Blogs about shoes...Notice a trend?

I guess I will have a lot of blogs about shoes.  I love them!  I'm picky about them, but love them.  I have bad feet, but love them!  I love going to Marshalls with friends and just trying on cool shoes.  Towering, expensive ones are the best!  As I've said before, we are limited with shopping here in Monterey, but Marshalls is dangerously close to my house. 

I was a little afraid of the lace up boots.  I've seen some outrageous ones.  These were subtle enough.  They were $49.99.

Sorry about the blurriness.  But, you can't go wrong with Prada.  These have been at Marshalls for a while now.  Does that mean that they'll be on super clearance soon?

These heels!  I must have these heels!  They were actually comfortable too!  $49.99!  Now if I could learn to walk without looking like a toddler in them, I'd be ready to roll.

Go check out your local Marshalls STAT!

One of my favorite things to do is stroll around Marshalls.  They have great, quality stuff at an affordable price.  Here are some things I found today. 

Flats, flats, and more flats.  I can't get enough!  You can be stylish, classy, and sophisticated without wearing towering heels.  Okay, I wish I could wear those towering heels, who wouldn't, but I just can't.  So ballet flats will do.

But if you CAN let your feet suffer, these are adorable on clearance for $39.99!

Oh a bomber leather jacket!  How I love thee!  This is on my Xmas list.  I saw a fake one at Target, which was adorable, but the real thing is always better.  $100.00

Sequins is all over the place right now!  I can see this with black opaque tights and heels for a holiday party.  A friend and I were so channeling Rachel Zoe with these.

Here's the darling Ms. Alena in an adorable animal print Calvin Klein sweater.  It had a tiny leather snap to close it.  I loved this!

Stella & Dot Jewelery Party

Until recently I had never heard of Stella & Dot.  I just discovered the company and I love their stuff!  I had a show last night and I love all the pieces I saw.  Unfortunately, my fab photographer and friend could not make the show, but I managed, cheap camera and all.  The point was to show how one spectacular piece of jewelery could change an outfit. I really do have many more photos to take, but check these out for now.

Please forgive the angle at which these photos were taken. :)

The set up

We were excited to find Kandy a piece.  She is her final stages of a little revamp and needed a neckalce to go with her mostly patterned tops.  I think she found one.

Here's Alena in an eye-catching piece.  I love this busy necklace!  Get a plain white tee and you've got yourself an outfit!

This is it up close.

This necklace totally put together Lisa's outfit.  The outfit was cute already, but this added the WOW factor.

Not your everyday strand of pearls.

 Look how cute Kristina looks!  Except for the jeans, I picked this outfit out for her (pat on the back).  This necklace put it all together.

 I love the way this pic turned out.  That's the necklace I wore, it ties in the back.  Everyone said it was very Cleopatra.

 This is a two-in-one piece.  One was just rhinestone, then you can clip the rest in.  Again, a piece to add pizazz to a plain outfit.

Okay, this picture is a little Dolly Partonesq, but the necklace is cute.  You just wrap it around you.  Very versatile.

This brooch was on a necklace that Kristina was wearing.  It comes off and was just adorable!  It's dyed silk.

So all in all this was a successful show and I'm hoping it will help me out with my new business adventure as well.  Check out the site http://www.stelladot.com/sites/heatheranderson

For the GNO's or MNO's.

Here's another tutorial from Michelle Phan.  This one is for a going out look.  I really am learning new tricks of the trade from these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-joBOHlg5J0

This is for all the Moms out there!

I'm a Mommy's girl.  Always have been.  My Mother has been very supportive on this new journey of mine, so she researches all things fashion and styling and emails me almost daily.  I am very grateful for her.  I loved this article she found and I think it's advice that all us Moms could use.

Mom & Style.

March 26th, 2010 | Author: Alexandra

Mom Style
Do you think the words “Mom” and “style” are as incongruous as teenagers and limits or babies and sleep? Think again! If you need a style boost, take the advice of clothing designer, Julie Chaiken (www.chaikenclothing.com) who is herself the mother of young children. She says, “Your fashion life doesn’t have to end when you become a mother. It’s a new chapter. You might have to adjust: a silk blouse is probably a bad choice while burping an infant, but there is absolutely no excuse for losing yourself. I see dressing to your own sense of style as a vital part of maintaining your individual identity. By remaining true to yourself, you will in turn be a better mother.”
Here are 10 ways a mother on the go can find style.
Comfort. A t-shirt, a belt and a pair of Capris are just as comfortable as sweats and a hoodie. Don’t use “comfort” as a copout for sloppy, no-expression clothes.
Makeup Minimum. Use at least two makeup products: lip gloss and mascara, lipstick and eyeliner. It’ll make you feel prettier. If you have time, add another product, like a mineral based foundation that will give you a glow even if you’re not feeling it.
Fit to Flatter. Wear clothes that fit you properly. Too tight or too baggy are two faces of the same problem. Good fit, even if you’re not the weight you’d like to be, makes you look thinner, brighter, and happier.

