But it doesn’t stop at the clothes, you need a gym bag that matches your new look as well.   Many of us have to fit in a workout at some point throughout our busy work days, which means our gym bag is part of our work wardrobe.   Thankfully, gone are the days of ugly oversized gym bags that clash with your outfit. Nowadays there are so many stylish, chic yet functional options for a gym bag.  Some bags are so chic that no one would ever know it’s carrying your running shoes!  We created a list of our 5 favorite Stylish Gym Bags.

1. WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie 2. Adidas by Stella McCartney 3. Puma X Hussein Chalayan 4. Reed Krakoff 5. Puma

Do you have a stylish gym bag that’s not listed? Make share a link or photo in the comments below as we love to see what everyone is wearing!  

Happy workout.  Make sure to check in tomorrow as I share some of my favorite healthy recipes.  They are are the perfect way to start your weekend.

So I thought let’s keep this spring cleaning theme going and apply it to overall health and fitness.  After the glutinous days of winter I decided that I needed to get my exercise and clean eating back on track.  There is nothing better than feeling and looking great from the inside out.  As part of this journey I have decided to start training for my first marathon this October.  Since I have stepped up my workout schedule, that means my workout wardrobe has needed a spring cleaning as well! Time to add some more cuteness to my wardrobe.  As far as I’m concerned, just because you are sweating doesn’t mean you can’t look stylish at the same time!

I was excited when I found out about Ellie, a new activewear line that promises the same quality & high style as Lululemon but at a fraction of the cost.  I always love trying new lines, so I was game. Ellie offers high-quality, affordable activewear inspired by the latest fashion trends from the runway to the gym.  Each month, Ellie launches a new and unique 24-piece collection.  The great thing is that you can buy each piece individually, or sign up for their Fit Fashionista Club and select ANY two items for only $49.95 per month. That’s such an amazing deal, it’s a no-brainer.  Since each collection is only available for one month, you will be definitely be a fashion insider at your gym with everyone wondering “Who’s that girl!”

But how is the quality and fit you may ask?  I was pleasantly surprised.  I ordered the After Dark Tank and Moon Shadow Short to try.  I loved both pieces.  They arrived in a fun, pink package.  I loved the tank as it is stylish but so comfortable.  The thing I noticed immediately when I put it on is that it had a great fit.  Know how some workout tanks can be tight under your ams pushing up that extra skin?  Not this tank.  It fit perfectly under the arms; not too tight but with a great fit to keep everything in its place.  I also loved that when I was running it stayed in place and didn’t ride up like some of my other tanks tend to do.

I love the shorts as well.  They have a wide elastic waist band that’s comfortable and non-restricting, but again holds everything in place giving you a great silhouette.

Now for the good part.  Ellie is offering 20% off to all of you, my lovely readers.  Whether you want to sign up for the monthly Fit Fashionista Club (such a great deal) or just order a la carte you can decide what works best for you.

Make sure to check back this week as we’ll reveal our top picks for stylish gym bags as well as share some yummy, healthy recipes.

Don’t forget to check out Ellie.com  to get your workout wardrobe on track.

And as a side note, with all of the media around see through pants lately, Ellie is quoted:

With the recent press events surrounding Lululemon, we want to point out that our products are not made of the same materials as Lululemon’s products. They are not constructed of Luon, which is manufactured exclusively for and used exclusively by Lululemon. Nothing sheer here…

Click on the image below to receive 20% off your first order.

Today’s post sponsored by:

Admit it, your horoscope is one of the first things you check in the morning in addition to your Twitter and Facebook and the rest of your social media sites!  Your sign seems to say…that Charlotte Olympia’s new Cosmic Collection is a must have this season.  I am loving the collection which beautifully displays all of the Zodiac signs on her classic flats with matching box clutches.  The entire collection will be available come June.  If your sign is not already available, make sure to pre-order a set before some Leo or Pisces beats you!  I know I am counting down the days till the Pisces set is released.  Make sure to comment below with your sign and we’ll share your horoscope.

I have been helping my styling clients clean out their closets for spring and this past week I decided to take my own advice and work on mine.  Who knew I had so much cleaning to do!!  I have managed to fill an entire rolling rack as well as various plastic bins.  To say my closet needed a good cleaning is an understatement.  But what do you do with all of your clothes that you no longer want?

Donate and Sell

Here is a list of some great online & mobile apps that can help you generate some extra cash from selling your old clothes.

Poshmark:  This mobile marketplace app is a fun and simple way to buy and sell fashion straight from any mobile device.  The process is simple: take a photo of the item you are selling on your phone, describe the item and post to your “closet.”  This app has essentially taken the consignment shop to the mobile world and is a great way to make some extra cash.  Come follow me on Poshmark as I will be listing all of my recent items from the spring cleaning I did this week.

