Now that November is upon us, holiday party planning is beginning. There always seem to be a flurry of activity in the last two months of the year that requires the chicest of outfits. You can never go wrong with a wardrobe staple like a little black dress. Finding the perfect one can be a bit of a hassle. Maybe you’re going to meet your future in-laws for the first time or maybe you want to show an ex what they’re missing. Rest assured, I’ve tracked the cutest cocktail dresses to make this holiday season go a bit smoother.

IGIGI Veronique Dress | Calvin Klein Tucked Lace Sheath

IGIGI Franchesca Dress | Evans Sequin Zig Zag Dress

Lane Bryant Strapless Tafetta Dress | Lane Bryant Lace Sheath Dress

Mossimo Black Sheath Dress | Target Woven Strapless Dress | Merona Sleeveless Cowl Dress

Target Belted Strapless Dress | Merona Stitch Neck Dress | Mossimo Wrap Dress

For those that want to add a bit of color…

Merona Sweater Dress | Merona Crossover V-Neck Dress | Merona Stitch Neck Dress

Avenue Shawl Collar Draped Dress

Calvin Klein Skeeve Stretch Satin Dress | INC Sleeveless Fringe

Neccessary Objects Ruffled Wrap Dress | Dereon One Sleeve Dress

Suzy Chin Ruffle Dress | Calvin Klein Sleeve Square Neck Dress

Taylor Dress Ruffle Satin Sheath Dress | Taylor Ruffled Ponte Knit Dress |

Monif C Tina Sequin Dress | Suzy Chin Drape Front Charmeuse Dress

Accessorizing…

Evans Mixed Metal necklace | Evans Indian Glitter Bangles | Evans Mega Bead Multirow Necklace | Leatherette Bow Bracelet | Hematite & Black Dome Ring | Silver & Gold Hematite Bangles | Gold & Silver Hematite Bangle Set | Evans Dotty Bubble Ring

I recently came across Dolores Petunia, an Etsy seller that makes custom accessories. I fell in love with the rich and colorful neck/hair pieces and realized they’d be a perfect accessory to the little black dress.

I came across Fennimas Jewelry when I noticed the amazing jewels that Fluvia wore in Monif C’s latest collection campaign. Currently two collections, Jungle Love and Vegas Glam are online and I’m wanting pretty much everything! Unfortunately the shop section of the site won’t be up for a few weeks but I always welcome eye camdy!

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In the last few weeks, I’ve found myself spending more time than normal on Etsy and I figured it was a perfect opportunity to continue my previous post on spotlighting Etsy sellers. There are some amazingly talented designers there and I love supporting independent artists. It definitely took some patience to sift through it all but I’ve found some gems that I wanted to share.

First up is naKIMuli, an independent designer from Brooklyn, NY. Her profile states “Clothing, both the classical and the innovative, is fueled by imagination. naKIMuli aims to go beyond the traditions of women’s fashion and explore more of the imagination, what could be rather than what should be. The world we live in often dictates what we should wear and creates millions of it. We at naKIMuli want to create a fashion revolution: replace the cookie cutter model with one that embraces individuality, comfort, and fun. Become your own trendsetter. Dream. Explore. Dare.

She recently launched her fall09 collection entitled “Bad Habits of the Young” and I am definitely a fan. The two dresses below are especially my favorite, I love the shoulders and the volume of the skirt. She also sells scarves, dresses and belts so be sure to check those out as well.

Next we have Babooshka Boutique, located in Pittsburgh, PA. She creates lots of pieces that are perfect for the girl that loves to be comfortable. Oversized cardigans and tshirts are the perfect thing to throw on when you don’t feel like thinking too much. I wouldn’t be worried about potentially looking like a blob while wearing an oversized shirt as a dress. Just belt it, throw on a structured jacket or blazer, and your favorite boots and its magic.

Next we have Jibri, which I’ve posted about many, many times including outfits here and here. I just cannot get enough of this line! It is so chic and at the same time affordable and well-made. I am saving for the peplum dress and the collared coat!

“JIBRI is dedicated to creating garments for the fashion conscious, curvy woman. The label is a perfect combination of high fashion chic and urban street sleek in sizes 14-24. JIBRI features a variation of punk innovation, classic construction and vintage inspiration.”

Next is Voodoo Lounge, ‘a little shop on Etsy dishing up the special creepy sauce with a heaping side of vintage whimsy.’

“I sell both my own vintage inspired hand made designs as well as actual vintage clothing. Most from the Victorian era through the 1950s. I’ve worked in the vintage clothing biz for 10+ years and I have a degree in fashion design/pattern making. I draft and size all my patterns the old fashioned way BY HAND so I can custom fit clothes for each customer. All the clothes in my KUSTOM VOODOO section can be ordered and custom made in ANY SIZE! Curves welcome and encouraged. *wink*”

This is a treat for all the vintage lovers that read the blog! I came across this shop on a whim one day. I immediately loved the drama of the Steampunk Ringleader jacket and was ecstatic that it was available for custom creation. There are rockabilly tops and capris as well as gothic and burlesque dresses/skirts. It is definitely worth checking out!

