Jun 15, 2008 | Fashion
by Carly J. Cais, Fashion Designer & ChicSteals blog
As a designer – my line is
RIVETED Clothing & Accessories – I’ve developed an eye for style over the years, and an appreciation for the fact that sometimes, designer pricetags can be downright scary. While life necessitates a splurge once in a while on that
can’t-live-without-it fabulous item, much of the fun of fashion is mixing high with low to create outfits that are creative, and also budget-friendly. Each week, I showcase five hot designer-style steals (each for $100 or, in most cases, for much, much less)…along with one must-splurge item.
Despite reluctant boyfriends and others refusing to Get Carried Away with Sex and the City: The Movie (all that relationship drama, wide-eyed optimism, female bonding, and glitter that is the onscreen version of life in NYC) this filmic fashion-fest will more than appease the need for gorgeous eye candy.
Ensemble after ensemble – and not just for uber-fashionista Carrie Bradshaw, but a much more chic Miranda Hobbes – stylist Patricia Field created a memorable movie wardrobe, which inspired this week’s picks…perfect for that quirky, Cosmo-swilling, clothes-obsessed Manhattanite in all of us:
GLADIATOR SANDALS The Dior gladiators Carrie sports in so many scenes, including the opening, are priced at just under $800. For $23 from Go Jane and available in white, nude, tan & black, these strappy gladiator heels let a girl walk in Carrie’s shoes…sans her un-sexy realization in Season 4, Episode 64 Ring a Ding Ding that she’s dropped so much on designer footwear over the years, she may actually turn into the old woman who literally lived in her shoes.
FLORAL DRESS Starting with the inspiring opening scene where Pat Field presented the audience with a lovely welcome back Carrie-flower and throughout the entire movie, the leading ladies looked lovely in florals of every variety. A garden of green/blue/yellow from Newport-News.com is guaranteed to bring some flower power to your wardrobe, and priced at $29, you’ll have enough left over for a fetching floral jacket & neutral accessories a la Carrie.
GRAPHIC TEE DRESS Katharine Hamnett’s STAY ALIVE IN 85 tee is back – bigger, bolder, eco-chic, and better than ever. Carrie’s cobalt blue version is coming soon to the designer’s website, however, get the look for as little at $65 in a bright red t-shirt dress from Hellz Bellz at KarmaLoop.com. To keep from clashing with the PacMan-meets-mod print, keep accessories minimal…unless you’re feeling bold (and cold), in which case pair with over-the-knee argyle socks ($12/pair from SockDreams.com), sandals, and a thin gold choker.
STUDDED BELT On all the ladies in scene after scene, we saw fabulous outfits made ever more fabulous with belts. Carrie’s fave (which popped up a few times) was definitely the wide studded belt which she paired with prim little dresses to give them her own little style-spin (as a fun aside, at a recent intimate Q&A with Patricia Field, we learned that Sarah Jessica Parker loved the belt so much, she wanted to wear it with everything, and even christened it Roger.) This $20 version from Da Kine looks sassy and hard (but not I-just-joined-a-biker-gang hard), and is ultra chic with both jeans and frilly frocks.
ANKLE-LENGTH PRINT DRESS Carrie rocked two different versions of this trendy summer dress, a lovely purple tie-dye by Veronique Branquinho, and an Alexander McQeen rainbow butterfly print. This $15 version from Walmart would fit – and flatter – a range of sizes, and would look most Carrie’esque with bare feet and a gold nameplate necklace.
ONE-STOP SEX SHOPPING AT ASOS Even with the abysmal dollar-to-pound exchange rate, you can pick up a Carrie-like floral sundress, gladiator heels, safari-style vest, and that jaw-dropping white one-shouldered vintage flower dress – all for slightly more than what I usually recommend in my picks – but for far less than their luxury-brand counterparts at ASOS.com.
SPLURGE OF THE WEEK: SPARKLY PINK PHONE Carrie’s other Big accessory was her pink Swarovski-encrusted phone. For $160, the Blackberry Pearl Faceplate kit at Let’s Crystal It lets you pimp-out your phone, providing hours of girlie garrulousness. While the six month warranty covers any crystals that might come off, the high-quality adhesive ensures they will mostly stay put…which is important, if you’re planning to party like it’s 2003 again.
