Essentials for a Beach Getaway

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Xenia

Summer is still two months away, but with the days growing longer and the weather warming up, it feels like it’s right around the corner (at least in this part of the country – apologies to our friends in the Midwest who are being slammed by more snow!). If you’ve been daydreaming about your first visit to the beach, or if you’re planning for an ocean-side vacation, this post on beach essentials is for you.

Double-stripe bandeau top and double-stripe tab hipster, J. Crew ($48 per piece)
Want a cute bathing suit? Check out J. Crew’s 2013 line of swimwear, which features fun patterns like summer stripes and playful polka dots. With a variety of cuts and styles – for example, bottoms are available in hipster, high-waisted brief, bikini and lowrider cuts – you can mix and match tops and bottoms to create your ideal bathing suit.

Mossimo Supply Co. Floppy Hat, Target ($14.99)
Too much of a good thing can be bad, and that definitely holds true for sunshine. Protect your face from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays with a stylish, oversized hat. This floppy hat from Target gets the job done without leaving a dent in your wallet.

Slingback Boardwalk Sandal, Madewell ($49.50-$59.50)
I’ve never been a fan of the thong style of flip-flops, so I’m much more likely to reach for a pair of slingback sandals like these. Plus, the two-tone textured leather makes these sandals extremely versatile – they can go straight from the beach to boardwalk to bar.

Printed Canvas Tote, Gap ($39.95)
A big, sturdy beach bag is a necessity for safe-keeping your beach towel, sunscreen, reading materials and snacks. Choose a canvas bag, like this printed tote from Gap, for easy cleanup, as it wipes clean after a long day at the beach.

Open-stitch Poncho Cover-up Sweater, Victoria’s Secret ($49.50)
This cotton and cashmere poncho is light, airy and soft – everything I want in a beach cover-up. Even better, it’s currently on sale for $49.50 off $10 from its original price.

Did I leave out any of your favorite beach essentials? Share them in the comments!

Photo credits: jcrew.com, target.com, madewell.com, gap.com, victoriassecret.com

Spring Trends We Can’t Wait to Wear

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Xenia

It’s feeling a lot like spring here in the Bay Area, perhaps thanks to Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction that winter will end early this year. Even if you live in a part of the country that’s still bundled up from chilly temperatures, take heart – the first day of spring is only about a month away. With warmer temperatures and longer days on our minds, we’re taking a peek at spring trends for a variety of activities:

The First Picnic of the Season

Sunshine, good food, friends and family – what better way to welcome spring than with a picnic? Here are our favorite dresses of the season, equally perfect for frolicking on Venice Beach or in Central Park:

A Jog in the Park

Lululemon Run Inspire Crop

“Dreadmill” haters, rejoice – you can look forward to many months of outdoor activities! Kiss your winter layers goodbye and pull on Lululemon’s Run: Inspire Crop II. These running crops feature moisture-wicking fabrics and mesh panels to help you stay comfortable in warmer weather. Pair them with the Breathe Racerback tank from Gaiam, and if there’s a morning chill in the air, top off your outfit with Puma’s Tech Performance Seamless Jacket.

A Morning at the Farmer’s Market

Here in California, we’re spoiled by nearly year-round farmer’s markets, but in other parts of the country, spring ushers in the return of farmer’s markets. For a leisurely morning spent scoping out fresh produce, comfortable footwear is a must, and the Cole Haan ‘Air Monica’ Ballet Flat (available via Nordstrom) fits the bill with its comfy Nike Air technology. Wear the flats with pastel-hued pants like Free People’s Herringbone Skinny Crops and a relaxed chambray tunic from Gap. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Power Lunch

We love the fun patterns and sorbet-inspired colors in J. Crew’s spring cashmere shop. This cashmere cardigan is simple and classic, but its featherweight feel and an impressive variety of colors make it a perfect springtime addition to your closet. Our favorite colors are lemon pulp (shown above) and neon rose – pair the cardigan with your favorite pencil skirt for an instant wear-to-work outfit.

Photo credits: ae.com, jamesperse.com, anthropologie.com, shop.lululemon.com, gap.com, jcrew.com

Blogger Spotlight: The Pink Peonies

Posted on February 11, 2013 by roopawriting

Rachel Parcell is a 21-year old, multi-talented fashionista who channels her creative energy into three different jobs—designing clothing for Modbe, designing accessories for DownEast Basics, and moonlighting as a fashion blogger at Pink Peonies. Be sure to check out her blog or stay updated on her fashion excursions by connecting with her through her social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest).

