One of my fave December outfits.

I got this cute dress for next to nada (just $70) at Urban Outfitters.I paired it with tights and boots and the FABULOUS Michael Kors purse I got for Christmas. (Was $348, but now on sale for $243 if you want one.) I love this look because it feels rather 70's which is totally back in. I for one am glad to say bye bye to the 8-'s trends that have been everywhere for the past few years.

Military Monday

I swear these pants are so not me but I just love them. Today I pared them with a new silk top I got from Express in the style du jour: military. I'm really happy with it. Feels simple and sophisticated and on trend. And my inner voice is not chirping that the pants make me look fat. I can't really explain my love for these pants. They may not even be flattering, but I'm blinded! I think the gold accessories are essential to this look so I went bigger on those.

Silk Blouse: Express $70 New Purchase!
Denim pants: Habitual, $198
Gold Necklace: Banana R., $70
Wedges: Tory Burch, $265
Gold Oversized Watch: Michael Kors, $250

Tucker for Target

Get ready folks - I bought 5 pieces from the Tucker for Target collection. I love that stuff. Anyway - casual day. I like this look, comfy but still cute. What do you think?

Tucker top, $30
Gap Boyfriend Jeans, $60
Hermes Belt,$585
Steve Madden Sandals, $60 on sale

I think it's cute - but that jutting-hip pose is doing me zero favors.

Dancing Machine

Friday I went shopping with Kim at a little boutique on 9th Street called Pinky Otto. I found this adorable navy and white dot jumper that was 50% off and Kim convinced me to get it. I'm SO glad I did because i think it's adorable and it was perfect for going dancing that evening. No two pieces in the store were alike and they were all the Pinky Otto brand so I feel like I won't see this on anyone else. Plus it's a fashion risk for me, but I really loved it once I got it on.

Jumper: Pinky Otto, $89
Pink Heels: Michelle K, $150 - purchases SIX years ago!
Gold Crossbody Purse: Coach, $150

Unfortunately, those 5 inch pink heels were my downfall - literally. I fell and sprained my ankle and wasn't able to wear anything but pajamas and an ace bandage for the rest of the weekend so no new outfits til Tuesday,

Long weekend starts here.

Happy Four Day Weekend! Today I was going for a casual look with a military vibe. The navy sequin tank is new and I love, love, love it. The brown strap you're seeing is a crossbody bacg that should have been in the shot but wasn't. Oh well.

What makes this military? Basically the color scheme, the avatiors and the fit. Military looks best when it's not loose and flowy. What you want to look like is maybe you just helicoptered into some kind of foreign crisis but with a touch of glam. I think this would have been a LOT better if the pants had been more of that military green. These kinda verge on brown. Still works but not as good. I'm on the hunt for a good pair of army green pants. I think this fall they'll be a key piece.

Aviators: NYC Street vendor, $5
Sequin Tank: Express, $40
Chinos: Banana Republic, $60
Flops, Havanias, $24
Crossbody bag: Hobo Int., $118

Baby's First Fedora

I am generally not a trendy person. I'd describe my look as more classic with some edge (or at least trying to be) and I hate to buy stuff that will go out of style with the season. I'm sure you've seen fedoras EVERYWHERE because lord knows I have, and I've been trying to fight it.

However - while strolling through Nolita this weekend I stumbled upon this unique gem from a street vendor specializing in hats. The top is wool lace, it has a fabric band and a tweed brim. I've never seen another like it. I also thought the material would take it into fall and winter. I didn't want to get a straw one and put it away in 30 days. I really like it, but it definitely tested my confidence walking around with it this morning. I kept worrying that I looked stupid, but that's stupid. This is New York, I can get away with (fashion) murder.

Would love any and all opinions on this trend and this hat.

Right now I'm going to put it on and head to lunch. Eek!

Chinolicious!

Okay...I know the Chinos have caused hot debate on this site in the past, but I think I have finally learned how to make them work. I really like my outfit today. The colors feel on trend for "Camo" and it just feels put together. You may also notice I am trying to rock a fedora. It's my first and will get it's own post, but would love your opinions.

Chinos:Banana Republic, $60
Top: Mossimo for Target,$20
Sandals: Steve Madden, $60
Fedora: Street Vendor, $40

See my previous Chino attempts here and here.

Last Friday - Plaid anyone?

Plaid is a big trend, but I'm having a hard time with it since I rocked it the first time in the 90s. Frankly, it just makes me feel old. this top is more of a cute summer check than a true plaid, so I'm ok with it. I ended up liking my look this day - felt summery and cute!

Plaid Shirt: Urban Outfitters, $40
White Skirt, Banana Republic, $38 on sale
White Flips, Banana Republic, $65? - bought a few years ago.

I have to say - I LOVE pockets on a skirt or dress, even though they can make you look hippy.

Monday's Summer Dress

I slept in an extra 45 minutes this morning so I new it would be a summer dress day. Doesn't require too much though and is comfy and cute. Plus that extra 45 minutes was sooooo worth it.

