Holiday break, good shopping does that make.

Hope all my lovely readers had a great Christmas holiday... and hopefully you're still enjoying it. I have this whole week off from work before I go back on the 3rd, so I am trying to live it up while I can. It seems like most of Dallas has the same perk too-- the malls and restaurants were packed today. No matter-- I had a great day nonetheless.

It was especially nice to wake up to a Shopbop promo: 20% off all sale items (code 20MORE)! I didn't get to take advantage of the last promo they had so I was pleased to take advantage of it... twice... today. :)  Here were my purchases-- both of which sold out in my size after I bought them (that always seems to make me more glad I pulled the trigger when I did!). Did you get anything from the sale?

Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent Lace Hem Slip dress (I've been wanting this for a while and finally caved!)

Rory Beca Claudia Ruffle dress (perfect for my casual NYE plans and a wedding rehearsal this winter.)

Since I have the week off, I totally plan on taking some outfit photos. It's been rather rainy, so I'm hoping the lighting cooperates enough for a few nice pics. I can't wait to share some of my new additions from this holiday. I think I need to take a little shopping hiatus, so while I may not be on an official ban, I'm pretty much cutting myself off. Does anyone else ever feel like they've filled their closet to the brim after the holiday season? I sure do... but I guess I'm not complaining, either. :)

Finally found them...

... I mean, the perfect pair of nude sandals. Yay!

It all began when I spotted these, the most perfectest nude sandal by none-other than Jimmy Choo. Sigh.

JC's Private sandal, in beige. Oh yeah, and $950. Blah.

So I've been on the search for a similar pair. At first, I wanted something super-chunky, but as I was looking, I thought a buckle-laden wedge may not be dressy enough for some of my light spring dresses and decided that wasn't what I needed. So my final search criteria included relatively high heel (I'm a 3.5 incher and above) and quite simple and understated. Something... well, just like the Private above. I like it's class and sophistication-- it's a whole lotta shoe but still simple and stunning.

Let me tell you, there is not a lot out there that replicates that shoe. Oh... and I didn't want a cheapo $20 pair because I wanted these to be nice and last at least the whole season. I finally went to Aldo's site after not having visited for month (I'm usually not impressed, actually). Then... I found these.

And on sale!

There are obvious differences (patent vs. distressed-looking leather, a thinner toe strap, the buckle), but still close enough and still super pretty in my book. Best (most gratifying) part? I went on to the site today to grab the stock photo and guess what? They're again full priced. So I made the right decision on snagging them last night with free shipping AND sale price. Yay! :) I like when things like that happen to obliterate any possible feelings of shopping remorse.

On another note, I've decided that although I'm not going to call it a "shopping ban" per se, I'm going to try and refrain from all shopping until my Vegas trip at the end of the month. Right now, especially after these post-shopping ban buys, I have what I need/want and really don't need anything else. Despite its difficulty, I really liked going without for a few weeks. Honestly, although I went a little overboard on my post-ban shopping (shorts, a top, shoes, a purse, a dress and a jacket, YIKES), everything I got was a smart buy. And I really think that's due to letting it settle for weeks on end before making any rash decisions. (and I also think by calling it a SHOPPING BAN [scary] my id-like shopping desires rage and make rebellious-Justine come out... so I'm just tricking myself this time by getting rid of the pressure. Heh.)

What I wore/What I wanted to wear.

(Still have to come up with a clever name for this post if I end up making it a recurring theme. Mehhh...)
It's so hard being in an office with no windows when it is as nice as it is right now here in Dallas. The problem is, there are only about 2-3 weeks worth of nice weather-- meaning low 70s and sunny. We're already starting to creep into the 80s this week, and if it gets cooler again we can except rain and gloom. Yuck. I hate that I cant' really enjoy it! So although I actually wore ponte leggings and a denim jacket to work, I really wanted to bask in the warmth and sunlight by showing off the gams. Hence the "fantasty" outfit (which, by the way, doesn't feature an item that was in my real OOTD but does feature the same shirt from F21 from the last reality/fantasy outfit set! and a plethora of F21 items [I swear I shop at other stores]).

