Great news! The Jae Basilio Trunk Show at Artfulwears.com is now 40% off. Check out the 3 great dresses and take advantage of this great deal. Trunk Show ends Sunday May 24 at 7 p.m. EST.

It’s a special week at Artfulwears, as I have two beautiful dresses to tell you about. Even more beautiful is that they are eco-friendly. Jae Basilio is a beautiful eco-friendly knit line that is modern and contemporary.

If you like short, we have the Trey Shirt Dress. It’s relaxed and comfortable, yet very sexy. If you are into the maxi trend, we have the James Maxi Dress. It’s a colorful and fun but can definitely take you from day to night.

What I love? Both the James Maxi Dress and Trey Shirt Dress have soft and sumptuous knits. They simply feel amazing against your skin. Plus, I personally feel better knowing my skin is not absorbing toxins from my clothing! These dresses are both incredibly versatile.

Mostly every woman I know loves a piece that you can easily take from day to night, like you can with both of these dresses. They would also be GREAT for travel since they don’t wrinkle. Which also means after you wash them (by hand of of course), you don’t have to iron them. Last but certainly not least, the fit of both dresses is fantastic.

What I am wearing them with? The Trey Shirt Dress, looks full on the hanger but is completely sexy on. I paired Trey with a gorgeous pair of multi-color heels, a great layered necklace, and a brown clutch. One of the things I love to do with a solid dress is a print or multi-colored shoe. You could easily pair this with a flat sandal for daytime too. Perhaps you want to take this into Fall, try pairing it with tights and some high-heel boots. I would tend to lean towards dark browns or greys to perhaps tone down the fuschia. If you are looking to dress it up for a more cocktail look, try a hot pair of oversized “diamond” hoops and a some black patent heels. You will not run out of options with this dress. It can be easily reinvented by changing your shoes and accessories.

The James Maxi Dress and I went out completely casual. I did a flat Born black flip-flop and tossed on a cropped denim jacket over top. However, if I was looking to take it for a night on the town, I can see it with my HOT gladiator style purple snakeskin heels or my black Kenneth Cole wrap suede heels. I was pleasantly surprised at how many shoe options I had for this piece. If you want to make it ultra-summery, you can try a white strappy sandal as well. The maxi dress is high-fashion this season so you can’t go wrong. The dress is well designed to accommodate a busty girl and the style is an easy fit.

The Basics: The Trey Shirt Dress is made of 55% silk and 45% cotton. The weight is fabulous and it’s very breathable. I have fuschia but it’s also available in Plum, which I love, and black which is obviously incredibly versatile. The style looks great on a variety of bodies and is generously cut. It hits just above the knee.

The James Maxi Dress is 93% cotton and 7% spun silk, make it uber comfy! Did I really say that? The multi-color stripe fabric has black, white, blue, purple, yellow, red, and grey. Like I said, this gives you a lot of shoe and accessory options. This dress is ankle length but can easily be hemmed to suit your body. You can tie the straps as a halter or simply cinch them and tie them to wear the dress strapless.

How To Get Yours: Artfulwears is having a Jae Basilio Trunk Show from Sunday May 17 to Sunday May 24, 2009. All trunk shows begin and end at 7:00 p.m. Both of these hot dresses as well as as one other great style will be available.

Why Eco-Friendly? Like most people, you probably think cotton is natural and “healthy”. In reality, growing of non-organic cotton is a toxic nightmare. Over one quarter of all the pesticides used in modern agriculture are applied to the cotton plant. So while it maybe comfortable, it’s an environmental nightmare. Not only do these toxins get into our water table they also absorb into your skin!

These pesticides used contain some of the most dangerous compounds known to man, including cyanide. Of the nine major pesticides used on cotton five are proven cancer-causing chemicals and all nine are classified by the EPA as type 1 and 2 – the most dangerous listing possible.

About Jae Basilio: Janet “Jae” Basilio is a gradaute of the Fashion Institute of Design. She brings her west coast style and travel inspirations together to create this chic and modern line of knitwear. Her designs look equally fabulous paired with denim for a casual look or standing alone for a more formal occasion. Launched in 2007, we expect to see a continued array of fabulous garments from Jae Basilio.

