splendor & folly

I am not one of those people who hates their birthday, hates getting older, would rather just avoid it all together. I love my birthday! Here is a little something I bought for myself to celebrate :)

You can purchase this and more cute dresses from Lulus.com. Be sure to use promo code xoxo for 15% off!!

When it comes in the mail, I’ll show you what it looks like in real life. I may or may not wear it to a wedding next weekend.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!

While I knew that ‘military’ was a strong spring trend, the whole cargo-pants thing just kind of came on my radar recently. And now of course, I’m seeing them everywhere! At first I really hated the look, but after seeing the Victoria Beckham version (sans the pockets), it kind of grew on me. Not every trend will work for you, its better to remain true to your own style than go out and copy cat someone else’s. That being said, sometimes getting out of your comfort zone will be the only way to find out what suits you best!  

Cheryl Cole

Victoria Beckham

And here is my version of how I would style cargo pants for day and night…on a budget:

Even though the temp here is in the teens today (UGH!) all I can seem to think about is spring, summer, bikinis and being poolside! So naturally I want to shop for those kinds of outfits. But if I truly want to save some money, I should still be in winter mode.

Coat and boot prices are slashed despite the fact it is definitey STILL winter and you will still be able to get decent wear out of items this season. Not to mention you will have some relatively new-to-you items to pull out or your closet next time winter comes rolling in.

Where to shop:

Check out Victoria’s Secret, Alloy, Express, New York & Company and Nordstrom for some great deals on coats.

For boots, check out Aldo, Piperlime, DSW and Steve Madden.

My picks:

This amazing looking coat from NY&C for only $19.99?? (Note: large fur thing is removeable and it also comes in black)

More coat picks – all under $100!!

And my picks for boots – all under $50!!!

Word to the wise – sizes will be limited but don’t get discouraged, a great deal is out there for you!!

Went shopping this past Saturday and picked up the following:

This adorable little ring from Charlotte Russe. I’ve been wearing it everyday since! I’m totally not a jewelry person, but I like having ‘go to’ pieces that are simple and go with everything. (You can click the picture if you want to purchase or browse their other cute rings, there are tons for only $4!)

This light and airy top from H&M works for the office tucked into a pencil skirt or for the weekends layered with a blazer until it warms up.

And can I just say I’m pretty obsessed with H&M? What about you?

I must not have given up on Forever 21 completely, I did buy this top recently (which I love BTW!)  and still check their website from time to time. I like to check out their Love 21 line first because it is less overwhelming and often has cute items like these I spotted today:

Click through to see the dress on the model, it looks a lot cuter on:

I normally don’t like flutter sleeves, but I thought this print was really cute:

1. Classic Plaid Shirt (in Purple Combo)
2. Floral Chiffon Cami ( in Worn Indigo) – so cute, I still want this!
3. Studded Suede Flat (in Branch Brown) – only $19.95!
4. Artist Jeans (in Pure Dark)
5. Aerie Softest Cami (in Heather Lavender)

Have you ever heard of ASOS? I’ve recently come across this online retailer that seems to be out of the UK, but they do ship to US for flat rate of $6. I currently have these three items in my shopping cart, just for fun (uh, yeah, thats it) and all of it totals $80 with shipping! That’s crazy! They have soooo much stuff, I could probably spend hours just looking. My only reservation is the sizing, their clothes come in  UK sizes and I’m not sure which size would fit best on me. Hmmm….

you can click the pics to purchase

So lately, even though I haven’t been adding much to my wardrobe, I’m beginning to think I would like to switch gears.  I want to move more toward quality, investment pieces rather than cheapy throw-a-way items that start to unravel after the first wash (yes, I’m talking to you Forever 21). The only problem with this is my budget. Its really hard to justify spending hard earned dollars on clothes when there is always something more ‘practical’ to spend them on.

Thus I feel like I am having a Britney Spears moment. When it comes to shopping: “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman” (Please sing this in your head for the full effect). I’m kind of over Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe but can’t yet afford the offerings of Nordstrom, Shop Bop, and other higher-end stores and boutiques. I’m not saying I’m above shopping at certain stores now, I’m just going to try to buy only things I truly love. And if I’m buying less, I should be focusing more on quality.

Where do you like to shop? High-end? Low-end? Thrift? I’m ready to take suggestions and re-think my shopping just in time for spring!

 And with that, I’ll leave you with some gorgeous spring dresses on my ‘maybe someday’ list. They are by Shoshanna who I had never even heard of before today (see? I have a lot to learn!)

After breaking three pairs of sunglasses in my purse, I decided it was time to invest in one of these:

Case and sunglasses both from TJ Maxx for under $20 total.

Speaking of sunglasses – see if you can spot the difference – one of these pairs is $10 and the other pair is $350. Can you guess which is which?? Click the photos to find out!

1. How I Met Your Mother – This is without a doubt my favorite TV show. Although it has been on for five seasons, I just joined the Monday night party this year. If you haven’t tuned in I highly recommend netflixing it from the beginning.
2. Black Yoga Pants – Although I use them more for lounging on the couch than yoga poses, these are something I definitely could not live without. Mine are by Marika which retail for $40 on their website, but I scored them at TJ Maxx for half of that.
3. Apples and Cinnamon Oatmeal – I have been in a major oatmeal phase this year. I just grab a pack on my way out the door and whip up some deliciousness at work, which saves time and I still get in a hearty breakfast to hold off hunger pains until lunchtime.
4. Dolce & Gabbana The One – I first smelled this in a magazine and fell in love. According to the description, it is a warm, oriental floral with modern sensuality.
 

 


5. Post Secret - This website has been around for a while, but new secrets posted each Sunday make the beginning of the work week more tolerable.
6. Ruffles - This trend is everywhere you look, but you won’t find me complaining! I think ruffles can add just enough of that extra something special to everything from skirts to sweaters.
7. Menage a Trois wine – Thanks to Nichole for introducing me to this wine! It’s about 9 bucks and can be found at most grocery stores. It gets its name from being a blend of three types of grapes, Zinfandel, Cabernet and Merlot. Its fun to try new wines, but when I need a sure bet, menage a trois has never let me down!
8. The Library – Nothing beats free during a recession, or ever for that matter.
9. Gorjana necklace- When it comes to jewelry, my preference is understated. This necklace is the perfect subtle addition to most outfits (mine is silver). Other Gorjana pieces can be found at Revolve Clothing.

This is the first edition of my weekly Holiday Handbook series, which will give you helpful advice and tips to navigate through the holiday season with style and ease! Look for upcoming volumes of the Holiday Handbook each Friday from now until Christmas (which is not very many Fridays away…where did the year go??)

Today I’m sharing lots of options for what to wear to those upcoming social events.  Whether its the office Christmas party or just egg-nogging it up with friends, you always want to look your best.  Look for dark jewel tone colors, rich fabrics and metallic accents. Here are a few that won’t break the bank!