It’s been a couple of weeks since we had a giveaway here at Ssasy Chic. This week’s winner is Cathy G. She wins a Face, Brows, Bikini Wax Kit from body by BRIGITTE.

Be the next Giveaway Winner

Winners are chosen randomly from each week’s comments. To improve your chances of winning, share your thoughts and opinions in the comments!

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I love pretty much everything by Carolina Herrera and this collection is no exception. There’s just something about Carolina Herrera’s designs that are completely timeless, classic and sophisticated. As I was watching the show, I felt hard-pressed to categorize which ‘trends’ were coming down the runway. That’s because Carolina Herrera doesn’t design according to trends. Like a true artist, she follows inspiration and creates pieces that are uniquely hers.


For this collection, Herrera was inspired by the intricateness of Japanese baskets. Each piece looked completely tailor made for the model wearing it. The styles were sleek, sophisticated and stylish. Herrera managed to create a line that looked modern and youthful, but sophisticated and classic at the same time.

Key Trends from the Carolina Herrera Spring 2010 Collection

metallic fabrics
cinched waists
sweetheart necklines
mermaid skirts
1960s style full skirts
short-suits

What can we take away?

Again, we’re seeing sleek and sporty silhouettes mixed with feminine details. Herrera shows us how to make typically masculine shorts look feminine with cinched waists, strong shoulders and tailored suit tops.

Your thoughts?

I’ve told you how much a fan I am of this collection that is all sophistication.
What do you think?

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There are some really great sales to take advantage of this weekend!


JCrew: Receive an extra 20% off Fall Clearance items with code EXTRA20.


The Limited: The Limited’s Friends and Family Weekend: 30% off purchase. Use code: 678


Old Navy: Get up to 50% off outerwear. Plus, get an additional 30% off any purchase when you use your Old Navy, Gap or Banana Republic card and use code ONSTUFF30.


Gap: Get 25% off your entire purchase, including sale items, when you shop in store.


Alloy: Only 4 days left to get 15% off your entire purchase with code 15AKQ15.


dELiA*s: Take $20 Off When You Spend $50 with code 20DEL50 at dELiA*s! Offer ends 11.12.09.


elf: Spend $15 and Get a Free Neutral Eye Kit! With Code GTLNEYE through 11/18


Nordstrom: Half-Yearly Sale for women and kids. New markdowns on your favorite brands at the biggest clearance event of the season. Shop NORDSTROM.

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Whether you wear gloves to be fashionable or to keep your digits toasty, you’ll still want to be stylish as the temperatures plummet this Fall and Winter. What follows is a comprehensive list of the top 4 glove styles for Fall 2009/Winter 2010, what they are and where to find them.

Half Gloves

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be a new iteration of the glove, designers went and created the half glove. Half gloves were mildly popular in the 80’s, but they were more of a novelty worn by Cyndi Lauper types than a mainstream option. This season, the half glove appeared in many runway shows. And, after seeing Carrie wear the style a few times, us regular gals are a little more inclined to brave the look. When choosing a half glove, go with a subdued brown or gray like Carrie’s to avoid a too retro 80’s look. Unless, of course, that’s what you’re going for.

Half Gloves for Fall 2009

Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless gloves abound this season in pretty much any and every style imaginable. For a very retro, edgy look, find one of the many short, studded, vinyl varieties. Or, go more feminine with a long cashmere pair of fingerless gloves. There are even options that will keep your fingers warm with a button closing cover that turns your gloves into mittens.

Fingerless Gloves for Fall 2009

Long Gloves

Long gloves were particularly popular last Fall/Winter and are back again in full force. This is especially great for those who live in cold areas since long gloves can basically act as an added layer for your arms. Choose a pair of long gloves in knit, jersey or leather depending on your preference.

Long Gloves for Fall 2009

Dinner Gloves

Pre 1970’s, women wore gloves pretty much everywhere. It was proper etiquette to wear gloves anytime you were in public. Though it’s no longer a faux pas to be gloveless while in polite company (or even in church), the lady glove (that we’ll call dinner gloves) trend is making a comeback. I credit this trend to the amazing fashion of Mad Men. The only problem is that retail stores haven’t caught on to the trend. The best place to find dinner gloves is at vintage stores.

