Rate My Look- Double Belts Inspired by Tiffany

Top: Ann Taylor LOFT

Jean shorts- KMart (Seriously!)

Shoes: Daffy's

Belts: H&M

Ring and Necklace: Stella and Dot

Full disclosure: I stole this double-belt idea from Tiffany of A Reason to be Fabulous. She did a black and white version yesterday. I liked the idea, so I stole it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? That's what I've heard. 

Anyway, the look is more than just a belt layered on another belt- it's all about twisting and buckling the two together. I love it!

As great as the twisted double belt look is, it's not the reason for posting this outfit. A while ago, Beth asked for a post on how to wear a belt- when to wear one, how to wear one, how to choose between skinny or wide, etc. It's about time I actually give her the post she asked for! 

Over the decades, the purpose and function of belts has changed quite a bit. I don't know many women who wear a belt to hold their pants up anymore. These days, belts function more as an accessory to add a touch of style to an outfit. More importantly, though, they also function as a way of cinching in a garment and adding emphasis to the smallest part of your waist. I've preached over and over again about how to create an hourglass silhouette and how to create the illusion of a longer leg line. The best way to do both is to add emphasis at your waist- your natural waist. 

In the outfit pictured above, the top and shorts are in high contrast to each other. Whether the shirt is tucked in or left out, the proportion of the outfit on my body would be unflattering without the belts. Look at the length of the shirt versus the length of the shorts and also how the shirt stops at the widest part of my hips. Neither of those things is good when trying to create a long leg line and an hourglass silhouette. By placing the belts (or even just one belt) at my high natural waist, I've forced the eye to be drawn upward and I've created a center for the hourglass that is far more defined. 

Some other examples of outfits I've created over the last couple of years using the same concept: 

I admit, there are times that I know I want to wear a belt, but figuring out whether it should be skinny or wide is a matter of trying both and seeing what I prefer with that outfit. There isn't necessarily a magic formula for figuring it out. I always try to select a belt that keeps the proportion of the outfit intact. If I'm adding a belt to a dress, I often choose a wide belt, since it breaks up the dress, into two large sections. If I'm adding a belt to a top I often choose a skinny belt for the same reason- the top is broken up into smaller sections that are more in proportion with a skinny belt. But again, there are exceptions to every rule- like the red dress above. In any case, I try to select the most flattering option. In the case of the black and white outfit above, the belt is treated as an extension of the skirt which is why a wide choice worked better. However, in the bottom picture with the purple cardigan, I used the belt to raise the waistline of the outfit to my natural waist.Without a belt at all, the eye would be drawn to where the purple cardigan meets the grey skirt. Also, a large belt would have overwhelmed the short cardigan, but a skinny belt did the trick just fine. 

Admittedly, I could probably use a few more "in-between" belt widths to add variety to my options, but there is rarely a time when I can't find a belt or two that functions the way I want for any given outfit. If you have a decent variety of neutral belts in your closet- or even just one black wide belt and one black skinny belt- it's unlikely you won't have one that works whenever you want to wear one. 

Beth, I hope this post was helpful to you, but please leave a comment or email me with any other belt-related questions! 

Rate My Look- Back in Action!

Hello, all! Thanks for being patient while I took a couple of days off from blogging. I also appreciate the supportive comments on my last post. I think that after 2 years and nearly 800 posts, I was due for a little slump. Thanks for indulging me.

Anyway, I've been meaning to share this outfit with you guys because I really think it is DYNAMITE. (I'm so humble, right?) Anyway, now that I've collected an assortment of pencil skirts, I want to wear them every day. And this denim one happens to be a particular favorite of mine:

Top: So old, I don't even know where or when I got it

Skirt: Marshalls? TJ Maxx? Definitely one of those

Shoes: Daffy's

Ring and Necklace: Stella and Dot

Let us count the ways this outfit is fabulous, starting with the individual pieces: 

1.) These shoes are my absolute favorite shoes that I own and I wish I could wear them every day. However, I also wish to make it into my 40's without bunions, so there's that. But seriously- get a closer look at them here. In the words of Rachel Zoe, "I die." 

