fashionicksta

[fashionicksta]

High-end Brands on a Budget

Who doesn’t love the look of high fashion!?! High-end pieces are so dreamy to look at, but isn’t easy on our pockets. My tip for a fun couture look without breaking your wallet, try Target and H&M’s collaborative lines with big fashion designers.

In the past, Target has collaborated with Altuzarra, LoveShackFancy, Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, Lilly Pulitzer and much more. I’ve also seen H&M produce great pieces, teaming-up with brands Alexander Wang, Stella McCartney and Versace.

I wore this dress a few years ago on my birthday and people raved over the look. It’s a Target x Altuzarra dress, which I paid for a fraction of the cost when compared to dresses that mirrored the brand’s main line. I got the look I wanted for the price I could afford.

There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to couture staples from Chanel, but while you’re busy saving for a house or a nice new car…you can still look good on a budget.

[fashionicksta]

Mastering the Cropped Jeans Trend

Gen zers have spoken, cropped jeans are in and skinny jeans are OUT. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pair of skinny jeans but I may have to agree with the next generation of trendsetters. It’s a bit refreshing to step away from the skinny jeans phenomenon and try something different.

I wore cropped jeans in the early 2000’s and it’s fun to see the trend back in style. Celebrities Gigi Hadid, Jessica Alba and Selena Gomez have all been spotted wearing the popular trend.

I found these ripped cropped jeans at Target for about $25.00. Find a similar pair here. I paired it with a sweater from H&M, jacket from Express and accessories from J. Crew. Oh, and let’s not forget the wicker clutch from Banana Republic, to pull the look together. I’m always nervous to style summer and fall/winter pieces together, but it’s fun to see the outcome.

Go ahead, rock your cropped jeans with boots, sexy sandals or flats…they look good with everything.

[fashionicksta]

Be Brave – Mix those Patterns for a Fresh Look

I remember when the mixing patterns trend started. It was fun and exhilarating to watch, yet stressful to actual do it. How can I compete with that?

I had no idea where to begin. I watched other fashion bloggers master the trend, while I struggled, or was too afraid to try it. So then I thought, why not start small. I kept my outfits simple and added a belt with a fun pattern. I eventually threw in a colorful bag to spice it up and eventually, I became a bit braver.

In this look, I clearly went ham. It was risky but fun. I mean, camouflage and hounds tooth? Who would think THAT could work? Well, the fashion Gods have spoken and it does. To kick it up a notch, for a pop of color, the red shoes and clutch tied the look together. Playing with patterns and colors brought pure joy. Being able to express my creativity is a beautiful feeling.

Lately the monochromatic trend is in full effect but once in awhile, I like to experiment with different patterns and textures.  

I know I know, there’s more to life than worrying about the latest fashion trends and accessories, but sometimes a fashion distraction is a nice break from the spoils of life. Retail therapy anyone? 

[fashionicksta]

Latest Obsession: A Yellow Wool Cape

This beautiful bright yellow wool double breasted cape, has been a part of my fashion aesthetic lately, and I can’t get enough of it. I recently snagged the cape from Talbots, on SALE. The piece is honestly so much fun to style. And the best part is walking into a room and watching people react.

The cheerful color is an instant attention grabber, and the unlikely shade during the cold winter months, works. The piece adds a bit of sparkle to my day and I look forward to wearing it on dark dreary days, it’s my own little sunshine. If you’re like me and love color, this is for YOU.

If you’re looking to add color to your wardrobe, try this piece. It’s a great addition to any closet and a great fashion statement.

I’ve paired it with tall boots, booties, my favorite snake skin pumps, dresses, skirts and jeans. It’s surprisingly versatile and easy to wear.

Throw on a cute plaid scarf, add some accessories, and you’re good to go. This was my first purchase from Talbots, when it comes to fashion, I don’t discriminate. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more sophisticated pieces from the professional clothing brand.  

The cape was originally $198 and it’s on sale for $72. Click here, for the wool double breasted cape.

Stick around, I’ve got more style on a budget coming up.

[fashionicksta]

Take your Holiday Outfits into Valentine’s Day

What shall I wear?!?!?

The hustle and bustle of preparing to celebrate one of the most significant holidays, can be stressful. I mean, what’s more important than celebrating love, right? Of course I’m being sarcastic. But really? Valentine’s Day can be super hectic!

