Mint Condition

Usually, I associate mint with these little lovelies at derby time...

However, we are not discussing the fragrant mint plant here today.  This post is dedicated to the color:

Variations of the shade are everywhere, from design...

to runways...

                                                                                                                   DVF

Cacharel Fall 2012                                                                                                          
                                                   

Versace Fall 2012

Vera Wang Spring 2012

Mint has translated from Spring to Fall (Winter) very well.  In the warmer months the color comes off as sea-like and light as air.  At this time of year it takes on an icy, bright feel.  Wearing mint in the colder months is a matter of strategically choosing the weight and mix of textures and fabrics.  For example: corduroy or suede mint is perfect.  Chiffon could look silly. Mint in winter plays well with colors that ground it: camel, navy, gray, black, and even leopard prints.  

Accessories are an easy way to freshen up your wardrobe:

A Vespa's an accessory, right? Hahaha

Mint + Gold

Jeweled Clutch

Wow!  Painful but pretty!!

 

Chanel 'Nouvelle Vague'

Nail Colour

Low Maintenance Budget Pick:

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails

'Mint Sorbet'

$2.82 Drugstore.com

Military Moment

Classic Military

In high school, I asked my father to buy me a green flight jacket from the Army-Navy surplus store.  It had an orange lining.  I wore it to death and wish I still had it.  

The military look is a classic and still going strong.  Rihanna, has recently been spotted in fitted camo pants. Military looks continue to have a presence on the designer runways for both men and women.  There is something so chic about a woman in military- inspired clothes.  It's the mix of masculine and feminine, power and adornment.  Military styled jackets add punch to more sedate combinations.  

To translate runway to real life, wear only one military piece at a time.  Otherwise the look will get "costumey."  Black is always classic but the sand or nude color is so attractive.

These looks are a bit bold but the message is: mix your staples with ONE military piece.  It's a bit daring and irreverent but timeless.

That is the fun of fashion.

One of my favorite items for this fall is the jacket like this one above.  The look is very journalist on assignment.  How cool with fuchsia and denim!

Budget Pick:

Old Navy

Women's Drawstring Military Jacket

$39.94

$29.97

Nieman Marcus

Neiman Marcus

I know what you are thinking...How can the Budget Stylist even utter these words on this site? 

Well, I'll tell you.  Just in time for holiday shopping, Neiman Marcus is teaming up with my favorite purveyor (of yogurt, toys, and gadgets) Target .  The launch is December 1st. 

A little preview:

The most expensive item in the collaboration is an Alice and Olivia bike for $499.99.

The Tracy Reece dessert plates (set of 4) for $39.99 are trimmed in 18K gold.

Some of the prestigious featured designers are Jason Wu (Michelle Obama's favorite designer), Zac Posen, Tracy Reece, Robert Rodriguez, Tory Burch, and Diane von Furstenberg.  Items range in price from $7.99 to $499.99.  Target and Neiman Marcus are going to donate 1 million dollars of their profits to CFDA.   

If you like competition, meet me there.  I'll be the one boxing out and throwing elbows.

Fall's Must Haves

Fall's Must Haves:

I cannot take credit for this adorably "fonted" little vignette but I like it.  Each season has it's go-to items.  Knowing these key wardrobe pieces is what separates the the chic from the ordinary.  This season most of these items are classic: blazers, riding boots, cigarette ("Minnie" pants from J Crew), ballet flats.  Truly, a preppy girl has no excuse as most of these items are probably already in your closet.  To take the look to the next level make sure your tailoring is precise.  Blazers should be close fitting and your jeans should be skinny to fit inside your boots.

Here are some looks for fall:

Skinny forest green denim with brown riding styled boots.

V. B. is fabulously over the top.  My translation to real life: gray fitted blazer with dark jeans and a pop of camel.  The color choice and fit is the what sets this outfit apart from last season. Look in your closet.  Do you have any gray and camel pieces that you could mix with your basics?  To use these looks at the office, simply swap the dark denim for black pants.

O.P. is gorgeous.  Her style choices are generally flawless.  Here she demonstrates a fresh fall look: the orange cable sweater is a classic with the dual broaches at the neck. Paired with burgundy skinny jeans and heels with understated hair and accessories she looks lovely.

Camel + Navy Gingham

Bright blazer with a statement necklace and dark denim.  

I'm Baaaack....

And just in time for FALL!

I get so excited when the seasons change.  It's not even all about the clothes.  The change in weather is exhilarating and brings with it a promising sense of novelty.  I found this anonymous quote about fall but decided to change it a bit:

"I can't wait for pumpkin pie and hot chocolate and candy corn miniature Halloween Reese's peanut butter cups and sweaters and jeans and scarves and boots and cold air and bright leaves and late cozy nights."

Not to mention tail-gating, trick-or-treating, and Thanksgiving!!

Now, let's get back to the reason we're here: The Clothes!

Look of the Day:

We're going to start off easy with a copy-cat look that most of us can already find in our closets.  Making your "old" clothes look fresh is easy to achieve by mixing them up in a new way.  Try this look for a casual fall day:

This season we have a lot of carry-overs from last fall/winter in clothes.  We are still seeing a lot of camel/saddle/tobacco brown.  Paired with denim and black it looks modern and classic.

OR...you can also mix it up with a graphic scarf like Kate.

Equation: denim + saddle leather + black = Fall chic

                                                                        Photos by Pinterest

The Coral Lip

Tory Burch flat
$63 - cusp.com

Nine west handbag
$69 - ninewest.com

Lancôme lip gloss
$27 - nordstrom.com

Vintage Short Cover-Up
$72 - barneys.com

Maybelline SuperStay 24 2-Step Color, Continuous Coral 020
$7.99 - drugstore.com




                                  For the perfect coral lip for Summer try Maybelline SuperStay 24 hour Color in Continuous Coral, above.  This coral is bright and long-wearing.  The line has so many other great colors as well but a coral lip is huge for the season.  It is my top pick because it will not wash off at the beach or pool (I forgot to remove it one night and it was still there in the morning!).  

To the Max

       Up until now I have avoided the maxi thinking that I am too short for the style (I'm 5'4 on a good day).  But the trend  translated well from season to season.  So I thought, if you can't beat them, join them!  The term "maxi" refers to the length of the dress or skirt, usually skimming the tops of your toes.  Wearing a maxi dress or skirt feels free and sexy while still covered up.

         Having embraced the style, it is versatile and complimentary of a wide variety of figures. If you have pretty shoulders and arms, but are concerned with your mid-section, the maxi is a smart choice.  Maxi dresses also look good on boyish figures.  The flowy bottom adds a feminine curve.  This style is an opportunity to play with proportion.  When you wear something long and flowing on the bottom, make sure your top is more closely fitted to create balance.  Blazers and jean jackets look great on top of maxi skirts with a tucked in tank. This season maxis can be found at every different price-point as from casual to formal.  And they are not just for tall people!

The Look for Less:

Banana Republic Maxi Skirt 

Printed silk, $98.

Old Navy Rope-Belted Maxi- Dress

$29.94

J. Crew Kimono Maxi Dress

$118.00

LnA Black Cotton Maxi-Dress

Bluefly, $154. $78.

Hive & Honey Chevron Stripe Maxi Skirt

Piperlime, $49.