Rate My Look: Spring Personified

Today was the start of our big sample sale and the boss lady had given us all white t-shirts with the Madeleine's Daughter logo on them to wear with jeans. It's literally the one time of year that we're allowed to wear jeans and guess what I did. I forgot to wear the t-shirt and jeans. What a loser! Fortunately, I looked adorable, so that kind of made up for the oops. And on top of looking adorable, the pastel color combination was just so spring-like and soft that I felt awesome in this outfit all day:

Top: Delia's via Building 19 (for $5!!!!!)

Skirt: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

Ribbon sash: I'm pretty sure I took this from an old dress

Seriously, the high-low hem on this skirt is just fabulous. Rather than the typical single cut of fabric, this features the cross-over front. You should see the way it flows as I walk in it. I tend to strut around like I'm a runway model whenever I wear this skirt because I love the feel of the chiffon billowing behind me. As Juhree put it, it's kind of like a cape... for my butt. 

In other news, this happened on my drive home and I figured I'd share it for all of you out there with similar OCD tendencies: 

Don't you just love when that kind of thing happens? It just makes me happy inside. Almost as happy as a lavender chiffon butt-cape high-low skirt. 

Have an awesome day and as always, thanks for reading! 

I Did Some Damage...

A few weeks ago, I went shopping with Beth and came home with hardly anything. Well, yesterday, I made a second attempt and I did some serious damage. It was just one of those magical shopping days when everything seems to just work. I went out with very little in mind. I was hoping to find a nice pair of black skinnies, and I failed at that. However, I did succeed at finding everything else that I wasn't looking for, but that seemed to belong in my closet.

I maintained my "elevate" theme throughout this shopping excursion and I'm happy to report that I found some seriously awesome pieces at decent prices. Keep in mind, "elevating" doesn't have to mean paying full price, or paying a lot of money. I did splurge on a couple of items, but nothing too extravagant.

First, I needed a cross-body bag that's pretty small, but can still carry my wallet, keys, a lipgloss or two, a pair of sunnies and my cell phone. Cue DSW and the many colorful options:

After narrowing down the bag style, I was still faced with several awesome color choices! In the end, I chose: 

... the fucshia! I thought it was $49.95, but at the register, the price ended up being only $39.95.  It's the "Steven" by Steve Madden line, his plastic diffusion line. I can at least appreciate the utilitarian nature of an all PVC bag. I can hose it down when it gets dirty, at least. The same can't be said for my leather handbags, I suppose. I'm flying down to North Carolina next week to see the Professor and I wanted to have a bag like this for that trip. I think it's going to be perfect and will handle the wear and tear that traveling tends to impart on luggage and bags. 

I also snagged a bargain pair of Converse Chuck Taylors in the super trendy mint color that is literally EVERYWHERE right now: 

How stinkin' cute are those? 

I did leave lots of adorable shoes behind, though. After all, this was our first stop at the North Shore Mall and I didn't want to spend all my beans in one store! These shoes were hard to leave behind, but it was the right thing to do: 

You know I love a good oxford, especially one that's tied with a grosgrain ribbon! 

These wedges are so awesome- I think it would be hard to decide which color to get. I love both! Well, I'll leave that decision for another day... 

Check back soon to see what other deals and awesome pieces I scored on this completely fabulous shopping excursion! Thank you for reading! 

Shoesday Tuesday: They'll Always Haunt Me...

For months and months, I found myself stumbling across the same pair of ridiculous heels at Marshalls. It was like they just wouldn't leave me alone. They were by Steve Madden and they were so cool-60's-mod, that I knew they would work with plenty of outfits and dresses in my closet. Here's proof:

Just look at that heel!!! The color, the shape, everything about these shoes just screams my name. But guess what- I never bought them. Every time I saw them on the shelf, I put them on. I walked around the store. I showed my friends. I showed my other friends. I showed strangers. I just couldn't pull the trigger. You see, they were unbearably painful to wear. They are the kind of shoes you wear to sit down all day. Guess what I never do. That's right- sit down all day. (Unless you count my lazy days off spent in sweat pants on the couch.) I just couldn't justify them. I thought, "These shoes deserve to belong to someone who will not only love them, but who will WEAR them." That person just isn't me. 

