Tweed, my dear.

Every time fall comes around I start seeing tweed all over the place. However, this year it's different. It's not old lady clothing that I am seeing. I'm seeing glamorized, youthful cuts of fabric this year. I've seen some great tweed minis and even some beautiful tweed jackets.

Before, tweed was the type of fabric my mother would wear. "Tweed?" I'd say, "Absurd!" but now I'm thinking that maybe tweed isn't so bad. Especially in a cute mini pictured here.

There's been a nice update on a tweed jacket as well. This cute funnel jacket looks great in the material. It's less, "polished" and more "stylish."

Tweed is even getting an update in color, it's not only coming in black and grey. Tweed comes in many colors, including this beautiful blue. This jacket even has gunmetal chain details, once again giving this fabric a much needed lesson in being more youthful.

If you want to be more earth friendly then find some tweed fashions on places like etsy.com. I found a fun boyfriend style jacket in tweed, which absolutely works for this season.Or celebrate this fabric's update with an awesome hat or two.

Fall!

I have rekindled my love with Forever 21, and the reason is not because the clothing became of better quality (let's face it, a $5 shirt will not last forever) but because they've made a size shift! They have adjusted their sizing to a more normal figure. While this makes shopping there a little harder, now I have to try everything on now since sizing can be inconsistent, I find that I can find more clothing that fit my body type. This is an extremely exciting prospect!

So, let's talk about fall (I'll give you the cliff notes version and cut out the ugly trends i.e. fur vests). I have stocked up on lace up boots, grungy over sized plaid button ups and leggings. Ladies and gentleman the 90's are back. Did you hear that correctly? Why yes, you did. 90's grunge is back in full force, even Urban Outfitters felt the need to inform me via email that I needed some lace leggings or I'd never fit in with their dehydrated looking models.

People, it is also the time to invest in a nice leather jacket. Either that or find an awesome fake! If you can find a bomber jacket, do it, it's a timeless style that you can wear year after year. Another item to consider is some over-the-knee boots. Now, these boots take some chutzpah to pull off (literally sometimes) but if you can work it, do it; over-the-knee boots are THE boots for fall. And if you're caught between leather and suede (loooove) I would say suede. Did you not see that coming? Suede is a fabric you will see a lot this fall and not just in boots. Suede will also make over-the-knee boots a little less dominatrix and a little more elegant.


Other trends that have come in full force are the military jackets and military boots. The boots coincide with the lace up style of the 90's but the military jackets seem to be a new addition to the trend. The military jacket is masculine by all means, but this year it's about dressing it up to be beautifully feminine. Did I mention it's a breeze getting ready in the morning with a jacket of this style? You put on skinny jeans, a t-shirt, some jewelry and a military jacket (preferably a little bigger than your usual size, perhaps with a belt?) and BAM! trendy (and comfy!). H&M seems to have a couple of jackets like this, Forever 21 seems to be releasing them for their fall line as well.

In shoes, other than boots of all kinds, there is a trend of Cognac all around. It seems to be the golden child of fall, and the great thing is that Cognac is a color for all seasons so you wont be stuck with unwearable boots or pumps after fall.

Fall make up trends seem to be all about purple eyes (which really brings out brown eyes) with beige (nude) lips or a cat eye with bright red lips. Purple isn't just stopping at the eyes though, apparently, purple is going to be big in lips, eyes, and nails. The best make up trend for fall though, is the "naked" beauty. Natural make up all the way, this I can get behind! But if you're worried about looking too plain, worry not because strong eyebrows are also back this fall, so rock your Audrey Hepburn brows!

Survey Says

First thing that pops into my head when thinking of the words:
Red: Carmen SanDiego
Cheeks: Rosy
Luscious: Lips
Aroma: Vanilla
Skin: Healthy
Summer: Radiance
Ingredient: Cooking
Fresh: Water
Flattering: Skinny Jeans
Innovative: Tech

What is your current state of mind?
Thoughtful
What is your favorite beauty word?
Dewy
What smell do you love?
Clean Laundry
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Singing
What is your favorite color?
Turquoise
What is your greatest beauty extravagance?
Skin care
When and where are you happiest?
In bed with a book
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Dude, for sure.
What is your least favorite beauty task?
Blow drying/straightening my hair

Sales I Got Emailed To Me

The weekend is almost here, yesss.

