Posts with tag styledash

Who doesn't? Getting free material is the stuff. Going to fancy parties is where it's at. And being recognized for being able to pick clothing out of a closet, dab on lipstick or put hair into a ponytail? Wowza sign us up!

But getting to that higher level requires a little work and know how. Let's take a look at how to get yourself that stylin' position you've always wanted.

Congratulations to Talya, winner of our My Little Empire Giveaway! She will be wearing the awesome outfit you see at right with vintage lavender ankle boots! Read her deserving comment below; sometimes we luck out on the random choosing:

I have a completely adorable pair of vintage lavender ankle boots--very high, delicate heel and pointed toe--that I found in a thrift store in SF's Mission District. They're perfect for this--the whole look would be very diaphanous and ethereal, but a little bit funky, too!

Congratulations also to the winner of our Roman Savell Giveaway, Glenda! Whatcha gonna put in that classy bag, Glenda?

Early this morning, a Styledash reader tipped us off to the website of a fantastic illustrator by the name of Rod Filbrandt. As an artist, he's an awfully talented guy, but what I like most about Filbrandt are his fashion cajones, which you can see in his series "The Bane of My Existence."

The illustrated series on his blog Chowderhead Bazoo points out and pokes fun at the oft-absurd trends in contemporary street wear. It's good comedy, fashionfans, especially since this dude takes no sartorial prisoners: the lameness of Juicy Couture track clothes; the insipid predictability of fake blond hair; the silliness of girls with plumped-lipped dour expressions; the vanity of low-carb diets.

(OH NO HE DIDN'T! Oh yes he did!)

Rod has a catty edge to him, which I love, especially since most illustrators (at least the ones I've met) prefer to use their skills for "social commentary", "political barbs" or just "cold, hard cash". Sure that stuff is admirable, but so is using your talent to say bitchy things about extra-long denim shorts.

Rod, if you are reading this, Styledash hearts you!

As a store owner, I hear exclamations of both shock and adoration when customers are faced with a table full of $200 jeans -- shock that they are actually $200, and adoration that they are actually $200.

Most consumers are familiar enough with the premium denim craze to expect the high price associated with the jeans. I do, however, get a customer once in a while who (and I can hardly blame them) seem completely offended by the cost. "Who would spend this much on jeans?" they ask. "And what in the world makes them so expensive?"

As in most fashion-related questions, the answer is fit -- fit and fabric, specifically. Premium jeans are almost always created exclusively from Japanese or Italian denim (read: softer, hand-finished washes) and contain at least 2% stretch fibers. The stretch fibers are then specifically positioned in the thighs, hips, and seats of the jeans, allowing for the perfect amount of give where women typically need it most, but preventing unwanted bagginess overall.

It wouldn't be fair to completely ignore the celeb factor when discussing premium denim prices. The fact that Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Uma Thurman, and Jennifer Aniston publicly profess their favorite premium denim brands on a regular basis and prance around exhibiting just how cute the jeans can be certainly doesn't hurt the product. If you've seen the item in a magazine, on a celebrity, you can pretty much assume you'll be paying for the privilege to advertise the brand.

The final reason you're paying out the wazoo for your premium denim? In today's society, jeans can be worn anywhere. Going out for dinner and drinks? Pair a dark pair of skinny jeans with some killer heels and a silky little tunic and you're good to go. Grocery store shopping? Throw on your comfiest pair of broken in jeans, the ones that aren't too tight and still make you look like you made an effort. Quick business lunch? Jeans and a blazer look confident and put-together. Consumers are viewing a good pair of jeans as an investment on par with the classic little black dress and a good interview suit. Besides, when you divide the total cost of the jeans by the number of days in a month you're likely to wear them, it doesn't seem so expensive at all.

Since the 2006/2007 fashion season could easily be described as the Year of the Dress, it only makes sense that longer coats have become a major trend as well. I know you want to run right out and buy one, but because choosing a length, style, and print can be difficult and overwhelming, we at Styledash have taken the guesswork out of your decision and done some research for you. So here's the skinny on the long jacket:

Princess - The princess line (fitted, with a slight flare at the bottom) is universally the most flattering style for women of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Tailored throughout the midsection with eye-catching lapels at the collar and just a hint of an A-line flare at the hemline, this type of jacket can be worn with jeans, trousers, skirts, and dresses (make sure your skirt/dress hemline is shorter than or about the same length as your coat).

