Banana Republic Review

Banana Republic's look is simple, classic and affordable. Almost everything eventually goes on sale so you can often find nice tops for around $20 and pants for $50. At that price you can feel guilt-free when you buy new clothes every season. A couple of years ago I was talked into getting a Banana Republic credit card. I don't usually like to get store brand cards but I knew I was already spending a few hundred dollars a year at BR that I might as well get something extra out of it. You get a 5% reward on what you spend with your BR card that you can spend at BR, the Gap and Old Navy. So I'd often get $10 cards after I've spent $200. You also get 15% off coupons regularly to use online or in store. In the first year I spent enough using my BR card that I became a Luxe member. I don't even want to know what I spent to qualify for that. But with the Luxe card I get free shipping on everything online. That just opened the flood gates and I'm now a more loyal BR shopper than ever. Everything I buy online can be returned at the store for an instant credit. There's little hesitation towards ordering something on a whim and just return it when you get buyer's remorse a week later.

Flutter sleeve stirred top - $39.00. I usually go for the basics at BR. A simple top like this is flattering and comfortable and you can easily dress up with a necklace. It's good for the office but also casual enough for the weekends. I've noticed that the quality of the BR tops are much better than the Gap (same company) , even though when you buy things on sale, the prices are more or less the same.

Knotted necklace - $44. BR has some really gorgeous fashion jewelry. They look high quality but they're not as expensive as something you would find at say, Nordstrom. The pieces last much longer than cheaper jewelry that you would find at Forever 21 or Aldo. I usually wait for these to go on sale and then scoop up a few necklaces to pair with basic tops.

The important details about BananaRepublic.com

Shipping: $7 for standard shipping, free for BR card holders for over $100 and free for all Luxe card holders.
Returns: free to return in store. They ship their clothes in convenient resealable bags so that they're also easy to send back in the mail. Return by mail is also free, BR pays the shipping.

Rating: 4 out of 5
The bottom line: So I admit that Banana Republic won't suit everyone's taste. Their styles are not cutting edge or overly trendy. But if you love the classics and you like Banana Republic, then this integrated experience between the BR stores, website and the Luxe card really rounds out a great shopping experience. You should take advantage of it!

BCBG.com Review

I've been in love with BCBG dresses long before I could afford them. Their intricate bead work, feminine sillouettes and silky textures are just my taste. Whenever BCBG had one of their 50% - 70% sales on dresses I would scoop one up even if I didn't have an occasion to wear it. I still have a full length satin gown that's been hanging in my closet for over 4 years. BCBG.com has a full display of those same gorgeous dresses along with the rest of their collection. However the experience is labored and unsatisfying. It takes 4 clicks before you get to zoom in on a picture to get a full appreciation of the details on a dress. Repeat this process a couple times and you'll be wishing you were in the store touching and feeling the pieces or shopping elsewhere online. Sale items at BCBG have always been "final sales" and the same rule applies to sale items online. If you have ever bought clothes online you know how risky that is especially since their pieces are usually in the $100 and above range. In the end, my heart still fills with desire at the sight of those pretty dresses but I will not be buying them at BCBG.com.

The important details:
Shipping: $6 - $12 based on the cost of the order
Returns: You pay for the return shipping. No returns on sale items. Ouch! Just think, you could be paying $20 if you buy something you don't like and have to send it back.

Rating: 1 out of 5
The bottom line: BCBG really missed the mark with their online store. The site needs to be faster, the shipping needs to be way cheaper and the return policy needs to be much, much improved.

