Guest Post: Fashionable Winter Accessories

Take the Edge off the Cold with Fashionable Winter Accessories

by Brooke S.

As the days grow shorter and the air becomes chillier, you know that winter is fast approaching. Although frigid winter days may tempt you to bundle up in a warm but shapeless coat, clunky boots, and your warm but tattered wool scarf, the dropping temperature doesn’t mean you have to lose your fashion sensibilities. Investing in a few key accessories will ensure that you look chic and stay toasty warm, all winter long.

Boots Make a Bold Fashion Statement
When considering your winter look, start at the tips of your toes with a new pair of boots. With dozens of chic styles to choose from, there is no reason to bury your feet in that frumpy pair you’ve had for years. Knee-high riding boots in a classic cognac color look cute with tucked in skinny jeans or a sweaterdress and leggings. For a more rock ‘n roll edge, grab a pair of sexy black booties to pair with thick tights and a cute skirt. Black boots with a stiletto heel can also amp up your fashion statement. If you’re going to be trudging through several feet of snow, avoid furry boots and stick with a plain suede pair that look more timeless.

A Scarf for Any Occasion
Scarves don’t have to be an itchy piece of fabric that you reluctantly wind around your neck to block the cold. Find a fashion-forward scarf with a unique knit pattern or cute fringe for a fun twist on a classic style. Layers are getting longer this season, so don’t be afraid to wind a thick, chunky scarf around your neck several times and leave the ends hanging. Scarves also make a great indoor accessory; after you’ve taken off your winter coat, keep your scarf on to add some pizzazz to your outfit. A colorful scarf can be a playful splash of color in an otherwise monochromatic look.

Hats and Mittens: Beyond the Basics
Hats and mittens don’t have to be totally utilitarian; look for a set that is fun, fashionable, and functional. A knit cap with a pom-pom on top can be a fun way to top off a more basic look. If you hate your hair getting full of static and tangles, look for a slouchy knit hat that will preserve your hairdo. If you are looking for something different this winter, find a structured fedora to wear with your favorite winter coat. This classic hat style looks great on nearly every face and frame.

Feel free to mix and match your hat and mittens, remembering to stick within the same style or color story. Keep it fun with colorful striped mittens, or go classic with a herringbone pattern. Many cute styles are convertible mitten/gloves, which allows you to easily text a friend or check your phone while keeping your hands warm.

With a chill in the air and rapidly dropping temperatures, it’s time to bring out the winterwear. Winter styles can be just as cute as any other time of year if you add the right accessories. Invest in some fashionable boots, scarves, hats, and mittens, and you’ll stay both warm and fashion-forward until spring arrives.

Guest Post: How to Dress for Success at Your Office Party

How to Dress for Success at Your Office Party

by Brooke S.

Annual office parties give you and your coworkers a chance to unwind and enjoy the season’s festivities together. Whether your boss foots the bill for a lavish banquet at a nearby convention center or hosts an intimate party in the office’s break room, dress for success. Sure, it’s a party, but you’re a professional. Dress like one!

What Not to Wear

When you think “holiday party,” do your little black sequined dress and high heels come to mind? That outfit’s great if you’re going out for an evening with girlfriends, but your co-workers don’t need or want to see you dressed for the club.

Likewise, leave the see-through, short or tight clothes at home. Your office party isn’t the place to show off your stomach, thighs or cleavage.

On the opposite side of the holiday wardrobe spectrum, you don’t want to wear your casual sweats or novelty items either. You know what I’m talking about: the holiday sweater with jeans, red sweater with green pants or the Santa socks and reindeer antler headbands. These clothing combinations and novelty items are cute at home, but you’ll appear unprofessional or silly if you wear them to the office party.

What to Wear

Remember that you represent your company and your professional career at work, after work and at office functions. Keep your professional reputation and your job secure by wearing appropriate clothing to your office holiday party.

This doesn’t mean you have to wear regular work clothes. A party is your chance to dress up a little while relaxing with your colleagues, meeting your boss’s wife and celebrating the holiday. Try wearing clothes that celebrate the season without overdoing the festivities. For example, consider dressing up a suit by pairing it with red silky blouse, red shoes and a red handbag. Pair your little black dress with sensible heels and a red jacket. Wear green leggings with a cream wrap sweater and boots. These outfits are tasteful and look great without going over the top.

