If you always end up paying the minimum $50 fee for extra luggage, then you’ll love swim suits that can double as shirts for a poolside brunch. The best way to guarantee you don’t forget your suit is to incorporate it in your getaway wardrobe. Here are my top picks for bathing suits to prance around on land or sea:
Lulus.com, Mink Pink, $133
Shopbop.com, Lisa Marie Fernandez, $390
With the start of Mad Men’s Sixth Season, I’ve been inspired to highlight some very chic retro fashions. Just take a peek at Banana Republic’s annual collection featuring boxy shells, geometric print dresses, and gingham capris. Wrap a silk scarf around your head for a easy to manage mod do that keeps all pretty faces intriguing and protected from the sun.
This year I got a belated Valentine from the team at Influenster!
It was stuffed with four goodies to help a lady look and feel her best.
1. Not Your Mother’s Sea Salt Spray, $6- The spray has a nice tropical coconut smell making you feel like your tousled hair was blown just so on an island beach. I try to avoid putting salt in my hair because I don’t want to dry it out, but this spray didn’t make it stringy and lackluster. My hair is very thick, and I think may have worked better with less hair. It did add a subtle kinkiness, but not the effect I would expect from actually taking a dip in the ocean. At six dollars this product sounds like a bargain, but it is easy to make yourself. I’m always reading magazine recipes for achieving sexy, beachy hair. If you look at the ingredients in this bottle it’s primarily water and sea salt, two products you already own! I would recommend this product instead of concocting it yourself if: you feel lazy, want to experience the redolent scent of the tropics, or you made your own spray and didn’t get the results you wanted.
2. Skinnygirl Daily Bars, $10 for a pack of 5- These come in four flavors, all which sound excellent. I tried the Coco-Nut with Peanut Butter, so that’s the only one I can comment on for taste. It is delicious! …That is if you like coconut and peanuts since you’ll be tasting plenty of both. If you recognize the brand, that’s because it was created by Bethenny Frankel who first started Skinnygirl healthy indulgences with lower calorie margaritas. The bars do have some benefits. This one has 8 grams of protein, provides 5 grams of fiber, and 20% Vitamin E. They fall about where I would expect with sugars (8 grams) and calories (180). While they are all Kosher and and remain similar as far as the nutrition listed, some are much higher in fat than others. The Banana Oatmeal Dark Chocolate and Greek Yogurt Blueberry Crisp have 13% saturated fat; that’s half what the Coco-nut one contains! Of course coconut, dark chocolate, and nuts are all high in fat so it isn’t so radical. At two dollars a piece, you can get two Luna Bars for the price of one Skinnygirl Bar. Overall, I don’t plan on buying these all the time, but I am curious to try the flavors that are lower in fat and compare the taste. It could be a good pre-workout dessert.
2. Olay Fresh Effects Shine Minimizing Cleansing System, $13- I think of Olay as a brand that focuses on wrinkle prevention and fine line solutions. It was exciting to see them expand their market to teens and young women. When I used this product it was hard for me to say what I was hoping to get out of it. It says it’s supposed to clean, but I was wearing mascara so I carelessly wiped off my makeup beforehand. My fear with these products is always that the bristles will be abrasive, but instead it provided a gentle cleanse. I wanted to be able to remove the product without the need for five cold water splashes, but I was out of luck in that department. I’m not sure what the tool is supposed to do? Exfoliate, minimize appearance of pores, massage? But either way I liked that it was a fun gadget that allowed me to clean my face without it touching my hands. The cream was a peculiar silver color, but it smelled fine. I would tell you to try this product if you’re interested. Maybe it’s the placebo effect, but I do feel like my skin feels smooth and looks fresh today. Plus, this is a bargain compared to other similar facial cleansing products.
3. Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response, $7.99- I was looking for a new deodorant and with tons of competing commercials out there it is hard to know what is good without testing it. Needless to say, I was happy when this was put on my doorstep. What’s interesting is that this deodorant is designed to specifically combat stress sweat which they say it the worst smelling of the causes (ick!). You should know that it is not just a deodorant, it is an antiperspirant too. This means that it’s scented, as well as made with aluminum to help you stop sweating. Researchers are still up in the air about the health effects of using antiperspirant. It has 20% of the active ingredient, where as other “no sweat” antiperspirants have 15%-25%. To get one with more you need a prescription. The Secret roll up is great for a job interview, a first date, or a stroll in the park with your boyfriend on a hot summer day. I would recommend it for big events, especially because the scent is amazing. It’s “serene citrus” and smells like an orange blossom garden. It’s good to also have an all natural deodorant on your dresser for daily use, such Tom’s of Maine.
