5 Luxury Items to Add to YOUR Wardrobe

The devil's in the details, right? That statement is true for just about any area of your life- work, home, and of course your fashion. The details of your attire are what separate you from the crowd, so a sure-fire way to stand out is to incorporate small details that make your outfit unique. A basic LBD is brought to a new level with an exceptional pair of high heels. An otherwise dull workplace outfit can become your own version of the "power suit" with the right scarf, jewelry or handbag.

We can't all afford to dress in head-to-toe designer duds, in fact, the majority of us can't do that. I'm sure many of you are like me- I try to find solid "basics" at a good price. I try to find classic pieces that fit me well and that I know I'll get to wear over and over. If I find a great basic, I might splurge a little, but for the most part, a lot of my clothing comes from stores like Target, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ann Taylor Loft, the Gap, etc. I certainly don't have a closet full of pieces from Nordstrom or Bloomingdale's, because my checking account won't allow for it.

Despite my budget wardrobe, I like to think that I can put together an expensive-looking outfit by the simple addition of luxurious accessories. In fact, I have NO problem wearing a necklace or a pair of earrings that cost as much or even a whole lot more than the clothing I'm wearing. An inexpensive dress can easily be transformed by a silk scarf around my waist or neck. It adds a pop of color and the high quality fabric adds a richness to my outfit.

Think about the outfits you have hanging in your closet and what it would take to bring them to a new level. I can think of at least 5 accessories that would be worth splurging on because of how much depth and dimension they can bring to your wardrobe.

1.) Leather or Suede handbag- Whether you buy it new, or find a used one in great shape, a well-made leather or suede handbag will not only last you for years to come, it will instantly elevate your outfit. Avoid trends when investing in this piece- find something classic and neutral.

My "Ashley" satchel from Coach was a wise investment. This gorgeous, black leather handbag has already logged plenty of miles on my arm and I plan to have her around for many more years to come.

2.) Luxury scarf- whether it's cashmere or silk, find a beautiful, classic scarf that will work with lots of outfits. A print will always look more luxurious and add visual interest. You can tie the scarf around your handbag handle, or drape it over your shoulders, or thread it through your belt loops- the possibilities are literally endless. 

I lucked into a vintage Schiaparelli scarf a couple of years ago- I've used it in a number of different outfits and it never fails to earn compliments. 

3.) High quality shoes- they don't have to be heels to be fabulous; flats can be stunning fashion statements, too! 

Whether you score an expensive pair at a bargain price, or happen upon a really well-executed knock-off, or you have the dough to splurge on a real pair of Louboutins or Jimmy Choos, do yourself a favor and get an amazing pair of shoes. 

4.) Statement jewelry- even though it seems awfully trendy right now, statement jewelry is something that can always work to add visual interest and luxury to an outfit. Whether it's vintage costume jewelry, or something you found a Lord & Taylor last week, a unique necklace, ring, bracelet or earring can really elevate an otherwise hum-drum look. 

I'm no stranger to statement necklaces and this one by Stella & Dot has adorned many an outfit of mine for both work and play! 

5.) An awesome overcoat- A black cashmere wool coat, a camel-colored classic Burberry trench, a vintage fur wrap- whatever suits your style, invest in a truly beautiful overcoat. Your entrance will always turn heads with an incredible coat- everyone will be thinking, "with a coat like that, I can't wait to see what she has on underneath!" 

I am still as in love with this coat as the day I bought it. It was a bargain at $75- the fox fur collar and brocade fabric turn heads like you wouldn't believe. 

So, there you have it- a short list of pieces that will help add luxury and visual interest to your daily wardrobe. Don't try to force certain pieces into your wardrobe- keep an open mind while you're out shopping and you will be amazed at what falls into your lap. Sometimes the most exciting finds are the ones you aren't expecting! 

A fabulous new bag....

I mentioned a few days ago that I haven't done much shopping lately, or rather much buying. I've been so content with the contents of my closet that I just haven't found much of anything that I just can't walk away from.

Until about a month ago....

