Don’t you just love the feeling of finding a piece of clothing that seems like it should cost you much much more than it really does? It’s nice that over the years the cheap n chic and luxe for less movement has helped make looking fashionable more realistic for everyone. But even so, with all these discount fashion retailers out there, it’s still challenging to find the finds.

Lately, Kitsch Couture in downtown Saratoga, CA seems to be a consistent source of these deals. Don’t be disappointed in their website.. the owner told me they are not focusing on their online presence. The boutique itself has some great stuff and tends to be quite well stocked. They carry a wide array of contemporary women’s clothing. Gentle Fawn and Kensie Girl are a few of the luxe for less brands they carry. If you haven’t heard of those you should definately check them out. They offer chic, urban styles at decent prices. Plus if you search for these brands online you’ll find a ton of cute avant garde online boutiques.

Check out this cute cropped cargo style jacket from BIZZ that my friend Jenny got. The jacket was $68! It’s cute worn both buttoned up and loosely open. The material is fairly thin so it’s more suited for the cooler summer nights, but worn over a thicker sweater or turtleneck this could definitely get you through fall and some of winter. The funnel neck (when the jacket is fully buttoned up) is super cute. Jenny you better work this when you get back to New York!
 

Do you guys remember Polyvore? If you don’t then this might be a good way for you to get acquainted with this high tech fashionista tool. A fellow reader (and friend btw for full disclosure hehe) commented to me after reading my last post about the Look Book album I created, that it would be nice for her to have a look book of her own. She wanted to take some of the looks I had in my album and add and subtract items to her liking. Immediately, I thought about Polyvore and how that really is the solution she needed to make this happen. She could work off of the outfits I create in Polyvore to polyvorize her own looks. And of course she could outfits from scratch.

So I’m curious… what do you all think of Polyvore? Have you tried it? Do you like it? If you are using it, what do you like about it and not like about it?

Here’s where the Luxemix Style Challenge comes in!

Objective: To entice my readers to show off the fashionistas they truly are and at the same time get to know more about how you like tools like Polyvore.

The Big Prize:  A $50 Gift Certificate to Shopbop or Forever21 (winner’s choice!)

How to Play: Create a look on polyvore and either add to the comments of this post or email it to me directly. In your response please answer the questions found at the end of this post.

How to Win: After a few weeks or once I’ve gotten enough entries I’m going to choose 3 of my favorite submissions and run a poll here on Luxemix and let crowd pick a winning look.

(I’m new at this guys so no promises this is actually going to work!!)

And just in case you’re wondering, this is not a promotion I’m getting paid to do or asked to do by any 3rd party, such as Polyvore, Shopbop, or Forever21. To be honest I’m just obsessed with web tools and in particular ones that have anything to do with fashion and one of these days I’m going to create one myself :).

Questions to Answer for Luxemix Style Challenge

1). What’s the link to your Polyvore Profile?
2). What do
you find works well for you when using Polyvore?
3). What do you not
like about using Polyvore?
4). What functionality needs to be added to make Polyvore work better or more fun to use?
5). Are there any other online tools like Polyvore you’ve used? If so, please list.
6). How do you put your outfits together on an every day basis? e.g. Do
you plan what you’re going to wear the night before? Do you keep track
of outfits you’ve put together and re-wear them another day?
6). Do you enjoy coordinating your own outfits or would you rather have someone else do it?
7). How much time do you spend on fashion-related activities per week
(including shopping, picking outfits, reading magazine/blogs, etc).

Thanks for playing guys! Now get out there and start polyvoring!

Start Polyvore

Hey everyone~ I created a look book album to make it easier to have everything in one place. The next time you’re digging through your closet and have the nothing to wear depression, take a peek into this album for some inspiration for looks to throw together. Honestly, it’s not that you don’t have anything to wear, you just haven’t taken the time to try working different pieces together into a new look. When I don’t have the perfect piece to complete a look I’ll just throw second best in there and after I’ve got everything on, I realize it really doesn’t matter that much. Try it!

For now you’ll see some of the older looks I put together in the past. Promise I’ll put together some new looks soon! I’ve been wearing same ole’ same ole’ every day myself so I certainly could use some inspiration myself. Also don’t forget about the list of look books on the internet I’ve collected. If you know of any other good look books please share with us!!

http://www.luxemix.com/photos/look_book/index.html

One more look book to add to my Fashion Look Book Index!