I know what you're thinking, "What about wearing them out on a date?!?" I know- that thought crossed my mind. But my boyfriend lives in the mountains of North Carolina. Shoes like these just don't work in the mountains. I'd break an ankle just walking from the front door to the car. No joke. It would NOT be pretty. And isn't that the point of shoes like this? To look and feel pretty? 

I suppose they'll forever haunt me as "the ones that got away." At least I have them documented here and I can look at them any time I want. And now, so can you. You're welcome. 

Happy Shoesday Tuesday! 

Shoesday Tuesday- A Quest for Nude Shoes

So.... I've got a pretty exciting date planned for this Saturday night and I'm really looking forward to it. While I won't be telling you guys much more about the specifics, I will be happy to talk about the outfit planning I've been doing for it.

The most difficult part was finding an appropriate shoe for my date night look. I went on a quest for an amazing nude shoe. The dress I plan to wear is simple, flattering and somewhat neutral in color. Eventually I'll take a photo for you guys, but for now you'll have to use your imagination. The challenge for me was to find an awesome pair of nude shoes and a great clutch to go with the dress. It was harder than you might think- when everything you're wearing is pretty much neutral, it's actually difficult to avoid looking very matchy-matchy. Unfortunately, a pop of color just wasn't appropriate, but in the end I was successful.

Since I'd like to keep my date outfit to myself, this post is going to cover the shoes that I really thought would work, but that didn't for some reason or another. Sometimes it's just as important to know why something doesn't work as it is to find the one that does.

The first reject was a shoe I fell in love with from across the store. When I tried it on, I was so incredibly disappointed! It has so much promise!

Lulu Townsend Pinot Sandal, DSW, $39.95

I wanted SO much for this shoe to work- it's nude, but also dressy, and it has a funky side to it with that cool bow on the side. It even looked as though it would be flattering AND secure with the strap across the front and the strap in the back. Unfortunately, this is a shoe that makes even the thinnest foot look FAT. From the strap across the toe to the diagonal strap across the top of the foot- this shoe squeezes and holds in all the wrong places. I had foot fat. Major foot fat. My friend Melanie can testify to it. It was a real shame. 

After rejecting the bow-detail sandals, I ran across another amazing pair of shoes- funky and dressy, but still nude. Again, they caught my eye from across the room: 

You may remember these from this post. Yup, they're the shoes I bought to wear for Beth's wedding on November 12th. While I do think they would be the perfect choice (after all, they're pretty much the perfect nude shoe), I am saving them for Beth's wedding. After her wedding, I'll wear them all the time, but not before. 

Finally, I considered these cool, gold glitter pumps: 

Madden Girl Oyzter Glitter Pumps, DSW, $39.95

I actually found these shoes months ago at Marshalls for only $25, and I've worn them a couple of times. They are fun and technically "nude" because the glitter is more of a champagne than a gold. But they just weren't the right vibe for the dress or the date. 

In the end, I did find an awesome pair of funky, dressy, nude heels. And yes, I'll show them to you eventually. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed reading about the rejects! 

Happy Shoesday Tuesday! 

Shoesday Tuesday- Open Your Eyes

I love shopping online- sitting on the couch in my PJ's, surfing through Piperlime, Zappos, Endless, and lots of other sites is so fun for me. I fall in love with lots of shoes that way. And so many of those sites offer a great interface for viewing every angle of the shoe. It's as good as it can get without actually handling the shoes. But that's the thing- it will never be AS good as actually handling the shoes. A photograph, even several photographs, will never capture the essence of a lot of shoes- how the light hits them, how the details stand out on my foot, how the leather feels against my skin, etc. I saw this pair of shoes on my boss the other day and fell in love with them:

I-Dreemy by Steve Madden, Piperlime, $100

In the photo, I find them to be unremarkable. In real life? They are amazing. So, while you may enjoy shopping online, remember it's not always the best method. And also remember, you don't have to be in a store to be shopping for the next great item in your wardrobe- look around, open your eyes to the fashions of your coworkers, family, friends, even strangers on the street. Take the minute it takes to ask them about where they got the item you're coveting. Many times I find myself doing that, and in addition to getting a great shopping tip, I end up chatting with that person and either making a new friend, or getting closer to an acquaintance. Bonus! Let your fashions bring you closer to others- we'll all benefit in the long run, not just our closets! 

