Morning-Saving Tips... AKA How to Get to Work on Time

We've all been there... we look at the clock and realize we are 10 minutes late and still have sopping wet hair and our bathrobe on. As a blogger who posts her outfit daily for all to see, has a dog, a decent commute for work and a ton or responsibilities that pile up each day, I have worked hard to streamline my morning routine so I can get to work on time and still be polished and prepared. Here's a few tips:

1. Don’t hit the snooze button. I know it is sooo tempting, a few more minutes under that comforter all snuggly and cozy. But really think of what you could be accomplishing in those extra nine minutes. Also hearing your alarm TWICE in one morning makes anyone a twinge more grumpy.

2. Be realistic with your tasks. This coming Monday, really see how long it takes for you to feed the cat, take the dog for a walk around the block, put out the recycling, pack the lunches. Also be realistic with what HAS to be done in the AM, and what could be done at a different time of day. When you over-schedule your morning, you set yourself up for failure. Consider packing lunches at night, laying out your clothing, even showering before bed.

3. Keep the TV off. If you want to hear the news, listen to the radio. When you have the TV on, you are more likely to sit down “for just a minute” and wait to leave the house or hop in the shower until a commercial break.

4. Invest in your hair. If you have a great cut and color, you will spend less time cursing your mane and torturing it under hot tools. I have difficult hair – thin but lots of it, not fully wavy but not straight and it seems to never curl in the front and curl too much in the back. And the cowlick? But getting my hair properly cut, trimmed every 6-8 weeks and my color maintained has made hair styling each morning almost product-free and a breeze. It really is possible to get a good cut for ALL hair types. It may not be what the It Girl of the week is wearing, but if it is flattering to your face and hair, then it is stylish.

5. Gut your closet. Take out all your out-of-season pieces, hide in the back the things you don’t wear on a regular basis (interview suits, cocktail dresses) and leave in the forefront only that which fits, is clean, pressed, and looks good when on your body. Donate that which depresses you, doesn’t fit quite right or is not in optimum condition. Remove any item that requires repair and don’t let it back in the closet until it is fixed. Now after this if you only have one pair of pants hanging there… well heck it’s going to be much easier to dress in the morning! Less options means less time to fuss over what to put together. It is far better to own one pair of black pants that fit like a dream and wear them every day, than to have a closet full of ill-fitting, stained and ugly trousers that make you wince each time you catch your reflection.

6. Do your laundry. Often times we fret over what to wear because what we want to wear is balled up at the bottom of the hamper. You should be doing laundry at least once a week. If you only have time (or the quarters) for one load, stop and think about your coming week and what takes precedence – is it jeans and tees for casual events, or is it sweaters and trousers for work? I often put a load in the washer before I go to bed, in the morning throw it in the dryer while the dog is doing his thing in the yard and then fold and put away when I get home from work (this works best for things like towels and workout clothes that can handle being a bit wrinkled).

7. Save the beauty treatments for the weekend. You don’t need to scrub, steam, mask and bleach every day; find a day (or evening) that isn’t the AM to get these things done. My weekday shower consists of shampooing, conditioning, leaving it in as I wash my body, do a quick swipe with the razor to the underarms (and anywhere else if I am wearing a dress or have a special event), rinse hair and go. I wash my face at night, I do the fancy shaving and the scrubbing and the foot polishing on weekends. If your hair, face or skin require special treatment, consider switching your showers or routine to evening.

8. A place for everything, and everything in its place. Your mother probably said this to you multiple times as you grew up, but if you took the time to put things back after using them, you would spend less time later cleaning up your mess. Same holds true for your morning routine – take the time to put back your brush, hang up your bathrobe, store away your cosmetics and you will spend less time searching for something or digging through piles to find what you need. If your moisturizer, your contact lens solution, your deodorant, your shoes, your earrings are always in the same place, you can easily assembly-line through getting ready each day.

9. Keep it simple, stupid. Who needs three concealers, a mattifier, a primer, a foundation, powder, highlighter, four shades of shadow for a weekday? On a day when you have time, play with making a simpler face uniform (hopefully you have started to make a bit of a wardrobe uniform based on previous posts). There are so many new two-in-one products on the market that you may be able to consolidate. For me, I found a powder foundation that does triple duty for all day wear, good coverage and shine control and a shadow quad of long-wearing colors that go great with my entire wardrobe and look great for day wear.

10. Make time for breakfast. Even if it’s a piece of toast as you head out the door, eat something. You may not be hungry now, but you will be ravenous later and it will ruin your whole day, your appetite, your diet, your metabolism and your mental clarity. Instant oatmeal, a whole wheat tortilla with some cheese and leftover meat or veggies from last night’s dinner (fold and cook for like 40 seconds) is a great dine-and-dash solution. Get your breakfast to be a routine and it won’t end up being left out due to lack of time.

Thursday

Survived Day 3! For those who wondered, there is a major warm spell in DC right now - today I went to lunch sans jacket. Problem is the buildings are on End of November temperatures so the office is a bit warm. My colleague's office is FREEZING (he has a window office and also an AC/heat unit that he blasts all day) so I have my pashmina to bundle up in when I have training in there.

Today I wore my black merino shift dress from Banana Republic ('07), black footless tights from Old Navy ('06), tan Bern boots from Duo ('07), black coral necklace from Mexico (gift - '07), my silver hoops and cuff.

Hair is second day - I used a round brush and dryer on it while dry to smooth it out. No additional product. By time I got to work, it had a cool piecey wave to it.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Pop Beauty's shadow set for brown eyes - the khaki and light brown blended on lid, the darker brown in crease and along lash lines. Two coats of DiorShow on curled lashes and Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Glossy Rose.

Wednesday

Dude, my hair looked SOOOO much better after walking to work. Seriously, I went in the bathroom and was utterly impressed by my 'do. But this picture looks eh.

So I went shopping in my mom's closet on Thanksgiving. This top is from I think 2005 Banana Republic; my sister and I conned my mom into buying it, thinking it was sassy and would be cute with black pants. I think she wore it once because the tags weren't on it, but not much more than that. So ivory and black print tie-neck chiffon layered top from Banana Republic with my missing pair of black pants! I thought I had lost these wool-blend coin-pocket trousers from Ann Taylor Loft ('06) and then found them in the cedar chest where I store my husband's sweaters. Hooray! Black city boots by Impo, silver hoops and cuff.

Hair was washed and conditioned, a bit of Sexy Straight Hair's Shine On! while wet, blew it dry with a paddle brush first, then a round brush for smoothness. I used the curling iron a bit to straighten with a touch of flip at the bottom. Then some Matrix Sleek water-free shine spray to hold it in place. And in place it stayed, through all the wind today!

