Fall 2011 Trend Report: Awesome Accessories

Welcome back ladies!

It's my absolute favorite time of the year again, fall!

And that means I'll be bringing you all the latest trends in fashion, cuisine and places to check out in Miami.

Last week I brought you the hottest nail polish colors worn on the runways, so you can rock them on the streets.

And today I'm bringing you the must have accessories of the season, along with some styling tips on how to make these items work for you.

And remember fashionistas: The idea behind trends are to accent your wardrobe staples with a dash of  them.

Wear with caution and don't over do it by fitting too many trends into a single outfit.

The fall and winter months make up half a year, so you have plenty of times to wear everything you've purchased.

The It Bags:

Mini Bags.

Tip: Mini bags offer to hold your essentials and not much else, since they're so small. Use them for a day of shopping when your hands will be filled with shopping bags or for a night out on the town!

Shoulder Bags.

Tip: Shoulder bags seem like a blast from the past and they are, but they're also making a huge comeback this season.

Buy a shoulder bag in animal print like the one above for a modern twist on this classic look. 

A pair of sexy red pumps will complement this bag exquisitely.

Structured Satchels.

Tip: Structured satchels are ideal for the workplace because they're one of the few accessories that allow you to inject chic into your otherwise conservative attire.

Wear with skinny jeans and riding boots for a casual everyday look.

Snakeskin Satchels.

Snakeskin is oh so hot right now! This satchel is great for day or night and goes with just about anything you currently own.

Tip: Polish a minimalist look with a snakeskin bag.

Colorful Clutches.

Tip: Usually fall fashion is about dark or neutral colors and patterns, but this fall we are seeing a lot of color, a trend that transitioned from the spring.

If you still prefer to wear less vibrant colors during the fall a colorful clutch is a splendid way to jazz up your wardrobe.

Belts:

Animal Print Belts.

Tip: Animal print belts are a great finishing touch to any outfit.

Skinny Cinchers.

Tip: Skinny cinchers like the one above with a small bow give you the perfect touch of elegance and fun.

Boots:

Wedge boots.

Tip: Pair wedge boots with a chiffon dress for a modern take on a 70s look.

Chunky Heel Boots.

Tip: Pair a 60s inspired dress with high boots for the ultimate mod look. 

Thigh High Boots are always sexy and in style.

Riding Boots.

Tip: Wear with dark denim or leggings for slimmer looking legs. This is also a great tip to remember when wearing any flat shoe.

Hats & Gloves:

Cashmere Beanies.

Feathered Fedoras.

Yes, feathers are still going strong!



Cashmere Gloves.

Leather Gloves.

Jewelry:

Bling Rings.

Cocktail Rings.

Chain Bracelets.

Cutting Edge Cuffs.

Cool Collars.

Drop Earrings

Printed Tights:

Polka Dot Tights

Leopard Print Tights.

Tip: Printed tights go great under dresses and skirts during cold weathers to keep you from freezing but also add pizazz to any outfit.

Don't forget nude tights have made a major comeback and are so major right now. 

Thank the Middleton sisters for that!

Scarves:

Faux Fur Mufflers.

Tip: Fur is a huge trend this season and it's all about being luxe when it comes to fur!

 My PSA for the day is ditch the real furs and be kind to our furry friends and go for faux mufflers, vests and coats!

Black and White Scarves.

Animal Print Scarves.

Colorful Scarves.

Shoes:

Bold Color Ballet Flats.

Flat Loafers.

Tip: Pair flat loafers with tailored coats for a sophisticated look.

Menswear Inspired Loafers.

Snakeskin Pumps.

Pointy Pumps.

Tip: If you want to mix things up, combine a pair of tight leahter pants and a sculpted jacket for a rock n' roll look.

Jewel Tone Heels.

Tip: Keep the rest of your outfit to a minimum when you wear bright jewel tone shoes, so that the shoes can be the star of the outfit.



