Coverings’ Favorite Things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things…

Ok, well maybe not exactly those things. We’re more into shoes that fuse fashion and function, stress induced breakout stoppers, and figure flattering wardrobe pieces; those are a few of our favorite things! We dug through our closets and makeup bags to give you the gift of must-have essentials to keep yourself beautiful and stylish from this year and into the next. With a little something for everyone, the Coverings Crew wishes you style and grace.

Born Shoes

We love the handcrafted comfortableness that is Born Shoes.  I purchased my first pair of Born biker boots for a little over $100 several years ago. I get complements every time I wear them, which is almost daily in the fall and winter seasons. I could walk a mile in those shoes…actually, I literally have. At a price point that truly makes them worth the investment, these shoes buck the cliche that you have to suffer for fashion!.

ASOS.com
We have been drooling over this British website for years, now…but 2010 is the year that ASOS finally came across the pond. That means faboosh fashion for every man, woman, and child minus the international shipping rates!

Leggings
These form fitting bottoms work for almost every body! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Wrinkle free, slimming, and offered in an array of textures and patterns, it’s no wonder the leggings trend has gained juggernaut status.  I’m personally one pair of leggings away from joining a support group.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Treatment
Stress is an inevitable part of the human condition, which is bad enough, but add a face full of pimples and your likely to start screaming ,”Why, God? Why? I’m too old to have breakouts!” Well, first of all, take a few deep breaths…then,take the paper bag off your head. With just a pea size amount of this miracle treatment from Neutrogena, you can fight back against stress induced acne before it gets the best of you.

Bobbi Brown Eye Repair Cream
Our very own CEO totes this stuff in her makeup bag, and she has the rest of the Coverings Crew totally hooked! A few pats of Bobbi Brown’s Eye Repair Cream around your eyes and your “stayed up all night to put a magazine to bed” eyes will look well rested and refreshed.

Gel Nail Polish
We had our first gel manicure this year and we absolutely LOVED it! Not only did my nails grow ridiculously long, my mani didn’t crack or chip for 2 weeks. Sure the new gel manicure costs a little extra, but believe me it’s totally worth it. My nail salon actually reassured me that if for any reason my mani didn’t last I could come back and they would fix it for free. While it does take about an hour to apply this revolutionary new technique, you leave the salon with nails that are completely dry and unbreakable. To read more about gel nails, check out this article from Stylist.com.

bareMinerals Refillable Buffing Brush
I love Bare Minerals because it gives me flawless looking skin with lightweight coverage. Now, I love it even more since getting my hands on their refillable buffing brush. With a twist out center compartment you fill with Bare minerals powder, you can easily retouch your face without spilling makeup all over yourself! Just twist open the brush, shake until the powder makes it’s way onto the bristle tips, and apply. Easy, easy, easy.

High Shine Holiday

The holiday season is in full swing and nothing says, “celebrate” like an outfit with sparkle. But, it’s a fine line between looking like a perfectly styled holiday hostess and looking like a hot holiday mess. Well, that’s what I’m here for. Follow these simple tips and you’re guaranteed to pull off an outfit that truly shines.

1. A little sparkle goes a long way.
Don’t loose yourself in a sea of glitter, spangles or sequins. Pick one piece that sparkles and let it be the centerpiece of your outfit.

2. Don’t overdo it on accessories.
Actually, this is just a good rule to follow in general. Besides a purse and the right pair of shoes, you only need to add a pair of earrings and a ring, OR earrings and a cuff/bangles. You do not need all three and I can almost guarantee that you won’t need a necklace. Especially if your shimmery piece is on top.

3. Do it big, or don’t do it at all.
The key to pulling off a glam holiday look is to embrace it. Do a smoldery smoky eye or a bold bright lip. Try a messy side swept chignon or big tousled hair. Maybe even add some fake lashes to your look. If you stop half way, you’ll end up with a look that falls flat.

For festive holiday wardrobe ideas, explore our lookbook, or check us out at Shopstyle.com.

Booties in the Spring?

Jimmy Choo designs new line for H&M

Adorning myself in awesomeness…I’m always game for that. Put me in something fierce and I’m ready for whatever life throws at me. Isn’t that the case for most of us, ladies? So of course, I was over the moon when they announced the partnership of Jimmy Choo and H&M. I know I’m not supposed to covet my neighbors stuff, but drooling over it from afar is okay, right? Well, now I don’t have to hide in the bushes stalking other women’s Jimmy Choo shoes and accessories. I can finally afford my own!

Jimmy Choo’s shoes and accessories line for H&M is marked from $30-$299. That means anyone can afford to add at least one piece from the iconic designer to their wardrobe. Jimmy Choo is one of those designers whose pieces are totally unique and edgy. They meld 80s rocker, with Chanel-esque quilting details, classic colors and prints, and still manages to stay timeless. How, I’m too sure? But, he accomplishes what very few designers can.

I totally cannot wait to carry my belongings in one of those oversized clutches, and walk all over people in a pair of those fierce strappy sandals. Ok, I don’t really plan to walk over people, that’s so unChristian like.

Get the look: How to wear leggings

In my opinion, leggings are the best fashion trend to make a comeback. Every woman should own a pair. I know I own about four pairs, myself. If I could wear them everyday I would. (Although, I guess there isn’t really anything stopping me). They’re comfy, breathable, figure flattering, and look good on every shape. Yes, even on plus-size women. Heck, especially plus-size women! So, stop being scared of this frame hugging trend and find out how to wear it instead.

With the cornucopia of choices available, you want to make sure you pick a fabric that is going to flatter your figure. Your core group consists of leather, poly-blend, nylon, and cotton.

