STYLE, SHE WROTE.

Best Face Forward

2010-03-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Perhaps a symptom of the recovering economy -- and the general lack of discretionary spending money to invest in Cartier -- brightly colored watches are spring's next big thing. Swatch has unveiled their Colour Codes collection (above), a line of monochromatic watches in bold colors, priced at $50.00 each. Wear them singly or stack them like bangles and keep time for a multitude of locations.

Also of note, May28th's line of unique watches with elastic bands and dozens of prints -- stripes, dots, geographic patterns, and graphics (like Legos!) -- for their faces. Available for $39.00 each -- with free shipping! -- from SupermarketHQ.

Jackie

Look for Less: Knitted Scuff Slippers

2010-03-02T15:16:00.001-08:00

After many months with chilly toes, I finally purchased a new pair of slippers. I'd been an admirer of Ugg's Scuffette Knit Slippers for a while, but didn't think they were worth their price tag -- $80.00. (As if.)

So, this weekend, when I happened upon a similar style at Target for one-fourth of the Ugg's price -- just $19.99! -- I immediately scooped up a pair.

With similar shapes, knitted fabrics (albeit purl vs. cable), furry linings and lugged rubber soles, the Target shoe is a comparable match to the Ugg version.

And, although not lined with shearling like their pricier counterpart, the Target slippers' thick, rich fur lining has proven to be super warm -- which means no more cold feet for me!

Jackie

Wallets Ready Ladies...

2010-03-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

Okay- I do apologize for mentioning Ann Taylor stores again this week, but when I saw their most recent promotion I had to share! For this week only, Ann Taylor Loft has select spring sweaters on sale for a mere $20. I picked up the Shoulder Detail V Neck Sweater (below), originally priced at $39.50, in bright and cheery spring coral.

Here’s hoping that my springtime purchases will bring on the warmer weather!

Lynnie

Deal of the Month: J. Crew's Lilac Shower Shift Dress

2010-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

For March, Lynnie and I found this little number -- the Lilac Shower Shift Dress -- from J. Crew for $69.50. Available in black and light ginger (above), it's the perfect little cotton shift dress for all seasons. We love the lilac-shaped petals in tulle and cotton that accent the top as well as its figure-flattering shape. Wear it now with tights and a long cardigan, and in the spring and summer with your favorite strappy sandals.

Happy shopping!

Jackie&Lynnie

Tried & Tested: The New Ann

2010-02-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to report on my recent encounter with the new Ann! No, I am not referring to my Great Aunt Ann, but rather the store, Ann Taylor. The 55-year-old brand was recently revitalized by president of Ann Taylor Stores, Christine Beauchamp. The new look of Ann is ultra feminine and modern (very reminiscent of competitor J.Crew); incorporating floral elements and ruffles into several pieces. During my shopping trip, I eagerly purchased the following tops to add to my spring wardrobe.

Silk Georgette Sheer Ruffle Print Blouse $88

Silk Petal Neck Top $88

Pleated Long Sleeve Tee $44

Below are some super cute items I am dying to purchase…

Tropical Wool Elysian Jacket $228

Faceted Dome Pave Ring $48

In Bloom Clutch $148

S.S.W. Asks: What do you think of Ann’s new look? Sound off below.

Lynnie

Cozy Caps

2010-02-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

If you, like us, live in the North East, where the snow continues to fall, spring seems so very far away. While the winter chill continues to blow, we've decided to stock up on cute cold weather accessories at Barney's Co-Op online sale.

Cover your weary head with one of these cozy caps...

Brenda Lynn Pillbox Cap, orig. $180.00, now $49.00

Lucy Barlow Tweed Rasta Cap, orig. $165.00, now $49.00

Barneys New York Long Cap, orig. $215.00, now $69.00

and also save big on men and women's apparel and personal and home accessories!

Happy shopping!

Jackie

Hot or Not? Socks + Sandals

2010-02-24T16:31:00.001-08:00

We asked, you answered: Will you wear your sandals with socks this spring?

Yes! 25%

Maybe...? 8%

No. 66%

If this poll is indication, this trend will not become mainstream this spring -- or ever.

