Whiskey/Brown Accessories

Above you see two of my favorite new accessories. On the left is a cute little quilted leather bag with a chain strap by Deux Lux. It was a gift from some good friends of mine and is the perfect size for an evening out! On the right is what I might consider to be a thrifty find of the decade.

I was consigning clothes last Saturday at the Mt. Lebanon Avalon Exchange (like Buffalo Exchange but in Pittsburgh). While waiting for my clothes to be evaluated, I browsed the racks and was impressed by the higher quality items for sale. A gorgeous deconstructed Marni coat was (thankfully) too small for me. Kate Spade wedges, Marc Jacobs flats, Prada and Cole Haan pumps, all in excellent condition! Still I wasn't wowed enough by anything and anticipated taking cash like normal. That was until I spotted them. In a glass case near the front of the store they were unmistakable.

The Fall 2006 Silverado Oxford Pump in Whiskey! (or was it Cognac? I can't remember the leather color names for that season)... I was thrilled! They were my size AND they were incredibly comfortable for such high heels. The covered platform definitely helped. And they were priced within reason! I took the store credit for the first time ever and went home feeling victorious.

I realize it will seem like I have no imagination but (after the weather thaws) I hope to style them with my similarly blousey See by Chloé dress worn here.

Weekend Errands Outfit

A friend from Fashionism sent me this chambray dress from H&M as a random act of kindness. And it is just a touch too short so I decided to layer underneath it a scallop hemmed petticoat I bought from ebay a while back. The colorblocking result reminded me of a Rag & Bone dress I almost bought this time last year but passed up. I tied a belt over top and grabbed a vintage metallic bag.
H&M chambray dress (similar here, here, and in women's plus here)
Vintage petticoat from ebay (similar here, here, and here)
Chloé metallic flats (similar here and here)
Forever 21 belt (similar here)
Vintage metallic patchwork bag (similar here and here)

I was a little hot in the layers but I wore it errand running to places with air conditioning so it didn't matter too much.

Detail shots of the accessories.

Two Wheeler Shirtdress Review and OOTD

So many bloggers have already reviewed this dress. Golden Means, Love at First Shop, and Effortless Anthropologie, to name a few. I am late to the party because my Anthropologie is just far enough out of the way from where I live that once I get there I usually become overwhelmed and forgetful. Anyway, the consensus on the website seems to be that this dress runs large everywhere except for the arm holes. I totally agree. They were out of my usual size 8 so I grabbed the 10 without thinking. It was tight in the arm holes and big everywhere else.

I then had the sales associate grab the 6.

And I would have also tried the 4 but the arm holes were cutting off my circulation! I love this dress but I cannot buy something that I can only wear with the little sleeve keyholes unbuttoned. Maybe if it hits the sale... maybe if I decide to become an exercise addict and eventually whittle my way into Madonna arm territory. But as it stands, the Two-Wheeler dress from Anthropologie and I are just not meant to be.

I did meet the future manager of the Bakery Square Anthropologie. She said they are slated to open in late June and things seem to be on schedule. They might have a soft opening to which they will invite a few avid local customers! I doubt I am avid enough to be in that loop, but a gal can hope!

I wore:

Plaid flannel dress with pleated bodice from Urban Outfitters in New Orleans (similar here)
Cashmere ruffle cardigan by Twig (similar here)
Anthropologie Two Paths Trench (seen hanging behind me. This jacket yielded 5 compliments in the store from strangers who didn't realize where it was from)
Black reversible tight end tights by Spanx
Crackled silver flats by Chloe (similar here)

Shoe detail shot above. A few more reviews tomorrow.

Rosettes for Easter: The Bold Boutonnière

My Easter outfit did not come from the pieces I coveted here. Instead I went with a dress I bought on sale from Anthropologie back in the fall: the Bold Boutonnière. Inspired by Rosa of Love at First Shop, I paired it with a jewel toned cardigan in a spring-friendly hue. I chose violet to match the hyacinth flowers my mother gifts to me every Easter.

After they've given off all the lovely scent they can, and after they've begun to sag from the weight of the tall heavy stems, I tuck them into a corner of my back yard until the plant parts can easily be removed from their bulbs. I plant the bulbs into the ground in late summer/early fall and the flowers return the following spring!

I have only spent one easter so far in my current home, so I only have three hyacinths this year. But next year I'll have three more. My previous place (where I rented, previous to buying my house) had four years worth of these floral presents. I was so sad to leave them behind.

I also wore the above outfit to try on wedding dresses with my mom and sister. We had fun although the things we found were not really up my alley. We went to honor the ritual aspects of wedding planning and to make sure I was certain I didn't want a traditional gown.  I'm still kind of ambivalent about the wedding clothing aspect of this ordeal. The women at the local boutique, Checkers Bridal and Prom, were exceptionally nice and friendly.  And their current 75% off dress sale meant that I could have scored a dress for well under my price ceiling. But I came away empty handed. I do now have many photographs of me in poofy frocks, looking uncomfortable and "overdressed," even for a "bride-to-be."

The Bold Boutonnière was a big hit on the wedding dress store circuit. Many shop assistants asked where I found such a lovely piece.

The details:
Dress: Anthropologie, similar here and here. Top here.
Cardigan: TJ Maxx
Shoes: On left, Marc by Marc Jacobs simple pumps. On right, Chloé zipper flats. (similar to the mbmj, but with a higher heel here.) In fact, I think mine might be knock offs of the iconic Louboutins.

Accessories details:
Anthropologie initial necklace. Similar here.
Swatch Irony watch. Similar here.
Marc Jacobs quilted Blake in Mouse. Similar here.
Antique art deco engagement ring.

BTW, I am 30 years old today!

Dog walks, dinner, and errands: OOTD

It was bright and warm today in the sun, but windy and brisk in the shade. I managed this confusing but springlike mix with comfortable layers. I purposely misbuttoned the jacket to give it some asymmetry.

Military button jacket from the juniors section at Burlington Coat Factory (similar here and here)
Boyfriend cardigan from Forever 21 layered underneath (similar here)
T-shirt from Old Navy  
Ann Taylor Loft Cords (similar here)
Chloe zipper flats (similar and reasonably priced here, here, and here) 
MBMJ Dinosaur tote bag (similar but fancy with cool Trompe L'oeil details here; similar but reasonable with cool Trompe L'oeil details here)

Wore this to dinner the other night. Now that I am seeing the photograph, I feel a lot less confident in the execution.

Black Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan (similar here)
Old Navy long sleeve tshirt in purple underneath
Printed Target Ruffle Skirt (in purple here but it also comes in black, pink, and printed)
Jimmy Choo Morse flats in purple (here)
Vintage Coach satchel

And I realized after purchasing the tiered ruffle skirt from target that it is vaguely reminiscent of this cool DVF piece I didn't buy.

I guess they aren't that similar but I am sure my love for this skirt was what subconsciously influenced me to buy the Target one.

How I'd Spend Windfall Cash If ...

I recently came into a bit of money from some random focus group and research related stuff. So I figured since I am mostly not shopping that it would be fun to play "How I'd Spend This If..." Aka, hypothetical shopping. 

How I'd Spend Windfall Cash If: 

a. I could find this See by Chloe bow dress in my size (it is from a season since passed and keeps selling out on ideeli):

I love the color of this one. I would wear it to mass on Easter with my family. It is likely for the best since I tried it on in pink last summer at Cusp in Georgetown.

And in retrospect, it looked kind of dumpy on me as a non-model. So it is for the best that it is sold out. 

b. It would make a bigger dent in the very high price being asked for this amazing (wedding dress caliber) Chloe dress from many seasons ago.

I don't even want to think about how much it cost when it was new and full price. It is far too expensive even with the windfall money.

c. I could possibly justify yet another bag (when I already have too many).

It would be nice to have a purple bag and I love the balenciaga day style. But that would be totally superfluous and similar to the Chloe dress, too pricey.

Instead I am going to sink it into savings and maybe take Chris out to dinner to repay him for Kaya.