Style Fix

When I first read the name of the new online clothing boutique Chemo Couture, I was pretty sure that it was not something that I was going to want to tell people about. I pictured it being just a few scarves and hats. But I stand corrected.

Chemo Couture is an amazing new collection of unique designs for cancer survivors, fighters, and caregivers. Their are fashionable scarves and hats, but there is so much more too. There are dozens of clever tee shirts that are inspirational or witty such as: cancer survivor logo based on the TV show’s, an uphill moving train puffing “I know I can,” ribbons stitched and bedazzled on, a skunk declaring that “cancer stinks,” and plenty of jokes about being bald or boobless. The store also carries bags and totes, blankets, jewelry, books, organic creams, seatbelt covers, coolers, medical scrubs,l and much more for adults and kids alike. Plus, 5 percent of the sales are donated to a variety of cancer-specific charities.

The founders, Jane Bebita and Julie Uhrig, agree that “no matter how one handles the treatments - whether by becoming the warrior that refuses to let cancer slow him down or be retreating to a quiet place where she can focus on wellness and family - everyone needs a little pampering and lots of support.”

The Chemo Couture duo was inspired to start the company by friends and family who had battled various forms of the disease. The models for Chemo Couture’s goods are all in different stages of cancer recovery, and their picture is accompanied by their story.

Okay designers, joke’s over. Bringing back leggins was funny at first. When Ray-Ban and LA Gear made a comeback, it started to be a little less so. The return of Members Only jackets was a bit much. But now you’ve done it, American Apparel. You’ve taken it too far, to a place that should have died when the ’80s ended: the scrunchie.

American Apparel is now shoving on unsuspecting teens “a throwback to every girl’s favorite 80’s accessory.” First, the editor in me has to point out that it’s ’80s not 80’s. But even though we - yes, myself included - absolutely loved accessorizing with wacky colored and printed schunchies, that does not mean that they should be revived … especially when the wound (created when the ’90s made us realize how ugly they really were) is still so fresh.

If you simply must relive this faux pas, and don’t have any scrunchies left in your closet, you can snag some in plain or print cotton, shiny lamé, or neon-colored nylon for a rip-you-off price of $6 per hair band. But wait - if you buy the cotton two pack, available only in solid black and solid white, you can save $2 and pay just $10!

While shopping online, you can also view some odd ’80s scrunchie porn that they call a “slideshow featuring this style,” complete with a nipple slip. The slideshow also shows the many ways that you can wear your new/old look: Stack several on a super high pony tail, line your wrists or ankles with a variety of colors, secure a loose side braid, slick your hair back into a side pony tail, or lay in a pile of them.

Enjoy your ’80s throw back if you must, but know that bloggers everywhere will be mocking you.

Memorabilia from the iconic, sex symbol Marilyn Monroe will go up for auction later this month in Julien’s live online Summer Sale taking place Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27. The collection includes over 700 unique items from several different legendary Hollywood celebrities and productions, and about 150 of these items are from the personal and professional life of Marilyn Monroe.

Some of the Monroe items up for auction include vintage photographs, the umbrella shown in this picture, belts, her “Some Like It Hot” script, a rhinestone costume, a skirt, and more. View the complete Summer Sale collection online at Julien’s Live now.

Other featured stars include Errol Flynn, Henry Houdini, Greta Garbo, Mickey Rooney, Joan Crawford, a number of silent stars, Ronald Reagan, the Marx Brothers, Elvis Presley’s doctor, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow.

For one day only this weekend - Saturday, May 23 - Old Navy’s ubiquitous, bright colored flip flops for adults and kids are on sale for just $1 per pair! I already have about ten different colors from previous summers, but this sale means that I can replace my black and my white ones that have holes worn in the heels and still afford to grab some new colors, too!

Yesterday I dreamed about four “wishful thinking” pieces for spring from 3.1 Phillip Lim worth over $2,000. Today, I am getting a little more realistic and trying to find some affordable alternatives that, while they will likely be noticably lower in quality, mock Lim’s elegant asymmetric draped tops and dresses. Unfortunately what I quickly learned is that the inexpensive stores and brands have not yet picked up on the flowy asymmetrical look. I did, however, find some statement making pieces for less.

This watercolor print wrap dress by Daisy Fuentes will certainly give anyone’s wardrobe a springtime pick me up. It’s on sale at Kohl’s, so the price changes daily. For now, the $54 dress is on sale for $32.40. The cut is a classic one that will never go out of style and the pattern is reminiscent of the painted look that I loved last spring.

Over at Gap I found a flowy tank for cheap - just $16.99 right now - that actually includes some tailoring details so that you look curvy rather than like a parachute. Plus, a bow on one shoulder alludes slightly to an asymmetrical nature. It is also available in a minty green stripe.

At American Eagle you can snag this tank top in five different colors for just $24.50 each. This royal blue shade is easily the most sophisticated, paying homage to the many designers who have played up blue and white this season. I’d be sure to try this one on before buying though; AE pictures have gravely misled me in the past (just ask the tank tops hanging in my closet with the tags still on them).