Dressing for the Day. It’s important to get your exercise in, but try this: exercise at the gym, come home, shower and get dressed. If you go to the gym and then try and slip in a trip to the grocery store and the library and it’s one o’clock before you get home, don’t succumb to the voice in your head that says, “It’s after noon already. What’s the point of changing?” You’ll feel better in real clothes. If you’re spending a good amount of time at the park, you may think park-friendly clothes can’t be cute too. Wrong. Enjoy the shoes you wear, the hat you choose, the color combination you pick out for yourself.
You Deserve to be Adorable. Your kids are dressed adorably. Let yourself have the same privileges as them. Wear something each day that you find adorable. Maybe it’s a ring, a color, a shoe, a necklace, something. It can be a one-minute daily meditation to think about what actually pleases you.

High Fashion/Low Price. The current trend of top name designers creating lines for low-cost markets like Target, Kohl’s, and Wal-Mart means that for not much money, you can have cute things to wear during the awkward years when the kids are young and throwing up or you’re still losing some of the baby weight you gained in pregnancy. You can look great and not spend your kids’ college tuition to do it.
Transitioning Tricks. Moms often say they want clothing they can put on in the morning that will take them through the whole day and work for every function in their life. This is not realistic. One mom came up with a solution that helped her switch gears and put some attention on her relationship with her husband. Every night at 5 o’clock while the kids are picking up their toys, she changes clothes. She gets out of her “mom” clothes and into a nice outfit before her husband comes home. She doesn’t want to succumb to a single view of herself as mom, but rather remind her husband and herself who she was before kids. Sound old fashioned? It’s been a lifesaver for her. It might be a good formula for you too.
Clothes Protection. Protect your clothes by wearing an apron. If you want to wear nicer clothes, but worry about spills, invest in some aprons to wear while you’re cooking. And for the other types of spills that can happen throughout the day, wear prints. The best clothes to wear that hide spit ups or nose wipes are items in prints. Pick an all over print in a paisley or a floral and it’s harder to track the baby action.
Mood-Altering Fashion. See if you can find that one item that when you put it on, it transforms your mood and your look. It might be a leather jacket, a trench coat in a bright color, a super cute pair of wedged sandals. Think of this item as a personality piece, not a basic.
Quality Time for Mom. Invest in your mom style and your peace of mind. Call me and I can help you find clothes that are good pieces for your lifestyle. When you take care of yourself, be prepared to hear these sweet words from your young ones: “Mommy, you look great!”

Being Fashionable on a Target Budget

Not all of us can be as glamorous as the top fashionistas, but we can try, right?  I am all for splurging on certain things, but sometimes you can find the cutest of items at your local Target.  I will admit, I am a little Target obsessed.  I think I'm getting to the point where I'm becoming Norm from Cheers.  The next time I walk in, they're all going to say "Katie!"

I've taken a few friends there on shopping trips recently and we had a blast!  Mostly because we were there without our children for once.  Here are some of the experiences.

Here's Jenny, who is already stylish, stepping out of her box.  She always looks great, but I wanted her to try on something different.  I love this cute dress that's extra girly.  Only $21.99

Look at the lace detail on the back!  It's adds a little sexiness without being too racy.

This one is of my friend Kelly.  It's a funny story... After discovering a new app, I sent this picture to Ask a Stylist by Glamour Magazine.  The response I got back was very positive.  They said this jean was perfect for her body type.  I guess I'm doing something right!  As I've said before, I have a love/hate relationship with jeans.  I've discovered a couple pairs I actually love from Target!  The plus was I also got to buy a size smaller, which everyone loves.



I'm sure there will be plenty of more Target adventures to come... Stay tuned!

Allure's Best!

I  Have a theory about make-up.  I truly believe it's something to splurge on.  I swear it makes a difference.  I once made a joke that I could be a bum on the street, but I would still buy my make-up (if I was wearing any) at Sephora. For those who have never heard of Sephora, google it!  It's the Mecca of make-up!  I swear I hear Angels sing when I walk in one.

As I've mentioned before, my new favorite magazine is Allure.  They have very interesting articles and of course Fashionable advice.  Every year they come out with a special "Best of" issue.  The best of everything beauty!  I was bored last night and I was looking for interesting Apps for my iphone.  They have an app just dedicated to Allure's Best of Beauty!  I was so excited, I had to check it out.  Well, I am going to list my faves off their list.

Blush~ I am a powder blush fan.  I have oily skin, so powder works best for me.  Even though I am a Nars fan, Allure listed Smashbox's Blush Rush (found at Sephora).  Now I always go for a flushed look, so I buy the pinkest of pink.  

