Author: koschoweenum

Target’s New Plus-Size Line By Bloggers

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It’s hard to keep up with all the new collabs and lines that retailers have been introducing lately…but when I heard the news that three of my favourite style bloggers (Nicolette Mason, Garner Style, and Gabi Fresh) were developing a plus-size collection with Target, I had to share the news! The collection is called Ava & Viv and will be launching on February 22nd!

This is HUGE news in the plus-size apparel industry and even bigger news in the blogger community! Target chose these 3 fabulous women to consult on the design for the collection, model it, and help educate customers on how to put the pieces together. It’s a 90-piece collection (ranging from $10-$80) filled with trendy, modern, and fashion-forward pieces that are designed for curvy girls, a milestone in apparel that many of you have been waiting for!

Here’s a behind-the-scenes lookbook video where you can see the ladies modelling and hear what they have to say about the line.…

Denizen jeans giveaway!! (5 winners)

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CONGRATS TO OUR WINNERS: Heather G, Jay Dee, Caitlyn, Holly Wright and Jena! Thanks to everyone who entered!!! xoxo

Lots to be thankful for other than the weekend! The Denizen by Levi’s team was so moved by all your comments from our Date Night Video that they’ve decided to give away a pair of jeans to 5 lucky Pennies! Here’s what you have to do:

1. Share last week’s styling video with your Facebook friends using the hashtag #DateNightVideo 

2. Tell us in the comments below which pair of Denizen jeans you’d like to win. Search through all the styles online and pick your favorite!

Winners will be chosen on Monday!! Good luck my dears!!!…

Spring Break In Mexico // What To Pack

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This past weekend, I went to Mexico for 3 nights with my best friends from NYC (who also happen to be siblings) and we had a BLAST (as you can tell by the photo collage below). We were a little frightened of going to CANCUN in the middle of SPRING BREAK, but we couldn’t have been more rejuvenated by the end of the trip! As I always say, save your money on the things that bring true meaning to your life and this is a trip I will remember forever. I stayed at the most beautiful hotel right on the beach…it’s called Nizuc Resort & Spa and I highly recommend it if you’re like stunning & modern hotels, with clear blue water, white sand, fresh, high-quality food, and top-notch service. I’m sure that’s pretty much everyone!

Shop it Online

1. Fringe Bandeau Bathing Suit, Victoria’s Secret $28.50

2. Sleepshirt, Target $16.99

3. Iridescent Sunglasses, Revolve $40

4. Metal Toe Flip Flop, Target $16.99

5. Genuine Leather Tote, Zara $159

6. Anchor Charm Bracelet, Em John $14

7. Cropped Top, H&M $39.95

8. Scuba Skirt, H&M $49.95

9. Beaded Turquoise Necklace, Sole Society $35

10. Black Heeled Sandal, Zara $79.80…

Announcement: I’m A Ross Bargain Hunter

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Before I post the latest Finds of The Week Episode, I have some exciting news to share! I’ve been hand-selected by Ross Dress For Less to be one of their 10 official Bargain Hunters. For the remainder of the year, I’ll be showcasing my latest finds from Ross and inspiring other fashionistas to join me in the thrill of the treasure hunt. My Ross shopping history actually dates back to my middle school days when I decided bargain hunting was more creative and fun than investing in full-priced brands. Little did I know what a little hobby would soon become…

To kick off the program, I went on my first official bargain hunt last week to see what I could find for the blog. I only intended to leave with a few pieces but was shocked to see how much I could actually buy with my designated budget. Below is a little sneak peek of 1 of the 10 items I purchased. Do you die for this dress or what?

Any guesses of how much it cost You might think I’m lying so I’ll let you take a shot at it first! Check back in a few hours for more Ross finds in my latest video!

