Bargain Bulls-Eye

This fashionable find from Target will probably end up in my closet soon...there is a whole array of things I'd love to purchase to fill up my $50 quota for free shipping.

This dress stands out though, because of the tiered hems and the cutouts along the sleeves. Plus it's only $15! I'll have to find an occasion to wear it to, though...

Splurge vs. Steal: Black and White

So, while browsing Nordstrom's post-anniversary-sale-sale-offerings, I came upon this wondrous piece of bandaged greyscale goodness:


But alas, even on sale it's $116.90. Definitely not budget-friendly. Thank goodness there's this alternative at Urban Outfitters!


Though the Urban dress is decidedly less formal, I love it to pieces. It's $48, and I'm kind of considering buying it...except for the simple little fact that I don't exactly have an occasion for it and I have a plethora of other dresses that I should probably wear before purchasing a new one. But isn't the print lovely! I'm even considering getting it in a -gasp- colour!


I know, I know, potentially picking the coloured one over the plain one is pretty life-changing. But it's just a possibility! I happen to like the colour combination in this particular dress.

An Unexpected Rampage

In general, I've found that teenybopper stores like Wet Seal churn out pieces that, well...let someone take one look at you and go "That girl just came from Wet Seal." Not that it's a bad thing. I totally understand people that want to pinch their pennies and head to Wet Seal-like places. However, in my own efforts to stay cheaply chic, I've often found myself scouring teen shops for items that, well, don't look like they belong there.

One store I remember quite well was Rampage. Around the time of my 8th grade graduation, my mom took me to a big suburban mall to try to find a dress (the options were more budget-friendly than Chicago's Michigan Ave.). I vividly remember stepping into Rampage and finding an endless array of dresses that just spoke to my 8th grade self. They were all around $60-70, so I was afraid to ask my mom to get me one. As you can tell, the bargain hunting started when I was quite young -- my dress turned out to be a $24.90 number from H&M which I would totally wear today if it wasn't far too small for me.

Anyway, the reason I bring Rampage up is that I decided on a whim today to browse their selection of dresses. I found the usual brightly coloured satin numbers with excessive puckering and numerous dress versions of the high waisted skirt + blouse combo, but I also found a hidden, $49 gem.




Isn't it gorgeous? It's a tiny bit goth, but I love it! For the uber-trendies out there, this could be part of a tight dress + blazer with rolled up sleeves + fierce shoes look, but even for the normal people this is still quite a find for a store like Rampage. I kind of wish this had been around for my homecoming, because I completely would have worn it!

Sigh...ah well. I kind of want to buy it, but I'm trying not to buy dresses unless I have an upcoming occasion to wear them. But, I mean, it's only $49, right?

Breaking Free...Or At Least Discounted

A while back, I admired a gorgeous dress choice by Vanessa Hudges at the Teen Choice Awards. I love greyscale tones, and I thought that her black, grey, and white dress complimented her complexion and hair colour beautifully. I have always been a fan of hers, and often try to take style tips as I look quite similar to her. For a while, I have been looking for a dress like that, as it is neutral while also detailed and fashionable.


Though this may not be an exact fit, I think that it incorporates the striped fabric style well, and also brings in a neutral colour palette, though it may not be the exact same one. It's only $111, which isn't bad for a cute formal dress like this. Sigh...to buy, or not to buy? I don't really have an occasion to wear it, but I'm worried that I'll regret passing up on it later...

Promenade Attire

So, as you may know, this year is my senior year in high school. Which, to a fashion-loving gal, means one thing: prom.

I've been browsing quite a few sites lately, in search of the perfect prom frock. I'm trying not to go overboard on the cost, while still looking for a dress that isn't typical. Because of my height (a meager 5"2'), I'm going to aim for a cocktail dress, especially because it'll be much easier to wear later on in life.

