Feel-Fabulous Fashion Styles for Any Fall Event

I love to shop and I often get calls or emails from friends looking for suggestions about fabulous fashion styles to wear to an event. The latest fashion dilemma was what to wear to a fall baptism.  My girlfriend spent an entire day shopping and found a dress she kind of liked, but knew she wouldn't wear multiple times. 

I came up with a few suggestions for her and then decided to check out Pinterest for more inspiration. I was looking for fashion styles that could easily be worn to almost any fall event.  

I think the key to feeling and looking your best at your holiday events is not to feel like you're going to work, but to use some of those same pieces and spice them up. 

Black pants in whatever style look best on you, are always a safe bet. 

A silky or sheer blouse under a blazer adds some edgy style to your cold weather clothes.
 

A black wrap dress can be worn to almost anything by changing up the jewelry and the shoes.

By having a few of these items on hand you won't have to worry about what to wear. Stock up on the latest shoes of the season and some fun jewelry, a cute clutch and you're set with Feel Fabulous fashion styles. 

All black w/ necklace dressinterest.com
Black wrap dress bananarepublic.gap.com
Polka Dot blouse classiq.ro
Green blouse ullajohnson.com
Blazer cabionline.com
Peplum Dress shopbop.com

Posted by Liz

Save 30% on Shopping at Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic

Who wants to go shopping this weekend?

Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are offering 30% on online orders now through 9/3/12.  Simply enter the promo code FALLCALLS at checkout to save big on all your favorites from these fabulous stores.

Happy shopping and saving!

So Mad at Gap, Inc.

For the past hour, I have been looking at all of the Gap, Inc. websites because they are having a fabulous Give and Get 30% off program starting today through Sunday. My husband had to cash in AMEX points and he opted for Gap, Inc. gift cards for me. (Isn't he a gem!) For some reason AMEX cashed the points into small denomination gift cards, which of course, is a pain to enter in all 16 million numbers on the back of the card. But if it is what I have to do, it is what I have to do.

So, my total hits just over $150 and I qualify for free shipping...score! I then begin to enter in my gift cards. I enter in 2 gift cards successfully. Then I enter the 16-digit code on the back of my third card and get an error message..."You are only allowed to use two gift cards per purchase."

What!?!?! Why does it matter if I have more than two gift cards? Does it overload the system? Is it illegal in Gap-land to have more than 2 gift cards. Do you think I want to have more than two gift cards? Here's the quick answer, Gap, Inc...NO, I don't!!! But I had to take what was given to me by AMEX.

Then I thought to call customer service. Yeah, they closed at 2a.m. EST...it was 11:05p.m. PST when I attempted my call.

Am I upset...oh, just a wee bit. What a waste of over an hour. I can assume that the items will stay in my shopping bag, but who knows if they will still be around tomorrow morning if and when I call customer service again to rip them a new one - I mean kill them with kindness!

URGGGHHH! Oh, and I just missed Chelsea Lately as a result of it! Double URGGGHHH!!!

6 Rules of Cleavage - Now if I Could Just Get Mine Back!

When I was in high school and college, I will admit that I was quite proud of my cleavage and, at times, was very pleased to accentuate it.

Fast forward to being married and having two kids I can easily admit my chest looks more like that of a teenage boy than a teenage girl.

I will always be so thankful that I was able to breastfeed both of my kids past their first birthdays, but I wish that the prize for such an accomplishment might be a nice and full bosom rather than a chest that is flat as a pancake. Oh well, enough of my pity party.

If you are lucky enough to have cleavage, here are some rules LifeScript encourages us all to live by:

• Sometimes less is more (oh, thank goodness!). Don’t reveal more than an inch of cleavage at work, company party, or when meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time.
• Be age appropriate
• Always flatter your rack - big or small.

Click here for more specific details and the full article.

Toy Story's Midway Mania - My First Retraction!

Last year I commented on Disney's California Adventure's newest ride, Toy Story's Midway Mania. (When it first opened, they only referred to it as Toy Story Mania, but now they call it Midway Mania...not sure why.) I wasn't very impressed with the ride because it broke down a few times while we waited in line, and after passing by 7 line attendants who said nothing, it wasn't until we got on the ride that I was told my daughter (only 6 months at the time) could not sit on my lap, but had to sit next to me and hold herself up...yeah, like that's going to happen. So needless to say, my experience wasn't great.

