Cocktail dress lookalike games

Looking for the perfect New Year’s Eve dress already? Me neither. When the time comes, check out this dazzling array of sequins by BCBG:

Then choke on the $440 price tag. And alternatively consider this $149 lookalike from Bostonproper.com:

Free People grows up

Remember the brand Free People? Throughout high school and most of college, I loved its quirky, cutesy clothes that barely stayed this side of ridiculous. My favorite was the red tulip-patterned sweater, which, I definitely bought for $2 (no lie) at TJ Maxx years before Thora Birch wore it in American Beauty. I believe there was also a cardigan with a big poodle appliqué a line of sequins for the leash. Say what you will, the Free People of the late 90s/early 00’s was unique, all right. And by unique I mean I snicker and turn red when I see photos of myself from that time period.

Fast forward to 2007, when it’s apparent that Free People has grown up. The first indication: Macy’s now places the brand in the contemporary section next to Laundry and BCBG, instead of its former digs in juniors. Though the line still relies heavily on fuzzy acrylic sweaters and hippie-inspired floral motifs, Free People has parlayed its creative free spirit into some office-appropriate attire. Take, for example, this deep purple cardigan. The tie neck, ruffled bodice and puffed shoulders are fashion forward but streamlined. This jacket strikes the perfect balance between cozy sweater and down-to-business blazer.

Unfortunately for those of us whose money tree in the backyard failed to yield a bumper crop, both of these options – like most of Free Peoples’ wares – cost over $100. What to do? First, check out the clearance racks at big department stores like Macy’s and Lord and Taylor. Half of that is often Free People, which is overpriced to begin with. (If you're willing to endure some junk mail and loss of privacy, sign up for store mailing lists and emails. You'll get excellent coupons.) If you’re a patient person, troll eBay for the brand, or, if you’re in one of the fortunate cities with a Fox’s or other discount designer boutiques, check them out: I see Free People there all the time.

Store review: Seventh Avenue Coat Outlet in Chicago's Lincoln Park

I used to love the BlockBuster store situated just inches from our home. How delightful it was to beeline in pajamas the 50 feet to its glowing front door in search of a last-minute movie. It was too good to be true: The BlockBuster at Clark and Wrightwood in Chicago closed up shop earlier this year, leaving a dark, ugly hole in the middle of the block.

Fortunately, a new business opened its doors this month in the space: Seventh Avenue Coat Outlet. Mind you, the name has nothing to do with Lincoln Park and the space inside is stark. (I suspect this will be a seasonal retailer that packs up after the cold weather passes. Then again, this is Chicago and that’s a good nine months away.) But the staff is friendly and you will find racks and rows of cheap wool overcoats, leather jackets and parkas for men and women.

Prices range from $110 to this Kenneth Cole Reaction topper to $500 for a leather Cole Haan jacket. Jones New York and Nine West dominate the mix, with this dove gray portrait collar charmer ringing up at just $110 – an easy way to pick up on this fall’s gray trend.

A cheaper alternative to the Theory suit

It used to be that once a girl landed herself a corporate gig, she rewarded herself with a Tahari suit. Nowadays the rise of contemporary labels means that Theory, maker of $360 jackets and $230 pants, is the choice for many younger professional women. While yes, Theory suit separates are more streamlined and tailored than your average Tahari/Jones New York offering, they’re expensive. Really expensive.

That’s why I am thrilled to see that new styles of Express’s ubiquitous Editor pants are nearly identical in fit and material to those by Theory. And while the $69.50 price tag isn’t down and dirty, it sure beats $230 – and, if you give Express your phone number when you’re in the store, they will send you great coupons ($20 off any purchase, $25 off $50) almost every other week. I almost never give out my number but I spoke with a manager and checked out the privacy policy, which prohibits the sharing of customers’ information. So far I have experienced no unsolicited calls as a result. Express also offers matching suit jackets in some of the Theory-like materials, which are usually light in color/texture with a faint cross-hatch pattern. The careful tailoring is akin to that of much pricier brands.

One thing to keep in mind about the Editor pants: As with all items, you really need to try them on before purchasing, even if you think you know your size. I have found that the same size Editors in different materials can range a full size up or down, and length can vary by more than an inch.

Store review: Loehmann's in downtown Chicago

At last. Loehmann's has opened a new location in downtown Chicago. Loehmann's is national chain purveying off-price designer clothing and accessories for men and women. Until recently Chicago dwellers had to trek out to Oakbrook or Morton's Grove to visit the budget-friendly retailer (or visit Loehmann's online shop, smartbargains.com.) No more, with the recently opened outpost at State and Randolph. Here's what to expect from the Loop store:

• A glut of juniors/young contemporary labels, including Ben Sherman, French Connection and Kenzie
• Lots and lots of designer denim
  
• Private fitting rooms (a step up from suburban locations!)
  
• Long, long checkout lines

Many of the brands at Loehmann's are pretty similar in name and price to what you'd find at Nordstrom Rack or Filene's Basement, both of which are just south on State. There's your usual assortment Nicole Miller and Laundry dresses in the $170 range, plus Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Theory and Vince in the contemporary section (upon arrival, head straight up the escalator to the "Back Room" section for the most pricey labels.) This PhDNYC ruffled plaid jacket is $60, and this Original Penguin silk blouse is all of $25. You'll also find a smattering of hard-to-find names such as Beth Bowley, Catherine Maladrino and Rebecca Beeson.

The store itself feels very NYC, with high ceilings and a well-lit interior. Items are loosely organized by brand, and you'll have a hard time getting help on the floor (or at the register, for that matter, as the checkout lines were 10 deep.)

