Fall Picks from Century 21

If you look through my blog and twitter account, you'll find I like to shop - and more importantly, I love a good deal. I am all about finding a few designer dresses at a discount shop then spending full price on one. I love scouting out new finds and trends, especially as the seasons change, both in stores and online.

When my husband and I lived in New York City, our all time favorite store was Century 21. There is one downtown near the World Trade Center and one in Columbus Circle. I would find the cutest dresses and designer accessories at ridiculous discount prices. My husband bought several designer suits there, jeans and button downs. We would plan a whole day just around shopping there!

When we moved back to Michigan I went through Century 21 withdrawals. Luckily, Century 21 enabled shopping on their website, so I could shop online and get Century 21 steals delivered to me in Michigan.

Century 21 carries an array of brands. I think a lot of people would be surprised that you can find top luxury brands there, such as Balenciaga, Chloe, Fendi, Versace & more. If you're looking to splurge on a designer dress or handbag, make sure you check Century 21 first, because you may not have to splurge as much as you think!

Now that the weather is getting cooler in Michigan, I'm in full on 'fall clothing' mode. Here are a few of my picks from Century 21.

Dresses that transition from work to play...

NYDJ Knit Sheath Dress $69.99 (regularly $148)

Transit Par-Such Shift Dress $129.99 (regularly $560) 

Fall booties to go with jeans or dresses:

Greg Knoxx Quilted Gray Bootie $29.99 (regularly $69)

Chant Short Boot $39.99 (regularly $69.00)

Handbags you'll never want to leave at home:

French Connection Lola Fringe Crossbody $44.99 (regularly $88)

Need a new workbag? Check out this Rag & Bone beauty!

Rag & Bone Smoke Aston Satchel $399.99 (regularly $925)

Don't forget accessories...

Robert Rose Tassel Pendant & Necklace $22.99 (regularly $46.00)

Robert Rose Rose Gold Cuff $16.99 (regularly $35.00)

Bottega Veneta Sunglasses $99.99 (regularly $399)

*I partnered with Century 21 on this post. All thoughts are my own. 

Target Marimekko Launch April 17

Mark your calendars and set your alarms - the Target & Marimekko collaboration launches this Sunday! I have my eye on the stand up paddle board, kids tent and swimsuit coverups.

Call your local Target and find out if they will have this in store - not all Targets will! If they won't, have no fear, you can shop online. The past few successful collaborations have caused the Target site to crash. I have no idea if this will be a popular one, so just keep checking the site and be patient.

If you go in store, try and have a good idea of what you want to buy, and go directly to that department. Stuff will go fast! Happy Shopping - please share what you get in the comments!

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

I had no idea Lilly Pulitzer at Target was going to be as big as it was.  Don't get me wrong, I was excited, but I was also excited for Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung & Jason Wu partnerships, and when I went shopping in store the morning of their launches, I didn't almost get trampled....Yes, this happened this morning.

I got to Target around 7:55am for the 8am opening and was probably 50th in line. I thought, no biggie, everyone is excited, and we're going to nicely walk in when the doors open and all have fun shopping together....not! Ladies ahead of me were doing calf stretches before the doors opened in preparation, the mother and daughter ahead of me were scheming their game plan of no cart and dividing and conquering. It was so intense! 

Target put out the collection throughout the store, in the corresponding category sections. So 'home goods' in the seasonal area, accessories with the other bags and scarves, etc. It basically created a scavenger hunt for everyone. 

Ladies running, grabbing 5 pieces of clothing at a time, carts being shoved out of the way, women yelling at their kids to grab as much as they can...it was chaos. But I'm not going to lie, it was still kind of fun :)

At one point I saw a panicked mother yell 'where's my daughter?' It was just too much. What a great way to start my Sunday! 

My Lilly Pulitzer Target haul included a Nosey Posey shirt, scarf, 3 Essie nail polishes, a makeup bag, bobby pins and a beach blanket. All in all, worth the quick visit to Target this AM. For any future exciting launches, I'll be sure to grab a coffee and get to the store a little earlier :) 

Giveaway Break - Headbands of Hope

I love when I come across a company that is giving back. Headbands of Hope is where I'm going to be shopping for all of my friends this holiday season...

Headbands of Hope is an American-made colorful headwear line. They have some beautiful headbands! For every headband purchased, one is given to a child with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fund much needed childhood cancer research, Alex's Lemonade Stand or CURE Childhood Cancer - you get to choose. 