How to wear Dinner Gloves

If you choose to wear dinner gloves properly, follow these guidelines at Miss Abigail’s Time Warp Advice. Basically, dinner gloves should be worn outside, at events, at church and to dance. But, they should never be worn while eating or applying makeup. For more vintage etiquette, check out the Fashion Librarian’s excerpt from the Vogue Book of Etiquette, 1948.

Your thoughts?

What type of glove is your favorite?
I will definitely be scouring vintage sites and stores for dinner gloves. I’ve worn my great grandmother’s old gloves for a couple of Winters now, but more as an homage than a fashion statement. I love the idea of wearing them properly, but don’t know how practical that would be.
What do you think?

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We can always count on Rebecca Taylor for an ultra feminine collection. For Spring 2010, her designs were a bit edgier, a bit younger and much stronger. Floral prints and ruffles remained, but the hemlines were shorter, the shoulders were stronger and the details were edgier.


Taylor extended the 80’s redux from Fall 2009 into her designs for Spring 2010 with jumpsuits, pleated pants, full skirts, exposed zippers, metallic materials and polka dotted pieces.

Key Trends from the Rebecca Taylor Spring 2010 Collection

1980’s inspired pieces
strong shoulders
one-shoulder
pleated pants
ruffles
short hems
exposed zippers
floral prints
jumpsuits
polka dots

What Can We Take Away?

Styles from the 80’s will definitely remain for next Spring 2010. Full skirts, boyfriend blazers, strong shoulders and one-shoulder designs are not fleeting trends–they’ll have lasting power at least through next Summer.
But, what we can take away from Rebecca Taylor’s collection more than anything else is the idea that anything goes–florals with polka dots, body-con tops with full skirts, t-shirts with suit skirts–if you wear it creatively and confidently.

Thoughts?

While I might not wear every outfit Taylor showed, I’m a fan of the general feel of this collection. I like the edginess mixed with the femininity and the focus on creative pairings.
What do you think?

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I’m on vacation until next Thursday, November 5 visiting my parents in beautiful Beatty, Nevada. Look forward to new posts next week!

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This Spring, Diane von Furstenberg is taking us on a safari…with a little time-travel thrown in for good measure. According to DVF, her collection was inspired by ‘antiquity’. Of course, she modernized the antique Egyptian styles for today’s woman. And, of course, she maintained her signature draping.


Leopard, satin safari pants mingled with organic, flowy chiffon dresses to offer something for everyone’s inner bohemian, regardless of age or body type. For those who prefer something a little more tailored and straight-forward, DVF’s jersey front knot dresses are the perfect Spring/Summer staple. They’re great for travel and can be properly accessorized for the office or dressed down for a trip to the beach.

Key Trends from the Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2010 Collection

draping
safari/tribal prints
cinched waists
t-shirts paired with dressier pieces
maxi-dresses
organic prints
wrap dresses
swing dresses

What Can We Take Away?

Diane von Furstenberg seems to be telling us to get creative. We should use what we know from seasons and periods past and combine those styles with our current favorites in interesting ways. Just about all of the collections we’ve looked at thus far have emphasized color, draping and tailoring. When even von Furstenberg, who typically designs flowy dresses, is showing tailored and sporty pieces, we know it’s a style worth noticing.

Your thoughts?

I’m a big fan of the more tailored pieces in solid colors–especially the front knot dresses. And, I LOVE the idea of wearing a t-shirt under a draped dress.


What do you think?

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There aren’t as many deals this week, which means next week will probably be a good one!
Here are the best sales and discounts this week…


JCrew: $10 off all cords both online and in-store.


Alloy: 20% off all outerwear deal has been extended. Plus, get 15% off your entire order with code OCT15A.


Victoria’s Secret: Get $15 off when you spend $100 with code FALL09.


DSW: Get $10 off when you spend $49 with code SHARELUV.

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Over the knee boots were so popular with celebrities last Fall and so prolific on Fall 2009 runways, retailers were convinced to stock their shelves with the style so that the general public could share in the fun. Of course, then the question for us regular gals, who don’t receive the services of a stylist, is: how do we wear over the knee boots without looking like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (’cause really, that’s what you think of when you see over the knee boots, right?).

Here’s a comprehensive list of suggestions for how to choose the right pair, what to wear with over the knee boots, wearing the style for different body types and affordable finds.