:::WHAT I REALLY WORE:::

Top: F21 "Jungle" bubble hem top

Pants: Express ponte leggings

Jacket: F21 Dean Denim jacket

Shoes: Sam Edelman metallic flats

:::WHAT I WANTED TO WEAR:::

Top: F21 ruffle top

Jacket: F21 safari jacket

Shorts: F21 lace hot shorts

Shoes: Michael Kors cage sandals

Necklace: Simply Vera Vera Wang for Kohls

In other news, my Anthro jacket is here in Dallas (a mere 2-3 day shipping turnaround!)... it's just not yet in my possession. Damned USPS and their inability to leave anything on my doorstep just to make me sad. Well, I mean I think that's what they're trying to do, because it's what happens every time I get a delivery confirmation email to find that it's not really delivered to my little hands. Sad. And oh yeah... ummm... kinda ruined my whole shopping ban in just a matter of a few days, so please be forgiving, my darling and understanding readers. However, I did manage to get some things that I expect to become spring/summer staples, so it makes it ok. Right? Right! I'll share them as soon as they start arriving. If USPS/UPS is feeling giving, that is.

Just a little slip up...

As I've already revealed on my Twitter feed... I did something very, very bad. Here is a picture of my little slip-up:

Anthro's Immutable Jacket, on sale for $40, in blue

To be honest, it wasn't even a matter of "strength." It was sheer logic that led me to realize the following things:

1. This would be sold out pronto. And I haven't seen it in stores since the Fall.
2. It was $40!! That is cheap.
3. It will be great for chilly Vegas nights.
4. There was free shipping. Free shipping!

And let me tell you, I've said no to other things in the past 4 weeks! Lots of things! But it would have been plain dumb to pass this up, right?

(Ooops. I'm a bad, bad Justine. Sorry. :-\)

I'll be back later with a little product review that I'm quite excited about. Stay tuned.

A shoe kind of gal.

Hi, lovely readers. Thanks to all who had great suggestions for my upcoming Vegas trip! I really just can't wait, and I plan on heeding all the advice that was given to me. Seriously, stuff I wouldn't have thought of-- ya'll are the bestest. :)

I know I've been posting tons about shoes lately, but I just had to include three more pairs I'm so incredibly lusting after, it's crazy.  I'm no purse-girl. I carry one with me for about 1 year straight and then get another, with which I do the same, so I really don't care too much about getting new bags. I love clothes and accessories, of course, but nothing will match my love of shoes. I can't say I still wear items of clothes I've had for 4+ years (I cycle through clothes like crazy), but I can say I get attached to shoes and will wear 'em until the cobbler tells me they're dead. I think shoes are about the closest to wearable-art that I can own (since pretty architectural clothing usually = SERIOUS CASH). So anyway. There's my justification, and here are the super-de-duper shoes that I really must own. Sigh.

Seychelle's Joan Wedge

L.A.M.B. Veena Sandal

Victoria's Secret Colin Stuart Bow back peep toe

The L.A.M.B. and Seychelle's shoes are quite similar but definitely not similar in price... but I would still get both if I could. And how cute are the bows and wicker-heel on the Colin Stuart wedges? Wow... there is definitely a theme in my recent shoe lusting-- hints of beige and pink and slightly chunky.

(oh and p.s., definitely going through the Bargaining stage right now. Definitely asked the husband whether it would technically break my shopping ban if I just so happened to leave cash on the dining room table that just so happened to be the right amount for a pair of shoes. He said YES. Hrmph.)

Trials and Tribulations of a Shopping-Ban(er).

I've seriously had little shopping/blogging motivation lately. I think I'm going through the "Stages of Grief and Loss (of pretty clothing)." You've heard of these, right? Here, I'll do my duty and detail them below.

