A Behind-the-Scenes Look at The Limited {and a giveaway!}

Update: Pinky Sade was the randomly selected winner! Congratulations!

I was excited to attend a grand opening of a local The Limited store and get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s new, what’s hot and what will never change.

To be honest, I haven’t been much of a The Limited shopper in the past. I always thought of them as the place to get a great suit (they are), but not a place for everyday clothes (they are this as well). However, when I was invited to the event at our local Crestview Hills Towne Center, I was excited to see how this classic store would add to one of my favorite shopping locales.  A big bonus was that the store was featuring 40 percent off EVERYTHING and a portion of the proceeds were donated to The Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati.

Once I arrived at the store, I quickly noticed that The Limited was more than just suits. My eyes were drawn to lots of bright colors, stripes and patterns. I especially could see myself buying up these brightly colored skinnies and bangles.

The Limited Colored Skinny Jeans

The Limited Chevron Bracelets

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and shown what’s to come at The Limited. A few interesting pieces I learned during the tour:

  • The new stores are built to be smaller and more intimate. No more megastores. This allows The Limited associates to focus on helping shoppers find the perfect pieces. (Note: I definitely noticed this service when I was trying things on. They were always on hand to offer a new size or complementary piece.)
  • The Limited refreshes their merchandising and layout every two weeks. That means you’re likely to find something new each time you stop by.
  • Like I thought, suits are a Limited staple. Their suits are built to match pieces year after year. From an investment standpoint, I really like this because if you buy a suit but don’t regularly wear them, you want to be able to add something to it later, if needed, without buying a completely new suit.
One other thing I really liked is their mission statement. I’m easily inspired by words and when the regional store manager explained how these words make her excited to come to work every day I couldn’t help but get cold chills! This mission statement will now be prominently placed in every store. Have a read:
The Limite Mission Statement

Finally, the last thing they shared was the trends their seeing as we think about shopping for fall. I only grabbed a few photos but if you snag these things now, you’ll be ahead of the curve come September:

  • Pencil Skirts: Get ready for hip skimming skirts, everywhere!
  • Bright Colors: It’s no surprise, but these bright colors will continue into fall.
  • Cream & Black: There will be a little relief for our retinas as creams and blacks will become renewed staples. Focus on these colors with small pops of color to transition out of summer.
  • What’s the new color? Maroons and burgundies will replace Tangerine Tango.
The Limited Fall Trends

Now that you’ve seen a bit of the store and heard what you should buy, what do you think about getting a lit help with a The Limited shopping spree? That’s what I thought! :)

Here’s how you can enter to win a $50 The Limited gift card, good for any Limited store or at TheLimited.com:

  • You must: Comment on this post telling me what you’d buy first. (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Subscribe to my email newsletter and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship them. US 18+ only, thanks!

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Sunday, August 5 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received a $50 gift card to shop during the grand opening. I received no other compensation for this post and the views expressed in this post are solely mine. 

Cyber Monday Madness: Win an Amoro ring!

Update: The winner is comment number 128: Jenny! Congratulations, Jenny!

I’m sure you’re probably doing tons of online shopping today but Amoro and Style Every Day want to make the day a little easier on your  wallet! We’re proud to team up to offer a beautiful ring valued at more than $350!

I was excited to get to try out one of my own to let you know what I thought about the jewelry Amoro has to offer. Let’s just say, I could only think of one word: stunning!

From the red box with a beautiful white bow to the ring itself, Amoro knows how to make a girl feel special!

amoro ring box

amoro amethyst ring

amoro ring on hand

Please ignore my need for a manicure!

In addition to sharing this beautiful ring, I just have to share some information with you about Amoro, this great partner. One thing that really drew me to work with them was their entire mission. They are an online-only jewelry store focused on making stylish jewelry for less than the big name jewelry brands. Essentially, they design their jewelry by taking classic designs and reinterpreting them for modern times.

This ring in particular is the Tango Green Praseolite (7 carats) set in sterling silver. The gemstone is very similiar to a green amethyst or quartz. One of my favorite things about it (besides the sparkle, of course!) is that it’s actually relatively lightweight considering it’s 7 carats. I don’t even notice I’m wearing it until someone compliments me on it! :)

amoro ring giveaway

Ok, are you ready to win for yourself or a loved one for this holiday season? Here’s how you can be a lucky Cyber Monday winner!

