I just got back from LA on Thursday and since I’m heading back there next week, I’m kind of pretending that my cold, dark, winter days are very numbered…hence all my recent Spring purchases!

The truth is, Philly can be cold until late April so the chances of me actually getting to wear these anytime soon is slim to none, but is there anything better than having a great pair of sexy sandals looking at you every morning to help you get through the winter doldrums??

I’m a total sucker for shoes in this color and one of the reasons I got them, besides the fact that they were under $25, was because they will look great with my black tights that I’ve been living in all winter.

I hate seeing girls pair too-delicate strappy sandals with tights-it just irks me- but these shoes are substantial enough to balance out a dark, opaque leg! Click here to buy them…and they also come in black!

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

Do you have any additions to your wardrobe that you’ve been searching for for what feels like eternity? You search and search and search, but no luck, no luck, NO LUCK?!

For me, that elusive item was a ballet cardigan. I love the piece’s delicacy and sweetness, that flattering wrap-around style and the allusion to classic, feminine grace.  Dance stores usually carry them, but I was looking for something more wearable on the street…perhaps an “inspired by” ballet cardigan.

I’d all but given up hope on finding what I was looking for until I wandered into GapBody last weekend and noticed their ballet sweater.

It was exactly what I was looking for! I love the soft sweater material, the deep v-neck that shows off whatever you choose to layer underneath and the classic pink-black color combo that calls to mind the black leotard- pink tutu combo.

The fit was super flattering, both my friend and I tried it on and it looked amazing on both of us, slimming us down with the belt and accentuating our curves with the v-neck.

I walked away empty-handed because in-store, the sweater cost a whopping $59.50. Maybe worthwhile, but I just wasn’t feeling spending sixty bucks. Online, though, the sweater is on sale for $29.99! Now that’s a whole different story…

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

This is for those risk takers out there…or for those who are tired of the winter doldrums and need some excitement back in your life!

One of this springs biggest trends is bold color. Vibrant hues of pink, orange, red and purple were popping up on almost all of the Spring 2011 runways, and my favorite runway has to be Marc Jacobs! This season MJ decided to channel another fashion god in his presentation-YSL circa 1970-and the results….simply stunning!

This trend can go two ways: 1) for the bold, no-holds-bar fashionistas out there, take it all in and just go for it…and 2) for the “taste testers”, mix splashes of color with your more neutral color palettes.

If your taste, fall more towards option 1, try an outfit that mixes two or three different bold colors–just make sure they all compliment each other like the MJ runway look above.  While they’re all very bold color choices, they all “work” when mixed together.

Now if you’re not interested in being over-the-top but want to add a pop to an otherwise neutral look, pick your favorite bold hue and mix it in! This could be something as simple as bright orange clutch or something a little bolder like this persimmon blazer that the lovely Rachel Bilson is donning with her head to toe nude look.

I’ve been seeing this color popping up everywhere from H&M (I’ve bought two jackets in the last month there in this exact shade) to LOFT and even in your major department stores–it’s definitely the “it” color for Spring so start scouring those racks for it and don’t be afraid of how bright it looks on the hanger.  A color like this is a fast and easy update to all of last year’s fashions that need a little update!

And just because it’s not officially spring, that doesn’t mean you’re not “a-loud” to add some color into your life.

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-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

I’ve been a little leery of the pointy-toe shoe trend simply because I still have fashion nightmares of the kind of pointy shoes I wore the first time this trend was big…the really long, skinny toe that made my size 6 feet look like they were a size 10.  Yea, it really didn’t do any favors for any of us…

But recently I’ve seen a few pumps (namely these Stella McCartney ones) that made me change my mind and kind of embrace the new (slightly) pointy toe! But at $655 these are way outside my price range…I mean they’re “vegan friendly” and all but why do I have to pay so much for plastic? I guess they’re Stella plastic so that’s the reason for the hefty price tag.

