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.

I WANT this top from Paper-Doll.com by Lune Noir. Anyone can wear a regular old black tank but it takes patience and some shoppin skillz to find basic pieces like this black top with ruching AND stud details.

Tank Girl Top by Lune Noir — $80.00

These leopard print wedges would make a stylish statement at the office… without massacring your feet. 

Leopard Print Wedges from Rampage.com – on Sale for $29.99

Below are two ways I’d wear these pieces, one for the work day and one for a weekend day out and about. All the images below are clickable and you’ll be able to get to the sites that sell these items directly. All thanks to a DIZOPE new tool LL helped me find! www.polyvore.com

For those of you who are looking for ideas on what to wear, this post is for you!

What’s a Look Book?
"Look book" is the term used to reference a collection of images that are assembled to help illustrate "looks" or "outfits". It could be a clothing retailer or a fashion magazine, and in my case a blog!, who puts together a Look Book. The main objective is to help inspire the reader with complete looks from head to toe. It makes it easier for the viewer to picture the product when it is paired with other nicely coordinating pieces. Look Books are a fairly new trend but I believe they will become increasingly popular and important to the fashion retail industry.

I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to photoshop together looks for you in my Luxe Mix Look Book so here’s some sites to refer to whenever you want some insta-inspiration on outfit ensembles.

Note: I’ll keep adding to this as I find more. Please help us out by adding any you know of yourselves in the Comments section!

Index of Look Books:

Pink Mascara Look Book (Philip Lim, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ya Ya)
http://www.pinkmascara.com/lookbook.html

Shopbop Look Book
http://www.shopbop.com/lookbook/lookbook_main.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047459&lookFolderID=2534374302047459

BCBG Look Book
http://www.bcbg.com/spring2007/home.php

Activeendevours Look Book
http://www.activeendeavors.com/lookbook/

Max Studio Look Book
http://www.maxstudio.com/website/lookbook/LookBook-1.htm

Anthropologie Look Book
http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=2219&itemType=CATEGORY&all=1

Club Monaco Look Book
http://www.clubmonaco.com/032007/lookbook.asp

Luxe Mix Look Book
http://www.luxemix.com/luxe_mix/luxe_looks/index.html

Karmaloop Look Book (Urban/Street Wear)
http://www.karmaloop.com/lookbook/index.asp

Free People Look Book (Urban/Bohemian)
http://www.freepeople.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.browse/categoryID/f4fc7ff0-570a-4600-9c16-2e1b8bc0b63c

RavinStyle Look Book
http://www.ravinstyle.com/shop/outfits.asp

Banana Republic Look Book
http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/category.do?cid=12025&pageID=-1

Some Look Books for Men too!

Billionaire Boys Club (Hip Hop/Urban)
http://www.bbcicecream.com/lookbook/

I’m all about maximizing my clothes. I like to get the most out of every piece I buy. The problem is a lot of the time I end up buying stuff on a whim without thinking through what I’m going to do with this thing once I get home. I’ve been thinking about this fashion/shopping/coordination solution for a bit and here’s my first attempt at creating a true Luxe Mix — a mix of luxe items that create a mini-wardrobe for the next few weeks… ok hopefully month or so. These items range in price but that’s what makes a good mix. You’ve got to complement cheaper items with quality in order to not look like you stepped out of walmart — not that i’ve anything against discount clothing but I think if you care about fashion and style you might as well look classy and sophisticated regardless of how much or little $$ you spend. If people are intersted I’ll shoot for creating more Luxe Mixes with more affordable pieces in the future.

Enjoy!

(+ click to enlarge 3 images below, links provided below)

Shop these items:

A. Cardigan with Deep V Neck from Shopbop
B. Mercedes Dress from Shopbop
C. Tube Dress from Shopbop
D. Vince Jersey Short Sleeve V Neck Tee from Shopbop
E. Vince Pima Jersey Long Sleeve Tee from Shopbop
F. Khaki cropped cargo blazer from Bluefly
G. Denim Jacket with Fleece from Armani Exchange
H. Gentle Fawn – South Vest from BazaarAdriatic (luxe for less)
I. Gentle Fawn – Crafty Top from BazaarAdriatic (luxe for less)
J. Puff Sleeve Brown Hoodie from Shopplasticland (luxe for less)
K. Ya Ya Ravaged Maiden Bianca Denim Pant from Shopbop
L. Rock and Republic Jeans from Blaec
M. Nisa Navy Skirt from BazaaarAdriatic (luxe for less)
N. Fire Lisa Skinny Crop Jeans fron Nordstrom (luxe for less)
O. Obey McGraw Hat from 80′s Purple (luxe for less)

This warm cali weather is makin me crazy… crazy happy! All I want to do is sit around outside in cute sheer tops and short skirts, sippin iced espresso. I keep telling myself to brace myself for one more cold spell but it doesn’t seem to be coming.

Here’s a look for my date night, for a night like tonight. In case you haven’t noticed dresses are in big time. Gotta get some cute dresses, mini dresses, and longer flowy ones if you want to last this spring season. I chose this satiny pink dress from Forever 21. Under $25!! It’s prefect for a date night since it’s sexy enough to wear out to a club or bar and with a coverup I won’t get cold or be too exposed while en route to dinner or wherever. When wearing dainty pieces like this pink satin dress I like to contrast it with something less feminine and soft like this motocycle jacket from Max Studio. I paired all this with some cute gold bangles and dangly earrings, snakeskin pups (featured in Obsessed for Snakeskin Stilletos), and this foldover clutch — oversized clutches are also huge this season. I like the brushed almost earthy effect of this Jimmy Choo clutch since it dresses it down a bit.

(+click on image to enlarge)

Shop this Look:

Motorcycle Jacket
Paris Dress
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Bangles
Dangle Heart Earrings
Jimmy Choo Metallic Fold Over Clutch
Jimmy Choo Snakeskin Pumps

Related Posts:

Greys and Blacks from Day to Evening
Fashionably Focused in the City
Basic Neutrals for a Basic Day at the Office