Accessories Anonymous: What I'm NOT Buying

In this economy, we often find ourselves counting our pennies and making sacrifices here and there to keep our budgets balanced, or just to make ends meet. If we find ourselves with a bit of a windfall, it's easy to run right out and spend it on something we've been coveting. But as much as I'd love to have new duds constantly streaming into my closet, I know that's unrealistic. It's those times that I decide to window shop either in person or on the interwebs. It's the most fun to do online because you don't even have to use any gas or bother putting on make-up.

So, in the spirit of not spending, here are the awesome accessories that I will not be buying anytime soon:

What About Bauble? Necklace, Modcloth, $21.99

I love this necklace. I love the color, I love how it's ENORMOUS and I love its price. Juhree and Sadie both have this exact same necklace in other colors, but this peachy mauve is practically irresistible to me. I will, however, resist. 

White Bloom Studs, Bauble Bar, $24

I love these earrings for the opposite reasons I love that necklace. They are dainty and cute and a little understated. They would work with just about anything from jeans and a cute top to a cocktail dress, they'd be great at work, on a date or out with the girls. Also, they remind me of the giant flower on Carrie Bradshaw's white dress.

Foliroli, Aldo Shoes, $40

You all know how much I love a cute brogue, but when it's also in a luxurious peach suede that's just oh-so feminine, I start to drool uncontrollably. I just stuffed a hunk of bread in my mouth to sop up the saliva. Sorry if that was an over-share. 

RED Valentino Bow Leather Satchel, Nordstrom, $595

O.M.G. I have no words for this bag. That's not true. I have loads of words for it: precious, feminine, lush, delicious, soft, gorgeous, supple, flawless and swoon-worthy to name a few. Too bad my birthday has passed already this year. 

I know this post is focused on accessories, but I can actually picture all of the items above working so harmoniously with this adorable dress from Modcloth: 

In Sage You Will Dress, Modcloth, $74.99

Don't believe me? Look at them all together and you will: 

What I'm NOT Buying by rtboo featuring a keyhole dress

So there you have it: an adorable outfit complete with amazing accessories that I will most definitely NOT be purchasing anytime soon. That, my friends, is self restraint. 

Best-Dressed Wedding Guest

I mentioned on Monday's post that there were some very well-dressed guests at Jen and Bryan's wedding Friday night. Surprisingly, there were quite a few dapper gentlemen sporting bow ties! I was impressed with the number of guests who made that particular style choice. In my opinion, David did it best because he didn't stop with the bow tie- he had a fabulous hat and even more fabulous shoes that finished off his look. And I think I may have a new gentleman to serve as my bow tie inspiration. He was a little jealous of the set I made for Brance (particularly the double-sided turquoise one), so I promised to make him something similar.

Anyway, without further ado, I present David:

Not sure where the bow tie is from, but since I didn't make it, do we really care all that much? ;)

Even his shirt is interesting with the subtle monochromatic texture and the dark buttons. It's all fabulous.  But get a look at these shoes! 

Shoes from Aldo

They're a little brighter in the photo than they are in real life, but either way, aren't you impressed? I was. Don't you love it when guys put a little extra effort into the details of their outfits? Nothing over-the-top or too flamboyant, but just subtle details that make the look so polished, so set apart from the crowd of gabardine and khaki. Well done, David. I applaud your style. Keep it up.

Shoesday Tuesday- Fancy Flip-Flops

I have a ratty, gross pair of purple flip flops. They are hideous and old and I should probably throw them in the trash. I can't bring myself to do it, though. They are SO comfortable. I just love them because they are probably the only pair of shoes in my closet that have never done a single thing to hurt my feet. And I love that they are flip-flops becaue they are open and my feet can actually breathe in them. I have other flip flops that are in better shape and a lot prettier, but I rarely wear them because they just aren't as comfortable. My advice with flip flops is that once you find the perfect, comfortable pair, stick with them. Take care of them and they will take care of you. Until then, wear pretty ones like these:

Molano, Aldo Shoes, $19.98-$30

Vacchiano, Aldo Shoes, $60

Gemma, Target, $12.99

Rhosolyn, Nine West, $49

Because if you can't be comfortable, at least be pretty.

