OK remember how a couple weeks ago I hinted that I was cleaning out my closet?
Well, I did it! And I was going to take pictures, but then I forgot. But it was a successful closet clean-out. I got rid of two trash bags of old clothes, and a cardboard box of shoes, and another two reusable grocery bags with more shoes and with sweaters.
I tried to be relatively moderate in my approach to closet cleaning-out. It was easy to get rid of the things that I haven't worn in years. And the things that were just plain out of style (and too young/trendy to come back *in* style anytime soon), or ill-fitting or ill-cut. I didn't try too hard to be ruthless, though - I still have half a dozen patterned button-down shirts for casual, sleeves-rolled-up wear. I kept a few little tops that I'd gotten at thrift stores but haven't really given much love. I kept both identical Lands End fleece pullovers (red and black) because they're just SO cozy for weekend wear (even though I no longer buy polyester). I kept a lot of things which - if I'm being honest with you - I think I'll probably be getting rid of in my next clean-out. But that's OK, right? Baby steps, and all that.
So with lots of newly-empty hangers in my closet, and newly-visible floor space, I...went shopping.
BUT! (here's where it gets interesting). On Saturday I approached the mall specifically with the purpose of "I have money. I wish to spend money for clothes. Please let me give you money for clothes."
I had sorta-specific goals in mind, even - a grey skirt. Another winter-y dress. Some cute non-neutral heels. Heeled boots that I could wear with my long skirts. A long flowy skirt. A statement necklace.
I had a 30% discount for the GAP, BR, and Old Navy. So I started there. I found nothing. I decided to check out the Anthropologie sale room. Nothing. (!!! This is how you know it's getting bad...). I popped into The Limited. Naturalizer. NY&Co. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
I LEFT THE MALL EMPTY-HANDED.
(Well, here I must confess - but for a light grey cotton cardigan. But that's beside the point, and was not one of my goals anyway.)
Jen, do you have any idea how bad things are when I cannot find a single thing to buy in the GAP or Anthropologie? Let me restate it - NOTHING IN THE GAP OR ANTHROPOLOGIE. WHEN I HAVE MONEY TO SPEND. BURNING A HOLE IN MY POCKET.
This is not so good.
I was so despondent, I didn't even get a soft pretzel.
I headed home dejected and nearly empty-handed.
So...what do you think is the lesson here? Why did my shopping expedition fail so?
Well, believe it or not, I wouldn't really consider it a failure. Sure, I went shopping. Sure, I failed to find anything. But here's why:
1)I was shopping mindfully, not blindly. I wasn't shopping to fill any emotional void, or out of boredom, or spite. I had a few general ideas in mind, and hoped to meet some of them. I wasn't too specific, nor too vague. It wasn't "a black long-sleeved wool dress" or "a dress", but "a winter dress".
2)I kept a firm eye for quality. It's long been documented that I don't mind spending money on high quality, classic items. But now I'm broadening that scope - *all* I want to buy, now, are high quality, classic items. I no longer have the desire to get that itchy acrylic sweater, or the weakly-seamed cotton skirt, or the shoes with glue-edges showing. I have better things to spend my money on. And when I *don't* find things like that, well, I won't spend it.
3)I've adjusted my price caps accordingly. Now this is so subjective, and varies for me nearly by the hour. But in general, I think that right now I'm willing to pay more for things than I was in the past - but only if they meet the quality goals set above. However, I'm not the type to pay for a name or a logo. So no, I won't pay $75 for that cute little (acrylic) cardigan at Banana Republic (especially when I can knit a better one for the same amount). But if it's all cotton and a cute style, I'll pay $12 for a clearance item at Old Navy. I think this makes me a hypocrite. I don't think I care.
So would you consider that a failure, Jen? I didn't obtain Stuff, but I also didn't obtain ugly worthless Stuff. I kept my money, instead. For a while, at least...
(to be continued, in the form of "The Spoils"...)
<3
Kate
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Simple
I was browsing Zappos over breakfast this morning, and stumbled upon a shoe/bag brand I'd never heard of before - Simple.
Hello, LOVAH!
("Tantan", in mist grey)
I'm thinkin' full, swingy skirt. Fitted little patterned tee or tank. Big jewelry. LOVE.
Could you BE any cuter?
("Carat" in Coffee Liqueur cotton)
And it's organic!
I lust after you, shoe!
("Tiptoe" in green)
Will you be my Saturday friend?