Next we have artLAB, an independent design studio in New York. The designer behind the magic, Patricia Ayres has two separate Etsy shops. artLAB is where her more experimental pieces are and Patricia Ayres is where her collections are sold. I’ve been following her shop for a while and there are some amazing things happening. The prices aren’t cheap, especially for the more experimental pieces but they are so cool.

What do you guys think?  Are there any Etsy shops that you love? If so, post the link in the comments. I love finding new shops!

I’ll be posting the next part tomorrow, featuring 5 more designers!

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In the words of Rachel Zoe, I love a good sequin. I absolutely believe that one could never wear enough. So as I was reading Black Anesthesia, I noticed this unbelievable blue sequin skirt (above) and immediately wanted it. Come to find out, its almost a dead ringer for a Balmain skirt that retails for almost $8000! Sorry Mr. Decarnin but I’m almost positive that’s out of my budget. I will happily pay $85 for the Michael Brambila version instead.

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Last week, a reader by the name of Adrienne emailed me about her recent Etsy experience. If you remember, I spotlighted a few Etsy sellers a while back that make custom clothing. She found a dress that she fell in love with and went about getting it custom made. When I saw the photos, I immediately fell in love with the color. It looks amazing against her complexion.

I wanted to post about this because I know a lot of you guys were a bit hesitant or unsure about how to go about purchasing things from Etsy. It is such an incredible resource to have so if you guys want me to create a step-by-step guide, let me know. I’ll happily put one together for you!

If any of you guys have gotten anything custom created from etsy, feel free to send me photos at musingsofafatshionista@gmail.com. I’d love to post them here on the blog.

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Another one of fall’s biggest trends is the statement necklace. Gone are the days of dainty jewels, now its the bigger, the better! What better to way to participate in the trend then by taking it totally left field? Instead of adorning your neck and wrists with bejeweled bibs, why not showcase zippers? Yes, those zippers!

I originally saw (and drooled over) the zipper necklaces on Susie Bubble, when Outi from Outsapop Trashion, an amazing DIY designer, sent her one. Immediately I wanted one, or two, or maybe three. Now, lots of designers have come up with several ways to take something ordinary like a zipper and do some creative things with it. Below are a sample from a few Etsy designers.

What do you think? Are there any that you want? The first 4 are definitely ones I have my eye on!

Reborne Jewelry

Wheeler Willis Jewelry

Silviasthink

Simplecut

Daily Jumpsuit

Outsapop Trashion

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Just wanted to give you guys a heads up, Jasmine has started adding pieces from her fall collection to the Jibri Etsy store! Be sure to keep checking back to see what else is there. There is sure to be some pieces that weren’t seen during the Art of Fashion runway show, such as the super cute striped dress above. Remember, she makes custom garments at no extra charge so be sure to send in your measurements when you place your order!

I’ve placed an order for a few items and they should be on their way to me fairly soon! I’ll be sure to do a review once they arrive!

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I’ve written before about my love of everything handmade and my obsession with Etsy. Much like eBay, Etsy can be overwhelming but amazingly helpful if you know what you’re looking for. Since I’ve received lots of inquiries about plus size Etsy sellers, I figured I’d spotlight 5 or so designers that offer plus size clothing.

Nikki Blaine Couture – “Nikki Blaine Couture offers the “Glam Chic” style for any size woman that has the agent provocateur to bring the look to life. The “Glam Chic” term was coined by Nikki Blaine to describe the higher-end quality of the fabric along with the functionality of the garment.”

Liza Rietz – “My new spring/summer collection is finally here! Inspired by my recent trip to Asia, these garments are also a recollection of techniques used in my first collection from 2001. Architecture, origami, ancient peaked roof tops, voluminous shapes and small pin-tucks inspired each piece. In this collection I used primarily white fabrics to highlight texture and volume to ultimately create modern silhouettes that work harmoniously with the body.” check out her past collections at http://www.lizarietz.com

yystudio – “Custom petite/standard/plus size fashionable women’s clothing. Originally designed and handmade.”

ejacqui

attila design – “rugged distressed, mixed and stitched, studded, tough and delicate, abstract sculpted, romantic raw, bohemian chic, hardcore and luxurious”

desirapesta – “An ethical eco-friendly one woman handmade clothing company in NYC since 2003! one of etsy’s originals.”

prizy sebastian – “Prizy Sebastian Design is an emerging independent women’s clothing line based in New York. Most fabrics are natural fibers, such as silks, wools, and cottons. Styles are one of a kind, custom order, or made in small quantities in the studio. All garments are professionally finished, attention and care is given to every item.”

norwegian wood – “Harnesses, cage skirts, fringe, leggings, specialness”

You may remember thatNorweigan Wood is the etsy shop that I ordered my cage skirt from. Angie was super sweet and collaborating with her on my skirt was amazing. Most of these garments are custom made to your measurements which is the best thing ever. Depending on the designer, you may have to pay a little extra (usually $10-20) for the extra fabric used to make your custom garment. Send the designer a conversation on etsy, if you have any questions. I’ll definitely keep my eye out and update from time to time, spotlighting more shops that offer plus size options.

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