Makeup is philosophy's The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Pop Beauty's shadow set for brown eyes - the dark and light khakis blended over the whole lid. Two coats of DiorShow on curled lashes and Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line. On lips is Revlon ColorStay Sheer Lipcolor in Sheer Plum.

Tuesday

First day at the new job! It was really pretty out, took flats for trekking around and a pashmina for warmth and that was about it.

Teal merino bateau-neck sweater from Banana Republic ('07), black pencil skirt from Old Navy ('07), leopard peeptoe heels from BCBGirls ('07), tortoise necklace from beach boutique ('07), and gold bangles from Ralph Lauren ('07).

Hair was second day, some sections curled and then Jonathan Silky Dirt twirled around sections.

Makeup is Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corner, khaki on lids. Lashes curled and two coats of DiorShow, Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line. On lips is Revlon Shiny Sheers in Sheer Cocoa Glaze.

I felt like such a city girl - walking from the Metro with my pashmina blowing in the breeze. A guy in the elevator said my shoes were "fierce" and said "my owner is FUN!" The elevator operator agreed (yes my office has elevator operators! How retro!). My coworkers seem very nice and cool and I like my office. I didn't do much investigating at lunch and only walked a block to Chipotle and realized there is actually not a Starbucks on my route, but there is a Caribou Coffee right across the street. After work my sister and friend took me out for a celebratory drink at a posh Old Boys School-esque bar attached to a hotel. It was quite fun. Allie in the City!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thursday we went to my mom's for the holiday. The weather was amazing - in the 70s and beautiful. Crazy to have all the windows open on Thanksgiving!

I wore my burgundy merino shift dress from Banana Republic ('07), silver hoops and cuff, tan Bern boots from Duo ('07).

Hair was second day since it was colored and cut the night before; hit a few pieces with the curling iron and some Jonathan Silky Dirt twirled around pieces for smoothness and separation.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 for concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khaki on lid. Lashes curled, Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line and two coats of DiorShow. On lips is Revlon Shiny Sheers in Sheer Cocoa Glaze (quite a fan of this stuff - Revlon was B1G1 50% off at CVS and I grabbed it with some Chlor-Trimeton for my hives).

So Wednesday night I got my hair touched up and the woman who washed my hair said she and her daughter both have hives (she noticed them on my neck) and said that Chlor-Trimeton has a different ingredient that works better for hives than Benadryl and the rest. Ran to CVS right after my appointment. Hasn't helped much yet (the hives have returned all over my forearms, my neck, face, behind my knees, top of feet and hands and more) but will give it a week.

Thanksgiving was very fun, but ended up awful. We got home around 8:30 PM and ten minutes after we sat down, there was a knock on the door. Mr. Allie's father's neighbor was there, said Mr. Allie-in-Law had an accident. He lives only a block away, so my husband grabbed his coat and dashed over. A few minutes later, he called me to tell me an ambulance was there and they were taking him to the hospital. I drove over to meet them.

My father-in-law somehow fell when exiting his car (he went to Thanksgiving at his sister's house) and slammed the back of his head right on the asphalt. Due to the type of fall (he didn't catch himself, hit the back of the head) he had some brain hemorrhaging. We spent the evening in the emergency room, went home for a few hours of restless sleep and returned back in the morning.

Needless to say, Friday's outfit wasn't too awesome, nor photographed. Orange shawl-collar merino sweater from Banana Republic ('07), Old Navy "Flirt" dark bootcut jeans ('07) and Impo black city boots. Hair was second day, brushed out and left as-is and makeup was Philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, DiorShow mascara and the same lipstick as Thursday.

Friday late afternoon, my father-in-law was moved to a regular room and we went home to take showers, feed the dog and get some rest. We then came back with some books, the paper (he LOVES the weekend crossword puzzle) and other things to make him comfortable for his stay. His CT-scan showed no additional swelling, but they wanted to keep him under observation. Not sure the reason for the black-out, no sign of stroke, heart attack or anything else we were fearing.

Saturday was BUSY (hence no photos)! We started with yoga, then dashed home to quickly change. I changed into the same dress and boots from Thanksgiving, but I put a black thermal long-sleeved tee from Old Navy ('07) and black heavy tights from Target ('06) underneath, and my black coral necklace from Mexico (gift - '07). Hair was washed and conditioned, a bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt while damp and dried during yoga. I twirled locks with Jonathan Silky Dirt when dry and straightened the bangs with a curling iron. Makeup Was exactly the same as Thanksgiving.

Went over to the hospital to visit my father-in-law. They decided to keep him an additional day.

We headed past Baltimore for my husband's grandparent's 65th anniversary party. Tons of family was there, it was unfortunate that his father was unable to attend (his parents were the celebrating couple).

After the party, we headed home, had half an hour to relax, and then went to a performance by Bhagavan Das. Wore the same outfit. Afterwards, the yoga studio that hosted the event had a party and we attended until about midnight.

Headed home and I passed out - my husband said I was completely dead to the world. Unfortunately he didn't sleep as soundly and my dog was having stomach issues so he spent the whole evening with the dog, letting him out and listening to him gurgle and pace the hardwood floors of the bedroom.

Today is Sunday and my father-in-law was released from the hospital.

Teal bateau-neck merino sweater from Banana Republic, Old Navy darl "The Flirt" bootcut jeans, silver necklace from B.P., silver hoops and cuff, black city boots from Impo.

Hair was second day, a few pieces foxed with the curling iron, locked twirled with Jonathan Silky Dirt.

Makeup was done quickly - Philisophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm,Pop Beauty's shadow set for brown eyes - the sparkly light tan color on lids, lashes curled and two coats of Dior Show, thin line of Maybelline UltraLiner in black and on lips is Revlon ColorStay Sheer in Sheer Plum (another new purchase and another like).

Got the pops out of the hospital, went to get him some groceries and lunch, did a few errands and now and happily at home with a glass of wine and some Mexican take-out to cover for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. Have lived off coffee all weekend and am happy to have tomorrow off as well to recuperate and prepare for my new job on Tuesday!

My father-in-law will be fine, has a good 30+ staples in his head and needs to move slow, but should be just fine. We're thinking of getting him a shirt that says, "Chicks Dig Scars" and I keep begging him to take this opportunity with a head half-shaved to go all out with a mohawk, but he just politely laughs and says he'll sport a hat until the hair grows back. :-)

Wednesday

Teal scoop tee from Gap ('07), black ponte jacket from Banana Republic Outlet ('07), denim trousers from Gap ('06), black city boots from Impo ('06), silver necklaces from B.P. ('07) and the Renaissance Festival ('05), silver cuff and hoops.

Hair is second day, brushed out, a few pieces curled with the curling iron, then a bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt applied by twirling through sections.

