“Dear Isa,

I know there are a ton of retro looks coming back into style these days, but my personal favorite is the glam rock look. I love David Bowie’s early stuff (especially his clothes!), and I’m looking to incorporate some of his style into my look – minus the face paint. Can you help me put together some outfits that are bold and fun, without overdoing it? What I really need are boots, shoes and designer purses.
Thanks!
Patricia”

Dear P,

I was hoping someone would write me about this style! It’s one of my absolute favorites, and I have a ton of suggestions to help you pull it off. This style crosses over with the ‘punk’ look, which also emerged out of the UK around the same time, so when it comes to accessories, think studs and black leather. Let’s get right to it – this is going to be fun!

Why don’t we start from the bottom up? I mentioned studs and black leather, and that’s what these platform booties from Christian Louboutin are all about! They add a few inches of height and have a sexy pointed heel that is totally rock & roll.

And if that’s not enough studs for you, check out these peep toe platform pumps. To complete the look, paint your toe nails black!

Nobody does black boots quite like Chanel, and these knee-highs show you why. And as if black knee-high leather boots weren’t bad-ass enough, they have a metal chain accent at the sole!

The other knee-highs I want to show you are a little shorter and have more of a ‘cowgirl’ look about them. The best part is that they are half traditional leather and half quilted leather! Trust me; these are boots that get noticed. And the piece you must have in order to complete your look, is a leather jacket.

Vinyl was a huge part of the glam look, and I find you can use patent leather to get the same effect as vinyl in terms of sheen and texture. This Chanel quilted tote is a great example and it boasts some sweet white metal chains and charms to boot. Picture it with the first boots we looked at.

Lastly, if you like your designer purses a little roomier, the Gucci Babouska is just dreamy. This bag uses gold trim, which is gorgeous, but I wouldn’t recommend combining it with anything with silver studs, like those Christian Louboutins I showed you.

You can get any of this stuff here if you’re interested. I’m sure some of my readers have their own ways of ‘rockin’ the rocker look, and I’d love to hear about them!

“Dear Isa,

I just got two new dresses and I had to write you about them! They are very different – like night and day. I’m so excited to wear them, but before I do I would really love some advice about how to accessorize with them. What do you think? Any advice you can give me would be a huge help.
Thank you!!
Yolanda”

You have great style! I love these dresses – you’re right in that they couldn’t be more different from one another. You should be ready to look great for almost any occasion.

Some creative accessories, designer purses and the right shoes will really help you get more mileage out of these lovely dresses, and I’ve definitely got some ideas. Let’s start with your black dress, shall we?

I think it’s a pretty serious and sexy dress that can be worn to parties or formal functions. Because it’s a simple monotone dress there are endless possibilities for accessories and shoes. Consider this lovely pearl and black bead necklace from Chanel. Gold chains are an amazing match for a black dress, and I love how the beads alternate black and white, large and small.

And if you want the perfect earrings to match that necklace, I know just the thing. Two things actually! The first are these gold hoop earrings that feature dangling pearls and a CC insignia in black enamel hanging from a gold chain. The other pair you might like is this gold rose cutwork earrings with white enamel CC logos. So pretty!

This bracelet has a similar aesthetic to the first two, but I think it would be too much to wear them all together. I think you could match the earrings with either the necklace or the bracelet, which also features the enamel CC and black and white pearls on a delicate chain.

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about shoes! I’m a sucker for Christian Louboutin, and I just adore these pointy toed pumps in black patent leather! Those heels will add a couple of inches, and they feature a little flash of red that I think is a lovely touch.

And now on to your second dress. This one is a little more vibrant and playful, and needs lighter tones and simple styles to accentuate it. Something like this pair of Gucci gold medallion and patent buckle earrings would be ideal. They hang from beautiful golden ‘S’ hooks, and would be a perfect match.

I don’t often recommend watches for women, but the moment I saw this dress it made me think of this Bvlgari watch. It’s plated gold with studded diamonds on either side of the dial, and has a butterfly clasp at the back.

And for shoes? You guessed it – Christian Louboutin! These peep toe platform pumps are just incredible, and just right for spring and summer. For bonus style points, paint your toes to match!

You can find all the items I’ve shown you here – please let me know how you choose to wear these lovely items, and send some pictures!

Women know that a great wallet is more than just an accessory – it’s your trusty companion! Think about it, you count on your wallet to protect your money, cards and most important documents, and as if that wasn’t enough, we expect them to keep us looking fabulous too! That’s what makes designer wallets so desirable – they show our trusty companions the respect they deserve.

A great wallet can complete the perfect outfit at any occasion, and provide the perfect match for some of your favorite bags and shoes. Most importantly, they can help you express your true personality everywhere you go.