And don’t forget the jewelry. Use sparkling, colorful pieces to show your seasonal spirit and add color to your outfit. Snowflake dangle earrings with a matching bracelet, diamond studs with matching hair clips or a ruby necklace with a red cocktail ring show off your holiday spirit with style.

At your office holiday party, maintain your professional reputation when you wear fashionable yet tasteful clothing. Let your hair down and enjoy mingling with your coworkers. With appropriate clothing, you’re dressed for success.

Guest Post: Holiday Shopping Tips

Holiday Shopping Tips: Stay Cute and Comfortable at the Mall This Season

by: Brooke S.

When getting ready for Black Friday shopping, you're probably thinking about long lines and crowded stores—and not about your personal style. This season, you'll probably see lots of friends and family members when shopping at the mall so it's important to look good.

Basic Outfit Ideas

If you're shopping for others and don't plan to try on any clothes, wear something simple yet chic. Think leggings or tights, a short skirt and a sweater. Top it off with a beanie or slouch cap. Or try long leggings and a tunic for basic everyday style. Jazz up this look with a long necklace or cozy cowl so you don't look like you crawled out of bed, threw on Uggs and a sweatshirt and hit the stores.

If you plan to do a little shopping for you, think in terms of clothes you can easily change into and out of. You definitely don't want to take off tights. Think skinny jeans, a boyfriend tee or tank and a simple blazer. The combo is comfortable and stylish. Accessorize with a statement necklace or fun winter hat.

Dos and Don'ts

While it can be tempting to show off your new high-heeled boots, keep your shoes comfortable. Ballet flats and flat booties work well here because they're super comfy, pair well with so many looks and are easy to take off. If your tall boots are comfy, great—but do you want to be lacing and unlacing them when trying on clothes?

If you can, leave your coat in the car or carry a lightweight jacket. Along the same vein, shrink down your purse size. A small lightweight clutch carries all the essentials and won't weigh down your shoulder while you shop. Bags get heavy, and if you're buying for the holidays you're sure to accumulate additional items to weigh you down.

When shopping for your perfect New Year's Eve outfit, bring along anything you might want to wear with it, like your heels. Just don't wear those stillettos to the mall or you'll wear out your feet. Same goes if you're looking to match something you already own: Bring the item along but don't feel you have to wear it.

No matter what you decide to wear, take time to do your hair and makeup. These little things will help you feel better when checking out potential outfits in the dressing room mirror and keep you covered if you run into friends. Fashion earrings, necklaces, scarves and hats let you incorporate some festive holiday flair or on-point trends.

When you take time to put yourself together, you just feel better all around when shopping. Who says comfortable can't be cute this holiday season?

Quality Thoughts for Tuesday!

Quote of the Month

In memory of my love ones.

Thifty Tuesday Guest Post

How to wear the lace look – for less

by Brooke Samonsite

All my thriftin' sistas listen up: this article will be your frugal-friendly guide to rocking the new lace trend on a budget. You've probably already seen lacy little numbers popping up all over the fashion world lately, and it's clear that this sexy and sophisticated style is here to stay. However, this high-end look can often come at a high-end price, which is worrisome to fashionistas with a limited bank account. Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds with the following fashionable and frugal pieces that add stylish lace to your wardrobe.

1. Hair accessories

Every frugal fashionista knows that accessories are the key to adding variety to your wardrobe without breaking the bank, which is why lace hair accessories are a fun and flirty go-to option for embracing the lace trend. Claire's offers an incredibly cute lace flower headwrap that comes embellished with pearls and gems to make your outfit sparkle. Best of all – at $5.50 – this accessory works for almost any budget.

2. Pretty blouses

A lace blouse can be paired perfectly with a cute cami or a saucy bandeau to add color and class to your wardrobe, but you have to know where to look when purchasing these cover-ups. Consignment shops are a great place to find pretty lacy blouses at a discount, but you can even make your own lace blouses out of doilies, old lace curtains or other lace items you have lying around the house.

3. Waist belts

If you can't afford a whole lacy outfit, use one lacy element to tie everything together with a lace waist belt. Lacy waist belts not only put your clothes on the cutting edge, but they create an extremely flattering silhouette. These belts may be a little more difficult to find compared to other basic lace items, but you can always substitute a lacy scarf for the same effect and even greater versatility.