My first stop was Saks Fifth Avenue, where I sadly was only able to find one dress that truly captivated me. Sure, there were many pretty ones, but I wasn't truly taken by many of them. I'm sure if I look again in a few weeks I'll have a change of heart, but for now, here is prom pick number 1.


Personally, I'm all about the neutral colours, so this white and black combination is great. The bodice works well with a strapless bra, and would probably flatter a small figure. I'm a little worried about two things: first, since the dress is split up into two colours, it might make me look shorter than I am, and second, the skirt might be a little overwhelmingly poufy. However, this dress is still staying on my list, especially since it reminds of my favourite Project Runway contestant ever: Leanne Marshall!

Grecian Goddess

I will never ever tire of beautifully draped, Rami Kashou-esque Grecian gowns.

Claudia Schiffer at the premiere of "Burn After Reading"


Diane Kruger at the premiere of "Valentino: The Last Emperor"


I would die of happiness if I could wear Diane Kruger's dress to prom. My closest alternative...well, I suppose it could be called a steal at $358.00

What the FCUK?

I have always loved French Connection's classy yet original pieces...but never really their prices. Though there are usually some unique pieces to be found, I've never really grown attached to anything that would make me want to shell out the usual extravagant amounts of dough that is required.

One thing that I've always noticed about French Connection is that they often feature pieces that resemble those from Marchesa. I've always admired Marchesa garments (from a distance, of course), and love that French Connection is able to bring the same concept to those who can't quite afford Marchesa without outright stealing their designs. This dress, for example, is very reminiscent of the lace-based work that Marchesa puts into their ethereal designs.


A piece that caught my eye while I was browsing the sale section was this green slouchy coat with a bow trim. I don't really own much in the way of in-between outerwear, and I usually end up throwing on some trench-like thing, or maybe a tweed blazer. Something about this coat made me take a second glance at it, even though it looks completely dowdy from the picture.


But, if you take a look at the same coat at ASOS, they've shown you what it looks like with more light on it -- and I'm totally sold! The green is really beautiful, and would set anyone apart from the neutral-coloured trench and mac-wearing crowd. You can actually view a person wearing this down a catwalk here, which just makes the coat look even more splendid. I really want to take the plunge but I've been trying oh so hard to cut back on my fashion spending...maybe I could claim it's an investment piece? I'd imagine a coat like this could definitely last me more than a few years.

...My My, How Can I Resist You?

So that van Gogh notebook got me thinking about Starry Night, and the beautiful colour combinations of the painting. I'm no artist, and my knowledge of colour palettes is limited to that little wheel I see at Blick and Office Depot that automatically matches colours for you. But even with my limited art knowledge, I can still appreciate the gorgeous tones of the painting.

Because my expression comes more from fashion than from a paintbrush, here's my own, Shopbop-induced 5-minute van Gogh.


Individual pieces (all from Shopbop sale):

Vivianne Dress, Dessous by Sophie Simmons


Flower Ruffle Dress, Moschino Cheap and Chic


Side Button Dress, Mint Jodi Arnold


Melissa Open Toe Slingback Pump, Modern Vintage Shoes


Celesta Satin Flat, Maloles

Proud to be an American

As much as I love really basic jersey pieces, I can't help but shy away from places like American Apparel, which is the poster child for no-frills fashion. I find myself browsing their store very often, but never actually reaching out and getting anything.

On my last post, I featured a mustard-coloured jersey skirt with an elastic waistband, which I have been strangely drawn to lately. I would probably wear it much like I showed it with the previous post's outfit -- white wifebeater, statement necklace, and statement shoes. I could also see this being worn with a really sheer white T-shirt and a dark tank top underneath (or just a bra, if you're feeling really confident that day), but unfortunately...not much else. This piece is trendy yet classic, which really confuses me but at the same time attracts me. The only thing detracting is the $30 price tag, which I would usually reserve for a piece with interesting detail rather than something to be worn with something with interesting detail.