Playing make believe for a moment and pretending that there is an extra few thousand dollars just hanging out in my bank account waiting to be spent on new spring clothes, I would be all over the spring collection of 3.1 Phillip Lim. Aside from there being a bit too much silk for my vegan taste, the designs are perfect! They incorporate the blousy nature of the season’s trends but add sophisticated tailoring and asymmetric shapes that make them more flattering.

So on my dream shopping spree, these four items from Lim are my first four purchases:

This blue and white checkered print, boat neck, silk, asymmetric draped top rings in as one of the less expensive items from the collection at $275, and was easily the first piece to catch my eye.

Climbing the price range a few hundred bucks to $475, I found this simple yet sexy silk chiffon, orange and white striped dress.

For just a little more money, this classically chic, taupe, silk, asymmetric column dress costs $575. The drawstring over the right shoulder allows you a little additional personal tailoring to make the dress your own.

Ah this gorgeous multi-colored (there’s a hit of golden mustard yellow outlining all of the lavender if you look closely) striped, silk chiffon, keyhole halterneck dress is the most expensive item in my imaginary spring shopping spree. With an intricately beaded applique around the neck, I suppose this lightweight gown is worth its $795 price tag.

So if only I had a mere $2,120 I could make this dream spring wardrobe a reality, topping it off with some basic khaki capris, jeans, jewelry, and sandals.

I have not lost a single pound of weight this year. I have, however, turned almost all of my fat and flab into toned muscle. I have slimmed down a lot - and none of my clothes fit me anymore! I knew I needed to invest in new clothes that fit, but being on a budget I also knew that I had to find the best deals.

So I have been waiting and waiting for Kohls’ Lowest Prices of the Season. Kohls may change their prices more often than most people change their underwear, but when they declare them to be the Lowest they aren’t lying. Plus, I feel that Kohls is the best quality-to-price ratio. And yesterday started the season’s lows - so I went shopping!

I bought a few new shirts, a pair of sandals to replace some grubby ones, but mostly I hunted for new jeans. It was a little depressing. Yes, size 4 was falling off of me when I was previously a 6 to 8, but it was sad. I have no hips or butt and thus cannot wear women’s pants. I had to shop in junior’s. After digging through the ridiculous fade marks, fake paint splatters, and pre-made rips, I found a pair that was decent and brought them home.

When I got home, I discovered a hole starting in the crotch of my favorite splurge jeans and was even more upset. But then I went through my closet and found four pairs of jeans that fit perfectly! Just a few months ago these pants were too tight!

Need new clothes? Consider shopping in your own closet first!

Yellow is definitely a hot color for spring! This has always been my opinion, but lately a lot of celebrities are stepping out in the sunshiny color too.

Tomorrow, April 14, Oprah’s daytime talk show will be all about country music and will feature several top country singers and musicians as guests, including the lovely Miss Carrie Underwood and her stunning yellow cocktail dress. I am so jealous! This has to be one of my favorite dresses of all time! Also appearing with the vegetarian American Idol will be, shown from left to right in this photo, Sugarland duo Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker, Oprah herself, and Kenny Chesney.

Kelly Ripa also tossed a splash of yellow on her tiny, muscular, envy-inducing frame when she launched the new Electrolux limited edition Kelly Green shade today, April 13, in New York City. With or without the menswear-inspired suit jacket over top, this frilly top is a perfect look for the mother, talk show host, actress, spokeswoman, …

Search and shop by color at ShopStyle and find your own springy yellow look including dresses, tops, swimwear, and more, ranging from affordable to dream worthy only. Here are some of my favorites, found using ShopStyle:

This Ruched Georgette dress, $150, from Banana Republic, is a perfect feminine, warm afternoon outfit.

Now this one is a real steal! This Forever 21 yellow, black, and white color block top is insanely cheap at $8.80.

Too timid to deck yourself out in canary? How about just a punch of color with a lightweight scarf? One of these is $12.50 at Old Navy, while the other is $260 from designer Shirise. Can you guess which is which? Here’s a hint: my budget range is on the left.

Imagine you’re a budding fashion designer, making your own clothing and selling it on Etsy. You are getting some big name clients and attention, and then Courtney Love calls you. She wants a bunch of custom designed and created clothes from you.

If you are anything like Etsy fashon seller Boudoir Queen you jump at the chance, make her everything she asks for, and ship it off. And then wait. And then wait some more, because apparently Courtney Love doesn’t think she should have to pay for clothes.

Boudoir Queen owner Dawn Simorangkir filed a lawsuit against rocker Courtney Love Thursday for libel, invasion of privacy, intentional interference with her business, infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. After refusing to pay, Love went on to call Simorangkir nasty, lying, hoebag, thief, and a drug addict, according to the Associated Press.

Way to stay classy, Courtney.

Imagine this: you’re plus size and you’re a trendy teenage girl. Where do you shop? When all of the hip stores focus on helping curve-free size zeros squeeze into stretchy clothes, where do the early developers, the big boned, and the bootylicious go?

