Posts for October 31st 2012

Style How To

9 Fashion Blunders You Never Want to Make

As shopping and styling experts, we take our jobs pretty seriously — that means helping you decipher what to wear and just as importantly what not to wear.

As shopping and styling experts, we take our jobs pretty seriously — that means helping you decipher what to wear and just as importantly what not to wear. In our years on the job, we've seen some pretty bad stuff: nip slips, visible underwear, exposed bra straps, and far, far worse. But beyond the more obvious missteps, like revealing too much, there are a handful of other fashion blunders that can wreak havoc on your style. We're breaking them all down below — and giving you the cures to correct even the most dreaded of fashion faux paus (and we're not talking about white jeans after Labor Day). Read on:

  1. Those dreaded, yellowing underarm stains. After a certain amount of wear, it becomes almost inevitable that our white button-downs and t-shirts start to yellow under our arms (come on, it happens to everybody) — and it's not caused by what you think. Sweat is not the culprit, but rather the reaction of your sweat with aluminum, a common ingredient in most deodorants.
    The Solution: While the best solution is to toss our tops when that starts to happen, we can be a little more diligent about cleaning our whites to ensure the process is, at the very least, a little slower. We recommend investing in some special detergent or good old OxiClean for the best results. Whatever you do, steer clear of bleach, which can cause more harm to the garment's fabric and color.
  2. Sizing up/sizing down. One of the worst (but easiest to prevent), sizing can make or break a whole look. Case in point: those gaping holes between buttons on a button-down that's much too snug across the bust, seaming that hits too high or low (or anywhere it's not supposed to), long sleeves that are too short/too long, or pants that are far too tight. These all add up to outfit mistakes that can cheapen your look — but they're easy to avoid.
    The Solution: Pay attention to fit and fabric when you're shopping. No matter how deep the discount, it's never a bargain if it just doesn't fit. The only loophole is a good tailor — if you score a great designer find that's just a little too big, tailoring can do the trick. Just be warned: it's easier to take in a garment than it is to let it out.

For the rest of our fashion blunders and solutions, keep reading.

Fashion Flash

Rachel Zoe and Emma Roberts Show Us How to Look Chic in Sweaters!

The cold weather is kicking in, and now we're reaching for cozy sweaters to stay warm!

The cold weather is kicking in, and now we're reaching for cozy sweaters to stay warm! That being said, sweaters can be tricky to style — you want to look pulled together while still beating the cold. Cue Rachel Zoe and Emma Roberts, who were both spotted sporting comfy knits in LA yesterday. Rachel went for a really oversize silhouette that she cinched with an unexpected (and stylish) fanny pack, while Emma reached for a soft pullover in a muted pink hue. Watch today's Fab Flash for all the details! On Allison: J.Crew sweater, Erickson Beamon necklace.

Accessories

We're Calling This a Style Emergency — The Doctor Bags to Covet Now

The (style) doctor is in, and suffice it to say, the superstructured, boxy bag known predominantly for holding medical accoutrements, has become a top contender for this season's must-have bag silhouette.

The (style) doctor is in, and suffice it to say, the superstructured, boxy bag known predominantly for holding medical accoutrements, has become a top contender for this season's must-have bag silhouette. Thanks to Prada's whimsically retro Fall '12 accessories, we're currently experiencing a newfound disposition for this particular classic shape, albeit reincarnated with a fresh batch of sleek patent finishes (or conversely, vintage-inspired textures), modernist lines, and some pretty cool prints. Perhaps, most obviously, we love that the resurgence of the fashionable doctor bag means we'll have more than enough room to store our wallet, phone, and charger. It's a sensible accessory choice with an undeniably chic twist, and as far as throwback trends go, this is one worth investing in. Doctor's orders.

must have

POPSUGAR Must Have October Box Revealed — Check Out What Was Inside!

It's October and the leaves have changed, so we want to curl up by a candle and tear into the most anticipated book release of the year.