Makeup is L'Oreal True match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy the Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Glossy Rose, Body Shop eye color in Slate on lid, Soft Black in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled, two coats of DiorShow.

A Thanksgiving Meme...

Thanksgiving in my family is a big deal; my mom is from New England and other than the year my father passed away, the meal has always been at her house. Each year the crowd changes, but the spirit is the same. We invite any family that is in town (and when I say family, it is from my mom’s side, my dad’s side, my husband’s side, my cousin’s wife’s side… we’re not particular) and any friends who either can’t or won’t head home for the holiday. Some friends like Jake and Shelly are now family for attending multiple years in a row. This year is low on blood family (everyone is using this year to visit the other sides of the tree) but high on adopted family (Shelly will bring her boyfriend to celebrate their first Turkey Day together, Jake will be there, and there may be a few other friends along with me, my husband, my sister and my mom).

Each year, my mom cooks a big turkey to perfection with her own recipe of stuffing. This year since I am a vegetarian, my hubby and I will have these turk’y roll-ups that are breaded and have cranberry stuffing inside. Along with the turkey, we ALWAYS have squash, roasted sweet potatoes, boiled onions, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives and amazing homemade mashed potates. And of course homemade gravy. For dinner my mom makes an apple pie, my sister is making a pecan one, Shelly is bringing bread pudding and I believe Jake is bringing a pumpkin pie. Of course Cool Whip and Breyer’s ice cream to top all the desserts!

We eat on the china that was my grandparent’s and the crystal that was my parent’s wedding gift and use silver that has been passed down many generations. We use the green tablecloth because it accents the china nicely and feels festive. We hold hands, say a quick grace, and then in honor of my father, repeat what he always said before carving the turkey, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God Let’s Eat!”

Much wine is consumed, my sister and I get giggly, the boys go to the basement to watch sports, and then depending on the weather, we either fall into a food coma watching TV, or take a brisk walk around the block to aid digestion. This year, my sister, husband, friends and I will be participating in the DC Turkey Trot to benefit S.O.M.E. I thought it would be cool to wear matching scarves as a Turkey Trot team (and Old Navy fleece scarves are on sale $5 if you purchase 2 or more) but the boys in the group protested. Guess boys don’t find matching scarves cute – us girls were all for it!

I was tagged by both Julie at the JQ Lounge and Shell at Skybluepink to do a meme about seven things one may not know about me. I find these memes so darn tough because I am a very open person and I am not sure what people don’t know and hate to be repetitive.

So stealing an idea from my dear friend Amanda, I will list seven things I am thankful for, in honor of tomorrow, my favorite holiday of the year.

1. I am thankful for a quality, not quantity family. I don’t have grandparents or many cousins, aunts and uncles who are still alive, but those I do have are so wonderful. I have a very special connection with my sister and mom, have some great cousins that I am glad to have as friends as well as family, and two aunts who are fabulous people (and married some fabulous men to be in my family!).

2. I am thankful for Skim Pumpkin Spice Lattes, No Whip. Without them, my last day at work (and days where I need an extra pick-me-up) wouldn’t be so sweet… or spicy!

3. I am thankful for my husband, who on December 27, 1992 I feel hard for (yes Virginia, there is love at first sight!) and loved me ever since, despite me stealing the majority of the closet, making him into a metrosexual, spending too many hours on the laptop blogging and filling the bathroom with so many beauty products, some of his stuff has been pushed to the linen closet in the hallway. But in all seriousness, he and I have progressively gotten better and better, more and more in love with one another and I begin to tear up just thinking about how awesome he is, and how awesome we are as a team.

4. I am thankful for Banana Republic’s fall/winter collection. FINALLY this company has gotten it right – chic styles, great colors and fabrics, back to their original great quality and it fits me too!

5. I am thankful for the amazing friends in my life. The older I have gotten, the stronger my friendships have become with women. I am thankful for my gaggle of girlfriends that I can rely on no matter what (Debbie, Shelly, Beth, Amanda for starters…), as well as the new friends I have made through the blogosphere.

6. I am thankful for blogs. Many find them to be silly and trivial and strange (um, posting my picture, tummy rolls and all for public consumption?), but through then I have met some amazing people, have been inspired, have found self-confidence and the ability to love all of me, belly rolls and fat calves and all. I see how blogs bring people together, open up the world and really allow people to be loved, respected and appreciated for being just themselves. It’s a pretty awesome community!

7. I am thankful for change – I have felt a bit stagnant and frustrated lately and realized that life has been very… status quo lately. Same job, same relationship, same house, sma weekend activities… all very good but all very comfortable. I am looking forward to a new job to jump-start my brain and my creativity!

Now, I am tagging Shar, Toya, Anna, Catie, Linda, Morgan and Gervy!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Fellow Fashionistas

When I started this blog, it was a personal journal to keep me from wearing the same pink merino sweater two times in one week. over two years later, I have thousands of readers and have found many kindred spirits in the blogosphere who maintain a similar journal. Though our styles and tastes are quite varied, we all have a passion for fashion and are real women with real lives, real budgets and real wardrobes. Some you may know, others may be new to you. I wanted to share some of my favorites:

Euro Chic. Bobbi is the epitome of simple chic. She doesn't have an extensive or fancy wardrobe, but she always looks elegant, appropriate and well turned out.

One Black Dress. Kristen has just started this blog, and I cannot wait to see how it progresses. The concept is building her wardrobe around one simple black dress.

Style for the Stay at Home Mom. Leah always looks so stylish, yet has a wardrobe that can handle the rigors of being a very busy mom.

What I Wore Today. Kasmira's awesome personality is just as colorful and fun as her eclectic wardrobe. Only she can totally rock pieces from a USMC uniform with a silk blouse. Always fun to see her creative combinations!

Fashion Evolution. Another relatively new wardrobe blog, but a fun one that provides product information, and great detail on her outfits.

La Femme Couture. Shar posts about a multitude of things, but in between posts pictures of herself in her outfits. Simple, elegant wardrobe and a very cute hairstyle I wish i could sport!

my Wardrobe in a Nutshell

With the new job just around the corner, I have been trying to get my entire wardrobe clean, my closet organized, my drawers tidy so I can worry about the job and not my outfit each day. I have made a list of the contents of my Fall/Winter Wardrobe. Yep, it's a bit over 60 pieces and doesn't include my yoga/lounge stuff, but I think otherwise it's pretty accurate:

Jackets and Blazers
1. Orange sweater jacket – cute but not very wintry
2. Tan twill jacket – fits strange, is cheap, considering donating
3. Black ponte jacket – in love with it, it is fab
4. teal bateau neck merino
5. White denim safari jacket – HATE it. Got it for $6.99 so I keep it, but should get rid of it.

