Dear Girlfriends -

Slouchy cropped pants were seen in past seasons, but for a transitional piece from Summer to Fall ’09 my girlfriends and I plan to make a real grand entrance!

Girlfriends, call them Harem, Bananas or Indian pants, the fact is undeniable – this new shape is hitting even high street chain stores like Mango, Zara and Forever 21.  Even high-end designers are aware!  There were sequined numbers at Ralph Lauren, tropical-twist ones at Emmanuel Ungaro, and funky pants at Vivienne Westwood.

These jersey harem pants feature a gathered elastic waistband and 19″ side slits and tie at bottom hem.  Splendid makes an innovative silhouette completely wearable.  Jersey harem pants with fold-over and gathered elastic banding at waist.

Harem Pants Tie Bottom

Jersey Harem Pants

Cropped harem pants featuring a zippered fly with button closure and front pockets. This season’s fashion-forward essential is softly draped for an easy, slouchy fit through the hip and thigh with a sexy skinny leg. Faux fly with two decorative buttons. 

Cropped Harem Pants

Slouchy Fit Harem Pants

To stylishly work the trend, combine these pants with a tank top, structured sharp blazer and a pair of great high heels or ankle booties.

Consider something chic!  Overdyed zebra print silk harem pant with dropped crotch in a trouser style featuring a pleated from waistband, trouser pockets at sides, zip fly with button closure at middle back and elastic at ankles.  Perfect with a fierce pair of booties, this strapless harem-style jersey jumpsuit features ruching at the bust and gathered elastic banding at the waist and back.

Overdyed Zebra Harem Pants

Harem Style Jumpsuit

Fashionistas, harem pants this slouchy can be tricky, but showing a little ankle and adding a shrunken blazer sharpen them up beautifully.

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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Sophistication!

On Sunday August 23, 2009 at promptly 2:30 in the afternoon we dined on key lime cupcakes, green passion tea, custom-designed butter cookies, roasted red peppers sandwiches met with a taste of sophistication for the High Tea Party held at the Mandarin Oriental created by Lerkia Tidball of Savvy Soirees.  

An afternoon tea party is suitable for many celebrations!  At the High Tea Party, we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy each others style and able to share intimate conversations.  It didn’t matter what time, we were in the moment, this afternoon tea was a lovely event designed for women to shine.  Savvy socialites included Lerkia Lee-Tidball, Glam Stephens, Monica Byrd, Charys Williams, Aniya Dunkley, Alesha Armstrong, Pamela Adams, Bianka Adams, Tara Anderson, Monisha Harris, Terria Northern, Sonja Chase, Titilayo Ogunmakinwa, Marisa Dunmore, Lisa Gardner, Mercedes Fraizer, Alyssia McCain, Crystal Little and Aileen Vaughn. When these savvy socialites RSVP’d for the High Tea Party I am sure we all had the same style inspirations! 

High Tea Party

When planning your defined style for the tea party; the sophistication started with deciding on a dress.  Don’t be afraid to wear a dress in solid prints or colorful hues.  If you’re not sure about the temperatures indoors at the hotel grab your cropped jacket or light sweater as a coverlet in case its chilly inside the hotel.  When looking for the “other” pieces adding color is a must.  Hot pink, mustard yellow or red pumps would help give the outfit a little “kick” for a girly tea party.

Amazing bites at High Tea Party

Savvy Socialites

A finishing touch!

Chic cupcakes

Chic and fun!

Besides getting the dress you need to consider shoes, accessories and of course the hat. Have you always wanted a feminine touch and a finish just for you, you and you?  Don’t look any further.  A few key pieces that will add just a bit of innocence and chic attitude to your wardrobe is all you need.  Pieces such as pearl necklaces, your grandmother’s rhinestone and pearl brooch, a cocktail ring and crystal lucite bangles.  Ensure that you will be in style by combining your love for vintage, chic or a floral look with a modern twist!

All-in-all we had a tea time for this record books honored with tradition, refinement and elegance. 

Whatever your reason for attending your next tea party, enjoy a cup for me!

All the Savvy Socialites at Mandarin Oriental

 

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Dear Girlfriends ~

We are all cutting corners and finding ways to save on everything!  By getting rid of magazine subscriptions and bringing our own lunch to work … I yearn to be a frugalista!

I’ve recently discovered stylish lunch bags.  When you were in grade school, having a Barbie lunch box was the best. Then junior high came around, and hoarding food in a lunch box (especially a Barbie one) quickly put you in the nerd category. For seventh and eighth grades, brown bags were the cool way to go. Finally you hit high school, and neither lunch boxes nor brown bags were cool—buying food at the cafeteria was the only way to lunch in order to maintain your chic status.

