Category — Fashion Goodies

Here is another “retro” item from my closet that I found, the “box purse”.  I guess these were popular back in the early nineties around the time Clueless came out.  I can remember wearing this with a pink cotton dress, white thigh-highs and a pair of white lace-up heels I got from Bakers.  Not one of my best looks.  Does anyone else remember these?

I am pretty sure that I have mentioned in the past that I have been blessed cursed with having a bigger cup size.  When I was the late bloomer in high school I would have killed to have bigger boobs — now I want to shake the Heidi Montags of this world and ask if they are crazy!  I have the hardest time buying cute bras (all the bigger bras come with lots of coverage and 2 inch wide straps!), bathing suits and button down tops.

Button down tops are a problem because you need something that fits around your back comfortably but also fits in length and the shoulders.  Of course you don’t want any gaps between your buttons either.

Now that you understand the problem you will appreciate the designers at Rebecca & Drew.  Two women felt for us bigger girls and designed clothing based on cup size and height!  Their shop is only located in Houston and New York City but you can shop online for custom fit clothing. They only sell button-down tops, dresses and tunics but they are all made to fit your body shape and size — not that nondescript mannequin in the stores.

They also offer online their Insignia line.  You pick the style of dress or top, fabric, and buttons, and they make it for you.  It sounds so fabulous to me to wear something I had custom made to fit me!  It sounds like any woman’s dream.

Now of course this is NOT a budget friendly option but it IS a great idea.  I wish stores could carry sized items this way, with a little smaller of a price tag.  But if you have a lot of Christmas gift money stashed away, check out their site.

While I may have mentioned my love of lipgloss once or twenty times, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned my obsession with handbags.  Sometimes I just stand outside of stores drooling at the bags in the windows.  I like them colorful and big enough to use on a daily basis (I am too lazy to switch bags with outfits).

Handbags don’t have to necessarily cost a lot to be cute.  One of the bags I get the most compliments on is an over-sized white Dolce & Gabbana knock-off I got from a stall in NYC for just $35.  It isn’t even a great knock off but it is a cute bag.

Unfortunately, all of my handbags are showing their age because most are not real leather. Leather ones wear a lot better than plastic or cloth, smell great, usually have a classic look …. and tend to cost a lot more.  Since I have been daydreaming about a leather bag I started casually looking for some hot ones under $100.  Here is what I found …

1) Joe’s Jeans at Nordstrom, $98.90; 2) Franco Sarto at Zappos, $88; 3) Franco Sarto at Zappos, $88.75; 4) Tignanello at Macy’s; $88.99  5) The Sak at DSW, $89.95; 6) Anne Klein, $99

Which one of these things is not like the other?

Actually, it’s a trick question and nothing is different.  They are all wearing a “bandage dress” from Hervé Léger by Max Azria.  Apparently the bandage dress is a throwback from the eighties that has resurfaced because celebs are loving the way these dresses hug every inch of your body and leave little to the imagination.  I actually don’t mind the dress that much and think every one of these ladies looks great in it (okay, Kim looks wide in hers but everyone else looks great), however I am wondering when they are going to realize that they are all wearing the same thing?  Yes, they may be variations, but they are pretty much all wearing the same thing.  I think the fad may be close to over though.  I saw Alex McCord rocking a purple and white one in an episode of Real Housewives of New York.  I think that is a sure fire sign that the dress is done.

In case you are slow on the uptake though and just have to have one, Budget Babe posted this post about where you can get a budget version.  The really smart girls will note that the post was dated July 2008.  Not sure if a fad like this can last a whole year?

I saw these cool bike helmets on Design Mom this week.  If you have to wear a helmet, there is now no reason why you can’t be fashionable while doing so.  These beauties are from Yakkay