Friday Find: Wickedly Awesome Wicked Skatewear!

When you make the decision to become a roller girl, things begin to happen. Things like suddenly wanting to have wheels under your feet all the time. Things like a growing sense of self esteem. Things like losing a crap ton of weight and suddenly needing skate clothes to practice in that won’t fall off you! Yeah sure you can go to one of the large mega sports stores to buy plain old shorts, t-shirts, and iron on some letters & your number on the back, or maybe… just maybe, you’ll go online and check out one of my favorite websites… Wicked Skatewear!

Wicked is an apparel and uniform company that happens to sell roller skates and gear! Based in Huntington Beach, Strychnine and B-Train make your orders happen with the help of a few henchmen, oh, and a dog named Sh*t Pants. Yeah. I said Sh*t Pants. Their uniforms have been used on CSI:Miami and people from the Ellen Show and Oprah have been outfitted by Wicked for snippets on TV. Now, lest you think all they have is athletic gear, let me tell you Wicked Skatewear has awesome shirts, jewelry and socks that are wearable for everyday too.

My favorite Wicked t-shirt has a graphic of the flying skate done in a classical old tattoo style. It’s great. I’d wear it to parent pick up all the time.

There’s a pair of kitty socks that I’d totally wear to run in (If only they had toes in them!). As it were, I know someone who ordered these from Wicked just this past winter and she said they kept her toasty during the cold weather. What more reason could you need to buy them?

They also have books about roller derby.  I love No Mercy because I dabble in photography, especially derby photography. Some of the shots in here are so amazing and damn near magical they practically leap off the page. Someday I’m gonna shoot snaps like that.

So there you have it. Just three of the many, MANY examples of why I love Wicked Skatewear! They have something for everyone. Go give them a look and give in to the dark side…. of roller derby! Ok, maybe you don’t want to play derby, but you can look like a badass derby chick! And if that isn’t a good enough reason, well, they sell awesome t-shirts, too. My youngest daughter has one she wears to school!

About The Author:  Wife, Mom, Roller Derby Queen. She's not your typical Domestic Goddess! Living in Valrico Florida with her husband HHH and three kids, Blondefabulous, better known as Nicole, stays busy writing, cooking, baking, and playing Blocker for the Bradentucky Bombers Roller Derby League. She also helps with training for the Bradenton Derby Brats and writes a blog called Blondefabulocity. She brings a radical view to beauty, shopping, & fashion when it's mixed with fishnets, tattoos, & roller skates! Blog: Blondefabulocity http://blondefabulocity.blogspot.com On Twitter: @blondefabulous https://twitter.com/#!/blondefabulous Roller Derby Fan Page: Blondefabulous of the SRG https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blondefabulous-of-the-SRG/112622162097711

Friday Find: Punjammies! (+Giveaway)

We’re all about the girl power here at Buy-Her, so when I come across a company with cute stuff that actually helps others, I cannot resist sharing it with everyone. Ladies, may I introduce you to Punjammies, lounge/pajama pants made with gorgeous Indian fabrics by lovely Indian women who have been rescued from the sex trade and are learning to be self-sufficient.

The company is run by the International Princess Project, which establishes micro-enterprise sewing centers in partnership with indigenous Indian organizations who help these women.  Each pair of Punjammies is sewn by a woman earning fair-trade wages and becoming a part of a viable business. Not only does this help them support themselves, it boosts their self-esteem and gives them a permanent way out, thereby helping to reduce re-trafficking. All the profits go back to the centers so they can keep on doing their good work. Most importantly, Punjammies helps get the word out about what is going on outside the US.

Here’s one the story of one of the company’s team members:

Struggling to stay alive and provide even the basics of necessity, Bhagya was looking for hope and opportunity. A man came to her village one day and befriended her, and she fell in love with him. He promised her a job in a nearby village. Filled with hope, she followed him to the village, where she knew no one else. A few days later, the man that she loved sold her to a brothel owner and disappeared. The job he had promised was a lie. Manipulated into working off the price paid for her, Bhagya was forced to service up to 20 clients a day with no hope of freedom.

