Subscribe to RSS

Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

My Two Cents: How To Make a Sale Purchase You’ll Be Proud Of

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

 

As far as fashion retailers are concerned, Spring has sprung. But really, it hasn’t. So may as well take advantage of the final markdowns on winter merchandise while you can still get some wear out of them, right?

I have made many a bad purchase decision under the influence of deep discounts- but this is not one of them. Purchasing this Milly coat on sale in Boca last month took about, let’s see, 45 seconds from rack to register. And while often times a quick draw of the credit card like that can signal a piece that is surely to never be worn, in this case, I did good. Because I have worn it many times since, and truly believe it is timeless.

So here is my take on end-of-season sale shopping- don’t buy the basic that is *almost* perfect. There is usually a reason a clearly classic piece is on the sale rack- something in the fit or wearability is off.  Instead, look to statement pieces that resonate with your wardrobe.

In my case, I always reach for jeans or leggings and a black cami when I don’t know what to wear, then I throw a jacket of some sort on top.  I have a rack full of well-tailored blazers and easy-to-wear lady like swing coats and such. Hence it makes sense for me to scoop up a piece like this. It is bold, so not every woman across America would think to purchase it. As such, there it sat on the sale rack, sandwiched between oversized sequin sweatshirts and crazy floral print ruffle blouses.

However, it is just bold enough to freshen up my go-to uniform and therefore will forever be deemed a sale purchase I am proud of. Which is not something I can say for many of the ill-fitting black pants or white tee shirts I have excitedly hoarded at sales in the past.

Do tell- what is your best ever sale purchase?

And if you don’t mind, share your sage sale shopping tips with the rest of us, will ya? Thanks.

My Shop It To Me Pop Up Shop. Treat Yourself. It’s Tuesday.

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

 

In high pressure situations, my brain has a tendency to want to go the other way. Like, before my wedding, when the pressure was on to get skinny, I gained weight. Same with pre-Spring Break shape-ups in college. Around the holidays, with all the pressure to buy the perfect thing for someone else, I end up buying many perfect things- for myself. Which is why when Shop It To Me asked me to curate a pop up boutique of my favorite fashions (all on sale, mind you!) for their Treat Yourself Tuesday campaign, I couldn’t resist.

Putting this together was quite enjoyable (dare I say, too enjoyable as my credit card bill this month will vouch)- every item you see is something I want in my closet (if I don’t already own it) because they fulfill my three fashion rules- timeless, easy to wear and very versatile.

Hope you will check out my Treat Yourself Tuesday Pop Up Boutique and treat yourself to a little (or a big) something. The boutique will only last until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (Tuesday, 12/20)- so hop to it. If you haven’t found the perfect present for everyone on your list just yet, maybe spoiling yourself is just the distraction you need.

Go-To Outfits Are Everything.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

When I was dating, I had a go-to first date outfit. A dark pink ribbed Vanessa Bruno knit henley, black cami, Citizens of Humanity trouser flare jeans and pointy toe Gucci stilettos that I wish I had never given away. This made going on first dates much less painful- since given the choice, nine times out of ten I would have rather stayed home in my pajamas watching Dawson’s Creek. (Hey, it was 2003- Friday Night Lights wasn’t around yet.) But with the whole “what the F am I going to wear” part taken out of it, dating became much less stressful and I became much more open to meeting new people as a result.

While my first date days are long gone, the lesson learned from having that go-to outfit has stuck with me- and it really is invaluable. So, I have inaugurated a go-to “Saturday night double date” outfit.  See, Saturday night plans are rough lately- a full day with Alexa knocks me out. But in the interest of maintaining a life and staying sane (not to mention ordering in pizza from Vezzo two nights in a row would be embarrassing), Brian and I have made an effort to be good about making plans. But inevitably when 7pm rolls around, I throw a tantrum similar to the ones I used to throw before going out on a first date, begging Brian to let me cancel so we can watch TV and be in bed by 10.  Part of the anxiety definitely has to do with getting dressed- so now I have taken that out of the equation.