Reese's Style for Under $100

I love Reese Witherspoon. I have not seen a movie of hers that I didn't enjoy, or at least her performance. I loved Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Pleasantville and Election, but I thought she was especially good in Walk the Line. She is also one of those celebrities who nearly always manages to look great- on the red carpet and off. Two of my favorite looks of hers:

And here are those same looks for under $100 each- just for you. Yes, you can leave a comment to thank me.

Stretch Tank, Old Navy, $10

Print Skirt, JC Penney, $19.99

Cross-Body Bag, Nine West, $29.99

Oversize Sunglasses, Sunglass Shack, $17.99

Total: $85.98

For this outfit, I chose to focus on the shape of the pieces and the overall color scheme. The navy scoop-neck tank is pretty spot-on, (in my opinion) and while the skirt is not the same type of print, the silhouette is still flowy and breezy, like Reese's. For the bag, I chose to depart from Reese's white color choice because of how much white is in the skirt in my set. Unfortunately I couldn't find one with brown detailing like hers (which helps off-set the white), so I chose to go with a metallic instead. White would have been too matchy-matchy for my set. Finally, the oversize sunglasses finish off the look and there's enough left in our $100 budget for an inexpensive pair of flip flops or ballet flats. Next!

Organic Tee, Fair Indigo, $15.50

Skinny Ankle Jean, NY & Co, $14.95

Oversize Sunglasses, Forever 21, $5.80

Slingback Flat, Payless, $17.99

Large Hobo Bag, Target, $24.99

Branscombe Necklace, Aldo, $20

Total: $81.23

This look was deceptively difficult to recreate for under $100 because it is actually a LOT of pieces. At first glance, it's a charcoal grey top and a pair of white skinny jeans, but when you look a little closer, there's a necklace, a large handbag, sunglasses and shoes. There's also an iPhone, but I didn't count that towards the fashions. It would have put me WAY over budget!

Happy weekend, everyone!

Let them wear statement necklaces!

I've admitted on the blog before that I watch the Housewives and I suppose this post will be more evidence of my guilty pleasure. My friend Andrea says you have to watch each episode twice- the first time it's for the drama, the second time it's for the accessories. Seeing as how there are SO many housewives (Orange County, New York, Atlanta, New Jersey), I don't always have time. Although, with the conclusion of LOST tonight, my Tuesdays will be a little more free for frivolous television. And with DVR, the possibilities are endless, I suppose.
Andrea is right about the fashion, though. The housewives may be catty, spiteful, shallow, and perfect for all sorts of other made-for-tv drama, but they (mostly) know how to dress. Even the opening credits are chock-full of fabulous dresses. I hate the narration, though, especially LuAnn's "I never feel guilty about being priveleged." She may as well have said, "Let them eat cake!" But today's focus is on the housewives' fashions, not their mantras.

One thing Andrea and I have been dying over for the entire Real Housewives of NYC season are LuAnn's statement necklaces. You know from this post that statement necklaces have been a hugely popular accessory since the new year, but LuAnn has taken it to another level. It's almost as if she pairs her necklaces with the drama of the show- the bigger her necklace, the more explosive the episode! I have not been able to find a photo of my favorite ones she's worn, but they can only be described as "Flintstone-esque." LuAnn is an absolutely stunning woman, and she's got the height to pull off such large accessories. Unfortunately, not everyone is as statuesque as the lovely Countess, so if you love the statement necklace trend as much as LuAnn, make sure you select ones that don't overwhelm you.

