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.

FOUND: Oprah's Orange Scarf Worn at The Taj Mahal

Funny how, now that Oprah Winfrey isn't beaming straight into our homes everyday via her broadcast television show, we're all super obsessed with Oprah sightings. Case in point: all of the news sites, blogs and entertainment TV shows were abuzz yesterday with news of Oprah's visit to The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Oprah was in town filming scenes for her new cable show Oprah's Next Chapter.

Evidently, it was Oprah's first visit to The Taj Mahal and she enjoyed the occasion like any first time tourist would: by taking a picture. Probably the same picture any of us would snap, given the same opportunity. But, of course, Oprah looked positively striking in her sunny, yet demure orange ensemble. The look was offset by an on-trend colorful scarf.

Want to steal Oprah's Taj Mahal visit orange scarf look for yourself? She's sporting the Theodora & Callum Coral Multi Serengeti Tie All Scarf. This pretty linen/ viscose blend scarf is perfect for looping around the neck, but still big enough to double as a pareo come summer. Wise choice, Oprah!

→ Buy the Theodora & Callum Coral Multi Serengeti Tie All Scarf, $175.00, at theodoraandcallum.com.

Spring Preview: Pretty Color Takes Center Stage

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Rodarte - Spring 2012 RTW

Springtime ushers in new beginnings. The symbolism of pastel colors and colors swirled together parallel the spring surrounding. Imagine a variety of colors blended together in harmony to create a lovely spring feeling.

My first color swirl is the show Mad Men's dream dress. This dress, the classic updo, and red lipstick recreate the '50s elegant look. I love colorful silk dresses because the pattern and fabric go hand in hand. Since silk sits beautifully, this feminine dress will flow gracefully.



→ Buy the Milly Bridget Circle Skirt Dress, $385.00, at bloomingdales.com.


This next showcase is a simple v-neck that looks like it was hit with different paint colors. I love the long, loose look of this v-neck. The different pastel colors will go well with this season's accessories and you can wear it comfortably with skinny jeans. Bedazzle this shirt with some bold statement pieces from the season.



→ Buy the Anthropologie Painted V-Neck Shirt, $58.00, at anthropologie.com.

Declare Your Kate-ness With The TopShop Kate Sweater

Um, wonder who inspired this?

I'm usually not one for ironic statement sweaters, but this struck me as being so hilariously perfect as a commentary on our current royal obsession that I would actually considering wearing it. With Kate-approved J Brand skinny jeans and London Sole flats, of course.

The TopShop Knitted Kate Sweater is 100% cotton with the name "Kate" boldly stitched across the front in black block letters. This clear homage to her royal fabulousness Kate Middleton is just funky enough to be fun. And I'm not the only one smitten -- this new arrival is selling out fast. If you're loving it, I'd snag it in a hurry.

→ Buy the TopShop Knitted Kate Sweater, $56.00, at us.topshop.com.

Invest: Jimmy Choo India Mirrored Sandals

When it comes to investment purchases, we often talk about the value of a classic black pump or smart riding boots. But, don't forget that you will also attend many parties over the years. From cocktails, to dinner parties, to weddings, there are many occasions that call for a party shoe. So, investing in a timeless dressy sandal in a wear-with-everything metallic is a smarter investment than it would seem at first blush.

The Jimmy Choo India Mirrored Sandal in gold metallic is the epitome of an investment party shoe. The slender, 3.5" heel is graceful and ladylike, but still super walkable for anyone who regularly wears heels. The spare toe straps and lack of an ankle strap makes these sandals great for giving the illusion of a longer leg, and the metallic gold color will pair perfectly with a huge range of colors and styles. Plus, since these are clearly special occasion shoes, they're going to last practically forever. Really.

The versatility, timeless silhouette and super high quality Jimmy Choo construction make these party shoes a great fashion investment.

→ Buy the Jimmy Choo India Mirrored Sandal, $495.00, at net-a-porter.com; shipping is free.

Steal: Nars Sea of Love Set $49.00

This smart new set from Nars, available exclusively at Sephora.com (i.e., not in stores), contains four of Nars's best-selling complexion enhancers at a deeply discounted price.

The Nars Sea of Love Set contains a full-size tube of Nars Laguna Illuminator, plus smaller sized versions of The Multiple in Orgasm, Blush in Super Orgasm, and Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight. For those not fluent in the language of Nars, Laguna is a creamy brown bronzer with a subtle gold shimmer. The blush is just that, in a universally flattering peachy-pink with gold flecks. The Multiple is a multitasking cream stick that can be used as a highlighter, blush, or color for eyes or lips (also in peachy-pink-gold). The Lip Gloss is pretty self explanatory as to the formulation, but the color is a classic beige-pink that is really pretty and suitable for everyday wear.

Now that we got the details out of the way, let's talk about the deal you're getting. This exclusive vale set has a retail value of $82.00, but is priced at just $49.00. Not only is it a discount from the retail value, but it's also a special deal in that these smaller, more economically priced versions of Nars's super popular items are not available outside of this set. So, if you were to try to recreate this foursome with the full-sized items available in the store, you'd end up paying $119.00. I'd say that fact alone makes the Nars Sea of Love Set a huge steal.

→ Buy the Nars Sea of Love Set, $49.00, exclusively at sephora.com.

Under $100: Pour La Victoire Bliss Pumps

Looking for a fabulous shoe quick fix for under $100? Check out this super cute new find...

The Pour La Victoire shoe label is probably best known for the best-selling Irina platform, which took the mid-priced shoe world by storm a couple of seasons ago. But, that's not the only great shoe Pour La Victoire has to offer. The label makes a range of shoes that are both fashionable and affordable, even more so when on sale.

While browsing for great shoes newly marked down, I ran into these Pour La Victoire Bliss Pumps. They are a classic almond-toe pump, made from either suede or leather, depending on the color you select. All colors have a quality leather lining and leather sole. The heel measures 4.75" with a 1" platform, making the heel feel more like 3.75".

The selection of Bliss Pumps I found includes four different colors -- Grey Nappa Bat (pictured here), Black Kid Nappato, Black Kid Suede, and Silver Snake Print. All four colors/ leathers are available in a good range of sizes. All except the Black Suede are marked down to under $100. Personally, I find the Black Suede the least compelling of the four options, so I'm not too crushed that they aren't marked down as far. The Black Kid Nappato is perfect if you are still searching for a great new pair of classic black pumps. The Grey Nappa Bat is a stunning neutral.

→ Buy the Pour La Victoire Bliss Pump, $99.99, at 6pm.com; shipping is free.

Spring Preview: Sky High Peep Toes

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Reed Krakoff - Spring 2012 RTW

My favorite part about February being around the corner is that high heels and exposed toes are returning to fashion fairly soon. Although it's not happening yet in most states, living in San Diego allows me to expose toes and embrace the stiletto world before others. The warmer climate lets me explore the sky-high club, which means I get to take advantage of high heels and peep toes before my East coast sisters. Although I look forward to wearing boots in October, by the time February is around the corner I'm bored with my calf-hugging boots. I'm excited to move on and free myself from the calf leeches.

Guiseppe Zanotti shoes are always sexy and bold. I love thin heels that exude femininity and daintiness. The thin heel looks more elegant and less bulky, especially when combined with a cute girly color like pink, which compliments pastel colors that everyone will wear in the upcoming months. Wear these sky high patent pink shoes with your pastel dresses and make up and you'll look like a girly girl who grew up and turned sexy.



→ Buy the Giuseppe Zanotti Colorblock Peep Toe Platform Pumps, $750.00, at saks.com.