Tsk!  Tsk!  What a bad blogger I am!  I will not provide excuses… Even though I have some good ones… and will instead cut to the chase and chat about my favorite subject – CLOTHES! 

If  following the fashion trends isn’t your “thing” you may not realize that fur is a big-time must have this season.  Never fear though, you don’t have to worry about spending $1000’s on the real McCoy – faux pieces are wonderful alternatives and when choosen with a discriminating eye look quite good and add just the right oomph to your fall skinnies or black legging staples.

There are BAD faux fur pieces out there though – in fact, stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe designed her own line for QVC which in one word can be described as “awful”.  Rachel is known for her love of fur – if you watch her show, you’ll see her swinging around the studio of fashion great J. Mendel in some fab-o coat or jacket that she just “dies” over.  However her line does not reflect the fine craftmanship nor the stylish structure of any new or vintage fuzzie she dons on the show.

So where can you find a more natural looking fur vest that won’t leave you in the poor house?!  Hop on over to Summit Mall or the nearest Express to you!  This brown zip up is super cute and will be cozy too and costs a mere $98.00.  Wear your’s with a black cashmere turtleneck, leggings, and to-the-knee equestrian boots or try with a boho paisley dress and thick brown tights.  Need some extra warmth  and a stylish new layer to your favorite coat?  Don the vest

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3034061?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_pla=outerwear:women:vest&cm_ite=damselle_faux_lynx_fur_vest:264289&cm_ven=Linkshare&siteId=J84DHJLQkR4-RdE8tXH5Hfa_EFAnfrTmFQ

toryburch

Perhaps a suede pair with subtle silver grommets or rivets is more your speed than a sturdy biker babe look – well that will work too!  How to wear ‘em?  I love these cuties with leggings and a long tunic, or with a fabulously flirty ruffled skirt and basic ribbed tank – don’t forget the shrunken leather biker jacket to keep it all together.

Where to buy?  Steven Madden has some affordable pairs (an example is the shoe featured right) that will help you to achieve this rough/tough look for less ($150) while you can find the real McCoy (AKA Tory Burch’s masterpiece) on shirise.com for $550.00

Going on a date?  Chillin’ with some friends and hitting up a movie and a cup of joe, or maybe heading to an end of the season summer picnic?  Perhaps this weekend is a good time to don the white pants for the last go ’round or maybe you want to pull out a brand new “fall” piece and debut it for all to admire.  Whatever the case the following are some ideas in case you need some!  Enjoy the holiday weekend!

So how, to wear the gems above?  And more importantly, where can you buy these pieces?  Look #1 is a sweet pink romper($35) paired with a wide strappy belt ($13) and finished with some fabulous metallic gold pumps with girly ruffs ($128).  You can find all these pieces on lulus.com.  Log on now and ask for over night delivery!

Look #2 features the season’s hottest denim trend – ripped and torn.  I found these skinnies on forever21.com ($29) and finished the look with this sexy-sweet black ruffled halter from Bebe ($79).  Be sure to go mile high and don some sweet stillettos to seal the deal.  I love the dose of leopard on the platform that adds a little extra interest and spice.  Find the shoe on bebe.com for $149.

The final look is all about sequins – again a fall must-have.  Be not afraid to sparkle this season and don shorts, tops, or jackets in the shiny stuff.  I totally dig this Chanel-inspired jacket ($385) found on intermixonline.com and would do it up right with the chiffon bow waistband shorts ($245).  Keep the top beneath simple simon and don a simple white tee or tank – OR try something with a funky graphic.  Skip ruffles or any other embellishment.  The focus is on the jacket here.  Punctuate the look with a colorful bootie that changes up the black and white palette.  Who can resist these aubergine cuties with fuschia trim ($38)?! Get ‘em now on asos.com.

OH – and the floating bow bag?!  Why that’s to go with everything!  I love the boxy shape and the neutral toned bow – Absolutely gorge and will go with anything anytime of year – asos.com – $282.

Who is Taylor Jacobson?  Why she’s the tough as nails, nay sayin’, style-saavy gal who is an integral addition to the cast on “The Rachel Zoe Project” on Bravo  TV.  Yes, “Tay” could use a bang trim, however her eclectic mix of vintage prints and woodcutter plaids  mixed with toughened up leather has me head over heels!  “Tay” has a knack for choosing the perfect shoe to complete a red carpet look and dare I say, looks better in skin tight leggings and drapy blouson tops than her emaciated boss, Rachel who basically gets swallowed up by whatever outfit she thows on over her bones… Hmmph!

