StyleFixx Giveaway!

Greetings, lovely readers. Do I have a fun giveaway for you!

StyleFixx Girls Night Out is coming to Boston next week, and they've graciously offered free tickets to Ip & Audrey readers! I have two to give away, one for you and a friend. Read on for more details!

What is StyleFixx? A fabulous nightlife and shopping event featuring the latest in fashion, beauty and accessories. In addition to great shopping from emerging Boston designers, guests indulge in complimentary cocktails and FREE spa treatments... Not to mention the legendary StyleFixx Swag Bags filled with goodies!Boston's event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6th and Thursday, October 7th at the Boston Center for the Arts (5pm-10pm). I'll totally be there to cover the activities, so perhaps we'll bump into each other if you attend!

If you win, your name (and your friend's) will be put on the VIP list, so you will pick up your access pass and swag bag at the VIP booth. To enter, simply leave me a comment! Winner will be chosen at random by midnight on Sunday, October 3rd.

Good luck!

Monday morning musings

I need more caffeine to fuel this busy day! Does anyone else have a serious case of the Mondays? Blech.

Some Ip & Audrey news... I was recently featured as a "Fashionista of the Day" over at A Country Girl Blogs. Please check it out!

And CSN Stores has contacted me to do a product review. I'm excited because it's my first time doing one on this blog, and CSN Stores has lots of cool sites to choose from... you can find everything from shoes and handbags to end tables and decorations! Ip & Audrey has hosted giveaways with CSN Stores in the past, and I'm very excited to be working with this fabulous company once more. :)

So check back for that fun stuff... I've got more runway reviews coming up this week. I hope you're having a lovely Monday...

Last Day of Summer

I'm a fall baby all the way, but it still breaks my heart a little bit to see summer go. Once again, I find myself daydreaming about all the summery fun I wanted to partake in (lazy beach days, amusement park and county fair visits, late night stargazing) but didn't because I was simply too busy. I did manage to squeeze in a couple of mini-breaks here and there, but haven't taken a proper vacation in YEARS. So, next year, it's my goal to visit someplace entirely new to me... and squeeze in more beach time, too.

As much as I'll miss summer, I can't mope for long; I'm really looking forward to cooler temps so I can layer again! It was nice to get to wear tights one day last week. Though autumn officially started last night, it's still in the seventies and eighties in the Boston area, so I'm just going to embrace it while it lasts! Guess I'll order my pumpkin spice latte iced for a few more days...



This ensemble is one of my summer work favorites. It came about because I wanted to be cool and comfortable, but of course still stylish... and this brushstroke-printed chiffon skirt gives off that seventies vibe that I love. Pairing it with my favorite white tee is just a comfy no-brainer. These gladiator sandals are cool, but not too comfortable... the stiletto heel doesn't exactly distribute weight evenly. But since I have a desk job, I'm pretty okay with that. The only major problem occurs when you're sinking in the grass! Oops...

Another slight problem... this white tee is hard to photograph! I guess that's why you don't see a lot of white on television; I've heard that it's difficult to film. I leaned against this red trailer just to get some contrast! Look at what happens in direct sunlight...



Whoa! Baby, your future's so bright, you need... a really high SPF? ;)

So I decided to try black and white to see if I could create enough contrast and darken that bright white a little bit. Well, not so much. But I like how everything else turned out...





Then I gave up on black and white entirely and tried blue! Because why not? Blue is a great shade for fall, right?



The blue still follows my seventies theme... my parents' yearbook photos from back then were tinted blue. I wonder why that is? No matter the reason, I always thought it looked groovy. Okay, so that's more of a sixties term. Whatever. :P

With that, I bid summer au revoir!

So, I interrupted my runway reviews for this outfit post. Fashion Week coverage will resume next time! So do check back for more. :)

$200 Fall Fashion Giveaway!

What would you say to winning $200 to spend on the hottest eco-friendly fashions? Our friends at Jute & Jackfruit are kindly offering not one, but two chances to win $100 worth of merchandise - one contest through their blog, another on Facebook - and, yes, you can enter both! Click here for more details on how to win.

The contest ends on September 31, 2010, so hurry and enter! Then get ready to fill your closet with the latest in fall eco-fashion.

She Works Hard for the Money: Milly by Michelle Smith RTW Spring 2011

Working mom Michelle Smith offers up bright, breezy fashions that add a jolt to the busy gal's wardrobe, proving that mixing prints and daring color combos can be a snap. Any "prints-ess" in the making will love Milly's latest sixties-esque collection, inspired by the global, eccentric wardrobe of heiress Peggy Guggenheim (who has been quite the muse to many designers in recent years). These cheery clothes will show you're quite the mix-master, too, whether you live and work uptown, downtown or all around the globe. See: fashion-forward geometric shapes grounded in rich hues, fitted skirts and sheaths and envy-inducing coats. I'm swooning over the ladylike fits paired with boho-tribal touches. These are Gossip Girl-worthy clothes that Serena or Blair would fight to wear!


Check back for more Fashion Week fun!


*All images: NYMag.com

Nobody Does it Better: Oscar de la Renta RTW Spring 2011

Kicking off my catch-up on New York Fashion Week, what better designer to start with than legendary Oscar de la Renta? For Spring 2011, we were treated to a sentimental journey back to sweet fifties and swinging sixties style. The Mad Men look has been all the rage on many a runway over the past few seasons, but as any Academy Award-winner or First Lady could tell you, Oscar has that special touch that turns a trend into a classic. I am an unabashed fan; a vintage Oscar de la Renta handbag (in a shade of green that's making quite the comeback this year!) is the first designer piece I ever laid eyes on, and happily purchased. See how Oscar transforms his ladies from nine-to-fivers to those who lunch to the least reluctant debutantes to ever descend a grand staircase. Observe:

The quintessential working girl shift, in a happy, poppy hue.

These florals are so sweet, they veer on grandma-chic! But prim and proper polish is a welcome change from more disheveled styles. The coordinating bag is the icing on a very frothy cake!

Michelle Obama must have this look on speed-dial, and who could blame her? Send to the White House, stat!

A modern, directional suit look that's not at all stiff. It says "edgy, creative type," not "worker drone."

Yet another take on tweedy suits, this with a refreshing pop of mint. Ahh.

I love how Oscar's gone a little Grecian, while still staying true to the sixties sartorial spirit. A screen goddess from Hollywood's Golden Age would have rocked this floaty frock.

Can't you see this ensemble strutting down city streets come spring (not by itself, of course!)? Rain or shine, crisp white and green is a sublimely Irish-looking standout... Ides of March be darned!

Ruffles, lace, and a beautiful bow... it's easy to get carried away by such gorgeous details, but as always, Oscar shows a practiced restraint. It's almost too lovely for words.

Saving the best for last? Yet another screen siren gown that is truly Oscar-worthy.

What do you think? All hits? Any misses? Sound off in the comments! And be sure to check back as I continue to spotlight Fashion Week designers! Up next: designs that are decidedly sixties-influenced (before we make our way to all the seventies-inspired fashions). Any guesses on which designer it could be?


*All photos: NYMag.com