MUST LOVE JACKETS

Magazine browsing for a dinner recipe ( which I found--it was delummy ) and stumbled across this beauty by Mr. Klein.

We're bffs, he likes it when I call him that...

It's sorta like Ms. Jackson if you're nasty...

Okay, I'll stop now ;)

Fall/Winter 2011 please meet my dream coat for the season:

Isn't she a beauty ( with a pretty price tag [$460] :/  )

Oh, isn't that just the story of my life.

But in all seriousness. I LOVE this jacket! It's very much my style. If only I had an extra $400 to spare. This baby would be M-I-N-E!

NOTE: I've been browsing Macy's website and I haven't had any luck finding this coat.

I've seen a few similar, but nothing exact. ::frustrating::

I guess she and I weren't meant to be.

le sigh.

COOTD: BLACK & WHITE

My favorite color (or hue) scheme.
Creative I know.

Blouse: Calvin Klein // Skirt: GAP // Belt: F21 // Tights: Target // Shoes: Lands End Canvas

 

I have been applying to jobs like a mad woman lately (if you're been paying attention to my tweets), and at this point in the post interview application process, I have been hearing nothing but positive responses. 
Now I'm in limbo/the waiting stage...
Hoping to high hell that the offers start coming in (relatively) soon. 
Cross your fingers for me!!!!

Happy Thursday!

Woo-freaking-Hoo for the 4 day work week this week!

The only benefit of working on Saturday is that it's a half day--

count yourselves lucky :) 

p.s. SexyMan spotted in the workplace today!

Looking forward to more on that one later...

New York Fashion Academy Annual Runway Show

The main purpose of my trip to Seattle this weekend was to go to the New York Fashion Academy's annual fashion show in which all the designer's who have completed the program show their collections. Don't ask me why it's called the New York Fashion Academy when it's in Seattle... some things are more interesting if you don't understand them.

I had the hardest time deciding what to wear to the show, but eventually decided to go with a fairly fail-proof option, my gray Calvin Klein dress. And of course I had to wear cute shoes, so out came the mustard Seychelles. I. Love. Mustard.

This pose was 100% directed by Joni, so if you think I look silly blame her, not me. :)

After taking this picture, Joni said, "My kitchen looks so cute! Oh... I guess you look cute, too!" Thanks, Joni.

Anyhow, the fashion show was super fun. 11 students showed collections and I was thoroughly impressed with most of them. The biggest disappointment for me was how short it was... each designer only showed 4-8 looks, so the whole thing was done within an hour. It was so good that I wanted it to keep on going!

After the show I popped over to say hi to Gina Marie, one of the designers that showed. Gina has been nice enough to answer a few questions for me about the school via email (as it turns out, my old piano teacher's daughter knows Gina and gave me her email). It was neat to be able to put a face to a name. Check out Gina's blog HERE.

We ended up getting to the show only a few minutes before it started so our seats weren't the the greatest for taking pictures, but I did  manage to snag a few.

These looks are from Gina's collection. She had her models wearing the cutest wigs.

All in all, it was a very fun trip! I'm so happy I got to go and see the show (I'm hoping to be able to go to NYFA this fall), and also to meet Joni and her family. As I am now safely on the train on my way home, I can officially say Joni is not a 60-year-old creeper man/ax murderer living in his mom's basement. Yay!

COOTD TJMAXX SCORES

Just playing catch-up on a few COOTD posts...

Here are two tops I scored from T.J. Maxx last week (I picked up a few more things, but I'll share those later).

The first top I can remember the label (I'll have to get off my lazy butt and find out what it is BECAUSE I LOVE IT!)...
but the second top--I remember that one--it is Calvin Klein Jeans... and I LOVE IT a lot too :) Very similar to tops I've seen, and coveted, on Shopbop recently :) Talk about a score!!!

Here is an up-close of the bracelet stacking...

Left to Right: Gifted bangle for my Bday last summer, Twisted (mini) cuff from the beach (about 5 years ago), Linked heart bracelet (from the beach as well, and one that I share with my friend Sum--that both her sister and her niece also picked up the next summer at the beach), J Crew bracelet from Diana from the Bistro as my Christmas gift (Miss You Georgia Friend!), a single silver bangle, and another twisted bangle (from my ex's parents for my birthday one year).

I tend to carry it over into my work outfit for the liquor store, but sometimes when I go nap at home (in between jobs) I forget to put all my jewelry back on :(

Outfit: A Dress as a Skirt

Confession: I am covering up the top half of my favorite Calvin Klein dress with a thrifted sweater that cost me less than 2 bucks. Is that like a sin or something? I don't know, but I like the way it looks! I would love the way this looks even more with a necklace instead of a cowl and with no tights, but alas, the weather disagrees. Brr.

Outfit: Dressy

New background! This is a wall at work... thrilling, I know. But get used to it for the next several weeks.