If there are any high-priced pieces you’d like me to find similar, less costly versions of, please email me at carlyjcais AT fashiontribes DOT com. ‘Til next week, fellow bargain-hunters!
– Carly J. Cais
(photos: top – AZ Valley Girl Blog; Katharine Hamnett tee – PopSugar.com; print dresses & wannabes (above) – both Craig Blankenhorn/New Line Cinema)
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May 16, 2008 | Fashion, Media
by Carly J. Cais, Fashion Designer & ChicSteals blog
As a designer – my line is
RIVETED Clothing & Accessories – I’ve developed an eye for style over the years…and right along with it, a nose for a bargain. Half the fun of fashion is looking fabulous without needing to declare bankruptcy. Each week, I showcase hot designer-style steals (each for $100 or, in most cases, for much, much less)…along with one splurge-worthy item.
This summer, be the envy of the crowd in a cute suit. There are tons of pre-Summer sales to choose from, making this the time to snag some swimwear for a song. Here are five ways to stay cool by the pool or brave the waves in style this season:
- OMBRE EVERYWHERE Reminiscent of 60’s tie-dye, but updated for 2008, this alluring gradiant color-wash – seen on all the A-list spring runways – has found its way to swimwear. Fade from seaweed-green to sandy-gold in a hot-hot-hot little side-tie triangle…and for strutting down the beach at your most fabulous, pair with white accessories – especially bangles, sunglasses, and a caftan. Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Ombre Sliding Triangle Top & String bottom – $38 (each).
- MOLTO MONOKINI – aka side cut-out suits – provide the stay-put-ness and tummy coverage of a one-piece, with a healthy dose of skin-baring sex appeal. Say ahoy in the nautical chic of a striped-top and anchor print bottom, which is also available in an extended-torso version for $40 from Delias…which means you can set sail looking fab, but with your swim budget still intact.
- SEXY HARDWARE Gold rings, silver brooches, jeweled dangles…metallic accents add a fabulously shiny touch to this year’s suits. Even modest swimwear gets glam with something hard thrown into the mix, however, for hardcore sex appeal, this down-to-there monokini with an enticing trail of O-rings provides just enough coverage to leave him breathless. For sunset cocktails, simply tie on a low-slung pareo and head for the cabana. 3-ring monokini – on sale for $35 (was $70) at Carabella.com.
- BOLD GRAPHICS Prints are a major trend this season, especially over-sized, brightly colored and eyecatching. From floral to psychedlic, a fab one-stop shopping option is Venus Swimwear, which carries a staggering array of styles, colors, and sizes. The Mocha Java print two-piece is simultaneously sophisticated and mod…just add a breezy coverup and some glistening gold-flecked body oil. For just over $55 from Venus.com, the price is definitely right.
- RETRO GIRLIE GIRL Make a splash in a high-waisted pin-up number from MyBabyJo.com, one of the best online sources for retro chic. The halter-neck supports and accentuates your curves, and the boy-cut bottom conceals the tummy-control panel within…so all bystanders will see is you looking slim and trim. For added bonus points: coat your nails in lipstick-red polish. Two-piece cherry-print suit – $70 at MyBabyJo.com.
- SPLURGE OF THE WEEK: AN ICONIC DESIGNER For the perfect suit, sometimes it’s worth investing in a tried-and-true designer label. DVF does not disappoint with an itsy-bitsy bikini in an on-trend (but not overly trendy) safari’ish print. Diane Von Furstenberg Stone String Bikini – $175 at IntermixOnline.com.
If there are any high-priced pieces you’d like me to find similar, less costly versions of, please email me at carlyjcais AT Fashiontribes DOT com.
‘Til next week, fellow bargain-hunters!
– Carly J. Cais
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Apr 24, 2008 | Fashion, Media
by Carly J. Cais, Fashion Designer
Instead of my usual
Carly’s Chic Steals & Deals, it’s all about Tokyo trends this week. A recent visit (I lived there for 6 years) served as a reminder of what a fast moving style capitol the city is. Fashion is foremost and girls happily brave the cold to wear the latest fashions straight from the runway, while model scouts camp out in front of department stores hoping to scoop up the next bright young thing. Crazy trends come and go in a heartbeat, but many of the hot global trends take off here first, months in advance of the the West. Keep current by checking out the cool streetstyle photos at
ar-um.jp.
