TOPSHOP is now in Nordstrom's and My Head is Spinning

There I was...honestly trying to start my Christmas shopping early, when I wandered over to the Brass Plum section at Nordstrom's in South Coast Plaza. I spotted the all too familiar TOPSHOP neon sign and I had a flashback to 2010, when I was in the Kensington Street TOPSHOP in London, and the very cute trendy ladies working there threw me in my own personal, shaggy-rugged dressing room, equipped with my own clothing rack, tray of sweets and glass of champagne.  I was merely browsing, mind you, but when they offered to comb the dizzying multi-level TOPSHOP for cute outfits for me ( for free!), how could I say no to their impromptu personal styling session???

Soon I had a rack of clothes to try on/ work with, with a team of fashionably dressed girls fetching me different sizes and styles. I never even had to leave my cushy room with my own craft service table in there. (Had to admit, this little set up had me drunk with power!  Cue evil laughter here: Muahahahahaha!!  LOL, just kidding!)  No really, plying me with champagne and cupcakes was probably not a bad move on their part (quickest way to my heart, p.s. is cupcakes), because a few hours later, I walked out with shopping bags (plural) of cute things.... aaaaand a skinnier wallet! :(  Now...who really had the power in this scenario?? I was hustled, I tell ya! ;)  Oh well, I still wear those items two years later so it was worth every penny and experience! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! ( I have pictures of me in the super cute, modern decor, small bedroom-sized dressing room too, and I'd show you but they are all stuck in my archaic Blackberry, so you'll just have to imagine me twirling around in front of the mirror with my shopping high. ;)

With that fond memory, I rushed over to the new TOPSHOP section at Nordstrom's, which I come to learn just opened recently in the early Fall.  Only a select number of Nordstrom's nationwide ( fourteen, to be exact) will house a TOPSHOP section, and lucky for me, two of them are local to me! (Irvine Spectrum and South Coast Plaza, happy day! ;)  Anyway,  I SWORE, SWORE to myself I'd just browse!!!! No buying for yourself, Karen, seriously!!!!!  I wasn't going to buy anything but again with these damn helpful TOPSHOP workers, (who shall from here on be referred to as, "Shopaholic Enablers", or "SE" for short,) they just kept bringing me cute thing after cute thing! Then, when I tried to dissuade myself from standing in line to pay, the super nice SE whipped out what looked like was his iPhone and started ringing me up right there with his handy little techie gadget! What will they think of next? First champagne and cupcakes, now wireless, long line-free shopping????  It just goes to show, that good customer service is a testament to keeping returning shopaholics. I'll definitely be back!!!

Anyway, here is one piece of several that I got that day: This super cute, black cotton mid-calf cross dress.  I  styled it with some of my chunky silver jewelry, black ombre beanie and some Lita's, and there you have my TOPSHOP outfit of the day!


Dress:  TOPSHOP
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Lita's
Beanie: No Rest For Bridget
Jewelry: Brandy Melville



xoxox Karen

Tell Me About It, Stud!!!!

                                                                                                                               Ok so maybe the title of this blogpost should really be, "Tell me about it, Spikes and Pointy Toes!!!"  but these waxed black skinnies really remind me of Sandy from Grease, so guess what?? "Tell Me About It, Stud!!!" stays.   Today's outfit of the day has to do with the outfit I wore last Friday night.  It was a cold cold night and wearing a dress would have resulted in me wearing chicken skin as well, which is not only not cute but uncomfortable also.  So I decided to put this lil Friday night number together.  Why post a weekend outfit on a weekday, you ask?? Well according to Ryan Seacrest in the morning, women start planning their weekend outfits at approximately 1:30 pm on a Wednesday! Hopefully this post will inspire you guys for you own weekend outfits! ;)        

I've had this teal blouse for ever...in several colors might I add, because they are such great, easy, chic tops to throw on with black for a night out!  I last wore this top early this year on my birthday when it was warmer, and I paired it with the cutest lace trimmed shorts.  Last Friday night was a bit colder so I opted to throw on my new black wax-textured skinnies by Flying Monkey. I love them because not only do they look like badass leather pants, but they really kept me warm as well, without the discomfort that leather pants can sometimes give! No baby powder needed, ya know what I'm saying?;)

   Another way in which this outfit was different this time around from my birthday was the shoes.  This past March I wore my trusty ole YSL Tribtoos. The black, hidden platform rounded toe pump was a hit for every  "petite" woman who wanted to add 5 inches to their height, thus appearing taller and thinner.  This time around, I styled this outfit with a classic, pointy toed pump.  I recently read in an InStyle interview that Halle Berry wished that the pointy toe trend would come back, because, as she said, "That's my jam!" Well, Halle Berry, you're in luck.  Not only is there a resurgence in the pointy-toed pump trend this fall, but the newer models even come with just a teeny bit of a hidden platform; so thin you can barely notice it, but still does the job of adding (secret) height. The result is a sexy pointy toed pump, that which lacks the sky-high height that the bulkiness of the Tribtoos provides, makes up for in sleekness in an honest, sexy heel.

   
And finally, let's not forget the ACCESSORIES!!! Sexy, black wax-textured skinnies with a see-through bright top over a lacy black bra and some pointy heels just BECKONS badass jewelry doesn't it??? This black vegan-leather with gold spike wrap around bracelet by PEACELOVEFLAIR was the perfect compliment to the outfit! Stack it with a gold, spiky studded bracelet and you're good to go!!

