The Fashion Lens

Modern (Art) Family

Alyssa — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:17:23 +0000

Me, in the European Art portion of the Dallas Museum of Art

Some families camp together; others play sports. Our family indulges in the arts: museums, film, cuisine, fashion, music and photography; my little brother Ricky and I were immersed in all avenues of creativity. Part of that exposure was frequent trips to the many art museums here in Dallas-Fort Worth. One of my favorites, particularly because of the Late Night events, is the Dallas Museum of Art.

Yesterday, my brother, his girlfriend, and their baby girl headed to downtown Dallas to enjoy the museum. Our favorite style is contemporary which was our first stop in the museum. Which, by the way, my brother had a brief stint as a painter when he took advanced art in high school; he won awards and even sold a painting in a school art auction.

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If you’ve ever thought about bringing an 11-month-old to a museum, I highly recommend it! My niece was engaged with her surrounding, even babbling to various works of art. Her squeals of delight even made of the docents smile. For the last 30 minutes of our trip, she took a peaceful nap.

Andrea, Ricky, & their daughter Emma

Me and my niece Emma

Click to enlarge photos.

All in all, I had a great time! We spent a couple of hours strolling through all of the collections. I gravitated toward sculptures, modern art, and furniture. Oh, and I saw THE coolest panda chair as part of the contemporary furniture. By far, the most unexpected piece in the Dallas Museum of Art.

P.S. My brother is a huge supporter of this blog and has often asked me to include men’s style. Instead of changing the focus of my blog, I hope this family post will suffice instead!

The Weekend in Pics: Bright-On

Alyssa — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 02:11:09 +0000

Since I’ve returned to blogging, I’ve been mildy obsessed with bright colors. If you’ve been following my looks for awhile, you might notice that I tend to favor a neutral, dark palette. Ever since that pair of bright blue jeans, I’ve been slowly adding punchy hues to my wardrobe.

This weekend has been my most colorful by far. Saturday, my husband and I drove to Ikea which is still being remodeled. We didn’t buy much more than a few house knick-knacks, but we had a blast nonetheless.

My Viva La Vera purse and new J.Crew cropped pants.

On Sunday, we headed to Arlington Highlands to walk around and window shop. I wore my new red Banana Republic dress (buy a similar one at Modcloth), paired with my equally bright pair of Simply Vera Wang flats (sold out, but get a similar pair at Nordstrom).

Oh, and if you’re local, you’ll be very pleased to see that a certain popular coffee shop is coming to Arlington Highlands. I’ll see you there

Summer Florals

Alyssa — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 01:30:49 +0000

It’s all about the little things. The fact that my Kleenex tissue package and Vera Bradley bag (Betsy in Viva La Vera pattern, $65) are patterned and colorful just made my day.

Brighten up your day with this Vera Bradley (wallet in Viva La Vera, $48) and carry a cheerful mini-garden of your own:

Vera Bradley – Signature Strap Wallet

The Fashion Lens…Returns!

Alyssa — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 03:00:43 +0000

Hello, all! After an unexpectedly long break, I am rebooting The Fashion Lens! I’ve spent time with my family and friends, celebrated a birthday, finished a semester of school, worked on a few projects, and checked off many things on my seemingly never-ending to-do list. I’m well-rested, a few pounds lighter, and looking to get The Fashion Lens back to 100%.

Let me (re)introduce myself. My name is Alyssa and I’m a budget-conscious fashion and beauty bloggers. This is me in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, TX yesterday…

Comment below and introduce yourself, too! What are you up to this summer?

The Weekend in Pics: Food and Family

Alyssa — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:47:42 +0000

This weekend I splurged…on food and restaurants. Saturday, the husband and I ate at one of our favs, BEE (Best Enchiladas Ever). We love their enchiladas, and my husband raves for their mole sauce. I wish we could eat there more, but the few times we go make it even more special when we do.

Me, having a Mexican Coke at BEE

{Colorblock Trench, similar look}

On Sunday, the family celebrated Mother’s Day at Iron Cactus for brunch. Their regular Sunday brunch is amazing, and they really stepped it up for Mother’s Day. My mom had a good time, and we were all pretty stuffed. After food, we watched The Avengers which is our way of getting into geek mode for Comic Con in Dallas this coming weekend.

