42 posts tagged “fashion”
I like to call myself a tomboy fashionista wannabe. I have the capacity to be pretty girly, but there is still too much of the tomboy in me from my youth to be a total girl. I am not a fan of pink and have to force myself to wear it. I don't wear skirts and dresses too often, often resorting to pants or jeans. I have a mean hand shake too; I may be slight, but watch out. I can shake hands like a man.
Lately I think my style has been more "tomboy" than "fashionista," and I'm trying to renew my passion for fashion. This culminated in a trip yesterday to Express.
Y'all, this dress is SO FREAKING CUTE. I can wear it with my new necklace and a pair of killer peep toes. And it was only $20! This is cheap anywhere, but especially at Express. I bought two different colors of the shirt at the right. I didn't get it in that color, but I bought it in burgundy and forest green.
I also did some online shopping yesterday at New York & Company, Victoria's Secret, and Body Central. There are crazy sales at New York & Company right now, so I highly recommend you check it out. Victoria's Secret is good for their sales only, because their normal prices are pretty expensive. I bought a nice pair of jeans for only $20. Their jeans are fabulous. I get compliments on the pair I have from them a lot.
I haven't bought anything from Body Central before, but the prices are amazingly cheap...I'll wait until I get the clothes in to dish!
I also checked out samples at Sephora. My problem skin is really bothering me, so I asked one of the assistants for her advice. The people who work at Sephora are incredible. First, they don't work for a specific brand, so it's not like going to someone at a makeup counter in the mall. They will tell you the brands that really work. They're also incredibly helpful and give a wonderful amount of sample products to try. I showed up right when it was about to close (thanks to someone submitting something a day late on their deadline at 6:15, but that's a WHOLE OTHER STORY), but the employee took me under her wing, giving me cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and foundations to try. I left 20 minutes after they were due to close and felt so bad, but they were so helpful! I love Sephora, and I love having new products to try. I'll let you all know if they work!
Well, I think I need to clean this place up and head for a run.
I very rarely splurge on jewelry for myself. But I saw this in my latest issue of Lucky and thought, I must buy this. Now.
Maybe it was a self-conscious decision because the article was about finding fashion pieces inspired by Amelia Earhart, and we all know how I used to be obsessed with Amelia Earhart. Or I got excited by the fact that while usually I cannot afford anything in Lucky, this piece actually is relatively cheap. Or the fact that it's just an amazing necklace. How cool is it? I can't wait until I get it.
If you like it, I got it from fredflare.com. I was able to get it for pretty cheap because I used the Lucky promotion code and got 35% off! Not sure if it's still good (you'd have to get it within the next day or two probably to take advantage of the discount), but the promotion code is Lucky4.
I have 43 pairs of shoes.
In my defense, my mother has given me a lot of hers that she doesn't wear anymore.
Okay, a preamble: I usually am careful with my shopping trips. I shop on sale and am not a shopaholic. Besides my trip to the mall last week, I hadn't actually bought clothes in awhile; probably not since Christmas (for real!)
But today was different. I splurged.
First, there was Target. It was all my brother's fault. He wanted to go inside, and we all know that I have banned myself from Target just so I won't walk out with things. Eventually we made it by the shoe aisle (not his choice), and that was when all hell broke loose. I almost bought these:
These shoes were super-cute. There were a couple of problems. First of all, you can't tell from the picture, but these heels are TALL. I love wearing high heels, but these are a bit higher than what I usually wear. Like, hooker high. Plus, as my brother helpfully pointed out, I normally walk really fast and I'm already "clumsy enough." Not wanting to break my legs, I sadly placed them back.
So I got these babies instead.
I really like the buckle and detailing for the flats on the left. They are work-appropriate and are versatile enough to wear with loads of cute outfits - skinny jeans, khaki jeans, even a skirt. The flats on the right are SO comfortable! They're like walking on air. Seriously, y'all.
So after that, I thought I was done with buying shoes for the next several months. But then my mother wanted to go to Kohl's.
This skirt is SO EFFING CUTE. It's sexy without being slutty - it kind of reminds me of what something that chick on Mad Men would wear (you know, the secretary).
And I saved the best for last. GUESS WHAT I FOUND ON SALE?!
I made a post right after Christmas how these shoes have to be in my life now. And there they were, just waiting for me. I had to get them in a size 9 because they were out of 8.5s, but I DON'T CARE. I probably have more Candie's heels in my closet than anything else, and can you blame me? Their peep toes are just so feminine and adorable. I still have the shoes that started my Candie's obsession.
