New Clinique Fall Eye Palette at Belk Galleria Dallas

I like a good smokey eye palette, and I love a good GWP (gift with purchase).  The Clinique counter at the Belk Galleria Dallas is having a fab special right now.  When you purchase $55 worth of Clinique, get a super-cute limited edition palette of 6 must-have shadows that are perfect for fall.  There may be sweet shades on cover of this palette but the eye shadow shades on the inside are even better.  And you definitely won't want to hide your eyes with sunglasses when you have these eye shadows on.  The smokey eye isn't a new trend, but most "perfect" smokey eye palette are full of shades of gray and black.  Clinique's fall shadow palette has neutral yet interesting colors, like navy and pewter.

At Belk Galleria Dallas with your purchase and palette, also receive a Clinique makeup bag with lipstick, cleanser, makeup remover, mascara, and moisturizer when you buy.  While supplies last only, so you have to get over there! 

Fall 2015 Fashion & The Bachelor at Belk

with Jake Pavelka and Yvonne Crum

This is a seriously long-overdue post, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell you guys about meeting The Bachelor[s] at Belk Galleria Dallas in August for a fall fashion trend event.  It was such a fun night with an intimate cocktail meet and greet followed by a fashion show with two of the most well-known Bachelor stars: Sean Lowe and Jake Pavelka.  Even though these guys are perfect for TV, they also seem like nice, real people.  This was especially exciting for me because I had huge crushes on both Jake and Sean during their seasons.  Bachelor hunk Sean Lowe and his sweet, petite wife Catherine Lowe were happy to chat with guests and pose for fan pictures.  Bachelor and pilot Jake Pavelka led the fashion show commentary with TV host Amy Vanderoef.

with Catherine and Sean Lowe

with Jake Pavelka

Legendary stylist Charmaine Marshall produced another awesome fashion show featuring the season's hottest trends.

1.  Sharp Cuts: sleek and chic with modern prints
2. Rugged Individualist: relaxed and rough around the edges
3. Uptown Folk: a mix of handcrafted and couture
4. Urban Athletics: fashion meets function (ath-leisure)
5. Town & Country: luxe with a traditional twist

Enjoy these pictures by Shana Anderson!  

Catherine Lowe, Sean Lowe, Charmaine Marshall, Salem Boohaker, Amy Vanderoef, Jake Pavelka

Catherine and Sean Lowe

Taylor Bacic, me, Yvonne Crum

Spring 2015 Trend Report at Belk Galleria Dallas

Models posing with Arlene Goldstein (VP of trend merchandising and fashion direction), Salem Boohaker (store manager), Charmaine Marshall (Belk stylist)

Spring has almost sprung and Belk Galleria Dallas started the new year with a showcase some of the best looks of the season.  After almost a year since the grand opening in 2014, Belk has continued to be a go-to Dallas destination for modern southern style.  Arlene Goldstein, VP of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction at Belk, highlights a selection of style statements each season, and her predictions always seem to be on-point.  I'm always lucky enough to be one of the bloggers invited to see her special preview each season.  From seeing outfits styled by Charmaine Marshall, Belk stylist, and the style statements by Arlene, I think it's going to be a fun fashion season with lots of opportunities to experiment with color, print and silhouette.  Spring is all about the following four trends, and I hope you are as inspired as I am!   

Garden Party: Floral motifs, traditional and digitized, will continue to be a leader this spring.  Arlene loves this look paired with statement accessories featuring colored stones or pearls.  Longer pleated skirts and classic lace are essential Garden Party elements.  Complete the look with a ladylike handbag and single-soled shoes (aka: non-platform).   

Sport Chic: The sporty motif has taken a turn toward chic with pieces like stylish sneakers and backpack totes.  Athletic-inspired hoodies and jog pants dressed up with polished items are a must.  And buying a "dressy" sweatshirt wouldn't hurt either.  This statement is the perfect way to update your usual casual yoga pant outfit, even though Arlene still thinks yoga pants are on-trend.  You'll be seeing a lot of textiles borrowed from the gym including mesh, pleather, nylon and neoprene accented with contrast zippers and color-blocking.

Spare Me: Bold architectural prints in black and white with pops of color makes a super-modern statement.  A-line, columns and trumpet skirts are key silhouettes to complement the grids and graphic prints of this statement.  Arlene incorporates white shoes and accessories with several of her outfits for the coming season.  According to Arlene, wearing white all year-round is no longer a crime, so breaking the "Labor Day" tradition is the new bold fashion-forward rule.  Speaking of being bold, cuffs, chokers and exaggerated bags (over-sized and mini) go perfectly with this trend.  Gold is also an important classic that you can bring out to pair with your geometric prints.

Islander: A mix of exotic prints and classic stripes will give your look a chic vacation vibe.  Arlene emphasized "matched sets" for spring which, are combinations of pieces of the same or similar prints.  An easy way to bring the islander trend into your wardrobe is to start with "color commonality," said Arlene.  She's also into the continuation of the fringe and tribal trends.  This look is fresh and exciting.

