Unfortunately, we don’t have enough money to afford all that, so we just say “thank you thank you thank you” as much as we possibly can. So…

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Every single one of you ROCK! And we’re so happy to work with you and produce articles that you like to read and be a part of!

That said, one of the most recent companies we’ve worked with, Affordable Style Network (we wrote a post about one of their stores, Sunglass Warehouse) is being SUPER generous and extending an awesome sale for us to pass on to our readers!

Handbag Heaven Happy Hour! Today, from 2pm until 4pm (EST) ONLY the best-selling Valencia Blush Hobo (normally $71.95) will be only $29!  There’s no special code to input, just click the link to get the reduced price!

GO GRAB ONE! OR FOUR!!

-Keri

One of the biggest trends right now is flower-adorned accessories — shoes, handbags, shirts, belts, headbands, etc. Here at Style on a WHIM, we’re always looking for new and upcoming companies featuring this trend because it helps transition any work outfit to a date-night outfit in a snap!

Recently, we came across IslandBelle, a shop on Etsy that features handmade hair accessories, brooches and more, featuring adorable rosettes in a bunch of different great colors for fall.

We received the Laura Headband (pictured, $10), which is probably one of my favorites in the shop because it features a muted light pink organza rosette on a plum-y linen fabric — both of these colors are on-trend this season. It’s soft and feminine, with slightly frayed edges. I’d probably hit it with fray-stopping adhesive, like Fray Block™, to preserve the gentle fray while preventing it from fraying further. Headbands are an easy way to instantly dress up any outfit, whether you’re wearing a cute sheath dress or a plain dress shirt and dress pants. And they’re so chic!

IslandBelle brooches are even more adorable (and affordable at just $8 each!), and would look great pinned on your work blazer or a denim jacket for after work. We received the Aqua and Brown Fabric Rosette Brooch, which one of our coworkers immediately fell in love with, since she wears something very similar on her dress shirts.

My favorite piece from IslandBelle is the Fabric Rosette Necklace because it’s big, bold and makes a statement over a neutral colored top! It’s a little pricier at $25, but that’s a total steal for something so beautifully handmade. Plus, it beats your typical costume jewelry because it’s so unique!

In fact, all of IslandBelle’s pieces are made with care and give that “little-something-extra” to your favorite fall ensemble.

That’s why we’re excited to offer Style on a WHIM readers a 20% off coupon code at IslandBelle and the chance to win a $20 gift certificate!

To get your 20% off discount, simply enter “WHIM” into the comments box when you place an order at IslandBelle before the end of September. Krista, the artist behind IslandBelle, will apply the discount to your order — and it can be used toward ANYTHING in the store!

To enter to win a $20 gift certificate on IslandBelle:

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit IslandBelle and let us know which handmade piece is your favorite. (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

Hurry — contest ends 9/21. Winner is announced 9/22!

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Oh, and don’t forget to enter these other Style on a WHIM contests:
End of Summer Giveaway – package of goods worth $575 (ends 9/15)
Absolutely Audrey shoe clips (ends 9/20)

-Keri

The CheapChica’s Guide to Style

But what to do with all of those solid colored flats you’ve already got in your closet? No problem! My solution is a collection of easy-to-use shoe clips from Absolutely Audrey.  These clips add serious style to any plain shoe. In fact, they are the perfect way to dress up not only flats but also pumps, sling backs or stilettos — and stay right on trend.

Inspired by Audrey Hepburn, a fashion icon of elegant style, Absolutely Audrey is a unique accessories design company that marries the elegance of vintage-inspired shoe clips with the latest fashion trends. The firm offers over 65 incredible styles in rhinestone, enamel, leather, pearl, satin fabric, grosgrain fabric, and more. You can shop for vintage styles, casual pieces, evening accessories and even spectacular bridal clips.

Of all the great styles offered by Absolutely Audrey, I had a hard time narrowing it down to just three must-haves, but I think that my favorite are the Sabrina clips pictured above. Inspired by one of Hepburn’s most famous characters, these  add instant elegance to any outfit. The clips are made from grosgrain fabric in black and are accented with delicate rhinestones. Retail $14.99

A beautiful look for evening (or a wedding) are the Audrey clips, inspired by the legendary actress herself.  These stylish rhinestone flowers, pictured at right, have faux pearl “petals” in a light cream hue. Retail $19.99

Finally, a pair of Ellie clips are a fabulous update for fall flats. These multi-colored clips, below, look perfect with everything from jeans to a mini.  Retail $19.99

But, I’ve saved the best for last. The price range for the entire line of shoe clips from Absolutely Audrey is a mere $10.00 to $25.00 — infinitely more cost-effective than an entire new collection of shoes (my husband will be so happy!).