All in all, Chicago career girls on a budget just got another good stop on the treasure hunt that is State Street discount shopping.

Store review: Mango

I remember when H&M was a real novelty. I was living in a small town in southwest Michigan, where the nearest shopping mall was across a state line and serious shopping necessitated a trip into Chicago. I had only read of the glory of H&M in magazines and when I finally walked inside one on Michigan Avenue…I was underwhelmed. H&M gets credit for popularizing the high style/low price movement (characterized by an ability to churn out on-trend imitations of designer merchandise in just weeks) but I’ve found their clothes to be of marginal quality and not worth the mayhem awaiting inside.

The U.S. has many similar chains today: Mexx, Uniqlo, Zara and Mango. Being in the Midwest, Chicago has yet to get most of these brands, but Mango has opened in Water Tower Place. Here’s my take on the city’s latest hi/low entry:

The store is much smaller and calmer than H&M, which looks like Black Friday every day of the year. You’ll find fewer of each item displayed, negating the need for endless rummaging. Price points are MUCH higher than H&M: no $19.80 sweaters here. Think $219 for coats and $89 - $129 for dresses.

The good news here is that the quality is exponentially better: You can’t see through the tee shirts and your skirt won’t be a wrinkled mess after sitting through your morning commute. What’s most astounding about Mango is its massive online shop. While I haven’t made a purchase there and can’t vouch for service, the selection alone is staggering. The clothes are lovely - the $89 Mango dress pictured above offers a similar look to Anthropologie's $128 Wine Blossom dress. Product descriptions are lacking, however; there is no fabric or fit information anywhere on the site.

How to save long pants from annihilation in sloppy winter commutes

Last week temperatures crept upwards toward 90 degrees and wreaked havoc at the Chicago Marathon. Now it’s in the 40s and legitimately parka weather. Welcome to autumn in the Midwest. Urban professional women know this means one thing: it’s time to roll up your dress pants on the way to work to keep them from dragging on the wet ground while wearing sneakers or boots. Those pants were made to go with high-heeled shoes and don’t look particularly chic when rolled into a makeshift cuff for the commute. In fact, I’m terrified that one of these days I’m going to be photographed and ridiculed in one of those Street Style blogs.

My solution: Sew/iron on two opposing pieces of Velcro to the inside hem of your pants (place them on the sides of the legs if the pants are creased down the front. Place one 3-4 inches from the bottom hem and one just above the hem. This way, you can discreetly fold your pants under, making them short enough to wear with sneakers. The Velcro holds it in place and looks much less embarrassing than that sloppy cuff When you get to the office, just release the Velcro and you’re ready for pumps and taking on the world.

How to dress up a ponytail for work

I’m back from the wedding, which means three things: I am happily married, I have a new last name, and I can finally cut the hair I grew out for the wedding. I suffered through 16 months of gradually lengthening hair that made a ponytail my best friend. In a farewell to long hair, here are X cheap, easy ways you can dress up your ponytail for a professional look:

Wrap a silk scarf around your head like a headband or tied around the ponytail itself.

Add instant style with a jeweled or flowered ponytail holder to an otherwise utilitarian look. Ulta is a great destination for hair accessories, and you can print weekly coupons from their website. Also check out HairBoutique.com for a vast selection of unusual hair adornments, including this jeweled star, which capitalizes on the season’s gray trend.

Take a small section of your ponytail and wrap it around the base of the ponytail and pin in place, concealing the elastic.

Wrap a charm bracelet around the elastic.

Slip on a headband to hold back those pesky shorter layers. A tortoise shell-print or thin jeweled band is especially elegant.

If you want to look like the consummate professional at the office, please avoid:

• Scrunchies.
• Those clip-on ponytails. Trust me, everyone knows they’re fake.
• More than one ponytail at once. Pigtails are only cute in kindergarten and at Halloween.

Back in a week

I will be pulling a disappearing act during the next week for my wedding. I tried to think of an appropriate post on the subject with relevance to workplace fashion, but the closest I got was “garments you could wear to both a wedding and to work. "All I could think of were jersey dresses and pearls.

So fear not, I am still alive and will soon be bringing you more business fashionable content guaranteed to cure dowdy outfits or boredom at work.

Two quick, cheap fashion fixes from InStyle

I don’t usually read InStyle magazine since most everything profiled therein is obscenely expensive, but the October issue offers two easy, affordable ways to update your wardrobe for under $10:

Heelstraps: Mules (any shoes without a back/heel) can be a real pain, both literally and figuratively. For $10, Heelstraps, an adjustable strappy contraption, keeps your shoes in place without drastically changing their look.

Repurposing a brooch: Remember the brooch trend from two autumns ago? Well, it’s not back – but you can still bring everyday elegance to a drab work ensemble by stringing a jeweled pin on a velvet ribbon to wear as a choker. Just tie in a bow at the back of your neck and you’ve got a great (cheap) new necklace.

Collection review: Steve Madden dresses

Now that Steve Madden is a free man again, he’s expanding beyond his renown funky accessories and into a new collection of dresses, which debuted this spring. The fall assortment, available at Macy’s, Nordstrom and the brand’s website, is filled with 40’s-style vintage details (fitted waists, knotted tops, full skirts) and all are under $200.

While some baggy-silhouetted offerings miss the mark, most are exquisitely fitted. This $189 silk charmeuse shirt dress is hardly cheap; but the fabric is rich and you could easily wear this to work or for a night out. Or, capitalize on the season's gray trend with this tweedy number for $159.