Posts tagged sparkle
Countdown to NYE: Part 3, Lounging Up
Dec 30th
While we love a great glittery New Years Eve party on the town, we know that staying in for NYE is so underrated. Have plans with a cushy couch, faux fur throw, and take-out this upcoming Monday night? Not to worry, you can still look (comfortably) fabulous as you usher in 2013 with Carson Daly on NBC.
Even when staying in, festive sequins are a doable feat. Try a sequined sweatshirt (like this one by Three Dots). Pair it with a comfy pair of leggings or cashmere lounge pants, and you’re ready to chicly welcome the New Year. If you want to keep sequins out of your at-home wardrobe, try a luxe cashmere tunic in a festive color with your skinnies and Minnetonka moccasins for an equally perfect look.
Whatever your look for an at-home New Years Eve, don’t forget to accessorize with your favorite bubbly (or mocktail!). And check out our New Years Eve tips as we countdown to the start of 2013 on our Pinterest board and daily Twitter inspiration!
~Meredith, fashioniSTA
What’s in Season: Winter Dares for Every Style
Nov 29th
When the temperatures drop, it’s tough to muster up the energy to shop or put together an outfit. This season, however, the top trends are designed to keep you looking your best even when it’s cold outside.
Faux fur is making its way into retailers everywhere, ensuring that no one will be left out in the cold this year. Try this out with a faux fur color on a rich-colored jacket for a look that is decidedly now. If you’re not into fur of any kind, you can still take a dare this year by breaking out the white. From scarves to sweaters to even white denim (gasp!), winter white is having its moment, helping fashionistas everywhere break the rules and look good doing it.
The rich oxblood color that was everywhere during the fall is also sticking around for winter. The luxurious tone of this color can turn an ordinary cardigan into a statement piece or a suede handbag into a must-have. Try one piece out or do an entire monochromatic ensemble, you can’t go wrong with this color! This is also a great style to sub in during the holiday season. Instead of a traditional red dress for your holiday party, grab an outfit in lush oxblood, and don’t forget to throw the burgundy on your lips as well!
For this holiday season, it’s all about the sparkle, of course! Pair a sequin dress with a blazer for a modern look, or try out the shimmer with a sequin peep-toe shoe. Not a glitter girl? Not to worry, spikes are also in, giving any outfit a touch of embellishment that is more tough than girly. Go with a sweater with a spiked shoulder or a bag with a few spiky details to really nail this trend.
~Ashley, FashioniSTA
Take on the Style of Dancing with the Stars
Mar 19th
Dancing with the Stars premieres tonight, so to get us in the style spirit, we’ve dug up some of our favorite outfits from seasons past. Whether it’s an elegant waltz or an energetic jitterbug - or just a look at the judge’s black-tie ensembles - the costume department knows how to bring it. The sequins, spandex and use of feathers make this show one of the most stylish programs to hit the air, check out the evidence below!
Of course we’re always looking for ways to put a little more DWTS into our days. To get the signature looks for your everyday life, we’ve come up with a few ingredients. Just add these to your daily outfits and you’ll be waltzing to work and foxtrotting into Fridays by no time:
Sparkle. This is the most important ingredient, and must be used generously. Or just sprinkle a little on your eyelids to brighten up your Mondays (which, coincidentally, is a DWTS night). Plus you’ll be ahead of the trend, gold lamé is really hitting up the runway for fall.
A sassy attitude. The dancers don’t get to the top without a will to win, and you won’t claim their coveted style without a little sass in your step.
Spray tan. Whether you’re looking to go full Cha-cha-cha or you just want a little extra Jive in your life, a sunny glow is a must-have.
Fancy up-do. You can’t expect to perform a 30-worthy dance with your hair falling in your face. Slick your hair into an Argentine Tango ponytail, tease it back into a Samba-swept mane, or pin it back into a Waltz-worthy chignon.
Waterproof mascara. No episode ever made it through without a few tears. While you’re at it, add a few faux lashes to your look for a truly authentic homage.
Now that you’ve got the tools, you’re all set to celebrate the premiere in style!
~Ashley, FashioniSTA
Girls’ Night Out at All STA Locations!
Feb 21st
Step into our glamorous girls’ night out as Second Time Around brings you
Champagne Wishes and Designer Dreams!
On February 27th, every STA store will break out the bubbly and host this girls’ night out event from 7-9pm.
So grab your girlfriends and put a dose of sparkle into your shopping!
An Ode to Our Valentines
Feb 14th
Between the multiple outfit choices, floral arrangements and gifts, Valentine’s Day is a very style-oriented holiday. So to celebrate this, we’re announcing our love to our very own style valentines. Won’t you be ours?
Louboutin (the man and the shoe)
There’s a reason that the sole is red, it’s the color of eternal love, the kind you can only feel for a shoe. Louboutin, you have captured our soles (we couldn’t resist).
