Why Don't You...?

♥…fill up on frosting? Everyone knows that the frosting is the best part of any dessert; therefore, accidentally-on-purpose forget the cake mix at the supermarket, and instead buy containers of cream cheese, caramel, and milk chocolate frosting. What to do next? Dig in, of course!

♥…write your autobiography? Darlings, there is absolutely no question in my mind that you are destined to be superstars in the very near future; get started on your memoirs early!

♥…spend the day chasing butterflies? Slip off your towering Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Luella Zip Wedge Sandals, top your luxurious locks with a pretty sunhat, and run freely through an open field after your newfound fluttering friends!

♥…search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Do beware of leprechauns, kitty cats; they’re rumored to be quite vicious!

♥…flashback to another era – in terms of style, that is? Go sixties mod a la Twiggy via spider lashes, and mini dresses. Play the role of twenties flapper with feathered headbands and fringed frocks. Allocate the use of faux fur vests and empire waist dresses to channel your inner seventies haute hippie. Or simply be a maniac by styling yourself in eighties-inspired off-the-shoulder tops and legwarmers. Dolls there are times when modern style is completely overrated – this is one of them!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Cindy Whitehead for the picture.


Don't forget to enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons.

Tightwad Tuesday: Herve Leger Josephine One-Shoulder Foil Dress for Less

Kitty cats what is it that they say regarding the painless removal of band-aids – one should rip it off quickly, as opposed to slowly tearing it away from the skin, correct? If only removing thoughts of the bandage dress from one’s mind was as simple a task. But alas, so is not the case; and for good reason!

Darlings, the bandage dress is not something that should easily slip from one’s thoughts, as it is a style that every girl should have hanging in her closet, regardless of how often it is deemed appropriate to be trotted out to tantalize the senses of random passersby as you wow the world with your wardrobe during a daring girls’ night out or enchanting excursion complete with cute boy, a dozen red roses, and a candlelit dinner for two. Throw in a shimmering metallic hue, and there’s no question that you’re on the road to refined elegance in the fabulous frock department – case in point, Herve Leger’s Josephine One-Shoulder Foil Dress.

Try as you might, my loves, I truly cannot imagine unearthing a design which embodies the same sort of bliss proffered by the majestic Josephine, as she goes where no bodycon beauty has ever gone before.

Josephine does not feel relegated to sticking to just one seductive characteristic; quite the opposite in fact. Instead, she is constructed with thoughts of making the wearer feel as beautiful as she looks by not only hugging each and every curve to create a slinky silhouette; but by fulfilling the ultimate in come-hither techniques by allowing one’s shoulder to play peek-a-boo via the coquettish, toga-inspired aesthetic – a trait which ensures that you look like the glittering goddess we all know you to be. If only Josephine’s price tag were a little less influenced by the goddesses of yesteryear.

At $1,690.00 – now on sale for $844.99 – it is quite unlikely that we will have the chance to call Josephine our new BFF; nevertheless, we still have the chance to make her sleek style our own courtesy of the Metallic One-Shoulder Banded Dress from Express.

Only $79.50, Express’ elegant Metallic One-Shoulder Banded Dress is every bit as stunning as its high-end counterpart; with the added bonus of being priced just right for the beautiful bargain hunter!

Is today the day for you to please the big spender within; or will you play it cool and be thrifty?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Saks Fifth Avenue and Express for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons.

Guest Post at The Embellished Life!

Believe it or not, my loves, dating and shoe shopping go hand in hand with one another. Think I'm joking, darlings? Wrong; I would never lie to you! Find out how to score the boy, the fabulous footwear, and a second date with the cutie in question in Beauty and the Feet, my Guest Post over at The Embellished Life. After all, it's impossible to find the perfect boy until you've snagged yourself the absolute perfect pair of shoes!


Fashionably yours!

Play It Again, Sam

♥As You Are - jj (Red Mitchell)
♥Lover I Don’t Have to Love - Bright Eyes
♥Ice Cream - The Sound of Arrows
♥Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Ke$ha
♥Teardrops - The Xx
♥This Too Shall Pass - OK Go
♥Here We Go Again - Pixie Lott
♥Confetti - 1,2,3
♥Lost Things - A Fine Frenzy
♥Electric Feel - MGMT
What song has left you with the urge to say Play It Again, Sam this week, my loves?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons.

