Chester County Moms and J. Crew present Mother’s Day Moms Night Out

Join us for a wonderful night of shopping AND saving at the J.Crew store located in the Shoppes at Brinton Lake in Glen Mills on Thursday, May 5th starting at 6pm! Feel free to come and shop with us any time between 6pm and 9pm.

We’ll have access to the store’s style-savvy Personal Shopper to help us outfit ourselves just in time for Mother’s Day! Not sure what pieces are good for your body type? Not sure if there are certain color palettes that work well for you? Not sure what the basic wardrobe pieces you MUST HAVE in your closet are? Come on out to hear all of the great advice that Personal Shopper Lauren will have to share with us.

We’ll have a great time mingling and having some delicious drinks and appetizers. There will also be some really fun giveaways and raffle prizes available as well as some great discounts being provided by the management at J. Crew.

Space IS LIMITED. If you are able to attend, please let us know you are coming by registering and a space will be held for you! You will need to have a ticket to be admitted to this event.

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE REGISTRATION PAGE!

We’re really looking forward to shopping the night away and playing dress up with J.Crew’s new spring line with all of you!

Charity Fashion Show this Evening in Malvern

Kiss and Makeup will be doing the model’s makeup. Clothing from Christa’s Boutique and Polka Dots.

Fashion Show & Benefit

Wagsworth Manor Pet Resort is proud to sponsor a fabulous night of fun and fashion in support of BreastCancer.org. Please join us on Thursday, February 10th from 6pm – 9pm. In addition to the fashion show, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the event and plenty of boutique shopping will be available just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Suggested donation for tickets is $50 each and they can be purchased online at support.breastcancer.org. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Wagsworth Manor at 610-251-WAGS.

Bring your friends for a fun ladies night out!

Friday Fashion Tips: Looking Polished

There’s so much more to looking trendy or fashionable than just the clothes you are wearing. Its about looking put together. I know for me, as a busy mom, it is hard to find time to take care of myself. But there are a few tricks to helping you look polished and stylish – even in a tshirt and jeans!

1. Get a 5-minute beauty routine down: Even when I’m running really, realllly late, I can squeeze in 5 minutes. (Even if its in the passenger seat of the car while my husband is driving.) Get yourself a quick routine that uses classic colors that won’t go out of style. (Think smoky browns on your eyes and rose lips and cheeks.) Then you’re always simply made up and looking gorgeous.

For me, I start with primer, dab on concealer, then quickly fill in my brows, put on eyeliner, shadow and mascara, and follow it all by a quick dusting of mineral foundation. Then throw on lip stain and I’m done!

2. Keep up your mani: If you don’t have time to keep your nails done, don’t go for dark polish. Keep your nails short and polish with clear or something very light so that chips don’t show. Chipped polish drives me INSANE. It looks so awful! My secret? This:

Insta-Dri. It dries in 60 seconds. Literally. I use a very pale pink and it last a few days – chips are hardly noticeable. But when its time to redo – it takes about 2 minutes.

3. Find a signature scent: Spritz on a splash of our favorite fragrance whether you’re wearing a LBD or a tshirt and jeans. Fragrances are expensive – but they last for a long time. Bottles usually last me over a year. My favorite scent is Beautiful by Estee Lauder.

Fragrance is a great item to put on your Holiday Wish List 🙂

4. Have a few killer outfit in your closet: A perfect pair of jeans and a black turtleneck sweater. Black bootcut pants and a bright sweater. A simple sweaterdress. Things you can just throw on when you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to spend picking out an outfit, then changing. Then changing again.

Crewnecks & Scoopnecks by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Cardigans by LOFT

5. Be ready on the go: Make up a small bag to stash in your purse, car or desk. Include basics like eye makeup remover, concealer and powder, a small bottle of hairspray and lip stick. You never know when you are going to have “one of those days” or not have time to freshen up before a meeting. Or – this is the worst – you get out and realize you never even put makeup on that morning. (Or does that just happen to me?) Bonus points for including a rechargeable, cordless flat iron!

What are your secrets to pulling off a polished look?

Melissa is a work at home mom to 3 adorable, active kids outside Philadelphia. She is founding editor of the fashion blog b*Stylish, and dishs about family life on her personal blog, Girlymama. Find her on twitter as @girlymamamel.

Thrifty Thursday Fashion Tip: Save up to 40% on GAP 1969 Jeans

Want to recycle your style? Gather up your old denim and Gap will start your new wardrobe off with a sweet deal. Get 30% off any 1969 jeans and for being such loyal Gap fans, you can get an extra 10% off by mentioning “JEANS40” at the register.

