Belt It Out

The most hardworking accessory this fall is the belt.  Adding this accessory to just about anything updates your wardrobe.  A great belt over a dress, a cardigan or a jacket makes your old wardrobe staples look very trendy for fall 2010.  It is especially useful in making your work clothes more exciting and trendy.  While thicker, distinctive belts really spice up dresses, with jackets and cardigans thinner belts tend to work better.  Twist or knot the belt for a bit of extra flare.

Antik Batik Ninon Thin Suede Belt $138.00
BCBG Woven Studded Belt $88.00
Elegantly Waisted Ryder Belt $41.00
Sachin + Babi Tabea Belt $280
GAP Silver Patent Skinny Belt $19.50
Linea Pelle Vintage Skinny Hip Belt $84.00
Gorjana Studded Wrap Belt $110.00
Limited Leopard Covered-Buckle Skinny Belt $19.90
B-Low the Belt Skinny Tassel Belt $105.00
Graham & Spencer Belt $151.00
Banana Republic Skinny Staple Belt $39.50
Antik Batik Dream Thin Belt $138.00
TopShop Plain Leather Vintage Belt $30.00
Elegantly Waisted Harlow Belt $38.50
Madewell Animal Attraction Belt $48.00
Diane von Furstenberg Jasmine Belt $175.00
J. Crew Calf Hair Belt $60.00
Elegantly Waisted Mini Haley Belt $121.00
BCBG Double-Strand Studded Belt $58.00
Adia Kibur Braided Chain Belt $58.00
GAP Skinny Faux-Snakeskin Leather Belt $19.50
Crimson Saddle Skinny Leather Belt $20.00
Elegantly Waisted Ellen Belt $125.00
Limited Covered-Buckle Skinny Belt $19.90
Linea Pelle Skinny Hip Belt $84.00
Banana Republic Skinny Lizard Belt $29.50
Gorjana Studded Belt $75.00
TopShop Leopard Corset-Shaped Belt $70.00
Kettle Black Double-Wrap Belt $110.00
Madewell Stirrup Belt $52.00
Linea Pelle Pyramid Stud Hip Belt $106.00
J.Crew Patent Leather $29.50
BCBG Braided Detail Belt $88.00
Sachin + Babi Wrap Belt $210.00
GAP Studded Braided Belt $19.99 - 24.99
Cole Haan Village Skinny Belt $38.00
Hollywood Trading Company 10,000 Studs Deluxe Belt $220.00
Limited Obi Braided Belt $34.50
Banana Republic Skinny Metallic Belt $29.50
Motif 56 Sima Belt $145.00
TopShop Leopard Skinny Belt $36.00
Elegantly Waisted Twist Belt $137.00
J. Crew Smooth Leather Belt $32.50
Linea Pelle Skinny Small Grommet Belt $78.00
Limited Black Bow Stretch Belt $29.50
TopShop Woven Leather Elastic Belt $50.00
Motif 56 Lauren Belt $99.00

J.Crew Leather Patent Belt $39.50
Calvin Klein Reversible Skinny Logo Belt $36.00
Limited Reversible Wide Waist Belt $44.50
TopShop Leather Plain Clasp Belt $44.00
Lulu's All About Weave Belt $17.00
Elegantly Waisted Cummerbund Belt $121.00
J. Crew Oval Buckle Denim Belt $38.00
Motif 56 Leeora Wrap Belt $135.00
TopShop Moulded Bow-Detail Skinny Belt $30.00
Lulu's Step Into the Ring Double-Wrap Belt $12.00
Halston Heritage Faux Watersnake Belt $195.00
Elegantly Waisted Kit Belt $60.20
Another Line Skinny Patent Belt (sizes up to 3X) $28.00
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Reversible Belt (sizes up to 2X) $38.00
Another Line Skinny Calf Hair Belt (sizes up to 3X) $34.00
Carmakoma Rollercoaster Plus-Sized Belt $36.85
Simply Be Plus-Sized Skinny Belt $17.00
Simply Be Plus-Sized Double-Buckle Belt $30.00
Igigi Plus-Sized Buckle Belt $65.00

Fruits of Your Labor

Labor Day Sales are popping up everywhere and, thanks to feedback from a reader or two, we thought we'd tell you about the ones we run across.  This will be a constantly evolving post that will be updated as we find more and more deals for you.

