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Fashion Mama: 4 fashion finds that should be in your closet

April 25, 2013 by

Maude, Fashion Fairy Godmother, resized

Dear Fashion Fairy Godmother,

What are three or four fashion finds I should definitely have in my closet right now? I like to have mostly timeless pieces with a few trendy items thrown in for fun.

fairy-godmotherDear Mama:

We (at Maude Boutique) think must-have items for every woman right now are a cotton maxi skirt, a neutral heel, a statement necklace, and a gorgeous maxi dress.

The Cotton Maxi Skirt: It’s perfect for a woman on the go who wants to be comfortable but still look cute. Tuck in your favorite tank or tee, throw on a flat sandal and you are ready to go! If you don’t love showing your arms, toss on a leopard cardie or an unbuttoned denim shirt. This is a great skirt, too, if you need to dress up but are wanting some comfort. To dress it up, pair it with a dressier tee or silk tank, a pretty statement necklace and a pair of wedges.

The Neutral Shoe: We loved Seychelles shoes, and our store is stocked with them. Not only are they fun, but they are as comfortable as a heel is going to get! Our staff has closets stocked with Seychelles from many seasons past, too. They last forever. We love the cognac heel (above) for a few reasons.

Pair it with your favorite jeans for a casual look, pair it with a flirty dress for a date, and pair it with your favorite pants or skirt for work. Better yet, we think it will look awesome in the winter with a pair of tights. This shoe is the epitome of versatile and will pair well with any color.

The Gorgeous Maxi: This is a must-have for every woman’s closet. Why? A well-made maxi helps you to feel confident no matter what kind of day you are having. When you are stuck in a rut for what to wear to an event, a dinner party, or a wedding — this is your go-to.

Maxis are great for all women regardless of height or body shape. Shorter women may have to get them hemmed, but they do lengthen the body, especially. Women with fuller figures should look for a maxi that cinches under the chest or can be worn with a belt around the waist.

The Statement Necklace: A statement necklace is an affordable way to spice up your wardrobe. They add interest to tees, button-ups, the LBD, you name it. Gold, silver or colored — they are a fun piece to play with.

Photos:

(All items available at shopmaude.com)

Lenore Open Arm Maxi by Line + Dot, $99

Face the Music Leather Heel by Seychelles, $95

Jewel Statement Necklace, $12

The Fold Over Maxi Skirt, $29

Jena at MaudeThanks to Jena, our Fashion Fairy Godmother this month! Jena is the gorgeous and ever-fashionable marketing manager at Maude Boutique. When she’s not uploading new arrivals to Facebook or blogging about fashion on Maude’s blog, she’s busy blogging with her gal pal Annye about navigating your 20s on their blog, Smith & Emma.

Filed Under: Fashion Mama, Front Page Posts

Fashion Fairy Godmother: Three great looks for Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2013 by

By Paige Meredith

In my opinion, Valentine’s Day has loads of benefits regardless of your relationship status.  Four of those reasons that come to mind are:

  • chocolate
  • chocolate
  • chocolate
  • an excuse to buy new shoes

Let’s look at different shoe scenarios for different types of Valentine’s Day celebrations.

husband date - valentines day

 

Cap toes and metallics are both super trendy right now. Put them together and you have this lovely shoe from Mango. Wear these with a super feminine outfit to give some edge to this sweet shirt and sweater combination. Add some classic vintage studs and your favorite bangle and you’re ready for a night on the town with your man. (And the clutch is a steal for only $35.)

Couples Date - Valentine's Day

 

Though I love spending time with my husband, it’s often the nights when we go out with our friends that we have the most fun- this look is a classic that will fit in wherever the night takes you. Nude heels are easy to appreciate since they visually lengthen everyone’s legs.  Though a bit pricey I love how the cut-outs on these Alejandro Ingelmo Athena stillettos mirror the silhouette of the lacey frock.  Show-stopper earrings paired with a dainty bracelet balance out the jewelry.  Throw on a trench in a stand out color to keep you warm in style.

Girls night out- valentines day

 

And sometimes, a girl’s just got to have fun. If you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day with a group of your your best girlfriends, this is the outfit for you. The heels in this look are simple which allows the rest of this look to shine. I love the way this shirt and jean combination balance each other out (Remember: tighter on bottom = loose on top and vice versa. The first outfit is a great example of loose on bottom = tighter on top.) and that peek of shoulder is flirty without being over the top.  Top it off with strong statement jewelry and you are ready to hit the town.

Meredith at approaching joyAbout Paige: Paige Meredith blogs at Approaching Joy where she’s a “Fabulous twenty something who’s into photography, food, fashion, fun. I blog because I believe everyone’s prettier when they share.” Click here to read Paige’s fabulous blog. Click here to follow her on Twitter @ApproachingJoy. Thanks, Paige, for sharing these great looks for V-day!

Filed Under: Fashion Mama, Front Page Posts, Popular Posts, Previously on Motherlode...

Fashion Fairy Godmother: New mom seeks wardrobe advice

November 9, 2012 by

Dear Fashion Fairy Godmother,

I’m a mom of three, including a new baby. I’d like to pull my look together, but I don’t even know what looks good anymore. What are the top three things you would you recommend I shop for?”

Dear New Mama:

I completely understand! I have 2 young children and feel like if my hair fixed and I have mascara on that I am having a great day! After finally losing some of the baby weight after having my second boy I realized that I had, almost literally, NOTHING to wear.

