Fall Shoe Trends For Brides..... A Guest Post

A Guest Post that came my way from Shopping GuestPost, with the contribution of James.

All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

A shoe by itself is an extremely important accessory for any outfit. Even if it just a pair of old sneakers that you are pulling on with your T shirt and jeans, those shoes have to be stylish too! And for a bride, this part of her apparel has to be simply perfect! There was a time when white or ivory was the color of choice for bridal shoes. But with changing times, colors and designs and even the use of various fabrics have emerged strongly on the bridal shoe scene. As with every other aspect of the fashion industry, bridal shoes too go through trends and for this fall, there is some exciting news for brides to be!

There is a resurgence of color coming into the bridal shoes. Pastels seem to be the flavor of the day and the entire gamut of muted and soft shades are finding their way into shoes. Blues, lilacs, pinks – all of them are making bridal shoes prettier this fall. In terms of heels, bridal shoes are showing that they can reach towering heights. The ever popular platform heels have made an appearance and brides are loving the extra height they deliver. For the ultra feminine look, opt for kitten heels. These heels can match almost any kind of shoe so go for them!

Sparkle and glitter are also coming into the bridal shoes this fall. There is no doubt whatsoever that glitter adds that extra bit of oomph to bridal shoes. Choose as much glitter as you want. One of the best looks to wear this fall is the all over glitter, stiletto heel, peep toe heels. You want to make it even more unique? Then add on a satin flower – perhaps your favorite flower or the one that has gone into making your bridal bouquet. Enjoy making a completely unique style statement. Blue shoes are also coming back. Interestingly, blue was the color of choice way back in history!

Fall shoe trends include lots of jewel brooch tones and metal tones in bridal shoes. Silver and gold are the top choices but so is a shimmery blue and other colors too. The shoes are also getting embellished with bows, ribbons and crystal to give them even more class. Some shoe makers have come up with a set of shoes. Something with high heels and lots of add-ons for the actual wedding and something more comfortable and flat heeled for the dancing and partying to follow the wedding. 

 The ever classy lace look is coming into bridal shoes this fall. It can be a closed high heeled shoe or a peep toe shoe but lace work is showing up big time. Bridal shoes made of lace are also being combined with bows to make them superbly feminine. Nude finish shoes are also becoming popular. Brides are also showing a tendency to buy expensive shoes which they can wear even after the wedding. A rather practical thought process! There is a lot of personalization coming into bridal shoes this fall. Initials of the bride and groom are being laid out in crystal on the heels or even the soles of the shoe.

 

guest post - How To Be a Goodwill Fashionista

As I have told you before, here in my city we don’t have Goodwill or Thrifty stores.

So I’m so pleased to have Alexis Bonari, a freelance writer and researcher for CollegeScholarships.org as a guest blogger here at Searching the Inner Me…. 

Read below as she demystifies and gives some tips about thrift store shopping.

The Seeker

The recent economy has made many people cut back on spending in all areas, including fashion. Goodwill used to be only for people who didn’t care how they looked, but not anymore; it has become a resource for thrifty fashionistas and trendy hipsters.

Within a couple weeks of each other, I found my favorite pair of jeans (straight-leg, Gap brand) for $3.89 and a couple of J. Crew tops that I frequently wear to work for under $4 each. My favorite story, however, comes from a girlfriend of mine, who found a small, Coach bag for $10! I’ve also seen several tops and pants from Ann Taylor Loft but am holding out for my a few in my size.

If you’re willing to put in a little time and a lot of patience, thrift store shopping is a great way to cut your fashion spending without having to sacrifice the brand names. Here are a few things to help weed out the unused, unwanted items you’re likely to find.

1. Know Your Area

If you live in a small town, you may only have a single store, but bigger cities usually have multiple locations, and a fifteen-minute drive can be the difference between finding Walmart jeans and 7 For All Mankind. Find the stores in the nicer neighborhoods around town to find better brand names for the same price.

2. Decide What You’re Comfortable With

I wear jeans until they actually rip apart, so second-hand works great for me; however, I don’t like used hats, shoes or lingerie, so decide which used items are acceptable to you and stay away from the rest; cheap items are still wasted money if you don’t use them. This will also save you time while sifting through all the items.