At Shopilly, we love her experimental and fresh take on fashion. She has fun with prints, colors, and textures to create one-of-a-kind looks that always look flawless from head-to-toe. Her blog is the perfect source of inspiration for members of the fashion community as they embark upon their own personal style journeys.

The blog features an elegant design with high-resolution photography and beautiful outfit-of-the-day posts. Common brands worn include J. Crew, H&M, Prada, Stella & Dot, among others. Beneath each picture is a list of all the items she is modeling in each look, with links directly to the product so that you can purchase them right away.

Our favorite look right now is her “On the Bright Side” ensemble, featuring J. Brand dark wash jeans, a fuchsia J. Crew sweater, a heather gray J. Crew coat, a Michael Kors beanie, Prada sunglasses, color blocked J. Crew heels, and a stunning statement necklace from J. Crew. Effortlessly chic and bright!

Shopilly is the perfect shopping service to for fashion bloggers to connect with their favorite brands and stores to stay updated on promotional sales. With easy access to the best deals, bloggers can purchase coveted items at the cheapest price possible to feature in outfit-of-the-day or inspiration posts. Sign-up with Shopilly here!

Happy shopping and blog browsing,
Shopilly Team

Four Bay Area Fashion Bloggers We Love

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Xenia

When it comes to choosing outfits or making decorating decisions, I tend to go the safe route and select familiar (or what I call “classic”) choices. The familiar can quickly evolve into the boring, however, so any time I need a little style pick-me-up, I like to turn my attention to the blogosphere for inspiration. This week, I’m highlighting four of my go-to style blogs from Shopilly’s home base in the San Francisco Bay Area:

SF Girl By Bay
Victoria Smith writes this “bohemian modern style” interior design blog, which I can easily spend hours at a time reading. She has a knack for discovering little known and foreign designers – take a look at this gorgeous refrigerator (never thought you would hear those two words together, did you?) by Italian manufacturer Smeg – but she also highlights styles from household names, as seen in this post on holiday layers from J. Crew.

Love J. Crew? Follow the brand on Shopilly.

Fancy Fine
Ashley Ording’s closet is what my closet aspires to be – that is, if I had the talent and patience to shop for vintage clothes. Though she holds the covetable position of Web Merchandiser for Anthropologie and has been featured in a plethora of print and web publications, she always comes across as relatable and down-to-earth on her blog. Fancy Fine is a must-follow for fans of vintage-inspired fashion.

Follow Anthropologie on Shopilly to stay up-to-date on its newest collections.

The SF Style
If you love fashion but words less so, this is the blog for you. The SF Style team, Dyanna Dawson and JT Tran, captures and compiles the best of San Francisco and New York street styles in this photo-heavy blog. I love getting style inspiration from regular city folk against the backdrop of some of San Francisco’s most famous sites – here’s the blog’s very own JT looking sharp in front of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

Going West
California transplant Jennie L’s blog features enviable photos of her equally enviable style. She has perfected the art of crafting edgy but classic outfits (like this outfit, one of my favorites) by combining casual brands like Urban Outfitters and high-end designers like Marc Jacobs.

If you have some favorite fashion or design bloggers of your own in the Bay Area or beyond, please give them some love in the comments below!

GET THE LOOK: OBAMA OUTERWEAR

Posted on January 23, 2013 by BIRDY GREY

Pantone may have declared 2013 as the year of emerald, but we have a feeling that purple—from lavender to grape and every shade in between—will be popping up everywhere this year, thanks to the stylish First Family’s sartorial choices during Monday’s inaugural ceremony.

Channeling true American royalty in a trio of perfectly-coordinated purple jackets, Sasha, 11 (in a violet Kate Spade New York coat), Malia, 14 (donning a J.Crew jacket and merlot infinity scarf) and FLOTUS Michelle Obama (in a checkered Thom Browne topper with eggplant gloves) looked tailored to perfection during Monday’s daytime festivities. Inspired, Shopilly set out to find the perfect purple pieces to add to our own cold-weather wardrobes this season. Learn how to get the look, and tell us what you think of the Obamas’ inauguration style below.

