We Have A Winner (It's Everyone!)

I hope everyone is having a happy Friday. And if you are Sarah Segovia, your Friday just got a little happier, because you are the winner of our giveaway!

Sarah picked this pleated peplum dress, the Dinner Group dress as her favorite item from our new line, The Block, which was an excellent choice if I do say so myself. I love me some peplum.

Sarah would pair this sleek sheath with some green heels and a clutch, maybe with some sequins to spice it up even more?

Sarah, leave us your e-mail address in the comments and a $75 gift card will be coming your way!

And, for the rest of you, you don't need $75 to make your money stretch at Shabby Apple these days! We have a host of new dresses freshly marked down, and I think I just heard them calling your name(s).

I don't want to tell you what my favorites are, because I want them to still be there when I go to order them. And really, you can't go wrong with any of these dresses. But, if you need a little encouragement, here are some to think about.

The body-conscious cut of this fitted plum-colored sweetheart neck dress will have you feeling like Evita herself in no time.

And if you are ready to get flirty with polka dots (who isn't?), we have some excellent choices for you here, here and here.

If an easy-breezy summer dress is what you are after, then look no further than this fire engine red number. Your dress will be hot but you'll be cool. If you catch my meaning.

And now I'll get out of your hair, because you have a lot of browsing to do!

Happy weekend, dears!

Just For Moms

I know it seems like you were just filling Easter baskets and ordering flowers for your mom's birthday (just me?) but Mother's Day is just around the corner so the gift-giving has just begun!

Luckily, we have a little Mother's Day Gift Guide just for you.

You're welcome!

My mom happens to love shiny jewelry, so I think this gold link necklace would be an excellent choice for her.

And, because I definitely deserve a gift for being such a good daughter, I think getting a pair of these on-trend neon wedges is totally in order.

Miss James over at Bleubird Vintage also has some great Mother's Day ideas for you.

When my mom and I went to Australia a couple of years ago we picked lychee fruit right off the tree, so this lychee perfume seems like a particularly good gift choice.

One for her, one for me?

What are you planning to get your mom for the big day?

Color Block Your Face

Hey there. Did you know color blocking isn't just for your clothes? You can even color block your face! And here's Sophia to show us how.

Do you colorblock?

Well do ya? It is all the rage, have you jumped on board yet? I have often found myself in front of the mirror in bright blue jeans and a magenta top only to turn around as soon as I walk out the front door to swap one of the items for something a little less, let’s see, BOLD.

Have the same dilemma? Stick around, I may have the cure just for you. Here is my bright idea: colorblock YO face! I know, sounds crazy but it is just the opposite. You can add a pop of a bright color to your ensemble just by wearing a bright lipstick or a swipe of fun eye shadow.

Some of the highly glamorous Shabby Apple interns let me play makeup on them, hope you love it as much as we do!

For Heather we added a pop of electric blue eyeliner to her otherwise conservative outfit, such a easy way to dress up a simple look and give it an element of fun.

On darling Jessica that teal shirt was just begging for some hot pink, maybe she did not want to go as bold as a hot pink jean, but we are in love with the luscious hot pink lip!

Blue eyed Jane is perfection in this orange top. I adore the pop of electric yellow on just the center of her lid, blended out with a soft brown shadow and light gold, this is a bright surprise when she bats her long lashes.

Last but certainly nor least is Hannah. Can we say Ann Hathaway lookalike? Even if you are wearing a neutral color pallette you can still add a element of colorblocking by wearing a dark berry stained lip. This option gives you a distinct look without being too bright.

I would love to see how you color block your makeup, so send me a picture at sleasure{at}shabbyapple{dot}com. 

Happy colorblocking!

Shabby On The Go: À Vélo

Our longtime contributor, Erin Brown, is about to embark on a journey around the world, from Iceland to India. This summer she'll take us along on her adventure in a semi-monthly feature, Shabby On The Go.

In packing up my life and getting ready to leave on a great adventure (traveling from Iceland to India with many, many stops in between for the next six months), I've been ruminating on what I'll miss most about New York City. There are the museums and the galleries, my favorite sandwich shop and soul food joint, movies in Brooklyn Bridge park in the summer, the Staten Island Ferry--but the thing I will really miss the most is biking.

I've been biking in the city for five years now--commuting seven miles each morning from my home in Harlem down to the gallery district in Chelsea, taking Sunday spins in Central Park, or riding out to Brooklyn for the best pizza in town at Roberta's -- most of the time in a dress or skirt. While I used to be an anomaly--the girl in the bright red skirt and vintage fur coat cruising down the westside bike path with everyone else in their tush-padded spandex--I've noticed more and more ladies out in the bike lane in the last few seasons.

Chic cycling is back in a real way, with fashionistas being shot on their bikes by everyone from the Sartorialist to Bill Cunningham (the ultimate chic cyclist, no?), there's even an entire blog, Downtown From Behind, dedicated to the matter.

And who can blame them? Biking is a health-conscious, inexpensive and totally green way of getting around...good for the environment, your wallet and your calves! And because springtime is the perfect time to start biking and wearing your brights again, I've composed a little guide to biking in style, with some tips and tricks from a seasoned, skirt-wearing cyclist.

