Slipper-style loafers

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clothing

I’ll be the first to admit that when I spotted slipper-style loafers around the city, I didn’t care for them, preferring the more dainty look of a classic ballet flat. But then I came across these Cole Haan Air Morgan slippers, and I’m kind of obsessed. I love the Nike Air technology embedded into Cole Haan shoes – I have a pair of pumps and a pair of ballet flats that I could easily wear for hours. The Air Morgans come in fun bright colors, perfect for spring/summer, and have a slightly more feminine cut than other similar styles I’ve seen. I’m totally digging the pink or the blue, both of which have fun contrasting trims. 

Cole Haan Air Morgan Ballet Slipper ($168)

review: J.Crew Silk Heart Print Blouse

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clothing

J.Crew Silk Boy Shirt in Heart Throb ($135) 

Last week, I found myself rifling through my closet, throwing my hands up in frustration. We had a friend’s birthday celebration over the weekend, and I was not feeling a thing in my closet. Over the years, I’ve amassed a lovely collection of flowy blouses in gorgeous prints. But this time, I wanted a sleeker look. In my mind, I pictured a lovely silk button-down with jeans and my fabulous new (and cheap!) booties from Target.

After stops at Zara and H&M I was still empty-handed. Everything looked cheap, even if it wasn’t. I decided to stop by J.Crew to check out their Blythe blouse. I had wanted black, but the Union Square/Flatiron J.Crew didn’t carry this color. Alas, it was the day of the birthday event, and I still had nothing.

That’s when I spotted the Heart Print Blouse. It was styled on the mannequin just as it is on the model. From afar, it appeared almost like a reptile print, but up close you could see the hearts. It didn’t seem uber-sweet or cheesy. I glanced at the price tag, thought I would just try it on for fun, and fell in love.

I strolled around the store for nearly 20 minutes, deliberating, and carrying this blouse. Even with a student discount, I don’t tend to spent over $100 on a single top. But as I strolled, I saw several girls carrying this same blouse. And of course, that made me want it more. And yes, I am disgusted with myself for being so weak!

The verdict: This blouse fits like a dream. It’s a soft silk that still feels substantial, with a wonderful drape. Runs a full size big. The print is much more flattering than it appears on the hanger.

PS: I did get to try on the Blythe blouse, which fits just as well as the heart print blouse. Size down for the best fit.

review: Coach Madison Leather Lindsey Satchel & Leather Zip Wallet

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bags

Happy New Year! 2011 was a good one…I passed my final defense in November and officially graduated in December, which makes the months of eye strain from hours in front of the computer totally worth it. I got to relax for most of December, visit my in-laws in Miami for a week, and return to NYC refreshed and ready to get hired!

I was lucky to receive several wonderful gifts from family. Between gifts and holiday sales (they kill me every year!), I’ve got a bunch of reviews I want to do! First up…a few Coach items that I received from my in-laws over the holidays, and really wanted to review them. For years, I’ve turned my nose up at Coach. Maybe it was their haphazard (and at times, totally tacky) logo-splashing across so many items, but I always figured that for the cost of a Coach bag, I could buy a mid-range designer bag that I’d love more.

Well I’m eating my words because I now have 2 Coach items that I absolutely love.

Coach Madison Leather Lindsey Satchel ($398)

Ok so admittedly, I received a logo crossbody bag originally, and exchanged it for this one. I’ve been on the lookout for a good quality large leather bag that I could use to/from work (or rather, the job that I do not have yet). I saw this in the store and was pleasantly surprised. The leather is good quality, and the details are really nicely done. I have the deep brown with gold hardware, which is a lovely chocolate brown that should wear really well. The bag has a handy hidden zip pocket in the front for keys or a cell phone, and comfortably fits over the shoulder with the two handles, or can be worn crossbody with the removable strap (one caveat, I am short-torsoed, so this may not work for long-torsoed or tall ladies). The size is fantastic…you could seriously fit a bowling bag inside…but it still has a nice slouchy quality. $398 is a bit on the high side, but on par with other mid-range designer bags of similar size. Plus, this one is incredibly versatile and easy. It comes in a variety of colors, and a few metallic leathers.

