February 2015 - Red Soled Momma

MOMMA’S UNDER $100… more flash for less cash

Want to get more flash for less cash? It’s all about finding incredible fashion for under $100. Looking great doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. It also doesn’t have to be unattainable. There is incredible style available at affordable price points meaning you can get more flash for less cash which is, clearly a win win situation. Style is an attitude, its pairing great pieces together – great doesn’t have to mean expensive – they just need to be well curated, this is where I come in… Check out some of my favoite buys for under $100 and enjoy more flash for less cash!

Asos dress $77.04

Nasty Gal necklace $25

Topshop sandals $75

Natasha Couture clutch $98

Cooper & Ella blouse $98

Vila pant $45.86

Madewell cuff $28

Express sandals $79.90

Forever 21 bag $22.90

English Factory top $57

Nasty Gal skirt $58

Jules Smith necklace $45

Asos heels $55.03

Forever 21 satchel $27.90

Asks top $58.69

Asos jeans $58.69

Topshop blazer $90

Amber Sceats ear cuff set $99

T Tahari bootie $93.90

Big Buddha hobo bag $98

Nasty Gal top $48

Asos pants $64.20

Nasty Gal lariat $25

Steve Madden sandals $79.95

Topshop bag $70

Topshop dress $85 (this can be worn as a dress or unzipped to be worn as separates!!)

Topshop cuff $15

Express heels $98

Sondra Roberts loose bead clutch $64.80

MOMMA LOVES… 50 shades of grey clothes

I’m a huge fan of grey clothes – everything from jeans and tees to more dressy pieces like this Herve Leger – then I get to pop it with some great colorful accessories!

Confession, I have not read the book and probably won’t see the movie but I’m a long time fan of 50 shades of grey clothes. Basically, grey is the sometimes overlooked cousin of black and white but its just a wearable and versatile and there are so many incredible nuances to the color that it really is a fashion favorite. From warmer hues that encroach on taupe to cooler steal tones – there are plenty of options for every skin tone and style. Keep it neutral with black and white or pop with bright colored accessories but grey clothes are always a staple in my wardrobe. This basic color has been enormously popular of late so it’s about time I gave it some love… So, check out some of my favorite grey clothes in various shades and get your sexy (slash chic comfy) on…

Roksanda Ilincic dress $2345

Phillip Lim dress $495

Halston Herritage dress $345

Asks dress $78

Jay Ahr shorts $800

Intermix skirt $275

Rebecca Taylor skirt $140

Asos skirt $30

Burberry London trench coat $2595

Rebecca Taylor jacket $450

BB Dakota jacket $308

Forever 21 jacket $29.90

Donna Karan top $1495

Richard Nicoll top $475

Emerson Thorpe top $228

Plain top $58

MOMMA WANTS… peep toe booties all year round

Oldies but goodies – these Yves Saint Laurent peep toe booties are always a favorite go-to regardless of season!

Yes, it’s freezing on the east coast and in the 80′s in southern California, but peep toe booties are brilliant because they can be fabulous all year long! Can’t wear boots in summer? Can’t wear open toe in the winter? Or can you… These peep toes booties are not only fabulous but seasonless, making them a great investment than you can buy right now. They transition flawlessly from winter to summer, summer to winter and from desk to date! The peep toe booties give you versatility with the benefit of adding instant style to your look. You can dress them up or down, with dresses or denim, but one things for sure – they’ll take you everywhere you need to be. Check out some of my favorite peep toe booties that you never have to wait to wear!

Giuseppe Zanetti boots $1660

Burberry boots $895

Aquazzura booties $416.30

Halogen booties $59.96

Christian Louboutin booties $1295

Pedro Garcia booties $540

Joe’s Jeans booties $179

Forever 21 booties $29.80

Jimmy Choo booties $1575

Tamara Mellon booties $357

Dolce Vita booties $215

Asos boots $88.04

Givenchy boots $1695

Gianvito Rossi booties $850

Vince booties $450

Vince Camuto booties $89.37

MOMMA LOVES… capes – they’re in and they’re spectacular

Had to go a bit dramatic with the cape… It’s so much fun to wear and you really could wear it with just about anything.

This Lavish Alice cape is a fun addition to my wardrobe because I get all the drama without the hefty price tag.

These capes are great for transitioning between seasons! Might feel like wishful thinking for some of you east coasters but spring is coming!