The Crash Graffiti Totes by Sobella certainly make a statement! For those of you who don’t know this about me, I am ALL about making a statement. Truth be told, before my Train North/South Tote arrived from Sobella, I wasn’t sure what I would think about it but now that it’s here I am completely in love. I was pleasantly surprised by so many things about this tote, particularly the number compliments I got from the New York City design contingent! They can be a very tough crowd.

What I love? First and foremost, the graphics. These colorful, vibrant, and fun designs are the work of artist John “Crash” Matos. This truly is art to wear. It was not until I touched this bag that I could have envisioned how delightfully soft the canvas would be and how extremely lightweight it too. Most everyone I know is always searching for a lightweight bag and they seem to be hard to find. The Crash Totes are extremely well crafted, as you would expect from an Italian design. What’s even more fabulous is that it works equally well for work and play. There is plenty of room to put a portfolio or file folders inside and still zip it. It’s great for shopping and carring any small purchases with you. While it’s very roomy, it has a slim profile as to not make you feel like you are carrying a huge bulky bag.

The comfort factor for me critical and the big test is a buying trip. I carried it ALL day and found it to be extremely comfortable, even with my portfolio full of paperwork inside. The handle length was perfect and again, I love the weight.

What I am wearing it with? This is important. While this tote can’t be paried with anything in your wardrobe, it’s a great addition to a wardrobe a simple or solid outfit. For my customers who wear all black, I highly recommend a Crash Tote.  It will give some life to your outfit. I love it paired with black and/or white with a splash of color. You have to let Train Tote be the center of attention and not to try and fight with it. I first paired it with white pants, a yellow/gold tank, with a black v-neck long sleeve tee over top. The second time, I added it to a white tank, denim skirt, black belt, and green shiney jacket. It’s a great Summer bag and one you would definitely need to store for Fall/Winter.

The Basics: The Train North/South Tote (as well as all the North/South totes in the Crash collection) is 18″W x 14″H x 8D. The handle is 18″, which I found to be perfect and very comfortable.  It has a sizeable inside zipper compartment, as well as two pockets for cell phone and lipgloss. Isn’t that what everybody puts in their purse pockets? The BIG bonus feature of this bag is that it has a small makeup bag attached inside made of black leather. It’s awesome. The bottom of the bag, trim, and zipper are also all leather. It is extremly well constructed and durable.

About Sobella and the Crash Tote Collection: Based in Arezzo,  Sobella handbags are inspired by the latest fashion trends in Italy;  including a sense of beauty, mystery, and Italian history. They combine functional style and clean lines with exquisite leather or beautifully woven fabrics. The Crash Collection was a collbaoration with world famous graffiti artisit John “Crash” Matos, who’s work  was first noticed through his murals on subway cars and dilapidated buildings.  As he got older he transferred his art to canvas and has now exhibited at museum’s world wide.  In 1996, Crash painted a Signature Stratocaster for Eric Clapton and gave it to the artist as a gift,  which Clapton used through his 2001 tour. In total Crash has created 5 guitar’s for Clapton and was commissioned by Fender Musical Instruments for 50 guitars he titled the “Crashocasters” Today  Crash is not only recognized as a fine artist, he is also regarded  as a pioneer of the Graffiti art movement.

How  To Get Yours: The Graffiti Totes By Sobella will be on sale at Artfulwears.com for one week only: Sunday May 10, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday May 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

1. Eco-Friendly - Eco-Friend is definitely chic for Fall 2009. All the designers are incorporating eco-friendly and organic products into their lines. In it’s infancy, eco-friendly was relatively dull but now it not only feels great, it looks great too. Don’t miss out on this trend.

2. Plums,  Purples, Dusk, & Gray – Rich plums and purples will be juxtaposed with soft dusty pinks, grays, and cement tones.

3. Sequins & Embellishments – The trend continues…yay! Who doesn’t like to sparkle? Well apparently, designers aren’t done with the sparkle. Look for these embellishments incorporated in new and creative ways, such as sequins just under the fabric for a more muted look. While embellishments and sequins are still hip, it’s toned down a bit for Fall 2009.