Coach Madison Leather Zip Wallet ($218)

(Could only find pics of replicas – ick – so no pic here)

I’ve been in the market for a large, zip-around wallet. I’ve got an old Botkier wallet that I bought at a sample sale a few years ago, and it’s fine, but only snaps closed, and is a little bulky. This Coach wallet is as nice as similarly-priced zip wallets I’ve looked at (Kate Spade, Tory Burch, to name a few). It’s got 12 slots for cards (6 on each side), and a zip pocket in the middle for coins (I keep my license, and health insurance cards here). I’ve got mine filled to the brim, and it’s still really sleek when zipped. And the pleats on the front are such a nice detail.

On both, the Coach logo is a small script ‘Coach’ in gold hardware, with the tiny horse and carriage logo they use. It’s understated and kind of a nice touch. I’d highly recommend either of these items, and just might start giving Coach a second look!

review: Missoni for Target

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clothing, shoes

The dust has settled, and everyone is in agreement that Target made a huge mess of its Missoni launch. I consider it sheer luck that I even got my hands on any items at all. Truth be told, most of my items were backordered, and when they did start to ship, each item arrived separately about a day apart. The UPS guy would chuckle every time he handed over a box with a red bullseye on it.

In any case, I received enough Missoni for Target items to be able to give a review…not to add insult to injury for those who missed out, but because there is a boatload of items being sold on ebay and for not-so-outrageous prices.  The irony is that most of the stuff on ebay is either going unsold, or for not that much more than retail.  Those crazy b*tches who blindly grabbed at the racks and bought the lot of Missoni items out from the respectable Target-shopping folks are getting their karma. Anyway…

The Clothes

I bought a chiffon v-neck top, a button-down v-neck sweater, a hat/gloves set, and pumps. I’d say the quality is fine…better than some past collaborations, but not much better than that from H&M. I can spend $50 and buy a decent cardigan from JCrew, so the fact that the Missoni pieces were $49.99 is laughable. I do like the pumps..they would look great with a pair of opaque black tights in the winter, and the chunky heel renders them super comfortable for a cheap shoe. The verdict? Pass on the clothing, grab the shoes if you can.

The Home Goods

I bought a serving tray and a decorative plate. The serving tray is melamine and appears to be of decent quality. I wouldn’t display it on my coffee table, but it would be great for when guests come over. The decorative plate is nice enough…I’m having a bit of an orange moment in the apartment, so it’s displayed on top of the bookshelf. The top is a lovely multi-color design, but the back is totally white. If I could easily shlep this thing back to Target, I would return it, but alas, no car and no Target next door, so the plate stays. I have heard that the barware and glassware are great quality, so if you can find those, snag them!

Picture Source

The Linens

These are the star of  the Missoni for Target show, in my opinion. I bought a duvet set, a set of hand towels, a shower curtain, and a throw. The quality is far better than I expected. I have a set of real Missoni hand towels that I purchased years ago from Neiman Marcus, and these Missoni for Target ones are VERY similar. You would have to be a real connoisseur of Missoni to be able to tell the difference, meaning that if you aren’t Rachel Zoe, these are a great stand-in for the real thing. The duvet is nice and thick, with a slight sheen to it. The shower curtain is reversible, and is a wonderful black-and-white pattern that I want to decorate my entire bathroom around. And the throw. The throw! It is thick, and plush (but not overly fleece-like or chenille-like), and gorgeous. If you can get your hands on this for even $75, I think it would be worth every penny.

