Celebr'e Collection

Yesterday afternoon, I visited Celebr'e Collection's show room.  She has a lot of really great vintage inspired pieces including reconstructed items that actually come from thrift stores.  Her collection is filled with vibrant colors and bold prints, nothing ordinary, thank goodness.  Here is a pic of the show room and a few of my favorite pieces.  You can visit her show room by appointment or purchase her pieces online.

Trend: Muted Grays and Pinks and Bubble Skirt

I've been informed that sometimes the details of my outfit get lost in the photos I post so I did a couple of up close pics so you can see the accessories and subtleties of the pieces I wear.

Today's Outfit:

-French Connection top

-BP Cardy

-Necklace from Urban Outfitters

-Flower pin from Target

-BCBGeneration skirt

-Nordstrom hose

-Steve Madden boots

The Ex-Boyfriend Jean

These AG boyfriend jeans are my favorite that I've seen (I don't like them overly baggy).  AG actually calls them the ex-boyfriend jean, which I love.  I saw this ad in March InStyle and thought they were the perfect amount of baggy and distress.  I also love the shoes she's wearing in the ad. :)  

Photo from AG website.

Short Sleeve Jacket: Love it!

I love this outfit I saw in the latest Lucky Magazine and it instantly reminded me of an outfit SJP wore in SATC: TM.  Trends spotted in the Lucky pic: florals, one-shoulder dress (I know you can't tell in the pic, but it is), hour glass figure, skinny belt, muted shades.  I love the cocktail ring and have been craving a short sleeve or three quarter sleeve jacket for the spring.

Wish List: Sweater Clip

Wouldn't it be cool to throw your sweater loosely over your shoulders and affix it with a sweater clip a la the 1950s?  I found a bunch of really fab ones on this website.  It would be so very Mad Men but I would pair it with something unexpected like an edgy, graphic printed top and skinny jeans.

Spring Must-Have: Maxi Dresses

Maxi dresses are a must-have this season.  If you're shorter, pick one that is not as full so you don't drown in it.  Pair it with cute flip flops or the new simpler gladiator sandals.  Choose a maxi dress in a print and kill two trends with one purchase.

Real life: pic from the Sartorialist

Dress available at Nordstrom

Dress available at Nordstrom

You can wear a jumpsuit

I know a lot of people are hesitant about it but I like the jumpsuit trend.  It's the insta-outfit of a dress but with the ease of pants, what's not to love?  I recommend solid colors rather than statement making prints as the jumpsuit is a statement in itself.  Make sure it's not too tight fitting and those with particularly long torsos may want to stay away from this trend.  You can break it up a little with bold necklaces or by layering a cardigan or jacket on top.  Or try the one at the bottom (seen in Lucky Magazine) that is a different fabric on the top and bottom. 

 

Blue Scarf

I'm wearing my scarf in a new way today - silk scarf tied in a bow around my neck.  What do we think?  I think it's fun. :)

-BP turtleneck

-Jones New York scarf

-Random silver cuff and James Avery charm bracelet

-Citizens of Humanity jeans

-Steve Madden boots

Shop-o-nomics

We're always looking for excuses to shop and I've come across the best possible justification ever.  Shop-o-nomics is one of those fabulous events where your shopping is actually helping someone else.  Local vendors, boutiques and designers will be selling their goods at exclusive low prices in an effort to bring awareness to Success in Style, a non-profit organization that provides free business attire to low-income women seeking employment.  Check out the website for more information, feel free to contact me with any questions and I hope to see you there!

Recessionista

Recessionista

:a person who is able to stick to a tight budget while still managing to dress stylishly

:a person who is able to remain stylish during times of economic hardship.  A recessionista can shop on a limited budget and still manage to be up to date on the most current fashions.  A recessionista does not let a bad economy, inflation, or a strong recession damage his or her wardrobe and opts to search for sales and shop at thrifty discount stores instead

The economy is not good right now and things are getting worse, but that is no reason to sacrifice your style.  Be patient and take the time to shop around for good deals on a few new items for the season.  Choose three things you would most like to add to your wardrobe for spring and then hit up consignment, thrift and discount stores in search of great deals.  My favorites are

• Loehmann's
• Filene's Basement 
• New To You (Falls Church, VA)
  
• Current Boutique (Arlington, VA)
• Buffalo Exchange (Austin, TX with other locations as well)
• Marshall's
• Nordstrom Rack
• Neiman Marcus' Last Call
• Off Fifth

Another way to save money and still feel stylish is to go shopping in your own closet.  This is why my wardrobe consultation is so popular right now because my clients end up saving more in the forgone shopping than they pay me.  Every season, I do this for myself as well as my clients.  Set aside a few hours one evening or over the weekend and shop in your closet.  Pull out pieces you haven't worn in a while, get rid of things you don't like anymore and spend some time trying on and putting together outfits from the things that are already in your closet.  Most mornings, you don't have time to experiment so you just throw on our go-tos but if you set aside some time to coordinate your closet, you may find some new combinations you wouldn't have thought of in the morning rush or rediscover pieces that were pushed to the back of your closet.  Have fun!

Cheap Feet

So, let's talk about how I got these fabulous shoes at Payless.  I was waiting for the one hour photo place to enlarge a picture for me a the local ghetto mall (you know the kind that only has stores like Wet Seal and Payless and usually only go there for the movie theater) and I wondered into Payless and discovered that Lela Rose has an adorable line there.  I vaguely remember reading about this a while back but was not intrigued at the time.  Despite my love for bargain shopping, I have a long time aversion to Payless.  I probably haven't been in there since high school and still associate it with the chunky boots and platform sandals we wore in the nineties.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find these and they just had to come home with me (for only $38).  I also loved these navy wedges but they didn't have my size.  Payless also has collections by designers Alice+Olivia and Abaete.  Maybe, I will pay more attention to them from now on.