FabSugar

Fab Read: Shop Your Closet – The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet With Style

FabSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:00:22 PDT

Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet With Style by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli ($14) is cooler than most humans I know; it had a party thrown in honor of its birth! The author, a closet expert, teaches you how to make a safe haven for your clothes so that you can, yes, go shopping in your own closet.

Expect to learn the following: how to clean out your closet, shop for items that flatter your body, make the best wardrobe for your lifestyle, rework your closet space, and store shoes and clothes so that they last longer. You'll also get schooled on how to consign your old stuff, keep your closet neat, and pack smartly. But wait, there's more. Who would have thought one could pack so much useful knowledge in 176 pages?!

Behind the Seams: Ports 1961 and Elle "Shop Your Closet" Launch Party

FabSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:00:22 PDT

You may be curious to know what Nicky Hilton wore to the Ports 1961 and Elle Shop Your Closet book launch party. I know I was. A $1,795 Ports 1961 layered lace dress that by the end of the night morphed into a one-shoulder frock. Lake Bell was also in attendance at the Ports boutique in LA, as was actress Leven Rambin. The night consisted of shopping (duh), sipping on white wine, and reading up on Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet With Style by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli ($14). I won't give away much else. Step inside for the fun.

To see more from the party,

View 13 Photos ›

Source

Maternity Essentials: Where to Splurge and Where to Save

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:03:59 PST

Whether the thought of shopping for maternity clothes for the first time terrifies or thrills you, the reality is, if you're pregnant, your body is going to change - substantially. While you shouldn't have to replace each and every piece in your closet, there are a few maternity must-haves that every mama-to-be will want in her wardrobe. In each category, we've provided a "splurge" and a "save" option, so that you can make an informed decision on how you choose to delegate your dollars. Get ready to shop!

11 Things You Need to Throw Away

Emily Co — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:07 PST

The first step to taking care of yourself and de-stressing is to make sure that your environment is in order. Seeing your house full of clutter can affect your mood negatively and make your personal space seem like a place you want to escape from, rather than something to look forward to coming home to. Organize a "throwing out" day every month to make sure that you don't have clutter building up. Here are some things you should consider purging from your home:

Old magazines. Get rid of old magazines you have lying around because chances are, you aren't going to read them again. Find places where you can donate your magazines to such as child care centers, doctor's offices, nail salons, nursing homes, and libraries. If there's an article that really speaks to you, scan a digital image of it and keep it in your computer. Or keep a folder of magazine clippings if you like saving magazine articles.
Receipts, bills, and documents. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scanner, a pricey specialized receipt scanner ($174), or a smartphone app ($2). See here for a full list of documents you should keep forever or temporarily.
Clothes. Use the two-year-rule for clothes - get rid of apparel that you haven't worn in two years. Sell them to a thrift store (find a thrift store at thethriftshopper.com) or donate them to the needy.
Books. Go through your bookshelf and gather together books you haven't touched in months and ones that you aren't planning on rereading. Be realistic and make sure you're ruthless. If you haven't touched it in a year, you're most likely not going to read it again. Sell the books on Amazon, Craigslist, or eBay. You can even trade them for something else on swap.com. You can always donate them as well!
Medicine and vitamins. Take a look at your medicine closet and clear out drugs that have expired, medicine that has sat on your shelf for too long, or ones that you no longer use. First, check to see what the proper disposal methods are for the medication, and if you can't find any, check to see if your community has a drug take-back program. If there isn't a program near you, then the FDA advises mixing medicine with "used coffee grounds or kitty litter" in a container or sealable bag before throwing it away to make the drugs less appealing.

For more things to throw away, read on.

Shop It Out: Hart of Dixie

Lucky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:54:26 PST

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story on getting Hart of Dixie's style from our friends at Lucky!

We started watching Hart of Dixie because of actress, style star and sometimes-rapper Rachel Bilson-as well as the promise of her character's Rag & Bone-filled “New York” wardrobe. But we ended up totally obsessing over Jaime King’s mean girl character Lemon Breeland. She constantly terrorizes short shorts-wearing Bilson, yet we still can’t help but like her-and her Southern Belle wardrobe.

King’s former career as a model probably helps her make the '50s happy housewife look come across as modernly hip, despite the fact that Lemon’s closet seems to only consist of pink flower hair clips, pastel cardigans, floral tea party dresses and flowy tie-front georgette blouses. While wearing the complete Lemon look every day of the week might be a bit much, it would be fun to mix a piece or two into your wardrobe.

Lemon Breeland never met a floral garden party dress she didn't like.

Bridget Circle Dress, $385, Milly, millyny.com

Click over to Lucky to see and shop the whole story.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.

Shop Chic Chandeliers For a Glam Closet

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:00:39 PST

You visit your closet at least once a day - so why not dress it up a bit? Adding a stylish chandelier to your closet ceiling can make the space feel more like a glamorous dressing room than a haphazard collection of your clothes. Both chic and functional, a chandelier adds elegance and charm to any room. Whether you like to go all-out glitzy or more low-key, there's a chandelier to suit any style.

Simple and elegant, the Ethan Allen Five Light Scarlet Chandelier ($670, bottom left) manages to be both ritzy and refined. We love the classic wrought iron design - perfect for anyone who likes understated fashions.

For a small but striking dose of glam, the bubbly Fascination 3 Light Halogen Chandelier ($400, top right) does the trick. It's more affordable, it won't take up much space, and there's just enough bling to be noticeable without overdoing it.