("D-tach" in cub)
LUST:
("Blottoe", in chocolate)
Simple is definitely a brand to keep my eye on :-)
Hello, LOVAH!
("Tantan", in mist grey)
I'm thinkin' full, swingy skirt. Fitted little patterned tee or tank. Big jewelry. LOVE.
Could you BE any cuter?
("Carat" in Coffee Liqueur cotton)
And it's organic!
I lust after you, shoe!
("Tiptoe" in green)
Will you be my Saturday friend?
("D-tach" in cub)
LUST:
("Blottoe", in chocolate)
Simple is definitely a brand to keep my eye on :-)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Spoils: Tulle
So, that wonderful dress that I wore on Monday - it's from a company called Tulle. I'd never heard of this company before, but when my friend mentioned how pumped she was about an order she'd received from them, I was a-hankering to place an order of my own. So, I did. And then they sent me the wrong size. And then I had to send it back. And then they sent me the right size without expediting it (grumble grumble). ANYWAY, it was worth the wait, wouldn't you say?
I have been wanting to add some more short-sleeved cardigans to my wardrobe so that 1) I can stop wearing the same.dang.shrug. and 2) I won't melt in the Texas heat.
Oh, that's... not a cardigan! How did that get in there? (whistles innocently) Look, I really wanted to own a blazer, okay? Now I just need to figure out what to wear with it. Your suggestions are most welcomed.
I will certainly be purchasing from Tulle in the future. A word of advice: please follow their sizing charts! I wear a small in most brands, but not with Tulle. In fact, I think these new cardigans that I ordered in a medium are just barely large enough; definitely much shorter than I prefer. I hope they don't shrink like my shriveled heart.
Justification
In a move that will - I'm sure - utterly shock you, I think I'm falling in love.
Those are Spring Step "Juniper", and I am in love (well, maybe just lust).
Last night as I was browsing Zappos - which is when I stumbled upon these - I was also thinking about my shoe shopping policy/philosophy in general. It's something I've been doing so long that it has become automatic for me. I've become very efficient at skimming past pairs which don't meet my criteria, and have honed my ability to zero in on ones which do. It makes shoe shopping - whether online or in person - go a lot more quickly, which makes it more fun :-)
I have a few general criteria when it comes to shoes. Some things are non-negotiable; some I will deviate from if a situation really calls for it. But I almost always:
1)Buy leather. I don't like wearing fossil fuels on my feet, and I also appreciate the durability and break-in-ability of leather.
2)Buy comfort. I have a few brands I go to first - Born, Keen, Sofft, Privo, Ariat - which offer shoes that are comfortable but not old ladyish. In my experience, comfort brands tend to be more well-made, and their shoes have much better arch support - with my high arches, it's a must!
3)No heels over 2 1/2". Well, sometimes 3". But only if the shoe is otherwise fantastic, and if I know I can walk in them. I'm short - only 5'2" - and that doesn't bother me. I embrace it. So I don't try to hide my (lack of) height behind tall shoes.
4)Speaking of heels - heels must be stable. This is another one that I'll make very few exceptions to. The sidewalks of downtown St. Louis are *rough* and I'm not a fan of bringing two pairs of shoes to work - I'm a one pair a day kinda girl. So I've gotta be able to walk in the ones I'm wearing! This usually means wedges or wider heels, or at least ones that aren't wobbly.
5)Versatility. Few things make me sadder than a gorgeous pair of shoes that only have limited wearability. So whenever I shop, I try to think of ten possible outfits - off the top of my head (no riffling through the closet!) - that would work with a shoe. If I can think of ten, I get them because I know I'll be able to wear them with a variety of outfits and styles. If I can't, I'll usually put them away. An example of some of my most versatile shoes are my black 704b boots which I've worn like this, this, this, and this. And that was just in the past month! I also have a pair of black patent Privo Arbors (they've not yet made it onto the blog - it's just getting warm enough for sandals here!) which are similarly versatile - they're sporty enough that I can wear them with jeans and casual outfits, but the patent leather and narrow straps make them dressy enough for work (well, my work anyway). That's the type of thing I try to keep in mind when I shop. Since my workplace is pretty casual and I tend to dress up a bit everday, most of my shoes are right on that dressy/casual border - which also makes them more versatile!
6)Cuteness. That one's pretty self-explanatory isn't it?
