Budget Buster vs. Stylish Sub

Happy weekend, y'all! Whats a better way to start a weekend than with shopping, hmmmm??

Budget Buster

Alice + Olivia Wrap Around Cardi

I adore this cardi and own it in the blush color, but the price is a tad steep for a modal/acrylic cardigan.

Stylish Substitute

Cozy Grey Wrap Cardigan

This version may only come in one color but it's the exact style of the A+O wrap. Plus, it's more than $100 savings. Which is quite the steal, in my book!

Wishlisting: Shopbop

As many of you who have read my blog for some time know, Shopbop + me = true love (coincidentally, it also = true brokeness, but whatevs). My wishlist is always full at any given time and I'm constantly editing it. Because the stock over there is so extensive, it sorta helps me keep my trend-priorities in line. Do I want a leopard print bootie or a military trench? Even if I don't end up getting half of what's on there, it helps me think about what I really want to indulge in and what I think I can live without (or find a cheaper version somewhere).

With my birthday month approaching (yes, birthday MONTH. It's a month-long affair. You understand.), I'm thinking abotu what I really want and what I can live without. Hmmmm....

 Patterson J Kincaid Scarlet Tunic

Seeing as though I've collected silk blouses like I collect lusty, 17-year-old-stares when I'm in my Eclipse (yes, creepy), do I really need another silk blouse? The answer isn't so simple with this beauty, seeing as though the shape and embroidered details make it so much unlike many other things sitting on my hangers.

LaROK LUXE Corporal Cool jacket

This is the prettiest military style jacket I've found! It's a little pricey, but with a little b-day cash, it might be a nice splurge. It's pretty versatile, too. (Although, it would definitely be between this and the Anthro cape I featured yesterday. Hmm.)

Boutique 9 Rivit boots

A sad thing has happened since I began school (besides the extra 10 poudns I've gained from eating pizza rolls nightly)-- I've pretty much stopped wearing heels. I love the lace up boot look, so I thought these were a great option. Only problem is, they may be a teense too literal on the military trend, plus I honestly have a hard time imagining how my closet would make these work.

Free People In the Trenches jacket

An alternative to the LaRok jacket, even though this is a much more feminine take. I so much love the ruffle hem, ohhhh do I. But it's "fine knit," which is perfectly fine for the next 3 months, but then will sit un-worn from January until March. Maybe that's not a problem enough to not get this.

Patterson J Kincaid Harlow blouse

Again, with the blouses... I actually own this in the ivory color, which is since sold out on Shopbop (although the beigey-pink color is divine!!). It seems silly to buy another, but I really love my ivory one and could totally use a little more red in the fall wardrobe (seeing as it is a trendy fall color).


What are your current shopping dilemmas??

On the Hunt: The Cape

In early August, I began my hunt for fall clothes. I did this because I had no idea what the money situation would be like with me back in school. So I bought a few essentials: a new strong-shouldered blazer, a chunky knit sweater, cord leggings, cargo skinnies, an oversized blouse (or two)...

But now that we can officially start thinking about fall (well, most of YOU can. I'm still sweating my tooshie off here in Dallas) and more trends have emerged, it's about that time to re-evaluate wishlists and figure out what's missing from my closet. The one thing I must say I really want and don't yet have? The cape.

Not sure about y'all, but the cape seems like the perfect topper for cool weather. Warm and cozy, like a blanket with arm holes (snuggie-capes?). Bonus points because they work better with puffy sleeved blouses than do traditional coats with narrow sleeves. Here are my top 3 picks!

THE STRETCH

Nanette Lepore Get a Clue cape

THE PENNY SAVER

Newport News cape-style jacket

THE IN-BETWEENER (aka, that for which I'm saving my money)

Anthropologie's Everything-In-Place Cape

Just love all these and think they'd be super versatile... what do you think? Are you shaping up for capes this fall? 

Product review: Shop The Look!