Belk's best stylist, Charmaine Marshall, did a fabulous job with the styling of these four outfits.  My favorite look was the "Islander" because the prints and textiles seemed like they would contradict each other, but her brilliant styling made the outfit come together beautifully.  Belk Galleria Dallas store manager Salem Boohaker is always a great host and the spring event was lovely.  Hearing Arlene explain her spring picks made me even more excited for the coming season.  She comes up with clever snippets about each trend that are always crowd pleasers.  I've noticed that Arlene thinks outside of the box with her style statements.  Each trend can be interpreted differently and easily incorporated into every woman's wardrobe, no matter your style or taste for risk when it comes to clothing.

Fashion friends: Leslie Chatman, Leah Frazier, Amber LaFrance, Charmaine Marshall

with Galleria Dallas stylist Holly Quartaro

The first fashion event of the year couldn't have been more fun.  Be ready for spring with Arlene Goldstein's Top 10 Most Wanted items for women and men this season.

Women’s Most Wanted Spring 2015

1.       Kimono

2.       Soft Pants 

3.       Easy Fit Top

4.       Matched Set

5.       Longer Skirt 

6.       Jumpsuit 

7.       Floral Dress

8.       Statement Earrings

9.       Glitzy Sandals

10.     Look at Me Lips 

Men’s Most Wanted Spring 2015

1.       Updated Polo

2.       Shorter Short

3.       Bold Prints 

4.       Jog Shorts

5.       Athletic-Inspired Knit 

6.       Plaid Sportcoat  

7.       White Pants

8.       Spring Suit 

9.       Fashion Add-Ons 

10.     Sneaker-Style Slip Ons

  

Attention designers!  Belk is also looking for the next big fashion designer.  The Belk Southern Designer Showcase is back and entries for 2015 are due by February 2, 2015.  Dallas-based Lucy Dang won in 2013 and her collection landed in Belk Galleria Dallas.  We're rooting for another Texan to win!  Complete this form and may the best designer win.

All photos in this post were taken by the amazing Shana Anderson and her son, Trevor.

with Yvonne Crum

Lucy Dang Trunk Show and Dawn Mellon's Fall Trends @ Belk

"Feminine and southern."  That's how Dallas-based fashion designer Lucy Dang describes her style.  The ever-so-stylish women in Dallas love Lucy Dang, and so does the rest of the south.  In 2013, she submitted her designs for the Belk Southern Designer Showcase just two days before the deadline and won.  Her modern yet sophisticated evening wear collection has landed at Belk.  Lucy also won the 2013 Texas Next Top Designer competition.  With two big wins, 2013 was an awesome year for Lucy, and I think 2015 will be even better.  Last month, Belk shoppers at the Galleria Dallas were the first ones to pre-order dresses the new spring 2015 line, and meet the designer too.

Yvonne Crum, Charmaine Marshall, Lucy Dang, Alex Small, Lisa Petty.  Photo by Scot Redman

Dallas is the perfect place for Lucy to showcase her designs.  She described Dallas as "charming, warm and sophisticated," which is exactly what's seen in Lucy's clothes.  After designing an elegant, dark collection for fall, Lucy decided to use shades on the other end of the spectrum for her spring collection.  Lucy focused on keeping the new collection bright, airy and exotic and was influenced by Peru. 

Lucy Dang was born to be a designer.  Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind sparked her interest in fashion at a young age.  According to Lucy, success in the fashion industry depends on perseverance and passion for fashion.  Lucy spent 10 years building fashion industry experience before becoming a fashion designer.  Some of the companies she's worked for are Dillard's, Nicole Miller and Rebecca Taylor.

My favorite dress from Lucy's collection!

Lucy Dang and Lisa Petty

Lucy Dang and Dawn Mellon.  Photo by Scot Redman

Lucy wasn't the only star at Belk that day.  Dawn Mellon, everyone's favorite Savvy Stylist, also shared her secrets to making the most of your fall wardrobe.  The same dress can look completely different with a few tweaks and a little creativity.  I was very impressed with Dawn's picks, as usual!  Belk put on another fabulous event, and stay tuned for more fall and winter events coming soon!  

Modern Southern Belk Gives Back in Style

Since April 2014, Belk at the Galleria Dallas has been such an awesome addition to our city for so many reasons. But, Modern Southern Style isn't all they're about.  Belk donates $21 million to charity each year.  I had the chance to chat with Belk's Jessica Graham, VP of corporate communication and community relations, to find out more.

The company is particularly dedicated to raising funds and awareness for education, breast cancer and community strength.  Though Belk mainly focuses on these areas, they also allow community members to get involved in raising money for the causes that are most important to them.  This past weekend, Belk held its semiannual Charity Day Sale where local Belk shoppers could sell $5 coupons and volunteer in the store to raise money for their favorite charities.  I think this is one of the coolest ideas for a fundraiser, and all of the money goes directly to the charities.  Belk is simply the facilitator and doesn't profit from this event.  More than 8,000 charities participate each year and the promotion yields about $10 million for worthy causes.