Now you can win your own choice of gorgeous shoe clips from Absolutely Audrey. It’s easy, so get started!

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit Absolutely Audrey and let us know which pair of shoes clips — sassy, sophisticated or simple — are your favorites. (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of Absolutely Audrey.

Also — don’t forget to enter the other Style on a WHIM contests that are running right now!

Shondra Leigh silver “lace” earrings contest Valued at $60. (ends 9/8)

Say Goodbye to Summer Super Fashion Swag – Valued at over $575! (ends 9/15)

Even though we’d rather camp out at the beach and enjoy every last minute of the summer sun, fall is fast approaching. Luckily for fashionistas the world over, there’s plenty of fall fashion to look forward to (hello, boots and blazers!), even if we’re not huge fans of the cooler weather to come.

To celebrate the unofficial last week of summer before Labor Day hits, and it’s no longer kosher to wear white (though I hear breaking fashion rules is a new fashion rule…) we here at Style on a WHIM wanted to offer up a HUGE package to ONE reader that’s simply BURSTING with cool products we’ve had a chance to review over the past three sultry months!

Included in the package:

Berry Ball
Tt Collection teal t-shirt
Sunglass Warehouse oversized sunglasses
Absolutely Audrey shoe clips
Crochet Couture Necklace
OKA b. flip flops
KattFive Creations beaded hair tie
WHIMSY ring with Eastern Trading Murano glass bead
Rumba Time watches in light blue and white
Shondra Leigh Repeating Squares metal mesh cuff
Kushyfoot toe cushions
Kushyfoot lace foot covers
Strappys decorative bra straps

The total retail value of all the goodies is approximately $575!! You’re crazy if you don’t enter to win this great box of stylish summer fun!

Here are the rules:

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit the links above, then come back here and leave a comment below about which item is your fave. (1 entry) Please note: the Absolutely Audrey shoe clips haven’t been reviewed yet, but you can still comment about them — the link is to their website!

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

Hurry!! The contest ends Sept. 15 — winner will be announced Sept. 16!!

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Also — don’t forget to enter the other Style on a WHIM contests that are running right now!
Shondra Leigh “lace” earrings contest (ends 9/8)
New Standard T-shirt contest (ends 9/3)

-Keri

Julia Roberts dons Ray-Ban aviators in Eat Pray Love. (web photo)

I went to see Eat Pray Love this weekend with a girlfriend, and I couldn’t help but notice all the fantastic sunglasses Julia Roberts wears as her character, Elizabeth Gilbert, as she travels to Italy, India and Bali. She dons more than one pair of Ray-Bans, which isn’t surprising — Ray-Bans are like the Rolls Royce of sunglasses. However, just like how not all of us can easily travel the world for a year, not all of us can afford a pair of Ray-Bans — but we still want the look for less!

Luckily, Sunglass Warehouse has frugal fashionistas covered! They have aviators, oversized styles, sport sunglasses, retro sunglasses, bedazzled sunglasses and more, so there’s basically no way you could not find a pair that you love. And you’ll love the prices even more!

All pairs are under $20, and shipping is free if you grab a couple that add up to $25+. They also offer same-day shipping for that last-minute gotta-hate-it pair of aviators that’ll match your vacation bikini perfectly! All sunglasses offer your precious eyes UVA/UVB protection.

The friendly folks at Sunglass Warehouse sent us these stylishly oversized shades for us to check out (first pair pictured) and we loved them so much that we asked to do a giveaway! So here are the details:

Win YOUR CHOICE of one pair of Sunglass Warehouse sunglasses. Retail: $8-$20

Contest ends 9/5. Winner will be announced 9/6.

To enter:

1. MANDATORY COMMENT on Style on a WHIM – Please visit Sunglass Warehouse and tell us which sunglasses you’d love to own. (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook, 3 entries (please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter, 3 entries (please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow.

(product photos used with permission)

-Keri

Whether your style is romantic, vintage or classic, there are great accessories to save you from the agonies of a bad hair day.

KattFive offers embellished bobby pins to tame recalcitrant bangs, trendy floral pins to add a dash of whimsy or — my personal favorite — adorable beaded ponytail holders for a stunning, classic ponytail at the nape. And no one will guess you got ready in five minutes!

These pieces from KattFive are also incredibly affordable. Combs start at just $7.00, bobby pins at $5.00 and pony tail holders are an amazing $3.50!

Get the look for yourself with a full set of five KattFive’s unique, embelissed pony tail holders, Retail $17.50

Contest ends 8/31. To enter:

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit KattFive and tell us which other piece you’d love to own. (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook, 3 entries (please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter, 3 entries (please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

I’m sure if you’re an avid reader of Style on a WHIM, you’ve noticed that I get excited about fashion pretty easily…well it’s hard not to when I hear about companies like ShoeDazzle!

