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How-to Do Casual

Posted by Better Blueprint on May 3, 2012

The problem: Saturdays automatically signal “casual” but you want to be slightly sexy/cute too, right? High heels with jeans work ~ but it can be a bit overdone especially if everyone else is realllly casual. Sneakers definitely say casual but not fem.

The solution: the Ash Bowie sneaker! It’s a sneaker so it’s comfortable and signals casual but it’s sleek and has a wedge so it creates a slightly sexier silhouette that says feminine & fab but fun.

My favorite is the Bowie in black/stone suede {it works with all of my leggings and jeans but the blue adds a touch of easy color, and the stone color grounds the combination}.

Currently they’re running $235 on the Ash site, but we found them for $225 at Urban Outfitters (actually they’re an extra 10% off thru May 20th with code SPRINGIT). They come in 7 color/combos and while they’re more than your average sneaker, one pair will be your road trip solution, Saturday hang out answer, and errand running (no pun intended) panacea!!

Handmade Haute Shoes

Posted by Better Blueprint on May 3, 2012

  • What I love about Kathryn Amberleigh‘s shoes: that they’re handmade means, unlike machine manufactured {which has their place as well}, they take into account the form of the foot and when worn, even the heels kinda cradle your foot just a littel extra…
  • Stars love Kathryn Kim’s shoes: ”Alexa Chung likes the 3113 stacked heel wedge. Miranda Kerr is partial to the 3152 linen bootie. Emmanuelle Alt can’t get enough of the 7124 thigh high.”
  • They’re one-of-a-kind and handmade
  • They cover the gamut in colors, textures and fabrics
  • She’s got two freestanding stores: Nolita store in NYC and the newest addition on West 3rd in LA. Online too!
  • Prices range from $200-$700 with most being $300-$400
  • My favorites: K403B nude snake {appeals to my sensible, businesswomen side}; 3100 cream snake {still demure because of the slingback but reveals a bit of power-to-the-punch}; and 3114 grey {summer everyday power sandal that says ‘I’m playing but I’m saying”}

Which are your favorite? If we know, we maaaaay be able to hook you up…

Our Favorite April Posts

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 30, 2012

This month we garnered quite a bit of engagement from our readers, so yay!! Here’s a quick recap of our favorites {and yours too}:

What do you want to hear about in May?

The Winner of the FAB Designer Blouse Is…

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 30, 2012

We got quite a few entries and had a blast doing the contest via Facebook, but alas the time has come to choose a winner and there can only be one…..SweepsMama! She gets a lovely Presenza blouse and one month membership to b-styled by blueprint Style Club ~ congrats!! She loved our Deconstructed Chic look….

The Winner of the Lifetherapy Giveaway Is….

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 30, 2012

This contest was super easy to enter and our winner announcement is loooong overdue….Vanessa Martinez is our winner! She’ll not only get my favorite item {nourishing body rub} but hers as well {Lifetherapy Chill Pulse Point Oil Roll-on Perfume}.

Swimsuit Sweet Spot

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 27, 2012

Across the last month, we’ve done a four-part series on swimsuit savvy trends and dealing with our less-than-ideal shapes. What did you learn? For me, I’m doing animal prints! That said, Susan was kind enough to not only give us everything we need to make the right decisions, but a $50 gift certificate to put that knowledge to good use at In Style Swimwear.

To get it, just…

  1. like InStyleSwimwear on Facebook
  2. like Blueprint for Style on Facebook
  3. tell us which trend you’ll be rocking and your favorite suit!

Done!

We’ll choose ONE lucky winner on May 4th ~ just in time for you to receive your swimsuit to kick off the season stylishly!

Don’t Get Played By Plaid

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 27, 2012

{Gucci blazer and shirt; photo from GQ.com}

It’s doable and tell me this contemporary plaid blazer with collarless shirt isn’t HOT! Wearing plaid doesn’t have to be professorial, geeky, loud, or stuffy. Gucci under the guidance of Frida Giannini has flourished and while this particular combination may be out of your price range {blazer, $2,350 and shirt, $510}, consider the possibility that plaid is a new classic.

Here’s a Gucci Prince of Wales check blazer, ASOS Slim Fit check blazer, or Peter Millar Vespa sportcoat that captures the essence of laid-back, sporty chic without all the fuss.