It's great to be able to give a gift like this to someone you care about, and know that you're contributing to a good cause as well. I worked at Detroit Children's Hospital when I was in college and experienced first hand how special it was for patients to receive gifts like this. A small gesture or gift goes a long way for kids who are fighting cancer. 

I just purchased a knitted a headband to help keep my head and ears warm for the upcoming winter months. I can't wait to get it and spread the words about Headbands of Hope. 

Thanks to Headbands of Hope, you can enter for a chance to win a studded headband, like the one pictured below! 

 ***Giveaway***

Enter to win a black and gold studded headband from Headbands of Hope! 

 
Fill out the form below to win! There are also several different ways you can get extra entries: sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me & retweet on Twitter , follow me on Pinterest, add me to one of your Google+ circles, follow me on Instagram or become a fan on Facebook. Make sure to list the number of extra entries in the form below. Enter up to once a day to increase your chances of winning!
 
This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Tuesday, December 2nd. I will randomly select a winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break (and will send an email as well), so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Beach Casual Style

I was in the Outer Banks last week so I had a chance to work on my beach casual look.  I only packed a pair of flip flops for my trip and didn't style my hair the whole weekend. The whole week consisted of beach waves and beach cover ups!

Day Look

My new Emilie M Aimee canvas bag is just the right size to fit all of my beach essentials and also transitions nicely for night. I got a ton of compliments on this bag all week long. For trips to the beach and pool, I packed my bag full with my Turkish-T Towel, Neutrogena SPF 55, my Nexus 7 tablet loaded with the new James Patterson book, Mistress, Lip Smacker Lip Balm with SPF, and sunglasses. Half the time I was there I rocked an Old Navy maternity two piece, and the other days I was bold and wore a regular bikini (embrace the bump!). 

Night Look

I took my sunscreen out of my Emilie M bag and replaced it with my wallet and MAC lip gloss. I have been loving Old Navy's maternity dresses for day and night. They are extremely comfortable. I paired my dress with a fun necklace, my new Michael Kors watch, and flip flops, and I was ready to go!

Kushyfoot Flats to Go Review

I never understood how some women can walk through the airport, carrying a briefcase and rolling a suitcase, in 3 inch heals. Me, on the other hand, am all about comfort. I do wear my highest heels to client visits, but while traveling to my clients, I'm all about the flats!

I was recently lucky enough to try Kushyfoot Flats to Go, which are designed for travelers as well as anyone who needs a break from their heels. They are ultra portable, and can fit in nicely into your laptop bag or medium to large size purse.



These are for indoor use, and could possibly work outdoor in dry weather. They are really thin, so I wouldn't rely on them to keep your feet warm, just comfortable.

They slip on like a glove and provide relief from heels or uncomfortable shoes. I usually wear these into the airport, through security, on the plane, and to the rental car station, before I even put my heels on, saving my feet hours of torture! I love how they fold right in half and fit nicely into their clear plastic pouch they came in.

I tested out the snake print flats. These have black soles and a little snake print bows on top. I normally wear a 6.5 size shoe, and size 5-6 Kushyfoot Flats to Go fit me great. These are way to casual and thin to pass as "normal" shoes, but you will definitely see me wearing these as long as possible before I need to put my heels on. They retail for $9.99 and can be purchased from Kushyfoot.com. I would definitely recommend keeping a pair in your work laptop bag, purse or car, for emergency heel situations!

Pregnancy Style - Make non-maternity clothing work

Dress, Marshalls; Jean Jacket,
Chicago boutique, Shoes, TOMS

I was excited for about 10 minutes about buying maternity clothes...and then I saw my options. So plain! I found a few items at Old Navy, Pea in the Pod and H&M that I love, but it's still slim pickings. I couldn't wait for the Michigan weather to get warm so I could wear some of my non-maternity dresses.

Pregnancy Style Tip - Look for dresses in your closet that don't zip or button, and have an elastic, higher waist. This blue and white polka dot dress from Marshalls can totally be pulled off as maternity wear. I got asked several times if it was a new maternity dress. Paired with comfy wedges and a jean jacket, I have an outfit that works for a work travel during the day and transitions to night for a work dinner.

Lisa Hoffman Fragrance Jewelry

When looking for a new fragrance, I always go after one that transitions nicely from day to night. Since I sit close to teammates at work and I'm in and out of conference rooms, I don't want to wear anything that's super strong or overpowering.