3. Know Your Layout

Clothes are divided into adults and children and further by gender. There are also super cheap bins in the back. Individual pieces are divided by color, not style or size, so you’ll have to do some digging to find what appeals to you and what will actually fit. What you save in money, you’ll pay for with time and patience.

4. Try Things On

Just because you’re not sopping in a department stores doesn’t mean you can’t try items on. Goodwill locations usually have two or three small dressing rooms. Make sure things fit and flatter your figure. Again, unused cheap items are still wasted money.

5. Inspect. Inspect. Inspect.

You can’t return items if you get home and they have holes or stains, so go over them several times to make sure they are acceptable for everyday wear.

6. Accessorize

Use the money you’re saving on clothing at Goodwill to invest in great accessory pieces to accent your new finds and give them some variety.

Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and researcher for CollegeScholarships.org, where recently she’s been researching grants for education and scholarships in nigeria. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

guest post - The Bia: Every Woman’s Must-Have Swimsuit

I’m so pleased to have Susan Bodack, an expert on all things swimwear as a guest blogger here at Searching the Inner Me…. Read below as she demystifies about selecting a swimsuit like The Bia.

The Seeker

Without a doubt, there’s one swimsuit that has become a real favorite among celebrities, industry insiders and women all around the world.  From the very beginning, the Bia Tube bikini (also known as “The Bia”) by ViX Swimwear was an instant classic and it continues to be one of the most coveted bikini styles around.  Regardless of your size, body shape or skin tone, the Bia bikini from ViX Swimwear is every woman’s must-have swimsuit.

When it first made its debut into the swimwear scene, the Bia bikini was simple, sleek and sexy, always featuring rich solid hues with stylish gold hardware details.  But every year since, designer Paula Hermanny of ViX Swimwear has been reinventing the classic bikini style in new and improved ways.  Today, the Bia bikini has been done in seemingly every color under the sun, as well as a variety of chic prints and patterns.  Furthermore, the gold hardware is constantly being updated in subtle yet unique ways.  Whether you prefer classic gold square details or chic tortoiseshell embellishments, ViX Swimwear has thought of it all.

But it’s the design that really makes the Bia bikini from ViX Swimwear so versatile for women of all different shapes.  The halter top has adjustable hardware on the straps that slide up and down to create custom-fit coverage for the wearer.  Slide the details down to create smaller triangle-shaped cups (perfect for women with smaller busts) or slide the details up to create a classic halter top look with fuller bust coverage (perfect for larger busts).  Furthermore, all D cup Bia bikini tops now feature a double-string underband for added support.  For 2012, ViX Swimwear has even included removable padding into all of the tops!  Like the tops, the Bia bikini bottoms also feature matching adjustable details that slide outward and inward to create more or less front coverage.  The low-rise scoop bottom is low, but not too low, and features fixed foldover detail that is so flattering against the hips.  Furthermore, the bottom comes in the classic full back coverage style or a skimpier Brazilian-cut style.  ViX Swimwear has even converted the classic Bia bikini style into a one-piece for those who shy away from two-piece bikinis.

Over the years, celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Tyra Banks, Halle Berry, Brooklyn Decker, Alicia Keys, Kelly Brook, Ashley Tisdale, Kristin Cavallari and more have all been spotted in the coveted Bia bikini from ViX Swimwear.  Will you be next?

Bio: Susan Bodack is an expert on all things swimwear.  She is a blogger at Beauty and the Beach, a swimwear and fashion blog by InStyleSwimwear.com.  For more information on the Bia bikini, ViX Swimwear or other swimwear-related news, check them out!

guest post - Sizzlin’ Swimwear for Summer

I’m so pleased to have Maria Rainier, a self described blog junkie and freelance writer as a guest blogger here at Searching the Inner Me…. Read below as she demystifies about selecting a swimsuit.

The Seeker

Sizzlin’ Swimwear for Summer

Okay, so most women don’t get overly excited about selecting a swimsuit each year, but this season, there are some really excellent choices that actually leave something to the imagination. Not ALL fashions have to be worn by stick thin model types, a few of the latest swimwear styles look pretty comfy and figure flattering!