I’m happy to announce that some more budget friendly versions of this pointy trend have hit the store shelves.  My favorite so far is this Rya pair from Aldo.  They’re pretty close in color (or close enough) to the Stella ones and I love that they have an interesting detail at the back of the foot.

What made me fall in love with the Stella pumps were the details.  I love the cut in at the toe and the raised back- it makes a very classic shoe look fresh and current…these Aldo ones also do a good job of keeping the pump modern with a similar detail!

(Follow this link to check out) other styles for a great take on the pointy toe trend–and I promise, none of these will make you look like you’re wearing witches shoes!

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

I never watch The Golden Globes.  I don’t watch the Emmys, the Oscars, or the Grammys.  In fact, don’t hate me, but I have to admit that award shows tend to bore me- put me to sleep even.  That same music playing over and over, the same movie being awarded, five minutes of showtime and then another seven minutes of commercials.  No, thank you!

Of course I love the fashion, but I normally flip through my favorite tabloids, fashion magazines and blogs to see it all.  This year, though, was different.  I was in Florida with six of my best friends and what did everyone want to watch?  The Golden Globes.  And yes, the Red Carpet.

Two stand-outs this year (for me at least!) were Emma Stone and Claire Danes, both donning Calvin Klein.  I have to say that I soon as I saw Emma’s dress, my jaw about hit the floor.  She looked absolutely stunning.

And then, I saw Claire Danes. I mean, amazing!  I loved everything about these two looks, from the lines of the dresses to the happy color.  Those pink and peach hues …they were so simple, yet so elegant.  So striking!

This got me thinking: sure, it’s winter, but what better way to cure those winter blues than with a great big pop of color?  This dress from Delphine Murat does just that and it has that same simple elegance that the CK dresses did but in a shorter length.  It’s much more wearable for those of us that live our lives off the red carpet and at only $49 a price we can all afford!

Now if you’re not ready for such an intense color burst just yet, why not buy a piece now and save it for spring?  Or, why not save it for a nice little tropical getaway?  We could all use some color in our closet- even if there’s two feet of snow on the ground…

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

I’m so excited to introduce our newest contributor, Rebecca from one of my favorite blogs, Young Sophisticates!  If you love anything and everything romantic, classic, and sophisticated as it relates to fashion/style, you must check out her site and look for her monthly “Look for Less” posts…here’s her first one:

Young Hollywood has a new favorite trend: black lace dresses. Taylor Swift (in a drop dead gorgeous Jenny Packham) and a pair of stylish Emma’s (Watson and Roberts) have recently been spotted wearing short black lace dresses on the red carpet. This look is so chic when done right. It’s such a great look, but it’s hard to find a fabulous black lace dress without spending a bundle. A lot of times cheaper lace pieces can look downright tacky – you don’t want to look like a former contestant on Rock of Love, ever. Consider this style problem solved – CheapChica’s is on the case.

Now, you can look like a million bucks with your own sophisticated black lace dress without spending a fortune.  With any of these black lace dresses, you will look classy and sultry all at the same time!

For a look similar to Taylor Swift’s tasteful lace dress, try this stunner from ASOS for less than $80…

or why not test drive a sexy, chic asymmetrical lace dress a la Emma Roberts with this one shouldered dress also from ASOS…

and, if a dress entirely in black lace is a little too sweet for your taste,try this sheath dress with black lace detailing from Rachel Rachel Roy (one of the best budget lines out there!) at Macy’s for $129.

No matter how you cut it, lace is a growing trend that’s here to stay–and it’s not just for brides anymore!

You can get more of Rebecca’s style tips on her blog young-sophisticates.com and don’t forget to look out for her monthly Look for Less column here on CheapChicas!
-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

Kate Middleton. She has been one of the most talked about girls as of late, and I have to say that I adore her.  And no, it’s not just because she is about to be a princess (although that is an added bonus)!

