What to wear while traveling v. 1 with maxi skirt - by Chic n Cheap Living

What to wear while traveling v. 1 with maxi skirt - by Chic n Cheap Living by chicncheapliving featuring floor length skirts

H M chiffon top
$40 - hm.com

Wallis studded blazer
wallisfashion.com

Forever New floor length skirt
$63 - forevernew.com.au

Cole haan wedge
colehaan.com

Rebecca Minkoff mini handbag
$230 - eluxe.ca

What to wear while traveling v. 1 with maxi skirt - by Chic n Cheap Living

What to wear while traveling v. 1 with maxi skirt - by Chic n Cheap Living by chicncheapliving featuring floor length skirts

H M chiffon top
$40 - hm.com

Wallis studded blazer
wallisfashion.com

Forever New floor length skirt
$63 - forevernew.com.au

Cole haan wedge
colehaan.com

Rebecca Minkoff mini handbag
$230 - eluxe.ca

Hot under {$100-under $80!}/Sale Spotlight: Pareos aka coverups

Do you actually need cover ups in your closet?

I can sheepishly say that I don't need a few items in my closet anymore (adieu blue gingham shorts!)  But I certainly feel like I need a cute pareo/sarang/coverup when I am traveling, especially to a tropical locale.  I love pareos for a few reasons:
1. You can wear them in multiples ways - skirt, scarf, or dress
2. They are easy to pack and pretty versatile
3. Chiffon ones dry more quickly enabling it to be easily re-wearable on the same trip

Here are a few fun pareos if you are still planning on going to the pool or beach in the last days of summer:

1. Shadow chiffon floral coverup pareo, Land's End, $24.99

2. Kate Spade Cockatoos pareo, Zappos, $75.99

3. Echo Deisgn Batik leaves pareo, Zappos, $48

4. Ombre chiffon coverup, Land's End, $24.99

Fashion and Interiors: Bright and white for summer

There is something so clean and sophisticated about a layer of white.  I guess Diddy was onto something with those white parties huh?

I love a clean white palette in a few rooms in the home.  It can feel so chic and modern.  One may find this all white coloring a bit too cold, but I find that fun accessories really liven up a white palette.
Similarly I find that my white flared skirt (that is ahem over 7 years old but so easy to wear!) is one of the staple items in my summer wardrobe because it pairs perfectly with a whole host of lively colors.   White is after all the color that can brighten any other color so it makes sense to wear it in the bright times of warmer weather.

W Magazine Nov. 2011, 2, 3, 4

Hot under {$100-under $25}/Sale Spotlight - Stripes for summer via Old Navy

Count me in as another lady that has fallen head over heels with stripes.

It's funny because I had all of two striped items in my closet up until June.  Then I went to NYC and Altuzurra for J. Crew and Uniqlo held me ransom in their dressing rooms and forced me to admit that stripes are awesome (ok they are fun).  There is just something about this simple design that adds a dash of playful chic to one's outfit.

When I think of playful chic, I don't necessarily think of Old Navy - I don't shop there much at all.  But my friend was wearing such cute tops when we vacationed together in India (she says she loves to stock up on Old Navy pieces for vacation) I also shopped at the Gap for the first time in years last month and have now secured one of the best and affordable exercise pants ever (who knew!)  So I am most definitely willing to step inside its sister store and look at its selection.  Old Navy is affordable and offers tons of options so why not right?

It is a great time to pick out a summer dress or two (striped of course!) because you get 30% off everything until  July 26 with code July2012.

1. Button tied shirt dress, Old Navy, $19.60

2. Drawstring v-neck jersey dress, Old Navy, $10.50

3. Drawstring tube jersey maxi dress, Old Navy, $22.40

4. Flared jersey dress, Old Navy, $17.43

Save!

- Go to Mr. Rebates first and get cash back on your entire purchase!  Here is my invite if you'd like it!

Hot under {$100}/Sale Spotlight: ASOS Maxi skirts and dresses for summer

Maxi skirts/dresses are the sartorial equivalent of summer to me....warm weather is coming, boom maxi skirts come out and on for instant summer chic.

While I'm only average height, I have found that maxi skirts/dresses can also lengthen as well (if the top is a bit shorter) and who doesn't like the illusion of longer legs?  The look serves double duty of not only being chic, but also providing coverage from pesky insects and hiding wandering eyes from looking at one's insect bites/tanning/shaving mishaps.