Style Secrets: Meg Cabot

You can blame her, you know; Meg Cabot that is. After all, she’s the one responsible for my incessant urge to wear dazzling jeweled tiaras wherever I go. Come to think of it, she is accountable for many of the slightly quirky habits I’ve retained from my adolescence, given the fact that much of my formative years were spent holed up in my bedroom, my nose buried deep within books I believed to be written entirely about me, a la The Princess Diaries. Fine, so I lacked the royal title, or the height of Princess Mia; but, at the time, I was a Doc Marten-wearing vegetarian navigating the vile waters of high school algebra who believed that she was my fictional counterpart – as I’m sure many of you did; don’t even try to deny it! But I digress; darlings, we may not, in all actuality, be Princess Mia (or, for that matter, the plus-sized, ex-pop-star-turned-Assistant-Dormitory-Director-slash-amateur-sleuth Heather Wells of Size 12 Is Not Fat; the Winona Ryder obsessed gossip columnist Melissa Fuller of The Boy Next Door; Em Watts/Nikki Howard, geek-turned-supermodel, of Airhead; or even the glitter loving fourth grader Allie Finkle of Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls), but indulging in the work of Meg Cabot is, and forever will be, synonymous with reading a note from your best friend – one smuggled from hand to hand under the shelter of a wooden school desk scarred with carvings depicting the names of prior students and fellow classmates alike; each minute message full of mysteries meant for your eyes only. And what do we do with best friends, my loves? Ask them for advice on style, of course! Meg herself has been kind enough to share her number one secret with us! What is your number one style secret and why? MC: Wear what makes you feel good, not what other people say is the latest trend. A lot of times what's "in" isn't necessarily right for YOU (Louboutins? The girls on Sex and the City might love them but I've never found a pair I can walk in comfortably. And what's the deal with khakis? I've yet to put on a pair that don't make my butt look gigantic). Just find what feels good (while still making you look good, of course), even if it means not going with the hottest designer. Who knows? Maybe you'll be the next trendsetter! You know those fringe boots that so many have cast to the wayside, lovers? I believe that I'll be playing trendsetter by donning them with denim cutoffs - a throwback to the bohemian styles I adore so much. How will you show your trendsetter colors today, kittens? Fashionably yours! Thanks to The Unquiet Library for the picture. Don't forget to enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons.

Smitten Saturday

♥For the Love of Lace Here’s to hoping that my utter adoration for lace in terms of fashion doesn’t come as a surprise to any of you, kitty cats; after all, it’s a fabrication that will forever be on the tip of my tongue. Lace is the quintessential way to channel one’s femininity; an ethereal, romantic construction which invokes images of Jane Austen’s spirited heroines; afternoons spent sipping tea in posh parlors while accoutered in layers of petticoats; and the ravishing beauties of Anna Godbersen’s The Luxe traipsing up and down Fifth Avenue, majestic parasols held high over their perfectly-coiffed heads. But don’t be fooled dolls; lace is a multifaceted material which harbors the ability to juxtapose between refined and rebellious – as visible via American Apparel’s Lace Tee.

Lovers I have forever been…smitten by the versatility of American Apparel’s designs. Their seemingly simple ability to meld into any given situation, and rise to the occasion at all times has forever left me flabbergasted; thus the reason I was so thrilled when AA sent the Lace Tee in Black Leaf Flower my way. Delicate in its crafting, the Lace Tee is the epitome of decadent architecture that will see you through winter, spring, summer, and fall, serving as a loose-fitting layering tee for blissful afternoons spent frolicking on the beach, or a seductive style to top a sinewy pencil skirt come nightfall. Ready to lace it up, kitty cats?

♥Mix It Up There are very few things that I heart in life as much as a good old-fashioned mix tape. While cute boys are often hesitant to put pen to paper and write the girl of their dreams (or girl of the moment) a sentimental love letter, many are more than willing to spend hours upon hours searching for songs that make them think of the one they’re currently devoted to – something which, in my mind, may be even better than a petite note which divulges oft-times fleeting moments and romances. Thus the reason why I’m currently plagued by an obsession with Cassette From My Ex.

Crowded with sixty tales of love, loss, heartache, and crushes, Cassette From My Ex is a charming compilation full of witty stories and soundtracks penned by the heaviest hitters in music and journalism – from Rolling Stone’s Jancee Dunn to The New Yoker’s Ben Greenman, and The Magnetic Fields’ Claudia Gonson. It’s a trip down memory lane that makes you sentimental for the eight tracks which have since been replaced by compact discs and digital media. And honestly…who can really resist nostalgia like that?

♥Smoke and Mirrors I’ve flirted with the idea of red lips; but I find it impossible to forsake my beloved blackest black mascara and dark as night liquid eyeliner for a punchy pout. I would much rather stay true to my love for smoky eyes and a nude lip; if only I could figure out a way to perfect said smoky eye. Don’t get me wrong, kittens, I have the mascara and eyeliner down pat, it is the eye shadow that has me in a tizzy. I truly have no knowledge of such a cosmetic. It has never been a part of my daily makeup regimen; therefore, it is completely foreign to me. Yet I must mingle as one with such a product in order to achieve the look I’m, at present time, coveting with every fiber of my being. So I suppose I should let the hunt begin. The question is…where to start?

Should I get down with a single shade, such as Tarina Tarantino’s Eye Dream Hypershadow in Chain or Butterfly Black, or mark’s I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Corset; or should I indulge in an entire smoky kit, like Dior’s 5-Colour Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette – Smoky Design, or Two Faced’s Smoky Eye Palette? Darlings, I simply must admit…selecting the optimal eye shadow may just be as difficult as choosing the perfect boy!

What were you smitten with this week?


Thanks to M Loves M and American Apparel for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons.