Leopard Prints- Love it! The great thing about prints is that they hide all sorts of “trouble spots”. This season, the one piece is making somewhat of a comeback, so double plus!

Ruching- Another friend of mine! The gathering of material in key places perfectly placed over problem areas is an inventive and modern way of updating the one piece. J Crew and Reiss have hit the nail on the head with their latest looks!

Belting- It’s not just for pants anymore. Whether on a bikini or one piece swimsuit, belts and buckles are popping up everywhere! Even the top designers such as Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs are jumping on board. A little pricey, but well worth it!

Geometric Prints- Last. but not least, the uber modern geometric print is back! Hotter than ever, this look tricks the eye by hiding all sorts of flaws! From bright neons to black ad whites, geometric prints are the “it” look of 2011!

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s written on physician assistant jobs along with a piece on online practical nursing programs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami.

Of shoots, stems, and leaves!

A Guest Post that came my way from Guestwriters.net trough Yellow Fire Marketing.

All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

Of shoots, stems, and leaves!

Fashion from flowers and plants should come as no surprise to anyone. With the first signs of morality creeping in, man took the closest object that he could lay his hands on to cover himself. And, plants and flowers came to his rescue. Clothes made from plants and flowers have been in use for ages. Linen, which is made from plant fibers, was used to make clothes even in ancient Egypt. Cotton flower seeds have been used for making clothes since 5 BC.

If you think about it, almost all fashion depends on plants directly or indirectly. Some, like cotton and linen are obvious, whereas some like silk are not. (Silkworms, from which silk is made, eat only the leaves of mulberry tree, without which they cannot survive.)


Whether it is Project Runway (a reality show in which contestants were given the challenge to make clothes out of plants and flowers), or ‘ephemeral clothing’ made by Nicole Dextras, or even the eco-fashion line during the New York Fashion Week, some amazing fashion have come out of the green world. Dextras’ collection includes a party dress made up of yucca leaves, flowers, and thorns, and a cheerful waistcoat made up of laurel leaves, rosehips, and a mix of varieties of leaves and thorns.

If you had witnessed the green shows during the New York Fashion Week, you would know that organic clothing is not just a fad anymore, but it is here to stay. Samantha Pleet’s collection made from organic wool, Chinese mud silk, and recycled ultra suede carried home the message that ‘going green is cool’.

When a good message is screamed from a podium, it can fail to raise the desired effect. But the same message becomes an instant household mantra if you see your favorite stars saying it or wearing it. That is true of the eco-friendly clothes that many Hollywood stars were seen wearing during this year’s Oscars or even at the Grammy’s. Did you guess that Jason Mraz’s suit, at the Grammy’s, was made out of recycled goods? Even the U.N. is backing eco-friendly fashion, naming this year as the International Year of Biodiversity.

Not only clothes, but also accessories made from plants and flowers are hitting the market huge. ‘Symbiotic biomimicry’ is what Tara Booth Mooney called her fur stole. But this is one fur that the PETA would not object, as it is made from a thatch of living moss. If you are a shoe lover, and going green is on your agenda, you should consider getting a shoe designed by Carmel Walsh. She has designed a pair of heels from walnut wood, covered with sprouting barnacles of organic cotton, vegetable-tanned leather, linen, hemp, and cork.

Will a ring or knuckle jewelry made of Icelandic moss evoke the same feeling like gems on your fingers? ‘Growing jewelry’ as designed by Icelandic designer, Hafsteinn Juliusson, encases live green moss in silver. Just keep watering the moss for shining green vegetation throughout the year. If you are planning to commit yourself to your love, think different. Think green. Try pledging your love with Cbikoux’s tiny plant, covered within a glass-domed, ring.

With the green revolution entering every realm of the world, it’s no wonder that it’s making bold statements in the fashion industry too. So wake up and hold hands with the rest of the world by wearing green!

This issue, which I consider particularly significant, just brought to my mind the lovely Emilie Simon....

Keeping The Sun Off In Style - A Guest Post

A Guest Post that came my way from Guestwriters.net trough Yellow Fire Marketing.

