Shoesday Tuesday- BOGO Boots

I'm not a millionaire. I earn a modest salary and try my best to live within my means. I would love nothing more than to have the trendiest shoes and clothes and accessories by all my favorite designers. But, like many people, I have a budget I need to stick to. And so there are times when I shop for shoes at Payless. Why? Because you do. Pay less that is. And if it's a BOGO sale time, once again you pay less.

After three weeks at the new job, I knew a couple pair of flat boots would come in handy. When the snow starts to fall, I'm going to need them to keep my feet dry and warm, but they need to be flat, or have just a slight wedge at the most because I'm on my feet literally all day. It's not an option to wear heels every day anymore! Anyway, I started looking around for a couple new pair of flat boots that would get me through the winter. I saw  these online the other day and thought they would be perfect- totally basic, but basically perfect:

Marley Flat Boot, Payless, $39.95

Since it happened to be a BOGO sale day, I thought it couldn't hurt to also look for some basic wedges. I remembered seeing these online and thought I would try them on because they sure are cute! 

I am glad I tried these on rather than ordering them straight from an online website. I put my right foot in the shoe and immediately decided it would not be an appropriate choice because it felt as if I was walking on a block of wood. I imagine at the end of a long day in these shoes, I would want to cut my feet off. Fortunately, I was also eyeing another pair of those boots and decided to take advantage of the BOGO by treating myself to two lovely pair of boots. I ended up buying one pair in the brown (pictured above) and a second pair in grey: 

I already have a pair of flat black boots, so I think I've covered all my bases in the boot department. At $59.98 for both pair, I think I did pretty well! I hope they are comfortable for the long days I spend on my feet, but you can bet I'll report on them once I've given them a test run or two. 

And now for #ShoesdayTuesday: this week I want to hear about the shoes that YOU wear to work. Construction boots? Crocs? Stilettos? Whatever it is, I want to know. I don't care if they're the most fashionable or the least fashionable- all I care about is that you tell me! Maybe you work from home and your "shoes" are actually a pair of fuzzy slippers! Feel free to either tweet a picture or simply tweet a description. Either way, I'll be happy. And remember to include the hashtag: #ShoesdayTuesday

Happy tweeting!

Ok, it recently occurred to me that not everyone out there knows what a "hashtag" is. You could Google "hashtag" and find out all the technical information about what they are and how they work (and I recommend you do), but the simple explanation is that they help organize tweets. For example, let's say there's a big event coming up at a local venue. The organizers of the event might establish a specific hashtag for the event. Anyone who wants to search Twitter for information about that event simply needs to type the hashtag into the search field and every tweet with it will be filtered into the search results. It's kind of amazing, actually. So, when I tell you guys to tweet with the hashtag "#ShoesdayTuesday, it's so that I can search Twitter to find your tweets! That way, even if I don't follow you (or vice versa), we can still find each others tweets. Make sense? Give it a whirl! 

Rate My Look- Getting Back in the Groove

I have been really terrible about taking photos of my outfits lately. Call me lazy, call me forgetful- either way you'd be right. But the past couple of days, I've been ready for work a little bit early AND the weather has cooperated for some nice outdoor shots with me and my tripod. (Side note: I love my tripod.)

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I spent the weekend with my friend Melanie and we did a bit of damage at good ol' Marshalls. I promised to take pictures of what I bought and then I never did! SLACKER!!! Well, yesterday I finally decided: today is the day I photograph myself in at least ONE item I bought on that shopping trip. So here it is after much anticipation, the new Cynthia Rowley felted wool jacket:

Is it precious or what? I love it- I've been wearing it ever since I bought it. Not only because I like it, but also because I have yet to unpack the wardrobe case that is currently holding all of my winter coats as well as my hats, gloves, scarves, etc. I have a feeling I'll be unpacking them very soon. Not every day is going to be as gorgeous as this one. In fact, get a better look at the amazing blue sky in the photo: 

The leaves may be past their peak, but I actually like how easy it is to see the blue sky between the empty branches of the tree. My favorite, though, is when those branches are covered in a layer of snow and the ground around them is pristine white. I enjoy the beauty of snow, if not the shoveling of it. 