Material Wrld:  This site allows users to photograph and share the items in their closet, and then sell those items to other users in a peer-to-peer marketplace setting. Material Wrld is going after the high-end fashion consumer and has plans for mobile and to launch internationally by the end of the year.  According to co-founder Rie Yano, “We’re differentiating ourselves from the rest of the resale space, which is much more like ‘thrifting’ than ‘luxury consigning.’” You had me at luxury.  I just recently joined this site and looking forward to playing around with it a bit more.  You can follow me on Material Wrld as I’m going to list some of my designer pieces from this past closet cleanse.

Vaunte:  This site features some amazing women’s enviable closets. Fashion editors, PR girls, stylists, businesswomen, artist and more all sell amazing, gently-used clothing. There are some gorgeous pieces to be found on the site.  Besides, it’s always fun to peek into stylish women’s closets.  Currently they choose who’s closet is listed on the site but will be releasing a premium service where you can submit photos of your items and they will decide if it’s a fit for the site or not.  But this site is not going to just take anything, in their own words they say, “We are picky.”  So if you want your things listed on this site, better make sure it is designer and in great condition.

Bib & Tuck: Instead of a place to earn extra cash on those items you cleaned out of your closet, Bib + Tuck wants to be something different: create a marketplace where women can shop without spending. Huh?, you ask. Members upload items they are willing to part with and then state how much they would accept in return.  Items aren’t bought, sold, or traded. Instead, members bib items they no longer want or need and tuck items they’d like to acquire.  The first time I took a look at the site I was surprised at how many great brands were represented in some of the member’s closets.  You can find me on Bib & Tuck as well.  If you need an invite to access the site, please comment below with your email address and I will send one out to you.  They made a fun video about spring cleaning which I thought is appropriate to share since that is what we have been talking about all week.  Enjoy!

There are so many more options for selling your unwanted clothes and accessories after your spring cleaning than we listed above: Threadflip, The Real Real, Copious, etc..  You just need to choose the option that works best for you and your closet.

Have a great weekend.  Make sure to share some of your spring cleaning tips with us below.

Today we’re going to take a wardrobe staple, the classic white shirt, and show how to freshen it up for spring with the season’s hottest trends.  Who says, spring cleaning is only for your home and closet?

A basic white button down will offer many, many wardrobe options as it can be dressed up or down.  So of course it’s a must have in any work wardrobe.  We paired the classic white shirt with two of Spring’s hottest trends, prints & stripes.

We’d love to see how you styled your classic white shirt for spring. Leave a comment here or tag your tweet/instagram with the hashtag #artofstyle and we’ll display our favorites!

Edit:  When I work with clients and help them purge their closets, I recommend setting up some rolling racks and taking everything out.  It really helps to see everything out of your closet.  You’d be surprised how many items get pushed together that you have not even seen in years!  When you first start it can seem overwhelming to begin the editing process, but if you start editing one group at a time (pants, skirts, etc.) it won’t seem so daunting.  Don’t forget to edit your shoes and jewelry as well!

Separate: As you are editing your closet it helps to start separate piles to place items in once are they have been reviewed.

• Keep: This is the pile of clothes that will remain in your closet.  It’s helpful to separate this pile even further for fall/winter and spring/summer items.  We will discuss in more detail storing your winter items to make room for your spring items.
• Tailor:  These are the items that you don’t wear because a trip to the tailor just hasn’t happened.  Besides the given pants that need to be hemmed, or button that needs to be sewn on you should also look at items in your closet that you can breath new life into if they are taken to the tailor.  Maybe there is a long dress that you would wear more if it were shortened.  Or that long-sleeved blouse would look even better sleeveless.
• Sell:  We all have had that dress we’ve only worn once to a wedding only to be placed in the back of our closet.  Or last season’s It jacket just didn’t work with your wardrobe and is still has the tags attached.  Later this week we will discuss in more detail fun options to selling those items that are still in great condition as a way to make some of your original investment back.
• Donate:  This pile is for those items that don’t fit into any of the other categories but are still good enough to donate to your local thrift store or charity.

Store: If you have the space it’s best to rotate your winter items to the back of your closet.  Before storing any of your winter clothes, make sure to have them all cleaned so no stains set in and they will be fresh and ready to wear next winter.  I always have my sweaters professionally cleaned before I store them away in clear plastic boxes for the season. For hanging clothes, I hang them in cloth  garment bags and place in the back of the closet.  Plastic dry cleaning bags can lock in moisture and you may be surprised with a moldy mess come winter.

Clean:  Before you return the remaining edits to your closet, make sure to clean it while it is still empty.  You would be surprised how much dust and dirt accumulates in your closet.  Wipe down all of the shelves, hanging rods and vacuum if appropriate.