  • You must: Comment on this post telling me whether you would keep this ring for yourself or who you would give it to. (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow me on Bloglovin’ and comment to tell me that you have
    • Sign up for the RSS feed via Feedburner and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship them.

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, December 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received my ring for free as part of this review. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I received no other compensation for this post and the views expressed in this post are solely mine. 

Desk Update {and a giveaway}

Update: Brittany is the big winner! Thanks, everyone!

Remember like months ago when I was shopping for desks and chairs? Yeah, I pretty much forgot too! :)

I finally convinced Bill to desk shop with me and we even got my IKEA boxes put together into a real desk! However, the chair has been another story. Let’s just say there was a mix up on the color (I want yellow, not green please!) so I’m still waiting for my chair to arrive. Urban Outfitters has been really helpful though and gave me some great credits since they couldn’t rush my chair to me. Who knew that Urban Outfitters furniture is made to order??

Anyone, here’s a preview of where my desk is today:

Updates to come: 

  • Change the hardware – the hardware that came with this desk really blend in so I want to add something more decorative
  • Set up my laptop, etc
  • Paint my side table – I’m thinking about painting it yellow and adding a decorative stencil on the flat top
  • Hang art – I’m planning to flank either side of the top of my desk with those tall frames you see on the left. I’m still in search of the perfect fabric to frame
Speaking of hanging art… Check out this great piece of art I had made:
As I was working on picking out art for the wall around my desk, I was contacted by a great company called Easy Canvas Prints. Just as the name describes, it’s a super easy way to turn your photo prints into canvas art. Here’s the easy process I went through to get this great piece:
  1. Chose my size – I chose an 8″x10″
  2. Uploaded my image directly from my desktop
  3. Selected my border option – I chose to go with the basic (my sides are white)
  4. Added any image effects – I didn’t add any since this photo was previously edited by my wedding photographer
That was it! Once I finish my DIY art, I’ll be hanging this great memory right above my desk for all to see!
Want to win one of these beautiful pieces? Now’s your chance! I’ll be giving away one canvas print to a lucky winner.

Here’s how you can enter:

  • You must: Comment on this post telling me what photo you’d turn into art. (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow me on Bloglovin’ and comment to tell me that you have
    • Sign up for the RSS feed via Feedburner and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship them.

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, October 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received a my canvas print for free as part of this review. Easy Canvas Prints is also a Stylish Sponsor of Style Every Day. I received no other compensation for this post and the views expressed in this post are solely mine.

‘Anything Other Than Naked’ Review & Giveaway

I was recently contacted to review the new book Anything Other Than Naked by Glen R. Sondag. I’ve always had an interest in menswear and Bill loves a good dapper outfit so I thought this seemed like the perfect opportunity!

The Background

The author, an investment advisor, began writing a list of sartorial do’s and don’ts for his four sons when he realized other men could use the same wardrobe advice. Men aren’t really as open as women about sharing their interest in clothing and style, and don’t have as many outlets for advice as women. Thus was born Anything Other Than Naked, a practical guide for men on how to dress properly for every occasion.

The Book

 

Anything Other Than Naked Book cover

Anything Other Than Naked is a small, illustrated 86-page book with separate chapters on how to evaluate, select and wear each item of clothing—from suits, shirts, ties and trousers to sweaters, belts, shoes and outerwear.  One chapter focuses on matching suits, shirts and ties. Another chapter titled “Potpourri” touches upon wallets, men’s jewelry and watches, laundering, and grooming. While Sondag does clearly have a few favorite shopping locations, he claims to recommend them solely based on his great experiences.

My Thoughts

The book is a great reference for any guy looking to look his best, regardless of the situation. I love the way he focuses much of the book on dressing for your body, recommending different suit types and tie widths for each body shape.While I wish Sondag would have included more about current trends, his timeless tips will always be in style. He offers basics like how to tie your tie and some in-depth ideas on how to avoid your belt from bowing. Here’s an excerpt from his section on shoes:

Shoes. If there is one sure way to know if a man cares about his appearance, it is how his shoes look. If they are dull, scuffed, or badly worn, a $5,000 suit won’t save you. Believe it or not, your shoes are one of the first things people notice. Mens shoes come three ways: a laced shoe, a shoe with a strap (monk strap), and a slip-on shoe (loafer or tassle). If you wear a suit, you need a good pair of black, brown, and cordovan laced shoes, preferably in a cap toe, wingtip, or oxford style. With proper care this shoe will last for years and never go out of style. Best of all, you’ll feel like a CEO when you wear them. (They’ve been in style so long that your grandfather probably had a similar pair of oxfords.)

