FabSugar

The 10 Fashion Essentials, According to FabSugar

FabSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:00:22 PST

I hope you all enjoyed the selections of fashion essentials from fashion gurus Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia. Hopefully it has also gotten you excited for the premiere of Project Runway Season 4 this Wednesday!

Ok, I have a confession to make: I have seen the first episode. Let me just say: the new contenders are thrown a curve ball on their very first challenge. You know how the first challenge is usually to work with scraps like recycled materials and funky junk? Heidi and Tim steer them in a total opposite direction. Try to decipher that. The result? The first elimination and a really good feel for who the strong contenders are. I have leaked enough...

Without further ado: Fab's 10 Essentials. Some of these are not new - I am sorry but no one can argue that a LBD, denim and a white shirt aren't classic. But I did mix things up. Hopefully you will enjoy a few fresh items that I feel can provide fabulous fashion fare everyday.

To see what my 10 Essentials are,

LBD
LRD. Everyone should watch out for a lady in red. Be that lady.
White Shirt.
Denim. I prefer dark denim; it's the most flattering and sophisticated.
A Classic Handbag. The Bottega dreams are made of.
A Cardigan. Heather grey goes with everything!
A Cuff. A statement.
Ballet Flats. Mix it up with an animal print.
Black Heels.
A Sexy Lingerie Set; it's what's underneath that also counts.
Bonus: Fabulous Sunnies! Wear your sunglasses at night.

Source

The Top 10 Essentials, According to Nina Garcia

FabSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:00:22 PST

I just wrapped up Nina Garcia's Little Black Book of Style and it was a truly lovely read. It would make a great gift for any woman looking to up her style ante. It's easy to read, and easy on the eyes, and is full of juicy fashion learnings.

Last week I talked about the 10 fashion essentials, according to Tim Gunn and you all added your two cents. Well, Nina, being a Project Runway judge and fashion director at ELLE, has an opinion on the 10 essentials as well. You will notice quite a difference between hers and Tim's - although some items make both lists, ie. LBD, white shirt, cashmere and trench. Nina's essentials are a bit more womanly and include luxe accessories; the gal certainly has taste. And, as she puts it: "Go a little crazy. Be a little dramatic. Have a lot of fun." Amen.

To see what Nina's 10 essentials are,

The Little Black Dress
A Classic Men's White Shirt
Cashmere Cardigan or Turtleneck
A Trench Coat
Denim
A Man's Classic Watch
Diamonds
Ballet Flats
A Classic High Heel Pump
A Great Bag
Bonus: A Dramatic Piece, Like a Cocktail Ring

Source

The 10 Fashion Essentials, According to Tim Gunn

FabSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:00:22 PST

Tim Gunn is the prince of fashion TV. Unlike most of the other competitive reality shows out there, Tim serves as a mentor to the aspiring designers on our favorite show Project Runway. Tim is insanely smart, charming and defines "tough love" - he's like that really tough professor that ended up being your favorite one of all. With Season Four weeks away, I wanted to share Tim's 10 Fashion Essentials he shares with us via his show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

While I put together some Fab picks based on his list, I thought: we could do without a couple of these, and, where are the shoes and bags?! He supplies them to his disciples on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style but doesn't include them here. Alas, I put together a pretty thorough mini-wardrobe based on his recommendations. And remember, according to Tim: "It's all about owning your look. And when you do you navigate the world with great confidence. And what more could we want?"

To learn Tim's 10 Fashion Essentials,

Basic Black Dress
Trench Coat
Classic Dress Pants
Skirt
Blazer
Classic White Shirt
Day Dress
Cashmere Sweater
Jeans
Sweatsuit Alternative
Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item Under $20

Source

6 Ways Couples Can Tell They're Financially Ready to Live Together

Business Insider — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:15:47 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Moving in together as a couple is more than deciding who gets the "good side" of the bed and finding the best spot to stash the PlayStation.

Not only will you be sharing household bills and probably setting up a joint bank account, but you'll also get up close and personal with your partner's money demons for the first time.

"A husband or wife, even a boyfriend or a girlfriend, is not a financial plan," says Dr. Taffy Wagner, CEO of Money Talk Matters. "We've seen enough drama on Court TV shows."

As a certified personal finance educator and author of Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ, Wagner's an expert on all things relationships and finances.

Before you start building a bigger closet, make sure you're both ready to merge your finances by checking for these six signs:

1. You can talk money without arguing. Per Wagner: "When you can openly discuss finances without arguing and blaming the other person when there is a financial issue," you're on the right track. "The people in this situation would also be able to discuss a financial issue and reach a viable solution that is best for the overall relationship."

Read on for more.

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

10 Really Surprising Things That Hurt Your Credit Score

LearnVest — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:15:05 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people know the typical credit no-nos:

Don't make a late payment. Don't allow an account to go into collections. Avoid tax liens, bankruptcies and foreclosures.

And of course, paying off credit card debt should be one of your top financial priorities. (To find out your other top financial priorities, use this simple tool.)

But there are also lesser-known ways you could unintentionally damage your credit score.

Here are ten actions-from least to most harmful-that could make your number take a plunge.

10. Renting a Car With a Debit Card

While many rental agencies require that you pay your deposit with a credit card, some will accept your debit card instead. However, agencies typically have a clause in the contract stating that they can pull your credit report if you choose to pay with a debit card. That credit check causes a hard inquiry, which will ding your score a few points.

A hard inquiry is when a lender, credit card issuer or other financial institution requests a credit check in order to decide whether or not to extend a line of credit to you, such as a credit card or home loan. Each hard inquiry usually drops your credit score by a few points and will remain on your credit report for two years. The other kind of inquiry, soft inquiries, are made by people who don't intend to take action, such as your landlord checking your credit, and won't have any effect on your credit score.