4. Zippers - Zippers will be incorporated both for function and fashion.

5. Bubble Hems – Look for dresses, skirts, and tops with bubble hems.

6. Layers – Designers will be incorporating  the layered look right into their garments. Picture a great lightweight knit top with a contrasting “cami” underneath and a scarf attached. This takes the brain work out of making sure you layers work together.

7. Metallic Fabrics – Again, metallic fabrics will be HOT. However unlike previous seasons, they will be muted not flashy.

8. Sweater Dresses – What took designers so long to figure out that women love a sweater dress? Well they are on it this season. Look for a variety of shapes including a-line with a hood or cinched waist. There will be great options for women with a variety of body types. We are mostly seeing them above the knee, so polish up your boots!

9. Convertible Pieces – Convertible is not just for cars and sweaters anymore. Think sweater dress, top, or skirt all in one. How is that for budget friendly?

Noah Handbags Trunk May 3, 2009 – May 10, 2009 at Artfulwears.com

So one day an email magically appeared in my inbox from Noah Handbags. Normally, I delete these emails but this one caught my eye because the bags are simply gorgeous. The brand has modern, clean lines, and is very fashion forward but still look timeless. I immediately picked the phone up to call the designer. The rest is history as they say. I had the privilege of trying out the Lasercut Butterfly Clutch. All the photos shown are various angles of the same bag both folded and unfolded in the Aranico (orange) and Bleu.

What I love? The Butterfly Clutch by Noah Handbags is striking! It has very clean lines yet packs a punch. I was torn by which color to choose because they all appealed to me in a different way. However, I went with the Aranico (Orange) because I felt like it really made a statement and would be hot for Summer. While this bag is made of entirely animal friendly materials, it gives the appearance of very polished patent leather. I also love the price. This looks like a VERY expensive designer bag and it’s only $175.00!

The Basics: This clutch is truly the perfect size (15.5″ W x 7.5″ H). You can actually put a reasonable amount of things in it without it looking stuffed or  losing it shape. That is a quality I really adore in a bag. Not on that you can fold it over for the envelope style but you can also hold it by the handle and make it bigger. The inside is almost as fabulous as the outside. It has a pocket for a cell phone and another small pocket I used for lip gloss. Plus, an inside zipper pocket. Basically it has all the big bag features in a nice, compact, sleek design.  For those of you who aren’t fans of orange (this of course boggles my mind), there are several great color choices. My other favorite is the Vetro, which is a pale celadon shade but I would equally love the Chocolate or the Bleu. I think the toughest decision is choosing a color. Made from a Italian PVC material, overlaying canvas and straw.

What I am wearing it with: On the Butterfly Clutch’s first excursion, I paired it with a very simple vanilla colored tee shirt dress that has a very earthy feel and some chocolate brown gladiator sandals. I was so enthralled with the bag that I wanted it to be the center of attention (it was). For it’s next journey, I paired it with a dark denim skirt and orange linen top. However, there are SOOO many more outfits I want to wear it with. Truth be told, I have a secret obsession with orange so there are many choices in many closet. But this looks great with denim as well as all earth tones: chocolate, khaki, ivory, olive. Bonus: This bag works just as well for day as it does for night.

About The Noah Handbags: Noah Handbags is a play on words for “No Animal Harmed”. Designer Joe Donza was confident in launching his new brand that you can in fact have beautiful, high-quality bags without sacrificing the well-being of animals. I would say he has achieved inarguable success! By blending classic silhouettes with modern day twists, bold colors and graphics, the Noah collection has set itself apart from it’s competition. In addition to being animal friendly, Noah is striving to be green as well. Noah is doing all of these things while maintaining moderate prices. The collection features cotton, Italian PVC, and hemp with many additional fibers on the horizon for Donza.
Who else loves them? Ok, I know this sounds repetitive but truly this bag has turned heads everywhere I go. I have been stopped left and right with people asking me where I found my bag. Plus, all my friends are chomping at the bit to get theirs.

How To Get Yours: The Butterfly Clutch, as well as several other gorgeous bags from Noah, will be available at the Noah Handbags Trunk Show at Artfulwears.com starting at 7p.m. on May 3, 2009, for one week only. During the show the bags will be 20% off!

