Solosso Custom Dress Shirts

From start to finish, Solosso puts thought into every step.  I had the chance to design a custom made shirt from scratch.  Designing the shirt was really easy and pictures/descriptions on the website definitely helped.  I am not going to lie, there was some terminology that I had never heard of, but with the click of a button, Solosso made it easy to understand in layman's terms. 

I (my husband) was most worried about getting the exact measurements, so what I did was use a shirt I already had and entered those exact measurements online. It did take some time, but was well worth it.  You know what they say about measuring twice and cutting once.  For those who do not wish to worry about measurements, Solosso gives you the opportunity to send in one of your fitted shirts and match your custom made shirt to those specifications. 

When it comes to quality, Solosso has got you covered.  They use the finest fabrics, stainless steel collar stays and mother of pearl buttons.  I was really impressed with how crisp the shirt felt and how delicately packaged it arrived in the mail.  One thing the consumer cannot control is the choice of buttons. Solosso uses traditional mother of pearl buttons, instead of plastic buttons.  I do like the buttons; however, the back of one of them arrived cracked. Solosso does include an extra button on the inside lining of the shirt, like other manufacturers.  

Overall, this shirt is a great fit and I feel really confident wearing it to formal and informal events.  I chose to have my shirt monogrammed, which I feel adds that special touch you cannot find just anywhere.  My one recommendation is to include cleaning instructions inside of the shirt.  

Many thanks to Solosso for the opportunity to order a custom shirt for this review. We are very impressed!!!

Head on over and order yours today: http://www.solosso.com/

OKA B ballet flats - stylish and durable

OKA b., is a leading U.S. manufacturer of eco-chic and recyclable footwear made in Buford, GA.  Inspired by simplicity and a return to the classics, the sleek and slim fitting ballet flat is designed with the same craftsmanship and recyclable materials found in the company’s signature spa sandals sold in thousands of resort spas and independent retailers worldwide. As with all of OKA b. footwear, shoes in the Ballet Flat Collection are also bacteria resistant, non-slip, durable, and washable. With an eclectic assortment of adornments such as floral clusters, gemstones and double sided grosgrain ribbons, the OKA b. ballet flat retails for less than $50. 

I've had a chance to try the flip flops in the past,  but never the ballet flats, and they're so adorable I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try them out. I love the variety of colors and embellishments they offer - Bright green to pastels, to nudes and basics. These are very durable shoes and very fashionable, but my only complaint was that they were sweaty. My feet had no way to "breathe" so to speak. So I'm not sure they're the perfect hot weather shoe, but in the Fall and Winter I will definitely be wearing these often!

Check out all their colors and styles here: http://www.oka-b.com/

Fashionable Fall - Hush Puppies

In 1958 Hush Puppies created the world’s first casual shoe, signaling the beginning of today‘s relaxed style. By utilizing supple suede in combination with lightweight crepe soles, Hush Puppies created a soft, breathable and very comfortable shoe—an innovation that would ultimately change the kind of shoes we wear. In an era when footwear choices were limited, Hush Puppies provided the world with a new alternative. A modern shoe embraced for its authentic style and casual flair.
Relaxed and classic in design, Hush Puppies has always defined what it means to be modern and casual. Today, Hush Puppies continues to innovate, bringing technical excellence and genuine style to over 120 countries.

A revolutionary idea—born fifty-two years ago—continues to inspire us today.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/en-US/Home.mvc.aspx

Fashionable Fall /Holiday Hoopla - Coldwater Creek Giveaway!!! - CLOSED

Coldwater Creek is a leading specialty retailer of women’s apparel, gifts, jewelry and accessories. They sell their merchandise through a growing number of premium retail stores throughout the country, through their own direct-mail catalogs and an e-commerce web site at www.coldwatercreek.com

They have a beautiful assortment of handbags and jewelry (above and below)

In addition to the accessories above they also sell scarves, shoes and much more!

  

WIN IT: ONE OF MY READERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 GIFT CARD TO COLDWATER CREEK!!!