Here are some of the season’s standout trends from the stylish streets of Tokyo to help you jump ahead of the fash pack: 
I WANT CANDY If you’re ever stood outside a restaurant in Japan and admired the glass case brimming with mouthwatering selections from the menu – made completely out of plastic – you’ll definitely agree that one of Japan’s strengths is making fake food look amazingly realistic. Trendy locals are now updating last year’s trend of decorating cellphones, pocket mirror and lipstick cases with crystals and miniature flowers – and replacing them with tiny servings of fake plastic waffles, chocolates, ice creams, parfaits, waffles, sliced strawberries, and dollops of whipped cream. (Which is why you love your friends at Fashiontribes so much for keeping you ahead of the curve – in this case waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy ahead – when we turned you a while back to these chocolate marshmallow creams, doughnuts with sprinkles, and other tasty jewelry tidbits by Pancake Meow.) Sweet candy lookalike necklaces, rings, earrings, and key rings are all the rage – even the 
new spring tees have prints of cakes and sweets – while plush pouches and bags shaped like hamburgers and hot dogs are flying off the shelves…alongside charmingly wacky English which serves as a reminder that you are in fact still in Japan…and not visiting Hershey headquarters. Check HollyHock Cafe for availability (they ship internationally); Q-Pot if you can ship to a Japanese address, or PancakeMeow.com.
BOOTS MAKE FOR WALKIN’ Even visiting Disney World, many Japanese girls insist on wearing 4-inch high stilettos….and I salute their resolution and determination! But finally, the low-heeled and flat boot have arrived-and in black or brown and they give off a decidedly rugged American-Frontier vibe. Western-style boots have continued as a strong trend since the Fall, but now the streets are also populated with moccasins, motorcycle boots, and strappy gladiator boots. For the season between 
blustery winter and breezy Spring, it’s all about fab, earth-toned boots with a flat heel that can still keep up, even as the trends change. (BETTYCLUB, me, tassetasse – available at Stylife.co.jp; note: they ship to Japan only)
WEIRD ENGLISH Japan being Japan, clothing adorned with nonsensical English is probably never going away, however, this season, the tees and sweaters in the trendiest shops this are particularly wordy. The chic graphics made by hand reach out involuntarily, until I realized it read Cool Pretty Smacky Glam. However, there are plenty of shirts in longer lengths with fun slogans that actually make sense – Addicted to my baby; She’d rather die than have her picture taken (with a graphic of Kate Moss) – that could be worn as a minidress, and paired with neon leggings and flat ankle-boots for a fabulous Tokyo-style take on the trendy 80s. (Sly, Egoist & Maison Gilfy tees available at Vivi)
FROCKS FOR FLOWER CHILDREN Japan Vogue and the rest of the fashion pack trying so hard to bring back Cali hippie chic will be happy to know their efforts are being rewarded in Tokyo. Despite still-frigid temperatures, brave fashionistas can be spotted in breezy frocks with tiny flower prints in yellow, black, green, and orange with lace edging that wouldn’t have been out of place at a 70s vintage 
store. Swingy black under-skirts keep things modest, as do black-mini shorts. Pair with cowboy boots, a slouchy leather belt,and a punchy oversized bag to reawaken that Flower Child slumbering within. (VIVAYOU, XMiss, L’est Rose – available at Stylife.co.jp)
ARMY JACKETS & COATS After numerous seasons of little jackets, Japanese girls are rocking oversized army coats – rumpled, too large…and fetching. The coolest coats have intricate detailing, zippers, pockets galore, buckles, and a comfortable, lived-in look that hasn’t been on the racks in Japan in some time. They are often left open (chilly spring winds be damned) to show off what’s underneath, usually a breezy chiffon mini with low-heeled boots, or downtown-chic dirty denim and pointy neon pumps. (Jackets by Osmosis & PageBoy – available at Stylife.co.jp)
GIRLY HOODIES Girls here wear a long-length hoodie as a dress with bare legs (by the daring only…it’s still chilly!) or with neon tights and knee-length low-heel boots in black or brown. Hoodies in gray, cream, or black with ruching or gathered pockets are all the rage, as is the cropped hoodie – which is probably more appropriate for a pre-teen, thanks to rainbows, unicorns, and stars…but so adorable I had to give in and grab a similarly-printed makeup case so I didn’t feel too over-the-hill. (Cecil McBee, L.D.S., SWORDFISH – available at Vivi)
And, if you’d like to shop some Japanese brands in English, check out As Know As which specializes in super-chic indie brands native to Tokyo – like this silk apron-style dress for just over $100 – and ships them internationally!
