take a look at some of these must-buys:

*GAP Tees

Garance Dore's GAP collaboration is hip, inspiring, and super cool. Isn't that something you'd like to be a part of? Even though each of her shirts come in limited editions of 69, you can grab something a little more basic when you shop over there. Hunt down tangerine crew-necks and lemon yellow v-necks for a real “pop.”

*'70s Style Denim

High-waisted jeans, daring shorts, and all manner of vintage-y items are your friends this season. Slip into the retro-style stuff for some really fashionable stuff, and don't be afraid to tuck in your top as a nod to the cooler fashions of a bygone time. Darker denim, artfully shredded styles, and medium-weight cross-hatched weaves are all your friends!

*Studded Boots

Garance Dore's favorite boots are a studded affair, and if you pick yours up in dark brown or black, you're ensuring seasons of dependable wear. Forget all those tired styles you've been planning on picking up for a song—one investment piece like this will do you right, indeed! Wear these studded lovelies with jeans, jeggings, leggings, or tights + skirts.

*Inspired Bangles

Stack them on right! Your bangles of choice should include gold and silver, as well as enamel versions, for a real boost. Try yours in a larger style that can be layered over long-sleeved shirts and dresses, as well as stacked as high up your arm as they will go, comfortably. Whee! Play around with daring color combinations for the full effect.

*Tights

Patterned tights are totally in this year, so hang onto your hat! This time, we're getting a peek at fashionable styles decorated with polka dots, bits of metal and sparkles, and something more dramatic like woven-in details of threads and beads. Do you dare? It sounds like you're going to need to pull out that mini.

*Button-Placket Sweaters

Unbutton your long-sleeved shirts to show off some serious cleavage, so don't forget a lightweight lace bra underneath it all. With a few intelligent layers, you can even style your look up to be cute and stylish, without seeming too over-enthusiastically sexy. Easy does it, if you prefer!