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Ok, this isn't the height of chic, but I chortled out loud. Gingerbread terror! It's from Modcloth, on sale for $44.99.
At this point in the Knitwear Zeitgest, ugly Christmas sweater parties have been executed to the point of near trend implosion. I'm starting to sense a growing backswing in the other direction.
Rather than being cute because they are ironic, Christmas sweaters are becoming cute again just because they're cute. They're even -- dare we say? -- sexy. To prove the theory, one needs only to peruse this slate of Ralph Lauren models smoldering in holiday wovens. The only laughing you'll be doing is on the train to Paris with your male model boyfriend who is fearlessly owning a reindeer motif, you dig?
On the down side, it's not fun anymore to show up to an ugly sweater party where everyone looks cute. On the plus, it IS fun to legitimately work these items back into our regular seasonal wardrobes (see: Lauren Conrad winter mug sweater My Outfit Monday). There are plenty of festive options that don't make you look fresh from the fourth ring of Fruitcake Hell. Scan the slideshow for some evidence that all Christmas sweaters aren't so ugly anymore, including some from Modcloth, Asos, Nordstrom, Old Navy and Target. …
Ah, what a nice, dotty December day in St. Pete Beach.
This weekend in Florida there was sun and frivolity. There was a beach at my feet and a sunset in front of my face. It was 80 degrees and silly.
I wore a polka dot dress from Old Navy's clearance rack over a polka dot bathing suit. I grabbed a friend's dotted sunglasses and pulled my dotted wallet from my purse, which is floral but has a reversible polka dot option. Everything was so hilariously matchy-matchy that I had to take a picture.
This brings us to Monday in Washington. It's 35 degrees and overcast. I'm wearing two jackets, notably this puffy purple number I, um, "borrowed" from a cousin five years ago for weathering winter in this same town.
On the plus side, I'm wearing new leather boots from DSW, which makes me feel better about not digging my toes into warm sand.
Remember that scene in 'Home Alone,' when Macauley Culkin's brother, Buzz, asks whether it's true that French women don't shave their pits? We can't answer that, Buzz, but we can tell you it's a fashion trend right here at home.
On the heels of yesterday's announcement that marsala is the color of the year, what better time to introduce you to a new trend in which you can incorporate it?
Credit for the trend goes to Roxie Hunt, a hairstylist at Seattle salon Vain. Hunt celebrates armpit hair as "direct-action feminism." "By having hairy pits," she writes, "I am exercising my right to make my own choices about my own body."
She's not alone. In fact, an Instagram account called @ladypithair has attracted more than 2,700 followers who have bombarded over 200 photos of au naturel and brightly-colored dye jobs featuring hashtags such as #pithairdontcare and #hairypitsclub with likes and comments.
The item generated good discussion in the newsroom about pit sensitivity and the correct mix of bleach and dye needed to attain the perfect look.
Unfortunately, we have no staff photos to demonstrate this trend to you because, well, we're not going there. …
I was recently examining paint chips in Home Depot, fantasizing about painting my dining room purple and covering it in peacock feathers (totally normal). I stopped at Pantone's paint wall and pulled "Radiant Orchid," the company's color of the year for 2014. I remember feeling unsold on it when the color gurus announced it this time last year on the heels of the lovely, lovely Emerald of 2013. But over the year, the hue must have seeped into my color-loving subconscious to the point where I decided it was PERFECT for an entire room of my house. How does this happen? What does Pantone slip into the public water supply?
It led to speculation about the next color, and I wagered it would be something in the orange family, making my way around a color wheel. WELL, WRONG.
The folks at Pantone have clearly been enjoying Tours of Italy on the reg, because this year's color is Marsala. Consumers of mid-priced chicken dishes will recognize this as a wine. …
The Swedish clothing gods heard your cries -- "We want another H&M! More H&M! Open one even closer to me!" -- and plan to reward you with what you want most this holiday season.
You asked for the promise of an H&M store in North Tampa, right? Great news!
Yes, the formerly hard-to-get, cheap-o yet luxury-like goods are now basically everywhere. The new store inside Westfield Citrus Park will be Tampa's third H&M store.
