Cardigans

Another one of my favorite articles of clothing is a cardigan. They are cute, comfortable and great for adding something extra to your outfit. They are fitting for women of all ages and they typically add a little class to your outfit. You can find a variety of cardigans at any department store or boutique. They can also be worn year-round, so they are a great piece of clothing to invest in! Check out Old Navy for a wide variety of cardigans at very affordable prices!

Chuck Taylors

One of my favorite kinds of shoes are Chuck Taylor Converses. They are comfortable, stylish and timeless. They have been popular for many years. My mother had a pair of purple converses when she was a teenager and I now have a pink and black pair of converses. Converses can be dressed up and down according to the occasion. They are available in many colors and patterns. 

Looking for something different?

Big belts have been a recent trend that has lasted much longer than I thought it would. Many girls like to pair wide belts with flowy shirts, sweaters or any other loose shirt to make themselves have a more defined waist. These big belts help create an "hour-glass" shape which most every girl desires. Where can you get one? Well most any department store or boutique would have them. Urban Outfitters has a large assortment of these hip belts in all sorts of styles, colors, designs, and materials. 

Famous First Lady

Michelle Obama has made a name for herself in the fashion world recently. Ever since she appeared at the inaugural ball in a stunning Jason Wu gown, fashion icons have kept a close watch on what the First Lady wears. Many fashion magazines such as TeenVogue have done articles on this fashionista. 

New Balance

New Balance tennis shoes are popular among people of all ages. I have a pair, my mother has a pair and my grandfather also has a pair of these comfortable walking shoes. They offer a wide variety of styles and colors. You can also get these shoes for under $70. 

Splurge or Steal?

While browsing Cosmopolitan.com, I came across a interesting section called "Splurge vs. Steal." The section had found stores where you can get high fashion, high priced clothes and shoes for much cheaper. This zippered skirt by LaRok is priced at $188. Cosmo found an almost exact replica of this overpriced skirt at Forever 21 for only $14.80. Thats definitely a steal worth taking advantage of!

Gossip Girl

The new hit TV show "Gossip Girl" is not only loved for its drama filled episodes every week, but also for its fashionable characters. Blake Lively plays the role of Serena van der Woodsen, an upper east side New York teenage girl with lots of issues. However, despite all her problems she is always dressed in perfect Vogue style. Always wearing the latest fads, many young girls look to her clothes as model for their own style.

Lacoste

Lacoste has made a name for itself over the years as a top designer in preppy styles. They have clean cut styles that are fitting for all ages. Lacoste makes clothes, shoes, athletic wear, handbags, and even eyewear. 

CMA Awards

Half the fun of watching award shows is looking at all the gorgeous, and sometimes not so great, gowns that the celebrities wear. Last night the CMA Awards had their fair share of good and bad outfits. Taylor Swift not only won four awards but she looked stunning while receiving them! Swift wore a light gold gown with sequins on the top half. She looked beautiful in this age-appropriate gown. I think Taylor Swift is a great role model for young girls. I hope she continues to succeed. 

In Bloom

Most girls look to actresses and other celebrities for fashion inspiration now a days. Women like Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow can often be found on the cover of fashion magazines and on websites such as Vogue.com. Witherspoon is becoming influential in the beauty industry as well. She just launched her own perfume, In Bloom. It's available exclusively through Avon beauty products. Hopefully, this new endeavor will be successful for Witherspoon.

Most Wanted

Vogue's top ten most wanted items for this week include an assortment of clothing and accessories. One item stood out to me- a pair of New Balance tennis shoes that more closely resemble ballet flats than the typical athletic shoes New Balance produces. To make this new style of shoes New Balance paired with Nine West, a shoe and handbag company known for their always fashionable designs. These new athletic ballet flats sell for $69 at www.ninewest.com/newbalance.

How to Stay Warm

What's the one essential item that everyone needs for the fall? A jacket of course! NYMag.com shows the latest trends in outerwear for a variety of prices. They offer both long and short coats with a variety of patterns and fabrics. My personal favorite is a black and white houndstooth knee-length coat with a tie and big black buttons.

Aldo

Aldo is a shoe and handbag store that can be found in most up-scale malls. Aldo offers a variety of designers at moderate prices. They are most known for their shoes, however they carry many different styles of handbags as well. Right now, Aldo is keeping with the latest trend and advertising their vast collection of boots. They have flat, wedge and high-heeled boots to choose from with prices ranging from about $100 to $200.

Jimmy Choo

Just hearing the Jimmy Choo is enough to get any fashionista excited. These high-quality, high-fashion shoes have been popular since their debute in Vogue magazine in 1988. Originally founded and designed by Jimmy Choo of Malaysia, now a days Choo has retired from designing but his namesake still lives on. The design still goes by his name but is designed in Italy now. However, Jimmy Choo shoes and handbags are still one of the most respected and popular designs today. 

