Giveaway: $75 Shabby Apple Gift Certificate

The weather outside is frightful cold now but, warmer weather is on the horizon. My favorite thing about the warmer weather is wearing fun flirty sun dresses all the time. Dresses are just the easiest way to look pulled together and appropriate for every situation. With that in mind I have another great giveaway for you all! Shabby Apple has been kind enough to contact me and offer a gift certificate to you, and with their newest collection there are so many options for fantastic warm weather wear.

What I love the most about Shabby Apple is that they offer some beautiful and modest vintage inspired dresses. I also, love that they move beyond dresses and have chic retro inspired separates perfect for any occasion. Here are some of my favorite pieces right now if I HAD to choose, if I didn't I would take them all!

Surfs Up Skirt

Rootbeer Float

Calliope Skirt

This giveaway will be until February 15, 2013 and is open to ALL readers in USA! I will pick the winner via Rafflecopter. Here are the rules: like Shabby Apple on Facebook and become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post letting me know what you would get with your $75 gift certificate and where we should send it. Check out the Rafflecopter widget for more ways to enter and keep your fingers crossed! Lastly even if you don't win everyone can still get 10% off of their purchase at Shabby Apple with this code: 260daysnorepeats10of for the month. Happy Shopping!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: Shabby Apple Dress

                   

I am so thrilled to be able to team up with Shabby Apple to bring you another fantastic December giveaway! You are entering to win a fantastic dress. When they contacted me to host the giveaway (which I was more than happy to do for you guys) they gave me a few options of dresses to pick from. I chose this one named after the Spanish Steps.

If you didn't know the Spanish Steps are literally a set of steps in Rome climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. They are a strange tourist attraction because there isn't much to them. They are literally just a stair case in a fancy part of town but, the beauty is in the history and I couldn't resist them when I was there but, I digress...

Myself and a classmate on the Spanish Steps in Rome!

This giveaway will be until December 19, 2011 and is open to ALL readers in USA! I will pick the winner via Rafflecopter. Here are the rules: like Shabby Apple on Facebook ALSO become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post letting me know what dress you like from shabby apple. Check out the Rafflecopter widget for more ways to enter, there are a bunch! Keep in mind that there is still one more fun giveaway to come this month, stay tuned!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

eShakti Holiday Newbies

I know we've talked about this already but,remember that awesome eShakti.com coupon code that I had given you guys a little while back? Well, the deals are still going strong! You can get $20 off of a purchases of $20 or more with code: 260DAYS0811 until 12/31/11! That's enough time to have all your upcoming special occasions covered or even finding gifts for the loved ones! It is not valid on overstocks but, that's ok most of the good stuff is brand new anyway. One of the things that I love about eShakti.com is that they are constantly making new new items available and there are always fresh picks! You can stylishly navigate all the social engagments that you will have on our plates and be the perfect stylin' guest or lovely gracious hostess!

Office Holiday Party

Cherry Blossoms Illusion Bodice Dress

La Dolce Vita Dress

Hanukkah

Pretty Woman Dress

Grecian Drape Dress

Christmas

Dzilla Brass Rings Dress

Butterscotch Dress



Kwanzaa

Frost Lit Drape Dress

Graphic Satin Print Dress

New Years Eve

Silk Soiree Sheath Dress

Scalloped Sequin Shift Dress

Reminder: eShakti.com Coupon Code

There are only 10 days left to use the $20 off of a purchase of $20 or more from eShakti.com with code: 260DAYS0811 at eshakti.com. I just want to make sure you don't miss out on getting a great dress or something for yourself... 

August 26, 2010: Urban Safari

Yesterday when I said I only had four pairs of forgotten shoes left I wasn't being entirely accurate... I had one pair of completely fabulous forlorn shoes that I could not make an outfit with but, would could not part with because they are too fabulous! Enter, Dior Vintage Flower Slingbacks!

Aren't they fabulous? I didn't even factor them into my shoe project because I figured if I hadn't been able to do anything with them by now I wouldn't be able to moving forward. Either way, I wasn't going to get rid of them (I love them) so, they were better off in my closet as a memory.