1. Denial. "Ha! This isn't really happening. I mean, I can shop if I really want! I'll just forget about it... yeah!"

2. Anger. "Eff you, new arrivals at Nordstrom! I mean, I don't want you and your pastels... and your ruffles... and your pretty colors and layers and lace and cream and AO&#JHE** OA01!!04akjhe$#roq3uq208."

3. Bargaining. "Heh... uhh... ok if finish all my work this afternoon and get the house cleaning done in time then maybe I'll just get a necklace. Just one from F21! It's not even like shopping anyway! It's so cheap! It's nothing more than a few Whatchamacallits worth of money at the gas station! Yeah... that's what I'll do..."' (oh and don't pretend you don't like Whatchamacallits, those things are fantastic.)

4. Depression. "I'll never shop again. I'll never have new clothes again. My life is over. If I can't shop, then what can I do? *shoves Cheetos into pie hole.*"

5. Acceptance. [Disclaimer: definitely not here yet. Definitely cycling through steps 1-4 right now. I'll get back to you on this one later.]

It's a tough road to hoe, my friends. So in the absence of a current zeal and passion for fashion, I leave you today on a happier note. A tale of one girl who once could shop. And wore a pretty new top from Lulus that she adores. Sigh.

(Is it not pathetic that I'm only 2 weeks into this? Holy beejeebuz.)

Top: Lulus Resound Top

Jeans: AE Super Skinnies

Shoes: Boutique 9 blue suede bow wedges

Necklace: old from Anthropologie

(p.s.: I am in no way mocking the 5 stages of grief and loss and have a profound respect for the psychology of death. And I'm also being ridiculously hyperbolic right now. So please no hate-mail or referrals to shrinks, thanks.)

Shoe Lusts

Instead of filling my mind with what I want now (which is totally futile, as many of you know), I'm resting my thoughts on my upcoming Vegas trip at the end of April. Although I already bought several skirts and a few tops before my shopping ban, I've been thinking about the "perfect shoe" to go from day to night and everywhere in between. My lovely cousin already featured an insane pair of Miu Mius that she's lusting over for her Vegas trip, so in the same vein I'm thinking about a pair for me! You may notice a pattern in the following pics-- I'm looking for nude, platform, chunky heels. But I may have to reconsider heel height... yipes. :)

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent

Dolce Vita-- yes, we've seen these before!

L.A.M.B.

Report Signature

Stuart Weitzman

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent

Some of these may be too chunky for some of my outfits, but I think the first runner up is the Stuart Weitzman pair, followed by the L.A.M.B. shoes.  Damn me and my love of 5 inch heels... fortunately I don't have to make a decision now. Hey, at least I'm not impulse shopping! Right? right?! (Help.)

Can I shop yet?

In terms of my shopping-life, the past day has felt like 500 days. I am not cut out for this "40 Days of No Shopping" bull crap. Ugh. And this cute Anthro dress went (quite shockingly) on super-sale today-- gals, did this not fit right err sumthin? I can't quite understand it, but guess what? It's not happening for me anyway. ARGH.

Tesserae Dress (Anna Sui for Anthro)

In other, happier news, the wonderful, beautiful and ever talented Vera shipped my skirt and it arrived in my mailbox this afternoon. Yay! I woulda styled and taken pics of it tonight but I'm having one majorly bad hair day. So yeah not happening.  But visit her Etsy store, because she has a grey version of my skirt in store now! And I want it as well, but OH YEAH. I CAN'T. Awesome. Lovely Nicole did a fabulous job styling it over on her bloggity blog yesterday, so check it out. I'm totally stealing the striped shirt idea. So cute.

Ya'll, I'm weak. Wish me luck. This is just bad... bad...

OOTD: *The One* arrived.

I was such a pain, pining over this dress in this post, yeah I know. Sorry for all of you who had to endure the ranting about my woes when it was there, then gone, then there, then gone... That's all pushed aside now. Because I gots it in my hot little hands, and I couldn't be happier. OK well it may need a leeeettle taking in at the bust (it runs just a tad large) but it's meant to be a bubble dress and not fitted. Some might call it a sack-- I call it comfort at it's finest.

