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Birchbox: A Love/Hate Letter
At long last, I got my first Birchbox, that lovely little box of sample goodies we blogged about last month. Fun times! It came in a cute little girly box with pink tissue paper, with samples that seemed hand-picked just for me. There was a reusable travel poof filled with tinted face powder, some perfume, a tiny pink nail polish, a couple little Show Stoppers fabric tape samples to keep your attire intact and these cool Eye Rock instant eyeliner stickers that give you Amy Winehouse cat eyes. For $10 a box, not bad.
I had signed up for the month-to-month subscription, to be renewed monthly unless I cancel. I wasn't quite ready to commit to the yearly membership, which is $110 for 12 months and gives you a bunch of "points" to put toward the purchase of full-price products.
One reader did take the yearly plunge, however, and wasn't as happy as I was. She wrote: ... Read more
My Outfit Monday: Garden Girl
Good morning all! February is almost over. That has absolutely nothing to do with this blog post, but whatever.
It's Monday; we're allowed to be silly, right? Here's what my silly self looks like this morning:
My boyfriend likes to call this the "garden dress."
I got it AGES ago, and cannot tell you where or for how much (sorry!) I paired it with a white shrug that you've seen before on here.
I was a little worried about wearing a dress when I woke up and it was still gloomy out. But by the time I actually got dressed, the sun was out. And now I hear we might crack 80 degrees?!? I love you Florida.
Back to my outfit.
I wanted to go simple with the jewelry, so I grabbed one of my favorite new pieces - this single strand of cobalt blue beads FROM AFRICA. Yes, Africa. ... Read more
Deal Divas live Oscar red carpet coverage Sunday!
Hey, awards show lovers!
Your resident red carpet correspondent (that would be me) will be out of town for the Academy Awards this Sunday, on a South Korea vacation spectacular I may have mentioned 6,000 or so times. I am thrilled to be going somewhere cool, but I was dismayed to realized I'd planned this trip on the biggest celebrity fashion night of the year. A part of me is dying inside.
But fear not! We have recruited help. Janet Keeler, the Times food and travel maven who covered Oscar fashion before the Deal Divas came screeching into your life with our shooties, will fill in on the snark beat. She'll be live-tweeting from our Twitter account, @dealdivas, during the red carpet arrivals, and her full recap will be in the Tampa Bay Times the next morning. Chatters, welcome Janet with open arms, would you? She's a gem. ... Read more
Carson Kressley at Fashion Funds the Cure to help local girls with cancer
It might be the most sniffle-inducing event in town.
Bunches of little girls battling cancer will get gussied up and head down the runway Wednesday at Neiman Marcus in International Plaza for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Ninth Annual Fashion Funds the Cure event. The fashion show gives the girls a chance to spend time away from their reality, briefly trading demanding hospital treatments for manicures, makeovers and new outfits. Proceeds benefit cancer research.
It’s hosted once again by Carson Kressley, a fashion stylist known from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Dancing with the Stars and How to Look Good Naked. He also wrote a children’s book called You’re Different and That’s Super, which follows a unicorn growing up among horses. Awwww. Here's Carson with the girls a couple years back.
... Read more
Would you rock a retro one-piece?
Is it too early to be talking about swimsuits?
Who cares - it's Florida!
You guys know how much I like vintage-y stuff, and lately I've been paying more atention to the retro-style swimsuits popping up. Not surprisingly, most of these retro looks are one-pieces or pin-up style two pieces.
What do you guys think --- would you rock one of these suits? Or are you too attached to the (now standard) bikini?
I haven't made my mind up yet, but here are a few that caught my eye. ... Read more
Killer fashion?
Nobody wears heels because they think they're good for their feet. Or tight pants because they're just so comfortable.
But this gives a whole new meaning to "beauty is pain."
A column in The Wall Street Journal this week sheds light on the many surprising perils of apparel. That includes the potential for blocked nerves when wearing cinched belts or tight pants, reduced oxygen intake when wearing body shapers like Spanx, back pain from ill-fit bras, and bunions, hammer toes and bony heel protrusions as a result of long-term heel wear.
Sexy.
So, what? Should we all just stick to sports bras and maxi skirts and sensible sneakers? Now we're talking sexy.
Deal Diva Kim
(Photo: The Wall Street Journal)
Designer roundup: Rock & Republic at Kohl's, Marni at H&M
Count two new (relatively) low-priced designer labels hitting stores for the little people.
Rock & Republic, a line that was popular with the wealthy trucker hat set in the mid-2000s, brings its denim-heavy wares to Kohl's. The company, whose designers have included Victoria Beckham, filed for bankruptcy in 2010, so we're thinking this is a pretty big deal for them. The Kohl's line includes pants for women in flare, skinny, crop, boot cut and legging, and for men in straight, slim and boot cut, between $50 and $60. The jeans are pretty cute, but I can't help thinking they look a little short on all the leggy models in the promo shots. This could bode very well for your friendly neighborhood Deal Diva Hobbit, here.
The line also includes graphic tees, baby doll tops and tuxedo jackets, plus, SHOES -- platforms and pumps in the $40-$50 range. For instance, you can own these deadly spiky platform heels for $51.99. Gents, do not cross your lady love when these are on the feet and death is on the line.
... Read more
Shooties for President!
My Outfit Monday: Feeling springy
For the past few weeks I've been on a temporary assignment in Tallahassee, also known as wannabe Georgia. Remember all my cheer over this year's wimpy winter? Yeah. Good one. Last week I scraped ice off my windshield.
But here we are nearing March, and temperatures be darned, I'm ready for spring. So today I summon thoughts of sunshine, blooming flowers and not being able to see my breath.
My corduroy pants are from the J Crew outlet at Ellenton, colorful but sturdy enough to keep me safe from chilly breezes. The white tee is a Target staple, as is my floral scarf. My black blazer is from Urban Outfitters, a Christmas gift from last year.
I may or may not have a pair of gloves in my pocket. ... Read more
Fashion Week 2012 recap: Poofs, fur and Olsens
So, New York Fashion Week happened. It's so far out of the realm of our daily lives -- you know, working at jobs and taking care of families and making Hamburger Helper -- that sometimes it just blows right by. It's certainly relevant, though, because whatever the cray-cray designers trot out every season trickles down directly into our Target bargain bins. But if you're not intensely IN IT TO WIN IT, it's hard to keep up with every single show.
That's why you have us. To summarize! Here are some observations from this past week in the alternate reality called New York Fashion Week.
Full skirts
Oscar de la Renta showed a cadre of deliciously floofy cupcake creations. This is really exciting, guys. Full skirts bode well for our Little Debbie snack cake habit. When there's 18 yards of tulle pin-tucked around your waist, your arms look really tiny. It may be better than Weight Watchers. We're so pumped! We're so... ... Read more
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About the bloggers
Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Sign up for weekly Deal Diva Alerts by e-mail. by e-mail. And check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons!
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THE AUTHORS
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child,
tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally
rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and
she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes
classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of
patterned ballet flats. She can
be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..
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Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her
mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost,
but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan,
she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never
needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her
closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can
be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.
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A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.
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From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling
backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom
prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find
fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the
class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for
affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or
down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only
hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727)
445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.
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Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.
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