All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

Keeping The Sun Off In Style

Summer weather and the contrast of sun-drenched look of tan skin against soft, pastels will create the look you want to put together. This year’s hottest look is the long, sundress with the added bonus of a very high slit. You just need to apply your spray tan and your sunscreen to look good in this style. Still, if you’re attending an outdoor event in the outfit, there are some creature comfort considerations that can outweigh even the most fashion-oriented woman’s desire to look absolutely chic. First, how hot is it going to be there? If that sun is literally beating down on your head, you are not only going to be risking a bit of sunburn on your scalp, but you can also run the risk of heat related illnesses such as a sun-stroke.

Fortunately for oh so fashionable you, there is another hot trend for spring and summer that can keep you from being quite unfashionably ill at the outdoor gala… the hat.

Dresses and hats are a marriage made, if not in Heaven, then in the history books of women’s fashions. We all know that the proper Victorian woman of style would not have been caught dead out of doors without her hat. Neither should we. The fact is that, while some of those outdated styles were more for looks than practicality, hats perform as valuable a service today as they did then. They serve to block at least some of the sun’s harmful rays while shielding our scalp from being overcooked and rendered burnt. (Burnt scalp can itch and peel and this can be quite unattractive.) Even the most stylish of hats is not, of course, utopian. After all, we have all had a glimpse of what “hat-hair” can look like when you doff it for a moment in the shade. So, choose your hat not only to complement your look, but also pick it because you won’t mind wearing it for long periods of time.

Lightweight materials provide you with the best choice in warm weather hats. Whether you opt for a wide brimmed hat in straw or the all-so-American Cowboy hat in similar materials, both will pair well with more casual dresses and outfits. For those formal occasions such as outdoor receptions and cocktail parties, you should look to the milliner’s offerings that come festooned with modest (not loud) decorations from ribbons to the small bows to spruce up their chic, simple lines. Outdoors events that require a more athletic style of dress, such as a tennis match or a seat on the bleachers of a soccer game, cry out for some of the small, short brimmed baseball or field style caps/hats.

Pulling off a spring to summer look that not only makes you look hot, but also allows your head to remain cool, is as easy as investing a little time and money into shopping for the proper headgear. Shopping for a great look in hats, perhaps to complement a dress you already have? Then try the Internet. There are a quite a few web sites totally devote to hats for every occasion, and for all seasons. Dressing for summer and choosing the right hat have never been easier or more stylish.

Can You Find Chic Boutiques in Canada? - A Guest Post

A Guest Post that came my way from Guestwriters.net trough Yellow Fire Marketing.

All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

When you think of high-end designer clothing and trendy boutiques, many places might come to mind. Countries like Italy and France are known throughout the world as veritable fashion kingdoms. Large cities such as New York and Madrid are well known to offer some of the trendiest shopping in the world. When it comes to fashionable boutique shopping, you probably will not think of Canada in your top ten. Unfortunately, until recently, most of the world had a less than flattering opinion of Canada when it came to fashion and style. That attitude, however, is rapidly changing. With the tremendous amount of media exposure generated by this year’s Winter Olympic Games, in Vancouver, people are getting a glimpse of just how cosmopolitan and stylish the country can be. Still, can you find stylish, chic boutiques in Canada?

Of course you can, and you can find plenty of them.

Many of the larger boutique “chains” which operate in the US and UK have shops in most of the Canadian metropolitan areas and they do a thriving business there. Then, there are the shops that are unique to the provinces of Canada. Each of these boutiques offers a unique style both in their offerings and in the shopping environment provided for their customers. Canada is truly loaded with talented designers as well as with enterprising clothiers, who are out to dress the citizenry and the country’s many visitors, in some of designer fashions' latest looks.

If you’re visiting Vancouver, home of this year’s Olympics, you can find plenty of fashion fun is to be had at “Jet Lag”, a local travel boutique bringing you the latest looks in women’s leisure and travel garments. They specialize in styles that are perfect for short trips or long cruises, clothes that pack well and retain their style when worn in almost any destination.