A quick photo in Downton Dallas on Mother's Day

{Colorblocked flats, Tobi ($36); black ankle skinnies, similar; Jason Wu for Target bag (SOLD OUT); blue chiffon tie top, Old Navy ($19.99 on sale)}
On the flip side, I also saved…on accessories. I scored two new cuff-style bracelets. Both under $5! I bought them from a wholesaler on Harry Hines in Dallas. It was like a tiny Sam Moon (a shopping mecca, if you’re from around here) and I couldn’t resist adding a couple of statement pieces to my summer wardrobe. All in all, a pretty fun weekend full of food, family, and fashion! {Gold filigree cuff, similar; Silver cut-out cuff, similar}

High/Low: Jessica Alba’s Orange Bag

Alyssa — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:43:16 +0000

Image Source: People Style Watch

I just love Jessica Alba’s style. More specifically, I am lovin’ this orange saddle bag that I saw on People Style Watch‘s site. Even though it’s bright orange, I feel like this purse would go with pretty much anything. Look at Jessica Alba. Hot pink, black, neutrals….the Ralph Lauren saddle bag just goes with her outfits. The only this this bag doesn’t go with is my budget. It probably costs around $795 like this similar Ralph Lauren saddle bag:

Ralph Lauren Suede Mini-Saddle Bag

Price tag = no bueno. I did some searching and found three great alternatives, under $150. So, if you’re looking to rock a bright orange purse like Jessica Alba, but still want to be able to buy groceries this month, check out my picks to fit any budget:

Under $125

Cleobella Cantina Medium Crossbody in Neon Orange ($119 on sale)

Cantina Cross Body

Under $75

Mango Cross Body bag ($63.99 on sale)

Across-Body Leather Bag

Under $30

Ecote Cross Body bag ($29)

Ecote Tassel Crossbody Bag

P.S. Feliz Día de las Madres!

Daily Outfit: Crazy Color Combo

Alyssa — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:12:09 +0000

Light green + navy blue + orange + hint of neon purple = crazy color combination that works

What a crazy palette! I wore this outfit yesterday for the first day of final exams. No pajamas or house slippers for me. For my personal style, Juicy Couture track suits and flannel PJs are a slippery slope to college lazy dressing. I’ve also noticed that dressing better on test days, big presentations, and other major events tend to make me feel less nervous and more confident.

I was so confident that ventured outside of my comfort zone and donned this spring-y look. Plus, I couldn’t wait to wear my new tank from The Shops at Target’s The Webster micro-boutique. And obsessing over anything stylish from Target is a slippery slope I’d go done any day.

Sidebar: these photos were taken as thunder clapped and lightening skipped through the clouds. Oh, I apologize now to my husband for making him carry a metal camera through the ordeal.

{Shop my look: The Webster tank, Target ($19.99); mint green jeans, similar; navy sweater, similar; Sky Blue Moon watch, c/o Tikkr ($65); orange and tan sandals, similar; bright purple Scunci Hot Streaks, c/o Scunci ($4.99)}

Streak Out

Alyssa — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:10:58 +0000

“Aaaaah, streak out! Le freak, c’est chic! Streak out!” Remember that disco song “Chic” by Le Freak? For some reason, that song was stuck in my head as I put my Hot Streaks clip-in hair yesterday, and I would replace “freak” with “streak.” I. am. nerd.

Scunci’s Hot Streaks clip-on hair was making feel pretty pumped while taking my outfit pics yesterday. As someone who has never dyed or highlighted her hair, I love that I can try the bright hair trend without committing to a permanent dye or only one color. They come in neon shades of pink, blue, orange, green, and purple which is the color I tried. Check it out (click to enlarge photos):

I really liked how the Hot Streak looks like real hair and it’s easy to use. In fact, after removing it from the package, it was a little creased, and I used a hair-straightener at a low temperature to remove the curls. (Note: According to the packaging, it is recommended to spray the hair with water and allow to air dry.) I then clipped it in my half-up-half-down hairstyle. The bright purple popped against my dark brownish-black hair and the tiny clip was well concealed. My only complaint is that Hot Streaks are quite thin –those like me with really thick hair will definitely want to use more than one Hot Streaks clip-in at a time. But whether you’re going out or just looking to rock a bold, casual look without the permanence of a dye, then Hot Streaks have got you covered!
Scunci Hot Streaks retail for $4.99 and are primarily available at Kmart and some grocery stores. Use one or layer a few in different colors for a great colorblock-inspired hairdo!

