Cyber Monday- The New Black Friday

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! For me Thanksgiving is one tiring holiday! I’m not sure if it has more to do with the tryptophan in the turkey or the interstate travel my husband and I embark on every year to visit family…or is it from waking up early for Black Friday shopping?

I don’t know about you but I didn’t actually manage to get much Christmas shopping done this weekend. I always think I am going to get a lot done and score some really good bargains… but somehow that plan always ends up foiled. This year my Black Friday shopping ended early. Some old friends asked my husband and I to go out for fondue since we were in town for the weekend.

In the end dinner was more enjoyable than spending countless hours wandering the mall (especially with my husband in tow) but I am heading back to work tomorrow with hardly a dent in my shopping list! But not to despair! I'll catch up with Cyber Monday deals!

Yes—Cyber Monday. You haven’t heard of it? Well I hadn’t either until recently. So I read more about it on Wikipedia. Apparently the term "Cyber Monday" is a slang term which was conjured up by the U.S. trade association National Retail Federation. The phrased was first used during the 2005 holiday season.
But regardless of how it started, more and more retailers are offering Cyber Monday deals with the mindset that those of you in the same predicament as me will be shopping online at work tomorrow…albeit only on your lunch hours of course!
So—if you are like me and you still have a full list of family and friends to buy for, check out the deals online tomorrow. On cybermonday.com new deals posted every hour. Also don’t forget to check your inbox for e-mail deals. A large number of retailers are offering free shipping and many are offering a continuation on Black Friday specials.

At least I figured one gift out… I am getting my best friend a fondue set! Now I just have to order it online tomorrow.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

by Gabby

My Thanksgiving Day Charade

Ahh it’s that time of year again…thanksgiving! I woke up at 10am this morning after a well deserved night’s rest and as I was making myself a cup of coffee my brother came out of his bedroom very excited and shouted
“Are you ready, Kenzo?”

“Not yet” I replied slightly annoyed. After all I had just woken up and I'm not a morning person. I went into my room to finish my coffee. He kept yelling at me to hurry up and get dressed. Ten minutes later he started to shout again. I yelled back: “Go away!”

But, believe it or not in a few minutes we were actually out the door and on our way to our aunt’s house. We were going to spend Thanksgiving there. When we arrived at my aunt’s house my cousin Andrea ran outside to greet us (she’s only 9 ¾). My other cousin Natasha a.k.a. “The Diva” finally greeted us with her presence 20 minutes later dressed in her moons & stars printed bathrobe. Out of sheer curiosity I just had to ask her for an explanation. “I don’t have a clean pair of pants” she whined before going back upstairs to her room.

We weren’t surprised in the least bit. See my cousin is a teen diva who has never done laundry or washed the dishes and will only wear designer label clothes and accessories. She’s also 13 going on 30 so she wears make-up, carries a cell phone and wants to buy an Aston Martin Vanquish as soon as she can get a driver's license. What can we expect next? Is this what the next generation is going to be like?

However there is some hope for the next generation – Andy my younger cousin is very intelligent, environment conscious, funny, an avid reader and apparently a good writer (she helped me get past my writer’s block). So now to reward her I’m going to play her favorite trivia game “Taboo”.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

By keNzo

Thanks A Lot!

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I think back this year to all I have been given and what I have to be thankful for. My daughter got married this year. I am thankful to see that she is happy and that her special day was all she hoped for. The cost for all this wedding happiness, not so much; thanks alot! I have family and friends who I love dearly and am so thankful for them. That woman who cut me off in traffic this morning, gggrrrrrr-thanks, thanks alot. The price of gas and oil finally going down; thank goodness, my 401K looking a bit meek these days, thanks oh so much for that one!

but in all seriousness I am thankful for many, many things....
family, friends, good health, love of a good man, a soft bed, roof over my head, freedom; and the very full belly I will undoubtedly complain about tomorrow afternoon.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Who Wore it Best?!

Hi everyone, thanks for all your feedback on who "wore it best"! Do you want to see more who wore it best with new celebrities? Let me know your thoughts and tell me who YOUR favorite celbs are, and we'll see if we can catch them in the act of wearing the same style as someone else! email me at metrostyleblog@gmail.com subject- "who wore it best".

Thanks for all the great comments so far!
-Beth

First Lady

Soon America will have a new first lady, and every detail of her life will be under scrutiny, from what she eats to what she wears - like that hideous Narciso Rodriguez dress she wore on election night. I don't know what I hated more - the dress or how she wore it. However, in my eyes, this was her only fashion faux-pas.

