Navy's In For Fall

Even though it's supposed to be one of Chicago's coolest summers ever, I still dream about the brisk breezes and crunchy coloured leaves of fall...not to mention the glorious wardrobe changes that will occur.



The sweater is $20 and the shoes are $24...I'm especially in love with the loafer/moccasins, because they're in a unique colour that can still function as a neutral. The only thing I'd be worried about is how well they go with blue jeans. But with black tights? Wonderful.

In The Navy

I recently received a coupon in the mail for Gap's Give and Get Program. Now, I know the clothing at Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic can at times seem a bit overpriced for the basics that they're offering, but they last a long time and often feature sweet little details that are overlooked in the same basics at, say, H&M. This coupon takes a hefty 30% off of any of my purchases, and while I've been satisfyingly lazy ever since I got this coupon in the mail, I'm seriously considering these items from Old Navy:

This is the kind of thing that I hope to be wearing in college. I can throw it over jeans and a tank and it looks pretty casual, but kind of in that effortlessly comfy-casual with a hint of style way. $10.99


I'm kind of obsessed with textural floral details, like the rosette designs that have been everywhere or these types of cutout designs. This tank would be great to wear under a cardigan with jeans for a typical college day as well. $7.99


This ruffle-neck cardigan is yet another college friendly piece, just because it's a simple thing I can throw on over anything, but yet it has a little bit of flair. $12.99


I already have a black jersey T-shirt dress, and it's so comfy and easy to accessorize that I find myself wearing it all the time, every season (it's great with tights for winter!). I think this slubby grey one would be another nice college basic, just because it's so easy to throw on but it kind of looks put together. $11.99

Pearls and Swine

This is just a quick outfit post -- I went to a friend's birthday dinner a few days ago and was puzzled as to what to wear. The dinner was at California Pizza Kitchen, which is totally not a fancy-pants restaurant, but since it was a birthday dinner I figured I'd dress up a little bit. I ended up wearing my comfy grey T-shirt, a black pleated jersey skirt from Old Navy (I know you totally cannot see the pleats in this picture), black flats from Old Navy (they were in remedial healthcare after a long and rainy night when I took this picture), and a pearl necklace from my mom.


I ended up removing the necklace though, part way through, because I didn't totally feel like it went with what I was wearing. Plus, it was way fancy-looking. I totally wish I had invested in one of those really trendy bib necklaces...but sadly, now that I'm thinking about getting one, I probably won't have much of an occasion to wear it to. Sigh.

Flat Fables

Old Navy was another store whose sale I could not resist; they were offering 20% off everything and free shipping, ironically similar to Bobbi Brown's sale. But 20% off and free shipping are both hard to come by with Old Navy, so I decided to make two purchases.

One of my great weaknesses is a cute pair of ballet flats. Even though I am a meager 5'2", flats have long been the subject of my great adoration. Flats that are fanciful and unique without being overly ostentatious will get me up at any hour of the day. Luckily, I didn't have to fight through any "doorbuster"-esque sales because of Old Navy's online offer. My purchases?

This pretty jersey skirt...it may be a little short, but it's an easy thing to slip on and a cute alternative to the frequently seen elastic top jersey skirts.


This basic pair of black flats...I posted the green version as well, because I was considering getting those, but then settled on the black because I really need a basic pair.



This pair of beauteous grey flats...these weren't a necessity, but I really fell in love with them when I saw them. I love grey in general, and these flats are no exception. I was about to get these in black as well, but the flower just didn't stand out as much that way.


After the discount, the skirt was a little under $4.00 and the shoes were each $8.00, so...

4
8
8 +
-------
20

A good deal, no?

Back to School from Gap

Hey guys, so since my school begins tomorrow, I thought I'd do a post about school-ready wear, brought to you by the ever-so-lovely members of the Gap family.

Starting with the mature and style-conscious high schooler, Banana Republic, we have two pieces that are great for injecting a lot of style with very little effort. There's a silk scarf, that's $26.99, which can easily be tied onto a cute tote or worn around your neck/in your hair for some extra flavour. Even if you're just wearing a black tee and skinny jeans, tying this around your neck will add some pizzazz. Then, there's a really easy-breezy shirtdress in an eye-catching yet still subtle shade of purple that's $24.99. T-shirt dresses are one of my favourite things to lean back on during the school year, when I want to look put-together but not too overstyled. Plus, this one's got a waist tie, which makes sure that you don't look like you're just wearing a purple shapeless sack.



From the stable-minded middle schooler, Gap, we've got a really simple, cute twill tote in a very neutral-chic shade of taupe that's $45.00. I love that the bag has tote handles and a shoulder handle, as each style gives off a different vibe. Plus, it's roomy enough to hold all your books and pencils and whatnot. Then, there's a more edgy tote from the (Product) Red line that's $20.00. This one definitely adds style to your outfit, but I would suggest this for people that are generally pretty laid-back with what they wear to school, as it might contrast weirdly with, say, a button-up cardigan and a pleated skirt.



From the fun-loving lower schooler, Old Navy, there's a really simple shoulder bag that's perfect for people on a budget. It's only $8.99, but it's roomy enough to hold all of your books and stylish enough to take you through the school year looking good. Plus, it comes in two gorgeous jewel-toned colours that aren't neutral but that still go with essentially everything.



Finally, from the newest little baby, Piperlime, we have a pair of fun pink Converse for $40.00. These are great for pulling on when you're having a sweatshirt-and-jeans moment, or for adding extra pop to an outfit. The cute pink colour makes sure that you stand out, as Converse shoes are fairly popular among the schoolgoing crowd.

In The Navy

So Old Navy usually has some pretty good sales, but I almost always find that the items that are on sale are misleading and only available in sparse sizes, or that they're pretty dowdy and basic. But not now! Old Navy is having a pretty amazing sale, and I've scouted out a ton of items that you should pick up (a whole bunch of those striped cardigans are coming home with me, pronto!). Oh, and I put at tip at the end of the post, so you'll have to scan through it before you find out how to get yourself some free shipping (at least I think).

These cute little cardigans are $20 each, and they come with a lovely little ruffle detail. I tried on the light pink one at my local Old Navy, and I loved it, but I don't think I'd pay $20 for it (we're staying recessionably chic here!). I also think that if you can, you should try these on beforehand because they can be a teensy bit boxy.





However, I did notice that these bear quite a resemblance to one of my previous J. Crew loves, this ruffle cardigan. It's currently on sale for $49.99, so if you've been wanting a cardigan like that but can't bear to cash in the J. Crew prices, then you should definitely consider ordering one of the Old Navy cardis.




Can you believe that these cardigans are only $10?? I tried them on in-store, where they're going for $15, and they weren't made of horrendously cheap fabric or anything! They were a little thin, but I think that's what they're supposed to be like. They're not super-tight, so they're comfortably loose, with a hint of the boyfriend look, but if you want a full-out boyfriend cardigan you can always size up. I personally love the ones with really thick stripes, but with this many choices there's bound to be one that appeals to everyone.








These bangles are a pretty basic buy, but they're only $5.50 each and highly resemble their much more expensive (along the lines of $20) counterparts at J. Crew. Plus, they come in colours like that adorable baby pink which aren't found at many places.





And a little tip for getting free shipping? Stick something from Piperlime in your order, which gives you free shipping, and then return it (it's also free!). I haven't tried this, so I don't know if they charge you for shipping after you return the Piperlime thing, but I'll probably be giving it a shot soon so I'll let you all know what happens.