SHEfinds» dresses

Mixing Up Your Nightlife Clothing (Or: How Not To Look Like A Bottle Girl)

Avery Spofford — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:30:33 +0000

Ever walk into a nightclub and realize you’re wearing the same thing as every girl there (including the wait staff)? We’ve got a serious pattern problem going on here: bandage dress, bandage skirt, LBD, and repeat.

I’m as guilty as the next girl (and the next, and the next … and who could tell us apart) — it’s head to toe black almost every night, with a cream or white top if I’m feeling risky.

But no longer! I voiced my concerns to David Giullemette, head merchant at Rent the Runway, and he shared a great idea for how to solve the “shampoo effect” of nightlife clothing:

A great alternative to the LBD and Bandage dresses for spring is a flowy silk shift with a sleeve, cut to a mini length. There’s a ’60s mod feeling in fashion for spring so it’s the perfect time to wear this shape, not to mention the fact that its great for dancing! I’d pair with colored platform sandals and bold modern jewelry.

With David’s advice as a great starting point, I’m breaking out of my neutral-toned shell. Follow my lead with these new rules for spring:

Try some color: For God’s sake. Is this your version of nightlife camouflage?
No LBDs: Sorry, but it’s true. The LBD as clubwear is played out like a Black Eyed Peas song.
No bandage dresses: Two words: Sausage. Casing. (I will make an exception if you are Miranda Kerr).
Try ankle boots or (if you’re tall) flat boots instead of stilettos: Have you ever been out in the Meatpacking District? Then you know what I’m talking about.
Statement jewelry: A bold accessory is a great way to mix up an otherwise-basic outfit — you can get away with all black clothing if you wear a crazy chain necklace on top.
Test out a jumpsuit or romper: These onesies aren’t for everyone, but they are great going-out duds (or so I hear). They certainly make it easy to put an outfit together.
Patterned shorts or colored denim: Really, anything to replace a black skirt or pants is a good move. There’s no reason your bottom half should get left out of the party!

Shop our guides to the best colored jeans, tribal jewelry, and lace-up booties.

Victoria Beckham Wants You To Look Like A Lady (Peplum Dresses Are The Way To Do It)

Jessica Parker — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:33 +0000

Yes, it took me a minute to find the word for this “ruffle at your hip” look but once I did, I found myself clicking ‘Add To Wishlist’ in a quite a few places. (It’s “peplum,” by the way, or “crumb-catcher” as some folks know it). Take a cue from Victoria Beckham and the flock of celebrities who’ve worn her designs, and opt for peplum wherever you need to look polished, sophisticated and ladylike. We dare you to try it.

Want some more fashion inspiration? Check out our guides to the best summer dresses, sheath dresses, and maxi dresses.

Drew Barrymore Takes “Flower Child” To A New Level: Get Her Dress (On Sale)

Maria Bobila — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:54 +0000

In 1995, child star-turned-movie making mogul Drew Barrymore founded the production company Flower Films—the same year when she shockingly flashed late night host David Letterman while appearing on his show. So it’s fitting that the newly-engaged Barrymore recently appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in a J. Crew Jules Dress in Ashbury Floral Dress ($119.99, on sale from $188). Drew kept her look and demeanor conservative by winterizing the flower-print shift dress with opaque tights, accented with cobalt blue shoes (one of our #trending colors for spring) and delicate gold jewelry. Grab her exact dress now, and wear it through spring.

Shop our guides to crystal-topped rings, pastel accessories, and cat-centric apparel.

Banana Republic Is Launching A Second Mad Men Line Just In Time For The Season 5 Premiere

Justine Ingersoll Schwartz — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:01 +0000

Banana Republic just announced that they’ll be doing a second Mad Men collection (with costume designer Janie Bryant). The original line, which launched last summer, included A-line dresses, cardigans and other Joan Holloway-approved separates. The 40-plus pieces will drop on March 1, just in time for the season premiere on March 25th.

In the meantime, shop vintage dresses from Modcloth that also nail the look.

Shop our guides to the best kitten heels, flat boots, and maxi dresses.

25 Dresses: What To Wear On Valentine’s Day, No Matter What You End Up Doing

Avery Spofford — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:33 +0000

Any excuse to dress up…

Whether your Valentine’s Day date plans are with your super serious BF or just involve a few girlfriends and a bottle of red wine (or vodka — we don’t judge), you deserve a pretty new dress to “celebrate” in … even if it is just a Hallmark holiday.

