Shopping Trip: The Gap

I went shopping this weekend - I totally deserved it because I spent the morning getting my car repaired and getting measured for a bridesmaid's dress - going to the dentist would have been more fun. I had been wanting to go to Gap (shocker because I haven't set foot in that store in the last five years and their previous look could best be described as girl scout chic)... anyway they've had some really cute ads recently and I figured what the heck - it can't hurt to look.

Kudos Gap - you've shaped up and gotten a little more fashionable. Yes, they still probably border on casual - khakis and button-ups (yuck and yuck - you can praise khakis and button-ups all you want but I can't stand them). But they've also taken a few tips from more grown-up stylish big sister Banana Republic. This trip has made me put them back on the shopping radar. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The prices are about in line with Limited or Loft but the sales were pretty good the day I went.

This is what I got:

Red shorts - super cute. I saw Lucky do an article on red shorts and how easy they are to wear and I fell in lust. Practical - I'm not sure sure but Lucky had four different styling options so I totally think I can work them into my summer look. Another Gap positive? The shorts ran big or the exercising is paying off because I fit into a smaller size than I had been before... Superficial to shop where I can easily fit into small sizes? Maybe. But it does make me think the gym thing is working and I'm kinda loving it.

For some reason I've been loving stripes this year. Something so European and casual about it. I thought it looked cute with the red shorts. They had it paired with a blazer and jean shorts in the store which looked super cute... perhaps for going out? I also got a white T - can never have too many, the price was good, it wasn't see-through and another red short option.

BTW how cute is her skirt. I may need to go back for some work clothes.

And last but not least this one on sale. It's hard to tell but there is beading on the neckline so it's casual and fancy - my favorite. I think I can dress it up or down. I almost got it in two colors but resisted.

I may need to make a repeat trip because I saw a few more things on the website (like the skirt above) that I liked. Case in point:

And...



I'm a sucker for black and white.

Happy Shopping!

Little Red Riding Hood... aka I Love Capes

I am in absolute love with capes this season. I keep hoping and praying one will turn up at Loft, Limited or Old Navy (surprisingly or not ON is a great place to find trendy winter coats) but no such luck. So I'm stuck lusting after this one... that's crazy out of my price range and green...

I stopped watching Gossip Girl this year. I just couldn't keep up and I need the extra night of no TV to do other things. But I still heart Blair and her chic updated Audrey Hepburn looks. This green cape and yellow shoes are simply delish. source: www.thelovecollage.com.

Do you know how hard it is to find pictures of capes? Apparently the only places that remotely sell them are stores that charge more than my mortgage payment for one. And when I do a Google search - all I get is crazy things like Halloween costumes, examination bibs for doctor's offices and other non-relevant information.

So would you wear this trend or not?

Rompers II

So I went to The Limited last night - I had to get a Mother's day gift and to try on a romper. They totally reminded me why I love that store. I figured out what's wrong with the other rompers I've seen and tried on. Most are one pieces with no zippers or buttons or buttons only at the top near your chest. The piece is meant to be pulled on up over your hips and then slipped over your shoulders if there are straps. Meaning it has to be big enough to get over your hips (which I don't know about you but are the widest part of my body). So in the end you get what's the equivalent of a sack.

So I went in and picked up the turquoise one. They had sold out of the one shoulder one!!! I tried on a large which was way too big but I wanted to see if it was even halfway cute. I'm in love. The turquoise I tried on a small. There was a zipper on the shorts and buttons up each side of the top - allowing the fabric to open enough to slide over your hips and butt. The turquoise one is super cute on - I still had a butt. haha.... the only thing I'm not crazy about on that one is that it hits pretty high on my chest (much higher than on the model). So I didn't buy either one but I'm going to order the black one later and will give you a final assessment then.

But my tip if you are going to dare a romper - pay more and get one with sides that can be unzipped or unbuttoned - the extra give will allow the piece to still be form fitting once closed.

Happy Shopping!

My Favorite Things - The Limited

Was this a secret? If so, poorly kept. Especially if the sales people recognize you when you walk in and point you to the new stuff. Since I'm trying to be good and not spend money (see post re. new computer) I haven't been in forever but The Limited is torturing me with $15 coupons and emails about their newest clothes. I swear I think it's all a trick to get me back in the store (obviously).


Anyway, a while back I talked about wanting a romper. I've been pretty discouraged because most said rompers are a. hard to find (this isn't exactly CA or NY) b. incredibly unflattering (i.e. gives you no butt or diaper butt) or c. don't fit properly (diaper butt/no butt excluded, I've found the bottoms are tight, the tops too big, etc....). But guess what popped into my inbox a few days ago....















A turquoise romper (which is what I wanted) at my favorite store ever!!! For half a second I debated calling in sick to get to the mall but that would be just silly... right? Well anyway, they have three options... turquoise above for $69.50.














This option which I love - how cute is the one shoulder look? It's $79.50 (a little steep I think).
















And this... not sure what to think.... I don't know I'm not so much a fan but I might try it on. You can never tell in photos. This one is $69.50.