Sparkly Shoes.

Tip: Mix colors and textures when wearing a pair of metallic shoes.

Umbrellas:

Colorful Animal Print Umbrellas.

Bubble Umbrellas.

Umbrellas made it onto an accessory list?

Totes yes!

Umbrellas are another accessory for us to express our fashion sense and styles by making a statement.

I'm so loving bubble umbrellas right now!

Other trends to accessorize with during the fall season:

• black and white <3
• deep reds and burgundys
• gray
• green
• jewel tones
• anything that sparkles!
   

Ladies, join me next week when I will reveal the holy grail of the trend reports the wardrobe list!!!!

Are you super excited?

Fellas, I will also reveal my men's guide to fall fashion.

Fall fashionably yours,

GTG

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” - Coco Chanel



Fall 2011 Trend Report: Hottest Hues for Nails

The 2011 fall season is almost here!

And that means it's time to put away our halter tops and short shorts and it's time to don on our coats and boots!

 It'll be a few more months in Miami before we can slip into our boots and cold armor, but we can definitely start celebrating the weather by changing the hues of our polishes.

So put away the fun bright colors and opt for darker rich colors.

As you already know, lacquers are an important fashion accessory just like shoes and handbags. They're also a statement staple are used as the first transitional item between seasons.

The following colors have been all over the fashion runways and will be seen on the streets!

Trend # 1: Jewel tone colors

Greens:

Hunter greens. Olive greens. Grassy greens. Any kind of green really.

This hue is Peridot and it's from Chanel.  It's not only my favorite green, but it's actually my favorite color of the season.


Blues:

Royal blues. Sky blues.

My favorite blue?  Dior's blue denim. I love the richness of it and because it's a Dior color I know it will have a smooth finish.

Reds:

Deep wines. Bright reds. Red is the color of confidence and nothing says "I'm a confident woman,"  like this red by Lancome.

Bang Bang Red

Purples.

Deep purples. Indigo purples. Plums.

I love this berry inspired shade Celine by Zoya. Ultra feminine and the color looks great on any skin tone.

Trend # 2: Rusts and Browns

Rusts:

Oranges. Burnt browns.

Very structured by Essie reinvents the browns we have seen in the past by infusing an orange undertone into the color. This color embodies the essence of fall.

Browns:

Chocolate browns. Classic browns.

Chocolate by Dolce & Gabbana is a decadent color that can get you through the entire fall and winter seasons.

Trend # 3: Grays and Metallics

My favorite gray for this season is Essie's Power Clutch from their handbag inspired collection.

This is the kind of color that makes you want to find a matching pair of shoes and handbag to go with it, which I'm sure is what Essie set out to capture.

Metallics/Sparkles:

This year Serena Williams teamed up with polish giant OPI and created the Glam Slam collection.

I love this metallic color.

Your Royal Shine-ness

Trend # 4: Magnetic

Last year we saw the inception of crackle nails, which I personally wasn't a fan of. This year there's a lot of buzz surrounding the magnetic look, which has been popularized by LCN.

Beauty insiders have said the magnetic look is this year's more polished version of the crackle look.

It basically utilizes their trademark magnetic polishes along with 2 magnets that each create an effect, be it diagonal lines or stars.

I love the psychedelic look .

Below is a video that you can find onbthe LCN site that shows you how can achieve this look.

Trend # 5: Neutrals/Beiges:

Neutral colors are classics and will always be in fashion, which is why they aren't really a trend. But you will still see a lot of it during the cold months ahead.

My pick?

Essie's Allure. Yes, that's the same color that Kate Middleton wore on her wedding day, so it's a very special color.


Ladies what colors will you be wearing this fall?

Trendy yours,

GTG

"The nail polish color that you wear speaks highly of how you feel about yourself"- Your GTG

Fashion Collabos: The Jennifer Lopez Collection at Kohl's

Every single time I go into a Kohl's, I kinda fall more and more in love with it.

