The White Shirt Collection: Houston's Latest Fashion Spot, City Centre

We've been roaming the lush green landscapes, enjoying the beautiful weather and cozy outside seating of Houston's City Centre since the Spring season commenced. Located right at I-10 and Beltway 8 bordering Memorial, Westchase and Bunker Hill neighborhoods, City Centre is the ultimate indoor/outdoor shop and dine playground. City Centre houses the beautiful Hotel Sorella, luxury brownstones, and some of Houston's great restaurant's such as Eddie V's, RA Sushi, Cyclone Aynayas, Straits, Ruggles Green, Bistro Alex, The Tasting Room and our personal favorite Flora & Muse. Each restaurant manages to have an awesome dining patio and there are the extra perks in the Centre known as Red Mango Yogurt and Sweet Cupcakes. Amongst these great dining spots, City Centre's best kept secret is the wealth of chic fashion boutiques to shop from. Now you won't see any mega billboards or signs from the freeway/tollway stating the fashion finds, but just pull into any one of the many valet spots or free parking garage, step out and you'll be in shopper's paradise. Precisely positioned in all the right places, you will find hipster Free People, the gorgeous Anthropologie, the very chic Elaine Turner, LMD and oh yes Urban Outfitters opening this summer (we've been stalking the construction)!

Shop, sip, eat and relax, we love this place! We love City Centre so much we hosted our "Confessions of the Collection" Spring Preview in the beautiful Geisha Lounge of RA Sushi City Centre. In addition to our own event, we've been to several fabulous fashion previews at City Centre inside of Hotel Sorella and Mona Lisa Lounge. The latest fashion show we attended at City Centre was on Thursday, May 19th, hosted by Modern Luxury and featuring designs from LMD, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.  The fashion show was actually outside in the centre's outdoor entertainment area, with the runway leading from Hotel Sorella and LG Entertainment centered on the stage surrounded by the centre's beautiful fountains; it was a gorgeous sight. White lawn chairs were set up on the greens for attendees as we were offered lite bites from the food station provided by Ruggles Green. Anywhere you were seated or stood you had a great view, LG Entertainment was on point with the beats and the models looked great. The boutiques showcased an adequate eclectic mix of fashion trends predicted for the warmer season of Summer with hair and makeup reflecting the 2011 trend of easy, laid back sophistication. So it's safe to say you don't have to run out into the congested hustle & bustle of the Galleria or Rice Village shopping areas.  We are sure you can find all of your fashion needs right in the lovely convenience of City Centre. Check out the pics of some our favorite outfits and hopefully we will see you at the Centre soon!

Our Confession: We love to mix Q's Collections' clothing and accessories with hippy accessories from Free People & Anthropologie. 

Fashionably Yours,

Confessions of the Collection

The White Shirt Collection: The Summer Chapeau

The Chic Floppy, our favorite!

Summer time is near and we're ready for all of the cool chic summer fashion. It's time for sleek ponytails, soft white cotton halters, flax linen pants and pastels of wedges and summer stilettos. It's also a great season for summer accessories and summer hats are on the top of our list. Hats are a awesome way to take a outfit from fantastic to wow!!!!!!  There are several popular styles this summer and we've listed the top in this post for your fashion notes. Fedora, straw hats, cowboy hats and 70's floppy hats are the 2011 Summer hat trends. Hats are not only great summer fashion accessories but also provide great coverage against the brutal sun that appears in summer. Our favorites so far are the 70's floppy hat and the fedora. Let's tip our hats to summer!!!

The uber cool Fedora!

The perfect summer straw hat

The White Shirt Collection: Staying Chic on a Budget

Staying chic is a must for the fashion forward lady on the go, but going through the motions of "Confessions of a Shopaholic " is most definitely not a requirement to stay chic. Balancing a healthy fashion budget has been a dilemma for the fashion obsessed for quite sometime, so Confessions of the Collection decided to compose a list of helpful tips to keep you stylish but savings worthy.

Shop & Save with the following tips:

The Classic white button down shirt can styled for casual wear or dressed up.

• Stock up on quality staples ~ Purchasing quality staples that will last a long time and are outfit interchangeable is a huge way to stretch you shopping budget. Invest in a quality cotton button down white shirt, a great pair of dark wash jeans, a tailored fit pencil skirt and of course the LBD. You can mix these staples with just about anything and accessorize them with more trendy but less expensive  pieces to give them a updated feel.
• Your New BFFs: Designer Outlets & Sample Sales ~ Designer outlets and sample sales offer the opportunity to purchase amazing pieces to add to your wardrobe at phenomenal discounted prices. Most outlets discounts start at 40% or more off of the original price and can go as high as 90% of the price. The key to shopping outlets is to inquire about any additional % off days; Wednesday may be an extra 30% off in addition to normal discounts and outlet only coupons. Our favorite outlet stores are Saks Off Fifth, Nordstroms Rack, Loehmann's and Neiman Marcus' Last Call. Also keep in mind the designer owned outlets such as stores like Tory Burch & Kate Spade. We live for sample sales where there is often one of  a kind pieces that the designer will offer for just a fraction of the price. The key to sample sales is to get there early and be armed to purchase. Getting on a sample sale list is top priority since they are often done at impromptu locations. 
• Get on the List ~ Getting on the e-newsletter list for major retailers, local boutiques and online boutiques such as Q's Collections is often a great way to score an exclusive deal or savings. Fashion retailers often let their newsletter readers know about VIP deals, special sales events or previews and a host of other great deals that the general public won't receive. Hint: Join our mailing list :-) for  upcoming events and sales.
• To Consign or Not ~ Shopping consignment and resale shops is another way to get a great deal on clothing. Often these shops are reselling barely or slightly used pieces that are practically new. Many of the upscale consignment shops carry a host of designer items along with unique one of a kind items. This is also a great opportunity for you to sell items of your own that are in good condition but not in use.