So what have I dug on Taylor after the first two episodes?  Well, I can hardly ignore the FABULOSITY of the leopard Dior sheath she poured herself into on episode 2 -  LOVE!  The spunk and spice of the animal print paired with Taylor’s smokey eyes and tousled tresses was perfection and was the perfect outfit to don for a fash bash at Marquee in NYC! While this grrr-eat printed frock featured right isn’t Dior nor is it a sheath – it IS a fabulous way to incorporate animal into your reportoire.  You can find this pretty piece by Diane Von Furstenberg at Dianiboutique.com.  Wear this wrap in the fall with black leggings and over-the-knee boots or booties.

leather leggings

STYLE TIP:  It’s ok to spend a little more on an “investment” piece – in other words something that you will cherish and wear a lot during the season and that will be a closet staple for years to come… Do leather leggings fit that description for you?!  If not skip ‘em and instead spend more on some fabulous over-the-knee boots – another BIG time trend this fall that will mimick the look above nicely.

I know that all of my dear Ohio.com readers have wondered where I have wondered off to for the past week.  While I am not into excuses, I have a good one…I have launched yet another style post on the Cleveland Examiner that went live for the first time last week.  I am fastidiously attempting to boost my page views, so I ask all of you loyal SJS’ers to please check it out.  As with See Jane, you’ll get lots of advice, shopping ideas, plus slideshows of fun fashion! http://www.examiner.com/x-13166-Cleveland-Style-and-Fashion-Examiner is the link – please subscribe!!!! And don’t worry once I get all of this down pat, I will continue to update SJS!

Megan Fox looked smokin’ hot at the MTV music awards in her thigh skimming frock and towering platforms and she nailed her accessories right on too – not shying away from gold even though her dress was adorned with silver.  So how can you replicate this fabulous look for less?  Quite easily actually.  I found this full skirted shortie on asos.com for a mere $53.00 and came across these uber high heels at Bebe again at an easy to swallow price of only $128.00.  Why does this look work?  Typically one should shy away from a short dress and chunky simply because the proportion is a bit too sex-pot and not chic.  This however is ok, because the dress has a definitely feminine vibe as it is adorned with beautiful (girly) flowers and has a dainty full circle skirt.  The prettiness of the dress perfectly offsets the trannie-like vibe of the platform and creates an eye-catching balance.  Yes, Megan looks sexy, however she still looks pretty and current.  STYLE NOTE: NEVER WEAR sexy stripper-like shoes with a tight bandage style dress – WAY TOO OVER THE TOP!

Who else gets a style star after waltzing the MTV red carpet?  I was quite partial to the easy breezy appeal of Vanessa Hudgens (Photo courtesy of MTV.com) melon-hued satin frock and totally dig the boho vibe that her uber long gold necklaces lend to the entire look.  What else is a style surprise here?  The subtle peek we get of her black sturdy sandals and deeper hued clutch – both dark colors contrast nicely with her sorbet colored frock and give her a nice MTV style edge.  While this charmeuse gown is harder to come by, Hudgen’s fab shoes were not.  I found a similar pair on stevemadden.com for about $189.00 and scoured the web for some cool long necklaces too and found these gems at asos.com.  The long pendant style necklace is a cheap thrill at only $15.00 while the shorter disk style necklace comes in at $30.00.  Just think about how much use you’ll get out of all this stuff!

Memorial Day officially kicks off “Picnic Season”.  There are graduation parties galore (typically outside), July 4th, and just plain BBQ get togethers to celebrate the sunny weather and an excuse to use the grill.  So, what to wear to one of these fetes when formal wear is a no-no, but you still want to look chic and not dessheveled?! 

Loose cottons are typically a good start, since the temps are higher and you don’t want to feel like your clothes are stuck to you.  Linen is another nice option, however it can look messy after sitting for a minute – but definitely breathable and summery looking.  And finally jersey knits – comfort is key with this stretchy material and I love it in a long flowy maxi dress or short halter-neck sundress to the knee. 

Remember to slather with suncreen for daytime and bring a pretty wrap to cozy yourself if your afternoon picnic turns into an all-nighter. Happy Picnic’ing… Don’t forget your sunglasses!

Shorts: Linen – Cheap Chic – the white pair are a mere $9.80!

White Tank: Jersey knit with chiffon ruffle – this top would be awesome with shorts, a skirt, or pants!

Yellow Dress: I love this little cotton bubble hem number and it’s a cheap chic option too – ONLY $19.80

Brown Maxi: Who could resist slipping into this jersey knit brown maxi!? Comfort to the max (easy on the wallet – $22.00) and would look super stylish with an oversized floppy straw hat, wooden accessories, and a wie belt to cinch the waist.

