New Year's Resolution: Shop Smarter

I've always been proud of my ability to hunt down really good deals. But, alas, even if you're buying on the cheap, the cost catches up when you buy in massive quantities. And as much as certain Ebay, Etsy and Forever 21 finds have been well worth it, other buys have lived in my closet untouched for longer than I care to admit. Even if a skirt only cost me $20, that's still $20 that could've gone to my ultimate dream purchase. So with my eye on the prize, I'm ready to buy less in favor of buying better and smarter. Who's with me?


The end goal, of course, being to pay off my car repairs and vet bills and maybe even finally save up enough for this bad boy.

The cost per wear makes this totally worth it, dontcha think?

Pretty, Please

Has anyone else noticed the ridiculous abundance of amazing sales this season? It's not even Black Friday yet! Yeesh! To get myself through the gloomy cold weather months, I'm reaching for pops of red, rich emerald hues, a touch of sparkle and cozy (sometimes goofy) sweaters.

Here are a few of my recent finds:

Although I'd also been eyeing this lovely skirt, I couldn't resist the cheaper price tag and champagne hue of this Zara skirt. I see myself wearing it with a silky ivory blouse, chambray button down or a white v-neck sweater.

October may be behind us, but I'm still loving the abundance of rust and orange. This lace dress may seem like an odd pick because of its summery texture, but pair it with tights and a swing coat and it definitely works for the mild Bay Area winter.
Snagged on sale plus a coupon over at ASOS.

I can't get enough of this cozy mint cashmere sweater from Etsy. A true steal at $34!

I couldn't resist this whimsical bicycle cardigan from F21. I couldn't decide if it belonged at an ugly sweater party or on me, but settled on the latter. Super cute with skinny jeans and a cream beanie.

Finding boots that are narrow enough for my chicken legs is a constant struggle. Even though I originally was looking for a sleek pair of riding boots, the search was beyond futile, not to mention frustrating. These lovely cognac boots from Aldo match my favorite satchel and will go with everything. They were also more than 50% off.

I'm not sure if my next winter finds are a sign of my status as a full grown adult, or that I need a better heater, but I'm so ready to toss all my ratty old t-shirts/sweats in favor of actual matching pj sets. Here are two pairs that I couldn't resist.

LC Lauren Conrad sale bought on a flash sale at Kohl's

Picked up these classic pjs with a Target coupon code

Looking to Fall

Even though at work I've been utterly immersed in fashion for Spring 2012 (oh you zany fashion world, you), I've been slowly building my fall wardrobe since the end of August. Here are a just a few of the things currently inspiring my own autumn attire, as well as what I've snagged thus far.

I've been in love with peter pan collars since spring and by darkening the palette and choosing them in knit fabrics will wear them through the fall Winter. And fortunately, thanks to Jason Wu they're not going anywhere fast :)

My TopShop find....although I'm still hankering for a sharper edged collar too :)

Secretarial touches from the Mad Men era, such as tie neck blouses, structured bags and my fave cat eye shades.

A splash of red, as seen on Pippa Middleton.

More splashes of red, paired with a perfect trench (can't wait to get lots of use out of my black and navy versions)

Ladylike, structured bag and a splash of red! I found this bag (more sizeable than it appears in the image) on Etsy and it's from the '40s. Love!

Summer Whites

Nobody did a white dress better than Marilyn. And those curves!

White dresses after Memorial Day aren't exactly a novel idea, but hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it! There's something so fresh and inviting about the mix of sunny days and floaty white frocks. Here are some of my current inspirations.

With a perfect body like Jennifer Aniston's, a clean silhouette is all you need.

I love the idea of wearing a super skinny belt, preferably bowed a la Alba's, with an otherwise sleek LWD.

Jessica always looks fab. This time in a flirty flippy white dress. The red belt adds the perfect amount of pop!

Notice a trend? Jessica rocks the LWD w/ a cinched waist like nobody's business. I'm still entranced by this Hugo boss dress thanks to its unforgettable sheer gingham print.

Cameron Diaz epitomizes effortless California chic. I love the pairing of a feminine lace white Oscar de la Renta dress with red pumps and a matching belt.

Media darling Pippa Middleton, looked sweet as can be in a broderie anglais dress worn with a cropped denim jacket. It may not exactly be balmy in England, but she's definitely projecting the summer vibe.

Speaking of British hotties, my newest style crush Mollie King kept her darling sweetheart LWD currant with an open tan blazer. Love that bag too!

She makes my heart happy! Zooey Deschanel in a knife pleated dress. Can I please have her turquoise bicycle?

Clemence is so French and oozes style.

 

Structured Elegance

There's something so very ladylike about a structured bag. They're the antithesis of the slouchy hobo, and although I usually associate them with fall looks, they're also an excellent foil to relaxed summer styles and a quick way to add polish to jeans. Once upon a time they struck me as old fashioned, but fortunately I've finally seen the light.

A gorgeous two-tone Kelly bag. Love.That.Red.

Grace Kelly and her signature Hermes Kelly bag. True style never goes out of fashion!

Another elegant structured purse carried by Grace in Rear Window

Stunning English actress Rosamund Pike doing her best Grace Kelly with of course, a crimson Kelly bag.

