January 29, 2010

WTF Friday: Mr. & Mrs. Roper Edition

Good morning, all!

Today's edition of WTF Friday features two Roper replicas-you know, the Ropers from Three's Company?!

So, first up is Joe Jonas sporting a heinous suit...




Oh Joe...besides looking like a Roper replica, he could also be auditioning for a Pee Wee Herman role. Joe-repita por favor, no more fugly suits from 1977, ever.

And then there is the gorgeous Kristen Bell, who, in my opinion, dresses impeccably 95% of the time. Enter the 5%...




Kristen?! Girlfriend? Did you thief some window treatments and fasten them around your teeny little self? This frock does nothing for you...you look like a fudgesicle-or maybe that's a fug- sicle. Please return to the light, happy & lovely dresses you normally sport!

Any WTFs to share?!


January 28, 2010

Cubicle to Cocktails - Wide Leg Trouser Edition

Hello all!

Today's edition of Cubicle to Cocktails features wide leg trousers and reptile print pumps. I'm a fan of wide leg trousers, but I also understand that they don't look great on everyone. That being said, you can work with the width and cut to make it work for you. I'm vertically challenged, so I make sure that my pants are a bit more fitted in the hip and thigh so I don't look like I'm trying to wear big boy pants.

If you're on the tall side, you can be a bit more liberal with your width, as your height will save ya. As for you curvier girls, wide leg trousers can look super on you too, just make sure they fit well in the waist and hip, you want to show some shape so your curves aren't drowning in the pants.

So, here we are - what do you think? I'm also seeing a ton of corsets coming out and I think they look amazing under jackets or belted with wide leg pants - it's a nice juxtaposition.

Give a little click to the ShopStyle set below to check out the looks and let me know what you think!

Calvin Klein at ShopStyle

January 27, 2010

Cheap Thrills!

Hi everyone! Cheap Thrills Wednesday coming up!

A few of my personal cheap thrills...
  • Fresh raspberries...holy yum...especially on vanilla ice frozen yogurt
  • Accents...of any kind...so fun!
  • Dr. Scholl's High Heel Insoles...a-mazing...
  • Twix minatures...I can knock down about 50 of these...it's a problem

As always, every item is less than $25...enjoy! BTW - the lip palette is at Sephora, retails for $35 and is on sale for $12 - score! AND...that F21 rose tee is a bit reminiscent of J Crew's Textured Jersey Bouquet Tee, don't you think?
Wednesday Cheap Thrills

January 26, 2010

Stealin' SAG Style

Hi all - happy Tuesday!

In today's post I wanted to drum up some of the *stunning* dresses from this weekend's SAG awards, but also offer up some "real" life dresses that evoke the feeling of these stunners. These dresses are not intended to be replicas but more so give the aura of the loveliness of their predecessors. I think you know what I mean...

And here we go!



Image credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier. This dress drew (pardon the pun) a ton of haters, but I just LOVE the color. True - the middle layer is irritating and I really wish she put just a teeny bit of color on her lips, but this cobalt color is amazing.

And to steal the SAG Style...




Urban Outfitters at ShopStyle




Victoria's Secret at ShopStyle


Love this color...and yes, these dresses are far more proper and less ethereal, but will do in a pinch.



Image credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Lea Michelle in Catherine Malandrino. Stunning. Draping=perfect.

And a gorgeous, affordable option...



JS Boutique at ShopStyle



Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images


Diane Kruger in Jason  Wu. This mustard/marigold color is tricky to pull off, but I'm a fan on it on Diane. Pretty pretty! Very close to the color of Michelle Williams' dress in 2006...if you can recall....

And a few options in this shade-ish...



Anne Klein Dress at ShopStyle



Anthropologie at ShopStyle



Image credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Anna Kendrick in Alberta Ferretti. This violet is so pretty on her! There is a boatload of ruffles, but I dig it anyway.

How about a pretty purple frock ...



Free People at ShopStyle



So, that's my attempt to find the "essence" of the SAG gowns in more affordable wear!

 What do you think?

January 25, 2010

Product Review: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo, A

Hello all! Hope everyone had a super weekend. I am * finally* feeling better after a horrible cold!




