Swimsuit-Gate 2008!

Hi bougies, today we have another guest blogger! Pay attention as Tomiko shares her budget-friendly (and figure-friendly!) tips for looking cool in the hot summer sun! Enjoy! -- bb

Swimsuit-Gate 2008!

Being a Caribbean person, I can’t help but love swimsuits that are on-trend, affordable and as sexy as humanly possible. I am here to share my knowledge today.

Aphrodite
This season, Greek-inspired white and gold bikinis are hot. However, be careful with white. The cheaper the white suit, the less likely it is to be well lined. Accessorize with gladiator sandals and over-sized aviator sunglasses.

American App ($52)
Jantzen ($172)
Vitamin A ($172)
DKNY ($72)

Rainbow Pinup
Both pinup photos and surf culture inspired many suit designs this year. This season features colorblock swimsuits, dots, rainbow glitter, paisley, “mod” inspired suits, retro-fits, animal prints and patterns.

Roxy ($80)
Guess ($42)
Guess ($45)
Jantzen ($100)
Guess ($90)

Where to Shop!

Victoria’s Secret (Worldwide)
Be careful when shopping for swimwear at VS. The materials used in their swimwear are often, in a word, suspect. They use blends of random man-made fibres and most suits are shinier in person than on the website, so they sometimes look cheap. Do you want to be that girl in the pool adjusting her non-breathable swimwear sticking to her skin? No – so remove the extra padding – it feels and looks weird. I still love VS because they carry brands for cheaper than you would find them in Nordstrom’s, like Opi, Vitamin A, DKNY and Vix. Moreover, there is a sale every two minutes.

Guess and Marciano (Worldwide)
Guess/Marciano swimwear is affordable and reliable. However, G/M offer little by way of extra support in bra construction. Still, their swimwear is sturdy and will last a good few years, even if you swim a lot.

Club Monaco (Worldwide)
Club Monaco has introduced swimwear this season, retailing full-priced swimwear at $89!

Malia Mills (Soho, NY)
I have an infamous denim bikini that generally stops people dead in their tracks that I found here when I was 20. They carry size 2 to 16, cup 30AA to 40DD. It’s a gold mine, sales go up to 70%.

Molly Brown’s (Newport Beach, CA)
Amazing selection of gorgeous mid-to-high end bikinis. They follow magazine trends very closely. Their sales pop up randomly and without warning, and are never much more than 30% off.

Macy’s (Worldwide)
Macy’s carries recognizable brands for around 65% off. The time for the best swimsuit deals are from Fall to Winter.

Figleaves
Every imaginable style combined with every imaginable price range.

Bluefly
As with everything else the site carries, Bluefly has tons of options. They are not as well-stocked as Figleaves, but as you already know, literally everything is on sale at Bluefly!

Laraine’s
Laraine’s carries whole pieces only!

Daddy Dilemmas!

Hi bougie ballers!

Thanks so much for the comments on Megan's guest blog. Hopefully she'll be back soon to do a post on international travel on a budget! If you're interested in doing a guest blog, just shoot an e-mail or leave a comment. I love hearing about your tips to budget fabulousness!

In other news... Father's Day is right around the corner! Now as I see it, Father's day is similar to Mother's Day since it's all about appreciating (the men) in your life. But for me - that's where the similarities end... Father's Day is one of the most difficult holidays for me because I never know what to get! Every year, I give my dad a gift and he says "thanks... it's the thought that counts," and gives it back to me. The man has everything he wants and needs - he's impossible to shop for! I'm tempted to give him discounted designer underwear but that's pretty pathetic.

So I asked my male friends and relatives - what are you giving your dad for Father's Day and what would you want to receive if you were a father... the results included:

cigars
underwear (go figure)
Rock Band
dinner
and a watch

**YAWN **

The most "interesting" suggestion came from a friend who suggested... a bolo tie. Wowzers.

But there were some other interesting suggestions like the ones provided by Mr. Coker - a family dvd of funny events and pictures, a digital picture frame with family photos already uploaded, or an old-school framed photo of the 'rents.

I'd add a homemade coupon book to the "creative list" - my brother and I made one a few years ago that included things like "1 movie night of your choosing," and "1 car-wash." The key is to be creative and imaginative!