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% my own. I received a free sample to review.

Last-Minute Mother’s Days Deals

Alyssa — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:24:31 +0000

This post is sponsored by BeFrugal.com, with content contributed by both BeFrugal.com and myself.

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and I am still looking for the perfect gift. (Mom, if you’re reading this, I promise you’ll love it!) If you’re like me, you probably have more than one mother or mother-figure to honor. And buying presents for the many special women in your life can get pricey. For instance, my husband and I spent more than 30 bucks on all of the mother’s day cards –but they’re worth it. Still, it’s nice to save a buck from time to time. Besides, Mom would approve of your smart shopping, and she’ll smile knowing she taught you how to stretch a dollar.

My friends at Befrugal.com know when I’m hunting for a great deal. Enjoy these offers for Mother’s Day:

Impress mom with your evolved palette: gourmet popcorn! Use a The Popcorn Factory coupon to save 15% off any order (click offer for code, expires 5/15/12). You can also earn Cash Back for more savings! The rate today is 4.8%.
Color her day happy with some fresh flowers. 1-800-Flowers coupon for $10 off your $59.99+ order (click offer for code, expires 6/29/12). Save more by earning 8% cash back.
Let your appreciation for her bloom. Use a ProFlowers coupon to save 15% off spring flowers & gifts (no code needed when you click the coupon link, expires 5/18/12). Plus, earn Cash Back to save more! The rate today is 11.2%.

LAUREN BY RALPH LAUREN Mona Floral Silk Tulle Oblong Scarf

Send a personalized gift with GiftTree coupon for 10% off any order (click offer for code, expires 5/31/12). Also earn 7% cash back to save more.

BeFrugal.com offers free coupons and Cash Back, with an average rate of 5% at 2000+ online stores. For even more savings, sign up for a free account now and get a $10 bonus. Hurry! The $10 bonus offer is only available for a limited time.

To get the most savings, be sure you activate your account before you click to use the coupon offers above. This way, you’ll earn Cash Back, save big from using these deals and score your $10 bonus if you just signed up for a new account!

Note: Cash Back rates can change from one day to the next. These rates were valid 5/7/2012.

The Shops at Target [Pics + Video]

Alyssa — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:12:27 +0000

Phase one of The Shops at Target opened yesterday nationwide, and I got a peek at the mini-boutiques at my favorite bullseye big box retailer. It’s yet another collaboration to heal the pain and feed the sensation that accompanied Jason Wu’s and Missoni‘s collections. And I say, bravo!, it’s nice to get a sample of the nation’s best boutiques in my neck of the woods. Haven’t heard the buzz yet? Check out this video from A Bullseye View, Target’s online magazine.

As I did my weekly grocery shopping, I stopped by each of The Shops’ signs that I could spot, snapping pics with my iPhone. First stop was The Cos Bar. From what I could tell, it’s a budget-friendly beauty line from Aspen. I think I’m heading back to buy an orange/copper nail polish from The Cos Bar line ($3).

I'm probably going back to buy one of those nail polishes.

The husband and I made a very out-of-way stroll by the women’s accessories and clothing. I snapped a couple of pics of The Webster’s collection of accessories and lingerie. (Side note: It was super awkward taking pics of the ladies undies section. I am not a creep, I swear.) This Miami-based clothing boutique also had a few pieces of women’s clothing, and I ended up getting a fun tank with navy, pink, and lime green colors ($19.99). The accessories were cute, but nothing struck me as a must-have.

This is the top I bought ($19.99) --pics coming soon! (Photo credit: Target.com)

True story: I was the gal taking pics of undies yesterday. Fear not, it's all in the name of fashion blogging.

Last stop on the tour of The Shops was The Candy Shop which I breezed through so quickly as to avoid choco-temptation. I’ve been on a diet (lost 10 pounds!), and I refuse to put myself in a position that I will have to argue with a Nutrition Facts label. However, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, I say go for it! The sweets look like they make great gifts, too:

Yummy-looking, like a giant chocolate mint candy bar

I didn’t get to see Privet House or Polka Dog Bakery, but I’ll be on the lookout at my next week’s Target trip. And the news is in: Kirna Zabête will be part of the next wave of The Shops at Target. What’s your take on The Shops at Target? Which boutique are you shopping?