MALIA OBAMA

Malia opted for J.Crew’s double cloth lady day coat in fresh plum ($325, take an extra 40% off all sale items), crafted of luxe Italian wool and lined with cozy Thinsulate for an extra layer of warmth against the East Coast freeze. We also found this luxe fuchsia stunner by Chloe ($900 at Farfetch.com) which we think is the perfect pop of color over cocktail dresses and eveningwear. For a more affordable everyday option, snag a wild cherry topper by Merona ($41.98 at Target) to channel the spirit of the older Obama sib.

SASHA OBAMA

While Sasha’s custom Kate Spade New York coat isn’t available for purchase, we found a handful of violet delights that may tickle your fancy. DKNY’s darling double-breasted jacket (on sale for $129.99 at Lord & Taylor), Delia’s Devin peacoat ($59.50, score free shipping until Thursday!) and Via Spiga’s belted trench ($111.99 at Lord & Taylor) are a few plum options—all under $150, to boot!

MICHELLE OBAMA

As for the most stylish First Lady since Jackie Kennedy? Get Michelle Obama’s sleek, sophisticated look by pairing a dark checkered jacket, such as John Richmond’s plaid wool topcoat ($1,475) or Tory Burch’s tartan jacket ($548.16, both available at Farfetch.com) with black stovepipe skinnies and leather boots. Or opt for Christopher Kane’s lovely leopard style ($1,078 at thecorner.com), perfect for cinching with an embellished belt.

Festive Frocks For Under $100!

Posted on December 13, 2012 by BIRDY GREY

In the spirit of the season, we’ve been bringing you fun, festive ideas on how to elevate your look for the holidays, be it at the office party or new beauty tricks to try. Now that we’re in the thick of soiree season—this weekend alone, we have a holiday housewarming brunch, coworker cocktails and a white elephant exchange—we’re taking the stress out of holiday dressing with a roundup of our favorite frocks, all for under $100!

MM COUTURE, $89

Sparkle all night in MM Couture’s dazzling skirt dress ($89 from Piperlime, get an extra 20% with code HOLIDAY), featuring a sequined gold skirt and blousy jade top. Pair with nude pumps for an extra leg-lengthening effect.

TOPSHOP, $84

Topshop’s cherry red skater dress ($84, score free shipping!) makes our spirits bright, thanks to a festive red hue and full-skirted silhouette. Try cinching it with an ornate belt to add extra sparkle and accentuate your silhouette.

ALI RO, $35

Put the Midas touch on your holiday look with Ali Ro’s golden Grecian dress (on sale for $34.62 from $285 at Neiman Marcus Last Call, use code LCDEC75 for free shipping on orders over $75), spun of gleaming taffeta and dressed up with bow-topped shoulder and pleated sweetheart neckline.

VICTORIA’S SECRET, $70

Steal kisses under the mistletoe in a seductive silhouette, like Victoria Secret’s Multi Way dress ($69.50, free shipping with code SHIPANY). Crafted of flattering matte jersey, it comes in 4 colors and can be worn a whopping 10 different ways (halter, strapless, V-neck, one-shoulder and so on…) to carry you through the season. If the vibe of the party is on the conservative side, top with a shrunken tuxedo jacket to balance proportions.

J.CREW, $99

Look pretty in pink with J.Crew’s bright Sinclaire dress ($99, take and extra 30% off + free shipping with code WISHLIST). The vibrant color makes it a perfect choice for the holidays, though the whisper-weight fabric works well for all of spring’s social events.

ADRIANNA PAPELL, $65

With crisp tiers and graphic neckline, we think this jazzy little number by Adrianna Papell ($64.35 at Bluefly, take $40 off your order of $200 with code FLY40) is black, white and delightful allover. Channel a modern Holly Golightly by pulling hair back into a French twist and show off a pair of sparkly earrings.

ZARA, $70

Whether the invite calls for creative cocktail or black tie optional, we can always count on Zara to find the perfect LBD for every occasion. Case in point: this coquettish dress ($69.90) trimmed with lace and chic ruffles.

ELISE RYAN, $39

Make the rounds in this party-perfect dress by Elise Ryan ($38.70 at Asos), spun of floral lace with a sweetheart neck and scalloped hemline for an extra dose of demure. (While at Asos, send fun holiday e-cards to friends!)