When in the hospital after surgery on a tumor, Bhagya met a teacher with Harvest India, one of International Princess™ Project’s (IPP) partner organizations. After hearing her story, the teacher was moved and invited Bhagya to come to the Ashraya home, IPP’s second of three sewing centers. Through the efforts of IPP and Harvest India, Bhagya was released from the captivity of prostitution and offered a job sewing Punjammies™ in a safe, loving environment where she could heal from the nightmare she once lived. With tears in her eyes, Bhagya said, “I thank God for food, shelter, and a new opportunity at life!”

Now, the good part: These pants are CUTE. The fabrics are lovely, and the pants themselves look comfy. They are made from 100% cotton and have drawstring waists. Punjammies are available in regular and capri lengths. You can also buy a coordinating t-shirt if you want to make an outfit. The prices are reasonable and they feature sizes x-small to xx-large. I’m thinking with the new pajama trend, if you got a nice tank to top these off with, you could probably wear them for a night out… if you’re a trendy kinda woman!

Now, the best part: We’re giving away Punjammies! Two lucky readers, chosen at random,  will win a pair of the Punjammies of their choice. Simply leave a comment below between now and Sunday, February 26 at 11:59 pm, letting us know what you think about today’s Friday Find and if you’d ever  to wear your Punjammies out of the house. Two winners will be chosen at random on Monday and notified via email. Tell your friends!

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Friday Find: ModCloth

You may have seen ads for ModCloth on some of your favorite sites around the blogosphere, but you may never have checked them out. It’s time you did. ModCloth offers a selection of affordable, cute and totally kitschy clothing, accessories and home decor for the under 30 set (although they don’t card you at you checkout, which is good because they have some totally cute stuff that those of us a bit north of 30 can pull off). The style is retro and vintage; it reminds me of those old black and white TV shows from the 50s that my brother and I used to watch on weekday afternoons. Think “I Love Lucy,” but with a modern twist.

ModCloth was started by a husband and wife team, Susan and Eric Koger when they were only 17 years old (they were not married at 17 – just sayin’). It started as an outlet for Susan’s passion for vintage clothing and soon grew and grew. In a few years’ time, they had a real winner on their hands. I can see why. The reason I’m writing this at all is that I kept seeing their ads on other sites and always thought, “What a cute dress!” I finally clicked and found they were affordable as well.

One thing that sets this apart from other clothing sites is customer participation. The “Be The Buyer” feature allows customers to vote on sample pieces. Those that get the most votes go into production. Interesting concept and smart business, if you ask me. What better way in ensure that an item is popular than having customers pick their favorites before they’re even produced? They also feature stylist’s picks so you can see the next big things.

ModCloth is fun, affordable clothing and accessories for the fashion forward woman. Go check ‘em out.

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Brand Specific: Hollywood Fashion Tape

We’ve covered fashion tape before. It’s a wardrobe essential, in my opinion (although maybe they could make clothes that actually fit the way they’re supposed to, but whatever). There’s nothing that looks worse to me than bra straps that are hanging out, and nothing more irritating to me than a piece of clothing that won’t stay put. I’ve tried many different kinds of tape, at many different price points, but I always come back to one: Hollywood Fashion Tape.

At $8.99 for a tin of 36 three-inch strips, it may not be the cheapest option out there, but I think it’s the only option. While other tapes will stick temporarily, the Hollywood tape will stick as long as you need it to. I have a linen jacket with floppy lapels that will use the same two pieces of tape for months. I take it off to wash and iron the jacket, then apply new strips and forget about them until the next washing. The other thing I love about them is the material they are made from; it’s stretchy and flexible. This is important for a couple of reasons: 1. It’s silent – other types I’ve tried crinkle when I move, like actual tape; 2. It holds better because it moves with you and the fabric.

The tape size is perfect for most uses: keeping bra straps hidden, closing gaps in button-down shirts, keeping lapels in place, etc. If you don’t need the whole three inches, you can cut it (do so before removing the backing). You can also find special packs of odd shapes at fabric stores—they will help you through almost any fashion dilemma. I see they also sell small dots that can be an excellent choice if you just need a bit of tape.

My only complaint? Every time I buy more tape, I get another tin. I don’t need another tin, and I hate throwing them in the trash. Ladies—come up with a refill pack and I’ll buy it.

P.S. – Check out some of Hollywood Fashion Secrets’ other stuff—there’s something for just about every need. So cool.

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

No More Back Fat!

