Giveaway Update!

Happy Holidays! We have taken a short break to spend time with family and loved ones and hope you are able to do so as well. There are plenty of exciting things in the works though and we are excited to share them with you soon!

We wanted to quickly update you on the giveaway we co-hosted with Tishra of The Beeson Beat. We don't want to ruin the surprise, so click here to see who won. Thanks for participating and let Tishra know we sent you while you are popping into her site.

Happy New Years, see you in 2011!

Giveaway, Take Two!

Our friend and fellow blogger, Tishra Beeson, has partnered with us in an additional giveaway. This one ends soon, so log in and make sure you are entered for both!

Here are the details from her blog:

Entry Details – 4 chances to win!

1. Become a follower of The Beeson Beat and leave a comment telling me “Why it’s better to give than receive” 

2. Become a follower of Frank and Fabulous fashion blog 

3. Visit IntuitionINC Etsy Shop and leave a comment on this post telling us which set of earrings are your favorite 

4. Write a blog post advertising this giveaway and link back to this post. 

-----Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!-----

This giveaway is open to readers from US and Canada. The winner will be drawn by random selection on Thursday, December 16th at 11:59pm (ET) so you have until then to send in your entries! Let’s get to giving, people!


And... if you want to see what the prizes are pop over to Giveaway. Hope one of you wins!

How To Wear: Chunky Necklaces

The holiday season is a wonderful time to try accessorize with chunky necklaces. If you haven't experimented with this trend before the holiday parties and cocktail dresses lend themselves to this festive look.

The Pieces:

Here are some examples from various stores, ranging in price from $35-$200. To the naked eye they look to be in the same price range. Being fabulous doesn't have to cost a pretty penny. However some of these pieces could be worth spending a little more on if you are inclined to incorporate this look into your regular wardrobe. Click below the picture to access the store information and to purchase!

              

Cara

Kate Spade

Betsey Johnson

Target

Target

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

How To Wear:

For a first timer try this style out with a strapless cocktail dress. Once you become comfortable with the look try incorporating these with a buttoned down top during the day, an accent to a simple sheath dress for dinner and drinks and over a plain tee on the weekends. This staple piece can transform drab or simple to fabulous and intentional!

Holiday Style

Holiday Style

Work Wear

Weekend Casual

Cause Worthy Purchase

In the spirit of the holidays we plan to highlight some amazing gift giving ideas over the next few weeks. This section will be devoted to organizations that use the money from the sales to further a cause that we support and can stand behind. 

Today's Cause Worthy idea comes to you from Proxy Apparel an organization that states their mission is "...to empower and employ women in a sweatshop-free sustainable world. We partner with women-owned, fair trade cooperatives in developing countries." They are not only creating an outlet for these women to be paid fairly, but they are doing something we LOVE: seeking out new designers. An idea that the fashion industry is built upon and Proxy Apparel is taking to the next level. 

Some of our favorites items are:

Signature Bracelet

Birds Nest Ring

A recommendation when gifting items like these, print out (on fabulous paper) the story of the organization that your purchase has helped. The person receiving the gift will be impacted and it will elevated the importance and uniqueness of this special item. Happy shopping!

Do It Yourself!

In preparation for the holidays we thought we would share some Do It Yourself (DIY) ideas that would make great gifts and/or help you achieve that awesome look for the holiday season. Keep your eyes peeled for these instillations!

One thing that we really love is using our creativity to spice up our wardrobe to make it more "one of a kind", or to recreate a look that we love but could make for less. One brand we really love is Haute Hippie. We found this fabulous Haute Hippie sweatshirt at Nordstrom Rack in Portland, Oregon and decided to recreate it at home for a fraction of the price.  Stephanie made a trip to Goodwill to pick up a quality gray sweatshirt and to Michaels to pick up some studs. Fifteen dollars and an hour later the result is a fabulous homemade replica of this very fashionable design.

From Goodwill

At the Rack

Finished!

Be the envy of all your friends in a one of a kind creation!  Isn't that the dream?  It is something that any of us can do if we are willing to put a little bit of time and effort into it. We picked this fabulous gray wool jacket up at Goodwill, added some sparkly belt studs and a silver leather bird (that we cut out) to it and Voila! A great one of a kind creation is birthed. 