For more exclusive tips and previews of the latest Ross styles, visit the retailer’s new website (RossStores.com) focused on educating and inspiring customers, rather than using it for sales. And just wait till you see the other fellow bargain hunters on the Ross webpage!  Such an honor to be included :)

Last but not least, there’s a Spring Shoe Promotion at Ross Stores to kick off this campaign!  2 winners will be selected EACH week to receive a $200 gift card and all you have to do is engage on the Ross Dress For Less Facebook Fan Page and comment on your favorite shoes! 

{Disclosure:I’m a “Ross Bargain Hunter” and was compensated for this post!}…

“Tres Cool” In Black And White

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It’s not often you come across a gal with this much beauty. Meet Jenny Wu, my friend from the blog Good, Bad, and Fab. She has killer style, hair, eyes, (and just about everything else), yet she happens to be one of the sweetest gals west of the Mississippi! Here’s her first outfit for Penny Chic:

Black and white was a HUGE trend last year, but it’s still going strong! Instead of just going with black and white, we also decided to mix in some prints, graphic text, and different kinds of fabric.

I spotted this “Tres Cool” sweater in-store at Forever21. I could see those blaring polka dots and the sweater’s overall fun vibe from a mile away. Now I see it’s not available online, but definitely check your local store!

The shorts are pretty awesome too. LOVE the whole nautical theme. And it definitely helps when you have legs like Jenny’s! You can buy them from Gatzino.com, a new eCommerce site that sells really cute clothes that are affordable.

What do you think of this mixed prints look? Did we take it too far or do you like the funky style? 

Shop it Online: Nautical shorts, Gatzino.com, $28; Tres Cool sweater, Forever21, $22 (sold out online); White Blazer, Charlotte Russe, $33; Black and white tote, Target, $32.99…

Giveaway Day 2: $50 At Asos, 3 Winners

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So I’ve been a fan of Asos for a while now…  I think they have the perfect balance of practical everyday items and super fun one-of-a-kind pieces.  When I stumbled upon their holiday sweater collection, I felt like I’d struck gold— not only are these sweaters perfect for that annual Christmas sweater party, BUT the adorable sweaters above all cost less than $50!

Asos is giving 3 lucky winners $50 to spend (on holiday sweaters, or whatever)… Just tweet this link: http://bit.ly/PCAsosHolidaySweater with the hashtag #PennyChicGiveaway for a chance to win.

Winners will be announced on our giveaway page tomorrow at 12pm PST.  Happy tweeting!

1. I Love Xmas Sweater, D-Struct, ASOS ($47.19); 2. Polka Dot Sweater, ASOS ($36.28); 3. Santa is Real Sweater, ASOS ($45.37); 4. Reindeer Head Sweater, ASOS ($45.37); 5. Red Reindeer Sweater, ASOS ($47.19); 6. Black Reindeer Sweater, ASOS ($45.37)…

Diy Lip Scrub

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Erin from Team Penny Chic is here!  When Brittnie and I were brainstorming ideas for this week’s Tip Tuesday, I suggested a DIY lip scrub and found out Brittnie makes her own lip scrub at home all the time.  She told me it’s super easy, but I didn’t realize HOW easy until I tried it myself.  Turns out, you only need three ingredients, and five minutes (literally.)

Ingredients:

-Coconut Oil (I used 1 teaspoon)

-Honey (I used 1 tablespoon)

-Brown Sugar (I used a heaping spoonful)

*I made WAY more than I needed for one use, so you can really adjust the amounts of the ingredients based on how much you want to make.  The only “rule” is that there should be enough brown sugar to effectively slough the dead skin off your lips (ew…)

Steps:

1. Measure the ingredients.

2. Pour the honey into the coconut oil and mix until they’re blended.

3. Pour the honey/coconut oil mixture into the brown sugar and mix to a thick and gritty consistency.

4. Use your finger to scoop a little of the mixture out of the bowl and onto your lips.

5. “Scrub” it in a little bit, making sure to get all the way over to the sides, and on the inside rims of your lips (luckily the ingredients are all food so it’s not a problem if you accidentally eat some).

6. Rinse (or lick…) the mixture off your lips.

*Tip- make sure to moisturize with a hydrating lip balm when you’re done (just like you’d moisturize after exfoliating any other part of your body.)