**I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes
The newest trend right now isn’t a pair of booties, a dainty chain necklace, or even a colored satchel, it’s a box, or to include the one variant on the list, a package. Subscription boxes come just like magazines, once at the beginning of every month. They include an assortment of products that ship for a flat fee which frequently includes free shipping. Most of these are beauty boxes, but the market is starting to expand beyond makeup and body products to fashion and accessories. It began with Birchbox and now has the concept has soared. If you love surprises, then be sure to read on!
Birchbox: You get five customized premium beauty and grooming samples from popular brands, mostly those sold at Sephora
-$10/month + ability to earn points
A sample box might include- Beauty Blender sponge, Korres shower gel, Nail polish remover pads, Juicy Couture perfume sample, and Ghirardelli chocolate
Pro- A selection that is tailored to your appearance and your beauty preferences. They also sell a kit for men!
Con- The box is only stuffed with samples, so it’s more of a chance to test what products you might be interested in rather than an opportunity to get something that will last for 6+ months.
POPSUGAR Must Have Box: Get beauty, fashion, and home items that are favorites of the POPSUGAR team
-$35/month, worth over $100
Last month’s box included- Revlon lip stain, Hanky Panky thong, Brokedown wrap, Connoisseurs jewelry cleaner
, Safe Haven book, MarieBelle New York’s Trésor Box, and Conversation Hearts candy,
Pro- Definitely sounds like it’s worth the money, and everything is selected by editors who have tested tons of loot.
Con- Although there was a theme to the February box, you don’t really know what to expect. It’s a big motley package of girlie products.
The List gift bag by I-Ella: Submit a style profile and then choose from one of three levels. It’s hard to say exactly what you’ll get, but I think the lower end ones include makeup and jewelry while the two more expensive sets have clothing and accessories. With all bags you will get 3-5 items and 1-2 of them will have a designer label.
-Must subscribe for 3 or 6 months, $59/month, $129/month, $389/month, worth almost double the price
A sample Soho box might include-The Entrepreneur Equation book, Sam + Lavi blouse, and Elena Rubin Carpe Diem lotion
Pro- It’s fun and will make make you very excited to check the mail. They sell it using the pitch that it’s like getting a mysterious swag bag at a fancy fashion party.
Con- It is clearly very pricey.
Ipsy: Created by makeup artist, Michelle Phan, famous for her blog with loaded with tutorials, this also includes samples and occasionally full sized makeup, hair, and body products from less familiar brands. The box looks nice, but it hardly differs from Birchbox.
-$10/month
A past box included- A makeup bag, Coastal Scents eye shadow palette, Mirenesse lipgloss, Bombshell mascara, Pequi oil treatment, and a Circus nail polish
Pro- Includes full sized as well as sample sized products. They are also open with what comes in the box. Members can review what they received and view past and even current arrivals. Best of all, the site operates like a social media platform where you can access awesome video tips and how-tos from other users.
Con- Seems awfully similar to what the ladies at Birchbox started but with a slight twist.
Sample Society- Beauty Bar and Allure have teamed up to create another box of deluxe samples. Each month you get sent five samples and a mini beauty magazine. You may get makeup, skincare, and/or hair products, and it seems most boxes come with more body and skincare products than makeup.
-$15/month with the chance to save money on a full sized item, it seems the value really ranges but is often 3x the price paid
A sample box may contain- Oscar Blandi mousse, Exude lipstick, Herbal Essentials towelettes, Lord and Berry eye pencil, and Borghese body lotion,
Pro- The brands are really pricey so even with sample sizes you get your money’s worth.
Con- Maybe it’s just me but it seems the contents aren’t that useful. I own a handful of eye liners and don’t need fancy body schmears or eye cream…even if it’s infused with caviar.
Glossybox- Another service that allows the you to share your preferences and promises that you will be satisfied with the careful arrangement of five samples to suit your fancy.
-$21/month
A previous box included- Tarte Glamazon Lipstick, OPI Sand Nail Lacquer, Sebastian Professional Potion No. 9, Narcisco Rodriquez Eau de Toilette, and Prime Style Extender
Pro- They reveal the products after they have been sent out so it makes it easier for you to decide whether or not you want to continue the service. Last month they had the blogger of the Man Repeller compile her favorites for a special box.
Con- At $20/21 (depending on how many months you choose) it’s a little steeper in price than some of the other deluxe sample sites.
I would love to hear your opinions and reviews on any of these boxes!
*Picture from Birchbox
A huge selling point for an article of clothing is versatility. If you can wear it more than one way, people are interested. It means they can maximize their style without expanding the budget. For example, a chambray snap down can be worn by itself or with layers, dressed up or down, and you can adjust the sleeves and tie the bottom. But often pieces are special because you can only wear them on certain occasions or during a specific time of year. Here are some spring/summer pieces that will boost your homemade cutoff shorts. You might like these accessories so much that you find yourself wearing them every sun shinin’ day.
