Transitioning your look from fall to spring goes beyond your lightening up your wardrobe! Wearing a fun lip color is a great way to put a little extra pep in your step as the weather gets warmer. Praying for Prada is here to show us some hot lip colors straight from the runways. Check out her blog covering wardrobe essentials, “how to’s,” trend-reviews and must-visit sales!

I’m quick on the draw when it comes to switching my clothes and handbags with the seasons. It doesn’t take more than a 50-degree day to send me running for the wedges and floral prints.  But my seasonal makeup routine leaves a bit to be desired. And because one of the biggest ways to make a warm-weather impact (for very little cost) is with lipstick, here are some trends straight from the Fashion Week runways that are sure to put a little pep in your pucker this spring.

1. Coral (inspired by the AW ‘10 runways at Holly Fulton and Max Azria). I know you’re thinking, “EW! Orange!” But true coral is universally flattering and gives its wearers a hint of popsicle-inspired color that brightens any complexion. It also looks great against a tan. This Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick in Coral Queen is available for $10.26 at ASOS.com here.

2. Nude (inspired by the runways of Elie Saab Couture ‘10 and Vera Wang AW  ’10). A favorite make-up combination of mine is a nude lip with a smoky, made-up eye. Wear it matte, or with a dab of clear gloss for extra oomph without added color. Try this Too Faced Lip of Luxury version in Totally Nude, available for $18 at the Skinstore.com here.

3. Purple (inspired by the runways of Vena Cava Spring ‘10 and Zac Posen AW  ‘10). Before you shriek, “I’d never wear that!” consider that purple is a great way to play up your femininity without being too saccharine (as pink tends to be). Make sure to keep the color light and sheer, unless you’re anxious to look like you’re on furlough from the underworld. Try this Bobbi Brown lipstick in blackberry for $22, available at Macys.com here.

For more budget beauty options that are spring-ready and wallet-friendly, visit Elle.com’s list here.

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Easter is coming up and although you might not be Easter egg hunting anymore,  you’re probably hunting for a cute dress to wear. Have no fear! Becky from Gilding the Frilly is here to show you how you can look great for Easter and still have some money to spare for your favorite Easter treats. Be sure to check out her personal style blog about a 20-something girl trying to make it in NYC one outfit at a time!

Easter is less than a month away, and whether you’ll be spending the holiday in church with family or doing an Easter egg hunt with friends, it’s time to welcome back pretty spring colors and floral prints! I remember looking forward to Easter when I was a little girl, because it usually meant a frilly new dress. Not much has changed since then except for the fact that if I want a frilly new dress I’m the one who’s shelling out the cash for it, not the Easter Bunny. Let’s face it; I’m not the only one on a budget these days, right? So, here’s a bit of help finding that perfect Easter dress for under $100!

The retailers who are part of the Shop It To Me family are a great place to start your search. My Salemail from Friday included a candy-colored floral print Ellen Tracy dress from Smartbargains.com for $59.99. (Even better? Shop It To Me readers get free shipping on the site!) It’s demure enough for a family function with its lady-like silhouette, but the ruffle detailing adds a bit of fun.

Overstock.com has a variety of dresses under $100 that would be prefect for Easter, including this London Times solid green number (at a reasonable $44.99) for those who aren’t fans of an all-over print.

Ann Taylor LOFT’s dress section offers dresses in more subdued colors, and an array of more casual options, all of which are $100!

Utilize the items already in your closet to personalize these dresses to fit your style. Add a cardigan and some statement jewelry, or finally wear those sandals you bought on clearance that you didn’t get a chance to wear before winter!

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With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner La vie… J’aime is here to share a few tips on how to look stylish and avoid getting pinched all at the same time! Be sure to check out Jaime’s blog highlighting the best of fashion, art, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle, and pop culture.

St. Patrick’s Day: the day when everyone’s Irish. A time to celebrate by wearing green, watching parades, and sharing a pint with friends and family. Being in Boston, my friends and I head to Southie (a.k.a South Boston) where Irish pride runs amuck and an annual parade heads down Broadway all day on the Sunday before St. Patty’s.

I always bring out my green finest- beads, shamrock glasses, a festive t-shirt, pins, you name it!

No matter if you are 100% Irish or “just a pinch” like me, here are some ways to show your spirit, in style, at any price.

Tops: Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, Lucky Brand

Jewelry: Juicy Couture, Jennifer Meyer, Erica Anenberg

Accessories: Adidas Originals, Nordstrom, Juicy Couture

Extras: Party City, Old Navy, Party City

For more St. Patrick’s Day fashion, check out my Style you Sunday: St. Patrick’s Day post this Sunday!