So last night I decided to take my closet apart. I have a giant closet, and I've pretty much taken the entire thing since my boyfriend was gracious enough to let me. I took everything out and reorganized everything together, shirts together, pants together, etc. (That picture to the left isn't my closet, but man do I wish it was!) I really recommend doing this, especially if you're like me and have more clothes than you can keep track of. It made me realize how much of my clothing I don't wear often enough and I'm ashamed to say, I even found things I forgot I owned. However, if you're not like me and you've got your stuff together, here are some sales you might enjoy!



Piperlime is having 20% off their Sneak peek boots for fall, and it's today ONLY. So, take a look!
Promo code: TREAT4ME

Nine West is having a similar sale for some of their Fall shoes, starting today until August 2nd they're giving customers 25% off select fall shoes. No promo code necessary, their items are already marked down.

Banana Republic is having their 30% off summer sale July15th through the 18th. Online and in Store, they've marked things down.
(Just an FYI, I got an email yesterday with a promo code just for me that let me have 40% off on two items before the sale even opened up for everyone else today, as a thank you for being a Banana Card member. Pretty sweet. They seem to do this before most sales!)

Today is the last day to save 20% on the GAP website, with promo code: GAPSAVENOW
Now may be the time for you to score the "legging jeans" I keep hearing about. Apparently, it just had to get skinnier.



If you own a Banana, GAP or Old Navy card you can still save 20% on Old Navy's "Stuff and Save" sale ending July 18th. Promo code: ONSTUFF20 and you get free shipping if you spend $50 or more.

If you don't have a card with them you can still save 15% off and also get free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Promo code: ONSAVE15

Happy Shopping! =D

This week's purchase

So, I made my purchase for the week, and guess what? It was shoes again. I think I'm in a bit of a shoe phase. In any case the shoes I bought are what I like to think of as "skinny jeans heels." I got these shoes at my favorite shoe maker's store, Clarks. They make the most comfortable heels in existence, all the heels I own are that brand because every other brand makes heels for people who apparently can't feel their feet. I'll branch out on brands for flats, but with heels, I am a true blue Clarks fan girl.
The pair I bought were purchased in store, because online they're ridiculously expensive. They're called "Splendor Lily" and are a part of their "Artisans" collection, which in layman's terms means "feels like you're not wearing heels and are instead walking on clouds." It's also got some kind of air flow technology in the padded foot bed (yup, I said padded foot bed) which helps get rid of moisture, and to top it off the leather is the softest leather I think I've ever seen in a shoe.

I scored these heels for $50 in store. Right now they're having a sale, which seems to be only in Clarks' stores. I noticed some really great looking shoes for low prices, and these are some real quality shoes you'll inevitably wear again and again.

So, if you're looking for some stylish but comfy heels (and flats) then give Clarks a try, now may be a good time to get them at a fraction of the price.

Aldo Shoes Sale

I wandered into an Aldo shoe store and realized they were having a sale! And after looking online it looks like the prices are the same in store and online, though online seems to have a lot more sizes.
A friend managed to find a fun pair of shoes for $19.98. Some are as low as $9.98, truly a steal!


They have several others that are worth taking a look at. There was one pair I eyed wistfully, but decided the last thing I needed was another pair of shoes. But, I'll share it since it was just too nice not to to be owned by someone.

These shoes are fun, and really "in" right now. The oxford and men's inspired shoes are pretty much "the" shoe for summer and fall and this one does not fall short. It is a truly gorgeous shoe for $59.98

Another pair worth mentioning is one from their new arrivals called, "Goolia." Honestly, these shoes look way better in person, their website does them no justice. At $50.00 these shoes are another contender for the new men inspired shoe competition.

In fact, Aldo has an entire section dedicated to shoes like these called "Brogues" with prices ranging from $29.98 to $90.00.

If none of these tickle your fancy there are plenty of other brands jumping on this wagon. So just keep an eye out for a pair that make you go "Ooooh."

Nine West boots

So, my purchase for the week ended up being exactly what I thought it would be. It also turned into a lesson you may all want to learn. Sign up for newsletters for your favorite brands, because sometimes, you may get a nice surprise. For me, it ended up being a free pair of shoes in a 2 hour long event they were having in store. In any case, just an FYI to everyone, if you like a particular brand enough, sign up for the their email updates, it may come in handy sometimes.