Sweaters
1. Purple dream v-neck – cozy, and fun color
2. Pink merino v-neck – fits a bit tight, for some reason the color irks me right now
3. black merino crewneck – not very warm, hem rolls up
4. black stretchy v-neck – casual and fine, not terribly warm
5. same in navy
6. same in white – it’s see-through and requires a layer which makes it less flattering and professional
7. Dark orange merino scoopneck
8. Black ribbed crewneck
9. Black and gray fuzzy v-neck – requires a shell, is very long and casual and only works with jeans
10. Jade short sleeved scoop tunic sweater – needs a layer for the winter.
11. Lime merino boatneck – I just can’t wear this shade in the winter, I look sickly
12. Heathered brown merino v-neck – cannot wear with the darker hair, looks awful. In attic.

Work-appropriate Shirts and Tops
1. Leopard print sheer sleeveless top – CLEAVAGE
2. Ivory lace cap-sleeved top – can’t wear with extra poundage, major cleavage
3. White cap sleeve shirt – cute, not warm, needs to be ironed
4. White button-down shirt – a bit too big, needs to be ironed
5. Black wrap shirt – not warm but fabu
6. Bright purple jersey puffed-sleeve bow neck top – I dunno, I don’t LOVE this. Need to play with it more.
7. Black and white print cotton kimono-inspired top – sort of faded, more play than work.
8. Teal cotton babydoll – again should be retired for the season

Evening/Night Out Tops
1. Red silk empire waist top
2. Gray-blue silk jersey drapey top
3. green lowcut rouched top
4. Red puff sleeved silk jersey top (en route from Banana Republic)
5. Hot pink blouson jersey tube top
6. Gold print satin top

Jeans
1. Denim trousers – a bit short with heels
2. Flirt jeans – too long for flats
3. Joe’s Jeans – they stretched out, got thin, are crap and should be returned for the poor quality.

Pants and Trousers
1. Black stretch poplin trousers
2. Another pair of the same trousers
3. Cream wool crepe trousers – a bit tight
4. Brown glen plaid trousers
5. Brown wool cuffed trousers – a bit large, haven't pulled out because I fear I will grow into fitting them :-)
6. Black nubby crepe trousers – too short, lining torn out, they are just plain awful and need to be tossed
7. Gray stretch trousers – a bit short, a bit tight

Skirts
1. Black pencil skirt
2. Denim skirt – a bit short and a bit juvenile
3. Denim pencil skirt – should be burned
4. Black and cream jersey circle skirt – a bit too big
5. Black and White gypsy skirt – very limiting in regard to tops, very summery
6. Zebra skirt
7. Orange red shantung skirt – not work appropriate, better for warmer months

Work-appropriate dresses
1. Burgundy sweater dress (en route from Banana Republic)
2. Black sweater dress
3. Purple sweater dress – shows off my gut a bit
4. Black and ivory jersey wrap dress
5. Black, teal and lime print jersey dress – too summery
6. Teal knit dress
7. Red jersey crepe dress
8. Olive linen shift – should be retired for the season

Special Occasion Dresses
1. Black matte jersey sheath

Suiting
1. Black pinstriped pantsuit – a bit tight in the trousers, lining torn out but otherwise fine and flattering.

Shells and Tees
1. Teal scoop tee – a bit loose for work and nice look
2. Same in black
3. Black cashmere tank – major cleavage and more of an evening top
4. Black silk knit shell – kinda dorky, only good for a suit
5. Orange scoop tee
6. Royal scoop tee – a bit faded and more for yoga than work
7. Black tencel tee – not too flattering or cute... not sure why I still own it
8. Black tape yard sweater tee – faded and falling apart
9. Pink kimono-sleeved v-neck tee – a bit tight and more for play than work
10. White ribbed tank
11. Black ribbed tank
12. Olive ribbed tank - thin and cannot be a top on it's own; needs to be layered
13. Berry ribbed tank
14. Heather gray ribbed tank
15. Ivory synthetic camisole

As you know from this blog, I do own more pieces but they are for the warmer seasons. I limited this to what is currently in my rotation. I concentrate on what I wear to work because really, as a 32-year old my social activities are usually at a friend's house or a nearby casual bar. My evening tops work for a night out on the town, a fancy restaurant, a holiday party and many have been worn with nice trousers but also jeans to dress them down.

Anyway, I wanted to share this because it may seem that I shop and shop, but I really am particular with what I get, when and what deserves to go in the closet. I am finding my collection to be a bit big now, this often happens when seasons change. I have my old pieces that are mostly good, but due to lifestyle or personal style updates over the year, some just seem plain wrong (like my brown merino v-neck that has had a good three winters of hearty wear before now). This causes me to seek out a few replacement pieces to update the look.

Point is, a lot of clothes do not make a person prepared for every occasion, stylish or well-dressed. Making this list really made me realize I have... ENOUGH. I need to work with what I have, not work against it by bringing more into the fold.

However with the holidays come holiday gift cards so there is a chance you may see a few more goodies... but with it I will be returning the crap which are Joe's Jeans (love Nordstrom), and donating the pieces on this list that do not make me happy or are flattering any longer!

Tuesday

Orange sweater jacket from J. Crew ('07), white ribbed tank from Old Navy ('07), denim pencil skirt from Newport News (free, '07), magenta and orange peeptoe wedges from J. Crew (sale, '07), gold necklaces from Express ('05) and a beach boutique ('07), gold bangles from Ralph Lauren ('07).

Hair was washed and conditioned, a bit of Jonathan Silky Dirt added while damp. Blew the bangs straight, let the rest air dry. it ended up looking a bit goofy, so currently in a messy updo with sideswept bangs.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 used as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Glossy Rose, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - the ivory in the inner corners, Pop Beauty's Shadow set for brown eyes - the celadon shade on the lid. Lashes curled, two coats of DiorShow and a thick line of Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line.

OMG, so happy dancing about these shoes. I first saw them in Lucky magazine in the summer and drooled over them. Two of my favorite colors (I even had pink and orange as my wedding colors), a darling little bow and a wedge heel. It was as though the J. Crew gods got together to create the dream shoe for Allie. Too bad the price was way outside my comfort zone.

Well they FINALLY went on sale (and I had a few promo codes up my sleeve) and they STILL had my size in stock so I finally got them! My winter wardrobe isn't really made for them, but I can see them going with a good 80% of my spring and summer pieces! I jsut had to share a close-up photo (and also you can see the new pedi!).

Monday

Pumpkin merino scoopneck sweater from Marshall's ('07)(do not recall the brand), dark denim skirt from Gap ('06), tan Bern boots from Duo ('07), silver cuff ('97) and hoops ('07). Though not pictured, most of the day I also wore my avocado pashmina around my neck.