For the sake of context, there will soon be as many H&Ms in Tampa as Banana Republics, a factoid that feels significant in an old school, new school kind of way.
Our Times buddy Sean Daly is working the retail beat these days (including breaking news about Brad Paisley's line of western wear) and tells us the Citrus Park store will be family-focused, with clothing for women, men, young women and young men. Also, there will be a "store within a store" for accessories, lingerie, sports apparel and a plus-size line.
So tell us -- are you over the H&M craze already, or are you excited about the latest sign about the company's apparently good health? Even better, what new store opening around here would actually make you excited?
Black Friday is for breaking rules! I woke up this morn eager to wear a deeply discounted necklace that I scored on *gasp* Saturday. While I was at it, I figured I'd go against conventional wisdom and wear these white Forever 21 pants after Labor Day. Who's bad?
Hey, deevs! Here's hoping your Thanksgiving and Black Friday were as refreshing as mine!
After a glorious Thursday meal with friends, I spent all day Friday at home recovering. Which is a nice way of saying I became stuck in a vicious delicious cycle of naps between frequent stints of digging my way from under a mountain of holiday leftovers while similarly binging on Netflix.
In short, there was no Black Friday shopping to be had.
Truth be told, I'm a Black Friday hater. I can't stand the lines or potential for violence. So, I intentionally shirked the idea of shopping and in fact spent Saturday selling clothes to Revolve and Plato's Closet to rack up cash or credit for sales leading up to Christmas.
But try as I might, I still got sucked in. A quick stop at the mall to get my fave pair of boots repaired forced me and my companions to walk through Sears. Where all the sale signs caught one friend's eye. And while waiting for her to cash out, the jewelry rack advertising deep clearance discounts caught mine.
A $3.99 bill for a $24 necklace? Eh, I forgive myself.
What say you, fashionistas: Did I make a good purchase? What great finds did you score this holiday weekend?
Don't feel guilty if you don't get off the couch today. There's plenty of local sales tomorrow for Small Business Saturday. Check out our guide below.
If you are reading this, it's means you, like us, probably did not get out of bed before the sun to stand in line at Target or Best Buy or the mall.
God bless those people. But go ahead and admit it: you're still in your PJs aren't you?
It's ok. This is a safe space. Here, we won't judge you. But we will still encourage you to shop (hey, it's kind of in our mission statement). And whether you're one of those who heaps scorn on Black Friday, or will inevitably find yourself out and about, there ARE plenty of good sales to take advantage of this weekend.
I actually told someone the other day that my favorite part of this season was actually "Black Friday hangover day" - a.k.a Small Business Saturday - which encourages people to shop small and local the day after the day after Thanksgiving.
It's great and happening this year at a bunch of cool places in the Tampa Bay area, if you didn't know. We figured the least we could do today, in between gobbling up that leftover ham and apple pie, is point y'all in the right direction.
(And trust us, if you DO venture out today, all of these shops are open and will have some of the same sales).
Happy almost Turkey Day! Pro-tip: Give that bird in your fridge a tap today and make sure it's not still frozen (NOT THAT THAT HAPPENED ME ME THIS MORNING, NO SIR).
Here's another tip: Pace yourself if you're planning to go shopping on Black Friday, because there's a lot going on. It seems like everyone and their uncle has a Black Friday sale now, incluing my bank who wrote to inform me of some extra savings (on my own money?).
Anyway, we're not going to take up a side in terms of telling you not to go out on Thanksgiving or whatever -- up to you. It's not hard to find reasons not to go. We're here to provide info for those who do want to go, and then cower with our frozen turkeys like Brick Tamland after he killed a guy with a trident (in an alley, not a Best Buy). I will say a silent Hail Mary for our friends in retail. I worked at the mall. I know. There's a wine waiting for you at the end.
Did you see this photo and think, "Yeahhhh, I'm not down for that"? Then listen up because we have tips for avoiding mall craziness.
If fighting your way through frantic masses at Target or International Plaza isn't your idea of a fun shopping day, have no fear. We've brainstormed a few ideas that are as chill as they are efficient at clearing your list.
Got a better idea? Suggest it in the comments are @DealDivas on Twitter.
