Chic Style Tips, Style Advice, Trends & News for your fashionable look, stylish home, and lifestyle

Do you dare to wear knee high socks with heels?

Wear It Wednesday... it's a dare to pull off socks and shoes. Socks and shoes, no not the way actors had to wear black socks in sexy movie scenes back in the day, but black socks of the off the runway kind. Miuccia Prada started the knee high socks worn with heels trend and championed it. Think of this fashion trend as an alternative to boots in warmer months, just look at the Marni look below. Outfits pop with neutral knee socks (please avoid colorful socks as you want to veer away from cutseyville), with retro and easy to try shifts in proportions. You can also try the knee socks worn with heels trend to color block a too bright

It's big designer names, names, names made even more enticing under the flea market tarp!The city of Rome is truly a living architectural museum, but where do all the old fashion relics go?A good chunk can be found on the right Sunday at the Borghetto Flaminio market.Lot's of vintage costume jewelry and even some hard to find pieces at the Borghetto Flaminio from the 1960s and some Hermes.While Porta Portese is the more widely known flea market in Rome, for me, it's a crowded and huge mass of junky new items and a few stalls of ratted up old fur. It's been known that if you dig deep enough at Porta Portese that you will find "something" but for me it was more like something plastic and tacky.Porta Portese

La Dolce Vita (1960) Federico Fellini follows a week in the life of a philandering paparazzo journalist living in Rome played by Marcello Mastroianni

I've always been fascinated by classic Italian cinema and the genius of Federico Fellini. Who knows how that infatuation plays through the tapestry of my life but through the years, I have visited Rome so many times yet never had the opportunity to tour Cinecittà Studios until this trip. What an enthralling opportunity it is! Particularly since Cinecittà Shows Off! A peek inside the cinematic world of Federico Fellini Just standing in the extraordinary Fellini soundstage at Cinecittà, Teatro 5, makes you want to draw on eyeliner, find a black bustier and purr "Marceeeeello," in hopes that Mastroianni may appear on screen before you wearing his iconic rectangular Persol sunglasses, crisp white shirt, black tie and dark suit. The sweet life it is! >>RELATED: Roman Style- Sneakers

I'll Have What She's Having: A floral dress that looks fresh and neither old lady or juvenile Try our expert style tips, on how to wear a floral dress with easy, fuss-free style. Camilla Belle's sexy floral Prada dress gave flower power an entirely new spin at last week's Chanel dinner for the Tribeca Film Festival. I think one you should consider toying with on your own... >>Learn how to Make a Big Impact in Small Prints No shrinking violet, Belle's floral number is one example of the new florals you should be on the look out for as she looks quite the lady while making a statement with crochet detailing in all the right spots. >> MORE: Floral Like most Prada pieces, her

Win this: Just in time for Mothers Day.... let mom (or you) customize jewelry with our gift certificate giveaway chance, just for joining the FocusOnStyle newsletter! We've got a $250 Gemvara gift card to give out. All you have to do is join our newsletter and like us on Facebook between now and Friday, May 11 (Midnight EST) and we will select one lucky winner at random! I am jonesing for the Naked Emerald Triple Ring with Emerald-Cut Black Onyx, pictured above, but it's price tag is out of the ballpark at the moment. I'll make more than do with the Naked Gems piece that I was invited to create for myself. I decided upon a sweet Naked Cushion Checkerboard London Blue Topaz Petite Bezel Pendant -

While its double-digit price tag may stop you at hello, there's no denying the simple sophistication and beauty that this luxury timeless classic bag from Balenciaga boasts, making it the kind of bag to keep your eye out for this season. Why? Besides its irresistible bordeaux hue, its equestrian inspired details and restrained use of hardware, its signature zipper pulls and tricks lend it a chic yet subtle strength. Not too large, not trendy and age-appropriate for any age, imagine it with just about anything, anytime. >>A selection of Best Bags to consider in our Online Shopping Guide Section So when on the hunt for a purse update, consider this find as your first reference as its smart design will guarantee to never go out of style. >>More:

Honestly, I applaud anyone who takes a risk in fashion and pulls it off with unfettered style and grace, Particularly, when their everyday outfits border flamboyant costumes, AND the wearers are no spring chickens as they say back in Brooklyn. >> SHOP: Accessories Guides In what will probably be a heart-pounding, fanatical fashion frenzy for the young personal style blogger set and, perhaps, a nod to pull the best of the lots for everyone else, YOU can get a cheap chic bite of over the top fashionista style from Anna Dello Russo (who looks stylishly tame in this photo) and Iris Apfel very soon. The Anna Dello Russo for H&M collection Anna Dello Russo in collaboration with H&M has a line of accessories which