Hair was second day, I brushed it out, put some Jonathan Silky Dirt in my hands and twirled sections around fingers.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corner, khaki on lid, chocolate in crease and along lash lines. Imju Fiberwig mascara and Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Glossy Rose.

Body Shop Contest Winners

Congratulations to readers Nora and Jackie for winning the Satsuma gift set from The Body Shop. Excellent ladies, as that again over 100 people applied for this contest! Enjoy!

I hope to have at least one more contest prior to the end of the year, and as always - any new products I offer for a contest, I will also provide an honest review!

For those of you who have your own business or product that you would like featured in one of my reviews and contests, please email me for more details!

This Weekend

Saturday after yoga my husband and I hosted our annual Festival of Steel. Sounds crazy, but a ton of fun - we have a pretty big yard that backs up to and is next to woods. We set up a wooden target at the end of the yard and people throw knives and little axes at said target, making teams and wagers over microbrews.

The weather stayed perfect the whole day - cold yet clear. I did my first attempt at a vegetarian chili (no actual recipe, looked at some online for ideas but went the Allie way) and was happy to see the humongous stock pot scraped clean by the end of the evening. We had almost 20 people over and I think everyone had a great time! Here's a nice shot of the chili before it was devoured, and a picture near the end of the evening with my friend H.

I wore my purple Dream sweater from J. Crew, dark "The Flirt" bootcut jeans from Old Navy, silver hoops and my hiking shoes from L.L. Bean. To stay warm, I wore my aqua pashmina 99% of the time and donned a black L.L. Bean fleece jacket of my husband's when I was outside.

Makeup was L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 as concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - ivory in inner corners, khaki on lid. Imju Fiberwig mascara, Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line and on lips is Body Shop's Lip and Cheek Tint with Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss in Strawberry Fizz.

And because you all love to see him, here's a picture of my baby Ruckus playing with his beloved Jolly Ball. The old boy had a great time running around and being pet by everyone.

As for Sunday, it wasn't nearly as exciting. Those who had a bit too much to drink crashed out on our sofas; we all went to The Silver Diner for breakfast (they have the best veggie sausage!) and then my husband and his dad met friends for the MLS cup game that was taking place in DC and I ran errands.

Hit up the local Marshall's and though I was not impressed by the shoe selection (though there were some black patent heeled oxfords from Steven I desired but they only had in 6 and 9) I found some really cute and cheap stuff in the clothing. Expect to see a plum boucle cropped swing jacket, a pumpkin merino scoopneck and a gold pint silk top with fun balloon sleeves that it itching to go on my Miami trip in January (all for less than $50 including tax!). Then went to Target for the sole purpose of getting refill pages for my planner, but they were out. Instead got a cute ivory and black poly-silk dress from Mossimo for $9 that would look amazing with black tall boots, but could also be cute with black heels and a long jet necklace. Then Staples for said planner pages, and then off to the nail salon for a pedicure. I hate to admit this, but this was the first actual pedicure I have gotten since March. Yeppers, I went through the entire sandal season with some Body Shop Pumice Foot Scrub, Peppermint Foot Lotion, and a clear pink polish from Orly. Now the tootsies are a gorgeous color of super dark purple that is almost black. Came home, collected beer bottles and did dishes and then we ordered pizza for dinner and watched some bad TV and went to bed early to compensate for the night before. All in all a good weekend!

Fashion for the Plus-Sized Athlete

Reader Catherine contacted me with a fashion concern that I and probably many of you readers can relate to:

“Allie, where does a plus-sized woman find stylish yoga and gym attire? I can ever seem to find something that is flattering to my curves, supportive of my bust and isn’t shapeless knits in hum drum colors. Can you help?”

I hope so… I too have had this issue and often end up making streetwear workout attire (nicer fitted tees, capris and pants of stretchy moveable fabrics, etc.) because it is so hard to find cute workout gear. However there are some amazing companies out there that provide great gear for all sizes and shapes of women!

Athleta is a fabulous company geared exclusively to female athletes. Not only do they carry a multitude of their styles in plus size, they also carry tall and petite lengths for many of their active bottoms. I have shopped with them and have always been pleased with my purchases and the customer service. Their Cargo Tech Stretch Pant is a great item for cold-weather activities like hiking, and would be so sassy paired with their Love Tattoo 1/2 Zip (pictured, available in three colors). Athleta also offers dozens of styles of bras and categorizes them by impact level of the activity and whether you desire wireless or underwire.


Woman Within offers activewear in a bevy of colors and styles. I am partial to the Intimate Promises X-Back Tank with Built-In Bra (love when the tops are sold by bra size instead of generic sizes). The purple geometric print (pictured, also available in solid colors) is kicky and fun and would be cute paired with the Stretch Bootcut Yoga Pants from the same brand.


Junonia is an amazing company that provides gear for active women sized 14 and above. And when I say active gear, it’s not just a site of a few black yoga pants and sports bras. Swimsuits, ski apparel, tennis outfits, hiking pants and moisture-wicking everything imaginable. I love the Zippity Cami – great for the treadmill or the yoga mat, the little tank hides a super-supportive zip-front bra (FYI there is a printed version at a very nice sale price right now!). The Roll Waist Yoga Capri is comfy and of matching fabric so you can have just as sassy of a set as any other woman in the studio!


Go Figure is a site completely geared toward the woman who is a size 12 and up. The Dominique Sleeveless T-Shirt is hip and I love the color contrast; the Marla Skort is a great choice to be able to go from gym to grocery on a busy day. My favorite part of this site? Refresh any page and see multiple picture of REAL women sporting the duds - muscular, plus-sized, every age (picture to left from the Go Figure site). Very refreshing to see!

Friday

What a gorgeous day! Very cold, but the sky is blue, the trees are shades of red and orange and the grass is so green from the many days of rain.

Purple Dream sweater from J. Crew (07), ivory and black zebra-print cord pencil skirt from Isaac Mizrahi for Target (05), black round-toe pumps from Jessica Simpson (06), solitaire necklace and studs from Diamond Nexus Labs (gift - 07).

Hair is second day, a few large sections twirled around the curling iron, some Jonathan Silky Dirt added to fingers and twirled around sections.

Makeup is L'Oreal true Match foundation in C3 used a concealer, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis - the ivory in inner corners and over lid. Lashes curled, two coats of DiorShow and a thick line of Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line. On lips is Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Shine That Pink.

And here is my outerwear - raspberry sorbet-hued mac from Ann Taylor Loft (clearance rack $19.99, I believe fall 06?) and my avocado pashmina. I had the sleeves hemmed on the jacket to be more... "petite." I considered getting rid of this jacket, but as soon as I did, I seemed to have many situations to wear it. And the color is so yum, it brightens up the rainiest of days!