*The belt studs were purchased at Joan Fabrics as was the silver leather

Giveaway!

In the spirit of giving we want to give something to you our dear readers. We have decided that once we get to 35 followers we will put all of our followers names in a basket and draw one of your names. So if you haven't followed us yet, or have a friend that you think would enjoy our blog, register away! We will announce the prize when we get a little closer to our goal. And if we fly past our goal, you will all be entered. Who knows, we might be motivated to give two prizes away. You never know! So follow us, and tell your friends.

A Reason To Celebrate

 A Royal Wedding is around the corner and that dear friends is cause for celebration. Such an event of style and grace has a tremendous affect on the fashion world. This April 29th at Westminster Abbey the lovely Kate Middleton and the ever gorgeous Prince William will exchange their vows while the world holds their breath.


Already there is a deafening buzz as to the designer of the highly anticipated wedding gown. Daniella Helayel, the brilliant designer behind the label Issa, is in the running as a likely candidate. Helayel designed Kate's gown for the announcement of their engagement. A dress that was immediately imitated everywhere and flew off the shelves.

Press Association via AP Images

Kate has already made an impression with her impeccable style and we are very excited for the upcoming marriage and all it entails. We will bring you updates as they stream in, but for the moment have picked some of our favorite looks the Princess-to-be has premiered. 

Riding Boots, for the wet and cold weather.

In LOVE with these Boots!


Hats, very British and sometimes daring.

Via

Via

 It is cold in England, we can appreciate her love for tailored coats.

Via

What is your favorite look?

Makeup Minute

A holiday obsession of ours is the arrival of the MAC mini pigment sets. This highly anticipated event has occured! The tiny, delectable little sets with their variety of colors open the mind to an array of possibilities and are affordable. Their arrival is a bright spot in the darkness of winter.

If you have already purchased your MAC pigment this year and are looking for more great makeup options Sephora is a great place to look for these beautiful little sets. And if you become an "insider", which means you register with them, then for so many dollars spent you get wonderful little samples.  One set they are currently carrying that has potential is the Bare Escentuals Shimmer and Shine Collection:

Another brand that has been deemed a quality purchase in the past is  LORAC. Currently they have a mini palate set that looks dark and dramatic. Great for the little black dress affairs of the season.

We are eager to see what is debuted after Thanksgiving. This year might just be a, stand-in-line-the-weekend-of-Thanksgiving-to-preview-the-makeup-sets, type of year. Don't worry, we will make sure you are along for every step of the ride. Happy shopping!

Quick Clip

We love, love, love the versatility of the "BOB".  This classic hairstyle was recently popularized by Victoria Beckham and it can be worn in different variations by almost anyone. Below are some of our favorite variations of this classic cut.

.

If you are hoping to get this type of look it is always advisable to bring in pictures (maybe even the ones above), and to be very clear in your descriptive terms to your stylist. Using words like: Bob, side swept bangs,  exactly how long you want the cut to be (below my chin, right HERE) and texturized should help put you and your stylist on the same page. Remember to be very clear on your expectations and your stylist will be able to give you what you want. 

Halloween Follow Up

We thought you might like to see how we snazzed up Halloween this year. Abbey followed the formula set forth in our previous post and created a set of costumes for a Dr. Seuss themed party. Using a found costume that resembled bear, the search was on for a set of three costumes in the classic Seussical world that revolved around a bear character. The result was a Lorax, Truffula Tree and Bar-ba-Loot.Total cost for all three costumes: $17.

The three of us!

My outfit, handmade & fabulous!

Close up of the fringe and hem

"IT GIRL"

If you are an aspiring fashionista you might look at all the “IT GIRLS” in the world around you and feel green with envy, wanting to be them. Well we are here to tell you that you can –even on a smallish budget! No matter what your income bracket, as a fashionista, you are looking to achieve that put together “”IT" style. You want your look to represent how you feel about yourself. You want it to say: I am successful. I know who I am and I AM BEAUTIFUL. Below we want to let you in on a few of our little secrets for obtaining that look.

How do you get that Nordstrom/ Bergdorf/ Saks style on a Target budget? First, figure out what your style is. You can do this by looking back at things you have owned and loved wearing. Second, get your priorities straight. Before you start building your wardrobe you need to know what's important to you. And finally, make smart investments with your money. Buy things you can wear often and reinvent. If you follow these three steps you can build your wardrobe into an expression of who you are on almost any budget.