For one their stuff is always on sale, (I'm starting to think it might be a gimmick, but it works) and on top of that they always email me 15% coupons. Sometimes I feel like those folks on that reality show, Extreme Couponing, when I hand them my coupons and I see total savings of $102.00!

They also give you Kohl's cash! You get $10 for every $50 you spend. I have literally walked out of Kohl's without having to spend a single dime of my own money using their cash program.

Buying clothes and shoes is great, but it's even greater when I pay little to nothing for them!

I wasn't always a Kohl's fan, just like I'm not a Forever 21 fan, but I'm the type of person who loves clothes so much that sometimes I walk into stores just to look at merchandise. (I know that sounds a little crazy, but I can't help it.)

And other times I get these severe itches to buy things just for the sake of shopping, and if I don't have the adequate resources to splurge at a department store or a boutique, I head out to these more affordable stores and buy something small to calm that irritable itch.

Last night I had to pass by Kohl's to return some stuff I bought for my trip without trying on that didn't really work for me and I swear I was hoping to be in and out.  But I failed. I got distracted looking at the new Jennifer Lopez collection.

And folks, I was blown away! I loved so many pieces and I thought it was made with quality materials, even the faux fur jackets looked amazing.

I took pictures of some of my favorite items and I want to share them with you. I also encourage you to go check out the collection for yourselves and try on the pieces!

Jennifer Lopez has always been one of my favorite fashionistas in Hollywood. I can still recall that she was one the first woman, who made me feel okay and proud to be a big booty gal and rock curve hugging outfits. Thanks J. Lo!

Cowl neck shift dress

This  leopard print cowl neck shift dress was the first piece to catch my eye. This dress is perfect to show off your curves and because of its ruching along the midsection area it hides any imperfections. The dress feels divine!

Fitted Trenchcoat

Despite living in Miami my entire life, I've always loved cold weather clothing such as trench coats, gloves and coats. I was immediately smitten when I saw this trench coat. It has shape, it has style yet it's super simple. This looks great on top of any outfit during the cool months.

The front of a chiffon scoop neck top

The back of the scoop neck chiffon top with a black cami

There is probably no one who is as much of a sucker for anything leopard as me (well maybe the girls on Jerseylicious, but they take it overboard,) so of course this top made it as one of my faves!

The open back makes it sexy, and if you're from Miami you might want to opt removing the underneath cami and wear it with a black bra instead to show off some serious back cleavage!

White sheath dress

This is the most highlighted piece of the collection, I've seen it numerous times in the campaign ads and on Ms. Lopez herself and I think it's the epitome of chic.

It's white with gold details, and don't forget that white is a hot trend this fall. And yes, ladies you can absolutely wear white after Labor Day this year and every year.

The no white after Labor Day rule is a ridiculous and antiquated rule that was taken very seriously decades ago. There is no real explanation as to its origins, and until present day we only have theories, which range from people using white clothing to keep cool in the hot summer months, to rich snobs using it as an excuse to shun people from their social circles.

Coco Chanel was one of the first designers to make white, a year round color with her amazing two-piece suits, it looks like now J. Lo is following in her footsteps.

The Jennifer Lopez shoe collection display at Kohl's

Because of my time constraint, I wasn't able to spend as much time as I would've liked to looking over shoes and accessories, but I was able to capture this picture with my cell phone cam, which I got the stink eye from various employees, but I do what I have to do.

I wasn't too impressed with the shoes I did see, which might have something to do with my expectations not met. I loved her first shoe collection under the J Lo brand, which was sold at Macy's and I even still have a pair of espadrilles that garner a lot of attention whenever I wear them.





I did find these tan boots, which also made it to my fave pieces.

I think given the quality and look of this collection, the prices are great, but I also feel that the prices might be deemed as steep by others considering the overall lower price points at Kohl's.

