Look for Less- Pierre Hardy-Update

Franco Sarto Million

Last month I did a post with a couple of options on how to get the look of Pierre Hardy's laser cut out sandals for less. While both options were close in appearance neither of them were as close as these Franco Sarto's. Found at Piperlime for $109, these sandals have a similar cut out pattern with a zipper closure. Still not exact, but I think these are as close as I am going to get. Love them!

Look for Less-Kitchen Version-Kuhn Rikon Whisk

As a self-professed kitchen gadget geek and lover of all things fun and colorful, I was absolutely gleeful over the sighting of this Kuhn Rikon rainbow whisk at the Chef's Shoppe in Edwardsville.

Kuhn Rikon Rainbow Whisk

I was the opposite of gleeful when I saw that it was $16.00. Since my whisks usually end up smashed into a drawer in my tiny kitchen, I couldn't justify the price as much as I wanted to. Instead of purchasing it I was left to admire it and wait for the day that I had a bigger kitchen that it could call home. That was until I made a stop into the Target in Brentwood and saw this little gem.

On an end cap displaying Valentine's Day kitchen accessories there it was: the bargin buy version of the whisk that I wanted so badly. The colors were slightly different and not as bright but for only $3.99 I was in love. I can't wait to use it and until I do it will be right at home sitting nicely (and not smashed) in a drawer in my tiny kitchen.

Look for Less-Halston Heritage Batwing Dress

Halston Heritage high-waist batwing dress

I have always been a lover of green, so when I saw the cover of the January issue of Elle magazine I about died over the Halston Heritage dress shown on Sarah Jessica Parker. I was so in love with it that I immediately started searching for a more affordable version of the dress and the belt.

French Connection sleeveless v-neck dress

While not exact, this French Connection dress is pretty close and for $151 it's almost half the price as the Halston. Plus, if you order it through Lord and Taylor's website you can save an extra 15% by using the code FINAL. This dress is pretty on its' own but I went ahead and found affordable options for the belt too.

Twenty8Twelve Kara leather waist belt

This belt from Twenty8Twelve will allow you to get the edgier look from the Elle cover and also cover the sash lines from the French Connection dress. It is available at theoutnet.com for only $34.50 down from the original $115. Can't beat that!

Rachel Rachel Roy perforated belt

This Rachel Rachel Roy belt has a more feminine look and allows the color to peak through while still covering the sash lines. It is available through the link above at Rachel Roy online for $26.20.

Look For Less-Pierre Hardy

 Pierre Hardy laser cut out sandal

Remember these??? I last posted these Pierre Hardy's, that I am love with, over the summer and I have not been able to stop thinking about them. Sadly, they are now sold out so even if I had the $500 to spend on them I couldn't. However, on a recent trip to the shoe department at Dillard's at the Galleria I did spot a couple of look-a-likes. While they don't have the exact look, for almost $400 less they will do.

Gianni Bini Giselle pumps

These Gianni Bini's are only $99.99 and come in tan (shown above) and black.

Vince Camuto Norda pumps

For those of you who need a sturdier heel or want something a little closer in color to the original, these should do the trick. Look for them at the Dillard's at the Galleria where they are on sale for $99.99. If you can't find your size you can pay a bit more and find them online for $129 through piperlime.com.

Look For Less-Pleasure Doing Business Bandage Skirt

Ashley Tisdale in Pleasure Doing Business high waisted skirt

Photo: Singer 22

Kristin Cavallari in Miss Ferriday Top and Pleasure Doing Business skirt

Photo: Singer 22

Heidi Klum in Pleasure Doing Business skirt

Photo: Catch Boutique

Rhianna in Torn by Ronny Kobo tee and Pleasure Doing Business skirt

Photo: Singer 22/Just Jared



Clutch Banana Republic, top Urban Outfitters, skirt L8ter, pumps Carlos by Carlos Santana, wedges Aldo


Necklace Gap, earrings Bebe, bracelet Express, chain link rings Banana Republic, silver ring Forever 21

I have had my eye on this bandage skirt by Pleasure Doing Business for quite some time but could not bring myself to pay $100 for it. So imagine my excitement when I found one that looked exactly like it for $14.99 in the juniors department at Macy's at the Galleria. The skirt looks identical to the Pleasure Doing Business version. The only difference is since it is $14.99 it is probably not going to hold up quite as long as the $100 version but then again like all trends who knows if we will even be wearing bandage skirts in a year, right? The biggest complaint I saw online about the skirt was that the material is rough. The material on the skirt is rough as it is basically made up of large elastic bands so I would recommend either wearing a shirt that is tucked in or wearing a cami underneath that can be tucked in to avoid the rough edges. If you plan on sitting in it for a long period of time I would also throw on a shaper skirt with it too to avoid sitting on the ridges. I recommend purchasing a size or two up as well. The skirt runs small in the first place and it lays better in the back and is more comfortable in a size larger. However, having tried on the Pleasure Doing Business version I can tell you that one is not much better. Their version feels like wearing a super tight industrial strength ace bandage wrapped around you and i could not imagine sitting in the one I tried on.

I put together an outfit with the skirt based on Rhianna's look above. While I loooove Rhianna's style it is not always wearable for the average Jane, and I for one am certainly not going to be walking around in this Midwest humidity and heat in a long sleeve tee and shoulder pads so I altered it to be a little more seasonally appropriate. I paired it with a black silk racerback tank, a black clutch and lots of rockstar inspired jewelry. For shoes I used a black bootie to copy the look of Rhianna's outfit, but I know that booties and a short skirt is not a look a lot of ladies can pull off without looking stumpy. So for those of you that are under let's say 5'8"this look would probably be better with leg elongating peep toe pumps as opposed to the booties that are going to cut you off at the ankles causing you to look less like Heidi Klum and more like Snooki. I love the look of these Carlos Santana pumps (better picture is available through the link above). They are black patent leather platforms and they have a sort of lightning bolt look to the tops so you still get the rockstar edge of the booties while having mile long legs. For us long-legged ladies either shoe will work. I tried on and liked both with the outfit but the platform pumps, tight skirt, and mile long legs was a little on the Pretty Woman side so I will probably go with the wedges.