Fab Fashion Find: Alexander McQueen Cutout Patent Leather Belt

So one of my favorite fashion designers Alexander McQueen has done it again and taken a bold approach to accessory design.

When I first saw this Cutout Patent Leather belt, I absolutely fell in love. It is so edgy and high fashion that it screams McQueen all over it.

Belts can be the end all to an outfit, and in most cases, your boring outfit's savior. Take a closer look at Alexander McQueen's cutout patent leather belt.

We all know that 80s fashion is in right now, so this belt would be a perfect add to your belt stash if you are into 80's style fashion.

Tip: pair this belt with a bandage dress and it will be fabulous for evening wear.

Not sure what a bandage dress is? Bandage dresses are very tight form fitting dresses (hence the name Bandage) that fit so tight, they show off your figure perfectly. Fashion designer Herve Leger introduced this style of dresses, and it was a Hollywood craze late last year.






And you don't have to spend thousands on a Herve Leger bandage dress, you can get the same look from stores like Forever 21 and Wetseal for a lot less.

The Alexander McQueen Cutout Patent Leather belt is $825 at Net-A_Porter, but this look can be achieved with any leather corset belt. Check out some affordable ones here.

Arm Candy|Penny Patchwork Clutch By Franchi Handbags

*Penny Patchwork Clutch in silver*

I'm totally smitten with the Penny Patchwork Clutches designed by Franchi Handbags.

The super stylish clutches are convertible clutches made out of satin and feature studded accents that truly make this bag so ridiculously chic that I had to post about these bags.

The bags also include a single shoulder chain, and top magnetic closure.

Check out the Penny Patchwork Clutches in different colors below...




Here's the Penny Patchwork clutch in Champagne.



And here is the Penny Patchwork clutch in black.



Here's a peek at the inside of the clutch...



If you are loving this bag like I am, you can it from Zappos for $93 here.

Photos: Zappos.com

Fab Find Of The Week: PONO Accessories

I'm a fashion accessory queen, and I am always on the lookout for the hottest in accessories. I can't think of any fashion addict that I know who doesn't share my interest in accessories. And we all know that sometime it's those great accessories that make an outfit go from blah to fab.

So I'm pleased to introduce PONO, and this fabulous line of fashion accessories is my fab find for the week.

PONO is a NY based accessories company. It was founded by Joan Goodman that was created to make accessories for ALL women, regardless of age, size, or income.

Statement jewelry is PONO's specialty, and they make jewelry for women who choose to be stylish over trendy. Take a look at some of their attention grabbing pieces:


Bangles for the fashion forward.

Check out their fierce collection of cuffs...







Fabulous.

If you're an accessories junkie like me, you will want to add PONO accessories to your stash. They are the perfect secret weapon to any outfit.

PONO is sold in over 300 stores such as Bloomingdale's and Anthropologie, as well as at online stores like Astley Clarke and Love and Pride Jewelry.

Even stars like Julianne Moore, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, and Hilary Swank are rocking PONO accessories.

To check out more about PONO and get a glimpse at their latest collections, visit the site here. You can also check out their Facebook page here.

Arm Candy | Marc Jacobs Handbags | Spring 2009 Collection

The very talented and innovative fashion designer Marc Jacobs usually doesn't disappoint when it comes to delivering the most stylish (and expensive) handbags. And if you are obsessed with handbags like I am, you would have to have a glimpse of what to expect from him in the spring. Here's a peek at the handbags from Marc Jacobs' Spring 2009 collection. Drool away.

Coin boxed purses will be a pretty big deal in the spring. They are great handbags for evening wear.

Mixed Media Bag from Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 collection. Interesting.

Mixed Media clutch handbag. Also interesting.

Yellow will be a major color in the spring, although it has already made a comeback in the fall.

A hot version of Marc Jacobs signature chain handbags. I really love this bag. Fab.

Sexy and chic tote from Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 collection.

We already know print dresses, skirts, tops, are one of the major trends right now, but print handbags will be pretty major in the spring, including animal prints.

So there is your glimpse of Marc Jacobs handbags from his highly anticipated Spring 2009 collection. I don't know a whole lot of people that will drop thousands on any of these bags considering the state of our economy, but everyone needs a little arm candy every now and then.