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Spring is almost here! With Daylight Savings just around the corner, get ready to enjoy the sun for longer and refresh your wardrobe accordingly. Elisa from Globetrotting in Heels is here to give us tips on how to make a fashionably smooth transition into Spring. Be sure to check out her blog for musing and ramblings about expat life, fashion, parenting, and general nonsense.

Spring officially begins in less than 3 weeks, and it’s about time, isn’t it?

But what about our wardrobes? Here are a few tips to help you transition to spring:

Switch to lighter layers

If the weather allows, start “lightening up”:

- choose a thin cardi and a top over a chunky knit;

- swap your faithful boots for a peep-toe version;

- grab a few spring dresses and wear them with opaque stockings and boots, and if needed, a thin turtleneck underneath.

Add spring trends to your winter wardrobe

Add some clear accessories to your look, like a cuff, a lucite beaded necklace or a pump with a see-through heel;

- swap your classic mini or pencil skirt for a full skirt. Full skirts have a vintage, feminine vibe –but the Spring runway version, with its shorter hemline is also young and playful.

- try on the lingerie trend: pair a corset top with pants or top a delicate nightie dress with an edgy leather jacket or a trench coat.

Include brighter colors and prints

The color of Spring 2010, turquoise is bright, fun, and it pairs well with most neutrals. Try adding a touch of turquoise to your winter outfits: wear a turquoise top under your suit, or brighten up your outfit with a turquoise handbag.

Explore a new interpretation of the classic spring trend, florals, by opting for accessories featuring rosettes, sculpted flowers and the like.

Sailor stripes can add a playful tone to your work wardrobe when you pair a striped boat neck tee to simple navy pants, and to your after-work wardrobe with a flirty striped dress.

In fashion the line between the seasons is often blurry – so don’t be afraid to experiment with upcoming trends. Experimenting is half the fun, anyway

Elisa is a professional translator, freelance writer and blogger. She is also a self-proclaimed “stiletto fiend and global nomad”: originally from Italy, she has been travelling and moving around in the past 15 years, going from Milan to Los Angeles, then Copenhagen, Zurich, New York. She currently resides in Zurich, Switzerland and blogs at Globetrotting in Heels.

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Passion For Pretty is here to dish on her love for fashion and share with us a few of her top wardrobe picks for spring! Be sure to check out her fabulously over the top blog for fashion, beauty, and celebrity gossip enthusiasts to manifest their obsessions.

I have a passion for all things pretty. I LIVE for moments to garnish my body in fabulous high/low finds, nothing puts a pep in my step like an haute ensemble – shoes, outfit, and accessories (yes, including makeup)! I feel invincible when I am in love with my look, sashaying through the world and stopping traffic as I go. I love the power of fashion…am I the only one obsessed? *blink* If not, equally minded fashion and beauty enthusiasts can get a quick fix at Passion for Pretty.

I am uber excited every year as March approaches; I can start to feel spring in the air! I begin my finding pieces that bridge the gap between the two seasons and build up my wardrobe from there. Above are 3 pieces (selected separately, not as an outfit) chosen from my closets that have made my “spring cut”:

1. Statement pieces are the easiest way to glam up an outfit. A chunky bangle, eye-catching earrings, a stunning cocktail ring; whatever your poison, go hard! This bracelet, ring, and earring trio is from Lia Sophia.

2. LBD, period. I love this Cap Sleeve Control Dress, $69-$79, by Shape FX! (it’s currently in the cleaners) The flattering neckline, simple cut, built-in mesh power slip (get excited), and silicone gripper hem to prevent ride-up. The simplicity of the LBD allows me to create unlimited looks based on my shoe/accessory selections.

3. A multi-seasonal shoe is the best shoe! My Finsbury Mary Janes by L.A.M.B. work well with tights in the winter and I am looking forward to pairing them with nude fishnets for the spring or a straight leg pant.

Now on the count of 3, go see what makes your “spring cut”. 1, 2, 3…….

Smooches & Quick Claps

*image from ShapeFX

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Fashion shows are full of outfits you want to wear right off the runway, especially from ready-to-wear collections. However, even in these collections you’ll see some interesting styles that you might not be quite ready to wear just yet. For now, they’re just fun to look at. Spork Fashion’s Alyse Wax is here to share their favorite wacky fashions from the New York and London fall collections. Be sure to check out Spork Fashion to learn about new, emerging, and indie fashion designers.