Today I want to take a look at some beautiful wallets that perfectly combine style and function. Maybe you’ll spot your next trusty companion!

The Chanel White-Snake Checkbook Wallet

The name is a little deceiving since the snakeskin is only found in the lovely CC insignia, while the wallet itself is made of Chanel’s signature white quilted leather. The beautiful orange interior is just as elegant and features four interior sections, including a zippered compartment, card slots, and a transparent display for your ID. That way if you get carded at the club, you’ll have a chance to show off your beautiful wallet! More pictures here.

The Chanel Quilted Leather Zipped Black Wallet

Featuring a different take on their traditional quilted leather, this gorgeous wallet features patent leather to give it more luster. It also has a more condensed pattern with lines that run horizontally and vertically. I would consider this a ‘power’ wallet- an unbeatable match for a lady in black. You can buy it here.

The Gucci Continental Fabric Wallet in Brown with Web Detail

Gucci proves they can keep up with Chanel’s elegance with this lovely wallet. Trimmed in double-stitched brown leather, this smart accessory is wonderfully understated while still managing to add a little flair with Gucci’s iconic red and green stripes. This Gucci wallet here, opens completely to reveal three sections with unique pockets and slots for cards, and closes back up with a simple brass button

The Gucci Continental Checkbook Wallet In Beige with Bow

This one is similar to the Continental fabric wallet but features the Gucci monogram canvas and a delightful red and green bow that is just to die for! The bow features golden trim, and if you look closely you’ll see that at one end it is delicately engraved with the Gucci name in cursive.

The Louis Vuitton White Murakami Sarah Noeud Wallet

In case you thought I was going to snub Louis Vuitton in this list, think again! This one is my personal favorite, so I saved it for last. It’s playful and inventive – I think it would just suit me perfectly! The colorful canvas really breathes new life into the traditional monogram, and the beige leather bow is the perfect centerpiece. More pictures here. But my favorite part might be the lining. You get a little glimpse at the edges, but when you open it up its pink perfection! This one is definitely on my wish list.

If you don’t see your favorite wallet on this list, write me and tell me about it – and send pictures!

Xo,
Isa

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m finding it way too cold out to go for my daily run! Call me a wimp, but I’m going to stick to the gym for my exercise until it’s warm again. I’ve picked up a few extra pounds over the holidays I need to work off as soon as possible! But if you’re like me, you know that going to the gym is no excuse to wear your crummy old sweatpants out of the house – in fact it’s a perfect fashion opportunity! Especially since my gym is always full of handsome young men…

Shoes

Did you know we are living in the golden age of women’s sneakers? It’s true, and I can prove it!

Exhibit ‘A’: Prada shoes with patent leather, suede tips, lace and straps! How beautiful are these? I would almost feel bad working out in shoes this nice, but that’s just what they’re made for. Check out more pictures here.

Exhibit ‘B’: These are similar but in blue, minus the strap and much more colorful. Wear these with a brighter outfit and you’ll be the envy of the weight room.

Exhibit ‘C’: These Prada shoes here, are kind of like a combination of the first two. They’re black to match most workout outfits, but they have the lovely stripes along the side. Gorgeous!

Sports Bras

Some girls feel comfortable wearing sports bras as tops, but if that’s not for you just throw a t-shirt over top. They come in lots of different styles and colors, I’m sure you can find one you’ll love. A traditional bra won’t do, you’ll find that they really chafe, especially once you start sweating.

Gym Bags

There are two schools of thought here. You can either go with a sporty bag (Nike and Puma make the best) or you can pick a large designer bags like Gucci purses or luggage. If you do that, you just need to take measures to keep your sweaty clothes off of the beautiful leather! But it’s as simple as bringing a plastic bag to wrap them up in when you’re done. Gucci purses suitable for the gym include this vintage web Boston bag, carry on duffle and the large chocolate Boston bag. You can find them here.

Leggings

Danskin makes the comfiest leggings for the gym, and they look great. Generally you want to stick with black leggings, but definitely avoid bright colors. It’s a bit much.

iPod Armband

I just can’t work out without my tunes! I love the NXE armbands, they keep my iPod secure and more importantly, keep the sweat off!

If you have cool ideas for a workout wardrobe, send me an email and tell me all about them!

Xo,
Isa

No one does spring quite like Louis Vuitton, and I have a feeling this year will be no different! And when it comes to your personal style, your bag says as much about you as your shoes or clothes, so choose carefully! Of course, very few of us can go out and spend a bundle on new designer purses, so today we’ll look at five replica purses from previous collections that will fit right in with this year’s spring line.