This look book from Armani Exchange is well done from a usability standpoint, e.g. easy to navigate and they have a nice summary summary (3rd image down) which makes it easy to shop for the items in each look. I must say I am disappointed with the looks themselves though. I’d expect more from Armani. It’s funny how you can take the same clothes and result in a completely different style identity. I’d put these pieces together so differently. The look I show below is probably the only one I like a little.. I like how they name the looks too. "Campus Clique". I guess I must think I’m younger than I really am.

Check it out at Armani Exchange.com

Hey Mayor! I heard about Polyvore from another friend. How did you hear about it? And more importantly what do you think? Are you using it regularly now? — conducting my user research when I can..

Polyvore Look of the Week — Work Attire

I like to carry two bags with me in the event I need to downsize for an evening event. Usually the evening purse fits inside the larger bag with no issue. I like how this top is long enough to cover the rear — espcially important when wearing white pants since a lot of times they are can be sheer. I’d like to layer this shorter jacket over the whole look, a necessity in the office since I’m always freezing from the AC.

Here’s my fashion roundup for the week. All of these looks inspire me and make me happy just looking at them!

Work-Friendly

Helmust Lang Hooded Jacket

Milly Basket Weave Button Jacket

Citizens of Humanity Peretti Twill Dress

Girl’s Night Out

Lewis Cho Striped Boat Neck Dress

YAYA AFLALO Skim Top

Young Fabulous & Broke Sleeveless Back Draped Dress

All links to items can be found on my Luxe Mix Kaboodle:
http://www.kaboodle.com/manolo_blues/luxe-mix-blog-links.html

It was a colorful party. Mostly luxe looks to my satisfaction. Here was the best and the worst of the Red Carpet roll at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards…

What was Luxe

Arielle Kebbel — perfect!

Alex Vega — I’m really into sexy back so I’ll overlook these shoes.

Nay on Rihanna’s hair but I love the unique pattern of this floor length dress. It suits her style perfectly for a Red Carpet look.

Lauren Conrad — her hair is perfect with this dress.. again overlooking the shoes.

I’m a little disappointed with Jessica Alba’s outfit since she normally knocks it out but she still looks good as usual. Again, what’s is wrong with everyone’s shoe selections??

This looks like a classic BCBG dress… Paris’ shoes did it for me though. Classic, safe…

Debbie Matenopoulos — Grecian Goddess of the Red Carpet.

Ashley Tisdale — Barbie doll but cute.

Aly and AJ — Fun I guess.

What was Suxe

Little Eva Mendes on the Prairie.. then she grabs her big ‘ole luxury handbag.

I cease to be amazed.

Vanessa Hudgens — this dress is ok but why the Red Carpet?.. her hair is gorgeous though!

Somewhere in between

Too safe with legs like that. I suppose the legs are the centerpiece..

Maybe it’s her pose, maybe it was how she just blends into the backdrop
– how unfortunate is that?, or maybe it’s just the fredericks of
hollywood feel of the dress… Victoria normally looks posh to me but
all I’m feeling on her are those pretty little silver points.

This look screams overage seductress.

Tyra does not look fazed one bit. Might as well use the papz for what they are they for, right? The guy walking next to her is having a good ole time.

Lindsay Lohan

Pulling off the Rainbow Brite — and getting away with it!

Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox

This dress could flaunt her curves a little more.. but the color is juicy! I’d wear this out for a night of dinner and dancing.

Haylie and Hilary Duff

Noureen Dewulf

Rebecca Romjin

Samantha Cole

Hot in a trashy sort of way

Dave Annable

Smokin’…

Chase Crawford

Smokier!

I’ve noticed lately that my work/professional style has been slipping. It prolly has a lot to do with my Forever21 obession. I keep stocking up on cute trendy pieces… fit for a 21 yr old. Damn it. I need to restrain myself a little more… Look your age girl!

I spent the last hour focusing on work-ready wear and here’s a look I put together on Polyvore (See "THE" Tool for Helping to Decide What to Wear — Polyvore"). BTW Polyvore just added a color-picker so you can filter the items in the editor down by color. It’s pretty helpful if you like to use the items everyone else has added to polyvore. I find it easier to just find my own clothes and add them myself.

What I like about my work look:

1. A big a** bag for all my junk (Anna Corina Black Patent Leather Tote). All of you who know me know how much crap I tote around with me. I’m the girl you want with you when you stain your shirt, or get stuck in an elevator — always got snacks on me
2. A crisp shirt, structured just enough to not make me look fat. Yes, i do feel fat sometimes (fat is relative I tell you).
3. Flat shoes… I know I’m getting older as my average heel height shrinks.