APRIL SHOWERS AND MAY FLOWERS!

This pring has been undeniably beautiful!  I've laid out on the Chicago beaches, had many sunny runs on Lake Shore Drive, and busted out my sandal collection weeks ago!  Yet, you have to admit this month of April always seems to wedge some showers into the mix!  That's why you should always be prepared to look stylish and ready for the downpours (like today for example :)

When prepping for April showers, I like to use May flowers as my inspiration!  :)  The basics every woman should have in the Spring?  I say a great pair of rain boots, a rain resistant trench, and a super stylish umbrella you aren't afraid to be seen in public with!

Hunter is a force to reckon with when talking sexy rain boots...who knew it was possible!?  The Lonny High Heal in brown and the Kellen wedge in black are great to match any outfit, still give you the height of a heal, and keep your little feet warm and dry in the spring showers!  I love the sex appeal of the Lonny, while the Kellen's mid-rise gives it a more casual day look

A great trench is something every woman should own!  Finding the right shape, length, and color for your life style and body frame is key!  For a lean frame I recommend the classic trench coat style!  For a more dramatic look, a bubble hem is great especially on curvier frame.  Bright colors are everywhere so don't be afraid of color.  If an all over pop is too much for you, changing up the belt on your trench is a fun way to play around with different looks!
 

Umbrellas are the fun part!  I still to this day think about an umbrella that I left at a restaurant.  I got it from Esta Lauder as a gift with purchase years ago!  It was beautiful!  Bright teal with water colored flowers and a curved wooden handle.  I hope it has a new owner who appreciates it as much as I did!  :)  I like to have a few umbrellas around to go with my outfit!  A fun floral pattern brightens up a rainy day, a geometric black and white print is always a safe bet, and the ultimate Chicago umbrella, the clear, wind resistant shape will get you through the roughest storms with out ruining your "do"  :)
 




Grab your spring shower essentials and create your own Style In The City!
XOXO,
Shopping Girl,
 Lora

Leopard Addiction!

I'm almost positive that a few years ago you could have quoted me saying "I hate leopard print"  and "especially leopard and pink TOGETHER".  But, that is why in fashion you should never say never!!!  I have recently become slightly addicted to the massive leopard print craze!  I'm not saying that I want a full on cat suit...or even a completely leopard print dress...but I AM addicted to the tiny touches of leopard you can add to liven up an ordinary outfit and take it to an extraordinary one!


I was on a waiting list for the new leopard TOMS.  LOVE!!!!  What a great way to be comfortable, stylish, and stay completely on trend on a day-to-day basis!  PLUS, you're giving back and this is National Volunteer Month!






 

As you may have noticed in my Love Is In The Air Blog a few months back (http://shoppinggirlxoxo.blogspot.com/2012/03/love-is-in-air.html) , I'm still digging on a thin leopard belt.  It is the perfect little accessory to add some neutrals to a pop of color dress or top plus it looks great with a bright pant as seen here!!  <3  Check out my last blog to see it with a super cute dress!

My personal favorite, and the item I'm pushing the leopard print envelope with the most is my super sexy, super comfortable, super sheer leopard print cardi from Urban.  What a perfect statement piece!  Love it belted over an LBD, over a basic T and jeans combo, or even on the beach!  Leopard perfection!

So grab your go to leopard accessories, remember to never say never and create your own Style In The City!
XOXO,
Shopping Girl,
Lora

Love Is In The Air!

Wedding season is fast approaching, and if you are anything like me your summer is jam packed with all different styles of exciting and beautiful shindigs!  I LOVE weddings!!  The individuality and unique style of every wedding is so intriguing to me, not to mention the massive amount of happiness flowing through the ceremony, dance floor, photo booths, and bar :)

Aside from loving all of the little details, and being surrounded by great friends, I always love to check out all of the great dresses!!!  What a fun place to style watch!  I've already begun planning my wedding wardrobes for this Spring and Summer...here are a few of my favorite go-to styles this season to be fashionable, fun, fresh, and forever comfortable at any type of wedding!