The first two steps in this process are fairly easy. Know what you like and figure out your budget. The third step is more of a challenge. To make smart fashion investments means two things. First, if you are just beginning to build your wardrobe you need to make sure to invest in some fabulous “solid staples” like a pair of dark skinny jeans (we recommend JBrand, True Religion, Seven for All Mankind, Hudson, Citizens or my personal favorite, Paige Premium Denim), some black pants, a pair of blue or khaki trousers, boot cut jeans, a fitted jacket, black pumps and several cute, but not to flashy blouses. This will give you a good base to work with and in time you can add some flair to your solid staples. Secondly, a good fashion investments means spending wisely! If budget is important to you- and let’s face it, to most of us it is- then start your shopping adventure by checking out Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshals, Ross and thrift stores like Goodwill - in that order. These stores sell designer brands at prices that are 40-85% off retail prices.

So, here’s our point. All the "IT" girls you see around you that have enviable wardrobes and excellent fashion sense don’t necessarily have that great wardrobe because they are a "rich" girl. It is quite possible that they are just fabulous shoppers who shop systematically, keeping their priorities in mind and make good sound investments with their money. You don’t have to be rich to dress the part, you just have to be a smart shopper who shops often and diligently.

Bargain Bag

This weeks fabulous bargain is these sparkly Steve Madden shoes that are $29.99 at Marshall's! A very similar pair is featured in Glamour Magazine's 20th Anniversary Special Issue on page 122 in their "HOW TO SPARKLE AT NIGHT" portion. The pair they features are $79 at Chinese Laundry. This Steve Madden version is also available in black glitter. 

Now at Marshall's

Glamour Magazine

Great for the Holidays

Happy shopping!

Bragging Rights

 With the holiday's right around the corner we have begun our search for the perfect gifts. In our search for original and fabulous finds we are drawn back to Etsy time and time again. After some discussion Stephanie has taken the leap and launched her own store! She has been crafting beautiful earrings for awhile, but they have been mainly for the purpose of personal gifts. With a little prodding she whipped up some additional pairs and voila! You can now all share in a tiny piece of her abundant creativity, at an affordable price. Here is the link for her shop: Stephanie's Etsy Shop We would love to hear what your favorite etsy shops are, we are always looking for some great suggestions!

Cause Worthy Purchase

 We are in love with these necklaces and it is such an incredible cause that each purchase goes to support. The product is inspired by the fact the young boys are sent to the frontlines of the war in Congo with only a whistle as their weapon. The idea that they have taken a symbol of evil and turned it into one of hope is inspiring. The price point of each piece is feasible, even for those on a budget. And 100 % of every sale goes to “restore the lives of war-affected kids through rehabilitation programs and stateside advocacy.” Wow, 100% of each and every sale. So when considering your Christmas shopping, might we suggest these make your list? They have made our list!

Falling Whistles

Holiday Freebie

  Holiday mailings are a great way opportunity to put your fashion foot forward. There are so many ways to customize them and put that extra special pizazz that is expected of a Fashionista. For a limited time we have a Fashion Freebie to help with personalizing your holiday cheer. If you go to Vista Print you will see links to two types of return address labels. Both have great ways to personalize your mailings and right now you only pay for shipping! To have them at your front door in about 7 business days it is a little less than $4 for 140 labels. That is a great deal! So click over and put a little style into your holiday mailing!

Go Vintage

Thrift stores, consignment stores, estate sales- and sometimes even garage sales are great places to find pieces that will enhance what you already have in your wardrobe.  We love finding unique accessories at places like Goodwill, Value Village, Inside Vintage and Dumpster Values (Olympia, Wa) and at estate sales.  Stephanie will frequently take a morning out of her week to check out local shops to see what they have.  The key to vintage shopping is to go frequently and see what is out there.  Some of the great finds we have made at vintage stores are pictured.

QUICK CLIP

This spot will be dedicated to short blips about all things hair. If you have a question about hair, hair cuts, hair products, etc... Please ask! We might feature your question in one of our spots.


If you are trying to grow your hair out you are probably dreading those akward inbetween stages. Luckily there has been a great revival of the 70's shag haircut.  The shag is not only super sexy but is also very versatile too. 