It's October and the leaves have changed, so we want to curl up by a candle and tear into the most anticipated book release of the year. Of course, we couldn't send out our October box without including candy, and we're especially thrilled to share gummy treats from Dylan's Candy Bar, heaven for anyone with a sweet tooth. Finally, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as women, it's especially important to stay involved in this cause, which affects all of our lives. That's why we're excited to include pink products that help support important charities. We're thrilled to show you what was in our October POPSUGAR Must Have box!

Sign up now to get in on the fun!

Celebrity Style

8 Star-Studded Reasons Why the Beanie Isn't Just For Lazy Days

If you had asked us pre-Jil Sander Spring '12 if we thought the beanie would be synonymous with "chic hat," we would have said no.

If you had asked us pre-Jil Sander Spring '12 if we thought the beanie would be synonymous with "chic hat," we would have said no. Don't get us wrong, we practically live in them come Winter, but this season, we're definitely singing a different tune. In fact, in the aftermath of Jil Sander's ladylike veiled iteration, made popular by Anna Dello Russo, we're spotting a new crop of luxe slouchy knit beanies atop some stylish starlets' heads. For one, model Cara Delevingne is hardly without one, whether it be a sportier monogrammed version or a bright red ribbed topper. Rachel Bilson counts the beanie as an off-duty wardrobe staple, and Rihanna styles her favorite varsity beanie with her usual lineup of kicks, skinny jeans, and covetable outerwear. If you're wondering how to incorporate the laid-back headgear into your own outfit, we suggest easing into it. Start off more polished — i.e., add it to a sleek black maxi dress and blazer combo — and then, for your weekend warrior looks, make it the accessory statement piece by wearing a brighter color on top. For even more beanie-wearing inspiration, this star-studded entourage is just the thing.

Shopping

The 10 Halloween Costumes You Can Make — and Wear — Tonight

Today you can officially dress as scarily, as zanily, or as whimsically as you'd like — and we'll just assume it's under the spirited guise of Halloween.
Halloween Costume Ideas 2012

Today you can officially dress as scarily, as zanily, or as whimsically as you'd like — and we'll just assume it's under the spirited guise of Halloween. It's this very reason that makes this (all-day) witching hour so much fun. Now, if you're still wavering on the costume front, we won't judge you for waiting until the very last minute to decide, but we will insist you get yourself all caught up on our Halloween coverage. Inside, you'll find easy celeb-inspired costume DIYs á la Clueless and Lana Del Rey, as well as other budget-friendly themed looks to achieve. Click through now to see all of our spooky stories and tips. Happy Halloween!

Fall Fashion

3 Clever Ways to Mix Metals, á la Solange Knowles

When we saw Solange Knowles's expert way of wearing gold and silver together, we instantly recognized a huge holiday trend.
How to Wear Gold and Silver Together

When we saw Solange Knowles's expert way of wearing gold and silver together, we instantly recognized a huge holiday trend. The style setter stepped out for the 2012 Angel Ball recently in a stunning gold and silver gown by Badgley Mischka, which she paired with a sweep of red-orange lipstick. The dress, with its gorgeous color palette and dangerously low v-neck, played perfectly with Solange's skin tone and set in motion a trend that we knew we had to copy for party season. Whatever your grandma told you about mixing metals back in the day is no longer applicable — there really are no rules when it comes to pairing silver and gold, and experimentation is key. We're helping you get started by putting together three distinct ways to mix metals for your upcoming holiday fetes. Click through to see and shop them now.

Celebrity Style

See and Shop Today's Best Celebrity Styles!

With Fall in full swing, celebrities are swapping their teeny tanks and leg-baring minis for cozy-chic sweaters and textured coats.

With Fall in full swing, celebrities are swapping their teeny tanks and leg-baring minis for cozy-chic sweaters and textured coats. Gwen Stefani topped her punky plaid trousers and oxblood Dr. Martens with a sporty baseball tee while strolling through LAX, Rachel Zoe was the epitome of Fall chic in a knit poncho and chain-strap belt purse at in West Hollywood, and Emma Roberts styled a red textured Rag & Bone sweater with sweet Salvatore Ferragamo bow flats while shopping in Beverly Hills. Cruise through to see which other stars sported noteworthy styles today, then draw inspiration from their Fall fashions for the rest of the week and into the weekend.