Today I'm wearing a dress I picked up last summer at Urban Outfitters for $90. It's still cute and graphic, but I think that color block is on it's way out. This may be my last summer in this dress. Simple gladiators (Enzo Angiolini, $69) complete the outfit and I grabbed my black cardigan from The Limited ($50) for a cover up in my freezing office. Hope it doesn't look too frumpy like last time.

What do you think...should I retire the color block?

July Purchases

Yep - you are looking at the right picture. I only bought ONE THING in July. A striped t-shirt for $35 at French Connection.

I was pretty shocked myself, and was wondering how I went from an average of $1000+ last year to $35 this year. I think part of it is the weight gain (who wants to shop when nothing fits?); part of it was the weather (who wants to shop when it's so hot outside that wearing clothes feels like some bizarre form of torture?); but I also think part of it was the fact that I've learned not to shop just for the sake of shopping.

Nothing really caught my eye in July. It's sort of mid season before the fall clothes come out and I don't need any more summer clothes so I just didn't even find myself looking. I'm really happy about this turn of events, and I'm not rolling over the extra $715 of my budget to August - just putting it into savings.

Castoffs will go up tomorrow - it's getting harder!!

Romper!!!

I am a very lucky girl. A friend of mine in the fashion industry GIFTED me with this lovely DKNY romper (retail $295, but on sale at shopbop.com for $209) and I am thrilled. I've been wanting to try a romper but have been scared to throw down the cash for what may be a trend. This one is great for so many reasons... 1) it's red and I never buy red so this is a great way to try it 2) it's silk, so it draped like a dress 3) the pattern distracts from any bumps or bulges.

Since the pattern is so bold, I went with simple gold sandals (Banana Republic, $79), minimal jewelry, and my LV Manhattan bag ($1690) which goes with anything but the tan elements really compliments the tan in the romper.

I'm really liking this look....what do you think???

If I had a nickel...

For every time I've seen the Black Halo "Jackie" dress on celebs in rags and on TV shows I would not need to do this blog. I just saw it on Jane Krakowski in last week's 30 Rock in turquoise and it was not doing her any favors.

Come on celebrity stylists...get back to work!

New Brand - Grass

I've never heard of the brand Grass, but I've been seeing it's pieces pop up in the magazines a lot lately and the prices are shockingly low. Did a little research and it looks like it's a new(ish) brand Macy's is carrying in their Junior's Department.

Granted, this blog is about spending my money on higher quality clothing, but when it comes to trends I try to buy cheap. That little Katy Perry look-a-like dress is fine for $59, as is the on trend scarf blouse for $42.

Yummy Neutral

Gorgeous top in a trendy neutral. Satin can go day-to-night as well. DVF on sale - this is a steal that you can wear a million ways! Snap it up!

Great Nude Shoe

Only $89 at Nine West and totally on trend. The wedge heel means it'll be super comfy too. If I wasn't ridiculously over budget for April (yes! already!) I would snap these up.

Rain is no excuse

But I'm using it anyway. The weather has been absolute crap for the last five days so I've been dressing a little sloppier and didn't have much to post. Today I'm flying for a business trip, so I wanted to wear something comfortable and layered. I didn't put too much effort in this morning, but I think the blazer takes if from ok to cute. I'm telling you...if you don't have a boyfriend blazer in your closet, you're missing out!

Blazer ($398, Theory)
Jeans ($160, Hudson)
Tunic ($58, Urban Outfitters)
Bacara flats ($138, Cole Haan)

This is a Plaid DO!

Love love love this totally different take on the plaid trend. It's by Pollini and is (most unfortunately) $625 at Neiman Marcus. That's more than I want to pay for a top, but I will be watching it to see if it goes on sale.

The nice thing about this plaid is the versatility. It can dress up or down, and throw a cardigan on and it's seasonless.

Mad for Plaid? I dunno about this one.

I hope you like plaid people...it's EVERYWHERE these days.
Free People, Vince and Theory shown above.

Baby, it's cold outside.

I woke up this morning to snow, which was pretty until I remembered that I had planned to wear a dress today. And also had to walk my dog. Pickles is lucky she's adorable.
Well, I decided not to let cold weather get me down and just wear what I was planning on anyway. So here I am: BCBG Dress ($178) which I picked up at Macy's after reading that "art prints" were a coming trend. BCBG has embraced it and has a ton on their site. Club Monaco Cardigan makes another appearance. Great for the office. Almsot went with a navy cardigan but decided it was too matchy-matchy. Shoes are Miz Mooz, ($90ish) purple with a wood wedge heel and I love them. I just discovered this brand. They don't always hit it out of the park, but they do a lot of mid heels (which, as a New Yorker, I love) and they also choose some interesting leather colors that you don't see everywhere. The prices are also quite nice.

What you're not seeing here is what it required to wear this outfit today. Namely a mid-calf link puffer, Wool lined snow boots and a scarf and earmuffs. That pictures is far less fashionable. Those of you in cooler climates, please share your cold weather style tips in the comment section! I need them!

I'll be wearing this tonight for dinner at Balthazar, one of my favorite restaurants in the world and a large factor in my decision to head east.

This trend makes me yak.

Denim romper by A.P.C. Really???



- Fashion from my iPhone