Who knew perfection could arrive in a tiny little box? Well, girls it did! The Kimono Robe by Pretty Plum Sugar is absolutely perfect. The Kimono Robe in Silk Road Sweet is my new best friend. Sorry Lisa! Now on to the details….

This gorgeous robe, which is available in habutai silk or cotton voile, is a little slice of heaven. While I have not tried the cotton voile, cotton voile is lightweight, breathable, and easy to care for.  The silk is fantastic for oh so many reasons. First and foremost, it’s also lightweight but amazingly can warm you up pretty quickly. If you are anything like me, you don’t want to wear something heavy or bulky while relaxing at home. Even better, if you are traveling this road folds up to nothing and packs like a dream. In fact, it’s in my suitcase now and I am at 30,000 feet.  With baggage restrictions these days, it’s pretty hard to pack a terry cloth robe.

The Silk Road Sweet is a gorgeous multi-colored and vibrant print that personally spoke to my aesthetic. However, it was really hard to choose between so many magnificent prints. Eight to be exact. I also happen to love the Indian Pink + Yonderflies, as well as the Darling Jardine Bleu, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.

About The Collection: Plum Pretty Sugar is an amazing collection of loungewear pieces you can mix and match. We adore the beautiful floral prints and the rich solid colors that work back to them. Since they are available as separates, you can pick exactly which pieces you like. So whether you are a girl who prefers a short robe with long pants girl, or a long robe and chemise, or shorts and a cami, your options are endless. The excessive girl that I am, I would need a little bit of everything. You never know when it’s going to be hot or cold.

Design Inspirations: Designer Charlotte Mills says, “Plum Pretty Sugar has been a journey. Dreamful, lesson-filled but sweet goodness nonetheless. It’s a blushing new brand of the loveliest loungewear and accessories perfectly priced for where dreams and life takes us. It’s in the vibration of my

heart and something I hope will soon be in yours. Awake to dream…” What more can we say? 

She claims her inspiration comes from many different places, “almost like a dream, where thoughts you didn’t know you were thinking, and some of what you do, play out across that closed-eye horizon. “  The collection combines flowers, color, and movement in a beautiful and very feminine way taking in vibrations from life’s lessons. Everything is soft to the touch.  Charlotte says, “That might be a bit esoteric, but let’s just say some of my favorite things in this life are flowers, color and well, fashion.” Needless to say, we can relate and that’s why we love it too!

Please check out the Plum Pretty Sugar Trunk Show at Artfulwears.com Sunday April 26, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST to Sunday May 3, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST.

For this special event we are offering a special treat for Mother’s Day. Purchase a robe and lounge pant set and receive a 20% discount, plus it will be delivered in a gorgeous box with a bow all ready to give to Mom! Enter code: PPSMOM at check out to receive your discount.

I don’t think there are any other more appropriate words to describe these shoes other than H-O-T! In fact, they are so fantastic I don’t even know where to begin but I can assure you that the Trinity from Klub Nico will be in heavy rotation within my 150+ pairs of shoes.

What I love? The gunmetal color is incredibly versatile and perhaps the biggest selling point of this shoe. While it does have a slightly gold undertone, you can easily pair these shoes with clothing in the gold, silver, or bronze color families. I love how they blend. In addition to the metallic color tones, the Trinity obviously works incredibly well with a variety of colors from coral or green to purple or white. They are equally as versatile as my nude patent leather kitten heels, which were my favorite shoes of the season.

What I am wearing them with? I happened to be the lucky owner of a fantastic gunmetal leather motor cycle jacket from Cino that looks amazing with these shoes. So the jacket has been added to a lot of the looks. I have paired them with a black dress, as well as a denim skirt and two different tops with bronze/gold embellishments. Most recently, I let the shoes be the center of attention with a pair of dark jeans and a white button down top. Truly, these shoes make a statement!

Who else loves them? Whenever I obtain a hot new item, my friends and family always want to check it out but needless to say they don’t all love the same things. Truly, EVERYONE loved these shoes. From young friends to my Mom’s friends (long past the age of collecting social security), they all want a pair. My girlfriends with very basic simple tasted loved them equally to the wild and crazy girls.