Made in the Shade Necklace, shopgracieb.com, $19
Flower Crown Headwrap, Urban Outfitters, $20
4/4S Phone Case, Free People, $28
Tie Dye Scarf, PacSun, Kirra, $15
Popsicle Candy Earrings, Betsey Johnson, $45
Spring may be the rainiest season, but the sum of showers plus sunshine equals beautiful rainbows. While we say farewell to the long, dark days of winter, nature greets us with optimistic splashes of color seen in blooming plants and flowers and the plumes of birds. The best way to express our appreciation is to echo the view with our clothing. Pantone, the authority on color, gives us the titles of spring’s hottest hues. This year ten specialty colors were selected, all of them are reminders of the warm days ahead. Here are my picks for great wardrobe additions based on the chosen palette:
Nectarine- Dress, Motel Rocks, $90 |
Lemon Zest- Purse, Piperlime, Milly, $198 |
A frican Violet- Jeans, Bloomingdales, Rag and Bone, $185 |
 Tender Shoots- Dress, Victoria’s Secret, $88 |
Monaco Blue- Dress, Bebe, $149 |
Linen- Shirt, Guess, $79 |
 Poppy- Skirt, Lulu’s, $33 |
Emerald- Sweater, Ann Taylor, $50 |
 Grayed Jade- Clutch, Shoptiques.com, Pampa & Pop, $107 |
Dusk Blue- Dress, Modcloth.com, $100 |
Still looking for the perfect Valentine’s day outfit? Check out what Motel Rocks has to offer, here are three reasons why I’m loving Motel Rocks right now! Hint: Valentine’s Day apparel is number two!
1. You can get 15% off with the discount code “fashionscoop.”
2. They have tons of spirited apparel
Tights, Pamela Mann- $18, Dress- $60, Romper- $100
3. There is a contest right now to win 10,000 pounds to Motel Rocks! I know that’s British currency, but I believe it is open internationally. It ends on February 18th, so be sure to enter before then! Click here to enter now on Facebook.
*Pictures from Motel Rocks
Maybe you made a resolution for 2013 to volunteer more or be a kinder toward strangers but there is no harm in indulging in some style naughtiness. Garters were introduced as something used to keep thigh-high stockings up, but they evolved into a tantalizing undergarment accoutrement worn by old-fashion seductresses. Recently, we’ve encountered two nuanced ways to wear the style. Mock garters straps attach to “winter hotpants” aka cut-out leggings that connect the portion at your thigh to the rest of the material with a buckle or a thin strip of fabric. The more modest way is to get tights that have an line as a garter illusion. These are my picks
Velvet Leggings- Widow, Karmaloop.com- $57
Pleather Leggings- ShopAkira.com- $25
Jersey Leggings- luisaviaroma.com- $148
Tights- Pretty Polly, Nordstrom, $25
In the world of Elie Saab, magic comes from anticipated objects used to define beauty, flowers, lace, and sparkles, not latent and ironic details like in Prada’s creations. That’s why it is always interesting to see him design something more practical and well…professional. He truly delivered last week when he revealed a collection featuring flattering cuts, solid colors, and feminine details for pant suits, office dress, and gowns. Long coats were balanced with shorter flippy skirts, knee-length dresses were offset with peplum ruffles and he countered professional pant suits with matching purses and sheer blouses. Everything had a womanly touch but these somewhat subdued looks showed a more realistic approach to looking pretty. Most outfits were completely monochromatic except for a gold accessory or two, including a waist-cinching belt which was worn with half the collection pieces. The single but dramatic color (red, cobalt blue, teal, grayish periwinkle, gray, white, and black) allowed there to be more attention given to the frame and fabric. An office filled with confident women dressed in Elie Saab’s collection is likely what Beyonce envisioned when she wrote “Run The World (Girls).” The other half of the collection is evening wear, gowns that hit past the toe and which either hugged the whole body or hung looser as caftans with bell sleeves. Even though his designs stand out, he didn’t neglect all the popular trends that other designers doted on, sheer skirts, fur coats, and a high slit. The most adventurous outfit is look 27. It is a white bodysuit with a floor length cape that swings on her shoulder like a hooked aisle runner. The white is too stark and crisp to appear ethereal; this is the leader of the office who wears her jewels on a clutch instead of a crown.
LeeLee’s Accessories is an Etsy shop that sells jewelry and hats. The owner, LeAnn sent me one of her designs, a triangle statement necklace in coral (on left) and gold earrings set (below). You can purchase the necklace in lavender or black, all with gold caps on each triangle point which match the stud earrings perfectly! No false advertising here. The necklace looks exactly as it does in her pictures, and it arrived quickly in a cute pink organza bag. On Etsy, LeeLee’s Accessories has a perfect 100% feedback rating. I’ve seen similarly styled necklaces that are flimsy and double the price. This one is easy to clasp, has an adjustable chain, and is durable but lightweight. The set is only $15, so it’s the perfect gift for any female. I’m wearing the necklace at it’s tightest point so it can hang an inch or two longer than shown. I also do not have pierced ears, but I found a great way to style the earrings. I added them as embellishment to my button down shirt, and I love the subtle, easy transformation. Of course they also look good in your ear. Right now you’ll only find jewelry in her store, but she also sells fedoras with ribbon bands in the summertime.