Classic shapes, bright colors, floral prints and silver buckles will all be big in 2012, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep up with the trends.

Let’s go!

The Louis Vuitton Monogram Etoile Clutch

This is what I’d call a daytime clutch, ideal for taking to the office or out on your errands. It’s pretty spacious and has two separate compartments to keep you organized. There’s a zipped pocket inside and a flat pocket outside, and as we all know, monogram never goes out of style. More pictures here.

The Louis Vuitton Musette Long Shoulder Strap Salsa

Small bags will be in this year, big time! Get in on the trend with the lovely replica Louis Vuitton Musette here, a slender little bag that looks great worn across the body. It has a full length flap and hangs nicely at the hip (with an adjustable strap) making it very practical and convenient. It’s another monogram miracle with some great white leather trim.

The Louis Vuitton White Murakami Beverly

How gorgeous is this replica Louis Vuitton bag? The long creamy white leather handles and trim at the corners are a perfect fit for the monogram. The most striking thing though is the unique shape – the pleated sides let the bag expand when it’s full and collapse when there’s less in it so it doesn’t look bulky. You can find it here.

The Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Trevi

This Louis Vuitton Trevi here, is another bag that uses some creative pleating to give you some extra real estate inside. The Damier Ebene coated canvas is a personal favorite of mine, and I love that you can detach the shoulder strap. Lots of pockets and compartments make this a great pick for the office.

The Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 with Shoulder Strap

Here‘s a Louis Vuitton classic with a twist! A detachable cowhide leather strap matches the rounded handed and allows you to keep your hands free. As if we needy another reason to love the Speedy!

Can you think of any Louis Vuitton designer purses that might fit in well with this years look? Write me and tell me about it!

Xo,
Isa

“Dear Isa,

Every morning I toss my laptop into my purse with all my other stuff and head to the office, and half the time my computer squashes my lunch! I need to get organized and get a proper case or bag for my laptop, and of course I need to stay looking fashionable! What do you recommend?
All the best,

Debbie”

Dear D,

A good laptop bag is a must for the modern woman! Designer cases for laptops are wildly expensive, so thank goodness for designer replica handbags! There’s lots to consider when choosing the one that’s right for you. Do you just want a case you can slip into another bag, or do you want a carrying case with a handle? Should it have extra compartments for your power cord and other accessories? You can even get backpacks made for laptops these days. I’ll give you some suggestions; you just need to pick the one that’s the right mix of practicality and style for you.

First, here are two beauties from Chanel. The quilted leather sleeve is gorgeous, but doesn’t leave room for your other stuff, so it’s probably better for the cafe than for a day at the office. The black fabric Chanel City bag also features that lovely quilted leather but is very spacious, so your computer and your lunch can peacefully co-exist!

These Gucci Office designer replica handbags are also designed for today’s professional woman, so they’ve got room for your computer, your documents and more. Like the fabric Gucci City bag it has a detachable shoulder strap, but my favorite thing about it is the white contrasted stitching.

Now, feast your eyes on these Louis Vuitton cases! The Damier canvas is stunning in either the brown or pale tones, and they unzip on three sides so it’s easy to get in and out. These are so simple and elegant!

And since it’s almost Valentine’s Day, here are two laptop bags for the man in your life! The Louis Vuitton Roman GM bag has that beautiful taiga leather and will lend some sophistication to any guy’s look. And I think the Damier sleeve in gray is perfect for men, although it could be a great match for a woman in black too. You can find them here.

If you have tips on dressing well at the office, send them to me! Looking good while you work is what it’s all about.

Xo,
Isa

If you are a single lady, there’s no reason to get depressed this Valentine’s Day! I always treat myself to something nice this time of year to cheer myself up, and I found just the thing at PurseValley – free Tiffany jewelry! During February, they will offer you a free Tiffany bracelet and necklace when you make a purchase of $75 or more. So you can get those Chanel designer purses you’ve always wanted and when they arrive, your Valentine’s Day gift will be tucked inside – beautiful jewelry!

Both pieces of jewelry feature stunning heart pendants in honor of the special day. The bracelet has an engraved heart affixed to a linked chain with a simple clasp at the back. The necklace has two thin heart pendants that rest against one another and hang from a fine chain. Both pieces are plated in beautiful sterling silver, so they match to perfection.

And of course if you have a boyfriend you can get these freebies buy shopping for his gift at PV! They have a wide range of men’s watches that would be perfect. The only thing you need to do to get this deal is to sign up for Club Couture, the official club of PV. It’s easy and free, and doing so will get you more monthly deals and discounts on Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel designer purses!