Valentino

Valentino Garavani is a Italian born designer who has designed clothes for women since 1960. He has designed many celebrities wedding dresses-from Jackie Onassis to J. Lo. His Spring 2010 collection at New York fashion week was composed of flowy short dresses in neutral colors. It was very different from the typical pastel florals that you see for a lot of spring collections.

Olsenboye

So it looks like the infamous Olsen twins will be back in the news soon enough! They are expected to launch a new line of junior's clothing for JC Penney this spring. The collection will be called Olsenboye. Hopefully this collection will be targeted to an older, less pre-teen crowd than their previous products they have released. It will be interesting to see what the Olsen twins are up to!

Fight Like a Girl

The Breast Cancer Site offers different ways to support breast cancer research other than just donating money. The online store has a variety of merchandise to purchase with the Pink Ribbon on it to show your support. All of the proceeds at this online store help to provide free mammograms for women so that they have a better chance of detecting breast cancer early. 

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is a French fashion designer born in 1821. He originally started designing and manufacturing trunks and luggage with the popular "LV" design. His designs are continued to this day in the design houses of Givenchy, Christian LaCroix and Michael Kors. Vuitton's designs were expanded to include not only luggage but handbags, scarves, ready t0 wear and footwear. Louis Vuitton is a name that is known world-wide and has been very successful even after the death of it's founder and namesake. Currently, successful fashion designer Marc Jacobs is the Creative Director for Louis Vuitton.

Saddle Up

This season saddle boots are very popular. These boots aren't just for riding horses anymore! Pair them with your favorite skinny jeans and you have a very versatile and fashion forward outfit. You can find these boots are almost any department store or shoe store and they vary in price range. Dillard's has a variety of boots to choose from and they have reasonable prices too!

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs is a American born fashion designer whose designs have been recognized all over the world. He is the head designer for the line Marc Jacobs as well as the diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs. He also serves as the Creative Director for the prestigious Louis Vuitton design house. Jacobs has designed everything from clothes to perfume. His clothing styles can range from punk rock grunge to prim and proper. His ads can be seen in any fashion magazine and on many billboards in big cities all over the world. Marc Jacobs has come a long way since his debut in 1986 and I think he will continue to succeed.

Sneak Peek

When you're looking through a fashion magazine and adoring the latest styles displayed by the newest models, you may not realize how many people it takes to produce a photo shoot. Just a photographer and some models right? Wrong. The Teen Vogue Handbook, Teen Vogue's first book, gives readers more insight on what it takes to produce photo shoots, fashion magazines and provides an inside look at the fashion industry. A sneak peek to the new book was distributed with the November 2009 issue of Teen Vogue. The booklet contains tips and quotes from today's most prominent stylists, fashion editors, photographers and make-up artists. This book seems like it will be a helpful tool for any young person wanting to break into the fashion industry!

Vera Wang

I attended my cousin's wedding tonight so wedding dresses are on my mind! My cousin's gown was very similar to the designs of famous designer Vera Wang. I adore Vera Wang's dresses! From traditional to modern, her designs vary in style and she seems to have something for every type of bride. Her Fall 2009 collection has a very ethereal and fairy tale quality to it. Perfect for any girl wanting to feel like a princess on her wedding day!

Somewhere New

Usually fashion is not a word that comes to mind when you think of Target. However, Target carries many fashionable items for both men and women. Their prices are very affordable too! They carry name brand clothing and shoes, such as Converse, for much lower prices than other department stores. So the next time you're in the mood to shop somewhere new, go see what your local Target has to offer!

Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta is a world wide known high end designer from the Dominican Republic. De la Renta left the Dominican at the age of 18 to pursue a career in fashion. In 1965, he launched his first signature label. Over forty years later and he is still one of the most respected and successful designers in the fashion world. His designs are classic and elegant styles that every man and woman can easily fall in love with. De la Renta's designs have also influenced many other designers over the past few decades. 

Welcome to the Fashion World, LC

Lauren Conrad, more commonly known as LC from the hit reality television series "The Hills," has launched a line of women's clothes exclusively for Kohl's department store. The line is very pretty basic yet has very wearable pieces for the average working woman. It features several loose fitting sweaters and a few cute casual dresses. Conrad has also designed styles of skinny jeans so complement her other designs. I think that LC's designs will be a hit with the majority of  Kohl's clients. I hope that her new line is a success and that she will continue to grow as a designer. 

Coach

Coach is most well known for their handbags. Their fun designs feature bright colors and patterns. They also have more classic styles as well. Their designs are appropriate for women of all ages. Their signature design is the "C" which appears on most all of their handbags. Coach is my favorite purse designer and maybe one day I'll splurge and buy one!

