Fabulous Mango Maxi dress

I have a predicament...I received a JC Penney - MNG by Mango booklet and fell in love with a dress - a 70's style floral print winter maxi dress.

I went there to try it on and buy it but I made a mistake - I took the hubby with me. Big mistake...HUGE!!!

I had great images in my head of myself wearing this dress with high brown boots and perhaps my brown leather jacket on cooler days, but when I got out of the dressing room, my dreams were crushed, because my husband said I looked like someone in a Warren Jeffs-style sect...Huh???

What do you think about the dress?

Day 205 - Outfit 205

Swap party top, jeggings and black and silver sandals

Spring 2012 fashion week

The countdown has begun. Mercedes Fashion week kicks off in New York City in about a week and a half - September 8-15.

Soon we'll see what we will all be wearing next year. Is it wrong of me to be this excited about clothes? I can't wait. I'm predicting a lot of 70's influences. I just love fashion! It is such a fabulous way to express yourself. Off course, I won't be able to afford the designer looks, so my goal will be to create the same looks for less.

The only thing that sucks is that there will be an entire winter in between fashion week and the perfect weather in which to wear the amazing Spring looks. Still - it is very exciting!

Can't wait!

Day 204 - Outfit 204

French Connection top, jean skirt and Burberry wedges

To fake, or not to fake

To fake, or not to fake...in my opinion: not to fake. 

By purchasing fake designer items, you not only support terrorism (many of the bags are being made and sold to support Al Qaeda), but it also drives up the prices. Plus...these items are illegal.

If you can't afford designer items (and let's face it, most people can't), just go back when there is a sale on. Most designer labels have really good discounts during their end of season sales which makes it more affordable. The key to designer shopping: save, save, save.

Just my opinion....

Day 203 - Outfit 203

Latin inspired top, jeans and bronze wedges

Peppermintpark - day 201 & 202

I have discovered an amazing website: http://www.peppermintpark.com/. 

They have amazing designer clothes and bags at discounted prices. It's a membership site, so you sign up and then they send you the deals by email.

I am already a member at 2 other sites, but I'm seriously considering joining this one, especially since it has the O magazine's stamp of approval. Designer items at discounted prices...who doesn't want that?

Day 201 - Outfit 201

Fan top, black dress and Tod's shoes

Day 202 - Outfit 202

Swap party dress and Burberry wedges

200 days of blogging

It's official, I've survived 200 days of wearing a new outfit every day and blogging about it. I'm not going to lie - it has been tough - very tough. I've wanted to quit a few times, but I've done it for 200 days now, it would stupid to quit.

Here's to 200 days of blogging on Shop My Closet 365!

Day 200 - Outfit 200

Celebrating with my colourblock pink and coral 60's dress and bold wedges.

J. Lo @ Kohls

Another celebrity is teaming up with Kohls to create a clothing line. Not even a what-looks-like-its-going-to-be-nasty-divorce can stop the hotness that is J. Lo from releasing her own clothing line. At first I thought..."oh, whoopee-doo", but then I saw a few pics and thought that it might be a good thing. Afterall, the lady does usually look very fashionable/pretty/good. See some pics below from the Kohls line:

Day 199 - Outfit 199

Coral top that I bought in London, capri jeans and Burberry wedges

Fashion films

The fashion movie/documentary "The September Issue" that I watched yesterday inspired me to think about a few of my favourite "fashioney" movies. Movies that inspired me with their fabulous outfits and made me want to either a. live during the time that the movie was set in because the costumes/outfits/clothes were so fabulous or b. made me want to run to the shops to find clothes like the ones on the show:

1. Clueless

2. Breakfast at Tiffany's

3. The Devil wears Prada

4. Sex and the City (the movie and the the show)

5. Ugly Betty (okay, not it wasn't a movie, but it was a fabulously fashioney TV show) 

6. Factory Girl

7. Coco before Chanel

8. Pret-a-porter

9. Marie Antoinette

10. 500 days of Summer

Can you think of any to add? I know there are loads more movies that would inspire any fashionista.

Day 198 - Outfit 198

Lauren Conrad butterfly top, denim skirt and Burberry wedges

Vogue's September Issue

Receiving my September issue yesterday inspired me to watch the film/documentary "The September Issue" that was made about they put together the September issue of Vogue. 

I just loved the film - what an awesome portrayal of the wonderful world of beautiful clothes, moody photographers, deadlines, expectations, etc. I do recommend that anyone who loves fashion, should watch it. You see a warmer side of the Grand Dame of fashion, Anna Wintour and I'm now respecting her even more than before. Just fyi - when I say warmer, I don't mean fluffy bunnies, hugs and apple-strudel, I just mean that you see her as more human than she is usually made out to be.

Oh, and by the way, when I grow up, I want to be Grace Coddington - what an amazing talent/eye/stylist/editor/romantic. Her shoots were absolutely fantastic! Three snaps to Grace!

Day 197 - Outfit 197

Tunic, blue top, boyfriend jeans and brown wooden shoes

Vogue vs Harpers

Today I received my monthly subscription of Vogue and I was shocked to see how extremely gigantic it is, but then it hit me: ah, the September issue - basically the kick-off of the fashion year. Below is a pic of this issue - it is bigger than my copy of Eat, Pray, Love, so basically it is bigger than a novel - now I only wish that I had somewhere to fly to because this would certainly kill a few hours on an aeroplane.

