I like the off-the-shoulder look on this long black dress, as well as the mesh material and satin piping.  Both see-through and luxury materials are *in* right now.

This dress is actually all one piece, and it currently comes in sizes 4 through 16.  Pair it with this black designer clutch from Michael Kors and these Kate Spade high-heel sandals:

All three items are available when you shop online at Nordstrom, which ships to the United States.  If you like designer apparel, see their Designer Collections section.  If you like to buy at a discount (and who doesn’t?), see their sale section.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous posts:  Want a Long Formal Dress That Doesn’t Look Like Anyone Else’s? and On Sale — Sophisticated Black Cocktail Dress.

Photos Courtesy of Nodstrom.com

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Sheer netting overlies charmeuse in this short sequin Bari Jay dress.

Get it at the online clothing store, Prom Girl, for about 40% off of retail, and pair it with these towering black platform heels.

They ship worldwide.  Prom Girl has a lot of stylish items to choose from, including Celebrity Dresses, Club Wear, Plus Sizes, and Accessories.

If you liked this post, you might like my previous posts:  On Sale — Sophisticated Black Cocktail Dress and Bustier Designer Dress.

Photos Courtesy of PromGirl.com

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Roses adorn this cotton sateen floral dress.  The black ribbon adds an elegant touch.

This is perfect for a daytime event, such as a garden or tea party.  Get the strappy sandals pictured above in a variety of colors.

Both are available at the online clothing store, Talbots, which ships worldwide.  They also carry petite sizes and plus sizes.  In addition to women’s clothing, they have kidswear and menswear.  While you’re shopping at Talbots, don’t forget to visit their outlet section for sales and bargains. 

If you have questions about their products or about fashion or style in general while you’re shopping there, Talbots has a great Style Advisor section where you can get help from one of their style experts via an online chat.  I tried it out to judge the response time, and someone replied the instant I went on.   Very cool, and you don’t have to sign up or get a password or anything to use it.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post containing fashion tips and advice for what to wear, and where to shop, in Spring 2008 (this is an Easter post, but the advice is still relevant for Spring).

Photos Courtesy of Talbot’s

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Answer:  They were all in fashion news recently.
 
Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton Drama — Lindsay Lohan walked out of an event she was hired to work after finding out she would be helping to promote Paris Hilton’s line of handbags.  She’s getting a lot of criticism for it in the press, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to side with LiLo on this one; she wasn’t told about the Paris Hilton thing ahead of time.  So who’s the real cause of the drama, Lindsay Lohan or the less than forthright promoters?  (Or was this whole thing just a promotional stunt to begin with?)
 
Fashion Show to Rescue Bear — The “I Can’t Bear It” event will feature models in “barely there” underwear, as well as ladies apparel, in order to raise money to save a bear named Manchester.  Manchester is one of many bears being farmed for stomach bile in China (used in traditional Chinese medicine and easily replaceable with herbs or synthetics).  The event also hopes to bring attention to this cruel, unnecessary, and painful practice.

Fashion Police, Literally — The Information and Broadcasting Ministry in India banned a fashion channel called FTV;  among the reasons given – it’s “likely to adversely affect public morality.“  The article contains a few references to things you might not get if you’re not Indian, but it’s still a good read for anyone looking for a reminder of just how great it is to live in a free society.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post: Green Weddings, Skin Care, and Irish Chicken Wings with Guiness.

Photo courtesy of Andrzej Pobiedzinski

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Okay, so this is different.  It’s called a necklace dress.  Notice the necklace built into the neckline. 

This ivory, pale lavendar, and taupe dress by designer YAYA AFLALO features a bird print on silk chiffon.  Here’s a closer look at that neckline:

It’s currently in stock and on sale for 40% off.  Pair it with this Balenciaga handbag made from italian leather:

You can pick both up at the online women’s clothings store, Bluefly.com, which ships worldwide.  They provide flat-rate shipping of $7.95 within the United States, regardless of the size of your order.  Check out the FlyTV section, too, where you can get trend, hair, and makeup tips via Bluefly’s videos.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post regarding a designer dress:  Designer Evening Dress $170 Off.

Photos Courtesy of Bluefly.com

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This JS Collections dress is fantastic.  A lot of clothes tend to follow the same pattern, but this one is different while still being in line with current trends.  I love the sleeves on this, the little bows on the sleeves, and the piping; the black floral print against the white background is really exquisite.

Available at Barrie Pace which ships to the United States.  See their women’s clothing sale section, too.

Photo Courtesy of Barrie Pace

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Kate Moss just launched her Spring/Summer 2008 collection.  You can buy it at TopShop.  Here’s one of her pieces:

This daisy print dress has a romantic, vintage touch with ruffles down the front.  Here’s another view:

You can get this same style in a top, as well.

She has a lot of great pieces, and you can view the entire Kate Moss collection here.  TopShop ships worldwide.  To learn more about their clothes and see them in motion, view one of their many video podcasts.  TopShop also offers special sizes for petite, tall, maternity, and babies.