While you’re visiting Montreal, be sure you include a visit to “French Dressing” a truly haute couture boutique featuring the exclusive designs of Marie Saint Pierre. There you’ll enjoy a truly continental shopping experience. Designer, Paul Hardy, offers his clientele a chic, upbeat take on dressing at his “Beyond Cowboy Couture” boutique located in Calgary. These are just samplings of the many unique and exciting fashion boutiques available all across the country of Canada. Each of these will bring you something truly special coupled with the polite charm we have always associated with the people of Canada.









Canadians have garnered worldwide attention with the televising of the 2010 Winter Olympics. "Our neighbors to the north" now hope to capitalize on that coverage to bolster a sagging tourism industry, and what better way to convince the world you’re an upscale, modern travel destination than providing them with great fashion boutiques for shopping fun. You can locate a fashionable boutique for your visit using search engines such as Canada 411 and many others. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in search of eco-friendly designer duds or something truly and uniquely Canadian in its style, you will find lots of high fashion and really fun boutiques just "north of the border."

The Fall 2010 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is in New York City - A Guest Post

Another Guest Post that came my way from Guestwriters.net trough Yellow Fire Marketing.
All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

The Fall 2010 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week just got done in New York. This year, the show was held at the Damrosch Park at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Earlier, it used to be held at the Bryant Park, but due to some problem with its management, the venue had to be changed. That did not matter much because the event was a major success in New York’s social year.

One of the most important parts of the Fashion Week this year was the focus on the Haiti earthquake, with Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief show showcasing a number of superstars walking the ramp. American Express offered special passes to the show for its cardholders.


There was the event where major fashion designer Betsey Johnson unveiled a Liqueur bottle from Chambord, done in black raspberry, and costing a whopping $3 million. Betsey Johnson is one of the most well known designers of the time, and anything from her is seen with major interest, especially her iconic designer clothes. But a bottle worth $3 million!!! Come on, isn’t that a lot of money for a bottle of Liqueur? We wonder if that’s just the price of the bottle, or will there be something in it!!!

Major outfits that participated in the tent based fashion week were Maybelline, DHL, Chambord, Rums of Puerto Rico, Vevant and Rowenta. The show was concluded with a live performance by Mariah Carey, with a song titled “Forever.”

The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in the most important fashion show in NYC. It has a history of over 65 years. Started in 1943 to replace the annual French Fashion shows where the Americans could not visit that year due to the war, the then-called Press Week was a major success. The event came to Bryant Park in 1994, where the show was held under white tents and admission was exclusively by invitation. It is only this year that the show has moved to a new location, but from the looks of it, things will be alright here too.

This year’s show featured some gorgeous collections from Tommy Hilfiger. It also featured the work of Peter Som, the brand’s latest creative design consultant. There was a majority of Hilfiger classics, but we also saw some ultra modern designs, which featured updated silhouettes and beautiful textural work. There were awesome outwear collections, including toss-on jackets, coats made out of camel skin, and even sleeveless trench. These are sure to make a major impact when displayed at their new, flagship store on Fifth Avenue. They also had a great selection of ready to wear clothing for rough use, like those seen on the runways in NYC. These included suiting, paper trousers as well as jackets that were jazzy and fashionably tight fitting.



Another sensation was the offering from Maki Aminaka Löfvander and Marcus Wilmont of Aminaka Wilmont, the 2007 Fashion Fringe winners. This fall, they brought out stunning jersey dresses made of organic silk, knits, narrow pants, and their one piece leather jackets. Each offering was unique, chic, and east to wear.

How To Read Tarot Cards For Your Friends - A Guest Post

Another Guest Post that came my way from Guestwriters.net trough Yellow Fire Marketing.
All images were chosen by me.

The Seeker

How To Read Tarot Cards For Your Friends

Tarot cards began their history as a card game. Earliest records come from the early 14th century Europe, when documented evidence exists that playing tarots was banned in Berne, Switzerland, in 1367. People want to suggest that the game originated in ancient Egypt, but evidence is lacking for this thesis.