No matter how lean you may be (or used to be), chances are you are going to be familiar with the dreaded back boob: That lump that spills over the back of even your favorite bra and generally makes you feel fat, sloppy and icky. Guess what? It’s an almost universal problem unless you’re young and/or very skinny. But there is help: Soma’s Vanishing Back Bra. At a price range of $44-50, they’re not bargain basement bras, but they are most certainly worth every penny.

After going into early menopause, my whole body composition started to change. One of the side effects was back boob. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get rid of it—not by losing weight or by switching bras. I did finally go for a fitting at Nordstrom, thinking I was simply buying the wrong bra size. I was told by the trained bra fitter that it wasn’t the bra, “some people just have it.”

Translation: It’s totally you. Sigh.

So the quest began. I stumbled onto Soma because they were having a sale. It may be helpful to note that Soma is owned by the same company as Chico’s. For me, this is a good thing because they cater to the mature woman and therefore address body issues that Victoria would rather ignore (apparently). I found the Vanishing Back Bras and haven’t looked back. I don’t think I will ever wear another bra again. It’s true love.

They just work. You get a great smooth line on your back not matter how body-conscious your top. There are front close styles (my favorite because they’re easy on and off, plus you can store them folded in your drawer) and back close styles. They come with lightly lined cups, unlined cups and wireless. Plus they are extremely comfortable, at least for this 38B. They come in great colors and pretty patterns. So far, though, they don’t come in strapless. Boo. Because that, I think, is the last bra frontier.

Also battling VPL (visible panty line)? Try Soma’s Vanishing Edge Panties—they come in colors and patterns to match the bras (I love that) and are available in a variety of styles from boy shorts to bikinis. No panty lines and they don’t ride up.

A perfect pair, no?

About The Author:  Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Dots

Hello ladies!  How I have missed you all lately!  We have oh so much to catch up on!

A few weeks ago I was invited as a blogger to a Dots opening in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.   Since my kids had their soccer banquet afterwards I had to take them – and my mom – with me due to time scheduling that day.  When we arrived we were able to take a look around the store and meet the District manager, Store manager and some of the employees.  Everyone was so nice to my boys!

I was totally impressed with the quality of the clothes.  It has been years since I was in a Dots store.  I would have to say the last time being when I was a college freshman at UMASS Amherst.  It was one of the only stores in a small strip mall near the college.  Back then my taste was more Abercrombie shall we say (though my pockets couldn’t quite afford it).

Now that I am older and oh so much wiser… and a mom of 3 small guys… I prefer price and quality over names shall we say.  I can’t always pay top dollar for something that quite honestly will probably fall apart after it gets worn a few times.  Ever had that happen ladies?  I’m all about saving money while still getting fashionable clothes – like my new found love for Marshalls and TJ Maxx.

I took some time to shop around, and for just $35 I was able to get the really cute long gray sweater you see to the right, the gray hat and a necklace/earrings set.  Just $35.  Not only does Dots try and stay on top of what’s trending, their website even has a What’s Hot Now section where you can see what the celebrities are wearing and how you can get a similar look at Dots.

In addition to tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, hats and accessories I am loving their sweater collection.

Look how cute! Already I am thinking of what would look cute for some holiday parties that are coming up.

And now I have a giveaway, on behalf of Dots.  Four $10 Girlfriend Pass Gift Cards for one of my readers.  Leave me a comment between now and Friday, December 9th at 11:59 pm, on this post.  Tell me what YOU would like to get from Dots.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail.

True Religion Jeans

You might recall that I recently had a poor experience with a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans that I purchased online. Well, since it was recently my birthday (No, please! Don’t get up!) I had a bit of a shopping excursion at the local outlet mall. Remembering my resolve to expand my fashion repertoire, I tried on some different labels. When I stumbled upon True Religion’s super funky back pockets, and the inexplicably compelling white stitching, the world started to spin in slow motion, stars began to twinkle in aisles of the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet store, and somewhere I could hear Air Supply streaming through the airwaves.

When I got to the dressing room, my love only grew. You see, these were snug in the thigh, but NOT snug on my hips. In other words, they had a higher rise. But what I’m REALLY trying to say here is: NO MUFFIN TOP.