Jackie

Kate Spade Sample Sale!!

2010-02-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

From February 23rd through February 26th, Kate Spade is having their semi-annual online sample sale. Score up to 75% off women's apparel, accessories and handbags.

Check out some of our faves from the sale...

Kate Spade Lady Marmalade Mushroom Ring, orig. $145.00, now $59.00

Knightsbridge Baby Nikolette, orig. $95.00, now $39.00

Radcliffe Yard Joanie Sweater, orig. $225.00, now $79.00

Yardley Rue Bag, orig. $395.00, now $189.00

Broome Street Patent New Bow Glove, orig. $125.00, now $59.00

...and then get shopping!

Jackie

Fab Finds: Little Black Dresses

2010-02-22T15:02:00.001-08:00

There's no better wardrobe investment than a L.B.D. -- little black dress -- which can take you from work to dinner to dancing with a mere change of accessories.

I've been scouting for the perfect springtime L.B.D. for the past few weeks, and have found many affordable, well-made dresses which make black look anything but boring. Here are some of my favorites:

Aqua Ottoman Black Crepe Jersey Strapless Dress, $88.00

Victoria's Secret Little Black Dress, $88.00

T by Alexander Wang Cowl Neck Dress, $92.0o

Trashy Diva Tulip Mini Dress, $117.00

Trashy Diva Audrey Bustle Dress, $124.00*

BCBG Max Azria Sleeveless Fitted Dress, $198.00

Whether designed to look sultry, sexy or sweet, these dresses embody the classic chic of the little black dress.

Happy shopping!

Jackie

*Trashy Diva boutique -- one of my all-time favorite stores -- makes truly fabulous L.B.D.'s in vintage styles. Check out all the designs here.

Look for Less: Croc-Embossed Bags

2010-02-21T07:12:00.003-08:00

Lusting for Yves Saint Laurent's crocodile embossed Besace and Downtown bags (above)? Well, Lynnie and I have been, too. (In fact, whenever I see the Downtown bag, I swoon). But, at about $1500.00 each, we know the bags will remain in our dreams and not manifest into realities.

Fortunately, we've found some alternative handbags that will help us get our croc-embossed leather fix. BCBG Max Azria has unveiled two moderately priced crocodile-embossed bags for spring...

a convertible sandalwood satchel for $378.00...

and a large mushroom-colored convertible handbag for $478.00.

With their gold-tone hardware, utilitarian style and earthly tones, BCBG's bags evoke YSL's timeless style -- but for a fraction of the price.

Jackie

Obsessions: Alexander Wang Sunglasses

2010-02-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Looking to splurge this spring? Why not invest in Alexander Wang's debut sunglasses collection? Designed in collaboration with Linda Farrow, the hard-edged shades come with exaggerated cat-eye shaped, bronzed resin, or (our favorite) Wayfarer-style, zipper trimmed frames.

The aggressively luxurious sunglasses will retail for about $300.00 a pop at Opening Ceremony beginning March 1st. Until then, you can check out all the styles at Polyvore.

Jackie

Jackie's Picks: BCBG's Twisted-Knot Turban

2010-02-17T16:41:00.000-08:00

I know what you're thinking: Jackie's lost her mind. Turbans are a must-have accessory? (Raises eyebrow doubtfully.) But, in fact, they are -- and have been since the beginning of the twentieth century.

The French fashion designer, Paul Poiret, first popularized the look in the early years of the twentieth century. His so-called "brazenly modern" designs were modeled by Denise Poriet, his wife and muse, shown wearing her husband's turban above.

In the 1930s, Italian fashion designer and Chanel rival, Elsa Schiaparelli, picked up Poiret's turban torch, so to speak, making the headgear popular once more.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Hollywood actress Joan Crawford -- yes, Mommy Dearest herself -- who was known for her varied headgear, also sported the turban, matching her two-tone head dress to her two-tone gown.

And, quickly skipping ahead, in 2007, Jennifer Lopez dared not to bare, opting for a full-coverage turban at the MTV Video Music Awards.

