No need to pack away your summer lovelies just because the temperatures begins to cool. Fall is all about layering and with a few key pieces you can extend the life of your summer favorites into fall.

1. This wide leg trouser from Asos will serve as the perfect compliment to all your summery blouses. With a suspender accent you will be on trend with the latest looks in menswear, but pairing it with a feminine top will keep the look softer and less masculine.

2. You can never have too many boyfriend cardigans and you can’t go wrong with this one from Asos with a curved hem design and gold button detail. It’s the  perfect accent to your summer frocks as well as a pair of skinny jeans. Add a belt to finish off the look to accentuate your waistline.

3. Feeling a little chilly? Why not grab a colorful scarf to not only beat the chill, but add a punch of color to your ensemble. Fall is all about the beautiful rich hues and tones so why not take a cue from nature! This gorgeous metallic scarf from Forever 21 is sure to add some shimmer to your day.

4. Fall is the time to pump it up! The days of showing off your pedicures are almost to an end and the cooler temps means those pretty feet need some coverage even though I have seen some women refusing to relinquish their flip flops even as we near freezing temperatures, but that’s another story. A platform pump will work well with everything from skirts to jeans so why not try on this pair from Asos for size.

5. Want to add some extra kick? Go for colored tights for some flair! They come in a vast array of colors and textures and they’re sure to add some new dimension and interest to your summer pieces.

With a few key additions summer clothes can transition seamlessly from summer to fall. Sound off! What are your secrets to keeping your summer favorites out of the storage containers?

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The other day while browsing the Arden B website I came across an amazing deal that was too  good to pass up. This super cute belted floral frock was marked down from $59 to are you ready for this? Five bucks!!!! Yes ladies you read it right from $59 down to $5 so you know I had to grab it! After purchasing I tweeted my great find on Twitter and within minutes the dress was G-O-N-E along with some other dresses that they had marked down to five bucks. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so. I’m just happy that I was sensible enough to buy before tweeting. Fashion tip to all: buy then tweet!

After purchasing I was on this “I’m so happy to have found this great find” high. So much so that I gave myself a challenge to style this dress for under $25 on Facebook.

I mean I did just find this adorable dress marked down to almost free so why not keep the ball rolling. With a French Riviera wedding coming up next year my funds are on serious lockdown and my spur of the moment sprees have come to a screeching halt. Trust me it also doesn’t help having a FH breathing down my neck about the perils of my shopping habit, but I love him anyway. I came up with a day and night look both of which came well under $25 with change leftover for a iced latte. I love the nude pumps because they are very similar to the killer heels Mila Kunis was rocking on the film set of Friends with Benefits in NYC.

Are my Amiclubwear designer? Hell no, but I damn sure don’t make Mila money and I don’t have designers sending me free stuff even though it would be more than welcome! Here is the breakdown:

Day:

1. Forever21 Double T-Strap Sandal $7.50

2. Forever21 Floral Cutout Sachel $15.80

Grand Total: $23.30

Evening

1. Amiclubwear Sand Velvet Round Toe Pump $15.99

2. Forever21 Cracked Oval Stone Ring $4.80

3. Forever21 Simplicity Polished Hoops $1.80

Grand Total: $22.59

What do you think? Does this prove that you can still look delish even though your wallet is feeling less than delish? Sound off!

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Forever21 Twelve by Twelve Pleated Bloom Skirt

I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE this skirt! I think it has so much detail and would be so much fun to wear, but what with? Money is tight, but I want to rock this skirt so here is your challenge!

• You have a budget of $50 max to style this skirt. You need to create a photo collage of images from online stores.
• You need to obtain a pair of shoes, top, and at least one accessory.
• The skirt comes in taupe or black and you are free to use either color.
• You don’t have to obtain your additional pieces from Forever 21. You can use any store, so get creative.
• Create a picture board using the skirt as well as your chosen top, shoes, and accessory. Feel free to use Polyvore to create your look. Your top, shoes, and accessory cannot amount to more than $50 so you will have to submit links to your chosen pieces to ensure they total to less than $50.
• Once you are satisfied with your submission email it to: OR upload it to the Style it You Forum under Style This Skirt contest submission. You will need to register to the forum first in order to upload your image
• Entries must be received by midnight September 21, 2009 EST.
• You can also find this contest on free!grechen.
  

Winner will be notified September 28, 2009 and will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card. The winning submission will also be featured on the Style it You blog.

Good luck and happy shopping!

City Chic, an Australian chain store which carries plus size clothing, made Australian fashion history recently when it hosted the first ever plus size model fashion show during Australian fashion week. The tone was set from the onset that these curvy women were not afraid to sashay down the catwalk with confidence and grace in some of this years latest trends.

As a demographic which is under served in the fashion industry, it was amazing to see someone take a pivitol step towards breaking the barriers and projecting a positive image of what most would think are average size women. According to statistics the average woman is 140 pounds, 5’4, and wears a size 14. With these numbers should we even be labeling these women plus size? Or better yet should we be labeling them at all? It seems to me that when you walk into a department store there isn’t a sign labeling the women who don’t fall under this demographic. You simply follow the arrows pointing you to women’s, but once you are outside of what is perceived to be the “norm” such as plus size or petite you immediately fall under a separate category.

Crystal Renn, a top plus size model in the fashion industry, recently spoke to Stylist.com about her new book “Hungry” due out September 8, 2009. She chronicles her battle with eating disorders as a young model trying to make her mark in the industry to becoming a successful and confident model who has done runway shows for Jean Paul Gaultier, fashion shoots for Vogue, and ad campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana. Here is an excerpt:

StyleList: Why did you decide to write this book?
Crystal Renn: I could only reach a certain number of people through magazine interviews and I wanted to take it to the next level and go into greater depths about my story. One of the messages I wanted to get out was that no matter who you are or where you are, you can accomplish your dreams. I’m a girl from Clinton, Mississippi, and here I am in New York. I also wanted to talk about body acceptance and help women feel empowered.

You can read the rest of the interview here.

Forever 21 recently introduced a new line called Faith 21 which is geared towards plus size women. What is so awesome about this line is the availability of trendy clothes for young women at affordable prices.  I applaud City Chic, Forever21 and others who have taken the initiative to break the barriers and include a population of women who were once excluded.

Fashion is about feeling good, creative expression, and taking risks. There should be no predefined sets of criteria which determines the status quo of what beauty should be. It’s time that we redefine this concept and begin to embrace beauty in various forms. When we look in nature we can appreciate the beauty in the various lines, colors, and shapes and take inspiration from it so why should this be any different when looking at natural beauty in its raw form? A confident woman is a beautiful sight to behold and I feel that body acceptance is one of the first steps that needs to be taken in order to achieve this.