The Countdown

Just a friendly reminder that time to vote in our Dare to Design competition is slipping away as you read this.

Seriously, there's another minute gone. And another one! Hurry up and vote already! Because once the clock strikes midnight EST, your chance to vote will be gone forever.

(And if you try to vote past the deadline, you just might be gone forever. Catch my drift?)

The response to the contest has been overwhelming (like, literally) but I am sure there are more voters out there, so let your voice be heard!

And be sure to come back on December 10 when the winner is crowned.

And before then, natch, as I'll have lots of great stuff for you in between.

(Are you still reading this? I mean it! Go vote!)

An Attitude of (Shopping) Gratitude

There is a lot to be thankful for this season. Like the delicious cupcake I found in the fridge this evening.

And a little Shabby Apple sale, which is our way of saying a Big Thanks! To you, our faithful fans and shoppers, who we love with all our hearts.

So, please accept our heartfelt gratitude by enjoying 15 percent off everything at Shabby Apple, from now through December 2.

Happy holidays, everyone!

You're welcome, I'm sure.

Bye-Bye Winter Blues!

Are you feeling the winter blahs already, facing months of cold weather with nothing but last year's sweaters for company? Here are some Winter Must Haves to turn that frown upside-down!

Gray Leather Jackets
A lighter twist on an old favorite.

Cross Body Bags
I totally love the hands-free benefit of the cross body bag for a casual day of errands, and a cross body evening clutch gives you the same upside for a dressy night out.

Houndstooth
We've been seeing this for a while, and the lively pattern is still going strong. Make an outfit pop with just one piece, or wear it head-to-toe in a dress or wool coat.

Over The Knee Boots
I have never quite been able to pull off the boots-over-the-pants look, but this seems like a super-sexy way to do it.

Sequin Cardigans
We all know how much I love cardigans. And, you might not know this, but I love sequins, too. So I am pretty much sold on this. Pair it with a graphic tee and distressed jeans for day, and a hot mini-skirt or simple shift dress for night.

Leopard Print Scarves
This wild print is hot in everything else. Why not scarves?

Statement Earrings
Add a final touch of bling to a party dress, fancy up a ponytail and turtle neck sweater. But remember, if you're going for statement earrings you don't need anything else.

Strong-Shoulder Blazers
You can also find this style in sweaters and dresses. It's a little tricky to pull off, but I recommend sticking with pieces that are very well-fitted and pairing them with simple, non-distracting lines.

Lace Tights
A peek-a-boo twist on the classic opaque tight.

Fuzzy Coats
This look is going to have to grow on me, I think. It's definitely best in a shorter style, so as to avoid looking like an Arctic animal.

Fair Isle
This favorite print of our grandparents generation is getting a stylish update. Try it in a button-down, a hoodie or a pullover.

For a few more Winter Must Haves, as well as some deals on the hottest new trends, visit People Magazine.

And tell us, which one of these new trends is going to make it into your Winter wardrobe?

The Final 15

I hope none of you have yet died of anticipation. If you are on the verge, stay with us! Walk away from the light! The results of the Dare To Design contest are here!



Not to continue risking your lives, but before I reveal our finalists let me just say that we were overwhelmed (quite literally) by the hundreds of entries we received, and whittling it down to a mere 15 was a near-impossible task. In fact, our judges went through all the designs four times, it was that hard to decide.



But, decide they did. And your long wait is overe. Here are the finalists!



1. From Superhero.

2. Gondola from LeBraun.

3. The Aalto Dress.

4. From Sail To The Moon.

5. From Megan Begley.

6. From Image Envy.

7. From Grosgrain Fabulous.

8. From Warty's Wilsons.

9. From Dare To Dream.

10. Cruisin', from Art I. Sticky.

11. From Beauty and The Geek.

12. From Lady Danburry.






13. From the Martin Fam.

14. The Kate Dress.

15. From Smart Mama.

(Be sure to follow the links to read more about our fantastic finalists' inspirations for these wonderful designs.)

Whew! I think you can see why our tireless judges had such a hard time narrowing the field. And now you get to walk a mile in their (fabulous) shoes, because it is your turn to narrow the field even more.

That's right, it's your turn to decide on the winner! Just pop into the comment section and leave us a little note with the number of your favorite design. (If all you say is, "I love the yellow one!!!!" I am not counting it. You've been warned.)



Since we were a little slower than expected in getting this up, I am giving you a little extra time to vote. (Aren't I so benevolent?) So, voting now closes on November 30 at midnight, EST. And we'll do our darndest to get the winner posted here on December 10.



Now, not to kill the happy mood of this joyous moment, but just a little reminder that you get one vote and one vote only. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for repeaters, and you will earn my scorn if you try any funny business. (My scorn, by the way, is something you most definitely do not want.) But, there is no rule against telling all your friends, family, co-workers, grocery store clerks, nail technicians, personal trainers, inappropriate crushes and everyone in between to hop on over here and cast a vote for your design.



And now, back to our happy place!



A big congratulations to all our contestants and all our finalists!



Let the wild voting rumpus start!

You Dare Devils, You!

I don't know why I should be surprised since you guys are the best in the whole world, but the response to our Dare To Design contest was simply stupendous!

So much so that our diligent judges are still going through all of your stunning designs to choose our 15 finalists. Can you hang with us a little bit longer? The results will be up soon.

In the meantime, pat yourselves on the back for being so great.

And keep checking back here. If our judges are to be believed (and they are, of course), there is a whole lot of awesomeness headed this way.

Party Like It's 1943

The holiday party season is nearly upon us.