little things: Basic Leather Clutch/Pouch

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bags

I’ve seen these leather carry-all pouches on a few different style blogs, and decided to pick up a bright turquoise one from American Apparel a few months ago with a gift card. It’s a great, easy piece to tote around, and adds a nice pop to most basic outfits.  Recently, I spotted similar pouches from Madewell, and picked up a few more to round out my clutch/pouch collection. The metallic clutches have seaming details on the front, and are a bit darker in person than pictured on the website.  But my favorite one, bought on a total whim, is a calf hair number. It is so unlike what I usually carry, but I just love it! The material on these is on the thin side, but substantial enough to hold your stuff for a night out (or for weddings, as I’ve used them). As is usually the case, I picked them up on sale, and at an additional 30% off.  I think these pouches are perfect for just about anything…storing small things in a large tote or bigger purse, housing a Kindle or ipad, or for evenings out!

review: Madewell Crosswalk Sandal

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shoes

Madewell Crosswalk Sandal, retail $188 (currently on sale for $79.99)

Since we’ve moved to NYC, most of my heels have sat in their boxes, tucked away at the top of my closet. We walk everywhere we can (usually within a 20-block radius), and when not walking, we’re dashing to/from the subway. Flats have become a staple in my wardrobe. So when planning outfits for a weekend in Chicago to celebrate a friend’s bridal shower & bachelorette, I was at a loss. Most of my wedges were a little dated and beat up. I have plenty of fancy heels, which I wear for weddings and special events, but nothing ‘dressy casual.’

I’d been eyeing the Madewell Crosswalk sandal for some time, since they’ve been sitting in the online sale section nearly all summer. So when the price finally dropped for a second time, I pounced. The verdict?

These might be the most comfortable heels I have ever worn! To paint you a (possibly self-incriminating) picture: we started our night with drinks and dinner at a bridesmaid’s apartment around 7pm, caught a drag show, and then bar hopped and danced our pants off until (I kid you not) the sun was coming up. Yep…I was basically on my feet for 10 hours straight.

Not once did my feet hurt! The leather, while just out of the box, never chafed at my skin (I also rubbed some of my trusty Blister Block on my feet before putting on the shoes). The heel is 3.5”, but with a slight platform at the toe, it is a supremely wearable height. The footbed has some nice cushioning and the heel is chunky enough to feel quite stable. The camel is kind of a perfect neutral…but of course, after my long night, I decided that I must order the black too. When you find something that works, always buy an alternate color!

I’ve worn both of these shoes around Brooklyn, and they’ve fared remarkably well so far on the cobblestone sidewalks and streets. For $160 combined, I’ve got 2 new, well-constructed heels that are comfortable and will last forever.

review: Jewelmint.com

Tags

jewelry

I joined Jewelmint a while back, and have bought a few pieces since then. Reading about how everyone loves this new jewelry shopping site, I had to put in my two cents!

The Good:

* Unique pieces. Most of the stuff is pretty cool and you don’t have to worry about seeing it on someone else.

* Style tips: Each piece comes with styling tips and a short video where you can actually see the piece on a model. This is incredibly helpful for seeing scale of jewelry and how it translates to real life.

* The prices. Everything is $29.95. No ambiguity. This is, in my opinion, good and bad (see below).

 

The Bad:

* Small selection. When you join, you’re asked to complete short survey that assesses your ‘style’, after which you are emailed monthly with a small curated selection of pieces to choose from. The problem is that many women aren’t really one style…I like to wear dainty jewelry, but I also love a good bold statement piece (the latter of which I cannot access because these types of jewelry don’t show up in my personal shop). To my knowledge, there is no way to be able to see everything available on jewelmint.

* The fine print. What they don’t tell you upfront is that you need to physically decline to purchase anything each month, otherwise you will be charged a $29.95 fee. This is one of the major reasons I am considering canceling my membership. There is no cost to them for you to be a member…I’m sure some computer algorithm is what matches you up with a ‘curated selection’ each month…so why they would charge you a $29.95 fee for failing to click the option that you are not interested in buying anything…this is beyond me. At the very least, this fact should be bolded and highlighted from the beginning, rather than hidden in their fine print.