Of course, there's always the exception that makes the rule, right? I have a pair of baby blue Anne Klein Lola's that I love more than words - they're my favorite wedding/going out/fancytimes shoes. And what are they? 3 1/2" high, uncomfortable, spindly heeled devilshoes. AND I LOVE THEM. And that's OK.
....
Sooo...do the Junipers meet my criteria?
1)Yup! Zappos says they have a "burnished leather upper".
2)Definitely. I'm not familiar with this brand, but I did some research and everything out there seems to be good - great comfort and support.
3)Easily.
4)Not really applicable, since these are flats. But they look stable enough.
5)This one is a bit trickier. My reasoning can become clouded by the shoe fumes (yes, shoe fumes travel through teh intartubes!). But I think these have a lot of potential. They're sort of earthy-vintage, so I'd wear them with my jeanskirts, with jeans, some of my fuller cotton or linen skirts, and then button-down tops (like my Benetton one!) or simple tees and cardis. I'm about 90% sure I can work with these :-)
6)So subjective, I know. But - yes!
I may go to Marshall's and TJ Maxx this weekend and see if anything else catches my eye, but I think that these babies may be finding their way to my front porch soon :-)
Do you have shoe shopping guidelines or rules? How strictly do you self-enforce them?
Those are Spring Step "Juniper", and I am in love (well, maybe just lust).
Last night as I was browsing Zappos - which is when I stumbled upon these - I was also thinking about my shoe shopping policy/philosophy in general. It's something I've been doing so long that it has become automatic for me. I've become very efficient at skimming past pairs which don't meet my criteria, and have honed my ability to zero in on ones which do. It makes shoe shopping - whether online or in person - go a lot more quickly, which makes it more fun :-)
I have a few general criteria when it comes to shoes. Some things are non-negotiable; some I will deviate from if a situation really calls for it. But I almost always:
1)Buy leather. I don't like wearing fossil fuels on my feet, and I also appreciate the durability and break-in-ability of leather.
2)Buy comfort. I have a few brands I go to first - Born, Keen, Sofft, Privo, Ariat - which offer shoes that are comfortable but not old ladyish. In my experience, comfort brands tend to be more well-made, and their shoes have much better arch support - with my high arches, it's a must!
3)No heels over 2 1/2". Well, sometimes 3". But only if the shoe is otherwise fantastic, and if I know I can walk in them. I'm short - only 5'2" - and that doesn't bother me. I embrace it. So I don't try to hide my (lack of) height behind tall shoes.
4)Speaking of heels - heels must be stable. This is another one that I'll make very few exceptions to. The sidewalks of downtown St. Louis are *rough* and I'm not a fan of bringing two pairs of shoes to work - I'm a one pair a day kinda girl. So I've gotta be able to walk in the ones I'm wearing! This usually means wedges or wider heels, or at least ones that aren't wobbly.
5)Versatility. Few things make me sadder than a gorgeous pair of shoes that only have limited wearability. So whenever I shop, I try to think of ten possible outfits - off the top of my head (no riffling through the closet!) - that would work with a shoe. If I can think of ten, I get them because I know I'll be able to wear them with a variety of outfits and styles. If I can't, I'll usually put them away. An example of some of my most versatile shoes are my black 704b boots which I've worn like this, this, this, and this. And that was just in the past month! I also have a pair of black patent Privo Arbors (they've not yet made it onto the blog - it's just getting warm enough for sandals here!) which are similarly versatile - they're sporty enough that I can wear them with jeans and casual outfits, but the patent leather and narrow straps make them dressy enough for work (well, my work anyway). That's the type of thing I try to keep in mind when I shop. Since my workplace is pretty casual and I tend to dress up a bit everday, most of my shoes are right on that dressy/casual border - which also makes them more versatile!
6)Cuteness. That one's pretty self-explanatory isn't it?
Of course, there's always the exception that makes the rule, right? I have a pair of baby blue Anne Klein Lola's that I love more than words - they're my favorite wedding/going out/fancytimes shoes. And what are they? 3 1/2" high, uncomfortable, spindly heeled devilshoes. AND I LOVE THEM. And that's OK.
....
Sooo...do the Junipers meet my criteria?
1)Yup! Zappos says they have a "burnished leather upper".
2)Definitely. I'm not familiar with this brand, but I did some research and everything out there seems to be good - great comfort and support.
3)Easily.
4)Not really applicable, since these are flats. But they look stable enough.
