Okay I don't know what's up over at Coldwater Creek...

But they are having a crazy post-holiday sale...


60% Off...



Yes that's right - everything!

Now baby...THAT'S a sale! ;- )

And if you're yearning for more sales...

About.com Fabulous After Christmas Sales

Wondering how to get that polished look?....

Then hook it up with Ms. Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen where she is holding a master class on polished style:

How Does One Get the Polished Look?


And while you're there do check out the following post as well...


Chronique Couture - Trés Chic for the Chronically Unique

In addition to all the time spent lately in hospital waiting rooms with my parents, I work in a hospital (on the admin side). So I have had many occasions to see women who are bravely and stoically facing down serious health challenges that take a toil on body and soul. I myself had been thinking about how to address their fashion issues - so I'm happy to learn that someone is already on it!

The site is lovely with many products that can give comfort and style whether you are facing illness or not!

So go on over and give the ladies at Chronique Courture some link love! ;-)

I Heart....

Common Cloth

I happened to catch an episode of the excellent series Ultimate Retail which featured the Toronto based designer sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo as they outfitted and opened their first boutique.

While the sisters state that their designs are intended for the working 20 something who wants a bit of an edge in their business ware, I think the wardrobe of women of all ages can benefit from a piece or two from their collection:



Great leather coat - love the collar!




I'd probably lose the blouse on this outfit (I like it, but for me it's a bit too young) and kick it with a sharp white or solid gray blouse.



I love this jacket - sleek and to the point! It's a jacket you'll be able to wear for the rest of your days!



Yes, yes I know - sleeveless and a bit short. But I love the simple lines and I know that there are 50+ ladies out there that can pull this one off! (And come on, you can always throw a lovely cream colored silk short sleeved shell under it!)




Great sleeve detail on this coat!



Just one of those great dresses that can take you from work to an after dinner drink in style!

Elegant edge is how I would describe their style and at a price range of $50 - $500, the line is definitely affordable.

Keep an eye on these young ladies -- I think they have quite a future ahead of them!

Happy Holiday!

Hunmm only 3 handbags....

Is that possible?

Well, possible or not, sometimes it is necessary to keep the bag wardrobe down to three.

And over at The Budget Fashionista, Ms. Kathryn gives her usual great advice to a cash strapped young woman who still needs somewhere to carry her stuff...

Handbags: The Three Handbags Every Woman Should Own

If this is true...

Then I am a made woman! ; - )

Pantone's Color of the Year Is...

Blue is my color!!!! I have loved it pretty much since birth and, for what ever reason, I look striking in it and always have...so if this is THE color for next season, I'm going to have a very happy closet! ; - )

That is if they make anything in this fabulous color that I can wear! : - /

I don't know about you....

But getting a robe for Christmas was just de rigueur when I was a kid!

Over at Fabulous After 40 (aka Cafe Glam), their giving pointers on how to keep this tradition a stylish one..

Winter Robes, too young,too old and just right

I LOVE the kimono robe! ; - )

Once we're pass the holidays....

You still have to have those basics to refresh your wardrobe heading into the new year!

Not to worry! Ms. Angie over at youlookfab has got the must have list..

10 Must Haves This Season

What I love most about this list is that it is so doable at so many price points - important as we drag our post-holiday brokeness into the new year! :-/

(P.S. Be sure to click the link to her 3-coat complement post as well!)

Ms Angie is also schooling us...

On the how to...


Wear Chunky Knits

And The Slimming Scarf

Over at Wardrobe 911.....

Ms. Teresa has the holiday season covered...

what to wear: last minute shopping

Come on, confess - you'll be out there in the next couple of days polishing off that list! Might as well look good! ;-)

And if you get stuck while you're out there:

last minute gift guide

And once the madness is over and it's finally the 25th...

what to wear: opening presents

Okay, unlike me....

When it comes to a handbag, you like the bling!

Well get on over to Kristopherdukes cause the girl is in a giving mood...

Win a Fendi Bag

So if you've got just the midnight blue dress that would rock that bag under your arm...go on over and tell Ms. K. how you're just too fab NOT to be rockin' that bag!

Good Luck!

Okay I confess...

I'm just a little bit vintage.

The clothes of the early 1900s delight me (think Rachel Weisz's outfits early on in The Mummy (1999)).