Right now you can get 25% off the entire Jennifer Lopez collection and if you have coupons you can score some even greater deals.

Kohl's didn't forget the men. The store also launched the Marc Anthony Collection this month. The collection is inspired by the salsa singer's personal style.

The two collections were supposed to be launched collectively, mimicking the couple's real life marriage, but after the split this year, Kohl's decided to launch them independently.

I hope you guys enjoy my thoughts on this brand and store, and I hope you will tweet me pictures of any pieces you buy!

As always fashionably yours,

GTG!

Missoni for Target: A Great Fashion Collaboration

Yesterday, fashionistas all over the country celebrated Missoni for Target day by almost buying out every Missoni item at stores and crashing the store's site.

The good news is that today Target.com is up and running. The bad news is that most of the Missoni items are out of stock.

I spent most of my Monday tweeting and facebooking about my excitement for the line and I had some people ask me, "what's the big deal?"

And for those of you who might have not heard about Missoni--it's a luxury brand whose merchandise goes for hundreds and hundreds of dollars and this Target collection only costs a fraction of that.

And that my friends is a BIG deal!

Missoni is an Italian fashion house most famous for its zigzag and geometric patterns. The brand was founded by a couple and it's currently run by their children.

BTW: I love and respect family fashion businesses!

As saddened as I was to not be part of the frenzy that took place at Targets all over the country, I just couldn't. I had just gotten back to work from my vacation and couldn't ask for more time off. :(

So before I left work for the day, I had a game plan. I looked up all the Targets in my area and decided to visit the Target in Hialeah because I was sure not too many people in Hialeah knew what Misssoni was.

Ladies and gents, we should never assume anything about anyone or anything and that is a lesson I finally learned last night, as everything Missoni in the Hialeah store had practically sold out.

Empty accessories rack at Target.

Lucky for me, I met a woman who shared the same sentiments as I did about people in Hialeah not being so crazy over Missoni and we kept each other company, as we both realized we weren't going to walk out with much.

The young woman walked out with some baby Missoni stuff with hopes that she would one day be able to use it.

I also ran into a middle aged man, who was more desperate than me to find something Missoni. He bought the last pair of Missoni heels in a size 10.

By far, this was the strangest shopping situation I have encountered in my 16 years of shopping.

So back to my story, I had gone to Target with hopes of finding a pair of rain boots, flats and maybe a scarf, but just about everything had sold out.

As I made my way to the shoe department I was sure I wasn't going to find the rain boots.

But lo and behold a large Missoni box (large enough to carry the rain boots I was coveting) and it was a size 7.

I was thrilled!

I took the box to a seat, opened the box and checked the rain boots to make sure they were my size, which they were and tried them on.

They fit perfectly.

Missoni rain boots retail for anywhere between $200-$400 and this pair was only $34.99! I walked out feeling like a winner!

My adorable Missoni rain boots!

Let the torrential downpours begin! I'm hoping for tons and tons of rain! Sorry, if I rain on anyone's parade!

I also hope that all my fellow fashionistas can get their hands on the items they most desire from this collection and don't forget Missoni for Target will be around until October 22nd.

A few more affordable collections to keep your eyes out for:

• LC by Lauren ConradLC  available at Kohl's
• Jennifer Lopez Collection also available at Kohl's
• Kardashian Kollection available at Sears
• MNG by Mango available at JCPenney
• I Heart Ronson available at JCPenney
• Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse available at Macy's
• Sofia by Sofia Vergara available at Kmart
• Christian Soriano for Payless available at Payless

All these lines are signed off by me-- your GTG!

I love to splurge on fashion, but I'm also a fan of buying great pieces at more reasonable prices!

Fashionably yours,

GTG

"Today, fashion is really about sensuality—how a woman feels on the inside. In the '80s women used suits with exaggerated shoulders and waists to make a strong impression. Women are now more comfortable with themselves and their bodies—they no longer feel the need to hide behind their clothes.” - Donna Karan