Happy Monday, everyone! 

Oh, SNAP: Fug Girls

I adore the snarky commentary on celebrity sartorial choices over at Go Fug Yourself, but this post in particular makes me smile.

Go team Mondo!

Renee's Guide to the Holidays- Part 1: Thanksgiving

I suppose it's that time of year when everyone and everything starts heading in the direction of "the holidays." These days it seems as though we skip right past Thanksgiving and jump straight from Halloween into Christmas. There is so much hype and build-up with Christmas that by the time you realize you need to think about New Year's Eve, it's too late and you end up in the same LBD as your sorority sister's wedding two years ago and the most sparkly accessories in your closet, regardless of whether or not they are an appropriate choice.

I don't want this for you, so I'm going to try to do a fairly-regular guide to the holidays, hopefully covering all the major fashion and style-related issues. If in the meantime you realize you have a question about dressing for a particular holiday situation, please don't hesitate to leave it in a comment or send me an email. I'll do my best to answer any questions you may have!

Alright, now that the introductions are through, let's get to the nitty gritty. Although the marketing companies may skip right over it, I'm not going to- Thanksgiving is a big event for most people, and for some it might be one of the few times they get together with their extended family. It's important to look good, just in case your obnoxious aunt who is forever comparing you (your career, your love life, your apartment, your car, etc.) to her daughter. At the very least you can look amazing while she grills you and then tries to make you feel inferior. Maybe you don't have an obnoxious aunt- maybe your family members all get along and genuinely enjoy each others company- it won't hurt to look amazing for all of them, either!

The key to dressing for Thanksgiving is comfort in the mid-section. Let's be honest, if we could all wear a pair of stretchy pants (a.k.a. sweat pants) to the dinner, we'd all be much happier, right? Well, the good news is- we can! Well, maybe not straight-up go-to-the-gym or lounge-around-the-house-on-a-Saturday-morning kind of stretchy pants, but the next best thing for sure. The key to Thanksgiving is leggings. I'm sure you already own at least one pair, so get 'em out and then survey your closet for a nice, but comfortable dress. I'm partial to the empire waist style with a gathered skirt and a bit of stretch to the fabric. Jersey is often a good choice, but far from the only one. (NOTE: Jersey doesn't always equal casual and cheap-looking. Silk jersey is quite refined.) The key to selecting your dress is to pair structure with stretch. Stretch doesn't have to mean an elastic waistband, either. It can simply mean a full or gathered skirt- anything that will offer you a bit of comfort when you're full of turkey and all the fixin's.

Once you've got the leggings and the dress worked out, you're practically done. Finish the look with accessories to bring out your personal style and finally, a pair of killer high-heeled boots. Why heels? They'll look amazing, for one. Second, you're not exactly going to be on your feet all day, so why not? And besides, shoes fit no matter how many helpings of mashed potatoes you pile onto your plate.

Need some more inspiration? Check out this look:

Thanksgiving by Rtboo featuring sleeveless dresses

It's effortless and chic, but still put-together and appropriate for a "grown-up" event like dinner with the relatives.The leggings and the loose fit of the skirt allow for an extra bit of whipped cream on your pumpkin pie, but because the silhouette is structured, you'll still look slim and trim even on the biggest eating day of the year. I like the idea of using amazing accessories to wow the crowd, too. Smoke and mirrors, ladies, it's all smoke and mirrors. Put together an outfit that is thoughtful and well-accessorized and the relatives will be none the wiser. There will also never be that embarrassing moment when you need to loosen your belt a notch or two, or (gasp!) unbutton your pants.

Happy Turkey Day!

Alert: New Diffusion Line at JC Penney

MNG by Mango has designed a diffusion line for JC Penney and I really like a lot of the pieces. This sportswear line has visual interest, but also versatility and the prices aren't bad, either. Some of my favorite pieces so far:

Corazon Bowler, $79.92

Bow Neck Blouse, $35.94

Trench Coat, $127.92

You can check out the rest of the line here and then leave a comment telling me what you think of it! Happy Saturday! 

