I decided to kick off the inclusion of shoes in Versatile Style with a bang! Rock & Republic are a sought-after brand, constantly worn by our favorite celebs. I’ve pined over their designs (especially their shoes) for years, but could never afford the price tag. However, I’ve stumbled upon Shoe Thief.

The fine people at Shoe Thief “poach, pillage and plunder the best brands and conspire with top designers to bring you the very best deals”. But seriously, these R&R shoes retail at $325 and are available for $95! I’m talking to you, all of my budget-hunting babes!

The Clove by Rock & Republic are made of gorgeous leather, interior and all! The criss-cross design of the straps is unique and the studs add a touch of rock-n-roll glam. The attention to detail on these shoes is superb; right down to the braids that run along the back and the stud zipper pull. Nothing was overlooked in the design of the Clove! These shoes are so overtly evening, but I wanted to show you how to tone down a pair of tough heels with girly elements.

Let’s begin with daytime.

Click on the image for the shopping deets!

Start by finding a uber-feminine dress; bonus points if you go for virginal white! This will serve as a solid foundation for your girly outfit. The waterfall-style cardigan is ladylike and the coral is unmistakably a “girl” color. The crossbody bag leaves your hands free to dig through goodies in shops or take pictures and the salmon tone matches the cardi. The chain strap is subtle, but gives an air of class. Top it with super girly jewels (think dainty pendants and floral pieces) and a flower-filled headband! Voila!

And now evening.

Click on the image for the shopping deets!

Like I said, these sandals are all rock-n-roll and I totally ran with that theme. Get a pair of liquid leggings – they are beyond sexy. The tee I chose will hit at your waist, but if you’re uncomfortable flaunting your bum in the leggings, choose a longer tee and you’re problem is solved! Just make sure that it’s flowy and has some cool rock elements. I’m a fan of color, but chose a vampy magenta wristlet to still give the impression that I’m a tough chick. Finish with an industrial-inspired ring and, a must-have in my opinion, the cross-forehead chain!

And if I haven’t convinced you yet, take a look at the shoes in some real-life pics courtesy of yours truly!

I hope you are now inspired to pick yourself up a pair of hardcore heels and dress them up to girly perfection! Remember, the Clove sandals can be found on Shoe Thief, along with a huge selection of great designer brands at discount. Happy shopping!

As you may have gathered from my previous articles, I am a shopaholic.  Even if I have no money, I can’t help but scour the internet for deals at the online sample sales (seriously, check out Ideeli, it’s amazing).  And even though I can’t always buy sustainable products, I still try to buy in sustainable ways.

Here are my favorite shopping tips to don’t just save the environment, but they can also save you money.

Read on, my fellow “Frugalista” (thank you, Target.)

Shop in stores.  Preferably ones you can walk or carpool to.  Retailers get their shipments in bulk, which decreases the amount of packaging material used to deliver the products.  When you shop online, shipping costs (and all that wasted paper and cardboard) can add up quickly, so spare yourself and hit the local mall (with your reusable tote!). Be sure to try on before you buy so you can avoid the extra gas needed to return something to the store.

Look for local labels.  Try to buy from companies that are based in the your state to cut down on energy needed for transportation.  If that’s not possible, look for brands that produce their products within the United States.  American Apparel, C&C Cailfornia, Splendid, J.Crew, Lucky Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Juicy Couture, 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and Rock and Republic (just to name a few) all manufacture their clothing in the U.S. Read More »

Everyday there’s something new in the gossip columns about Nicole Richie’s skeletal frame. And there’s no doubt about it—girl needs to eat! She looks like she could be blown over by a gust of wind. All those pregnancy rumors? I honestly hope not cause that’s going to be one seriously unhealthy little baby.

Keira Knightley and Kate Bosworth also face a lot of scrutiny over their diminished frames. They can lie all they want about being healthy, but their rib cages poking out say otherwise. Actually Kate’s looking a little healthier, so that’s good. Mmmm food…isn’t it good, Kate?

OK, so all these girls are uber-skinny, and I’m obviously sort of a hater. You can call it jealousy, and it partially is. I eat a piece of lettuce and its girth is immediately added to the side of my thighs. And it makes me maaaaaaad. I really, really just want a cheeseburger, but my butt can’t handle the added pounds. But I would much rather look like the lovely Kate Winslet than any of these scary looking pre-pubescent shaped actresses.

What makes me even more mad, though, is image they portray to women. When my friend’s 13 year-old sister said she thought Nicole Ritchie had the perfect body I almost shoved a sheet of Oreos down her throat right then and there. I mean, really?

But instead of always commenting on Nicole (she’s obviously not enjoying the paps lately anyway) why the hell does no one ever say anything about Victoria Beckham?

She reportedly has a 23 inch waist—which, after doing some research, I learned is equivalent to the waist of a seven year old child! Some people are naturally really skinny—and Victoria is obviously one of them— but if you look at Posh over the years, she’s definitely been withering away. Read More »