So, now that we've covered the history of the turban and its many stylish wearers, I turn your attention to my favorite modern version -- BCBG's Twisted Knot Turban ($38.00). This sleek piece exudes glamour and is a quick-fix on a bad hair day.

Jackie

Attention Ladies and Gents…

2010-02-17T13:06:00.001-08:00

Mark your calendars! During the week of February 22^nd, Clothingline will be hosting a Theory sample sale. The sale will feature Fall and Spring merchandise for both men and women. Clothingline is located on W 36^th Street between 7^th and 8^th Ave (2^nd floor). Please remember that all sales are final.

Lynnie

Hail to the Chief

2010-02-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

Celebrating the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln has never been so rewarding! President’s Day provides many Americans with a much needed break from work, but most importantly the holiday provides us with super sweet clothing deals. Today I scored a gorgeous Banana Republic silk-blend sweater (below) in a brilliant green (so sorry a picture of the color wasn’t available on the store’s website). All regular priced items were 25% off, resulting in this luxurious sweater costing $41.25 (yes, that’s $13.75 off!).

Silk-Blend Double-Trim Sweater $55

S.S.W. Asks: What President’s Day deals did you find?

Lynnie

Socks + Sandals = Chic?

2010-02-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy of NYT

Just call it grandpa-chic. Socks and sandals are the hottest trend on the spring runways. John Galliano, Burberry, Dolce & Gabanna, Sonia Rykiel and Rochas all featured models wearing the socks-and-sandals combo. According to Nathalie Rykiel, director of the Sonia Rykiel brand and daughter of the designer, to pull the trend off, one needs a certain amount of moxie. "Socks,” she told The New York Times, “are not the sexiest things on earth. But it is a question of attitude — the way she moves, sits, what else she wears.”

Despite its runway popularity, we're not sure if this trend will become an every day fashion reality. (Something tells us shortening one's ankles with socks only works on six-foot-tall models).

But enough of our opinions -- what do you think? Would you wear sandals with socks? Sound off below and take our poll at right!

Jackie

Feel the Love

2010-02-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day, gentle readers! Do you feel the love? We do! Especially from our fellow fashion bloggers. This week, Lynnie guest blogged our affordable Valentine's Day picks (below) for Fashion Court.

Lynnie's musts included Burberry Painted Heart Rain Boots ($175.00), Limited Edition Pink Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes ($28.00) and Philosophy Flirty Girl Set ($35.00). To see all of Lynnie's picks, click here.

In other exciting news, Style, She Wrote was the recipient of the Kreativ Blogger Award from Miss Neira, Boston's own fashion guru. (Thank you!) We'd like to pass the award onto Betz at Her Armoire, whose personal style blog we both greatly enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jackie

RIP Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Like most others, Lynnie and I were shocked to learn that British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, 40, died today in an apparent suicide.

McQueen was known for his outrageous fashions. The New York Times had this to say about his work:

"He thumbed his nose at the conventions of English style by staging often lavish runway productions that included clothes made with animal bones, and models made to look as if they were patients in a mental ward or participants in a life-size chess match. Yet he was a tailor of the highest order, making impeccably shaped suits that were also surprisingly commercial...During his early days in London, Mr. McQueen’s collections often made audiences uncomfortable, as when he referenced the ravaging of Scotland by England by showing brutalized women in a collection called 'Highland Rape.' But since he began showing his collections in Paris in 2001, he became more widely respected for designs that were seen as commentary on the often surreal, and self-referential, world of fashion."

The fashion journalist, Tim Blanks, wrote a particularly poignant tribute to McQueen for Style.com:

"The news that Alexander McQueen has killed himself is particularly devastating because it always felt to me like he’d be the last man standing. He was restless, but so pragmatic with it I assumed he had what it took to endure the extreme situations he placed himself in. He was also an arch romantic with a pessimistic streak. It produced some of the most beautiful, shocking images in the history of fashion, but it’s a state of mind that can lead to endless disappointments. The death of McQueen’s mother last week would have validated his pessimism. It would undoubtedly have taken away his most vital support. It’s awful to imagine him trying—and failing—to cope, and one can only hope that, if he was looking for peace, he found it. For everyone left behind, there will eventually be consolation, however scant right now, in a body of work whose power will never die."