The shiny golden Janice Minor Three-Tiered Chandelier ($2,195, top middle) is a major splurge - and a major style statement. Hundreds of mirror-finished disks make this extravagant piece feel extra luxurious but the simple shape keeps it timeless.

To shop any of these chandelier picks, simply click on the image. Love the trend but hoping to save money? Try creating a DIY bubble chandelier or a DIY recycled glass chandelier.

Photo courtesy of ELLE Decor

6 Secrets to Bargain Hunting

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:04 PST

This past weekend, a friend and I spent a glorious Saturday afternoon being shown around by a frugal fashionista who gave us a crash course in bargain hunting. I think I must have squealed a few times over the amazing finds I spotted in consignment stores and little neighborhood shops. I found a BCBG dress for just $25 when it originally price was over $200, and to top it all off, it was in great condition. I didn't buy much this time, but I did pick up some valuable tips from my shopping trip. Here they are:

High and Low: There is a mix of high- and low- end consignment stores so remember to check out both. On my little bargain excursion, I saw pieces from Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg at about 80 to 90 percent off at a higher-end store and found some great basic pieces at the low-end store. Mix and match it up, just like you would with your outfit!
Check the Tags: If you're super iffy about wearing something that's used, check the tags to see if it's new. Some stores get their clothes from wholesalers who have some clothes left over or from shops that need to get rid of some stock to make space for the new arrivals.

Read on for more tips.

One-Minute Makeover Tip: Reinvent Your Denim Topper

Marisa Tom — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:00:53 PST

Challenge yourself - take a wardrobe staple and transform it into something totally new. As much as we adore a good shopping spree, it's also great to reinvent the styling wheel with pieces you already own and love. Let's venture to the back of our closets and see what we can whip up with a little help from our favorite accessories, sweaters, and color combos. For today's quick makeover revamp: press "refresh" on your denim dress code.

Layer your denim in ladylike ways. Pair it with a sweet angora crew-neck sweater, tuck it into a colorful pleated chiffon skirt, or wear it over a long flowy maxi dress.
Cinch your denim top at the waist. By adding a textured, embellished, or bold belt, you're not only injecting a cool accessory into the mix, you're also adding extra shape and dynamic to your silhouette. Let's put some stock into the saying, "if you got it, flaunt it."
Top your denim blouse off with chunky, flirty jewelry. Let it peek out from under the collar, drape it at alternating lengths, have fun with it. We think a pop of metallic sparkle is a playful way to dress up your denim without having to do much work at all.

Photos courtesy of Thriftjuice, Postgradchic, and CBladyàlamode

15 Ways to Annoy Your Boss

SavvySugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:11:08 PST

Whether you're hoping to get ahead at work or just trying to build healthy relationships, it's important to understand how your boss works - what she appreciates, what she respects, and what she can't stand. Create a strong connection with your manager and avoid irritating her by steering clear of these 15 ways to annoy your boss:

Arrive late, coffee in hand. If you waltz into the office 20 minutes late, clutching a Starbucks cup, chances are it's not going to be well-received. If you're running short on time, skip the coffee shop and head to the office coffeemaker instead.
Dress inappropriately. Your boss doesn't want to feel like your parent, so she won't be thrilled if she has to regularly address your workwear. Keep things professional and remember to err on the conservative side.
Regularly bring up your accomplishments. Patting your own back is fine every once in a while, but high-fiving yourself for every little victory is sure to frustrate both your co-workers and your boss. Save the boasting for your year-end review and always note your successes with a purpose - as in, say, while negotiating salary.
Say you'll "try" instead of you "will." When you're asked to finish something, that means you're expected to finish it. Form your responses carefully, as even small tweaks can have a huge effect. Instead of saying, "I'll try to get to that," nod and assure your boss by saying, "No problem, I will get to that as soon as I've finished this."
Ask personal questions. Your boss will offer personal information as she sees fit, so refrain from asking anything too intimate. Small talk is fine, of course, but remember to maintain professional boundaries during conversation.
Tattle on other employees. Most information finds its way through the grapevine, so chances are your boss will find out about any significant scandals from someone else. Nobody likes the office tattler - and telling your boss someone else's secrets would say more about your character than theirs, anyway.
Reply to all her tweets. You may be Facebook friends, but that doesn't mean you need to "like" every status or comment on every one of her pictures. Keep the interactions minimal so that you don't aggravate her with hourly notifications that say you've commented on five more of her Instagram photos.

Keep reading for more ways to annoy your boss.

One-Minute Makeover Tip: Accentuate With Yellows

Marisa Tom — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:30:18 PST

Brighten up your style outlook with a little help from your tried-and-true wardrobe (read: no shopping sprees necessary). By digging into the back of your closet and breathing new life into old favorites, we think you can turn a new styling leaf. And what better way to kick the Winter blues than reinvigorating your sunniest pieces and accessories. Today's 60-second revamp? Go vibrant with yellow accents.

Don't just stick to yellow clothing - this pop of color applies to all spectrums of the styling wheel. Whether it be saffron-tinged fringe or a neon lemon-hued saddlebag, these yellow details are unexpectedly cool.
With brighter colors, you can experiment with wilder color-complementary pairings. Try a canary yellow skinny jean with a purple cable-knit sweater or an amber pastel silk blouse against a navy blue cardigan for starters.
Find the texture in your yellows. From printed honey-colored earrings to funkier, puckered citrine-wash sweaters, this vibrant hue looks great with most skin tones and is super versatile in its styling capabilities.

Photos courtesy of Sealedwithglitter, The Fancy Teacup, and MimisMuneca