Anyway, I got the Nine West boots I'd had my eye on. They are my purchase for this week. They were on sale for 59.99 and I had a $10 coupon that I'd gotten in the mail for signing for updates. So, I got the boots for $50, they were the last pair and exactly in my size. It was like it was meant to be, (there are plenty more on the website though). Now, while I realize these are not exactly work appropriate (though I may still wear them to my work since the dress code is so relaxed) I had to share these, because seriously these are some really adorable and comfy boots. They run about a half size too big, so I had to get a 7 1/2 instead of my usual size for Nine West. In any case, super happy with my purchase.


As for sales going on right now, Banana Republic is having 25% off our entire purchase all day today 7/8 and 20% off your entire purchase on 7/9. Promo code: BRJULY

The Loft is having 50% off all sale items.

Urban Outfitters is having free shipping on all furniture.

I also just recently visited Anthropoligie's website and store, and it seems that they have a lot of spring/summer clothing on sale. (Now keep in mind the prices are not low for normal stores, but low for Anthropologie)

Nine west is having their sandal shoe sale for $29.99 and up and also 25% all handbags.

Clark's shoes is having a pretty big in store shoe sale.

Alright, I'll add more once I find them.
Time for bed...

And back!

Sorry for the hiatus everyone. I am now back and ready to update.
I've been talking to some people who keep trying to find alternatives to websites like Modcloth who just seem to hike up the prices of their clothing.
Well, I found two alternatives Ruche and Tulle these websites have the same style of clothing available (a style which seems to be a staple for the San Franciscan girl.)

Another update is that I have embarked on an adventure. In an effort to bond with my coworkers Jackie and Lisa (and also an effort to save some money) I will be buying only 0-1 thing (piece of clothing, accessory, shoes, etc) each week for the month of July. Things had been getting out of hand with all of the clothes I had been buying. It it definitely a very very good idea for me to limit myself to nothing or at most 1 thing per week.

So, I have embarked on that adventure. Thus far I have not purchased anything. I believe though that this will force me to consider what it is that I really need for my wardrobe. As in, "Do I really need this? Can I wear this for more than one season?" At this point I have my eye on a pair of ankle boots that I know will transition from summer to fall easily, therefore, a worthwhile purchase.

It is important to keep this in mind when shopping, just because it's on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. That is an issue of mine, I think, "but it's such a deal!" but I'm going to tell you what my boyfriend likes to tell me when I say, "but it was on sale!" he says, "You're too poor to save money." It's really a good point, I could have saved a lot more money if I hadn't bought the item in the first place. So, I'm going to discipline myself from now on to think, "Do I have something that already serves the purpose of this new item? If so, I don't need it." I have a lot of clothing, I really need to realize that 98% of the time, I already have something that I can wear in place of the new item I'd like to buy. I have a lot of staples, the boots I'm considering I will most likely allow myself to buy as my weekly purchase because my last pair of boots died on me last winter.

In any case, further updates will be of new sales, websites, or tips and also my one weekly purchase.

Have a happy Tuesday!

Sales! Sales! Sales!

There are a lot of sales going on right now, so because I'm too busy for a real blog post recently (been kind of sick) I will just share the sales!

Banana Republic is having a 25% sale (on any non sale items) the promo code is: BRSUNNYDAY and free shipping if you spend $150 or more. Unitl 6/27.

Ann Taylor Loft is having a 40% sale (on any non sale items) but ONLY in store, limited time.
Online they're having a buy one full price item get the second for 50% off promo code: SAVE50 free shipping if you spend $125 or more.

Old Navy is having 30% off the whole site with promo code: ONBIG30 until 6/29

Piperlime is having a 40% off shoe sale, they've marked down hundreds of shoes. (Remember you can get an extra 20% off buy using the promo code they provide you in the confirmation email when you order from, Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic.)

Nine West is just added more shoes/accessories to their 30-50% of sale.


So far that is what I've got! I'll update if more come up.

Loft Buy One Get One 50% off

This is a pretty nice sale! And they're even having the free shipping offer at the same time. =D

Summer!

Summer is here for a lot of people in the country. For people in San Francisco, Summer poked its head out and decided to snooze for another couple of months.
Nonetheless, San Francisco does have its hot days, and so it is time to talk about dressing for work in the summer.

Dressing for work during the hot weather is pretty challenging, you can't pull out your shorts and t-shirts like you would on a weekend. There are keys for dressing in the summer, and it's not as hard as people might think.