The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway

Darlings, need I remind you that, while each and every one of us favors a particular time of year (for me, it’s fall!), we must welcome all four seasons with open arms, and accept the special gift proffered from them all. As Yoko Ono once said, “Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” These are words to live by, my loves, as they are an uncomplicated way of shedding light upon the beauty of life – year-round! I know, I know; you may find it simpler to cook the hearty meals required to get you through a long winter, or perhaps dressing for the sultry summer is more appealing than layering for the cool chill of fall. Regardless of your preference, surviving twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year is possible – at least according to Mireille Guiliano. Brace yourselves, kitty cats…something wondrous this way comes. In true seasonable style, Café Fashionista has teamed up with Vintage Books to bring not one, not two, but three (3) of you lovable lambs Mireille Guiliano’s French Women for All Seasons; a follow-up to her bestseller French Women Don’t Get Fat, full to the brim with yummy recipes, and even yummier tips on entertaining, grooming, shopping, exercising, cooking, and everything in between to ensure that you live your life to the fullest from beginning to end! To Enter The Seasonable Fashionista Giveaway: ♥For one (1) entry, leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 25, 2010 at midnight PST. ♥For two (2) entries, Twitter about this giveaway, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 25, 2010 at midnight PST with your Twitter URL. ♥For three (3) entries, become a follower of Café Fashionista on Blogger/Google Reader/Google Friend Connect/Twitter, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 25, 2010 at midnight PST (if you are already a Café Fashionista follower, please say so in your comment). I will randomly pick three (3) names out of a hat (who knows, one of them could be yours!), and announce the winners on Friday, March 26, 2010. Good luck everyone! And yes, this Giveaway is open to everyone – U.S. or International residents! Fashionably yours! Thanks to The Hippo for the picture.

Café Fashionista Featured in SIX7*8th Magazine

Kitty cats you know how much I adore my magazines. While I spend my days browsing blogs on the Internet, the moment night falls there is nothing I adore more than curling up with a colorful glossy, and flipping through the pages until slumber completely overtakes me. Hence the reason why I was so thrilled when Angie Rangel and Carol S. Rothchild, the Publisher and Editorial Director of SIX7*8th Magazine asked me to be a part of their Cool Careers series under the title Fashion Blogger for the Winter 2010 issue.

Despite the fact that I am long out of junior high (SIX7*8th’s target audience), I have been a huge fan of the magazine since its debut back in 2006, and even had the opportunity to be a contributor, and interview The Jonas Brothers for them a few years back; therefore I jumped at the chance to be a part of such a fun project! After what seems like years – but, in all actuality, was only a couple of months – the issue has finally hit stands! I am scanning the interview on here (click the images to enlarge them!); but do go out and buy a copy if you’re able, as the magazine is full of fabulousness that is sure to make you a forever fan – regardless of age!




Fashionably yours!


Thanks to SIX7*8th for the magazine scans, and Tiffany Sorocco (my sister) for the picture of me in the sunnies.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

Why Don't You...?

♥…pull the covers over your head and go back to bed? Your bed is your sanctuary; therefore, today you are not to leave it!

♥…throw a tea party that would make the Mad Hatter envious? Style yourself in a candy-colored frock, order a box of Sprinkles Cupcakes in a variety of flavors, steep the tea (I’m partial to vanilla myself), and let the fun begin. Perhaps Alice or the White Rabbit will even pop in for an impromptu visit and a cupcake or two!

♥…flirt like it’s going out of style? It’s a known fact that flirting boosts self-esteem; so slick a bit of mark’s Gloss Gorgeous in Lolli upon your lips, blow yourself a kiss in the bathroom mirror, and get your flirt on!

♥…play the role of Dr. Seuss and host Opposite Day? Up means down; left means right; save…means splurge – go out and buy that Twenty8Twelve Charisse Romper you’ve been eyeing, darlings!

♥…tear up today’s to-do list and be spontaneous? As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Our spontaneous action is always the best. You cannot, with your best deliberation and heed, come so close to any question as your spontaneous glance shall bring you.”


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

Tightwad Tuesday: Rag & Bone Tailrace Shirtdress for a Steal

Darlings, I have no qualms about owning up to the truth; and the truth, at this precise moment, is that I am head over heels not only for chambray, but, specifically, chambray shirtdresses!

There is an element of bohemian elegance proffered via the sophisticated simplicity of the shirtdress; a majestically mussed, refined rumpled, posh playfulness showcased by the design, which makes one look as if they are accoutered in the very same dress shirt their cute boy du jour wore to a chichi corporate affair just last night, as opposed to a freshly laundered cut crafted with the curvy lady in mind. Therefore it should come as no surprise that Rag & Bone’s Tailrace Shirtdress is my new clothing crush.

Harboring a fold-over collar, eight-button closure, and shirttail hem identical to that seen upon dapper menswear; the Tailrace Shirtdress easily juxtaposes between masculinity and femininity in terms of design courtesy of a more fitted bodice which hugs one’s curves, whilst still allowing enough slack to make one feel relaxed, carefree, and fabulous!

Kitty cats, I truly cannot help it! Already my mind is ablaze with styling ideas for the piece de resistance of quintessential spring attire! Today I’ll haphazardly lasso a skinny, woven, cognac-hued belt around the waist and slip on a pair of knee-high, weatherbeaten riding boots for a rustic look; come this evening I’ll slide on a pair of black liquid leggings and sky-high stilettos to radiate effortless grandeur; and bright and early tomorrow morning you’ll see me gallivanting off to a blissful brunch dressed in nothing more than the Tailrace Shirtdress hanging lankly from my frame and a pair of glittering ballerinas for a truly laidback silhouette. All in my dreams, of course.