Yes, she is a very lucky lady, and seriously, how cute are they?  What I admire most about Ms. Middleton is how classy and refined she is.  Really, she seems like such a class-act, and I applaud her for that.  It’s grueling trying to find a tasteful girl in a sea of Miley Cyrus wannabes, so it’s no wonder that women of all ages, ranging from fifteen to sixty-five, are trying to mimic her style.

When she and Prince William announced their engagement, Kate wore a dress by London label, Issa, and it literally flew off the shelves within 24 hours of the announcement.  Great for the designer, but sad for us.

If you’re like me, and you can’t get enough of Kate’s elegance and good taste, then you’re in luck!  I’ve found some stylish alternatives to Kate’s much talked about blue dress, and you can wear these options anywhere from a party to a date, and yes, even an engagement announcement!

Also try pairing this simple wrap dress with the accessories below (keep it minimal!).  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to help you match the gorgeous rock on her finger or that handsome prince on her arm, but I’ll try for everything else.

Cheers!

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

Come Dec. 26, every store will be dipped in glitter, glitz and glam for New Years Eve (if they aren’t already). The New Years Eve dress can be a tricky thing to come across since it seems like the only option the give us gals is sequins dipped in more sequins (not that it is always a bad thing).

But for 2011, we suggest putting those sequins (or glitter) in a different place, say on your shoes? Go for a solid patterned or colored dress and slip into these fabulous “Dorothy 2011” style shoes. These Steve Madden Scandall shoes for $109 are perfect for New Years, or a fun night out with the girls.

They are fun, flirty, really draw the eye to the leg and they’re totally neutral so they go with everything! It is a great updated New Years Eve trend that will make anyone feel like a million bucks–even if you’re paring them with one of last year’s cocktail dresses! Who wouldn’t want to slip into these pumps and dance the night away into 2011?

And if you’re a little tight on money post-Christmas, check out this pair from Bakers that comes in 6 shades of glittery fun.

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)

I love your blog! I check it every morning while I have my coffee at work. Yesterday I was flipping through the most recent People Magazine when I saw this dress on Jennifer Hudson and thought this dress would be perfect for the holidays!! I love the style of it. Please help me find out who makes it & where to get it, or something like it!

XOXO, Christina

Hey Christina!

You are right; Jennifer Hudson looks totally fab in that dress! I love the loose draping (that somehow emphasizes J-Hud’s rockin’ new bod!), the burnt sienna color that’s perfect for the colder months, the Grecian draping, and the asymmetrical skirt that brings to mind the tulip-look that has been everywhere this season. (I also am really digging those silver tipped Louboutin heels… but that’s another post for another day!)

I’ll give you the bad news first: that dress is Lanvin, so probably not the affordable brand you were hoping for! But here’s the good news… after some CheapChica style sleuthing, I’ve found some dresses that capture elements of the style without the luxury label price tag. For only $36, this Lulu’s find is strikingly similar to Hudson’s choice. The deep purple color is perfectly wintery and I adore the sexy slit in the back.

If you’re not digging that choice, it’s all about what you love the most about the dress… If you’re willing to give up the long sleeves, this charcoal wrap dress for less than $75 works–and with tights and a blazer or cardigan, it’s definitely wearable for winter.

Now if it’s long sleeves or nada, these other options are a tad pricier because they’re brand new for the season. If you’re all about rich color, I’d go for this deep purple Ella Moss number, and the asymmetries in these finds from Bailey 44 and MaxStudio are super creative and gorge!

I hope one of these suits you, Christina! Leave a comment letting us know what you think!

-Lilliana Vazquez
Lilliana is a nationally known style expert and television host.  You’ve seen her work on NBC, ABC, The Style Network, and We TV.  She is also the editor of The CheapChica’s Guide to Style, the go-to destination for fashionistas on a budget, and a contributor to Philadelphia Magazine.
(all photos courtesy of Lilliana and The CheapChica’s Guide to Style)