How to Enter:

1. Mandatory - go to www.coldwatercreek.com and tell me what store you would chose if you won.

2. Follow my blog (blogger/FB)
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

4. Follow Me on Twitter, and leave a comment with your twitter name
5. Tweet about this giveaway @melindajoy926 (This can be done DAILY)
"#Win $50 giftcard to Coldwater Creek #Gift card #Giveaway @melindajoy926 here: _____(link)_____"
6. Post my button on your side bar and leave me the link
7. Subscribe to my blog via email/google reader
8. Send this giveaway link to 5 of your friends and let me know you did or post this link as your FB status - honor system
9. Sign up for Sponsored Tweets, get paid to tweet: http://bit.ly/cJ16rs (not spam, it really works)
10. Comment on one of my non-giveaway posts (up to 5 posts, for up to 5 extra entries - leave comment for each post you commented on)
11. Join swagbucks - search and earn prizes (it's great)

12. Join Groupon - a site where if groups of people buy, you benefit from the discount - for ever major city! http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3910417
13. Get Paid for taking surveys (I've earned $23 so far): http://www.trypandaresearch.com/GWSzQImkH1OfBa4JS2lfdg==  
14. Sign up for shop it to me (an invitation only shopping site) http://shopittome.com/index/twitter/C57Hjme4EkZsYR7dSpLIrhnA_eq_eq
15. gn up for No More Rack here and get steep discounts on all sorts of products: http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=70683

Deadline: December 20th, at noon EST

disclaimer: no compensation was provided for hosting this giveaway, giftcard comes directly from CWC

Fashionable Fall - Rainy Day Comfort

Tom Romeo founded the BEARPAW brand in 2001 with the intention of redefining casual footwear by utilizing sheepskin, nature's own technical fabric, to create comfortable and stylish shoes. Sheepskin naturally regulates body temperature so feet stay cooler and drier in the heat and warmer in the cold. In one of the most competitive footwear market segments, BEARPAW has carved out a niche area by providing customers with comfort and sensibility to set itself apart. From slippers to boots to casual footwear, only the finest materials are used to produce BEARPAW shoes. Built to deliver quality and style, every pair of BEARPAW shoes focuses on comfort and fit, using the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Featured Above: BEARPAW Ashland Rain Boots, Retail for $58

I think these boots are not only stylish but very warm and comfortable. They come with a removable wool sock liner which feels soft against your toes, and keeps your feet snug and warm. I think that these are a MUST-HAVE for any Fall wardrobe. They are the perfect boot for a rainy day, or even a snow slush day . . . stay warm and dry!

disclaimer: item received for review

Fashionable Fall - Go Jane

Go Jane.com is an Internet retailer of fashion forward apparel for progressive young women.  

They specialize in offering unique and daring styles that can’t be found elsewhere.  The web site is designed to provide the most dynamic selection of clothing on the Internet by constantly introducing new styles and products.   They add over 100 new styles every week to keep you at the forefront of fashion.  Why wait for the next catalog of the same old pictures? 

The belted strapless top pictured above is by GoJane. It's perfect for a casual Friday in the office, or a day out on the town. It can be dressed up with a nice blazer or cardigan and pumps, or dressed down with jeans and flats. The look above would be a good casual business look, or a fun weekend look.

Find something new at http://www.gojane.com/.

disclaimer: sample item received

Fashionable Fall - Levi's Curve ID Jeans

Levi's recently launched new line of jeans for women, Levi’s ® Curve ID. The line takes into account a woman’s body shape in addition to her size by offering 3 different fits to flatter different figure shapes: Slight Curve, Demi Curve, and Bold Curve.

It’s about Shape, not Size.

At Levi’s®, they believe that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. They believe that every curve on a woman should be celebrated. The perfect pair of jeans is more than just a waist size — it’s about feeling comfortable & confident, and celebrating a woman’s curves. They believe that every woman should be able to go into stores and find jeans that fit them instead of having to fit into the jeans. They believe every woman deserves jeans that make her curves look like a national treasure.