That's probably why this skirt sets my little heart a flutter:

From TravelSmith





Kensington Sailor Skirt

It has that vintage feel, comes in both Misses and Plus sizes, has a tummy panel - I love it!

I'd hook it up with a crisp enough to cut white blouse (with an open collar, of course) and a pair of these shoes:

From Remix Vintage Shoes





Or maybe these:



Sigh...

Repeat after me....

Tights are my friend, tights are my friend...

Especially if you, like me, have a little bit of a vein problem. :-p

Even if you don't, tights just have a way of tightening (excuse the pun) up just about any outfit and, if you can find them in a color that matches your skirt, can give you the look of a longer, dare I say leaner, line.

If you, like me, are a fan of tights, here's the place that can hook you up:

We Love Color

What's even better than the fact that they have a crazy number of tights in different colors?

They come in Plus sizes too! Yahoo! (I love a retailer that carries the gamut of sizes for women.)

They also carry knee high socks in just about any color you can imagine!

And if you're feeling a bit adventurous (Or just want to jog your memory of your salad days) check out the fishnets, pattern hose (so this is where all those young women are getting their Pippi Longstockings!), and crazy gloves!

Have fun!

(A shout out to Lucky Magazine who listed this site in their Best Web Sites You've Never Heard Of article!)

Before you purchase....

That $1,000 + handbag you might want to read this...

From Second City Style

Luxury. Beware the Lure of Luxury Branding. Dana Thomas' Holiday Shopping Warning. Second City Style Fashion Blog

I'm sure the quality of the workmanship is every bit as good if done by a well trained Chinese crafts person as by a well trained Italian crafts person.

So the question becomes - Why are they under paying the Chinese worker if their skill is just as fine? And if they are, why are they charging so much for their bags when they are paying more or less pennys for the labor?

Looks like folks are getting reamed on both ends of the process - the workers and the buyers! :-p

Yes I know...

It seems that I'm on a bag kick today....

But if you're looking for a good looking tote here's a way to do some good as well...



St. Jude's Children's Hospital - Vinyl Canvas Tote - $32.00

There are many lovely gifts in their online gift shop - so if the tote doesn't get you take a look at some of their other offerings: Hope Catalog

St. Jude, if you don't know, is a wonderful children's hospital and research center. So anything you buy on their site supports their important work.

Getting something good and doing something good - it doesn't get better than that!

Okay, I'm down....

With this!

From :

Open Suggestion

I don't even OWN a handbag worth more than $250 dollars and I still don't want my handbag rolling all over the floor!

I Heart....

Radley Handbags:

Soho

Lapsang Large Tote


Waldorf Large Shoulder


Foothills Medium Tote

Tulsi A4 Tote


As anyone who reads here has probably figured out, I have no love of "bling" bags. I like mine clean lined and elegant (okay, some might say boring, but I don't think the bag should be getting all the attention when you walk down the street! Might as well carry a billboard - at least there's some cash in it for you!) and Radley fits the bill with just the right bit of whimsy to give them just the right bit of humor.

Sadly, Radley doesn't love the colonies so much - they only ship in the UK and the Channel Islands (did you know there are islands in the English Channel? Nether did I until I Wiki'ed them. If you're curious too, here's the link Channel Islands).

They don't even ship to Ireland! Now WHAT is up with that?

However, thanks to the Internet,of course, there are some third party sellers like Gregory's Leather who do sell these bags and ship internationally. I haven't dealt with any of them as yet, so I can't swear by them. But if you find these bags as delightful as I do, they might be worth a check out!

As I listen to the falling ice....

I think longingly of spring and summer...

And wouldn't this be a great tote for those fair weather outings to come?




Inside


Fleurville Lexie Tote - $165.00

Yeah it's a bit pricey and, yikes, it comes with a changing pad. Despite that, I love the print on the blue bag - very subtle and the colors are tres chic!

So pitch that changing pad nonsense out (or give it to a new mom you might know - I'm sure a spare changing pad is always welcome!). Throw in your swim suit, towel, guide book, whatever, and you're hitting the road in style!

Once the ice melts that is! :-/

With the holiday almost upon us.....

There have been a butt load of sales - so many that I've just not bother to comment on them. I figure that you, gentle reader, are already well aware of all the sales!

But I must post this link from youlookfab:

Sale Alert!

Nice encapulation of some of the sales on some of the more popular retailers!