So let's get some ideas going:

Layers will be your best friend in the summer. It may be 90 degrees outside, but it's probably about 68 in your office. The best things to do in this case would be to layer onto sleeveless dresses and camisoles. The key for wearing dresses to work is to watch the length. Don't go too short, just above the knee is probably the shortest that would be appropriate for work. (But keep your own work guidelines in mind, maybe your work is laid back about length, though I doubt any workplace will be okay with a mini dress/skirt.)

Look for dresses or skirts in lightweight materials such as silk, cotton, linen (but beware linen really wrinkles when sitting at a desk all day), or summer-weight wool and cotton blends. Layering can make a dress that seems too "summer-y" into a work dress by putting on a cardigan or a blazer.

This navy dress is comfortable, a good soft lightweight material. It can be worn for the weekend. (A sleeveless cotton shift dress or wrap dress are other wonderful staples that can function well for work) However, pair this with blazer or cardigan (no exposed straps of any kind at work) and you've got something you can wear to work with some flats or heels. I know I've shown plenty of blazers, but here's one more! This blazer is a light weight cotton voile which is light enough to wear without sweltering in the summer. I like looking for a good 3/4 sleeve length, or something that will easily fold up.

Summer is also a great time to find a wonderful staple that can usually only be pulled off in the summer months. A white blazer, I found mine at Ann Taylor Loft on sale. I'm sure if you look around you'll come upon a nice one as well. Make sure it's in a nice light weight fabric and that it isn't dry clean only (unless you don't mind the upkeep, white is notorious for finding dirt).

There are plenty of places to look for a white blazer, each brand seems to make one of them, it's almost as common as a jean jacket. Recently I've taken to looking on eBay for things before I looking in store. Sometimes, it's a pretty good place to start. Some people worry about second hand clothing, but not everything on eBay is pre-worn. NWT (New with tags) is pretty common on eBay and you can find some really good brands at a much cheaper price.

I like to use eBay a lot especially for small things like belts, which is another thing you'll need this Summer, belts to help with the layering. If you're layering cardigans over pretty free flowing dresses you'll need some cinching in the waist in order to define your shape.



Capris are your for work shorts alternative (Loft has a lot of them on sale). You still get a little bit of a breeze while wearing them but remember not to go too casual. Be sure to purchase the more dressy versions of capris, cargoes will never be work appropriate. Pair them with structured work pieces and work appropriate shoes in order to make them more work friendly, otherwise you end up looking like you're heading for the beach.

Another thing to keep in mind for Summer is that clothing gets a lot thinner, which can usually mean that your clothes are now see through. So be sure to test your clothing out in some bright lights before going to work, you don't to get there and realize you can see through your top. Camisoles, I like nude, are your best friend in this situation. (Layering!)

Also remember that with summer comes fun colors and patterns, which you should not be afraid of, but don't let it take over your work outfit. If you have a fun printed dress remember to pair with a solid cover up, if it's a printed skirt, pair it with a solid top.

In order to not have to go out and buy all new things, remember that your fall/spring pieces can be mixed into your summer wardrobe, remember to add some pops of color, pair cardigans with dresses or skirts, and watch those necklines, but most of all have fun with it. Remember to pair some colorful accessories to add to that summer fun. Etsy is a great place to find some wonderful original work. Forever 21 is great for finding really affordable options!

Lots to Share

So, for today the big thing to share is a coupon I got in my inbox for Ann Taylor Loft.
They told me to share with friends...so here you go! =D

Second, I found the perfect coral summer nail polish. (I'm really into coral this year...). It's called "Chapel of Love" and it looks great on! =D
















Next in things to share, Nine West is still having their super awesome 30%-50% off sale. I went in store and tried on this pair. These shoes fit like a dream, go with everything and are MUCH cuter in person. Great shoe for summer, the feel of a sandal without looking under-dressed. Sweet.







Final thing to share, for now, is a book a friend introduced me to. "The One Hundred - A Guide To The Pieces every Stylish Woman Must Own" by Nina Garcia. Now, this is a woman after my own heart. It's like an encyclopedia of fashion essentials. I always knew Nina and I were kindred spirits, even if I thought she was a jerk on Project Runaway sometimes. =D
In any case, after reading the first 3 pages I got chills, she understand me, fashion and well written advice? Amazing. This a must have for any person looking to complete their wardrobe of essentials.

Picking an Outfit the Night Before

I decided to pick out my outfit tonight rather rushing through it tomorrow morning. This is what I came up with. Banana Republic everything, except necklace that's Forever 21.
Navy pencil skirt, coral top, and beige cardigan.