Rate My Look- Casual Friday

Not every day is all about being glamorous. Living back in cold New England, I've finally come to understand Uggs. And while I don't have an authentic pair myself, I am starting to come around in terms of understanding and appreciating what they do.

What Uggs (and F'Uggs) Do:
- They keep my feet warm and cozy.

What Uggs (and F'Uggs) Do NOT Do:
- They do not look nice.

It's a trade-off, for sure. They are completely unflattering and very clunky/sloppy looking, but on a cold, blustery day, there's no other shoe that I want to wear. Even more stylish boots are not as appealing when I know I don't have to be anywhere in particular.

Favorite Trend: Tie-neck Blouse

Vintage and retro styles have made a comeback like you wouldn't believe. Shoe clips and gloves are two all-the-rage accessories that are incredibly hot right now. 50's and 60's silhouettes were all over the runways a couple of months ago, so we know we'll be seeing them for a while. One vintage/retro trend that I am thrilled to see come back is the tie-neck blouse. When done the right way, it can be a really fabulous look. When done the wrong way, you can end up looking like your grandmother (which may or may not be a bad thing, I suppose). Here are some tie-neck blouses that I think are fabulous:

MNG by Mango Tie-Neck Blouse, JC Penney, $29.94

Michael Kors Camel Cotton Voile Tie-Neck Blouse, Bluefly.com, $245.99

Malinda Silk Tie-Neck Blouse, Ashro, $24.00

Marc by Marc Jacobs Merlot Floral Tie-Neck Blouse, Bluefly.com, $149.00

Sleeveless Silk Charmeuse Tie-Neck Blouse, Spiegel, $59-64

As you can see, this style of blouse is available in a variety of colors, fabrics, prints, and price points. I like this type of blouse because it is a great layering piece. A simple cardigan or blazer can really pull a look together and help this unstructured style have a bit more shape to it. Do you love the idea of this kind of blouse, but you aren't quite sure how to create a look around one? Here are some outfit ideas to get you inspired: 

RetroGlam by Rtboo featuring a pencil skirt

I love this look- it's very sophisticated and has the retro-glam vibe while still feeling fresh and modern. The muted tones of the outfit make it appropriate for this time of year as well. Top it off with a dark overcoat and wear it to a chic dinner party or even out to a swank bar with the girls. 

Not-so-basic Basic by Rtboo featuring oval jewelry

I love this "Not-so-basic Basic" outfit. It's a perfect all-day outfit- and yet SO much cuter than just a t-shirt and jeans. This top and the accessories create an outfit that makes a fun, quirky statement. Who says you have to look boring when you go to the grocery store anyway? I love the boldness of the red top, and the structure of the frame bag- it's just such a sweet overall look. Add the oversize cocktail ring and the animal-print shoes and the outfit suddenly has just a touch of edge that helps balance it all out. 

Monochromatic Miss by Rtboo featuring a crepe skirt

I love this monochromatic outfit- in fact, I love a well-done monochromatic anything- a well-designed room, an outfit, even artwork or advertising. I think when it is well-done, it can be sophisticated, but fun. It is a bold endeavor, wearing these bright shades of coral and red, but so fun, too! However, if you're not quite ready for such a bold color statement, try the same concept in a neutral: 

Monochromatic 2 by Rtboo featuring pumps shoes

Now, aside from look #2, most of these are pretty dressy looks, but that's not to say all tie-neck blouse looks need to be dressy. This layered version is effortless and simply lovely: 

Layered and Lovely by Rtboo featuring knit tops

I hope by now you're starting to get a knack for putting together an outfit with a tie-neck blouse. They really are versatile and incredibly feminine. And just because I used mostly slim silhouettes like pencil skirts and fitted jeans, doesn't mean that a full or a-line skirt or a wide-leg trouser wouldn't work just as well. It's all in the mix and how you put the pieces together to create a flattering silhouette for YOUR body. So why not try this fabulous trend? You just might like it!