Dresses do double time-Marc Jacobs-Gilt.com

Gilt.com is single handedly going to ruin retail. At this sample sale price i would spring for one of these 2 Marc Jacobs dresses myself. $168. Great price-tons of flexibility=Style strategy.

Styling in today's times means looking for pieces that have optimum flexibility. A dress is never just a dress.

Always dressing for the smallest points of your body can actually look dated.. Check out LIsa Rinna, at 45, no one can deny the body she possesses.

If LR became a client of mine. Oh boy! She would smoke that much harder. A quiet attitude -far sexier. Never be afraid of losing your shape by layering.

Style tip- The first MJ dress- an ivory faille short sleeve double breasted square neck is much more than one note as you see photographed.

Open this dress up- Let it hang as a spring coat. Place the belt straps in the pockets instead of hanging. Pair over tanks and t-shirts-tons of jewelry draping. One of the most versatile items you can buy this season.

Wear over denim, trousers, short skirts, long skirts, short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops. You cannot miss or mess up with this piece.

Once you have gotten maximum wear from either dress, say bye bye-Ebay. Bet you make your entire sample sale investment back.

Double style tip- The second silk Marc Jacobs dress with shantung bodice will work really well on top of cropped pants perhaps with slits- ballet flats- gladiator style sandals.

Also pair with wide leg denim. The voluminous round neck collar creates a suiting effect without the jacket.

Color blocking-very architectural and the empire waist and a-line hem offers flexibility to the endth degree.

Are you dizzy yet? Buy what you like, make it work for your life.

Your budget needs to stretch as far as possible, make sure your options do too.

www.gilt.com

-Barbra Horowitz

Eye on the prize-Marc Jacobs at Hautelook.com

Check out little miss checkout! Silver lenses and silver mirroring. This frame is back to the future and your future frame is here right now.

These MJ peeps originally cost $550.00. R U kidding me!! I pity the person that paid full price. Thank g-d you know me cuz today the same frame will set you back $200 or so.

MJ does make a nice frame even if he's not designing it. You know that right? Designers license out their names to the big sunglass makers.

If you're an MJ nut then this frames for you. Otherwise look for his knock-off sister, She's out there and probably at Forever 21. The Queen of the knock-off, a very deserved title.

Style tip- Some of the frames Hautelook's showing are kind of" been there done that" That's ok. BUT you aren't reading to be OK!

You're forward, fresh and right on trends OR smart enough to read my blog. Either way, Good Girl!

Style Tip- Lucite will be trending for another season for sure. A new frame is all it takes to revive last summer's sun dress Remember you can wear them everyday and really push your ROI. Just don't lose em!

Double style tip- Once a client said to me "Barbra, I get it. If I have the right sunglasses and handbag than I can still be a slob.' How true it is.

Make sure two items of your shlep scream this season.

www.hautelook.com

-Barbra Horowitz

Sample Sale pick Wed. Feb. 18th

Wow! Check out Dolce & Gabbana's canvas satchel with leather drawstring closure and gold tone hardware. Originally $1,710 on sample sale price for $492. Now, that's my kind of bag. Seeing the luxury brands at a fraction of the price really devalues their branding and marketing efforts for SO called luxury. Let their loss be your gain. You know my theory. Buy high end designer low and sell fast. Wear it... enjoy it... sell it...repeat process. Clothing is not an investment, when you buy it and how you sell it is.

Style tip- Dolce and Gabbana usually quite flashy is keeping it quieter with the organic use of canvas This bag will go with you everywhere from work to weekend. The right handbag is a powerful signal of confidence. Cheat the rest of your wardrobe with the mass-tige retailers. Target, Forever 21, Zara but let the bag be high price at sample sale pricing.

www.ideeli.com

Sample Sale Pick Wed. Feb. 4th

Just when you were told dark denim was the only way to go, now you are seeing lighter washes back but in fresher silhouettes. Before you say "Hey" If you are still working your "Sevens" from 5 years ago. Here is a recession style tip. Cut them to your ankle and roll the cuff twice , throw a few rips in at the knees with a pair of scissors and then wash. Enter this season's boyfriend jean, made famous by Katie Holmes. OK, nights and weekends check, now let's talk about work. What happened to trousers at work? Not so much! check out these JBrand wide leg denim trou trous. Casual friday's are now your everyday ritual. So go ahead, Spring is around the corner. LIghten up!

Styling tip-When wearing a wider leg denim trouser, pair it with a voluminous top on its own or a tank top with a cropped jacket or hoodie. These pants are the perfect compliment to your chunky funky thicker heels and wedges.

