* editor’s note:  last day to enter that amazing mother’s day giveaway!  don’t miss this one…i’m so loving hearing your mom stories (though i promise not to tell if you keep the prize for yourself!).

i’m tiptoeing through my bookmarks this morning, and lo and behold, i came up with a bargain-full ensemble that i’m pretty excited about.  

i’ve been searching high and low for a blazer i liked that (a) wasn’t too expensive, (b) was a little bit unexpected, and (c) was the right cut for my body type.  the reality is most boyfriend blazers are just not that flattering unless you’re very petite.  they eliminate any hint of a waist or hips, and bulk up your shoulders considerably – resulting in a look popular with linebackers the world over. but this three-button twill blazer from old navy is just $25, and i think it might be perfect.  the buttons are high enough that the lapel won’t bulge if you’re well-endowed up top.  the waist is nipped in, and the length is great for layering.  plus, it’s $25.  roll up the sleeves and leave it unbuttoned to get the boyfriend blazer look without the disfiguring side effects.

i’d pair it with a classic, liberty-style floral print top – this topshop version is a great option for $50.  the floral is a great balance against the more structured jacket, and the colors blend without being sickeningly matchy.  you could also try this top from forever 21, though i’d probably go with a floral that doesn’t include yellow if you pick the yellow blazer (the seersucker would be fun, though).  

pair it with one of these beautiful floral tin necklaces from the little black rabbit, which i’ve been coveting something fierce. the dogwood (right) is perfect if you’re nervous about the mix-and-match, but i love mixing florals, and this is a great, safe way to give it a try!

add all of this to your favorite denim, or an a-line or pencil skirt (royal blue would be great, as would black or white), or even a slouchy cuffed short that’s already in your closet, and you have a pretty fantastic outfit for right around $100.  not a bad shopping trip at all, i’d say!

i’ll be back shortly with your regularly scheduled fun, but wanted to let everyone know there’s an excellent sample sale on rebecca minkoff bags starting at ideeli at 8 am (pacific). the bags top out at about $275, and they have a huge selection – one of the biggest sales i’ve seen from ideeli. if you’re in the market, this one’s definitely worth checking out! i’m pretty high on the stingray morning after bag (left, $239) and the tequila gold rose (right, $129), which is sorely tempting me!

if you need an invite, just click here – i’ve got you all set up email me at editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com, or drop me a tweet. enjoy!

i’ll admit, $225 isn’t cheap for a sandal.  but it’s a lot better than $1,300, don’t you agree?  the question is, which is which?

the version on the left features snake-embossed leather, and the ruffled top is accented with zipper trim, which gives it a bit of edge.  very biker-chic.

on the right, i do love the two-tone metallic, but the frills on this one seem so much taller…i could see these turning into a case of the shoe wearing you, rather than the other way around.  still, they’re definitely more bold than the black, and the right person could definitely rock these the right way.

so, without knowing the prices, which would you pick??  (click the links to check your work!)  and when you’re done with that, go buy the steve madden version for $79.

*editor’s note:  don’t forget to enter our amazing mother’s day giveaway!

i am so thrilled today to introduce one of my favorite handbag designers, adriana castro.  born in colombia, adriana now lives and designs in miami, creating stunning bags in every color imaginable, entirely from sustainably-raised exotic leathers.  the results are striking, updated classics that you’ll never tire of.

for those of you lucky enough to be in the NYC area, adriana is making a personal appearance at henri bendel today from 11am – 6pm, where devoted fans can meet her, see her newest designs, and even custom design a bag with adriana!  i think i would faint with excitement.

for the rest of us, adriana was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about her designs, her style, and those beautiful exotic leathers!  click over at the right to check out the entire interview (yes, we’re trying something new…).

