J Crew My Addiction

So I am completely and totally and in love with J Crew. I can't go into that store without wanting to spend at least $2,000! Okay I never do...or even close, but I love this store. One of the reasons that I love it so much is that most of the things in there are my taste. They do get some really funky prints sometimes and some weird styles other times...but overall I love their clothing.
If you like simply elegant clothing, classics with a twist or just beautiful well made clothing, you have come to the right store. I have a feeling that Jackie O and Audrey are some the inspiration behind their clothing because most of the things I see I can picture those women wearing.
Another reason I love them is for their basics. They have great twinsets, slacks, coats, tees, sweaters, skirts, suits and I can go on and on. When I need basics that is always where I turn because they are such high quality and I have said before, of all of the things you should spend money on, basics are it.
A word of warning however, their chinos fit very strangely. Maybe not on others, but I always feel like they are tight where they shouldn't be tight and loose where they shouldn't be loose. Not my favorite, but everything else is.

The Price of Color

So there are many reasons why clothing is priced the way it is. There is the fabric, the designer, the cut, all of the details, and it goes on and on. One of the things for me personally that will determine if I buy something or if I pay the price that it is when it is a little pricey, is what the color is.

Below is an amazingly rich orange-red color. This is such a great color!! I am such a sucker for a good color or material. Sometimes that is a deal breaker for me. When you pay for a higher end retailer such as J Crew, Ann Taylor or Banana Republic you pay for their custom dipped cloth. Sometimes you pay for a custom print designed only for their fashion house.

To me if it is a great color-I can't see much else...I am sold!

Banana Republic

Aldo-My New Favorite Shoe Store

I love classic clothing. Especially classic shoes. I have never been able to get into crazy looking footwear. I love heels, flats, boots and sandals. My usual go-to shoe store has always been Steve Madden. Even though Steve Madden shoes aren't all classics, they usually have about 5 or 6 styles that I love. I even venture into the "trendy" with Steve Madden.

Recently I discovered Aldo shoes. I have fallen in love! I love love love their stilettos!!!! They are great. They have such a nice shape to them. I love that they have a bit of a platform in the front so that I can have high heels without the pain that goes with it. Surprisingly enough they are actually very comfortable.

I used to laugh at the girls wearing the stilettos to sporting events. I would wonder how in the world they could walk to the event let alone stand up, sit down, hike stairs, carry small children, etc., in their tall shoes. I have become one of those women. I have some shoes from Aldo that are so comfortable that I can wear them and still do the things that I love to do.

Warning: Aldo shoes aren't always consistent. I have a favorite brown pair of heels. I loved them so much I decided to get a black pair as well. I ordered them online. They are so tight!!! They are definitely smaller than then other pair, but the same size. You may want to try on shoes before hand in the stores. If you don't find an Aldo near you, I would risk the online order...it is so worth it!

Nordstrom New Arrivals

http://nordstrom.comclick here

















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2991991/0~2378467~2378483~2378745?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2378745&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3006277/0~2378467~2378483~2378745?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2378745&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3005195/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=3


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3003214/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=2


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2998268/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=2


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2986500/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3002812/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2995914/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2996073/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2995906/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1


















http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3010576/0~2376776~2374327~6007067~6007338?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007338&P=1

Arden B

http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=164&productId=14462



















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=251&productId=14491


















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=168&productId=14395


















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=168&productId=14398


















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=168&productId=14270


















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=164&productId=14094

















http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=164&productId=14091

Essential for Autumn

So I have been thinking lately about jackets and coats. Why??? Because they are in in in! I love Autumn and especially clothes for cooler weather. Layering, sweaters, long jeans and heels, jackets, beanies, I love it all!!! So I was thinking how important it is to have a cute coat. How often have you gone somewhere and you never take your coat off at all? I has happened to me on numerous occasions. I love walks in the leaves and farmer's markets, baseball, football and any other sporting event. The coat makes the outfit.

When is the last time that you bought a coat or jacket? For some reason I have one coat for nice occasions, one for more casual occasions. That is it. Coats and jackets are so fun. With layering you don't have to have a bulky coat either. You can still be warm and stylish at the same time.

Now coats are expensive and that may be why most of us have one or two at the most. That is why it is fun to have a jacket that you could put different hoodies underneath. Or some thick sweaters if you don't like the bulk of a coat.

For my fashion peeve with coats. It drives me crazy when I see someone that is well dressed with slacks and heels and then they put on a ski jacket. Or when someone is wearing jeans and athletic shoes only to but a nice black pea coat over it. UGLY! Not only ugly but disjointed. It is important to stay with one style. Some of you may not care-then why are you reading a fashion blog???

If you don't have a nicer coat go and buy one at a cheaper store. A black pea coat is pretty classic. It will never go out of style.

I bought one while I was in college at Maurices for $70, not too bad. Even a cheap one is better than a ski jacket. Note about cheap wool however-it attracts EVERYTHING. The nicer the coat the less it will attract. You will always have some amount of lint on a black wool coat, you just won't be a walking magnet. Some things it is wise to spend more money on, a black wool coat is one of them in my book.

Same goes for a casual coat. You can get a cute stylish one without spending a ton of money.

The point of the blog however is that a coat is an essential part of your wardrobe. You wear a coat a lot through the winter (obviously only those who are in cooler parts of the country). It is worth it to me to invest in this piece of clothing.

Abercrombie and Fitch

Ann Taylor Loft

Ann Taylor

J Crew New Arrivals

J Crew Sale