Double style tip-if you happen to have your old favorite 501's from back in the day and you are under 40, go ahead and recreate the boyfriend jean. Fashion cycles around every 20 years and if you are young enough or ageless enough and were holding on to these oldies but goodies, then take this moment. It's all you!

www.billiondallarbabes.com

Sample sale picks Tues. 1/6

When it comes to handbags and clutehes, a girl can never have 2 many options. I will constantly be hitting you with handbag posts. Jennifer Lopez the queen of options put Katherine Kwei on the map with her jury duty paparazzi shots a few season's back. JLo was carrying a phenomenal , putty swingy, fringy but fringy like we had never seen before. Handbag designer Katherine Kwei uses traditional chinese chording seen in celebratory chinese customs. The Donna clutch featured above in grey snakeskin is a keeper and will punch up any outfit from denim to diamonds or even both.

Style tip-Clutches should have texture in them going forward, the flat envelope clutch is not trending as strongly right now. Fashion is a menagerie of textures. When getting dressed, think of your home and the multiple textures you used. Styling is exactly that. Sometimes-it's SO wrong it's right.

www.hautelook.com

Sample Sale picks Monday 1/5

Oh Marc Jacobs, coveted by all, why I am not so sure. I mean, MJ is fantastic at taking from the past. Since I am a flea market aficionado it is easy to see MJ's influences for far far less at the flea. I get it, not everyone wants to scour for deals or wear someone else's shoes. So, I post today for all the MJ fans, while you are simply purchasing exact replicas from the past, you love it, so I am writing about it. I have to admit, MJ does a nice job of reinterpreting his shoe collection. I think this Mary Jane high pump is lovely. NYE may be over, but never be afraid to add a little shimmer into your everyday clothing. As we have seen for the past several season's, shimmer and glimmer are perfectly appropriate for day time as long as you don't over do it. I love this shoe for its texture and ombre coloring.

Style tip-The Mary Jane can be tough to wear with dresses unless you have model like gams. For the rest of us mere mortals, consider wearing as a pant shoe. The thick heel is fantastic for your wide legged trousers, but don't discount the rock n roll ballet effect for your skinny's as well.

www.gilt.com

Sample Sale picks Monday 1/5

As you get to know my taste, you will see running themes that I like to talk about. One of them is skin tone shoes. There is nothing more slimming for your ankle and your legs as a skin tone shoe. It offers your legs a longer, more seamless appearance. This Marc Jacobs open toe high mule is a great choice especially with the lower than 3' heel height. Most of my clients cringe at high heels but finding a heel lower than 3 inches that look like the MJ listed above, not so easy. With the mule step in and the strap crossing across your foot higher up to the ankle versus lower is very flattering on most everyone. It is tricky with straps as they can cut the foot but the mule effect in the back is really essential for that seamless, longer look on your legs.

Style Tip-This is a great trouser or denim shoe. If you are wearing with a dress and you do not feel your legs are your best asset, then make sure the dress is fuller on the bottom versus a column or wrap dress. If your legs are your favorite part of your body, then you can't go wrong with this shoe in any style of dress that you wear. Boo hoo, I swear I am coming back with legs of death in the next life.

www.gilt.com

Sample sale picks Monday 12/29

Check out Swarovski's Nirvana ring pictured above. Nothing like a great cocktail ring to set off any outfit and at $115, you want to click not scroll over to Gilt.com As young women we are drawn to everything that is shiny and bright, glimmery and shimmery. As women that same glimmer still shines bright. A cocktail ring is a necessity for every wardrobe.

Style tip- Styling is in the simplicity but not necessarily always being quiet. One fantastic ring can set your whole outfit up. Cocktail rings are confident statements all on their own.
Create your own statement today.

www.gilt.com

Sample sale picks Monday 12/29

I also love this Swarovski large link bracelet. Check out the two links that are emblazoned by Swarovski's signature rhinestones. Those two links give an architectural element to the bracelet that allows the viewers eye to rest while being mesmorized.

Style tip- Load this link bracelet up with a few of your old faithfuls, don't be afraid to mix your metals. Consider pairing three at once. Sometimes you just need one new friend at the party for a new and fresh look.This is a solid investment at $95.
Go ahead stack em up.

www.gilt.com

Sample Sale Picks Monday Wed. 12/23

Stop reading and go directly to Hautelook.com. Habitual denim is clearing their skinny jeans. Quickstyle! Most of the washes shown are not trending, hence the ridiculous price. This season, it's dark denim or onyx as I show with Habitual's velocity jean pictured above. If you have read my book Closet Control (Sterling Publishing) then you know you can steal a pair at Hautelook.com and simply dye them indigo blue or jet black. A couple of packs of Rit dye at your supermarket and your washer or an oversized pot.

Skinny jeans are a double entendre for women. If you think you are skinny or want to be skinny than you own the skinny. If you think, NO WAY you are NOT skinny or your legs aren't skinny, you aren't even giving the skinny a try. The use of the word skinny just describes the bandwidth of the leg.. The skinny jean isn't going anywhere. No longer a trend but a staple. At these sample sale prices what do you have to lose?