If you want to create drama with your accessories through a statement necklace, but you lack the height the Countess is blessed with, then wear a necklace that is at once a large statement piece and delicately intricate. This Bebe necklace is a great example of what I mean:

It has a long, dramatic drape, but the pieces making it up are all very delicate- from the thin gold rings to the tiny turquoise beads, overall it is a large necklace, but it doens't appear heavy because the pieces making it up are all light and delicate. If what you love about LuAnn's statement necklaces is the fact that they are made up of oversized beads and medallions, then the Bebe necklace might not be enough for you. In that case, avoid the Flintstone-effect by choosing a necklace with large jeweled and faceted beads rather than stone, wood or anything entirely opaque. Choose a necklace with pieces that are translucent or even transparent, or that reflect the light. This will also have a "lightening" effect. Many perfect examples can be found on Etsy:

By the Silver Moonlight Necklace, Etsy, $45

Pearly Pleasures Necklace, Etsy, $132

Clearly Chunky Classy Necklace, Etsy, $29.99

Finally, another "lightening" method is to find a statement necklace that mixes large pieces with more delicate, "empty" spaces like these:

Crystal Quartz Statement Necklace, Etsy, $55

Purple Seaweed Necklace, Etsy, $65

But if you really want to wear an over-the-top statement necklace a-la the Countess, who am I to tell you not to? Just be prepared to spend beaucoup bucks on them! Here are some really incredible statement necklaces that are over-the-top in their style AND price tag:

Devon Leigh Three-Tier Chalcedony Necklace, Neiman Marcus, $775

Vera Wang Sequin and Crystal Necklace, Neiman Marcus, $495

Oscar de la Renta Braided Silk Necklace, Neiman Marcus, $890

Ok, I admit it- not ALL giant statement necklaces will be over-the-top in price. Here are some more affordable ones:

Sindelar Necklace, Aldo, $25

Faceted Beaded Bib Necklace, Forever 21, $9.80

Gold Disc Statement Necklace, Guess, $32

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go watch another epic meltdown on the Housewives. Maybe this time I'll be able to notice the fashions through the drama.

A note on gentlemanly style... and being a gentleman

I hate to generalize, but.... I'm starting to think that men who drive fancy sports cars are not only "compensating" but maybe they're trying to use the car as a reason not to behave like decent human beings. Like, "Oh, I can be a jerk, because I drive THAT."

Today while out running errands, there were TWO separate occassions when I felt slighted by a man near me. The first was as I was heading back to my car with my arms full of grocery bags. A man in a fancy silver sports car pulled into the spot next to mine. As I was about to open the door to my car, he opened his and as he was about to step out, noticed he was blocking my way. For the record, the gentlemanly thing to do would have been to shut his door, and allow me to pass. I'm sure you've surmised he didn't do that. I stood with my arms full of heavy bags (I bought a lot of yogurt) while he went first. Then he skipped away while I mumbled something under my breath about letting a lady go first.

Next was later in the evening when I stopped at the gas station near my home. I filled my car with gas and then went inside for a fountain drink (to quench my thirst in this stifling heat). TWICE in the store- once by the soda fountain and again by the cashier as I was paying, another man LITERALLY brushed against me as he passed. Um, hello? It's called personal space. Ever heard of it? The thing is, in BOTH brush-ups, there was ample room for him to give me a WIDE berth and yet he felt the need to literally invade my space to the point of making physical contact! For real? It was as if he didn't even see me, or as if it wasn't worth the effort to step aside. And in both cases, I had nowhere to go. I was up against the soda fountain and up against the cashier's counter. As I walked back to my car, I saw him step into the same kind of car as the rude guy at the grocery store earlier.

Ok, this blog is not supposed to be a rant about the lack of social skills in today's society, but it got me thinking about accessories for men as well as women. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the most important accessory a woman can wear- confidence. Well, for men and women I'd like to say that one of the most important accessories we need to put on in the morning is politeness. The next time you have an opportunity to let someone else through a doorway first, let them. Someone needs to change lanes on the highway? Slow down & wave them in. Gentlemen, let the woman go first and everyone yield to the older person- remember that whole "respect your elders" thing? It's still cool to do that.

