November Closet Additions

The internet is my best and worst enemy. When shopping could only be done by leaving the house and dedicating the better part of a day to it, I shopped far less. In addition, selecting pieces in a store and bringing them up to the register offers a feeling of finality, whereas when I shop online, I order anything and everything, always with the mentally that I'm only trying it on, that I just need to see it in person.

That said, there are only three things on this budget post which I purchased in a brick and mortar shop. One of which was the thrift store.

Sometimes I tell myself I should just stop shopping online, but I can barely help it. It's as if I've been ruined to shopping in stores. I feel overwhelmed, I get frustrated when my size is never there (pant lengths in short please!), or when the piece I'm hunting for (which of course I saw online) isn't to be found. I'm not going to say all the magic is gone, just that I really have to be in the mood. When it comes to shopping online, every mood seems to be the right one.

Franco Sarto Leopard Loafers via TJMaxx, $40
H&M Plaid Blazer, $39
Banana Republic Color Block Maxi Dress, $31
J.Crew Factory Turtleneck, $18
Do Everything in Love Leopard Wrap Dress, $16 via Poshmark 
Target 'Bianca' White Mules, $22
Matteo Gold Plated Disc Necklace via TJMaxx, $20
Faux Suede Trench, $22 via eBay
Old Navy Blush Suede Booties, $7
Max Studio Faux Suede Skirt, basically free at the thrift store
New Balance En Route Sweater, c/o Joe's New Balance Outlet
J.Crew Factory 'Feliz Navidad' Tee, $16
New Balance 501 Ripple Sole Sneakers, c/o Joe's New Balance Outlet

Entrenched

My poor shopping habits are numerous, and proving difficult to break. Even though I will happily throw on a pair of jeans that are over a decade old, the moment I see something I want, I resolve to have it, even better if it's a challenge.

Take for instance this faux suede trench. I saw a genuine suede trench at Banana Republic for just shy of $600. Even with their generous holiday offer of 30% off, it still wasn't going to happen. Naturally my next step was to search for dupes and secondhand pieces; lastly I arrived at this inexpensive coat from china, which I won in an eBay auction for $23. It might not have the luxury of real suede, the seams aren't perfect, the flaps on the pockets are decorative, and it isn't lined. Not to mention I don't how much I'll actually get to wear it, since it rains here pretty much every other day and I wouldn't dare to take even faux suede out in inclement weather, however, I was determined to have it, so I got it, and I'm not sure that is a good thing.

       

The Rundown
Rust Turtleneck Tee J.Crew Factory
Jeans Max Studio via TJMaxx
Faux Suede Trench Coat eBay similar
Leopard Loafers Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Snakeskin Box Bag c/o Vintanthromodern similar 
Wide Brim Fedora "Lady Roulette" Goorin Bros. via ebay similar
Gold Ball Earrings Kohl's
Evil Eye Necklace c/o Belcho
Gold Circle Ring Thrifted

Linking up with Thursday Fashion Files

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda

En Route

Thank you to Joe's New Balance Outlet for sponsoring this post.

It's taken a long time for me to find a rhythm with going to the gym regularly. I can't really be trusted if left to my own devices, so I've found three classes to attend throughout the week, and have even become friendly with my instructors and classmates who will know if I skip a workout.

While I've always been one of those people who feels like running errands in workout clothes is just not an acceptable thing to do, as more and more cute workout and post-workout clothes saturate the market, my resolve has crumbled, just a little.

Joe's New Balance outlet recently sent me over this cozy En Route Sweater, and I'm in love. It's light, gauzy, and allows me to feel put together if I'm making stops before or after my workout. Because I recently added a Saturday morning class to my schedule, post workout errands and even having breakfast out have become my reality.

The problem with really cute workout clothes and sneakers (the kind I'd actually wear out of the gym anyway) are that they are so expensive. I'm not about to justify spending $70 on a pair of sneakers or $100 on a pair of leggings when I could spend that on pumps and a dress. Thankfully there are places like Joe's New Balance Outlet, which offers huge discounts on workout clothes - yes there are even the New Balance for J.Crew pieces! And since their Cyber Monday sale has been extended through today, snagging up to 70% off apparel and select footwear styles, plus getting free shipping means cute sneakers like these 501 Ripple Soles are a mere $42, and I can fill my closet with cute workout clothes without feeling as though I'm sacrificing my whole clothing budget.

       

The Rundown

En Route Sweater c/o Joe's New Balance Outlet
Leggings Fabletics
501 Ripple Sole Sneakers c/o Joe's New Balance Outlet
Scalloped Tote Matine
Gold Ball Earrings Kohl's
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Twill Seeker" Essie

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday

and

Trend Spin Tuesday

Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap. As always my views and opinions are my own.

Weekend Style

Long weekends always seem to mess with my concept of time. Is today really Monday? Of course, and it's cyber monday no less. While the discounts are often the same, sometimes they are even better; unfortunately most of the good stuff has already sold out.

I shopped a little on Small Business Saturday (no, American Express no longer offers card holders incentives, but it's still good to support our small local shops). It's always a pleasure to stroll through the town centers dressed up for the holidays. Thankfully after the below freezing temps of Thanksgiving, the mercury rose back into the fifties and I took advantage to get a few sets of outfit photos done. Not going to lie, I in no way relish outfit photos in the coming winter months, and would happily take sweltering summer to the bitter cold which awaits me.

       

The Rundown
Turtleneck Sweater Banana Republic half off plus an extra 10% for cyber monday
Black Jeans Gap half off plus an extra 10% for cyber monday
Fur Lined Mules Target 15% off for cyber monday

Bag "Lewis Drive Michela" Kate Spade similar

Loop Earrings Mejuri
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Twill Seeker" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

Black Friday Wishlist

I hope to everyone who celebrated, you had a lovely Thanksgiving! I still don't feel like I can fully wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is now just over a month away. There is always so much I want to do, and never enough time. I said I wasn't really doing holiday stuff on the blog, but of course now I want to, and I really would like to get at least one festive post up on Cooking in Cashmere, which has now been sitting neglected since the summer. Not to mention all the gift buying, wrapping, and holiday baking I'd like to do for my own simple enjoyment.

Every year Black Friday seems to start earlier and earlier, with realtors pushing sales all week, it's almost not even worth it to wait until Black Friday! I already noticed a couple things I really loved were already sold out in my size. However at some stores that little extra discount is worth holding out for. Naturally today is a hard day for me to not want to shop for myself, but I'm going to try and stay strong, get a jump on my holiday shopping, and in the mean time, share with you everything I would like to be treating myself to!

Madewell Texture and Thread Wrap Top, $35 - take 25% off with code dealwithit
ONA Palma Camera Satchel, on sale for $119 at B&H Photo
Banana Republic Wide Leg Pants, $90 - take half off plus an extra 10% for card holders
Mejuri Aries Signet Ring, $69 - take 10% off one item, 15% off two and 20% off three
H&M Floral Shirt Dress, $35 - take 30% off plus get free shipping with code 3238
Gorjana Cayne Crescent Pendant Necklace, $78 (you'd have to shop a bit more to get $20 off $100)
J.Crew Factory Velvet Pumps, $90 - take half off with code add2cart

P.S. This is not productive

Looking through every page of housewares on Anthropoligie's website... then deciding everything is too expensive and going to H&M instead.

Pinning elaborate recipes I know I'm never going to make.

Taking everything out of my closet thinking I'm going to do a clean out, only to get stressed and put it all back in.

Telling myself I'm only going on Instagram for five minutes.

Going on a Target run when there is nothing I actually need. (Hello new mules.)

Hope your Wednesday is more productive than mine!

       

The Rundown
Rust Orange Mock Neck Sweater Madewell similar
Velvet Pants Banana Republic similar
Leopard Loafers Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Suede Accordion Bag Banana Republic similar
Pave Hexagon Earrings Thrifted similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Twill Seeker" Essie

Linking up with Shopping My Closet Style Me Wednesday
and
Style on the Daily

Fringe Sweater

Rushing against the setting sun, the time on the meter, to get home to the dog. How do I seem to find myself with so much time, yet perpetually rushing?

I always admire the bloggers who's outfit photos feel crafted, planned, staged. I know that life just doesn't occur in photogenic conditions naturally, such things require a lot of time and effort. I always want more, that production element.

Yet most days, it comes down to getting it done. Find a cute spot, snap the photos, hope the light is in my favor, run and put money in the meter, get home to the dog. And on bitter cold days like this one, skip the detail shots.

At least I finally wore this Rachel Comey sweater, which I purchased via eBay back in the spring. It's been tucked away in my sweater drawer, waiting for the first properly cold day. This sweater is really lovely, but even still, I could have waited longer.

       

The Rundown 
Fringe Hem Sweater Rachel Comey similar
Yoga Jeans Second Denim
Toe Cap Pumps "Varesse 70" Shoes of Prey similar
Bucket Bag "Johnny" Danse Lente
Tortoise Earrings Loft
Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry
Nail Color "Twill Seeker" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

Color Coordinated Brunch

I'm so happy to have had so many opportunities over the past year to meet up with other Connecticut bloggers, and I will never say no to a brunch, especially when it's at one of my favorite restaurants in New Haven, Harvest.

When the brunch was being organized, we decided to color coordinate - neutrals and pops of red, for the photos, naturally. Thankfully we had a wonderful waiter who happily snapped group photos for us. It started off as a very rainy morning, but as brunch stretched into late afternoon, the sun came out to reveal a very blustery fall day, hence the ponytail - I just couldn't deal with the wind!

These are the last of my photos featuring the fall foliage. Now it's all gone and covered under a blanket of snow. Fall is forever too short a season!

           

The Rundown
Black Bodysuit Rene Rofe via Boscov's
Leopard Skirt Gerard Darel via ThredUP similar
Leather Moto Jacket Express similar
Black Pumps "Natalie" Naturalizer
Bucket Bag "Johnny" Danse Lente
Versailles Earrings Julie Vos similar
Ruby Crystal Talisman Ring c/o Uncommon Goods
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Twill Seeker" Essie

Linking up with

Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)