Get the right fit:

Whether you're riding a beach cruiser, a track bike, or anything in between, some dress and skirt styles work better than others.  The best skirts to ride in are fuller and a little longer, like Shabby Apple's Overboard or Tres Joile dresses. Straight skirts restrict movement, make it harder to get on and off without flashing everyone, and can catch on the back of your seat (and rip when you step down at a stop light!) and long skirts can get caught in your chain, unless you have a chain guard. Make sure too, that the sleeves of your dress will let you have your arms in front of you without stressing the dress.

Choose shoes that are flat, or have a low heel. Techincally you can ride a bike in any pair of shoes you can walk in, but it is a skill that requires practice. Start with something easy (and comfy) before you try biking in those Lady Gaga heels!

And, ladies, James Brown was right: Hot Pants--make you sure of yourself!  Leave the tush-padding for the triathletes, but throw on a sleek pair of bike shorts under that skirt and you'll have all the confidence in the world.  But just in case, here's a little video how-to on how to get on a bike without flashing your fancy undies, from a group of cyclistas here in NYC.

http://www.nwevolution.com/2011/12/04/how-not-to-flash-people-while-wearing-a-skirt-on-a-bike/

Don't Sweat It!

When I hear my gal pals talk about why they don't bike to work, the number one reason (after "I'm just too lazy") is that they don't want to get all sweaty before they get to work, or worse, all sweaty on their way to an event or date after work.  One of the best ways to ensure that you're not arriving to work soaked is to get a basket for your bike where you can put your purse, backpack or any other heavy items that will weigh you down or press against your skin.  How about this clip-on shopping bag, or this sleek basket from House of Talents? And take it easy—you don't have to make like Lance Armstrong on your way to work.  Enjoy the ride!

Play It Safe

One thing that is always in style is being safe.  Though helmets are not the most fashionable accessory, they're a necessary one.  Luckily, a few style-conscious cycling companies have come up with some fun helmets that make playing it safe feel more like playing dress up.  I adore these helmets from Nutcase…

So there you have it!  Some basic tips for riding in style that I hope you'll put to use this spring.  I know I'll be taking every chance to get out on my bike before I leave in a few weeks, and with all the blooming trees and beautiful weather, New York is rewarding me for my efforts.

 

It's A Giveaway!

Tuesday seems like a good day for a giveaway, and so that is what we are going to do! The rules are simple.

1. Head over to Shabby Apple and check out the awesome color blocking separates from our new line, The Block.

2. Imagine an awesome outfit you would put together using one of those items.

3. Come on back over here and tell me about your awesome outfit and your favorite item from The Block in the comments section. Leave me your e-mail address, too, so we can hook up later.

4. On Thursday, I'll pick a winner at random. And that winner will get a $75 gift card.

Too easy, right? So get dreaming and commenting!

Can't wait to see what you block up!

Antiquated Colleen

Name: Colleen J.
Dress: Antiquated

Height: 5'6"
Body Type: Hourglass

"Every woman needs a little black dress and the Antiquated is the perfect one. This dress has the class I am looking for without the cost of too short a hem line. The Antiquated dress and I have celebrated a marriage, mourned the loss of a love one and dined with social lights at a fashion show together. No matter the event this dress is there to make sure I am always looking my best." ~C.J.

That dress, looks absolutely fabulous on Colleen! Get your own little black lace dress while it is still in stock! We also have another champange lace dress

We want to see how your dress looks on you! Email Kristen at kristen{at}shabbyapple{dot}com for more details.

Wrap Me Up

If you are as baffled about the rules of spring scarves as I am (which is very baffled), count today as one of your luckiest days! Because Shabby Apple intern Hannah Stewart is here to show us how it's done!

Warm weather is finally beginning to peek around the corner. And boy isn’t it lovely?

It’s time to stash away those chunky heavy-knit scarfs, and pull out the bright lightweight ones in their stead. Question is how to wear them?

Sure you can do the “throw around your neck and go” style, which is always fabulous by the way, but what are some other ways to wear a scarf?

Well, I’ll tell you.

You can tie a long scarf around your head by tying it in a knot on your forehead and sticking the ends underneath the scarf like this:

{Image found here}

You can belt it around your waist. Try one large scarf first and then a smaller scarf in a different color and pattern on top such as this:

{Image found here}

Or with smaller scarfs you can create a more retro look. Fold the scarf in half and tie around your neck with the corners facing out like this:

{Image found here}

What are some ways you wear your favorite scarfs?

Duchess For A Day

Give it up for Kristen Larson, who feeds our obsession with the royals by handing out some tips on dressing like style maven Kate Middleton.

For a while now, I have had quite the girl crush on Duchess Catherine/Kate Middleton. I love her outfits, and would love to have the coat dresses she owns. But while I wait for one that I can afford here are some ways that you too can look like the fashion forward Kate.

{Photo taken by Anthony Devlin/ AP Photo}



You can get this look with our peplum dresses either El Capitan or Pineapple Princess, by just adding a belt and matching heels.