But seriously, I'm not going to buy anymore shoes this year. Okay. Maybe not until the summer.
So, my mom and I are roughly the same size (she's about an inch or so shorter than me, though. Hee hee). And we have about the same style, too, which means that we try to steal each other's clothes. My mother sometimes would "borrow" a shirt and conveniently keep it in her closet until I began asking for it. Or if she starts talking about whether she was unsure of something that she owns that I want, I conveniently remind her that my closet accepts all donations.
My mom bought this sleeveless green turtleneck years ago that I have been coveting. It's such a pretty sweater. I say "turtleneck" but it makes it sound old. It's just a really cool top. And by COVET, I mean that every time I saw this sweater, I reminded my mother about how I would gladly take it whenever she got sick of it. My mom got this sweater probably back in 2000, so I've been reminding her for awhile. It's one of those pieces that never go out of style. And since my mom takes such good care of her things (unlike me, unfortunately), the top still looks brand new.
When I went home this weekend, my mom had recently cleaned out her closet. She placed a couple of items that she doesn't wear anymore in the guest room closet for me. I found some boots for me to wear, a skirt that my mother "borrowed" from me a couple of years back, and...the green sweater! Finally, after eight years, it is mine! I'm going to wear it tomorrow.
I go through these phases where I don't shop at all, and I'm so good with it. Then I'll go through a short spell where instead of being responsible, I get all entitled to shop, like, "I DESERVE IT. HAPPY 2009, DAMN IT." And with the incredible after-Christmas sales, can anyone blame me? I mean, it's mature to shop when the items are below $10, yes? I'm just doing my patriotic duty to help this economy, after all.
I went to Target and Victoria's Secret (online) to fill my shopping void. Y'all, the sales at Victoria's Secret are insane. INSANE.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I am having a very relaxing vacation at home with my family. There is nothing that renews your spirits and well-being better than being around your loved ones (and eating good food). We have been spending this week lounging around the house, eating, and watching movies. Patrick's birthday was a lot of fun (maybe a little too much fun, hehe). He really liked the keyboard I got him.
Santa was very good to me this year. Look what I got:
I was so surprised. I never have a Christmas wish list...I have all the things I want, so I just like being surprised. And I would never have put a Coach purse on a wishlist to my parents because I know they aren't cheap. I was surprised, all right! This bag is simply exquisite. I love the leather handle and buckles on the sides. It's a good-sized bag, too, so I have enough room to carry my work notebook and planner. Plus, it goes with just about anything!
I spent today going on a good run with my dad, doing some shopping with the crazy sales going on, and going to Barnes and Noble to enjoy peppermint hot cocoa (yum yum!) I went to Kohl's and purchased a pretty pink sweather (for only $8.99!) I also got this shirt:
Some things on my wishlist for the future:
1. Hot Rollers.
I'm amazed that is has taken me this long to discover these. I have naturally wavy hair, and it's so humid in Texas that straightening it can be such a chore. But I never learned how to use a curling iron, and my attempt to do fancy curls for the Winter Formal failed miserably when a. I realized I really didn't know how to use a curling iron, and b. I was afraid of burning my fingers off. I tried my mother's set of hot rollers today and loved it! It gave me serious waves that even kept up with the coastal winds. No straightening involved, just blow-drying! It was quick and easy too (and I hate doing my hair, so anything that is quick and easy is a big plus). I am definitely picking up a set at Target this week.
2. Candies' Heels
I was browsing Kohl's website today and spotted these puppies. These shoes need to be in my life. Now.
Unfortunately, they aren't on sale yet...so I'm going to keep a hawk's eye on the website to see if/when the price drops.
Well, I'm going to go read magazines (I am working very hard today, as you can see.) Have a great Friday!
Today was a pretty busy day, and after my last entry, I'm too exhausted to write anything out properly. So I present to you my bulleted update:
- Friday night kinda sucked.
- Saturday was fun. Friend came into town, hung out with friends, ate at TGI Friday's. Got full off of a couple of chicken wings because TGI Friday's sucks. Went to watch Quantum of Solace.
- Went to Target for the first time in two months. Went clothes shopping for the first time in two months. Bought really cute dress:
- Went running 6.5 - 7 miles yesterday and did 4 x 300s and 2 x 700s today. Tried to keep 8:30 - 9:00 minute mile pace for long run - mostly successful. Am frustrated with my times (3:15 for 700 was my fastest) still but I guess I can't be too hard on myself, since I did a long run yesterday.
- Funny story on Sunday involving Pearl Jr. but you all will think I'm a bad driver if I tell it. It has to do with my atrocious parking skillz, or lack thereof.