What is this outfit, you ask? It is comprised of favorite pieces from my closet that I always feel good in- and it is basic enough that when I want to switch it up a bit, all it takes is a few twirls of the curling iron, a makeup change-up and a little creative accessorizing.

Oh- and in case you are wondering- without fail, every time I motivate out oon a Saturday night, I end up being really thrilled I did. So any friends reading this who we have had dinner with recently- you can rest assured, we had a blast.

Hunter Dixon Ava Top, 7 For All Mankind Rachel Bell Bottom Jeans (blogged about here), Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps (blogged about here) and a big ol’ Dannijo cuff.

What is your a go-to outfit that makes a recurring occasion in your life less stressful? Do tell. I am always looking to add to my repertoire…

 

 

The Fashion Holy Grail: A Chic Trench with a Hood

Friday, October 14th, 2011

I honestly do not understand why ANYONE would make a trench coat without a hood. Any sort of coat that could potentially be worn on even a SLIGHTLY rainy day should, by law, come with a hood. Either that, or the makers of said coat should allow me to submit my salon bills to them for reimbursement each time a perfectly good blowout is ruined by the fine mist of rain that the hood-less coat neglects to protect me from.

And I am not alone here. Every rainy day, I could not help but wax poetic about my fruitless search- and typically whoever I was lamenting to expressed the exact same frustration. Sure, there are plenty of raincoats out there with hoods- but if it is a more classic trench style you are seeking, the options are few and far between.

So, when I got an email from the very stylish Vanessa, an adorable producer I work with at E! News, embedded with a link to an item she claimed was  the answer to our  hair prayers, my online purchase was imminent.  Not to mention timely, given the recent influx of rainy days.

Thanks to the J. Crew Matinee Trench, I have never looked quite so chic on a rainy day- at least from my head to about an inch above my knees.

The cut is close to the body, the details are true to the iconic trench style, and the waist belt can be tied as tightly as you wish to create a flattering silhouette. And the gold hardware- gorgeous. Plus, they carry petite sizing, which for my 5 foot 2 frame fit perfectly- even the sleeves hit right where I want them to.

Oh- and it is now on sale for $119.99 in the light khaki- the only one to get, if you want my opinion.

The Matinee Trench easily looks like a $500+ coat. Only better. Because I bet that $500 coat wouldn’t be street smart enough to come with a hood.

In case you want to see the front view- here you go:

Flats: A Fashion Confession.

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

I have a confession to make.

Up until last week, my go-to flats were the Tory Burch Reva ballet slippers with the big Tory Burch gold medallion logo on top. Technically, I am very much aware that there there is nothing wrong with that. I mean, I adore Tory Burch. I especially adore Tory Burch shoes. But to call myself a “style expert” and wear the one pair of shoes that millions of women across the world owned, loved and moved on from probably 2 years ago, is, well, embarrassing.

To be fair- they are without a doubt the most comfortable flats I have ever owned, and they look great with everything in my closet that would ever be appropriate to wear with flats. But they are ubiquitous. Actually- they WERE ubiquitous. In like 2009. Since then, even the most hard-core Tory devotees (i.e. my mom) have “graduated” to her more subtle/less logo-tastic offerings.

Except me. See, I never found a pair of flats that wowed me to the point that I simply had to own them- so I figured, if it ain’t broke…

And then, I spotted these:

A friend of mine was wearing them- and when she told me a) they were comfortable and b) she got them at ZARA, I had to have them immediately. As in, I went online the second I got home and ordered a pair. And have worn them every day since.

Pointy toe flats that are COMFORTABLE? Amazing.

And on top of that, an on-trend yet timelessly sophisticated style for UNDER $70? Knock me over with a feather.

Or in this case, a flat.