I spent a month in Vietnam in the summer of '06 and bought this necklace there, and haven't worn it once since then. It's managed to survive several closet-clean-outs, and finally today it gets its chance to shine. Welcome to the limelight, you little $3 necklace you. :)
I cannot get enough of this dress, which I first introduced you to back HERE. The best part about it? It was a present! My mom let me pick out a dress to wear to graduation because she never had to buy me a prom dress. Added bonuses:
-Most prom dresses cost at least $100, if not much, much more. So still less than a prom dress!
-I've worn this 4 times now. How many people do you know that have re-worn their prom dress more than once?

When my mom saw me wearing it again this morning, she smiled and said, "That was such a good buy." It's nice to know she doesn't regret getting it either! :)

Outfits: The Calvin Klein Dress

Meet my new best friend:

Calvin Klein Julep Belted Dress, $98 at Macy's

I just love love love this dress. The color is perfect, and the style is simple enough that it can be dressed up or down to suit almost any occasion. These are only three ways to accessorize it that I came up with off the top of my head... there are really so many possibilities for this dress!

DRESS DILEMMA & A TARGET SCORE!!!

Hey there favorites, as many of you know I'm going back to MD on Friday for two weddings, one of which I'm the MOH :) Hollar!

Well as of this evening I have plenty of outfit ideas, nothing quite packed--instead piled everywhere in my room, and a dress dilemma.

I have absolutely NO clue what to wear to the first wedding that I am going to--for my rugby coach. And then, I have NO CLUE what to wear for Stacey's rehearsal dinner. Therefore, I have decided that I need to enlist in the aid of my fashionable, and brutally honest bloggers... YOU PEOPLE!

I took pictures, and have options for shoes, I just HAVE NO CLUE as to what should be my final choice [for both events]...

HELP!
[pretty please, with a cherry on top--and NOT a maraschino one, but a good one, a fresh one; right off the tree with the seed still in it--mmm]

So here I go:
[But first: HUGE, HUGE DISCLAIMER: My mirrors were totally messy when I took these photos--Don't Judge--It's been a busy week and I've been working doubles... ugh]






Option 1: Purple Strapless Target Merona Dress
[purchased YESTERDAY--I tweeted about the fabulous find--for 9.98!]

This dress I definitely do not want to wear to the rehearsal dinner. I called Stacey tonight and she told me that she is wearing a purple sundress and I don't want to wear the same color as her. She's the bride--I know it's not the wedding day, but still. That's tacky.
NEVER Ever, wear the same color as the bride; it's her day/week/moment, no one elses. That is just my personal opinion... and although Stacey told me that I could wear it, I just would feel rude if I did.
But I do love this dress. I found it randomly hanging in the hats and scarfs isle at Target yesterday. I decided to just take a look, saw the clearance price, hesitated on the size because it is a 10 and I've been a SOLID 12 for too long to remember.
I took the risk (i.e. the stress of trying on a dress you know is too small and getting frustrated with you, your weight, and the damn clothes) and I kicked ass because the sucker FIT!! And it was the ONLY one left in the store. They had others in different colors, but this was the only one in its color and the only one on clearance. Yay me! And Yay to luck.
I picked up the wedges that I'd mentioned here a few months ago... the Merona (Target) brand that was a cheap/steal knockoff for the Franco Sarto wedges. Well these babies FINALLY went on sale, and I ended up getting a $5 off coupon for another pair of shoes in the process. I HIGHLY recommend these shoes. They still have other colors in stock (black, blue, and pink--I got the brown/tan--both online and in stores--I'm very tempted to go back and get the black ones) and they are ridiculously comfortable! Plus they go great with the dress!

Option 2: Black Calvin Klein Dress

I like this dress a lot. (Plus it's a size 10 as well, and a score from Marshalls--under $30)
I also like the fact that I have 3 shoe options for this dress. I tried on my new wedges, my eBay scored Nine West heels (look at those heels--I love them!), and my ruffled flats from Payless with this dress and all go well with it. I especially like the flats with this dress option only because Stacey, her fiance, and the best man and I are all around the same height... meaning that I could wear my flats and not tower over everyone at the rehearsal dinner / rehearsal for the wedding.


Option 3: Black Strapless H&M Dress

This dress is definitely my go-to LBD. I wore it for graduation, Sum's bachelorette party last summer, I've also worn it out to an anniversary dinner with my ex... it is most assuredly a staple in my wardrobe. I remember when I purchased it last spring/early summer: my goal was to go into H&M and not spend more than $40 on a dress. I found this one and completely lucked out--in the sense that it has been very, very helpful in times of a "What Do I Wear?" crisis/meltdown.
Did I also mention that it has POCKETS.
That was just an added perk after I bought it. Love, Love, LOVE.



Option 4: Red One-Shoulder Limited Dress

This red one-shoulder dress is from The Limited. I actually picked it up this January with Stacey specifically for her rehearsal dinner... But now I'm not so sure.
It was originally $100+, but I found it marked down to $24 and then found out that it was on clearance for an additional 75% off! Talk about a steal. I might have mentioned it on the blog before... not 100% sure on that though.
I do love the one-shoulder aspect of this dress and the architecture of the fabric on the bust, but something is holding me back on it... I'm just not quite sure what it is. It might just be the fact that it's a RED dress and I'm not too keen on red [bad junior prom dress experience--long story--scarred for life/partially responsible for me not going to my senior prom].


