Adios, America!

It's vacation time!! Tomorrow I will be on a flight to Amsterdam, and a few days later on another one to my beloved Greece! I'll check in here and there and hopefully will even get an outfit post or two in, with a beautiful Mediterranean background of course! Until then, you stay classy San Diego!

Top: Forever21+
Jeans: Forever21+ 
Heels: Target
Necklace: (long) H&M, (short) Chrdesigns
Bracelets (from left): Syms,  Forever21, Forever21
Ring: Vintage, La Casita

It's the final countdown!

My laundry situation has been a bit dire as of late and I've been doing a lot of outfit repeats, which is why it's been a bit quiet as far as OOTD's go. Mom's in Greece at the moment so it's just been me and the old man at home. Any laundry I've gotten a chance to do has been dad's work clothes, so I happily said yes when he sent me to buy a few toddler outfits as a gift for a family member's kid. Old Navy was the perfect spot - good prices, plus I could browse for myself as well as the little one (can you blame me?).

Shopping for little kid's clothes is almost as much fun as shopping for myself! I had a blast picking out tiny little khakis and doll sized checkered button downs. That kid's gonna be best dressed on the block! This floral number caught my eye as I shopped and it couldn't have been a better match with these pink flower sandals.

Time has flown by and I find myself with just a week to go until vacation. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!!! Are you going/have you gone anywhere on vacation this summer?

Dress: Old Navy

Cardigan: Target

Sandals: Old Navy

Sunnies: Target

Ring: H&M

Bracelet: Monasteraki market, Athens, Greece

Necklace: Chrdesigns

Ok, I'm obsessed with stripes.

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me tweeting away excitedly about my stripey bargain finds at Talbots on Tuesday. Well, here's one of them! I featured the dress version of this top on my "If I Had a Million Dollars...Talbot's Edition" post a month or so back. I scored this green and cream striped top for $15; retail price is around $60 I believe. Apparently it was my lucky day, because the dress version (in cream and brown) was there too and I took it home for $39 (retail $134)!

Top: Talbots
Pants: Michael Kors via Nordstrom
Shoes: Franco Sarto via ideeli
Necklace: Chrdesigns
Watch: Syms
Bracelet: gifted
Sunnies: Target

It was heart-wrenching to leave this jacket behind, but even on sale for $63 from $169, it was a tad pricey I just couldn't justify it having purchased the other pieces.

The craziest part is that this is a 14WP and it fits perfectly! Talbots definitely runs large when it comes to blazers, though I found their pants to run true to size.

Random, but I love this silhouette pic I snapped yesterday. I felt like Beyoncé! LOL!

Chrdesigns Giveaway!

Have you noticed the pretty little gold necklace I've been wearing in a bunch of my ootd's lately?

I was on the hunt for a delicate everyday gold necklace, and the Bicone necklace courtesy of Chrdesigns fit the bill perfectly! Click the photos of me or links above to see how I styled my necklace :)

Cindy Roth, the brains behind Chrdesigns, has a way of making jewelry that is unique and eclectic, while still feminine. Details like tiny crystals, pearls, and gold lace make her designs stand out from many on Etsy. And she's no one trick pony either! Cindy creates delicate pieces like my bicone necklace above, but she also dabbles in statement making necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, rings, and even accessories like hair combs! A few of my favorites:

If you want a Chrdesigns piece of your very own, here's your chance! Cindy is generously giving away a $30 credit to her Etsy shop for one lucky reader!

As always, here are the rules (please leave a separate comment for each!). To enter you must:

1. Be a follower of Fatale Fashion. Leave a comment with your username.
2. Browse through Chrdesigns' shop, and tell me what piece you'd get with your giftcard.

For extra entries, please:

1. Like Fatale Fashion on Facebook (you can email it to me if you don't want to leave it here).
2. Follow @fatalefashion on twitter and tweet the message: "I entered @fatalefashion's Chrdesigns giveaway, and you should too! http://tinyurl.com/6bbkdyx" (leave your twitter handle)
3. Blog about the giveaway or post about it on Facebook with a link back to this post! (leave a link)

There you go! Four chances to win :) This giveaway is open to all readers, US and international, and will be open until 11:59pm on Sunday, June 26th. Good luck!

Sailing on the high seas

Bringing this summer 2011 post back for this month's Everybody, Everywear!

