Latina.com Blog

Velvet is a very tricky fabric. It can either look soft and chic or like something passed down from your grandmother…in other words, vintage, but not in a good way. But I’ve been digging around online for velvet that gives off the latter effect–for your sake as much as my own, ladies–and look what I’ve found. This ultra rich-looking Velvet École Jacket by J.Crew (on sale for $78, jcrew.com). I love it in the “sweet papaya” color–it works on every skin tone. J’adore!

-Melissa

Ever since the BlackBerry became more than just a tech gizmo–now it’s an essential accessory!–I realized that I’ve completely stopped wearing watches. Whenever someone asks me what time it is, I happen to have my Blackberry on hand, and that’s served me well. But in the name of nostalgia for my pre-Crackberry existence, I’ve decided it’s time (no pun intended) to start wearing a watch again–a cool one, of course!

I’m going back to an oldie but goodie with this oversized Golden Chest watch by Swatch ($200, swatch.com). It’s a classic, and it’ll look great paired with some bangles. What do you think? Do you wear watches anymore, or does your cell/PDA device give you the time of day instead?

-Melissa

Are you one of the few ladies who will be spending your holidays in a warm locale? If so, then lucky you! Make sure you pack smart– no one wants to lug around a big maleta full of clothes, shoes and stuff you’ll never wear. I just saw this great Retro Print Trapunto Halter Dress ($69, anntaylorloft.com) and thought, what a perfect thing to pack for a quick resort getaway. Play it down down with flats or gladiator sandals, or dress it up with metallic strappy sandals…either way, you’ll be having fun in the sun while others stay in the frigid cold–including me!

- Melissa

The other day, I was looking for inexpensive and fun jewelry that wasn’t from the usual retail suspects (Forever 21, Claire’s, etc.) for an upcoming Latina photo shoot. Our contributing stylist, John Moore, introduced me to Girl Props, which is this cool boutique in downtown NYC where fashionistas go for cute accessories. If you especially love to rock ’80s-inspired jewelry–from two-finger rings with initials to bamboo earrings–this is the place! And the fact that every item is dirt cheap is just more reason to love them. My favorite find at Girl Props so far is their Gumball ring ($1.99, girlprops.com). That’s right, ladies–they have a website, so if you’re not from NYC, so can still score some stylish jewelry on a budget. Go ahead and get your 80’s look on…

-Melissa

Come this spring, we can all dress like we’re off to an Ibizan getaway! That’s because H&M recently announced that British designer Matthew Williamson will be designing a capsule collection for the retail giant to hit stores in mid-April. Other big names who have created collections for H&M include Madonna, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, and most recently, Rei Kawakubo from Comme des Garcons. But I’m especially excited for the Williamson collabo because he’s known for using vibrant colors and prints that make a girl feel…well, like a girl! I can only imagine what beautiful prints we’ll be seeing in the spring collection.

Ever since H&M started teaming up with designers to do capsule collections, I’ve been trying to pick up at least two items from each one…as collector’s items, if you will. How about you? What’s been your favorite H&M capsule collection so far?

-Melissa

Hi, ladies! Unless you’ve been living en otro planeta, you know that Fall’s must-have fashion accessory is the gold multistrand necklace–or simply, the layering of several gold necklaces of different lengths and styles. The trend was all over Givenchy’s Fall ‘08 show, and celebs like Madonna and Rihanna have been rocking it everywhere.

Some women even go the extra mile by wearing a pearl multistrand necklace. Me? I’ve never been a fan of pearls–well, let me rephrase that–of wearing pearls. Sure , I admire a woman who can effortlessly wear perlas the way I would wear a simple gold necklace. But when I try the look, I always feel a bit stuffy and too “done up.” I think I’ve found a solution, though: Mary’s Faux Pearl Layered Necklace ($60, emitations.com). It has the same modern and chic effect that Mademoiselle “Coco” Chanel herself likely intended when she first introduced the look in the 1940’s. Add it to the most casual of outfits (blazer, t-shirt and boyfriend jeans a la Katie Holmes), or to a simple evening dress that needs a little pick-me-up.

Ladies, do you feel chic or stuffy when you wear pearls? And what’s the one accessory you can’t live without this season? Let me know…see you at the next session!