5)This one is a bit trickier. My reasoning can become clouded by the shoe fumes (yes, shoe fumes travel through teh intartubes!). But I think these have a lot of potential. They're sort of earthy-vintage, so I'd wear them with my jeanskirts, with jeans, some of my fuller cotton or linen skirts, and then button-down tops (like my Benetton one!) or simple tees and cardis. I'm about 90% sure I can work with these :-)
6)So subjective, I know. But - yes!
I may go to Marshall's and TJ Maxx this weekend and see if anything else catches my eye, but I think that these babies may be finding their way to my front porch soon :-)
Do you have shoe shopping guidelines or rules? How strictly do you self-enforce them?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
LLBean
It's no secret at all that I love LLBean. Passionately.
It's a love that has spanned decades, from the sleeping bag and stuffed bear ("Ellie" who I find no evidence of online, but she was really cute and wore a Fair Isle sweater) of my childhood, through my first snuggly, cozy winter shirt and snowboots bought my freshman year of college (back when I thought I'd never get used to the cold weather in Kirksville), to my present affection for a ruffled button-down shirt and my Town and Field boots. It's really a saying something, that in my 15+ years of patronage I've *never* worn out an LLBean item. Even those snow boots which hauled me to class and back twice a day for three years, and trucked three-year-olds around a playground, and got abused on hikes and camping trips at Thousand Hills, are still in rotation (currently my go-to dog walking shoes :-))
With all this in mind, you can only imagine how excited I was to discover LLBean's forthcoming new Signature line, to debut in less than two weeks (why yes, I have been counting the days)!
Details about the new line are scarce, but I'm already amazingly psyched.
Any photoshoot involving Sawyer can't be bad, right? :-P
Seriously, though - I adore the fit of that shirtdress - almost guaranteed to be universally flattering. I'd like to see if/how the sleeves unroll - 3/4 length? Full length? And is this the same fabric used in the men's chamois shirts (which is insanely soft)?
If the quality of the Signature products is at all comparable to that which the company has already established, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
I love how the dress is styled above, but I can also imagine that dress paired with these:
and this:
Cute, right? Fun and wearable and practical and classic (but also not *not* trendy, IYKWIM). Perfect for a rainy spring weekend :-)
I've only ever had one quibble with LLBean in the past, and that was with the way they styled clothing for catalogs and ads. Jeans were styled too short, tops too big, and skirts always (always!) too high on the waist. In short, everything was styled as if my grandma (no offense, Grammy) would be wearing it. For a company with such wonderful, timeless items it was really a shame to see them limit themselves to a stodgy demographic.
If you're not looking carefully and with an open mind, it can be really easy to overlook so many cute pieces. Like the shirt I linked above. Here's one of this year's colors, on the model:
SNORE. Holy hell, I'm bored just looking at it. Why not take that EXACT SAME SHIRT and EXACT SAME MODEL, and wear it open with a cute tank underneath and throw on a nice pair of straight leg jeans (only let's wear 'em a size smaller, ok?) and add some flats. And voila, there you have adorably mixed patterns and visual interest and texture and fit, all within the current product range. ( Here's how I styled the exact same shirt just the other day. Skirt is LLBean, too.)
That was fun - let's do another one.
Here's a cute skirt:
Pair it with this:
(I LOVE how coral and maroon-y magenta look together!)
with this underneath:
and these on your feet:
(hey, it's my game and there are no rules against using items I already own :-P)
Super cute, right? Much cuter than the blah, boring, neutral styling the site currently uses.
LLBean, I know you can do it. That's why for years I've been looking past the stiff models and boxy styling and have seen your cute clothes for what they really are. I hope that your new Signature line will remove a lot of that work for me. I hope it makes the brand even more popular than before. And I hope it brings your demographic below the AARP range. It's about time, don't you think?
<3
Kate
PS>Crap like this isn't helping any. Just sayin'. Still love ya. Madly. Really.
PPS>Apparently I'm not the only one with the unabashed Beanlove (nawwww, really? :-P). Check out: things that make me happy, maine maven, and Chic Geek, too!