2.) The citrus-y top is so on trend right now- bright oranges, yellows and pinks are so hot for spring and summer. I love when an old piece from years ago suddenly becomes trendy again somehow. This top is so nicely structured, but it also has a bit of stretch to the fabric. I've been known to pair it with high-waisted sailor pants. Also a stellar combination, if I do say so myself. 

3.) The skirt. Seriously? This skirt is phenomenal. It's so unique and interesting to look at. Strangers complement it every time I wear it. Flattering AND interesting? I'll take it. 

4.) The jewelry- I will try not to sound all sales-pitch-y when I say this, but the Stella and Dot Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace literally elevates ANY outfit to classy and sophisticated in a heartbeat. Literally. This outfit is great on its own, but with that necklace? We've entered a whole new dimension Seriously, I die. (I am SO channeling Rachel Zoe throughout this entire post!)

Need I say more to convince you of the fabulousness that is this outfit? I didn't think so. 

Rate My Look- Winning Combination

I realized after browsing through my recent photos that I basically wore the exact same outfit three times this past week. In every outfit, I'd paired one of my pencil skirts with a long-sleeve turtleneck or cowl neck top. The accessories varied (more on that later), but the silhouette and pieces combined to create that silhouette were all very similar.

It all started on Sunday:

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Cowl Neck Top: Fair Indigo

Sweater & Boots: Marshalls

Earrings: H & M
Brooch: Vintage

The next day- Monday- was a LOT colder, so I took out the cashmere: 

Sweater: Christmas gift

Skirt: Marshalls

Necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: DSW

Forgive the wrinkles in my skirt- I snapped this photo AFTER driving 45 minutes to work, so my skirt wasn't looking its best like it did in this post. Finally, I put together this look on Tuesday: 

Sweater: TJ Maxx

Skirt: Daffy's

Shoes: DSW

Necklace: DIY

Tuesday's version of this look is definitely my favorite. The skirt is super cute and I love the combination of the olive fabric and the purple jewelry. Something about those two colors just makes me smile. And if you like my necklace in Tuesday's outfit and want to know more about it, check back tomorrow- I'll tell you all about it! 

But back to the clothes- sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the pieces in your closet with a fresh perspective. Think about different combinations of clothing and accessories- you'll feel like you have a whole new wardrobe! 

Leave a comment and tell me what you think about my outfit creations! 

Rate My Look- Finally a black WORK outfit!

It's been a while since I managed to photograph myself in one of my all-black separates outfits that I wear to work every Saturday. I admit, I enjoy seeing what each employee wears to work with this extremely restrictive color palate. There are back cardigans, black sweater dresses, black tights, black pants, black leggings, black blouses, black dresses, black boots, back skirts, black, black, BLACK! It may sound boring, but it usually isn't. Every now and then someone will wear a colored scarf or add a pop of grey or white to their outfit, which is technically allowed. I've been trying to be really strict and only allow myself black. Period. Last Saturday, I wore this outfit:

Top: Daffy's

Skirt: Macy's

Shoes: DSW

The skirt and shoes were part of my recent purchases specifically for work outfits. The blouse was part of my booty from a shopping trip in NYC about a year ago. All three items have made several appearances at work as part of all-black Saturday outfits as well as other multi-colored looks.

This outfit is another perfect example of mixing textures to create an interesting monochromatic look. The skirt is tiered lace and the top is satin. Funny how I encounter the same combination of fabrics nearly every day, except usually in white or ivory. I'm very happy with how the shoes seem to be holding up. I've worn them a lot since purchasing them and I definitely consider them a successful purchase. They are still comfortable even for 10-hour days and very busy Saturdays. I'm hoping to stock my closet with a couple more basic black shoes to wear in various seasons. I hope open-toed shoes are allowed in the summer!

Walking in Winter WonderWEAR

I feel as though I sort of glossed over my new coat purchase. I posted it amidst my Style Guides to the Holidays and my Holiday "Rate My Look" posts, but I really feel as though it deserves its own post. So here it is!