Anyway, Michelle Obama is this generation’s Jackie O – an every day woman and mom. She’s fashion forward and fashion conscious, and she’s not shy to speak about her frugal fashions finds. In the media, she's mentioned that she wears clothes from Gap and J Crew, and she's even been spotted shopping at Target.

OK! Magazine ran a story on Michelle Obama in their November 24th issue. I was excited to see that the editors of OK! recommended one of metrostyle's short skirt suits to match Michelle Obama's look! Now you can look like a first lady too!

By EM

Photo Courtesy: OK! Magazine

What not to wear

Thursday is Thanksgiving and I’m so excited to see my family, but I’m already panicking! Not about in-laws or that the turkey might burst into a spectacular ball of flame leaving us Turkeyless (I made that word up)! My biggest issue…I have no idea what I’m going to wear! I know, sounds petty right?

It’s my sister’s year to host. It’s a casual affair, but sweatpants are still out of the question. I want to look nice, but be comfortable and true to my personality.

This year will be the first annual Frisbee Golf tournament. Then there will be the usual challenges from my nephew on Guitar Hero (I totally rock!) and video dance offs from my niece (thank goodness she’s stopped asking me to play baby dolls that’s just not my style!) Of course in the kitchen it will be my job to peel the potatoes and then there’s the eating all day and the accidental napping on the couch.

I’ve spent the last few days staring into my closet and finally got the nerve to approach it. What do you wear for such diverse activities? Today I was miraculously able to narrow down my options by thinking about what NOT to wear. I need a pant with Spandex in it for easy movement and a full belly after dinner, a stretch cotton top for all that vigorous activity and the ability to push the sleeves up while working in the kitchen and maybe a sweater as a layering piece that can be removed for better guitar playing.

Wow, that wasn’t so bad! So I pull out my favorite dark denim low rise jeans, a new light weight ruched cotton turtleneck that I got wicked on sale and a cutaway cardigan for layering!

Now I should start planning for the rest of the holidays…hmm I know a place that’s having a great sale!

By Kyndall

Runway to Real Life: The Holiday Dress

My love affair with holiday dresses started when I was 7 years old. That year, my Great Aunt took my sisters and me to see the Nutcracker ballet and bought us each a special dress for the occasion.

My dress had an ivory satin top with a deep red velvet skirt. It was gorgeous, and the moment I slipped it on, I was transformed from tomboy to glamor girl. I barely remember the ballet (sorry Auntie!)…but I’ll never forget that dress!

Now, each year, I watch the winter runways with childlike anticipation. I’m always excited when my favorite trends are plucked from the runway by retailers and transformed into real life, ready-to-wear styles.

Here's what I'm wild about this year...

Amazing Lace:

Not your mama’s macramé, today’s lace is sheer, fitted and sinfully sexy (in a tasteful, sophisticated way, of course!).

There's so many ways to go with this trend, but I think the biggest bang for your buck has got to be the lace dress.

It’s feminine, festive and just all-around fabulous.



Royal Velvet:

Velvet has long been a staple during the holiday season, but this year it is beyond stunning.

Sparkling gemstones, embroidery and flared hemlines give it a royal air that's perfect for holiday parties and occasions.

And while I will always hold a special place in my heart for velvet dresses, I have to admit I'm nuts for this year's velvet separates. Lush blazers, skirts, pants and accessories that can be mixed and matched with, well...anything.

If there's one thing the runways teach us, it's that mixing things up can create a custom look... Velvet blazer with jeans for a casual Friday. Velvet pants with a silky top for an after-work event. Velvet top and skirt for a family affair...or even a night at the ballet with my own little nieces?!

It think it's time to start a tradition!


By Bren B

Are you serious?

I am driving to work, listening to the radio station blah, blah and they cut to a breaking news update. This is great, I can get my news and pretend to hold my own with anyone smarter than me. So as we are conversing, "I can say you know what happened in Rwanda today...." ..So, I can be smarty pants too!

Guess what the update was on? It was on a Madonna’s Divorce and Paris Hilton’s break up! I almost crashed my car….

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

This is what breaking news has come to? Not that I don’t love a little gossip, every now and then, I am not above that. Discussions about a celebrity and a faux-celebrity like Paris Hilton? Miss famous for doing absolutely nothinnnnnggggggg! She’s not even a real celebrity but that’s a discussion for another day. No wonder the news corporations are going out of business

How can I be a smarty pants without my news? Yesss, it’s all about me.

