If the Shoe Fits -

I know I've mentioned I 'm a bit excessively frugal from time to time, but believe it or not, there are some items that I do believe should be splurged on- a great bag, a flashy watch, a breathtaking dress, a durable winter coat, but most importantly- a fabulous pair of shoes!

To me, footwear is the exception to the rule of smart shopping -not only because I think shoes are wearable art and I arguably have a mentally unhealthy shoe fetish- but also because they can make or break the comfort level of your outfit (and consequently your overall mood). I know beauty is pain yata yata, but usually the better the shoe you purchase, the more comfortable and healthier they are to wear. I'm definitely not saying to go crack open your piggy bank and spend every penny you've ever saved on a pair of $3,000 Louboutins, but there are some great brands out there that are priced at a happy medium.

Jeffrey Campbell -
You will come to realize that I eat sleep and breathe Jeffrey Campbell shoes. Every bonus, birthday, and Christmas check I get goes towards a new pair.

Why to buy- I love the chunkiness, the height, and the outlandish styles he comes up with. But most importantly, I love the comfortability of JC shoes. No joke I could run a marathon in my 7 inch Litas.
What to buy- Litas, Foxy Wood, Skate Wedge, Martini Spike, Rock Me, and Damsel Spike
Where to buy- Jeffery Campbell does not sell any merchandise from his own website which can be annoying, but keeps exclusivity high. You can find your favorite pair of JC's on Nasty Gal, Solestruck, Urban Outfitters, Karma Loop, and at Nordstrom.
Tip- Jeffrey Campbells do tend to run about 1/2 size big (so order on the smaller side).

Senso -
Senso is an Australian based, family-owned footwear company- so they give each design a lot of personal thought and attention to detail.

Why to buy- Senso shoes are super cutting edge, bold, and eye catching. I must admit, I was drawn to my first pair of wild Agnes wedges while shopping online for a pair of JC's- and it opened up a whole new world for me! Because their platforms and pumps are so awe-inspiring, the brand's other footwear tends to get overlooked. I absolutely adore their precious flats (like the Ella and the Esquire II) for those days when you just don't feel like strutting your stuff around in a pair of heels all day
What to buy- Sardinia, Jay, Saffir, and Madison Snow Leopard
Where to buy- Senso just launched their new online store (free global shipping!). You can also find Senso shoes at Solestruck!
Tip- Senso sizes are represented in EUR measurements. Visit the online sizing chart to find your size or shop Senso on Solestruck (already converted and represented in US sizes).

Sam Edleman -
Disclaimer: Not for the fashionably shy.

Why to buy- Two words: Shoe God. Sam Edleman manages to mix spunk with elegance in an effortless and genius way. Very comfy wedges, boots, pumps, and flats that will polish off any look. Seriously - throw on a pair with ordinary skinnies and a tee and you will look like you are ready for the runway! Love love love.
What to buy- Zoe, Lorissa, Zoyla, Karmine Flat, and Petty
Where to buy- Unfortunately the official Sam Edleman website is more of a window shopping tool, but Sam Edleman shoes are easily accessible. You can purchase your pair on Asos, Karma Loop, Nasty Gal, Solestruck, Shopbop and Piperlime to name a few.
Tip- Fits true to size!

Get Nailed! DIY Newspaper Nails

Newspaper Nails -
Okay this one is so cool- but with coolness comes great difficulty. I've commissioned the help of a pair of tweezers to pull this manicure off with ease.

1- Cut 10 squares of newspaper clippings up (make sure that they are larger than the perimeter of your nail)

2- Apply a base coat of polish to your nails (you can use any color, but try and keep it light and neutral so the newspaper print shows up nicely!)
3- Once your nails are completely dry, submerge them each finger in alcohol one by one -NOT nail polish remover- for a few seconds each
4- Now it's time to apply your news clipping! Wrap the news clipping around your nail and press for 3 seconds. Make sure you are doing this finger by finger (so soak, then wrap per finger)
5- Peel news clipping off with aforementioned tweezer and VUALA! - 1 down and 9 more fingers to go!
6- Once you have tattooed all of your nails with the print, apply a layer or two of top coat for shine and protection!

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Tell Me About It, Stud

Studs are no longer just for punk rockers and Hot Topic shoppers. Designers and fashionistas everywhere are embellishing anything from shoes to shirt collars with metallic studs. I have to admit, at first I was a tad hesitant about this emerging trend, but there was only so long I could fight it for before I got sucked in. Studs really are a perfect way to add a bit of an edge to an otherwise classic or bland garment. Jeffrey Campbell and Victory Brand are doing amazing and innovative things with stud incorporation. Stay tuned for a DIY post on how to stud your own garments! But for now some stud inspo --

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Lookbook Crush: Mireia

Normally my interest is sparked by lookbookers who sport Jeffrey Campbell platforms and daringly outlandish styles. Mireia is the opposite of that, but still one of my favorites. There is a beauty in the simplicity of her looks, a sort of understated fashion goddess-ness about her. Her looks are classic, affordable, realistic, and can be purchased at stores we all regularly shop at like Urban Outfitters, H&M, Zara, and Topshop. Two thumbs to the sky for Mireia! Feel free to style-stalk her lookbook or blog for inspiration.