Read the rest of this entry »

instead of our regular monthly giveaway, i wanted to do a serious blowout this month in celebration of moms – i mean, after all, who deserves a little extra TLC more than your mom?  plus, i know times are tight, but i wanted to help a few of you deserving readers really go all out for mom this year.  so, i teamed up with three fantastic companies to compile some giveaway goodies that will make the perfect mother’s day gift, guaranteed!

for the extremely stylish mom, enter to win this beautiful 14K gold necklace, designed by the always wonderful katharine sise, and chosen by her especially for mother’s day.  isn’t the symbolism just perfect?  mom, child, interlocking….you get the idea.  plus, it’s a classic piece she can wear every day – while thinking about what an amazing kid you are for giving it to her.  retail on this beauty is $145 – and you can check out all of katharine’s stunning designs on her website!  

for the mom who’s an eternal romantic, and loves everything as girly as it gets, this pink diamond candle from DL & Co. is the ultimate in feminine frills.  fragrance can be tricky as a gift, but this one is absolutely sure to please.  spiced with ginger, soft with lily and finished with a dash of pink grapefruit for crispness, this just might be the universal fragrance.  the wonderful people at DL & Co. are offering up your choice of a huge 15 oz candle (retail is $135) or a diffuser ($115), which might just the be prettiest of its kind i’ve ever seen.  these gorgeous pieces come packaged in a satin box, tied with a bow, and housed in beautiful frosted glass.  if you’re intrigued, check out all of their fragrances on their website – i’m completely obsessed with the absinthe fragrance, and the lady rhubarb candle is going to be the perfect gift for my garden-loving grandmother.

next up is the perfect gift for the martha stewart mom.  you know, the one that’s always prepared, never forgets a birthday, and can’t imagine a day without a “to do” list.  linda and harriett, one of my favorite letterpress stationers, has put together a custom gift set packed with goodies that are sure to thrill your mom, and keep her on top of her uber-organized game for the year.  she’ll get two of their sweet notepads (i have one sitting on my desk this very moment), and an assortment of eight beautiful letterpress cards, perfect for birthdays, thank yous, or whatever other occasion she’s sending a card for.  plus, the linda & harriett crew will wrap it all up and tie it with a beautiful butterfly gift tag, so your gift is ready to go!  

since we have so many great gifts, this one’s going to work a bit differently – to enter, tell me which of the gifts you’d want to win for your mom and tell me something fabulous about her.  that’s right, it’s a mom lovefest.  for your bonus entry, do your usual twitter, facebook, blog, or other sharing of this contest, just make sure when you come back to leave your bonus entry (remember, it has to be a second comment!), you tell me which gift you’re entering for.  

i’ll draw winners randomly, as always, and announce on friday morning.  you’ll have to be “present” to win, so make sure you check back friday!  each of these generous companies has promised mom’s day delivery if you get me your address by the weekend.

good luck to everyone…and their moms!!

i find it all but impossible to resist a classic, regardless of what’s going on with my wallet, and this has to be one of the most perfect LBDs i’ve seen in ages.

the cut is so flattering and timeless, and the strong pleating on the bustline adds such unique, beautiful detail.  if you happen to be a size 4 or smaller, this might just be the best $244 you could possibly spend on your wardrobe.

buy it at ssense on sale - or, you can get it up to a size 8 over at revolve clothing (something tells me you could convince them to price-match ssense without too much effort).  while you’re over there, this one’s pretty amazing as well.  black halo – who knew?

it’s finally here!  dear readers, i need a weekend something fierce, so thank goodness it’s arrived.  so what, you’ll ask, will i be doing with this wonderful weekend?  brace yourselves…it’s exciting:

making a mad dash to target (this may even be happening today), as i had completely forgotten their loomstate collection released this week.  the idea of getting organic cotton loomstate tees for $15 has me over the moon, even if i am a little miffed that most of the dresses in the collection would barely cover my bum.

finishing my copy of the cheap date guide to style – a style guide written by the editors of a fab alternative fashion mag in the UK (called, not surprisingly, “cheap date”).  i’m only halfway through, but i absolutely love their take on fashion from all angles, and their “fashion is whatever makes you feel happy” mantra.  loads of interviews with style icons, self-esteem-improving tips – every time i start to read this book, i feel compelled to throw my fist in the air in solidarity. 

testing out all of the fab samples i picked up at a kiehl’s earth day event on wednesday (celebrating the launch of celeb-designed bottles of their superbly restorative body lotion, for which 100% of the proceeds go to the waterkeeper alliance.  i was, admittedly, there for the free cookies.) – it will be a weekend of scrubs, gels, serums and general moisturizing goodness.

and maybe, if i’m really lucky, a cupcake.

have a wonderful weekend, all!

this is exciting!  my love affair with inhabit is well-documented – particularly when they’re having really serious sales.  like, for example, the sample sale happening online right this moment on their most popular cotton items.  we’re talking sweaters, cardigans, tees and tanks – all $58 or less.  considering most pieces started out in the $150-200 range, i can barely contain my glee.  enjoy!