Afternoon, lovies! One thing I've been meaning to do and thinking about since I took my little hiatus is this product review from a great online accessories boutique called Shop The Look. The fab ladies over there contacted me a while back asking me if I'd like to review some things of theirs, and since they stock cute, trendy pieces, I could not say no. Shop the Look has been featured in tons of magazines we all know and love (Lucky, Redbook, InStyle, hellooo!!) and always feature affordable baubles that look like the real thing. Here's what I reviewed:

Mixed Rocker Cuff, $14

Looped beaded necklace (on sale here!!!)

I thought the necklace looked so much like that Anthropologie necklace that was out this summer (whose name I'm blanking on at the moment), but I really liked the mix of metallics and neutrals this one offered. It's super cute with anything from jeans and a tee to a LBD. (EDIT: I was wrong to say the necklace is sold out-- it's actually ON SALE for under $8! grab it up, peeps!) Plus, I love me a good cuff, and the Rocker cuff is just what I need to spice up an outfit. The one little drawback I found? The clasp is a bit hard to maneuver on the necklace, but once it's on it's not a problem. Otherwise, quality seems great, especially for such inexpensive pieces.

Anyway, go check out what you can find over that way! They are running a free shipping with a $20 purchase promotion (use code FALLFREESHIP), so make sure and stock up on your fall faves now while the promotion lasts. As always, happy shopping bloggies!   :)

Well, Hello there.

Hi bloggie-land! I am still alive! This is good news, as there were moments in the past 3 weeks that I questioned whether that would be the case. Not sure I was prepared for the stress of graduate school, since my Master's program was pretty easy, while this Ph.D. thing sort of feels like my eyelashes are being ripped out one by one, veeeerrrrryyyy slowly. Hyperbolic? Yes... but sadly, it's how I've been feeling. I know it's just an adjustment period, and YES, I will make it out alive *this is my mantra*.

(p.s., to those thinking about going to get a graduate degree... umm... forget what I said! It's wonderful! La-dee-da, YAY. (believable? I'm trying.))

I'm thinking I'm beginning to regain that groove I was talking about but it's still lagging a tad, so bare with me. But there are some things I need/want to attend to with y'all, so I'm jumping back into the world of blogging. I have been bad and have essentially taken a total hiatus from social media, including reading others blogs, using twitter, etc... so I apologize if you've tried to contact me and haven't gotten adequate response. But I promise I'm regaining my footing in the real world. Promise!

And hey, look what I found! (You can take the fashion out of the girl, but you can't take the girl out of fashion, hmmm?)

The Budget Buster:

 

Milly La Sorbonne Cardi

The Stylish Substitute:

Target Merona Vivre cardigan sweater

Granted, the differences are there... Milly's sweater is much more intricate. But for a fraction of the price, you can get the chain detailed look from Target! I saw this in stores and it's actually adorbs, so I very much recommend.

I'll be back soon with some of my Tucker for Target opinions, a product review and some other nice, non-book/school-related things. :)

How Justine Got Her Groove Back

So.

It has become clear this week that this whole grad school thing is a lot.... I mean A LOT... more intense than originally expected. Ugh. I know it will get better once I get back into my groove, but that groove still seems far down the road. Therefore, I must make the difficult decision to take a 2 week hiatus from this little blog. As you may have noticed, I've really slowed down in posting recently, and honestly, I just dont have the extra mental energy at the moment to devote to it. I'm taking 14 credit hours, which is tough for an undergraduate let alone a doctoral student. I hate making these excuses, but at the same time, I can't force myself to stretch any more than I'm already expected.

But I will be back! I promise. I just have to take care of the things that require most of my attention; namely, sleep, food, homework, husband (probably, unfortunately, in that order!). And I'll still be reading, lovies. So those of you who blog may become my needed break from this work.

And hopefully, once I essentially "get my groove back," I'll be fresh and rested for some fun new things for us here at Fetching Fashions. So until then... ;)