Wow Your V-Day Date

Guess what? February 14th is just around the corner! Time to make those reservations at a fancy restaurant, RSVP to that party, or make any other plans that will make your night oh so romantic. On a night when "love is in the air," you may be wondering what you should wear to impress your lover? Here are some helpful suggestions of outfits that will to make your V-day date feel like Cupid shot them through the heart... (stores listed below)


~SEXY LOOKS~

Bebe Forever 21 Charlotte Russe Guess



~SWEET LOOKS~


Forever 21 Arden B Kohl's BCBG Max Azria

Loving Right Now: Trenchcoats

Something that I just can't seem to get enough of: Trench Coats. This timeless and classic springtime must-have just always seems to be making a comeback every year. This year there has been more of a play with colors. The color selection has expanded past the traditional black or khaki which is beginning to become a bit cliche. Instead be unconventional and go for white, blue, green, red, pink or various patterned ones. Good places to hunt are Express, GUESS, or Banana Republic. This should be any and every woman's go-to outerwear on the days you need something to go over anything from everyday jeans and a t-shirt to cocktail dresses for evening. Take a look below at some of my favorites:

Golden Globe Take-Away Trend: Nude Dresses

Golden Globe style is always a great forecast for spring. One of my favorite trends was the nude dresses many celebrities wore. Here are some of my favorites. And my overall favorite: Zoe Saldana. Love the color, tiers and ruffles of her gorgeous dress.'

Fashion BS Radio

Meet James Cornwell and Elaine Mensah, two of DC's most stylish fashionistas. If you haven't checked out DC's hottest fashion radio show, Fashion BS, it's time to tune in. And what better excuse than to hear yours truly in a 'sneak attack' interview at the Current Boutique opening in Old Town a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy!

Click here for podcast FBS 022: LIVE at Current Boutique! Listen to the whole show for some great fashion entertainment or tune in around minute 14:20 to hear my short cameo.

Thank Yous

I owe a couple of thank yous to the fabulous 3 Penny Princess and Hazel Brutsche Of All the Beads.

Thank you to the 3 Penny Princess for featuring my online holiday gift guide on her blog. Read the full post here.

And thank you Hazel for featuring my article on Of All the Beads' newsletter this month. See the full article below and sign up for Of All the Beads' newsletter, here.

Jewelry Essentials

by Cathy Phillips

Your jewelry collection is an essential part of your wardrobe that should be ready to accessorize any outfit. Of course, most of us have much more jewelry that we’ve collected, but with the following essentials, you’ll not only be ready for anything, but will look and feel fabulous while you’re doing it.

Bangles: Sometimes a gal needs to announce her arrival and what better way to do that than the clinking of bangles? Go with a uniform pile of thin silver or gold, or mix and match to create a group in different thicknesses and colors.

Brooches: From Jackie O to Michelle O and Madeleine Albright to your grandmother, it’s a chic classic. Keep one on the collar of your favorite wool coat or add one to a blazer or jacket to jazz up a work outfit. To make the look modern, group several together.

Charm Bracelet: From the one you created as a little girl to a gorgeous version from Tiffany, nothing is more meaningful. It’s a stand-out piece that’s a conversation starter.

Chandelier Earrings: They add glamor to any outfit. Perfect for a party or date night, wear them during the day for unexpected drama.

Cocktail Ring: A bold ring is great for taking an outfit from day to night, or making an outfit instantly party-ready; although you can wear yours to breakfast just because you’re that fabulous.

Cuff Bracelet: It’s is a great statement piece when your neckline is too busy for a necklace. Choose one that suits you, from sleek and simple to colorful and ornate.

Diamond Studs: They are your on-call choice for days when you just need a little bling. They go with everything so wear then with any outfit and don’t worry about coordinating. Diamonds don’t have to be real; go with a big over-the-top pair of costume earrings or more subtle ones that you can easily pull off as the real deal.

Hoop earrings: Hoops wane and gain popularity at times but are always in style. A basic pair in gold or silver, the thinner the better, will get you through many an outfit and event.

Pearls: A classic necklace that every woman should own. Try wearing your pearls in unexpected ways, such as with a basic tee and jeans or a funky dress.

Statement Necklace: This is the piece that literally makes an outfit. Throw on a basic black tee and jeans, and by adding a statement necklace, create an outfit that stands out in the crowd.

Watch: The most functional of all your jewelry, choose one that doesn’t look that way: form over function in this case. From $10 to $10,000, there is a watch in everyone’s price range and style. Find the size and shape that works best for you.

Signature Jewelry: Finally, every woman should have at least one piece of signature jewelry that she is known for wearing, and more importantly, has meaning for her. Whether it’s your grandmother’s necklace, the ring you picked up on a trip, or the gift you got on your sixteenth birthday, use this as a means to tell the story of who you are and what’s important to you.

Outfit Inspiration: The Usual

This is one of my easy outfits for winter: a dress, cardy and boots. Top it off with a belt, hosiery and fab jewelry for a stylish and easy outfit.

-BCBG dress

-BCBGeneration cardy

-Thrifted belt

-Nordstrom hosiery

-Steve Madden boots

Destination Shopping: Greenville, SC

I love shopping around in the cities I visit. I always end up discovering a new store, line or one of a kind item that I can't find at home. I spent Thanksgiving in Greenville, SC, which totally surprised me with an adorable downtown area with great shopping. At a store called Monkees, I noticed a new (to me) line that called Karlie. Monkees is a cute boutique, with chains across the south (it looks like a franchise if you're interested in opening your own boutique :). The boutique itself was stylish with great brands but overall, it was pretty typical with pieces and brands I see in many other stores. But I was drawn to the pieces by Karlie because they fit in perfectly on the rack with Tory Burch, Elie Tahari, Milly, Shoshanna, etc. but seemed to be about a third of the price. The $90 Karlie dress caught my attention more than the $400 dress hanging next to it. Naturally, I did a little research on the line when I got home and learned that it's based out of Dallas, Texas, which made me love it even more, being a Texas gal and all. You can't buy the line directly from the website, but I found a few online stores that sell some pieces. I'm still trying to find out if it's sold anywhere in the DC area. Here are some of my favorite pieces that I found browsing around online. All of these pieces came from Geneaology, Luna and Monkees. Enjoy!