I'm loving girly cutouts!  This rich color is such a beautiful contrast with tan skin! and the shape is uber comfortable!  I'm a sucker for a dress with a little sleeve, but these adorable cut outs make it completely summer wearable on even the hottest days!  This style is perfect for an outdoor beach or garden wedding!  Pair it with some strappy wedges and keep the jewelry subtle to showcase the cutouts!  <3









I'm really digging the multilength hem on dresses this season!  The flowy material really plays up the romanticism of this dress!  I like it in a navy to keep it sophisticated but not your every day little black dress!  Pair it with a great signature necklace to add a pop of color!  I recommend a high nude heal to elongate the legs and highlight the awesome hem line! 







I adore this look!  This pink is such a fun and happy color!  I absolutely love the tiny leopard detail in the belt!  What a great look for staying beautiful and modern at the same time!  Depending on the venue, I think this dress could easily be dressed up or down with the shoes.  A nice brown sandal for an outdoor wedding, and a classic black peep toe for indoor would be perfect!








For an evening black tie wedding, this classic shape and beautiful sparkly pattern gives a perfect amount of elegant detail to a super comfortable dress!  Pair it with a gorgeous drop earring and some mat grey shoes to highlight the monochromatic movement :)  Very classy, sophisticated, and fun! 



What ever your style is, get excited for wedding season and to create your own Style In The City!                            
                                                      XOXO,
                                                 Shopping Girl,
                                                      Lora
                                        www.shoppinggirlxoxo.com
                                        

Super Bowl Slouchy Sunday!

Super Bowl Sunday is the perfect day to rock your most comfortable, cozy, easy-to-cheer in outfit!  I love Super Bowl Sunday because it gives everyone a reason to hang out with friends, sit on a comfortable couch, and enjoy the Puppies or Football...your preference!  :)

In the spirit of this lazy Sunday, I will be sending off a super short and to the point blog on what I recommend wearing to your favorite Super Bowl Sunday bash!

Bright stripes for a fun sporty vibe!

Slouchy and soft sweaters with uber comfortable leggings are the way to go!  The perfect way to be stylish, comfortable and mistakenly sexy!  :)

 Edgy, cute, and comfortable!

So understated & sexy!  <3

Red skinnies and a touch of leopard!

Stick with the colors of the 2012 Super Bowl and rock some red and blue try to mix in some brown or black as your neutral as opposed to white to stay away from being too patriotic!

Rock your own Style In The City this Super Bowl Sunday!
XOXO,
Shopping Girl,
Lora
www.shoppinggirlxoxo.com

PINING FOR PINTREST!

OMG!  I do not know what I did before Pintrest!  If you have not already requested an invitation, DO IT!  It is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I've lead a pretty sweet life thus far!  :)

Pintrest is for sure one of my new obsessions, and has inspired me to do a "Pintrest-found Obsessions" blog once a month!  SO, here goes...

MY WINTER FASHION CRAVINGS!




This gorg chunky knit scarf and the beautiful vintage teal color kill me!  I found one at Urban that I have lived in ever since seeing this inspirational pic!  It's such a great neutral color to mix and match with so many coats and outfits!  YAY!




 
 I'm loving this killer ring (literally) in such great colors.  It has a unique and mystical vibe to it.  I like how it can add an edgyness to a super girly outfit or take an uber straight laced outfit  to a cool boho feel.  I would wear it everyday!





I want this in every color!  Such an amazingly comfortable, flirty, beautiful bra to wear under EVERY chunkified comfy sweater in my closet to add that perfect hint of sex appeal!  NEED!





 


I am obsessed with wraps and layers of bracelets and watches.  I love how this does all the work for you with a perfect mix matched selection of different materials to totally wear on an everyday basis!





I ordered these the second I found them!  I've been looking for the perfect pair but just wasn't loving the ALL over leather look, or the knee patches...or I swear the craziest, most unflattering placement of leather patches...but THIS is exactly what I was looking for!  Don't you love when your vision actually exists!  The cotton panels are so flattering and SO comfortable!  I totally wore these to Kathy Griffin last week!  She is cra cra!  I love it!






