What to Get Your Guy for Valentine's Day: 6 Top Ideas

--Guest Post By Adam B.

One of the hardest gifts to get a guy is a Valentine's gift. On Valentine's Day, you want to get the man in your life a great gift that shows how well you know him. At the same time, you are probably on a limited budget after spending a lot of money over the holidays. This doesn't mean you can't find him the perfect gift that says I love you and know you well.

Writing from a guy's perspective, it really is the thought that matters the most. We don't care how much you spend on a gift; rather we look for gifts that show you put some thought into. With this in mind, I can offer these suggestions for gifts that will not leave your boyfriend/fiancé/husband disappointed:

Watches - While some men choose to limit the amount of jewelry they wear, almost every man loves a good watch. Not only will he wear your watch often, but you can find a nice watch that fits into any budget.



→ Buy the Stuhrling Original Men's Targa 24 Pro Chronograph Watch, $134.99 (was $675.00 -- save 80%!), at overstock.com.


Sunglasses - With spring right around the corner, it's likely that your man can use a new pair of sunglasses that encompass the spring's fashion trends. You can even get him a pair that matches his personality, such as aviators for his "bad boy" side. This will show you truly know him and his personality. This is also a gift that he will wear frequently, possibly every day sunny day!



→ Buy the Sunglass Warehouse SW Mirrored Aviator Style #1690, $14.95, at sunglasswarehouse.com

Top Pick: Tory Burch Kendrick Driving Loafer

First of all, I've become kind of a sucker for any shoe that bills itself as a "wear-all-day walking shoe." I think it's a combination of advancing age (hey, don't laugh) and a ridiculous obsession with travel. Second, I'm completely convinced that Tory Burch makes the best casual flat shoes ever, from simple ballet flats to loafers. So, when an email announcing the arrival of the new Tory Burch Kendrick Driving Loafer -- "The colorful, comfortable, wear-all-day walking shoe" -- arrived in my inbox last week I was instantly smitten.

The new Kendrick is a classic driving loafer with the Tory Burch spin of color plus logo. The Kendrick is available in four shades of tumbled leather with contrasting colored pebbled rubber soles and the addition of the goldtone Tory Burch logo. My favorite is the Dandelion leather with Tory Navy sole, pictured here. I'd wear this stand out pair with rolled boyfriend jeans, a perfect white tee and a slouchy cashmere cardigan. Love.

→ Buy the Tory Burch Tumbled Leather Kendrick Driving Loafer, $275.00, at toryburch.com.

New & Hot: J.Crew Liberty Print Perfect Shirts

What: The J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Liberty of London's signature Liberty Art Fabric prints

Why it's hot: J.Crew's posh little collaborations are getting increasingly interesting. This is just the latest. The newly hip mall store has partnered with Liberty of London to create its best-selling Perfect Shirt -- a classic button down -- in four different vintage floral prints from the Liberty archive. The Margaret Annie Floral print, shown here at top left, is a mix of sunny yellow, pink, red and blue. The less distinctively named, but no less adorable, Liberty Floral print shirt comes in one of three colors -- Pink Berry (shown below at right), Aqua Floral and Green Pink Floral.

We already know that floral prints are huge for Spring 2012, and Liberty of London's iconic prints never really went out of style (although their flame did temporarily get a little brighter thanks to a fairly recent Target collaboration). The marriage of the simple J.Crew button down and Liberty's bright, colorful prints is really quite timely.

What to wear it with: The possibilities are many. Pair one of these sweet shirts with a ladylike, knee-length a-line skirt for a vintage look that is right in step with Spring's floral explosion. A pencil skirt will take the saccharine sweetness of the girly floral print down a notch and make it completely work appropriate. For the weekend, toughen up the look with well-worn jeans. Come summer, pull on one of these shirts over your solid-color bikini and a pair of slouchy shorts.

→ Buy the J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Liberty Margaret Annie Floral, $150.00, at jcrew.com.

→ Buy the J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Liberty Art Fabrics Floral Print (3 variations), $150.00, at jcrew.com.