For $39.95 per month, the celebrity stylists from ShoeDazzle will select FIVE shoe, handbag and jewelry options for you to choose from, and they’ll send your #1 pick to you, at no additional shipping cost. Got your attention yet?

Let’s run over this again…you fill out a “Style Profile” that takes just a few minutes to complete. This helps the ShoeDazzle stylists get to know your style, your likes and dislikes. Then, they pick out FIVE hot shoe, handbag and jewelry looks for you every month. You choose which one you can’t live without, and it’s sent right to your door!

Say, for instance, money is tight one month — no problem — you’re given the option to “opt out” of a month’s selection with the click of a button, and you won’t be charged! As if that’s not cool enough, the website says, “You can even ask for new options if nothing in your showroom strikes you. Our stylists will gladly tailor you a second collection at your request.”

And in case you’re wondering who these mystery “celebrity stylists” are, simply head to the website and learn more about them. The first stylist listed is Kim Kardashian…

Need I say more?

Miss Kardashian is a style icon, and she is the chief fashion stylist and co-founder of ShoeDazzle. She has final say in which shoes make it to the computer screens of members. Amazing! So you could even convince yourself that she’s your own personal stylist if you like! And I don’t mean to say that the rest of the stylists aren’t just as fantastic as well — they all have a TON of fashion experience in styling celebs. I did the Style Profile quiz just now, and it really is quick and easy — I breezed through it in just a few short minutes.

Right away, it showed me 10 options that I could choose from right away for a one-time offer of 50% off! Then I got an email that said their “Hollywood stylists will create your personalized selection of shoes, handbags and jewelry you’ll love and look gorgeous in.” I’m anxious to see what they’ll come up with for me!

P.S. “Like” their Facebook page and see photos of other members in their ShoeDazzle picks!
(all photos used with permission, from ShoeDazzle.com)

-Keri

Maybe I would have actually been on time that year if I’d hadone of these neat Rumba Time watches — they’re stretchy and squishy and only $20 each! The time is displayed on two lines, which makes you do a bit of a double-take when you first look at them, but they’re easy to operate (two little buttons on the back that you press with a pen tip to set the time, date, etc.) and they’re small and sleek enough to stack up your wrists.

They come in 14 different colors, including Glow-in-the-Dark (I’m having flashbacks of those little stars I used to stick on my ceiling when I was a kid). They’re super light and comfortable on your wrist — I wore mine all day, and they didn’t even bother me while I was typing.

These look best layered (see photo) with other bracelets and stacked with other watches to create an urban chic look that’ll guarantee you’re always on-time, whether you’re headed to class, to a student art exhibit opening or to lunch in the cafeteria with great friends.

They’re available on Ehvonnae.com, a rather new fashion website where Brittanie Yvonne, the founder of the site, hunts down unique finds for stylish women of all ages. Also available on the site is a variety of amazing jewelry, scarves and other accessories from companies I’ve never even heard of — but I’m glad I have now! I spent quite a bit of time clicking around the site, and I already made a mental wish list of several pieces I found that would be great additions to my jewelry box and my closet!

(photos used with permission)

-Keri

So when we received a pair of V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones, it seemed like a perfect fit for our Back to State U feature this week.

Opening the box was an experience in itself — I had to cut a short length of red ribbon to be able to flip up the lid, then I had to slip the “exoskeleton” case out of protective plastic and unzip it before I even laid eyes on the headphones. And they’re sexy! Suddenly, I had visions of myself in a DJ booth, scratchin’ on some records in the club with these things on my head. (What can I say? I’m a daydreamer.) Speaking of my head…it’s been years since I’ve put on a pair of fancy, DJ-worthy headphones like these, and let me tell you — the last pair I tried on were stiff, uncomfortable, and frankly, squeezed the heck out of my head (and no, I don’t have a big one). But these…totally different story! I could barely feel them, not only because the padding in the ear cushions is super squishy — and well, made of memory foam, according to the information included in the package — but they’re really lightweight!

V-MODA worked with top musicians and DJs to create these stylish headphones, and they truly did their research. I won’t go into the complications of it, but they used patent-pending driver technology to produce rich, amazing sound — from high treble to deep bass. The rumbling bass was the first thing I noticed when testing them out because my meager earbud headphones lack in that department. The V-MODA headphones also come with a great detachable cable that features a remote control and hi-fi microphone, so you can easily answer phone calls, adjust the volume, and then get back to your sweet jams.

The Crossfade LP headphones are currently available for $249.99 through Apple, Apple.com and at shop.vmoda.com, which might be a little pricey for you to drop the cash on yourself — but at least you know what to ask the parents for on Christmas Break!

-Keri