Ok, I'm stepping off the soapbox now. I'm sorry to rant like that, but both situations just really irked me. And then of course I started thinking about men and style and in the background my TV was playing a commercial for "Burn Notice" and I realized that I see the commercials for that show all the time and Jeffrey Donovan always looks amazing. Evidence:

Here's what I like about his style: the simplicity. In all these looks, he's in a simple, light-weight suit, crisp button front shirt and his signature shades. It's proof that menswear can be done simply, but still with style. When it comes to the suit and shirt, it's all about the fit. Invest in higher quality with these pieces- they will last longer and the quality is always clear to the observer. Want Mr. Donovan's look for yourself? I've done the work for you:

Modern khaki chino 2-button suit, Banana Republic, $380 (Jacket- $250, pants- $130)

Slim Fit Stretch-poplin dress shirt, Banana Republic, $59.50

Fossil Watch, Macy's $95

Lauenroth Loafer, Aldo, $90

And of course, the signature sunglasses:

Burn Notice Sunglasses, Sunglass Shack, $39.99

When emulating the style of a celebrity or fictional character, it's always important to spin the outfit in the direction YOUR personality dictates. If something about the look doesn't work for you, then switch it up. And of course, I recommend finding the perfect sunglasses for YOU rather than copying the ones worn by celebrities. It doesn't matter who made them famous, it only matters how they flatter YOUR face. The same goes for any aspect of the outfit.

So what do you gentlemen think of my Burn Notice-inspired outfit? Would you wear it? Ladies, would you like to see your man in an outfit like this? Leave a comment- I always want to hear what you are thinking!

Romper Rave

My fabulously stylish friend Amy emailed me today about some super adorable rompers she recently added to her wardrobe and they were far too cute for me not to share them on the blog. First, the rompers:

Silence & Noise Knot Front Romper, and BDG Strapless Tie Front Romper

$48 each at Urban Outfitters

She wrote:
"Any thoughts on accessorizing the first one? I'm thinking maybe a belt around my waist...I'd like to be able to do some casual stuff and have a few dressy night-out options w/ it for the summer... Do you think the romper trend is heinous?? I know you don't support the 80's style revival but...some of them are so cute!!"

Ok, for the record, it's not that I don't support the 80's style revival, it's that 1.) We should only be reviving the style choices of the 80's that were actually good and 2.) We should be updating and modernizing them, not just regurgitating them. And now I'm stepping down off my soapbox...

To answer Amy's question, I decided to make a couple of collages.

On-a-casual-afternoon-date:

Gladiator Sandal, Flirt Catalog, $34.50

Skinny Faux Leather Belt, Forever 21, $4.80

Jenna Hobo, Nine West, $39.99

Stringy Chain Earrings, Forever 21, $3.80

Blurred Bangle, Forever 21, $5.80

This may seem like a lot of accessories, but they are all pretty neutral and therefore allow the amazing detail on the neckline to really be the star of the outfit. That's also the reason I've left out a necklace as a styling option. With such a strong detail like the super cool pleated knot on the bodice, it's important to let it be the star and not wear anything that will compete with it.

Hipster-at-the-farmer's-market:

Metallic Stripe Ombre Scarf, Old Navy, $12.50

Joan & David "Zena" Flat, Nordstrom, $99

Kurt VonnegutPop Art Canvas Tote Bag, Etsy, $16

Ok, so maybe the only thing that make this outfit hipster-esque is the Vonnegut tote bag, but I couldn't resist. Sue me.

Night-out-on-the-town:

Drop Earrings, Aldo, $10

Metal Bangles, Old Navy, $9.50

Textured Platform Pump, Make Me Chic, $26.70

Alligator Pattern Front-Flap Clutch, Stacie's Gifts, $37.50

Once again, the romper is the star of the outfit- every accessory is neutral without being too match-y. The simple gold jewelry glams up the oufit and in those platform heels, your legs will look amazing.

What do you think of the romper trend? Love it? Hate it? Have a million in your closet already?

Thanks to Amy for the inspiration for this post. I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of her in her romper to post on the blog! No pressure, Amy, but I think we'd all enjoy it!

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!