Sep 26, 2013 | Fashion
Welcome to the latest installment of One Piece, Three Girls – where I feature a single article of clothing, jewelry, or an accessory from a local boutique, styled into 3 different looks for 3 different ladies. (See my feature with Portland’s Mabel & Zora boutique here!)
For this post, I had the opportunity to work with Flutter in the North Mississippi district of Portland. If you’ve never been to Flutter, you really must go next time you’re in town – because it is a treasure trove of amazing vintage, handmade pieces, eclectic ephemera, candles, papers, ribbons, books, masks, succulents, soaps, and home decor oh my! 
They operate their website on Flutterclutter.com and it is indeed a clutter….of spectacular finds! (more…)
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Jun 19, 2013 | Fashion
Amia Serrano is a noted fashion stylist who has styled photo shoots and editorials for numerous magazines, lookbooks, and websites, and is able to make the most mundane items sing by pairing high-priced with affordable finds. She is guest-posting today to offer her tips for getting a designer-inspired look-for-less just in time for Summer. Take it away, Amia!
xo
Carly
Hi Chic Steals readers! My name is Amia Serrano and I’m so eager to share my great finds for you. Enjoy!
Many designer looks walk down the runway, leaving audience members and online viewers in awe, but these are already known to have a hefty price tag attached.
As a fashion stylist I often work to re-create designer-style looks, but on a real-world budget. Today I’m here to show you how to style a designer-inspired look from Alice + Olivia’s S/S 2013 Collection without breaking the bank. It mixes pops of bright color and on-trend florals: the perfect match for a Spring-meets-Summer ensemble.
Here are some affordable yet chic pieces to re-create the Alice + Olivia look for a fraction of the cost:
Rhinestone Cluster Stud Earrings – No need to over accessorize, so keep it subtle with these everyday studs.
Merona Women’s Trench Coat – A colored trench is a perfect way to add a pop of color to any look, especially for gloomy rainy weather.
Camellia on Club Ivory Floral Print Romper – This versatile floral dress can be worn casually or for a night out on the town.
Studded Faux Leather Wristlet – The studs outlining this handbag keeps the edge going, allowing the whole look to flow.
Embellished Spike Heels – Spikes are trending and pairing these edgy beauties with an overall feminine look goes perfectly.
This fun ensemble will take you from a a Spring day of shopping or to a fun Summer girls’ night out!
Until the next post, take advantage of this one and please do share what you find and come up with. I’d love to see them!
~Amia
Thanks Amia! It was wonderful having you here. Don’t forget to leave a comment, lovely readers – did you like this feature? Want to see more Chic on the Cheap from Amia? Let me know below!!
xo
Carly
Fashion Stylist Amia Serrano has styled photo shoots and magazine editorials for publications such as Open Lab Magazine, Relapse Magazine, and Bridal Tribe Magazine. She has also worked with recording artist Mashonda to style the inaugural video of her video series #LifeStyleHer for GlobalGind.com, and Hemma Collection’s New York Fashion Week show. Working with brands such as Rehna Pendse, joe Dahan’s Seduka Jeans, and GET NYCE Clothing, her philosophy is to find great style using the resources you have. Check her out here:
Website / Instagram / Twitter
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May 27, 2013 | Fashion
Welcome to the first installment of my brand-new series, called “One Piece, Three Girls!” and Happy Memorial Day!
In this series I feature a single article of clothing, jewelry, or an accessory, styled into 3 different looks for 3 different ladies.
For the first post in the series, I’ve partnered up with the amazing Portland boutique Mabel & Zora, to feature a dress from owner Tiffany Bean‘s Spring 2013 collection.
Mabel and Zora opened in June of 2006, headed by husband and wife team Corey and Tiffany Bean. 
The vision for the store was inspired by Doris Day movies and Tiffany’s grandmother’s boutique from the 1950’s. Known for amazing customer service and a personalized shopping experience, the boutique offers dressy lines such as Lilly Pulitzer, Michael Stars, Three Dots, V. Fish, and Butter by Nadia.
Tiffany started designing her own clothing line Tiffany Bean Designs in 2010, also inspired by 1960s movies and fashions. “I love mid-century styling; it is a perfect mix of functionality and design. I romanticize about the jet-set lifestyle of movie stars from Los Angeles to Palm Springs and have designed our home, the shop, and line around this love affair of mine!” The line features a number of easy-to-wear, flattering dresses and skirts that can be dressed up for the office or worn on one’s day off- including colorblocking, fun prints, and signature wrap-style dresses.
For this feature, we have chose the Tiffany Bean Frances dress, a gorgeous contrast black-and-white stripe tube top dress. It’s made of stretchy, medium-weight material so it smooths over the body, and is a flattering knee-length (which happens to be a great length on anyone, no matter their body type). Due to its inherent versatility, this dress is the perfect dress for One Piece, Three Girls – and an on-trend must-have for your Summer wardrobe.