Staying in our small budget is key for me to have the blessing to stay at home with my kids so I had to learn what worked for me and was affordable.

After some trial and error in the fashion department, I can honestly give my top 3 recommendations to feeling and looking fashionable, but comfortable, on a smaller budget:

1. Comfortable Riding Boots. Although I love my cowboy boots and heels, the flat soled rider boot is HUGE again this year. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot to get a nice pair either- I found an awesome pair at Riffraff for only $60!

2. Long, neutral-colored sweater. Nothing makes me feel more comfortable than fall: layers and sweaters! I think that finding one that you can wear almost every day is important so you get the most use out of it this winter. I love to pair bright scarfs and fun, (baby proof!) jewelry with my sweaters to change the look to them. Almost every department store would have good options and I’ve even had good luck at a Goodwill store! Accessories make any sweater look fashionable.

3. Can Dry Shampoo be a third option?! I love it! It makes every hair style I have last a day or so longer… but just to be extra helpful here, find a few cute headbands, knit hats or beanies. A loose fitting knit hat is stylish and can be worn indoors without it being too hot. If hats aren’t your thing, wide, bright headbands are less flashy but add a fun pop to any outfit.  I love to shop on Etsy, Riffraff and the NWA Boutique show — WHICH IS TODAY AND TOMORROW! — for whatever style fits you the best!

I think just having fun, being bold and wearing things that make your heart beat a little faster is key to the success of your style, no matter what it is.

About this month’s Fashion Fairy Godmother,  Heidi: I’m Heidi, I’m passionate about my boys, being real, cooking gluten-free, fashion from thrift stores and DIY projects. I manage social media, decorate and free-lance write in my spare time. Heidi blogs at The Busy Nothings.

Filed Under: Fashion Mama, Front Page Posts, Popular Posts, Previously on Motherlode...

Fashion Fairy Godmother: Spiegel launches new ‘Ultimate Outlet’ site with great clothes, deals

October 30, 2012 by

We have to admit that when Spiegel reached out to us about their new website, Ultimate Outlet, we immediately thought “pricey”.

Then we went to the site and the words “gorgeous clothes” and “wow, look at that price!” drove all other words out of our minds.

The online outlet not only features Spiegel clothes, but also Newport-News and Shape FX items. They not only have clothes, but jewelry, shoes and handbags as well — all at outlet prices. (Click here to visit the new site.)

While cruising the online outlet, a few other words caught our eye, especially when checking out all the Shape FX  options. Words like “sculpting”, “nip and tuck” and “hold-you-in”. We’ve never tried Shape FX before, but with up to 70 percent off on many of the shapewear items, we WILL be ordering a few and trying them out. Even if your body is just like you want it, shapewear helps smooth out the appearance of any outfit. We like that it helps with slight muffin tops or panty lines (don’t look at the shapewear behind the curtain!).

There’s even Shape FX swimwear. Now that makes a mama happy, especially when it’s ALSO on sale (click here to see).

Here are a few pieces we LOVE from the Ultimate Outlet site:

*Full disclosure, mamas: This post is sponsored by Ultimate Outlet, but the opinions about the site are our own. We knew you’d want to hear about this new online outlet. Happy shopping!

Filed Under: Fashion Mama, Front Page Posts, What's On Sale

Fashion Fairy Godmother: Inspiration from New York Fashion Week

September 21, 2012 by

By Paige Meredith, fashionable blogger at Approaching Joy

The best thing about going to New York for Fashion Week is knowing what’s coming in terms of trends. The worst thing about going to New York for Fashion Week is knowing what’s coming in terms of trends.

Even though the (welcome) nip of fall just arrived here in Northwest Arkansas, I’ve already planned my outfit for the first day of spring.

What’s a girl to do before then?

Ease into it by picking one or two of your favorite elements.

Take a few of the looks that you caught from your favorite blogs, magazines, and Instagram feed and find things that you love and that you can ease into your fall and winter wardrobe.  Here are a few examples:

The Look: Vivid colors and animal prints with a subtly feminine flair
How to work it this Fall: I’m a huge fan of wide leg pants and I was so excited to see it on the runway at the Carlos Miele show in New York. Pair those with a studded belt and a fun fringed purse that you will be able to carry around for the next two seasons.

The Look: Feminine and floral but distinctly bold

How to work it this Fall: Joanna Mastroianni totally wowed the crowd with her creations inspired by nature. Follow her lead and grab a dark, fitted, floral blazer for this upcoming season. I got one right before my trip and it is amazing at how easily it dresses up a tank and jeans as easily as it injects a little playfulness into your standard business attire.

The Look: Familiar silhouettes made new with eye popping color and 3 dimensional geometric shapes

How to work it this Fall: At his show, Angel Sanchez proved that black and white has a seasonless nature and that this pallet can be used as a neutral backdrop for geometric gems that lay just outside of your comfort zone. Go ahead: slip on those square bangles you haven’t wore since high school, see how those angular earrings draw attention to your eyes, slide on a pair of metallic heels and give “edgy” a try!

About Paige: Paige Meredith blogs at Approaching Joy where she’s a “Fabulous twenty something who’s into photography, food, fashion, fun. I blog because I believe everyone’s prettier when they share.” Click here to read Paige’s fabulous blog. Click here to follow her on Twitter @ApproachingJoy. Thanks, Paige, for virtually taking us to New York Fashion Week!

 

Filed Under: Fashion Mama, Front Page Posts, Popular Posts, Previously on Motherlode...
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