The Croc - one trick, two treats

Yes, I'm talking about crocodile bags again! Here's the trick - this bag - Shiro's Nubuck & Shiny Crocodile Bag is $13,500. (Yes, more than half the price of a 2008 Chevy Malibu). But more than a malibu, it looks soo nice. I like the shiny croc trim and the charms. But here's the treat





Kathy Van Zeeland's Large Satchel from the Bling it on II collection is $89.00 and also shiny croc trimmed with key chain and novelty charms (a cute flair to all her bags).

And here's another treat if you want shiny trim all over the bag at a decent price - Alfani "Greenwich Croco" Small Dome Satchel for $148.00. This one gets my vote!

Bangin!

Nine West's Chardin was $99.00 and now on sale for $39.00. I haven't been able to get these shoes out of my mind since I saw them. They can go with so many things. They are bangin!

I'm mad at Ashley Stewart

I'm mad at Ashley Stewart for not having an online shop, I'm mad that I can't show you this extremely cute top from their website that's deep pink with a red belt, try this link to see it http://www.ashleystewart.com/AS/fashion/fashion.html. Most of all I'm mad that there are soo many cute things there and I can't wear them!!!! Every time I go past Ashley Stewart I'm like dang that is cute!!! But I go in the store to get jewelry!!!! The jewelry is fly!!

Where AS is slipping on the online side, Lane Bryant isn't. Check out this fly jacket - Houndstooth Knit Jacket for $59.50. Now, I'm not into houndstooth (see my houndstooth post) but in this color and cut, it's fly!!

Baby bumps and dessert bellies!!

Okay you working FABU moms to be. You don't have the budget or the glam squad like Halle and JLo but you got me. And this goes for the beer belly and dessert belly girls like me, sometimes you don't want to suck it in. And with comfort food season upon us, we need stylish solution. So here's my remedy for both - This season I'm all about dresses, empire waists, tunics, and boots. A dress is easy - it's an outfit in one piece and barely needs ironing. Throw on some comfortable boots to keep your legs warm with some accessories and you'll be styling. Empire waists and tunics are good to either camoflage the belly or show off the baby. And Boots come in so many heel heights it's easy to find a comfy stylish pair. Here are some finds.

Mimi Maternity's Casual Ponte Jumper for $78 (this just adorable)

Banana Republic's Silk/wool mock turtleneck dress for $98 (good stretch material for the coming months)

Forever 21's Puff Sleeve Tunic for 17.80 (for this price you could get a few and rotate often, and hook it up with a thin belt; also there's Forever 21's Tiffany Knit top for $15.80)

Forever 21's Zebra Print Tunic for $22.80 (spicy! hook it up with a blazer for work and skinny jeans for the parties)

Connie Boots at Famous Footwear for $55.99 (sometimes it's hard to find a comfy stylish flat boot. I've found some at famous footwear. These are not flat but they are comfortable).

Also motherhood maternity, liz lange at target, and old navy have good stuff too.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

London look

Calling this the London look because I can see chicas in London rocking this (check the Tilshop - London post). I'm loving this jacket. (Forever 21's Military Peacoat) Punching it up with a colorful bag is so FABU so rock it with a bright colored bag like J.Crew's The Olso Bag or LilyLily Yellow leather tote! (opt for yellow instead of red) Another option too, is to take whatever standard dark peacoat that's been in your closet for a minute and puch it with some color. Perfect pair!!!

My confession

I'M IN LOVE WITH J. CREW!!!!! Yes I'm in love with all things preppy and they do it with such quality! The uniformity, the colors make my heart sing! I just love love love PREPPY!!! Whoo, it feels good to get that off my chest!

You see as a wannabe designer/billionaire/enterpenuer/personal stylist (yes i said billionaire, gotta dream big people), preppy is viewed as constricting, to some it's not FABU!!!! BUT I DON'T CARE!!! I love preppy!!! Probably b/c i'd like to go back to prep school where things are organized and disciplined (needed in our lives). Or maybe it's because most of my time is spent in a professional setting so I'm always on the search for the power suit - I try to keep it professional and sexy and top it off with some luxury. THAT'S MY STYLE and I CLAIM IT!!

And let's keep it really, real, if you are working in an office you need at least one fly suit that'll make all the other preppy kiss-rasses' heads turn!

I love the preppy look so much, if you were to lock me up in a J. Crew store I wouldn't come out . . . well except to get some cute tops from Forever 21, jewelry from Ashley Stewart (another secret of mine), a few Baby Phat and Kathy Van Zeeland bags from Macy's and some shoes from Nine West, oh and a few fly scarves from Canal Street in NY. You need to accessorize to get the look, but I digress!

Currently in my J.Crew bag I have $1600 worth of merchandise, check em out.

Cashemere henley

Polka-dot Silk Julia Blouse

Donegal tweed trapeze dress

Stadium-cloth trench coat

Wool herringbone Bella jacket

Wool gabardine three-button mini-hacking jacket and pants

Wool crepe pencil skirt

Daniela satin d'Orsay heels (they are just cute)

Printed calf-hair skinny belt

real confession - i'm waiting for these babies to go on sale, OK!

You's a BAD MOTHER . . . (updated)

Preggers much? If you are, you are in luck. There are some very fab women who are killing the dress game right now. Check out Halle on Oprah (very nice print dress) and Jlo on Dancing with the stars, rocking dresses that slightly cover the baby bump and with such glam, and one she rocked with a shawl and long necklace. Those are bad (as in FASHU) mommas to be right there!!