How To Find the Right Bra for You

--Guest Post By Gemma Sly

Most Women Are Wearing The Wrong Bra
Did you know, around 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size? Millions of women are left feeling uncomfortable, unsupported and certainly not looking their best. Women deserve better than that so here's a simply guide to set you on the path to the perfect bra (for you!).

The Secret? Getting Properly Fitted
When did you last get fitted for your bra? In fact, have you ever been properly fitted? Don't worry, you certainly wouldn't be in the minority. Most women are happy to go with what they've always gone with and crush, push and squeeze themselves into ill fitting lingerie despite the fact that they could be considerably more comfortable (and look a lot sexier!) with just a little guidance from a fitting expert.

Why Go For a Good Fit?

• Most importantly - improved comfort
• Avoid sagging breasts - look after them!
• Better posture - the wrong bra can encourage posture that's bad for your back
• Improved confidence – feel good inside, look better outside

Jason Wu Brings Ethereal Elegance to Target

Fashion Cents: How to Shop Off-Price Retail Stores

--By Kimberly Turner

Banging your head against the wall because you didn't secure that online sample sale item in enough time for it to arrive for the event you really wanted to wear it? Now that means you have to head out the door and pay full mark up?!?!? Well, not exactly. You could head over to the largest off-price retail chain, Ross Dress for Less, and get a great deal. I recently went to a blogger event that they had and got a dress for $49.99 that was still retailing at $168 at one of my favorite department stores.

Now, I was hesitant when I went to the event. I am not a big fan of stores that get closeouts because I typically think that the items are a little dated or the stores are just too cluttered. I found myself pleasantly surprised when I was at Ross. The store was well organized and the items were still in the department stores too (thus my amazing dress find). Now, I did come away from my experience at Ross with a few tips that should guarantee you shopping success, so watch this video for how to shop Ross Dress for Less on a budget.

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Kimberly Turner, your personal style guru, is a contributing writer for Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle. Kimberly has an MBA from the University of Michigan and an Image Consulting Certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Kimberly lives in the Windy city of Chicago and is the host of FashionCents.tv.

Web Snob: KARL for Net-a-Porter, Christian Louboutin's Crazy Horse and More!

The best posts you may have missed this week, from the web's top fashion, beauty, shopping and entertainment blogs. Are you a Web Snob? Check out this week's finds:

• Find it hard to separate the fabulous from the frumpy at H&M? Let the H&M Spring Trend Guide at Stiletto Jungle be your roadmap for affordable shopping success.

• Allie is Wired has a first look at Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's Dark Shadows.

• It's all about the Kaiser! See Coquette's favorites from the new KARL collection at NET-A-PORTER.

• The Jet Set Girls are dreaming of Paris and Christian Louboutin's Crazy Horse cabaret.

• Second City Style interviews Alison Hessert of Mixology NYC who dishes on decanters, dreams and design.

• Valentine's Day alert the black pleated Parker Gown is the best dress Shopping and Info has seen in a long time that combines elegance with modern chic.

• The Beauty Stop previews Essie's new Luxeffects polish line.

Spring Preview: Top Wedges for Day and Night

--By Kim Moshtaghi

It has been a while since I bought wedges, but I recently found myself falling head over heels for a pair of accessorized black suede wedges, and they inspired me to share some other great finds with everyone. I have always praised wedges for their comfort and casual look because whether you are out dancing or spending your time at work, wedges look stylish without killing your feet.

These next several showcases come from Nordstrom. First up is a pair of Nine West wedges that are colorful and have a gorgeous ankle strap that brightens every angle of the shoe. This is a great option for ladies that don't like wearing high heeled shoes.



→ Buy the Nine West Pitera Wedge, $88.95, at nordstrom.com; shipping and returns are free.


Check out Vince Camuto's wedges. They are sleek and sophisticated with only two colors to work with, as opposed to the multi-colored Nine West shoes. If you're a simple gal, then this would be the perfect pair for you. Rev up a simple denim skirt or pair of pants with this cute pair. I love the classic beige with a bold orange color. They complement each other well and go well with other colors.



→ Buy the Vince Camuto Ladell Wedge Pump, $118.95, at nordstrom.com; shipping and returns are free.