Style tip- If you own more than 4 pairs of skinny jeans you do not need another pair. It is very normal to keep buying a shape that you love over and over again. Back pockets and washes are the simplest ways to update your skinny jeans. You can simply take the stitching out with a seam ripper and as I write above dye last season's wash to this season.

Double style tip-No multiples. Do not keep buying the same shape in several colors. In your denim wardrobe you can own two of the same shape only for the "in the laundry" factor.

Triple style tip-skinny jeans tucked into high heel boots, not so much. quiet down last season't look with a more organic, apres ski style boot.

quadruple style tip-Always wear a bigger proportion up top. The focal point for your viewers eye is your legs and whether you love your legs or not, you need this proportion up top for balance. Today's trends are not showing everything at once. It is a quieter sexy and in this example, styled correctly, you are rocking your legs.

Final tip-Heels are your legs best friend. wear them with the skinny and you will feel sexy like a rock star sexy.

Hautelook.com Sample Sale picks for Thurs. Dec. 18

The secret to any good wardrobe is an interesting top. This Paul and Joes Sister, Dojo tunic is edgy but sweet and above all interesting. When building your wardrobe, you want to buy heavy on tops.. I call it the SEE level. What ever you can see the most in your outfit is what you need to refresh most often.

Style Tip-Wear this dojo tunic with your skinny jeans. The concept for styling in this case is tight bottom, loose top. Pairing this dojo tunic with a wide leg denim trouser also has the same effect, as the eye in both instances will go to the thigh, which is the figure point you are highlighting as well as the apple of your bum.

Tight on Top, tight on the bottom makes for too tight and not the right proportion. Styling is all in the proportions.

Hautelook.com Sample Sale picks for Thurs. Dec. 18

Vera Wang's Lavender label halter, tulle, v neck dress.
I love this dress and let me tell you why, any time you have a sheer over lay such as tulle it allows the eye to frame your body. Styling is all about pulling the viewers eye where you want them to look. I am not crazy about the little hanging down piece of tulle, even Vera can have her costumy moments, but at 60 percent off and $180 dollars, simply have your seamstress even it out.

Style Tip- Be aware of your best parts and frame tulle and sheer clothing around them. When shopping on sale and you see a piece of clothing that can be improved by cutting here or snipping there, do it. Clothing off the rack is meant for you to personalize and alter around your own curves.

Tulle on over to http://www.hautelook.com

Hautelook.com Sample Sale picks for Thurs. Dec. 18

Vera Wang Lavender label is hooking it up over at Hautelook.com My first pick is the beautiful, bohemian, diaphonous strapless, organza plum gown with pockets. Pockets in an evening gown are the ultimate, care don't care attitude. Oh this frock, I just put it on. Exactly, just put it on.

Style Tip-evening wear should not just be saved for evenings. Buy what you like, make it work with your life. Pair this dress with a a beautiful kitten heel and a 3/4 shimmery coat for the holidays. After you have gotten your red carpet wear, dawn this frock in the day with your favorite gladiator sandals from last season and a luxurious sweater for day time chic.

Hautelook.com Sample Sale picks for Wed. 12/17

It's in the bag with today's Hautelook.com sample sale picks. Foley and Corinna happens to be one of the best priced handbag lines on the market. Their bags pack the punch style wise, but still leave room in your pocktebook to accessorize. And at Hautelook.com sample sale prices;, fuhget about it! No Dilly Dallying, this hot tip is about to be sold out. http://www.harutlook.com

Style tip-Opt for chocolate brown, patent or suede as shown in my choices. Nothing like a little winter wonderland silver to sparkle this holiday season.

Shopflick. com and Hautelook.com on Fashion 411-it's NEVER just about the clothing.

Please join me this week as I interview co-founder Patrick Yee and editorial director, Davida Hall of Shopflick.com. You might just be scratching your head, saying what is Shopflick? How about an indie QVC supported by video. If you are looking for the small independent designer or you actually have had dreams of designing yourself, than go to http;//www.shopflick,com and check out all the great videos and even load one up yourself and become a designer/seller. Who knows that jewerly hobby of yours, could turn into a whole new career.

If Shopflick.com wasn't enough, I also interview founder Adam Bernhard of Hautelook.com. If you are asking what Hautelook.com is, you might just be under a rock. Hautelook.com is a flash sample sale, meaning DVF, Ella Moss, Frankie B and many of your other favorite labels give Hautelook.com their overstock to sell for them. Limited quantities are available. http://www.hautelook.com to sign up and become a member.

To hear the show and get all the inside tips go to http:/www.karmasolradio.com and scroll down to Fashion 411-it's NEVER just about the clothing. A new show goes up every Wed so no dilly dallying.