Luella

Luella is a well-known designer for women's clothing and handbags. Her dresses are based on simple and elegant styles, but are mixed with bold colors, crazy patterns, frills and uneven lines. This makes her dresses stand out from the rest of the designers that are popular today. Luella dresses are fun and bold. Two things every girl wants to be.

Fossil

 Fossil is most known for their collection of watches. However, they also design clothes and shoes for both men and women. They have an extensive collection of purses and handbags as well. Fossil offerers a vintage style for young men and women. Unfortunately, most of their products are expensive but department stores usually have frequent sales on their products so it's very easy to find Fossil designs at affordable prices!

Dare to be Different

Fashion designer, Betsey Johnson  is known for being different. Her designs are usually crazy and out of the ordinary, which is what has made her so successful. She has continually produced unique dresses, handbags, shoes and accessories since the 1960s. Her designs are seen all over the world are appreciated by women of all ages. Many would say that Betsey's designs are indispensable and that they have been vital to the fashion world. One journalist said this about her, "If Betsey Johnson didn't exist, we would have to invent her, simply to remind ourselves that fashion can be fun. She's the original wild child and set to paint the town pink!" 

Flashback

Recently long dresses, or "maxis", have come back in style. Its been a while since they were popular back in the 60s and 70s. This hippie style dress has made its way back in every department store and little boutique across the US. Or, if you're into more vintage clothing, go search your mother's closet to find an original maxi from the real hippie days! It'll be way cheaper and it'll be vintage, which is always fun. If your mom's closet doesn't help you out, check out Macy's. They have plenty to choose from with a variety of prices!

Neon

Looking for a way to brighten your day? According to Vogue, adding a neon piece to your outfit is the perfect solution! One of this fall's newest trends is neon. It brings an eighties feel to whatever outfit you're wearing. So, if you're ever feeling drab just add some neon pink or green to your ensemble and it'll cheer you up! 

Rugged Chic?

One fad that seems to be very popular for both boys and girls is the flannel shirt. Since when did we start taking style advice from lumberjacks? Nevertheless, it's a growing trend that many young adults are embodying. Check out Urban Outfitters for a nice selection of flannel shirts. Or, just visit your local thrift store where you can probably find one for under three dollars. 

Modest is Hottest

The MTV Video Music Awards stirred up lots of controversy after Kanye West stole the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech and stated that Beyonce "should've won the award." Taylor handled the rude interruption with class. Later, when Beyonce received her award, she invited Taylor back on stage so she could properly accept her first VMA. While looking at Beyonce and Taylor side by side I noticed the difference in how they presented themselves. Both girls were very confident but they were dressed very differently. Beyonce wore a skimpy red dress that showed more skin than it covered. Taylor wore a red dress that was very fashionable, yet very modest. I was happy to see that Taylor presented herself in a way that was classy and age appropriate. I would hope that young girls take a cue from Taylor and dress themselves in a modest fashion. 

 

J. Crew

One of my favorite stores is J. Crew. They offer a variety of clothing styles for men and women. They design both trendy and classic pieces of clothing that can be worn both at work and out with friends. The only downfall about J. Crew is that their prices tend to be steep. However, they frequently have sales and always have a fully stocked clearance rack. Or, just visit a J. Crew outlet where most everything in the store will be on sale!

Shop for a Cause

TOMS shoes have created a unique way to shop for a cause. TOMS sells shoes for men and women and they are offered in an assortment of colors and patterns. The great thing about TOMS is that for every pair of shoes you buy, they give a pair of shoes to a child in need. By simply buying a pair of shoes, you are making an impact on the world! Check out the Shoe Drop video to learn more about TOMS!

Classic

Some styles never fade. A classic black and white ensemble will last for years. Seventeen magazine gave their readers an inside scoop on designer Prabal Gurung's latest Black and White Collection. The collection is full of simple and elegant black and white cocktail dresses that are a solid choice for any formal occasion! 

The Latest Trend

So as I'm flipping through my latest edition of Teen Vogue, I come across an article about the "must-have" accessories for the fall of 2009. Interested to see what I was expected to have in my closet, I continued reading. One of the accessories was a patterned scarf priced at $210. I liked the scarf, but that not that much! Knowing that there had to be more affordable scarves by some other designer, I started searching for one on the internet. I found a very similar scarf for only $10.90 at Forever 21. I would save about 200 hundred dollars by purchasing the less expensive scarf! Interesting, huh?

Bienvenidos!

Hey hey!

This is my first time blogging so I'm not quite sure how it's going to turn out. I think I'm going to blog about fashion and the art of bargain hunting. I'll blog about what the latest trends are and what the fashion magazines have to say about these trends. Maybe I'll even talk about how to get these high fashion clothes for much less expensive prices! I would like to cover most aspects of the fashion industry!

Enjoy :)