However, it was not until the 18th century that tarot cards began to be used for divination. Even though the cards were used to select random oracles as early as 1540, they had no meaning in themselves. But in the early 18th century, tarot cards began to be used for divinations, and the cards themselves gathered individual meaning. The trump cards and the Fool began to be called the major arcana while the ten pip and four court cards in each suit were called minor arcana.

If you would like to amaze or amuse friends by reading their fates on tarot cards, here’s some guidance on how to do that. First, choose a good deck of tarot cards, like the one from Rider-Waite. You can get them online, in ebay, or at a good bookstore. For some strange reason, bookstores usually stack a deck of tarot cards.

Once you have your card, “season” them by sleeping with the cards under your below or the mattress. New cards don’t look good when divining meaning and destiny. Use a clean piece of cloth to spread on a table when you start reading. Gather a group of friends, let them ask questions like, the number of flights to Belfast on any given day, and shuffle the cards. After a good shuffle, cut the deck and deal the cards out. You can use any spread that you like; one suggested spread is a simple four cards in a diamond shape.

Look first at the design on the cards. Cards that look right side up, for the reader, are in a positive position; Upside down cards for the reader are reversed. Weakness, conflict or blocked energy could be the things indicated by reversed cards.

Now, you need to know the rudiments of tarot reading. There are many books you can buy from Amazon and elsewhere. Start learning the meaning of cards from the books. Look at how the cards are decked. If they look right side up to the reader, that’s a positive sign. If they are upside down, that’s a reversal and a sign of blocked energy or other negatives. You can use these to read the meanings, and answers to questions. Or you can come up with your own meanings. This will make your tarot readings just that extra bit personalized and interesting.

There are complex literature and different schools of thought surrounding tarot card divination. Systems have been devised to use them to “learn” about the workings of angels, fairies, demons and the other world. Whether you really believe in that or not, you are bound to agree that reading tarot cards to answer questions from friends can be entertaining. Especially if the friend in question is a woman you are interested in, you can find answers to not only her questions in the tarots, but to your own questions as well.

Valentines Day Wish List - A Guest Post by Alison Freed

I’m presenting you Alison Freed, the editor of the blog Catwalk Cat Fight.
Alison, a blog network owner, was introduced me by a contact I received from Yellow Fire Marketing. Maybe we’ll end forming a guest blogging partnership with Alison writing about fashion tips and research for my dear blog readers.

The Seeker

All images were chosen by me.

Valentines Day Wish List

What are the hottest gifts for women this Valentines day? Start with a handbag from Louis Vuitton. Get a splash of color with a Louis Vuitton FW 2009 Monogram Double Jeu Neo-Speedy handbag. Or if you are looking for something a little more traditional go with the Monogram Canvas Totally Monogram. If you are moving toward a more trendy style, then the Louis Vuitton Particolored Leather shoulder bag is a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day. Or fall in love with a DKNY Vintage Leather Large Hobo bag.

Nothing says “I love you” like designer jewelry. But what’s hot in jewelry? Head down to Tiffany & Co. and find an Edwardian Fan brooch by Fred Leighton with diamonds, black pearls, platinum, and gold. Perfect for the elegant lady. As for bracelets, show a little flair amid a little classic twist with a Fred Leighton Cabochon sapphire, diamond, and platinum bracelet. The design is breathtaking and people will be talking all night. Or find an elegant emerald and diamond necklace at Chopard—a cut and design that is unforgettable.

Instead motion for a trip to Paris, the fashion capital? Or trip to Milan, Barcelona, Tokyo, Rome, London, Brazil, or Hong Kong—all fashion cities with foreign flare and culture that will delight any fashion heart.

Next to diamonds the only thing women love more is chocolate. Splurge on Godiva chocolate truffle gems that come in all types: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and chocolate with caramel. It is the high-quality chocolate that pleases the heart and the body. Or give the most expensive that can be bought—an extravagant yet simple ganache that has a French Perigord truffle rolled inside with a dust of cocoa powder by Knipschildt’s La Madeleine. According to Forbes Magazine, this truffle is the most expensive chocolate in the world and will set you back about $250.00.

From chocolate to diamonds, any fashion-forward girl will be happy with the up coming fashions this Valentine’s Day.