This coat is awesome. Here are the reasons why: 

1.) It is a more interesting print than houndstooth and yet remarkably similar to it, making it both trendy and classic at the same time. 

2.) It has an open neckline with a super dramatic collar. I love drama (in my clothes, not in my life). 

3.) It is the PERFECT length- it falls just above my knee, which is an ideal length for heels AND flats. 

4.) It also looks great with boots. 

5.) The silhouette is as flattering as a coat can get- cinched at the natural waist and bust, fuller at the bottom, and, as I already mentioned, the perfect length. 

6.) It is black and white, so ultimately that makes it a neutral, but as I've already mentioned, the print is interesting, so it's not boring black and white, it's exciting!

7.) It fits me like a dream. 

8.) It only cost $29.99 at Daffy's. 

I wore this coat out to meet my friend Tim for dinner (remember his Live Project Runway blog posts?). When he complimented my coat, I thanked him and said, "Isn't it a home run?" 

"No," he replied, "It's a grand slam."

I quite agree. 

Rate My Look- Another Pencil Skirt

You may be starting to realize that I've fallen in love with several pencil skirts recently. For someone who swears by a full circle skirt silhouette, I've really taken to this new-found look. I still love the full skirt look, but I am enjoying the variety that can now be found in my closet. On my recent trip to New York, I stumbled upon an amazing Nanette Lepore pencil skirt in army green sateen. It's pretty stunning and has the most fabulous detail at the waist. The best part? It was only $33 at Daffy's:

The sweater was a Christmas gift- some lovely cashmere from my mom. I guess she reads the blog, too and saw my recent tribute to cashmere. Either that, or my hints of "needing more cashmere in my life" were heard loud and clear. Although I'm normally a fan of bright jewel tones, I really liked this outfit, which I wore to church on Boxing Day. It includes quite a range of earth tones- army green, light forest green, chocolate brown and taupe. The shoes are my gorgeous suede cut-out platforms that I scored shortly before moving from PA back to NH. I blogged about them back then and you can read the original post here. If you recall, I scored them for just under $15! 

Another fabulous accessory is my super cool cocktail ring. I splurged on that ring after getting my first paycheck from my new job. I was shopping with Beth at a fabulous store in Jamaica Plain called Salmagundi. I mostly love them for their amazing hats, many of which they design themselves, but on this particular day, it was an amazing wooden ring that caught my eye: 

How super cool is this ring? I love it! it's got a wooden base with leaves on top, covered in an amber epoxy of some sort. 

So what do YOU think of my departure in terms of both silhouette and color scheme? I think it all works pretty well for me- more evidence that you shouldn't pigeon-hole yourself in terms of style. Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Rate My Look- Comfy Christmas Attire

If you remember my style guides to the holidays, you will recall that I recommend a loose-fitting dress for family dinners. In my family, we tend to over indulge around the holidays. Also, most of my friends families are the same way, so if I have a family holiday dinner, followed by a dinner with Beth's family, for example, that's a lot of food to pack in. And I'm not afraid to strap on a feed bag, if you know what I mean. On Christmas Day, I had a delicious (and decadent) breakfast with my parents and brother- homemade crepes and crispy bacon. Yum. (Did I mention I'm from New Hampshire where real maple syrup is not only delicious, it's mandatory?) A few hours later, we cleaned ourselves up to go have an early afternoon "dinner" with the relatives. One of my cousins is a professional chef, so the eats are usually pretty stellar. And because that side of the family is Italian, we manage to incorporate an antipasto course into the beginning of every meal as well as cannoli and lobster tail pastry into every dessert. This year, we feasted on a juicy roast beef with potatoes, squash, and sweet potato casserole (the best I've ever tasted, btw). A few hours later, I was on the road to Beth's house to hang out with her family. Unlike my relatives, dinner at Beth's house is actually around dinner time. I arrived as the salad was being served. I passed on the lasagna course (another Italian family), simply because I genuinely didn't think I could handle it. After a nice long break between courses, we moved on to filet mignon, grilled salmon, asparagus, carrots, and roasted potatoes. Let's just say I was happy to have taken my own fashion advice on this particular holiday:

This dress is nothing new- in fact, it's starting to show signs of wear. I've gotten a lot of miles out of it, so I'm not complaining, but it might be time for a new casual, everyday LBD. The shoes are pretty old, too- they're my favorite back patent lace-up high heel oxfords. They are a great choice for SO many looks. What is new in this outfit is the capelet and the tights. The tights are actually two separate pair- one in a pretty, opaque teal blue and the other is a black lace-y cut-out pattern layered on top. The capelet is one I talked about recently- I purchased it on my recent trip to NYC. It's almost exactly the same as a capelet I admired on Etsy a couple of months ago. I'm glad I held off on that purchase because I ended up saving myself about $40 by purchasing it in Chinatown. Now, before you start lecturing me about supporting artists on Etsy, consider exactly how much of a price difference I had. If it had been a similar price to the Etsy seller, I would have absolutely waited and purchased from them. However, I got the capelet pictured for a mere $12, so I am having trouble feeling too guilty. Additionally, I'd like to point out that the capelet can also double as a drape-y scarf which is helpful when I have to put on a coat: 

Anyway, this may not have been the most inventive outfit I've ever put together, but it was comfortable and warm, two priorities for a cold winter day spent out visiting friends and family. Speaking of warm winter attire, check out my new coat (also purchased on my trip to NYC) that I scored for only $29.99 at Daffy's: 

I've been in love with oversize houndstooth prints lately and this coat is definitely reminiscent of that print. I love the silhouette and the open neckline. Of course, it basically requires me to wear either a turtleneck or a warm scarf. Fortunately, I have several of both. 

Come back soon for more photos of fabulous shopping finds from NYC and elsewhere! 

I Heart NY

What better way to use my 600th post (yes 600!!!) than to recap my brief but fabulous trip to New York City with my friend Melanie. As someone who had never been to New York, I wanted Melanie to experience as much as possible in a very short amount of time.

We hit the road in NH at about 6:00 AM, didn't hit any traffic, only stopped once at Starbucks for breakfast and once at a rest stop for a quick potty break and managed to be in midtown Manhattan by 10:30 AM. The hotel actually let us check in early, so we had a few minutes to drop our bags off and freshen up before hitting the town for the day. We stayed at The New Yorker Hotel which I definitely recommend- it's a decent price for what you get. I've stayed there in the past and you really can't beat the location. The rooms are standard size for NYC, which means they are tiny. This one had a particularly small bathroom, but included a small desk and a seating area. Honestly, I would have gladly given up the seating area in exchange for a bit more counter space in the bathroom. One perk of the hotel choice was our view:

Yes, that's the Empire State Building. 

After quickly freshening up, we grabbed a quick lunch at the Tick Tock Diner, adjacent to our hotel. Not the best or the worst dining experience you'll have in the city. Yes, it's more expensive than it ought to be, but it's also smack in the middle of mid-town, so you can't expect reasonable prices even if you're grabbing a bite from a hot dog cart on the corner. We each got a salad, and while they were pricey at about $12 each, they were also ENORMOUS and fresh. Not bad for the middle of winter. 

Next, we hopped on the subway and zipped on down to Canal Street. I wanted Melanie to experience the whole faux-handbag shopping experience. Even if we didn't plan to purchase one, it is still an interesting "underground" experience. Unfortunately, we must have looked like narcs, because it was darn near impossible to even come within 50 feet of a knock-off. We even got so bold as to ask some shop keepers for  specific labels only to be told, "Oh, no, no, no- we don't do that. No, no one does that." When we finally managed to convince someone to show us a faux-Burberry, it turned out to be the poorest quality plastic bag I've ever encountered. So, not only is it extremely difficult to find them, they are not very convincing. It seemed like a total bust to me, but Melanie seemed to at least enjoy the unique experience. Neither of us bought a bag, knock-off or otherwise, but we still had fun shopping and looking at everything in Chinatown. 