* The quality. The two pieces that I bought were the Forever Yours bracelet and the Rachel earrings. Both are lovely pieces. The bracelet is a mix of metals, and the earrings feature a purple stone surrounded by gold. I wore my bracelet every day for a few weeks because it went with everything. But then, the metal began to oxidize, and now the colors just look really dark and dirty! Now, $29.95 isn’t much, but it’s not exactly small beans for one single jewelry piece. My understanding was that Jewelmint carried higher quality pieces (not fine jewelry, but not crap). Not even my F21 cheapo jewelry oxidizes this way! I haven’t yet experienced the oxidizing with the Rachel earrings, but I’m sure they will meet the same fate.

* The frills. Ok at first, I loved the presentation of the packaging. Each piece comes in a velvet pouch, housed in a flip-top box with a magnetic closure, finished off with a ribbon. Each box has a small description of piece you bought. It all looks fabulous. But then, I got to thinking…for my 2 pieces of small jewelry, was it really necessary to send in 2 separate boxes? Is this where part of the $29.95 goes (since I’m sure the actual jewelry cost much less, especially considering the questionable quality)? I can’t be sure, but it just seems really wasteful.

I suspect others are feeling the way I am, because I’ve noticed an increasing amount of promotions and codes that Jewelmint is giving. Still, nearly $30 per piece adds up, and I’m just not convinced that it is worth it. Perhaps some pieces are better quality than others, but sadly, I doubt I will stick with it to find out.

 

little things: Beaded Clutch

Tags

good deals, little things i love

Forever 21 Beaded Geo Clutch  $22.80

 

It has been ages…AGES…since I blogged about anything. To be honest, I sort of lost my motivation and desire to blog about anything. Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing things that I find and things that I’ve done, with all 5 (and possibly now 0) people who are actually reading. But since spring, I’ve just not had many things to share that are inspiring or noteworthy. That sounds utterly crappy, but it happens when life and work get in the way. Husband and I have been working our tails since the spring, punctuated by a quick 3-day weekend in Boston, and then just kept our noses to the grind all summer.

This is the year, my friends, that I will finish my darn dissertation and move on with my life. I’ve barely been social, and barely shopped! Not to mention that I’ve been following a new diet plan and have dropped a fair amount of weight. I’m afraid to buy things that won’t fit in a few months. And really, what’s the point if I am just wearing the same tired Softee shorts-and-Hanes tee-combo day in and day out behind the computer.

I know, please play the saddest, smallest violin for me now. My life is not hard. It is just.been.a.lot.

I did pick up something recently that I’m super excited about…this gorgeous clutch from Forever 21. I know I swore off F21 in some past post, but I went onto the site hunting for this great Navajo-inspired bead necklace my friend wore to brunch one Sunday. The same bead necklace that Emily from cupcakesandcashmere.com once wore (too lazy to find a link, but I was assured she did). Of course, the necklace was sold out, but I did come away with a similarly-inspired clutch.

This clutch is just gorgeous in person. The colors are rich and vibrant and it appears to be pretty decent quality, lined in a satiny turquoise fabric. I am picturing it with a LBD and some chunky heels. The thing has sat on my nightstand for about a week because looking at it just makes me happy.

review: Madewell High-Riser Jeans

Tags

clothing

Madewell High-Riser Skinny Jeans

Retails for: $125 (purchased with coupon code)

Verdict: The fit is amazing, no fear of showing the back crack, rich indigo color, super soft.

I read a recent interview with Bethenny Frankel, in which she stated that, she liked to ‘edit her closet’ in her spare time. Most people would roll their eyes at this, but it actually makes perfect sense to me. Women accumulate so much stuff over time…jeans here, a cardigan there, another pair of wedges to go with those….before you know it you’ve run out of hangers again and are cursing/rummaging through your closet for that old Rachel Pally cardigan that’s lost in a sea of black cardigans. *breathe* I imagine this situation is only worse for someone in Bethenny’s position, who is able to make countless frivolous purchases and is also gifted items on a daily basis.