Fashion Trends | Statement Necklaces

If you keep up with fashion as much as any woman does, you have been seeing a lot of flashy and super chunky necklaces this season. You have seen them on the runways featuring your favorite high end designers, and you have even seen some of your favorite and most stylish celebrities rock these necklaces. Appropriately labeled "statement necklaces", they are one of the most popular fashion trends this season.

You cannot help but make a very bold statement when wearing these types of necklaces. They add life to any outfit, and they are known to make even the most simple outfit become very fashionable and chic.

Actress Ginnifer Goodwin added life to her plain black D&G dress by wearing this statement necklace. To compliment her choice in pearls, she wore pearl toned pumps. Cute look.



The always fashionable SJP wears statement necklaces often, and takes a few fashion notes from CoCo Chanel and combines different necklaces at different lengths to make an even bolder fashion statement.

R&B Queen Mary J. Blige chose to wear this necklace to add more glamor to the elegant gown she wore recently.

I don't like the whole "wife-beater" thing Cassie has going on here, but she tried unsuccessfully to dress up this wife-beater anyway. I just don't think there is anything fashionable about a woman wearing these things. Period.

So if you haven't added a few statement necklaces to your collection, I suggest you consider doing so. They can really turn an outfit into something fabulous if worn right. And I do stress the latter.

Arm Candy | Louis Vuitton Summit Drive Handbag

I have been obsessing over this bag shamelessly for quite some time now. This Louis Vuitton Summit Drive handbag has to be one of the most poshest bowling bags I have ever laid eyes on. It is stylish for a number of reasons:

First, the color of course. This shade of red will get you noticed. This color isn't for the fashion meek, this is a color you have to have the confidence to wear. Oh yes, you have to OWN this shade of red.

And if you don't love how the bold red patent leather is gorgeously embossed with Louis Vuitton's signature LV logo, maybe you will appreciate its adjustable buckles, or the large pockets on the front and back, or the double zip top that reveals its luxurious lining with a patch pocket adding to its tremendous functionality.

Priced for $1680.00, the Louis Vuitton Summit Drive Handbag is one of my favorite pieces of arm candy. Sure, right now I wouldn't drop that much cash on this bag, but it sure is sweet.

Arm Candy | Katherine Kwei Metallic Snake Donna Clutch

I absolutely love handbags, and I am always looking for the next big thing from fashion designers who have a history of designing very classy and magnificent handbags. But I am weak for any bag that lacks traditional appeal. I think every woman needs a break from those uncreative monogram stamped handbags that we see from all the more well known fashion designers. After purchasing a few, one begins to feel like they are just carrying a name rather than a stylish testament to the creativity of fashion. So when I see a bag like this, I have to take notice.

Katherine Kwei is not a household name designer. We don't often hear about her bags in television or movies, but maybe that ought to change. After all, it is not like celebs haven't worn any of her glamorous bags on the red carpet. Even J-Lo has a bag.

But I love the anatomy of this bag. Yes it is a clutch, but pay attention to its design. It is made up of silver metallic snake material and was fabulously woven using a traditional Chinese knotting technique. It is pretty roomy for a clutch as well, making it just as practical as it is stylish. Check out its interior...


Fab. This bag is the most expensive out of her other bags, and is priced at $1010.00 at Luxcouture. You can check out the rest of Katherine Kwei's handbags here.

Arm Candy | Dooney and Bourke Handbags| Hayden Panettiere Dooney and Bourke Clutch

Hayden Panettiere has recently collaborated with Dooney and Bourke to design her own handbags. Now we have seen Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton as the faces behind some earlier handbags, but they were not nearly as stylish and fabulous as the Hayden Panettiere Dooney and Bourke Clutch handbags. In fact, they weren't anything chic or edgy. Hayden's bags, especially this clutch bag, are so fab I had to blog about them. I love these clutches! They do not resemble any of the earlier Dooney and Bourke handbags, and that probably can be credited to the fact that D&B's Italian Design Team designed this bag. It has an elegant 24K carat gold-plated lion's head that just makes this bag absolutely flawless. Here is a look at the Hayden clutch bag in the other colors:

*All photos courtesy of Dooney and Bourke*

Fabulous! I am eyeing that pink (fuschia) one extra hard. I am loving the bag's gold leather piping too! This bag is true arm candy indeed. This is one of the most stylish bags I have ever seen from Dooney and Bourke.

The bag is $295.00 and you can find it here.

