Bathing Suit Season is Fast Approaching...

Now don't lynch me for this, or burn me in effigy- I would be remiss if I didn't at least cover the topic of swim suits. I know what a painful process bathing suit shopping can be, but it really doesn't have to be that way. I do NOT have Heidi Klum's body and trust me when I say you will NOT be seeing a "Rate My Look" Beach Edition anytime soon, but I do have several bathing suits that are comfortable and flattering. If I can find a suit (or two) that works for my body, so can you! I'll even do my best to break it down for you!

For small busts:

Tommy Bahama Swim Top, Macy's $49.40

Calvin Klein One-Piece, Zappos, $98

Why do these work for a small bust? Because the underwire helps enhance your tiny ta-tas. The same could be said of a swim suit with padded cups, just like a padded bra. In this case, the underwire not only provides support which helps lift your bust, but it accents that area on your body as well. It draws the eye to the bustline, which is why this is a good trick for those of you who are small busted AND pear-shaped. By enhancing your upper body, you help to balance out wider hips, but that's not all! Pear-shaped ladies, check out these suits:

Mitered One-Piece, Venus, $59-79

Halter Tankini with High Waist Bottoms, Venus, $36 and $24-26, respectively

In addition to accenting the upper body, pear-shaped ladies should also stick with a high cut on the leg. (Just don't go Baywatch high, if you know what I mean.) The reason for this is that the line of the swimsuit will not only fall on a smaller part of your hips, but it will also help to lengthen the line of your leg. Boy-cut is your nemesis as is any cut that isn't at least a little bit vertical. A pear-shaped lady has plenty of curves, all she needs to do is make sure the top is in proportion with the bottom- always think in terms of balance. Some women don't have curves to balance out, though- instead they are "boy shape" for lack of a better term. In that case, they have the unfortunate challenge of creating curves. For them, I recommend:

Embellished Cut-Out One Piece, Victoria's Secret, $115

Colorblock One-Piece Swimsuit, Neiman Marcus, $198

This trick can be incorporated with a cut-out style or color blocking. In both cases, there is an illusion of an hourglass shape. The rounded curves of the cut-out suit in a color that contrasts against the skin tone creates the illusion that the rounded curves of the suit are the curves of the woman in it. In the case of the color blocked suit, the black detailing also creates an illusion of a small waist balanced against a larger bust and wider hips. Who says you need Harry Potter to work some serious magic? But the cut-out and the color blocking aren't the only things helping out a girl with a "boy shape." The necklines and high leg cuts of both suits are also keys to creating curves where there aren't necessarily that many. It's the combination of the two that help create an hourglass, curvy shape. Look for rounded, plunging necklines and the same kind of high leg cut as recommended for the pear-shaped ladies. Also, avoid at all costs any straight or square neckline and especially avoid the high-neck Speedo-type of suit. Speedo's? They are not flattering on ANYONE, I don't care how rockin' your bod may be.

Not everyone is able to wear such revealing suits as bikinis or cut-outs like the one above. Some of us have a little tummy to hide. Or a large tummy to hide. Whatever the tummy size, select one with ruching. Ruching that angles across the body is best, but any type will help mask a little belly: 

Twist-Front One-Piece, Victoria's Secret, $134-140

Crisscross Shaping One-Piece, Victoria's Secret, $132-138

In addition to ruching in the front, look for a suit with a high back and a high content of spandex or lycra in the fabric. These two criteria combined will help act as "shaping" agents. An open back with ruching will never be nearly as effective because ruching is most flattering when it is fitted across the body. If the ruching drapes or hangs, pass on that suit and keep on looking.

There are plenty of women out there who dread summer because it means having to find a suit to contain large ta-tas. If you are one of these women, look for suits like these:

Kenneth Cole Halter Suit, Dillard's, $110

Underwire Tank Halter Swimsuit, Land's End, $59.50

Women with a large bust should keep an eye out for suits that first and foremost offer support. Underwire with full coverage and halter necklines are the best options for support. Avoid triangle top bikinis and bandeau or tube tops as none of these will be flattering or offer the support you need. In addition, look for wide straps that will be more in proportion with the bust they are helping to hold up.

