Bow Earrings - Designer vs. Etsy...Who wins?

I typically love bold jewelry. But when it comes to earrings, I tend to gravitate more towards items with dainty yet feminine details. That being said, I'm SO into the latest bow trend in jewelry (and fashion as well).

The Marc Jacobs Metal Bow Stud Earrings (shown above) were the first ones to catch my eye. Seeing that they are currently sold out on the Piperlime and Bloomindale's websites, it is clear that these are very popular with consumers. Luckily, they are still available at Zappos.com for $44 - although, I don't know how much longer they will be in stock.

Now, with me being a bargain shopper and lover of all things handmade, I HAD to pay a visit to Etsy to see if any sellers were offering any one-of-a-kind bow earrings at a great price. As usual, Etsy delivered!!

Here are some of my favorites:



Available at FleurAvenue's Etsy shop for $14.50




Available at candysart's Etsy shop for $17.00




Available at LittleMandCo's Etsy shop for $14.00




Available at Sumikoshop's Etsy shop for $17.50


Let me know if you're lovin' this bow trend as much as I am. And if so, which pair of earrings has your name on it?

Handbag Swoon - Fiorelli Weave Bag

I am SO lovin' the weave detail and chain strap!

This bag is available at Dorothy Perkins for around $60. It is a perfect gift for the fashionista(s) in your life - and why not grab one for yourself while you're at it?!

Click here for the bronze and here for the multi color.

Let me know which color tickles your fancy.

Boot Swoon - N.Y.L.A. Zipit Ankle Boot

N.Y.L.A. Zipit Ankle Boot - $174.00 (available at RevolveClothing.com)

It's the less expensive "look alike" of the Balmain Uma Zipper Booties that will set you back $1,700. If you have $2,000 in your pocket to burn, pick up the real deal here. Then, let me borrow a dollar. :-)

Shoe Swoon - Jeffrey Campbell Suede Pumps w/ Chains

Jeffrey Campbell Suede Pumps with Chain Detailing - $124.00 (available at Akira)


In blue or grey suede. Now...Which color do you prefer?

A Fashion "Monsoon" Touches Down in the U.S.

One of my favorite stores in London is Accessorize. I always make an effort to visit the store at least once during my stay. This store carries some of THE best accessories ranging from jewelry to scarves to ballet flats, all at an affordable price (considering the exchange rate). It's equivalent to Claire's in the U.S. in that you can find one in almost every part of town. However, the quality is much better. Plus, I love any place that offers items I won't see on everyone, at least in the U.S. We all know that exclusivity is KEY!

Needless to say, when I received the news that they are now delivering to the U.S., I was ecstatic. Accessorize is a subsidiary of Monsoon, which is a store that offers clothing in addition to accessories. I've never purchased from Monsoon but based on what I've seen on their site recently AND the fact that most items go up to at least a UK size 18 (US size 14), I may be making my first Monsoon purchase in the very near future.

Of course, I have to share with you some of the items I'm currently drooling over...
















(l-r)
row 1:
Azaria Top - $85
Belisama Dress - $200

row 2:
Georgina Oval hard Case - $50
Frilly Airline Brooch - $15

row 3:
Gemini Catwalk Statement Cuff - $25
Athena Statement Necklace - $30


Click here to peruse the Monsoon site. While you're there, get comfortable because I'm sure you'll be there for awhile. ;-)

In A Clutch Frame of Mind

*Alexander McQueen Knuckle Duster Clutch (available at Net-A-Porter.com for $1,595)




Lately, I've been on the search for the perfect frame clutch. Prior to now, I believed that frame clutches were only meant for cocktail parties and black tie events. However, I recently witnessed someone "dressing down" the frame clutch. Her ensemble consisted of a denim blazer and black jersey dress all belted at the waist. The bag added a hint of glamor to an already-chic outfit. It was genius! Why didn't I think of that?!

Why NOT get a bag that can work equally well during a girls' night out on the town OR a black tie affair with a significant other?

My thoughts on how to achieve this "dressed down" look are to avoid frame clutches with rhinestone or crystal detailing. However, don't avoid detailing altogether. Beading, animal prints, pleating or ruffles will add just enough interest without looking too out of place. Also, don't be afraid of color. Keep the neutrals within your outfit and let the handbag do the talking.

Below are some of my favorites. Now I must decide which one I like the most. This may prove difficult since they're all SO different.

Needless to say, I'm definitely in a "clutch frame of mind". Are you with me?



















(l-r)
first row:
Inge Christopher: Hard Case Snake Clutch - $144
Carlo Fellini Puff Quilt Clutch - $48

second row:
Spiegel Lace Clutch - $39
Arden B. Exposed Layer Zipper Clutch - $38

third row:
Santi CP3406 Clutch - $223
Nordstrom Kisslock Frame Silk Ruffle Clutch - $78

Extremely Chic Plaid (inspired by RSVP Bella Rain Boots)

Today, I received an email from 6pm.com advertising several sales including one on RSVP shoes. I usually ignore these emails but decided to follow the link out of curiosity. Luckily, I came across the RSVP Bella Rain Boot for only $9.95! I've been wanting a pair of rain boots but didn't want to pay much for them. With THAT price, I picked up a total of 4 pairs (1 for myself and 3 for my loved ones). Of course, I had to send out a "Sale Alert" to my Twitter and Facebook fashionistas. The news spread like wildfire! Within a few hours, the boots were sold out. I couldn't even view the site to pull the pictures for this blog post but fortunately was able to find some photos on glimpse.com. Whew! *wiping forehead*

A friend asked me to let her know if I find a coat to go with the green boots. I automatically thought that a plaid cape or jacket would be PERFECT! So, I decided to scour the net to find a couple options for the red, navy AND green boots and post them for those of you that were lucky enough to scoop up a pair.

One should never be afraid of color. There's always a way to make it work!

Check out my selections below and if you stumble across any other fabulous coats or jackets, let me know. A girl likes to have options, you know.

RED:





(l-r)
Forever 21: Cape Sleeve Plaid Coat - $42.80
American Eagle: Plaid Peacoat - $129.50


NAVY:





(l-r)
ModCloth: Cape Paid-era - $72.99
ModCloth: Best I Ever Plaid Coat - $87.99


GREEN:





(l-r)
Modcloth: Dalby Forest Coat - $114.99
Buckle: Jack B.B. Dakota Lei Coat - $44.62