Up for review today is Oscar Blandi's Pronto Dry Shampoo. Some of you may be saying - what the hell is dry shampoo? And I say, if you have ever had greasy/oily/dirty/unfavorable strands, you need to meet this product. Why would you ever use dry shampoo...well here's why...
  • Dry shampoo allows you to shampoo every other day (or more) - which is a major help for keeping your colored (or highlighted) hair fresh
  • If you have bangs and they get a little oily during the day - this will completely freshen them up!
  • Dry shampoo as adds volume and "freshness" for any hair style/look
Ok, now that you learned why I love dry shampoo, let me tell you why I'm a big fan of Oscar Blandi's Pronto Dry Shampoo. It may seem a bit pricey at $11 for one ounce, but it has lasted me about one year (using it once or twice per week). You just a shake a little in your hand, work it through the needed tresses and brush through! Seriously - your strands will thank you. I wash my hair every other day and this dry shampoo is an absolute necessity for me. Also - this little wonder smells like sugared lemon - I lurve it.

So, overall this product gets an A for me! Works well, smells nice and last for a looong time!

Have you ever used dry shampoo? Which is your favorite brand?

On a random note, if you're in a pinch, you can use baby powder for oily strands...but it doesn't work quite as well as dry shampoo.

January 22, 2010

WTF Friday: Dressy & Wacky

Happy Friday everyone! It's been one of those weeks, hasn't it?! So glad it's the end of the work week!

On to a few WTFs...let me preface my written assaults with: I think both of these ladies are just stunning. So their outfit choices make matters even worse.



Oh Camilla Bell. Oh no, girlfriend. You know you can just hop on a plane if you really wanted to fly away? This whole cape-kabob thing is so silly! And I even like certain capes - you know, the ones that are cozy and warm?!

I just laugh when stars try to be avant garde...this particular red carpet is NOT the event for it. Also - WTF is growing on your feet? I'm a fan of booties and embellishments, but this is waaay too far out there. Put away the cape, Batgirl. The color is quite lovely though...




And then there is Lisa Edelstein (from the show "House"). She is clearly in a hurry to a pic-a-nic and is carrying the blanket is the most convenient way - on her body. I'm all for different textures and colors, but this is Little House on the Prairie meets my 5th grade grunge flannel.

What do you think? Are you saying WTF, too?

January 21, 2010

Cubicle to Cocktails: Hot High-Waisted Skirt Edition

So, I thought I would just parlay today's feature with this week's high-waisted skirt reader request!

As I mentioned previously, high-waisted skirts as super feminine, but also offer a sex-ay kick when paired with the right accessories. I chose the chain belt from ASOS to pull together both pieces and make it look more like a dress rather than separates. Also, the booties I choose may be a tad boring in black, but those suckers are TALL. Damn, Gina.

Oh, and ask me how much I love that Francesco Biasia patent leather chain strap bag? SO MUCH. And it's on super sale. And there are a bunch of colors available. And I need to stop.

What do you think of today's edition?

How would you inject a bit more color into the cocktails outfit?


Cubicle to Cocktails!


Items in this set:


January 20, 2010

Wednesday Cheap Thrills

Happy Wednesday, everyone! It's been kind of a crazy week, so pardon my short post today...

A few of my cheap thrills:

  • Weeknight movies - Saw Lovely Bones last night...not an amazing film, but it was good (the book was, of course, WAY better)
  • Triscuits - yep, just Triscuits
  • Beating my husband at Monopoly
  • Loaned books from friends...so much easier and cheaper than going to the Barnes & Noble or even the library

And for the other cheap thrills...a nice set of pick-me-ups, in which every item is less than $25. How precious is that random little bird cage necklace?! Enjoy!

Cheap Thrills: Each Item Less Than $25



Items in this set:

January 19, 2010

Reader Request: Let's Not Waist Any Time, Or Skirt The Issue...

Oh the title of this post...I know, I'm a total nerd. But really, a lovely CCC reader asked me to find her a similarly styled skirt to Vickie B's seen below....










I know the Polyvore set isn't super exciting, but it really does showcase some stunners at unlikely online retailers - like Spiegel?! I haven't seen a Spiegel catalogue since my scrunchie days. Also, Newport News has some super cute stuff, at very affordable prices. A few months ago my buddy Chasing Davies did a spread of Newport News shoes  - they have some lovely little options.

I'm a fan of high-waisted pencil skirts, they really streamline the entire midsection and give a nice throwback to the 40s. If you're a little squeamish about a tighter fitting, high-waist skirt, there are tons o' options that feature pieces of "shapewear" built right into the skirt. There is one featured in the set below!

What do you think of high-waisted pencil skirts? Waist of time or just right?

And, yes, I'm officially finished with the homonyms for the day...High Waisted Skirts


Items in this set:

January 18, 2010

Product Review: L'Oreal Double Extend 24-Hour Lash Boosting System, B+

Hey everyone!