I recently came across Lisa Hoffman's Fragrance Jewelry and thought: "this is genius." Stylish, wearable fragrance that isn't overbearing. It's the perfect amount of fragrance. I tried the Tuscan Fig scent and loved it's vanilla bean notes. The rose gold fragrance charm is so pretty too. Perfect accent to an outfit.

Other brilliant things about this product:
 - It's travel friendly! You don't have to add it to your quart size baggie through security and you don't have to worry about it breaking in your bag.
 - It's double duty - both stylish jewelry and fragrance.
 - It's refillable. Unlike perfume where you have to buy a new bottle once out, with Fragrance Jewelry, you just have to buy new fragrance beads.

Lisa Hoffman also has a new Black Collection. It's so sleek! And it will go with so many different outfits. I also like the wooden bead bracelet. Super cute for layering!

Have you tried Fragrance Jewelry before? If so, what do you think? What's your favorite piece in the collection?

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

"How Do You Shop Style?" Game

What kind of shopper are you? I always knew I was a savvy shopper, and the ShopStyle 'How Do You Shop Style' game proved it! Check out the game to see what kind of shopper you are and for a chance to win a luxury bag! More info on the game can be found on their site and you can start playing the game by following this link.

Some of the questions in the game include...

So, I have to ask...how would you answer these questions?

Note: Post sponsored by ShopStyle.  Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Pantone Color of the Year - Radiant Orchid

Let it be known, the color of 2014 is....Radiant Orchid! Here's what Pantone.com has to say about the color choice...
"Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."

Prepare to see lots of shades of purple in stores near you! Here's my wishlist. I call it...

 'Shades of Radiant Orchid'

Shades of Radiant Orchid by lipglossbreak featuring Topshop

Diane Von Furstenberg dress / Jessica simpson shoes / MARC BY MARC JACOBS shoulder bag / Topshop handbag, $26 / David Yurman diamond ring / Ted baker sunglasses, $145 / Butter London nail polish, $20 / Elizabeth Arden nail polish, $19

We Search. We Find. We Shopstyle!

ShopStyle is every fashion and online shopping lover's dream! They make it easy to search and find your favorite designers, clothing and accessories across the web.

ShopStyle.com just received a makeover and you may start to see their ads around town, on TV and in major publications. Check out one of their ads below...
 
I put together my own lay down shot, similar to the layout of the new ShopStyle ads. I was inspired by the staples in my wardrobe. I never leave home without at least 2-3 of these items!

Starting from top right:
1 - Vintage Louis Vuitton (circa 1970s). I found this hidden gem at a local estate sale. It's like my own precious treasure!
2 - MAC Lipglass in You've Got It.
3 - Fidelity jean jacket - I got this on a team shopping trip. It was my 'splurge' even though I paid with prize money. Jean jackets are a staple for me in the summer. You'll rarely see me without one on over a dress.
4 - Tinley Road dress from Piperlime.com.
5 - Gold and black geo necklace - small little jewelry shop on the Upper West Side in NYC.
6 - Booties from Marshall's. Love Marshall's....
7 - Michael Kors bracelet watch. I never use to be a watch girl until I found this watch. I love that it looks like a chunky bracelet.
8 - AG jeans. Another purchase made during a team shopping trip. I think 3 of girls all got the same pair of jeans. They have this way of molding to your body. And the length was just right for me. No hemming needed!
9 - Banana Republic necklace. I purchased this while on a little shopping excursion with a co-worker in Vegas. We snuck out of our sales conference when we heard Banana was having a sale...
10 - Philip Lim for Target satchel. This can be carried with the top handles or as a cross body. I really like the gray color for winter. It matches my winter jacket!
11 - MAC Lipgloss in Saint Germain...I can't get enough glosses!
12 - Pastel skull and bones scarf from a boutique on Magazine street in New Orleans. I love finds like this. It's a super girly piece until you look close and see that there are skulls on it!
13 - Essie nail polish in Spaghetti Strap. Perfect for an every day, go with everything manicure.
14 - It's hard to see, but I have a ring next to the nail polish that my aunt Maryann gave me for my 30th birthday. It's a blue topaz gemstone ring and I love it! I rather have a hand me down piece of jewelry or accessory than a new one!
15 - Tan and silver cuff bracelet. I purchased this awhile ago. I forget the store, but I wear it a lot because it's so unique.
16 - H&M pink blazer. They have the best blazers! Form fitting and they hold their shape well. This bright color always gets me compliments.
17 - Charming Charlies necklace. Bling! Early Christmas present from my mom. Thanks Mom!
18 - ShopStyle Everlane tee. Dress it up or dress it down, this tee is so cozy and I love that its longer in the back.