– Carly J. Cais (Carly is the fashion designer behind RIVETED Clothing & Accessories; email her at CarlyJCais at riveted-clothing dot com)
(streetfashion photos via ar-um.jp)
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Jan 25, 2008 | Fashion, Media
by Carly J. Cais, Fashion Designer
As a designer – my line is
RIVETED Clothing & Accessories – I’ve developed an eye for style over the years…and right along with it, a nose for a bargain. Half the fun of fashion is looking fabulous without needing to declare bankruptcy. Each week, I showcase hot designer-style steals (each for $100 or, in most cases, for much, much less)…along with one splurge-worthy item.
Who doesn’t covet celebs’ closets (or what the savvy stylist foists onto the next hot young thing in an effort to up their paparazzi quotient). But the price of being looking like a star can be, well,
pricey…and so
we’ve scouted out some deeply-discounted items that are lookalike-a-licious:
RED DRESS WITH BLACK BELT What better way to punch up a gray winter day than with a splash of vibrant color? At under $30, this sexy number will transform you into the Lady in Red without breaking the bank. Tip: keep your accessories toned down and the focus on your hot bod. After you whip off your fluffy white jacket (a la Eve and Kate Hudson), you can wow admirers coming or going. Sexy open V-back red dress $28 – FashionJunkee.com (Hayden Panettiere & Natasha Bedingfield via People)
FOOTLESS TIGHTS Step out on the fashion forefront! If you don’t might the chill, pair with some uber-lowcut pumps for a tantalizing peek of skin. Love the $38 pricetag almost as much as the fact that they’re available at Neiman Marcus. Wolford Velvet de Luxe Legging $38 – NeimanMarcus.com (Rihanna & Paris Hilton via People)
THIGH-HIGH BOOTS Seen on just about every A-lister from Hilary Duff to Carrie Underwood, the thigh-high boot is one of the season’s more fun trends. If you dare, wear them high up on your thigh. Worried you’ll be mistaken for Pretty Woman? Then slouch them to the knee or fold down a cuff. To ward off the cold, tuck into skinny jeans and enjoy the fact that the long length and solid black hue makes your gams look endless. Leather Feel (vegan) slouch boot $34 – GoJane.com (Hilary Duff & Kate Moss via People.com)
ANIMAL-PRINT BALLET FLATS A fab way to meow up whatever 
you’re wearing. This pair boasts a sexy peep-toe that will be perfect for those warming spring days on the way (or breezy L.A. nights). For a Chanel’esque Resort ’08 take, wear with wide-legged jeans, a white blouson tops, and a red patent belt; alternatively, pair with a breezy floral dress for a fun pattern mix and match. Cheetah-Print Ballet Flat $19 – CharlotteRusse.com (Ashley Olsen & Katherine Heigl via People)
SPLURGE OF THE WEEK: ORKA MESICA GOLD BEADED BRACELET With its single gold circle symbolizing success, rebirth, and creation, this friendship bracelet is said to improve your stylistic mojo. Which is probably why it’s gracing the wrists of so many BFF-happy Hollywood types, including Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad, and Audrina Patridge. For a celeb vibe, wear a stack of three, and get your money’s worth by wearing them with everything from jeans to the red carpet. At $125 each, it’s but a (relatively) small drop in that big karma bucket. Orka Mesica Triple Gold and Black Beaded B
racelet $125 each at Singer22.com (to save 10%, coupon code castyle.
If there are any high-priced pieces you’d like me to find similar, less costly versions of, please email me at carlyjcais AT riveted-clothing.com. ‘Til next week, fellow bargain-hunters!