So I'm going this weekend even if I have to sneak over there and hide the package in my car for a month... or maybe I can tell K The Limited had a special buy one get one free deal??? I'll admit all the prices are a little high for what's really shorts but I do have the $15 coupon, plus a few others floating around that will help. And really - these things might not even fit right!



Anyway, what do you think? Would you wear a romper?

Just One Look

Stores fall into four categories for me.

Madly in Love - the name says it all. If these stores were people we'd be bff's. We get each other. I seek them out.

Deep Dislike - these are the stores (obviously) that I would rather get a cavity filled than venture into. Or the stores I didn't click with.

Ambivalent Acquittance - Take it or leave it. These are the stores that I don't feel strongly one way or the other.

Why did I describe this to you? Because when I'm am ambivalent acquittance it's pretty hard to win me over. I might walk into your store occassionally and look around but I don't crave what you sell. You don't have top of mind for me when I'm thinking about what I need next.

I just spent the last few days up in NJ celebrating a belated Christmas. It's not bad to spread the holiday out a bit but I will say it loses some of its charm when you take away the ceremony, the tree and all the fattening food. Anyway... NJ is my favorite place to shop - you get all the trends of NYC but minus the mobs of people and the sales tax. I plan my shopping up there days out - which places I have to go to and which I'm on the fence about.

This brings me to J. Crew. J. Crew falls solidly into ambivalent acquittance - I have a few things from there but for me they always fell squarely into a more expensive version of the Gap for me - aka old-school preppy with boring khakis and button ups. I have K to thank for my latest obsession (and by obsession I mean stalking J. Crew's website and trying to figure out if I should wait until summer to order stuff or just head out to the mall now). We were at the Outlets and K had to go to the bathroom. It's too cold to wait outside and J. Crew was next to the restrooms so I said I'd wander in there thinking even khakis can hold my attention for a few minutes.

I walked into a summer in Key West - bright colors, cute sundresses, shorts and tops that had me drooling. I didn't actually get anything - I can't justify paying full price for shorts that I won't wear for another few months but they really got me thinking (and obsessing).

So thanks to http://www.jcrew.com/ for the following spring/summer loves to get us through this chilly post-work Friday.

I'm Day Dreaming of Warm Weather....

Since VA has decided to turn into the Arctic, I for one have been daydreaming non-stop of Spring and Summer. My dreams revolving around a pool, vacations and less layers. Never again will I complain about 100 degree weather. Anything is better than all this snow!

I will say all this snow has inspired my Spring fashion - as in anything rainbow colored, the brighter the better. I went shopping after work for snow boots - apparently like sleds all the snow boots are gone until next year. But the shoe store happens to be next to Old Navy so... let's just say major props to the window designer at Old Navy. What better way to attract customers sick of all this cold weather, big puffy coats and dry skin then a bunch of brightly dressed mannequins screaming for you to come in and just slip into something a little bit brighter. And slip in I did. I quickly gathered up a bright florals, lime greens, lemon yellows, cool greys and scurried off to the dressing room.

I have to say I've always loved Old Navy. The clothes are relatively inexpensive. Slightly trendy but leaning more on comfortable. And their jeans fit me better than anything else I've found. So, I ended up buying more things than I should have and normally I totally would have waited for a sale but for some reason I couldn't make myself part with any of it. Besides which, due to all the snow my budget is looking pretty good. You can't spend money if you can't leave your house!

So what I'm loving after this trip - aside from all the tropical colors - grey jeans (they also had some super cute baby pink ones but they were cropped pants which don't look good on anyone under 5'6"), bright summer/spring scarfs, ballet flats, slightly 80's vibe t's... they also had some cute purses/totes that were very earth friendly looking but with a "painted" design on the front. For the jeans I think the spring colors were much easier to wear than the previous neon jeans that paraded around summer/fall '09. They had a grey, white, pale blue and baby pink. I actually found a second pair of grey ones on the clearance rack - even better!

So think spring people! Oh and if you know a place where I can get some snow boots asap let me know.

And The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care...

What will I do when all the Christmas theme posts are done?

Now that everything is unwrapped and Christmas is officially over until next year lets take a minute to talk Christmas gifts. Remember that feeling when you were five years old, you couldn't sleep. You put out just the right cookies for Santa and maybe a carrot for the reindeer. You carefully crafted a list. You woke up at 3 am and begged your parents to please let you see if Santa came. You tore into presents with glee.

I don't have kids but growing up and having to buy presents for others I know what the parents must be feeling in the equation. Wrapping presents. Buying wrapping paper. Running out of tape. Carefully looking for coupons or standing in lines at 3am for this year's "It" present. Staying up until midnight so you can play Santa and then waking up early because your kids dog pile you begging to open presents. I always use to wonder why my Mom would get so grouchy at the holidays.

"Stop being such a Grinch." I would proclaim as I tried to cram yet another ornament on the tree.

"I'm not being a Grinch." She would shake her head. "You don't understand. Christmas is a lot of work."