Has a shoe or any other wardrobe piece brought you closer to another person? Tweet about it and use the hashtag #ShoesdayTuesday so I can find it. Have a great day, everyone! 

Rate My Look- More Stella and Dot

Obviously, since I've received my Stella and Dot free jewelry, I have a large amount of jewelry to choose from when I get dressed in the morning. I wanted to show you a couple of outfits that were finished perfectly with one or two pieces of Stella and Dot jewelry:

Dress: Made by ME!
Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace, Earrings and Cocktail Ring: Stella and Dot

As you know, on Saturday, we are required to wear black. We generally use our accessories when trying to make our all-black outfits a bit more interesting. After work, I had plans to see a show with a friend, so I needed an outfit (and accessories) that could easily transition from a busy day at the shop to a night out. This black dress (made by yours truly, of course), and the right accessories helped create the ideal outfit for both. I must admit, however, that I changed to the fun red shoes after I left work for the night. There's no way I could have survived 8 hours on my feet in those heels! The jewelry that helped to finish my look includes the Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace, the Ladybug Studs and the Camilla Ring.Overall, they helped create a sophisticated look that worked not only for a busy high-end bridal shop, but also for a night out at the theatre. 

Today, when I got dressed for work, my goal was to create an outfit around just one piece of Stella and Dot jewelry. I chose the Chloe Necklace, but I off-set the ribbon bow so that it was more visually interesting:

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Anthropologie (Please excuse the wrinkles)

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Stella and Dot

I like the necklace with the ribbon tied this way- it's still pretty when the ribbon is tied behind the neck, but I love asymmetry, so I prefer it with the ribbon tied to the side. Some might call me a genius for coming up with that idea. I'd be okay with that. 

Check back soon for more outfits inspired by and created using Stella and Dot jewelry. And don't forget to shop the virtual trunk show. Click here for more information on how you can participate! Enjoy the rest of your Monday, everyone! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Here, Kitty-kitty!

I'm really happy to see the kitten heel trend returning this spring. After so many seasons of 4-inch heels and ultra-tall platforms, it's like a breath of fresh air to see something a little less extreme. Of course, I still intend to rock my super tall heels at every opportunity, but when my toes need a break, I'll be happy to switch them out for a more reasonable kitten heel.

The kitten heel is the ultimate in girl-y-ness. While the stiletto may ooze sex appeal and power, the kitten heel is sweeter, gentler, and yet still incredibly feminine. Here are some amazing kitten heels that I wouldn't mind adding to my shoe arsenal:

Nelumbo Kitten Heels, Anthropologie, $148

Edmundo Castillo Suede Sling-back Kitten Heels, Shopbop, $595

Butter Sooth Peep-toe Kitten Heel, Endless, $264

Demmure, Steve Madden, $79.95

All of the above kitten heels would work equally well with jeans, as they would with a sun dress or with a suit for the office. Try out this trend soon- in peep-toe or patent leather, neutrals or florals, simple or embellished- you'll be happy you did! 

If you're a fan of kitten heels, tweet it now and don't forget the hashtag #ShoesdayTuesday so I can find it. Last week's Shoesday Tuesday was the best for tweets we've had yet, so let's try to top it this week! 

Back Story

When we consider wearing a certain outfit, we always look in the mirror. And while we may consider what the back of our clothing looks like, it's not often at the forefront of our shopping decisions. And yet the truth is that people will be seeing us from all different angles- as we approach them and as we walk away. So why not consider some pieces that are just as interesting (if not more so) from the back? Of course, my fabulous plaid dress has a cool exposed zipper in the back, so you already know I practice what I preach:

But while you may admire me for my honesty and integrity, that doesn't exactly help you find your own clothing with interesting back details, does it? Well, lucky for you, I'm a whiz at finding cool stuff on the internet and this case is no exception. 