– Carly J. Cais
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Jan 21, 2008 | Fashion, Media
by Carly J. Cais, Fashion Designer
As a designer – my line is
RIVETED Clothing & Accessories – I’ve developed an eye for style over the years…and right along with it, a nose for a bargain. Half the fun of fashion is looking fabulous without needing to declare bankruptcy. Each week, I showcase five hot designer-style steals (each for $100 or, in most cases, for much, much less)…along with one splurge-worthy item.
However, with my recent birthday followed almost immediately by Christmas, I decided to draw up
a fantasy a-girl-can-dream wish list of five fashionable trinkets that up the chill factor for maximum iced-out fabulousness:
SILVER SKULL CLUTCH The icicle-like swirly depth and stone-gray hue of this hard-sided clutch are reminiscent of winter, but the showstopping Swarovski crystal-studded skull adds a fabulous Goth touch. A steal at $1010. Alexander McQueen Skull Clasp Clutch – Net-a-Porter.com
SEXY TURTLENECK SWEATER Silk, milk, and cashmere (!) are the main ingredients in this eco-chic concoction from uber-eco designer Linda Loudermilk. This perfect shade of Polar Bear (winter white) would go fabulously under any dark, wide-necked dress you own, and unlike the rest of the crowd in their basic boring standard turtlenecks, the hot cut-out neckline will make you really stand apart. Linda Loudermilk Icy Sweater $433 – Zappos.com
SATIN PRINCESS PUMP How do I worship this shoe? Let me count the ways: fierce pointed studs that temper a sweet, frayed satin bow; a fabulously rounded toe; the steel gray color that is so now; the cushioned sole that keeps a girl party-hopping in comfort; the sexy slink of leg (& the bow again!) that will turn heads as you hop into a cab/limo/pumpkin at the end of the evening. Report Signature Bette princess pump $175 – Shoes.com
PEARL CLUSTER EARRINGS When it comes to metal manipulation and jewelry that looks equally eyecatching on the red carpet or with a plain white tee from Old Navy, Philip Crangi is genius. The rows of black pearls drip like twinkling grape clusters, studded with tiny diamonds in their centers for a breathtaking effect. And priced at $3425, think of them as your own little investment account the way Carrie Bradshaw liked her money: hanging right where you can see it. Philip Crangi Black Pearl with Diamond Earrings – Bluebee.com
STRUCTURED WOOL COATThis wool/cashmere blend stunner has a high foldover collar (which can be worn down for a touch less drama in the daytime), exquisite detailing on the back, and puffed Bishop sleeves that slim out the arms gorgeously. The flared skirt and hidden belt nip in the waist and lend a flattering Victorian feel, whether you’re wearing it with jeans, to a holiday party, out on the town…oh, the options are endless. Mackage Principessa Coat $748 – LeTrainBleu.com
STEAL OF THE WEEK: TEXTURED CARDIGAN Sweet & snuggly, this affordable cardie has a wonderfully nubby texture and the 3/4-length sleeves that are so hot right now. Perfect for lounging around, its swingy shape can easily top off any pencil skirt or bubble-hem dress you pair with it. To really play up the contrast in textures, try it over something silky. Honeycombed Wool Cardigan $35 (sale), LaRedoute.com
If there are any high-priced pieces you’d like me to find similar, less costly versions of, please email me at *carlyjcais AT riveted-clothing.com*. ‘Til next week (when this article is back to its usual format), fellow bargain-hunters!
– Carly J. Cais
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Jan 21, 2008 | Fashion, Media
As a former designer (my line was RIVETED Clothing & Accessories) I’ve developed an eye for style over the years…and right along with it, a nose for a bargain. Half the fun of fashion is looking fabulous without needing to declare bankruptcy.
So now that it’s mid-October, I do my annual closet-cleaning: getting rid of old stuff I no longer wear, packing away summer clothes for next year, and deciding which items I can still wear into the Fall and chillier months. This is also the perfect time to score some of those trendy items that have been calling your name since they first hit all the magazines. The good new is, these trends are still going strong into Autumn, and now is the time to rotate them into your wardrobe before the next big thing comes along. Plus, since you cleverly avoided jumping on the bandwagon at the first sign of popularity, trend pieces & foolproof lookalikes are now available at deeply-discounted prices.