That said, we've posted our favorite McQueen pieces from the designer's noteworthy Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection, which was inspired by McQueen's own dire predictions about the future of our world. (He believed that there would be an ecological meltdown, where humankind would be made up of creatures that evolved from the sea, hence the reptilian shoes and outfits.)

All images courtesy of Style.com.

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen.

Jackie&Lynnie

Look for Less: Sam Edelman S/S 2010

2010-02-11T05:31:00.000-08:00

Lynnie and I are big fans of Sam Edelman's shoes, which always capture runway looks for moderate prices. We just previewed the company's fabulous Spring/Summer 2010 collection, which features tons of flat sandals, platforms and high heels with lots of luxe extras. (Think: Rhinestone sparkles, jewel embellishments, exotic skins and zippers galore.)

Here are some of our favorites from the collection:

Kyla

To preview the entire collection, click here.

Jackie&Lynnie

S.S.W. Asks: What do you think of Edelman's latest line? Sound off below!

Sonia Rykiel for H&M: Part Deux

2010-02-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Fashionistas who stocked up on Sonia Rykiel's lingerie line for H&M last December can look forward to hitting the store's racks again for the second part of Rykiel's capsule collection. On Feburary 20th, the mega-retailer will unveil Rykiel's knitwear and accessories lines. Prices range from $5.95 for a rhinestone brooch to $69.95 for a chic black knit jumpsuit.

Here are our top picks from the collaboration, courtesy of New York magazine's "The Cut" fashion blog:

Long jumper — $49.95
Platform shoes — $59.95
Beret with rhinestones — $17.95
Brooches with rhinestones — $5.95 each
Bracelets — $5.95 to $9.95

Jumper — $29.95
Skirt — $29.95
Aliceband — $17.95
Platform shoes — $59.95
Bracelets — $5.95 to $9.95

Blazer — $69.95

Strap top — $24.95
Shorts — $34.95
Aliceband — $17.95
Brooches — $5.95 each
Platform shoes — $59.95
Bracelets — $5.95 to $9.95

Jumper — $29.95

Jumpsuit — $69.95
Beret with rhinestones — $17.95
Bracelet with rhinestones — $9.95
Platform shoes — $59.95

To see the complete look book -- with prices -- click here.

Jackie

Lynnie’s Dilemma

2010-02-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Typically, we here at S.S.W. focus on mastering trends for less, but the Alice & Olivia Sequined Keyhole-Back Minidress (above), priced at $495, has left me debating the question: To splurge or not to splurge? An extremely flattering silhouette, featuring cap sleeves and an intriguing keyhole, the dress is completely covered in lavender sequins (below).

S.S.W. Asks: Should Lynnie invest in this trend?

Lynnie

Bright Eyes

2010-02-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

When Derek Lam sent his models down the runway with wild eye makeup to compliment his colorful spring designs, he helped create a bright, optimistic new beauty look for spring. (Kudos, Derek).

If you, like us, want to master this look, but don't have a professional makeup artist like Tom Pecheux at your disposal, we suggest you pick up M.A.C.'s no-fuss Crush Metal Pigment: Stacked 2! eyeshadows. The expertly coordinated shades can be easily mixed on your lids to create picture-perfect eyes -- all for just $32.50.

Jackie

I'm With the Band

2010-02-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Confession: Lynnie and I are reformed bank geeks. Yes, it's true. I and my fashionable cohort spent many grade school hours practicing the tune, "Three Blind Mice," on our respective saxophone and clarinet. But, being both non-committal and not musically inclined, we both quit our instruments by the time we reached junior high school.

That said, we've been feeling a bit nostalgic for our pre-fab pasts in light of this season's go to item -- the band jacket. Both a comfortable piece of outerwear and a high-fashion design, the band jacket has been popping up on runways and in magazines as the must have item for spring. Lynnie and I love Juicy Couture's cotton version (above), but at $298.00, we aren't ready to invest so much cash into what may be a temporary trend.

Instead, we're opting for Urban Outfitter's very similar linen version (above), priced at a much more affordable $68.00.

Perfect for those of us who can't commit.

Jackie