Melanie: smiling, but unimpressed with the handbag selection- faux or otherwise. 

After that, we did some more shopping in SoHo. I got a new winter coat and an amazing pencil skirt, both from Daffy's, one of my favorite NYC stores. Great prices, great selection. Melanie seemed a bit overwhelmed by it, but after realizing it's sort of like TJ Maxx or Marshalls, she seemed to settle into it. I also got a cheap pair of sunglasses in Chinatown as well as a cool capelet that is pretty much exactly like the one I admired in this post (second item listed) except it's a pretty teal instead of grey. By about 3:00, we were pretty shopped out, so we decided to go back to the hotel and freshen up again before having dinner with Melanie's family. 

We walked up to Times Square and were both pretty amazed by all the LED billboards. I love how crazy it is in Times Square- there is so much to see, it's like sensory overload. 

I didn't do a great job taking this photo- I meant to get more billboards in the background. Sorry, Mel. 

Next, we checked out what was playing on the Great White Way in case we decided to catch a show later on. My vote was for Spiderman, simply because it's such a monstrosity. It's been all over the news for the major injuries its actors have suffered- a concussion, two broken wrists and- the day before we arrived in the city- a major fall that landed a Spidey stuntman in the hospital and shut the show down for several performances. The posters look cool, but I'm shocked it hasn't been shut down completely: 

It was starting to get pretty cold, so we went early to the restaurant where we planned to meet some of Melanie's family- her aunt, uncle and two cousins. We met at Carmine's, a fun, casual, family-style Italian restaurant in the heart of the theatre district. If you've ever checked out the other blogs I read, you'll have seen that I subscribe to a blog called "Chunk: A Story of Loss." This blog is written by Melanie's cousin Emily Leonard. Her two sisters and her parents are the people we met for dinner at Carmine's. After finishing an incredible, (and incredibly HUGE) meal with her family, I've come to a better understanding of her weight-loss struggle. Here's the run-down: we started with a house salad, which is easily big enough for 8 people (there were 6 of us), followed by the biggest dish of fried calamari I've ever encountered. Next was an enormous stuffed artichoke. I was pretty full at that point. Fortunately, by the time we finished our appetizers, we hadn't even placed the order for the entrees, so we had a bit of time to rest between courses. When the chicken scallopini and pasta pomodoro arrived, I was still feeling pretty full, but it would have been rude not to have some, right? When those plates were clean, I thought we were done. That is, until Melanie's Aunt Jen ordered "The Titanic." 

The Titanic: Flourless chocolate brownie, topped with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, real whipped cream, hot fudge, bananas, strawberries, pineapple, nuts and some kind of wafer cookie. 

After we finished dinner, we all took a walk to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. We also saw a proposal on the ice skating rink and some very entertaining skaters. 

Someone once told me the tree at Rockefeller Center is actually about 50 trees nailed together. They were lying. The trunk on this tree is about 3 feet wide. It measures 74 feet tall and I can't even begin to guess how many lights are on it. It's truly a sight to see. 

My hair looked pretty awful by this point in the evening and both Mel and I were pretty exhausted. We walked her family back to Penn Station which is right across the street from our hotel. We saw some sights along the way including the Macy's windows. Despite the fact that it was barely 10:00 PM, we both climbed into our beds and fell asleep almost immediately after our heads hit our pillows. 

NYC: Day 2

The next morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast after checking out of the hotel. We had checked our bags, so we were free of them for some more gallivanting around the city before heading back to NH. I had a small shopping list to attend to in the garment district. After a visit to Mood and a couple other stores, my list was done, but we were not done shopping. We happened upon a Betsey Johnson "pop-up" sample shop where I got a fabulous leopard print handbag and Melanie scored the most adorable dress I've seen in a long time: 

Her dress was $40 and my bag $35- total bargains! After that, we stopped by Bryant Park where there was an art show in full swing. My favorite part of that experience was when a jewelry seller told me that if you wear large accessories, "you must be really insecure." I didn't happen to be wearing anything super large at the time, but both Mel and I cracked up at her remark. If only she knew how insulting she'd been! 