4. Lace applique flats

Want dainty, feminine feet to complement your girliest outfits? Try a pair of lace applique flats to add an artistic edge that finishes off your look with elegance. Luckily for budgeting shoppers, you can find these shoes at essentially any retail store – even at low-priced favorites like Target and Wal-Mart. However, you can also simply revamp your own old pair of flats by purchasing lace applique and applying it to shoes you already own for brand new and thrifty footwear.

Although lace might have the appearance of luxury, you don't have to shovel out exorbitant amounts of money to achieve this classy style. By combining accessories and trying out do-it-yourself projects, you can have the elegant lacy look that everyone's wearing, for less. And another budgeting bonus tip: look for wedding apparel in thrift stores to find lacy items you can reuse and/or revamp for your own wardrobe.

Thursday Inspiration

Fashion Quote

What is your irrational fear?

Let's just hope it's nothing major. 

Quote of the Day!

I hope you all have a great weekend.

The best accessory a girl can own is Confidence

Every now and then we need to remind ourselves that being confident is the key to a success day. You might have left out the door without your accessories but having confidence will replace them all. So, the next time you leave without your main accessories just remember the one thing that no one can take away from you----Confidence (know your worth).

Saturday Inspiration

It's My Birthday!

It's my b-day! Yes, I'm young, fly and fabulous all at the same damn time. (lol) Cheers to a wonderful b-day weekend.

Inspire Me Friday

My Life Through Instagram

My daily inspiration through instagram. 

Instagram Me: @ beautybeyondfierce

                                                         

     

Guest Post: The Best Lingerie and Bikini Trends for 2012

Choose the Best Lingerie and Bikini Trends For 2012

There are times when you would want to flatter yourself and indulge in some lingerie that can make you feel good. While there are new trends in every season, there are a few styles that you need to check for 2012. Remember bikinis are all about making the right bold statements, and for the same, the best styles and trends are listed below.

Animal prints are back in action: If you love wearing your leopard printed trousers for the summer, it's time that you try the trend in lingerie and bikinis, as well. Whether you like leopard or tiger prints or want to indulge in some snake skin bikinis, the choice is entirely yours. There are many kinds of animal prints that are being experimented with, so you have plenty of choices with you.



Prints and more of it: There are all kinds of prints that designers are working on, so there are ample kinds of printed lingerie that you will find in the market. From general block print materials to complete floral designs, there are ample choices in every kind of style. Feminine or bold, the kind of look you want is completely on you.

Ruffles are classy: If you have been checking the runway, there are no ways that you wouldn't have noticed ruffles. However, unless you are not blessed with a lean and thin figure,you are not allowed to try the same. It flatters the hip area, and that's the reason you need to be extremely cautious.

Add the right shines with Sequins: Adding a little shine to your bikini can make you look the real glam goddess. This year, Sequins are definitely a rage among bikini lovers, and therefore, you can try everything, right from beads to embroidery to even crystals. On or off the beach, these bikinis are much in style.

Get the monotone shades: If you willing to experiment, then nothing can beat monotone shades. From pastels to bright shades, everything in monotone is classy. For simple looks, try to opt for minimal detailing as that will make you look worth a million collars without going over the top.

Cut outs are back in style: Certain styles look best in all seasons, and one such style that's definitely a hit this year is cutout bikinis. These bikinis look flattering, and if you have a well endowed body, you can certainly add a little curvature to this look with this style. There are many styles in action, and if you can try this style particularly in sequins, which look shiny and ultra cool.

Completely on one shoulder: When you are designing yourself to be the best beach girl on the road, you need to know to carry of the style of one shoulders. If you thought that one shoulder http://www.theiconic.com.au/women/ clothing/womens-swimwear/" target="_blank">women’s dresses
only looked glamorous, take a look on the racks, and you will find one shoulder bikinis that are making a lot of noise.
Bandeau is always classy: When you are willing to go over the top, that's the time you must know that bandeaus are the right choice for you. There are ample choices in the cuts and prints, so you can flatter yourself like never before.

With these bikinis and lingerie styles in mind, hitting the beach is a pleasure.