Up for review today is L'Oreal's new Double Extend Lash Boosting System ($21-$24). This system includes two products, a lash boosting serum (that retails for roughly $10-$12) and the double extend mascara (retails for roughly $10-$12).




I'm a Bzz Agent, so I received this package about four weeks ago. Over the past four weeks I've been using this system fairly regularly and I have to say, it's a really nice product overall. Some may find the layering of the serum and the mascara a bit much, but if you *lightly* layer the products, you're in good shape.

The Good:
  • Nice results, my lashes are longer, fuller lashes in generally in better condition
  • No clumping or flaking
  • Easy to wash off with regular face wash
  • Accessible product
  • Fine for those with contacts (I'm a testament to that!)
The Bad:
  • The system is a little pricey - at $21-$24 for both products, that's roughly the same cost of an awesome Lancome or Dior mascara
  • Some people will not be a fan of using the serum on bare lashes at night
  • The layering (serum, base coat, mascara) is a bit much and problematic is not applied in rapid succession
The Verdict: B+
  • L'Oreal has a great idea here, and a nice product overall
  • Here's hoping they run price promotion on the package deal
If I had to choose the serum or the mascara, I'd probably choose the mascara. Why? Well, the base coat of the mascara includes the serum properties!

Would you try this product? What's your favorite mascara?

January 16, 2010

Critics' Choice Awards - Celebrity Style Eyegasm

Just a quick post to start off your weekend! Here are just a few STUNNING dresses that the stars showcased last night at the Critics' Choice Awards....


Emily Blunt in Georges Chakra Couture: Now this is how you sport a silver dress-the sheer neckline, the scalloping....GORGEOUS! The styling is so lovely, too. This is my fave...



Photo via: Jason Merritt/Getty

Julianne Moore in Lanvin: You don't see too many redheads workin' a red dress, but this looks stunning on her.



Photo via: Jason Merritt/Getty

Zoe Saldana in Jason Wu: Yes, Jason Wu, the designer who created Michelle Obama's dress for The Inaugural Ball. This color is perfection on Zoe, it's so....effervescent! She could use a sandwich or two, though!



Photo via: Jason Merritt/Getty

Sandra Bullock in Alberta Ferretti: I love the fringe. AND, how stunning does her hair look? I know, rando, but she looks so lovely. She's obviously a really big Ferretti fan, I swear that's the only designer she has worn on the red carpet for the past year or two.


Photo via: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup


Which dress do you like best? Will you be watching the Golden Globes on Sunday?

January 15, 2010

WTF Friday: Miley, Please Return the Cat Toy

Oh Miley Miley Miley...

Here's my issue with Miley Cyrus's "look"...yeah, she's dresses (and sometimes acts) a bit inappropriate for her age. Overall though, she's almost mild when you compare her track record to Lindsay Lohan or some 17 year old celebrity screwball. So, really, it's more about the outfit - it's damn heinous.

The front is so deceiving...she looks almost normal, with the semi-fug, paint splattered jeans...



It's the back I take issue with...WTF?! It's not just in bad taste Miley, it's just plain ugly. 17 or 37, no one should sport this look. Please give the shirt back to kitty...he's missing his scratching post.



What do you think, is she just being Miley or is the look just plaing fugly?

January 14, 2010

Introducing Coley's Closet Clearance!



Hi everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know that I started up another blog to showcase and sell items from my lovely little closet. All the items will be new or EUC.

I'll link the site up here so you can see what I'm selling! Please share it with your friends!

http://coleysclosetclearance.blogspot.com/

Thanks! Happy shopping!

Cubicle to Cocktails - A Vested Interest...

Hi all! Today's edition of Cubicle to Cocktails features one of my favorite, but underused, clothing items - a vest. I realized, just the other day, how much I like these little sleeveless wonders, but I don't sport them very often.

I think the cubicle vest is very work appropriate and can also look great with jeans. The black pants are very similar to J Crew's Minnie Pant (but at half the price). Although the ankle length can look awkward on some, I think it's a fresh take on the typical office black pant.

I'm also a big fan of bright bags for both work and play. This pink patent ASOS bag looks great with so many color options. As for the cocktails look, isn't the studded black vest adorable?! Pair that sucker with a slouchy white tank an layer on some delicate jewelry and you are golden (hardy har har).

So, what do you think of this look? Would you wear these ankle length pants to work? How about to cocktail hour - if so, what would you pair them with?