As Seen on TV: Today Show Coats Under $100

Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Can’t think of a better way to start the week then over at the Today Show, right? This was such a fun segment to put together, especially since I am a very selfish person (I’m an only child, it isn’t my fault) and happen to need a new coat badly- so this became my excuse to scout and shop for fashionable finds under $100.
You can view the segment HERE (tried to get all fancy and embed it but just couldn’t get it to work, go figure.)
Below, the 5 coats that I fell in love with and featured this morning. Take a look and let me know which is your favorite- I can’t buy all 5, so consider your comments to be my straw poll to decide which one(s) are going to take up permanent real estate in my coat closet.
Look 1: Caped Crusader
So sophisticated and glamorous, not to mention easy to wear,  the cape is the must-have shape for Winter. Two style notes though- first off, capes really are best worn with jeans or trousers, they look pretty silly with skirts. And secondly, make sure you have a bag option that doesn’t involve going over the shoulder, because it just isn’t physically possible  to make that work out comfortably. Trust me, I tried. 

Worthington Cape- $74.99 at www.jcp.com

Look 2: Orange Crush
The great thing about a coat- it covers everything, so it matches everything. If you have a closet full of neutrals, seek out a colorful coat and all of the sudden, you are no longer that predictable girl always dressed in black and grey. Even if you are underneath- you will at least have them fooled temporarily.  Love the lines on this coat- gives it a very modern feel, making it seem all fancy and expensive, even though it isn’t. 
Fire Lily Burnt Orange Coat- $91.00 at www.lulus.com

Look 3: Coat Gone Wild
Combining two big trends for Fall- animal prints and men’s car coat silhouettes, this coat from Old Navy is a subtle and sexy option. You want your coat to make a statement, but not too much of one considering how often you will be wearing it. Perfect for dressing up or down, I especially love this style for taller frames. If you are on the shorter side though, you can totally pull it off- just seek out a coat cut for petites- altering the car coat style too much can off set the proportions so you lose that menswear effect
Wool-Blend Car Coat- $99.94 at www.oldnavy.com

Look 4: Posh Parka
The perfect mix of fancy and function- adding a simple faux fur collar to a utilitarian classic makes it effortlessly glamorous.  And who doesn’t love tucking in under a warm hood? Note- on the runway, we saw models sporting coats in at least 2 sizes too big- it is all about the slouchiness- like an outerwear take on boyfriend jeans. Oh- and a lazy girl fashion tip- if you are avid online shopper like I am, sign up for www.ShopItToMe.com, where I came across this coat.  When you create your profile, you can specify you want to be notified when outerwear from your favorite brands and retailers goes on sale in your size and voila- deals appear right in your inbox. 
Style & Co Parka- $68.99 at www.ShopItToMe.com

Look 5: Cropped Shearling
Part aviator, part mountain man- the cut is figure flattering and feminine, while still allowing for ultimate warmth.  This one from Lulus is a practical and on-trend alternative to last season’s motorcyle jacket craze. Especially since shearling can be a very overwhelming material on a smaller frame, the close-to-the-body cut here is key. Obsessed. 
Urban Behavior Jacket- $81.00 at www.lulus.com

 

Closet MVP: ASOS Color Trousers

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

I adore ASOS.  Ordering from the site has become an almost weekly event- and since they offer free shipping and free returns, I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it.  So there.

The prices also happen to be amazing (especially on their in-house line), and the style options are massive. Almost overwhelmingly so, but given the whole free shipping/free return thing, I can’t hate on them for it- in some roundabout way, they are doing the most altruistic thing, encouraging us to experiment with fashion, no strings attached. What can I say- I am an online shopping optimist.

After the Katy Perry cover of Elle in March, I became obsessed with brightly colored trousers- but since I had never even attempted something quite so loud and daring, it took me awhile to take the fashion plunge. Then, during my daily persusing of ASOS, I stumbled across a pair (or 10). And I ordered a pair (or 10). A love affair was born.

NOTE: Please excuse the semi-fuzzy photos. In my next life I will marry a professional photographer or something, but until then (or I figure out another solution), these are the photo flash cards I have been dealt. Oh, woe is me…

These photos showcase my most recent additions- the green in the photo above is the Tailored Slim Cropped (Price: $54.89) and the peacock and royal blue below are Slim Crop Pant (Price: $45.74). Both from the ASOS in-house label, and both fit perfectly right out of the tattered silver shipping baggie.