And if you, lucky lady, are attached or have big date plans for V-Day, all the more reason to get dolled up! We gathered 27 of our favorites from all over the web (and no, they aren’t all pink):

Shop our guides to the best sheath dresses, black dresses, and white dresses for every body type.

60% Off Today At Cool Girl Outpost, All Saints. Go For It.

Eileen Conlan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:00:08 +0000

They’re just pissed they missed the sale.

Permission to use those Amex gift cards you’ve got piled up starts now: we just found out about this huge All Saints Sale with edgy staples we love, from booties, leather jackets, asymmetrical dresses and parkas. Except instead of having sticker shock, it’s all totally within reach.

Check out even more awesome sales and deals, best find of the day picks, plus this week’s online sample sales, best skinny jeans, blazers and pumps.

5 Cute Dresses Under $100: We Made It Easy For You Because It’s Friday

Eileen Conlan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:05 +0000

It’s hard to find dresses that are cute, comfortable and cheap. (The 3 C’s) but at the Saks End of Season Sale, they’re aplenty. Wear ‘em to work with a cardigan, wear them on the weekends with tights and sky high booties, or even during the day dressed down with moccasins or ballet flats. Check them out before they’re completely gone.

Check out more sales and deals, sweater dresses, printed sheath dresses, pumps, boots, blazers and leather jackets, too.

8 Perfect Outfit Ideas To Copy, From Now Until New Year’s Day

Eileen Conlan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:44 +0000

We’ve got tons of street style inspired outfits for you to choose from, whether you’re wondering what to wear for Christmas Day at home, out on the town on New Year’s Eve at a club or black tie party, how to make sequins work well after the ball drops on 2012.

Click each outfit to get a piece-by-piece rundown: where to find it all and how to put it together.

1. How To Wear A Sequin Skirt–After The Ball Drops In Times Square

Justify the purchase.

2. Festive Colorblock

Wear it instead of good ‘ole red and green–it’s festive and punches up a dreary day.

3. Sequin Blazer + Shorts = Laid-Back Chic

Perfect for NYE in Miami or some other sunny locale.

4. Go Sequin-Crazy

Plus, where to get those shoes!

5. Shift Into Neutral

Stand out from the all-black-and-sequins-crowd with this easy-to-achieve look.

6. What To Wear To A Black Tie New Year’s Eve Party

…Without standing out too much.

7. The Perfect Maxi Skirt

Wear it to brunch on New Year’s, or even to the office on January 2.

8. Have A Cozy Christmas Morning

Get this chunky knit look for yourself.

Check out the best sales and deals, online sample sales, and best find of the day picks.

Pippa Middleton Confirms What Alexa Chung Has Known For Years: Peter Pan Collars Are Adorbs

Justine Ingersoll Schwartz — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:08:45 +0000

Pippa Middleton (one of Barbara Walter’s 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011) just stepped out in London in a very demure dress style that some called her “pilgrim” look. The Peter Pan collar dress is a sweet little style that tastemakers like Alexa Chung and DKNY (above) have already confirmed as a major trend. Wear it with opaque tights or ballet flats for a pretty,

Shop our guides to the best stacked high heels, best leather satchels, and spring fashions.

Velvet Isn’t Just For Old Curtains And The Backseats Of Buicks Anymore

Eileen Conlan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:00:42 +0000

MK & Ashley know what’s up.

Personally, I bought a velvet blazer almost six years ago in a vintage shop in downtown NYC – I wore it once on New Year’s Eve ’06 and shoved it in the back of my closet once the button fell off. (So sue me: I don’t have sewing skills.) But a few weekends ago, I wanted something cool to wear to a new restaurant in Brooklyn with my foodie friends. My leather jacket felt like I was trying too hard (I live uptown, after all, while the rest of my pals are hip East Villagers) and my regular work blazer felt like I should be giving a Power Point presentation.

After clearing away some dresses I haven’t worn in ages, there it was: the dark blackish blue velvet blazer. Which worked perfectly with a silk tank, black jeans and booties.

Velvet was all over the runway in ’11 and for good reason. It makes a festive kind of statement, and kind of more importantly right now since I’m freezing my butt off in NYC today, it’s warm.

I highly recommend you give velvet another spin.

Check out more trends we love, street style inspiration and all of our fave gifts.