I was down in Boston visiting Beth for the day- we went to a make-up workshop and then we hit the consignment shops on Newbury Street. When I got dressed that morning, I put my outfit together, looked in the mirror and said to myself, "If only I had a nice, brown handbag." I didn't mean just any old handbag, but a high-quality one. A nice leather that looks rich and luxurious. I have a classy black leather Coach bag, an awesome leopard print Betsey Johnson, a gorgeous green Michael Kors,  and this amazing Kate Spade bag that Juhree got me for my birthday last year:

I know it seems like I'm dropping a lot of names, but the truth is that these bags have (and will) last me a long time because they are well-made and classic pieces, not because of the name printed on them. Judge me all you like.

Anyway, back to my story. So, I'm looking in the mirror thinking about how much better my outfit would be if only I had a nice, brown handbag. But unfortunately, I did NOT have one, so I had to make do with a less awesome yellow one. After the make-up class, Beth and I were in Second Time Around on Newbury Street just doing a little browsing. From across the room, I saw it and I just had to get a closer look. It was an absolutely gorgeous brown leather bag- a little slouchy, but with enough structure that it wasn't completely boho-looking. It just stood out from all the other bags on the shelf. I knew this was going to be a great find. Turns out it was another Kate Spade. The condition was flawless and the price was perfect- $189. I debated for a while, then decided to go for it. When we left the store, Beth admitted to me, "If you didn't get it, I probably would have, just to keep it in the family." No joke. It's funny how things work out sometimes- I needed a gorgeous brown handbag and the perfect one just fell in my lap mere hours after I came to that conclusion. Amazing. So, do you want to see it? I thought so...

And here I am in Chicago posing like a lunatic in front of the "Bean" with my gorgeous Kate: 

She's really perfect. I hope to have her for many years to come. Have you found any amazing handbag deals lately? Or just amazing handbags? I love a good bag almost as much as I love a good shoe. Almost.

Comment below, kids. I need the affirmation.

Rate My Look- New BR Skirt

Remember my confession last weekend about the shopping spree I went on? Well, in addition to some Ann Taylor blouses, and a new Coach handbag, I also scored the fabulous skirt in this outfit:

It's a wrap skirt from Banana Republic that I scored for about $15! I wore it to work this week and I was comfortable for a full day of bridal-alterations-mania! I love the print, the length, the pockets- pretty much everything about it. And of course, the price can't be beat. I also got a lovely printed silk blouse at the same outlet, but haven't used it in an outfit yet. I'm sure I will soon, though.

As for this outfit, some of my co-workers commented on the lack of color. Of course, the bag is a nice pop of bright blue, but I didn't exactly carry it around all day at work. Without the bag, it's a very neutral outfit, but  I think it's good to shake things up and do something unexpected every now and then. The shoes pictured are pretty much my favorite work shoes for the summer. The neutral color makes them ideal for just about any outfit and the wedge adds just enough height that I'm not in flats. Have you figured out yet that flats are not my favorite? I've also got a favorite ring- my new seashell ring. It is certainly eye-catching and a great conversation piece. I think I've worn it nearly every day since I bought it. 

What's your favorite new summer piece that you simply can't stop wearing? Obviously, for me it's the seashell ring, but I want to hear what you're wearing this summer! Leave a comment and tell me all about it! 

Rate My Look- Shopping Spree Stuff

First I want to congratulate "Anonymous" for correctly guessing which handbag I bought over the weekend. I opted for the smaller of the two and I'm very happy. The price I paid? Well, let's start by talking about the original sticker price- $348. It was marked down to $269.99 and then with a 50% discount followed by a 30% discount the final price was (drum roll, please).... $94.50!!!

And here I am sporting not only my new handbag, but one of the 5 new tops I bought as well. This one happens to be from Ann Taylor LOFT (as is the skirt):

Skirt and Top: Ann Taylor LOFT

Bag: Coach

Shoes: Payless
Necklace: Stella and Dot

Ring: Some little shop on Nantucket... 

I loved this top so much when I saw it in the shop, I actually bought it not only in this fun summer-y print, but I also got it in three other solid colors- peach, white and brown. I've already worn the peach one and I'm certain I'm going to get a lot of wear out of all four of them. I realized the other day that while I have a lot of great skirts, I don't have that many great tops. When I decided to stop at the outlets on Sunday, I had that goal in mind- to find great tops. I'm happy to say I was so successful. In addition to these tops from Ann Taylor, I also scored a fabulous printed silk top from Banana Republic. Maybe I'll post a photo of that one soon! 