ALDO has an extra 30% off all clearance sandals (online only) and free shipping on all orders over $75.

Think Her has 25% off Dogeared Jewelry (a fave of mine) with the coupon code LaborDay10 until September 6 and 20-50% OFF brands such as Ella Moss, PJ Salvage, Melie Bianco, Deux Lux & more.  Plus, they have free ground shipping on orders over $100 and they do not charge sales tax if your order is being shipped outside of California.

Benefit Cosmetics has free US shipping on any order for the next five days with the promo code LABORDAY at checkout.  If you've never tried Benefit, start with High Beam, That Gal and Lemon Aid.  You'll thank me later.

BCBG Max Azria has an additional 30% off all markdowns for their Labor Day Sale both in-store and online until Tuesday.

Madewell has added more styles to their End-of-Summer Sale and are offering free shipping on orders over $100 with the coupon code SCORE at checkout.  If you're new to Madewell, they are J. Crew's sister store. I particularly recommend the rail straight jeans, the neon lights belt,the scarfi creazioni panarea sandals, and the petal shoulder dress.  My blackberry romantic ruffle dress is a favorite of mine.

Gorjana's Private Sample Sale is today and there are a few really good deals left (up to 65% off).  Keep in mind that these are all final sale.

Our new friends at Dollhouse are also having a Labor Day Sale today through September 7, with 20% off all full-priced items using the code 20X5N6 at checkout.  They are also having a $10 Off Jeans Sale that ends tonight using code 1YF8YA at checkout. Some items we love there are in our last post.

Shoes.com has a 15% sale (with some exclusions) if you use the code 15OFF at checkout. They are also having a Labor Day Sale with an extra 25% off all sale shoes with promo code 25SALE until 11:59 p.m. CST September 7.

Heels.com is having a sale as well.

Sephora has a few treats for shoppers at the present time.  They have an exclusive Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit for $60 and 20% off on this kit thru 9/13 using the code SEVENTEEN at checkout; quite a few free with purchase deals on different fragrances; a few pages of items on sale; a free sample of Murad Acne & Wrinkle Reducer using the code ANTIACNE at checkout; free samples of three Benefit Crescent Row scents using the code SCENTTRIO at checkout; free mini rollerball of Bliss Eau de Toilette using code BLISSFUL at checkout and Tarte Double Gloss for just $6.

This week's Philosophy offer is a free 4-week supply of the microdelivery peel with any purchase of $50 or more using the code FREEMDPEEL at checkout.

Ideeli is having an M Missoni sale, starting tomorrow.  If you don't already have an ideeli account, they do have a free option.  The paid option gets access to sales 1 hour earlier and I would imagine some other perks.  Ideeli is also currently having sales on dolce & gabbana, d & g,  Versace, Jil Sander, Donna Karan shoes, Emilio Pucci shoes, Chloe sunglasses, Big Buddha shoes, da-nang, buco, Julie Brown, and blank nyc.

Tarte cosmetics is offering $10 off a purchase of $20 or more until sept. 6 using the promo code BDAY.  If you haven't tried this eco-friendly line, try the Tarte Starter Set, the Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer, and the 24-7 Lip Sheer.

Dermalogica is offering a free Antioxidant Hydramist with the purchase of Dynamic Skin Reovery SPF30.  If you've never tried this one, start with one of their skin kits to try this amazing line of skincare products.

ShopBop is having a Summer Sendoff Sale with discounts of 30, 50 or 70% on hundreds of items, including some faves of ours from Joie, Nightcap, Nili Lotan, Jeffrey Campbell, Alice + Olivia, Young, Fabulous and Broke and more.

CoutureCandy is having a Labor Day Sale. Save 25% on any purchase with code: FALL

ASOS is offering 15% off ASOS Collection dresses with code AWDRESSES at checkout.

Banana Republic is offering up to 30% off some merchandise in their online store until September 6.

My favorite, Gypsy 05, also has a sale going on currently.

The Trend Boutique is offering 10% off with the code LABOR10 and free shipping until Monday.

Rachel Roy has an extra 30% off sale merchandise until September 6.

Bliss Spas is offering an extra 20% off already reduced Bliss and Labratoire Remede sets with the code LABORDAY until September 8.

