Months have flown by since we last met and I've come and gone to NYC, started a new job, and moved into a fab new place. Yeah I'd hate me too. Don't worry, I have a heinous bruise from pinching myself so much because I can't believe it either. But while I marvel in the wonder that is the newest chapter in my life, I do so with a full heart and an empty wallet. I mean it is fab and by Marc Jacobs but replete it is not. In fact I'm pretty sure I saw a moth fly out of it recently.
Still my appetite for designer garb (or housewares for my swank new pad) needs to be satisfied. What am I supposed to do- buy Frada? If you think you're getting one of those past me you are sadly mistaken. I may smile outwardly, but inside I am judging you. Repeat after me: discount, off-price, clearance! At a time when my paycheck doesn't get me all the way to Barney's, I turn to his step sibs TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack. Well lit they may not be, but brimming with deeply discounted designer merchandise they certainly are. Check out some of my latest fab finds from the world of off-price retailers:
Kate Spade evening bag
Ralph Lauren lamp
Rebecca Minkoff coin purse
L.A.M.B. wallet
Rebecca Minkoff iPad case
Marc by Marc Jacobs pumps
Some of these I purchased, some I left behind for you to find. The question is: will you heed my advice and find them?
Meet Jess. Jess is sweet, adorable, and fast learner. On a recent visit to her lovely home we decided to perform a closet raid and inventory Jess's wardrobe. I was immediately drawn to these lovelies:
I have propensity toward perfectly pigmented suede and let's just say they had me at hello. Within moments I had sifted through her clothes and snatched everything she could possibly wear with my new loves. What couldn't she wear with them? Not much. Jeans, dresses, skirts, oh my!
Every glamazon needs one or two statement pieces she can make her own: items in your wardrobe that are worn with such reckless abandonment that they become a part of your signature look. An everyday pair of cat-eyes, afabulous lame LBD, or a classic quilted Chanel handbag can become synonomous with you. In my mind Jess is already The girl with the fushia pumps. Take a look at a couple of the outfits I pulled for her:
And of course in my zest for all things glam and fabulous, I did spot a few items that need to make their way onto her wishlist ASAP.
Oh the possibilities. I could spend all day styling ensembles around these shoes. But I digress. Remember when I said Jess was a fast learner? Days after I first oohed and ahhed over her gorgeous peep toes I received this picture:
My little girl is all grown up and shopping discount! In a brilliant stroke of genius Jess headed to Crossroads Trading Co. where you can buy, sell, and trade everything from DVF to Forever 21 and found herself a grey J. Crew cardi and an olive H&M dress. Olive! With fushia! My work here is done.
Meet Lexie. She is not only one of my best friends but happens to be adorable in every way. And she lets me dress her up. Like a doll. A very glam, life-size doll. I recently went over to Lexie's house where we performed a closet raid. She had made a few amazing purchases which needed to be incorporated into her wardrobe so I took a look and pulled out everything I thought could maybe-possibly-probably go with her new finds. I found myself a perch and made her try on scads of outfit combinations. Some of them worked, some of them didn't. Some of them were obvious, some were crazy amazing who woulda thought moments. After we went through every possible pairing, we took a look at the gaps in her inventory and made a list of the few items that would tie everything together: a thin belt, black pumps, sandals, and most importantly, a jacket and sweater or two.
With nearly every outfit Lexie modeled for me her question was: But what do I wear over it? You see Lexie is always cold. Upon arrive at my consistently fogged in house I always offer her a blanket. And a hot beverage. Okay maybe just the blanket. In all her zest for fun summer pieces she neglected to think of corresponding outerwear. This is both an understandable and a common problem. Torn between a stand out blouse or a basic sweater, who wouldn't spend their hard earned money on the sparkly new top? Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to sacrifice all that glitters for something on the simpler side that will play a supporting yet crucial role in our wardrobes. So I did what any good friend would do. I took her shopping.
For seven hours we shopped. Boutiques, department stores, specialty retailers: none of them stood a chance. Armed with gift cards, store credit, and a student discount (Umm, hello Club Monaco!) we got just about everything on our list and then some. Better yet, we didn't pay retail for a single item. How do ya like them apples? Lexie incurred three light sweaters, a skinny belt, sandals with just enough glitz, a perfectly pink pencil skirt, a timeless LBD, a patterned sleevless top, and one silver biker jacket that was so spot on I did a victory dance. Okay a fist pump.
When we got back to Lexie's place she modeled her newly completed outfits. And since we can't all have closets with motorized racks like Cher's in Clueless, we photo documented all of them so she would have something to reference any time she had one of those I have nothing to wear mornings. Check out the different ways we styled this dress she had bought a few days earlier:
Sweater: Nordstrom SALE
Dress: Nordstrom
Shoes: Nordstrom
Bag: Girls Night In shopping event SALE
Let's face it, we've all stood in front of our closets on a Saturday trying to find something
über glam to wear that evening, stared at the five black skirts and nine white tops, thought "I have nothing to wear!" and ran to the mall only to return home with two more white tops and yet another black skirt. We go shopping without a clear direction and end up so overwhelmed that we buy things that feel safe. That's why it's important to scope out your closet before you hit the shops.
Closet raids are beneficial for a number of reasons. One, it gives you a chance to review what you already have before you decide to buy something new. If you see that you already have four LBDs, you might be more open to trying another color or, dare I say it, a fun patterned frock! Two, you might rediscover something totally fab that was hidden behind your ginormous winter coat. I mean who doesn't want to shop in their own closet? It's free! And although we all love to shop, who wants the stress of fighting the crowds on a Saturday mere hours before your big event? It only cuts into your primping time and makes you look and feel frazzled. Eew! How much better to pull out a hidden treasure and get to try it on with different accessories until voila! You are a goddess!
Another huge benefit of perusing your wardrobe is the chance to purge. The jacket you haven't worn in two years that you just can't let go? Donated. The shiny cargo pants that you're sure will be back in style soon? Tossed. That neon designer sweater you got on clearance that has never looked quite right on you? Sold on eBay for shopping money! Once you've cleared out all the excess, it will be so much easier to see all the great pieces you have and what you truly need to fill in the gaps. And it's probably not another white top or black skirt.
I love glamour. I always have. I believe this dates back to the first handbag I received at the tender age of four. It was a pink, quilted cross-body featuring Little Twin Star and yes, I still have it. However it began, my desire for all things glamorous has since become a big part of my life. Whether I'm caressing the buttery leather of a Marc Jacobs handbag at Bloomingdale's, pondering how I can work the magenta Loeffler Randall sandals I saw in last month's Lucky into my wardrobe, or sending my friends links with clothes I'm convinced they need in emails marked urgent, glamour is always on my mind. I see it in everything and believe it is for everyone. Whether you are a size 2 or 22, whether you have the income of Donald Trump or his maid, you deserve glamour. And I'm here to tell you that you can have it. It might take some creativity or some out-of-the-box thinking, but I assure you it is attainable. I am brimming with ideas and tips so check back often as I hope to share them all with whoever is ready to start leading a glamorous life.