Over at SporkFashion.com, we focus on indie and emerging fashion designers, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t love the big runway shows, where established names can afford to go over-the-top.  While the true theatrics don’t get underway until the couture shows, ready-to-wear offered some weird, wonderful, and wacky pieces.  Below are some of our favorites from the New York and London fall collections.

Vivienne Westwood – Too timid to let it all hang out?  Vivienne Westwood can help you out with her t-shirt sporting a pair of photo-realistic breasts across the front.  Be prepared for flushed faces, stammered speech, and a shifting gaze.

Todd Lynn – Big shoulders got bigger at Todd Lynn’s London show – and they sprouted fur.

L.A.M.B. – A conservative button-down blouse and black slacks are not exactly the L.A.M.B. way.  Gwen Stefani spiced it up with a vintage-style garter belt.  It looks like it came from Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour costume rack

Unique – This London label lives up to its name with a warm, cozy, layered collection.  Perfect for cold November evenings, or a Where the Wild Things Are reenactment.

Louise Gray – It’s a coat! It’s a shawl!  It’s a quilt!  Snuggies go high end with Louise Gray’s eclectic hobo-boho look.

Meadham Kirchhoff – The first thing you notice about this ensemble is the near-opaque veil topped with a bright pink crown.  But poke around, and you will find all sorts of odd quirks: nylon harem pants, peep-toe clogs (with socks, of course), and some hot pink accents that defy description.

Betsey Johnson – The always lovable Betsey Johnson took the wild west theme to a whole new plane of existence.  Old-fashioned long johns are topped off by saloon-style dresses made in a revolver print.  No outlaw’s outfit would be complete without a six-shooter, badge, and a “stick-em-up” mask.

About Alyse Wax: A native of Los Angeles, Alyse has turned her obsessive need to shop into something productive with her Spork Empire: SporkFashion.com, SporkBeauty.com, and SporkLiving.com.  When she isn’t shopping, she is a television producer and writer.  Alyse’s TV credits include Big Brother, Style Star, and Penn & Teller: Off the Deep End.  Her articles have appeared in Teen People magazine, Hollywood.com, and FearNet.com.  She lives in Los Angeles with a house full of boys: one husband, two dogs, and a rabbit.  They live walking distance to a mall.

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Make a statement. What we decide to walk out the door in everyday tells others a little about ourself without saying a word. What would you want your outfit to say about you? What are your statement pieces? Millissa from Haute Mimi International is here to share the pieces that exude her personal style. Be sure to also check out Millissa’s online publication, Haute Mimi International, to stay up to date on international fashion.

I would say my personal style can be described as exotic glamour. I live for snakeskin, diamonds and a touch of pink. I dare to be bold with my fashion but still pair my statement-making pieces with more subtle basics for balanced style perfection. I have come to love a few things more than others and I believe every wardrobe could use my three style must-haves.

Small Patent Leather Bag, Fendi, $785; Stretch Cotton-Blend Dress, RM by Roland Mouret, $1,580; Gold-Plated Star Cuff, Kenneth Jay Lane, $135

#1 The Little Black Dress (LBD)
I have many little black dresses.You should own at least one. The love affair with LBDs began during the 1920s when Coco Chanel introduced it as an everyday dress that can go from day to night with a raise in the heel, a switch from a handbag to a clutch and a dash of red lipstick. The LBD is even more stylish today and comes in an array of cuts and detailing. I personally love Roland Mouret’s take on the LBD.

#2 Chainlink Handbag
Nothing says sophisticated more than a chain link handbag. Although it’s been very trendy this season, this classic style will always be in vogue. I would suggest you buy one from Lanvin as they are not as ubiquitous as Chanel but still maintain high quality and aesthetics.

#3 Bold Jewelry
Bold jewelry can add a little spice to your outfit. I love daring necklaces, cuffs and cocktail rings. Jewelry is also a great way to incorporate a season’s trends into your closet without breaking the bank. I suggest you find pieces that you will wear forever. You have to really make sure your collection screams you. The best costume jewelry is always found during your travels. Whether it be real or costume, jewelry will always look fabulous with minimal care.

Some items every girl should have:

• Cuffs: Try to find exotic styles with eye catching details.
• Hoop earrings: Thin is in.
• Statement necklaces
• Cocktail rings: Don’t be shy — wear them during the day.

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Black, brown, and blue are all classic colors and we’ve all heard how they shouldn’t mix, but why not? Combinations of black and blue as well as black and brown are becoming more and more present in fashion, and Chelsa from Pencil Skirts and Pearls is here to give us some tips on how to wear these colors together in harmony. Be sure to check out her lifestyle and fashion blog and read posts that could help make your life classic, simple, and beautiful.