Tulip - The tulip shaped coat works best on taller gals, the double-breasted shape can be great for, well, girls who are looking for all the 'breasted" help available, if you get my drift.

Belted - Belted coats are pretty timeless, and can be worn closed with the belt tied in front, or open with the belt loosely knotted in back but can be bulky if you choose a heavy fabric.

Now that you know what style works best for you, you're ready to move on to fabric selection. While I would never debate the usefulness of a black or navy coat, I think we can all agree that branching out into brighter paisleys, plaids, and prints can't be all wrong. One of the best ways to wear a printed coat is buttoned up over your most cozy and comfortable basics. The fun fabrication of the jacket will become your entire outfit, allowing you to slip on a pair of boots or kitten-heeled pumps and go. A coat that not only allows me to wear my old-but-incredibly-comfy turtlenecks but also cuts down on my getting-ready time? I'm on board.

Recently the StyleList team was asked a great question by one of our fabulous readers. Judy was wondering what would be appropriate but still fun for a woman in her fifties to wear. This is a great question, and one I am often asked in my boutique - thanks, Judy!.

The answer is almost frustratingly simple - wear what fits you best! If you are a slim and trim 55 year old with a desire to keep up with the latest trends, then be brave and try some of the newer looks that you're not completely sure of. Just because it looks "young" on the hanger doesn't mean it will look that way once you're wearing it! Too many women miss out on beautiful clothing because they talk themselves out of it before they even hit the dressing room! A general rule of thumb to follow on "trendy" clothing is to pay the most attention to fit. If anything feels too tight, too low, or too clingy, then you'll be better off moving on to the next item. But if you've got a new top on and it fits fine but just feels "different", then give it a shot! You have to give your eye a chance to get used to a new look.

If you're a classically inclined lady with one or two body parts you'd feel better off camouflaging, then my advice is to load up on timeless pieces like menswear-inspired trousers (tailored, mid-rise waist, wide at the ankle), kitten-heel pumps in neutral colors, and three-quarter sleeved tops in a knit or heavy silk.

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear clashing colors. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our fourth giveaway, we are returning to the pebbled leather book tote by Coach Hamptons. You can use it to carry other things besides books. Like, for example, your Etch-A-Sketch. Or square-cut boards. This is a handsome, square bag. My wife just yelled over, "Tell them it's beautiful!" She loves it. And it's clear from previous comments that you don't need me to declare this bag beautiful. Click the pic if you want further affirmation.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to recitations of nursery rhymes, but we would enjoy them.

2) No duplicates! Only one of your multiple personalities may enter. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. Do you need more than one designer handbag? Well, that's a silly question. Still, you're not getting more than one of these.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Monday (10/23), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congratulations to kristina, who won the Cole Haan villasge satchel in Day 26!

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

First of all, are you entering every weekday? If not, why not? Well, the answer to that, yesterday, was that the contest turned up missing. My apologies. I'm the one posting the contest entries, and I was travelling this week. Things went fine until a cancelled flight kept me away an extra night. In the confusion and spotty WiFi access, I did not post the contest installment number 26, which should have started Wednesday and ended Thursday. So the contest skipped a day, and resumes today. I apologize to everyone for whom the contest has become a daily ritual!

The good news is that our designer handbag giveaway returns today, interrupted but undaunted. Only five of the 30 handbags remain! Get over there and place your entry! It's easy: no skill is required. today's bag is a beauty from Cole Haan, pictured here. Good luck!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear clashing colors. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our fourth giveaway, we are returning to the book tote by Coach Hamptons. Click the pic for more info. This designer accessory is perfect for carrying an Etch-A-Sketch. Not to mention books, hair brushes, makeup, bank ledgers, wallets, small animals, medications, silverware, lamps, furniture, and whatever else you gals insist on hauling everywhere.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to Klingon curses, but if you can actually swear in Klingonese we salute you.

2) No duplicates! Identical twins may each enter once. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. We know you deserve to win every day, but others have feelings, too.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Tuesday (10/17), when the next giveaway will be posted.

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear clashing colors. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our 21st giveaway, we are returning to the pebbled leather book tote by Coach Hamptons. I've learned from reading comments that many people favor this bag over the other two in our contest. That's understandable. It is not disreputibly slouchy like the Marc Jacobs hobo. It is not dachshund-shaped like the Cole Haan village satchel. It is fine and upstanding, like something my great-aunt would carry. But don't let that stop you. Click the pic for more info.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to ASCII art, but if you've got some, please share.