Our Confession: Filene's Basement, an outlet store since 1909, it's a fashionista's heaven. We crave the day they make way to Houston.

We Confessed to the Collection!

On May 4,2011 at Geisha Lounge Q's Collections hosted their Blog Chat Party and Spring Trunk Show "Confessions of the Collection". The blog chat party was a huge success and the attendees were able to shop, eat, and talk fashion. The event was held at the beautiful Geisha Lounge inside of RA Sushi in City Centre. The lounge itself is a beautiful patio featuring a gorgeous outside bar, chic comfy lounge seating and a great view of the fabulous City Centre. We had a fabulous assortment of sushi and the happy hour drinks were great. A huge thank you to Manager Gavin Bouey and staff, they did a terrific job. In addition a special thanks to our sponsors Jocas Handbags and  Special Invite Event Planning & Event Management . The invited guest were able to view the blog, chat about their fashion obsessions and of course shop the latest items from Q's Collections Spring Trunk Show. Swaglopes ( swag envelopes) were given to each guest that contained gift certificates from Q's Collections, Jocas Handbags and Wine Her Dine Her along with candles from Jocas Handbags. All who attended had a great time. Listed below are some pictures from this great event.

Confessions of the Collection Custom Contest: Check In and Confess to The Collection!

It's officially the day of our Confessions of the Collection Blog Chat Party at Geisha Lounge!! We are going to have a fabulous fashionably good time and we can't wait to see you there. As an added bonus, check-in at this event via Foursquare or Facebook Check In and post the comment "I Confessed to the Collection" on your check-in and you will be automatically entered to win a exclusive gift at the event.  Extra added bonus: write a review on this event via Yelp at http://www.elpr.yelp.com and you're automatically entered to win a bonus gift card from Q's Collections. 

Q's Collections Signature Event: Confessions of The Collections Blog Chat Party & Spring Trunk Show

We're one week away from our blog chat party and trunk show: Confessions of the Collection!!! Please join us on May 4th from 5:30pm-8pm at Geisha Lounge in City Centre's Ra Sushi for the official launch of our Blog "Confessions of the Collection" and our spring trunk show. We're going to have scrumptious appetizers, door prizes and great networking at this event, trust us you don't want to miss this. Come confess your fashion obsession with us and get ready for a fabulous evening!This event is sponsored by Special Invite Event Planning & Event Management, Jocas Handbags, Capuchino Beauty and Events & Lagniappe Public Relations. Please RSVP to this event at pr@eventsandlagniappe.com

Q's Collections,

The White Shirt Collection: Bathing Beauties, What's Your Style?

Usually at the beginning of the year, hundreds of women (and men) head to the gym to get a membership.  Why you might ask? Swimsuit season. Nothing feels better than being able to buy a bikini and look great in it.

But what kind of bathing suits should you get? That’s what I’m here for. 

One of the biggest trends of the year is fringe.It’s bringing the cowgirl to the beach. If you decide on a two-piece it’s always best to have fringe on the bottom or the top rather than on both.  That could end up being overkill.  If you’re not into bikinis you’re in luck.  Many designers have created one-piece swimsuits with fringe.  If you choose a one-piece, the fringe looks best around the neckline preferably a v-neck.

If you’re comfortable with your body, one-piece cutouts are also big this year. The swimsuits with cutouts on the sides of the stomach are my favorite, but they come in many different versions. Some designers are leaving fabric on the sides and putting cutouts in the middle of the stomach so that your bellybutton is showing.  There are also swimsuits with asymmetric cutouts.  For example there may be a cutout on one side of the swimsuit but not the other.

One-shoulder shirts and dresses have been popular over the years, this season one-shoulder swimsuits are also becoming popular. This trend can be worn in either a bikini or a one-piece. This trend is great for petite girls, because it makes you look taller.

Prints are also trendy this year. If you’re petite, try wearing smaller print. Big print can be distracting and can overwhelm your small frame. Curvy girls should stay away from too much print.  Try wearing a printed top and a solid bottom. A print on the bottom can make you look bigger. If you want to wear all print, try bigger prints.

Another beach trend is a coverup. It can save time in case you’re leaving the beach and heading to dinner. Maxi dresses or long beach dresses can be paired with wedges or flip flops and a belt at the waist to complete the look. Because these dresses are so long, petite girls should steer away from this trend unless they are altered. Sheer cover-ups are a great accessory to a, plain, swimsuit. They look good in short styles as well as long styles.

No matter what type of bathing suit you choose, make sure that YOU are comfortable.

Now hurry ladies, head to the gym, there’s only so much time left until Summer 2011 is here!

Our Confession: The Vintage Sailor One Piece by Barrie Retro Chic!!