First up, we have Brooke. You might know her as Brooke Morse, the wonderful photographer who takes my outfit photos from time to time. Besides being a photographer, she is also a talented makeup artist, currently expanding her online portfolio. For Brooke, we went with a bohemian casual look, covering up the skirt portion of the Frances dress with a sheer lace DIY maxi-skirt, and pairing it with earthy brown leather accessories and gold jewelry.
Brooke is wearing: Tiffany Bean Frances Dress, Target Merona straw fedora, her own gold hoop leaf earrings, Target Merona scarf, DIY Gold Double-Ended Spike-End Bangle, Gold-Dipped Quartz Ring (from HauteLook), DIY Pamela Love Arrowhead Ring, her own vintage bag, her own wedge-heel sandals.
Next we have Kristin. Kristin Rosario has been assisting part-time with the marketing of Chic Steals since the Fall, and is a marketing guru with a great eye for business opportunities and ideas. Given that she’s often in meetings or an office environment, she needs to look polished and professional every day – hence, a structured blazer grounding the jersey dress. To play up Kristin’s femininity, we layered a couple colorful necklaces and added a ladylike touch with a ruffled bag and a pretty polka dot scarf.
Kristin is wearing: Tiffany Bean Frances Dress, her own milky quartz stud earrings, her own leather-sleeve black blazer, Ann Taylor rose quartz pyramid necklace, Kendra Scott Rayne Long Necklace in Black, her own rings, Steve Madden Ruffle Bag, V. FRAAS Taupe Polka Dot Scarf, her own beige patent pumps.
Finally it’s my turn. For me, I decided to go with a vintage eclectic look, utilizing a thrifted vintage belt and a chiffon overlay for a softer feel. By belting the top it gives it a little more coverage and dresses it up for an evening out, or for a barbecue with friends from work.
Carly is wearing: Tiffany Bean Frances Dress, urban sweetpea Double Initial Necklace (c/o Max & Chloe), Feather-print Chiffon Top (Japan), vintage shell-detail belt, H&M rings, Wildfox bone ring (from HauteLook), gold crown rings (Japan), R&E Gold Square-Heel pumps (Japan), Lilly Pulitzer Spring Fling Clutch. 
(I also brought macarons from Pearl Bakery to nosh on while we shot photos – they were enormous and oh-so-tasty:-)
And as an added bonus, Tiffany is offering the Frances dress featured above for an exclusive STEAL – at an amazing 30% off for my readers!
(Enter code CHICSTEALS at checkout in the Mabel & Zora online shop to take advantage of this offer – expires 6/21/13.)
Plus, right now Mabel & Zora is having an enormous Memorial Day Sale in-store, with sale pieces marked down from 30-75% off (including Yosi Samra ballet flats, pieces from the Tiffany Bean Spring Line, Ms. Wood) 
If you are local to Portland, definitely drop by the shop today take advantage!
Thank you so much to Tiffany and the Mabel & Zora team for their hospitality, and to Brooke and Kristin for being my willing models!;-)
Let me know what you think – whose look do you like the best? And how would YOU style the Frances dress?
xo
Carly
P.S. If any of my readers are local to Portland, OR, and between the ages of 25-40, I’d love to feature you in the
“One Piece, Three Girls” series.
Drop me a line and let’s collaborate!
Dec 28, 2012 | DIY, Fashion, Life
Whether it’s watching the ball drop in Times Square, rocking out at a packed party of friends and party-crashers, or just having a low-key get-together with coworkers and their spouses, the perfect party outfit is only a click…or a project…away. Try this on for an elegant party style:
Star Cluster Hair Accessory: Buy It for $26 or DIY It
Faux Fur Stole: Buy It for $59.99 or DIY It
A-line Little Black Dress: Buy It for $49.99 or DIY It
Metallic Clutch: Buy It for $26.95 or DIY It
Glitter Pumps: Buy It or DIY It
Have a wonderful and chic New Year’s Eve!
Carly
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Oct 29, 2012 | DIY, Fashion
Now at the end of October the leaves are still heading down, November rains are on their way, and the weather’s getting chilly. Warm up in the perfect Fall outfit: a cozy sweater (pre-blinged for the holidays!), a decorative collar, a sassy little pleather skater skirt, and illusion tattoo tights that could pass for bare legs. (And save yourself a major investment by trying your hand at DIY’ing some of these pieces to add to your wardrobe!)
Decorative Collar: Buy It Here for $27.50, or DIY it here
Glittery Sweater: Buy It Here or DIY it here
Pleather Circle Skirt: Buy It Here for $22.99, or DIY it here
Tattoo Tights: Buy It Here or DIY it here
Metallic Cap-Toe Flats: Buy It Here for $66.84, or DIY it here
xoxox
Carly
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