This was so quick, easy and inexpensive.  Definitely a “win” in my book.  Are there any other DIY beauty projects you want to try?  Let us know in the comments!…

Tip Tuesday: How To Wash Your Bras

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Erin from Team Penny Chic is here!  I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret.  Until recently, I hadn’t given much thought to how I did my laundry and somehow didn’t realize I was basically throwing away money by not caring for my clothes properly.  No one wants to replace their basics (like leggings and jeans) more often than they need to, and— since I have yet to meet a woman who LOVES going bra shopping—I think it’s safe to say that bras are a prime example of this.  Luckily, with a little TLC, bras and other basics can stay looking their best for a long time.

How to Wash Your Bras

  1. Close the clasps!  Have you ever gotten your bras out of the washer only to find them completely twisted around each other, and had to spend ten minutes untangling a soggy mess of intimates?  Yeah, me neither…
  2. A mesh bag will keep your bras separate and make them less likely to be squished by the heavier items in the load.  On that note, avoid washing bras with super-heavy items like towels and jeans, if you can.
  3. Wash with like colours.  This is especially important for bras because they’re made with synthetic materials which are extra likely to pick up dyes from the wash.
  4. Use cold or warm water (never hot) because synthetics are especially sensitive to heat.  And choose the gentle cycle if you have one!
  5. Air dry only!  After you take your bra out of the washing machine (and DON’T have to spend ten minutes untangling a soggy mess of intimates…), re-shape the cup and either hang the bra or lay it flat on a towel.  Again, heat is not good for synthetics, plus the rough tumbling in the dryer could permanently deform the shape of the cup.

Bonus: When I was doing research for this post, I came across this really cool tip on Jezebel that said you can bring your bra in the shower with you!  Now you can steam your clothes AND wash your bras, all while you do something you’d be doing anyway.  Multitasking at its finest.…

For Immediate Release: Budget Fashion Blogger Shauna Miller Launches Dress Collection

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For Immediate Release: Budget Fashion Blogger Shauna Miller Launches Dress Collection

PennyChic.com founder Shauna Miller is making the Little Black Dress accessible to every woman in America by launching her first clothing line under the label “Penny Chic by Shauna Miller”!  The LBD collection will make its debut in mid-February 2013 on Walmart.com and will consist of FIVE pieces designed in 5 different silhouettes with women of all shapes and sizes in mind.

Dresses retail for $20
Manufactured in the USA
Available in XS-XL and Plus Sizes 1X-4X in select styles (Click for Size Chart)
All dresses are machine-washable and wrinkle-free!

Shauna has been helping women look chic on the cheap since she started her blog in November 2010 using only Walmart apparel. She was working at a fashion house in Paris when she realized there was nothing epic about making a model look stylish on a $10,000 budget. It was then that she came up with the idea to style real women in clothes from stores that are accessible to everyone in the country. By placing America’s cheapest discount store on a fashion pedestal, Shauna quickly gained recognition by top media outlets including Good Morning America, CNN, Time, Wall Street Journal, and Glamour.…

Cake Queen Chic

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My girl Samantha from the blog Could I Have That was chosen as the spotlighted bride in the latest issue of Flutter Magazine, a stunning online bridal mag.  Instead of celebrating her shower with cheesy games and jordan almond party favours, Sydne from Sydne Style and I joined Samantha at Duff’s Cake Mix (owned by Duff from Ace of Cakes on the Food Network!) in Los Angeles for a day of cake decorating! The place is awesome. It’s like Color Me Mine but for cakes! No baking necessary…just decorating…aka this is my type of joint.

As the niece of a pastry chef, I took the activity VERY seriously and created my own ombre-Esque lily pad design which I am extremely proud of.  Maybe there’s a cake decorating career in my future? The three of us had a blast drinking champagne, rolling the dough, and kicking it at Duff’s.

Big congratulations to Samantha who gets married to her longtime beau this summer!…