I suppose I should have let you in on that horrid little secret long ago, lovers; though, in all honesty, I was hoping it would magically disappear. The exorbitant price tag, that is. Beautiful, yes; affordable…absolutely not – for at $325.00 one could buy almost an entire new wardrobe for the amount required to make the Tailrace Shirtdress their own. Not to worry, of course; Ella is here to save the day.

While slightly darker in color, Alloy’s Ella Shirt Dress is just as decadent as Rag & Bone’s ravishing beauty; but at $39.90 a piece, one has the ability to snag it in both colors, and still have quite a bit left over for a glamorous spa day with the girls!

Which role have you decided to undertake on this terrific Tuesday, kittens? Tightwad or spendthrift?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Shopbop and Alloy for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

Play It Again, Sam

♥Waiting for a War - The Morning Benders
♥The Last High - The Dandy Warhols
♥The First Single - The Format
♥Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi
♥Starring - Freelance Whales
♥Hello Seattle - Owl City
♥Caring Is Creepy - The Shins
♥Trouble is a Friend - Lenka
♥Car Song - Elastica
♥Ocean City Girl - Ivy
What song has left you with the urge to say Play It Again, Sam this week, my loves?

Fashionably yours!

Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

Style Secrets: Doe Deere

Darlings, Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said “All grown-ups were children first. (But few of them remember it.)” Luckily for us, Doe Deere is one of the very rare individuals in this world who has not succumbed to such a dreadful fate. As the self-professed Queen of Unicorns, Doe – a New York City-based model, and makeup artist – has built herself a virtual magical kingdom based around whimsy, imagination, and a love of fairytales, in the form of Lime Crime Makeup.

Harboring the tagline “So Bright, It’s Illegal!” Lime Crime is made up of highly-pigmented lip and eye colors (fantastically known as Candyfuture Opaque Lipstick and Magic Dust), all of which feature fanciful monikers such as Circus Girl, Fairy Wings, and Great Pink Planet – hues that electrify ones pasty pallor in mere moments!

Now, despite the fact that Lime Crime products are being sold in shops like Urban Outfitters and Space NK; and the line boasts celebrity fans such as Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, and Regina Spektor, you would think that Doe would be unreachable by her many admirers. You couldn’t be more wrong, my loves! Regardless of her busy schedule, Doe posts daily tutorials and advice on Doe Deere Blogazine; and even took the time to reveal her number one style secret…to us!

What is your number one style secret and why?
DD: My number one style secret is not to be afraid of color. A lot of women today are so used to seeing themselves in neutrals, the minute they throw on something bright they go into color shock. Wearing color is not difficult - it just takes some getting used to! To break out of a color rut, start with small accessories like shoes, gloves and hats. Once you feel a little more comfortable wearing color, expand into skirts, tights, coats, and purses. You have a vibrant personality, why hide it behind boring clothes?

Here's to making the world a brighter place! :D

Today I think I’ll allocate the use of a purple frock that has been collecting dust in my closet. How will your wardrobe make the world a brighter place, kitty cats?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Doe Deere for the picture.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

Smitten Saturday

♥Twinkle Toes Girls really get the short end of the stick when it comes to dressing for a night out, don’t you think, dearests? While boys are allowed to cover themselves from head to toe, we being the fashionable femme fatales that we are, find ourselves compelled to be daring in our dress, allowing slivers of our soft, porcelain skin to be frostbitten by whipping winds for the sake of style. I don’t know about all of you, but there is one bit of my body that simply cannot be exposed to cutting conditions…my feet!

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, my tootsies can always be found bound in tights or socks that will keep them cozy no matter how low the temperature drops; therefore, yes, I will be donning my pleasing peep-toes for the holiday season, but no, my pedicured paws will not be bare. I shall be perusing a trio of lingerie-inspired girls by the names of Maria, Gloria, and Rita to keep my toes toasty yet tantalizing all at once. Voet Hosiery’s sassy scalloping, luring lace, and magnetizing mesh embellishments turn typical peds into swank selections you’ll be dying to show off to your friends, and don with your most darling pairs of slingbacks, ballerinas, and peep-toes. Which Voet girl is your favorite?

♥This Magic Moment Perhaps I’m unable to speak for all of you; but the concept of time capsules has forever left me riddled with excitement! There’s something quite enchanting about putting your hopes, dreams, and memories into a box, sealing it with a Juice Gems kiss, and settling it out of sight for years upon years, only to open it later on in life to reminisce, and re-discover your old self. But alas; far too many time capsules are buried underground, never to be seen again. So is not something to worry about with The Moment Jars. As opposed to spending countless hours searching for the perfect pieces to install in your capsule, The Moment Jars provides one with the ability to create as many as they’d like, and share them virtually with the world Online. What memories will you lock away in your moment jar?

♥Frosty Freeze Kitty cats, why on earth are we allowing Frosty the Snowman to have all the fun? There he is gallivanting through the streets singing jubilantly, a trail of pint-sized pals following closely in his wake, and where are we? Searching for the perfect product to coat our lips, of course! But lip gloss doesn’t always make the cut. Yes darlings, I’ve said it…when it comes to a powerful pucker sometimes we must forgo the slick surface of gloss, and embrace a frosty smooch for a kisser that draws crowds. A hue reminiscent of freshly fallen snow tinged with persuasive pastel or nude shades that play upon your lips in the most luxurious of fashions.

Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Lipstick in Frosted is the perfect present for the golden girl looking to add a subtle shimmer to her nude attitude. For the city slicker who loves bold colors, there’s no better choice than the brazen New York Apple from MAC. And the sophisticate who wants only an ever so slight sparkle will never be able to resist mark’s Pro Glimmer Hook Up Lip Powder. Layer it underneath your gloss du jour for an effect which juxtaposes between coquettish and cosmopolitan. Ready to get frosty?

What were you smitten with this week?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr and Voet Hosiery for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter The Little White Dress Giveaway for your chance to win the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress from TheWhiteDressShop.com.

The Little White Dress Giveaway

Darlings by now I imagine you have all heeded Holly Golightly’s advice and found yourself a little black dress that seems as if it were made for you, and only you, in mind; a slinky little number that makes you look and feel like a queen. I have news for you, lovers; your wardrobe is still incomplete! Yes, it’s obvious you’ve got the little black dress covered; but what about the white?

While oftentimes overlooked, the LWD is just as essential to one’s closet as the LBD. It serves as the yang, to the LBD’s yin; the vanilla to the LBD’s chocolate; the Robin to the LBD’s Batman. And now, kitty cats, one (1) of you blazing beauties has the chance to take one home.

Just in time for the white hot summer, Café Fashionista has teamed up with TheWhiteDressShop.com to bring one (1) fortunate fashionista the Aryn K Ivory Ruffle Dress – a flirty piece capable of making you look radiant whether frolicking upon the sandy shore with a cute boy or taking part in a bit of retail therapy on a sultry summer day.

To Enter The Little White Dress Giveaway:

♥Visit TheWhiteDressShop.com and choose your favorite dress.

♥For one (1) entry, leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 18, 2010 at midnight PST stating which TheWhiteDressShop.com dress is your favorite.

♥For two (2) entries, Twitter about this giveaway, and leave a comment on this post stating which TheWhiteDressShop.com dress is your favorite between now and Thursday, March 18, 2010 at midnight PST with your Twitter URL.

♥For three (3) entries, become a follower of Café Fashionista on Blogger/Google Reader/Google Friend Connect, and leave a comment on this post stating which TheWhiteDressShop.com dress is your favorite between now and Thursday, March 18, 2010 at midnight PST (if you are already a Café Fashionista follower, please say so in your comment).

I will randomly pick one (1) name out of a hat (who knows, it could be yours!), and announce the winner on Friday, March 19, 2010.

Good luck everyone!

This Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents! Winner will be able to choose their dress size.


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to TheWhiteDressShop.com for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Thrifty Thursday: Smythe Wool Shawl Collar Girlfriend Blazer on a Budget

Let’s be honest, shall we, my loves? One cannot officially launch spring or summer until they are in possession of an accoutrement that is white, wonderful, and, without a doubt, multifaceted enough to be labeled a wear-with-all. A design that creates a stir whether topping your neutral-toned Nude Look Dress from mark, or a simple pair of Rag & Bone’s The Straight Jeans.

Yes darlings, I am aware of how much you adore your midnight hues, and noir shades – as do I; but come the arrival of warm whether, it is essential for one to lighten their wardrobe in terms of color scheme, if only to properly welcome in the new season. And there is no more perfect way to do so, than with the addition of a sassy splash of white – specifically, Smythe’s Wool Shawl Collar Girlfriend Blazer.

Leave the boyfriend at home today, kitty cats; Smythe’s Wool Shawl Collar Girlfriend Blazer proffers the very same just-pulled-from-the-significant-others-closet personality of the boyfriend blazer, with the added benefit of knowing that it was created particularly with the willowy, curvy shape of the glamorous gal’s silhouette in mind!

Sleek and sinewy in its aesthetic, Smythe’s saucy style is crafted entirely out of ivory wool, and adorned with rolled cuffs decadently displaying a three-button closure upon each one to ensure that you can create three-quarter sleeves with little to no fuss; while the one-button fastener about the front molds a perfect profile which safeguards that you look elegant at all times.

‘Tis a shame the scathing price tag is just as elegant and haut monde as the design, for at $550.00, it seems unlikely that very many would have the funds available to splurge on such a cosmopolitan cut. The same, however, cannot be said for White House Black Market’s Ecru Shawl Collar Jacket.

At just $49.99, White House Black Market’s beauty is precisely what the doctor ordered for the frugal fashionista!

Tell me, kittens…will you be a big spender and go for Smythe, or be thrifty and spring for White House Black Market?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Bloomingdale’s and White House Black Market for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6.

Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Why Don't You...?

♥…go ice skating a la Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack in Serendipity? No embarrassment allowed – falling down and making a fool of oneself is all part of the fun!

♥…purposely get all dressed up despite the fact that you have nowhere to go? Slip into a sweeping, floor-length gown, and spend the evening feeling like a debutante. You never know when Prince Charming will knock at the door.

♥…shelve your typical reading material and delve into a tale penned in a foreign language? Devour Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’ Diary in Italian; savor Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea in Japanese; inhale Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in German; and if you’re feeling truly precocious, take a tryst with Kay Thompson’s Plaza-dwelling darling Eloise in French.

♥…pull out a stack of pretty stationary and pen an old-fashioned letter to the individual whose style you admire most?

♥…replace greasy bags of potato chips and salty snacks with posh hors d’oeuvres consisting of Antipasto Skewers, Quiche Lorraine, and General Tso's Chicken Dumplings? Line them up on smashing sterling silver serving trays and invite a gaggle of your girlfriends over for an impromptu gathering.