That all changed this morning when I was getting ready. Originally I had planned on wearing these great comfy Due Farina shoes but, I just wasn't feeling the purple and green combo (shocker, I know) and I was inspired to give the forlorn shoes a try... I think it worked out fabulously! I'll be honest they are not the most comfortable things in the world (I bought flip flops just in case) but, they are super cute and I'm so glad I got to use them! Do you have items like that in your closet that you just can't bring yourself to part with but, will probably never use? How do you justify keeping them (other than continuously searching for a way to wear them)?

I've talked so much about the shoes I have completely neglected the awesome dress I got myself for my birthday! I love the look of shirt dresses but, the cut is not always the most flattering on me depending on the placement of the belt loops and that's if it even had a belted waist (crucial). The Calvin Klein dress I wore a week or so ago was close but, the pockets plus the completely perfect shape make this dress absolutely irresistible (despite it's wrinkled state)! This will certainly not be forgotten, neglected,  or forlorn!

• Top: khaki green sleeveless shirt dress, New York and Company
• Shoes & Accessories: Dior Vintage Flower Slingbacks, Dior Outlet; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; brown leather bag, Kooba

July 12, 2010: Dressing For Dinner

Today is the start of New York City Restaurant Week and I am excited to get my eat on! For those of you who don't know, NYC Restaurant Week debuted in 1992 when it was developed as a one-time culinary event to welcome the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to the City. Though created to appeal to delegates and other DNC attendees, the program also found a strong following among residents excited to dine at some of the City’s top restaurants for a fraction of the usual cost—$19.92 for three courses—and who wanted NYC Restaurant Week to be a recurring event. Now it's slightly more expensive ($24/lunch and $35/dinner) but, totally worth it!

I have a few reservations over the next two weeks and tonight is Asia de Cuba. I've actually eaten there before (delish!) but, it's been a while and since BF has never been there we are going so I can introduce him to the culinary wonder that is Asian Latin fusion. Because our dinner reservation is on the earlier side of things I have to be able to seamlessly transition from work to acceptable dinner attire. The easiest solution: a comfy yet chic dress, the right accessories, and a touch of make up before I leave! How would you dress for dinner?

• Top: navy blue jersey knit dress, New York and Company with a tank top underneath for the modesty
• Shoes & Accessories: yellow vintage inspired cut-out wedges, Merona for Target; semi-precious multi-stone necklace and earrings, custom V'ta jewlery; gray Balenciaga Le-Dix/motorcycle bag

June 30, 2010: Three Months Down!

I cannot believe that I have been at this personal style challenge for three months! I am definately going to do a roundup so I can take a comprehensive look at my progress but, I will say one thing right now... I can see the benefit!

These shoes are a perfect example, I got them at an end of season sale at Target last summer and they have been sitting in my (shoe) closet every since (shocker I know, they are too cute.) I don't think I would have made such a concerted effort to utilize them if it had not been for the way I am challenging myself. Do you have items in your closet that you had/have trouble using? What did/are you do(ing) to resolve that issue?

• Top: blue short sleeved sweater, Ann Taylor Loft (same shirt different color here and here)
• Bottom: white skirt, GAP
• Shoes & Accessories: yellow vintage inspired cut-out wedges, Merona for Target; coin pearl necklace, V'ta; coin pearl earrings, borrowed from mom then altered; brown leather bag with silver floral embellishments, GAP

Items from this outfit are previously seen here:

June 21, 2010: Pink Lady

I'm so excited that it is the first day of summer but, I'm not going to burst into song ala Rizzo in Grease despite what you might thing. I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and an all around lovely weekend! The dress I'm wearing today has a really classic cut (with pockets, my fav) so I'm dressing it up with vintage inspired accessories to enhance a little bit of that throwback feel.

• Top: pink dress, Ann Taylor via mom
• Shoes & Accessories: black and nude vintage inspired peep toe mary janes, Madden Girl via Loehmanns; onyx earrings, V'ta; cat eye sunglasses, Enzo Angiolini via Century 21; black Fendi Spy Bag