Hope you enjoyed my PINTREST PINES!  :)  I'll probably go start looking for next months Pintrest fashion cravings now!  :)  Follow me through Lora LaPratt on Pintrest!
www.pintrest.com

Get pinning your own Style In The City!  Have fun!
XOXO,
Shopping Girl,
Lora LaPratt
www.shoppinggirlxoxo.com

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW ORGANIZATION!

I hope everyone had as amazing of a holiday as I did!  I basically took the month off from blogging... and anything else that didn't have to do with family, friends, and celebration of life!  It was a great, hectic, eventful, fun-filled month...and now it is time to reorganize my life!

If you are anything like me, you obsess over what you are going to wear to all of your special events coming up.  I plan that perfect outfit in my head, but always seem to wait until the last minute to freak out while throwing clothes all over my room in hopes of finding that one thing I'm looking for to complete the ensemble.  Still praying that it will look as perfect as I imagined in my obsession-based mind leading up to the event.  This is how I USED to be I should say!

Valentines Day?

The savior to my crazed wardrobe meltdowns is my beautiful dress form!  My awesome boyfriend got me her; a sparkly, silver, room enhancing dress form, and she really has saved me many sleepless nights and fumbling mornings leading up to events...or just every day life!  Shopping Girl (we fittingly named her) is the perfect way for me to try an outfit on, accessories and all...step back, and see if it really is as spectacular of an outfit as I had imagined in my mind once on a body! 

My little weekly wardrobe corner!

If you're looking for something a little more budget friendly, my second step to wardrobe planning is to take my important outfits for the week and hang them on their individual hangers.  I then hang them on a DIY beautiful wardrobe display shelf in the corner of my bedroom.  This is where I hang my important outfits for the week.  Through out the week I can glance at them, making sure it is exactly what I want to be wearing, as well as having  a constant reminder that I am all set for the event once the time sneaks up on me to get ready!  SO relaxing!


Chicago closets can be small, clothing can be hung tightly and folded in hiding places making it hard to find that item you KNOW will be perfect!  Setting a few minuets aside at the beginning of the week to organize your wardrobe plan for the week can really relieve last minute stress and sleep deprivation leading up to parties/events/girls nights out/work or any other event your crazy life might have in store for you!

It's a new year, make it a little less stressful and a bit more organized with these simple steps to create your own style in the city!

XOXO,
Shopping Girl,
Lora LaPratt

What do you CRAVE in Chicago!?

As the holidays are quickly approaching, it's about that time to make lists and check them twice for all the festive tasks that must be done! Beautifully decorated trees are highlighting windows as you walk down the streets of Chicago bundled up in your wool coats and super chunky infinity scarfs for maximum warmth.  Delicious cookies have been baked for work parties, travel plans have been made for your vacation time, and your gift list is beginning to dwindle down to those last few friends and family members that you can never seem to find that "perfect" thing for...

That's where I come in :)  Thursday evening the CRAVE Chicago 2nd edition will be published, out and ready to be wrapped under every Christmas tree!  The super attractive coffee table book is perfect for that woman in your life that craves anything from restaurants, boutiques, photography, dance, style, and most importantly supporting local entrepreneurs!  It is chock full of amazing Chicago businesses and will help you find exactly what you're looking for with it's colorful photography, personal Q&As, business profiles, and huge coupons!

Shopping Girl XOXO Spread!

My personal shopping and styling business, Shopping Girl XOXO, will be highlighted along with 121 other prospering Chicago businesses!  This is the perfect answer to those last holiday gifts on your list!  Also great birthday and New Years gifts!  Start the year off right, support local businesses!

If you're interested, shoot me an email at lora@shoppinggirlxoxo.com, I can ship the book to you that day, or we can arrange for pick up if you're in the Chicago area!  Only $20!

CRAVE Chicago is the perfect book to create your own Style In The City this holiday season on your own coffee table or sharing the love with others!

XOXO,
Lora