What are the staples in your wardrobe? Please share in the comments below!  

Go on and check out ShopStyle.com, especially if you're looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone special (for yourself ;)!

This post was sponsored by PopSugar.

Bloomingdale's Friends & Family Sale - 20%

Sales are starting EARLY this year! Don't wait for Black Friday to do your shopping. Start now! 20% off Bloomingdale's Friends & Family Sale! Now through Sunday, November 17. Use FRIENDS code when shopping online.

Transition from Summer to Fall

We are deep into Fall now, and some news reports are even predicting snow soon! Best part about living in the north is experiencing 4 different seasons...which means 4 different wardrobes! 

I love being able to carry some items over from season to season, and wear them in a different way. I'm currently loving layering sweaters over my summer dresses with tights. The sweater pictured is from the Catherine Malandrino line from Kohl's. It's layered over my black go-to sundress from this summer. Paired with black opaque tights and booties totally transforms this dress to a cozy, tres chic, Fall look.

Pictured: Catherine Malandrino Tres Chic Workweek Paris Sweater c/o Kohl's, Sundress from Marshalls (last Summer), black opaque tights (old), black booties from Marshalls (last Fall), vintage Louis Vuitton crossbody. Makeup from Mac.

What are some of your favorite Fall trends for clothes? Do you have an item or two in your closet that you like to wear year round?

POPSUGAR Must Have Box

I love the idea of monthly subscription boxes. I first started seeing these a few years back, with a fewer smaller beauty companies. Now, it seems like there is a subscription box for everything...makeup, jewelry, healthy snacks, home decor and more! I've tried a few different subscription services out before and I always seem to get something that I wouldn't have purchased for myself, but end up loving!

POPSUGAR's Must Have box is my new favorite. It has a little bit of everything in it each month. All full size products, and a great assortment of new products. September's was filled with an assortment of good stuff, starting from top center and going clockwise...

Must Have Home
Barr-Co. Original Scent Reed Diffuser - This scent is amazing and it goes with any type of decor. I put it in my bathroom and it still smells amazing.

Must Have Fashion
P.S. - You're Invited by Erica Domesek - This book is so cool. So many ideas for DIY fashion projects that seem easy enough that even I could do them! This is a great idea for a hostess gift!

Must Have Home
Rifle Paper Co. Coaster Set - It's fun to set out pretty coasters when entertaining! They make a nice touch to any coffee table.

Must Have Fitness
Sharkies Energy Bites - All organic energy bites, great for pre-workout snack.

Must Have Food
That's It. Bar - Super clean and healthy. Pure fruit!

Must Have Beauty
Kitsch Headbands - They couldn't have picked a better gift for me. I live in these headbands on the weekends and during workouts. These came with fun, bright colors.

Must Have Fashion
Shoptiques $25 gift card - (not pictured) Shoptiques is a markeptlace where you can shop amazing boutiques from all around the world in one place.

This box, in my opinion, is the perfect gift for the girl who is hard to shop for or the girl that 'has it all.' Housewarming gift...gift for the new mom...college send off...it's perfect! There is something in each box for everyone. You can see what's in past boxes here. The Must Have subscription is $35/month, and discounted if you buy 3, 6, or  year at a time.

Do you belong to any monthly subscription services? Please tell me in the comments below!

Shopping Sales

Forget Black Friday, a lot of stores are having their sales early. Check out these epic sales from our favorite department stores...

Neiman Marcus - Gift card event! Shop and you shall receive gift cards. Use BESTGC at checkout - Ends today!

Lord & Taylor - Friends & Family sale time! Get an extra 25% off almost everything, and 10% off cosmetics and fragrances. Use promo code: FRIENDS.

Bloomingdale's - Fashion Smash event, extra points on shopping which leads to reward cards! You have to be a loyalist, but you can sign up online if you're not.