Here are this week’s six stylish, budget-friendly fashion & accessory must-haves:
CONVERTIBLE JERSEY DRESS
Since I design clothing that offers different styling options, I am completely taken with other designer pieces that are multi-functional. In particular, I’m obsessed with Normal Kamali. She designs an exclusive collection for Spiegel, with dresses, skirts, and tops in a slinky-soft jersey spandex, many of which can be styled in different ways. A batwing long-sleeved dress converts to a fitted halter-neck dress, for example, and at long last – it’s on sale! It’s lightweight, so it would go wonderfully with leggings or cardigans during the colder months – and can stand on its own for an elegant evening out. Good luck choosing between the six different colors. (Normal Kamali Timeless All-in-One Short Dress $63 (sale) – available at Spiegel.com)
PYRAMID STUDS
Necklaces, earrings, detailing on bags, accessories…the pyramid stud has been a hot it item this year. But it’s also commanded a commensurately it price until now. (I know because I’ve been fighting the temptation to shell out more than $180 for a sterling-silver hand-forged designer ring adorned with an oversized pyramid stud.) I had been holding off & waiting for the right time, so I felt super-smug when I snagged a silvertone lookalike from Macy’s for $8 earlier this week (not on their website; you’ll have to visit the store itself). But smugness has a price…I just located an even more spendthrift-y version on sale at Urban Outfitters for just $4.99. $4.99??! at UrbanOutfitters.com…plus, they also carry a cute pair of matching pyramid stud earrings for $12. Lovely!
BLACK PLATFORM PEEP-TOE SNAKESKIN SLINGBACKS
If you’re like me and totally addicted to The Fashionista Diaries on the SOAP Channel, and you probably also feel head over, er, heels for the gorgeous black Report Signature Gala Snakeskin pumps that Bridget was wearing on the first episode with her totally cute Sretsis dress. Talk about perfect: a sexy platform in black snake with a hot gold lining…I just had to have them! But with a $179 price tag at Amazon or Zappos.com (which now only has the white version in size 9) I lost hope.
I even scoured eBay in vain, and then happened to stumble into Walmart.com’s shoe section where I almost fainted! There were my lovelies! And with the gorgeous gold lining too. I headed to my local Walmart (because yes, I am even a cheapskate when it comes to paying shipping fees), slipped on a pair in a size 8, and was further amazed not only that they fit, but that they’re unbelievably comfortable, and priced at $17. Perfect with breezy summer dresses, sexy pencil skirts, fabulous with jeans and still g
orgeous with brightly-colored tights for Fall…but act fast, ladies, these are going fast! Metro7 Tiffany Peep-Toe –
Walmart.com
BIB NECKLACE
S o retro, so Disco-era fabulous when paired with a drapey jersey dress – I’ve been coveting a golden bib-style necklace. Lucky Magazine featured a stunning copper version from Lazuli Jewelry earlier in the year, but at $70? We can definitely do better than than. For $15, this Crescent Moon necklace from Urban Outfitters is perfect. (Is it obvious I’m totally obsessed with this store??)
RUCHED BOOTIE
It first made an appearance at Calvin Klein (if I remember accurately), and then at NineWest. Now, I’m happy to report, it’s finally affordable in a chic metallic pewter at Newport News. The ruched bootie is simply so 80’s – and so perfect with leggings and an oversized sweater. Soft Leather Ankle Boot $50 (sale) at Newport-News.com.
SPLURGE OF THE WEEK
I just have to wear gray in the Fall. Gray sweaters, gray booties, gray tights…gray is my color this year, which I why I have totally fallen😉 for this lovely gray Josh Jakus felted handbag, handcrafted by the designer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not only is it the perfect size, but in a sublime melding of form & function, it unzips completely flat for storage…plus it’s crafted from recycled factory felt remnants. A feel-good, utterly chic purchase! $95 at BeeHiveCo-op.com.
If there are any high-priced pieces you’d like me to find similar, less-pricey versions of, please don’t hesitate to email me at carlyjcais AT riveted-chis-steals.com. ‘Til next week, fellow bargain-hunters!
– Carly Cais
As posted on FashionTribes.com, 10/27/2007
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