{Photo taken by Sang Tan/ AP Photo}



This look can be accomplished with a simple necklice and our little black dress, The Movies.

{Photo take by Chris Jackson/ Getty Images}


I never thought I could accomplish this look, but Kate makes me feel bold enough to try it. A similar skirt can be found with Co-Ed Skirt, our nautical navy blue and brass button skirt.

{Photo from Getty Images}




Finally, I love this happy spring look from her North America tour last summer. our button down shirt dress will do the trick, Pina Colada comes in four different colors/patterns, and will certainly have the same effect as the Duchess.

Do you have a look that you want to find in our Shabby Apple closets? Email Kristen at kristen{at}shabbyapple{dot}com, for help!

By The Block

Today we have more color blocking advice from our fabulous Shabby Apple interns. Take it away, ladies!

Coming out of winter it’s hard to know what to do with big, bold colors. Well, don’t be scared ladies. They’re fabulous. We interns tried on color-blocking separates from The Block line, new here at Shabby Apple. We accessorized ourselves just to give everyone an idea on how your can wear these playful colors everyday.

We paired the Bistro Blouse, a yellow peasant top, with our very own black pencil skirt, the Francine skirt. You can dress it up for the office with a pair of heels or dress it down with your favorite pair of gladiator sandals.

We love the Promenade Blouse, a red pleated front top, with a pair of white jeans. It’s a lighthearted, fresh look that is perfect for spring or summer.

The navy blue chiffon dress, Waterfront, looks lovely with bold, colorful jewelry. We’re loving golden yellows with this deep blue.

For this teal chiffon sheath, the Window Shop Dress, we decided to dress this look up a bit with some oversized pearls. We’re loving mahogany brown accessories with this dress. This would also look fabulous with a bold, gold necklace or a statement cocktail ring.

We decided to take the Studio Blouse, a bright blue origami pleated top, a little more casual with a blazer and jeans. This blouse looks great with neutrals and is such a fun pop of color in a chic understated outfit.

This sweet little flowy white dress, the Matinee Dress, is so versatile. You can make it loud and expressive with bold, colorful accessories and your most ferocious pair of pumps. Or you can make it chic and sleek with a monochromatic palette.

The Taxicab Skirt, a yellow pleated midi skirt, is so perfect for spring and summer. The bright yellow is bold and fun. You can be adventurous with another brightly colored blouse, or you can take it down a notch with a neutral. Pair it with your favorite belt and your favorite shoes and, oila! So, so chic.

Headliner dress is a bright, cherry red sheath. We paired it with other colorful accessories, but chose colors that would compliment, not compete with the red. Blues and browns look excellent with this dress.

We love the daring chevron printed pattern of the Crosswalk Skirt. You can pair this with a neutral colored blouse or go bold with a bright color. We decided to have our pop of color in the blue pair of patent leather kitten heels.

We love the Metropolitan Blouse. The shade of this purple peasant blouse looks great with any complexion. Throw this on with a pair of jeans and for a casual but fabulous look. Dress it up with a pencil skirt and a fun, long necklace.

We hope this gives you some good ideas of how to incorporate big colors into your wardrobe. How would you do these brilliant hues?

Executive Block

Guess who else loves color blocking?

The Obamas!

Check out Michelle kicking off the White House Easter Egg Roll.

And Malia was rocking some color blocking of her own during family story time.

We all know that if Michelle Obama wears it, it's worth wearing. Now which pieces from our new collection, The Block, will you use to follow suit?

Wardrobe Chameleon: Transition From Day To Night

Spring cleaning is underway just about everywhere. Including at Shabby Apple HQ so keep your eyes on Facebook for some specials coming your way. But first, stay right here where the fabulous Kristen Larson is going to give you some tips for revamping your wardrobe to help you get more from less.

Spring cleaning has hit my apartment, and I can't help but revamp my wardrobe. When choosing which clothing items to give away, keep, or put on my "to buy" list, I often have to decide which items have the most potential for use in various outfits, and if they can transition from day to night flawlessly.

To help you in your search for finds that go from day to night, here are a couple of our Shabby Apple loves that we think are fabulously accommodating for running errands in the morning to walking into a fancy restaurant for a date at night.

The number one key is to find something that looks fantastic by itself. Starstudded is a silver tafetta dress that stands out. For the day, wear pop color flats, and a colored cardigan or sweater. For night, trade those flats for a strappy red heel and leave the cardigan at home or in the car. Add a red belt, bracelet and/or necklace for a little extra glamour.

Separates are another easy way to be a wardrobe chameleon from day to night. The Promenade blouse from our new collection, The Block, is definitely becoming a staple in my wardrobe. This red pintucked shirt can be dressed up for the office with a pair of slacks or a pencil skirt. Then dress down for the nighttime with dark denim or white jeans, a chunky necklace and, of course, a pair of peep toe heels.

I love go-to-clothes that have multiple functions, especially when they last longer than a season or two. And these items are bound to keep things feeling fresh and updated.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

But, before you start that tell us: what are the wardrobe staples that last you year after year?