By the time we finished at Bryant Park, both Mel and I were exhausted. We didn't even have it in us to try to see a matinee. Back to the hotel, we called for the car and hit the road. Other than some traffic in Connecticut, the drive went well. I promise to take photos of all my shopping booty so you can see the breakdown of my bargains. Until then, enjoy the rest of this year- I can't believe it's almost 2011! 

Rate My Look- Tuesday's outfit and today's outfit, too!

Tuesday was rainy and gross and while I did take some pictures, they did not come out as I'd hoped. So... after work tonight, I put that outfit on again, grabbed my fabulous new tripod and snapped a few pictures. So here's take two of Tuesday's outfit:

I love the Jeep in the background of that first picture- oops! I'll be honest- I'm really enjoying my new tripod. It makes taking pictures such a piece of cake. I can't believe I waited this long to get one. Shameful, isn't it? Anyway, this outfit is my favorite pair of Old Navy jeans, a peach top so old I can't remember where or when I got it, much less what it cost, a new vest from Maurices, and some super fun accessories- my favorite turquoise cocktail ring from Festoon in downtown Lancaster, a bright red flower pin from Ann Taylor Loft and my floral print shoes I recently bought at Daffy's on my trip to New York:

The colors I chose to wear in this outfit were all pulled from the print on these shoes- the peach, the bright red and the turquoise. They aren't the most common combination of colors, but they work quite well together and make what could have been a very boring outfit into something a little more special. Jeans with a black vest isn't very exciting, even with a peach top underneath, but the floral shoes and bright accessories in fun contrasting colors add a whole new dimension. The next time you find yourself wondering how to accessorize an outfit, rather than choose something that "matches" or is in a similar color family, instead choose something that contrasts. The key to combining colors like this is to make sure there is some unifying factor. Pastels with pastels, brights with brights, primaries with primaries. That's not to say you can't have a pastel outfit with a bright or primary color accessory- that works, too, but the bright accessory then needs to be the only piece that is bright. Don't mix bright with pastel with primary with muted, etc. Color is a really fun way to add personality to your outfits. Experiment! You might be surprised with what you come up with!

Of course, before I put on Tuesday's outfit again, I snapped a few photos of the outfit I wore today, so you're getting a double-whammy in this post!

This is the green and white skirt I made a few weeks ago. Old Navy had a sale on lace-trim cami's not too long ago, so I got this one in green. The pink ribbon seemed like a nice contrast, plus who doesn't love pink and green together? The sequin cardi is just too much fun not to wear every once in a while- I got it at Rue 21 a while ago, but I forget what it cost. I finished the look with white strappy wedges from Target that I got last summer and once again my favorite cocktail ring in turquoise from Festoon in downtown Lancaster.

What do you think of my colorful outfits this week? Leave a comment if you like! Sometimes I think, "Renee, just wear something neutral!" But what fun is that, right? Anyway, I hope this weather will keep up- I really enjoy getting outside to snap photos when the sun is shining.

Shopping Booty- Part 3

I'm really excited about the clothes that I bought in the city this weekend:

It's only three pieces, but they are three classic and versatile pieces. First is a really cute poly-satin top from Daffy's that I got for only $3.99!

Please forgive the horrible wrinkles- it suffered quite a bit in transit, but it's nothing a little steam won't take right out. Next is a fabulous skirt from Brooklyn Industries. Originally $78, I paid only $29.99 for it! I'm excited to wear it because it's nice and full with a high waist, my standard silhouette. I'm trying to get more into skirts lately, and this is a great one to add to my wardrobe.

Finally, one of the best bargains of the weekend was this Tulle jacket that I got at Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn. It's a fabulous consignment shop that I wish was close to where I live because I would hit it at least once a week. This great double-breasted jacket with an adorable peplum was a bargain at $16.95!