5 Pretty, Perfect Valentine's Gifts for Your BFFs

--Guest Post By Danae Matthews

Valentine's Day can be one of the most celebrated and dreaded holidays dependent upon your current Facebook status. No matter who you're dating (or not dating) you should remember Valentine's Day is about L.O.V.E.! Take it as an opportunity to remind your best girl-friends how much you appreciate them. The perfect gift? Beauty products to get them ready for their next date of course! These fun and flirty products are sure to send the message of your admiration as well as get your BFF ready for a new year of love.

This new product by Maybelline comes in 6 delicious and delicate colors and will leave a pucker softer than a baby's bottom. Just in time for an unexpected Valentine's Day kiss!



→ Buy Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm, $3.99, at walgreens.com.


Nothing is more fierce and feminine than a perfectly painted matte manicure. This Sephora by OPI Matte top coat will transform any of fabulous color into matte polish. So economical and sexy!



→ Buy the Sephora by OPI Matte Top Coat, $9.50, at sephora.com.

Spring Preview: The H&M Spring Trend Guide for Women

Affordable fashion happy place H&M has just released their Spring 2012 Trend Guide on video. Personally, I love watching H&M's trend guides each season. I get super overwhelmed when I walk in H&M -- all I can see is cheapie tees and polyester suits. But, when I've done my homework via the Trend Guide, I suddenly am able to pick out those 5 or 10 super special pieces that scream runway but cost practically nothing. It's such a great way to cheat... too bad it can't help you skip the pay line!

This year the H&M Trend Guide calls out pastels, new ways of color blocking, silk trousers, pencil skirts and grown up looks with great tailoring. Check out the top looks in this video, along with commentary from H&M Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson, Instyle Magazine's Natalie Hartley and BE Magazine's Emelie Faure. I already have my eye on the white suit with the vintage white tee and the fabulous white flatform shoes. What are you loving?

Fairtrade Gold for Valentine's Day: What You Need to Know

--Guest Post By Emma Waight

Tainted Love

Plenty of lovers will be swapping gold gifts for Valentines Day. Earrings, watches, maybe even an engagement ring. Amidst the love, magic and joy however could be the less than happy truth about where that gold came from and it’s a dirty secret few fail, or refuse to confront.

Gold has rocketed in price this year. The producers involved in gold mining don’t get as much attention as the banana or coffee bean producers of the world, but equally if not more serious social problems exist. Last July, BBC Dispatches programme highlighted these problems in the episode, ‘Dispatches: The Real Price of Gold’. Going undercover as a customer shopping in some of the biggest British jewellery stores, the journalist was given wildly misleading information by shop assistants. In Senegal, the journalist meets a child who works in an illegal mine, revealing his hazardous daily existence. Supply chains are difficult to trace, and quite frankly, a gold ring brought from many of the main retailers could have come from anywhere.

FOUND: Taylor Swift's White Cocoon Coat From Sundance

In case you've missed all of the entertainment shows and gossip columns this week, it's Sundance Film Festival time. It's that one time of year when all of Los Angeles and half of New York pack up and make their way to Park City, Utah. What I love it that it's also that one big Hollywood event where you can spy the hottest trends in winter fashion -- coats, boots, scarves and hats are all on full display.

Want a new, glamorous coat idea to spiff up your winter look? Super cutie Taylor Swift was spotted at the premiere of Ethel this past weekend wearing a fuzzy, plush cocoon coat in a perfect shade of wintery white. It's fashionable, but still looks really cozy and soft. It's the kind of coat you want to curl up with rather than shed as soon as you get to your destination. That makes it perfect for those days or events where you know you're kind of stuck with your coat.

Want to steal Taylor Swift's winter white cocoon coat Sundance style for yourself? She's wearing the Chrysalis Coat from Kymerah. This 100% mohair coat is simply gorgeous. It's one of those rare coats that you could wear with everything from jeans to a ball gown -- it would truly fit in with any ensemble. Fabulous choice, Taylor!

→ Buy the Kymerah Chrysalis Coat, $485.00, at kymerah.com.

