Dressing Up In Heavy Metals

I spent the weekend in Richmond, Virginia, where I window-drooled at Pink, which is a VERY New York-esque shop at PARIS prices. Needless to say, I walked out empty handed, but I can't stop dreaming of these two metallic dresses:

($396, Lauren Moffatt, Activeendeavors.com)

Okay, this chick's Kelly LeBrock in "Weird Science" hair is totally ruinous to this amazing dress. You'll just have to trust me that in real life, this piece is absolutely stunning. The sleeves are far more delicate looking. You can almost start to tell more in this photo from Lauren Moffatt's site, but I think you'd mostly be able to tell if this dress were on ME.

($308, Graham & Spencer, Activeendeavors.com)

This dress also completely blew me away. They had it paired with a little jacket on top, which is a perfect way to wear it. I actually think this dress, aside from being perfect for all skin shades (it'd even complement pasty peeps like myself, and I can only imagine it'd look radiant on Asian and Black skin shades too), I actually think this dress would flatter just about every body shape and chest types. It's roomy enough to cover tums but fitted enough so that it doesn't look like camping equipment. And, like I said, this looked so great with a jacket on top, that if you were having a chunky tricep day, this dress still looks amazing with something on top.


After seeing those two pieces, I went on a hunt for more gorgeous, dressy metallics and a few greys...

($297, Walter, eDressme.com)

This would absolutely rule with black opaque tights and black heels -- even strappy ones (with a closed toes). Especially for holiday parties. I love the '50-ishness of the beaded detailing.

($430, Nicole Miller, eDressme.com)

I know I shouldn't like this dress, but I love the updated retro-ness of it -- this is totally what I imagine rich ladies in the '60s wearing when they went off with their well-dressed, heavily pomaded dudes to see lounge singers belt out standards in Miami Beach nightclubs. That shit ruled. Expect for the racism, of course.

($374, Mint, ElevenBoutique.com)

Simple but lovely. This could be boring if it were cotton, but the fact that its silk makes it far
more interesting, as does the strap across the back.

($185, Madison Marcus, RonHerman.com)

This fun silk top rules because it needs just about nothing else -- except maybe hair. A pair of dark slim jeans or maybe a black denim skirt and black tights and black flats and you're done.

($275, Mint, Shoptwigs.com)

Another all-in-one outfit piece -- you really need little else with a top that's as elegantly outspoken as this one.

($480, Anya Hindmarch, Ronherman.com)

Simply wonderful. Slim dark jeans, tight black sweater = heavenly. Sexy, not slutty!

($295, Rafe, Shoptwigs.com)

Nothing's worse than one of those metallic bags that are so shiny they're practically reflective (I know, because I've been there). This is the perfect shade -- and size -- to bag it all up!

Penney's Takes Manhattan

JC Penney's, a store I haven't stepped foot in in possibly 20+ years, is dropping anchor in MAN.HA.TTAN. Seriously. In one of the sorriest shopping spots in the city, the Manhattan Mall, no less. I say sorry, but I'm not above it. Especially now that it'll probably have a Sephora (news byte TWO for those keeping track), since many Penneys now rock their very own cosmetics nirvana! (Wha??) I had no clue. A department store I expected to either get swallowed up in a McMerger or go down the tubes completely is actually swinging in the opposite direction and thriving against all odds. And they teamed up with Sephora last year (who knew!? Not me!) Again, while I haven't seen the inside of one a Penney's since I could fit into Buster Browns (which my mom probably bought me from a Penneys sometime during the early Reagan admin), apparently they've gotten cute and have some Nicole Miller specialty lines and stuff. Is this not totally cute?

($90, Nicole Miller fer JCP, Reported by InStyle.com)
Regardless of the above evidence, The Budget Fashionista is NOT feeling the Nicole Miller.


Anyway, I'm not above much -- (hell, I've bought shoes in that scary Square 1 establishment) certainly not checking out the JC to the P when its doors swing open. I just hope there's a photo studio.

Giraffes & Guns & Colorblocks, Oh My!