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Get Nailed! DIY Marble Nails

Marble Nails -

This technique uses saran wrap to cause a marbled effect on the nails - very American Apparel-esque.

1- Cut 10 small squares of saran wrap (one for each finger). Pick two fun shades of polish to marble with

2- Paint all of your nails with the most vibrant color out of the two polishes. Make sure your nails are completely dry before executing the next step! --

3- Paint a finger with the second color and right away -while it is still wet- take your first clipping of wrinkled up saran wrap and dab the wet paint. This will cause the marble effect. Don't stress if the paint gets all over your skin, clean up is step 4. This is meant to be fun and messy so just embrace it!

4- Repeat the -above- process on every nail on ONE HAND (wait until you are completely done with the marbling process on one whole hand and it is perfectly dry to start the next hand)

5- Time for damage control!! Take a Q-tip and soak it in nail polish remover, then clean up any painted skin around the fingernail. Use ONE Q-tip for each finger.

6- Once one hand is dry, apply top coat and wait for it to completely dry off. Now repeat the process on your other hand or have someone you trust do it for you if you are the least ambidextrous person in the world like me!

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Summer Essential: Denim Cutoffs

Just ordered these killer Nasty Gal Slasher Flick Cutoff Shorts!

So amped.. and so broke :/ Normally $78 is a little steep for me to spend on a pair of destroyed -which is a fancy way of saying "cut up"- jean shorts, but I've had a healthy debate between my brain and my heart about it, and my heart won this round. They are just TOO adorable. Besides, every girl needs a pair of high-waisted denim cutoffs for summer - it's an absolute must-have. Plus, if you get your pair now, you'll receive free shipping! Pictures soon to come :)

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Closet Envy

I could live in these closets -

A girl can dream can't she?

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Creative Closeting

I'll admit I'm a little delayed in the "spring cleaning" process- so delayed that it's more like "summer cleaning" now. BUT my closet was starting to look like it was worthy of being featured on an episode of Hoarders, so I figured it was time.

I've been watching HGTV's new series Million Dollar Closets, which inspired me to organize my ten dollar closet. I purged anything that I haven't worn in over a year (which was way more emotional than I expected) and sorted garments out by color and style (dresses, tops, jeans, etc.).

I know NYC's idea of a closet is a dent in the wall (and you're lucky if you even get that). A cool closet space -or lack there of- solution is to incorporate your clothes and shoes into the rest of your room. While I was trying to stuff everything into the 2 square feet that defines my closet, I had this lightbulb moment- instead of hiding our clothes behind a closet door, why don't we show them off as art? So I went out and bought 2 dress racks from Ikea ($15 a pop) and a few $5 shelves - I looked really cute lugging those bad boys around on a bus and two subways- and displayed to my heart's content! I love the way my room looks like an upscale showroom and I can actually SEE what I own now.

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy

Brown Sugar - Not Just For Baking!

As previously mentioned, I'm kind of seriously addicted to google-ing DIY beauty tips and using myself as an experimental guinea pig to see if these concoctions really get the job done. I have been both successful and unsuccessful in these endeavors, but one of my all-time favorite do-it-yourself recipes is the brown sugar facial scrub featured in a so-old-it-could-be-an-antique article on The Nibble.

So I'm sharing it with you (thank me by spreading the word about whimsy and mod pleeeease)!

STEP 1: Heat up 3 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil in the microwave (make sure it's WARM -not HOT ) -- mix the warm oil to avoid burning hot spots

STEP 2: Mix the warm oil with 3 tbsp. of any store bought brown sugar

STEP 3: Add 1 tbsp. of store bought honey to your mixture base (continue to add more until your mixture becomes thick and gooey)

STEP 4: Wash your face with your regular facial cleanser (keep your face damp) and then apply the mixture to face and gently scrub in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you are concentrating on dry, rough areas of the face.

STEP 5: Rinse your face off thoroughly with warm water and apply facial lotion (if you have oily skin - use a gel lotion with no oil base, if your skin tends to be on the drier side, use an oil-based face lotion).

STEP 6: Strut your stuff, gorgeous!

You're welcome :)


Fashionable Regards!


Sammy

Greetings, Fellow Bloggers!

I'm Sammy, a 23 year old fashion school graduate, blogging my way through my first year in the real world. I know what you're thinking, the world does not need yet another entitled fashionista wannabe blogger sporting the latest Louboutins. Don't worry- this blog is a bit different due to the fact that every time I go shopping, I end up on the infamous Raman noodle diet.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't regularly drool while window shopping on Madison Ave or torture myself daily by filling my Alice and Olivia online shopping cart up to the brim, only to empty it all out and type forever21.com into my browser.

I, like many girls, have an insatiable passion for fashion and styling. I think it's high time we turn our "champagne taste with a beer budget" attitude into an art instead of a downfall! I'm a firm believer that we can all look and feel fabulous, even while paying back student loans and paying our dues through entry-level jobs. I'm also a huge DIY'er- I live for at-home facial masks and fun beauty concoctions. I'll be blabbing about my adventures through the big city, fashion inspiration, and fabulous finds.

Fashionable Regards!

Sammy