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, everyone! 

I'm Back

If you visited my blog over the holiday weekend, you may have noticed a distinct lack of posting. I decided to give myself a little bit of a vacation over the long weekend and didn't even think about blogging. Actually, that's not true, I thought about it a lot, but every time I did, I decided to think instead about what I was doing- which was spending time with family and friends. Everyone deserves a little vacation every now and then, right?

I had an excellent, relaxing weekend spent at a BBQ one day and at the beach the next. I even got a little bit of sun- just a little. I even had an accidental shopping spree. I swear it was a complete accident. Honest! My bank account isn't impressed, I'll tell you that much. On the drive up to northern New Hampshire to visit some friends, I stopped to get gas. I just so happened to be getting gas off an exit that also boasts the state's best outlet mall. It appeared from the crowds that there were some major sales going on, so I decided to just "pop in" to a couple of my favorite stores. An hour later and I had a shopping bag from Nine West, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor LOFT and Coach. Yup. I did some serious damage in a very short amount of time.

I'll be posting outfit photos so you can see the great pieces I got, but just to be clear, I walked away having spent almost exactly $200 and I had quite the haul on my hands- a total of 8 new items. No joke. The hardest decision was when I was in the Coach outlet. The entire store was 30% off. I saw an amazing bag on a table that was labeled "50% off." I asked a sales person about that and she informed me that the 50% discount was IN ADDITION to the 30% discount. Honestly, at that price, how could I NOT get the bag? Trouble was, I couldn't select a size. Here are the two- side-by-side:

They may appear similar in size in the photo, but I assure you, the bag on the left is significantly larger than the bag on the right. I fell in love with the shape and the color and the fact that both bags have an unusually high number of pockets. You know I love bags with pockets, right? For the organizing, of course.

So, while you wait with bated breath to find out how I managed to score 5 tops, a skirt, a pair of heels and a Coach bag all for just $200, why not leave a comment guessing one of the following three things:
1.) Leave a comment guessing which bag I purchased.
2.) Leave a comment guessing what I paid for the bag. Seriously, you'll be in awe when I tell you!
3.) Leave a comment telling me about your latest and greatest bargain shopping spree.

Rate My Look- Another Sunday Best

Today was the last day I'll be working Sundays until next year, and it was also the first day since the official start of spring that it actually felt like it. In celebration of these two things, I decided to break out a dress I purchased over the winter. I got it at a bargain price and knew I was going to have a wait a few month to wear it.

I wore the dress with all sorts of other fabulous accessories including my new Coach bag, my favorite snake skin heels, my new Audrey Cluster Bracelet from Stella and Dot and my super gorgeous earrings that Beth gave me for Christmas this year. I was really pleased with my outfit when I got dressed this morning, but then when I got to work, I received such huge, enthusiastic compliments from all my coworkers, I realized I'd struck outfit GOLD! It's not often that I wear beige, but I might have to start wearing it more often after the reactions I got! 

And the best part is that the dress, shoes and bag were all HUGE bargains. Obviously, you know the story of the bag, since I just got it last Wednesday. The shoes were a super bargain at $5.99. And the dress was less than $40 at TJ Maxx. However, it is currently available at Nordstrom (in the store and online) for $158! If you like it, it can be yours, but I'm afraid you can't get it for quite as good a price as I did! It's currently available in navy or black. It's an extremely comfortable dress, and even at $158, it's worthwhile for the quality materials, design and construction. 

I know it's a dress I'll wear a LOT this spring and summer. Since it's a neutral color, it will be easy to pair it with all sorts of accessories to create different, unique looks. I promise to take pictures of any particularly good combinations I come up with. In the meantime, please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of my neutral, but chic outfit. 

A Perfect Saturday Accessory

You know how we're required to wear black to work at the shop on Saturdays? Well, I thought I'd show you my newest black accessory that I'll be wearing to work today:

Isn't she lovely? She arrived on Wednesday and I've been carrying her around ever since. If you remember my post from last week, I was torn over whether or not to buy her, but in the end, I decided she was far too good a bargain to pass up.

