Cheap and Chic: The Sunnies of SS 2012

Haven't you heard? It's all over the street blogs. The sunglasses have gotten a make-over. I would love to buy a Prada pair, but who am I kidding. That's why I'm giving you some cheap options bellow. We have round ones which are the absolute winner this season and I thought I would not see them after the Nirvana era, of which I actually have a pretty embarrassing teenage photo of myself wearing just these (mirrored too!). Then we have the mirrored ones, I would love them in a crazy color as the one listed bellow from asos. We have the lady like cat eye and the leopard/tortoise options as well, both gaining strength since the fall season. Love 'em all and just in time for those rays.

This would be me wearing the trend (too bad these are not mine but they are urban outfitters - buy here!)

And the cheap version, yippie!!

Cat eye - Asos $78

Green round - Asos $21

Yellow with pink mirrored lens - Asos $21

Metal top round sunglasses - Asos $21

Tortoise with metal bridge - Asos $21

Wing cat eye - Asos $21

Tortoise - Forever21 $6

All images: Tommy Ton for Style.com

Cheap and Chic: Joe Fresh, the new kid on the block

When it comes to cheap basics, there is yet another rival to H&M - Joe Fresh. Although their design is more classic and less edgy, the silk blouses for only $39, as well as slim fit jeans for the ridiculously low $19, are sure to find a spot in our summer closet. If you have a bit of imagination and pair them with some crazy colored heels, an embellished jacket and clutch, you can look high-fashion on a low-fashion budget. Imagination is key. Here are some color block dresses, striped flats and scarves, multi-color blouses, and pleated skirts from their spring summer collection. Definitely go in store for more colors and to just get ideas on how to combine these pieces.


Did I mention that the creator is the one of Club Monaco fame? There is plenty of room for growth for this label so let's keep our eye on it, 'cos we all know we need another H&M just for variety sake...

Cheap and Chic - Jason Wu for Target Favs

I am not a big fan of cheaper collections of big name designers, since I always feel like they have purposely made them bad just to prove that they have the right to charge such outrageous prices for their "real" pieces. I think that if you look into any H&M and Zara collection, you will find better designed pieces that use better materials than all of those cheaper big designer collections. I love good materials, don't get me wrong, and when I see and touch a nicely made shoe, jacket, dress, you FEEL the difference, in your hands as well as your heart :), however, I believe that the usual designers of cheaper brands are used to the not-so-good materials and know how to get the best of them - which cut, color and design won't look cheap and poorly made. That is the real art of making clothes for the masses. Sometimes the luxury line designers don't have that special touch.

I have yet to go to Target and see if there is anything left of this collection, and also to feel and evaluate if it doesn't look, well, cheap.

Here are my favorites (by picture only):

Button DOWN, buttoned all the way UP- 34.95
Pleated skirt - 29.99

Casual Dotted Dress - 39.95

Dress - $59.95
(plus love the round glasses)

Shirt - $29.99
Skirt - $29.99
(this is not a dress, but it could look like one)

Love this button down blouse.
Blouse - 34.95
Skirt - 29.99

Top - 32.99
Skirt - 29.99

Red!! blouse (under sweater) - 26.99
Floral Skirt - 29.99

The casual geeky.
Striped sweater - 32.99
Shorts - 26.99

And the cute kitty scarf - 19.99

view the whole collection lookbook

Cheap and Chic: give me that gold!

Who says that a gold foiled sweater has to cost more than $1000? Zara, again, proves otherwise and brings the trend to the (fashion obsessed) masses. Join in.

Michael Kors Cashmere Gold Foiled Sweater

Stella McCartney Gold Foiled Sweater Dress, Fall 2011

Zara - $79.90

Zara - $79.90

Obsessed with... Heavy Knit Sweaters. Give me that knit!!

I believe that one of the biggest trends of Fall 2011 are exactly these snow-storm, grandma style, skiing anytime SWEATERS. Since I first saw Olivia Palermo pair a sweater with a long flowy skirt, I knew something was up. And now we see all the fall collections having a little knit party together, not to mention the approachable take on knit from our fav stores forever 21, zara and on. The cheap and chic section of this post is at the bottom, so you can go ahead and get shopping! And may I say that a sweater is a very easy Christmas present? Oh boy, those presents are coming...I have a list to make and some shopping to do. Credit card be scared!

P.S. I also did a knit post just when I started blogging, check it out and tell me if I have improved? :p

How to wear the heavy knits without looking like a fat ass? Read on!

With a button-down

casually put together

or fully buttoned up

With shorts

Who cares it's cold, put some boots on and don't whine!

sparkly embelished shorts - check
silky blouse - check
sweater - check
genious - check

why not? be creative!

With an attention grabbing, style clashing skirt

Beautiful

Uber feminine

With a necklace on top

Who said it can't be done?

With not-so-imaginative pants

If it's a colorful one, you'll still get a point

Or if you are REALLY not imaginative

With leggings

But a sweater always looks best when paired

With a friend

images: the sartorialist, streetfsn

Cheap and Chic

Now that you've learned how to wear it, I say you go out and buy it! Get a nice bright color to scare away all the winter blues. It doesn't have to break the bank either...

Forever 21 Cream Sweater - buy

ASOS Bright Yellow Sweater - buy

ASOS Sprakling Blue Sweater - buy

J. Crew Stripped Sequin Sweater - buy

Zara Pink Knit Sweater - buy

Loft Gray Sweater - buy

Forever 21 Royal Blue Sweater - buy

ASOS Orange-liscious Sweater - buy

Now, don't you wish your grandma taught you how to knit now?

xoxo cmok!