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6.

Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Tightwad Tuesday: AG Adriano Goldschmied Ex-Boyfriend Short for a Steal

Obviously I’m unable to speak for all of you, dolls; but as for myself, I have always felt that a break-up with a cute boy resulted in quite a bit more than simply throwing oneself headlong into the dating game once again. The true tragedy of such an occurrence lies more within the wardrobe department.

Though we are loathe to admit it, preferring to keep our mark Gloss Gorgeous lips sealed, the truth of the matter is that a break-up literally cuts our beloved wardrobe in half. No longer do we have access to the oversized cardigans that kept us warm on chilly afternoons; the boxy black blazers that balanced our flirty, floral skirts; or the baggy jeans that so perfectly complemented our oxford flats and skintight tanks. Rather, we are forced to rely on the contents of our very own closets – a concept which makes us contemplate rekindling our fizzled-out romance. Hence the reason why I am so obsessed with AG Adriano Goldschmied’s Ex-Boyfriend Short.

Proffering the very same style synonymous with the much adored pieces found buried within the depths of your boyfriend’s bureau; the Ex-Boyfriend Short gives you the chance to retain all semblance of androgynous adorableness, without the unnecessary BF drama.

Decadently distressed and sporting slight whiskering about the front to create that well-worn, weatherbeaten aesthetic that we all know and love, the Ex-Boyfriend Short is a design with the ability to dress your look du jour up or down – depending upon your mood of the moment, of course!

But no; darlings it’s truly not as simple as that. While sinewy, seductive, and sophisticated by outward appearances; the tiny tag dangling from the waistband boasting the wicked triple-digit appraisal of $195.00 is a lackluster addition to the allure of the Ex-Boyfriend Short, rendering it as nothing more than another item to place on our ever-growing wish list. Thank goodness for LOFT!

At $54.50 a pair, LOFT’s Dark Wash Boyfriend Shorts, while lacking the whiskered detailing seen upon the Ex-Boyfriend Short, are just as glamorous as their higher-priced partner in crime; and a complete necessity for your spring wardrobe!

Are you having a tightwad moment darlings, or are you plagued with a craving to splurge?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Piperlime and LOFT for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6.

Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Play It Again, Sam

♥Slow Song - Gets the Girl
♥Violet Hill - Coldplay
♥Moth's Wings - Passion Pit
♥My Propeller - Arctic Monkeys
♥No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses
♥I Sing I Swim - Seabear
♥1973 - James Blunt
♥Private Affair - The Virgins
♥She Moves In Her Own Way - The Kooks
♥Steady, As She Goes - The Raconteurs
What song has left you with the urge to say Play It Again, Sam this week, my loves?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6.

Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Style Secrets: Melissa Walker

Kitty cats, long before my discovery of i heart daily (my morning obsession read by the harsh blue glow of the computer screen before the sun has so much as deemed it appropriate to spring into action), I was convinced that IHD co-creator Melissa Walker was the best friend I never had. As the author of the Violet trilogy (Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet In Private) – a book series which I instantly think of whenever I hear Coldplay’s Violet Hill; in addition to having worked as ELLEGirl’s Features Editor, and Editor of Seventeen Prom, I can’t help but to think that Melissa may just be one of the coolest girls on the planet. Dolls, if you weren’t already aware (though I truly hope you were!), Melissa knows precisely how to be stylish and have fun all at the very same time – case in point, jumping into a pool while wearing a Luella Bartley for Target frock (as seen in the picture above); a dress which not only survived such immersion, but still lives on today. Thus the reason I find it of the utmost importance to learn her number one style secret; and lucky for us, my loves, she was kind enough to share it! What is your number one style secret and why? MW: My style secret is just one thing. But in truth, it's hundreds of "one things." What I mean is, whenever I'm going out, I try to wear just one thing that makes me feel special. That could be Bright Coral Lipstick or the perfect clutch or bright blue tights or my grandmother's vintage sweater with a cardigan clip - these are my FAVORITES lately. Some days I have time for my special thing to be a whole ensemble, but other days it turns out to be electric blue mascara. Because even with a t-shirt and jeans, electric blue mascara can make you feel like a queen. Know what I mean? Oh, I know exactly what you mean, Melissa! My “one thing” today is my Lola and George Reef Ring. Tell me, darlings…what’s your one thing? Fashionably yours! Thanks to Melissa Walker and Etsy for the pictures. Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6. Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Smitten Saturday

♥Beauty Sleep Dolls, I wasn’t just educated in the power of the little black dress courtesy of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Nor did I leave the film only with a desire to spend countless hours gazing longingly and lovingly upon the breathtaking baubles displayed at Tiffany’s. Non, there was something else that I took away from Audrey’s glamorous, beatnik character; and that was an appreciation for sleep masks.

I know, I know…it’s best to allow the skin to breathe come nightfall; but there’s something quite enchanting about perusing an ambrosial little mask during your moments of slumber, which has led me to seek out one of my very own. The question is…which one? Should I channel my inner Hepburn via Fred Flare’s Holly GoNightly Sleep Mask? Invoke visions of cupcakes from New York City’s Magnolia Bakery with the dainty Lily Satin Sleep Mask in Light Pink from Mimi A La Mode? Or hope for my princess-inspired dreams to come true courtesy of Loretta’s Intimates Mary Green Princess Sleep Mask? Decisions, decisions…how do you get your beauty sleep lovelies?

