A Little Spring Shopping - May 2015

I may or may not have used shopping for wedding clothes and my weight loss as an excuse to buy some new clothes (and shoes, and a bag, and nail wraps). After hibernating all winter, I want bright colors and fun.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Jumpsuit - This beauty was my answer to a casual wedding. I wore it with some great silver jewelry from Stella & Dot and the silver sandals. I can also wear it with a white blazer and some pumps to work or with strappy sandals to another event.

Graphic Tees - My affection for fun, graphic tees is well known. These two are fun new additions and nods to two movies I love.

Tropical Print Moto Jacket - This jacket was an impulse buy, which I rarely do anymore. I'm sure it's going to get lots of use because I love it so much. The tropical print is a spring trend but it's a little different done in a moto jacket.

White Jeans - I had to replace the white jeans I donated, because they were too big. I scored a pair similar to these from the Talbots Outlet, for only $34.

Jamberry Nails - I hosted a little Jamberry party for my friends and had quite a few hostess credits. These are a few of the patterns I purchased with my credits. I have become a Jamberry devotee. They look great and last two weeks or more. You can't beat that!

Paris Market Tote - This bag is one of my favorites. I love that I can carry all of my items for work and it still looks chic. I also own it in black.  The black version is on sale for 50% off right now!

Silver Sandals - I needed a neutral pair of sandals that would work for an outdoor wedding but also stand up to wet grass and dirt. I've ruined several pairs of shoes because of poor yard conditions. These were perfect and a great find. I snagged these at Saks Off 5th for $30.

Summer Wedding Necessities

To be honest, the title of this post is a bit deceiving. Some of these items are more likely perceived necessities but a girl has to dream. We have four weddings on our calendar between May and July. I've lost weight over the last year and all of my dresses are too big. That's a beautiful thing but it's also challenging. Most of the weddings have some sort of outdoor element to them, which means stilettos and long gowns are out. Weather can change from warm to cool at night, so I will need some versatile options. In addition to the wedding, there will also be a few events surrounding some of the weddings. I'll be traveling to all of them. Three are out of state. I want outfits that pack well and will still look great. Challenge accepted. I went searching for some inspiration.

 photo credits: Fashion Vibe, Gal Meets Glam, A Little Dash of Darling


None of the weddings are formal but some are dressier than others. Some are extremely casual and frankly, those throw me a bit. I want to be dressed appropriately, per the couple's guidelines but I also want to look good. And I always err on the side of dressy. It never bothers me to be a little more dressed up than other guests. I prefer it over being overly casual. I found these three options.

Lane Bryant (sold out online, available in stores) / Asos / eShakti

Each of these dresses will look great dressed up with heels and statement jewelry or dressed down with flats or flat sandals and more simple jewelry. Versatility is always important to me. 

Jewelry by Stella & Dot / Shoes available via Saks Off 5th

Quality Bargains at Saks Off 5th

I purchase my share of discount fashion from stores like Target, Old Navy and Kohl's. I love these places for trendy items that I will likely only wear for a few seasons or staples, like basic t-shirts and tanks. Although I do have quite a few items from these stores that have held up for several years, the quality isn't the same as higher end designers and department stores. I've changed my way of thinking over the years. A $20 pair of shoes from a discount store isn't a bargain if they fall apart after a few wears. But a $60 pair of shoes that were purchased during a sale (originally $100) and last for years are a much better deal. They may have cost $40 more but if you are able to wear them for years, the cost per wear makes the extra cost worth the money. My favorite stores for high quality bargains are department store outlets, like Saks Off 5th.

The newly remodeled Saks Off 5th store opened on Thursday at Potomac Mills Mall. I was fortunate enough to attend a blogger preview event just prior to the grand opening. We got a tour of the store, a chance to see the great merchandise and do a little shopping.

Left to Right - Blogger friends Kristin of Handbags Hair and Heels and Katie of  Kurvy Katie

This store will serve as the model for other Saks Off 5th stores. It's larger than the previous store and has a more open floor plan. There is lots of great fashion to be had. I found a fantastic tweed and leather Ellen Tracy jacket and a fun color block sweater, that will be a perfect fall transition piece.

I was really disappointed that this store does not have a plus size section (like the previous store). I spoke with the store manager about this fact and expressed my disappointment. Regular Saks stores have Salon Z which contains great plus size fashion. I'll be writing to Saks corporate and expressing my disappointment to them as well. The Ellen Tracy jacket is so me. It was originally $169. I paid $65. My color block sweater was originally $89. I snagged it for only $21! Great deals on quality designer duds. The bag I'm carrying in these photos is the Rebecca Minkoff MAB (full size not mini) bag. I purchased it several years ago at Saks Off 5th for about $200, which at the time was better than half price. It's a quality bag that still looks fantastic and has stood the test of time. It was worth the investment. I choose quality over low cost, when the item is one I will wear over and over. I'm sure a similar low quality bag would have already been donated to Goodwill.

The shoe, accessory and handbag sections are stellar!

Chanel and Valentino

Hopefully, you live close enough to Potomac Mills to take advantage of the fantastic deals in person. live close to a Saks Off 5th, you can now shop online! In addition to the amazing fashion previews at bloggers events, another perk is the gifts we often receive. At this event, we were given a store gift card as well as a beauty box containing, Saks' BLACK line of cosmetics and beauty products (lip gloss, nail polish, body wash and perfume).

It's All In the Mix

Sunday Morning I was invited to breakfast by my sister. We went to a really interesting venue in DC called the Mansion on O. It was easily one of the most unique places I've ever dined. It's a series of row houses that were originally a private residence but are now a private club and hotel.  The venue is open to the public on Sundays and Mondays for breakfast, brunch and lunch. I wasn't sure how to dress so I went a little toward the "ladies who lunch" style.

Jacket - Linda Allard Ellen Tracy via Saks Off 5th, Shirt - Old Navy, Pants - Lane Bryant,
Shoes - Seychelles via DSW, Bag - Vintage via The Shoppe on Main, Ring - JewelMint

I like the mix of this outfit.  Mixing the high end jacket with an Old Navy tee, vintage bag, eclectic shoes with a pop of color, and new jewelry made for a fun outfit.

Outlet Shopping - The Choices

This weekend my sister and I did a little outlet shopping at the Talbots Outlet in Virginia. I love this outlet because the items they sell are the same ones that have been online and in their stores.  I started thinking about the differences in outlet shopping. Did you know that outlet shopping has become such big business that some companies create lesser quality, lower priced items specifically for their outlet stores? It's a switch that they don't tell you about. One of the ways you can tell is by the tags. If the tags say outlet on them, the items were made specifically for the outlet and will not be sold in higher end stores.  In this case, you'll also notice that some things have been skimped on. Items may not be stitched the same way, lined, or have as much hardware.  The corners or seams may not be reinforced as well.  These are things that will make your items last longer. If that's not a concern for you, go for it.  The item is still a great deal if you love it and will wear it often.

I live close to an outlet center.  I am very picky about the stores that I frequent.  I find the real bargains can be found in the department store outlets like Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, and Neiman Marcus Last Call.  These stores have high end, designer merchandise at bargain prices.

I've sung the praises of Nordstrom Rack in previous posts you've also seen me wearing lots of items I purchased at the store. There is a bit of looking and hunting that has to be done at these stores. There are very few pretty displays and lots of sorting. If you're willing to do the work, bargains can be found.

My favorite story is about a designer trench coat that I fell in love with at Nordstrom. At full price it was over $400. Way out of my budget at the time. I walked away and decided to start saving. I told myself if I could save the money then I'd go back. I saved and went back but it was gone. I started searching, even asked a clerk to do a store search for me but no luck. One day I was wondering around Saks Off 5th and saw some jackets hanging on a rack. I wandered over to look and I almost fainted. The coveted trench was there, in my size and it was a little over $100!  On top of that, I had a coupon to get an additional 15% off. I couldn't believe it.  I saved over $300!

I've been able to buy some high quality clothing that I'll wear for years because of these department store outlets. I've heard that Nordstrom Rack is having a huge end of the season sale. If you live near a location and have time and money, it's a great place to score some deals.

Let the Accessories Speak

I love wearing outfits with flair but there are times when simple is best. Letting the accessories speak for you can be key. That's what I did with this ensemble. I was really feeling the asian influence of my Mint Blossom Bracelet from JewelMint. I longed for a mandarin collar jacket or shirt that would work with it at the office but I don't own either. I threw on the shoes which are a bit chinoiserie.

Jacket - Lane Bryant icon, Shirt - Target, Pants - Lane Bryant,
Shoes - Beverly Feldman via Saks Off 5th, Bracelet - JewelMint, Ring - JewelMint

Raindrops on Roses...a few of my favorite things

I love Emily's (author of Cupcakes and Cashmere) regular feature, "Five Things".  I believe (after giving her full credit for the idea) that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I thought I'd do my own take on her feature.

These are a few of my favorite things...

I've collected quite a few flower pins in different colors. I got them from various places, sale racks and attached to jackets and scarves I purchased. The cost was minimal but they never fail to brighten an outfit.

It started snowing today and I love the way falling snow looks. It's magical and makes me want to bundle up in my "new to me" hooded pea coat. I got it for just $10 at the thrift store.

I'm engaged! I think my beautiful ring would go great with my Gianfranco Ferre tuxedo jacket. Who am I kidding? My ring goes great with everything. I got the jacket a few years ago at Saks off 5th, one of my favorite discount stores for designer items. The jacket was originally priced at over $500. I paid just $60 for this classic piece.

photo credits: Sex and the City HBO