For any news people reading this, please note that Celebrity Make Up and Break up is not news.

Repeat after me, Gossip is not news.

By Lee Lee

Splurges & Steals

Hey Bloggers…..

Do you have your eye on designer duds, but not enough cash to fulfill your need? No worries! There are so many great looks out there at affordable prices.

The key to looking like a million bucks is in the details, not the designers. When shopping, keep a few simple rules in mind and you can transform runway chic into everyday reality.

First, realize that fit is everything. Just about anything looks quality if it’s a perfect fit. A little tailoring can go a long way… Keep it classic. Neutral tones and natural fabrics can help make clothing at any price look high end. Pay attention to small details. A little something that makes an item special is key….overdoing it is a no-no.

Check out these finds that are just as desirable as the original...but at a much friendlier price.

	Party Dress Splurge: Ali Ro Paillette mini dress $225 Steal: metrostyle black sequin dress $59.99
	Activewear Splurge: Juicy Couture puff sleeve jacket $138 Steal: metrostyle cargo pocket jacket $19.99
	Shoes Splurge: Linda Pritcher snakeskin-embossed oxford $435 Steal: metrostyle embossed patent oxford $34.99

By Sarah

Who wore it best?

When I wear the same shirt as my best friend no one notices nor is it a big deal. When Kim Kardashian wears the same dress that Eva Longoria wore last year, it is all over the web as a big no- no!

However lately people have been less critical of the lovely ladies who don the same duds instead, they have just been comparing them to one another! Which is worse? Being gasped at that you wore the same thing, or being compared under a microscope? Well, being compared is much worse…so lets do it!

Who wore it better…Kim or Eva? My vote is for Kim, those curves and sexy attitude really make this dress as hot as it should be!!

Who is your vote for? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about who wore this dress best!

By Beth

Morning Struggle

The hottest commodity in my house is definitely the bathroom. Every morning we all make a mad dash for it and inevitably, my wife wins. Then she spends anywhere from thirty to forty-five minutes doing things I can't even guess at. (She's explained it to me several times before but as soon as words like "mascara wand" and "make-up remover" get involved, I zone out.).

Once she's done, she comes out looking exactly like she did when she went in. Then, it takes at least another half hour for her to pick out the perfect outfit which means I'm stuck waiting for her to put it on and finish all her last minute adjustments before I can jump in the bathroom.

This makes absolutely no sense! As a guy, I need only ten minutes to get ready: 3 minutes to shower, 3 to brush my hair and teeth and to put on deodorant, 2 to choose an outfit and 2 to put it on. I can't figure out why my wife needs so much time to look exactly the same as when she woke up. Call me unobservant but what exactly does she do with all that time and why is it necessary?

How long does it take you to get ready each morning? How long does it take you to pick out your outfit? Any clues into the female psyche would definitely help out this poor confused guy.

By Mr. Y

Getting Ready for the Holiday Season

It’s that time of year again! Shopping & Stressing: 2 things I do so well! Does anybody else find holiday shopping stressful? Waiting in lines, looking for parking & being surrounded by a million stressed out crazy people??

This holiday season I decided to do all my shopping online. If you’re like me then you’re looking for everything in one place—a one stop shopping experience! I found several sites out there that gave me just what I was looking for—a Holiday Guide/Shop! You can find everything you need from great gift ideas to that perfect outfit for all your holiday parties!!!

This year we decided to offer our customers the same one stop shopping experience at metrostyle. Check out the holiday shop & find everything you need in one place—it’s that simple!

If you're not sure what to buy this holiday season...get a gift card!

Happy Shopping!

~Sally

P.S. If you're buying for your husband, wife, brother, sister or friends-you also have to checkout the Gift Finder at overstock.com. Select age, sex, relationship & their interest & you're done--it's so easy--you'll love it!

Warm Up Your Wardrobe!

Need to warm up your wardrobe? Check out the hottest winter coats of the season. Us ladies always need to look fabulous, so why not start from the outside in?

This season brings a variety of coats, all of which, by the way, are very stylish. From long to short, from wool to leather, from career to casual. There is a coat for every style and every need.

The double-breasted wool coat is a winter wardrobe essential! It’s one coat that will never go out of style. It’s a classic and great for work or for that special occasion.

The quilted jacket is great for the weekends. It’s has a modern look and it’s great for those busy Saturday mornings running errands. It’s also machine wash which is always a plus.