It's a love that has spanned decades, from the sleeping bag and stuffed bear ("Ellie" who I find no evidence of online, but she was really cute and wore a Fair Isle sweater) of my childhood, through my first snuggly, cozy winter shirt and snowboots bought my freshman year of college (back when I thought I'd never get used to the cold weather in Kirksville), to my present affection for a ruffled button-down shirt and my Town and Field boots. It's really a saying something, that in my 15+ years of patronage I've *never* worn out an LLBean item. Even those snow boots which hauled me to class and back twice a day for three years, and trucked three-year-olds around a playground, and got abused on hikes and camping trips at Thousand Hills, are still in rotation (currently my go-to dog walking shoes :-))
With all this in mind, you can only imagine how excited I was to discover LLBean's forthcoming new Signature line, to debut in less than two weeks (why yes, I have been counting the days)!
Details about the new line are scarce, but I'm already amazingly psyched.
Any photoshoot involving Sawyer can't be bad, right? :-P
Seriously, though - I adore the fit of that shirtdress - almost guaranteed to be universally flattering. I'd like to see if/how the sleeves unroll - 3/4 length? Full length? And is this the same fabric used in the men's chamois shirts (which is insanely soft)?
If the quality of the Signature products is at all comparable to that which the company has already established, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
I love how the dress is styled above, but I can also imagine that dress paired with these:
and this:
Cute, right? Fun and wearable and practical and classic (but also not *not* trendy, IYKWIM). Perfect for a rainy spring weekend :-)
I've only ever had one quibble with LLBean in the past, and that was with the way they styled clothing for catalogs and ads. Jeans were styled too short, tops too big, and skirts always (always!) too high on the waist. In short, everything was styled as if my grandma (no offense, Grammy) would be wearing it. For a company with such wonderful, timeless items it was really a shame to see them limit themselves to a stodgy demographic.
If you're not looking carefully and with an open mind, it can be really easy to overlook so many cute pieces. Like the shirt I linked above. Here's one of this year's colors, on the model:
SNORE. Holy hell, I'm bored just looking at it. Why not take that EXACT SAME SHIRT and EXACT SAME MODEL, and wear it open with a cute tank underneath and throw on a nice pair of straight leg jeans (only let's wear 'em a size smaller, ok?) and add some flats. And voila, there you have adorably mixed patterns and visual interest and texture and fit, all within the current product range. ( Here's how I styled the exact same shirt just the other day. Skirt is LLBean, too.)
That was fun - let's do another one.
Here's a cute skirt:
Pair it with this:
(I LOVE how coral and maroon-y magenta look together!)
with this underneath:
and these on your feet:
(hey, it's my game and there are no rules against using items I already own :-P)
Super cute, right? Much cuter than the blah, boring, neutral styling the site currently uses.
LLBean, I know you can do it. That's why for years I've been looking past the stiff models and boxy styling and have seen your cute clothes for what they really are. I hope that your new Signature line will remove a lot of that work for me. I hope it makes the brand even more popular than before. And I hope it brings your demographic below the AARP range. It's about time, don't you think?
<3
Kate
PS>Crap like this isn't helping any. Just sayin'. Still love ya. Madly. Really.
PPS>Apparently I'm not the only one with the unabashed Beanlove (nawwww, really? :-P). Check out: things that make me happy, maine maven, and Chic Geek, too!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Spoils: Martin + Osa
I don't know how or why I found myself at a website I'd never visited before, but the other day I happened upon Martin + Osa. Amazingly, I'd stumbled across their website on the final day of their 20% off sale and free shipping offer (score!). So, I took a gamble, having only ever walked by their store, and ordered some goodies.
I looooooooove online order deliveries. Makes a bad day good and a good day even better.
Impressed! Martin + Osa's packaging is a far cry from my Old Navy clearance orders. ON THE REALS.
Impressed!
Silk Pocket Tee in Goose Grey - mine! Soybean Ribbed Cardigan in Aviary Blue - mine! Cableknit V-Neck Seater in Goose Grey - mine!
Dearies, please always remember to buy something (like this Classic V-Neck Sweater in Yellow Ochre) for your significant other when you shop online. It's only polite (and smart to cover your ass for spending the moniessss).
Monday, February 8, 2010
The spoils
Here we go - my finds from this weekend's adventure! If you're interested in non-shopping Chicago stuff, I'll be posting a more detailed run-down on KateOhKatie later (probably tonight). I'll change that hyperlink to the specific post, once I get it up.
So anyway...
All things considered, I really reined myself in pretty well. I wasn't even tempted to go into the "mall shops" on Michigan Ave. because, well, I can find everything there in my local mall. Time was limited, y'know? That said, I LOVE the 4-story GAP and if I'd had more time I definitely would've popped in. I also tried to stick to the loosely-set goals I set in my letter to Jen. We'll see how well I did...