Now you’re a working gal, and odds are no one cares what you eat or how you lug it into the office. Even still, you want a stylish lunch bag to carry your food in. After all, you’re still a hip chick.

Here are a few ways to brown bag in style.  Unlike the brown bag, this Gourmet Getaway in French Bull Multi-Dot style with an orange sorbet-colored interior will satisfy the fashionista in you who likes to make a splash in the office. You can throw all of your lunch goodies into a plain plastic bag, but deep down you know this isn’t the best way to pack a lunch.  Enter the Milano Insulated Neoprene Lunch Tote. The sleek bag, ideal for organized brown baggers, features separate sections for your food and drink, as well as an outside pocket that can house a stash of napkins and condiments.

Polka Dot Lunch Tote

Tasty Lunch Tote

Organized and Practical

Girlfriends, your lunch list consists of a sandwich, two fruits, a bottle of water, soda… What are you going to use to carry all this? Consider this Heart Awareness Lunch Tote, which is both fashionable and functional. The best part is, you’ll be supporting a good cause.

Over Packer Lunch Bag

You don’t like frills, logos or patterns. For those of you with a fashion mantra of “less is more,” a great lunch bag option for you comes from Baggu. Replacing paper and plastic bags everywhere, one Baggu Bag holds the contents of two or three grocery bags. Even if you’re not lugging groceries to the office, this tote can carry your lunch in style. Just pick from the many colors available. like periwinkle, neon, hot pink and more.

Sweet and Simple Bag

Traditional Lunch Box

Being a frugalista doesn’t take much!  For some, bagging lunch is a way to bring healthier alternatives to the table. But for most of us, a brown bag lunch helps pinch a few pennies here and there. With all the pennies you save – you too can be a frugalista today!

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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Dear Girlfriends,

Dolce & Gabbana Sequin Pumps

Giuseppe Zanotti Pumps

Lovely People is a versatile collection that is ideal for a a night out. You’ve hit gold when you add these pumps to your collection.  Wow  – these sequin and satin party shoes have a shimmery, iridescent sheen. item comes pre-boxed.

Lovely People

Kate Spade Carly Pump

Girlfriends, even this designer shoe is a style idea when pairing with a pair of jeans!  The pumps offers silver glitter sequin upper with pale goldtone threading.

Glitter Open Toe Pump

Sequin pumps instantly update everything from skinny jeans to a little black dress. We love all the style options … Shine on!

Until the next style adventure,

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Dear Girlfriends -

For this upcoming Fall season its all about capturing style from head to toe.  And speaking of toes, feet and shoes … this season’s popular shoe is the cut-out pump. 

Cut, copy and paste are no longer terms restricted to keyboard functions. You can apply the method to dresses, bags, shoes and stockings. In other words, from fancy labels to designer-inspired pieces, it’ll be way too easy to add cut-outs to your fall wardrobe.

Pour la Victorie Eden Pump

Fashionistas, Pour La Victoire turns out gorgeous shoes for modern women with a taste for unique designs offering cut-out suede upper, peep toe and lace-up vamp design. These cool booties are perfect with short swing dresses and cool coats or with skinny jeans and short biker styled jackets.

Cut Out Detail Bootie

Retro is all the rage. Chocolate patent leather cut-out peep-toe platform pumps with a heel that measures approximately 120mm / 5 inches. Moschino Cheap and Chic pumps have a cone heel, contrast lining and silver laces to fasten.

Moschino Cheap and Chic

By Miss Sixty, peep-toe platform shoe with cut out details and zipper trim.  Side zip entry and padded footbed.  Or consider these fab finds!  Nappa leather peep toe lace up platform bootie with cut out vamp, closed back and contrast leather trim.

Miss Sixty Hailey Cut Out Heel

Givenchy Cut Out Bootie

An architectural cut-out wedge offering peep-toe, perforated patent upper and a 4″ heel – a chic combination!

BCBG Perforated Pump

Don’t be afraid to try pumps this season that may take you out of your element – be a true fashionista and go there!    Girlfriends, Steve Madden Merriee pump offers a rich violet shoe to pair with opague black and featuring peep-toe platform pump, cut out accents and a sewn center seam and 4 1/2″ heel.

Steve Madden Pump

This season’s innovative closet is yours to experiment with, and there’s no holding back!

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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Dear Girlfriends -

Of course I suggested a dress I told her to opted for some harem-inspired or a chic pant jumpsuit.   When deciding on jumpsuits, think chic.  There are so many options out there. 

Gorgeous silk jumpsuit + glossy black heels + fitted black tux = instant goddess. Love it!  Don the haute, vintage style of this sleeveless jumpsuit from Adrianna Papell, featuring wide, pleated shoulder straps, a surplice V-neckline, pleated cross-over bodice, belt at the waist and hip bell-bottom leg.  This ruffled jumpsuit features notched two-layer collar; tie waist, sleeveless, seam pockets at hip and harem-cut legs.

