Why Don't You...?

♥…buy a pretty basket, top your luscious locks with Melissa Odabash’s Cowboy Hat, and spend the afternoon picking daisies? Weave them into a chain, place it upon your head, and transform yourself into a princess – even if just for a few hours!

♥…spritz a piece of pretty stationary with your signature scent (I favor Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds myself) and write an anonymous love letter to a cute boy?

♥…treat yourself to a fancy dinner at a location where celebrities go to be and be seen? Despite the evening twilight, perch a pair of dark sunglasses, like those by Carrera, atop the bridge of your perky nose to channel your inner Hollywood starlet. You may just end up on the cover of Page Six!

♥…splurge on a pair of lush sleepwear like Eberjey's Peaceful Warrior Cami and Pant Set? Couple it with satin mules to add a touch of Old Hollywood elegance to your look, and spend the day lounging.

♥…bid adieu to subtle makeup and go downright dramatic during the daylight hours? Play the role of l’artiste and paint your lips hot pink with mark’s Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in Blow Kisses; wing your liquid liner for the ultimate cat eye; peruse bright, playful colors that add depth and volume to your look du jour. Be bold! Be outrageous! Be a star!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to We ♥ It for the picture.


Don't forget to enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart.

Tightwad Tuesday: Charlotte Tarantola Field Game Cardigan for Less

Kitty cats I truly cannot blame you for being upset. Here, we were all convinced that winter was on the verge of being gone for good – at least for this year! – when Staten Island Chuck silently said as much; only to be informed days later by Punxsutawney Phil that six more weeks of blustery weather was upon us! Being in Southern California, of course, I have absolutely no qualms about the extended stay of winter – in fact, I welcome it with open arms; but I imagine those of you being forced to trudge through inches and inches of snow on a daily basis are wishing that spring would simply rear its flowery face and remove you from your frostbitten misery.

Darlings, just because there is ice upon the ground is no reason that you must feel suffocated by bulky outerwear; merely create a premature spring all your own via pretty accoutrements, such as Charlotte Tarantola’s Field Game Cardigan.

Now, I will be honest, typically I steer clear of horizontal stripes myself, feeling that they are unflattering or masculine, yet even I have fallen head over heels for the bouncy vibe that the nautical red and white stripes proffer to the wearer; an adoration only made stronger by the ivory lace placket and brass button embellishments – two characteristics which make the aesthetic less rugby and more romantic.

Can you feel it my loves? The cool breeze washing over your face and tousling your hair as you stroll along the East Hampton shore; your bare feet making imprints in the damp sand, your upper half styled in the Field Game Cardigan. In the words of The Lovin’ Spoonful, “What a day for a daydream…”

But I digress; such a figment of imagination is not destined to become a reality, for the Field Game Cardigan, while charming in every manner of the word, harbors the nightmarish price tag of $118.00. Nevertheless, such a style is par for the course in bringing a splash of spring to your dreary winter wardrobe; therefore it is time to embrace the next best thing to Charlotte Tarantola’s Field Game Cardigan – and that is Parfait’s Stripe Lace Cardigan.

While sporting three-quarter sleeves as opposed to full-length ones, and adorned in coral and oat hues, instead of the red and white seen upon the Field Game Cardigan; at $57.90, the Stripe Lace Cardigan is every bit as capable of welcoming the sweet-smelling spring season into your closet, at a price much more friendly to the frugal fashionista!

Which role have you decided to undertake on this terrific Tuesday, kittens? Tightwad or spendthrift?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Anthropologie and Nordstrom for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart.

Cruisin' Cafes: Portland, OR

It’s really quite simple dolls…I blame the music. Declared as the “indie rock mecca” by Slate magazine back in 2007; Portland, Oregon has earned the reputation of harboring one of the most incredible music scenes in the country. Therefore, as an individual who holds fast to the notion that “every moment in life deserves a soundtrack” I see it of the utmost importance to take a detour through Downtown Portland on one’s quest for caffeinated complacency.

Unlike so many locales boasting promising harmonious talent; Portland is one of the very few that nurtures an aesthetic which balances perfectly between grungy and glittering. A sense of atmosphere that allows one to cast aside their cares, mellow out, and fully and completely embrace their inner Penny Lane – shaking out their hair, trailing their fingers along the unseen air as they drive alongside the Willamette River, and candidly soaking up the creative culture. I hope you’re wearing your American Apparel Wool Floppy Hat darlings, for our road trip is just beginning!