But, I have been on Midway Mania several times since then and do have to retract my initial dissatisfaction in the ride. First of all, they seemed to have worked out the kinks so the line isn't as slow moving. Secondly, it is now okay for a baby to sit on your lap, which makes it much easier for a mom to enjoy the ride. (The whole worrying about my 6-month-old's head snapping back and forth on the hard seat back wasn't fun for me at all.) And lastly, for a competitive person, it is really exciting to try to rack up as many points as possible.

So, to Disney, I am sorry for my harsh initial reaction of Toy Story Midway Mania. If you are going to visit California Adventure, you should try this ride...if you can survive the wait!

Image courtesy Disneyland.com

Shoe Shopping Made Simple at Zappos.com

I used to love shoe shopping...well, that is until I had two kids in tow. Now shoe shopping is pretty non-existent, with the exception of online gazing. But I have always thought buying shoes online is such a pain because you don't know what the shoes will look like on you, and if you don't like them, you are stuck.

That all changed recently. I have a wedding I am attending in a couple of months and I need new shoes for the dress I bought. And like most moms out there, I don't have time to go shoe shopping at actual stores. Enter Zappos.com.

On this site, you can search by one or all of the following categories: style, shoe size, heel height, shoe width, color and price.

Once you have found the right shoe(s) for you, free shipping and returns are standard on all purchases. And what I love even more, you have up until a year to return your purchase...fantastic, I know!

So for any bride-to-be out there that can't decide on her wedding day shoe, you can buy as many shoes as you want, keep the one you like best with your dress, and return all the others...for free!

And, of course, even if it isn't your wedding day, you can follow this same idea.



Oh, and did I mention Zappos.com sells handbags, clothes, accessories, electronics, and lots of other cool stuff. Free shipping and returns...unless you can somehow find a better price on the shoe, you really can't beat that deal when it comes to online shopping.

Shown above GUESS by Marciano - Sharika (Black Patent) $89; Kate Spade - Hudson (Dark Grey Tweed/Grey Crocco Print) $352

20% off at Puma.com

Yes, that's right. You can get 20% off Your Entire Purchase at Puma through 9/30 with code BTS77 . (This offer excludes Mongolian BBQ merchandise. Whatever that is!) Whether you want a new track suit for the fall or a new pair of sneakers for chasing the kids around the house, Puma has a great selection of styles and colors for whatever your mood might be.

Click here to check out what is new at Puma.com.

Hollywood Fashion Tape to the Rescue

Here is a great product that can help hide or tape down anything you are wearing. If at times, it seems like your bra keeps showing in a certain top, then you can use Hollywood Fashion Tape to secure your clothing to your undergarments. Perhaps it is glorified double stick tape, but it comes in an assortment of sizes and shapes to help pull off any outfit.

I have used this fashion tape several times with great success and reassurance that only what I want people to see is what they actually see. You can find Hollywood Fashion Tape at drugstore.com ($6.95 and up).

Victoria's Not So Secret 100 Ways Bra

With summer virtually upon us, it is time to wear all of those cute, and sometimes revealing, tops. But have you ever looked at a top and said, "How am I going to wear that without a bra?" Too many times I have passed on a cute top because (especially as a mom now) I can't pull off a top without a bra...Well, Victoria's Secret has created a bra that can be worn, get this, 100 ways! Hence the name 100 Way Strapless Convertible Bra. They even made a chart to show each and every way you can wear it.

What is also great about the bra is that they have created it with eyelets throughout the inseam of the bra so that you can attach a strap according to your body, not just where VS thinks you should attach it. The bra comes with 3 sets of straps: regular, halter and a low-back coverter strap to wear with backless outfits. And if you hurry, you can save 25% on this bra. Regularly, the bra is $49.50, but it is currently on sale for just $37. Now no top is too strappy or low that it can't be worn with a bra!

P.S. I hope the amazing model at the top of the post didn't scare you into thinking this was a "gentlemen's" blog. I was going to model it and take a picture of myself but thought I would spare you the horror!