A few other factors contributing to why I declare these among the ranks of my Closet MVPs: They give new life to the most boring basics I have had in my closet for years and virtually stopped wearing because I was so bored of them. And, every time I wear them people ask me if I have lost weight (major bonus points for ANYTHING that can trigger that question) and then demand to know where I got my fabulous pants, thus giving me the excuse to ramble on about three of my favorite things: Core Fusion, Flywheel and, of course, ASOS.

 

What color should I add to my collection next? Take a peek on ASOS and let me know your thoughts. Decisions, decisions…

Gone Classic: Back to My Connecticut Roots. Kinda.

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

I recently received a package from Eddie Bauer (a brand name that really had not been on my fashion radar since, well, at least high school), and for some reason, even though it couldn’t be farther from my usual style, I got all excited about this bag (pictured above).  The broken-in leather and shape remind of a camera bag/canteen hybrid, and while I typically shy away from cross-body styles because they accentuate the chest area a bit too blatantly, I decided what the heck- let’s give this a try. An excuse to experiment with creating a new take on classic Americana fashion, because there was no way I wasn’t wearing the bag immediately.

I demanded (okay, asked politely, but demanded sounds better) that my husband take me out for a lobster roll and I descended into my closet to build an outfit around the New England-y direction my day was about to take, all inspired by the bag. And the fact that I had a fresh spray tan, so I felt more confident I could pull it off (my usual summer weekend uniform is a dress of some sort and flip flops, or my DL1961 capri jeans and a slub tee.)

J.Crew Navy 5″ Chino shorts  and an Old Navy super soft denim-y button down took the outfit in a slightly ’70′s direction. If I wanted to keep it literal, I would have slipped on Top Siders or Minnetonkas or something, but alas, I am too vain to wear flats, so my giant K. Jacques wedges it was.

I guess, when I look back at the chain of events, I owe Eddie Bauer for the most delicious lobster roll (from Mary’s Fish Camp, obviously) that I have ever eaten.

Oh- FYI- the bag isn’t currently on the Eddie Bauer website, so I am guessing it comes out later in the Fall. In which case, I recommend you bookmark the site and check back often, because you probably should own it.

 

Shopping Spree: Two Perfect Dresses

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

I couldn’t resist adding a few things into my closet for Fall, even though I am still in disbelief that summer is coming to a close (I didn’t set foot in the sand once- not that I am a huge beach person, but still…)

One promise I made to myself is that from here on out, I am going to be super picky about every purchase. There is only enough real estate in my closet for perfectly polished pieces that are easy to wear, with an element of timelessness.  And dresses in particular have a lot to live up to- in addition to the basic criteria above, they have to travel well and be flattering on-air.

My husband (who, despite being a definite guy’s guy and working in finance, is my most trusted stylist- friends of mine have actually asked to rent him out for shopping trips) accompanied me to Saks last week, and we found two dresses that are pretty freaking amazing. One I picked out, one he picked out. Both will get tons of wear, this season and beyond.

My Pick: Milly Addison Puff-Sleeve Dress
The statement color, the lady-like shape, and the flutter sleeves that cover my arms just enough (I have a major arm thing, FYI) have me convinced  that this dress was made for me. Not to mention the bow detail on the patent skinny belt. In addition to an arm thing, I have a bow thing (my wedding had a bow theme throughout, actually) and skinny belts are my most favorite accessory always. So clearly this dress had to come home with me. And it did.

His Pick: Tibi Tweedy Knit Cap Sleeve Dress
Brian loves dresses with boots- must be a Texas thing. And this dress is made to be worn with chocolate textured tights and brown boots. I fell in love with the fact that it has such a girly shape, but in a very menswear-inspired tweed material. Bonus points for leather details and pockets.

