StyleWhipped

Daily Devotion: CC Skye Gigi Cuff

I'm not a huge bracelet person. My work requires me to spend a lot of time at the computer, on the phone, and taking notes. While they look fun and fabulous piled on, the clanging and sliding of bracelets with every movement gets old fast. So when I do indulge, I tend to gravitate towards statement cuffs that stay put and don't require the company of others to look fantastic.

That's where CC Skye's Gigi Cuff comes in! A black enamel bracelet encrusted with crystals of different sizes and shapes, this piece perks up plain, adds grit to girly, and brings glamour to everything. For a good time--wear bracelet.

- Cindy  

Donna Morgan's Perfect Summer Dress

Every summer, there are always those parties you are invited to where you have no clue what to wear. You’ve reached for your little black dresses all winter long and by June, they don’t seem appropriate anymore for every occassion. Its warm out, you want something with color…but you don’t want to be overly fancy in these summer months.

That's why I am crazy about this dress by Donna Morgan for summer parties…or just for dinner or drinks for that matter! The sophisticated color is perfect for this season, and most importantly, it didn’t look like anything in my closet! At $130, this purchase won’t deplete your clothing fund either. In slinky matte jersey with an on-trend oversized ruffle and wide self-belt, it is also flattering, flirty, and doesn't wrinkle when you pack it for a quick summer get-away. Can I mention again that it's perfect?!

Donna Morgan's full collection is available at Nordstrom. Definitely check out all of the cute and summery dresses...I kind of want them all!

- Guest Writer Danielle Rodman for Stylewhipped.com

Running With Heels: Alison's Fashion & Style Column

Feel like you need something a little more "exotic" in your wardrobe? Check out my latest Running With Heels column, "A Leopard with Modern Spots" and you might just find what you're looking for!

~ Alison

Daily Devotion: VaVa Skipper Stripe Dress

It seems like every Spring/Summer, like clockwork, we see "nautical" as a big trend on the retail floors. There are boatneck tees, rope belts and embellishments, high-waisted shorts and pants with the sailor button fronts, everything in shades of red, white, and blue, and of course...stripes! I don't personally love the nautical look, but I do love a stripe and tend to like individual pieces. And on this day, I'm loving the  VaVa by Joy Han Skipper Stripe Dress.   

With its navy stripes, belted waist, and just the right amount of ruffle in the right places, this is a fun and flattering summer dress. It manages to look both classic and trendy, and will take its cues from whatever shoes and accessories you choose to pair it up with. So, do try a bit of nautical. Just maybe not all at once!

- Cindy

Daily Devotion: Beyond Vintage Scalloped Lace Top

When one hears "lace top", they instantly tend to complete the image with a high collar and pearl buttons. The words "dainty", "fussy", and even "prissy", come to mind. Not so with Beyond Vintage's Scalloped Lace Top! Complete with batwing sleeves and a banded hem, this lace top is all modern.

What I really love about this is that it takes a formal material, lace, and pairs it with a contemporary and more casual silhouette. This makes it super versatile. I could wear it to client meetings paired with a pencil skirt or sleek trousers. I could throw it on with a pair of skinny jeans and heels and be ready for a night out on the town. Or I could even wear it with distressed, faded denim for a boho chic look. I'm all about pieces that can go a long way, and this piece proves that lace can be practical and multifaceted.   

- Cindy

Daily Devotion Update: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, now in Rose

Last Winter I sang the praises of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment on StyleWhipped. I'm so happy to share that Fresh has come up with an alternative with a bit of sheer, buildable color-- Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15. It's gorgeous color with all of the fantastic hydration and protection of the original Lip Treatment. Right now, it's available exclusively to Sephora Beauty Insiders. Not a Beauty Insider? No problem. Signing up is easy and you get to take advantage of great exclusives, perks and rewards. Enjoy!

- Cindy 

Daily Devotion: Leifsdottir 'Abbey Rose' Silk Dress

One of the things I love observing when shopping with friends is what makes them feel glamorous. Sometimes it's a stiletto heel, sometimes it's big statement jewelry, and sometimes it's a shade of red lipstick. The only thing that is certain, is that there are many many interpretations of what glamor is.

One of my dear friends has mastered the art of vintage glamor. She always looks chic, even when casual. And she happens to have that perfect, willowy, narrow body that looks so right in vintage clothing. I've always admired her style, but never really thought it was for me. That is, until I saw Leifsdottir's 'Abbey Rose' Silk Dress. The combination of the colors, the print, the silhouette-- for me it was like playing dress up. It was fun, but more importantly, it was flattering! I instantly wanted t-straps, a clutch, and a pop of red lips. Now if only I could get those perfect pin curls in my hair...   

- Cindy

A New Favorite Silhouette

I love (love, love, love) maxi dresses. But I also love showing a little skin, especially in summer. So for those of you who feel the same way, I have the perfect silhouette for you. Strapless and with a nipped-in waist, these maxi dresses allow you to show off your figure without compromising the whole concept of "maxi"...

From 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, this is the purest example. And with an ethnic-inspired print in a soft, neutral color palette, you can opt for a bright pair of heels (I personally would rock my yellow python platforms with this one)...

Another, from Daughters of the Revolution (one of my new favorite lines), adds a fabulous ruffle detail covering the bodice, and with its dark ikat print, is perfect for evening. A stack of jeweled gold bracelets is the perfect accessory...

A more casual (but still glam!) choice comes in this jersey number from T-Bags. With a contrasting, brightly-colored rope belt, this can be dressed up for dinner, but also works with delicate flat sandals and an oversized bag for a day of shopping in a beach town...

Lastly, from Single we get a slightly different neckline, but one that still shows off the shoulders you've been working so hard on! In a bold floral, its tropical colors demand gold heels and a matching little clutch...

By the way, each of these are $350 or less. So go ahead, no guilt required...

~ Alison

Running With Heels: Alison's Fashion & Style Column

Thanks in part to Cindy's inspiration, I dedicated an entire RWH column to fringe this week! It's also a follow-up to last week's profile of the boho-chic look...read it here: "On the Fringe"...

~ Alison

Eat at Cosi...but not until tomorrow at 5pm!

As you probably already know, I have recently gotten involved with an amazing non-profit organization called Hearts of Gold. HoG helps homeless mothers and their children, and has been doing incredible work for many years. And this week, they are lucky enough to have Cosi restaurant helping them! At eight locations throughout Manhattan on Wednesday the 24th, Cosi is donating 10% of all proceeds from the dinner rush (5pm-7pm) to Hearts of Gold! So check out the list of participating Cosi locations below, and go have dinner to help some deserving moms!

Participating Cosi restaurants include 8th & Broadway, 6th Ave between 22nd & 23rd, 42nd & Bryant Park, 44th & 3rd, 45th & Madison, 51st & Broadway, 56th & 3rd, and 77th & Broadway. So don't forget to stop in for some of their yummy food between 5pm-7pm on Wednesday...you'll be eating well and doing good!

~ Alison