I Love My.. NP Set Eyeshadow (Yay Target!)

Photo Source: Target.com

On my last trip to Target, I spotted Napoleon Perdis' line for Target, NP Set. I loooove loose eyeshadow, and this application looked intriguing. Target actually had samples out that you could try, and the consistency of the eye shadow powder felt really rich, and looked like it would last. I also thought the applicator was really unique, and would make for a very easy application of loose eyeshadow. So I bought it, and I've been wearing it ever since. The only downside is the price....$26 for eyeshadow purchased at the drugstore? Yes, the price point is a bit steep....

The Best of the Worst in Denim Part 2: See By Chloé Denim Jumper

Photo Source: Yoox.com
At the risk of repeating myself, seriously? What in the world is going on in the world of denim? Are we really supposed to pay $300 to look like we are hanging out at the dump? I love Chloé, and I have gone so far as to defend the brand, but again...these take jumpers a bit far...then again, I never really been a fan of the jumper. Jumpers just look too trite and too forced. And really? A denim jumper? Its just so much denim!

I'm going to say that the See by Chloé Denim Jumper probably comes in second to the Current/Elliott Suspender Pants (see the post here), because there are probably a few gals out there who could rock this jumper. But like I said...a few....

The Great Black Tie Dress Hunt Begins...Part I

Photo Source: Nordstrom.Com

I found out today that I get to attend a black-tie lawyer's awards dinner in New York City this spring. I am super-excited to go, but on the other hand the dress hunt is on. How am I ever to find the dress that strikes the perfect balance between black-tie formal and being appropriate to wear around co-workes (i.e. bosses). I also don't want to look like a school-marm...I want to look young, yet elegant...classic and timeless, yet sophisticated. Oh, the pain and the hours of trying on dresses that I am about to put myself through. Because we all know that wearing a dress one already owns just won't do.

The great Possessionista posted this dress in this post, and I have to say that I really like it. It looks sophisticated, elegant, and better yet it isn't too sexy so as not to offend (not that anyone ever shoots to offend, but still....) If I can find time to get myself to Nordstrom's this weekend, I may have to try this one on. Until then, I'm sure this is only the first post of many....because how likely is it that the first dress you try on is the perfect dress? Who knows, maybe this time I'll get lucky....

Fab or Foul? BR Monogram Ruched Faille Coat

Photo Source: BananaRepublic.com

I'll be honest...I haven't really loved most of what Banana Republic has been producing the past couple of seasons (maybe even the past year), and most of my friends have had the same sentiment. Somehow, what used to be a "go to" store for quality basics and "on-trend" pieces has somehow managed to miss the mark on both accounts. But nevertheless, because I used to love Banana Republic so much, I'm still willing to give them a chance to win me back.

So I can't decide whether I love the BR Monogram Ruched Faille Coat. As I mentioned before, I love frilly layering pieces (see this post). But what about frilly outerwear? I feel like this collar could either look really really great, or could wobble dangerously on the edge of being over the top. And I'm not quite sure if it really looks more polished than a standard collar....especially for wearing to work. I have to imagine myself dashing out for lunch with the senior partner at the law firm wearing this, and wondering whether I would look like a silly strumpet, or a chic business-person.

Maybe I have also gotten a little too used to the dire state of the economy, but I also think the price point for this coat is super-high....$300 (actually about $220 after the coupon codes, BRSPRING, 20% off, and 10% for using your BR Card). For $300, you could get a designer coat, rather than a coat from Banana Republic. I don't even think J. Crew's spring coats are as pricey before the discounts.

So I'll leave the final verdict at undecided for now....who knows, maybe it will go on super-sale, and then I'll be more tempted....

Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously? Current/Elliott 'The Boyfriend' Stretch Jeans with Suspenders

Photo Source: Nordstrom.com

Can I please, pretty please, pay $300 to look like I fished my jeans out of a bin at the dump? Or to look like I am going to go fishing for things at the dump? I think this is taking boyfriend jeans about five steps too far....show me a lady who can rock these suspenders, and I'll show you cows that can fly.

The ChickDowntown Jeans Saga: Part I

Photo source: Chickdowntown.com

Way back in December I bought a pair of Current/Elliot jeans (Skinny Slouch in Loved Destroyed) from Chickdowntown.com. Upon deciding that I didn't like them, I returned them. Because I had used one of those super-great promotional coupons they had back before Christmas, something crazy like 40% off everything, they wouldn't give me a refund, but rather, gave me store credit. Fine....I suppose I can be happy with store credit. Two weeks later, I spotted a pair of Genetic Jeans (Dark Ol' Vintage Denim pictured above) that I liked. However, due to the crappiness of their website, I couldn't use BOTH a discount code, and my store credit. Just fabulous. So what did I do? I bought the Genetic Jeans with the crazy 60% off promotional coupon they had at the time (it wouldn't have even exhausted the store credit I already had anyway). I ordered said jeans on December 15th, 2008, in what was apparently a "pre-order" because the jeans hadn't actually arrived yet at Chickdowntown. Pre-orders must be paid for up front, according to store policy, but at the time I placed my order, the jeans were set to arrive on December 23rd. Great...I could wait a week or two to get the jeans in my size (especially because I couldn't find them elsewhere).

