DESIGNER ALERT: Betsey Johnson

This dress screams sexy. From the back lacing to the oversized peplum, this is as souped up as a LBD can get! This is also surprisingly...traditional for Betsey Johnson. No crazy patterns or colors...just all the wildness and sexiness of Betsey Johnson in the perfect cocktail dress.

Made By: Betsey Johnson

Price: $141.00 (originally $188.00)

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Grandma Floral Sexy

DON'T STOP READING THIS. I know, at first glance, this looks like a grandma dress. But it's not! What is it missing? A belt.

Florals are a tough cookies! This dress needs a waist or it can go from sexy to grandma in no time at all. I promise you...you'll look absolutely fabulous and like a sexy lady in florals if you wear this with a belt!

Made By: ModCloth

Price: $47.99

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Three Words Or Less

Describe in three words or less.

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ETSY: Daisy Chain Me Up

As much as I love daisies, I understand that they are a tad..kiddish. It doesn't mean I'll stop loving them!

This designer beautifully executed this daisy bracelet in an adult way. Finally, grown up daisy jewelry for grown-up ladies who love daisies!

Made By: Lanza Creations. Visit the Etsy store here.

Price: $25.00

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Awesome Or Ugly!

Awesome?

Or Ugly?

YOU DECIDE!

BUY IT

Sock It To Me!

Break out those Mary Janes...its time to wear them with socks!

The key to wearing a patterned sock successfully with an outfit is to let the sock shine. Go with the color scheme it presents. For example, with this sock, stay with creams, browns, tans, and soft pinks. These socks are also screaming to be paired with corduroy, so the pink element might go best there.

Made By: Urban Outfitters

Price: $14.00

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SWEET AND PETITE: The Right Cut

Dresses of this style for petite ladies are a necessity to buy in a petite size. And regular sized ladies, it's unlikely this will fit you! Petite ladies are...petite! And this dress will account for a petite waist and petite hips.

The cut is fabulous and I love the pattern...it's a perfect slightly dressy/mostly casual dress. Perfect for a casual backyard cocktail party, or, depending on the fancy level of your office, it could be a great work dress with a cardigan!

Made By: J. Crew

Price: $39.99 (originally $110.00)

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Ziggy And Zaggy

Sure stripes are in, but what about zigs? What about zags? From the looks of this shirt, I'd say they're in, too!

This shirt is perfect for the office or play time. The tie bow adds a cute feminine element to the shirt, which softens the otherwise strong pattern. You also just don't see that tie bow element a lot with a v-neck shirt. As someone who gravitates towards v-necks, I couldn't be happier!

Made By: Ruche

Price: $29.99

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Just Ducky

One style that is very "in" for this fall is the lace-up boot that also has a duck-boot element to it. As sexy as camping/forrest/cabin/rustic chic clothing can get, the designers are pulling it off for this season. Based on the direction of clothing for fall, I think this sweater fits perfectly into this trend. Plus, my current favorite sweater has a swan on it, so I'm a big fan of knits with birds on them!

Made By: Anthropologie

Price: $59.95 (originally $128.00)

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DESIGNER ALERT: Christian Dior

I was a little in shock that such a sexy, fashion forward shoe was on sale. A Christian Dior shoe under $500 IS a deal, even though that seems crazy. The bootie/lace-up combo is brought together very well in this shoe. It would be perfect with some wide leg black trousers, or a tunic like mini dress for after midnight.

Made By: Christian Dior

Found On: bluefly.com

Price: $479.99 (originally $850.00)

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Flat Out Fabulous

Yaowza, holy shoe sale! BCBG flats for under $20? Yes, please!

Sure, they're a little summery, but I think they'll slide into fall with some stockings no problem! The cutout pattern also fits perfectly with a lot of tribal styles happening right now.

Made By: BCBG

Found At: DSW

Price: $19.94 (originally $79.00)

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Three Words Or Less

Describe in three words or less.

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ETSY: Passport To Style

An oft forgotten item that usually needs some serious style is your passport. For years mine had no case. When it started to look downright ratty, I went and bought a beautiful bright purple case. It's just shocking to me at the airport how many extremely fashionable women hand a passport that is either caseless or in some sort of worn out, drab brown leather case.

Come on ladies, bring some color to your passport! Bring some pazzazz! I love this hot pink passport holder...it's so fun! It will tell the people in every country you go to that you are stylish (no translations required!)

Made By: Sidney Ann Designs. Visit the Etsy store here.

Price: $24.00

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Awesome Or Ugly!

Awesome?

Or Ugly?