Banana Republic 30% off sale

Banana Republic is having a 30% off sale! There are a lot of really great pieces for sale, including some I've already shown on my blog. =D It ends 6/17

Forever 21

Most people trying to look for quality work clothing wont usually think of Forever 21. However, it is actually a pretty good source for some nice and extremely cheap clothing. Most specifically, the Forever 21 brand called Love 21. As it explains it in the website, "Love 21 offers a more sophisticated, modest fit than Forever 21" which basically means it fits normal people, not just stick figure people.
They actually have some fairly good items, though not all their stuff is a winner. You just have to take the time to check in every once in a while since most of their inventory is rotated fairly frequently.


From checking in today here are a couple if items I found to be normal/work people worthy.

This tank is cute, tucked into a skirt and paired with a blazer or cardigan can be feminine but professional.



This top doesn't need anything on top, but it will need to be tucked into dress pants or a skirt. However, it's flowy feel will make it easy to transition this piece into the weekend.





This top is great, it is at once feminine in chiffon, but is also a structured piece so it can be worn to work.

This next piece is a light, airy timeless white top with roll up sleeves.
Can be worn tucked in or not.

This piece may seem hard to pull off, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart, but it is a very interesting and youthful piece that when worn correctly is very work worthy.









I don't really trust forever 21 for bottoms like pants/shorts and such, mostly because I find the sizing is always a little wonky. However, tops and outerwear are always great finds at great prices. From here I'll share some outerwear I found in the Love 21 Collection.

This blazer is great, has 3/4 sleeves and a bow instead of buttons, while not for all, it does seem to be a well structured piece with a girly twist.

This sweet cardigan could be paired well with the lacy top up above, it seems like very light pink is the color of the spring season, so it's easy to find anywhere. I find it looks awesome with navy.

For a place with a bit more of a relaxed work attire, there's this fun vest that also ties with a bow (feeling a theme with Love 21)

And to finish off, a real polished blazer. Blazers go well with most things from jeans to skirts to dress pants. This one in particular is navy, so this jacket pairs well most colors.








The great thing about all these pieces is that all but one are under $30 and most of the tops are $20 and under. So, it's easy to save money but still look put together. It's just best to know where to look, get a good fit and know how to pair your pieces to make them look more work appropriate.

Loft in store 50% SALE

Hello all three people who read my blog, there is an awesome 50% off sale at Ann Taylor Loft right now! I talked to the sales associate, and she says its only in store, but that it's better that way since they have more sizes and colors available in store anyway.

I scoped out some really nice stuff. Found a shirt for $5 (except in coral), a head band for $6 and a white fitted blazer (the last of its kind) for $39.99 (original price $98.00).

But there are several dresses, capris (a lot of those), embellished t shirt, shorts and dressy pants.

So ladies, check it out, not too sure how long it's going to last.

Urban Outfitter for Work?

Actually, yes, Urban Outfitters does have some work worthy attire. Right now they're having a sale on a lot of their blazers. So, if you were looking for that perfect school boy or boyfriend type blazer, they have it and it's probably on sale for $30-$50. It's worth taking a look, you may find something that works with your skinny jeans/trouser jeans or pencil skirt.

Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft Taking Another 40% off their Sale Prices

The Loft's sale is taking another 40% off their sale items with a promo code of "SALE40". If for some reason you decide that you want to buy a full price item, the promo code to use anytime for 20% off your purchase is "TEACHER20"

On sale there are several knee length dresses, embellished t-shirts, capris and dress pants.

Ann Taylor is also having an "up to 40% off sale" it's still a bit pricey, but definitely more affordable than full price. They have some really great pieces, definitely worth taking a look.

Gap is having a 40% off Summer Sale

The sale is only on select items, but I always find with Gap that the sales are even better in the store, and this one is also going on in store. No promotion codes or coupon needed. Online doesn't have a lot of stuff, but there are some nice finds.
Like a pleated skirt in a nice light grey or black, for $34.99 and $24.99 respectively.
It has some pretty good reviews (a nice thing Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic). There are cute button ups, of course, there are also jeans, capris, unmentionables and swimwear for sale. And a couple of fluttery tops, and some nice basic cardigans. There are even a couple of blazers.



And some cute capris.

Also free shipping on orders of $100 or more PROMO CODE: GAPSHIP