Melie Bianco is having a Labor Day Sale offering 20% off some of their purses until September 17.

Neutrogena has up to 20% on a lot of their bestselling products.

Kenneth Cole has a 40% off Labor Day Sale until September 7.

Since this type of post announcing sales is a new idea, please let us know what you think of it.

Have a happy holiday weekend!


Update Sept. 3 10:00 p.m.:

Skinny Purse also has a round-up of Labor Day Sales on their blog. Their list includes Bliss Spas, Banana Republic, eBags, Max Studio and French Connection.

Twisted

During a mad search to find a pair of raffia platform sandals that you will probably hear me raving about in a later post, I came across a very interesting, creative, yet wearable trend.  Usually, in fashion, you often find that the most creative and artistic designs are not things most of us would wear (take, for example the Balenciaga shoes for fall 2010 that one of us adores).  This one, however, is interesting, eye-catching, distinctive and unique, but I can actually see the average women wearing it on the street.  Plus, the mostly closed vamp is just enough coverage for that transition between summer's heat and winter's frigid temps.  It is also a creative way to add a splash of color to an outfit full of neutrals.  I was able to find the following examples and there are sure to be more.

1. BCBGirls Devon - $45.53

2. XOXO Brit - $44.99

3. Pelle Moda Venecia - $52.69

4. Miss Me Garnet-23 - $45.95

5. Fergie Blast - $55.37 - $62.96

6. Nine West Ebbytide - $32.75 (at Amazon), $43.24 (at 6 pm.)

7. Charlie My Love Amiga - $80.00

8. Charlie My Love Adina - $150.00

9. Donald J Pliner Eda peep-toe flats - $112.00

Booties, Baby!

If there is any one style in shoes that says 2010, it is the hybrid between a shoe and a boot. There is a lot of variation in what to call shoes of this style, shoes, sandals, booties, shooties, boots. The only consistent description is "gorgeous." We've done a little looking around to find some examples of this style of footwear for any readers looking for a pair or two... or ten.

1. ALDO Daven in bone (if you are lucky enough to wear a size 10) - $44.98

2. ShoeDazzle Jessie in gray (pictured) - $39.95

3. BCBG Max Azria Ivory in gray - $195

4. Kelsey Dagger Sydney in natural - $84.50

5. ALDO Vanhove in beige (pictured) - $80

6. Steve Madden Lavvaa in natural - $89.96

7. Michael Antonio Teeter in tan - $78.95

8. Miss Me Adella-1 in camel or gray - $57.95

9. ALDO Vares in gray - $100

10. Bumper Kvass 03 in camel - $49.99

11. Michael Antonio Matteo in tan - $39.99 or beige - $71.95

12. Mea Shadow Nelita - $154.76

13. Dollhouse Tano in gold (pictured) - $34.99

14. Rosegold Vicky in beige - $168.00

15. Pura Lopez S155 in taupe - $248.89

16. Ash Fabulous in stone - $166.33

17. Joan & David Fernanda in natural - $100.38

18. Pour la Victoire Dierda in cognac or light gray - $87.62

19. Mea Shadow Cettina in camel/fuchsia - $130.76

20. Calvin Klein Dylan in Platino - $104.96

21. ALDO Pipilas - $125.00

22. Nine West Hamish in off white or light natural - $98.95 (if you wear a size 9.5, $46.00)

23. Boutique 9 Lizzee in light brown - $200.00

24. Calvin Klein Rayven in light gray - $158.95

25. Bumper Kakoa in black - $39.99

26. Michael Antonio Smyth in gray or red - $74.95

27. Miss Robertson Espen in olive - $132.95

28. Dolce Vita Farrah in khaki - $180.00

29. NYLA Adrianne in bone (pictured) - $119.95

30. Not Rated Tough Cookie in taupe - $40.89

A bag that complements them all and that comes in a myriad of colors is Rebecca Minkoff's Nikki Hobo. It is one of those splurge-that-is-worth-it items that will serve you well for years to come. Endless.com has a large selection of them and they can be found at ShopBop, Nordstrom, Amazon and Neiman Marcus as well.

Also, considering the lightening speed with which the Paparazzi clutches we wrote about last week sold out on ASOS. We have been trying to find alternate places to purchase those bags. We will post them when we do.