All three pieces are basic, but interesting. The top has a nice sheen, plus the pretty neckline ruffle detail. The skirt is a little fuller than a-line, and with the color blocking, it's visually interesting without being busy. Finally, the jacket's peplum takes it from a bland, basic double breasted jacket to fun and feminine and a little bit flirty. And since they are all neutrals, I can pair them with each other, or with anything else in my closet. The skirt will be great in winter with bright or patterned tights as well as in the spring and summer with bare legs and sandals. The jacket will be great for both spring and fall as well as those unseasonably warm "winter" days that happen so frequently around here. It's going to be a great layering piece. Finally, the top will work with jeans, a skirt, my high waist sailor pants, even a pair of shorts. It can be layered under a cardi or jacket in the cooler months or it can stand alone in the warmer months. I can't wait to start using these pieces in my every day outfits!

Check back soon for the final installment in this "Shopping Booty" series to see what fabrics and trims I purchased. I might even put together some sketches so that you can see how I plan to use the materials I bought! Have a great night- I'll be back soon!

Shoesday Tuesday shopping booty

I started to type out a blog documenting all of my purchases over the weekend and realized it would be unreasonable to publish it. I wanted to make sure I told you where I got everything, how much it cost, whether or not it was a bargain, etc. As I did this, I realized it would take you all about an hour to read this one blog post. So I deleted it. And instead I'm going to show you what's relevant only to Shoesday Tuesday, and then in subsequent posts, I'll cover pretty much everything else. Here's what I came home with after my 3 1/2 days in the city:

To break it down, there's fabric & notions...

... accessories...

...clothes...

... and even some reading material.

(Ok, the reading material was all gifts from friends. They gave me Patti Stanger's Become Your Own Matchmaker and Samantha Scholfield's Screw Cupid: The Sassy Girl's Guide to Picking Up Hot Guys. What do you think my friends are trying to tell me?)

I'm sure you understand now why I'll be focusing only on a few items. Otherwise, you'd be here all day! So, since it's Shoesday Tuesday, I present to you the two pair of shoes I brought home from the city this weekend. First, these gorgeous floral pumps that I found at Daffy's for $26.99:

These shoes could not more ME. I can't wait until it's a little warmer and I can wear them out! Next up, Christian Siriano for Payless:

Admittedly, I wanted these mostly because they're a tiny little piece of Christian Siriano and since I'll likely never be able to wear his clothes (for financial and physical reasons), I absolutely MUST wear his shoes. (I'm sorry the picture is so blurry. I really must figure out how to take better pictures.) Just trust me when I tell you that these shoes are fierce, just like Christian. I adore them. They are probably among the most tame of the shoes in his Payless line, but that suits me just fine.

So there you have it- the two pair of shoes I brought home from NYC. I'm quite happy with my selections. What do you think of them? Leave a comment! And check back later this week for more on my NYC shopping purchases. You won't be disappointed!

I'll be shopping this weekend...

I'm about to finish packing some things and then I'll be heading out to New York City for the weekend. I've altered my travel plans to include buses and trains so that I can avoid having to drive and worse yet, park in this terrible weather. In case you live in a bubble, the entire northeastern US is getting hit with all sorts of crazy precipitation and intense winds, making for a less than ideal weekend away. But since I have plans to meet up with some good friends, I'm braving the bad weather and heading to the city. What am I looking forward to the most? The shopping, of course. I love to shop, but I love shopping with friends even more. And Saturday afternoon is going to be devoted entirely to girl time spent shopping. I dig it. So you may be wondering where I like to shop, right? Of course!

It's actually quite rare that I end up in the city shopping without an agenda for work. Of course, if I see something work related that I can't pass up, I'll probably get it, but right now there isn't exactly a plan to shop for work. Anyway, that being said, whether I'm shopping for life or shopping for work, I still tend to go to a lot of the same places.

For starters, I could spend days in the garment district. I wrote a post a couple of months ago - a sort of beginner's guide to the shops there. Click here to be taken to that post. It's a pretty decent summary of where to go for what. I love to browse the fabric stores because they offer an endless supply of inspiration for me. They also offer an endless means to drain my checking account, but that's ok.