Trendy Thursday: More Fall Trends To Try

We’re continuing last week’s Trendy Thursday and looking at a few more fall trends that you can easily try to add into your own wardrobe this season:

1. Chunky knits: I love this trend! Especially for fall!! So comfy and cozy and they go perfect with jeans, jeggings, leggings, everything! Whatever your shape, whatever your style, you’ll be set.

This one is from Anthropologie who just makes the most yummy sweaters. For a more budget-friendly option, try Old Navy, Target or even Kohls.

2. Tights are back and they are fabulous! They are a terrific way to transition your summer pieces into fall – and are almost universally flattering.

Even patterned tights are back! Loving the plaid. What a fun way to update a black pencil skirt.

3. Teal nails. This look is just everywhere suddenly and it looks so fabulous. My favorite is Teal Till We Drop from Opi’s Swiss Collection.

4. Military-Inspired Looks: This is just everywhere right now – and its very doable. Instead of wearing a hoodie over your jeans and white tshirt, try a military inspired jacket instead in a jersey fabric. Just as comfy, but super trendy!

Melissa talks fashion every day on her fashion and beauty blog, b*Stylish and family on her personal blog, Girlymama.

Trendy Thursday: Top Fall Trends

The trends this fall are so fabulous and so easy to implement into your everyday wardrobe. There are a few ones that are out there (fur and second-skin leather, anyone?) But by adding just a few inexpensive pieces this fall, you’ll be right in style!

1. Denim: This fall, its all about the classics. Trouser jeans (which EVERYONE should have in their closet) and flare jeans (which are looking more feminine and less hippie these days and are great for balancing out curves) are back in a big way. And one of this season’s hottest trends is the jegging. I may or may not have three pairs. Ahem.
My favorite pair is from Miraclebody:

These jeans not only are made of cotton and spandex fibers to help give your backside a boost while shaping and slimming your thighs, but it has a hidden tummy control panel reduces belly bumps and flattens the tummy to give you ultimate control while keeping you comfy. They are fabulous.

2. Boots: Again, we’re seeing classics like riding boots along with some new trends like ankle boots and lace up boots. Personally, I hated the ankle boot at first. But now… I think I may need to get something like this:

I love the gathering detail on the side. And these would be so cute with a skirt or dress and one of the season’s other hot trends: tights!

3. Metallics: All over the place this season. And with metallics, for heavens sake, do not go out and go all 80s (not in a good way) with a super shiny puffy gold jacket. Stick to shoes
and purses:

This beauty by Renee DuMarr is one of my more recent purchases and this baby is HUGE. I love it. I can fit everything I need for a day out with the three kidlets, snacks, diapers, the works. Its like a totally huge mom-bag disguised as an awesome purse. I get compliments on it every time I wear it and people are always asking me where I got it!

4. Jewel Tones: Just gorgeous. Go nuts with this one. I mean, can you really go wrong?

5. Long Skirts: Kiss the mini goodbye. And thanks the Good Lord while you’re doing it! Longer skirts are all the rage this season, so enjoy! I love them…

so elegant, so ladylike…

LOVE!

I’ll share some more fall trends next week! What are your favorite trends for fall that you’ve seen?

Melissa talks style every day on her fashion/beauty blog, b*Stylish, and family fun on her personal blog, Girlymama.

Help me Fight the Frump: Saying goodbye to my sweatpants!

For the last 5 years now, since my oldest daughter has been born, I’ve adopted a new dress code to go along with my new role as a Stay at Home Mom. It is certainly practical, this sweatpants-and-jeans wardrobe of mine, but words like chic, cute, and put-together don’t often describe the way I am dressed on a daily basis.


Now that Sarah and I are doing more with our blogs and with our consulting business, it is becoming more necessary for me to have a few go-to “work outfits” to supplement my flip-flops and t-shirts. In addition, I am attending an industry conference in NYC this week, BlogHer, and I want to put my best foot forward. Thankfully, our good friend and resident fashion contributor, Melissa from Girlymama coordinated a night out at the Paoli Ann Taylor Loft store so we could shop their awesome selection without the kids running around by our sides.


I found lots of great pieces at The Loft, but I think that my favorite find was this adorable Maxi dress paired with this moss green cardigan. And, the best part, was that I scored the dress for $29.99! And, while we are talking about great cardigans, I also picked up this one in Iron Grey. I think it will work with so many different looks!