I love this concept, because not all bodies are created equal, so to speak. You have the girls like me where our waists are smaller than our hips, and that causes our pants to be very gappy in the back, requiring a belt every single time. Then there are the women whose numbers don't vary as much, so the slight curve jeans would be perfect for them. It's great that company is thinking about the female body and how much it can vary from person to person.

For more information, visit their website: http://us.levi.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=3146849

 disclaimer - sample received

Fashionble Fall #11 - Grasshoppers

About Grasshoppers ®

Grasshoppers offers lightweight, flexible and supportive shoes from a premium line of casual comfort shoes in stylish & sophisticated silhouettes, including slip ons, sneakers, wedges and sale.

Grasshoppers wants you to be comfortable and with our proprietary PureFit™ comfort system, you'll have all over comfort and support. Grasshoppers supports your active life with a dual density footbed, Gel-Flex technology, stretch uppers, padded collars, and a flexible outsole, to provide support to take you from day to night in comfort and style. Select shoes have been APMA and podiatrist approved.

At Grasshoppers, they celebrate women's confidence, individuality and authentic lifestyle.

Grasshoppers are the perfect shoe for transitioning from work to running errands, or meeting up with friends afterward. They are comfortable for being on your feet all day, and still have energy to go out with friends at night! It's hard to find shoes that are both comfortable, and appropriate for the work place, and I think that these do just that!

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.grasshoppers.com/store/SiteController/grasshoppers/home

disclaimer: samples received



Romance/Getaway Series - Adam's Inn B&B

Inn Description (from their website):

Adam's Inn, a Victorian B&B spanning three 100-year old buildings on a quiet residential street, has been a "home away from home" for international and budget-conscious travelers for 20 years. Located in historic Adams-Morgan, the Inn borders a vibrant, multicultural entertainment district that is home to more than one hundred of DCs most popular shops, restaurants, and music clubs. The National Zoo, White House, Convention Center, museums, galleries and many other tourist attractions are just minutes away by foot, subway, bus or taxi. The Inn is just a 7 block walk from the Woodley Park Red Line Metro station and a 10 block walk from the Columbia Heights Green & Yellow Line Metro station.

Adams Inn offers comfort, charm, and affordability, plus a friendly and knowledgeable staff that goes out of its way to be helpful.

 

Amenities: The amenities inside our room at this B&B seemed to be quite limited, in that the rooms do not come equipped with shampoo/conditioner, a TV, and hair dryers as many do (which I was not prepared for). The rooms are also very sparce, lacking much artwork or decor, but my guess is that when you are in DC, especially this happening area of DC, there is so much to see, do and experience, guests probably don't spend much time in their room. It's a typical B&B in the sense that the only TV's are in the common rooms, but it was still a very comfortable size room, and I enjoyed my stay there. You don't miss the extra luxuries because it's a quaint and friendly place with a beautiful outdoor garden in the back, which is full of charm! I would give this category 3 of 5 stars.

Location: This B&B is located in the Adam's Morgan part of the city, or the NW part of DC. It's on a quiet residential-looking street, but walking distance to the circulator (bus pass for only $1), the metro bus, the subway, and also to a ton of clubs, bars and restaurants of many varieties. We found the location to be ideal. We walked into to town at night for a bit to each, and we walked to the Circulator when we wanted to sight see, and visit things like the white house, washington monument, air & space museum etc. It's very easy to navigate around the city! I would give this 5 of 5 stars.

Customer Service: Arriving with no shampoo in hand, the innkeeper was very helpful in finding a sample for us to use while staying at the Adam's Inn B&B. She also helped us find out way to the bus stop, and answered our every question. A personal connection and friendly atmosphere really goes a long way! I would give this 4.5 of 5 stars.