Retail price? $498.00
24-hour sale price? $153.00

I can honestly say that I spent quite a bit of time both online and in stores searching for an equivalent leather handbag and there simply weren't any. For $153, real leather is still hard to find and for it to be such a large bag in all leather is simply unheard of. I plan to get many years of use out of this oh-so fabulous and chic handbag.

One thing I didn't realize until she arrived, is that the longer shoulder strap conveniently tucks around the bottom of the bag and there are little loops to hold it in place. Ingenious! I've been carrying her around since Wednesday and I have to say I am completely smitten. She even has all the interior pockets I need to keep me happy. So what do you think? Did I make a good decision or not? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Accessories Anonymous: I Need (Handbag) Therapy

A couple of days ago, I got an email from Coach letting me know there would be an upcoming exclusive "by invitation only" online sale with handbags up to 70% off. I didn't really care all that much, especially since I already own a couple of gorgeous Coach bags, and while I love them, I don't really love how much I see Coach bags everywhere I look. Maybe it's got something to do with working in a high-end bridal boutique, but I honestly think I see at least a dozen Coach handbags a day. No joke. Also, "by invitation only" seemed like something cooked up by the marketing department and the truth is that the invitation went out to every email address in the Coach database. And so, because I feel like they seem to have saturated the market, they seem less special. Regardless, when I got the email this morning that the 24-hour sale had begun, I decided to take a look at what was available. That's when I fell in love with this little darling:

Isn't she pretty? I've been thinking of adding a nice, black leather handbag to my arsenal and this one is just gorgeous! Also, it's enormous. (Exact dimensions according to the website? 14 3/4 inches long X 11 1/4 inches tall X 5 1/2 inches wide. Huge.) Another thing I like about it? It doesn't scream "COACH!" It just has the little label up at the top, but it's not as if it's made with that logo-covered fabric that they tend to use. I like it because it's a beautiful leather handbag. Not faux leather "vegan" junk that's all over the place these days. Real leather. I love real leather. 

So, do I splurge on it? At $153 (plus shipping), it's still a decent chunk of change. But the original retail price?  $498. That's right- almost five hundred smackers for that bag- so I'm getting quite a deal on it. Honestly, I can talk myself into this bag just as easily as I can talk myself out of it- the question is: which do I want to do? 

Pros: 

1.) Real leather

2.) It's enormous!

3.) It's not covered in an obnoxious "look at my designer bag!" print

4.) SUCH a bargain!

Cons: 

1.) It's still about $165 after shipping costs. Not exactly chump change (well maybe for some, but not for me). 

2.) That's the only con I can come up with. 

Arrghh!!! What to do? I'm torn up about it! So torn, in fact, that I spent another hour perusing all sorts of other sites trying to find something comparable for the price. Guess what- it doesn't exist. Beautiful bags cost a lot of money. Cheap bags and cheap-looking bags can still cost $150 or more, just click around the internet for a little while and you'll see. What I'm trying to say is that even though $165 is a lot of money, it's unlikely I'll find anything even remotely equivalent for the price. Sometimes sales are legitimate and I think I may have just convinced myself to go buy this bag! What do you think? Am I about to give my checking account a major hit today? Leave a comment! 

Summertime Sunglasses

I posted a few days ago about my new prescription glasses, but I neglected to mention the other excited purchase that was made at the eye doctor that day. Better to just show you:

Are they gorgeous or what? I fell in love with them after I fell in love with my FYSH UK frames. Of course, my mom, being the generous lady she is, decided to buy the sunglasses for me. Just because. (Did I mention she works for the doctor I go to? Hence the reason she was there the same time as me.) Anyway, after my appointment was over and I was checking out, these gorgeous sunglasses were on the desk with my chart, already paid for an waiting for me. How sweet was that of my mom? I'm really looking forward to rocking them this summer. I tried to get a good photo of them:

But the photo stinks- it's so dark. Not sure why I put them on a navy background for the picture. Not my smartest move. Anyway, in case you can't tell, they are the burgundy/red version of these sunglasses by Coach:

You can purchase them here if you're interested, but they only seem to be available in black or brown on the Coach website. Boo for you, I suppose. Anyway, the fabulous red sunglasses has got me thinking about the possibility of a nice pair of red prescription glasses frames. Not anytime soon, after all, I just got my fabulous new Fysh UK frames, so I plan to enjoy those for a while first. Check back soon for a picture of me wearing my exciting new glasses! I still can't believe I'm actually excited about a pair of prescription glasses! I'm more excited about them than I am about my new sunglasses! I suppose there's a first time for everything... 