5 Spicy Red Finds to Wear (and Gift) on Valentine's Day

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Red, the color of passion and aggression, represents Valentine's Day beautifully. Whether you have a significant other or not, why not get in the spirit of St. Valentine? You could always celebrate like I did last year. It was the most awkward Valentine's ever because I spent the evening sitting between my parents at a romantic Italian restaurant, which reminded me of how I spent my Valentine's Day when I was 12. Anyhow, this year I have vowed to make Valentine's Day less weird and I plan to go to dinner with girlfriends or be spirited at home. Either way, I like to be festive and up my red and pink during this time, and try to find my mom and good friends little gifts to show them that their love has made life easier for me.

A perfect gift for dear friends is this bangle from Betsey Johnson. It is a simple, girly gift that can be sassed up with a stack of gold bangles to give it a more va-va-voom factor, but, simply put, it relays a thank you with heart.



→ Buy the Betsey Johnson Skinny Heart Bangle Bracelet, $30.00, at betseyjohnson.com.


If you are unlike me and have a hot date for Valentine's Day, then strut your stuff in BCBG's back cutout dress. This dress is great because it's sexy without being uber risqué. It's a simple dress that would look stunning with a nice, sophisticated up-do. Keep it classic with dark eyes and light lips.



→ Buy the BCBGeneration Back Cutout Dress, $98.00, at bcbg.com.

Invest: Tory Burch Daniela Tweed Jacket

Thanks to Chanel, the cropped tweed jacket has become a staple of the well-developed wardrobe. Trying to build a closet filled with timeless pieces that you'll wear from year to year? Make sure a boxy tweed number is lined up right next to your camel coat and classic trench. Wait, no tweed jacket in your collection? Now's the time to invest in this chic little number from Tory Burch.

The Tory Burch Daniela Tweed Jacket, available in both blue and gold/ beige, is a classic tweed jacket roughed up with extra texture and a frayed edge detail. So, why invest in this tweed jacket over all of the others on the market? It comes down to two things for me, both of which derive directly from the aforementioned texture and fraying.

First, The less-stuffy construction makes this jacket particularly youthful. You're a lot less likely to look like you've been playing dress up in your grandmother's closet -- no matter what your age. This is important because it's a fine line between vintage-inspired and costume.

Second, the combination of relaxed details, three-quarter sleeves and classic cropped body make this tweed jacket particularly versatile. I first spotted this jacket in the November issue of People StyleWatch magazine, where they showed it effortlessly styled for work, weekend and cocktails -- all perfectly doable. I then followed it across the usual online shopping sites, watching it promptly sell out on most of the boutique sites, including ShopBop (but be sure to check out the cute pic of it styled with jeans). All that's left are the sizes available in the big department stores and the brand site. Clearly other fashion-followers have caught on to the strength of this wise investment.

→ Buy the Tory Burch Daniela Tweed Jacket in Blue, $525.00, at saks.com.

→ Buy the Tory Burch Daniela Tweed Jacket in Beige, $525.00, at toryburch.com.

Web Snob: Eco-Baby Essentials, Golden Globes Fashion and More!

The best posts you may have missed this week, from the web's top fashion, beauty, shopping and entertainment blogs. Are you a Web Snob? Check out this week's finds:

• Stiletto Jungle shows how pretty color will take center stage for Spring, just like it did at the Rodarte show.

• Allie is Wired covers the launch of Honest.com, Jessica Alba's new eco-friendly baby essentials product line.

• Coquette goes geeky gaga over Adafruit's LED iNecklace.

• Fashion Pulse Daily discovers that the winter can instantly be made more tolerable when wearing a Wellensteyn jacket.

• The Jet Set Girls are lusting after the sexy, new Trina Turks and Caicos Collection: bikinis, coverups and more exclusively for the Grace Bay Club.

• Second City Style gives two points of view in He Said/She Said: The Celebrity Fashions of the 69th Golden Globe Awards.

• Golden Globes trend alert: Charlize Theron stunned in her buff pink Dior dress. Shopping and Info shows you how to get this look.

• StyleBakery has the perfect remedy for the mid-winter blahs: a printed blazer.

• The Beauty Stop checks out Dior's new scented nail polish.