I've posted about my love for ASOS before (it's huge and has a great selection in all price ranges).  Get an extra 10% off the sale selection with code 10sale through Monday, July 23rd.  I love shopping.  I love saving at retailers that don't frequently offer discounts.  Win!

1. Mango Zebra print caftan, ASOS, $79.79

2. A Wear split Maxi, ASOS, $66.28

3. Three Floor Maxi dress, ASOS, $91.71

4. Mango stripe maxi dress with belt, ASOS, $61.89

Save!
- Go to Ebates first and get cash back off your entire purchase.  Here is my invite if you'd like it!

Hot under $100 (all under $50!)/Sale Spotlight: Linea Pelle Casual Cool belts

I was a late bloomer when it comes to using belts (or at least using them well).  One of my besties uses belts beautifully in her outfits - she can add a modern belt to an almost vintage blouse and really create a  chic and unique look.  I may have discovered Linea Pelle through browsing through some fashion magazines, but I continue to love their belts not because they are celebrity endorsed, but because they are well constructed, functional, and lovely.  I have worn a favorite Linea Pelle belt with a simple LBD (great look for weddings!) as well as a favorite long tunic.  A belt seems to really tie (literally!) an outfit together and gives you a wonderful hourglass shape.

What kind of belts do you like?

Here are a few favorites from the current sale:

Skived edge hip belt with braided keeper, Linea Pelle, $43.50 (from $145)

Skinny hip belt with chevron keepers, Linea Pelle, $31.50 (from $105)

Vintage sliced waist stretch belt, Linea Pelle, $40.50 (from $135)

Hourglass waist belt, , Linea Pelle, $43.50 (from $145)

Hot under {$100-all under $75!}/Sale Spotlight: Summer Styling via Madewell and Yumi Kim

What is your summer outfit?

You may already know that I am drawn to dresses (I'm all about the easy styling of t-shirt/polo dresses or silk dresses!) and love to top it off with a straw fedora, easy sandals, and a great pair of sunglasses (Tom Ford will always have my heart when it comes to sunnies but I am always looking for a fun pair!)

Yumi Kim is known for its beautiful prints, light silks, and casual chic pieces.  Get 25% off everything with code FRIENDS12 through July 1st.

Madewell aka J. Crew's laid back, little sister is a great place for weekend wear.  I also hear the jeans are pretty fabulous there and it helps that they are pretty affordable.  It is even more affordable through today when you use code WHYNOT and get an extra 25% off through today (sale prices are good too before the discount!)

Lola top, Yumi Kim, $73.50

Starlet shades, Madewell, $26.24 (otherwise $34.99)

Biltmore Panama hat, Madewell, $33.75 (otherwise $45)

Stella dress, Yumi Kim, $66

Fashion Highlight: UNIQLO in NYC and Kisses and cats via Lulu Guinness for UNIQLO

I fell in love with UNIQLO all over again during my last visit to NYC (ok I know they are in Singapore too but their stores in NYC are just so much cooler!)  See my first two pictures as evidence (similar one of another rotating display shared on Instagram, I'm chicncheapliving).

Life size Barbie?!  My 10-year-old self just squealed and I absolutely adore their rotating mannequin displays too.  But I really just love their affordable, well made interpretation of basics and got a great Velvet x UNIQLO dress for the beach and an awesome $10 striped dress.

One of UNIQLO's current collaborations is with Lulu Guinness - that quirky accessories designer from across the pond.  All of the t-shirts feature Lulu's signature prints and are priced at $19.90.  I'm not normally a t-shirt girl, but these are pretty adorable!  I almost, semi-seriously want to get a cat t-shirt for my cat obsessed friend (hmm she loves them, but would she wear them?)

 

See them all here.

Hot under {$100}: Style for the birds

Is it possible for a pattern to be too fun to actually wear or use?

I definitely thought that was the case with patterns and style that incorporated birds.  I also thought that the bird print was just trendy and I hate buying things that may seem out of date in a few months.  But it looks like birds are an aesthetic inspiration that are here to stay.  They paint such an unexpected picture when they are printed on clothing, enough to make one look really closely to decipher the pattern.