This year, Ralph Lauren designed a pink tennis shoe (also comes in black or white) that is exclusive to Belk and a portion of the sales will support breast cancer awareness and mammograms.  As the only department store that offers mobile mammograms, Belk has become known for its Mobile Mammography Center that visits Belk stores to offer checkups.  Notice the cute RL shoe that's wrapped on the bus!  There are currently 300 Belk stores in 16 states and the mammography bus will visit Dallas next year.

After hearing about all of the extraordinary things Belk does for the community, Jessica went on to tell me about their program with Discovery Education that teaches middle school students about the importance of giving back.  Participants design a project to help solve an issue in their communities for a chance to win scholarships.

In Dallas specifically, Belk also partners with the United Way, Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, and Junior League.  To learn more about Belk's charity efforts, check out their website.

Trade In, Trade Up Your Denim at Belk 8/1-8/3!

Belk is giving us the opportunity to give back in style this weekend.  Starting today 8/1 through Sunday 8/3, donate one or more pairs of gently used jeans and get a $5 coupon toward a new pair of junior's jeans.  Sounds like a sweet deal to me.  The donated jeans will go to United Way and distributed to local students in need.  The new Belk flagship at the Galleria Dallas is a favorite among Dallasites.  Let's trade in and trade up our denim!  Don't live in Dallas?  No problem because all Belk stores nationwide are participating.

Contest Alert - Concert Style Sweeps!  In honor of back to school, Belk is also giving shoppers a chance to win a trip for 4 to a Live Nation concert, cash, and a big Belk gift card!  Enter for your chance before the sweepstakes ends on September 15!

Belk Galleria Dallas Fall 2014 Preview

Ellen Flowers, Heather Anderson, Cynthia Smoot, Lisa Petty, Dawn Mellon, Alex Small, and Chelsea Hameister

This month, Dallas bloggers got a fall fashion preview at Belk Galleria Dallas.  It's hard to believe that Belk, which opened earlier this spring at the Galleria, is already preparing for the biggest season in fashion: fall!  Belk's Arlene Goldstein, VP of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction, gave us a sneak peek into the top fall trends.  Belk is going to have some pretty fierce stuff this fall.  See for yourself when you get the fall catalog in the mail!  Or better yet, visit the Galleria to get the Belk experience in person.  Use this handy list of Top 10 Fall Picks as a guide for your fall shopping.

Women’s Most Wanted

1. Soft Pant

2. Longer Skirt

3. Creative Cardigan

4. Novelty Vest

5. Fashion Sweatshirt

6. Tunic Top

7. Midi Length Sheath

8. Statement Neck

9. Over the Knee Boots

10. Satchel

Jump-start fall shopping right now at Belk Galleria Dallas.  You'll fall in love with their latest fall picks... and sale items.  There's almost always a coupon or an additional percent off.  You've gotta love Belk!

Summary of Style Statements:

Complex Simplicity: ultra-modern message, pattens go graphic, and bold contrasts

His is Hers: quirky coolness with a feminine twist, exotic red color palette exotic

Rebel Rebel: unexpected pairings, passion for plaids, statement necks and cuffs, booties and over-the-knee boots

with Yvonne Crum and Linda Cooper

 All of these beautiful photos were taken by Shana Anderson!

Prepster Paradise: Belk Galleria Dallas Opening Gala

Glitzy and Glam: Stephanie Koh, Holly Quartaro, Alex Small, Steve Kemble

Celebrating the grand opening of Belk with some of the most influential people in Dallas, and fashion friends, was an affair to remember.  The North Carolina-based company revealed its massive flagship store at the Galleria Dallas earlier this spring after much anticipation from the Dallas community.  Belk and Galleria Dallas pulled out all the stops to welcome guests with some Southern [and glamorous] hospitality at the Opening Gala on April 3.  Tickets were $50 and all proceeds went to Susan G. Komen, one of the charities that Belk supports.

 Belk was the place for star sightings that night.  Actress and Belk brand ambassador Hayden Panettiere opened the runway show with a Q&A.  In case you were wondering, she's even more petite in person than she is on TV.  I really need to start watching ABC's Nashville because I hear it's amazing.  Moreover, she seemed like a nice girl with a cool personality.

What I enjoy about Belk is that it's unlike any other department store in Dallas.  Although they showcase a deep offering of preppy merchandise, Belk still manages to offer a product breadth that appeals to pretty much everyone.  Plus, I appreciate their frequent sales and promotions so you can get the most bang for your buck.

Nelli Tokleh, thank you for inviting me to this phenomenal event.  I had such a fun time, and so did my friend Stephanie Koh.  She recently started a blog called Dollie Gal, so check out her post about the Belk extravaganza! 
Southern. Modern. Style.  Does it get more Dallas than that?

Sam Sichanh, Alex Small, Stephanie Koh.  Photo c/o Sam Sichanh

Reunited with fellow former Nordstrom intern Sam Sichanh.  Photo c/o Sam Sichanh