I played a little dress up in my room because I wanted to see what it would look good with. Well, the answer was (practically) everything, which makes me all the happier knowing there are a million ways to style it. Most of these are rather simple as I basically just threw some stuff together with little inspiration, but I like what I did. Here's what I came up with-- whatcha think about her? (WARNING: picture overload follows.)

 

1: Rather unadorned.  Just to show you the shape of it-- it has little structure. (p.s. I now have a dress to go perfectly with these NYLA shoes. Love.) 

Dress: F21 silk bow dress

Necklace: F21 pearl strand (similar here)

shoes: NYLA Extravaganza pumps

  

  

2. Ole Faithful. Yeah, uh huh, the denim jacket again. Can you tell I love it? sparkly shoes + acid washed denim= supah fun.  The bow belt may need to be subbed for a simple black belt since I'm ODing on bows here.

Jacket: F21 Dean Denim jacket

Belt: F21 bow belt

Shoes: Steve Madden crinkle metallic bow pumps

Earrings: ModCloth freebies

  

  

3. Sophisticated. I just picture myself sitting outside at some Italian resto in the Spring enjoying a glass of sangria and some antipasto. (Yeah I dunno.) 

Jacket: F21 Articulate jacket 

Shoes: Charles Charles David cage sandals (similar here)

  

4. Cardi time.  The J.Crew colorblock cardi works with almost everything and I think it's cute with the dress and belted with a skinny belt. It's a casual look but still dressy enough to go out in.

Cardigan: J. Crew colorblock cardigan

  

 

5. Most demure. Which is funny, because this is one rather short dress. But it has a more... elegant, "appropriate" way about it, I think. It'd be my go-out-shopping outfit. You know. When I can again. Funny thing about this styling, though, is you lose the dress's uniqueness because it's mostly covered up by the ruffles of the cardi and the belt. But I still like this look.

Cardigan: J Crew Rose corsage cardigan

Belt: BCBG "snakebite lookalike" (this one is super cute)

So as you can see, a ton of styling options and a great price. Nice! (...and I swear I'm not high in those pictures. Why do I look so dazed?!)

A giveaway announcement! and oh la la...

Just when I began to despair about doing a giveaway (uhh, 'cuz I can't spend any money), the gods of blogging (and prolly PR) came through. Yay! Love when things work out like that. I'm not going to divulge the deets yet, but here's a clue: It will come as no "sock"er that I would wear these things with skirts, pants and dresses! Hmm... :) Expect more details next week.

Also, I had to share this Daily Candy tidbit with ya'll because I love the idea of slips and I love this store: Your Slip Is Showing is offering DC subscribers 50% off everything (excluding sale)-- sale code DAILYCANDY50. The slips are insanely pretty perfect layering pieces but are generally expensive as hell. 50% off makes it just that much more enticing. If I could shop, here's what I'd want:

Oh la la, indeed.

Gulp.

Morning, bloggies!

So I know we Catholics are already several days into Lent, but I've decided to make a belated Lenten promise-- no shopping. Two years ago, I did it. I actually went pretty hard core, too-- I banned myself from even browsing online. No mall sauntering, no online boutiques, no NOTHING. It was insanely difficult but I did it. I think it scarred me, because I was bad last year and didn't give anything up. This year, I'm going to try it again, although I will allow myself to browse (for the sake of the blog, and my sanity). Just no buying. Gulp. This shall be interesting.

It's good for several reasons, though-- we shopping fiends always need a little "time off" to re-group our style sense and even pare down a little. It's also a nice break on the magnetic strip on Mrs. Visa. The money I don't spend can be saved up, and maybe I can reward myself with a nice purchase at the end. See? It's not all bad... I think.

Anyway, given this ban, you might be seeing more and more of my "wishlists" given many unfulfilled dreams in the next several weeks. I'll have an OOTD this evening and some fun reveals... I swear, this F21 package that should arrive on my door tonight is it. Promise.  :)