Thursday

Teal jersey dress from Proenza Schouler for Target (bow untied and tucked under belt), leather belt from... not sure if thrifted or inherited from my Mom, tan leather "Bern" boots from Duo, gold chain from Express, gold bangles from Ralph Lauren, gold hoops from Claire's.

Makeup is L'Oreal True match concealer in W4-5, philosophy's The Supernatural in Beige, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife, Pop Beauty shadow set for brown eyes - the reddish shade and gold blended over lid and along lash lines, the brown and darker red blended in crease and along top lash line. Imju Fiberwig mascara, thin line of Maybelline UltraLiner in black on top lash line, on lips is Body Shop Sheer Lipcolor in Sheer Caramel.

From Allie's Mailbag

Boy you guys have had a lot of questions lately! Not that questions are a bad thing – on the contrary and I am more than happy to answer them. Those that I believe may be questions of other readers, I like to post here for reference:

What are the Staples for a Stay at Home Mom?
I have been blasted in the past for not understanding the needs and life of a mother, and I agree I have not been in your shoes. However I have posted about the clothing of an SAHM here and here.

As for great tips from a stylish Stay At Home Mom, I recommend that you visit this blog. Leah always looks chic and still is able to crawl on the floor, scramble up monkey bars and manage 50,000 things and little ones at once. She is a wonderful inspiration and her blog is packed with great ideas.

How Does One Wear Black with Navy?
A good question as that this color combo is popping up on celebs, fashionistas and Erin Featherstone for Target collections this season.

I have found that if your navy is more on the indigo side, and your black is true, the contrast is strong enough to not look as though you dressed in the dark. Also, use one of the colors as an accent hue – if you have a navy dress with a black patent belt and heels, a navy blouse with black skirt, black heels and maybe a black belt or jacket; a black outfit with a indigo belted trench a la Jess Simpson this past summer. Another option is to have a piece such as a blouse, scarf or skirt in a print that holds black and navy in it to pull together the rest of the outfit.

These tips can also work to combine black with brown – by having one hold the spotlight and another as an accent color, the combination looks purposeful and crisp.

Can You Help with Proper Hem Lengths?
This was asked by one of my petite readers. Unfortunately, a good tailor does not always mean a fashion-knowledgeable tailor and it requires you to be armed with proper pant and sleeve lengths before entering the shop.

First, it is near impossible to have one standard length of pant that works with all of your shoes, unless all of your shoes are 4” heels or flats. Take with you the shoe height you are most likely to wear with the pants you are having hemmed so you have a realistic idea of proper length.

Even if you have pinned the length on the pants before arriving at the tailor, do change into these trousers and have the tailor re-pin the hems. If you did the pinning yourself, bending over will give an unrealistic idea of proper length, and if you did it by holding up another pair of pants, it still may not be accurate due to the cut of the trousers and your body shape (one leg may be longer or thicker, adjusting the length ever so slightly – no human is symmetrical).

As for the length, the pant should end up falling somewhere between the top and middle of the shoe’s heel. This length will keep you puddle-safe, will give a nice break (bend of fabric) at your instep and the pant will fall straight without bunching or showing off your ankle bone.

As for flats, I often see women end the pant at the bottom of the ankle bone. This is fine if you are going for a more retro look, but if you are trying to achieve a professional or polished look, there should be no ankle showing. Your pant should hit right a twinge above where the fabric/leather of the flat ends and the sole begins. Short enough to survive shallow puddles, but long enough to not resemble high waters.

With jeans, if you want to keep the look of the jean but cut off many inches, look to a denim professional. – major cities have shops dedicated to this practice but for those of us not near one these places, higher end department stores like Nordstrom usually offer this service for free if you purchased the jeans there, for a fee if not.

As for jackets, the sleeve should end right at the top of your hand so that as you move, you don’t have your entire wrist exposed, but when standing still, your entire hand is visible. Again, the jacket should lie flat when standing still – no bunching and no wrist showing.

If you are unsure if the garment is pinned at the right place, do not hesitate to ask the tailor to press the potential hem line (fabric permitting) for a better view. It’s pretty easy to lop off a few inches from a sleeve, but hard to fix if it is done too short. Always trust your instinct – you know your body and style best!

What is the Difference between Cheap and Fugal?
Frugal is scouring sales racks, researching items to find the best price before purchasing, getting to know your salespeople so you are tipped off to sales and promotions, checking out places like eBay and even thrift stores to find expensive items at a song. Frugal is ignoring name brands and looking for what you need and saving up for what you don't need but terribly love. Frugal is spending probably the same amount as someone who is cheap, but ending up with less item that last longer and are more versatile.

Often people will scoff at an expensive item, not taking into account that those more expensive shoes may last for eight years of stylish wear, an acrylic sweater will pill and stretch out and a wool one will look the same seasons after the purchase. Being frugal is finding that quality, but getting it for the best darn price and not succumbing to whims and trends. So really, they can be the same to some, but to me cheap means all about the price, and frugal means all about the value.

Food for Thought from Daily Om

I get a lot of email being a blogger, and end up subscribing to a lot of e-newsletters for different fashion, beauty and lifestyle websites. Some I tire of and delete before I even open them, some I end up looking forward to every day (hello Daily Candy!).

As many of you know, my husband is a part-time yoga instructor. Through his interest and classes, I have come to enjoy and respect this practice and love how it has changed my body and spirit. I must admit, I started it in hopes to lose a few pounds and be more flexible, but have continued because the practice has helped me become more centered and connected with myself and the world around me.

Anyway, another daily e-newsletter I receive is from Daily Om - each day I receive an email with some food for thought. Today's email was geared toward women, and some of it I felt would be a great reminder to you readers, no matter your religion, beliefs or level of spirituality (if any). I really believe that women are magnificent and beautiful creatures and that how we care for our outsides both helps us nurture our insides and represent ourselves correctly and share ourselves with the world.

From Daily Om:
Woman
Embracing Womanhood
There are many ways and myriad reasons for women to honor and embrace all that they are. And when any individual woman chooses to do so, all women collectively move closer to becoming what they are truly capable of being. By honoring her experience and being willing to share it with others—both male and female—she teaches as she learns. When she can trust herself and her inner voice, she teaches those around her to trust her as well. Clasping hands with family members and friends, coworkers and strangers in a shared walk through the journey of life, she allows all to see the self-respect she possesses and accepts their respect, too, that is offered through look, word, and deed.