 

Have you bought any fall dresses yet? I am still building my collection, so if you wouldn’t mind sharing, comment below.

As Seen on TV: “Today Show” Back-to-School Fashions

Monday, August 15th, 2011

This morning I shared back-to-school fashions on the Today Show- it was an intense segment to put together, but once I had every look completed to my (very picky) liking and saw the kids all lined up in a row, it was well worth the 500 pieces of clothing called in, sorted through and ultimately returned. It is crazy to think how much prep goes into what will amount to less than five minutes. But, in my experience, the more effort you put in pre-segment, the more effortless it will look, and I obsess over segments that feel like completely relaxed conversations where a camera just happens to be there.  So, hopefully this segment felt like that. You guys can be the judge of that.

Anyway- onto the good stuff. If you loved the outfits as much as I did and want to know where you can find the pieces featured, I pasted a little cheat sheet below. To see the segment and the article with more details on Today.com, click HERE.

Pre-School: The trend is MIX, NOT MATCH- kids this little can get away with it, and it encourages them to have fun with fashion and express their personality. Because we all know getting dressed in the morning is about so much more than just putting on clothes, right?

ISABELLA:
-Mini Boden Cardigan- $56.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Crocs Jaunt Rainboots- $34.99 at www.crocs.com
-Kicky Pants Tights- $18.00 at www.innovative-baby.com
-Old Navy Lunch Bag- $7.94 at www.oldnavy.com

ALEX:
-H&M Striped Tee- $12.95 at H&M stores
-Old Navy Camo Pants- $16.94 at www.oldnavy.com
-Old Navy Vest- $26.94 at www.oldnavy.com
-Old Navy Lunchbox- $10 at www.oldnavy.com
-Sperry Top-siders- $30 at www.striderite.com

Elementary School: Inspired by the bright pants on the runway, but translated into denim for fashion and function, COLOR DENIM is the perfect new spin on the back-to-school classic.

JULIANA:
-Joe’s Kids Pencil Jean- $49.00 at www.joesjeans.com
-Crocs Hi Top Sneakers- $49.99 at www.crocs.com
-H&M Butterfly Cardigan- $19.95 at H&M Stores
-Total Girl Backpack- $34.99 at www.jcp.com

K-LA:
-Jumping Beans Polka-Dot Thermal- $18.00 at www.kohls.com
-MiniBoden Classic Jeans- $34.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Old Navy Sneakers- $10.00 at www.oldnavy.com
-Total Girl Messenger Bag- $34.99 at www.jcp.com

Middle School: A personal favorite here, COZY KNITS- think plush, yummy sweaters that one could wear in a ski lodge curled up by a fire or on a Arctic fishing trip, if you will.

JENNA:
-H&M Ivory Sweater- $24.95 at H&M stores
-Joe’s Jean Legging- $49.00 at www.joesjeans.com
-Mudd Boots- $54.99 at www.kohls.com
-Mudd Messenger Bag- $44.00 at www.kohls.com

SOLOMON:
-Superdry USA Buffalo Zip-Up- $250.00 at www.superdry.com
-Urban Pipeline Pants- $42.00 at www.kohls.com
-Land’s End Alpine Boots- $59.50 at www.landsend.com

High School: Combine BASICS WITH BRIGHTS- oranges, corals, reds, greens are best anchored with tones of khaki, beige and brown. So you can get colorful but stay polished- and the separates can transition well into suitably sophisticated outfits for college interviews and after-school jobs.

GABRIELLA:
-H&M Blouse- $39.95 at H&M Stores
-Tommy Hilfiger Wedges- $85.00 at www.amazon.com
-H&M Jeans- $29.95 at H&M Stores

JERRY:
-Ditch Plains Button Down- $40.00 at www.jcp.com
-Lands’ End Kids Zipper Sweater- $39.50 at www.landsend.com
-Boden Chinos- $78.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Tommy Hilfiger Laptop Case- $30 at www.tommy.com
-Rugged Boot- $49.95 at H&M Stores


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Featured Video