A not so cozy sweater ensemble, because it is still basically summer outside right now. Props to Brittany Volk for her photography.
I was so pumped for My Outfit Monday because it has been so crisp and cool lately. A time for sweaters! A time for cozy cups of cocoa! I had just the thing!
Then it turned out to be about 80 degrees today and I cried inside. Still, I was committed to showing you all the fun, if totally twee, new sweater I got from the Lauren Conrad collection for Kohl's. That would be a cup of cocoa in the chestal region, though I admit at first I thought it was a really poorly executed iced coffee. What I loved most was the robin's egg blue color, one of my favorite shades of all the shades. I love it so much, it also graces the walls of my bedroom. I am especially into LC's collection right now because of her use of spring colors for fall and winter. It's all pinks and blues and pretty soft fabrics that somehow still manage to look seasonal. And I'm going to call it, at least for my tablescape at home (I LOVE TABLESCAPES, AND YES, I AM A MILLION YEARS OLD) -- blue is this year's signature Christmas color. …
Feeling kind of blah or just want to keep it low-key? Whether spring, summer, winter or fall, a scarf is an easy game-changer that can jazz up any outfit.
Hey guys! Today, we have a special treat -- a guest blog by Largo High School freshman Ketrin Gavani, who spent the day shadowing me in the pursuit of a possible journalism career.
Not only is Ketrin into forensics and courthouse drama, but this girly-girl loves interior design, is a huge fan of fashion and has the scarf collection to prove it! Naturally, our tea time tete-a-tete included a gawk fest at this Wendy's Lookbook video on this fall/winter's hottest fashion accessory. "Four ways to wear a scarf? Maybe. But 25? Really???" we scoffed. Yeeeah, consider our minds blown.
Ketrin explains:
Now that November is here, we can FINALLY wear scarves, especially here in sunny-sky Florida.
They go well with plain T-shirts and can spruce up any outfit.
It's definitely popular for young girls who have an eye for fashion. While roaming around the halls of Largo High School, you will surely see the beauty of scarves in every corner you look.
I would say I am one of these scarf-obsessed girls, because they are my everyday day go-to for fashion in this not so cold, not so hot, weather. …
Hello houndstooth! You'd be the talk of the party if you walked in with this guy on your hand. The outfit is part of the Mr Turk collection, retailing for ... cough cough $800+ cough cough.
Have your invitations to holiday parties started piling up yet? Yea, ours too -- which inevitably begs the question.
What should you wear? And more important, what should you make your guy wear?
A new local boutique is here to help.Jackie Z Style Co,one of the new shops at the revamped Sundialin downtown St. Pete, is hosting a special event from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday. And a fancy big-name fashion designer is the special guest.
Perhaps you've heard of Trina Turk? We can't promise it's her, but we DO know that her other half, "Mr Turk," as he's known, will be in attendance.
Your Deal Divas have been busy lately coming up with a sweet treat ahead of the holidays.
Coming Sunday to the Tampa Bay Times' business section is our holiday how-to guide, with shopping tips and gift ideas for most everyone in your life.
Our tips will help you avoid the mall and jumpstart your gift hunt, whether you want to stick to your couch or get crafty with Pinterest.
We plan to share our posts on the blog over the next few weeks.
Until then, we want to hear from you: What's your best-kept holiday shopping secret? Where do you go for the most unique presents, and how do you stay on budget?
Your answers may inspire or beef up future posts, so chime in.
If the above picture tells you anything, this sums up our Monday.
No joke guys, the Divas are swamped these days. With an ever-expanding to-do list, and plenty of holiday-shopping gift guides to execute (check your paper soon!), there was barely anytime for girl talk about, well, our outfits.
Luckily, Deal Diva Katie and I snagged a couple moments to ourselves to dissect mine.
First thing to know: it starts and ends with this awesome blazer. It's one of my favorite statement pieces, with colors and pattern perfect for fall.
I thought it would set off my subtle hot pink pants nicely.
Since it is Monday, I didn't want to go too crazy though, opting for a neutral grey-brown T-shirt underneath the blazer and my favorite "nude" pumps. I snapped a lilac necklace for acontrasting pop of color around the collar.
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! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.
Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. 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 knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.
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..
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.
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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