Valentine's Day Give Away WINNER!!

What a fun week it was! I enjoyed all of your comments and appreciate you stopping in and reading. I met a few new bloggers and visited some great new blogs - there are many talented writers and entertainers out there.

So, without further adieu, the winner of the Valentine's Day Contest is... The Poet Laura-eate! Congratulations! She is wicked smart and writes beautifully. I was able to relate to her recent post on A Cry From The Wardbrobe describing her disillusion with the fashion industry.

So you may be wondering how I pick my winners? I use this great tool at random.org that allows you to copy and paste in a list of names. I thought I would also post the top 10 on my list so you can see just how close you came to winning (if I missed the link to your blog, let me know and I will add it - some of you I couldn't find!):

1. poet
2. java
3. sandy
4. calgirl
5. arlina
6. jessi
7. emily
8. susan
9. tatiana
10. iron chic

I hope everyone has a great week and a very Happy Valentine's Day!!

Friday Q&A - Work Attire

Q: I am a 23 year old who likes to wear trendy clothing but I also have job as a law firm secretary and find that sometimes my choices aren’t appropriate. Most of the time I stare blankly into my closet and don’t have a thing to wear. I don’t have a ton of money to spend on a new wardrobe and I was wondering if you could give me some advice.

A: You need to build a base wardrobe with a few classic, timeless pieces. Then, you can mix color, accessories and trendier silhouettes with these basics to maintain your style. February is a great time to shop for pants, blazers and skirts because many stores mark down Winter apparel in preparation for Spring arrivals. You will find good quality pieces at up to 70% off.

Here is a list of my suggestions to get you started:

1. Basic trousers - Two pair, with a flat waist and straight or slight bootcut leg. Black should be your first choice, then brown and gray. Gabardine Dress Pant by Atelier and Daria Straight Leg trouser by BCBG.

2. Wool A-line skirt - A feminine and thigh concealing favorite that looks great with fitted jackets and tops. Try the Wool Pintuck Skirt by J Crew.

3. Slim or pencil skirt - A sleek skirt to pair with trendier tops and blouses especially if they are voluminous. Try this Pencil Skirt from Banana Republic.

4. Dresses - Wrap, sheath or shirtdress are classic styles to invest in and you have an instant outfit. Try a Sheath Dress from Banana Republic. Or satisfy your trendier side with this Boatneck Dress from Tulle.

5. Jackets - A nice, fitted blazer to dress up a pair of pants or skirt. Find one in black and another that compliments your solid basics like the BCBG Marilyn Jacket.

6. Blouses - White button down and another color that you like.

7. Turtlenecks - Cashmere, silk blend or merino wool in neutral colors like the Cullen Ruched Silk Cashmere Turtleneck.

Never underestimate dressing well in your professional environment - it speaks volumes about your credibility and personality. My list may seem boring or too “old” and conservative, but I guarantee you will always find something that matches your trendier selections while maintaining a polished, look. Shop sale racks at Nordstroms, Nieman Marcus, Banana Republic or J Crew to find these classic pieces with good quality. Also, one of my favorite clothing lines, BCBG Max Azria, has trendier classic pieces and a 70% off sale online.

Happy Birthday to Me And My Drum

There are several blogs that I frequent on a weekly basis and some of you may be surprised to know that they are not about fashion. One of my favorites is Me And My Drum which focuses on blogging tips, software reviews and general discussion/entertainment. The first time I visited the blog, I left a comment regarding my difficulty coming up with new domain name ideas. The owner of the blog, Mark, kindly responded to me by email within a few hours including a list of available names to spark my creative juices. He is on my short list of super nice guys in the blogosphere and deserves some attention.

His flagship blog is celebrating its one year birthday in February so please stop by and say hello. While you're there, enter his birthday contest to win 1,000 Entrecard credits and a review of your blog on Me And My Drum.

The New Bohemians

Often regarded as artsy and whimsical, the bohemian look is constantly being dissected and bastardized by the fashion world. Last year, I recall the term Foho, which I will loosely describe as the fashionista’s attempt to meld a shiny modern handbag or shoe for example, with a folksy broom skirt. Many celebrities were hot on the heels of this trend. This season, I am reading the term Boho Tech, in which the airy, ethnically printed bohemian style is mixed with structured, futuristic styling.