Food/Drinks: Coffee and tea were available to guests at any hour of the day, at these cute little nooks. I must admit I frequented this area each day before heading out to make sure I had a warm beverage in hand. It was a great feature. The morning breakfast that comes with your stay at this B&B is a continental breakfast consisting of cereal, bagels/breads, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit drinks, coffee, tea and fruit. It wasn't anything fancy, but there was plenty to choose from. My personal favorites were the fresh bagels and fruit. You can't go wrong with carbs and fruit in the morning, which is my personal opinion. I would give this 3 of 5 stars.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.adamsinn.com/

Disclaimer: stay was provided for this review

Fashionable Fall - Cass & Co

About Cass & Co:

CASS is an American luxury shapewear brand known worldwide for its innovative INVISIBELLAS collection of shaping tops, bottoms and dresses. Engineered with exclusive smart fabrics and strategic, patented stitching “INVISUPPORT,” CASS designs work together to slim, smooth, and lift without compromising comfort or style.



I had a chance to try the 2 in 1 half slip. In order for clothing to fit well, you need to have well fitting under garments and shapewear, and products like this half slip help to reduce buldges and smooth out lines. They have shaping tops, shaping bottoms, and shaping items for under dresses and more form fitting outfits. I think that it's a great company, and products that are a must have for anyone who wants a smooth look!

To find out more, or purchase one yourself, visit their website: https://www.cassandco.com/

disclaimer: sample received

Fasionable Fall #9 - Fun Shoes

The Consolidated Shoe Company covers multi-national, online sales of four women's shoe brands - Apepazza, Ipanema, Madeline, Nicole, Palladium, and Poetic Licence .

I love the selection that this company offers, as I am a huge fan of fun colors and patterns on shoes, and they have a plethora of unique shoes to pick from. Below are the Poetic License Delish Red, and Dazzling Turquoise.

In the photo Below:

Sweater - Aeropostale

Jeans- Aeropostale

Top - Dream Culture

Shoes - Poetic License

For more information, visit their website: http://www.consolidatedshoe.com/

disclaimer: samples received

Fashionable Fall - The Sak Giveaway - CLOSED

About this company:
The Sak is one of the largest handbag companies in the country, offering multiple, highly differentiated handbag brands, through specialized points of distribution. The Sak designs and manufactures four distinct handbag brands – The Sak, Elliott Lucca, Luxy and Lina.

The Sak brand karma is happy & free. Peace and harmony among all things is interwoven into our spirit and our deep rooted brand heritage. Our bags complement your easy going style taking you from work to the weekend effortlessly. Retailing for $69-$229, the sak bags can be found at department stores including Macy’s, Dillard’s and Nordstrom’s, at select specialty stores and at at http://www.thesak.com/.

WIN IT: the sak Fernwood Woven Hobo in Luggage $109

HOW TO ENTER:
Mandatory - you must include your email address in the actual comment, if not, it will be deleted!!!
1) Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

2) Follow Me on Twitter, and leave a comment with your twitter name

3) Tweet about this giveaway @melindajoy926 (This can be done DAILY)

"The Sak bag giveaway @melindajoy926 here: _____(link)_____"

4) Post my button on your side bar and leave me the link

5) Subscribe to my blog via email/google reader

6) Send this giveaway link to 5 of your friends and let me know you did or post this link as your FB status - honor system

7) Sign up for Sponsored Tweets, get paid to tweet: http://bit.ly/cJ16rs (not spam, it really works)

8) Comment on one of my non-giveaway posts (up to 5 posts, for up to 5 extra entries - leave comment for each post you commented on)

9) Join swagbucks - search and earn prizes (it's great)

10) Join Groupon - a site where if groups of people buy, you benefit from the discount - for ever major city! http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3910417

11) Follow my blog (blogger/FB)
12) Get Paid for taking surveys (I've earned $23 so far): http://www.trypandaresearch.com/GWSzQImkH1OfBa4JS2lfdg==  

Deadline: October 15th, at noon EST

Open to US Only

By entering this contest, you will automatically be entered into the sak and Elliott Lucca databases for future emails.

Fashionable Fall - Frye

About the Frye Company:

Founded in 1863 by John A. Frye, a prominent English shoemaker, The Frye Company is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States.

I have long heard that Frye makes quality shoes and boots, and I recently had a chance to test this out for myself. The boots pictured below are amazing! Not only are they fashion forward and unique, but they're also solidly made. I expect these boots to last for a very long time. It's amazing the difference between a cheap pair of boots and quality books like these.