That’s right, I’m fully on board with the capes trend that has emerged, and I’m not talking about the superman kind. I’m taking about the incredibly chic look Lupita Nyong’o reinvented at last year’s Golden Globes, in Ralph Lauren, and which we have also seen on a-list celebs with style as diverse as Katy Perry and Gwyneth Paltrow. These capes are incredibly chic and have the look and feel of a blazer but in a more feminine, sophisticated way. Perched on top of your shoulders it’s the perfect alternative to jackets and shawl – super modern yet lady like, they’re truly a must have. I have been waiting to do a post on these capes for sometimes and only now have we started to see more and more options in a range of price point proving these babies aren’t going anywhere. Also, while winter starts to fade a way and spring comes to town these sleeveless pieces can tradition you seamlessly between seasons. Check out some of my favorite capes that can transform and elevate your look.

Pierre Balmain $1575

BCBG Max Azria $698

Asos $137.57

Topshop $68

Halston Herritage jacket $495

Lovers and Friends $268

Lavish Alice $99.05

Forever 21 $47.80

Michael Kors convertible cape/trench jacket $1595

Trina Turk $391

Zara $189

Nasty Gal $68

Valentino gown $6990

Yigal Azrouel top $650

Milly dress $395

Nasty Gal top $68

MOMMA REVIEWS… 2015 Oscar fashion

2015 Oscar fashion = Fifty Shades of Beige

The time has finally arrived, it’s time to talk about the 2015 Oscar fashion from the biggest night in Hollywood and (usually) fashion. Confession, I was underwhelmed. I’m actually calling it hashtag 50 shades of beige due to the enormous amount of light colors and the fact that the red carpet confections were just sorts of… eh. Look, I’m not taking it away from any of these enormously talented actresses – they all looked very pretty, pulled together and, well, safe. The truth is, 2015 Oscar fashion was sort of a snooze fest and it left me and my friends watching at home asking, do you think the real dresses got caught up in customs? Did they change their minds last minute because of the weather? Did dresses get held up in New York and Europe because of the weather? Did all the beautiful dresses already get worn and this is what was left? I don’t know, but, I do know that there were no real wow moments.

Don’t get me wrong, I thought Naomi Watts looked incredible in Armani Prive and I loved that Dakota Johnson looked like a proper young and beautiful ingenue in Saint Laurent, but other than that… Jennifer Lopez, sparkled (as always) and Lupita Nyong’o, Marion Cotillard and Julianne Moore did light right… But, it was clear the 2015 Oscar fashion was less about the dresses and more about the women in them, which would be the crowning glory of this less than stellar fashion moment – perhaps the paired back looks left room to focus more on the incredible performances of these women rather than what they were wearing. These weren’t worst dressed moments, the dresses were pretty, they just weren’t show stoppers… And for me, the Oscars are about fashion WOWS (even if there slightly left of right) and these gowns just seemed better suited for a less important night…

Perhaps Patricia Arquette’s call for equal pay for women explains all of this. Women in Hollywood not only deliver equally riveting performances to men, but have the secondary role of being fashion icons – a pressure that the men don’t have to fret, and yet they are still not compensated on par with their male counterparts and they’ve finally had enough… I’m really not sure, but I’ll stand behind that theory because it’s pretty awesome. Anyway, enough of that, lets talk about the 2015 Oscar fashion that did happen last night.

(l-r) Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Couture, Cate Blanchett in Maison Margiela, Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent and Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta.

First off, the dark horses – the ladies in black/navy all looked stunning – I really do love Jessica Chastain in this gorgeous Givenchy, and Margot Robbie looked so sexy and yet simple in Saint Laurent and I loved Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta because it felt different for her – less bohemian and more polished, it was one of the more refreshing 2015 Oscar fashion moments. Again, all these ladies looked beautiful (love Cate Blanchett bring some much needed color to the carpet with that gorgeous Tiffany turquoise statement necklace). Black is safe, black is usually in abundance, it actually wasn’t this year, making these gowns some of the bolder statements…

(l-r) Felicity Jones in Alexander McQueen, Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab Couture and Anna Faris in Zuhair Murad Couture.