Sparkle
Who doesn’t want to shine a little brighter? No one we know. We’re thrilled that a little sparkle has made its way into a multitude of the Fall 2012 NYFW shows this past week. From Erin Fetherston to Alice + Olivia, the designers doled out the sequins, glitter and shine (even Theysken’s Theory had a gold piece). What do we say to you, sparkle? After seeing the dresses at Reem Acra, “be mine” only touches the surface. Sparkle, you will always be our brightest valentine.
Andy Cohen
The most fashionable man in our hearts may only live in our TVs, but we’d like to think that if we ever got the chance, Andy Cohen may reciprocate our style love. We give you this valentine mazel, Andy, as a thank you for being your incredibly stylish self, now five nights a week.
Children at NYFW
For a series of such high-profile events, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the seriousness of it all, especially when all of the models look so depressed. That’s why we’d like to make the kiddy fashionistas at NYFW our valentines. What’s better than a wide-eyed child sporting a tiny designer handbag?
STA Consignors
This could be an entire blog post in itself. There are no words to describe some of the people who have brought their pieces into STA stores. As avid shoppers, we would like to take a minute to thank the people who may not even know how deeply they have touched our hearts. To the consignors who outgrow their classic, black Ray Ban wayfarers, we salute you. To the consignors who have brought in special occasion sequin dresses and make another girl’s dream of the perfect party dress a reality, we honor you. And to the consignor who brought in a pair of black patent Louboutin pumps, if one of us could hunt you down and give you a hug, she would.
And Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you, our special valentine fashioniSTAs. You are our best valentines, we love you all!
Eighth Day of Style - Just Add Sparkle
Dec 29th
The holiday/NYE season is all about the glitz, and wherever I can get away with wearing a little extra sparkle, I’m all over it. From using a glitter topcoat on your nails to busting out the baubles, there are tons of great ways to infuse your everyday wardrobe with a little sparkle. Breaking out the sequins for a party is a great start, but add a little of that shine to your casual look, and it’ll make everyday a mini celebration.
A Pinch of Glitter From Your Head to Your Toes 
When the weather gets colder, it’s easy to slide into a dark-colors-only wardrobe. Don’t worry, you can still do that and not look like you’ve become seasonally depressed. An all-black or all-navy ensemble can look great with a multi-colored or silver glitter flat. To pull together a casual – yet polished – look, start with the pair of dark denim of your choosing (boyfriend, distressed, skinny, etc.). Pair your jeans with either a black tank/blazer, or with a dark cashmere sweater. Finish off the look with a thin, sparkly headband and either a sleek blowout or a messy up-do. Glitter flats also work great with darker jewel tones, such as cranberry or forest green. For a modern look, pair your jewel-toned corduroys with multi-colored glitter flats, topping off the look with a white button-down or a lace top.
For an even subtler look, try a black glitter belt paired with an all-black, fitted ensemble. Or you can always go with solid-color flats that have a sparkle cap toe. It’ll add just a tiny dose of glam to a basic outfit. Sparkle tights have been popping up everywhere as well, and they range from slightly shiny to full-on gold sparkle. Find what you’re comfortable with and add them into your tights rotation to spice up your normal work or nighttime attire.
Layer the Glitz In With Your Basics
Got a sequin or embellished tank that you usually reserve for after the sun goes down? Make the most of it and wear it during the day! Layer it over a basic black or gray long-sleeved knit top and pair with jeans, basic pants or a neutral skirt. Dress it up with heels or dress it down with minimal accessories and a blazer for a day at the office. The neutral layers will balance out any embellishment, and the glitzy detail will provide the same accent that your jewelry normally would.
You can also break out your sequin sweaters during the day as well. Pair any sequin sweater with contrasting neutral pieces for a fresh take on timeless chic. Lighter sequins tend to work better for daytime, but a black sequined cardigan, styled with a white cotton tank and dark denim, is a great casual option that can quickly go from day to night. Got a metallic sweater that doesn’t resemble a basic cardigan and you don’t know what to do with it? You can always layer it with a blazer or other indoor-appropriate jacket to tone down the sparkle, but these pieces are also great seasonal transition items. Pair a gold sweater with a pastel skirt (see below) for a winter-sparkle-meets-spring-awakening look, which will help you transition in style by using the best of both seasons.
Sequin skirts are usually reserved for nighttime activities, but if you own a sparkly skit in a lighter color, you can also work them during the day. Pair knee-high, flat boots with a cream sequined skirt and a cream cashmere sweater for a winter white ensemble that is daytime-appropriate and wonderland-esque.
Remember, fashioniSTAs, probably the easiest way to subtly sparkle in style is to brush a glitter topcoat across your nails, it’s quick and will complement any ensemble!
~Ashley, FashioniSTA