♥Three Friends Coffee House Don’t fib my loves; we’ve all encountered him. You know exactly the one that I’m talking about. The kid whose house everyone would congregate at after school on Friday afternoons for the sheer fact that his mother provided the best snacks (and kept them coming!), coupled with the verifiable truth that he was always in possession of the latest toy that our parents refused to buy specifically for us. Three Friends Coffee House is the foodie-loving adult counterpart of that very person; sans the presence of an overbearing parent, to be sure.

From the moment you swing the front door open be prepared to meet your second family, for Three Friends Coffee House, with its basement-like interior, is destined to become your home away from home. A tiny stage sits snuggly beside a bar along the window, creating the perfect platform for the occasional jazz band to set-up and lull you into a caffeine-laced trance; while plush couches (a prime place for the techie looking to settle in and blog for awhile) sit atop roughhewn wood floors which add a sprinkling of rustic refinement to the atmosphere. It is the charming little picnic tables sitting out front, however, that offer the absolute best seating – and an ideal place for people-watching along 12th Avenue. Don’t miss the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Latte…it is heaven on earth! 201 SE 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97214.

♥Crowsenberg’s Half & Half Like its title would lead one to believe, Half & Half is an unconventional location that bridges the gap between cute and hipster, without ever going too far in either direction. Situated downtown, just a stone’s throw away from Powell’s Books, Jackpot Records, and Reading Frenzy – some of my very favorite Portland haunts – Half & Half makes for the perfect place to pop into whenever you feel the desire to tap into your creative side; or simply to indulge in a warm cup of pure bliss.

The quintessential Portland coffee shop, Half & Half retains a DIY-inspired design courtesy of the rotating art and wide array of tattered flyers announcing various events taking place around town adorning the walls; an indie blueprint made even more prominent by the haphazard jumble of various knickknacks for sale – such as buttons to commemorate your visit, which, oddly enough, you will find yourself incapable of resisting – sitting along the countertop. Yet it is the sunshiny, yellow ceramic mugs that your drink du jour arrives in that will put a spring in your step regardless of how gloomy the weather outside is! Come for the Espresso, stay for the Fluffernutter Sandwiches, Deviled Eggs, and Homemade Cookies. 923 SW Oak St., Portland, OR 97205.

Which of these Portland cafes would you like to cruise?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to We ♥ It and Tumblr for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart.

Style Secrets: Luxurious Lounge Lizard

“I think I’ve discovered the secret to life – you just hang around until you get used to it.”
Charles M. Schulz
Let’s be honest now, shall we? Blustery weather, or simply a case of being stir crazy and lazy, oftentimes leaves us susceptible to temporarily forgetting our stylish side. Please don’t get defensive my loves - remember the proverb, “A shut mouth catches no flies”; therefore, purse your shimmering Sugared Almond-shaded pucker for just one more moment if you will, and hear me out. There is absolutely no harm in lounging about your humble abode sans makeup; but the au natural look stops there!

I understand your current predicament, dolls. You are home, you are alone, and you are expecting no visitors aside from a wayward cat or two scratching at your front door; thus, why not accouter yourself in the circa-1995 coffee-stained t-shirt you can’t help but to adore, or perhaps allow your bottom-half to proudly display a pair of sweats sporting tattered hemlines and a nearly invisible hole in the knee? The plain and simple answer is…we are what we wear.

Darlings, take it from someone who knows, it is absolutely impossible for one to feel fabulous, or get her creative juices flowing if she is taking style cues from her less-than-perfect alter ego whom has no qualms about playing the role of style slob for the afternoon. Lounging, if you will, is an art; something that takes skill to be done correctly – especially in terms of dress. After all, there is no guarantee that a cute boy won’t pop in for a visit at a moment’s notice; and when he does, you are going to look like a superstar, for you are about to be transformed into a luxurious lounge lizard!

♥G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S Before you so much as attempt to morph your lounge look from lethargic to lavish, you must put yourself into the proper mindset. Yes, I know it sounds slightly “out there,” but a posh perspective will make you feel all the more glamorous on your quest for luxurious lounge lizard satisfaction. Think Veronica Lake regaling in the comforts of a cherry wood chaise longue, dressed in a floor-length silk gown, her flaxen hair cascading into the perfect peek-a-boo over her right eye; or imagine yourself trading places with the likes of Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, or Brigitte Bardot. Channeling classic, Old Hollywood Glamour is exactly the inspiration you need to empower yourself, and your lounge attire.