When a woman can look back into her past, doing so without regret and instead seeing only lessons that brought her to her current strength and wisdom, she embraces the fullness of her experience. She helps those around her to build upon the past as she does. And when she chooses to create her desires, she places her power in the present and moves forward with life into the future.

Seeing her own divinity, a woman learns to recognize the divinity in all women. She then can see her body as a temple, appreciating its feminine form and function, regardless of what age or stage of life she finds herself. She can enjoy all that it brings to her experience and appreciate other women and their experiences as well. Rather than seeing other women as competition, she can look around her to see the cycle of life reflected in the beauty of her sisters, reminding her of her own radiance should she ever forget. She can then celebrate all the many aspects that make her a being worthy of praise, dancing to express the physical, speaking proudly to express her intellect, sharing her emotions, and leading the way with her spiritual guidance. Embracing her womanhood, she reveals the facets that allow her to shine with the beauty and strength of a diamond to illuminate her world.

At the end of my husband's class, we always end with the entire room saying "Namaste" to one another. Though the definition of this word seems to differ depending on religion and spiritual practice, in our class we use it to mean, "The divine in me recognizes the divine in you."

To all of you reading this, Namaste.

HURRY! My Orange Jacket is On Sale!!!

Regularly $140 and hidden from the J. Crew website, just showed up in the Fall Sale for $99! Get it while you still can!

Wednesday

Very warm day here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States! Opened the window last night. Still raining, but I am not complaining considering how very dar it has been here and further south the past couple of months.

Today I woke up on time, didn't spend forever fiddling on the computer and had time to look cute and be to work on time. I feel that I am in my last week here, should go out with a bang style-wise. I thought this was a good start for a balmy November day...

Black cotton wrap top from Ann Taylor, black stretch poplin trousers from Caslon, leopard peeptoe heels from BCBGirls, faux tortoise and gold necklaces from a beach boutique, gold hoops from Claire's, gold bangles from Ralph Lauren.

Hair is day 2.5, I brushed it out, turned the ends under wiht the curling iron and then mussed it up to it's current look. I am hoping it's more sultry (hence the wanna-be sultryish face), and less bedhead.

Makeup is L'Oreal True Match foundation in C3 - the thicker stuff on the cap used as concealer, then philosophy's The Supernatural in Beige as the actual foundation. Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Pink Afterglow, Body Shop shadow in Slate on lid, Soft Black in crease and along lash lines. Lashes curled, two coats of SiorShow and then a very very thin line of black Maybelline UltraLiner on top lash line.

Contest - Satsuma from The Body Shop

The Body Shop is a company I have loved for many many years. In middle and high school, my friends and I would hop on the D.C. Metro and head to Georgetown to visit The Body Shop, using babysitting money to buy little soaps and perfume oils. Come college, it was a place I knew sold good products that didn’t make me break out and also didn’t test on animals. After college I ended up in the retail industry and when I decided to leave the apparel industry, one of the first companies I looked to transfer to was The Body Shop. I was a trainer for them, and when I left retail, I ended up being an at-home consultant for them.

I have stopped being a consultant, but I still love the company, its beliefs, ethics and of course the awesome products. One of my favorite lines is the Satsuma range – this is a sweet orange scent that is delicious, addictive and raises your spirits. They have had this scent for years and it is always a best seller.

Well I recently received two Satsuma gift sets from The Body Shop and would love to give them to two of you readers! The kits are in a great little box, hold the lotion, shower gel and soap in this scent and a little bath poof to match. Keep it for yourself to enjoy (these are great travel sizes), or give as a small gift to a loved one. These gifts retail for $15 each.

Send me an email to the address in the left sidebar and I will pick two readers at random to win the prize. All emails need to be received by this Sunday, November 18th at midnight. Winners will be notified on Monday.

Have you used the Satsuma line from The Body Shop? If so leave a comment and share your experience with it!

For everyone else: The Body Shop currently has their world-famous Body Butter moisturizing creams (yeppers the one that every other company is copying) on sale 2/$30 - this is a savings of $10. Be like Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Mullally, Susan Sarandon and more and check out this amazing addictive moisturizer!

An Allie Update

So, to let the cat out of the bag… I am starting a new job the week after Thanksgiving.

It’s a different field, but similar job description and duties. I have been at my current company for almost three years and while it is a very good company full of very nice people (who do on occasion wear Quacker Factory), I was ready to move and grow in a different direction.

The new job is in D.C. proper (arial view is stock photo, not where job is) and in a different field, so you may see a slight change in my attire and outlook – from my past working in the city, the life and even the air is so much different from the suburbs of Maryland. I am looking forward to it.

I was instant messaging with my friend yesterday who is on the hunt for a new job and we were discussing to questions we wish you could ask during the interview process…

1. Will you stick me in an office or a cube?
2. If it is a cube, how tall are the walls and how much privacy will I get?
3. If it is a cube, do your current employees understand and adhere to cubicle etiquette (not using speakerphone, using headphones for music, not taking off their shoes or bring tunafish sandwiches for lunch)
4. If it is an office, is it an actual office or a converted supply closet?
5. If it is an office, will I be sharing it with another person (or a 10’6’ stack of file boxes)?
6. Do you provide us with goodies like coffee and snacks? Cuz it’s nice when I don’t have to go to Starbucks every morning… my wallet likes free coffee, especially if it’s good
7. Describe your most annoying and disgusting coworker and let me know his proximity to my future desk, in inches.
8. Do you recycle? If you say you do, do you actually recycle the stuff or have the cleaning crew toss it with the rest of the trash (I do not kid, a company on my resume used to do this, saying the recycling boxes and bins helped employees “sleep better at night” but they didn’t want to front the cost of actual recycling).
9. Am I allowed to decorate my desk area, or do you like things sterile and uniform (another company would not even let us pick our calendars for fear of them being offensive to colleagues. Sucks to be in a gray box all day without a picture of family, a goofy cartoon pinned up, a calendar my mom makes every year from Snapfish)?
10. Do you have a holiday party? How fancy, how much does it cost and can I bring a date?

I didn’t ask any of the above, but did find out the attire at this job seems to be even more casual than my current company (except when meeting with clients) and everyone seems to genuinely like one another and joke around and hang out with each other. Staff varies in age, but seems to have far more employees near my own age and it’s in a central/good part of the city where I will be able to meet up with lots of my friends for lunch and after work. So, yay! Just had to share with you guys!

(this also explains why I had a few weird fashion days lately and a Friday with no pictures but a pinstriped pantsuit)

Tuesday, AKA Why I Love Dresses

Dresses rock for many reasons:

One-stop Dressing. No need to worry about your top matching your bottom, if your heel height goes with your hemline, and if you need a belt. Throw on a dress and you are good to go.