Label Eye Candy | Diorette Jewelry by Christian Dior

This ad for the new Christian Dior "Diorette" line is simply stunning. I am a fashion ring addict, and I must concur that these rings are exsquisite and rightfully leave imprints on the hearts of women everywhere. The brillance that makes these rings more impressive than the others (besides their distinctive and animated design) is the fact that these rings are made with real gold, silver, and jewels. They are not your ordinary fashion rings. And these rings come with a pretty stunning cost as well. Here's a closer look at a couple of the Dior beauties.



This Diorette Yellow Gold flower ring is on of my favorites. It has one 0.02 carat brilliant-cut diamond. The 18k gold ring is selling on E-Luxury for a steep $1050.00.


This Diorette White Gold butterfly ring has one 0.04 carat brilliant-cut diamond. It is 18K white gold, and can be purchased on E-Luxury for $1150.00.


Here is my favorite out of the collection. It is a bundle of flowers and is 18K yellow gold. it has a 0.04 diamond, and a 0.95 carat amethyst. It is priced at $5550.00 on E-Luxury.

While I love the look of the Diorette rings, the prices are a little comical. Wouldn't you rather spend a grand or better yet 5 grand on diamonds? And not a little tiny and barely noticeable one surrounded by flowers, ladybugs, and butterflies? Yes, the rings are gorgeous, but the price tag does not match the value. But I guess if money isn't an issue, surely purchasing fashion rings with puny gems isn't an issue either.

Nine West Mixed Company Croco Clutch| Belk's Sale

Belk's has been having some pretty major sales lately, and that is probably due to our horrific economy. I am sure that all you "Budget Divas" are in full bliss right now. I spotted this bag and fell in love with it. This is not an ordinary clutch bag. It actually has a magnetic fold over the closure, which means it can give you more storage on days you need to carry more. To better demonstrate its fabulousness, I took a few pictures of my own:

Here, the bag operates as a bigger and more usuable but still fashionable day bag.

And with the wonderful use of the magnetic fold over closure, it becomes a fashionable clutch. For those of you who have had really crazy and long days, with barely any time to run to the house to change clothes or accessories for a night out (like me), this bag is really a lifesaver. It is a really simple concept to add to a bag. I am sure many of you can appreciate a bag like this.

If you are loving this bag and you must add it to your handbag collection, it is on sale now at Belk's. It was originally priced for $59.00, but it is on sale for $14.49. So you will save 75%! You will find the bag here.

Pearls: The Timeless and Classic Fashion Accessory

In such an evolutionary fashion industry, it is not always likely that a particular fashion trend or fashion "must have" will consistently be in the forefront of fashion . Trends are not supposed to have long lives, most designers expect trends to merely have short lives but inspire their creative genius. Some trends may even be brought back to life at the hands of a talented and innovative designer; but it is not the standard. The seasonal lives of fashion pieces and most styles is what makes fashion so full of life and so impeccably diverse. We are always looking for the next big thing in fashion, the look that everyone will want to have for themselves. That piece that stands out in a closet full of designer duds. It is always the concept of creating a new heartbeat in a new collection that makes the runway so exciting. But any true fashionista has noticed that there is one gemstone that will always be set apart from the others, and rightfully so. Even CoCo Chanel herself saw the brilliance in pearls. A classic trendsetter knows a classic when she sees it.

Chanel is known for giving women some of the most widely celebrated gifts of fashion. Where would we be without that perfect fitting, always appropriate little black dress? And who would have ever thought that her obsession with pockets would set a standard for handbags everywhere? I don't know about you, but I simply have to have a handbag with pockets.

When it came to fashion, she never let the limitations that other designers set become her standard to follow. This woman, with sheer brilliance created her signature "opera length" necklaces by adding a strand or two of fake pearls with authentic ones. The result: astounding. Her reason for doing so? Practicality.

Pearls can add elegance to just about any outfit that is not too casual of course. For a more conservative look, try one strand of pearls.

Studs are great to add to the conservative look, and big studs create a more glamorous look. In Angelina's case, studs were all she needed to create the extraordinary beauty that is this photo.

Pearl bracelets can also do the trick and create a more versatile look. Victorian style bracelet:

Remember, pearls do not have to be white. Black pearls have become very popular, as well as pink ones.

Pearls will never be a trend. They will never be fabulous one season and mocked the next. Fashion will continue to change, and your style might even be recreated or tweaked from time to time. But always make sure to remember the pearls. Use your creativity and wear pearls your own way. Why not? It worked for Chanel.