Getting out the colored denim

During the warmer months it is a rare occasion that I wear jeans, usually because by the time winter is over I'm completely sick of them. With the return of the cold comes the return of the colored denim. I have four pairs (is that all?) you will soon be seeing a lot of.

The Rundown

White Blouse Loft c/o ThredUP

Red Jeans Urban Outfitters similar

Boucle Jacket Kohls similar

Pumps BCBGeneration via TJMaxx similar
Grayson Bar Bag Linea Pelle
Gold Belt Gap similar

Crystal Chevron Earrings Express
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana & Griffin
Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Signature Spade Ring Kate Spade
Sunglasses c/o Hobie
Nail Color Avon Olive Green

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion

Dress like a man

Every fall it's the same old story. I wear jeans and heels and no socks and I freeze. I wear a skirt and booties and no socks and I freeze. You know who doesn't freeze all during the fall and winter? Men. They wear socks. They can pick up a pair from Repertoire Fashion and pair them with a pair of Hugo Boss Orange jeans and a pair of trainers. Add a scarf and a really nice blazer and he'd be certain to catch my eye.

Women need to embrace this idea. We deserve to be warm too.

Jacket by Hugo Boss Orange, $290
Graphic Tee by Original Penguin, $36
Jeans by Hugo Boss Orange, $175
Trainers by Original Penguin, $89
Scarf by Ralph Lauren, $55
Socks by Hugo Boss, $14
Socks by Emporio Armani, $34
Socks by Paul Smith, $30

This is a PR collaboration, my views and opinions are my own. 

Cooper

I wish this adorable rust colored, convertible mini cooper were mine. My Mom and I like to say that when we win the lottery, we will buy a mini cooper in every color they make just so we can coordinate our car with our outfit. That would be really fun, don't you think?

Even though that is not a reality right now, I can still (creepily?) take photos in front of someone else's mini that just so happens to coordinate with my outfit, and imagine how cute I would look behind the wheel.

The Rundown

White Tee Gap similar

Striped Skirt NY&Co. similar

Sandals Onex

Woven Clutch London Fog similar

Scarf Aerie similar

Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Butter London Wallis

Gingham agian

I was invited by eShakti to try one of their new fall styles, and perhaps predictably, decided on a brown and white gingham fit and flare dress.

As eShakti allows for complete customization of their entire product line, I was able to put in all my measurements to get a dress that should have been a perfect fit.

This is not my first time working with eShakti, this past spring I selected a different gingham fit and flare and found it was too tight in the chest. Learning from that, I increased that measurement by one inch. Unfortunately this dress is far too large in the waist.

It's possible I don't know how to properly take measurements, but I'm a little disappointed I've not been able to get a properly fitting dress. Especially since I really like this dress. It's adorable and the material is a soft cozy flannel and so perfect for fall.

Though I suppose given the extra girth of the dress, it will be perfect to wear on Thanksgiving.

The Rundown

Gingham Dress c/o eShakti
Navy Blazer Gap similar
Shoes Seychelles similar
Bag Coach thrifted similar
Woven Leather Belt Thrifted similar

Tortoise Flower Necklace Ebay similar

Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Avon Olive Green

Dress was provided by eShakti for the purpose of this post. My views and opinions are my own.

Three inches

I'm not a big fan of these jeans with huge cuffs. I have to hem them, which is of course one of my least favorite things to do; but I don't dislike it enough to consider paying someone else to do it. Just another small injustice of being so short (I'm 5' 2").

While I can admit the fashion industry has come a long way in catering to people of all sizes and heights, I still feel neglected. Petite sections exist, but often are designed for women who are all over tiny, and not just short. Also, stores who offer petite sizing commonly do so online only, which is a turn off. It's a rare and desperate occasion when I will add four sizes of the same pair of pants to my cart and hope one of them fits.

There is no sense in wasting energy in something as fruitless as wishing I were three inches taller, but it would be a real accomplishment if I could channel that energy into actually hemming these jeans this weekend.

The Rundown

Striped Top Old Navy similar

Cardigan Old Navy similar

Jeans Lucky Brand

Toe Cap Pumps Me Too via TJMaxx similar

Leopard Clutch Gap similar

Neckalce The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx similar
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Butter London Wallis

The tortoise and the leopard

Tortoise has quickly become my most recent obsession. I pined after the J.Crew tortoise flower necklace for quite sometime before deciding to turn to ebay.

After a bad experience buying jewelry from ebay direct from China (it had lead paint) I always set my parameters to search North America only. This necklace was listed as being J.Crew, however when it arrived it was clear to me that it was a knock off. The clasp and J.Crew charm are cheap and wrong. However, I only paid $22 and otherwise it looks quite nice. Plus, the J.Crew necklace was $138, so that wasn't going to happen. After I bought it, I discovered many of the discount online jewelry shops have their own version, like this identical one at Ily Couture for $38.

The Rundown

Top J.Crew via Buffalo Exchange similar

Boucle Jacket Kohls similar

Leopard Pencil Skirt Forever 21 similar
Shoes Seychelles similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar
Tortoise Flower Necklace Ebay similar

Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Butter London Wallis

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion!
And The Tiny Heart!

Fall shoe wardrobe

Presently, thinking about my current fall shoe wardrobe is not making me happy. I have a pair of comfortable booties that barely made it through last winter, a pair of knee high boots so uncomfortable I should have thrown them away two years ago, yet I still wear them and suffer, and not a neutral flat to my name.

I started pursuing the pages of ladies shoes at Jones Bootmaker and put together a little wishlist. Some of the shoes are a bit pricier than I might normally spend, and since the site is based out the UK and does not ship to the USA, this is more about the styles I will be looking for this fall. I've seen some similar styles at DSW, so hopefully I will have a chance to go there and try them on!

Jones Bootmaker Goodley Ballet Flat, £49
Barbour Hoxton Quilted Knee High Boots, £149
Jones Bootmaker Ossie Ankle Boots, £80

Ted Baker Caberi 4 Court Booties, £130
Jones Bootmaker Nigella 2 Leopard Calf Hair Booties, £47.50
Black Label Capri D'Orsay Heels, £99

This is a PR collaboration, and as always, my views an opinions are my own.

Leaves fall

These leopard pants have not made an appearance in months. For someone who wears leopard everything it seems odd to admit to being intimidated by them, yet I am. I haven't even attempted to wear them with anything other than a neutral.

This look was inspired by the outfit that made me want leopard pants in the first place, and while I never did find a "LOVE" tee, this New York tee from Old Navy is pretty cool, only cost me about $7, and my graphic tee collection grows just a bit more.

The Rundown

New York Tee Old Navy

Leopard Print Pants Joseph via Cedar Chest similar

Sandals Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar

Straw Fedora Gap similar
Gold Cuff Nugaard Designs similar

Ring Lucky Brand Gifted
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Nail Color Essie Go Overboard

Geo floral

The days for bare legs are quickly slipping by, but thankfully when I went to brunch the other week with Meg and Christine, it was warm and sunny and beautiful.

We'd been so good about our monthly meetups all year, but then faltered during the summer. Hopefully we will resume them, because I enjoy our brunching and our thrifting so much!

This is the dress I got at TJMaxx last month when I won Keiko Lynn's shopping trip giveaway in New York. It's by Nannette Lepore and it was on clearance for $44 (and you don't have to pay sales tax on clothes in NYC either!)

Aside from the major steal the dress was, with a retail price of $300, I was immediately drawn to the mesmerizing geometric floral print, and the fact that it was made in the USA is a huge plus. I was a bit uncertain about the bloused top (there is an elastic waistband), but once I added the wide belt to balance it out, it was perfect.

I've submitted this dress to TJMaxx's contest and I'm still trying to get more votes (looks like you can vote more than once) and all you have to do is click 'love it!' Thanks!

The Rundown

Dress Nanette Leopore c/o TJMaxx similar
Denim Jacket NY&Co. similar
Sandals Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar
Leather Belt Gap similar
Emerald Glitter Rhinestone Earrings c/o Shopbevel
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana & Griffin
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Butter London Wallis

When to shop

If my inbox is any indication, retailers want my money. Bad. Coupon codes for Shopbop, Kate Spade, Linea Pelle, Madewell, Gap... it goes on!

It becomes hard to remember what I'm buying to fill an actual need (like how I do need a pair of comfortable black flats) and what I think I need because I saw some other blogger wearing/lusting after it and now I've become obsessed with having it too.

Impulse purchases like these chevron crystal earrings from Express and a knockoff J.Crew tortoise flower necklace feel so fun and so right in the moment, but was that really $40 well spent?

I want to try making a list of only things I actually need and then avoiding other purchases. But what about non buyers remorse? Do you think that is worse than buyers remorse?

I'm not sure, but I will tell you my plans for this weekend involve trying to get this leather jacket from the Gap for half off. Because a brown leather jacket falls securely in the need category, right?

Hope at least some of you get to take advantage of the sales this weekend, and if you wouldn't mind, please vote for me in TJMaxx's Maxxininista contest?

The Rundown
Grey Tee Gap similar
Navy Blazer Gap similar
Boyfriend Jeans Old Navy
Pumps BCBGeneration via TJMaxx similar
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted
Grey Fedora Market in Italy similar
Rhinestone Necklace Kohls similar
Necklace Frippery Vintage
Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Rings Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Nail Color Essie Big Spender

Have you entered the Divissima giveaway yet?