10 under $100 for the Holidays - Party Dresses

Christmas has rolled around once again and for many of us, this time usually comes with invites to plenty of cocktail parties and Christmas dinners. If you're going to get through all your holiday events in style (and with your sanity intact), a fabulous cocktail dress is a definite must-have for the season.

We ladies all have different holiday dress personalities - some of us like to be the centre of attention while others prefer to have a more subtle party presence.

The 10 lovely dresses I've listed below cater to both personality types and are well below $100! Budget-friendly and stylish options because you've all been great girls this year - you deserve it ;)

BOLD AND FLIRTY

Ochre Draped Slinky Dress

Price: UK£17.00 (US$26.40)

Printed One Shoulder Dress

Price: US$53.94

2b Velvet Drape Dress
Price: US$49.95

Closet Pink Gathered Drape Dress

Price: UK£30.00 (US$46.89)

Strapless Party Dress
Price: US$23.80

DEMURE AND ROMANTIC

ASOS Embellished Waist Drape One Shoulder Dress
Price: UK£38.00 (US$59.00)

Ivory Tower Cream Dress
Price: US$34.00

Sleeveless Sequin Ballerina Dress
Price: US$24.99

All Over Lace Pleated Bust Tube Dress
Price: UK£34.50 (US$53.57)

Ruffle Shoulder Dress
Price: US$31.47

Blue Leopard

photo courtesy jakandjil.com/blog

Leopard prints continue to charge full steam ahead as one of the top trends of the A/W 2010 season but the majority of them tend to be quite literal translations of the motif.

An interesting take on the theme is coloured leopard prints, or more specifically, blue leopard. It's more funky and playful than the usual brown leopard print but the cool tone of the blue keeps it easy on the eyes.

If you're feeling the blue leopard print as much as I am, check out the gorgeous, stylish pieces below.

Sunny Leigh Blouse

Price: US$36.99

Leopard Print Scarf
Price: UK£12.00 (US$18.74)

Hobbs Animal Cardigan

Price: UK£44.00 (US$68.60)

Gianni Bini "Honey" Pump
Price: US$89.99

Leopard Dress
Price: UK£34.00 (US$53.00)

And it was all yellow

photos courtesy elleuk.com, hanneli.com, streethearts.com,

waynetippets.com, style.com, glamcanyon.blogspot.com

Looking at the photos above, I realize that I don't have nearly enough yellow in my life. All the shades on the yellow spectrum, whether buttery, lemon-y or mustard-y, are absolutely fantabulous in my book.

Yellow tends to be a colour associated with summer as it best reflects the warmth and cheerful mood of that season. In colder seasons dominated by the darkest, most dreary colours, a bit of yellow is always a surprising yet most welcome addition.

Below are some of my picks of stylish yellow pieces to brighten up a winter wardrobe.

ASOS Textured Cotton Pea Mac

Price: UK£70.00 (US$120.68)

Chunky Knit Snood Scarf
Price: US$7.80

Drawstring Pencil Skirt
Price: US$28.99

Cotton Cable V-Neck Sweater

Price: US$29.00

Etienne Aigner Tuscon Tote
Price: US$63.99

See by Chloé Cropped Cotton-blend Pants
Price: US$81.00

Alfani Sweater

Price: US$29.99

UO Suede Pump

Price: US$49.00

Any Fashion Designers want to work for Celine?

That's Shoe/Bag designers to be exact.

I've never posted about fashion job opportunities before but this is such a great one that I felt I had to share it.

photo courtesy taistoisoisbeau.com

French fashion label Celine is offering a paid (£280/week) Shoe/Bag Design internship for six weeks at their offices and studio in London's West End.

The student will be supervised by the Head of Bag Design and could learn about the workings of a busy design studio and the creative design process, and also be an assistant to the Leather Goods department.

This placement is a great opportunity for an organized, flexible student with a fashion background who is seeking hands-on industry experience and is available for an immediate start.

Closing date is ASAP so send your CV and covering letter to g.trembath@uk.celine.com quickly to ensure you get a shot at this job.

All the best to those who apply!


For the original job posting, visit the University of the Arts London website.

What I Want Right Now - Ear Chain

photo courtesy bikerjewelry.com

photo courtesy wiregems.com

I'm seriously considering getting a helix piercing just so I can wear an ear chain like the ones above. I really love the style but I'd probably prefer them with more/longer chains and in funkier colours. I already have my lobes pierced twice but the only thing I don't like about getting another piercing is the required maintenance afterwards.

I would love to find one that doesn't require another piercing like the one below which just hooks over the top over the ear but no such luck as yet. If any of you knows where I can find one or you make jewelry and you're willing to do a customized one for a reasonable price, please let me know!

photo courtesy youngfatandfabulous.com

Celebrity Style for less - Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham certainly knows how to travel in style as she arrived at London Heathrow Airport on March 23 in a chic, menswear-inspired ensemble.

The former Spice Girl and current fashion designer takes on the utilitarian trend in a sharp black blazer, olive green cuffed trousers and a heather grey tank top. She accessorized the look with nude platform heels, a statement gold men's watch, a gold ring and her trademark Aviator sunglasses.

photo courtesy justjared.com

Replicate this stylish look with the much more affordable alternatives below:

Oasis Power Shoulder Blazer
Price: UK£33.00 (US$56.41)

Rib Tank with Chiffon Straps
Price: US$6.78

Military Peg Leg Trousers (Product Number 588563)
Price: UK£29.99 (US$44.68)

Nine West Nadia
Price: US$79.99

Designer Inspired Large Aviator Sunglasses
Price: US$9.80

Sekonda Men's 8 Diamond Gold Plated Bracelet Watch
Price: UK£49.99 (US$74.48)

Faux Diamond Waves Ring

Price: US$4.80

Cool Vintage Finds - Feline Fantasy

I love cats. Not in a weird, cliche "I want to live with them alone for the rest of my life" kind of way but I do have a definite affinity for them.

I also have a thing for the cat motif in fashion and I believe novelty feline prints and accessories are a really great way to add fun and quirkiness to Spring wardrobes.

The Miu Miu Spring 2010 runway was littered (bad pun intended) with cute, playful cats on clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry - you name it, cats were on it.

images courtesy style.com

I scoured Etsy and Ebay to find some cute and stylish vintage cat pieces and came up with quite a few options below.

Crazy Cat Lady Sweater
Price: US$35.00

Meow Cute Sterling Silver Kitty Ring
Price: US$5.50



Vintage Beaded Bag with Cats and Roses
Price: US$16.99

Movable Vintage Hoop Pierced Earrings with Cat
Price: US$12.00

Vtg 70s Black Cat and Guitar Boho Kaftan Dress
Price: US$24.99
(N.B 7 days left in auction)

Vintage Pewter Color Three Cat Necklace
Price: US$16.50

Cats in Love Brooch
Price: US$8.00

Vtg 80s Tapestry Vest

Price: US$9.99
(N.B 7 days left in auction)

Vintage Cat Earrings
Price: US$6.00

Here are some little known and interesting (to me anyway) cat facts taken from www.catscans.com:

• Ailurophilia is the "love of cats".
• The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.
• The domestic cat is the only cat species able to hold its tail vertically while walking. All wild cats hold their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs while walking.
• Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the principles of gravity, also invented the cat door.
• A cat will amost never "meow" at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans.
• A group of kittens is called a "kindle" and a group of grown cats is called a "clowder".

Also, here's a Vogue fashion spread from 2008 which features cute Persian cats and model Karen Elson with hair, makeup and outfits inspired by the fantastic Grace Coddington.

photos courtesy mycatgoma.com