I must admit, I was a tiny teen without hips (and if I’m really confessing things here, I’ll admit that I still have no hips nor bottom). I shopped and worked at the now-defunct 5*7*9. So I don’t know the answer to this question. What I do know, is that more stores are recognizing that bigger girls want to wear the top trends, too.

According to WWD, the plus-size market has to most potential for growth right now, especially with Americans being larger than ever. This coming May, 2009, ‘tween shopping sensation Forever 21 will launch their first plus-size line: Faith 21.

While in-store shopping and browsing is always more conducive to finding the perfect fit than online guessing and hoping, there are some good plus-size options on the Internet. So while the curvy await the arrival of Faith 21, here are some sites to check out:

* One Stop Plus caters to sizes 14W to 44W and carries a large selection including tee shirts, bathing suits, formal gowns, shoes, and more.

* Some stores that don’t have a number higher than 12 on their racks, have an extended size selection online, such as American Eagle and Alloy.

* Torrid is perfect for the rocker chick or diva in need of a 14 or bigger. The picture shown is from here.

* B & Lu provides outfits on the off-the-runway side of fashion, only in plus sizes.

This week I went shopping for a new bathing suit. I’ve got a bad case of spring fever and need something warm weather related. Plus, since the stores started stocking suits back in January, I knew I needed to jump before they were all gone.

I went into my hunt with a specific target in mind. The bathing suit that I own all have too much white for my pale, beginning-of-summer coloring. I wanted an all-brown bikini with a triangle, halter top with a supportive band and a bottom that doesn’t require strings to stay together.

First stop, a small mall with only a handful of stores. Most stores only had a handful of choices, and the selection was either exclusively string bikinis or exclusively tankinis. I didn’t even bother trying anything on. Instead, I headed to an outdoor strip mall. Ross had nothing. Old Navy had a brown bikini that was exactly what I had pictured! It was perfect … except that the hangers that they used on it had anti-slip grippers that had ripped holes in each and every one. For $16 each piece, I am not willing to buy something already damaged.

Finally, my last stop was Target. I had considered stopping here first and wish that I would have followed my instincts: they had an entire section of bathing suits! Every color, pattern, shape, and cut possible, including another perfect match. The Target one was $18 a piece, but the $4 was worth getting a quality item. Not only was it snag-free, but it felt stronger and was a more flattering shade of brown.

The one I bought is on the right side of the photo shown. It’s by Mossimo and comes in about a dozen different colors.

Online discount shopping boutique RueLaLa has featured many fabulous designers and labels in the past, but never have they tempted me as much as they are this week. Currently - as in run to the site right now because they are almost over - there is a Lucky Brand and a Free People clearance boutique! Lucky Brand and Free People!

The Lucky store is open now until tomorrow, March 12, at 11 a.m. The Free People store will be up until Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m. Other current and upcoming features include Signoria Firenze, now through tomorrow; Birkenstock, now through Friday; and Via Spiga, tomorrow at 11 a.m. until Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m.

RueLaLa is a free, invite-only site that provides members with access to deeply discounted designer merchandise. Leave a comment if you need an invite!

If you’re lucky enough to be in the New York City area next Thursday, March 12, check out the exclusive Shoshanna event at NYC’s Saks Fifth Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dress and swimwear designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, a Manhattan native, will be on site, presenting her latest collection and offering personalized styling tips.

View the promotional flier for this event here. Click on it for a larger view.

For more information, or to make an appointment for this meet and shop with Shoshanna, call 212-940-4806.

For those outside of the New York City region, view designs and styles by Shoshanna online at Shoshanna.com.

Shoshanna’s self titled line was catapulted to designer fame soon after she established it in 1998. Her debut collection of three-piece sets - sundress, thongs, and bag - became her signature look. Since then she has grown and expanded, but continues to embrace her original inspiration: the sundress.

Next week I start a new day job that will have me outside occasionally, especially once the weather warms. This, on top of my growing case of spring fever, has got me over the top excited to wear spring dresses, skirts, sandals, and cute tops. But when I woke this morning to see snow on the ground, my spirit was dampened. Luckily, i also woke up to find a collection of spring items that are newly available at Net-a-Porter.com.

Note: none of these are affordable, just inspirational.

This Celine cherry print dress is a perfect transition into spring wear, with just a hint of color and a bold, not too dense flower-like print. At $1,500, however, I’ll have to hunt for a similar one elsewhere.

I will never stop loving this geometric Diane Von Furstenberg dress. In my next life, I am going to splurge on this $695 spring gown and wear it to a party at a pop art gallery.

Vivienne Westwood got everything right with this eye-catching dress: It’s a shade of hot pink that flatters any skin tone; an easy to wear, asymmetrical drape; and both cute and sexy at the same time. Plus, this fuchsia Anglomania dress is one of the better designer deals at $455.

These Miu Miu wedges hit on my favorite wedge characteristics: a neutral, camel color and a gradual, not too steep incline. The back strap and peek-a-boo toe are just icing on the cake - the $570 price tag is the lump of baking powder that didn’t get throughly sifted in.