One of my favorite looks from the new Rachel Zoe collection. So effortlessly chic. What could be easier than a pair of dark denim flares (I finally picked up my J. Brands), a sleek blazer and a rich top-handle tote. Parfait! 

You can't discuss the glory of a structured bag without mentioning the uber-luxe Birkin. Naturally Mrs. Beckham has one in every color. And p.s. years later, this outfit is still a major do!

Since my pockets aren't nearly deep enough to even breathe the name Hermes out loud and I think knockoff bags are a major no-no, I've been looking for an alternative. Today at TJ Maxx I stumbled across this adorable faux Ostrich bag for only $25. It comes in olive, tan and cognac. Consider me sold! (And apologies for the poor picture quality)

Yes, I had an impromptu photo shoot right there in the store.

So what do you guys think? Are structured bags a do or a don't?

Rainbow Sherbet

Christian Dior Fall 2008

Right now I'm inspired by the yummy orange and pink colors that make up rainbow sherbet. Ever since I saw Leighton Meester's yummy Pierre Hardy wedges, I've been thirsting for the color combo (and a heavy dose of Christian Dior, sigh).

Leighton in a Christian Dior dress and Pierre Hardy wedges. 

Luckily since color blocking and brights are very in this season, it's easier than ever to create an inexpensive sorbet-hued look.

I can't get enough of the adorable Mollie King and love the outfit she was spotted filming her latest video in. If you want her exact skirt and have $140 lying around, check out Singer 22.

Of course Zara is right on top of the trend.

They may not be Pierre Hardy wedges, but these Charles David wedges sure are cute.

I snagged this Aqua tank for a mere $5.50 on Ebay. Score! Not crazy about the pocket, but it's nothing a high-waisted skirt can't hide....

I'll tuck my tank into a slightly Barbie, and super sexy bright pink bandage skirt. Quick tip: Ebay has a ton of great options in the $20 range.

I'm excited to try out the look once the weather heats up!

10 Spring Time Essentials

So while the weather continues to be a tease, I continue to plot what I'll wear once the sunshine becomes more consistent.

1.White Eyelet Dress

Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2011 line possesses some of the most gorgeous white lace dresses I've ever seen. Drool! Since these are far...far...far out of reach, I was super excited to stumble across this gorgeous dress at American Eagle. The fit is fantastic and you can't beat the price tag (especially when you have a 20% off coupon on hand)

2. '70s Denim Reworked for Today

Back in 8th grade, I thought nothing would ever look as good as my pale blue LEI flares, which zipped up to my belly button and were worn until there was a gaping hole in the rear. Oops! Perhaps part of the reason I have shirked jeans for so long are the frightful memories of this dark period. Needless to say, I'm as surprised as the next gal at how infatuated I am with the dramatic bells cropping up all over, especially these J. Brands. 

3. Wear with Everything Espadrilles

It's no big secret that I follow Lauren Conrad's every fashion move. For the past several years I've been unsuccessfully hunting shoes similar to her favorite cognac Miu Miu double cross platforms that she's been seen wearing with everything. The criteria: A tan/nude sandal that can dress up my day dresses and are comfortable enough to wear all summer long. Not sure if these will fit the bill yet, but I'm smitten with the espadrille wrapped heel, so we shall see!

4. Something Chambray

Ever since I saw Kate Bosworth wearing an unbelievably adorable denim dress (with a peekaboo back) I've been hooked on the idea of putting my own girly spin on the look. This knockout dress from UO has pretty much the cutest back I've ever seen, not to mention a super sweet ruffled front. I'm very impatiently waiting for it to go on sale.

5. Cat Eye Sunglasses

There's something so undeniably glamorous about cat eye sunglasses. I'm beyond thrilled that they're back, since it makes it so much easier to find an affordable, face flattering pair. As much as I love me a huge pair of classic Jackie O's, after a bit of self-analysis I now realize that they unfortunately make me look like a bug.

6. Retro Bikini

For couch potatoes like yours truly, the idea of putting on a bikini after a long winter of hibernation can be a pretty horrific thought. The obvious antidote would be to hit the gym hard, but somehow finding a cute gingham bikini that makes me feel like Brigitte Bardot sunning in St. Tropez seems a bit more in keeping with my lifestyle.

7. Sweet Scarf

Scarves are a great way to make basics not so basic, and to prepare for the often unpredictable California climate. Leann Rimes was spotted wearing the Gypsy 05 Tamara scarf in pink, and what can I say? It was love! I found it on Ebay for a mere $20.

8. Two-Tone Bag

Having been more than mildly obsessed with Eva Longoria's two tone Salvatore Ferragamo satchel, and then again with the Reiss bag British pop star Mollie King has been toting everywhere,  I scoured the net looking for a less costly inspired by option. The Aldo Cyphert meets the criteria, thanks to it's structured ladylike shape and on-trend black-and-white color scheme. It was even featured on Gossip Girl in rust!

9. Polka Dots

My love of polka dots defies seasons, but I can see the print looking particularly sweet tucked into high waisted mini skirts and yellow pumps. P.s. This Zara blouse is delectable.

10. Hair Mask

I've been trying to grow my hair out for ages now–no seriously, ages–and so to protect it from warm weather threats like excess sun and wind, I will deep condition it religiously! I found this conditioner for more than half off on Ebay, notice a trend?