Who doesn’t love a bit of princess power and these ladies brought the glamour. In to the Woods had nominations and Cinderella is coming out soon enough and these women brought some fairy tail action to a drenched red carpet. Leave it Jennifer Lopez (in Elie Saab Couture) to shut down the red carpet and make a statement – and thank god she did – we needed it. There was plenty of beading and adornment last night, but these voluminous bottoms were a nice pop of something different.

(l-r) Naomi Watts in Armani Prive, Lupita Nyong’o in Calvin Klein, Emma Stone in Elie Saab Couture and Julianne Moore in Chanel Couture.

The adorned ladies putting on the glitz. I was happy to get some of the opulence I was craving with Naomi Watts in her glittering Armani Prive was one of my favorites, and of course Lupita Nyong’o in a Calvin Klein gown with something like 6000 pearls proving that sometimes more is more and that her fashion icon status isn’t going anywhere. These gowns, again, were very pretty, the craftsmanship on these gowns in incredible and, of course, all of these ladies are so incredibly gorgeous.

(l-r) Dakota Johnson in Saint Laurent and Rosamund Pike in Givenchy Couture and Behati Prinsloo in Armani Prive

Ahhhh, the ladies in red… Thank god. I was hoping for a lot more color on the carpet, so I was very grateful for Dakota Johnson showing up like the budding star she is in this gorgeous Saint Laurent gown. It took me back to Jennifer Lawrence’s first nomination in that beautiful (yet simple) crimson Calvin Klein number a few years back. This is a big moment for her so I was really happy to put her on my best dressed list. Rosamund Pike also looked gorgeous in her red Givenchy Couture – hard to believe she just had a baby a few months ago – she has truly never looked better!

MOMMA NEEDS… furniture without corners

Childproofing doesn’t have to be an eye sore – it’s all about curves baby!

I’ve posted about this before, but furniture without corners is an absolute must hone you have children. Having lived in the land of childproofed foam corners I’ve learned my lesson – curved edges look great but are also great for peace of mind. Having a toddler means never sitting down, never taking your eye off the ball and always playing defense, which is why furniture without corners are our first step at protecting our little ones. Listen, accidents happen, they move so quickly and as much as we are right there, having furniture that we love that also don’t double as toddler booby traps is pretty awesome. Check out some of my favorite furniture without corners and make baby proofing your house look fabulous.

Haute House chair $2499

Anthropologie coffee table $1298

Kate Spade neon pouf $199

Monarch console table $114.99

Haute House ottoman $3799

Pearl River Modern NYC loveseat $535

Agder arm chair $219

Threshold accent table - furniture without corners

Threshold accent table $59.99

Pottery Barn sofa $1999

Whiteline 2pc rocker set $499

West Elm coffee table $189

nuLoom ottoman $53

Chesterfield bed and headboard $849-2349

Whittling nightstand $529

Bellamy chair $319

Anthropologie poufs $158

MOMMA KNOWS… star prints are haute!

This is my little star… I love wearing a good start print and so does he!

So, last week I talked about hearts but this week I need to address the fabulosity that are star prints. There’s definitely been a bit of galactic inspiration both in women’s fashion and, of course kidswear lately. As I sit here my little Max is singling twinkle twinkle little star, holding a wand and dressed in head to toe stars down to his wellie boots and I want to join the star print party. There’s a beautiful whimsy to stars and they walks the line of being both cool and sweet. The great pattern in the sky always serves as inspiration both in life and art so it’s no surprise that star prints should emerge as a favorite among that fashion set. The Saint Laurent collections have been full of star prints in recent season so I’m thinking it might be time to incorporate it into my wardrobe too. So as my little one points up in to the sky shouting “Star! Star!” I feel the urge to find some printed pieces myself. Bags, shoes, clothes – these star prints are always fabulous and it’s time to add some twinkle to my look.

