Fashion Me Fabulous

This is a power dress. It's the sort of simple dress with an eye-catching detail that lets your inner star shine. It's all about the skirt with it's sexy-sweet dip, abundant pleats and beautiful movement. It's hard to not feel stunning when your skirt swishes. The top is so plain and modest, you can really style it however you want. Red heels and a simple gold necklace? Lovely. Biker boots and a cropped tee? Why not? Beige ballet flats and a silk scarf? Perfect. There are a few black versions left, but I'm partial to the skin and eye-highlighting blue. This dress is $90 at ASOS and worth it .

Occasions for which this expensive pleather jacket from BCBGMaxAzria is perfect: - Being a spy with some sort of shady KGB past. - Speeding on a motorcycle before coming to some sort of spin stop and shaking your long hair out of the helmet. - Throwing over your homecoming dress when you have to go into the sewer to hunt vampires. - Alternately, being a vampire (but not one who sparkles because no one needs that). - Seducing Sam Winchester. Point is, this jacket very much looks like it belongs on an action star, preferably one with a grey moral code or secret identity. It's not leather, which makes the price feel like cheating. But when you see this jacket pop up on a tough-as-nails detective with her own personal demons when the season premieres start, you are welcome for already finding it for you.

Roommate found these. Let's give roommate a big round of applause. First of all, I love that these John Fluevog shoes are called " Caravaggio " after the wild painter. Second, I love that these are essentially the shoes of powerful men of the 1600s -- bows, heels and all. (Please, point this historical fact out to people when they start whining about boys being too feminized when they wear pink or other such nonsense.) They are more expensive than most shoes we feature, but John Fluevog shoes are high in quality. The burgundy and black versions in tamer solids are currently $100 off. If I pair these with my frock coat, I can start claiming my right to land willy-nilly, write some world-changing books, and engage in spontaneous sword fights. Consider the day seized.

A basic skirt is a wardrobe builder, a must have. But not every skirt suits every figure. Recently, I picked up with Old Navy skirt . It's just a basic black circle skirt, which would really help my wardrobe a ton. Last year when I tried on several similar skirts, they just didn't sit right on me. They looked offand hung poorly. This one, was perfect. I was shopping with a friend who also tried it on and loved it. We are rather different shapes. I have wide hips, full tights, junk in the trunk and a bit of a tummy. She is a slimmer, straighter build. We both bought one. Later that week, I showed my skirt to another friend who tried it on right away. She actually doesn't own any skirts because she has a hard time finding them to flatter her figure. She went to Old Navy the next day to buy this skirt. The skirts trick for hanging so nicely is the heavier material. It's heavy enough to wear in the winter, but not too heavy to sport to the office in August. Also, thi...

Today was jacket weather. Then it was too hot to move. Then it was steamy and raining with a harsh wind. Last week, it snowed. Looks like I'll still be carrying a jacket with me for another month. That's less of a let down with this floral painting bomber jacket . I'm not even into florals, and I love this print. I reminds me of Japanese tattoos, Van Gogh's Cherry Blossoms , and Monet's Waterlilies all at once. Unlike some other bomber jackets I've seen lately, this one is a breathable cotton blend. It would look equally lovely with a tutu or jeans. It's only $26 on Amazon, but the shipping is a little high as the item is coming from Korea. Still worth it for a classic style with a beautiful print.

A good dress is hard to come by (at least for me as we are currently living in a fit and flare world, which doesn't fit or flatter my shape). A good dress that is versatile, cute and has pockets(!), is ever harder to come by. This flutter sleeve dress by Kensie from Macy's is perfect. The zipper in front adjusts so it can be warn zipped up, or unzipped with a cami. The flutter sleeves means it works out if you have a dress code at work that requires sleeves (I do), but they are open enough to let you wear a long sleeve tee underneath. They will also work with a jacket or cardigan layered over top. The dress comes in six solid colors in sizes XS to XXL for $78 or in a grey print in sizes XS to L for $55 (use Macy's coupons. They are pretty easy to get). I would own several colors if Kensie would just make it in a material I am not allergic to. Sigh...

It's sort of like a scuba dress but thankfully not made of neoprene. It's body conscious at the top and flared at the bottom. So it highlights your boobs and skims politely over your butt and belly. This dress is so courteous to my figure, it might have been made in Canada. It fits like an expensive dress with lots of good tailoring, but it's really just a simple cut with well-placed piping. When I tried it on this weekend, I almost took a picture in the dressing room to send to everyone in my contacts saying "I'm damn sexy." There is a black and white geometric print and a blue abstract print available, but I like the solid colors the best. I bought the cobalt blue one and may buy more. For $27.99, you can't find a more flattering dress this spring.

We love juxtaposition, which is to be expected when you're the A-student, goth kid at your Baptist high school. (Because both of us were, seriously.) No surprise then, that Target's floral moto jacket suits us perfectly. This is the perfect blend of tough and sweet, colorful and dark. The print reminds me of Japanese paper. It has me aching for spring while accepting the reality that Great Lakes springs are barely 50 degrees. At $32.99, it will be my first purchase of the season. Edit: I tried on this jacket over the weekend, but it's not for me. If you have short arms, it will eat your hands. The zippers make it difficult to fix. Still lovely, but not for shorties.

Mod Cloth has named this skirt " Essential Elegance ." I just bought this full circle skirt in black an am planning to also purchase it in red, green, and white. It's the perfect weight for staying cozy with leggings when the cold blasts, yet the cotton is breathable enough for all but the hottest summer days. The fabric is heavy so it retains a nice shape. The two-layer construction keep underwear hidden. The high waist is so flattering and great at hiding bloaty days. I am 5'4", and the hem hits right above my calf. It's a great length for work. Yes, the skirt is $70, and will probably be so unless you can procure a Mod Cloth coupon. If you've been looking for the perfect everyday, full skirt with a vintage vibe, you can't go wrong with this.