This fact brings to mind two important questions.

1. Does anyone know what happened to 2009? Seriously guys, it is almost gone. And yet, I could have sworn it just began.

2. Is your wardrobe up to the challenge of months of office soirees and neighborhood get-togethers?

It probably doesn't surprise you that I have some good news, at least when it comes to Question #2. Today's good news comes in the form of 1943, Shabby Apple's newest line of chic and utterly fabulous dresses. These dresses are just what the doctor ordered for all your holiday party wardrobe woes.

But, let me warn you before you continue, that you are going to want every single one of these dresses. Literally. Every single one. Keep reading at your (pocketbook's) own risk.

Take, for example, this charming white flower and grey wool dress, Bugle Boy. For me, it was love at first sight. Are you feeling the same?

Pair this dress with brightly colored or textured tights and some daring ankle booties to spice up the neighborhood holiday scene.

Is there a more formal event in your future social calendar? Then might I suggest you turn to Casablanca.

This black dress, accented with a large bow on the front, turns up the drama and the class, making it the perfect fit for a winter wedding or a formal office party. On the accessories front, a pair of shoes in an equally rich fabric, such as velvet or satin, are all this dress needs.

If meeting friends or family for a celebratory dinner after work is the order of the day, then Gary Cooper, a charcoal pinstripe dress made of limited edition Italian suiting wool, is the order of the day as well.

This dress transitions seamlessly from day to night. Just add an oversized pearl necklace or a creatively placed sparkling brooch to take the final step from work to play.

If getting hearts racing is your goal, turn up the color and the volume with this red cowl-necked dress, West Coast Swing.



This splash of color will set you apart from the sometimes drab colors of the cold season right away. I recommend it for snagging the attention of a certain someone under the mistletoe. Tuck a large feather or flower, preferably in a contrasting color, into your hair and you'll be sure to turn all the right heads.

And, if you can believe it, there are more of these dresses! I could write something glowing about every single one of them (seriously, guys, seriously), but I will leave the rest of the gushing to you. Hop on over, check out the whole line and then come back and tell us: Which 1943 dress is your favorite?

Uniform, Uni-fun

I am going to New York this weekend (I know, it's a hard-knock life), a trip that just happens to coincide with the six-month celebration of the Uniform Project.

What's the Uniform Project? you ask.

You're going to love this.

One creative New Yorker (is there any other kind?) has decided to wear the same dress every day for a year (seven identical dresses, one for each day of the week, to be perfectly exact, and hygenic), only switching things up with accesories, layers and the like.

It's one-part exercise in sustainable fashion, and also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots educational movement in India.

Think you would go crazy wearing the same dress every single day? (Even if it is specially designed to be wearable frontwards and backwards?) Well, if we all had this much style and creativity, I think we could pull it off.












Or, if this kind of committment is a little out of your reach, you can donate accessories or cash as well.

What do you think of the Uniform Project?
And if you had to (got to?) wear one item of clothing every single day, what would it be?

Fall Finds: Boots Made For Walking

Comfortable walking shoes are the holy grail of city living, and comfortable walking boots are my current quest. I have some really great boots that I really love, but nothing I can walk to work in and then wear at work all day long. Practical + fancy = a tricky combination.

Do you find yourself up against the same battle? I took the fight to the Internet, and here is what I found. (Spoiler alert: We come out winners!)

A comfortable black boot that can go from work-day, to after-work-play is a valuable thing indeed, and I think these shiny black boots fit the bill.

I love the patent detail on the heel and the toe, which helps to dress up the boot, while the low heel and easy pull-on construction make these a practical as well as a fashionable choice.

I always find myself struggling to find good brown shoes of any style (I have no idea why this is), but I fell in love with these tall scotch-colored boots right away.

The color is just right, and the boot just looks so classy. The rounded toe and the flat heel also promise easy walking, while being easy on the eye.

And for something a little more edgy and on-trend, I like these tan slouch boots.

The relaxed design at the top makes these boots a particularly attractive option for those of up with a little more to love in the calf area, and the buckle detail is the perfect complement to a simple, throw-it-on-and-go weekend outfit, though I think these could be paired with a dress and some muted patterned tights for an office look as well.

Are you also a fan of boots made for walking?
Tell us about your favorite finds.

Are You Having A Cute Day?

It was a little slow at work today (can I get a Hallelujah Chorus on that one?!?) so I spent some quality time with my friend, the Internet, and stumbled across this little gem: Have A Cute Day.

I love the premise of this site. Two (cute) sisters putting up pictures of the (cute) things they wear every day, and sprinkling in some advice and giveaways and how-tos on top. I have always thought it might be kind of fun to photograph what I wear every day, just to see how my own taste and style emerges. And I love seeing how other people put their favorite pieces together.

Most of all, I love the attitude of these sisters that fashion is for every day. High powered business meetings days, grocery store days, playing with your kids all day days. We can look cute on all of them!

Here are some of my favorites from the ladies of Have A Cute Day.










How about you, dear readers?
What are your go-to cute items?

The Midnight Hour Is Close At Hand

Hey, what are you guys up to tonight?

Because you should be taking advantage of the last few hours of the Dare to Design contest! The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST, so put your creative hats on and send us your designs!

We will have our 15 favorite designs posted on the blog by November 10 and all I can say is, one of them could be YOURS!

(Need a reminder about all the contest rules, regulations and rewards? Click here.)

To say this is the chance of a lifetime is an understatement. And to say I can't wait to see what you come up with would be an understatement, too.

So, show us what you've got!

(Dare you.)