But American Apparel has recently overcome my previous moral dilemma, and churned out two really unique things that I'm completely coveting.

The first one you may have heard about already -- it's a "thermochromatic" T-shirt, which means that it changes colour with your body temperature. I'm not one for really outlandish clothes, but that's really cool. American Apparel is clearly aware of this, as they've tacked on a $34 price tag to a splotchy T-shirt, but I'm still adding it to my "lust" list for clothes.


This next dress seems really gimmicky, and I never thought I would find myself wanting anything remotely like this. Far too often I've heard about "Dresses that can be worn 50 different ways!" only to find some strange jersey contraption that a. looks completely uncomfortable and b. in all of its manifestations, would probably only be worn by someone who clearly isn't a teenager but insists on dressing like one. And yet, when I saw this dress I was strangely attracted to it...despite the fact that its "ever-evolving" shape reminded me of the good ol' days of Pokemon.

Its original manifestation, which in Pokemon terms one might call Charmander, is quite cute on its own. I would actually buy this dress even if it didn't evolve into anything, just because it's a great basic and has an adjustable tie strap.


These first two "evolved versions" of the dress are a teensy bit gimmicky, but maybe that's just me. I'm not a huge fan of the dangly straps in the front of the first one, and the second one isn't too subtle about showing the whole changeling dress factor -- instead of looking like a whole new dress, it looks sort of like you tied your dress straps funny. The back is cool, though.


I really like this next version of the dress, which would be the Charmeleon to the original Charmander. It's simple and classy, and the halter style of tying the straps is really, really flattering. It's not horribly avant-garde or different, but it doesn't look like you tied your straps funny to achieve the effect. It really does look like a whole new dress.


Okay, so we're on our way to Charizard but we've got one more stop on the way. I actually don't hate this version of the dress that much. Sure, the front is a little iffy, but the crossing detail in the back is really interesting. We're almost there...


Finally! I wouldn't say that this is necessarily my favourite incarnation of this dress but it definitely is the Charizard to the original Charmander. It's got tons of wearability, but the cross-strap halter detail on the front of the dress makes it look like I wandered down to Wicker Park and purchased this from some edgy designer boutique where everything costs an arm and a leg. For those who don't know, Wicker Park is a really yuppie area of Chicago, filled with really overpriced but great fashion. I suppose that I would have to go down there to visit American Apparel anyway, but that's besides the point.


By the way, don't think I've completely converted to an American Apparel lover just yet. I do still wonder how exactly one goes about rectifying the bra situation when rocking any of these dress incarnations (strapless works for some of them, but for others you might have to use those detachable cup things...shudder).

I also bemoan the existence of the following pieces:

Fresh Scallops

No, no...I don't mean the seafood. Though I don't mind a nice seared scallop...mmm. Anyway, while I was perusing the Saks sale in search of pastel frocks for you guys (the post is right before this), I found this lovely white shift dress from Walter, on sale for $178.80. The scalloped detail is so fresh and light, and the white is perfect for summer. What I like about this dress is that it works for summer, but it could also be paired with a nice cardigan for cooler weather, or even black tights and a jacket for winter (very Zooey Deschanel).


If I had to pick a pair of summer sandals to wear this with, I'd probably go matchy matchy and pick a pair of white or cream sandals. Really, almost anything in a neutral colour (though I'm not so hot about the idea of black shoes and a white dress) would work, even a fierce pair of gladiators. Here are some choices from the clearance circuit that would complement this lovely dress perfectly.

For those of you that want a simple, basic summer sandal that you can use again and again I'd try this crossover flip-flop like variety from Steve Madden. It's on sale for $19.99, and it comes in silver, gold, and black. If I was coordinating this pair of shoes with the Walter dress, I'd go for the silver and gold, but if you need a pair of black sandals by all means try those.