What to wear with Over the Knee Boots

Whatever you do, don’t wear your over the knee boots with a spandex cut-out dress. Unless it’s Halloween of course. As I’ll talk about more in depth below, over the knee boots tend to cut your silhouette in half. So, it’s best to keep your whole look slim and lengthening. Skinny jeans, tailored skirts and even shorts for the daring are all great options. Full skirts have also been touted as an over the boot outfit option. But, unless you’re super tall and super thin like a runway model, I think full skirts will definitely shorten your look. And the look is very dated (and not in a vintage chic way–more of a farm girl’s loose in the city in 1982 kind of way), in my opinion.

Wear Over the Knee Boots with Skinny Jeans

If you want to wear over the knee boots with any type of jean, you pretty much have to go with skinnies since they’re the only jean that will fit inside your boot! Skinny jeans are also a great way to dress down your boots and prevent your look from becoming more scandalous than you’d like. To dress down even more, wear a plaid flannel or a stylish t-shirt.

Wear Over the Knee Boots with Tailored Skirts or Dresses

Tailored skirts help maintain a long and lean look that will keep you from looking like you’ve shrunk a couple inches or are standing in a hole. Go with a pencil skirt or a well-fitting tulip skirt if you’d like a little more volume. Mind your length to prevent trampiness (unless that’s what you’re going for, of course!). No shorter than a couple inches above your boot is a good rule of thumb. It’s true you can go bare-legged with this look, but if you’re trying over the knee boots for the first time or are wanting to lengthen your look, try wearing tights or leggings that are the same color as your boots.

Wear Over the Knee Boots with Shorts

If you’re a super daring fashionista, try over the knee boots with shorts and leggings. If you go with this look, I suggest matching your leggings to either your shorts or your boots–or both! The shades can be slightly off, but this monochromatic look will lengthen your look and ensure a sophisticated vibe rather than an I-belong-on-the-street-corner vibe.

Getting the right look with Over the Knee Boots

Just because we think of Julia Roberts when we think of over the knee boots, that doesn’t mean that is the look that is trendy this season. We’re not talking about how to take a hooker boot and make it safe to wear everyday. Over the knee boots for Fall 2009 are subtle in everything other than their height.

Choose the right heel

Avoid stiletto heels when shopping for over the knee boots. Instead, find a more modest heel like a wedge or a tapered chunky heel. And, keep your height moderate–I suggest no more than a 3 inch heel. Flat over the knee boots are also an option, but can be challenging if you feel that the extra height of the boot makes you look shorter.

Color and material

Avoid patent leather at all costs! Instead, find a boot in suede or natural leather. If black feels a little too close to Julia’s boots, go with a tan or brown boot instead.

How to Wear Over the Knee Boots

Over the knee boots can be challenging for certain body types. That doesn’t mean over the knee boots aren’t right for you. Of course, if you still don’t feel comfortable even after trying these suggestions, go with a different type of boot–feeling comfortable and confident in what you wear is of utmost importance!

If you’re short

Over the knee boots have a tendency to cut you in half. If you’re short, this can make you look even shorter. You don’t have to wear 4 inch heels to lengthen your look. Instead, make sure you minimize the number of visual breaks by wearing tights or Skinny Jeans in the same color as your boots. For a super lengthened look, wear a pencil skirt, tights and over the knee boots all in the same color.

If you’re tall

If you’re tall, over the knee boots can make you look even taller. And, they have a tendency to make you look like a hooker no matter what the rest of your outfit is. To avoid this, wear a pair of flat suede over the knee boots with skinnies and a long cardigan. The jeans and long cardigan will tie the boots into the rest of your outfit, making them less of the primary focus.

If you have healthy thighs

Of course, gossip magazines are making an issue of thigh spillage over the tops of over the knee boots. It’s nice to see celebrities are human, too. First of all, make sure your boots fit. If they’re too tight at your thighs, forget thigh spillage–the bottom line is you’ll be uncomfortable! Once you find the perfect pair, wear a pair of tight leggings to prevent any thigh spillage you might be worried about.

Over the Knee Boots Under $100

Your thoughts?

I’m a fan of over the knee boots, but will probably buy an affordable pair since I think it may be a fleeting trend.
What’s your take?

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