Authors Bio: Suzy Walsh is fashion blogger associated with 'The House of Elegance' and has been writing on fashion for a long time. She likes to connect with other bloggers and always keep tabs on the latest and greatest fashion trends.

Guest Post: Three Fashionable Charm Bracelets

Three fashionable trends that put the "charm" back in charm bracelets

By: Brooke Samsonite

Juicy Couture $48

The fashion world has recently been divided over the following question: Are charm bracelets still in style? Some believe that charm bracelets are primarily an accessory option for tweens, while others say they're cute accessories for any age. Although some controversy exists surrounding this question, this fashionista says charm bracelets are, in fact, still a trend worth considering. If you're on the fence regarding this debate and are looking for a bit more evidence, consider the following list of adorable trends in charm bracelets.

Themed charm bracelets

Charm bracelets used to be primarily customized according to the unique style of the wearer, which resulted in several mix-and-match styles of bracelets that often mixed more than they matched, if you catch my drift. Although you can certainly choose better-coordinated charms for a sharp look, themed charm bracelets save you some time and money by putting it all together for you. For example, a patriotic-themed charm bracelet might include a heart-shaped American flag charm, a red-and-white ribbon and various additional color and country-specific charms that complement one another.

Charm bracelets with a message

Via Refinery29

One of the most popular trends among charm bracelet enthusiasts today is charm letters. Unlike images, letters allow you to spell out your style alphabetically, which opens an entire new world of customization opportunities. For example, you can include your or your BFF's initials on your bracelet, or even keep it a little more cryptic with a crush's first initial. Spell out popular acronyms like "WWJD," "TGIF," and "LOL," or make up some of your own and start a new trend.

Complementary charm bracelets

Have a best friend or significant other you share everything with? Why not invest sentimental value in your charm bracelet by coordinating your charm with this special person? Complementary charms can include cute combos like a lock and key, two halves of a heart, and even quirky pairs like the missing piece of a nearly-whole pizza. Unlike traditional charm bracelets where charms were purely chosen based on the individual characteristics and personality traits of their owners, modern trends allow you to share your style and add deeper meaning to the jewelry you wear.

If charm bracelets just aren't your thing, there are tons of alternative bracelet styles to choose from that can allow you to decorate your wrists on your own terms. Consider the following three bracelet trends:

Via charmandchain $55

• Studs: Nothing adds edge to your look quite like and arm of sparkling studs, which can add a punk rock touch to both girly and goth outfits.
• Woven: For a hip, bohemian look, choose woven bracelets for showcasing your more laid-back side, while adding lots of color to your image.
• Layering: Today's trends dictate that you can't wear just one bracelet, which is why layering is a great way to add bling to your look with watches, rhinestones and color-coordinated wrist candy to complete your style.

Whether you prefer charms or a layered look, there's something for every style this season in accessories. 

Inspiration Friday!

It's finally Friday!

This quote says a lot so enjoy your weekend.

6 Classic Audrey Hepburn Quotes

Thrifty Thursday: Consignment Store Tips

 

Consignment Store Tips

There's nothing like the thrill of bargain for shoes, clothes and jewelry at a reasonable price. The best thing about consignment store is that you never know what you're going to find. I noticed that shopping at a consignment store required planning, strategy and patience. It takes time and effort to really come out there with a handful of fashionable clothes. Read these five steps to maximizing your consignment shopping experience:

Find the sales. 

Most consignment stores have racks of clothes that are half off or less. Make sure you try out the sales rack before you approach any other rack that is not on sale. 

Bring Cash

It's always good to have cash on hand just in case they don't accept credit or debit cards. You don't want to miss out on a fabulous outfit. 

Budget

Stick to your budget if you have one, make sure you are buying something you will wear  for a while.

Inspect before you buy

Consignment clothes are usually in good condition but always check just to make sure no buttons or zippers are missing. Most of the stores have a no returned policy so you don't want to end up with something that's damaged.

Hold off until the end

Eventually the merchandise you want will eventually go on sale at 50% off if it's still in the store. I always hold off until the end of the just to see if I can get what I like at a ridiculously low price.

Eye Catcher of the Week: DUKAS SHOES

Designer: Dukas Chatzidoukas

Collection: S/S 2012