Flash forward almost two months, and the jeans still haven't arrived. According to the website, they are now set to arrive on February 27, 2009...all of this without any communication from the store each time they pushed back the arrival date of the jeans (which is about five times now). Occasionally, I would go..."oh yeah...what happened to those jeans I ordered?" And I would check the site....and sure enough the arrival date had been pushed back yet again. And yes, they did charge me up front for the jeans...so at this point I am not even sure if I could even cancel the order.

In the meantime, I did notice that they have fixed the whole using a coupon code and store credit thing simultaneously problem. However, I am still sitting on my ridiculous store credit, and waiting for jeans I ordered in December. Am I a happy customer? No. Will I be ordering anything else from this store if I can help it? No. Now, if I could just find something to use the store credit on, so I can get this store out of my life for good, I will finally be happy. Let's just hope I like the jeans I've been waiting for two months to arrive actually come....and that I don't want to return them (which will turn into another one of these vicious cycles...)

I Hate My...J. Crew Chiffon Ruffle Blouse

Photo Source: JCrew.com

I snapped this blouse up way back before the shopping ban, when the new J. Crew stuff hit stores because I loved it so much. I love ruffly layering pieces, in case you haven't noticed the trend. Needless to say, I hadn't really gotten around to wearing it, and I was curious when I saw it was already marked down. I finally tried it on last night, and realized why it has already gone on sale. I didn't notice how sheer it was on the website, so when I tried it on, I was really surprised. This blouse is completely see-through, such that you cannot wear it at all on its own...you must have a cami underneath and/or something on top. This is a bit tricky...and sometimes I hate having the sheer layer with the cami underneath because I think it looks a little more forced than effortless. And I am more about the effortless than the forced. To add insult to injury, the buttons in the bust area are ill-placed, such that it raises a major gaping issue, when the fit of the body isn't all that fitted. So I went ahead and packed this up to return...so I guess it really won't be "mine" anymore...

I Love My...J. Crew Crystal Chain Necklace

Photo Source: JCrew.Com

It goes with everything, and it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is -- the crystals don't look cheap, and the necklace looks chic and sophisticated. Throw it on, and you look pulled together. Simple and done.

Faire une Belle Valentine's Day Edition 1: Gilly Hicks

Photo Source: GillyHicks.com

I received this email a couple of days ago from Ruehl introducing its "cheeky cousin" Gilly Hicks, an online store that sells the cutest bras and panties. So I'm thinking about breaking the shopping ban to buy a little something for Valentine's Day. The bras and panties are soooo cute, sure I shouldn't be the only one to enjoy them, right? I'm loving the Riverview Set.

Another bonus to clicking over to this page? The picture of the six completely naked guys that flank the welcome page. It is probably the same six guys pictured above, but stripped of clothing and with their backsides facing the camera. Anyway, I have threatened to the boyfriend to make it my background picture on my laptop. Needless to say, he was not amused.

Photo Source: GillyHicks.com

J. Crew Review: Distressed Vintage Slim Jeans

photo source: J. Crew

I have a somewhat curvy figure, and up until now, I have stuck to the tried and true rule that I should wear bootcut jeans in a uniform dark wash, with a bit of stretch in the denim to hug my curves (see just about every women's magazine known to mankind). I also preferred premium denim brands that specialize in making denim, like Paige Premium Denim for my jeans, rather than J. Crew. Well, blow those rules out of the water. These jeans are cut fuller in the hip, so they actually fit me just about right in the hips without looking too baggy, and rolling them up like the model has in the picture makes them look right on-trend. The denim is also super-soft, and even though there isn't a hint of stretch, the denim does stretch a bit with wear. Over time, I did feel as though the waist band stretched a bit and became a bit loose, but that is pretty much the nature of these jeans. They are supposed to look relaxed and loose.

Okay, so while I enjoy wearing them, and they are comfortable, and I think they look fine on, I am not sure how sexy this boyfriend type of jean actually is. Do you think men in general find these jeans sexy? Maybe if you were really wearing a pair of his jeans after sleeping over at his apartment, and not wanting to do a walk of shame. I suppose then you would have to borrow one of his white t-shirts too. I had a conversation late last week with a friend, and we discussed that when women wear the so-called "boyfriend jean" it is really only other women who will spot the trend, and think the look is cute. We came to the conclusion that wearing boyfriend jeans, when they aren't actually your boyfriend's jeans, will fail to attract the male eye. But it isn't like one would wear these jeans out to a bar or club, or anything like that. These jeans are perfectly fine for all of those daytime weekend activities.