Cubicle to Cocktails


Items in this set:

January 13, 2010

Wednesday Cheap Thrills: Sailor Style

Hi all! Hope everyone is having a great week! Today's edition of cheap thrills is themed - Sailor Style! Nautical Nonsense, whatever you want to call it.

I've seen tons 'o nautical themed clothing and accessories making their way out for spring. Now, the set below is a hodgepodge of sailor style, I highly advise against wearing many of these items at the same time! That would be a wee bit much. We won't want to confuse sailor style with Halloween!
Wednesday Cheap Thrills: Each Item $25 or Less


Items in this set:

As for my own cheap thrills here are a few:
  • Bad pirate/sailor jokes...see below
  • Chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies
  • New pens
  • Freshly washed bedding
What do you think of Nautical Wear? Arrrrrrrrre (emphasis on the "R") you a fan of Sailor Style?

January 12, 2010

Psyched for Sping: Old Navy Picks

Hi everyone!

So, yes, I know it's only the beginning of January, but I'm already thinking spring! I quickly skimmed through Old Navy's first showing of spring offerings. I'm happy to say that they have tons of cute spring classics -  neutral colored trench coats, pops of color in lightweight sweaters, airy scarves and slouchy, comfortable chinos and boyfriend jeans.

Here are just a few spring picks that I spied at Old Navy...

What are you crushing on for spring?!
Psyched for Spring: Old Navy


Items in this set:

January 11, 2010

Product Review: Benefit Eye Bright, B





Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! I had a lovely little weekend filled with a bit of shopping, home improvements and a movie. I finally saw Avatar in 3D and really enjoyed it. The visual effects are truly stunning.

Anywho, on to the product review of the day. I picked up Benefit's Eye Bright about one month ago after reading some reviews and seeing Carmindy use it quite a bit on What Not To Wear (a fave show of mine). I don't have super dark circles underneath my eyes, but there are plenty of mornings that I wear my lack of sleep on my face. So, this handy dandy little stick is touted to literally "brighten" your eyes.

First off, it's price-ay. At $20 for a .05 oz. stick, this thang better work....and it does. It offers a creamy texture that glides right over your moisturizer (I layer toner, moisturizer, this and then my tinted moisturizer). It's pale pink color instantly adds light under the eyes and definitely makes me look more awake (oh, and it doesn't crease or cake, either). Go easy on it, though, because you don't want to layer on too much of this product or you'll look like you have a pink spotlight under your eyes. Not hot.

So, overall, I give this little wonder a B. Why? Well, it's a really nice, easy-to-use product. It brightens the eyes and definitely makes me look a bit more awake. However, it's pretty pricey and those with significant dark circles under the eyes won't get full relief from this bad boy.

Have you ever tried Benefit's Eye Bright? Thoughts?

Oh...and if you want to try Eye Bright for less there are a bunch on ebay...just make sure to check out the seller's credentials before buying!

January 9, 2010

And for fun....let's enjoy a WTF Snooki Saturday...

Um...Snooki...



WTF is she hiding in that hair? I've just got to say that I come from an Italian-American family and my grandfather is positively rolling over in his grave because of Jersey Shore. YIKES. Seriously, if you want to see jacked up, muscled Italianos scamming on girls and getting into fights, you will enjoy Jersey Shore.

Clearly it has made for entertaining TV. Snooki (above) has been punched in the face, twice, already. Bravo, MTV...way to find some winners. I'm thinking that there will be plenty of "Snooki" wigs and costumes up for sale during Halloween.

And Snooki...ease up on the hair bump and the shiny jackets. Do you think she uses a queen sized Bump It?



Have a great weekend!

January 8, 2010

WTF Friday: Rihanna & Leighton

Oh mama. Do I have some fun WTFs for you today...let's not waste any time!



Oh Leighton...we've talked about your wacky "fashion sense" before. What is this look, "naked Victorian"? Just because your pants are high rise, does not mean that the remainder  of your outfit is pardoned from covering the rest of your body. WTF, girlfriend...please cease from wearing the fugtastic enembles, you're such a cute young lady, please dress like one.





And then there is Rihanna, who I think is just stunning and can rock just about anything...except this. But, WTF, clearly girlfriend is a fan of the 80s with these ho-rrendous leggings and Barbie shoes. RiRi - we're confused, we like your avant garde looks and your fashion forward ensembles, but this messy shiz is NOT attractive, even on you.




And these super duper lace shorts. Yes, Forever21, this is exactly what I was looking for to complete my weekend attire. Skin tight, long, sheer lace shorts. YES! Thank God. Now my wardrobe is complete. It's so Madonna circa 1984, except it's not Halloween and it's not hot...at all.

