There will always be room in my closet for a great chunky cardigan. No matter how in style or out of the style the look is. I will lounge around in the chunky cardigan, I will grocery shop in the chunky cardigan and I will even work in the chunky cardigan. Thank goodness the look is in style at the moment. And thank goodness for Stella McCartney’s amazing classic long chunky lace cardigan that is currently available at Neiman Marcus.

Neiman Marcus 

It is a tobacco lace knit color that is long enough to go over a great mini dress or some fun funky leggings. There are even some patch pockets on the side to slip your often cold hands in. The cardigan is currently priced at $1,285. That’s a bit pricey, but for this time of year and for Stella McCartney I may go for it. What do you all think about it?

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

Did Olivia Wilde read about the trends to watch for at the Globes this year? I pleaded with her to wear something darker and sultrier to make her look even better than she has on past Red Carpets. Well, tonight she turned the heat up with a slinky Gucci dress.

Zuma Press 

In addition to her great fashion sense, she also has a very big heart. Did you catch lots of the celebrities on the Red Carpet sporting large red ribbons? They were in support of the current relief effort in Haiti. Well, Olivia is taking that ribbon one step further by auction off her sultry Gucci dress off and donating all the proceeds to the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice. Can she do anything wrong? 

Wilde is not the only one who has openly supported the relief effort; Amy Poehler (also mentioned in our trends to watch at the Globes), Meryl Streep, and Gerard Butler will be auctioning their Globes goods with Artists for Peace and Justice. 

Sandra Bullock (also beautiful!) donated $1 million dollars to the effort earlier today. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt equaled that amount right after they heard about the devastation and George Clooney announced a nationwide telethon which will air on E! and several other television stations on Friday January 29, 2010. 

Stayed with us here at Splendicity as we keep you updated about how we all can help with the relief effort in Haiti.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

It’s the official first day of Fall in the United States. Depending on where you are living it sure does feel like Fall! In Colorado, yesterday, it snowed! Today, in Texas, the highs were in the 60s. Wow, I put on my UGGs because it was cold today, not because they looked good! I am feeling for all of you out on the west coast where it has consistently been in the low 100s for the last few days. It just gives you an excuse to wear your awesome sandals some more!

Bluefly.com 

For those of you who are feeling a nip in the air and are wearing UGGs to stay warm today, though, why not buy some new sweaters? Sweaters are so exciting! They can dress up or dress down an outfit in a snap.  One sweater that does that is this Magaschoni flint cashmere ruffle front cardigan from Bluefly.com.

Pair it with some dress pants, some dangly earrings and some funky heels for a day at the office look or some fun skinny biker jeans with some ridding boots for the weekend. This is a winner of a sweater.  The sweater is $239.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

Today was one of those days when I wish I have a never ending closet. I would have pulled out pretty Braided Shirred Suede Over the Knee Boots by Jeffery Campbell, some J Brand Skinny Jeans, a  Missoni skinny scarf and I would have rocked it. The weather was cold, rainy, and icky. It was a perfect Fall Day.  I probably would have only worn these purple boots once, but it’s worth noting that they’re super fun and if you’re a super fun person who will wear the over the knee boot look more than once then why not take a look.

ShopBop 

They are pull on suede boots with an asymmetrical top. They have a three and a quarter inch heel. They are $250.  They are right on the money for this Fall season, purple, very high and very very over the knee. Here’s hoping my wish for a never ending closet comes true soon!

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

The summer may be coming to an end, but the holiday season is right around the corner. That can only mean one thing! More traveling! And if you have a large family you may be going to lots of different places.  If you travel to more then just your family’s home, say some fabulous friend’s house, you may need to bring along more than just that old stand-by foundation, blush and lip gloss. What do you pack that makeup in? You could pile them in Ziploc bags and on a wing (get it…you’re flying..because it’s travel season!) and a prayer hope that your makeup bottle doesn’t break or spill.

Net-A-Porter 

Net-A-Porter 

Or, you could get this beautiful Erdem Globe Trotter Collaboration Vanity Case. This case is super chic and almost vintage looking. It looks like something you would go hunting for at an antique store. The gold tone hardware is one of a kind and the top tray is removable so you can pull it out and put it on the counter top. It measures twelve inches wide by 8 inches tall by 12 inches long. It is available at Net-A-Porter for $595.

Have you started to look for “the” winter coat yet? Still not sure which trends need to be in the coat for everyone to stop, stare, and ask you, “Where did you get that coat? I have to have one.

Nordstrom 

Look no further then the Tory Burch Annabel Ruffled Leather Coat from Nordstrom. Not only does it cinch in right where every girl needs it to, right at the hip, but it also has the perfect ruffle. The ruffle isn’t so big that you look like a pirate, but it isn’t so small that you have to point out to your friends that there is a ruffle accent on the coat. The coat has even more detail than the ruffles, with buttons on the cuffs.

It is currently in the pre-order stages at Nordstrom. It is $850 and comes in sizes 0-14.

If you you want something a little less trendy then this nipped in ruffled coat, try the Elizabeth and James “Elizabeth” Shrunken Leather Blazer (also from Nordstrom) for $495.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

I’m not going to lie. I could stand to lose a few pounds. And by a few pounds I mean a more then one or two. I’m not a size two and I’m not a size twenty. So, I’m stuck in this place where “I’m not fat, but I’m not skinny…why don’t these jeans fit me?.” I hear these stories about how fabulous True Religion, Seven, and Rock and Republic jeans are. They’re all worth the investment, jeans are love. Splurging on $200 jeans, if you have the money, and they’re not a trendy cut is understandable. But, when those absolutely fabulous jeans only go up to a size 30 or even 32 and you feel like a complete fatso, but want to have luxurious jeans, what are you supposed to do? Go on the great jean quest!