-Melissa

Here we are! It’s the day I’ve been waiting for–Cyber Monday–and I’m excited to share the best fashion steals that I found while dutifully patrolling the shopping websites today:

For starters, a girl can never own enough black pumps, and I’ve fallen in love with these bicolor ones by Miu Miu (one sale for $312, saksfifthavenue.com). Enter a room wearing these puppies, and you’re guaranteed to get everyone’s attention. But remember, ladies, as soon as your pair arrives in the mail, take it straight to your local shoe shop and get some thin rubber soles–your feet will thank you.

Still looking for a winter coat? Victoria’s Secret is taking an additional 20% of all sales when you enter the code GET20 at checkout through this Wednesday, December 3. My favorite deal on their site is this Wool A-Line coat (on sale for $149, victoriassecret.com), which comes in a fab shade of lipstick red and features standout gold military-inspired buttons. Scared of the color? It also comes in black, which gives off a more rarefied, Parisian air–tres chic!

Last but certainly not least, there’s something special happening over at Eluxury.com–free shipping! I found a great deal on this Perforated Metallic Tote by Goldenbleu (down to $289 from $725, eluxury.com). It’s literally two bags in one! The oversized carry all will keep you looking stylish on your holiday vacation–or heck, on your morning commute to the office–while the clutch is great for a night on the town.

Enjoy, ladies, and tell me–what online bargains did you find on Cyber Monday?

-Melissa

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now it’s time to shop! If you’re like me, you prefer to do your holiday splurging online. So while scouring my favorite websites this weekend, I found the perfect shoes to go with that GAP holiday dress I wrote about last week–these bronze Pinkie sandals by Martinez Valero ($149, piperlime.com). Even the pickiest shoe fiend can’t deny how sassy these are! Having learned that a lil’ embellisment can go a long way towards making an outfit sizzle, I never shy away from it–and these shoes will do just the trick.

Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll break down the best Cyber Monday steals!

-Melissa

There’s something about Target I just cant resist. Every time I’m there, I try to convince myself that I won’t be buying, but–of course–I always end up leaving with something!

This past weekend was no different. I showed up determined to be strong, but as I slowly passed the shoe aisle, I noticed a group of girls enthusiastically trying on the new Sigerson Morrison for Target shoes. I quickly had a flashback to the last days of summer, when a pair of these shoes arrived at the Latina offices and we couldn’t stop talking about how cute they were. When they finally hit stores about a month ago, Latina’s beauty assistant Sandra almost immediately purchased a pair, but I was still late to the game! Until now.

Not wanting to miss out on the fun any longer,  I squeezed between the group of ladies and picked up this gold studded pair of Divya Crystal peep-toe pumps ($26, target.com). Now how do you wear peep-toes in this chilly, almost-winter weather? Well, I’m going to wear mine with an all black outfit and colorful tights. If you don’t have a Target nearby, just order a pair online–they’re a great gift for any fashionista in your life. Until the next session…

-Melissa

Welcome back, ladies! I’’m so glad you’’re here for more Retail Therapy! Recently, I visited the ladies at Avon to see what was new with the brand. Now, I know you might be thinking–”Avon?” –Why should we fashionistas care about a brand that’s usually associated with mamis placing phone orders and catalog-pushing aunts?” Well, it’’s time to take a fresh look at Avon, because they’re back in tune with what ladies want and are making their mark with fashionable yet inexpensive pieces.

Take their new jewelry collaboration with Kenneth Jay Lane, for example. Statement necklaces are all the rage this fall (and they’ll be the must-have accessory for Spring ‘09, too), and Avon just knew that the best person to collaborate with on the season’s biggest trend would be this legendary designer. I highly recommend picking up this Kenneth Jay Lane Jewewltone Statement Necklace ($40, shop.avon.com)…because why spend mega-bucks on a great piece when you can get the same look at a much lower price?

The best part is that Avon doesn’t stop there–if you ladies buy the statement necklace, they’ll include a pair of KJL jeweltone statement earrings ($15 if purchased individually, shop.avon.com) for free! Ladies, this is major! I recommend wearing the necklace over a crewneck dress, while the earrings would stand out best with an updo and a shoulder baring-top. That’s right, ladies, bare those shoulders…it’s the holidays, which is no time to be shy! Just remember not to wear both pieces together. Make one statement at a time.

-Melissa