YOU DECIDE!

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FRUGAL FIANCÉE: Modern

I think this is a well-constructed dress and would look much better if J.Crew could just get that model to stand up straight. I'm opposed to slouching models in general since we should all at least be trying to have good posture, but this woman is supposed to be getting married! Don't slouch on your wedding day! End rant.

Anyway, yes, $1500 is a lot of money to spend at J. Crew but say you want a modern style dress that looks interesting and unconventional but you don't want to pay $5000 for an original one-of-a-kind. Enter: this dress.

Made By: J.Crew
Price: $1,500.00

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The Princess And The Pea(coat)

Chilly temps are around the corner! (Although I would say for a large majority of people, chilly temps are here already...I'm looking at you, Northern California!!!)

This beautiful red peacoat is a wonderful color pop for any fall or winter day. You'll match those beautiful falling leaves and brown fall colors while also staying stylish. I also love the neck on this peacoat...no need for a scarf now!

Made By: MICHAEL by Michael Kors

Found At: Macy's

Price: $229.50 (originally $340.00)

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Blaze(r) Into Fall

If you see a good blazer that's on sale that you like, BUY IT. Blazers will be everywhere this season, and you should have a good amount to mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe. Don't be afraid to experiment with new shapes of blazers, or colorful blazers, or blazers that have interesting and unusual details!

This one caught my eye because of the slightly puffed sleeve...that little puff is just what your outfit needs to be absolutely spectacular. I also like that it doesn't close. No zippers, no buttons. Let's you show off whatever you're wearing underneath!

Made By: Urban Outfitters

Price: $29.99 (originally $68.00)

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VINTAGE VIXEN: Riding Boots

I don't know why the end of August always has me thinking about boots! It is way to hot to wear them for at least another month or month and a half in LA! Nevertheless, I have been trolling the vintage sections of Etsy and Ebay for riding boots to get me through the fall. Below, a few of my favorites. (It's near impossible to find good leather boots for under $50 new, so vintage is a good way to go.)

Vintage Knee High Leather BOOTS, sz 7 $20!

I like this cut- it is a little softer at the top than a traditional riding book. These are simple and classy- would last more than one seaso

n!

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Vintage Black Leather Riding Boots Size 6.5 $30

These are very traditional and classic looking- very equestrian. Also they look in perfect condition!

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Vintage 80s Black Flat Riding Boots size 8.5 9 NARROW $35.00

Black and brown is cool together. Als

o

I like the way this leather is crinkled and shiny. If the shoe fits, these are a winner.

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Size 8 Vintage Marc Alpert Two Tone Wing Tip Zig Zag Riding Boots $50.00

Ok they are a little out there! The Fashion Deal Diva would say, "Awesome or Ugly?" I say awesome! They are very unique and tie in an animal print to an otherwise bright winter boot. Love them!

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Size 7M Brown Women Vintage Mister Shoes Trinita Flat Riding Boot Made In Brazil $50.00

Brazilian leather shoes and boots are always great. This color is gorgeous and the seam on the side is very posh looking. These are beautifu

l!

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80's Pewter Leather Riding Boots size 8.5 $38.00

Gosh, these are a little Tin Man, aren't they? Still, something speaks to me about them. Some stylish girl could pull these off and we'll all be secretly jealous :)

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Size 6M Dark Blue Vintage Women Westbound Cuff Down Campus Riding Boot $50.00

Navy leather! So rare and so beautiful! I love love love these boots and any dark navy leather! Talk about subtle. I want these boots but my feet are too big :(

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Size 7 / 7.5 Vtg Beige Leather Riding Boots. tall. nude. nuetral. cuffed. short heel. fall. $38.00

Beige/nude leather is instant chic with an all black outfit. Hard to keep clean, yes, but worth it. These are sexy but still practical.

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Vintage SERENA UNIQUE RIDING BOOTS size 7.5

Best for last! I love these! Click through the link below to see all the photos. They have these cool ties in the back. The ankle suede bit looks so comfortable. Like they took out the part that hurts on new boots. And they are already broken in anyway! But they look so cool! I love this look.

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Can't say I'm looking forward to the end of summer.... But new boots will help me smile about the onset of cooler nights!

Till next time,

xoxo Vintage Vixen

Cream Colored Starlet

I wouldn't normally say that there is a good overlap of studded clothing with work clothing, but I think this skirt fits the bill. The cream color is beautiful for any season, and will work with a variety of shirts and blazers, depending on the season.

It's on a crazy sale (what is that, 66% off?), so you know that this skirt is extremely well made, and you're getting a lot of bang for your buck (ie it won't fall apart in a few weeks.)