Well, I hope this has been a helpful post. Feel free to completely ignore it if bathing suit season makes you cringe. I won't take it personally. And if there are any other swimsuit issues you may have, feel free to email me with a question and I'll do my very best to help you out! Happy suit hunting!

Rate My Look: Shoesday Saturday & Weekend Watch Find

I got such a BARGAIN on a couple pair of shoes that I couldn't even wait until Tuesday to make it an official "Shoesday Tuesday" post. I also have some exciting news to share about my broken Kenneth Cole watch.

First, the shoes:

Both of these shoes are from Payless and both were huge bargains. The teal wedges were marked down to $13 and the grey satin pumps were marked down to $15. As if that isn't enough of a bargain, the BOGO sale was in full effect, so I actually got the wedges for only $6.50! Both pair of shoe for about $20! Hurray! I couldn't wait to wear them, so yesterday I put on my newly made orange and grey dress, and then finished off the outfit with the grey shoes and some turquoise earrings.

I realized when I was taking this picture yesterday morning that I rarely include my handbag in my photos. I admit, I don't change out my bag all that frequently. I tend to pick one bag and stick with it for weeks, or even months. For the last few months I've been using a black Coach bag, but yesterday I decided to switch it out for this knock-off bought on Canal Street in NYC last year. It's labed "Dolce & Gabanna" but on another trip to the city, I saw the exact same bag in another underground showroom and it was labeled "Valentino." Hilarious! Anyway, I'm never really concerned with my bag matching my outfit. In fact, if it contrasts a little (or a lot), I'm pretty happy. On a side note, there's a funny thing that happens when I wear this dress. Strangers on the street will stop me to say how much they love it (which is flattering, of course), but when they do this, about half the time, they feel compelled to reach up to the ribbon detail on my shoulder and touch it. It's so bizarre! It's one thing if I know the person, but a stranger? What is it about the anemone on my shoulder that people just HAVE to touch it? I don't mind- it really doesn't bother me, but I do find it fascinating.

In other exciting news, I have a new watch. Remember my Kenneth Cole watch that I loved so much, but then I dropped it and the face shattered and I was so devastated, but I didn't know what to do about it- fix it, trash it, buy a new one- so I just did nothing and now I've gone back to checking my phone for the time and that's just so annoying! (Almost as annoying as that run-on sentence, huh?) Anyway, I decided to stop back in at Kenneth Cole just to see what they had. Sure enough, the watch case had plenty of lovely watches, but none that were quite as perfect as my broken one. I was lamenting my situation to the saleslady and sort of describing the difference between my original watch and the ones available in the hopes that maybe she could offer some advice. She said, "Hold on just a minute. I'm going to call my manager in the back and see if we have any more watches back there." A few moments later, the manager came out holding the exact same watch I'd broken!!!! I just about died, I was so happy! And the cherry on top? It was marked down 40% off the SALE PRICE that I had originally paid. I ended up paying $38 (tax included) for the new watch, which is probably less than the cost of having the original one fixed. SO exciting.

It seems the shopping gods are smiling down on me right now. My Urban Outfitters oxfords, my Payless double-whammy bargain, and now the watch. I feel like my luck is really strong right now. Maybe I should play the lottery...

Easter Weekend

I hope you all had a fabulous Easter weekend. Mine was actually quite eventful and I have several outfits to show you. First up, my church attire for Easter Sunday morning. I've always admired the women who can wear a big ol' hat to church and look fabulous doing it. I have always wanted to wear one. I didn't actually wear the hat to church- but I did enjoy snapping some pictures with it before heading out to service.