The long leather coat is a must have. It’s another great style that will never go out of style. Great feminine look and it works well over a sexy dress or a pair of trousers with a great top.

Remember we all need at least one coat and a wardrobe of coats for every occasion!

By Diane

Too Fat for Skinny Jeans?

Do you feel like you can’t wear skinny jeans? There are so many different styles of denim to choose from. There’s bootcut, skinny, wide leg, high waist, low rise, suspender, flare…the list goes on, as well as all the different washes (dark, light, color).

When I go to the mall to look for a pair of jeans, I never knew if I could get away with wearing skinny jeans. Then I ask the question, what type of shoe do I wear with a skinny jean? What type of top do I wear? As I look through magazines and watch TV, I notice that many people wear longer tops/tunics with skinny jeans, people also wear them with a cropped blazer or even a t-shirt.

As I bought my first pair of skinny jeans, I realized that skinny jeans are not just for skinny people, any shape/size can wear a skinny jean. It is a misconception that you can only wear a skinny jean if you are thin. No matter how big or small you are a skinny jean looks good on anyone once you accessorize with a belt, and a sexy pair of pumps or boots. What I love about metrostyle is that you can find any type of denim jean, including many skinny jean styles, up to a size 20T!!! So I don’t want to hear anyone else say that they are not skinny enough to wear skinny jeans!

By Allie

Employee Interview: Ed from Image Processing

1. Who are you and what is your official job title?
My name is Ed and I'm a Digital Image Processor here at Boston Apparel Group.

2. Briefly describe what you do on a daily basis...
I am responsible for digitally editing, adjusting and uploading online catalog imagery and coordinating basic website functions in accordance with the Web Design department. More recently, I have become the project leader of item colorization for the web, where I create colored samples that can be conveniently
viewed by customers online. Also, I occasionally assist the other designers with various creative and technical tasks.

3. What's your favorite part of your job?
It's been great to work with the latest equipment and design software on projects that require utilizing problem-solving skills and presenting new ideas- both of which are things that I enjoy.

4. Least favorite?
Often times, the high volume of work keeps me constantly busy and can pile up with multiple projects coming in at the same time- it can be quite draining at the end of the day.

5. What aspect of your job most directly affects our customers?
The actual image processing and uploading part would probably be the most important, because without my role of prepping and sizing the images to go up on our site, our customers wouldn't be able to see what they were purchasing!

6. Do you shop on metrostyle.com?
I don't, as a 23-year old male isn't quite their target customer!

7. Just one more...what's your favorite food?
Good question! Probably a toss-up between Spaghetti & Meatballs and Boiled Lobster...

Interview by Jon

What is your favorite style of jeans?

Check out the new poll question! What is your favorite style of jeans? My favorite is the high-waist. I am so relieved that high-waist jeans are back in style. Low rise jeans may look good on some but I find the high-waist to be more flattering than the low rise. The high waist is sophisticated and feminine. Try pairing a pair of high-waist pants with a bodysuit and you are sure to look fabulous!

By Sara

Holiday Gift Giving

The holidays are almost here and you’ve got a job to do. Picking a gift that is just right can be the hardest chore on your to do list. So why not change it from being the hardest thing on the list to the most creative thing on your list? Here are some tips for creative holiday gift giving.

Listen to what they’re saying

Just by listening to the things your loved ones are saying can be a great way to get hints about the things they really want. Have a conversation with them and ask questions about the things they like or don’t like. Without coming right out and asking them what they want you can get a lot of really valuable information from them about the types of things they would like to receive.

Gifts for Mom

Mom can be the hardest one to buy for. What do you buy the woman who already has everything? Metrostyle has a great accessories section that has everything from scarves to sunglasses and what Mom wouldn’t like a designer inspired handbag?

Gifts for Her

This could be a sister, sister in law, friend, cousin or aunt. Why not fill up a fabulous handbag with all the goodies she likes? Fill it with candy, promises of free babysitting, gloves, books, make-up or gift cards! The possibilities are endless!

Gifts for the Student

Make life a little easier for your student this holiday. Fill a stylish handbag full of goodies as well as useful items. Throw in a gas card, a gift card to a local supermarket or some spending money for campus stuff. Throw in a metrostyle gift card so they can buy anything they choose. Toss in a belt, a bracelet or a pair of sunglasses.