♥Do You Believe in Magic? You know me, loves…I’m obsessed with all things fantastical. I quote Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland in real life situations; and to a certain extent I have stars in my eyes – at least in terms of imagination. So why wouldn’t I fall head over heels for a cosmetics company that sports one of my favorite mythical creatures – a unicorn – as their mascot? While I typically embrace a neutral palette in terms of makeup, Lime Crime is my new obsession. Bright, somewhat impractical yet completely playful colors with names like Cosmopop, Styletto, and No She Didn’t mingle upon ones mouth; while knock-em-dead shadows known as “Magic Dust,” and harboring titles such as Pink Poodle, Shoe Addict, and Dragon Scales hover about ones eyes to truly make your pretty peepers pop! Don’t be shy, kitty cats; it’ll be our little secret…do you believe in magic?

♥Parcel Post I don’t believe that there is any phrase more magical than the sublime “mail call!” Oh, I quite understand that it’s merely two little words announcing a delivery, but it’s the thoughts that infiltrate your mind at the thought of what the delivery holds that has the power to send giddy shivers up and down your spine. Will it be for you? What is it? Clothes? Jewelry? A gift from a secret admirer? Or, less chichi, the one that often finds its way to my doorstep – textbooks. Sorry for getting sidetracked my pets…nothing beats getting mail, plain and simple. Ergo, my petite delivery-loving heart is completely spellbound with Parcel, a whimsical little shop straight out of Montclair, New Jersey which specializes in darling inspiration boxes full of crafty surprises that bring out the creative mademoiselle within.

For the Francophile there’s the Paris Is for Lovers Theme Parcel. For the Cinderella-loving girl longing to attend a Masquerade Ball there’s the Magic Theme Parcel. For the wannabe princess there’s the Faerie Wonderland Theme Parcel. But that’s not all; there are many other variations of the splendid parcel, enough to make the heart of anyone and everyone skip a beat. Was that the doorbell? Perhaps there’s a parcel for me!

What were you smitten with this week?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr and Beaut.ie for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway for your chance to win an Adjust-A-Button from bristols6.

Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway

Kitty cats, as the glittering glamazons that we are, we know far better than others that one does not need to have just stuffed themselves with pumpkin pie and loads of cranberry sauce at the Thanksgiving table to feel that unmistakable bulge about the waistline that signifies…a fat day! Of course there is no truth behind such an idea; nevertheless, it makes us feel frumpy – and no fashionista wants that! Enter Adjust-A-Button.

Darlings, Adjust-A-Button proffers the ease of inserting a simple pin, with the ability to add or reduce up to one-and-a-half inches about the waistline of your denim du jour – and now one (1) of you lovely ladies has the chance to make it your very own.

Just in case you haven’t guessed already, I’m going to open up the vault and let you in on a little secret…Café Fashionista has teamed up with bristols6 to bring one (1) of you fabulous femme fatales an Adjust-A-Button all your own. Save the muffin tops for your morning breakfast, my loves – this clever little contraption will take your wardrobe to new heights!

To Enter the Quick Fashion Fix Giveaway:

♥For one (1) entry, leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 11, 2010 at midnight PST.

♥For two (2) entries, follow @Bristols6 on Twitter, Twitter about this giveaway, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 11, 2010 at midnight PST with your Twitter URL.

♥For three (3) entries, become a follower of Café Fashionista on Blogger/Google Reader/Google Friend Connect, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, March 11, 2010 at midnight PST (if you are already a Café Fashionista follower, please say so in your comment).

I will randomly pick one (1) name out of a hat (who knows, it could be yours!), and announce the winner on Friday, March 12, 2010.

Good luck everyone!

This Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Adjust-A-Button for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Thrifty Thursday: Tom Ford Claudia Sunglasses for Less

Darlings, I don’t know about you; but personally I see nothing wrong with indulging in multiple pairs of sunglasses. Many feel the need to place all of their adoration on a single pair that will see them through late-night bonfires on the beach, sticky summer afternoons spent amongst fellow music lovers at various concerts in the park, and early-morning people-watching sessions that involve peering at cute boys atop the terrace of a chichi café from behind dark shades. Not I.

I prefer to switch up my sunny personality on a nearly daily basis, depending upon my current cravings; and, at the moment, I’m coveting un petit tête-à-tête with Tom Ford’s Claudia.

I know that I have said it time and time again about various accoutrements, accessories, and forms of footwear; but this time there is no question about it…I truly believe that Claudia may be my sunglass counterpart. She is, without a doubt, destined to be my new partner in crime.

A sinewy little seductress who sports not chunky, overbearing arms to support her oversized round frames, but rather twig-like tentacles showcasing a subtle strip of gold plating that takes on a look synonymous with a gilded piece of bamboo; Claudia is every bit as posh and sophisticated as the girl about town aspires to be. Hence the reason why it pains me to say that she is also the bearer of a price tag just as glamorous and urbane as her aesthetic.