What you see there are (in case you can't tell) bags from Loopy Yarns (knitterly goodness :-)), Filene's Basement, Nordstrom Rack, and Macy's (aka Marshall Field's ::grumblegrumble::).
I found that the Filene's on State had a lot better selection than the one on Michigan; interesting since it was a smaller store. I got...
A super-cute (brightly colored!) scarf, $14.99 - 25% off:
Purple and black tights, for super cheap. (Yes not the most exciting purchase ever but I'm being thorough :-P) $9.99/2 pr:
Flowy cardi (some brand I'd never heard of and can't remember, and for $19.99 I don't care :-P):
I can't wait to wear it belted! And open! And with jeans! And my pencil skirt! <3 :-)
Calvin Klein, cute cotton work shirt (LOVE the print!), clearane for $14:
Nordstrom Rack, where I came thisclose to buying a super cute pair of multicolored maryjanes, but they were a 37 and I really need a 36 so I left them behind to be someone else's treasure. But I didn't go completely emptyhanded:
BCBG casual dress; will be perfect with cowboy boots (either pair :-D) and bold accessories:
Another brand I can't remember (wasn't anything spectacular). I LOVE this shirt because of the fun girly details, AND it's perfectly fitted in both the waist and bust. Y'all know how rare that is :-)
Also that's like my 4th plaid shirt. I really like them, apparently.
For lunch on Sunday we went to the food court thingy in Macy's/Marshall Field's. And I was NOT going to shop (see rant about "mall stores" above). But then Jeff was in line for Starbucks and that's right by the shoe clearance racks and then I wandered off and you know that never goes well...
Nine West patent leather shoeties! $28! YESsssssssssssssssss!!! Definitely the score of the weekend :-) I can't wait to wear them with, like, everything. EVERYTHING.
All in all, I think I did a pretty good job sticking to my goals. And I also didn't spend that much money - <$100 altogether. Now where's that self-restraint when I need it? :-P
So anyway...
All things considered, I really reined myself in pretty well. I wasn't even tempted to go into the "mall shops" on Michigan Ave. because, well, I can find everything there in my local mall. Time was limited, y'know? That said, I LOVE the 4-story GAP and if I'd had more time I definitely would've popped in. I also tried to stick to the loosely-set goals I set in my letter to Jen. We'll see how well I did...
What you see there are (in case you can't tell) bags from Loopy Yarns (knitterly goodness :-)), Filene's Basement, Nordstrom Rack, and Macy's (aka Marshall Field's ::grumblegrumble::).
I found that the Filene's on State had a lot better selection than the one on Michigan; interesting since it was a smaller store. I got...
A super-cute (brightly colored!) scarf, $14.99 - 25% off:
Purple and black tights, for super cheap. (Yes not the most exciting purchase ever but I'm being thorough :-P) $9.99/2 pr:
Flowy cardi (some brand I'd never heard of and can't remember, and for $19.99 I don't care :-P):
I can't wait to wear it belted! And open! And with jeans! And my pencil skirt! <3 :-)
Calvin Klein, cute cotton work shirt (LOVE the print!), clearane for $14:
Nordstrom Rack, where I came thisclose to buying a super cute pair of multicolored maryjanes, but they were a 37 and I really need a 36 so I left them behind to be someone else's treasure. But I didn't go completely emptyhanded:
BCBG casual dress; will be perfect with cowboy boots (either pair :-D) and bold accessories:
Another brand I can't remember (wasn't anything spectacular). I LOVE this shirt because of the fun girly details, AND it's perfectly fitted in both the waist and bust. Y'all know how rare that is :-)
Also that's like my 4th plaid shirt. I really like them, apparently.
For lunch on Sunday we went to the food court thingy in Macy's/Marshall Field's. And I was NOT going to shop (see rant about "mall stores" above). But then Jeff was in line for Starbucks and that's right by the shoe clearance racks and then I wandered off and you know that never goes well...
Nine West patent leather shoeties! $28! YESsssssssssssssssss!!! Definitely the score of the weekend :-) I can't wait to wear them with, like, everything. EVERYTHING.
All in all, I think I did a pretty good job sticking to my goals. And I also didn't spend that much money - <$100 altogether. Now where's that self-restraint when I need it? :-P
Monday, January 25, 2010
Not Everything is Bigger in Texas
I have this thing about purses. Well, I suppose most who are interested in fashion have a thing about purses.