Express your feelings
Use the holidays to express what you feel about friends and family. Make something special for them if you are good at some sort of craft. An excellent idea is to get together some old photos and compile them into a nicely decorated scrapbook. You can use almost any theme at all. Make up a book from the last holiday gathering to present to aunts or mothers. This is great for those relatives who live far away. Make up a book of special memories for a spouse or significant other. For teens make up a book of baby memories.

No matter what gift you choose to give always remember to cherish your time together. Gifts can be returned and replaced but friends and family are to be cherished always. And when in doubt go for a gift card and let them decide. Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

By Brooke

Top Model: And then there were four…

As you know metrostyle has used some of the winners from America’s Next Top Model. Well, I’ve been a fan of the show since cycle 1 – the girls get wilder and Tyra gets kookier every season. Did anyone watch the show last night?

Last night the remaining five contestants were challenged to travel by boat through the streets of Amsterdam to their go-see appointments. Five designers waited as the girls frantically tried to see as many of them as possible in a short amount of time. Whoever got the most bookings, and made it back in time was the winner.

As usual, Marjorie was a nervous mess…the poor thing….she spent most of her time running around in circles and only made it to 2 go-sees. Samantha was too commercial for the designers and Elina had too many tattoos. Analeigh tried too hard, but ultimately won the challenge - $18,000 worth of designer merch - because McKey was disqualified for being 5 minutes late…too bad for her because she had the most bookings of all.

Then later in the show, the one and only fierce and ferocious Tyra photographed the girls herself. Each girl had 2 shots – one not made up and the other all dolled up. At eliminations, Miss Jay practically undressed Elina. Come to find out, she’s only 18! Just barely legal, but I guess that wasn’t enough – she was voted off. Sorry Elina, you are not America’s Next Top Model.

And by the way, can we make it through just one elimination without Tyra posing...please?

By EM

Diva of the Week

Are you a metrostyle Diva?

Are you sassy, fun and unique? Do you love all the latest metrostyle fashions? Then we are looking for you!

Send us a picture of yourself in your favorite metrostyle outfit for your chance to be our next Diva of the Week! Email your pictures to: metrostylediva@gmail.com

by Suzy

Miami, Miami… You’ve got style!

This fall our creative team headed to Miami, to kickoff the Spring 2009 catalog season. As the days grow colder and shorter in the northeast, they could think of no better place to photograph our new sexy summer swimwear and metroblues styles. After all Miami is known for its blue skies, sunshine and sands by the mile… yeah right!

While most of the swim photo shoot, photographed at Glass Haus Studios, had beautiful weather… during the last few days, shot on Miami streets, the weather proved challenging. The models including ANTM, Dani Evans, were forced under cover to preserve their hair and makeup!


At the end of their long days of shooting, the creative team retreated to the Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove. However, they were far too tired to enjoy the hotels amenities.

For an insiders view of a metrostyle photo shoot check out our video backstage pass of the Fall 2008 shoot and look for your copy of the new Spring Transition catalog coming in mid January!

By Gabby

Ladies In Waiting

With the election just a day away, can’t imagine the kind of pressures that Cindy or Michelle have endured all these months. And the big question….will their husband be president, will they become 1st lady? The eyes of the nation have been on the candidates and their wives, scrutinizing their every word, deed, and even their sense of style, what they were wearing.

Don’t know about you but I panic just deciding on the right thing to wear to work each day. Sorry ladies, but we can be catty critics at times. ‘Did you see what she was wearing’ or ‘what was she thinking’ and “she obviously doesn’t own a mirror”. Come on, admit it. We’ve all been there, done that. Talk about some major anxiety!

So , trying to imagine one of those lovely ladies is me, I prepare my hair, makeup, wardrobe all by myself (okay, so they probably have a stylist helping them). I have several last minute campaign obligations and need to present myself in a confident, but approachable way. With a last minute TV appearance and campaign luncheon to attend I know I have just the right outfits to pull off any event. This morning I am a guest on The Today Show and will wear a soft cardigan with pashmina scarf and pair that off with leather jeans.

Then I make a mad dash to the airport to catch a flight to Virginia for a luncheon. I am confident that I will look fabulous in a jacquard skirtsuit. I think the ladies will approve.

And, after a long day of campaign stomping, I am heading home and spend time with my family. Wearing a velour pantset and my favorite velvet ballerinas, I am ready for bedtime stories and pizza with the kids!

Am anxiously awaiting the voting results tomorrow night, and making that final decision on what to wear to the ball!!!

By Goldie