I get it now Mom... Christmas is a lot of work. Are there some parts I love? Yes. I could put up a tree with my eyes close. I will bake cookies until I have no where else to put them. I will wander around light tours even though my hands are numb and I'm dying to just go inside and get warm.

What I hate? What I absolutely wish I didn't have to do.... buy and wrap gifts. It’s funny though – on one hand I love it and on the other I hate it. I love that thrill of finding just the right present that someone will like. But often (and maybe I don't know my friends that well or maybe we're old enough that if we really want something under $25 we buy it ourselves), I find myself running here there and everywhere looking for that elusive (and slightly inexpensive) perfect gift.


I hate that it stretches my budget thin. I'm not trying to be cheap or a Grinch about it but my salary has not kept pace with the growing size of my family and friends. And trying to tell people you don't want to exchange is really awkward and I never really have much luck at it.

K was all about me trying to tell people we don't want to do gifts. "Blah blah budget... money doesn't grow on trees... blah blah just tell them." Me... being consumed with guilt that friends and family will hate me put it off or tried a lame attempt a couple of times and decided it was just easier to buy something. Maybe next year.

There are very few people I really enjoy buying for. S is one of them. I can go into any store - find something (or twenty-somethings) I would like and know she'll love it. I also love people like my sister who said "I want x..." this being acceptable as long as x is under agreed upon limit. Don't tell me x and then x turns out to be a $50 video game or a $100 necklace. (On a side note, Sis is not said person - her x this year was a book - which I got her).

I don't love people who spout off wish list that start with items of $50 or $100. If I'm not your mother, wife or super-close relative. I'm not spending that much and you should be ashamed for asking for it.

I don't love battling crowds for good deals. I love good deals. I love shopping. I hate Christmas shopping. Good deals are truly few and far between. I'm not traipsing to Best Buy or Target at 5 am. There is nothing I need that badly (and nothing you should either). I hate wandering around stores trying in vain to find the perfect gift. Maybe I'm a perfectionist but I always feel like I never find the right gift. I agonize over gifts the way some people would agonize over buying a house (I did that too).

I guess buying gifts stresses me out. I'm glad it's over. It's the one part of Christmas I can't wait to be over. (Although I do admit when I find the perfect gift I'm really excited to see them open it). Later this week I'll try to pull together a post of gift ideas for next year.

How do you feel about Christmas shopping? Does it blow the budget or are you a good shopper? Do you agonize like me or are you an in-and-out kind of shopper?

Obsessions Fall 2009

Ok I have to admit about every other month or so I get obsessed with finding one object to fill my fashion dreams. In the spring it was a bright yellow purse (I went to two malls, two Marshalls and finally found one in SteinMart). For months yellow was my go-to neutral (whether or not it’s actually a neutral is debatable but it looks delicious with almost everything). Last fall it was Rihanna-inspired ankle boots. The most perfect little Nine West black leather boots with a piece that folded over and was buckled down on one side. I went to three malls begging Macy’s to keep calling to find my new love. I finally tracked them down, bought them and they have sat in my closet since then. I love them but my wardrobe is probably more Audrey Hepburn than Rihanna and I need to add some more rocker pieces to make it work.

So my latest obsessions for fall are leggings and boots.

I love boots. I can’t begin to even explain how wonderful it feels to find a good pair of boots. I remember this scene from friends where Rachel is trying to explain buying a pair of boots and I can see how no one else gets it but I want to yell, “I get it Rachel.” Shoes can make your wardrobe and a hot pair of boots can make your fall and winter. The problem with boots is when you wear them everyday they barely make it through one season. So a few weeks ago I trotted off to Macy’s in search of my new winter boots. I went in thinking I’d be good, I need black boots. I won’t even look at the other boots. But all those shiny leather boots stared back at me practically begging me to try them on. I ended up with three pairs.

So my must have boots this fall, well I got my black work boots – every girl needs a good pair of black leather boots. Not too sexy (no thigh-high boots unless your job is something akin to Julia Roberts’ in Pretty Woman) and work appropriate - perfect under slacks or with dresses or skirts.

My two other pairs are my love of the season – the slouchy boot. You know the type; you can pull them up so they are just slightly slouchy or push them down so they have little ripples running down your legs. I got two pairs, one with a heel in black (they are casual – you have to have a casual and a dressy pair) and a brown pair that’s flat.

My second love is leggings. I’m late to jump on this fashion bandwagon (or trend-wagon?). I wore leggings the first go-round in the 80’s and was protesting them for that reason alone. Except on one shopping trip to New York and Company they had a special, buy a tunic and get a pair of leggings for free. I encourage you to try them. It’s like wearing work out pants only more stylish. You can wear them with flats or heels. I haven’t tried them with a skirt or dress – I don’t want to look like an 18 year old. But I love them with long tunics. Make sure the tunic covers your butt – it’s actually probably good if it hits mid-thigh, anything shorter is too short.

So those are my two obsessions right now – what are yours? Comment and we can discuss.