Wear Now & Later

We’ve hit one of the sweet spots in the year where retailers are practically shoving merchandise into our bags and asking for mere pennies in return.

But as you can remember, one of my goals this year is to not purchase things just because they’re on sale.

Here’s a list of items that can we worn in the dead of winter and well into spring, and they all happen to be super cheap.

Even if you can’t find these exact items in the store (that’s the risk you take when writing about things that are on sale), you’ll at least have guidelines so you know what to spend your money on.

All of these pieces, by the way, can be found at different retailers in West Town Mall…

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1. Palazzo Knit Pants from New York & Co. – Remember that post I did about volume? Well, these pants are a great example of putting volume on the bottom. Balance them out with a form fitting turtleneck or v-neck sweater, and warm up your toes in the winter by pairing them with your chunkiest boot. With the pant leg being so wide, no one will be able to tell! Then keep rocking them into the spring with high heels, a fitted tank, a patterned cardigan and a long swingy necklace. They’re on sale for $10 so the cost-per-wear ratio is un. real.

2. Sequin Sweater from GAP – A chunky sweater like this is going to really keep you warm and cute, especially if you layer a crisp white button down underneath it and pair it with jeans and boots. But the shiny polka-dots and gray color is happy enough to transition well into spring where you could rock it with cuffed boyfriend jeans and some bright pink heels. Gosh, I think I’ve talked MYSELF into buying this one!

3. Kiera Leather Booties from Ann Taylor – This is a classic shoe, so regardless of the season, if you see these puppies on sale snatch them up. They’re especially great to have now because you can wear them with sheer or opaque black tights, and later with cuffed boyfriend jeans. Badda bing. Badda boom.

4. Teardrop Treasure Earrings from Charming Charlie – This past year I fell in LOVE with colored drop earrings. Especially as an owner of a lot of black and a whole lotta gray, simple earrings with color like these really jazz up a neutral outfit. Grab them for $8 and use them to punch up some of your drab winter sweaters, then break them out again in the spring when you buy a floral patterned dress that incorporates this same gorgeous turquoise.

5. Kennedy Solid Tote from Francesca’s – I apologize, I thought this bag was on sale but it’s not. But before you go crossing it off your list, lets think of how attention grabbing this color would be on a cold, overcast winter day… Now let’s imagine how beautifully it would transition into spring with it’s unexpected shade of yellow that would surprisingly go with everything in your closet. See? It works.

Hey! You know what’s always fun? A good fashion show! Thursday, February 5th, My friend Claire Queisser is putting on a Rouge Fashion show at the Relix Variety Theater. Stop by from 7-8pm for hors d’ oeuvres then stick around because at 8:30 the fashion show begins!! For more info, click here!

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Oh the Places a White Long Sleeve Top Will Go

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This winter I’ve determined to give my closet an overhaul. There are pieces in there that I haven’t touched in many, many seasons. So as soon as I get the chance, I’m going to clean it out.

What I want to fill it back up with are easy tops like this one. It’s comfortable, versatile and (most importantly of all) really cute.

I was happy to first grab it in white because to me a white kind of slouchy top like this totally reads off-duty super model. Does it read that to any one else? Probably not, but I carry myself a little more like Miranda Kerr when I’m wearing it so whatever helps. Ha.

It’s a great transitional top, especially for this time of year when quick transitions from work to family/friend Christmas parties is a constant thing.

At work I can wear it with nice jeans, patterned shoes and some earrings. Then after leaving there, I can throw on a sparkly scarf over top and be warm and festive in seconds. I’ve said before that wearing white to a winter evening event is totally unexpected, so burst through those expectations and try something like this.

It will also work well as a layering piece since the arms are so tight and it drapes nicely in the front.

Get your own at the great new-ish store in West Town Mall called Fiore. It’s right across from Charming Charlies!

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An Easy Way to Shop for a Holiday Outfit

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One thing is certain, you will not be able to look back on this Christmas season and say that I didn’t help you with what to wear to a party.

I’ve helped you here, here and now today…

I picked up this metallic sweater at JCPenney. And it was truly the easiest outfit shopping I’ve done all year long. Here’s how I did it.

The easiest piece to get that will help you look fresh and glam without spending a lot of money is a top. Especially one like this with a lot of shine. Because you’re not going to have to do too much accessorizing with something like this.

I didn’t want to spend a lot of money and wanted exactly that – something I could throw on that would be easily accessorized. So late one night I hopped online and started pre-shopping.

Which is something else you need to think about. Instead of aimlessly wandering around stores trying to “shop cold” (as I’m now officially calling it), if you’ll do a little pre-shopping online you’ll be able to instantly rule out any store you don’t want to try.

I went straight to JCP for a couple of reasons…

1. They’ve got a lot of great coupons going on right now so I knew I could get something cheap

2. I was planning to shop on a day where I was working from home and didn’t want to have to get all dolled up to go all over the mall. I just wanted to hit one store, and I knew JCP would deliver.

Sure enough, they did. Found this sweater online, went in the next day tried it on, presented my coupon, badda-bing, badda-boom I’m out the door with a great party outfit and I spent less than $20 and barely an hour on the whole thing.

That, is what I’m talking about.

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What to Wear When Shopping Black Friday

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(This street though. Thanks Asheville, for letting me pose on it again :)

Every year I’ve got to get me a little dose of Black Friday. One crowd, one line, witnessing one fight or two and I’m happy to go back to the house and be done with it.

Whether I actually score a good deal or not remains to be seen. But I do leave the house fully prepared to find something for others and myself. Which is why I always plan my shopping outfit in advance.

You should do the same, and here’s my formula for a good one…

Start with good shoes. For this outfit especially you want to begin with comfortable shoes. Pick out your most comfortable (and a little bit cute) and go from there. These boots are comfortable and provide a little bit of warmth. Plus they allow me to wear big cozy socks which always makes life easier. These boots are from ModCloth (similar here).

Then I go with comfortable pants. My favorite skinny jeans that make my butt look good aren’t in the running here. I go for pants with good pockets and a loose waist band like these cargo pants I snagged at TJ Maxx a couple years ago (similar here).

For tops I always stick to a basic tank and a waterfall sweater. The sweater keeps me warm as I won’t be lugging around a coat, but it’s not something I’m going to have to keep pulling over my head when trying things on. I stick to a basic tank like a black one because I wear it under most shirts anyways, so when I’m trying them on I don’t have to take it off and can easily see what a sheer shirt will look like.

This waterfall sweater is from Forever21 (here).

Finally, I always ALWAYS go with a messenger bag. I love my Michael Kors, but it is heavy and I love having both arms free. I got this one for $5. You practically trip over them in most stores these days.

Go out with your own version of this outfit, and I promise you you’ll be a cute, happy, comfortable power shopper. Tune into FOX 43 tomorrow between 8:30/8:45am for gift ideas for the guys in your life!

Speaking of power shopping, you’ve got to watch this SNL spoof of a Black Friday commercial. It’s a little bit funny… ;)

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Dry is the New Cute

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One time I read an article telling me how to pull off the “wet hair look” that was showcased during New York Fashion Week.

Since one designer sent models down the runway with wet looking hair, it was now a “thing” and the article explained how we could achieve that same look for when we walk out the door.

Yeeeaa…I don’t think so.

Let’s say I follow the article and get my hair all slicked back and wet looking…I can only imagine the comments that would follow the moment I walked out the door. Scratch that, the comments would come before I walked out the door because I’m sure that would open a whole box of jokes from my husband (I know if he tried that look he would get a couple rounds from me).

Some things are best left on the runway.

Since the 7 day planner includes a whole lotta rain in our neck of the woods (yay!) I thought I’d put together some cute options for keeping yourself dry AND cute.

You definitely want an umbrella that showcases your personality. If for no other reason than to make it easier to spot when it’s hanging out with other ones by the door. This leopard cutie is from JCP and is on sale (at least online) for $16.80.

How ’bout them boots! They’re Tommy Hilfiger’s version of the rain boot. Does that man know how to make a rain boot, or what?! They’re also on sale at Belk for $69.99. They’re super chic yet classic enough to be in style for a long time, making the extra splurge totally worth it.

The trench coat will probably go out of style around the same time breathing air becomes passe.

Go ahead and get you a cute one that you can wear in the rain. And who better to make it than GAP? No one. That’s who. Grab this one at the West Town Mall location for $128 (psst: they have a coupon in the school coupon book).

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