“Dear Isa,

I just love that classic look of a woman in a hat and scarf, but whenever I think about trying it, I get so confused! Should they match? How should they match? And what about my designer purses? Is it too much to match them as well? I want to try this style so badly, I just need a few of your words of wisdom to help me pull it off!

Thanks so much,
Miranda”

Dear M,

This is one of my favorite looks too! It reminds me of the great actresses of the 40′s and 50′s like Betty Davis or Audrey Hepburn. When it comes to scarves you don’t need to match, but if you choose not to, I would advise you to try to pair it with something in a complementary color.

Check out this color wheel – the arrow indicates an example of two complementary colors, in this case yellow and violet. Any two colors directly opposite each other on the wheel are considered complementary, and you can usually even get away with cheating it one shade to the left or right. So let’s say you have a blue scarf. Looking at our chart we see that its complimentary color is orange, so that might could be a great color for hats or designer purses you wear with this outfit.

I like to pick a colorful scarf, because then you can pick out any one of the colors to match with. The Louis Vuitton floral print scarf presented here is perfect for just that reason. It’s versatile enough that you could match it with the Chanel Shopper tote (one of my favorite Chanel bags this year, check out more pictures here) or with the Daino white City Bag from Prada.

I love this Louis Vuitton smiling flowers scarf with the Gucci Soho large Hobo, but you could also pick out some of the other colors to work with, like green or pink. Both are available here.

As for the hat, I personally don’t think matching is super important. Picking hats that are somehow neutral (like these straw ones) will let you wear them with pretty much anything.

If you have some unique color combinations in your look that you’re just dying to share, let me know! Send pictures!

Xo,
Isa

“Dear Isa,

I’m going to a wedding in two weeks, and I have a fashion question: do I have to wear a dress? I hate wearing them, and I would love it if you could provide me with an alternative so that I won’t have to! What’s the proper etiquette in this situation?

Lupe”

Dear L,

No two couples are the same, and no two weddings are the same either! What kind of event do you think it will be? Sometimes the invitation will explicitly tell you the dress code, and sometimes you just have to use your better judgment. I’ll give you a break-down on different types of weddings and their appropriate attire so you’ll have your bases covered.

Formal

I’m sorry to tell you this, but suck it up! You simply must wear a dress to a formal wedding, there’s no way around it, other than staying home! Now you should never wear white to any wedding, but wearing a white dress to a formal one would be an especially embarrassing mistake.

Semi Formal

Here you have a few more options, and can even escape the dreaded dress! But you still have to keep it classy – think really dressy trousers or a beautiful 3/4 length skirt. It should be something nicer than what you would wear to work, keep that in mind. Check out these pictures for some inspiration!

Casual

Believe it or not, more casual weddings are where most fashion crimes are committed! Dress as if it were business casual, or even a step up from that. Casual is not an invitation to wear jeans and a t-shirt!

Now if you want something you can wear to any kind of wedding, check out these replica Christian Louboutin shoes! You can never go wrong with pointy toed red pumps, patterned lace or peep toed pumps.

You can find these (as well as many other replica Christian Louboutin shoes) over here.

Have fun at the wedding!
Xo,
Isa

Once in a while, for whatever reason, some handbags simply don’t cross over into the replica world. Either it’s too difficult to copy, or the replica just doesn’t turn out well and it isn’t worth buying. Some beautiful bags just seem to get ignored by replica companies – it’s enough to break your heart!

So I’ve decided to make a little wish list. Who knows? Maybe it’ll make its way over to one of the big replica companies and they answer my three wishes! Probably not, but a gal can dream…

The Sophia Coppola Collection

The Sophia Coppola bags are simply gorgeous but I’ve been looking at the designer replica handbags online and they are simply… yuck. My hope is that somebody is just taking their time so that they can make the perfect replicas of these bags, which makes sense because most of them use two kinds of very fine leather. That’s all fine and good, but we can’t wait forever!

The Hermes Catenina

This one I get. It’s so small and detailed with tons of bright colors. The few replicas that are out there get the image all wrong, and the image is the most important part! The chain is also very delicate and has a few unique dangling charms. But I just know that if someone could make a decent copy, women everywhere would want one!

Chanel Boy Bags

Boy oh boy! These little bags are a big sensation right now, and it’s as though Chanel intentionally made this bag so unique that it would be impossible to copy! You see, designer replica handbags are always easier to make when companies use materials they’ve recycled from other bags like leathers, patterns and buckles. But these Chanel Boy bags introduce all sorts of new materials, from the unique woven chain to the highly unconventional brass clasp. Tragically, all the things that make this bag so beautiful make it almost impossible to replicate!

I usually buy my bags here, but they don’t have these ones. Do you guys have bags you wish were available as high quality replicas? Write me about them!