♥The Slouch Effect Perhaps you were unaware of this kitty cats; but sometimes the slouchiest styles are the ones which convey the most subtle seductiveness. Obviously you want to remain completely comfortable while hanging around; but that does not mean that you must slip on the oversized sweatshirt from your father’s alma mater – a piece which has most definitely seen better days, and swallows your body whole, creating a look synonymous with that of a potato sack. You want a slouchy shape which shows off your sassy silhouette without constricting your movements or creating discomfort; therefore dolmans, off the shoulder tops, and relaxed tees are precisely what the doctor ordered.

“I am so busy doing nothing…that the idea of doing anything – which as you know, always leads to something – cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything.”
Jerry Seinfeld
Dolls if there is one thing, and one thing only that I must force you to do, it is to overlook the slightly boxy construction. Oversized tops possess the ability to actualize an alluring aesthetic which serves to make one look lean, lithe, and sylphlike – three characteristics that add a kick of sauciness to your upper-half, and up the ante of your lazy day style. A cut that falls below the derriere and is fashioned with banding at the hemline like L.A.M.B.’s Tie Dye Top, shows off your shape and establishes a very put-together look; whereas a composition that hits at the hip and lacks a banded fit around the waist, such as LnA’s Loose Cropped Tee, is viewed as being more free-spirited and bohemian given its less rigid architecture. Regardless of your favored formation, both harbor the ability to get the job done, and make you look marvelous through and through!

♥Stretch It Out! Darlings given the fact that you are looking to spend the day stretching out and luxuriating in true lazy, lounge euphoria, there is no better way to do so than with the assistance of leggings adorning your lower half.

Leggings are the piece de resistance of loungewear for your derriere for the sheer fact that they are thick enough to keep you as warm as a pint-sized puppy curled up in front of the fireplace during the winter months; yet adequately breathable to keep you cool no matter how high the temperatures rise once summer rolls around. As if that weren’t incentive enough, however, they ensure that you look chic, sleek, and c’est magnifique at all times; and truly balance out your entire attire. Remember, when it comes to style, balance is bliss; and as you are wearing an oversized top, the body-hugging aesthetic of leggings will establish the “even-steven” elegance you are looking to achieve.

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”
Sydney J. Harris
Avoid cropped leggings which harbor the potential to cut your body in half, and look for pieces that reach the ankle. These will elongate your figure and keep you cozy all at once. Simple styles in blacks, navy blues, and grays, which are fabricated out of jersey knit like David Lerner’s Basic Leggings, are fundamentals for retaining fashionable finesse in the midst of relaxation. These hues can couple with any color of the rainbow and look stunning with each and every one; nevertheless, should you feel plagued with the desire to be a bit more playful around the bottom, look no further than a pair of leggings showcasing a pretty pattern like the marled knit seen upon Bop Basics’ Knit Leggings. Such a style allows one to release the wild child within, without forsaking refined resiliency; and really, who on earth can resist that?

♥Knit Wit Cardigans are the Wonderbra of the world of outerwear. They are a wear-with-all type of accoutrement that snuggle about your body in a way that gives new meaning to Madonna’s 1985 hit single Dress You Up. In fact, to be completely truthful, while an angel receives their wings each time a bell rings, whenever someone slips their arms into the sleeves of a cushy cardigan, they are enveloped into a universe full of affection, warmth, and earnestness; hence the reason why a cardigan is a necessity on your quest for luxurious lounge attire.

Kitty cats, I’m sure that your closet is bursting at the seams with charming cardigans that will work wonders at keeping you a mix of cozy and classy; the key to remember, however, is that you want something completely oversized. Fitted cardigans, while absolutely ambrosial when worn out on a hot date with the cute boy down the street who asked you out via a sentimental mix tape, are too confining when lounging. A piece which bridges the gap between chunky knit and ravishing robe is what should be in your mind’s eye.

“Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one’s being.”
Donald Curtis
Forgo floor-sweeping designs. While these possess the potential to make one feel like a starlet, they also open the door for dramatic disasters of the ungraceful variety that will make you feel clumsy rather than comely. The perfect pieces are those that fall right below the bottom, like Splendid’s Lurex Rugby Cardigan, or grace your upper to middle thigh, such as Mink Pink’s Chain Mail Draped Cardigan. And, when in doubt, simply raid the closet of the boyfriend – it seems they always have something perfect lurking inside!