Any WTFs to share?

January 7, 2010

Cubicle to Cocktails...Really Delicious, Expensive Cocktails!

Happy Thursday everyone! Because I got some very kind feedback, I have decided to continue the Thursday Special: Cubicle to Cocktails!

As I noted last week, I'm a big fan of dresses for the transitional look...they are just so easy. And the particular dress below may seem a bit dressy for the office, and that's ok! I know many ladies who have a bundle of great dresses and just need a bit of updated, more office appropriate styling.

So, I took a floral satin piece and warmed it up with a basic white button down, toasty little cardigan and nude fishnets. If you're more reserved you could certainly pull on opaque tights instead of the nude fishies.

To move this into cocktail attire, I just removed the plain button down and added a slate gray velvet jacket an loads 'o pearls.

What do you think? 

Do you have any dresses that you could convert to chic office wear?


January 6, 2010

Cheap Thrills Wednesday!

Cheap Thrills comin' atcha. It's a little bit of a let down after the holidays...all of the little (fattening) cheap thrills pretty much fall by the wayside for more "healthy" resolutions. So, even though I want to buck the trend and list a few cheap thrills that are utterly and completely horrid for me, I will list only my healthy cheap thrills (if only for this one week)...

  • Runner's High: Yes, Virginia, it does exist. I didn't say it happens very often to me, but once in a great while I am very, very happy after a nice long run.
  • Egg Sandwiches: Perhaps not the most healthy thing I could have plopped up here, but hubs makes an incredible egg stacker with just a bit of cheese. Protein, right?!
  • Jillian Michaels DVDs on Exercise TV: Holy hurt...these put me in a good kind of pain...almost as painful as P90X-but those aren't cheap.
  • Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter: I shop at Trader Joe's quite often, and their Pumpkin Butter is DIVINE! Very low in calories, fat and sugar. This tasty little spread is incredible mixed with cream cheese or will contribute to an amazing soup. (You can find it near the peanut butter if you're interested)
Without further adieu, here are some gorgeous cheap thrills to brighten up your week! BTW...the tan slouchy sweater is already sold out...and I'm really angry about that. I'm hoping that F21 restocks that bad boy very soon...as always, every item is less than $25!

Cheap Thrills: Each Item Less than $25

Items in this set:

January 5, 2010

Oh No J Lo...Ensemble Stupidity...

So, if any of you didn't watch Dick Clark's (Ryan Seacrest) NYE countdown, then you missed a barely clothed Jennifer Lopez performing a mix of her songs. Now, before I rag on her, please let me say just this, girlfriend is lovely and, boy, does she have cajones to wear a semi-sheer, crystal encrusted bodysuit seen below.





OK OK...she's had twins and she still has a rockin' bod, but when the hell does that mean that we should wear a bodysuit like this? So..moral of the story of today, kids, is even if you are stunning and have a rockin' bod, don't dress like a fool. Oh, and yes, it would not have bothered me quite as much if it was just for a music video, etc. A la Britney Spears in the Toxic video...



The kicker for me was that Ms. Lopez was performing in front of throngs of people in the freezing rain. Don't you think she may have had a few outfit choices to mull over, perhaps looking at the semi-sheer catsuit and thinking, hmmm, maybe not the right choice for this particular evening. Ok, rant over.

Did you ever wear anything that, looking back on it, was quite the poor choice? I can think of a few ensembles I wore in college....one timid example for you all:

While in college, during my early years, a bunch of my very good (and equally naive) girlfriends would dress up in super tight jeans, low cut tops and barely there jackets and bring our stupid asses out to the bars. Mind you, we went to college in Madison, WI, so it was pretty damn cold for six months out of the school year.

One particular evening in the absolute dead of winter with at least one foot of snow on the ground, we got all gussied up and headed out to the bars. Since we couldn't grab a cab, we walked...not too far...maybe four or five blocks. The best part was, though, a few of my friends, myself included, were wearing stilettos. Now think about that, bare feet in stilettos trudging in the snow. AND THEN, once we got to the bar in question, we stood in line outside for at least 30 minutes...yes, in the snow.

So, by the time we finally got inside, our feet were so frozen that they were blood red and burning. As soon as we got into the bar, we headed to the restroom to dry and warm our feet off. WTF were we thinking...I'm pretty sure we cabbed it home because our feet were still burning after hours inside.

Anywho...that's just one story of ensemble stupidity from my years of experience...now I wear boots...

Any poor ensemble choices you'd like to own up to?!