Not much changed in a year...

I noticed another blogger I follow, Natalya, has been posting "What I wore on this day a year ago" type of posts and I love it. It's neat to see where you were a year ago and blogging is a really fun and easy way to document it. I decided to see what I was up to on my blog a year ago and it kind of cracked me up. Apparently, I didn't post on October 11th, but on the 10th, I wrote about my pursuit for the perfect green handbag. You can see the original post here.

I had to laugh at myself because I NEVER found or should I say, I NEVER bought that perfect green bag! I suppose green is more of a spring-time color, and October might not be the best time to be looking for a great green bag. I wonder what this means for me- am I not meant to find the green bag? Am I too picky with the green bags I've encountered? Or too cheap? After all, there was that perfect green Coach bag I found right before I moved to New Hampshire, but I wasn't willing to drop $100 for a bag right after quitting my job. I suppose I could justify it now, but that bag was in PA, and now I'm in NH. Plus, it might not even be available anymore. Maybe I just need to look a little longer and a little harder and the perfect green bag- function, style, price- will eventually come into my life.

I made a fabulous grey dress yesterday and I think a bright kelly green bag would look great against it- a wonderful "bridal professional" look. The fact that I've been SO close to the perfect green bag encourages me to keep looking. After all, I found the perfect yellow bag- function, style and price- so who's to say the perfect green bag isn't out there somewhere?

Now that I've found a great job, I regret not purchasing the green Coach bag. I sort of wish I could go back in time and do it all over again. Unfortunately, I also never found a time machine, so that's out of the question.

While I find it funny that my handbag pursuit hasn't changed in a year, there's quite a lot that has. I've made a major geographical move and of course, there's the rather large shift in my career path I just took. In addition to the new job, I plan to continue this blog as well as my personal style consulting. At this time last year, I was hitting the milestone of 100 posts on the blog. Now, I've published over 500 posts! I would like to have some similar milestones for the style consulting, and once I hit them, I'll be sure to write about it. My future feels bright and full of possibilities and opportunities- and maybe, just maybe, the perfect green handbag.

I Have Found My New Handbag...

It's true- I've found exactly the bag I've been looking for. Or should I say "bags." There are three that are suitable choices. Actually, they are all the same shape and style, but the colors and textiles vary. Check 'em out:

All three of these beauties are currently on the 50% off clearance table at the local Coach Outlet. I stopped in for a moment just to look around and I fell in love. After the discount, plus an additional 25% off for making a $1 donation to breast cancer research, the price on these babies is a mere $108 plus tax. I did not buy one, but it took some serious self-restraint. I have decided to reward myself with a new handbag after I find a job, not before. (I'll keep all of you posted on that front just as soon as there is news to share.) My favorite is the grey, but I'm certain it would be a nightmare trying to keep it clean. The purple is also lovely and the green leather is just scrumptious. Inside the bag are three large compartments, a zippered pocket and slip pockets. These bags meet all my requirements!

Since I've forbidden myself from buying the bag, I suppose someone generous will simply have to buy it for me. What better gift for someone starting a new phase in her life and career, right? I thank you in advance, generous, anonymous bag-buyer. I'll look forward to the gift-wrapped package.

Prada B.Y.O. Bags

Have you all heard about the new Prada B.Y.O. Bag line? They are cotton tote bags bearing the Prada logo and made using archived Prada prints and they will be retailing for $295.

I don't know about you guys and gals, but my canvas and cotton tote bags are mostly the free or $1 type that you get at the grocery store or at community events. They work just fine when I go to the Farmer's Market and I hardly mind if a strawberry gets squished and stains the bag. I'd be incensed if I stained my $300 Prada bag with fruit juice! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a beautiful designer handbag, but all the ads are touting this line as "the cheaper" version of a Prada handbag. It's supposedly the more financially accessible bag for those of us who can't afford a real Prada handbag at Neiman's or Barney's. Somehow, I find that a tad insulting. If I can't afford a real Prada handbag (which I can't), what on earth makes you think I'm going to shell out nearly $300 for a glorified shopping bag just because it says "Prada" on it? For that price, I could get a real, leather handbag from a designer like Michael Kors or Coach, or maybe even two designer handbags for that price if I shop at Marshalls or SYMS.

