Accessories Anonymous: Gorgeous MK Bag

I was scrolling through my weekly Shop it to Me email and saw this:

Erin Large Shoulder Tote, Michael Kors, $383

I don't really know what it is about this bag, but I absolutely love it. Maybe it's the color, or the rich python texture, or the chains on the straps- whatever it is, it sure feels like love. A bit rich for my pocketbook, but it's fun to dream, right? 

What IS this?

I love receiving my "Shop it to Me" emails every week- the shoes, the dresses, the bags, the tops, the accessories- I love it all. But every now and then, there will be something I just don't understand. Like this:

See by Chloe Two-Tone Dress, $395

Aside from the obvious silhouette issue, can someone explain to me why on earth black satin and grey flannel were chosen to be combined in this unfortunate manner? It looks like a tacked-on kangaroo pouch gone horribly wrong! Please, if you understand this and can explain it to me, leave a comment. There is so much about it that I find unfortunate. So much.

Shoesday Tuesday- Adorable Cowboy Boots

Remember Andrea's fabulous little cowboy boots? Well, I just got these in my weekly "Shop it to Me" email:

Gertrude, Nine West via Piperlime, $89.99

Are they gorgeous or what? They have the fabulous front "V" that is so flattering and delicate cut-outs that make them oh-so feminine and pretty. They're a fabulous and the price isn't bad for a nice pair of boots. I'm very tempted...

Shoesday Tuesday: If Dorothy had the blues...

... she'd wear these:

Betsey Johnson Sequined Pump, Smart Bargains via Shop It To Me, $109

I've talked about Shop It To Me before, but I think it's been a while, so I'll touch on it again. Shop It To Me is a free service designed to create a customized email that arrives in your inbox as frequently (or infrequently) as you like full of designer products you like. Once you sign up, you fill in your sizes and then select which designer duds you'd like to hear about. Are you obsessed with Michael Kors? Do you die for Dolce & Gabanna? How about Valentino? Just click away and select your faves. I have my "SaleMail" set to deliver twice per week- once on Monday and once on Thursday. And the best part about this service? All the items they send you are on sale. For example, the Betsey Johnson pumps pictured above were originally priced at $200. At nearly half off the original price, I'd call that a bargain. And for those of you who (like me) can't afford super high end duds, there are plenty of mid to low range options as well including Steve Madden, Ann Taylor, Nine West and Levi's as well as all sorts of diffusion lines like BCBGeneration and MICHAEL by Michael Kors.

I enjoy receiving the emails simply because it's fun to scroll through the items and see interesting pieces. Dresses, blouses, jeans, skirts, handbags, jewelry, shoes- it's all covered. They have menswear options, too, so it's not just for the ladies. Also, a single Shop It To Me email will include items from about a dozen (minimum) different designers and websites, so you get a lot of variety. Personally, I prefer that to getting an email with items from only one store.

Do you already use Shop It To Me? Leave a comment and tell me what you think about it. Have a great day, everyone!

Shoesday Tuesday- I heart flats

I do heart flats. I also heart wedges and heels, but today's post is all about the ballet flat. I admit, I resisted the return of this style of shoe quite vehemently, but I have since gotten over my issues with it, and now it is a staple in my closet. A week does not go by that I don't wear a pair of cute flats at some point. They are comfortable and if you find the right ones, they can be flattering on anyone. I try to keep the ones in my closet relatively neutral- I have a handful of black and brown ones and one odd-ball pair in red, but they're super casual and very summery, so you won't see them for quite a long time. Anyway, in my Shop-It-To-Me email of the week, there were a handful of really cute flats, so I thought I would share them with you.

First up, the Nine West Verner flat, available through Shop It To Me for only $47.90:

I love the two-tone look and the big buckle detail. Don't you?

And the other shoe I loved from my Shop It To Me email was also from Nine West. Available for $59.53, the Eloquant is simply elegant, if you ask me:

I guess I love buckle details, huh? I suppose that makes me a little boring and predictable, but I can live with that. What do you think of these flats? About flats in general? Leave a comment any time!

One Shoe, Three Ways

A lot of people ask me about how to put an outfit together, or how to take something from their closet and use it differently, so today I present: One Shoe, Three Ways! Below are three different outfits that all work with this pair of shoes:

Every piece in this post has two things in common: First, they were all sent to me via Shop It To Me which I wrote about in this post. Second, they all cost less than $100 because the sale prices are 25-50% off the retail price. (The shoes are BCBGirls and selling for $59.99.) I like how they are classic in shape and color, while subtly displaying the cut-out trend I wrote about in this post. And now, on to the outfits. First, we have a Michael Kors pleated top ($62.65) and ankle pants ($33.90) with a Nine West blue leather tote ($74.70). I'll let you choose the rest of your accessories, but I would personally add a long thin necklace or a pair of delicate chandelier earrings.

This would be a great outfit for work and could easily transition from day to night just by switching the tote out for a dressy clutch and glamming up the jewelry a bit. A cocktail ring and some big earrings could do the trick.

Next, you know I have an obsession with dresses, so I HAD to pair the shoes with at least one!

Due to the height of the shoes combined with the length of this adorable BCBG Max Azria dress ($87.90) it's inappropriate for work, but great for a date or a girls night out. The bag is once again Nine West ($62.90), and don't let anyone tell you about that no-white-after-labor-day rule. Rules are meant to be broken, especially that one!

Feminine ruffles are very trendy right now and you can find them literally everywhere you look.

This BCBG ruffle dress ($38.90) is very feminine and light, but the shoes add a distinctive edge to the look. Paired with the smaller Nine West handbag ($58.07) and voila! Fabulous and feminine, but edgy enough that you're not completely girly. It's a sophisticated, mature feminine look.

You may have noticed that I don't like to create matchy-matchy outfits- they look so much less sophisticated than outfits that go together, but don't necessarily match. Just make sure the colors you choose are complimentary and you'll be good to go.

Shop It To Me!

Isn't this dress fabulous?
And what about these shoes? They are SO fun!

Don't you love this Michael Kors bag? So chic!

What do all of these things have in common? They were all delivered to my email inbox at HUGE markdown prices- we're talking more than 50% off- by Shopittome.com. And the best part is that I chose which designers clothing, shoes and accessories would be included in these emails. It's like having my own personal internet shopper! Not only does Shop It To Me allow ME to select which designers discounts I want to hear about, but it also lets ME choose the frequency of the emails I receive, even going so far as to let ME choose which day or days the emails arrive. It's fabulous. AND free! No joke! I've been receiving their emails for a few months now and I have to say, I love it. Even if I don't buy anything for a while, it's nice to see what kind of deals are out there. I love it!