*swoon*

Now, the cut I’d found was the Becky (perhaps the Becky Little T, to be precise). This means that I’d found a REGULAR RISE pair of bootcut jeans. And YOU GUYS! THEY’RE NOT MOM JEANS! The other good news is that the inseam was also a bit shorter than most of the Sevens I’ve worn. This means I won’t always have to roll them up, have them hemmed, or wear heels (and invariably fall on my face).

The only *bad* news here is that I have mammoth thighs. These jeans are only 1% stretch, so that tightness doesn’t “give” over time. However, I gotta say that it’s kinda nice to have a pair of snug pants that are not shoving all my flab up and over the top of my belt.

It’s probably nice for everyone, in fact.

True Religion Becky cut jeans can be found on Amazon, ranging from about $175 to $200. BUT! If you live near an outlet, you might luck out and find a pair for HALF that price.  (Even cheaper if your mother is buying them as your birthday gift. AHEM.)

Friday Flop: 7 For All Mankind Clean A-Pocket

My husband calls me a bit of a jean snob. And the thing is that, well, that I’m totally not!  In fact, I just bought a regular pair at Marshall’s just the other day. (I think they were knock-offs.) But I do happen to have a soft spot for 7 for All Mankind. It might even be a blind spot, as my loyalty to the brand has me often disregarding other options. And I only started to realize this with my latest pair. Asked for an idea for a gift from my mother, I hunted down a pair of “Clean” A-pocket jeans in Vintage Courage wash. From what I saw on the website, I was in luurrve. I’d had a pair of A-pockets before, but never really liked that my ass was stamped with it’s first initial. On both cheeks. Wisely, the brand responded with this “clean” version, so I bought!

But then they arrived in the mail. There were a few issues, I guess. First, I noticed that the color was more indigo than I’d thought it would be. But since I still liked the fading, I pushed this out of my mind. I tend to get in a rut with fashion, and maybe this would push me out!

Ehh…but then I tried them on. The fit was…weird. Now, the description claimed that this jean would have the same fit as the traditional A-pocket. They just took off the silly A! But I’ve owned A-pockets, and these? These were not fitting like A-pockets. The waist was too big and the thighs, too tight. And while this could be fixed with a belt and less cookies, most problematic was the flare leg. Again, I saw “bootcut” on the site, but this was decidedly “flare” leg. I have to roll them if I’m not wearing them with heals. (Which, means I have to roll them all the damn time.)

In the end, I actually kept the jeans because I’m a child. I was so excited to finally get them that I was too impatient to wait for something different. (I know; it makes no sense. You should talk to my husband.) So if you’re in the market for this particular jean, I’d highly recommend finding them in a department store to try on first. Or, cautiously purchase online, but be prepared to return. They retail for about $189 on Amazon, but I know other sites have them for as low as $150.

*sniffle*

Summer 2009 Trend: 27 (Maxi) Dresses

I am a late convert to the maxi dress trend. Maxi dresses were all the rage last summer and spring, but I always assumed that the super long length would be too much for my petite frame.

This year maxi dresses are back and I have fully embraced maxi dresses for the summer. I encourage – no, I implore you – to do the same.

What is a maxi dress?

It has nothing to do with feminine hygiene and everything to do with wearable style.

A maxi dress is basically a really long dress. But we’re not talking floor length formal gowns. A maxi dress is a very casual look that can replace your shorts and t-shirts. You can dress it up or keep it super casual, depending on your accessories (because shoes and jewelry can change an entire outfit), and it becomes appropriate for just about any everyday occasion.

The best thing about a maxi dress is that it flatters a multitude of figures. It is perfect for hiding flaws from the boobs on down. Maxi dresses are also one of the most comfortable trends to come out since someone decide yoga pants were a fashion statement.

They are as comfortable to run around in as sweats without, you know, being sweats.

You can get maxi dresses in any color, solids or prints, in absolutely every size. The biggest thing to watch is the length. Ideally, a maxi dress should hit at your ankle bone.

You can find maxi dresses at every price point.  Find a few of my favorites after the jump.