Joe’s Jeans 

Much like my great bra quest a few months ago, I set out on a great jean quest today. I went to Off Fifth, picked up every single one of the size 32 jeans I could find. I picked up Sevens, Rock and Republic, Citizens of Humanity, and True Religions. Oh and of course Joe’s jeans. I’ve pretty much come the conclusion that if they feel tight at the thigh that they’re going to be too tight and that it’s a lost cause. So, at this point the Citizens of Humanity and Rock and Republic jeans were out the door. The Sevens went up. But, unless I was going to lay on my bed, lather myself with butter and say a prayer every time I wanted to wear my luxurious jeans, I wasn’t going to spend my money on those. (To the left Muse Jeans- $185)

Then came my Joe’s. It was like my prayers were answered. The size 32s were perfect. It was like wearing newly washed jeans washed your own personal laundry detergent, softened, folded and placed on your hotel bed with a mint on the top.

And now I wait. And I wait until I find out that one of member-only sample sale sites has these jeans on sale. Because these website are the holy grail of internet shopping. Stores like Gilt Groupe, Gilt Fuse, Ideeli, and Rue La La are better then the outlets (I’ve seen these jeans for $35). Or, I can splurge and spend the $74 on them at Bluefly.com. But, since I live in the real world…this probably isn’t going to happen.So, these jeans I await.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

Going strapless does not have to stop when the calendar says “Fall.” If you know what colors to wear and when to wear the style, going strapless may actually be the perfect option for you. This Catherine Malandrino Shell-Embroidered Dress may be perfect for that afternoon brunch, cocktail dinner or even evening out with your significant other.

Neiman Marcus 

I love the mandarin orange color color with the green and yellow accents embroidered on the neckline. The dress has the same multiple colors at a belted waist as it does at the neckline and has inverted pleats of along the pencil skirt.

The dress actually makes me want to go downtown in San Antonio as well. It makes me want to learn how to Cumbia and to learn how play mariachi music. Do you think that would be a good idea in this dress?

This dress is currently available at Neiman Marcus for $395.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

Recently the Tax Free weekend has become a tradition of sorts for many parents, students, and fashionistas a like. I wasn’t lucky enough to take advantage of this every single year of school, but for the few years it was available in Texas, man, did we shop till we dropped on those days. Get ready to brave the crowds, clothing racks and be aware of what is and what isn’t tax free on those coveted days of the late summer days.

But, why do you shop tax free for luxury items? The point is, and it’s sad for me to say it, the economic downturn has hit the industry. I was watching the Evening News on NBC this evening and they reported that Sak’s Fifth Avenue sales have dropped a whopping 16% this year. To boost those numbers discounts are going to go up so the retailers can get those Summer items out of the store to get in those Fall items that we’ve been writing about since July. So, finding items under $100 may not be as hard as you thought.

Now that I’ve broken everything down for you…here’s the skinny on when you can get your tax free shop on in a state near you:

Zuma Press

Alabama August 8-9

Applies to:

· Clothing under $10

Connecticut August 15-22

Applies to:

· Clothing under $300

· Shoes under $300

Iowa August 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing under $100

· Shoes under $100

Zuma Press

Louisiana August 7-9

Applies to:

· Purchases under $2,500

· Excludes the purchase of taxable services, automobiles, and meals

Missouri: August 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing under $100

· School supplies under $50

· Note: Some cities and counties in Missouri elect not to participate.

New Mexico: Aug. 7-9

Applies to:

· All clothing and shoes under $100

Zuma Press

North Carolina: August 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100

· Sports and recreation equipment under $50

Oklahoma: August 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing and shoes priced under $100

South Carolina: Aug. 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing , accessories, footwear

Zuma Press

Texas: Aug. 21-23

Applies to:

· Clothing and footwear under $100

· Includes backpacks under $100 for elementary and secondary students

· Includes layaway items

Vermont: August 22

Applies to:

· The sale of personal property items costing less than $2,000

· Does not apply to food, beverages, or hotel rooms

Virginia: April 7-9

Applies to:

· Clothing and footwear under $100

If you didn’t see your state listed or want more information about Tax Free Weekend check Jennifer Wolf’s article on Tax Free Weekends 2009.

There are some things luxurious investments are choices, much like choosing soda over water or spending savings on a vacation when you should be paying off student loans. However, the black pump, much like the little black dress is one investment that just cannot be overlooked.

Net-A-Porter 

These Christian Louboutin Miminette 70mm Pumps are a perfect example of how an investment piece doesn’t have to be boring. The patent leather and amazing comfort that comes along with these small heels are amazingly understated, but still chic. Of course you could pick up a pair of patent leather pumps from a non-name designer from Target, Wal-Mart or even DSW, but will someone stop you on the street or at a job interview and say “Where in the world did you get those shoes?”

These shoes are available at Net-A-Porter for $595. They are 3 inches (hence the 77 mm in the name for all you Americans) and have the signature red soles of all Christian Louboutin heels.

For more information on why to wear expensive heels and why to invest in them check out this blog entry.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.