The dictionary defines bohemian as “a person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior”. As a child, my parent’s would exclaim that my younger brother was “acting like such a bohemian”. I always associated the word with being out of control and disrespectful.

I can see how bohemian translates to rebellion in fashion as designers use artistic expression as a vehicle to push the limits of fabric, color and the minds of those wondering how to incorporate the look into their current wardrobe. The fusion of two opposites to produce a positive design can yield stunning results.

The bohemian look this Spring focuses on Ikat prints and 60s silhouettes mixed with metallics and embellishments. To subtly introduce this look into your wardrobe, wear an Ikat print top with a pair of sleek trousers and structured jacket. Or, pair a voluminous, printed skirt or dress with a leather bomber jacket. Here are other avenues to explore if you are interested in learning more about this look:

The Style Mauraders wrote a definitive piece on this new movement in the nouveau bohemian.

Top Shop has their take on the trend

A real person trying to pull of the Boho Tech look .

Tights featured over at Kingdom of Style that are so cute I don’t care if they are Foho or Boho or Ombre...I’d wear ‘em this year and the next, and the next, and the...well, you get the point.

And some additional Bohemian styles to mix and match with structured pieces:
Lux Kimono Top
Kimchi and Blue Tie Died skirt
Lithe's Right To Roam Skirt
Peggy's Cove Blouse
Mix Print Henley
Oasis Silk Printed Dress

Picture courtesy style.com - Armani

Valentine's Day Give Away

To honor Valentine's Day, we are giving away a sweet package. And, to make it even sweeter, this contest is for our blogging friends only. No customers (unless you blog) and no newsletter entries allowed.

The winner will receive a pair of Scanty Love pajamas, a box of Candinas truffles, and a pair of sterling silver earrings (which will remain a surprise).

So, leave a comment on any of our blog posts to enter. And, if you have already left a comment on our blog within the past three months, you are automatically entered. If you leave a comment this week, you'll receive two entries. The winner will be announced right here next Sunday night. Good luck!

Friday Q&A - Wearing Polka Dots

Q: Can I wear Polka Dots this season, or are they considered "out"?

A: Polka dots are a timeless print and really never go "out" of style. While it's true that designers sometimes need to give this print a rest in their seasonal line up, there is no reason why you have to follow suit. If the print is part of your personal style and you wear it well, moderation is the key. Pick one piece of clothing or accessory and go for it. I am partial to smaller polka dot prints and black and white as the larger prints can look childish or comical. I personally love it when a woman bucks the trends and wears what she likes, especially if she looks stunning. Besides, when everyone else is wearing the latest cookie cutter trend, you will have maintained your personal style despite what the magazines and stylists have to say!

A Brief History of the Polka Dot
The origin of the polka dot pattern may be left to our imagination as there isn't a single factual source. Possibly influenced by the Polish polka dance as it was done in a circular motion, it has been around since the 1880s. The polka dot inspired Walt Disney's Minnie Mouse and it was set into fashionable motion by "I Love Lucy" dresses and the "Isty Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" in the 1950s. The polka dot print has been a part of our pop culture and fashion landscape for over a half century. Andy Warhol used tiny polka dots in his paintings during the 1960s. Julia Roberts portrayed the classically prim effect of the polka dot dress during the 1980s in Pretty Woman and the Pipettes revived the polka dot trend for Britain around 2006 wearing their big, bold prints on stage.
The Pipettes - photo courtesy of daniel arnold on flickr

Happiness, innocence and femininity best describe the polka dot in my mind. If this fits your outlook and style, then you may want to give the polka dot a second glance. Check out Polka Dots in Fashion for an interesting look into the world of the dots.

Regurgitating Our Spring Forecast

Due to our huge downtime with the store lately, I sifted through some of my past posts and found the Spring 2008 forecast. So, just to refresh your memory of what to wear this year, check it out and here are some of the great items we are patiently waiting to add to the store:
Petite polka dots are never out of style and this blouse is so silky and cute - also in navy. Destined to become a fave.
We love black and white prints and this strapless number with flower embroidery is gorgeous.The moodier gray of Fall gives way to softer gray tones for Spring - this basic tunic is ultra comfy.

Psychedelic 70s are in and this print hurts my eyes so much that I love it.
All of these finds are great quality and under $40. Can you believe it?