While there are really only four fabrics, the color choices are endless, especially if you opt for nylon leggings. You can find them in vibrant colors like teal and fuchsia. But keep in mind, that brightly painted gams can be a dangerous look. And I mean dangerous is in bad-bad, not good-bad. Unless you’re a teenaged girl or a college coed, you need to stay away from colors that can make you look dated  and your legs seem the size of tree trunks.

Poly-blend leggings, are being worn in metallics, like gold and silver. While I love the look, it is a little difficult to pull off. Who can wear it? In my opinion, the only women who can wear it well are those who are leggy and thin. Think model types. However, worn with a sky high heels, the vertically challenged can definitely pull this look off. Why do I suggest that the average woman stay away from metallic leggings? Well, they shimmer and shine. Translation: they show off every single cellulite dimple. However, you’re always safe in black and they are very rocker-esque.

If you really want to be cutting edge, pour yourself into a pair of leather leggings. However, be aware that these leggings carry a much heavier price tag. Our favorite designers are jumping onto the leggings 2.0 bandwagon. You can wear designer leather leggings with the same ease as the any other legging. Or, go for leggings with leather accents, like knee pads. I advise that this legging look is way to fierce to wear with ballet flats. Really accentuate them with boots, or funky booties, or really great pumps.

For you plus size women, I say stick with black leggings. They’re super slimming and still flatter your curves. No matter what shoes you pair them with; ballet flats, boots, or high heels; the key to wearing them is pairing it with the right top, which most women don’t realize. It’s all about finding a top that is long enough to cover your bumm, which applies no matter what size you are.  A longer top gives the illusion of a longer leaner body by elongating your torso. Go for long layering tanks, boyfriend blazers, and boyfriend cardigans.

Another thing to keep in mind when wearing this trend is to stay away from sheerness. No one needs to see all your goodies. Make sure your nylon leggings are a thicker consistancy, which will also have an added “shaping” bonus.

Michael Kors’ leather bubble skirt outfit

Michael Kors is so…well words can’t describe him. He has the ability to take the most basic pieces and make them interesting, exciting, and fresh. Take, for instance, the basic black outfit pictured above; a black mock turtleneck, black skirt, and black Mary Jane shoes. Yet, when Michael Kors gets through with this ensemble it absolutely faboosh! The mock turtleneck manages to be edgy thanks to its visible zipper. Paired with a knee length bubble skirt made of leather, it takes the look to a whole other level! Seriously, a leather bubble skirt…just saying it makes me want to kidnap it, runaway with it, and marry it.

He makes the outfit a complete statement with accessories. The one of a kind Chain Link Necklace and platform Runway Mary Jane Pumps give the whole look a “goth” flair. It’s  buckles and chains meets Hamptons chic. Leave it to Michael Kors to take these two unlikely looks and turn them into something we love. Actually, scratch that…”love” is too soft a word. We’re absolutely mad about this look!

Get this head to toe look from NeimanMarcus.com or MichaelKors.com.

Skip this trend: Summer boots

Yes, summer boots. Just saying it makes me roll my eyes. This “trend” is a total oxymoron. Unless you live at one of the Poles, why would you want to huff around in boots during the hottest months of the year? I don’t which overpaid genius came up with trend to try to push onto unsuspecting trendsters but no one with the least bit of sense should caught trying to rock the summer boot. I don’t care how many celebrities you see in magazines leaving Whole Foods in “the hottest trend of the summer.” Everyone knows celebrities are totally disillusioned anyway, so don’t trust their judgment.

The point of my long tirade? Skip this trend and tell all your friends to do the same, because it’s just flat out ridiculous.

Gym friendly flip flops

Finally! I was starting to think this day would never come; flip flops that get your gams (a.k.a legs) in shape? Okay, well not flip flops but FitFlop Shoes. These athletic flip flops may very well replace tennis shoes at the gym, which is fine by me. I hate wearing tennis shoes, to the gym or any other place.

Okay, so before I say something that’s going to get me sued let me step back a minute and clarify a few things about the FitFlop. First, FitFlops are not to be substituted for tennis shoes at the gym, no matter how much we would like them to be. The whole idea behind FitFlops is helping women fit leg toning exercise into their everyday routine. When you have 2 kids, a husband, pets, a full time job, church functions, and motherhood to deal with it is very likely that hitting the gym is at the bottom of your to do list, and that’s if it makes it onto the list at all. So, you slide on a pair of FitFlops, run all your errands, and by the time you get home you’ve just given your legs a good workout.

How does this ingenious product work? In a nutshell,

Fitflops feature patent-pending micro-wobbleboard technology so every step your take in your FitFlops helps tone and trim your legs.

Amazing; right? That’s why we love them! The best part is that they come in tons of colors, cuts, and fabrics to go with any outfit. They even have a FitFlop thong sandal doused in glitter! Pick up a pair for gorgeous gams and the easiest workout you’ve never had.

Christian Louboutin shoe looks for less

Christian Louboutin has the fiercest shoes ever made! I have long been a fan of the sky high, overpriced heels. How I wish with all my might that I could afford even one pair of those gorgeous shoes, but I can’t. And I am well aware that I am not the only one. So, I am on a mission to scour the internet for Christian Louboutin looks for less. Check out our picture gallery below, to see this Christian Louboutin like kicks for under $100.

Summer sandal: Aldo urban t-thong

The Leavigne from Aldo is an urban leather thong sandal, perfect for summer. What keeps this sandal fun and trendy is the large hardware across the top of the sandal. Large squares, in colors to match, decorate the t-strap of the sandal. I’m a fan of the gold pair, but you can also grab them in black.

Pick them up on sale in silver and you can save yourself some serious cash.

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