2) No duplicates! Identical twins may each enter once. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. We know you deserve to win every day, but others have feelings, too.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon thursday (10/12), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congratulations to Carol Garguilo, who won the Cole Haan <s>dachshund</s> village satchel in Day 20!

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like take style advice from Burger King. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our 20th giveaway, we are returning to the village satchel by Cole Haan. Although this bag looks as if it has been through a sausage roller, people go wild for it. It's perfect for carrying kittens. Click the pic to learn more about the hardware and software ... not to mention the retail price.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to love poems, but if you've got love to give we'll receive it.

2) No duplicates! Please curb your multiple personalities. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. Doing so would anger your personal good luck deity. Besides, it's against the rules.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Wednesday (10/11), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congrastulations to Marlene Schooler, who won the Marc Jacobs hobo in Day 19!

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear clashing colors. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our 16th giveaway, we are returning to the "Hobo" from Marc by Marc Jacobs, pictured here. Soft leather. Antique silver hardward. Long zipper pull. Floral cotton lining. Slummy profile. Forget I said that; my wife is glaring at me. I don't know how long she can withstand my style-clueless cynicism, but your supportive comments are solace to her.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to rhymes involving the words "hobo" and "leather," but we enjoy your creativity.

2) No duplicates! Identical twins may each enter once. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. We know you deserve to win every day, but others have feelings, too.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Thursday (10/5), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congratulations to Lauren R., who won the Coach Hamptons book tote in Day 15!

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky U.S. or Canadian reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear jean shorts. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our 13th giveaway, we are returning to the "Hobo" from Marc by Marc Jacobs, pictured here. The poor thing looks exhausted. Maybe a nap would perk it up. Yet my wife's words are ringing in my ears: "That is one gorgeous bag!" Well, it's priced that way, with a retail value over $400. Click the pic to see the pricey details. Will I buy this for my wife? Great philosophers could speculate for decades. But she's not getting this particular one, so keep your sympathetic comments coming (she reads 'em all), and try to grab the bag for your own bad self.

The Hobo could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to imaginative punctuation, but we are desperately in need of entertainment.

2) No duplicates! Our NASA software detects them.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. If you win twice, others will cry. Then how would you feel?

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Monday (10/2), when the next giveaway will be posted.

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear clashing plaids. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our ninth giveaway, we are returning to the Coach Hamptons tote, pictured here. It's square, and it's black, and it carries things. The retail value is about $375, which is quite a bit more expensive than other square, black carrying things. That means it is stylish. (My wife is glaring at me. And she appreciates everyone's supportive comments.) Click the pic to see this bag's many features -- there's even a "try it on" gadget so you can see how it fits by height. This designer handbag is made of lightweight pebbled leather and features a fabric lining.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to descriptions of how you would use the bag, but we do enjoy reading those.

2) No duplicates! Identical twins may each enter once. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. Have some compassion for the unlucky among us.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Tuesday (9/26), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congratulations to JoJo for winning the Cole Haan satchel in Day 8?

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!

The StyleDash 30-day handbag giveaway continues! Every weekday, we are giving away a designer handbag or book tote to a lucky reader. The emphasis is on "lucky," because we're not asking you to do anything difficult, like wear long underwear beneath skinny jeans. You just need to drop a comment onto the contest page. We'll select the winner randomly. I'll get to the rules in a minute. First, today's prize:

For our seventh giveaway, it's back to the "Hobo" from Marc by Marc Jacobs, pictured here. Regular readers detect a pattern, no doubt. We are rotating among three handbags, of which the Hobo is, by far, the most droopy. It's a stylish droop, I'm told. Readers attempting to get this bag number in the thousands. My wife hopes I'll cheat and get it for her. (I won't.) She reads all the comments, by the way, so feel free to offer your sympathy.

The bag could be yours, if you follow these rules:

1) Leave a comment on this post. Doesn't matter what you say. No special consideration is given to rhymed couplets, but if you've got a rhyme in your heart, please share.

2) No duplicates! Identical twins may each enter once. If you try to double-dip we'll catch it and hold a grudge.

3) If you win, don't come back for seconds. We know you deserve to win every day, but others have feelings, too.

4) Prizes will be shipped 30-45 days after the 30-day contest ends. Patience is a virtue.

Today's contest will stay open until noon Friday (9/22), when the next giveaway will be posted. Congratulations to Cheryl DeLauer for winning the Coach Hamptons book tote in Day 6!

Good luck, and thanks for being part of StyleDash!