Some of my favorite sections were the times he talked about how to care for your clothing. From spot cleaning to dry cleaning, from storage to tailoring, Sondag’s tips are applicable to women as well. Finally, his “Forty-Five Tips for Dressing Well” are items every dapper man should know. Here’s a sneak peak of some of the tips that I didn’t know:

3. Never button the bottom button on a suit jacket, but always button the one above it.

9. When tied, your tie should be no shorter than the top of your belt buckle and not longer than the bottom.

24. Alternate putting on your belt – left to right one day, right to left the next day – to keep it from “bowing.”

30. Shoes should be darker than your suit.

38. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row – give them a day to dry.

Want to buy it?

The book is available as a softcover and as a Kindle eBook through Amazon.com. It retails for $12.95, but I found it for much cheaper!

Want to win it?

 

Update: This giveaway is now closed.

I’ve got one copy of the book for a lucky reader! To win:

  • You must: Tell me why you’re interested in learning more about menswear. (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each; must place a new comment for each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow me on Bloglovin’ and comment to tell me that you have
    • Sign up for the RSS feed via Feedburner and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship it.

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, April 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received a book for this review. I received no other compensation from the author for this post. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. These help me pay the bills! All views expressed in this post are solely mine.

2010 Holiday Gift Guide: College Girl {Giveaway}

Welcome to another Holiday Gift Guide! You can read more gift guides here:

College Girl

Whether you’re still in college yourself and need a gift for a friend down the hall or you have that friend who still adores that easy college wardrobe, here are a few items that will have her squealing with excitement when she opens her gifts from you.

Stocking Stuffer: Headbands

Every college girl lives for her headbands. Think Blair from Gossip Girl or Hermione from Harry Potter. Anything with flowers, plaid or a combination of the two is perfect! One of my favorite places to get headbands is from Etsy. You can find so many unique and fun items for a fraction of the price of any other store.

Retail price: This headband goes for $10 but the styles and prices are endless.

Under $25: Dorm Decor

Whether she lives in a dorm or an apartment, fun and quirky home decor that maximizes small spaces is perfect for any collegiate gal. I love the idea of giving a fun personalized bulletin board with a few photos of the two of you on it. She’ll appreciate that you considered her style and added a little something that will remind her of the two of you.

Retail price: This particular one goes for $15 on Etsy but you can easily make your own for about the same price with a few things from Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

Under $50: Tote bag

Every college girl needs a great big tote bag to carry all of her stuff in. As she’s walking from class to class with her computer, notebooks, planner, cell phone and more, the bigger the bag the better. However, don’t leave her to use one of those boring old canvas bags. Give her a stylish bag that she’d be happy to take the the mall after classes end for the day.

Retail price: This bag goes for $37.99.

Under $100: Rain/snow boots

When she’s trekking from class to class she’s bound to get stuck in the snow or rain at least a few days out of the year. While lots of college girls resort to wearing Uggs, I sort of hate them. Unless there is a blizzard, you don’t need to sacrifice your style and wear ugly snow boots. Give her a stylish pair of boots from däv. She will want to wear these boots all year round. When däv sent me a pair to try, I was a bit skeptical at first about the comfort and style of a pair of waterproof boots but I honestly haven’t wanted to take them off since I got them.

equestrian bit solid black rain boot fashion solid picnic red rain boot city cuff paisley black rain boot english quilted champagne rain boot

You can win a pair of these stylish boots. Read on to the end of the post for more information!

Retail price: däv boots range from $55 to $98

$100+: Laptop case

Because she probably takes her computer with her everywhere, she’ll need a way to protect it when she’s out and about. There are standard cases available for each size of computer but I like the cases that go above and beyond your average cover.

These laptop cases look like a book you might find in an old library or deep in the corner of a dusty study. I love the old meets new look of carrying around a book that houses all of your digital photos, notes and more.

