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