My particular obsession, however, has neither to do with label nor price-tag. Nope! I love LOVE teeny tiny purses. It all started a few year ago when I walked into an H&M for the first time. I bought my first itty bitty bag:
While everyone else was walking around with HUGE handbags, I was rocking a $15 purse that could only hold my wallet, sunglasses, keys, and cell. I even had a guy thank me at a bar one night for not carrying a huge purse. Whaaat? Men notice our bags? Perceptive guy, eh?
Anyway, I carried that purse around forever. I was hooked. So, on my next trip to LA, I made a point to stop by H&M, and this time I stocked up. Took home 3 bags to sustain me until my next trip to LA.
Now, I'm on my last bag. And I just don't know what I am going to do with myself when it's time to retire this cutie.
What's an unfashionable girl in a fashion quandary to do?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Unrequited Love
As I sit here gnawing at a chocolate reindeer leg (helloooo, leftover Christmas candy!) and mindlessly scanning posts in my RSS, I must confess that in another way I'm actually exercising every ounce of self-restraint that I'm able. You see, Jeff's wallet is on the coffee table in front of me, and I've got a Firefox tab open onto www.fluevog.com.
John Fluevog's shoes have been on the periphery of my awareness for some time now, but it wasn't until Audi's recent post about her shoe collection (including more than a few pairs of Fluevogs) that my internal switch flipped from "would be cool" to "WANT!" The direct problem with this is, of course, that I have already maxed out my shoe budget until 2015 (give or take a year). So until that point, I'll just share some of my favorite styles with you, and also let you know that I've never had an anonymous benefactor but I definitely wouldn't mind it. Size 7. Just in case you were wondering.
Let's start with the least attainable (for me, at least). Of course, they're boots: Chinoa:
I think they're great in either brown or black, but the reddish brown has some color contrast that really adds a lot of visual interest. And even though they don't look it, these would be VERY versatile - they'd look relatively "normal" under boot-cut jeans for a more conservative look, or tucked into skinnies with a voluminous top to be edgier. I can also imagine wearing them with a deconstructed cotton a-line skirt, plaid above-the-knee skirt, or (how awesome would this be?) tulip-shaped midcalf skirt. Like many Fluevogs, the styling really skirts the line between Victorian/steampunk and ultra-modern, so they'd work well in either setting. And the versatility makes them a perfect candidate for a one-pair-weekend trip, eh?
Xie Xie are another similarly versatile boot:
They come in black too, but I'm of the mindset that if I'm going to drop serious $$$ on some boots, I want to be able to wear them with *everything*. And in my twisted little mind, red says "everything" more than black does. Can't you imagine these beauties worn with a brown dress (maybe with crinoline peeking out underneath) and oodles of delicate copper or gold jewelry?
Libby Smith will be the last boot I talk about. I promise. Maybe.
These cuties, with the spat detail and dainty heel, are probably the most look-specific boots I've posted here. They're very evocative of that romantic Steampunk style, aren't they? Although, that's not to say you couldn't wear them with a jeanskirt and white lace knee-high socks, is it? :-D
Moving on to shoes, I've just gotta say that I LOVE Malibran:
Diana has a pair in the beautiful goldenrod pictured above, and I love how she mixes them up with so many other colors. The styling is great, too - the epitome of timeless, but with a shape, color, (and that contrast stitching!) to keep them from looking at all boring. Because of my pale skintone and red hair, most yellows make me look kinda, erm, "dead". But wearing yellow down at my feet would be a great way to incorporate the color without looking like a zombie, eh? I'd pair them with just about everything - pencil skirts to tweedy pants and everything in between.