Comfort. Depending on the style, it’s easier to sit on one foot in your office chair, relax in the car on the commute home, and get around in general. This season’s a-line and babydoll styles make dresses the perfect go-to when feeling bloated or all around icky.

You Can Wear Comfy Undies. Again, this season’s styles make it easy to wear a great pair that covers everything, sucks in if need be, or offers non-restrictive ease and comfort. I have on my Victoria’s Secret cotton briefs in a very fun stripe under my work-appropriate crepe jersey dress. Usually these panties with thick seams and edging are relegated to rigid denim and loungewear and the Hanky Pankies work the 9-5.

Boys Don’t Have the Option. Unless a gentleman works in a very liberal environment, is at a music festival or Scottish, he is rarely able to sport a dress or skirt in public. Hey, something women can do that men can’t? Take advantage and sport those frocks!

Working What You Got. Great curves? Matte jersey, various fabrics with stretch and wrap styles showcase them. Great legs? Go for a shorter style with some great tights. Nice arms? Wear a heavier coat outside and sport a wool tweed shift. Dresses don't work against a woman's shape but with it.

Being a Lady. Now I am all about comfort, being able to cross my legs and sit on the floor and climb a ladder (or a tree). However, there is something about a dress that has you stand a bit taller, walk a bit more gracefully, sit properly. People open doors for you, pull out seats for you and often shower you with more compliments than when wearing trousers. If we have this ability to get attention and respect by the switch of our wardrobe, why not use it once in a while? Again, it’s a special something that only us women own!

This morning, I got busy doing everything but getting ready for work and suddenly realized I had three minutes – THREE MINUTES to get ready. Hair was washed the night before and was a scary frizzy mess, but a few large sections around a curling iron (and used to smooth bangs) and some Jonathan Silky Dirt made it look reasonable and not at all Mad Scientist. Then I threw on my red crepe jersey dress from Maggy London, the first black shoes from my closet (BCBGirls croco peeptoe heels), a few gold bangles from Ralph Lauren for a bit of polish and quickly slapped on makeup (philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, khaki shadow from the Revon ColorStay shadow quad called Neutral Khakis, DiorShow mascara, Maybelline UltraLiner liquid liner on top lash line and Revlon LipGlide in Rum Radiance).

Not as easy to look so polished in such a short time with a pair of pants!

Stop Being a Snob!

Yes, YOU. The one who thinks that Nordstrom is too expensive and would never set foot in that place, who believes that Forever 21 only sells crap, Claire’s Boutique only sells accessories for tacky teens and Talbot’s only caters to conservative old ladies.

Yes, I fully agree that finding brands that work can save time and stress at the mall. You know what flatters your figure and caters to your lifestyle and budget – go there first. However if you have an extra hour to kill, I encourage you to enter a store you usually shun. Maybe you shun it because you are not a model size 4, maybe because you don’t have deep pockets, maybe because your daughter shops there. We all have reasons for brand snobbery, but sometimes opening your mind and the door to an unknown store may offer you new ideas or styles perfect for you.

For those living under a rock, Nordstrom is having their Half-Yearly Sale and this is a not-to-miss. This morning as I was scanning the New Sale Arrivals (yes there is an option on the Nordstrom site for this, and yes new things are added every couple of days) I saw petite suits from high-end brands that were around $100 for the set (really, that’s a price you would pay at a discount store), plus-sized cocktail dresses begging to be worn to a holiday party, workout attire, Oprah-famous Wacoal bras for $35 and everyone-famous Hanky Panky thongs $8 off. For those sorts of prices, you can’t say that Nordstrom isn’t a store you shouldn’t consider. The sale is going on now in stores and online (and after this sale, do know there is always a sale section at Nordstrom – I have gotten designer jeans for 50% off, designer leather purses under $100, even my professional-style makeup case for 70% off when the Big Sale wasn’t taking place).

I am always preaching “quality not quantity” to you on this blog, but do know quality can be found most anywhere. I have dresses and tops that look as great now as they did a year ago that were purchased at Target, Kmart, H&M and Forever 21. They are also pieces that a year or two after purchase, still look classic and fit into today’s styles. These stores can often be overwhelming – racks and racks of cheap faded cotton and slimy polyester in garish colors and prints that went out of vogue 15 minutes ago; take your time, shop the top of the rack (just as you would when thrifting) and look first for colors and fabrics that appeal to you, only then pull the garment from the rack and check to see if the cut is worthy of a trip to the fitting room. I have found lower-end items that were utter crap, but I have lower-end pieces that I have been wearing for near a decade and get far more compliments when worn than the designer duds in my closet.

As for jewelry, women often tell me they don’t wear it because they can’t afford it. It’s true, if you wanted to invest in 14K gold hoops that are larger than a thin wire wrapping around your ear lobe, you’re going to have to pay. But who says you have to wear that which is real? I’m not saying cover yourself in fake jewels and forearms full of gold-painted bangles, but a few pieces can be purchased at lower-end places for dirt-cheap prices to add to your wardrobe without looking chintzy. I find the accessory shops in malls like Claire’s often have some great buys amidst the jelly shoes, feather-topped pens and mood rings. Each summer I invest in a few simple, thin, unadorned hoops in silver and gold from there.

Summer begs for hoop earrings, and by the end of the season, you have often lost one on a dance floor or in a hotel room on holiday. All the better to only pay $6.99 for them. If they are thin and simple, no one will really care or question the ticket price of the hoops. If you keep them dry and in your jewelry box when not in use, they should stay shiny for a long time.

Summer also is a great time to get more bold with other accessories. I find that in the Brass Plum section of Nordstrom, shops like Claire’s, H&M and even shoe stores like Aldo I can find cheap yet stylish plastic sunglasses, cute totes for the beach or pool, and chunky plastic beaded necklaces and bangles to jazz up a simple tank or knit sundress. You’ll see the almost exact same necklace or tote in the “adult” stores for three times as much.

As for those stores you find are too old/too young for you… well it doesn’t hurt to do a “figure-eight” through it on your way to the parking lot. I have a super cute navy twill blazer I wear all the time. I sport it with jeans and a ribbed tank for casual days, with chinos and a silk knit shell for spring work days. I always get compliments on its fit and style. Knowing my personal style, I am classic with a bit of funky/rocker thrown in and would never be the poster girl for a place like Talbots. However this cute blazer was found on their sale rack for only $14.99. My mom has pieces in her predominately Chico’s/J. Jill wardrobe that are from Express, Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic. I may be in a conservative office environment and in my 30s, but I still stroll Brass Plum, Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe looking for pieces that could work in my simple wardrobe. You never know, that silk blouse you were eying in Bloomingdales may have a very similar cousin in the junior’s section of Macy’s!

Red knit dress, Forever 21; Black dress, Talbots.