The one piece that I was surprised about was this Tango Red ruffle tank. I was sort of on the fence about this purchase, but figured I could always bring it home and try it out and return it if needed. I decided to throw it on with a pair of jeans last Saturday night for a date with my husband, and got the BEST reaction from him. It’s definitely a keeper now!


And, because GirlyMama is so awesome, she also found some great companies and products to share with us in our event gift bags like these Kendra Scott Dangle Earrings, this adorable black Hannah Clutch (it isn’t even available to the public yet), a $25 gift card to ShopatHome.com, and the Kymaro Rechargable Hair Straightener (won’t this be nice for rainy day events in NYC)!


I want to thank Melissa for helping me get a good foundation started for an update chic wardrobe, but how do I maintain it and add to it? Where do you shop when you are looking for affordable, high-quality and chic clothing and accessories? Help this struggling Mama out!


Disclosure: I received a $20 Gift Card to The Loft as well as a 20% off coupon code, as well as the products listed (and a few others) in a gift bag. I was not paid for this post and, as always, all opinions expressed are mine.

Just Belt It

Outfit feeling a little blah? JUST BELT IT! This is a great and inexpensive way to change up your wardrobe. A great belt can transform an outfit for you, make you look extra stylish, and make you realize that, “YES! You do have a great figure!”, you just didn’t know how to accentuate those gorgeous curves! See the before and afters below. While the outfits look great without the accessories, they look even better with a belt.

and with a belt…(from left to right : Brooklyn Dress with Give Belt, Space Vest with Leaf Belt, Lucia Dress with Rosie Belt, Wheeler Tunic with Minnie Belt)

All styles can be found at Nich in West Chester. www.ShopNich.com

Get your New Year’s Eve Fash..on! Statement Jewelry can be Everyday Jewelry

Statement Jewelry. It doesn’t always have to be about the clothing. Wearing a great piece of statement jewelry is a fantastic way of sprucing up an everyday outfit or adding a touch more glam to your party outfit!

This is the time of year that sparkle and glitz is allowed all the time – since you know, we’re feeling jolly every minute of the day. But don’t save the jewelry for only those holiday events – you can add a bold piece of jewelry to just a plain tee for some unexpected drama. It’s a fantastic way to be ultra comfy and still look amazing!

Okay.. so has this post made you rethink your New Year’s Eve outfit.. are you thinking of jazzing your night up with some fun, glitzy, chunky jewels? Need a new dress to match? Well.. then, head on over to Nich in West Chester…ALL dresses are 20% off today and tomorrow (12/31)

All of the items seen above can be purchased at Nich Boutique in West Chester.

For more info, visit www.ShopNich.com, call 610-436-8181 or click here to friend Nich on Facebook.

Top row, from left to right – Cochin Sequin Necklace with Melange Cardigan in green, Jelani Necklace with Madison Dress,

Keith Bib Necklace with Sarah Dress

Bottom row, from left to right – Sparkle Necklace with Alison Dress in pink,

Cochin Sequin Necklace with Marissa Dress, Kanoa Cluster Necklace with Melange Cardigan in green

Fashion Tips from Kristy…

This week my fabulous fashion tip is…Infinity Scarves. Heard of them? No, well… you’ will love them once you see how versatile they are. (Nich carries several colors and styles of them now and will be receiving more throughout the season)

Infinity scarves are long tube shaped scarf instead of a strip of fabric. Above you can see 4 different ways to wear this scarf. Double it, triple it, wear it as a hood, or loop it through!

Infinity Scarves are the perfect accessory for a chic finish to your outfit. You would be surprised how one little accessory can totally change the look of an outfit… so go for it ladies..Accessorize !!!!

About Kristy: Kristy Mak is the owner of nich Boutique in West Chester. ni­ch carries the latest in women’s and men’s clothing and accessories.

For the ladies ..nich offers a great assortment of one of a kind screen printed and remade tops, adorable tees, affordable denim, delicate dresses and as well as other great seasonal styles.
There is also hand bags with bold patterns, and jewelry that fits every occasion.

For men there is artist graphic tees, denim at great prices, hoodies and track jackets that make a statement, amazing hats and more.

nich brings a funky urban edge to surburban West Chester at inexpensive prices. You won’t find these styles anywhere else, so if you want a unique look, definitly check out nich at 29 S. High St, West Chester and online at http://www.ShopNich.com

Facebook -ers: Click here to become a fan of nich.

Twitter-ers- follow nich @ShopNich