Freebies!

One of the advantages to following the blogs of major clothing lines is many times they offer random discounts or freebies. Case in point is today's Freebie, coming to you courtesy of Free People's Blog. A free, full-size downloadable calendar for November. 

Now this I could hang in my office.

Free People November Calendar

Hallow’s Eve or Hallow’s Slut?

Halloween is almost upon us and as fashionistas, we couldn’t beg for a more fabulous time to get dressed up and accessorize to the max. Every year the quest for the perfect costume brings retailers almost $1 billion in sales* and sends people into stores they normally wouldn't enter, all in the pursuit of a better costume than last years.

This holiday provides us with the perfect excuse to do three of the things we absolutely love: shop, dress up and go out. It is really disheartening though to see how many of the outfits resemble the window of a Fredrick’s of Hollywood or the cover of a Victoria’s Secret magazine. While we love beautiful lingerie as much as the next girl, it is intended for the bedroom- not for the frigid cold nights of a holiday meant to spark the imaginations of children everywhere. As we have searched ourselves for incredible outfits we realize that this is a bigger problem than most realize. It is almost impossible to find a costume that doesn’t over-expose. This brings us to our conundrum: How to look more like a Hallow’s Eve than Hallow’s Slut?

In our shopping experience, we have discovered that it becomes essential to look at everything as adaptable, a skill we use every time we go shopping for fabulous finds. If you are willing to put a little bit of leg-work and home-made expertise into your costume you can make a one of a kind masterpiece. This can be overwhelming for many women who are pressed for time, but it is completely doable and we want to give you a few tools to make your Hallow’s Eve outfit a success.

First, pick a theme. If you are going as a couple, or with friends, or as a family it is easier if you “go together”. This theme will make it easier to narrow your search. Some great themes are: Charlie’s Angels, The Who family from Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, Mork and Mindy, Peter Pan and Wendy, school girls, etc.. You get the point.

Second, look around your house and ask around for “base” pieces. Social networking sites such as facebook are a great way to find and trade with friends. You might start by putting up a post or tweet that you are looking for an item and BAM you have three people in your area that are ready to make a trade. This process requires you to really think outside the box and break down the specific components of your theme. For example, Mork and Mindy = suspenders and a tight shirt for him and a period dress or plaid shirt and bell bottoms for her. Now some people may get stuck on things like, the suspenders- which have to be rainbows. If you are not able to find rainbow suspenders then you have an opportunity to adapt something and make it work for you. You might find plain red ones, or better yet white ones that you can adapt to work to complete the outfit. This brings us to our third and final step.

Be willing to make some adaptations yourself. Those white suspenders only need permanent markers to create a great rainbow of colors. This adaption technique also works well for those pressed for time but not willing to look like a Hallow’s Slut. For a French maid that is classy, not trashy, think in terms of a great second-hand flared black skirt (feel free to cut it shorter to make it fun), a button down black top with the collar flipped up for pizzaz and a piece of white fabric, or an old white sheet, cut in the shape of a half apron. Use a hot glue gun to attach it to your inexpensive black skirt, avoiding the need for a sewing machine. Add a headband with some of that white fabric cut in shapes, or a snippet of lace if you have some, using the hot glue gun to attach it, and voila! You are a French Maid your neighbors will be pleased to open the door for.

Friends, the fun is in the details, the success in the money saved and the class is in each decision made when assembling your costume. So think outside the box. Save your hard earned dollars, and ask yourself, does this in any way resemble an outfit I would be proud of during the daylight hours?

I leave you with the best image I could find representing a fun, classy version of the maid outfit. Amazingly only found on a Barbie. Sometimes they do get her right, eh?

* Holmes, Elizabeth. “Ghosts Aren't Nearly as Frightening as These Characters”. The Wall Street Journal. 26, Oct. 2010. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303550904575562693019232922.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Trend Roundup

Here is a short list of what we are excited about for fall:

Army Green
Shopbop

Fur
Saks Fifth Avenue

Knee High Boots

Riding Boots

Jeggings

Animal Print
(Cascadei Brand)

Fringe
(Big Buddha Jacqueline Fringe Boho)

Mixing of Prints
Anthropologie

Chunky Accessories
Anthropologie

What are you excited about?