Here are some glam dresses for you

Diane vonFurstenberg's Strapless Burnout Dress for $500

Marc Bouwer Glamit! Sleeveless Sequin Blouson Dress for $430 (love the name)

And some glam cover ups (for those with baby bumps, beer bellies, dessert bellies, muffin tops, or just don't feel like sucking it in today).

Dale Dressin Whipstitched Ruana for $575

Giorgio Armani's Burnout Velvet Wrap for $950

Deepa's Sequin Pashmina for $495 (it's in my shopping bag)

One more reference to "Married" - y'all saw how Trina was rocking the brown and blue shawl and Janet/Patty was rocking the fur shawl - yeah, HAWT!!

Manolo wins

Manolo won the battle of shoes with the clutch. Manolo, just rolls of the tongue doesn't it? And here's a dress that will roll with it. You will raise the temp in this. Watch it's hot mercury!!!

Victoria Secret's Liquid Silver Dress for $245

TILSHOP - London

Thanks to a shout out from a reader over the pond (as they say) in London (check the "Married" to Fashion post), I've decided to take TILSHOP international - check for more posts on international styles - after all we are citizens of the WORLD!

First stop - London. Military jackets are in style and I've fallen for this red number - Piazza Sempione's Wool Swing Jacket With Offset Buttons for £429.00 (that's around $860). It's quite similar to the ones the guards wear at Buckingham palace. Jacket is available at Harrods (the fab shopping place!). Until next time - Cheerio!

Just say no to flower power - MEN

Check out these jeans by Sean John at Macy's for $88 (It's called "Sean John Flower Jean" - ??). I don't recommend women wear flower power on their jeans, so you know I definitely don't want to see men wearing it, for any reason. If you are a man and like flowers, that's good - get some real flowers for your woman, momma, partner, female relatives, buy flower jeans for your daughters, or plant real ones, BUT please, please, don't wear them or any pattern resembling them. That's my PSA. Thanks for reading.

STUD or DUD?

I declare that I don't like stud boots (even by Christian Louboutin as worn by Beyonce, Ashley, and Nicole --currently available on ebay for $1,599.99). I fear that it will illict the return of studded jeans and transport me back in time to 8th grade when only the coolest wore studded jeans and studded jean jackets. Then it reminds me of puberty. I simply will not relive that time. If you can't fight the stud (as I may not able to in a few months), then opt for this boot instead by Paolini available at Bare Feet Shoes for $249.99. It's a bit dramatic with the swatches of leather but with the right outfit, it's bad kick a$% boot.

FIERCE HAIR - Bobs and Bangs

FIERCE HAIR OF THE WEEK - goes to Tasha Smith (Angela in "Married"). Her hair in the movie was so fly it was almost distracting! (along with her fly outfits). THIS IS THE BOB YOU WANT. So FIERCE you have to shake your finger at it. (I know you're really distracted by Michael Jai White that you probably won't read this post. I don't blame you.)

First Runner up - Kimora Lee Simmons for the BANG weave. That's an accessory we should all have (along with the Glam squad, and her closet but that's another post).

Second Runner up - Rihanna's bob, is fierce too. It's very versatile. The reason she's not the winner is because the look kind of needs makeup to be fly unlike Tasha's who looks fly without the makeup or the clothes, note the bedroom picture above. Ha, made you look at the picture again - darn means you stopped reading.

Bamma Bob - goes to Britney. (to quote Bianca from ANTM) check the hair in the mirror and I'm done. Enough said!

Movie picture source: http://media.movies.ign.com/media/955/955076/img_4935601.html

"MARRIED" to Fashion

I hope you checked out Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? Of course you did - it was No. 1 at the box office this weekend!!!! TP you rock! And I'm sure you noticed the Fashion in the movie - the Louis Vuitton bags, the hot girl leather platform boots (Janet was rocking them at the cabin), and the fur or faux fur Tasha Smith (Angela was rocking) and hot men (oh wait, they are not accessories)! Check these out

Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Duomo for $1,330

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Alma for $900

Yves Saint Laurent Camden Tall Boot for $995

Rizal & Linea Selecta 'Pop' Fur Collar Vest for $1,862 (nothing like Angela's but the model is bringing the sass, okay!)

Movie Picture source: http://media.movies.ign.com/media/955/955076/img_4832582.html

TILSHOP - MUSIC

Corsets and bracelets! Why? because of these songs I can't get enough of right now

A. Keys - "No one" - please check the style and hair! I predict wave nouveau is coming back. Just kidding. The corset in the video is fly. Every woman should have one. Check out this Corset bodysuit at Victoria's Secret for $48.

Trey Songz - "Can't help but wait" - Very catchy (props for focusing on domestic violence). He sings that "you should be rockin' the latest in purses, bracelets, and watches" - is that not the theme of this blog? That's why it's now the theme song for the blog. (He forgot shoes but I think it's implied with purses). Check out this pretty bracelet I found comparable to the one in the AKeys video - David Yurman Tsavana Briola Bracelet for $4,450.

Jungle Poll

The winner of the first Welcome to the Jungle battle goes to . . . (drum roll) . . . Baby Phat!!! Looks like it was a tough round but Baby Phat won out probably due to the extra glimmer that the Baby Phat bag has. Check out these shoes by Delicious for only $24.99 available at Bare Feet Shoes.

Get TEXTURE in your TOTE

Tired of metalics, exotics, bright bags? Go for TEXTURE - true sophistication. Check these out

Fendi Large waffle leather tote for $1,930

Michael Kors Moroccan basket tote for $995

Miu Miu Leather matelasse large tote for $1,590

Miu Miu Plissé leather bag for $1,360