♥Footloose You may have a shoe collection that rivals that of Imelda Marcos; but when indoors, unless you are a true diva, it is unlikely that you are displaying these pretties upon your tootsies. It was Dean Koontz who once said, “Bunny slippers remind me of who I am. You can’t get a swelled head if you wear bunny slippers. You can’t lose your sense of perspective and start acting like a star or a rich lady if you keep on wearing bunny slippers. Besides, bunny slippers give me confidence because they’re so jaunty. They make a statement; they say, ‘Nothing the world does to me can ever get me so far down that I can’t be silly and frivolous’…” Perhaps truer words have never been spoken.

Darlings, you could be a celebrity of epic proportions, a model strutting her stuff on the catwalk day in and day out, or merely the fashion adoring doll that you already are; regardless, everyone needs a bit of time to slip off their stilettos, and stuff their feet into cozy goodness.

“Who among us hasn’t envied a cat’s ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely?”
Karen Brademeyer
Kitschy slippers are a tongue-in-cheek way to allow your frisky side to cast a spirited wink to your wardrobe; a sophisticated approach to adding a splash of whimsy to your lounge style. It’s true, bunny slippers will leave quite a lasting impression upon beholders; but if you feel that they are slightly too childlike for your personal tastes you are still able to provide your posh paws with a well-deserved rest…simply do it in a more high-fashion way!

Flats of all formations are just as fabulous indoors as they are while trotting about town. Moccasins like Frye’s Reagan Campus Driver Flats or UGG Australia’s Dakota Shearling Moccasins distribute a dapper touch to your lounge look du jour courtesy of their vintage aesthetic; ballerinas such as Maloles’ Georges Suede Ballet Flats with Gold Studs or Jeffrey Campbell’s Jewel G Ballet Flats sprinkle a touch of girly glamour upon your appearance via feminine embellishments; and oxford architectures like Joie’s Louie Louie Wingtip Flats without Laces or American Apparel’s Hannah Shoe radiate a dash of retro pizzazz to your haut monde duds thanks to perforations and seam detailing. Of course, if slippers aren’t your cup of tea, you can always enlist the assistance of cute socks, like American Apparel’s Unisex Colored Knee Stripe. Just make sure to keep those tootsies toasty!

♥For Your Listening Pleasure Don’t play coy with me my loves; I know exactly what you are doing right now. Your eyes are dancing about the room, searching for a cozy nook to take up residence in for an afternoon of lounging. Stop; don’t move a muscle! A day of relaxation is utterly incomplete without a few tunes to lull you into a luxurious trance; thus, a petite playlist to get your lounging party started!

♥Always for You - The Album Leaf
♥Kiss of Life - Friendly Fires
♥Hello Brooklyn - All Time Low
♥Breakfast in NYC - Oppenheimer
♥Microphone - Coconut Records
♥Don’t You Evah - Spoon
♥Coast of Carolina - Telekinesis
♥When You Were Young - The Killers
♥Seventeen Candles - The Pink Spiders
♥Dressed to Kill - Landon Pigg

"A cheerful frame of mind, reinforced by relaxation…is the medicine that puts all ghosts of fear on the run.”
George Matthew Adams


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to We ♥ It, Shopbop, and Tumblr for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart.

Smitten Saturday

♥Red Ahead Nude lips are my affliction; perhaps because I embrace bold eyes. I love thick, luscious lashes rimmed in blackest black liquid kohl liner; thus, with such a statement being made with the peepers, you don’t want to overwhelm your audience by blinding them with a pouty red pucker. Perhaps now you can see my dilemma my loves.

I’ve always worshipped crimson kissers. The old-fashioned noir glamour such a look expels is simply mystifying and intriguing, with just the slightest hint of scandal behind the candy apple façade. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to try out such a seductive style myself. I suppose I’m simply intimidated to attempt such a brazen look; frightened, you might say. But as of late, it has begun to call my name. I dream of slicking on mark’s Gleamstick Hook Up Lip Color in Passionate for a flaming, high-shine look. I am convinced that Nars’ bittersweet Fire Down Below has the ability to boost confidence with a single swipe. And there’s no denying that the satiny finish of Yves Saint Laurent’s Fard A Levres Rouge Pur in Opium Red is sure to lure the leading lady lurking within to step up to the forefront for a standing ovation. To displace bold eyes for red lips or not, that is the question. What’s your stand, kitty cats?