Below are a few of my favorites from her shop:
Turquoise Statement Necklace- $25
Gold and White Gemstone Necklace- $30
Blouse, Neiman Marcus, BCBG- $148
Skirt, Urban Outfitters, Sparkle and Fade- $59
Bowtie, Asos.com- $14
Our Total= $256 Just Khloe’s shoes= $1,195!
*Main picture from StyleBistro.com
Every month I will feature five stores or websites and their best “Just In Stock” products. I’ll showcase about five pieces from each company covering with something for everyone as far as price and age group. It will be a great chance to drool over lustworthy garments, get to the good stuff before it’s sold out, and hopefully discover and rediscover new shops. Let the fun begin!
Topshop:
Applique Lace Midi Dress- $190, Contrast Skater Skirt- $76, City Lights Bracelet- $40, Snaffle Detail Sunglasses- $32
The Limited:
Stripe Sweater- $42, Polka Dot Skinny Jeans- $80, Stretch Handkerchief Pocket Skinny Pants- $40, Swag Chain Belt- $30
ShopSosie.com
Hi Low Dress- $48, Chiffon Blouse- $36, Tie Top- $36, Teal Necklace- $30
Love Culture:Sleeveless Top- $18, Baroque Legging- $19, Skinny Flower Garden Jeans- $25, Faux Suede Pumps- $24
White House Black Market:
Off The Shoulder Sweater- $88, Black Sheath- $160, Denim Camp Shirt- $88, Berry Ombre Tube Scarf- $38
Snooki might be known for her wild partying but this year she got a fresh start as a mother. Since settling down, parenting has not been her only project; she collaborated with Style Queen to create four accessory lines for their website.
Style Queen is a website primarily targeting young adults or brides-to-be with swanky looking jewelry at affordable prices. They sent me the Shooting Star Ring which has an adjustable band so it fits the way I want it. I also like how the design decorates a large part of my upper hand but only circumscribes one finger so I get full flexibility. While some celebrities design clothing that doesn’t reflect their personal style, Snooki incorporated her obvious trademarks such as spikes, cat ear headbands, and blinged out faux-gold and silver. My one critique is that based on my experience, the products aren’t created to last forever. The finish will fade and the metal may break if you start to pull or play with it. Be kind to your jewelry by stashing it on a hang-up rack so it doesn’t get tangled or lost. This way, you’ll have a better chance of keeping around your pretty Style Queen bargains forever.
These are my picks:
Firework Earrings- $60
June Necklace- $40
Snake Coil Bracelet- $30
Bam Bam Barrette- $10
*Pictures from Style Queen
Although 2012 didn’t seem to show an increase the number of men sporting facial hair, it did bring out a loud and proud type of woman who professes the appeal of bushy upper lip hair through clothing and accessories. The quirky isolated mustache symbol became a woman’s way to participate in Movember. My favorite spotting was of shirts that read “I mustache you a question…” These are my other picks:
Bangle, Asos.com- $14
Tights, Romwe.com- $15
Top, PacSun, Kirra- $25
I love finding out about new brands, so I was ecstatic when I came across the sophisticated clothing and accessories site, Nimli.com. The dresses on the site are packed with personality and are designed in flattering hues. You’ll love their platforms which give you plenty of height, and their flats are perfect for people who demand style without suffering from achy feet. Best of all, they sell pashmina scarves with twenty-five colors to choose from. If you don’t own a pashmina you might not know how amazing they are, but I’ll fill you in. They are the perfect accessory: to keep you warm, to wear indoors and outside, to spice up a basic look, etc. Plus, you can wear them so many different ways! I made up a brief list of some options below.
1. Wrap it up like a snood
2. Let it hang down and belt it with your top
3. Casually toss it over one shoulder
4. Wear it over your head and toss it over you shoulder. Make sure you’re wearing sunglasses so people confuse you with a movie star 
5. Knot it in the front
6. Where it as a shawl with a matching sleeveless dress to keep warm and look cute
Time for the great news! Nimli.com is giving a Classic Pashmina Shawl ($85 value) to FIVE lucky winners! 
Rules:The contest is open to US residents only. It will be open from December 13th- December 26th at 12am. You must “like” Nimli.com on Facebook and “like” Fashionscoopblog.com on Facebook to enter. If you are declared a winner and your entries are invalid, a new winner will be drawn.