BCBGMaxAzria Belted Jacquard Dress, Nordstrom, $278.00

C&C California Crochet Back Maxi Dress, Zappos, $128.00

Sparkle & Fade Knit Bow Back Dress, Urban Outfitters, $48.00

Penumbra Knot Back Dress, Revolve Clothing, $130.00

Oolong Blend Top, Modcloth, $42.99

Cooperative Bow Back Dress, Urban Outfitters, $79.00

Aiko Short Sleeve Gallant Bow Back Dress, Bloomingdale's, $188.00

Carolina Herrera Origami Back Dress, Bergdorf Goodman, $2790.00

Carmen Marc Valvo Chiffon Drape Back Dress, Neiman Marcus, $680

Bevv-B, Steve Madden, $99.95

Sam Edelman Lorissa Spike Pump, Revolve Clothing, $200

Whether it's interesting draping, an exposed zipper, beadwork, or cut-outs, whether its a dress, blouse, skirt or a pair of shoes, consider wearing something with an interesting back detail, and your departure will be as interesting as your arrival no matter what the occasion. 

Another Fashionable Co-worker

I've mentioned before that the ladies I work with are all very stylish, fashionable women. It's one of the things I love most about my job. It's like a fashion show every day and each person's unique style comes through easily. We all feel comfortable dressing to suit our own unique styles, and yet we all manage to look professional at the same time. Last night, Kerry came in wearing an outfit that's quite similar to many of my work outfits, so I simply had to snap her photo.

I love the simple silhouette- a pencil skirt with a sweater- it's so 1960's-sexy-secretary. Honestly, she looks like she walked off the set of Mad Men and right into our shop. She could give Joan Holloway a run for her money! I'm not sure where the skirt and top are from, but I know her shoes are Madden Girl by Steve Madden. I know because I asked to try them on. They were quite comfy. 

I've managed to photograph three of my amazing co-workers- Gigi, Sadie and now Kerry. It's only a matter of time before I get all of them on the blog. They are all very camera shy, which is what makes it difficult to document all their fabulousness, but trust me- I'm working on it! 

Accessories Anonymous: A Steve Madden Bag was Stalking Me Today...

It was your typical afternoon at TJ Maxx- some bargains to be found, some interesting patrons roaming the aisles. I haven't felt the need to purchase much lately- I genuinely can't think of anything I need. There's plenty that I want, of course, but need? Not so much. Regardless, I still like to pop in to some of my favorite bargain stores just in case there's something super cheap that I simply cannot pass up. On this particular day, I didn't find anything that matched that description, but I did managed to get stalked for a little while. By a HANDBAG, no less. I snapped his photo in case I need to file a police report:

It was only $34.99 and it was definitely one of the nicer "vegan" bags Steve Madden has put out. The "leather" was soft and supple, not too stiff. And it was HUGE. I have a tendency to fall in love with enormous bags because of how they look, but as soon as I purchase one, I tend to fall out of love a bit. Aesthetically, I adore them. Functionally, they let me down every time. (Well, that's not fair. They don't let me down when I need to smuggle a bag of popcorn, 2 packages of Reese's pieces and a couple of bottled drinks into the movie theatre, but other than that...) I really hate that "bottomless pit" syndrome that so many large bags tend to have. And as gorgeous as this Steve Madden bag is, with it's contrast stitching and it's twisted front detail, as soon as I opened it, I knew it would be that bottomless bag that I find so difficult to deal with. I put it back and walked away from it. I thought it was out of my life until I turned the corner and there it was again- this time in a buttery brown: 

I picked it up AGAIN! I was so drawn to it, I couldn't really help myself! But after a moment, I regained my senses and once again convinced myself it would be the bottomless bag that drives me bonkers. I walked away for the second time. This time, I really thought it was out of my life, but as I meandered down another aisle of bags, there it was again! This time, in a nearly irresistible pewter: 

Hello, gorgeous. 

At this point, I was starting to feel a little bit paranoid, so I rushed out of the bag section and over to the cashmere, but the whole experience had me pretty freaked out. Wouldn't you be freaked out if a bag was stalking you like that? Stop judging me. It's not like I bought it. But I kind of want to. In all three colors. I said to stop judging me!  

Glitter and Glitz

For weeks now, I've been coveting so many different glittery shoes. Maybe it's the fact that I have yet to figure out what to wear tonight (New Year's Eve), or maybe it's just that I've always loved glittery, glitzy shoes and lately they seem to be everywhere. Whatever the reason, I'm obsessed. And while I'm into the black and silver and pewter styles, my favorites are the gold ones. From nude champagne to deep metallic gold, I'm drooling!