Friday Favorites

This is a style themed Friday Favorites. I usually keep an eye open for fun styles that I can wear to work and transition to night. I normally don't buy stuff that I can't wear to my office (we have a casual dress code, but I usually dress business casual). The past few weeks I've found some really great Fall pieces from H&M, Target.com and at Marshalls that are work and date night friendly :)

Top: H&M, Pants: Piperlime.com Blank NYC, Necklace: Etsy.com, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target.com, Shoes: Franco Sarto from Marshalls.com

Top: 3.1 Phillip Lim from Target.com, Jeans: DL1961, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target.com, Necklace: Wantable.com

Normally I'm not a Target clothes shopper (they usually fit me weird) but I've been super impressed by their designer partnerships to date. Phillip Lim has been the best one yet!

 Dress: Marshalls, Jacket: boutique in Chicago, Shoes: DSW Nine West, Necklace: Francesca's

 Dress: Marshalls (old!), Jacket: boutique in Chicago, Necklace: RocksBox, Shoes: Marshall's Aerosoles (extremely comfortable!)

Dress: Vince Camuto from Marshalls, Shoes: Aerosoles from Marshalls

I'm a huge Marshalls fan. I find the cutest dresses, tops and shoes there. I'm kind of obsessed with my new beige suede booties from Marshalls. Because they are Aerosoles and have extra padding inside, they are super comfortable, even with the heel. I have been wearing them with both jeans and dresses.

Where are your favorite places to shop for work and weekend clothes? Please share in the comments!

Phillip Lim for Target

It sort of feels like Christmas Eve...so excited for tomorrow that I probably won't be able to sleep! Phillip Lim for Target launches and I can't wait. I have my eye on a few bags, the black/leather dress and the leopard blazer.

Check out the collection here.

Few tips:
 - The collection MAY be available at midnight online. Can't hurt to set your alarm and check!
 - I called the Target in my city and they said they weren't carrying the line, but a neighboring city was. Good thing I checked, that would have made me so mad first thing in the morning!
 - If shopping online, make sure you know your Target.com username and password (or create an account now) so you can checkout quickly.
 - If you're in store and can't find your size, check the fitting rooms for discarded items. People will be grabbing multiple sizes to try on and discarding what doesn't fit, which may be your size!

Sweater + Dress Layering

H&M Sweater, Dress from Marshall's, Nine West wedge ankle booties, Very Jane bracelet

I've been feeling very inspired after Fashion Week. We saw so many people on and off the runway who had unique, crazy and wild outfits, but at the end of the day, they all made it work for them, because it was their own style. All the fashionistas oozed confidence which made people (especially photographers) gravitate towards them. It was a lot of fun to watch but also very inspiring.

On to my outfit of the day...I normally don't layer sweaters over dresses because I don't like the way they lay on my hips. But when I woke up this morning and it was 60 degrees out I knew I couldn't wear the dress I had set out alone.

I just purchased this sweater from H&M in Soho over the weekend. The black tank dress underneath was a staple for me this summer. So instead of packing it away for the chilly weather, I decided to try layering a sweater over it.

The suede ankle booties are new as well (NYC inspired!). My friend at work has been rocking ankle booties for awhile, so I'm taking a cue from her fashion sense.

Now that I know that this dress layers well I will definitely be trying out other sweaters with it. I love being able to transition summer clothes to Fall/Winter.

Kate Upton Elle cover

I'm currently obsessing over Kate's Elle cover. Not only is Kate a fresh faced beauty, but her jewels are to die for. Looking forward to getting this copy in the mail.

 

Blogher '13 is Here!

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Tomorrow I leave for my first Blogher conference. It feels like Christmas Eve...I'm not going to be able to sleep! I'm really looking forward to driving into Chicago with Christine from 15MinuteBeauty.com....4.5 hours of non stop beauty talk!

Although I've never been to a Blogher conference, I've attended several conferences for my full time job. Here's what I've learned...
1 - Wear comfy shoes!
2 - Bring a jacket or sweater, conference rooms are always chilly
3 - Everyone takes notes on laptops now. So much easier than trying to catch everything writing
4 - Carry lots of business cards!
5 - Dress to impress! You're representing your company and brand, so put your best foot forward
6 - Carry a healthy snack in your bag. Sometimes conferences don't provide or snacks, or if they do, it's cookies and you'll go into a sugar high and then low...

I can't wait to put to use all that I'm going to learn from Blogher '13. Please comment below or tweet at me (@lipglossbreak) if you'll be at the conference. I'd love to say HELLO!

Conference stylin' by lipglossbreak

Zalando dress, $61 / Rag & Bone pocket jacket / Steve Madden round toe shoes / Longchamp fold over tote / Troika card case wallet