For those of you that want something edgier to neutralize the super-girly scallops on the shift, I would try a more unique sandal, like one of these two pairs. I'd still stick with white, but the first pair of flip-flops, on sale for $25.90 from Chinese Laundry, are a great way to add a little tiny bit of punky studs to any ensemble. The second pair of shoes, on sale for $49.99 from Steve Madden, echo the gladiator/Grecian styles that have been popping up so much. The ankle detail is reminiscent of many avant-garde styles of footwear, yet the simple buckle detail and strappy structure keep this sandal wearable with many different outfits.

Be Like Blair

Though many may find it difficult to pick between the equally gorgeous styles of Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl, I personally find it much easier to take style tips from Blair, just because Serena's style often requires long, skinny legs like hers (which sadly, not all of us are blessed with). I am about 5'2", so pulling off some of those shift dresses isn't exactly easy. Though Blair's style is pretty extreme, I like getting inspiration from her outfits rather than attempting to pull off an entire one. So, while browsing the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale today, I came across a large number of pieces that I thought would be fit for Blair Waldorf herself (not counting the price tag, of course).

I'll start off with one of the more simple ones, a beige puff sleeve dress. This neutral colour would be flattering on many different skintones, and leaves the way for a fun pair of flats or heels, depending on the occasion. But the fitted silhouette, puffed sleeves, and bow detail are all Blair. The $68.90 sale price? Not so much.


This short-sleeved white shift dress could be styled in many different ways, and may not seem to scream "Blair!" at first, but I found a couple of accessories that might bring it more into Waldorf territory. It's on sale for $68.90.


For a Blair Waldorf-approved look, I would pair this dress with a pair of red bow pumps ($29.99 at Piperlime) and a red bow headband ($2.80 at Forever 21)


This red, structured dress with bows on the sleeves is so Blair Waldorf that the Nordstrom model is even styled in a Blair Waldorf sort of way. The high bun, the pink lipstick...though I imagine if it was Blair she'd have a bit more blusher on, just to push the whole "innocent doll" look. It's on sale for $165.90, which isn't too bad for a nice evening dress that makes you stand out from the crowd (high bun and bright lipstick not required).


Finally, this black ruffled trench coat (which is a steal at $26.90) is a great way to add some girlie to a basic, everyday piece. A trench like this can be used in the fall or the spring, because the ruffled soften what would be a harsh piece. Plus, we all know Blair loves her belts and this trench sports its own. Unfortunately, it's only available in Medium, but if that's your size I would grab this ASAP.

J. Crew Sale Outfit For Tea

Here's a pretty little blue and yellow outfit inspired by the J. Crew sales...yes, J. Crew sales might seem like full price to some people but their pieces are always high quality and very classic.

If I were meeting up with my grandma for tea or something of that prim and proper nature, I would start off with a nice, pastel-coloured cardigan. Something about a light and lovely cardigan just screams "tea with grandma" to me. Plus, it never hurts to add another cardigan to your collection -- they're simple, chic, and classic and there's always room to have fun with brooches and extra details. This yellow one from the J. Crew sale has a cute but not overpowering bow on the neckline and is $37.50, because of the extra sale discount (EDIT: This is no longer on sale).


I would pair that lovely cardigan with this indigo split-neck dress. Though it looks a little daring, I've seen it in real life and it isn't that low-cut. Then again, it all depends on your body structure. This dress is $59.99, but with the 25% off discount it's $45.00.


And finally, to top it all off...a cute pair of flats. This pair is $37.50, again because of the discount. You could have a lot of fun with the flats to pair with this outfit, but since it is grandma I'd opt for something colour-coordinating.


If you wanted to be a little less matchy-matchy, some fun bangles or cute earrings would definitely work with this outfit. Try not to go for a necklace though, as they can sometimes look strange with split necklines.

And...while we're on the topic of J. Crew sales, words cannot describe how in love I am with this linen double-breasted light grey jacket, on sale for $60.00:


and these unbelievably darling green polka dot flats, also on sale for $60.00.