Many more things that I want, and a few I definitely don't.


($395, Tory Burch, Shoptwigs.com)
Soooo fun. Sooo out of my price range.



($90, Toss Designs, Yknotshop.com)
Cheaper, but less cute. If any of you savvy shoppers come across any under-$100 giraffe bags, holla at a Jew.



($298, AKA New York, ActiveEndeavors.com)
Sigh. Just another reason to love AKA New York. And those wider straps -- yay! Conceals necessary bra straps! I love this so much that I started singing "Colorblock, colorblock" to the tune of "Lollipop." I'm an idiot.



(Apprx $293 USD, Marc By Marc Jacobs, LuisaViaRoma.com)
This is terrible. The colors rule, but the pilgrim-esque tie and ruffle sleeves are a total shanda.



(Apprx $1,222 USD, Clare Tough, LuisaViaRoma.com)
But of course, not as much of a fashion fuck-up as this. There are just no words...



(Apprx $289 USD, See By Chloe, LuisaViaRoma.com)
What Would Mischa Barton Do? Probably wear this. Doesn't mean you need to make the same mistake too.



($131, Nicole Miller, Bluefly)
Yeowch. Bad news bears. That lime green is blinding. These colors are best left to boys' swim trunks. Did Baby Spice not wear this in that one Spice Girls video where they were hooking around in the desert??



($147, Nicole Miller, Bluefly)
MUCH better, Nicole. This looks like a great year-round piece.



($88, Max & Cleo, Dillards)
I actually like this, for some reason, though I think it'd look better on you darker-skinned laydays.



($120, Donna Morgan, Dillards)
This actually looks like it'd be super flattering. Yay!



(Apprx $407 USD, Marc By Marc Jacobs, LuisaViaRoma.com)
I sorta like these. Someone, please, knock 'em off soon! (Lookin' in your direction, Forever 21!)



($600, Campise, RonHerman.com)
I Heart That reported that Lindsay Lohan likes this. So do I. Now, Lindsay also probably likes licking cocaine off the back of a dirty toilet in the Lower East Side. That's where our similarities end. But, despite the tragedy at Tech (eek! I found this beforehand, I swear!), I do enjoy this necklace. And lucky you, turns out I made one like that MONTHS ago:

($24, TotesTamron.etsy.com)
Look at me, saving YOU $576!!

Nicole Miller, No.

Nicole Miller: Hells. To. The. No on the silk pants!!!

($79, Nicole Miller, SmartBargains.com)
You could officially be the mayor of Shitty Cheese Town in these horrifying pantalones. Worst.

Walk of Shame

Today's the day! Tee! Naomi Campbell reports for dirty duty cleaning out the rat-, garbage- and poopy-infested NYC Public Transit System due to lack of self-restraint. I mean CAN YOU BLAME HER? I'd be pissed if MY lowly maid stole MY Stellas! That bitch is lucky she only walked away a black eye!

Oh... I kid, I kid. I mean, as difficult as it might be for N.C. to figure out that a broom is a cleaning device and not a body type goal, this is still just a token gesture. Like when celebrities go to "fancy jail." Why couldn't she have just paid a super whopping fine and then gone about her bratty way instead of clogging up NYC police resources as cops stand stationed outside the building the whole time she's in it. What a waste. I wonder if this walk of shame was more or less embarrassing than when she ate it on the runway back in 1993. I call bullshit on the whole situation AND the ridiculous spiky boots she wore to the gig.


Speaking of boots...

($125, Nicole, Lulu's Fashion Lounge)
I wuv these Dafne boots by Nicole, especially in red, as seen here (though ANNOYING only in sizes 7 and 9.5)...


($129.56, Nicole, Zappos)
And I really love 'em in white too. Nordstrom has some too, including some boring browns and not the reds.


And to complete this Naomi- and Nicole-related post... here are two ADORABLE Nicole Miller silk print dresses, one in a tres Pucci pattern and the other in a very Deco design:

($300, Nordstrom)


($300, Nordstrom)