Nordstrom.com Review

If you are already a loyal Nordstrom shopper then you know about their excellent attention to customer service. Urban legends have it that someone successfully returned a tire to Nordstrom even though they don't even sell tires. Nordstrom.com is well integrated into the overall Nordstrom experience. Anything you buy online you can return in store and instantly receive the refund. No messing around with return packaging and waiting for the refund to process! The selection online is different than what you may see in you local stores. The selection online seems more limited. For example, the store in Seattle has a wide selection of Gucci and Chanel handbags but there's no Gucci or Chanel online. This makes for a less fulfilling browsing (and yearning) experience. However, if you find something online that's carried in your store but not in the size or color you want, you can ask them to ship it to your home for free! I've shopped for items online this way and went in to ask for it to be shipped to avoid the shipping fee but getting exactly what I wanted.

The important details:

Shipping: Free over $200. It's not hard to hit $200 shopping at Nordstrom but I'd love it if the minimum was lower.
Returns: Nordstorm charges $6 to return by mail. So your best bet is to return in store. You get your refund immediately.

Rating: 4 out of 5
The bottom line: I'm already a full on Nordstrom convert so in my mind, Nordstrom will always make it right for their customers. I'm just anxiously waiting for their online selection to catch up so that I can buy more online!

Shape Solutions: The Pear

Does it seem like everything you eat goes straight to your butt and thighs? Does it seem like your tops and bottoms can belong to two different people because the bottoms are so much bigger? That means you have a pear shaped body type. Shopping for clothes can be frustrating to you especially if you're short. Don't worry, there are some simple tips that will help you find clothes that flatter you and it'll make shopping fun again. The key is to draw attention to your assets and play down your trouble areas.

Choose a curve hugging wrap top that brings the eyes to the chest and your waist.

BCBG Max Aria Print Jersey Wrap Top - $138. A top like this accents the smallest part of your waist. The print brings the eyes to your smaller upper body and away from your lower half. Avoid babydoll silhouettes that can make your upper half blend into your larger bottom half and make you look wider than you actually are.

You can also try a basic V neck paired with an ornate necklace to spotlight your face.

Banana Republic long sleeve v-neck sweater - $59 This is an example of a v-neck and necklace combo. The solid v-neck serves as a backdrop to the necklace and all the attention is really focused on the face.

Find a pair of straight leg slacks and a pair of jeans that really fit you well. You'll need bottoms with a fairly stiff material rather than thin and clingy. A slightly wider straight leg will even out the shape of your leg and make them look longer. Avoid pants that taper at the ankle at all cost! You can complete the look with a pair of pointy heels to elongate your legs further. If you don't have luck finding bottoms that flatter you, consider going to a tailor. It's well worth the investment.

Banana Republic Martin glenplaid trouser - $110.00 I wouldn't recommend buying pants online unless you know exactly the fit of the pants. Go to stores and try a million pairs on! Remember, no tapered legs!

Create Your Own Sense of Style, by Kate

Style is such a personal thing. The most important thing with any outfit is that you feel good in what you wear. That means that the clothes need to fit and feel good (your shoes need to be comfortable!). The color palette should flatter the natural tones in your complexion and hair. And you should look appropriate for the occasion (work, working out, relaxing, or a night on the town). Everything is so personal. If you have no style then where should you start? Read more in Kate's blog.

VictoriasSecret.com Review

It's easy to fall for the allure of those incredibly beautiful Victoria's Secret models. So when I got an email about the semi annual sale with full color images of the sexy girls in cute summer dresses, I decided to give Victoria's Secret.com another shot after a few disappointing experiences years ago. I quickly racked up over $200 of clothes in my shopping bag to qualify for free shipping over $75. Some of them were back-ordered so they won't ship right away but the ETA was soon enough to still make me place the purchase. When the items arrived a week or so later, I was pleased, bewildered and disappointed at once.

• the squareneck babydoll bra top dress fit way too tight. For $29, I wasn't going to keep it if I didn't like it. Oh yeah, I don't look like the model in the picture. Darn it.
  
• they mistakenly shipped a bra top instead of the babydoll halter bra top dress. I had to call customer service to get that sorted out and get the real dress shipped.
• I ordered a couple of baby doll tees and they look very cheaply made. They were cheap, just $10 or so each. I kept one and returned one that had a stain on it.
  