Retail price: about $99

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Now you probably want to know how to win those stylish däv boots. Here are the rules to enter:

  • You must: Check our their Website and comment on this post letting me know which boots you would want. (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow me on Bloglovin’ and comment to tell me that you have
    • Sign up for the RSS feed via Feedburner and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship them.

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, December 13th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received a free pair of boots as part of this review. I received no other compensation for this post and the views expressed in this post are solely mine.

Good luck!

2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Workaholic {Giveaway}

Welcome to the first of many holiday gift guides that I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks. Each will feature gifts for that special someone at many price points, and some will even feature the chance to win one of those gifts!

Workaholic

The first gift guide is for that friend of yours who lives to work. She’s never really not working and she often travels a lot on business. Gifts for this person can take a few different forms. You might want to give her items to help her work more efficiently, gifts that help her work space be a little more stylish or maybe items to help her relax when she leaves the office.

Stocking Stuffer (under $10): Booty shapers

Because these girls are always traveling, they will love gifts that help them when packing. Booty shapers are fun little inserts that you blow up and place in your boots. While they’re great for in your closet (now I can finally get rid of those wine bottles!), I think they’d be even better for when traveling with your favorite leather boots.

I was given a pair to test and they really do work as expected! They’re made of some pretty thick plastic so I don’t see them popping anytime soon and they do a great job of holding up my heavy leather boots as they’re sitting by my shoe rack.

Want to win these for you or that workaholic friend who could really need them? There’s more info on the giveaway at the end of the post but be a good girl and keep reading to find out what your friend could use for the holidays!

Retail price: $12 on their website but I found them for $9.99 at CVS

Under $25: Office Calendar

Office calendars can be much more stylish than what you usually see in those mall kiosks. Skip the mall and check out Etsy for some great options, perfect to brighten any workaholic’s long day in the office. This is my pick but there are lots of great options out there!

Retail price: varies by style but this set goes for only $13

Wall calendar for 2011

Under $50: Business Card Holder

Every business woman needs to keep business cards with her, giving her another great place where she can show off her style. While there are plenty of boring, black leather options, I really like the metal ones with unique engraving. You can have it engraved just for her with a stylish monogram or buy one already engraved with a fun design.

Retail price: anywhere from $20-50; this one retails at $25 already engraved

Under $100: A Great Coat

I love giving people great coats for holidays because it shows that you’ve taken the time to find one that you think fits their style and that you’ve made a bit of an investment for the gift. Plus, no one really enjoys dropping a bunch of money on outerwear for themselves. Now you might be thinking that under $100 sounds like a bit skimpy for a nice coat but with a bit of online price comparing, coupon code using and deal seeking, you can definitely find great coats under $100. Almost all of my winter coats were bought for less than $100 using those techniques.

I LOVE this jacket and would love if someone gave it to me for the holidays. The black is great and simple for work wear but the ruffles and details make it something more than you’re average black trench.

Hawke black trench

Retail price: This coat goes for $94.99 on Bluefly but I’m sure it will get more affordable as winter comes nearer.

Dream Gift: Weekend Getaway Spa Package

If you have unlimited funds for that special friend of yours and really want to show how much you’re in the holiday spirit, buying the two of you a weekend spa package at a swanky spa in your area is perfect! Check out the list of the best spas in the US or just find a recommended spa in your area.

For a more realistic version of this gift, spend the time to put together a DIY spa kit full of goodies for a pedicure, bubble bath and more. Put it all in a basket and add a bow and you’ll give one of the most thoughtful gifts she’ll receive this winter.

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Still want to win those Booty Shapers? Here’s how you can enter:

  • You must: Comment on this post letting me know who you would give them to (it can be yourself!). (Worth one entry)
  • For additional entries (worth one bonus entry each):
    • Like Style Every Day on Facebook and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow Style Every Day on Twitter and comment to tell me that you have
    • Follow me on Bloglovin’ and comment to tell me that you have
    • Sign up for the RSS feed via Feedburner and comment to tell me that you have

You must enter your e-mail address so I can contact you to find out where to ship them.

That’s it! The giveaway will be open until Monday, November 22nd at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I received a free sample of the Booty Shapers as part of this review. I received no other compensation for this post and the views expressed in this post are solely mine.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

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