27 Maxi Dresses for under $100

Maxi Dresses under $30
Magic Women’s Paisley Maxi Dress	She’s Cool® Print Maxi Dress
She’s Cool® Print Maxi Dress	She’s Cool® Lilac Paisley Print Dress
Volume One® Tie Dye Floral Maxi Dress	Energie® Braid Belt Jersey Maxi Dress
Jasmine® Black/White Tiered Maxi Dress	Ethnic Tiered Maxi Dress
Ethnic Ombre Maxi Dress	Floral Maxi Dress
Beaded Halter Maxi Dress	Paisley Maxi Tube Dress
Maxi Dresses under $50
London Times® Big Floral Maxi Dress	Renee C. Women’s Printed Maxi Dress
Lily Women’s V-neck Jersey Maxi Dress	Glamour Women’s Wave Print Maxi Dress
Magic Women’s Halter Maxi Dress	Magic Women’s Maxi Dress
London Times® Colorblock Maxi Dress	Animal print maxi dress
Flyaway maxi halter dress	Floral Chiffon Maxi Dress
Maxi Dresses under $100
Ellen Tracy Women’s Printed Halter Maxi Dress	Eliza J Women’s Taupe/ Yellow Maxi Dress
Ronni Nicole Maxi Printed Dress	Color Blocked Maxi Dress
MAXI DENIM DRESS by Calvin Klein

Women’s Workout Clothes – 4 rules for buying workout clothing

I just recently started working out again.  At a gym.

If you’ve ever been to a gym before you know that it is where the female spawn of satan go to make you feel fat. Some people will try to tell you that those women only hang out at the fancy gyms, but they’re lying.  Even the women at the YMCA have the ability to make you feel like stuffed sausage on feet when you first start to work out.

My first day back to the gym, I made a classic rookie mistake.  I dressed like a mom who was just starting to work out again.

I wore capri pants instead of shorts to cover up the cellulite on my pasty white thighs.

I wore a sensible tank top with wide straps to conceal the sports bra that I’m wearing for function instead of fashion.

I put all of my efforts into concealing my body instead of showing it off.  Because, hello?  I just started working out again.  And also?  I’m going to be red faced and sweating like a pig in about .02 seconds.

Unfortunately, my modesty and sensibile thinking just made me feel more self concious about the way I looked the entire time I was there.  The problem was I didn’t get workout clothes that were flattering to my body.  At all.

Yes, some women’s workout clothes are more flattering than others.  And it’s not necesssarily the workout clothing with the most coverage that looks the best.

And before you start to lecture me on how trivial it is to care about what you look like when you workout – well, suck it.  It’s distracting to be thinking about what a turd you look like when you’re trying to concentrate on things like form and breathing and not dying.

Here’s what I learned about women’s workout clothes that work better for my body.

Women’s Workout Clothes Rule 1 – wide straps  and sleevless tops are not your friend.

This is similar to the tank top I wore my first day.  Great coverage, right?

Maybe if I had some definition in my arms.  As it is, the only thing I have going for my upper body at this point is the fact that I have shoulders.  of course, in this top you couldn’t see that.  All you could see was my pudgy little arms plugged into my top.  Instead of emphasizing my shoulders or my chest, the focus was on my very undefined upper arms.

Women’s Workout Clothes Rule 2 – Work what your mama gave ya, even if it’s just a shoulder blade.

This is a much better option for me. It’s not much of a difference, but the straps are small enough that you can see that I actually have joints, not just plug-in limbs.

Women’s Workout Clothes Rule 3 – it’s perfectly OK to cater to the girls.

Even better, a top that shows off my shoulders and the little bit of chest I have. Granted, my boobs aren’t much to get excited about, but any positive attention I can bring to the top of my body takes away from my very pear shaped lower half.

And even little boobs are sexy when it’s done with class.

Women’s Workout Clothes Rule 4 – just say no to pseudo maternity wear.

Um, no.  The only person this looks good on is someone who doesn’t have anything to hide.  And do you know what the benefit of good workout tops is?  Spandex.  Spandex is your friend and will hold your stuff up and in.  This?  This is begging to have your jiggling belly peeking out from beneath your maternity top the first time you bend over too far or lift your hands too high.

Of course, I’m still in the beginning stages of my adventure in women’s workout fashion.  So far I’ve figured out how to flatter the top half of my body, but the bottom half is still screwed.

I’ve tried shorty shorts, mesh basketball shorts, and stretchy capri pants.  None of it’s making me feel less self concious about potential camel toe or butt jiggle.

I don’t suppose there’s another 5’2″ pear out there with some words of wisdom for my lower body, is there?  (I mean, BESIDES more cycling classes.)