The Basics: The Trinity is made of a gunmetal colored leather with a gold tone buckle over the top of the foot and around the ankle, which allows for a more precise fit. However, we all know it’s about how they look. The peep toe is sexy and the braided leather detail on the top finishes off the look. They have a 1/2″ platform with a 4″ stacked wood heel (so a net height of 3 1/2″).

More Details: The Trinity is a really well made, beautiful shoe that is well cushioned and comfortable. I must confess I am not the expert on how comfortable they are for walking for long periods of time since I have a really tough time

walking in heels but I believe these would be a great find for anyone who is used to a 3 1/2″.

About Klub Nico: Klub Nico shoes, celebrating it’s 5th anniversary in June, are designed in northern California by Kelley Lehner. Inspired by Brazilian culture and lifestyle, her shoes are playful, sexy, and ultimately feminine. Texture, color, and unexpected embellishments are at the forefront of Kelley’s designs. Using only the highest quality materials, all of Klub Nico’s shoes are manufactured in Brazil. The brand is focused on designing styles for today’s modern woman who is fashionable, on the go, busy,  and fills a variety of roles on a daily basis. For this woman, Klub Nico delivers great value, comfort,  and versatility. I look forward to my next pair!

How To Get Yours: The Trinity Platform Heel, as well as 6 other gorgeous styles from Klub Nico, will be available at Artfulwears.com from Sunday April 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST for exactly one week. As part of this special event, each pair of Klub Nico shoes will be 20% off.

Artfulwears.com is pleased to announce that we are offering a fabulous new way to shop! Starting this Sunday, April 19 we will be having a variety of week long trunks shows of items that I LOVE. Yes, that’s right, only things that your resident Fashion Expert/Stylist/Blogger would wear herself! Most of the trunk shows will be of brands not otherwise available at Artfulwears.com and in some categories we do not currently feature like shoes and loungewear.

In addition to the trunk shows, I will be reviewing items here on the blog from the designers I select to feature. I will tell you why I love them, how to wear them, and pretty much everything you would want to know about my new coveted treasure.
Look for the Klub Nico shoe trunk show starting Sunday April 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Needless to say, I read a lot of fashion magazines. In fact, I am pretty sure I read ALL of them. In perusing a recent edition of Marie Claire, I was amazed at the fact that they were so proud that every item in the issue is under $250.00.  In most people’s worlds that I know, $250.00 is a pretty sizeable purchase and not necessarily afforable. So as I read the issue, I kept thinking to myself, are they serious? They literally dressed up a model or celebrity from head to toe and each individual item was under $250.00. So for example, you could have a $245.00 dress, a $229.00 pair of earrings, a $237.00 pair of shoes, a $145.00 belt, and a $219.00 bag. So this supposedly afforable outfit is now $1075.00! I would have been far more impressed had they put an entire outfit together for $250.00. I also think that would have been far more useful. Just my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours!

The Rock N’ Roll inspired wardrobe is very in vogue this season. Here are few tips to help you achieve this look.

1. Try something shiny like metallic shirt or trench. Check out this Metallic Shirt & Trench look from Cino as an example.

2. Zippers are all the rage this season and definitely give you that edge. These are not the ones that are simply for function; they are being used as an embellishment.

3. Chains are also hot. Think a great leather slouchy bag with lots of hanging chains, multi-chain necklaces, or belts. The Lotus Chain Necklace from 2 Sister Designs is a great example.

4. Jackets are truly a must for that rock n’ roll look. You don’t have to go leather for Spring as long as it’s got some edge like this Cino Python Military Jacket. If the jacket can be shiny or adorned with chains or zippers, that will be perfect.

5. For jewelry you can go two ways. Either one bold statement piece such as the  Damask Resin Bangle by Andrew Hamilton Crawford or over the top layered chains – think “heavy metal”.

6. Boots are also a great look for Spring. Think metal embellishments, chains, or zippers there as well with a mini skirt.

**Disclaimer do not put all of these tips into one outfit.