Giulia may *look* like a boot, but it's not! No, it's a bootie. Completely different, I assure you:
This shade of brown is absolutely perfect, IMNSHO. My beloved LLBean flat boots are pretty close to this color, and it's wonderful. The reddish brown is like a chameleon - it can fade into the background and act as a neutral when paired with brighter colors, or wear with neutrals (black, white, khaki, olive) and suddenly they pop! Plus, the super-cute styling is great for 3 seasons of wear - won't look out of place in March or September :-)
I would have gone nuts for Illeana in the '90's, and I'm still going nuts for them now:
I'm sure the 90's wasn't the first place that this whole "blocky styling and lots of buckles" thing emerged, but it's the first place *I* remember seeing it. In an homage to my 8th-grade self, I'd wear these with a plaid skirt and non-matchy twinset, but I'd keep it modern by throwing a wide, cinched belt overtop and maybe wearing my favorite patterned tights. They'd also be supercute dressed down, with capris in the summertime.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour through my wishlist! If there's one good thing about all this window shopping (though keep in mind that "good" is in the eye of the beholder), it's that I've finally set upon a New Years resolution for 2010 - to buy a pair of Fluevogs before the year is out. Now I'm off to put Jeff's wallet under his sleeping head, to remove the temptation to resolve my resolution this instant :-D
John Fluevog's shoes have been on the periphery of my awareness for some time now, but it wasn't until Audi's recent post about her shoe collection (including more than a few pairs of Fluevogs) that my internal switch flipped from "would be cool" to "WANT!" The direct problem with this is, of course, that I have already maxed out my shoe budget until 2015 (give or take a year). So until that point, I'll just share some of my favorite styles with you, and also let you know that I've never had an anonymous benefactor but I definitely wouldn't mind it. Size 7. Just in case you were wondering.
Let's start with the least attainable (for me, at least). Of course, they're boots: Chinoa:
I think they're great in either brown or black, but the reddish brown has some color contrast that really adds a lot of visual interest. And even though they don't look it, these would be VERY versatile - they'd look relatively "normal" under boot-cut jeans for a more conservative look, or tucked into skinnies with a voluminous top to be edgier. I can also imagine wearing them with a deconstructed cotton a-line skirt, plaid above-the-knee skirt, or (how awesome would this be?) tulip-shaped midcalf skirt. Like many Fluevogs, the styling really skirts the line between Victorian/steampunk and ultra-modern, so they'd work well in either setting. And the versatility makes them a perfect candidate for a one-pair-weekend trip, eh?
Xie Xie are another similarly versatile boot:
They come in black too, but I'm of the mindset that if I'm going to drop serious $$$ on some boots, I want to be able to wear them with *everything*. And in my twisted little mind, red says "everything" more than black does. Can't you imagine these beauties worn with a brown dress (maybe with crinoline peeking out underneath) and oodles of delicate copper or gold jewelry?
Libby Smith will be the last boot I talk about. I promise. Maybe.
These cuties, with the spat detail and dainty heel, are probably the most look-specific boots I've posted here. They're very evocative of that romantic Steampunk style, aren't they? Although, that's not to say you couldn't wear them with a jeanskirt and white lace knee-high socks, is it? :-D
Moving on to shoes, I've just gotta say that I LOVE Malibran:
Diana has a pair in the beautiful goldenrod pictured above, and I love how she mixes them up with so many other colors. The styling is great, too - the epitome of timeless, but with a shape, color, (and that contrast stitching!) to keep them from looking at all boring. Because of my pale skintone and red hair, most yellows make me look kinda, erm, "dead". But wearing yellow down at my feet would be a great way to incorporate the color without looking like a zombie, eh? I'd pair them with just about everything - pencil skirts to tweedy pants and everything in between.
Giulia may *look* like a boot, but it's not! No, it's a bootie. Completely different, I assure you:
This shade of brown is absolutely perfect, IMNSHO. My beloved LLBean flat boots are pretty close to this color, and it's wonderful. The reddish brown is like a chameleon - it can fade into the background and act as a neutral when paired with brighter colors, or wear with neutrals (black, white, khaki, olive) and suddenly they pop! Plus, the super-cute styling is great for 3 seasons of wear - won't look out of place in March or September :-)
I would have gone nuts for Illeana in the '90's, and I'm still going nuts for them now:
I'm sure the 90's wasn't the first place that this whole "blocky styling and lots of buckles" thing emerged, but it's the first place *I* remember seeing it. In an homage to my 8th-grade self, I'd wear these with a plaid skirt and non-matchy twinset, but I'd keep it modern by throwing a wide, cinched belt overtop and maybe wearing my favorite patterned tights. They'd also be supercute dressed down, with capris in the summertime.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour through my wishlist! If there's one good thing about all this window shopping (though keep in mind that "good" is in the eye of the beholder), it's that I've finally set upon a New Years resolution for 2010 - to buy a pair of Fluevogs before the year is out. Now I'm off to put Jeff's wallet under his sleeping head, to remove the temptation to resolve my resolution this instant :-D
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