Top: Dream Culture

Pants: Aeropostale

Shoes: Frye

disclaimer: samples received

Fashionable Fall - Business Professional for Men

About Bonobos:

They started Bonobos to solve a simple problem: men’s pants just don’t fit well. They’re either too tight to be comfortable or too baggy to look good. By innovating in a few key areas, they’ve developed a fit that looks and feels great for a wide variety of men.

They do make clothing that fits superbly; I'm very impressed!

Top: American Eagle

Tie: Zipper Ties

Pants: Bonobos

Shoes: Frye

Top: Bonobos

For more information visit their website: http://www.bonobos.com/

Disclaimer: Samples received

Fashionable Fall - Day to Night

Launched in Spring 2008 by Andrew Berne, Los Angeles-based Dream Culture is a fresh new contemporary collection that is modern, fluid, effortless and sexy. Ageless in its appeal, Dream Culture targets the fashion-minded and young at heart.

This is a comapny I recently found out about, but I'm a big fan. They have a very eclectic and edgy style that I really enjoy. They mix fabrics and textures to make very visually intersting items.

You can check out their entire collection here: http://www.dream-culture.com/main.html

Top - Dream Culture

Sweater - Aeropostale

Jeans - Aeropostale

Shoes - Poetic License

Top: Dream Culture

Pants: Aeropostale

Shoes: Naya (Brown shoe company)

Disclaimer: sample items received

Fasionable Fall #4 - Casual Comfort

One store that I always go to for casual comfort with reasonable prices is Aeropostale. As you may know Aero caters to 14 to 17 year-old young women and men through its Aéropostale® stores and 7 to 12 year-old kids through its P.S. from Aéropostale™ stores, but I know some women in their 30's and 40's who still love shopping here, and I can see why. Their pieces aren't so trend focused that they have a wide range of customers, which is definitely a plus! Below is an assortment of casual comfort ideas that can be found at Aeropostale:

Tops & Jeans by Aeropostale

Pumps by Frye

Boots by Frye

Sneakers by Grasshopper

Sweater by Aeropostale

Jeans by Express

Shoes by Grasshopper

Fashionable Fall - PromGirl - CLOSED

Promgirl.net brings you the best prom dresses from America's top designers. You are sure to make a statement by wearing the perfect prom gown on your perfect prom night. Finding your favorite prom dresses 2011 or homecoming gown is easy.

I had a chance to try a beautiful Mori Lee dress with a inter-changable sash. It's the perfect tea length dress for parties, showers, weddings or just a night out on the town. This is the place to find cute dresses for dinner parties, or sexy dresses for prom or parties. They have such gorgeous dresses, and their customer service was wonderful to work with as well.

---

WIN IT: Win a pair of Julie Shoes!!!

HOW TO ENTER:

** Mandatory - tell me what item is your favorite from http://www.promgirl.net/ **

1) Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

2) Follow Me on Twitter, and leave a comment with your twitter name

3) Tweet about this giveaway @melindajoy926 (This can be done DAILY)

"Shoe Giveaway @melindajoy926 here: _____(link)_____"

4) Post my button on your side bar and leave me the link

5) Subscribe to my blog via email/google reader

6) Send this giveaway link to 5 of your friends and let me know you did or post this link as your FB status - honor system

7) Sign up for Sponsored Tweets, get paid to tweet: http://bit.ly/cJ16rs (not spam, it really works)

8) Comment on one of my non-giveaway posts (up to 5 posts, for up to 5 extra entries - leave comment for each post you commented on)

9) Join swagbucks - search and earn prizes (it's great)

10) Join Groupon - a site where if groups of people buy, you benefit from the discount - for ever major city! http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3910417

11) Follow my blog (blogger/FB)
12) Get Paid for taking surveys (I've earned $23 so far): http://www.trypandaresearch.com/GWSzQImkH1OfBa4JS2lfdg==  

Deadline: October 4th, at noon EST

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: giveaway provided by Promgirl.net