Anywho, that is my dilemma.
Help me ladies and gents!
I need honest opinions and I need them fast. The first wedding (for my coach) is THIS Saturday and the rehearsal dinner is next Thursday.

Be Brutally honest... just don't make a girl cry.

Thanks!!!

SPRING WISHLIST

(for AFTER the Big Move, of course)

While catching up with my mail the other afternoon I took an extra ten minutes to browse through my May copies of Lucky and Glamour.
I must say that I LOVE going through both magazines each month. After I spend 20 minutes tearing out all of the useless advertisements and pages that I have not interest in, I am left with (usually) under 50 pages of fashion, beauty, and other pieces of "need to pay attention to/possibly buy at a later point in time" information.
I especially love the outfit ideas and design ideas that I get from both magazines each month. Plus, both offer GREAT freebies (here and here) each month online--which I love to enter, and ONE day will eventually win!
So getting back to the purpose of this post... both magazines for the month of May perked me up so much! Both had SO MUCH stuff that I have been literally lusting over all day. One item in particular has even made it to the top of my "To Purchase" list for after the move and following my getting settled in in Georgia... like you didn't think I had one of those lists!
I do!
Ha!

So without further ado...

My Spring Wishlist

(also including a few items from the new Urban Outfitters catalog)

Calvin Klein Pleated Cotton Wrap Dress/Ruffle-Neck Dress

$118 at Nordstrom and Dillard's

The great thing about this dress is that I think I can work it into ALL facets of my wardrobe. I can dress it up or down for a night out or for a casual look, OR I can add accessories and wear it to work! I think Calvin Klein (and Michael Kors--he is another story) makes very versatile and timeless pieces. His pieces can be left and forgotten about in your closet for YEARS and you could pull it out later and it would still look great for whichever season you were in!

Timex T Series Chronograph Watch
$120 at Timex online

(BUT if you use the code LUCKYBRK you can get 35% off... I believe the total comes to $78)
AND this deal is good until the END OF MAY!!!!

You would think after the Michael Kors situation (i.e. splurging for the last time in a long time) I would be done with watches... BUT NO, I'm not. Now that I've got the golden lovely that I commonly refer to as "My Michael" when I ding him on the wall or counter at work, I feel as though I need to complete my wardrobe with a silver lovely (with the redish animal print band)... i.e. The Timex T Series Chronograph watch featured in this month's Lucky mag AND also seen on the model in the mag who just happens to be wearing the Calvin Klein dress that I have fallen in love with.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Solid Perfume Pendant
$78 Estee Lauder and most likely ALL department stores!

I think this is really cute looking and the idea is great. The price tag however SUCKS and I have a feeling I wouldn't like the scent. I'll have to go out and smell this pretty piece first before I even think about searching for this on eBay--because YOU KNOW that I wouldn't pay FULL PRICE for this! (I have my limitations--I really do!)

Truly Madly Deeply 80's Sweatshirt
$38 Urban Outfitters

Apparently I'm last on the bandwagon for cutting your sweaters up and wearing them all sexy/stupid like (depending on your personal opinion on the subject of cutting the necks off of your sweaters then wearing them out...).

Well I saw this look in the recent UO catalog, and discovered that I kinda liked it. I discovered also that I liked it EVEN MORE when I discovered that I could recreate this look by taking my old hoodies that mess up my hair every time I pull them over my head, and cutting off the hood. I then discovered (apparently I discovered a lot during this past week lol) that my old hoodies with the necks cut off are really friggin' comfortable; they are roomy for working out, and comfy and airy enough for sleeping in as well.

So, don't spend $38 on the above mentioned item... go do it yourself. OR comment me back and tell me that I'm slow and you've already done this/knew about it (about 5 years ago--or 30ish years ago--in the 80's!). And then comment about how sorry you are that you didn't let me in on this little secret YEARs ago! Thanks jerks! :)

Canvas Pumps // BDG Suede Pumps

$48 Urban Outfitters

I've had a serious shoe hard on for these pumps for the past few months. I have no clue why. I think the Canvas Pumps (in that color) would look GREAT with a fitted pencil skirt and a flow-y blouse, with some sort of floral print in that outfit (that I'm imagining in my head). But I'm just imagining, a bit too much, since I no longer have a pencil skirt--that fits me--in my possession, nor do I own the flow-y blouse. Oh poop. Maybe when I get a nice paycheck, settle down after my move, ohyeah and GET A REAL JOB!

Alrighty, that's enough dreaming for now...

I've got a few more post ideas coming up, that I've been preparing for in between packing and working... 

More to come later. 

What should you expect?

Oh well how about:

SEXY boots (on sale of course), sexy/cute/frilly/somewhat practical aprons, a DIY project--that I think MANY of you will LOVE!!, some Anthropologie picks, and a few ETSY picks as well!