Kitty cats, given the fact that I change my sunglasses as frequently as I change my undergarments, I am obviously not in a position to spend the $249.99 required to make Claudia my own. Never mind the fact that she has graced the face of my favorite Spice Girl from childhood (Baby Spice, for your information), it’s simply not going to happen. As for Old Navy’s Women’s Bamboo-Frame Sunglasses, however…I’ll take a pair in black, purple, and light brown – please and thank you!

At $9.50 a pair, I find myself incapable of resisting Old Navy’s affordably amazing answer to Claudia’s chic-tude; thus, I will be spoiling myself with all three colors. After all, a girl can never have too many pairs of sunglasses peeking out of her handbag!

Which road are you traveling today, dolls? Tightwad or spendthrift?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to hi Sunglasses and Old Navy for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Why Don't You...?

♥…unearth your packed away treasure trove of vintage fashion magazines and reacquaint yourself with the styles of yesteryear?

♥…forget what mommy dearest told you and indulge in dessert for dinner? Replace colorless chicken with Chocolate Mousse Cakes from Dean & Deluca; forgo a side of carrots for Cannoli Minis; turn your nose up at soggy mashed potatoes and instead spoil yourself with Apple Strudel. As long as you share your dessert with me kittens, your scandalous behavior will remain our little secret.

♥…cast all thoughts of buyer’s remorse aside and splurge on that Foley + Corinna Jet Setter Jr. Tote you’ve been eyeing for so long? Tuck it in to bed next to you for safekeeping during slumber, admire it in all of its elegant equestrian beauty, and wear it with pride. Why? That’s easy darlings…because you’re worth it!

♥…take a fashion-inspired mental health day? Ring up your place of employment or call in sick to school, stock up on Yummy Cupcakes, and settle down for a girls’ day in with Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes.

♥…tuck your sparkling baubles into the dark depths of your dresser drawer and replace them with yummy accessories that you can eat? Nibble on a necklace in between your hair and nail appointments; savor a sucker styled as a ring while waiting in line at the supermarket; chomp on a charm bracelet during cram sessions. Go ahead darlings; spoil your sweet tooth and your craving for playful panache!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to We ♥ It for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Tightwad Tuesday: Pleasure Doing Business 5 Band Stripe Skirt for a Steal

There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it dolls, a bandage skirt is to a girls wardrobe what waffle cones are to a heaping scoop of Ben & Jerry’s Turtle Soup on a sweltering summer day, what hay rides and apple cider are to the first day of fall, what the red cups at Starbucks are to the holidays…an iconic necessity that one is completely unfulfilled without.

It doesn’t matter if it rarely sees the light of day, or only makes appearances under the harsh fluorescent glow of a nightclub dance floor during an outing with your besties; simply knowing that your wardrobe harbors such an essential accoutrement provides you with the peace of mind required to accomplish any obstacle that may be cast in your direction. Hence the reason why I am clearing a space in my closet specifically for Pleasure Doing Business’ 5 Band Stripe Skirt.

The typical navy blue and white sailor stripes have received a rebellious makeover, my loves; for the 5 Band Stripe Skirt flaunts a duo of midnight hues mingling side by side in the form of navy blue and ebony shades – a delightful black and blue mix that would look just as striking with a simple boyfriend tee tucked into its waistband, as it would paired with a sparkly tank speckled with a haphazard mix of shimmering embellishments.

Snug in its aesthetic, the 5 Band Stripe Skirt plays into the bodycon trend, coiling itself around your shape bandage style to hug every last curve; yet maintaining resilience courtesy of the elastic construction. All necessity, sassiness, and adoration aside, however, the 5 Band Stripe Skirt, while gentle and flexible in its design, is extremely rigid and steep in its price tag.

Sorry darling, you know I love you Pleasure Doing Business, but I do not love your $99.00 asking price for such a simple style. Forever 21, on the other hand…welcome to my world!

At $14.80, Forever 21’s Banded Stripe Skirt looks nearly identical to Pleasure Doing Business’ pretty, with the simplistic difference of enormous savings!

Tell me, kittens…will you be a big spender and go for Pleasure doing Business, or be thrifty and spring for Forever 21?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Singer22 and Forever 21 for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.

Play It Again, Sam

Darlings, whether we feel compelled to admit it or not, we are all well acquainted with that song. The one that instantly makes us want to sashay up and down the sidewalk like models on the runway, garnering bizarre glances from those around us which go completely unnoticed as we are, unquestionably, lost in the music.

Perhaps All Time Low said it best in the song Hello Brooklyn with those eight simple words… “Heels on the sidewalk begging for a backbeat.” After all, life is a runway; and, as you have heard me say time and time again, every moment in life deserves a soundtrack. Therefore, please welcome Play It Again, Sam, Café Fashionista’s newest weekly series devoted to…you guessed it, petite playlists designed to get you through whatever craziness life throws your way. Happy listening, kitty cats!

♥I’m Not Your Toy - La Roux
♥All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
♥And the Boys - Angus and Julia Stone
♥Bathroom Gurgle - Late of the Pier
♥Skeleton Boy - Friendly Fires
♥The Story I Heard - Blind Pilot
♥Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club
♥Take It Like A Man - Dragonette
♥Giving Up the Gun - Vampire Weekend
♥Seasons May Change - Afternoon Naps
What song has left you with the urge to say Play It Again, Sam this week, my loves?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Tumblr for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Time After Time Orient Automatic Watch Giveaway for your chance to win a watch from Orient Watch USA.