Making plans, buying gifts, and…finding the right outfit.

Well, as I scanned photos on my phone, I came across my holiday outfit and thought, why not. Why not recycle it! It’s sparkly, and fun, with a bit of sexy.

That’s me and my sister in the photo, and both dresses are mine. I decided to give the black one to her because it looked better. 

These dresses can be styled up or down, with a leather jacket and flats, or sparkly heels and a fur faux coat for a more sophisticated look. You can also spice things up by adding a bold color shoe and bag, to give it some pizazz.

As promised, the dresses were on a budget. Both on sale! The luscious gold and black beauty is from J. Crew for about $40.00, and the black one is from H&M for $12.99.  

Confession, the gold piece is slightly tweaked to fit my curvy figure. I cut the fringe off at the top of the dress and added a belt, to cinch in the waist.

So go ahead, pull out those holiday looks, switch up the accessories and hairstyle, and make it look fresh and fun for Valentine’s Day.

[fashionicksta]

Favorite Quote

One of my favorite quotes, by one of my favorite fashion designers, Diane von Furstenburg. Be the woman you want to be. Set goals, chase your dreams, be resilient and FREE. Never be afraid to express yourself. 

[fashionicksta]

Fashion for All: Adaptive Clothing for People with Disabilities

Often, when we think of people with disabilities, the word fashion, is far from our minds.

Recently, I was fortunate to meet the amazing Mindy Scheier, a fellow fashionista, entrepreneur, and designer. She has designed and styled for many big fashion houses in the industry, from Saks Fifth Avenue to INC and Bloomingdale's.

She’s the founder and CEO of Runway of Dreams. Scheier works with mainstream brands on adaptive modifications to their existing clothing lines for people with disabilities. For some people with disabilities, buttons and zippers are hard to adjust. In other areas, wheelchair users struggle with clothes getting stuck in the wheels.

She became inspired by her son who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, causing him to have difficulty wearing certain clothing. There are various kinds of muscular dystrophy, a disease that weakens the muscles and causes loss of muscle mass. This disease is rare for young children, like Scheier’s son.

Heartbroken that her son felt left out at school, she vowed to change the way the world perceived fashion. Scheier saw the need for an overlooked demographic in the fashion industry, she put her career on hold and started designing clothes for people with disabilities. As Scheier says, becoming the next Betsy Johnson would have to wait.  

In the past, Scheier partnered with Tommy Hilfiger. The brand shared her vision and now offers a line of clothes called, Tommy Adaptive. 

Currently, Scheier is working with other brands to join in on the adaptive clothing movement.

The clothes we wear, simply aren’t designed for people with disabilities because who would think that something so simple as dressing, could be difficult.

Clothing is a way we project ourselves to the world, it builds confidence and allows us to express our creativity. It is inspiring to see brands become more aware, by becoming more inclusive. We have a long way to go, but it’s a start in the right direction.

Kudos to Scheier for bringing light to this demographic.

[fashionicksta]

Target Run

Photo credit: Shanelle Sankar 

About the Look

Starting my first blog with one of my favorite photos. I threw this outfit together on a whim and loved the results. Let’s just say, the compliments came pouring in. And guess what?!?! Almost everything is from Target, except the shoes.

The black and white top-coat, is actually a dress from Target’s, Adam Lippes collection. This piece is versatile and can be worn in various ways. Over dresses, jeans, work pants and on it’s own with a belt, to cinch in the waist. I’ve worn the dress out to dinner with friends, at the office and shopping, styled differently each time. It was well worth the money I paid.

I snagged the black crop top for about $5 bucks on sale, and the flattering high-waisted jeans were about $25.

Although the pieces are no longer available, this look can easily be recreated at a low cost. Follow the links below for ideas, ALL from Target.  

Shirtdress $39.99 | Crop Top $5.00 | High-waisted Jeans $24.99 | Cut-Out Bootie $37.99

About the Photo

I was on my way to lunch on a beautiful spring day, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping…couldn’t be more perfect. While walking to the restaurant, I noticed an off-the-beaten path, on the side of an apartment building. I was instantly attracted to the colors of the red door and the white rustic wall. Great place for a photo opp! :)