Made By: Lafayette 148

Found At: Saks

Price: $178.99 (originally $448.00)

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Best Supporting Role

As we head into fall wedding season, I noticed that my black footwear needs a recharge. I can't wear the same pair of black sandal pumps to every wedding I go to, now can I?

The large majority of my dressy footwear has bows on it. Bows never go out of style! So any shoe with a bow on it is a prudent investment.

I like this particular shoe not only for the bow, or the generally sleek shape, but because of the kickass strap support. A large part of the equation when trying to successfully pull off a high heel is a good ankle support system, and this shoe has that down!

Made By: Wild Diva

Found On: lulus.com

Price: $28.00

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Simply Stylish

Yayyyyy a boardroom-t0-bar dress!

For day: Throw on a black blazer (or for the daring...a white blazer), some stylish black bauble necklace and leather pumps.

For night: Rip off that blazer, add a black patent leather belt, and a pair of lace-up cage sandals! For added affect, LOTS of drapey silver jewelry.

Made By: Motel

Found On: ModCloth

Price: $64.99

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I'M LIVE-BLOGGING THE EMMY'S RED CARPET!

Hello dear fashionistas,

This Sunday is the Emmy Awards! I will be doing a fashion live blog of the Red Carpet for the site awardspicks.com (for those of you unfamiliar with awardspicks.com, it's a site that lets you run Emmy pools with your friends where you can predict the Emmy winners!)

DETAILS:

Where: www.awardspicks.com

When: Sunday, August 29th, 7:00 pm EST (4:00 pm PST)

What: My live blog of the fashion hits and misses, the oooohs, and the uggggghs!

See you there!

FRUGAL FIANCÉE: Awesome Or Ugly?

Awesome?

Or Ugly?

Will bridal headbands ever be in?

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HALF-OFF HOTTIE: Quilted

The quilted handbag trend seems to pop up again every once in a while, and I’ve recently seen the classic Chanel quilted leather with metal chain strap bag everywhere I turn!

I remember my mom having one from the 80’s or 90’s. Clearly, this is a timeless bag. Personally, it’s taken me some time to get used to the small-bag-with-long-strap thing, it just seems a tad oldlady-ish to me (maybe because I remember this trend from the 90‘s?) but seeing the trend everywhere has definitely helped change my perception and guess what?? I recently caved in and bought one.

No, not that one. At $3000 a bag, you really have to like it. BUY IT

Instead, I went for this bargain:

Aldo "Scates", $45.00

BUY IT

Now you can be a part of the quilted handbag trend and still have some cash to carry in it!

Florals In Fall

Do you know what warms my heart fashionistas? Designer summer dresses that go on sale but are still perfectly appropriate for fall.

This fall-appropriate floral is a great choice for any cocktail party, or even a wedding depending on how you expect people to be dressed. It's a really beautiful silhouette, but that is to be expected from any Milly dress.

Made By: Milly

Found At: Saks

Price: $157.99 (originally $395.00)

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Effortless Wonder

It's REALLY hard for a white shirt to be the star. And by "hard" I mean "damn near impossible." Somehow, this soft, delicate and intricate shirt would be the star of any of your ensembles. The asymmetrical ruffles and bow to the side bring in those trendy elements while still remaining very classic. My FAVORITE part about the shirt is that each ruffle is a different type of fabric, and yet they work perfectly, seamlessly together.

Made By: Anthropologie

Price: $39.95 (originally $68.00)

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Three Words Or Less

Describe in three words or less.

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ETSY: Naturally Beautiful

I was getting a little tired of the leaf trend, but fall is coming, and that is the season of leaves, so all I really needed was to see ONE designer do something cool with this trend and I'd be back on board.

Behold...creativity and the leaf trend come together! This is a great casual bracelet, and I love the pink pop of color. This looks straight out of a J. Crew catalog, but it's a quarter of the price!

Made By: Lana Crystal. Visit the Etsy store here.

Price: $18.50

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Awesome Or Ugly!

Awesome?

Or Ugly?

YOU DECIDE!

BUY IT

FRUGAL FIANCÉE: Too Cute For Words.

Eep! This dress is so cute and delicate and wonderfully constructed that I can't believe it was hand made and is up for sale on Etsy.

I know $800 isn't just a drop in the bucket but man, this dress rocks. The tulle skirt is light and airy but the detail on the lace "belt" is wonderful. This dress is so sophistactedly delicate that I'm having a hard time not buying two of them.