I admit the archived prints used on the bags is a pretty cool idea, but I'd rather see a great diffusion line of skirts or dresses made with vintage Prada prints, or maybe they could price these particular bags a little more afforably but only make a limited number of each print. Or better yet, actually handbags, not tote bags, made with these prints. The archived prints they selected certainly are beautiful. I'm particularly fond of the ones in the 2nd picture. But I don't love them enough to buy a cotton tote bag for $295. $295!!!

Even $50 per bag is way too excessive for a cotton tote that will likely be best used carrying asparagus and tomatoes from the farmer's market or a towel and sunscreen for a trip to the beach. But at $50, I'm slightly less insulted by the "cheaper version of a Prada handbag" advertising spin. And I'll be honest, even if they were $50 instead of $295, I still think I'd pass.

What about you? What do you think of Prada's B.Y.O. Bag line? Frivolous or fabulous?

Shoesday Tuesday- Oh the shame....

So the other night was a friend's birthday party. I got dressed for the event in one of my cute skirt/top combinations, threw on some heels, some accessories and headed out a little early, thinking I would run an errand or two before going to the party. Well, my mistake because apparently it was WINTER on this particular day and the second I stepped outside I practically froze in place. I hurried back inside, shivering and overreacting (which I frequently do). I abandoned the whole outfit and started over with a pair of tights- I know, I know, I've said before that once I'm liberated from tights and socks, I don't go back. Well, on this particular day, I just knew I was going to freeze my booty off if I didn't drastrically change my outfit. On top of the tights, I layered a pair of knee-high argyle socks, and (here's where the shame comes in) my F'Uggs. Normally I try to dress to the nines, especially when it's a special social event. I'm always in heels, or at least I try to be. And here I showed up to this event in ugly winter boots.

Every other girl (including my pregnant friend Shannon) showed up in super high heels. Oh, the shame. I was mortified, but I'll eventually get over it. If you look closely at the picture, you can even tell that I'm trying to stand on my tip-toes so that I'm  not dwarfed by the other girls around me. That huge gust of wind made me so cold that all I wanted to do was curl up in a blanket, so comfy, warm clothes was the best alternative (not to mention slightly more socially acceptable).

On another shoe-related note, Andrea, standing to my right is standing in such a way that she is really showing off her fabulous new Coach heels- the ones I mentioned in this post. Aren't they FIERCE? I know "fierce" is so over-used these days, but I have to say that these shoes totally warrant the use of it. 

Finally, don't forget to visit yesterday's post and leave a comment to be entered in the GIVEAWAY! Click here to be taken to that post.  

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...

Cloudy with a chance of suede

Today was the first cloudy day to end the stretch of beautiful, warm, sunny weather we've been having here in central PA for the last couple of weeks. It's still not warm enough (for me) to need a jacket, at least not during the day, but I did feel it was time to stop wearing the summer sundresses (even if they're paired with a cardigan sweater). But I'm still a risk-taker- after all, I wore a suede hat and carried a leather and suede bag, despite the ominous clouds. Only time will tell if I'll end up regretting this risk:

Jeans: Old Navy, $19

Sweater: Target, $13.48

Hat: Nine West, gift

Bag: Coach, $100ish- not sure of the exact amount

Shoes: Fabulous Footwear, $22

Earrings: Musette (on Etsy), $16

The bag was a splurge and a treat to myself a couple of years ago. As you all know, I'm a big fan of the faux-designer bags, but the truth is that I really just love handbags. Whether they are real or fake, what draws me in is the look of the bag itself. This bag made me drool. The light lavender suede is so soft and luxurious and the accent of the dark purple suede and leather is just a gorgeous combination. I remember clearly that it was December of 2007, and I had made the final payment on my car (whoo-hoo!) the previous month. Apparently, the final balance due was grossly out-of-whack and the bank sent me a check for the nearly $400 I'd overpaid. Bonus! As if it wasn't good enough that I finally owned my car free and clear, I got what was basically free money about a month later. Exciting, right? Well, I'd been drooling over the bag for weeks- it was the kind of situation where I'd go to the store just to look at it and dream about how it would feel walking down the street with it. On this particular day, I figured that since the money was a totally unexpected windfall, it would be ok to spend a little of it on something pretty and frivolous. The last time I'd looked at the bag, it was discounted down to around $160, so that's what I was prepared to spend when I went in to buy it. Turns out it was on sale for even less and I ended up getting a small Coach purse for a friend as well as my bag for just a little more than the $160 I'd planned to spend. I think mine ended up being around $100, and the small one around $55, so after taxes, it was just a little more than the $160. What great luck, right? And my friend got a Coach bag out of my good fortune, too. Sometimes you have to pay it forward- it just feels right.

As for the rest of the outfit, I admit I was dressing for comfort more than style today. I have a couple of really fun people at work who make a point of taking note of my outfit each day. It adds more than a little pressure to deliver fabulousness day in and day out, but fortunately for me, I love a challenge. Also fortunately for me, they both approved of my casual attire today- I'm talking about you, Jen & Tabby!

I hope that the weather improves again, but knowing what point we're at in the year, I can hardly expect it to continue to be sunny and warm until the spring. Oh, well. I guess it's going to be time for some serious layering outfits- lots of sweaters, turtlenecks, jackets, scarves- at least dressing for winter can be interesting with all the pieces you have to wear!

One more reminder to visit this week's Giveaway post and leave a comment to win a $20 gift certificate from Eshakti. A winner will be randomly selected from the comments. Each person is allowed to leave up to three comments. If you only leave one comment, your chances aren't quite as good, so go ahead and leave all three allotted comments- you never know what might happen!

Handbags? Oh yeah!

You know what I don't write about enough? Handbags, that's what. And I love them! I'm a total handbag addict! I often encourage other people to be handbag addicts, too! I don't believe in one perfect handbag for any person, I believe in many handbags for all different occasions. I believe in changing handbags often- not necessarily every day for each outfit, but certainly often enough that you keep it fresh.

Lately, I'm carrying a faux- bought in Chinatown, NYC, Canal Street to be specific. It's the exact faux that I made fun of in this post a couple of months ago. Call me a hypocrite, but I totally understand the appeal. Plus, I have to admit, being in New York City right at the start of fashion week made me go a little bonkers. My judgement suffered, but I haven't regretted this purchase for one second.

Isn't it a pretty color? That was really the deciding factor for me. Blue is definitely my signature color (although some of my friends might think it's pink). And I'll be honest- it's the perfect size for me. I'm a big handbag kind of girl. I wasn't always like that, but the older I've gotten, the more I'm into the big bag. I have small purses, but they mostly exist for special occasions when I don't want to lug around a 10-pound suitcase. Also, I use a small wristlet as a wallet and when I go somewhere and don't want to carry the big bag, I leave it in the car and take the wristlet with just the essentials. It's big enough for my debit card, license, some cash, my phone and maybe a tiny lip gloss.

Lately, I'm totally obsessed with the idea of a bright kelly green tote- structured or boho, fabric or leather- these details don't matter as much as the color. I love the idea of a bright pop of color for the fall and winter. I've seen a few over the last few months that I really liked, but something always stopped me from buying.

I found a few online that I'd love your opinions on. First up is this lime green bag from Amazon:

It's only $34.99 which is a decent price. I like the color, but I don't love it. It's a little too lime, not enough kelly. It's good, but not perfect.

What is close to perfect is the Patent Maggie tote from Coach:

The color is definitely more along the lines of what I want, but it's almost heading in the emerald green direction. Unfortunately, even if this bag was perfect in terms of color and style, it's still $348 which is waaaaaaay out of my price range.

And when price matters, I always seem to come back to my old standby- Target. All of these bags are under $30:

I'm definitely getting closer with these last three, but I'm still not quite there. I wish I could marry the color of Target bag #3 to the shape, structure and sophistication of  Target bag #1. Target bag #2 is ok, but just not that me. It's too square- literally. I'm sure it would function well given the outside pockets, but I think it's just not that me.