• I ordered a sequined silk baby doll top for $30 and that was cute and well made. It was a keeper.

Squareneck babydoll Bra Top dress - $29

O-ring babydoll halter bra top dress - $19

Ruffle Rim Babydoll Tee - $9.99

The Important Details:

Shipping: free over $75, promotion varies
Returns: returns are easy to make since they provide resealable envelopes with pre-printed return labels. Although you do have to pay for return shipping. It takes many weeks for the return to process. It's a real pain.

Rating: 2 out of 5
The bottom line: You get what you paid for. Spend a little more to ensure that the pieces will be well made but the cheaper items are exactly that. Given that shipping is not free, you're better off shopping at brick & mortar stores to make sure that you can see the quality of the pieces.

Smart Trend: the Tankini

During a recent family vacation to Hawaii I gained a new found appreciation for the simple genius of the tankini. I was uncomfortable at the thought of seeing my 14 year old niece in a bikini at the beach since I still think of her as a sweet young girl. When she showed up in a cute Roxy tankini I breathed a sigh of relief. It was fashionable and completely age appropriate. Her mother, who is in her early 40's and just recently dropped her baby weight from her youngest child, also chose a tankini. Her suit cleverly accentuated her curves while you're flat playing down her tummy area. And my mother who is 61 also wore a tankini. It's amazing how a little smart thinking transformed the traditional one piece into a figure flattering design that appeals to multiple generations. The unforgiving one piece makes you look prepubescent if you're flat chested and makes you look like the Michelin Tire Man if you've got a bit of yummy fat. The tankini, on the other hand, works like a tank top that is just long enough to go below the tummy which is a problem area for many women. It's usually not as tight as the one piece but offers the coverage of a one piece for those who are self conscious about baring their mid-section. On top of that, there's plenty of necklines and print for everyone. The bikini still is the summer icon but the tankini is for real girls, and women.

Raisins Tawny tankini top - $42.99 (additional 50% off). Raisins and Roxy are both popular brands for girls.

Kenneth Cole rushed tankini top - $66.00

Tommy Bahama 'Tahaana Damask' tankini top - $88.00

Olian Maternity Halter tankini - $24.90. Even expectant mommies can wear the tankini!

Teen Choice Awards 2008

OK, I'm not really the target demographic for the TC08 but there were definitely some stunning looks on the red carpet.

Blake Lively is one of the new "it" girls. When I saw her in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants I definitely saw that she had something special.
Get this look for less: Urban Outfitters Silence & Noise One Shoulder Knit Dress - $48 and Banana Republic Wide Patent Stretch Belt - $59

Sophia Bush in a Jenni Kane Drape Dress from her 2009 Resort collection. I don't know how much it is but it's gorgeous to look at.

Vanessa Hudgens in a Catherine Malandrino Tempo Dress - $750.

Going Green in Fashion

Gas prices are just getting too ridiculous. Both of our cars take premium gas which hurts even more when we fill up at the pumps. I personally don't mind the gas price increase because I think it will naturally drive us to innovate and create better mass transit and more fuel efficient cars. However, I decided that I didn't want to contribute to the problem so I'm going to start taking the bus to work 2-3 times a week. I took the bus all through college and I hated it during the rainy season, which is about 9 months out of the year here in the Pacific Northwest. Now just because I want to go green doesn't mean I can't do it in fashion. So I figured I could use the money I save on gas to shop for accessories for my commute. The first item on the wish list is rain boots.

Chooka Signature Printed Rain Boot - $59.95. These are adorable with the cute little whale prints. And affordable too.


Juicy Couture 'Sammy' Rain Boots - $107.95. I probably wouldn't get these in pink but they're just so darn cute in that colour. These come in black as well which would be more versatile.


Burberry Rain Boot - $195. These would be my first choice but I would have to take the bus for 2 months to save up enough gas money to buy these. But a girl can dream... These boots will go with any outfit.