Street fashion is my thing – and as my regular readers know, it’s one of my favorite things to feature on SJS postings.  Spring 2009 is a season of many neutrals from pants, tulip skirts, tanks, shoes – even make-up.  While some may shy away from the bland palette there are great ways to wear colors like this that look refreshing, current, chic, and enviable.  Who better than to show us all how to do it right?  Why this New York City hipster who obviously has the same fashion obsessions as many of us do (note the over-sized Louis tote – Love it)… What makes this lady’s ensemble so super cool?  It’s the accessories my friends – your basic bisques, khakis, and lattes will get an uber kick up with some shiny metallics or a dramatically darker shade to offset the similar colors that get lost together.  And finally, what else makes this get-up a little more interesting?  If you take a closer look you’ll see that this lassie layered her borderline filmy top over a triangle bikini top done in another seasonal must-have flower print.  The subtlety of the print adds just enough appeal while not being garish or inappropriate.  Who says swimsuits are only suited for the shore?! (Psst… I found a copy of this lassie’s Louis – Please note that a real LV will set you back far more than $78.00 – bust trust me no one will know the difference.)

While I covet my shoe and handbag collection, I am also quite enamored by my small grouping of sunglasses as well.  What better covers your peepers after a long and fun night than some over-sized shades  OR what’s a great disguise when you want to be a little more incognito than usual… You got it, sunglasses!  There are lot of great styles out these days – many of which are quite retro – the popular ones this season looking very Breakfast Club-ish circa 1980 – yes, we’re talking neon colored with flat square-ish tops and rounded bottoms – think the classic black Ray-Ban with a dose of color or pattern.  Round styles are also chic as are classic aviators. 

What to skip?  Mirrored lenses are really not stylish and actually border on creepy and wrap around sporty shades are better suited for an invigorating bike ride or run than worn with an evening cocktail dress or the like – in other words don’t go there.

1. $5.80              4.  $5.80            7.  $5.80           10. $187.00    13. $5.80    

2. $5.80              5. $5.80             8.  $5.80           11. $27.00       14. $5.80

3. $5.80              6. $153.00        9.  $15.00         12. $5.80         15. $5.80 

16. $ 5.80

Dreary wet days like today beg for a jolt of happy color!  Stash away your head to toe gray and black when the weather turns dismal and try the season’s hottest new neon shades that will definitely get you a second glance or two.  I love mixing spring/summer’s popular colors with basics like white, khaki, and charcoal to tone down the overall effect and create an eye appealing look.

Look #1: Pink and black is always a good combo and made even better when it’s bright, bright, bright!  I love the look of a sweetly tiered pencil skirt with a flowy whisper thin cotton tank tucked in and subtly bloused.  Finish off your look with an ultra-fem stilletto pump.  I like these from Bebe (on sale ladies!) since they are sky high and have added prettiness with an oversized bow!

Look #2: Orange is a great in-your-face color too and not worn very much.  Juxtapose the second-skin dress with a bubble jacket (worn open with the collar popped) in a neutral shade to create a pseudo sporty look (also very IN right now!)  Stick to a flesh-toned neutral shoe so as not to introduce any other colors, and show off mile long legs in a platform-slingback style like shown.

Look #3: Neon green is a fresh way to introduce bright into your reportoire!  This more casual look is is subtly neon while remaining current.  I would pair this positively perfectly polka-dotted sweater with black cigarrette pants, and a flat sandal – OR – with your favorite torn up denim rolled up, and a statement black gladiator sturdy sandal.

First off, I apologize deeply for my negligent blogging as that last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of being out of town, and some extra work hours… Still no excuse I know!  However, I am officially back on track and happy to dispense more fashionable wisdom on these dreary April days. 

As mentioned, I was out of town for a few days, in one of my MOST favorite places New York.  Despite the drizzle and wind, the city was as fun and fashionable as usual and of course provided me with some great outfit building inspiration… And a decent load of new digs courtesy of my favorite British retailer Topshop!  What is Topshop you may ask?  Only one of the best shopping destinations in all the UK… If you’re looking for sweetly priced (not cheap though), savvy and uber-stylish clothing and accessories. 

Let me digress for a moment to let all of you know, that I have waited quite patiently for this fabulous shop to jump over the pond – at the start of this year the rumor was that it would open in February, however it’s delayed opening just happened to fall on April 2 — EUREKA, the day I happily arrived in the city…  So, before my trip, I mapped out the store location, figured out the subway I needed to take, and visited the bank for some extra loot – I was ready to duke it out with the other fastidious shoppers who couldn’t wait to get their hands on the flirty skirts, ornately embellished tops, and out of this world wonderful shoes…  So, upon arrival, I was ready to jump through the front door, however I was halted by the looming doorman who directed me to THE END OF THE LINE all the way around the block – WHAT?!  The line went fast though and the quirk-ily dressed Topshop shop gals and guys were sweet enough to distribute water bottles as we waited so that none of us would get dehydrated as we fought through the style-hungry crowds who would literally fight you for the last size in whatever it was they wanted.  Was it worth the wait? The catfight?  Absolutely!  The accessories can’t be beat, and the shoe department features the British brands that I haven’t seen since I was back in Jolly Ole England. 

So next time you visit the Big Apple head downtown to Topshop on the corner of Broome and Broadway – you’ll be glad you took the trip and will come back with lots of goodies.  Take a look here for just a taste of the awesome stuff this store has to offer.