5 Must-Do’s in Argentina

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 27, 2012

I’m heading to Buenos Aires this fall and I’m psyched ~ it’s the ‘Paris of the South‘, so I’m planning for good music, fabulous fashion, great food, and everything in between! I will undoubtedly do a post of two while there but let me begin to drop a few bread crumbs from time to time.

Today are the five must-do’s as told by American Airlines:

  1. Take a tango lesson~ you can go “group” for under $25/pp at Escuela Argentina de Tango or “private” with Helen Halldórsdóttir
  2. Go on a wine safari~ with lots of wine regions, Mendoza  (home of Malbecs) is the way to go!
  3. Meat!~ this is not the place for vegetarians as Arngetina is known to have the best beef in the world
  4. See a soccer game~ known to the locals as fútbol, soccer at legendary La Bombonera (home of Diego Maradona)
  5. Shop for leather~ hello, beef = leather! Calle Florida or the store, Murillo 666 on Calle Murillo

I’m so ready to eat well, step lively and dress fashionably! Who’s in?

BIG Time with Chevy

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 26, 2012

2012 Chevy Suburban 4WD LTZ

“Goody goody gumdrops” is what I said when GM informed me that I’d be driving their 2012 Suburban 4WD LTZ…and then I saw it. It was huge, all black and shiny–I was in instant like! Truth be told, I wanted to try out the Cadillac SRX Crossover because it appeared to have more of my natural aesthetic — sizable, noteworthy but not over-the-top, powerful, and slightly understated, so i did experience a bit of dismay at first.

Side blind spot alert feature

I went online to look and it just looked big, but after a bit of research, I was psyched!! This car has tons of features that easily appeal to my sense of style — folding side view mirrors, seat warmers (I’m always cold and don’t travel with a jacket for day trips if it’s not full-on winter), rear park assist (my last car was a Range Rover and I soooo miss the sensors when parking), USB for my iPhone, remote vehicle start (sweeeet!) and the best feature of all….side blind zone alert (I worried that I wouldn’t see cars moving past me in my blind spot but the side view mirrors have this indicator that flashes yellow when a vehicle is in your blind spot–awesomeness)! Enough with the litany of features because, all jokes aside, clearly my biggest concern was whether the overall ride would be cool and whether it fit my general style aesthetic.

my new peep toe booties!

After 5 minutes of driving, I thought it came pretty close. Albeit much larger than anything I would normally get for myself, the amenities made me think twice. This is going to sound nutty but I loved the driver-side foot space — my new peep toe booties with cinched closure were nestled with care (that counts BIG time to a lady who loves her heels!).

The black on black interior/exterior also made it sleeker. My first client commented, “I thought that was you in that truck.” [I stayed in the car for 10 minutes to answer emails, make calls and snap a few photos of the back of the truck....super spacious]. I imagined if I had to tote around a basketball team (I was meeting with the head coach of basketball team later in the day) or a brood of rambunctious kids, the space would be heavenly. For me, it was just expansive! Anyway my client eluded to the fact that the truck was “me” – clearly it was growing on me.

My second meeting with coach was as predicted – he loved the truck and although he doesn’t tote his college team around, he saw the potential and was excited. That said, he commented (unprompted) on the mismatch of styling, “That’s too much truck for you even though I’m sure you can work it. I see you in more of a Range Rover.“….I swear he didn’t know I had one!!

Loved my ride partly because I love just about anything new, but also reveled a bit in the small amenities that so-called higher end vehicles don’t even have. The Suburban doesn’t match my aesthetic but for a mom of three/four/five kids, or a six foot six inch man who hangs with a tall crowd, this truck is like candy land.

What do you think- me or no?

Swimsuit Savvy: Animal Print Trend & One-piece Hits

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 25, 2012

{Arizona by Melissa Odabash}

For my last swimsuit post, I saved the best for last—animal prints!  Animal prints are timeless, and since designers always introduce their own spin on them, they always look unique.  If you’re a one-piece swimsuit devotee and are tired of wearing the same old styles, look for those featuring fierce animal prints and innovative designs.