I'll keep looking and let you all know if I find the perfect green bag. I remember my friend Beth buying a faux Prada (maybe) in Chinatown years ago that was hysterical- it had a huge round metal handle and the "bag" was actually two little pouches mounted in the center of the circular handle. Totally impractical, but also totally unique. Maybe I can persuade her to take a picture that I can post on the blog for all of you to see. I remember when she bought it and I was so jealous of how cool it was. Handbags make me crazy!

Leave a comment if you want to see a picture of Beth's bag and maybe if there are enough of you, she'll be persuaded. It can't hurt to ask, right? Right! Now go comment!

Fancy label or Knock-off?

I recently read the hysterical book Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello and it got me thinking about fancy labels and knock-offs. I admit, my salary doesn't allow for many expensive purchases, but even if it did, I really don't understand the concept of spending thousands of dollars on a single pair of jeans or hundreds on a pair of boxer shorts. And yes, there ARE boxers that expensive. In Tonello's memoir, the boxers in the Hermes store were $295. If you check Hermes' website today, they're $340. No joke. In the book, Tonello recalls his experience buying and re-selling all things Hermes on ebay, starting with scarves and eventually working his way to the mystical Birkin bag.

In my closet I have one real Coach handbag bought significantly reduced at a Coach outlet store and one real Michael Kors bag that was a very generous Christmas gift from a good friend. In addition to those, I own several knock-offs: a Prada, several Chanel, a Dolce & Gabbana and a Louis Vuitton. Buying those bags was actually a lot more fun than buying my Coach despite their "made in China" inside tags. A couple were picked out of a cardboard box down a side street in New York City, others were from the not-so-fabled "back rooms" of Canal Street, also in New York. If you've never bought a knock-off under questionable circumstances, you should try it- it's a lot of fun. There is NO knock-off Birkin back room in existence as far as I know- only the real thing, and I have to wonder why. Because I'll be honest, if I saw one in a cardboard box or in a sketchy backroom, I'd buy one. It would have to be a pretty color, though. In fact, I own a bag that is almost identical in shape and size to a Birkin. If the knock-off wasn't in good shape, and a color and size I liked, I'd pass on it without a second thought. And if money were no object, I'd probably still go for the fake over the real thing simply because I can't fathom the idea of spending thousands (and I'm not talking 3 or 4, more like 30 or 40) on a handbag. I can barely fathom spending $40,000 on a car at this point in my life. Even that seems excessive.

This ebay store currently has three Birkins listed at $80,000! What is it about the Birkin that stirs women up into such a frenzy? I've never seen one in person, only pictures- do they have some mystical quality that inexplicably draws women to them, sort of like a handbag pheromone? I admit they are nice-looking bags, even when they're not made of some brightly tinted crocodile skin, and I'm sure the Hermes "waiting list" only adds to their allure. I suppose to some collectors, they are just another form of artwork and I get that, I really do, but if I was going to drop that kind of cash on artwork, I'm not sure it would be something that doesn't hang on a wall or sit on a pedestal. I agree that great fashion designers ARE artists and their designs SHOULD be compared to famous paintings and sculptures. I don't think that Birkin bags are so spectacularly beautiful that the people who purchase them would place them in the same league as the Mona Lisa or the David. I really do believe they are a coveted status symbol and not a whole lot more.

Hermes silk scarves, on the other hand, are very artistic and unlike the Birkin, there are hundreds of designs to choose from, making them very collectible. However, if I ever stumbled across a genuine Hermes scarf at a bargain price, it's unlikely I would buy it. While I can acknowledge the designs are beautiful, they just aren't my style. Something about the symmetry, or maybe it's the actual designs themselves, but they just don't speak to me. Even with my knock-off handbags that are currently tucked away in my closet, there is one thing I can say about all of them- I like how they look. Not a single one was bought purely because of it's label, but rather because I liked the shape, the "leather," the color, the hardware, the way it functioned. One or more of these qualities was what really led me to the purchase. And yes, it's fun to get the admiring looks as I walk down the street with one of them. My point is that as long as the style of the bag suits you, it doesn't matter whether its label is real or not. You should never buy anything simply for the label, but if you find a designer whose work really works for you and your bank account can handle the purchase, then it's up to you whether or not you think the price is worth it. If it is, buy it and make no apologies. After all, it's art, right?