The current trend is shoes is motorcycle boots, minimalism, and platforms (still). I'm not really a fan. My shoe rubric is "Would the fashionable secretary of a private eye have worn these between 1920 and 1950?" If the answer is yes, then I like them. If they come in burgundy, feature satin bows and are one sale, then they can have all my money. Case solved. The Mojo Moxy "Celebrity" pump is also available in black for those of you who want more serious everyday bow heels.

Banana Republic is currently selling two indomitably preppy peplum sweaters. I've been buying lots of peplums lately as they are figure flattering, especially went I don't want the burrito I had for lunch to prompt people to pregnancy questions. (I bloat, people. Back off!) The black and white one with pink trim is more versatile, but I love the strong grid on the bubblegum pink one. Bonus, they are both cotton and machine washable. At $80, I will be watching for these to go on sale. Between these two, which one is your pick of the week?

Generally, I'm not a floral person, but this sweater is stunning. (It reminds me of the wallpaper of an elderly British woman who wins the village prize for best roses every year. Her name is Mable. Because I love Mable who I just made up, I love this.) I would wear it backwards all the time, but if you wouldn't the expanse of the beige front is perfect for a coordinating necklace. It's pretty and polished but put-together. You could wear it to a bonfire with skinny jeans and coral flats or to work with a hunter green pencil skirt and nude heels. Unfortunately, it's $98 at Anthropologie. But it's a versatile statement piece if you are investing in only a few items for fall. There is always sale stalking too.

Want! My style leans toward the ultra feminine, so I like to contrast that with odd jewelry. These green crystal earrings simultaneously remind me of bullets, lipstick tubes, and Superman's Fortress of Solitude. As a bonus, they match the emerald and mint we've all been buying this season. $53 for gold plated crystal earrings isn't a bad price either.

becca's all about whimsical prints right now. You can't get much more whimsical than black panthers pretending to be flowers. This fun dress is a clear copy of Givenchy's Fall 2011 panther-floral print , but it's only $35 at Sheinside. Unfortunately, this company believes one size fits all, so you need to pay attention to to the measurements listed. Can you wear this to work and weddings and generally everywhere? Probably not, but we're on a quest for whimsy .

We loooove retro swimsuits at Fashion Me Fabulous. Unfortunately, because they involve more material and a good deal of undergarment support, retro suits most of the time ring in over $80. While it doesn't contain underwire and a fabric tummy tuck, this cute little one-piece from Target has plenty of retro charm for only $25. It's available in black, but I'm having a hard time choosing between red and navy.

I love nail polish. I also probably own a bit too much nail polish so when I wanted a great spring/summer teal color I was reluctant to buy into the Essie or even Revelon colors at $6 to $8. Target had a sale on New York Color polishes so I grabbed a 97 cent Tudor City Teal polish for 89 cents (Woot! Eight cent savings!) I was a bit leary of the cheap polish, but it it was 89 cents. Also, looked more like a gloss, which I kind of liked. It does wear more like a gloss so you need two or three good coats for full color, but this stuff really is long wearing like the label claims. It has held up better than any of my pricey polishes and worn for longer than my most invincible Sally Hansen polishes. Because it goes on a little sheer, I find it easier to get a streak-free look. It get endless compliments on the color, and several people I know have purchased after seeing it on my nails. I'm anxious to go back and try other NYC polishes. (But I'm scouting out the ones that hav...

As you've heard a hundred times by now, black and white is in this season. While that doesn't always translate well into summer, warm weather is woven in the threads of black and white gingham. It's both classic and quaint. The gingham "Studio Sweetheart" dress from Mod Cloth has a nice 1930s style and a comfortable shape. Even so, it's not an outrageously cool dress. But wait! There's more. In addition to sleeve shortening epaulets, there are strings underneath the dress that allow you to shorten and balloon the hem. So cute and fun! It reminds me of the Homecoming Queen Skipper doll I loved so much as a kid.* Do I want to pay $140 for it? That's a bit much even considering that it's two dresses for the price of one; however, I will certainly be watching for it to go on sale throughout the season. *She wasn't well loved just because of her awesome dress. My 17 year-old-brother spontaneously decided to buy me, his 5-year-old sister, t...

Poetic Licence -- a FMF fav -- popped up with their adorable "Wonder About" pump too late for my closed-toed summer shoes posts. Darn. Looks like it's just going to get its very own post. I'm not sure I could be more in love with this breathable, comfortable, stable summer shoe. (Well, I am uncertain about the brown one, but check it out and let me know what you think.) The white one is freaking adorable for the nautically inclined. I want to wear them with a navy and white striped boatneck tee and high-waisted black sailor shorts. The black ones are so very rockabilly. I would wear them with a red fit and flare dress and a big flower in my hair. But you don't have to wear anything so summer costumey to rock these espadrilles. They would be just as cute with cutoffs and a peasant top at your family picnic as they would be with a pencil skirt and silk blouse at work. The shape is classic, and the primary colors are neutral; so they would really be the per...

I love an easy summer pant. While I tend to default to skirts during the warmer months, some summer events really lend themselves to a garment that requires less careful or ladylike movement. Wide leg linen pants have been my go to for years. However, they are often too full to wear with billowy summer tops. This is where these cropped chambray pants from jcpenny come in. They are light, 100% cotton and loose enough to move in without being too baggy. Also, the draw string waist allows them to fit a variety of shapes. They cost $29 and also come in coral .

It's a pink heel with a bow and rhinestones. Could it be any girlier? Usually nearly $180, Pour La Victiore's "Blissa" is just over $40 on Amazon! This is a great shoe for weddings whether you are a guest, a party member or the blushing bride.