  • Many one-piece swimsuit styles feature boring colors and typical silhouettes.  For something fresh, try a one-piece with a colored animal print, chic asymmetrical design or even some embellishment!
  • For something ultra-sexy that still provides great overall coverage, look for a one-piece swimsuit with a deep plunging neckline—perfect for showing just the right amount of skin
  • Tired of bikinis and looking for an edgy new swimsuit style?  Monokinis are one-pieces with side cutouts, so they look like bikinis from behind.  They vary in coverage and design so you can easily find one that fits your personality

Check out swimsuit trends #1 (small bust solutions), #2 (elongating your torso) and #3 (downplaying a bigger bust)

{Special Croco One-Piece by Cia.Maritima}

{Fuerte Ventura by OndadeMar}

Club Monaco for Men

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 24, 2012

Not only has Club Monaco finally created an e-commerce site, but they’ve bolstered the men’s section. First, a few ground rules:

  • they do casual and dressed up casual
  • they do slim to medium-build men very well (huskier types….not so much except for the tops)
  • they do muted colors and earth tones

That said, here are some of their best looks for March, April & May ~ find some inspiration to add a layer, throw on a different style tee, or just use an occasional stripe:

Desert twill jacket, $189.50

Artem indigo shirt, $89.50

Striped crewneck t-shirt, $29.50

Milton trouser, $179.50

Trouser, $245.00

A similar sweater {Ian cardigan, $169.50}

Cotton field jacket, $189.50

Cotton trench, $169.50

 

Mobile Men’s Fashion

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 23, 2012

Recently Conde Nast Traveler did a piece on 11 mobile stores to visit and we were intrigued…and now fully engaged! Last week, we highlighted Bootleg, a women’s footwear shoegasm in Austin, TX. This week we checked out Aetherstream out of San Francisco, CA ~it’s kinda like the SWAT team of Aether’s bricks-n-mortar outfit.

Aetherstream features tailored, technical lifestyle apparel for men. It’s weekend and outdoorsy gear that is anything but grungy ! more rugged individualist. We haven’t been inside but understand the reclaimed wood gives it a very manly appeal. Look for it traveling from San Fran to LA on occasion.

{Aetherstream; photo from Conde Nast}

A Dirty Little Secret…

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 23, 2012

I have to confess something….from time to time, I find fabulous items and I don’t want to share them with you! Is that bad? am I supposed to share all of the cool stuff I find with you all….and then I see you and we’re wearing the same thing?! Do you even like what I like? Sometimes the items I snag are because I love them not because they’re inexpensive/”a steal” but simply because I saw it and “had to have it”. Does this make me a bad person?

Technically, if we continuously purchase the same items (ladies not fellas), we’re bound to show up somewhere wearing the same thing! That would be a major faux pas, so I’m really saving us from embarrassing ourselves in public!

That dirty little confession out of the way ~ let’s discuss my two recent shoe purchases to prepare for summer…both from Zara. The colors are bright and the flat sandal is just different enough to stand out everyday. Should I have shared this sooner? I don’t know, but I’m sharing it now ~~~ so click the pic and get your feet feeling happy!

Basic sandal, $49.90

 

Snakeskin print sandals, $79.90

 

 

 

It’s That Time of Month…

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 21, 2012

{J Crew Icon Trench}

What were you thinking?! April is the month to purchase rain gear. Move quickly before April showers are gone, sunshine is hear, and prices go up along with the mercury!

Either way, hop to it and search for what you love. Guys we didn’t forget about you either ~ here ya go!

6 Things We Want to Share This Week

Posted by Better Blueprint on April 21, 2012

{Photo By Kwaku Alston}

  1. The summer Olympics are three months away but, Ralph Lauren unveiled his Olympic and Paralympic designs this week that consisted of all white with red & blue accents. They are available at Ralph Lauren for purchase.
  2. Not to be outdone, Stella McCartney released her summer Olympic designs for Great Britian’s team ~ the first time a fashion designer has been given that honor {GB’s look better!}
  3. Kehinde Wiley {pictured above} is a New-York based artist whose claim to fame has been streetwise portraits of African-American men typically in their own clothing but, he’s doing a switch up! The artist will do his first female series with all six pieces designed by Givenchy creative director, Riccardo Tisci. It will be titled, “An Economy of Grace.” [view original article]
  4. They’re not feminine, or subtle but All-American and more statement than you’ll make in a while ~ red pants for men (all under $100). They can work if you’re young, on vacation for the Fourth of July, or keep everything else real standard. Our advice: make sure they’re a trouser style and stick with a more casual approach.
  5. I found this sleeveless jacket that is navy and stone ($35) and think it’s perfect with jeans, Friday casual with khakis, or layered with white (yes, white!) and a colorful light sweater.
  6. It’s wedding season {almost}, so men take some styling tips from Mr. Porter on city, country and beach wedding attire.
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