Organize: Now that your closet is sparkly clean, your remaining wardrobe edits are ready to be organized.  It’s a good idea to organize into loose categories.  Group like items together (blazers, skirts, pants, etc.) for easy access.   Any large items that are not used that often should be stored on a high shelf.  Bags should be separated by size and if possible, displayed at an angel on shelves so they are easy to see and locate.  Clutches should be separated from everyday handbags.  By keeping the dust bag inside each of your handbags it helps to keep their shape. Organize dresses by length with the longest in the back.

With a well-edited and clean closet you will be ready for any event this season.  Make sure to check back this week for more spring-cleaning and wardrobe updating ideas.

Images via:  Michelle Drewes

If you are live in San Francisco and looking for something to do tomorrow night, you must check out this Freda Salvador sample sale.  It was too good not to share with you all.  They are definitely shoe designers to watch, as each collection they produce gets better and better.  I am obsessed with each pair that I own.

Happy Shopping!!

1. Frends Headphones: Most likely you have spotted these chic & stylish headphones all the cool kids seem to be rocking lately.   They have become the must have headphones this season.  Besides making one look cool and stylish, the sound quality is amazing. I am obsessed with mine.  In the past, most high-quality headphones tended to be very masculine looking but thanks to Frends a girl can have fabulous sound and style in the same package.  Frends also makes headphones that any man in your life would love to be spotted wearing.

2. Williams-Sonoma Smart Tools Speaker iPad Set:  This amazing bluetooth speaker set makes it easy for you to watch cooking videos, search for recipes, listen to music and even video chat while you cook and entertain.  Want to watch a recipe how-to from your favorite chef, easy!  The great thing about these speakers, is that once you are done in the kitchen you can take just the speaker to wherever you are entertaining.   Just connect to any of your bluetooth devices and you have amazing quality speakers to listen to your music.

3. J. Crew Backup iPhone Battery:  We’ve all been there.  Your iPhone’s battery is almost run out and you don’t have your charger cord.  I have been guilty of this many times.  There is nothing worse than having a dead phone.  I love this small backup battery from J. Crew that fits into your handbag or your chicest clutch without taking up much space.  It’s the most stylish way to recharge on the go, and the prints are perfect for any fashionista.

4. Nike FuelBand:  It’s Springtime and that means bikini season is just around the corner!  I received a FuelBand for Xmas and am obsessed. It tracks my everyday activity turning it into NikeFuel, which tracks calories burned, steps taken and more. It also is a watch. You can connect via bluetooth to your iPhone to track your daily progress.  Have a competitive spirit, the FuelBand allows you to compete against your online community via your Nikeplus.com account.  It’s a great motivation to get going and meet your exercise goals each day.  So put it on and get moving, those bikinis won’t lie. Or as Nike says: “Life is a sport. Make it count.

5. Philips Hue Connected Bulb: My husband brought this home for me a few months back, and to be honest I wasn’t really sure about the gift.  Fast forward to today and it’s one of my favorite new gadgets.  Hue allows you to control your lighting in your home via your iPhone or iPad.  Just screw the lightbulbs into your overhead fixtures or lamps, connect the device to your router and now your lighting is now controlled by a tap on your mobile device.  You can easily create light settings based on your favourite photos, choose from expert light recipes to help you relax or concentrate, or even set timers to help you wake up and pace your day.  If you are out of the house and want the lights to be on when you return, just turn them on via your iPhone and no would be the wiser.  You can change the lights to match the color theme of your next dinner party.  Your guests will be impressed with this extra detail.

6. Magic Cube Laser Keyboard:  This one is truly for the tech gadget lover who has everything. The laser keyboard connects wirelessly to your iPhone, iPad, or Android and projects a full-size laser keyboard image that you can type on. The best is that you can work remotely without carrying around a bulky keyboard or laptop as this keyboard fits conveniently in your pocket and is perfect for on-the-go.  This futuristic keyboard will be the envy of your friends for sure.

The great thing about my weekend is that I have no plans and couldn’t be happier.

Here are some things to try this weekend: 

Sleep in late.

Use the good china.  Something my Grandma taught me.

Have a picnic.  This Snap Pea Pasta recipe looks amazing.

If you live in SF, the Cherry Blossom Festival is always a fun to attend.

Isn’t this the perfect summer dress to add to your wardrobe?

Have a great weekend my loves.  What fun things do you have planned for this weekend?

I am loving the lace detail trend for Spring/Summer 2013 as previously mentioned here, and fell in love with this Nina Ricci dress as soon as I saw it.  It’s perfect for a night out with your special someone.  The lace detail is beautiful and true luxury at it’s best.  To mix it up, I would pair with a cropped leather jacket to add a bit of edge.

So…will this lust turn into a reality?  Only time will tell.  What are you lusting for this Spring?