Isabel Marant Willow Sneakers in beige or black at myTheresa

Shhhh, I've been sneaking around and got a taste of stylish street chic sneakers, Roman style. Honestly, I'm not a sneaker person. Never was. Being neither Amazonian tall and muscularly lissome, nor the proverbial fleshy tourist, sneakers just never found a spot in my life outside of the gym or a mountain trail. >> SHOP: Newest Stylish Sneakers Fast forward to a vacation in Rome and a sudden weather change and all those otherwise spring shoes just wouldn't cut it in an unseasonable dip in temperature and on again off again downpours. Those Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto bronze sneakers that I packed suddenly took on a new life as a wardrobe staple. Actually, ALL my different versions of a theme, including high-heeled bootie

Dita Von Teese in Sonia Rykiel. Photo: Sonia Rykiel I’ll Have What She’s Having: On trend all-over small prints easy on the eye, big on style... Attendees high & low at this year's Coachella music festival worked quite a few enviable looks that are certain to keep the blogosphere abuzz including the always on par Dita Von Teese, who, as expected , forego rocker grunge for elegance. That's why we look at her for today's example of how to wear small prints, with big style. >> RELATED: How to wear head to toe prints Von Teese has beyond proven her mastery of capturing flawless retro glamor in contemporary garb and nailed wearing head-to-toe prints in a Sonia Rykiel jumpsuit covered in a

With slightly kooky, eccentric, even wacky sunglasses all the rage, Roberto Cavalli's limited edition Spring 2012 sunglasses bring a whole new meaning to the term 'oversized.' While placing a heavy emphasis on the browline with a retro minded shape tricked out with juxtaposing skins in ultra rich, deluxe hues, these designer glasses certainly are statement-making. >> SHOP: Sunglasses Shopping Guide 'An earthly paradise populated by creatures of fantasy...the Eden of femininity...my creativity is expressed through clothes which make the Cavalli woman a sensual and mysterious being.' - Roberto Cavalli, on his latest over-the-top frames. >> MORE: Sunglass Tips and Trends >> VIDEO: How to Select Sunglasses to Suit Your Face Shape In their words: 'Roberto Cavalli and Marcolin present a Special Edition Sunglasses Collection for

I'll Have What She's Having: Western Chic With a Dollop of Cool Rocker Edge This year's Coachella music festival seems as if it's sartorially minded revelers sense of style is more center stage than that of the bands in the line-up... Just take a look at the always on cue Kate Bosworth in Isabel Marant, looking tres chic western with a cool dose of deshabille met with a studied hand at mixing modes for a sexy take on rocker chic and the perfect example of super celebrity festival style... a look that you may want to covet for casual summer evenings. >> SHOP: On Trend Western Boots Go for the real thing, at a fraction of the price, in this Scully Western Shirt- more

White denim and leather jacket at Shopbop

White Day at FocusOnStyle continues! The white clothing trend is certainly gorgeous with the likes of earlier posts about Acne and Comme des Garcons all seeing the white of day this spring. But if you are like me, you'll be questioning how much wear you will really get out of the big ticket items when keeping white clean and pristine can be an issue. We've talked about how to remove yucky yellow deodorant stains- if only I could spritz on that guy in front of me at the gym. White Brite laundry whitener And as far as keeping white jeans-- like the JBrand jacket from Shopbop pictured above-- T-Shirts and tighty-whities not looking dingy, I prefer a dash of White Brite in the

While we love just about anything Miuccia Prada creates (her Spring 2012 collection included), we have to admit that sometimes, while intriguing, her ideas can seem hard to imagine in playing a role in real life. Although this season with its retro Italian glamor, wicked hot-rod motifs and red-hot flame prints seemed a tad bit tricky although wholly covetable, served as no exception as it dangerously teetered on the good taste divide with its decadent juxtaposition of references high & low. >>More: Prada But then again, look at how delightful actress Freida Pinto looked in a hot-rod printed number at the recent celebration of Nylon magazine's 13th anniversary while hitting upon the season's must-have color block trend. >>More: Celebrity Style One of the major reasons the

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Do you dare to wear knee high socks with heels?

When In Rome: Flea Market With Vintage Gucci, Fendi, Valentino, Chanel and more

When In Rome- Cinecittà Shows Off Classic Italian Cinema At Its Best

Prints Please! Here’s How Camilla Belle Wears The New Floral Dress In Style

$250 JEWELRY GIFT CERTIFICATE GIVEAWAY: Gemvara- Customize Jewelry To Get Get the Rock Without the Fuss

Fabulous Friday- Find a Classic Bag Like This One From Balenciaga

Cheap Chic Alert: Over the Top Fashionistas Anna Dello Russo and Iris Apfel have lines coming to a mall near you

Fancy Pants Street Chic Sneakers with Roman Style

Dita Von Teese Shows You How To Make A Big Impact In Small Prints at Coachella

Must-Have – Roberto Cavalli “Wild Diva” Special Edition Wacky Sunglasses

Celebrity Festival Style – Kate Bosworth in Isabel Marant

White Clothing Care Tips- You Don’t Have To Marry the Drycleaner (if you don’t want too)

Freida Pinto Can Make Anything Look Tasteful – Find Out How

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Female Entrepreneurs: Helping You & Your Business Get Out There!