Stella McCarney bag $1545

Chinti and Parker sweater $465

Kate spade pumps $350

Torn by Ronny Kobo skirt $165.60

Gorjana necklace $80

Marc Jacobs sweatshirt $1100

Alice + Olivia booties $395

Diane von Furstenberg dress $276

Current Elliott jeans $218

Monrow sweatshirt $87.60

Saint Laurent dress $1690

Saint Laurent skirt $990

Givenchy cuff $530

Equipment blouse $250

Central Park West sweater $129

Zoe Karssen sweatpants $102

Saint Laurent boots $1495

Eva Franco dress $350

Jennifer Meyer Jewelry earrings $275

Alythea cardigan $54.60

Some fun star prints for our little ones:

Aqua cashmere sweater $99

Mini Boden sweatshirt $60

J Crew cardigan $54.99

Nununu pants $50.15

Mini Boden dress $44

Hatley raincoat $51.95

Converse sneakers $44.95

Hatley rain boots $38.95

Mini Boden skirt $32

Mini Boden pants $32

And of course, star prints for our littlest ones:

Gucci dress $281

Nununu hoodie $65.45

Ocra shoes $69

Mini Boden surf suit $42

Peek pants $32

Nununu onesie $40

J Crew cashmere sweater $145

Molo pants $38.95

Gap sweater dress $28.99

Gap cardigan $25.99

Zara scarf $12.90

Zara tee $17.90

MOMMA LOVES… whimsical shoes

This is from a fairytale accessories photo shoot I style years ago with photographer Karin Catt.. There’s nothing like whimsical shoes to inspire, delight and captivate the little girl in all of us.

I love doing this post, and I’ve done a few in the past, but whimsical shoes are some of my favorite things. The whole idea of fashion as art has always resonated with me and I am constantly amazed by the innovative thinking behind some of the magnificent footwear out there. Incredible designers from Sophia Webster to Charlotte Olympia are breaking the accessories mold and putting out the most incredible whimsical shoes you could ever dream up. Yes, they can be insanely expensive and achingly impractical but they’re water cooler pieces – they’re talking points, outfit changers and sometimes, just something to fanatsize about. All of that said, these whimsical shoes are too fabulous to not get their moment in the sun. Too fantastical to not know about. So check out some of my favorite whimsical shoes because it’s good to want things.

Charlotte Olympia sandals $1295

Sophia Webster sandals $620

Miss KG sandals $158.42

Valentino pumps $1195

Moschino Cheap and Chic sandals $545

Schutz shoes $126

Fendi shoes $950

Kate Spade shoes $328

Steve Madden sandals $129.95

Giuseppe Zanotti shoes $1595

Sophia Webster shoes $560

Topshop shoes$90

Christian Louboutin shoes $845

Stuart Weitzman sandals $535

Jeffrey Campbell shoes $130

MOMMA LOVES… black and white clothes

There’s nothing quite as classic and timeless as black and white clothing, which is probably why it’s always been a staple among the fashion set.

When I was 12 I stopped wearing color – I decided I would only wear black and white clothes going forward… And that lasted for a good number of years and was perhaps the moment, looking back, that my fashion future began. Of course, now I know far more (sort of) than I did then – and while black and white clothes will always look crisp, sleek and appropriate, I also know that they are the perfect palette for everything I want to add to my look. There’s a good reason this stark palette is the basis of pretty much every fashionista’s wardrobe. This post is focusing on black and white clothes – color (or lack of color) blocked – the yin and yang, the black and white cookie – the most graphic combination. Having these black and white pieces allow you to easily build your chic look from there. Whether you want to pair it with denim, keep the look monochromatic, add a touch of sparkle, or pop your look with a bold color – these are the foundation items for your closet. Check out some of my favorite black and white clothes and figure out which (of the many) ways you want to style them!

Narciso Rodriguez dress $2095

3.1 Phillip Lim sweater $650

ALC skirt $396

re:named dress $72

Asos pants $59.79

Helmut Lang blazer $595

Ohne Titel dress $520

Jill Jill Stuart jumpsuit $278

Nasty Gal blouse $58

Alice & Olivia skirt $898

Issa top $495

Plenty by Tracy Reese dress $138

Nasty Gal skirt $58

Narciso Rodriguez dress $1995

Nanette Lepore knit blazer $498

Pam & Gela pants $295

Forever 21 dress $24.90

MATERNITY MONDAY… pregnancy wardrobe reinvented

Maternity fashion has been reinvented making your pregnancy wardrobe not just a necessity, not just practical but also fabulous. The same trends that you crave are available now with stretchier more accommodating midsections making styling your bump that much more fun and easy. Your pregnancy wardrobe doesn’t have to be huge, you just need enough options to suit your personal taste and needs. Of course the most important pieces are dresses that can be styled up or down, some great tops, jeans and you’re ready for that baby bump. Check out some of my favorite maternity clothes and start building a pregnancy wardrobe you can be proud of.