Read on to find out more.

What to Skip When Shopping For Baby

LearnVest — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:15:45 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

By the last few months of every woman’s third trimester, she’s inevitably faced with one of life’s most intimidating situations: baby shopping.

No matter whether you had your most recent child years ago or are currently expecting, I’m sure you’re familiar with the situation.

You walk into your local baby store brimming with excitement and confidence, ready to stock up for your little one. Ten minutes later, after seeing floor-to-ceiling walls of bottles, swaddling blankets, baby food containers and strollers of every variety, that confidence plummets. Or it morphs into apathy that has you reaching for the chocolate and telling yourself your baby would be fine sleeping in a box.

At least, that’s how it was with me.

Thankfully, you don’t need everything you see at the baby store-nor do you need to be drowning in debt to provide a happy home for your little one. As it turns out, a lot of the items listed on the “must buy for your baby” checklists given out by big box baby stores aren’t essential at all.

If you’re way past the baby stage, share your wisdom with other budding moms in LearnVest Discussions.

As for me, here’s what I’ve found you can skip:

Bottle Sterilizer

Keeping your baby’s bottles germ-free is the best way to prevent infection and upset tummies. But you don’t need to pay upwards of $80 for an electric sterilizer that will take up a lot of kitchen counter space. Instead, try this Munchkin one for $18. It fits all size bottles, takes up no space and sterilizes your feeding accessories in the microwave in three minutes.

Read on for more items to skip.

Luxe For Less: 10 Classic Fall Finds All Under $100

Hannah Weil — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:51:54 PDT

When we think classic Fall wardrobes, a few favorite pieces come to mind - a chic black flat that makes us feel like Audrey Hepburn, a sophisticated trench that hints at Jackie O's impeccable polish, and a few more essentials, like a great riding boot and a cable-knit sweater we could live in all season. These particular finds always appear on our Autumn must haves in one form or another - this season our black flat is actually a return to the classic loafer with a patent sheen and a feminine finish. And, while we've curated a careful list of classically inclined items, we've also made sure to keep it all under budget. Click through for ten luxe-looking Fall staples to carry you through the season, and rest assured that nothing's over $100.

Lauren Conrad's Dress Code Tips For the Business Professional

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:14 PDT

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with LaurenConrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This month, Lauren's got the perfect answer to your business dress code questions.

To kick off my Dress Coding series, today I’ll be cracking the code behind “business professional” dress, also known as “business formal.”
If you’re a fashionable girl working in a buttoned-up, ultra conservative world, dressing professionally is an absolute must. Unfortunately, professional settings are not exactly friendly to the fashion forward. Luckily, you can maintain a level of style by working in fashionable elements through subtle accessories and chic silhouettes.
Business professional attire for women is very similar to what men are expected to wear: The Power Suit. No, this doesn’t mean you have to wear a boxy jacket, pinstripe pants and a tie… Instead, opt for a slim cut pantsuit, a skit and jacket combination, or a structured (and modest) dress.
Keep reading . . .

Yummy Links: From The Pioneer Woman to Alice Waters

YumSugar — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:05 PDT

The Pioneer Woman talks about her Food Network show. - Serious Eats
Are farm-to-table restaurants hypocrites for not serving local wine? - Eater
In praise of homemade pizza. - Food Republic
Must make: zucchini fritters. - Smitten Kitchen
Meet the world's weirdest spirits. - The Daily Meal
Ten essential Thai recipes to master. - Kitchen Daily
Melissa Clark eats bone marrow for breakfast. - Grub Street NY
The real triumph of Alice Waters. - Gilt Taste

Marc by Marc Jacobs Flat Pony Skimmer - Sold Out	Topshop Pleats and Ruffles Dress - Sold Out
Bottega Veneta Embroidered Woven Hobo - Sold Out	Juicy Couture Mixed knit cardigan - Sold Out
Brian Atwood Lalanne T-bar pumps - Sold Out	Anlo Kara Jeans - Sold Out
Betsey Johnson '723406' Butterfly Demi Bra - Sold Out	Elsa Peretti® Bone cuff - $825.00
Pleated button-front shirt - Sold Out	Tom Ford Eyewear Samantha Sunglasses - Sold Out
MARC by Marc Jacobs Dotted Chiffon Dress, Black - Sold Out

Jimmy Choo Nappa/Patent Pump - Sold Out	Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® earrings - $6,250.00
Gucci Britt Medium Tote - Sold Out	Levi's Capital E Swank Horizon - Sold Out
Velvet Tara Dress in Black - Sold Out	Rag & Bone Mac Trench - Sold Out
Repetto Black Lamb Skin Ballet Flats, 30% off - Sold Out	Cartier Small Roadster Steel Watch - Sold Out
Bop Basics Cashmere Ribbed Turtleneck Sweater - Sold Out	W.A. Studios Cocktail Rings - Sold Out
Dolce & Gabbana Stretch Poplin Shirt, White - Sold Out

Julian Wrap Dress in Black - Sold Out	Cashmere V-neck sweater - Sold Out
Mod Necklace - Sold Out	Contour jackson wide-leg satin trim pant - Black - Sold Out
Valentino Red Techno Gabardine Trenchcoat - Sold Out	Theory Pencil Skirt - Sold Out
Rag & Bone Combat Jacket - Sold Out	Helmut Lang Basic Button Down Shirt - Sold Out
Marc by Marc Jacobs Sabrina Sateen Dress - Sold Out	Wool-blend sweater dress - Gray heather - Sold Out
J Brand The Doll: Indigo Wash - Sold Out