Here are a few favorite bird pieces for your closet and home:

1. Monserat de luca 3 birds ring, $69, Shopbop

2. I Adorn You Coral Bird Flight, $40, Zappo's

3. Jonathon Adler Bird salt and pepper set, $50, Horchow (on sale for $35 through 8 am today!)

4. Bird print tie playsuit, $72, Topshop

5. Cloissone bird napkin rings (set of 4), $56, Williams-Sonoma

6. Women's bird print charmeuse blouse, $17.99, Old Navy

Fashion Highlight: H&M For Water (summer clothing and a charity donation too!)

I need no excuse to shop (or at least window shop, I'm an excellent window shopper!) and as I've mentioned before, shopping that combines cute clothing with charitable causes is always a win for me!  Right now, H&M has launched the H&M for water project and 25% of all proceeds from this collection go to water sustainability projects mainly based in Banglasdesh, India and Pakistan.  Florals and a few bright colors dominate the collection, but I mostly like that it is somewhat muted.  There are definitely a few great options for summer here!

Prices range from $9.95 for the sunglasses (hmm I wish I got these the other day now!) to $39.95 for the dress and up to $24.95 for the bikinis.

 
 
 

{Fashion} highlight: Zara TRF May 2012 and Chic Weekend Wear

What is your weekend wear?

I am a dresses and skirts kinda lady for the most part so I look to light silk dresses, t-shirt or polo dresses and easy to coordinate pieces during my corporate off duty hours (woohoo I just got a gorgeous tangerine print dress from Shanghai during the weekend!) I find it difficult to shop for my weekend outfits because I usually devote my shopping antenna to work worthy pieces of apparel. I'm also just not a t-shirt and jeans kinda girl (especially in the hot perpetual summer climate of SE Asia!)

I saw Zara's TRF May 2012 lookbook and was smitten by the more refined, but still casual looks. I love the long white maxi skirt and fun pieces like the crochet vest and rainbow striped skirt. I have another business trip coming soon (to Melbourne!) and Zara seems like a great place to start collecting a few more casual pieces.

What is your off duty outfit?

{Fashion Highlight}: Styld by Gap and summer wardrobe basics

Every closet - large or small - needs a few good basics.

These basics include well cut t-shirts and light, fitted pants. The Gap is the classic American purveyor of classic and affordable wardrobe staples. Every time I think that they are being out styled by fast fashion retailers, they come out with beautiful basics with a twist. Gap showcases these styles in its Styld by site. These are looks from the apparel maker styled and modeled by bloggers. I love the basic t-shirt in a bold color as well as classic white. The skinny jeans in beautiful bright yellow have also caught my eye for summer - doesn't the color just remind you of a perfect summer day?

What are some of your wardrobe basics?
Should I attempt to locate these jeans and just give in (of course they are totally sold out online!)

Hot under {$100}: Floral Print Jeans

One fashion trend I still haven't subscribed to: premiums jeans at or over $200.
I have started appreciating well constructed, shape maintaining jeans more and more (alas a recent pair of cheap NY&co. Jeans lost their shape after one wash!) I also will pay for quality, but haven't gotten around to going in store and trying out many of the designer brands (though I will be trying J brand soon).

In the meantime many brands have come up with beautiful printed skinny jeans for this season. As I've mentioned before, one of my rules for trends is to buy in at a lower price point. Why spend more when you won't wear it more than two seasons?

Here are a few printed floral jeans I've found that are hot under $100:

1969 floral print legging jeans, Gap, $69.95
Moto Chintz Leigh jeans, Topshop, $90
Current Elliott 'The Stiletto Print' skinny jeans, Nordstrom's, $98.90

Have you found good floral jeans this season?

Fashion and Interiors/Hot under {$70}: Gold and black

Some colors come together and create a brilliant new combination - one set of colors that does that is gold and black.

I think of gold and black and instantly think of a classic Chanel flap with gold hardware.  It is a timeless and instantly chic color combination that can stand the test of time and trends.  Perhaps is why I am trying to incorporate gold and black touches into my living room.  I have a black book case and chair set off by gold bowls and pictures in gold frames.  You already know I am a very slow decorator, but I am liking the look so far!

Here was my gold and black inspiration:

1, 2, 3, 4

Here are some lovely gold and black picks to inspire your wardrobe and home for under $70!

Gorjana Pristine Circle stud earrings, Shopbop, $45

Spitfire Anglo 2, Revolve Clothing, $35

Milly Black lace combo dress, Rent the Runway, $50

Elise bowl, Z Gallerie, $69.95

T Tahari "Bamboo" gold necklace with black oval pendant, Endless.com, $48