Concealer for blemishes~  They listed Laura Mercier secret camouflage.   It comes with two colors and you mix it to match your skin tone.  Sounds awesome to me!  Everyone needs a cover-up for a blemish.

Concealer for undereye circles~  So this is something I've noticed have appeared in the last few years.  I swear it happened overnight!  One day I had nice, young looking skin and the next day I woke up with undereye circles, looking a bit older.  So Allure mentioned one that I am going to buy asap.  Make Up Forever HD high definition invisible cover conealer.  Wow, that's a long name!  It comes in a tube, and it blends super smooth on the skin.

Liquid eyeliner~ This is something I'm still trying to perfect.  I want that perfect thin cat-like line, but it always ends up sloppy and thick.  A work in progress I guess.  Allure says Dior Style intense liquid eyeliner is the best.  It's brush tip is precise and easy to control, so you won't need nine lives to master classic cat-eyes.  I guess they were listening!

Eyeshadow~ I'm adding this one on my own.  I absolutely love MAC eyeshadows!  They come in every color and yes, I think woman should try color for shadow.  They are bold with pigment and are just plain amazing.


Mascara~ Another one I'm adding on my own.  Christian Dior diorshow mascara in black out.  I just recently got a friend hooked on this one.  It's thick, black, and makes your lashes look LONG!  Everyone should notice your lashes.


Lip Gloss~  Allure's best is Estee Lauder pure color gloss.  These come in 34 different shades, last forever, and has even converted lipstick devotees.  I am just going to mention  lip gloss in this blog.  As much as I love luscious red lips, I don't personally like wearing lipstick.


So these were just the few things I picked out from the app.  Allure lists tons of things.  I just picked the few that stood out to me.  I think these are the basics for everyday make-up.  Of course I think there are a few things that can be bought "over-the-counter".  Basic pencil eyeliner is one.  Wear make-up ladies, it will make you feel beautiful!

My first time

I did my first closet "reorganization"!  I helped a dear friend out, who already had style and class, but needed a little boost.  I must say, she was a trooper!  There are some things I just said NO to.  She gladly took my advice.  It was super fun! 

I am going to make a print out for her about do's and don'ts and just some rules about looking great with the clothes you have.   We need to purchase some key items, but the point of this is to work with what you've got.  You don't have to spend a ton of money to be fashionable!

 
 Starting to try things to to see what works.  More pictures to come when we buy our "key" pieces.  Thanks Kandy!

I don't know if I could do it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/fashion/22SIXERS.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&emc=eta1

A shopping diet?  Wow, what an idea, but I don't know if I could do it.  I would fit the category of an addicted shopper.  I like to think of it as my drug of choice.  Although I think this concept is a good idea in today's economy, I love shopping WAY too much.

Getting things rolling.

I am really getting excited for the business to launch.  I have so many ideas, it's all I can think about.  I will figure out prices soon and post them asap.  I will also make a poster to spread the word.

So as I've said before, we have limited shopping here in the Monterey area.  But, I am making due with what we have.  Plus, I am a stylist/shopper for the average woman.  Who needs a shopping trip to Sakks anyway... .Um ok, well I would love one.  But, we make due.

I took a friend shopping the other day.  She has a great figure, just needed to show it off more and help put things together.  I think we need to continue our journey of Fashion Greatness, but we did find some great things at the Gap.

 This was a cute printed t-shirt with Jeggings.  I am all for jeggings!  Gap has some nice ones with a higher rise, so you can tuck in whatever needs to be tucked.

A super cute khaki jacket and denim colored jeggings.  She went with these instead of the black ones.  They look fab on her.  Hard to see, but the shirt underneath was a striped 3/4 sleeve with a tiny bit of embroidery around the color.  Little things to spruce up a shirt!!!

This is the full outfit!  So classy!  I had to add in the Divalicious Bella.  She had a blas in the dressing room.  My kinda Gal.  The shoes are animal print with purple trimming.  I love these!  Gap has a bunch of flats of all different colors.  They even have glittery ones... which I will be purchasing very soon.


As I said, we have more to do.  Pictures to come...Prices too!

Jeans!

There are going to be a lot of posts about jeans! I kind of have a love/hate relationship with them. I came across this on Us Weekly. These definitely are not for everyone, but you can get an idea of what's in for fall. Well in Celebrity World at least.


Photos - Fall's Hottest Denim Trends - Bell Bottoms - UsMagazine.com

Something of Interest

My very fashionable sister came across this website and shared it with me.  Now, I must share with you.

I love expensive clothing!  I love top couture fashion!  But, I can't afford any of it, so I love stores like Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Last call by Neiman Marcus.

Unfortunately, most of these stores do not have a website to order online... until now.

http://www.lastcall.com/store/catalog/templates/P4E.jhtml?itemId=cat000001&N=4294967293+4294965879 

Check it out!  Great steals on Fab fashion!