It also might be fun to get your dad a one-time only personal shopper. If you dad is like my dad and hates shopping, then why not volunteer your time and do his shopping for him? Quick, easy, affordable, and creative! And when in doubt... a phone call or a card is always the simplest (and sometimes the most poignant) solution.

In any case, yes - my brother and I are still trying to figure out what to get daddy dearest for Father's Day... the never-ending battle goes on! Hmmm maybe these guys can help me figure it out!

So what are your suggestions about how to celebrate your father, or father-figure in your life? Any traditions? Solutions? Can't wait to hear your thoughts :)

-bb-

PS - New layout! Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

International Ballin!

Hi bougies, today we have a guest blogger - Megan - who is amazing at international travel and style... just in time for the Summer trips ... enjoy! -bb
------
Bougie Ballers,

It is my pleasure to guest write this blog entry on how to ball out of control when you are overseas. I am hoping this will help you in your summer travels!

So I do a fair amount of international travel…ok…ok…perhaps too much but my favorite part is finding shopping bargains in other countries. I have plenty of ‘expensive’ items (Gucci bags, handmade silk garments, YSL and Dior sunglasses, Burberry coat, etc.) but NEVER pay full price...its against all my bougie ballin principles. So how do I do it? I’m going to let you in on a few key places you MUST visit if you like the crème de la crème of fashion. It is important to understand this information is not easy to come by…few insiders know…so be discerning in who to share this information with.

I’m still working on my travel portfolio but are few key places in ascending order of greatness:

Italy

By leaps and bounds Italy wins hands down for the deals you will find in this country if you travel off the beaten path. Warning: DO NOT expect to find deals in Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence (I’ve been to them all)!!! About an hour outside of Florence is The Outlet Mall which has outlets for Gucci, YSL, Valentino, Armani, La Perla, Ferragamao, Alexander McQueen, Emilo Pucci, and many more. It’s the first Gucci outlet and was not even advertised by Gucci. Even my boyfriend who abhors shopping found a bangin' pair of Gucci loafers for over 75% off the regular price.

Not too far from The Outlet Mall are other smaller outlet malls for Prada (called Space) and Dolce & Gabbana. More amazing deals to be had! Make sure you spend AT LEAST a day looking around. To get to the outlet malls…either rent a car (this is what I did) or join one of the shopping tour groups that leave from Florence.

Turkey

To my ballers that are homeowners or that like to decorate their homes: Get to Turkey!! The Turkish rugs are amazing and significantly cheaper than the ones they sell in the US and all the carpet dealers ship worldwide. No need to spend money on to look like you have high end carpets such as this one from Neiman’s (I swear I saw a similar rug for $400).
Instead of spend thousands, head to Istanbul for some amazing sightseeing and pick up a rug for cheaper than it would cost for a flight and one rug in the states.

London

Right smack dab in the middle of London is the Burberry outlet. A short ride on the Tube and a lil walk will take you to a big building of everything that is Burberry. If this is your brand…you must make the visit! With the conversation rate of pound for dollar—it is the only shopping you should do in London. Well…its also necessary to stop by Topshop!

Spain

I don’t care if you spend 2 hours in the Madrid airport or if you actually spend some time in Madrid or Barcelona but make sure you bring an extra suitcase and stop by Zara and Mango (Penelope Cruz currently has a collection for them). They are two Spanish-based fashion chains whose prices in their home country are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than in the United States.

Jamaica

I would be remiss if I did not include the island of Jamaica on this list. For everyone that has friends and co-workers that are coffee lovers (who is not these days?)—buy packets of Blue Mountain Coffee. To the coffee connoisseur, Blue Mountain is simply divine! And its super expensive outside of Jamaica. Just head to any supermarket…please steer clear of tourist traps/shops…and stock up and then give them as gifts!


Well…that’s it for now. HAPPY SHOPPING!!! The next installment from Bougie Ballin Megan will be about how to do international travel on the cheap…trust me its possible!!!

-M-

Links:
Gucci Outlet Mall
Italy - Outlet Mall
Prada
Burberry Outlet
TopShop
Zara
Mango
Blue Mountain Coffee