FabGab is Featured in See Your Style

I’ve put in a lot of time, effort and love into starting this blog so it is so nice anytime I get recognition from others and love in the form of comments from you all.  Though it has only been 2.5 months, FabGab has accummulated over 7,000 page views, 2 mentions from Polyvore, link love from fellow bloggers, fashion stationary named after me as well as an inclusion in Glamour.com with another Glamour feature on its way.  Today, I’m flattered to announce that another fellow blogger has mentioned FabGab and given me props for my personal style.

See Your Style‘s style-spotting site is founded by Simone who owns an image consultancy.  Based in NY, she teaches “the tenets of Style Therapy” and studies “classic fashion theories.”  Like all of us, she loves Sartorialist style blogs to keep up with the latest trends and savvy fashionistas who define street style.  Sounds like my Fabcam, right?

Here’s the excerpt:

I’ve been in a constant effort to improve my site as I add myself to various fashion blogging networks and learn how to market the blog.  Some of you may have noticed small changes along the way.  For instance I’ve added buttons at the end of each entry making it easier for anyone to share entries on social networking sites, I’ve added buttons for the directories and networks I’m involved with, and I’m constantly editing and adding new WordPress plugins and other tools to improve the site.  Please let me know your feedback.  What would make navigating the site easier or more intuitive?  What are your favorite features or blog categories?  What would you like to see more of?

Please leave feedback in the comments section so I can learn what works and what could use improvement.  Like with my apartment, this blog is in constant makeover mode.

Style Diary: My NEW Styling Project for Glamour.com

I was recently assigned a project by Glamour.com to style from my own closet and email a few photos of outfits I thought would fit with the “hot summer looks” category.  (Could an assignment get any more fun?!)  It is for an upcoming “feature story about scorching hot outfits to try this summer-think flirty, fun, bright or tight…something (I) would wear on a big night out or festive daytime activity.”

Here is an excerpt from the Glamour.com editor:

Here is what I just submitted.  Let me know what you think they’ll choose.

Outfit description:

accessories – bought from Accessories Plus, a jewelry boutique in NYC (everything costed only around $50)

Outfit description:

For a hot summer look that is girly glam, something you might see Blair Waldorf in, I pulled this damask printed, jade frilly cocktail dress, added a matching bow clip in my hair and wore my bow shoes.  The chain bracelets are inspired by the Chanel purse which I adore because it came with a detachable pearl chain strap and brocade mini-mirror for touch-ups.

Outfit details:

strapless dress with bow: Phoebe Couture bought at TJ Maxx for about $80

bow hair clip and bracelets:  Claire’s boutique! haha my secret is out.  I love a cheap find!

purse:  Chanel (gift)

patent leather bow heels:  JC (bought at a Korean boutique for around $50)

Outfit description:

This trendy asymmetrical dress with flashes of neon yellow would go great with basic black but for an even more interesting look, I paired it with purple shoes and a green clutch to accent the colors in the print.  Lastly, I attached a sparkly brooch in the letter of my last name to my purse making it all the more personal.  I’m all about mixing the high and low as you can see from the prices below.

Outfit details:

printed dress – BCBG Max Azria bought on sale for $340

green clutch – Liz Clairborne bought at some discount retailer for less than $30

black diamond brooch that I applied to the purse – bought at a Korean boutique

purple shoes – H&M for about $20

drop earrings – bought at Off 5th $80

What’s your favorite?

Frugal and Fabulous: Zac Posen for Target – Brocade dress

I tried to attend the Zac Posen Target pop-up store in NY and even scurried over in the rain 2 hours before close only to disappointingly find that they had sold out of everything and had already closed up shop!  That’s when the light bulb went off.  I’ve never done the fashion flip where you make a profit off of popular but limited edition designer clothes by buying then immediately re-selling online.  But I’ve been inspired to do so by other fashionista friends who finance their shoe fund this ingenious way.  The thought of shopping to make money always sounded enticing and I’m excited to report that I’m now a proud eBay seller with 3 brocade zip dressses being sold online.

To bid or buy it now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130386767043

Reports have noted that this dress sold out almost immediately online so I was stunned to find that I could still snag 3 at my local Target.  The trick to finding all 3 was to stalk the area like a love-torn ex because it wasn’t until the store nearly closed and I returned twice to finally find the 3 dresses magically re-appear out of thin air (probably from the littered dressing room?)   I had to quench my squeal as I furtively snatched the sz 1, 5, and 7 while in pure disbelief at my luck.   I wouldn’t have imagined I could feel such a sense of achievement from my little Target excursion but I left feeling proud and with fantasies of making a fortune on eBay

Here’s what my local Target looked like at the end of launch day 1.  Not bad for having withstood a battle storm of raging fashionistas in search of Zac, huh?

As you can see, there weren’t many sizes left for the brocade skirt and like I said, I happily snatched all the remaining brocade dresses.

Don’t mind the toilet paper images behind the fashion…the Edgewater NJ Target is under reconstruction.

What was noticeably missing from the collection were the popular:  detachable ruffle dresses, tape dress and yellow raincoat.

Did anyone get to the pop-up store shopping party in NY and live to tell about it?  Did anyone else purchase anything from the Zac Posen line – if so, do tell!