- Okay, what the hell - so back in April, I was in a parking garage, the most NARROW PARKING GARAGE IN EXISTENCE, I SWEAR Y'ALL, and ended up backing up against a pillar. So now my truck has these sexy scratches (and, cough, a dent) against the front left side. So yesterday while I was in a parking lot, a man approached me. I was all ready to get defensive, like, "Why is this strange man coming to talk to me?" But it turns out he was trying to hand me a business card because he owns a body shop and would like to fix my truck. Sigh. Men always flip out over my truck. It's not that bad.
- Now you know why I try to avoid parking garages at all costs.
- Tomorrow, I hope that the parking lot downtown is not blocked off like it was on Friday, or else I'll be forced to park in garage. DUN DUN DUNNNNNN.
- Made some Southwestern Chicken fajita thingy tonight-pretty good.
- Folded an inordinate amount of maps for tomorrow's THC meeting.
- I'm pretty wiped. Goodnight, you guys.
Any last minute summer plans for the weekend?
Is it really the end of summer already? Ah, yes, the kiddies are returning to school. This is the first time in 6 years that I haven't had to pack up all my belongings and return to Cowboy Country. It feels pretty good, I must say. While I miss some aspects of my life as a student (mostly 2005, that year was the best), I don't miss college. At all. I don't miss having to force my ADD-self to sit down and read textbooks, and I don't miss the boredom. I like working a lot more. Though I'm looking forward to my short week (I'm taking a vacation day this Friday). My job is not difficult but I need a little mental break.
So to answer this question, I don't have anything special planned for this weekend. Just the usual-R&R, dancing. I went swing-dancing downtown on Thursday, which is always fun. Then last night I had a blast. I went blues dancing at this little coffee shop. Blues dancing is different from Lindy and Swing. There really isn't a concept of personal space for blues like with Lindy or Swing, so once you get over that, you're good. They played great music and it was a really nice, relaxed atmosphere. The styling of blues is so different. I had to get myself out of my swing-trained stances. For example, you get dipped really low, literally to the floor! And the proper stance for the girl is just to tilt your head back and hang there. It's all about trusting your partner and hoping he doesn't drop you!
I woke up at 10 this morning, which was delicious. Then I went to the bank (exciting!) to deposit my expense checks, which had FINALLY come in. I went to Target to return some items, actually spent less than $10 there (a miracle), and did some shoe shopping. I didn't buy anything. Target has the cutest shoes, so I had to leave the area immediately before I could spend money. I'm shopping for brown boots, specifically to go with the sweater dress I bought. The Victoria's Secret website "suggested" that I buy these puppies:
Those are the cutest effing boots I have seen. Unfortunately, they are $398. I'm not down with buying shoes that are more expensive than my monthly car payment is. I'm more the $30-$40 range as an upper-limit. So far the boots in that range are cheap-looking, but I will keep looking. I'm always able to find cheap shoes with great quality if I take my time.
I went to this bookstore that sells books for 80% off...not Half Price, some temporary establishment. I bought this cool book about vintage fashion, and this adorable children's story in Italian. Then I went to Goodwill and bought some cheap paintings. That's the way to go, man. I spent $25 on three paintings for my apartment that easily would have been $60-$70 anywhere else.
Since I have salsa tomorrow night, I'm going to have a night in and catch a good flick. Tomorrow I hope to go on a good long run. But now I really need to clean my apartment, and do some decorating. This was a really long-winded answer to the QotD, but c'est la vie.
Ok, so instead of going to sleep, I thought going to the Victoria's Secret website and looking through their clearance items would be a good idea. It was and it wasn't. I've been doing well with refraining from shopping, but tonight, not so much. After tonight, I am hopping back on the wagon.
I love Victoria's Secret. Obviously, I am not going to extol the virtues of their undergarments on my blog where members of the male persuasion are able to read my praises. But it is safe to say that they have amazing outer garments. So stylish.
Here are the two sweaters I bought on sale (both were priced below $20! Grab while you can, ladies).
I got my turtleneck sweater in blue, and the sleeveless sweater in the color shown.
But the real reason I went to order in the first place was to splurge on this baby:
Is that not the yummiest sweaterdress you have ever seen? I ordered it in this exact color too. I give my mother credit for this splurge because she was a bad influence. I was showing it to her in the catalogue and complaining how I wanted it but didn't want to spend money on it. She said, "Oh, go ahead and get it, you have to have fun once in awhile." And instead of putting up a fight, I said, "Okay." I am so easy.
Okay, I REALLY need to go to sleep now.