My point (if you’re still with me) is that I have come to love editing my closet. Every time I’m bored or have a few extra minutes, I’ll stand in front of the closet and pull a few items that I want to evaluate. I’ll try them on, lay out a few outfits with the pieces…and if I’m struggling to make them work…out they go. A few weeks ago, I pulled all of my cheapo Forever 21 skinny jeans and decided to toss them. I was never able to have a comfortable day in these. They would always fall down my hips, ending with baggy knees and a large drop crotch. I attribute this to the low low rise, cheap denim, and cuts for anyone other than women with child-bearing hips. The worst part? In my sad cast-off pile sat 6 pairs of $9-$11 skinny jeans…nearly $70 worth! Thankfully, I’d worn out the cost on all of them, so no love lost.

I’ve been reading about the Madewell High Riser jean for some time…almost always backordered on the website and universally flattering. Costing right around $100 with a coupon code, I decided these would be my investment skinnies. The verdict?

These are skinny and absolutely hug my legs, but have more heft than jeggings, while still being super soft. The waist is high (2 inches below my bellow button), but I love the extra material that holds in the tummy. As a sidenote, doesn’t it seem true that our preferred pant rise is inversely proportional with our age? Ugh, there I’ve gone and embarrassed myself with nerdspeak. ANYWAY. Even with the high waist, there is no sign of mom jean butt. They stay put throughout the day, and never give me saggy knees. The inseam is a perfect-for-me 32” that I can easily cuff in warmer weather.

As for the sizing, I chose my true size (right now a 27), but could probably have sized down to a 26 as they still have some give and will no doubt stretch with wear. Strangely, these are just about the only Madewell item I have that is tts…the sweaters seem to run small, while the tops and dresses seem a tad big (in no land am I currently a 0 dress size, I assure you). Back to the jeans…they fit well, the color is a perfect non-faded inky blue, and the price is right. Highly recommend!

review: Madewell Brownstone Bag

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bags

Back in January we re-did our annual budget and decided to cut back on things like eating out and shopping in an attempt to save money and start investing like grown-ups. Each month, I’ve got to stick to our budget allotment, which has really forced me to edit my shopping wishlist and separate the must-haves (new running sneakers) from the not-necessarys (another print blouse).

I mentioned on a past wishlist that I’d been hunting for a black purse…well Husband looked through this blog (sneaky!) and surprised me with the Marc Jacobs Classic Q Natasha purse for the holidays. I love it, and have been wearing it on the regular. The only time it doesn’t work so well is for evenings out…the crossbody somehow doesn’t complete my standard blouse/skinny jeans/boots look so well.

Enter the Madewell Brownstone Bag. It’s been on sale via the website for months, and I bought it when Madewell was offering an additional % off sale items. I’m pleased with it so far! Now, it’s no Chanel, but I love that it’s a slightly dressier version of a purse I might carry everyday.

The good: The leather is buttery soft, and the construction seems really great. The bag can expand to a decent size, but doesn’t appear to large. The chains are set up so that you can wear the bag crossbody or on the shoulder.

The not-so-good: The color is more of a soft black (not true black), which may bother some. Also, it’s sometimes difficult to get the chains to sit just right…hard to describe but they almost never lay perfectly right (you can see a kink in the second pic below).

     

For the price I paid (around $70 – nearly a 50% reduction from the retail price of $158), I think this bag is well worth it. I’ve already got my fancy party clutches and mini designer bags for events and dressy nights out – this one fits the bill as a slightly dressier purse for dinner dates and casual drinks (which, let’s face it, comprises the majority of my limited social calendar). Madewell also has a suede version and this amazing (albeit expensive) pony hair version.