Dress: Target, $12.98

Shoes: Kenneth Cole, $14.98

Hat: Nine West, $19.99

Sunglasses: Michael Kors, gift

Flower pin: Ann Taylor Loft, $3

Belt: I have NO idea!

After snapping these and many more unsuccessful photos with my camera perched on top of the neighborhood mailbox, I decided to stop being such a cheapskate and after church I bought myself a tripod. Later that afternoon, I put on my fun green floral dress and decided to head out around the neighborhood to practice taking pictures. It was supposed to be just for fun and to start to better understand my camera and lighting and whatnot. I did learn a lot, but not about what you might think. You see, as soon as I stepped outside my apartment with nothing but the clothes on my back and my tripod-mounted camera, I realized I'd just shut the LOCKED door behind me. Yup. Easter Sunday early evening and I was completely locked out. What a loser I am, right? After about an hour and a half, I was back in my apartment, safe and sound, but it was definitely an adventure. An adventure in stupidity, that is. Anyway, here are a couple of the "practice" shots I took, including one with me sitting on my front stoop, waiting...

Dress: ME!

Shoes: Sofft via Marshalls, $29.99

Ring: Festoon, $40

I forgot to take a good shot of my shoes- these are a perfect example of a nude shoe. They're wedges, so they're more comfortable than heels, but the nude aspect is really what's key. Don't worry, there will be many more opportunities this summer for me to photograph them. Anyway, I had fun playing with my camera, but hopefully the next time I try to practice playing photographer, I'll remember to bring my keys, or my phone, or a credit card or something useful to a person locked out of her home.

The next day (Monday) was the most beautiful day we've had in a while and I ended up going kayaking on the Susquehanna River with my friend Mindy. I will only be showing you one picture of my outfit from that adventure:

Sorry friends, no photos in my bathing suit will be on the internet anytime soon. The water was freezing, but the sun was hot, so it was a great afternoon out on the river. I got quite a bit of sun, but hopefully I'll get to build on it even more in the coming weeks and hopefully be able to get my skin from pasty-white to a nice healthy glowing tan.

Today I'm headed back to work after this fabulous long weekend. It's going to be another unseasonably warm  day here in PA, so I hope I've dressed appropriately. It was raining and thundering earlier this morning, but now the sun is shining and I hope it stays that way for the rest of the day. I decided to look a little "French" today. By the way, these photos were all taken using my new tripod. I think I did pretty well!

Dress: Old Navy, $8.79

Hat: Target, $1.50 (No joke!)

Flower pin: Ann Taylor Loft, $3

Earrings: Aldo, I think

Shoes: Deb Shops, I forget how much

Ring: Gift

I got caught adjusting my hat in this one! Gotta be more careful with that self-timer!

I think the black and white stripes along with the red flower and the cute hat all make this outfit very Parisian. Or at least that's my intent.

Well, I think that's enough photos for today. It's Shoesday Tuesday, so I'll try to post again this evening. I got my April shoe selections from Shoe Dazzle, so I want to share them with you. Check back soon!

Rate My Look- Jewel Tones

I LOVE jewel tones. I love vibrant, bright, saturated color. Fortunately, my build and coloring work for that type of color, but if you are very petite, be careful. Petites can be overwhelmed by too bright a color- in other words, the color wears you, not the other way around. To avoid that problem, wear a top in a jewel tone as opposed to a dress. That way you can enjoy the color while keeping it to a very focused element of your outfit. I went a little crazy with jewel tones today. I wore a bright purple tights with a vibrant teal dress. The dress (which I got at Nordstrom a few weeks ago) has a fun jewel-neckline covered in a beautiful sequin embellishment:

Please forgive the wrinkles- I took this photo when I got home from work tonight. Also, the fabric is not nearly that shiny- the flash on my camera is seriously exaggerating the sheen. As you can see, I finished the outfit with a pair of knee-high flat boots. They were a birthday gift from my mom (among other things purchased on last weekend's trip up north). They are from the Gap and they were a bargain at $16. I'll have to take a close-up of them so you can see the cute buckle detail at the ankle. Because it's winter, I did layer one of my favorite sweaters over this dress so I wouldn't freeze my booty off all day:

You may notice that my left wrist is looking a little light compared to the last few weeks. Remember my new watch from Kenneth Cole? Well, as I was trying to open the clasp one day, it popped open suddenly and my watch fell to the floor (my carpeted, bedroom floor), and the face of the watch shattered. I was so disappointed! I hadn't worn a watch in nearly 10 years and I barely had that one for 3 months! So sad. I'm thinking of replacing it, but I need to find one equally fabulous and at a bargain price, which could prove to be difficult. Anyway, enough about that. What do you think of my bright, somewhat over-the-top outfit? I got quite a few remarks today along the lines of, "You look... interesting..." I never mind that. I'm not dressing for anyone else's approval- I'm dressing to feel good and I feel great in this outfit. Is it the most flattering thing I've ever worn? No. Is it the most elegant? The most put-together? Nope. I don't care. I still like it!

Yum

I don't know if it's the fact that I'm eye-ball deep in the design process of a Nashville show for AMT, or maybe it's that I've been watching too much of the Bachelor, but there is just something so sexy about a guy in jeans and a country-western style shirt. I might even like a cowboy hat, depending on the dude and the hat. I mean, look at the guys from Rascall Flatts:

Because of the research I'm doing for this show, I've been spending a lot of time "Google-ing" images of contemporary country artists as inspiration. I've always thought of country western style as being a little hokey (and trust me- a lot of it still is), but there are a handful of guys out there who make the country boy look fierce. So all you gentlemen out there who want to be good country boys, here's how you do it.

1.) Start with an amazing pair of jeans like these "Petrol Jeans" from Jordan, available at Sheplers:

2.) Add a fitted button-front shirt with a little western flair, but keep it subtle. How do you keep it subtle? Monochromatic color combinations- think tone-on-tone, like this black shirt by Roper from Vintage Western Wear:

3.) Finish with a nice pair of black boots- they don't have to be cowboy boots, just make sure they're sleek like these from Steve Madden available at Zappos:

Or these by Kenneth Cole, also available at Zappos:

Some basic rules to help you guys pull off this stud-ly look:

- DON'T finish off the look by tucking in your shirt and adding a huge belt buckle

- DO leave the shirt untucked and the sleeves rolled up for a casual but sexy look

- DON'T wear a cowboy hat. Unless you are on your way to an actual rodeo

- DON'T grow your hair into a mullet or anything even remotely resembling a mullet. Also, DON'T grow Grizzly Adams-esque facial hair

- DO keep your hair trimmed and neat, but stylish- both the hair on your head and the hair on your face. "Manscaping" is a good thing

- DON'T wear spurs on your boots (unless, once again, you are headed to an actual rodeo)

- DO let your boots get a little scuffed up- just a little to add that rugged feel to the outfit

Well, gentlemen, I hope to see all of you out there sporting this sexy look. And if I see you breaking any of the rules, you can bet I'll call you out on it, so don't even try!

Rate My Look

You've seen these pants, shoes and sweater before, but the top is new. It's from Anna Sui's collection for Target- the one inspired by the TV show Gossip Girl. I know absolutely nothing about Gossip Girl, so maybe one of you can tell me what about this top is Gossip Girl inspired? Is there a particular character who might wear something like it? Did I pair it like she would?

Here's a better view of the blouse:

It's primarily orange & brown with a bit of gold metallic thread woven in patches. I'll be honest- it's a little bit itchy as a result of the metallic thread. I tucked the top into my high waist sailor pants that I love so much, then slipped on my bargain Kenneth Cole black heels, added my favorite black cardigan and finally a pair of gold earrings given to me last year as a birthday present and my cameo ring:

(I can't figure out why the last two pictures won't center on the page for me. It's a little annoying.... )

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the blouse actually has a cool ruffle detail on the front, similar to a Victorian cravat or jabot. I guess that's why I felt inspired to wear the cameo ring- more old fashioned details! I got the ring at a big multi-neighborhood yard sale and I've been looking for an opportunity to wear it ever since. It only cost $2.50, but I think it's so cool! You know how I love my cameos! 