You can book a Style Advisor (a.k.a. personal shopper) in stores throughout the U.K. for a small deposit (in case of cancellation), but you get the money back provided you show up.  You can also book a small group of friends for a shopping party with a Style Advisor. 

They’re also opening a store in New York in Fall 2008.

TopShop has love for students and offers a special student fashion section where they have fashion news, special deals, and occasional freebies.  Additionally, UK students with an NUS Extra card get a year-round 10% discount.

How great is this store??

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post:  Yasmin Le Bon Approved Spring 08 Collection.

Photos Courtesy of TopShop

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Easter is coming up fast, and this season’s fashion offers all sorts of fun alternatives for your Easter attire.  Here are 5 fashion tips for a stylish Easter holiday.

1) Bright Colors:  Bright colors are in, especially yellow.  Bright colors against a black background are also very stylish this year.

2) Girly Stuff:  Ruffles, lace, florals — anything feminine or frilly.  Girl it up this Easter with romantic clothing styles.

3) Traditional or Casual, You Choose:  Fashion is much less rigid today, and choices abound.  If you’re not into dresses, wear a pretty floral halter top with slacks, jeans, or capris.

4) Chic Hair Accessories:  Forego the big Easter hat for a sleek and stylish hairband.  The Hair Boutique and Marketplace offers a fabulous collection of couture headbands, or, if you want the scarf look but aren’t sure how to tie one, cheat with one of these ready-to-go scarf headbands from Cherabella.

5) Big Bold Jewelry:  Match the bright colors in your clothing with big, bold jewelry that’s fun to wear, like these enamel bangles from Banana Republic.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post featuring 5 Easter dresses:  Easter Comes Early This Year — Do You Have Your Dress Yet?

Photo courtesy of Konrad Mostert

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I found a store that sells regular and plus size dresses up to size 20 to the general public for wholesale prices!  It’s called Buy in America.  Here’s a cute and trendy dress from their site:

Not only is it wholesale, it’s also on sale right now for about $30!!  The chiffon wrap is sold separately.  They ship worldwide.  See their women’s clothing clearance page, too.

Photo Courtesy of Buy in America

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Nordstrom has a list on their site of 10 Things To Add A Glamorous Global Twist to Your Look for Spring 2008.  Want to know what’s in style right now?  Let Nordstrom point the way.

1. The Gladiator:  This look features any kind of shoe reminiscent of ancient rome.  Shoes come in all heights, from heels to flat sandals.  It’s all in the straps.  This L.A.M.B. stiletto heel is made of metallic leather.

Explore more of the Gladiator Look. 

2. Primitive Prints: Animal prints, batik, and geo-ethnic designs define this style.  A good example is the pattern on this Diane von Furstenberg dress, made of silk.

Explore more of the Primitive Prints Look. 

3. Organic Stones and 9. Exotic Rings:  For Organic Stones, look for natural materials (as opposed to precious stones) like crystal, agate, and quartz.  For Exotic Rings, go for big and over-the-top.  This Argento Vivo white cat’s eye pendant dangles from not 1, but 3 gold chains.  The white cat’s eye ring is big, bold, and attention-getting.

Explore more of the Organic Stones Look.

Explore more of the Exotic Rings Look. 

4. Ornamentation: Metal, beads, jewels, sequins – this season’s look features clothes that are decorated and adorned.  Like this cute swing coat from L.A.M.B. with metallic beading.  Pair it with the L.A.M.B. pencil skirt, called Bombshell, pictured below.

Explore more of the Ornamentation Look. 

5. Natural Materials: Look to accessorize with earthy materials like wood, cork, wicker, and bamboo.  This slingback Jessica Simpson pump features blue leather atop a wooden heel.

Explore more of the Natural Materials Look. 

6. Mixed Stack of Bangles:  When it comes to bangle bracelets, choose from a variety of different materials from wood and stone to metal and enamel.  Just make sure that no matter what type of bangle you’re wearing, you have lots of them.  For a glamorous touch, try these Swarovski crystal bangles.

Explore more of the Mixed Stack of Bangles Look. 

7. The Caftan:  The sixties are back in full force, including the caftan.  Try this Tory Burch tunic caftan in a yellow print.

Explore more of the Caftan Look. 

8. Safari Style:  Cargo pockets, khaki, and more animal prints define this look.  These Via Spiga wedge sandals sport a giraffe-print heel.

Explore more of the Safari Style Look.

9. (see #3)

10. Handmade Details: Attention to detail is the name of the game, whether it be embroidery, cut-outs, applique, ruffles, or something else.  Look for clothes with that extra touch.  This Phillip Lim dress features incredibly detailed embroidery and teeny tiny ruffles along the collar and sleeves.

Explore more of the Handmade Details Look.

Nordstrom ships to the United States.

If you liked this post, you might also like my previous post: Designer Dress Has Fresh Look in Gray, White, and Beige.

Photos Courtesy of Nordstrom

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