Next, when looking for the BEST in bargain clothing, I head to Daffy's. It's less expensive than Marshalls or TJ Maxx, but with even more interesting, unique, European clothing. It's super-cool menswear HEAVEN at Daffy's, but there are plenty of great clothes for women as well. The Daffy's in Herald Square is my favorite because it's the largest, but there's one in SoHo, and a few in and around mid-town.

Canal Street is a lot of fun, especially if you are looking for a bargain knock-off. I always go to the city thinking I don't want one, and somehow I almost always end up getting one anyway. If you've never experienced Canal Street and Chinatown in NYC, I strongly recommend you do it- even if it's just to do it. There's a whole lot of junk in that area, but the hustle and bustle of the environment is infectious. Also, there are a few cute stores down there like Amsterdam, Necessary Clothing, American Apparel, and of course plenty of Starbucks. And if you're interested in the knock-off experience, it's actually really fun. Since it's so sketchy, a lot of the sellers have gone "underground" so you'll be taken into a back room or basement area where you'll find all the faux-designer bags you could ever want. It's fun to do it, even if you don't buy anything. Also, haggling on prices with them is really fun. I got my faux-Birkin for half the asking price.

Finally, when in the city, it's important to keep your eyes peeled for new and interesting stores. They pop up all over the place and you never know when you'll stumble across the showroom of an obscure but budding fashion designer hosting a sample sale. Score!

Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite NYC shopping destinations, or your faves outside of the city, too- I'd love to hear about them all!  

Rate My Look- a day behind!

Top: Daffy's $4.99

Jeans: Old Navy, $19

Scarf: Wet Seal, FREE!

Hat: I have NO idea

Shoes: Nine West, $19.99

Ok, first of all, I am really not getting better at the whole self-portrait thing. Maybe my camera stinks. Maybe I need better lighting. I have no idea. If you have suggestions, they are welcome. In a perfect world, I'd be dating a handsome & rugged professional photographer who would snap my photo anytime I wanted. (Suggestions on meeting a handsome & rugged professional photographer are welcome, too!) Unfortunately for everyone involved, I do not have a handsome & rugged professional photographer at my beck and call, so I must make do with my el cheapo Kodak Easy Share camera and software. So tragic.

But enough about my picture problems. I wore this outfit on Wednesday (I'm a couple of days behind posting my outfits). I wanted to put together a fun outfit for the top because I was so excited to wear it. It's not exactly a groundbreaking top, but I got it while in the city on Monday at Daffy's, one of my all-time favorite stores for a mere $4.99! Bargain! I, of course, went on to the garment district and dropped nearly $100 on fabric, thus ruining my plan to be thrifty that day! The best laid plans, right? I guess I was in a colorful mood because I paired the bright teal top with an equally bright pink scarf. The hat I wore mainly because I didn't feel like doing my hair! Shameful, I know.

But all in all, I think it's a fine outfit. I'm sure all of you fashionable ladies out there feel much the same way I do when you get dressed for work. You feel a certain amount of pressure to always deliver a stellar outfit. I find that when I dressed casually at work (which is completely the norm at AMT), I almost got more comments than when I made sure to put together and "outfit." I feel like this "outfit" is less so than what I typically wear, but you can't be totally glamorous every single day of your life, right?

Shoesday Tuesday UPDATE

I know you are all waiting on the edge of your seats to find out how my shoes are holding up and let me tell you that they rock! I walked pretty much from 11:00 AM to 5 PM yesterday in them- was on my feet shopping and carrying heavy bags the entire time and not once did I ever feel any kind of discomfort. I absolutely know that would not have been the case without the arch supporting insoles and the rub relief, but I'm going to try them again today and we'll see how it goes!

As for the New York agenda, yesterday we visited Daffy's (my absolute favorite discount superstore) and found SO much fabulous stuff. After that it was on to the garment district and shopping for fabrics & trims. We didn't find everything we were looking for, but we also barely scratched the surface of the shops available. It's back there again today and then perhaps a trip down to Canal street for a handbag purchase. I'll try to take some pictures and post them when I get back. This hotel internet is costing me 25 cents a minute, so I'm typing fast and logging out. Have a great day!