Sparkle an Interest Heel, Modcloth, $39.99

Kinnetic, Steve Madden, $59.95

Trousr-G, Steve Madden, $79.95

Ulltra-G, Steve Madden, $89.95

Open Toe- Glitter Pumps, My Diva's Closet, $45

Stuart Weitzman "Swoon" Glitter Evening Pumps, Bloomingdale's, $335

Ivanka Trump Women's Pinki, Shoes.com, $125

BCBGeneration Gold Glitter Shoes, Shoes.com, $79

Of course, I am not oblivious to the fact that there has been a bit of a gold glitter shoe craze since the SATC2 movie came out and we all saw Carrie's amazing Louboutins: 

It's funny how some trends come and go in a matter of weeks. Others have staying power, like gold glitter heels. Or is it the staying power of Louboutins that is keeping this trend alive? 

Shoesday Tuesday: Let's all follow Melanie's lead, please...

For Christmas this year, my friend Melanie bought me a fabulous new handbag:

Do you know how she knew to get it for me? How she knew I would love it? She saw it here on the blog! So, in case anyone else out there would like to follow Mel's lead, here's a pair of shoes I think are rather spectacular: 

Rate My Look- Accessories from Besties

Today when I put this outfit together, it didn't immediately occur to me that the most interesting accessories in the outfit were from my closest girlfriends:

I'm talking about the necklace and the bag, of course. The necklace was given to me from Andrea as an opening night present for Abbey Road. She conceived, wrote, directed and choreographed the entire show. Working on costumes with her was so much fun. She made this necklace for me as an opening night gift- isn't that so sweet of her? Here's a closer look at it:

Can you see the detail on the pendant- a pair of scissors? How perfect is that? I love it. As for the bag, I actually blogged about it a looooooooooong time ago here. Beth, being the sweetheart that she is, gave me the bag for my birthday. The joke with this bag is that while it's clever and adorable, it's highly inconvenient and impractical. I can barely carry anything in it and since the pouches are smaller at the top, it's hard to get anything out. Like I said, inconvenient and impractical. But totally cute, right? And didn't I say just the other day that one of my fall must-haves is an olive handbag? Check! (Silly me, I didn't take a close-up photo of the bag. I'll try to remember to do that and update this post.) I did, however, get a close-up photo of the shoes. Oh, the shoes. I was going to wait until tomorrow to go on about these shoes (since it is Shoesday Tuesday), but I can't wait. Check these babies out:

Who doesn't love a little pop of zebra print, right? These shoes are Madden Girl by Steve Madden and I scored them at the BCF for only $19.99. They are actually quite comfortable, too. I feel like a total babe in them. As for the rest of the outfit, the dress is made by me, originally seen here, the belt is so old, I have no idea where it came from, the cami is probably from Target, but I really don't know for sure and the sunglasses are vintage. I love the shape of them- I really should wear them more often.

So what do you think of my outfit today? Leave a comment and let me know!

Going the Distance in Major Platform Pumps

Go Fug Yourself has been having a field day on Drew Barrymore's tour attire. She's out promoting "Going the Distance" her new movie with Justin Long. And while I find their commentary on her clothing very amusing, I found myself distracted by a certain pair of Drew's shoes. Distracted in a GOOD way, that is.

Perhaps they are these lovelies by YSL:

But Drew isn't the only one sporting the grey suede pump:

Beyonce

Malin Ackerman

One of the Olsen twins

Posh Spice (although, she seems to have OD'd on the grey overall)

While beige patent was the "it" platform shoe of spring and summer, it seems the grey suede will be the star for fall. After all, look at all the different looks seen in the pictures above. The grey shoes work for each and every one of them! Want a pair of your own? In a perfect world, I'd like the YSL pair, but my bank account does not allow for such extravagance. Instead I shop for the "look for less." And I share it with you! Here you go:

Go Jane, $30.40

Urban Original, $21.80

Steve Madden, $89

I think my faves are the ones from Urban Original. Definitely the best price and also the most similar to the YSL. I think I can get on board with this trend!