Dressing for an Office Holiday Party, Part II

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Xenia

The holiday season is in full swing, so today we return to the topic of office holiday party attire, but with a focus on the fellows. Jeans or slacks? Tie or no tie? Vest and jacket, or just a button-down? Read on for our attire suggestions for a spectrum of dress codes:

Casual: If your office environment is casual and the holiday party invitation indicates that the dress code is “festive” – or another ambiguous adjective – feel free to dress as you would for work. Leave the polo and flip-flops at home, though – it’s a party, after all! Dark denim and a nice sweater are always a safe bet. Banana Republic’s Vintage Straight jean is universally flattering and available in 11 washes. Pair it with a classic Marled Wool V-Neck Sweater or this Slim-Fit Dress Shirt by Kenneth Cole (on sale now for 2 for $60), and you’re good to go.
Semi-formal: Sometimes semi-formal is also written as “informal” on event invitations, but don’t be fooled – both require a suit and tie. Armani Exchange is offering 30% off blazers and shirts, so if you’ve been meaning to invest in a basic piece like the Tuxedo Style Blazer or Herringbone Jacquard Shirt, now’s the time to do so. If you want to purchase a full suit, take a look at the selection from Hugo Boss. It offers five fits – classic, modern, slim, extra slim, and big and tall, so you’re sure to find something for your body type. Hugo Boss also has an impressive selection of neckwear, so don’t forget to pick up a tie or bow-tie to round out your outfit.
Formal: For a formal or black tie event, it’s time to break out the penguin-wear. Nordstrom is a good place to look for designer tuxedos – think Zegna and Dolce & Gabbana. J. Crew offers some more affordable options, as does Perry Ellis. Many of the pieces in the Perry Ellis “Dapper Dressing” category are now on sale, including the Brushed Twill Slim Fit Tux Jacket, so head on over if you’re looking for a good deal.

Happy holidays from the Shopilly team!

Photo credits: bananarepublic.gap.com, armaniexchange.com, perryellis.com

Dressing for an Office Holiday Party

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Xenia

With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to focus on the year-end holiday parties coming this month. Between the family traditions and celebrations with friends, you may hardly have time to get your holiday shopping done. But don’t let that get in the way of your wardrobe selections – especially when it comes to your office holiday party. If you’re having a hard time choosing a festive but appropriate outfit for your that event, take a look at these options, and then kick back with your co-workers and indulge in the holiday spirit!

A nice sweater, fitted pants and pumps make a lovely combination that you can wear straight from the office to the party. I love this sophisticated draped cowl-neck sweater by Banana Republic in festive red. Pair it with bootcut pants like the Gretchen Black Bootcut Pant or, for a dressier feel, a high waist skirt like the Midi Knit Skirt (both bottoms by Bebe). Finish the outfit off with Nine West’s Caress pumps, available in safe solid colors or in gold glitter if you’re so inclined, and you’re instantly party-ready. By the way, Nine West is offering 30% off your entire purchase until 11:59 pm EST tonight, so hop to it!
If your first priority is to stay warm, followed closely by appearing stylish, you can kill two birds with one stone by choosing a sweater dress. J. Crew’s Tee Dress is Italian cashmere, so you’ll stay cozy all night long. Another good option is French Connection’s wool-blend Milla Milano Dress. Pair either dress with tights and boots to shield your legs from the cold as well. The Martta Boot by Coach is a beautiful riding boot for those who prefer flat footwear; if you want a few extra inches, the Tres Chic Boot by Kenneth Cole is now 50% off.
A dressier venue gives you the perfect excuse to invest in a new dress, and Express has a good selection of holiday dresses that won’t break the bank. This Long Sleeve Sequin Embellished Dress is great for anyone who gets cold easily, while the Ponte Knit Sheath Dress is flattering and does double duty as a must-have basic piece for any wardrobe. Some more formal options include this show-stealing Draped Long Silk Dress by Mango, or the intricately detailed Caridad Ruffled Dress from Anthropologie.

Fellows, if you’re feeling a little left out, sit tight – we’ll have office holiday party dressing tips for you next week!

Photo credits: bananarepublic.gap.com, bebe.com, usa.frenchconnection.com, kennethcole.com, express.com, shop.mango.com

Shopilly Blog

Tag Archives: J.Crew

Essentials for a Beach Getaway

Spring Trends We Can’t Wait to Wear

Blogger Spotlight: The Pink Peonies

Four Bay Area Fashion Bloggers We Love

GET THE LOOK: OBAMA OUTERWEAR

Festive Frocks For Under $100!

Dressing for an Office Holiday Party, Part II

Dressing for an Office Holiday Party

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: