What Not to Wear: White Jumpsuit

Every once in a while during an online shopping jaunt I will run across something that nobody, not even Gisele Bundchen, should wear.  So, inspired by the recent Daily Tar Heel letter to the editor bemoaning the treatment of cargo short wearers in ultra preppy Chapel Hill, I had to blog about this abominable white capri length jumpsuit. 

I know the picture is blurry, but you shouldn't need a high resolution image to know that this is one outfit Stacy and Clinton would not hesitate to send to the garbage can.  Fabric is a rayon and polyester blend,  and the top is strapless with a giant flower right in the middle of the chest.  Pants are harem style with elastic cuffs.  Its kind of like summer cocktail party on the top, and genie in a bottle on the bottom!  How fun!  Who wears this stuff???

Now, I can't decide which is better or worse, the awful jumpsuit that would make a twig look 25 lbs heavier, or these women's cargo shorts:

What is in that pocket on the left?? A bagel?  Weeks supply of tampons?  Your guess is as good as mine.

Cute Designer Alert: Laura Elizabeth Jewelry

As a result of my recent obsession with ideeli, I discovered Laura Elizabeth jewelry.  Really cute stuff, but a little pricey.  Right now, you can purchase a certificate for $80 worth of Laura Elizabeth jewelry for $40.  I've posted a couple of samples below:

Check out other items at http://www.lauraelizabethjewelry.com./  Enjoy!!

Thou Shalt Not Go To Saks...

...during a GIGANTIC sale.  The past couple of weeks have given a whole new meaning to the term "retail therapy" and this afternoon was no exception.  As if my shopping addiction isn't bad enough as it is, when an enabler  a friend is along, it gets that much worse.  I had an awesome brunch with Brittany this morning.  Last time we went to brunch, we're finishing up and she says, "Wanna go to Target?"  And when a friend asks me to go to Target, who am I to say no?  This is becoming a pattern, only we skipped a few steps in the retail hierarchy today since the question morphed from "Wanna go to Target?" to "Wanna go to Saks?"  I just couldn't resist.  Fantastic sales were everywhere, it was like a bargain shopper's dream.  At the risk of making myself sick posting pictures of the stuff I bought, I'll do it anyway since I'll be going through shopping withdrawals during the month of July.  Here we go...

During my 8 hour studying marathon on Saturday, these came in the mail for me. Saved a ton and got a great gently used pair a la eBay.   First pair of Tory Burch and I love them already!


Tory Burch Reva Flat in Plum

Sunday trip to Canal Place -aka- Death to Bank Account.  Saks, 2 Story Banana Republic, and Anthro, not to mention other cute stores, all in one building.  BUT...everything already on sale was an additional 40% off.  Not sure when this ends, but if you're in the market for great work clothes, shoes, dresses for wedding season, jeans, etc, it is worth checking out this sale.  I picked up a couple of things and I am pretty excited about both.  I have been hunting for a nice pair of neutral pumps, but it seems like everything is patent or suede, too strappy, too matronly, or too stripper-ish.  But there, in the Size 8 sale rack, the perfect pair were just waiting for me.  They look 100x better in person than in this picture.  A coat of scotch guard and these babies will be ready to go!  Elizabeth and James, despite being the Olsen Twins' label, is quickly becoming one of my favorites, even though these pumps are the first Elizabeth and James item I've purchased.  Look for great discounts on E&J shoes on 6pm.com too, if you're interested.

Elizabeth and James E-Mazi Natural/Multi Pump

Second, I've wanted a navy stripey tee to wear with denim or white pants, but I have also had difficulty finding this simple item as well.  I didn't want the stripe to be too big or too small.  I also wanted something kind of loose fitting, but without batwing sleeves or too short.  Saks came through for me with this as well...in the form of the Tory Burch Keaton Tee.  Love it.



Next stop...Ann Taylor.  Decent standby for good work clothes, but sometimes still a bit old for my taste.  Like Saks, everything on sale was an additional 40%, which for me, resulted in yet another pair of shoes.  Best thing about these?  Original retail price $178...I paid $35.  See below.



Ann Taylor Vachetta Peep Toe



I also scored a couple of cute longer length pearl necklaces at Banana for $6 each.  Back to the grind tomorrow.  Mondays always come too soon!

Shop or Study?

Unfortunately for me (fortunately for my bank account), I have been doing more of the latter lately.  This summer has given a whole new meaning to work-study.  Nevertheless, there have been a couple of new developments in my retail world.  My trusty pink blackcrackberry is on its last legs.  Its dying like a pioneer with dysentery on the Oregon Trail.  First, it wouldn't accept my password, and wouldn't reset the password attempts, so it wiped everything.  All my contacts, pictures, everything-- gone.  Then, I try to call my parents, but I can't...because the #8 button doesn't work.  I get phantom facebook notifications of nothing.  I guess I've done an ok job keeping up with this phone.  I've had it 2+ years and I normally go through about 2 in that time period.  However, it is out with the old and in with the new.  The new, pretty, sleek white iPhone, that is (which, for some reason, makes me think of Anna Moring Dwiggins).  My only dilemma now is to get the customizable UNC iphone case from Coveroo or the Carolina blue and white case with my monogram in navy.  Tough decision...where are my shopping enablers when I need them?

I also scored an adorable pair of Tory Burch Reva flats off ebay earlier this week.  They should arrive on Saturday, just in time for me to take a break from a set of thrilling MBE questions to open the box.

Bar Exam Blues

As many of you know, I am studying for my second bar exam in two years.  Miserable.  As some of you fellow lawyer friends may know, common law future interests and the Rule Against Perpetuities were invented solely to confound law students and attorneys and drive both to complete and utter madness.  Although Louisiana is a little legally crazy sometimes, at least the Civilians don't have to worry about the RAP and fee simple determinables or vested remainders subject to total divestment.  I hate to think of what the already dismal LA Bar passage rate would be if the RAP were involved.  Needless to say, it has not been fun *attempting* to relearn these concepts that I don't think I even really understood in my first year of law school 4 years ago. 

Second gripe of the day about the Mississippi Bar Exam:  Professional Responsibility Questions.  If I recall correctly, I made a pretty decent score on the MPRE- the professional responsibility you must pass in order to become a licensed attorney (at least in most states).  I check to see what thrilling four hour lecture I'll get to listen to during my study time today, and lo and behold, it is Professional Responsibility!  WHAT?@$^$  Haven't I already been tested on this enough?  Not to mention those 47 hours of CLE credits I've racked up in the past year.  I've determined that the drafters of the MBE and most state bar exams also work for the Department of Redundancy Department.  I promise not to gripe too much about losing another summer to the black hole that is bar exam studying, so I'll get off that soap box for the day. 

In other news, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus paraded elephants down Poydras Street today before the circus tonight.  While I'm sad I didn't get to see yet another parade in New Orleans, I'm surprised that the friendly folks at PETA weren't protesting marching these elephants down concrete street in 100 degree heat. 

Will Litigate for Shoes

One of the many reasons why I love my friends:  Random Wednesday morning emails from the fabulous and hilarious Doris Royce containing the Bergdorf Goodman Featured Shoe of the Day.  I now know Doris is not a fan of Miu Miu, but she does like these:

Unfortunately, I would have to bill a lot more hours than I currently do to afford their price tag. 

Weekend Finds

This weekend I had some plans fall through or get rescheduled, so instead I spent my weekend social budget shopping.  Bargains of course, but my wallet would have probably appreciated it if I had stayed home and studied for the Mississippi Bar.  Alas, I found some really cute things and didn't spend too much, so it was pretty successful, with the exception of a trip to Target with Brittany.  I returned a jacket, and we each tried on no less than 5 things, and both walked out without a single thing. 

My trusty Toshiba laptop bit the dust a few weeks ago, so I have been on the lookout for one of those.  I stopped in the Best Buy on the West Bank (in local lingo, either the Best Bank or the Wank, depending on who you're speaking to).  I did not find a laptop, but did purchase two CD's...when was the last time anyone purchased an actual CD?  I know its been a long time for me.  So, Saturday morning I rocked out to Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits and the Best of the Temptations while doing laundry and making banana bread. 

Later in the afternoon I headed to Office Depot to check out another laptop.  Unsuccessful.  So, off to the mall I went on a quest for some cute straight leg or skinny (but not too skinny) white pants.  I have had the same pair of white pants since about 2005.  While I am happy I can still fit into them, I thought it was time to invest in another pair.  I went everywhere, and tried on I don't know how many pairs and couldn't find anything I liked.  Either they were too dressy, too long, flare leg or boot cut, didn't fit properly, etc.  Then, I went into NY & Co. (I purchased the 2005 pair there) and found a pair that were exactly what I was looking for.  Pretty much everything in the store right now is buy one get one 75%, too.  I'm wearing them today with a really cute ruflled Carolina Blue sleeveless top (football game outfit!) and my pewter Steven Madden SanFrann sandals.  Pic of the pants:

I also stopped in our Forever 21 to see if they had any cute jewelry and use a gift card that has been hanging out in my wallet for awhile.  Its usually a decent standby for an inexpensive going out dress/top, but my purchases from there have decreased dramatically.  But sometimes, you will find that gem of a dress hiding among the rack of rompers.    I purchased a couple different necklaces and a dress that looks more Banana Republic than Forever 21.  It is available on their website and looks 10x better in person.  I paired it with the necklace I bought, some gold bangles and simple earrings, and received many compliments.  Word of warning...some double sided tape would go a long way in helping the rather low cut neckline to stay put.

The dress (it doesn't come with the belt, and probably looks better without it):

The necklace:

In other news, shoutout to my brother's friend and roommate, Ben Bunting, who got 2 hits, a run and an RBI in the Heels' baseball win yesterday over Stanford.  Heels are Omaha bound!!

In My Shopping Bag Right Now...

are these adorable black peeptoe heels by Pour La Victoire.  Originally $150...available for $39.95 at 6pm.com.  A little formal, yes, but gorgeous nonetheless.  To purchase or not to purchase?  Sadly, probably not considering the Ravon dress purchase (see earlier post), but may pull the trigger in the near future.  This is the second time I've seen these deeply discounted on 6pm, so I will definitely keep an eye out!

New Website Obsession: Ideeli

I've seen the ads for Ideeli on many of the other shopping websites I frequent, but have never looked at it or signed up until yesterday.  If you subscribe to Gilt, Rue La La, One Kings Lane, etc, Ideeli is very similar.  Lo and behold, I made a purchase the very first time I visited the site.   In a couple of short weeks, I will be the proud new owner of a long, dark teal Ravon convertible dress.  The design of these dresses allows you to achieve multiple looks with one garment, and they come in a ton of different colors and in long and short lengths.  As a disciple of versatility (and with a one size fits all size lable and at only $49 on Ideeli!) how could I go wrong?  It remains to be seen whether or not I will be able to master twisting and tying the dress to achieve these different designs...I may have to post pictures of that attempt.  Bluefly has the  long version in black and dark grey for $84.

Here is a picture:

In other news, I purchased an antique art deco armoire when I moved into my new apartment.  I proceeded to fill all of the drawers with jeans.  That's right...nothing but denim.  I could probably stand to toss out the Ann Taylor trouser jeans from 2006, and a pair or two of the same, J. Crew hipslung jeans that I've loved and lived in for years.  My favorite pairs, however, are not folded and put in an armoire drawer.  They have their own special hanger in my closet, which is currently reserved for a pair of Seven for All Mankind "Roxanne" skinny jeans (picked up at SteinMart for a mere $60!) and another pair of straight leg Sevens with sparkly pockets.  Now another favorite pair has taken its place on the special jeans hanger.  When I was in NC to see my little brother and sister graduate from college, I made a trip to Costco in Greensboro to pick up a cake.  As was to be expected, I did not make a beeline for the bakery, pick up the cake, head back home.  I wandered through the clothes section, which is typically filled with Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, Sketchers, various types of Sue Sylvester-esque tracksuits, and other items.  Not exactly a trendy spot to shop.  But, as I approached a food sample stand at the end of the aisle, I caught a glimpse of an entire table of really cute Rock & Republic jeans.  Now I have been after a pair of jeans with those signature "R" pockets for a few years now, but never could find one that really fit the junk in my trunk, not to mention being reluctant to shell out the $200+ price tag.  I browsed through the two or three styles, and found one that I loved.  Great dark wash, no crazy colors or anything on the pockets, and a fantastic price tag ($69!).  I bought them without even trying them out- which never happens.  Luckily, they fit like a dream, except for the length.  Since I will never wear a 38" inseam, I will have to get them tailored, but small price to pay for a great pair of jeans.  Moral of the story is you can find great designer deals at Costco/Sam's Club and get a gallon of hummus and a 64 roll package of toilet paper in the same place.

Welcome to my blog!

If you know me and are reading this blog, you probably know how much I love to shop.  I simply love the act of shopping, whether or not I actually buy anything.  Retail therapy works for me...my closet can testify to that.  I've received many comments (compliments?) from my close friends about the great deals that I find on my (frequent) shopping trips.  I'm going to try to share a lot of them here.  I also plan on posting general updates, travel plans (for those far away friends that I am not able to see nearly as often as I'd like to) and other humorous tidbits.  Maybe even a few Helen Keller jokes here and there.  Stay tuned!!

Disclaimer:  Fellow friends who are also attorneys- please forgive the corny law references.