♥Seven Up Bubbly effervescence. Sweet bits that are creamy, frothy, and nectarous. Dolls, I am not discussing a new beverage available at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, mind you; I simply have Sarah Seven, my design crush du jour, on the tip of my tongue. Unlike many who strive to whip up fierce, rugged frocks with attitude, Sarah Seven prefers to sugarcoat her creations via saccharine titles, candy-coated colors, and honeyed fabrics. Fancy That is made syrupy with ruffles, rhinestones, and gauze; Powdered Sugar is sweetened with sparkly organza, silver beading, and layers of tulle; and A Peaceful Afternoon becomes luscious with cream-colored lace, ruffles, and silk. It’s a sugar rush for your wardrobe; and truly, there’s nothing sweeter than that!

♥Pride and Pendants Darlings Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice will forever be one of my favorite books. I have read it countless times, and never tire of the independent Elizabeth Bennett or the oftentimes ornery Mr. Darcy. Another thing I never tire of? Pendants that are so representative of the era depicted in the Victorian tale.

This rose-colored I Lilac It Ring, what with its antique, burnished-gold frame, pink rhinestones, and Victorian portrait has made my heart skip a beat ever since I first spotted it weeks ago. In my mind’s eye I can easily imagine Elizabeth Bennett herself fawning over this Ornate Charmed Necklace. The elegance found in this demure Paint My Portrait Necklace in Gold has left me completely gaga. And this little Ladylike Locket Ring? Such a clever place for storing a treasured photograph. It’s true my loves; I’m fully convinced that even the sharp-tongued Elizabeth would be quite pleased with these pretty pendants. The question is…are you?

What were you smitten with this week?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to We ♥ It and Sarah Seven for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart.

Get Your Flirt On Giveaway

Don't allow the fact that we are living in the Twenty-First Century fool you ladies; we are just as clueless about boys as we were ages ago, only now we must deal with technological advances to create even more befuddlement. No longer do boys leave us little notes with cute cartoons scratched upon the surface, or write us love letters laced with ambrosial flourishes. Of course not; now it is all left up to text messaging.

Please don’t get me wrong, kittens; I love text messaging just as much as the next girl. But when you’re exchanging flirty messages with a cute boy, it can be downright confusing to concoct an adorable note in 160 words or less that will get you exactly what you want. Don’t fret missy…texting with cute boys most certainly does not have to be synonymous with pandemonium.

Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz’s Flirtexting: How to Text Your Way to His Heart is the book we have all been waiting for. Small enough to fit inside your handbag, and a perky pink hue, Flirtexting gives you the inside scoop on combating the many messaging conundrums that may freckle your love life; while providing pointers to help you snag the boy of your dreams in just a few coquettish conversations. It’s the He’s Just Not That Into You of the texting world. And now one (1) of you lovely lambs has the chance to call it your very own!

To Enter the Get Your Flirt On Giveaway:

♥For one (1) entry, leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, February 18, 2010 at midnight PST.

♥For two (2) entries, Twitter about this giveaway, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, February 18, 2010 at midnight PST with your Twitter URL.

♥For three (3) entries, become a follower of Café Fashionista on Blogger/Google Reader/Google Friend Connect, and leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, February 18, 2010 at midnight PST (if you are already a Café Fashionista follower, please say so in your comment).

I will randomly pick one (1) name out of a hat (who knows, it could be yours!), and announce the winner on Friday, February 19, 2010.

Good luck everyone!

And yes, this Giveaway is open to everyone – U.S. or International residents!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Get Glue for the picture.

Love Is in the Air Giveaway Winner

Can you see him kitty cats? The sparkling fairy lights giggling around him should lead you to his hiding place. He’s there, bow in hand, contemplating whom his arrow should hit, marking them the lucky winner of the 90 Words Per Minute Dress from Shabby Apple. The delicate, gilded dart has been loaded. He’s taking aim. Congratulations to…

…Scientific Housewife of Wandering Thoughts of a Scientific Housewife! Obviously Cupid has a soft spot for you this Valentine’s Day, darling; for he has bestowed a frothy frock the color of the sky upon you!

Please e-mail me at cafefashionista@yahoo.com with your mailing address and your dress size (XXS – XL) to claim your prize.

Thank you to the winner, and to everyone who entered Café Fashionista’s giveaway!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Listal for the picture.