I’m not sure where it came from – my mother, my grandmother, Emily Post, perhaps – but for as  long as I can remember, I’ve always been told there are two colors you never wear with black – brown and navy. However, I’m here to tell you, that by following a few simple guidelines, you can easily combine these neutrals to create classic looks that even the harshest critics would approve of.

1. Keep it subtle

One of easiest ways to wear either black and navy or black and brown is by keeping it subtle. Choose of the colors to be your dominant in the ensemble, whether it’s black accented with brown or navy accented with black, and go from there. For example, Anne Hathaway looks stunning in this navy dress, even when it’s paired with black shoes. By letting the navy dress be the dominant color, and accenting it with black shoes, she created a fabulous red carpet look.

2. Layer

Another easy way to arrange black with navy or brown is to layer them under or over each other. One of my favorite ways to ‘winterize’ my navy summer shift dresses is to add a pair of black tights.  Not only does this look great, but it allows me to wear the dress year-round. Another of my favorites is to add a brown cardigan to a little black dress, creating a conservative yet sophisticated ensemble.

3. Break it up

A nice way to integrate these colors is to break them up on your body. One of my favorite winter outfits is my dark brown riding boots, skinny jeans and a black turtleneck. By creating distance between my turtleneck and boots, I can easily wear these colors together for a preppy and low-key weekend look.

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Whether you are attending a special event, or going out for a night on the town, pretty makeup is a must. We’re certainly fans of the smoky eye, but there are several alternatives to this look that can be just as lovely (and it’s important to mix it up!). Make Me Blushhh is here to show us a few other makeup options to help us stand out in a crowd.

The smoky eye always comes to mind whenever we think of nighttime makeup, the look is usually paired with nude lips to give off that sultry smouldering look that many find attractive. As much as I love a sexy smoky eye, I also love all the other options. Here are three ideas for your next glam night out:

1. The Classic Glam:

You really can’t go wrong with this look! It features neutral eyes accented with bold red lips that scream siren. This look reminds us that you don’t always have to pack on the eye makeup to stand out — other parts of your face should have a spotlight too.

2. The Natural Goddess

The smoky effect is not the only way to dress up your eyes — big lashes draw some serious attention to your peepers. If you’re not blessed with naturally long, fluttery lashes, don’t be afraid to try some false lashes. They’re a ton of fun for a night out.

Do you have a favorite amongst these looks?

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On those lazy Sundays, where you  just want to feel comfy wherever you go, slip on some loungewear and relax. If you want some ideas for stylish loungewear, Erin from beauty:design:life is here to help. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice style for comfort! Be sure to also check out her blog as she shares colors, photos, fashion, technology, innovations, beauty, design, and life that inspires her and may inspire you as well!

I have to confess: I have very strong feelings against wearing loungewear in public, and I generally don’t do it.  But lately I’ve been tempted to break my self-imposed rule, because I pretty much live in sweatpants when I’m at home, and changing out of them just for a quick Target run (especially in winter) is starting to seem downright crazy.  To compromise, I’ve found some chic (and affordable) loungewear that will give the impression that you put effort into your look, even if you just rolled out of bed.

To make loungewear look stylish, focus on how it fits.  Avoid the baggy hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants and go for a slimmer fit.  I’m a big fan of yoga pants, which are just as comfortable as sweats but look a lot more pulled together.  Tuck them into boots in winter for an extra sleek look.

Foldover Yoga Pant from Victoria’s Secret

You can even trick people into believing that you’re wearing denim by mimicking the color, cut, and details of jeans, without sacrificing any of the comfort.

Bettona Pant from Athleta

If you’re looking for a looser fit, similar rules apply.  Make sure the shape of the pant is flattering, and look for a thin fabric to cut down on unnecessary bulk.

Boyfriend Pant from Victoria’s Secret

When pairing a top with your stylish sweats, skip the concert t-shirt or college sweatshirt and stick with the theme of lightweight fabrics and slim fits.

Three-Quarter Sleeve Lounge Hoodie from Old Navy

I love Old Navy for their basics: comfortable, affordable, and available in a rainbow of colors.

Lightweight Scoop-Neck Tee from Old Navy

A long boyfriend cardigan is perfect with yoga pants – so effortlessly chic.

Roll-Sleeve Jersey Boyfriend Cardigan from Old Navy

In sum, when choosing loungewear, go for a slim fit, look for lightweight fabrics, and choose tops you could also wear with jeans.  You’ll be stylish and comfortable!

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