I also threw on this "Love"  ring by Belle Noel, which was great because it appeared like a stacked set when it really is just one ring. Grabbed my quilted Chanel bag and I was out the door!!!

xoxox Karen

Blouse:         Fun 2 Fun
Bag:             CHANEL
Shoes:          Rachel Roy
Ring:             Belle Noel
Pants:           Flying Monkey
Spike
Wraparound
Bracelet:        PEACELOVEFLAIR

  

How to Look Stylish yet Comfortable While Traveling

   With the holidays upon us, many of us are booking trips home to see family, or perhaps trips to exotic locales away from family after the holidays.  Whatever the occasion, traveling season is here! The most common problem while traveling that we women encounter is how to dress comfortably without looking too comfortable.   Being comfortable is one thing, but looking chic and stylish is just as important.   Besides, when you land and are greeted by family or friends you haven't seen in a while ( or gasp, an ex!), you want to look your best, right?   Here are some pointers on how to travel stylish, yet comfortably.

1.) Do not travel in JUICYS.  Seriously. I know we all went through our Juicy phase.  How many sets of those plush,  beloved velour suits can one woman own?? I personally own too many, and at one point it was the staple uniform of the traveling female of all ages ( eight, ten years ago maybe?)...but seriously, don't do it.  Wear these at home in secret if you must, I won't judge, but wearing these to fly...well, as comfortable as you are in them...you also literally look so comfortable that you look like you kinda rolled out of bed as well.  Not the look we are going for. ( I'm going off tangent here, but hey...if you are doing a massive closet clean up/ overhaul....the Juicys should probably be the first to go...or at least tucked far far away in the deep crevasses of your closet, saved for a rainy day-in of eating ice cream and watching Netflix.  Just because J. Lo decided to resurrect her JUICY sweats in public ten years later doesn't mean we all should, ok?)

2.) The key is: WEAR LAYERS.  A more stylish alternative is wearing a comfy sweater poncho like the one pictured above by UNIF.  It can get really cold in a plane, and wearing one of these is great because it literally is like wearing a blanket.  ( No snuggies, guys! Don't even think about it!)  I wore a simple black cotton tank underneath, because while it can get chilly in a plane, you can really break a sweat while running to  your next plane connection if the timing is tight.  Wearing a tank helps, so you can just remove the sweater, and presto...you're ready for warm weather too! I highly recommend you still wear a comfy sweater in a plane even while traveling to sunny locales.. You will thank me when they blast the A/C in the airplane cabin.  A knit hat like a beanie helps too, since the air is usually coming from overhead. ;) 

3.) Less is MORE. Remember, you will be going through airport security...so if you are to bring arm party and awesome statement jewelry, keep it in your luggage, do not wear it. I personally opted to wear no jewelry, because to be quite honest...the security check point is my least favorite part of flying, and the sooner I get it over with, the better.  Besides, how annoying is it to remove your earrings, your belt, your bracelets, while in a long line of people waiting, just so you can put it on again two seconds later, with the same line of people watching, sometimes glaring at you? No thanks.    Oh and speaking of belts, if you feel jeans are comfortable to wear, go for it.  I wanted to travel as light as possible so I wore leggings! Black thick leggings are a great choice, because not only do you not have to wear a belt, but they are comfortable, light, yet still chic and versatile to any outfit.  

4.)As for shoes, resist the urge to wear UGGS. Confession:  I will always wear UGGS, as ugly as they are, because they feel like my feet and calves are being hugged by clouds,  but please, please do not wear them while traveling, if the goal is to look put-together. Wearing Uggs just screams "Saturday day lounging at home."  There are other comfortable alternatives to wear that are just as comfortable.  One, start with a pair of those  thick spa socks that we all get as stocking stuffers at Christmas. You know what I'm talking about? A pair like these ( again, will be a godsend in the cold, airplane cabin), then wear a low heeled comfy boot like my Zadig and Voltaire motorcycle-inspired boots pictured above.  They were comfortable to wear walking around in the airport,  while lugging heavy luggage, but still fashionable. ;)

5.) Totally not fashion related, but just as important to looking put-together while flying is to STAY HYDRATED.  Everyone knows that flying is extremely dehydrating, so always keep travel sized lotions, chapstick and face moisturizer handy.  Apply them throughout a long flight to keep your skin moist.  Drink lots of water and resist the urge to drink alcoholic beverages while flying (ok ok at least keep it to a minimum, because THAT can really dehydrate you.)  If you don't listen to me and imbibe anyway to help calm your nerves from flying, and you get a little puffy around the eyes, bring this awesome de-puffer by Bliss.  I actually use it every morning to combat just-woke-up-under-eye puffiness, and at 0.5 fluid ounces, it's a perfect size to travel with!! 

6.) And for a finishing touch, re-apply your gloss and wear a fabulous pair of sunglasses as you deboard the plane! ;)

Here I am at my destination...ready for my holiday!!! xoxox

Sweater Poncho: UNIF, purchased at Luna Boutique
Boots:                  Zadig and Voltaire
Beanie:                Urban Outfitters
Sunglasses:         Tom Ford ( see Boho Babe post for link)
Bag:                     jjwinters ( see Boho Babe post for link)
Leggings:            Brandy Melville (they have the best!)