 

That's what I feel like I should be doing in this nautical dress!

I remember seeing this dress on Forever21's site and thinking it was cute, but it didn't grab me as one of those must-have dresses. I was in the store last week returning a few things when I spotted it on the rack. After trying it on I took it to the register without a second thought! I love the white piping at the neckline and on the ruffle cap sleeves.

Gold jewelry and my trusty striped wedges were the perfect accessories!

I've started thinking about my wardrobe and new purchases in the mindset of, "Will this be good to take for vacation?" This one gets a big fat check. Comfortable enough to wear all day, good length, and adorable to run around in in Amsterdam and Greece!

Dress: Forever21+
Wedges: Payless
Necklace: Chrdesigns
Watch: Syms
Bracelets: Old Navy
Ring: Nordstrom Rack

On an unrelated note, some of you may remember a while back that I mentioned I was performing in a cabaret. If you're into it, here's a video (at long last) of me performing "Come to Your Senses" from Jonathan Larson's Tick Tick Boom.

Robin Hood, Men in Tights

So I have a complex with this shade of kelly green, especially when it's a dress. Everytime I pair it with something brown, like the waist belt I wanted to wear, I feel very Robin Hood-esque. Weird I know. That's why I decided to leave the tie belt on this dress rather than replacing it with a real belt, and I tried to keep the brown to a minimum by wearing my trusty light brown chain embellished sandals. I think I've safely steered clear of Robin Hood chic, at least this time.

I rediscovered this dress in my closet recently; I picked it up from Torrid probably 3 years ago now. I remember why I loved it so much! It's made of the softest, most comfortable cotton, and the cutouts at the neckline keep it airy, even in the 97 degree weather we had yesterday. Today's supposed to be even hotter...What I wouldn't do for a day off, a lounge chair by the pool, and a cocktail!

Dress: Torrid
Sandals: Steve Madden
Watch: Syms
Bangles: Old Navy
Necklace: Chrdesigns (more on that later!)
Earrings: Katherine's
Ring: La Casita

I also wanted to talk really quick about a product I came across recently. I know many of us battle with the dreaded chub-rub, and I've said before that I usually rock the oh-so-sexy bike shorts or Spanx under my dresses when bare-leg season rolls around. I've tried Monistat Chafing Relief Gel, and though it works, I hated the fact that you had to rub it on with your hands and get the gooeyness all over your fingers. Yuck!!

Enter Secret Shield by Skindura.

Description: "Protection no one knows you’re wearing but you. This non greasy, invisible balm provides long lasting prevention from skin on skin friction. Made of 100% veggie derived ingredients, (no petroleum, no animal by products, no silicone). But it also helps soothe skin that is already chapped and chafed so your skin will be good as new in no time."

And Secret Shield lives up to it's description! I smoothed it on before I left the house for work - with  no mess and no hand-washing because of the convenient twist tube applicator. Through an 8 hour work day and then an hour+ of shopping (lots of walking!) I reapplied twice, and experienced no irritation at all! Obviously the product doesn't prevent your thighs from rubbing together, but it creates a barrier that eliminates friction and allows your thighs to glide right past each other. In the 97 degree heat and humidity we had yesterday I have to tell you I was extremely impressed with this product. I'll definitely be using it on a regular basis - I love being able to go about my day without worring about Spanx rolling down or bike shorts riding up! This is going to be my savior when it comes to beach time and running around in a bathing suit!

Have you tried Secret Shield, or any other anti-chafing product? Let us know your experience!

You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Sometimes the simplest looks are the ones I like best. A simple black tee, bright cardi, and a printed skirt. Easy peasy and office appropriate!

Cardigan: H&M
Tee: Syms
Skirt: Thrifted
Flats: NY&Co
Chain bracelet: Christmas gift from my brother
Watch: Syms
Long necklace: H&M
Short necklace: Chrdesigns (more on this later!)

After an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend, I find myself yearning more than ever for my light at the end of the tunnel - my vacation in August! One of my closest friends from college and I are taking a two week trip; four days in Amsterdam, and the rest of the time spent at my family's house in Greece. I'm so excited I'm likely to explode!

Do you have any fun plans for the summer?

Don't forget to enter the GianneCREATIONS giveaway, it closes tomorrow at midnight! Only open to US readers, sorry to my international loves!