(photo by blissful images – the perfect earth day purchase, don’t you think?)

i think most people that know me would agree i’m not the most green person you’ll ever meet.  i refuse to cancel my catalog subscriptions, i can’t be bothered to sort my glass from my plastics, and it’s maybe one time out of ten that i remember to bring those reuseable bags into the market.

but i’m never one to ignore a holiday, especially when there are deals to be had!  so, here are a few of my favorite ways for you to go green with minimal effort this earth day:

terra collection:  our much-loved sponsor’s decadent organic cotton tees are 50% off for the rest of the week, in celebration of earth day.  use code “earthlove” at checkout, and stock up!  every one is beautifully embroidered, pro-planet, and each purchase means a 15% discount to an earth-loving charity.  

suki hair:  i was browsing the aisles of my neighborhood whole foods the other day and saw that my favorite green beauty line, suki, has released a shampoo and conditioner!  naturally, i had to try them immediately.  if you’re not afraid of low-lather shampoo (it’s never bothered me…), this stuff is fantastic!  it smells as wonderful as their lemongrass cleanser that i can’t get enough of, it left my hair so much more moisturized than it normally is, and just generally is making me happy.  plus, it’s vegan – so my northwest cred is intact.

rume bags:  i get a reuseable tote maybe once a week these days…it seems almost impossible to avoid.  but the ones that actually make it into the store are my rume bags, every time.  and when they do, customers and baggers alike compliment them.  they’re huge, have a flat bottom, hold an unbelievable amount of stuff, and are actually pretty cute for grocery bags.  plus, i do love the velcro fold-up thing…very handy.  get 20% off sitewide today with code EARTH.

so, happy earth day, readers – how will you be celebrating?  i hope you’ll recycle a glass bottle for me!

there’s a possibility i’ve been living in the land of fleece and birkenstocks too long, but i have to confess:  the fashion world wants me wearing blazers and shoulder pads, but all i want is a cozy, easy-to-wear fleece to throw on when an evening chill sets in.

now, before you get all worried that i’ve lost my mind, and remove me from your reading list, i’m not talking your standard zip hoodie…i’m guessing none of us need much advice on those (although this one is pretty damn cute).  i’m talking about a fleece that manages to stay at least moderately stylish, and maybe even completely hip.

that fleece biker jacket, for example – i love it so much more than the leather versions that are resurfacing (i clearly remember a frightening denim version i had in the ’80s…yikes).  it’s fitted, streamlined, light as a feather…all qualities that sound pretty fantastic when i remember the bulk and sheer weight of the real version.  whether you use it for your weekend lounging or get bold and mix it with a graphic tee and trousers for day (which, by the way, i think would be fantastic – i might even add a small silk scarf at the neck), i’m convinced this would be your go-to all spring.  grab it from adidas, of all places, for $160…steep for fleece, but it’s such a great update on a classic that i’m willing to consider it.

for a more relaxed look, this short-sleeved pullover from brooklyn industries is marked down to $35, but i have even more reasons to love it.  those big, pleated sleeves are almost dolman in their slouch, and are sure to result in a flattering silhouette – as does anything with wider shoulders that narrows at the waist.  the high pocket placement just emphasizes that look – it’s pretty perfect, actually.  the side drawstrings give it interest, and make it easy to style it your own way.  plus, they’ll be perfect to turn it into a swim coverup later this summer.

in both cases, i thought it was worth showing you the final, styled look…it just goes to show that even fleece can be hip if you spend a little time making the style work (and because the photos of the pieces alone were just not good).  these definitely fall under the category of higher maintenance, as you’ll have to work to show these are more style than slouch.  but i know you’re up to the task!