Style Diary – Rainy Day Outfits

Rain rain go away.  How to look cute anyway?

In my last post, I did a round-up of the most fashionable wellies on the market.  To further help combat your what-to-wear-on-a-rainy-day issues, I’ve collected some images of rainy day outfits to help inspire you.  (It’s supposed to rain again Monday.)   The first two outfits are from my closet and the rest are from around the world – including hypothetical outfits found online through Polyvore.  Let me know what you think!

• Celine boots (which I had sprayed so they were waterproof) $0 as they were gifted to me by my stylist friend
  
• brown distressed leather motorcycle jacket bought on discount at Daffy’s for about $39
• tight black pants that I bought from Big Drop in NYC for around $100 (a splurge but worth it given I’ve worn them for the past 10 years)
• Chanel-inspired blouse from some Korean boutique – and brooch which didn’t come with the blouse but I tacked on last minute
• Fendi tote
• H&M leopard umbrella $9.99 -H&M has super cute umbrellas but I warn you, they’re not sturdy enough to withstand high winds

• blazer -Alice & Olivia (bought at TJMaxx for $39.99 and I added the embroidered patch).
• dress with ruffle bottom – Monteau bought at Strawberry’s for about $25
• insulated wellies -Kamik
• Chanel purse – gift
• chain necklace – from Jasmine boutique in Boston, bangles – Claire’s boutique ehem, YES I said Claire’s

Below is a Polyvore set featuring the Chanel wellies I spoke about in my last entry.

Untitled by

The Polyvore set titled, “mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful” by katherinelindsay featuring TopShop dress is below

• topshop polka dot dress
• Bamford Double-breasted silk-twill trench, $840
• HUNTER Original Hunter Red Wellies
• See by Chloe Rise & Shine cross-body bag, $300
• Oasis | Oasis Pearl And Flower Double Rope Necklace at ASOS, 7

Below is a set titled, “Rain in New York” by Kraina*Czekolady featuring Chanel bags

• Burberry Prorsum Silk-blend jacquard dress, $575
• Burberry Prorsum Metallic leather trench, 1,250 GBP
• Lace-Up Ankle Boots, $525
• Burberry – PACKABLE PERFORATED LEATHER CROSSBODY BAG, 425 GBP
• Janis Savitt Antique Crystal and Multi Chain Necklace, 610 GBP

sexy millitary by her name is: Nicole featuring Burberry boots

• Vanessa Bruno Bretelle Top, $210
• AE Polka Dot Cardigan – Vintage Heather, $40
• BALMAIN FEMME, 1.740 EUR
• Just Jeans Online, 110 AUD
• Burberry PATENT CHAIN RAINBOOTS – Boots, $395

from Rachel Marie I. we have and outfit featuring UO top and tights , thrifted belt, scarf, shoes and skirt

You’ve gotta love how Veronica F. mixes the high and low with a dress from H&M and a purse from Chanel.

from Hanneli M. we have an Alexander Wang bag and Nina Jarebrink shoes.

Jaclyn S. pairs her Hunter boots with a lacy skirt, and woodsy cardigan and top.

CaliVintage wears her Steven Alan skirt and thrifted sweater with her Seychelles platform oxfords.

BamBam C. is below wearing a topshop scarf and Vanessa Bruno jacket.  AND she is using her cute umbrella as an accessory.

I love the idea of the umbrella as an accessory.  And I couldn’t help but smile when I ran into this last photo.

Fab Finds – Rain Boots

The joy of putting together an outfit that expresses who one is and how one feels at the moment can be deeply satisfying to us fashionistas.   If you’re reading this blog, I’m sure you can relate to the mini-epiphanies I’ve experienced that result from simply matching disparate wardrobe pieces and accessorizing in a previously untried way.  Have you had those Einstein moments where for a silly second you can’t deny your own brilliance in styling? I confess, it gives me a high, a cheap one at that I know, but so what if it can convert what should be a mundane day of errands into something a bit more special?

Some days however, dressing up isn’t exhilarating OR liberating OR identity defining.  Some days you face a wardrobe crisis and you never know when it will hit.  The challenge I faced all week was the non-stop NY rain.  It’s hard to feel fabulous when you know your hair is going to fall flat or turn frizzy.  And it’s hard to have fun with your outfit choices when thoughts of what to wear are dominated by restricting priorities like figuring out what will keep you from feeling cold, wet and clammy.

Luckily, there are fashionable rain boots of all styles, colors and price points to keep us warm.  This week, my eyes have been on the lookout for the best in wellies. From shopping down 5th Ave. to shopping online, here are my fab finds!

Henri Bendel offers these stripe-lined, rubber wellies for $88.  They used to offer brown and white as their only two colors but now they offer hot pink, yellow, red and black.  Which ones would you get?  Aren’t they super cute as well as being affordable?

If you like red boots, check out these Hunter Jimmy Choos!  I love the leopard lining.

Juicy makes a cute printed Wellie for $110 that would look great with a khaki trench.

I’m a sucker for Chanel – anything so my heart pumped a little faster when I spotted these yesterday at Saks. A tougher Chanel boot shown below will cost you $365 and would look great contrasted with a girly or frilly dress.