Made By: English Dep't
Price: $800

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COMFY COQUETTE: Finding "Cute" in the "Comfort Sandal" Category

I'm stocking up for my honeymoon in Portugal and Morocco, and am on the hunt for cute yet comfortable walking sandals. Let's face it - most shoes in the "comfort" category are super unattractive. I'm particularly picky about the thickness of the sole, which goes from nice to nursing home in just a few millimeters. I've been pleasantly surprised by some of my finds thus far - check them out!

Born Ruffle Flat

How cute would these look with shorts or sundresses? I love that they come in neutral colors, including a metallic. The thong cut gives these beauties a flirtier look, while the back strap makes sure they'll stay on tight while you're out and about.

Made By: B.O.C. by Born

Price: $39.94

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Timberland Greenside Slide

I actually tried these on in the store today and they are really cute - trust me on this one. Think handmade, flat leather sandals, but with a real sole... perfect for wide leg linen pants! Make sure to buy half a size down - these sandals are cut a little big.

Made By: Timberland Earthkeepers(R)

Price: $56.00

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Patagonia Bandha Strap Sandal

The last Patagonia item that I bought was a black fleece in 2002. Boy have I been missing out - who knew their summer footwear was so cute?! These Patagonia sandals are a dressier, comfort number with slim straps and a sexy ankle strap. I am loving the violet, but they make these in dark brown as well.

Made By: Patagonia

Price: $54.00

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Papillio Salamenca Sandal

I really like Birkenstocks as a concept, but am not a big fan of how thick and clunky they look. The Salamenca sandal by Papillio is a nice compromise though. These sandals have the same comfort cork footbed as Birks, but with thin, feminine straps for a daintier look. Alas, they don't have my size... but you should jump on these if you're lucky!

Made By: Papillio

Price: $43.94

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HOMEY HONEY: The Big Sleep (Chair)

I love finding multi-functional pieces! I especially love this chair sleeper. During the day you can keep this chair looking like a chair; and after a party you can convert it to a comfortable sleeper for a guest that may need to sleep it off at your place. Even the pillow is supplied. It’s also very modern and universal, so it would work in any décor.

Made By: Urban Outfitters

Price: $258.00

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My Perfect Black Work Dress

I bought this dress yesterday and I am in LOVE! For under $100, I bought the most perfect, most spectacular, most versatile black sheath dress you could possibly get in the world of fashionable office-wear. It's a very flattering cut, especially right at the shoulders, where it gives a very small quasi sleeve effect but...oh wait...it's still sleeveless!

Made By: Ann Taylor

Price: $99.00 (originally $148.00)

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Come Cloche(r) To Me

Are you a hat person? I'm not. Most don't look good on me. But it doesn't mean I'm not a hat lover!!!

I just need to find the RIGHT hat. I need to be discerning. I need to examine and try on many hats until I have a winner. I sense that this cloche is a winner. The slightly modern take on this 20s favorite is perfect for this fall's below the knee skirts, 40's-esque masculine fashions and demure accessories.

Made By: ModCloth

Price: $39.99

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DESIGNER ALERT: D&G

Ok, you are KIND of paying for the label with this one...but I like the skirt independently! It is a really unique denim mini skirt. Studs are in, the pattern is kitschy and cool, and whoever styled this model styled her right. But yeah...I would say at least $100 of the $195 goes to that giant "D&G" in the back. But hey! Better than 400 for the label, right?

Made By: D&G

Found At: Bergdorf Goodman

Price: $195.00 (originally $498.00)

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Three Words Or Less

Describe in three words or less.

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ETSY: Locket Up

My breath was taken away when I set my eyes on this gorgeous locket. I can't even really focus on describing it! Pull yourself together, Jaxie! Tell these ladies why this locket is awesome!!! But then I think...isn't it obvious? That golden luster, the beautiful and intricate cage design, the well chosen rhinestone that sits at the bottom of the chain???? It's all impossible NOT to see!

Made By: Maria Allen Jewelry. Visit the Etsy store here.

Price: $15.00

BUY IT

Awesome Or Ugly!

Awesome?

Or Ugly?

YOU DECIDE!

BUY IT

FRUGAL FIANCÉE: Pret-A-Marier

Net-a-Porter now has a bridal section and there are some stunning gowns up there. This is a Vivienne Westwood dress that can be worn by the more casual summer bride who also wants to show off her fashionable taste.

I love the asymmetric cut of the hem and the loose bow. This dress helps you say: "Stunning? Oh, I just threw this thing on, what a wonderful compliment."

Made By: Vivienne Westwood
Price: $750

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