Perhaps the best thing about my Anna Sui top is the fact that it originally sold for $39.99 but I paid only $9.98! Bargain! Have a fabulous day everyone!  

The oh-so versatile LBD

I mentioned a few posts ago that I didn't have an LBD for the longest time. Now I have three, but one is decidedly "dressy" and one is so casual, it's practically a sweatsuit. The third is perfect- it's comfortable and versatile. I can dress it up or down, layer it with a cami, sweater and tights or wear it alone, and of course the possibilities are endless where accessories are concerned. So today I present to you, the LBD Five Ways. All I did was change out the accessories for different looks to demonstrate a fraction of the versatility of this (and most) LBD's. I tried to use accessories most of us would have in our closets and also to keep it pretty simple so that you can see how different an outfit can be with only a slight change.

A little about the LBD itself: I got it at Festoon, an adorable boutique in downtown Lancaster. Originally $129, I got it at a steal for 40% off. It's a faux-wrap, meaning it appears to be a wrap dress, but it's actually completely sewn together and slips on rather than wraps. It's better on windy days than a wrap dress- no risk of flashing anyone with a big gust of wind! Wrap and faux-wrap dresses are flattering on literally any body type. They accentuate the smallest part of a woman's body- the waist. Also, the v-neck helps to draw the eye upward to the face.

Option 1: Super casual, perfect for running errands or hanging around the house. I love the mix of brighter jewel tones because they pop so nicely off the black. It's not super clear in the picture, but the shoes are a deep emerald green.  

Scarf: Old Navy, $10

Shoes: Fabulous Footwear, $22

Option #2: Over-the-top accessories- lots of layered necklaces plus a "bracelet" and bright mustard-yellow patent shoes. I would wear this out to dinner with friends for sure, or maybe to a dinner party. I like the combination of accessories because I feel they are very "me."

A closer look at the accessories:

Shoes: Deb Shops, not sure of price, but I'm thinking around $10

Bracelet: (Actually a necklace repurposed) H&M, gift from Beth

Gold link necklace: Target, $5.48

Black beaded necklace: Aldo, $9.98

Beaded pendant necklace: Vintage

Option #3: "Latin flair" LBD with a bright red rosette at the waist. I kept the gold chain link necklace on as well. This is a fun option because of the pop of color, It draws the eye to the smallest part of my body- my waist- so it actually helps the shape of the dress to flatter me even more. I kept the shoes a basic black to keep the eye from having to jump around. If the shoes were a bright color, too, the accessories could cancel each other out by forcing the eye to two different places.

Rosette: Ann Taylor Loft, $3

Shoes: Kenneth Cole, $14.97

Option #4: This time the bright red is at my feet- a classic pairing- the LBD and the red shoes. You can see how despite being the same color as the rosette, they would not have worked together. This is my "vintage" LBD version- the shoes have a very retro feel to them, and the earrings are actual vintage clip-ons. You may remember them from this post.

Shoes: Target, $22.98

Earrings: Vintage

Option #5: Last, but certainly not least is the Va-va-voom LBD. An LBD is often great by itself, but you know I can't just wear plain black pumps with the LBD all by itself- I need shoes with a little "oomf," hence the leopard print. 

Shoes: Target, $5.48 (I'm SO not kidding!)

They're hard to see above, so here are the shoes alone:

No explanation necessary, right? They sort of speak for themselves. The figure-hugging dress, the neckline, the shoes- all of them together say "Va-va-voom!" Right? I think so.

Leave a comment to tell me about your LBD. And don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's Giveaway post in order to be entered for the $20 Eshakti Gift Certificate drawing at the end of the week!