I am going to cross my fingers and hope that this edition of Vogue is going to be as good as it used to be, because frankly (and I expect a gasp from the crowd now)... I have lately enjoyed Harpers Bazaar a lot more than my dear, dear Vogue. It seems like they are trying to be a tad too intellectual lately and even though I find there always is a place for intelligent writing in my opinion (and I'm not saying Vogue should not have any), I just think that they are trying a bit too hard. Fingers crossed!

Day 196 - Outfit 196

Black 1960's style dress with red wedges

Clothing Swap Party

So last night, our Clothing Swap Party finally took place and it was a blast. I highly recommend it! It is a great ladies night with clothing swapping, a few nibbles, a glass or two of wine and a lot of chatter and excitement. We all tried stuff on and paraded around to show everything what it looked like on. There was a wide array of items: clothing, scarves, handbags, jewellery - anything is welcome.

Unfortunately I didn't take a pic of the items that I took to the party, but below is a pic of the items that came home with me. I have to say thanks to Mary for the great idea and hosting a fabulous party. Not only did we get a few things that no longer fit us or we no longer wear out of our closets, but we also came back home with lots of brand new items for our wearing pleasure. What a great (and cheap) concept - yay!

Day 195 - Outfit 195

Today I'm wearing one of the little dresses that I swapped at the party - it's cute, but now I'm not sure the colour suits me - what do you think?

Karl Lagerfeld at Macy's

Excitement is in the air!  Karl Lagerfeld has designed a 45 piece collection for Macy's with prices ranging from $50 to $170. Where on this planet can anyone buy a Lagerfeld item for that money? Woohoo!

Check out a few of the items that will be on sale at Macy's on August 31:

Day 194 - Outfit 194

Yumi Kim top, capri jeans and Chanel sandals



Alaia - Autumn/Fall 2011

Alaia is back! The boy from Tunisia, who became a famous Parisian designer disappeared from the runway for the last 8 years, but he is back and his Fall 2011 collection was just fabulous

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/F2011CTR-ALAIA

Below are just 2 of the fabulous outfits from this show

Fabulous daaaahrling!

What would an Alaia post be without mentioning my favourite fashion movie quote. In "Clueless", Cher (played by Alicia Silverstone) is being told by a mugger that she needs to lie down on the road and all she got out was "It's an Alaia!". Gotto love that!

Day 193 - Outfit 193

This top, is one of the many reasons in my closet why I'm writing this blog. I've had it for 5 years and this is the first time that I'm wearing it: Black and white top, black capris and black sandals.

Lovely Lanvin's Wedges

I have always had a thing for Lanvin, the amazing French design house but they have been rater quiet for the past few years and then, all of a sudden I see Lanvin everywhere and what I'm seeing, I'm loving!

Just look at this amazing pair of wedges that I have spotted in magazines and the http://www.lanvin.com/ website. An absolute work of art!

Day 192 - Outfit 192 

 I will not exactly win any fashion awards for this outfit, but I love the skirt and the Tod's I've worn for years and they still look fab - what do they say about quality...

Faux fur

This season, faux fur is huge. You see it absolutely everywhere. I’m not sure if I’ll be rocking the huge sleeveless faux fur tunics/vests this year - that might be a bit too much for me, but I’m definitely open to smaller, less in-your-face ways to sport this fashion trend…maybe. 

I’m sure the people from PETA are thrilled, but unfortunatly they don't have a lot of reasons to celebrate, because faux fur are just for us regular folks. The people who can afford it, are sporting the looks in the real thing, because fur has made its way back on to the runways this year and designers have not been afraid to use it.

Still thinking about this trend...if it's good enough for Rachel Zoe...?

Day 191 - Outfit 191

Doing a bit of colour blocking with a purple dress and red shoes - I've had them for yonks, but I still love my Lulu Guiness wedges

Missoni at Target

Target is doing it again - totally impressing me with promise of some fabulous things by fabulous Italian fashion house Missoni - and I have to mention, I do love me some Missoni!!!
They are not only doing ladies wear but also menswear (ties and scarves), kids clothes and home and décor items - below are a few of my favourites.
Methinks I might be able to totally Missoni-fy my house - the important word to remember would be: EDIT. Hang on to your hats ladies, because on Sept 13^th, I’ll be ready for a very important shopping expedition at Target!

Love it!

Day 190 - Outfit 190

Mmmm - not the most flattering camera angle (I guess that is what you get when you prop your self-timer camera on 2 pillows balancing on the back of the couch...anyway, I'm wearing my new Yumi Kim top, Boyfriend jeans and Chanel sandals

Fashion's night out

If there was ever a specific night this year that I wanted to be in New York, that would be September 8^th. That is the day of Fashion’s Night Out - an evening of shopping, fashion shows, discounts etc that was started in NYC in 2009 by Anna Wintour (Grand Dame of fashion/Editor of Vogue) to get people out and spend some money during the crazy recession. How amazing would it have been to organize a girls trip with cocktails, fabulous food and the best fashion party in the world! There is always next year…

Oh, and by the way, this phenomenon has now spread to 17 more countries - have fun all my friends in London!

Check out the website:

Day 189 - Outfit 189

http://www.fashionsnightout.com/

Christian Louboutin sues YSL

In some bizarre fashion news lately, I read that Christian Louboutin has sued Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) for using a similar red colour as their trademark red for shoe soles. Okay, I agree with the judge that you can’t patent/trademark a colour in fashion and prevent other fashion houses from using it, but I don’t understand why YSL would even want to make their soles red.??? The only that that will happen is that people will think that those shoes are by Louboutin!!

Oh well, to each their own…

Day 188 - Outfit 188

Fun little sun dress for a crazy afternoon in Disney World and gold flip flops