Paul & Joe Strapless Jumpsuit

Ruffled Jumpsuit

This sleeveless, wide-leg jersey jumpsuit features an unfinished cowl neck and a drawstring tie at the gathered elastic waist. Slant hip pockets and single-button back keyhole. Button-tab gathers arm openings.

Jersey Jumpsuit

A playful evening alternative, this stretch-silk harem-style jumpsuit features a ruffled top hem and ruched bust. Smocked elastic banding at back. Front pleats and on-seam hip pockets. Gathered elastic banding at hem. Spaghetti halter straps tie behind neck, lined at bodice and tuck straps in for strapless styling.

Harem Style Jumpsuit

Silk Strapless Jumpsuit

Rachel Pally Jumpsuit

Take on the trend and don’t forget to jump around in your jumpsuit!

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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Dear Girlfriends -

Sunday is almost here and I’m looking forward to some sophisticated fun at the High Tea Party being held at the Mandarin Oriental created by Lerkia Tidball of Savvy Soirees.   I told my girlfriend just the other day, that you should dress elegantly for a tea party. It doesn’t matter what time of the day.  Afternoon or morning teas are lovely events designed for women to shine.

Let’s start off deciding on a dress.  Don’t be afraid to wear a dress in solid prints or colorful hues.  If you’re not sure about the temperatures indoors at the hotel grab your cropped jacket or light sweater as a coverlet in case its chilly inside the hotel.  

A pretty embroidery and beading on this pleated, voluminous skirt add to the allure of this design with a fitted bodie and patent belt.  A sweet little confection pays homage to dresses from decades past. Here in a strapless geometric eyelet with empire waist and bow detail. Full pleated skirt with embroidered eyelet detail overlay.

Embroidery Dress

Eyelet Strapless Dress

If you’re keen to stay away from black this season, try an LCD (Little Coloured Dress) to dazzle your fans. This bright spark is part of celebrity lust favourite BCBGMAXAZRIA’s hot new collection so get your hands on one now!

BCBG Ruffle Dress

Still don’t know what to wear to tea party this weekend? Make that decision easy with the Chic Choice Dress. With a black and white banded skirt this dress will always be classy. Black elastic waistband cinches in the waist and makes the skirt poof just right. Deep v-neck in back and front. Black knit top overlaps at center front and small gathers under bust are really cute.

Chic Choice Dress

Life’s a stroll in our Bloomsbury Dress. A large houndstooth print dress features pretty ruffle cap sleeves and a string of cloth covered beads bordering the ruffle trimmed neckline. Dress makes a lovely finish with a drawstring waist that ties in front with a navy bow.

Bloomsbury Dress

Flirty ruffles adorn the top bodice front and back while adding a pretty trim to the tank straps. Piping at the bust and an exposed black trimmed zipper in back add extra shape and detail. The skirt of this dress takes the cake with its three tiers of ruffles before finishing off with a non-ruffled bottom layer.

Celebrity Pink Sock Dress

Girlfriends

  When looking for the “other” pieces adding color is a must. Hot pink or red heels or sandals would help give the outfit a little “kick” for a girly tea party. Tomorrow I will explore the accessories needed for a sophisticated Sunday afternoon at the High Tea Party!  , besides getting the dress you need to consider shoes, accessories and of course the hat!

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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Dear Girlfriends ~

When preparing for fall season and the idea of accessories; one of the new outfit makers is a detailed belt.  Just add one of these belts to your wardrobe this season and you are right in trend!

Detailed belts look great with your workday options such as pencil skirt or trousers or to cinch a tunic top this fall.  There will be lots of detailed and textured belts appearing this season.  I’ve been on a mission to find all that is out there and here’s where I am so far.

Brown leather with silvery metal and amber-colored glass–it’s regal without even trying.  Simply elegant black elastic with golden studs and snap close.  Cinch in summer essentials and give floaty floral dresses edge with HTC’s bronze and silver-toned studded belt.

Glad Studded Belt

Studded Stretch Belt

Gold Metal Stud

Glowing Stone Belt

I love this one … you can pair with anything!  Elastic waist belt with gold metal stud detailing on the front.  A wide belt with goldtone double-bar detail at the front push button close and 3″ wide is a glam leather-look.

Glam Wide Belt

Girlfriends, the perfect edgy addition to your wardrobe. Tan leather skinny belt with silver pyramid studs, adjustable length, and buckle closure. Bring preppy-chic to your professional portfolio with Marni’s black and white leather belt. Accent the burnished gold-tone buckle with tailored separates and glossy heels.

Madison Tan Belt

No matter what your outfit this fall … try something new – add a detailed belt and you will have a hit!

Until the next style adventure,

Monica

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