Shoesday Tuesday (as promised) and... a GIVEAWAY! (Read on)

Good afternoon! I promised yesterday (in my first ever "via-phone" post) that I would share my fabulous shopping deal with all of you. I was at the outlets with my friend Jen yesterday- she was looking for boots- I was looking for nothing- and while she was trying on a pair of Kenneth Cole boots, I happened to see a cute pair of black heels. Now, you have to understand something about me. Due to my love for somewhat outlandish attire, I tend to overlook the basics every now and then. For example, I realized earlier this summer that I did not own an LBD. I'm not even joking! I soon remedied the situation, but I did find it sort of comical that something as iconic and essential as a little black dress was missing from my wardrobe. Anyway, back to my bargain find: I realized when looking at these basic black heels that I was actually missing them from my shoe closet. I have pink shoes, red shoes, yellow shoes, polka-dots, plaids, leopard print, baby blue, snakeskin- the list goes on- but I did not have a pair of simple but versatile black shoes. I own black shoes of course, but one pair has a cluster of rhinestones on the toe, another pair is simple, but is actually a relic from my days as an office worker, so they're super basic. I needed a great pair of black heels. And I found them at Kenneth Cole of all places for a mere $14.97! Originally $79, I had to get them. What do you think?

Super cute, right? In case the pictures aren't clear enough, they are a black patent peep toe with a matte leather and brass buckle detail at the toe and a stacked heel. The official label is "Tribeca: A Kenneth Cole Production." I'm in love. So in love that I wore them to work today. If you've been reading my blog (or if you live in the area), you know that it has been unseasonably warm over the last few days. Today was no exception, although it was a lot more cloudy than it has been and they are predicting rain for tonight. So, to be prepared, I wore a rain coat:

It's a vintage 60's mod-style jacket that I got at a second-hand store in New Hampshire several years ago. I believe I paid $35 for it. I remember talking the saleslady down from $45- yay for haggling! You can see my dress peeking out from the hem of the jacket- I just adore this dress. It really sums up my style in so many ways:

It's comfortable, flattering, bright pink floral fabric- I just love it in every way. It shows just enough leg without being too risque, but I do have to add the cami to keep the top half from looking completely obscene. I just happened to have the bright pink cami before I bought the dress, so I think that worked out perfectly. The dress is a couple of years old- I got it last summer (2008) and I have gotten a LOT of wear out of it. You may have even noticed that it's what I'm wearing in my blogger profile picture. The accessories today include my favorite turquoise cocktail ring, chandelier earrings from H&M and the necklace I won last week from Ruth Parker Jewelry. I didn't plan on wearing the necklace, but after I got dressed I checked my mail and sure enough there was a package with this inside:

And here it is on me with my pretty-in-pink outfit:

I hate how my face always photographs so shiny-looking. I swear I am the LEAST photogenic person I know. It doesn't matter where or when or how, but if someone takes a fairly close-up shot of me, my skin/face looks TERRIBLE!!! It's a bummer, but what can you do? Some people just photograph better than others.

And now for the exciting news for YOU. I have decided to pay it forward with my Ruth Parker necklace win. I think it's exciting to win contests and prizes, but isn't it just as fun to give away a prize to someone else? I think so! So here's how the giveaway will work. Leave a comment on this post (up to three comments per person) and at the end of the week, I will randomly select a winner who will receive the fabulous necklace. To learn more about it (and see a better picture of it), go here (to Lauren's blog) or here (to Lauren's Etsy shop). Thanks in advance for participating!

Shoesday Tuesday, Rate My Look, etc.