Okay, so now I have to figure out how to wash these things...with all of the distressing, I think throwing them in the washing machine would make them fall apart!

Review: J. Crew Solid Silk Garland Cami

photo source: J. Crew

I have a love/perturbed relationship with my J. Crew Silk Garland Camis. I bought these pre-shopping ban (I swear) in three different colors (ivory, shown above, white sand, and light pewter) because I loved the way they looked so much. The love part of the relationship is that these really are an amazing layering piece. They look fantabulous underneath cardigans and sweaters. Plus, the "garland" part looks so Rebecca Taylor-ish, that these look a lot more expensive than they actually are (I call this "maximizing value").

The part of the relationship that really perturbs me, is that they chose to put buttons all the way down the freaking front! I love my Victoria Ruffle Camis (yeah, I scooped those up in a couple of colors as well) because they are more of a henly shape with only buttons at the top. If you have an even reasonably-sized chest (and trust me, I don't have much up top), the top two buttons have a tendency to gape. To solve this problem, I have to wear another cami underneath, just so I am not embarassed when this unintended gaping happens. Another way to solve the problem is to buy a size up, but these things already run a touch large anyway. And who wants to wear a balloon just so a button doesn't gape? I suppose another way to solve the problem as well is to take the darn thing to a tailor, but who wants to pay for a tailor after paying $88 for a blouse?

So will I keep wearing my Silk Garland Camis with pride? Yes. Just yesterday I received several compliments on it, despite the occasional gape. I still love the way they look, even if the fit isn't 100% perfect.

Shameless Copy?

I was at the mall tonight with my bestest girlfriend, and we went into The Limited because my friend likes a certain type of pants there. I was just looking a ruffly shirt and trying to figure out if it looked cheap, or if could be dressed up a bit, when I turned around and spoted this:

The bag above is from The Limited. Now, call me crazy, but it looks shamelessly like a Chloé Paraty Bag:


The Limited bag above retails for $54.50, while the two Chloé bags $1995.00 and $1895.00. I am all for finding a super-fantabulous deal, but the Paraty Bag has been around for awhile -- so coming up with something similar seems a bit like copying to me. I have also been loving the Paraty bag for awhile (as have many others...i.e., countless celebs). Of course, I'm not ready to cough up almost $2,000 for one....so you would think I would be all excited over finding one for $54.50.

But the point is, that it just doesn't feel the same, and it does doesn't feel right. Should The Limited be profiting off of Chloé's success with the Paraty bag? My guess is probably not...

Jennifer Hudson's Super Bowl Jacket

I know I am a few days late on this one, but I am sooooo in love with the military-style jacket Jennifer Hudson wore for the Super Bowl. Usually I am not a fan of cropped jackets because they have a tendency to accentuate the widest part of the body, a.k.a. the tummy and thighs. But her flowy white top and black pants skimmed over those parts of the body, and the gold accents really pulled the outfit together.

So, word on the street is that the jacket is Alexander McQueen. I was able to find this jacket, which does look strikingly similar to the jacket Jennifer Hudson wore. And to be honest, one of the finishing touches love I love most about it is the trim...I'm not so wild about the plaid (or erm, the "check"), although I think plaid is pretty on trend for winter.

You can scoop up this jacket here ...it is marked down to $1279 from $3197. Because really....we can all afford a $1300 jacket.....until I find a cheaper replacement, I'll just dare to dream.

Welcome to my Self-Imposed Shopping Ban

The stock market is in a free fall, falling just about as fast as local real estate prices. And everytime I open the newspaper, more people have lost their jobs. I thought I was relatively insulated, I have a good job, and work seems to be steady, but I can't help but notice that my employer is pulling back like so many others.

All of this being said, like any other twenty-something, I love to shop and spend money. I love to wear new clothes, and I look forward to the new collections rolling in each season. I have so many clothes, that a bar actually snapped in my closet yesterday due to the sheer weight of being overburdened by too many clothes.

But how oh how does one reconcile a love of shopping and spending money with a crappy economy, and the realization that one has to grow up and actually save a bit of their paycheck?

Yes, its a struggle that all too many women are familiar with. And for better or worse, this is my struggle as well.

As of February 1st, I am imposing a shopping ban on myself. Starting now, I am not going to buy anything until May 1st. The only way I am going to lift the ban is if I:

1) Lose enough weight that I absolutely must buy new clothes such that I will be forced to go to work naked if I don't buy new articles of clothing; or

2) I win the lottery and I never have to worry about fiscal health or credit card debt.

So, until either one of these instances occurs, I am going to try to make it. Okay, let's try that again without "try" being the operative word...I'm going to make it...