Good morning, all! Yesterday was my first really relaxing day off in a while. Whenever I'm working on opening a show, I just can't relax. As you know, the Christmas show opened this weekend, so I was able to really enjoy Monday with some friends. I ended up going shopping with a couple of cast members and had a blast. Since I shop so much for work, it's often hard to separate myself from that when I'm in a mall or shopping center. But yesterday I was able to completely relax and enjoy myself and it felt great! So I got up after sleeping in a bit, dressed in a comfortable shopping outfit and met up with David to shop. Here's my "shopping outfit:"

Cowl neck top: Fair Indigo

Dress: Max Studio (but purchased at Marshalls)

Belt: Gap

Shoes: Maurices

Tights: Target

I like to be comfortable when I shop, but I also like to wear "easy-on-easy-off" type of clothes just in case I'm in and out of the dressing room a lot. I didn't spend a ton of money, but I got a fairly "big ticket" item (for me, anyway). I bought myself a new watch. I have not worn a watch since I was in college, so about 8 years. I've been getting sick of looking for my phone when I want to know the time, so a few weeks ago, I decided it was time for a "big girl watch." I wanted something nice but neutral that I could wear every day. Also, it needed to work with my Tiffany's signature bracelet since I wear it every day. I'll tell the story of that bracelet sometime soon. Anyway, at the Kenneth Cole store, I found this watch at 50% off:

Originally $95, I only paid $49.97 for it. Not bad for a nice watch if you ask me. I had decided to get myself a "nice" watch as a sort of show-opening treat for myself. I don't often spend that much on anything, but I felt I earned it, so I bought it without feeling guilty for spending that much. Other than that, I didn't really buy very much- a few accessories at Aldo (since they were buy one get one FREE!) which I'll show you soon. I also stocked up on my scent at Bath & Body Works. I was there recently and had trouble finding my scent. I have been wearing Velvet Tuberose since it came out a couple of years ago. I was running low not too long ago, plus I had a coupon, so I went in to stock up. I had trouble finding V.T. so I asked a sales person who gave me a pitying look and said, "It's over here on this shelf with the such-and-such scent. You know it's a bad sign when they start sharing shelf space with another scent. It means it's on the way out." I died a little inside. I love B&BW scents but I hate how they discontinue the ones I love. For years I was in love with the aromatherapy Jasmine Vanilla, and they discontinued it. I replaced that scent with the Velvet Tuberose and now they're discontinuing that, too! I stocked up and I think I got about 9 or 10 months worth so I'll be good for quite a while, but in the meantime I'll be looking for a replacement scent. Has that happened to you before? It seems like the scents I hate are the ones that stick around forever, but the ones I love always get discontinued. It's so sad.

Now I'm sure you're wondering where the Shoesday Tuesday element comes in. Well, I've been searching online for a picture of a pair of Miss Bisou blue suede pumps that I tried on yesterday, to no avail. I should have taken a picture in the store, but I just wasn't thinking. Probably because I was in so much pain. These shoes looked like the perfect "Renee" shoe: high heel, bright color, fun texture- all the things I love in a shoe. I asked for my size and from the second I slid my foot into the shoe, I was in major pain. BEFORE I stood up, mind you, these shoes were squeezing and pinching and killing my feet. Walking in them was even worse. The shoe pinched at the knuckle, almost as if the shoe was too narrow at that one spot. I've never experienced anything like it. I rarely try on a shoe that I love and walk away without getting it (it's a sickness, I know) and these Miss Bisou pumps were a less-expensive version of these bright blue Aldo pumps I loved so much in this post:

The Aldo version has a peep toe and exposed platform, where the Miss Bisou version was a closed-toe pump with a narrower heel and a hidden platform, but the color was spot-on. You couldn't pay me enough to wear the Miss Bisou version, no matter how much cheaper it is. Have any of you ever worn that brand of shoe? I've never worn them, to my knowledge, and after trying them on, I'm pretty sure I'll avoid that brand in the future. They were seriously like a torture device. I'm not even kidding.

But enough about my purchases and shopping experiences- David got some really nice things at Kenneth Cole and H&M, too. Actually, he bought a great outfit at H&M that I'm dying for him to wear so I can take a picture and put on the blog as a perfect example of great menswear style. (Hint, hint, David!)