Blogging on a Budget: August

School has started! Fall is here! My cousin got married this weekend and it was beautiful! (and I took a much-needed trip back to California to be there!) I have a million German words to memorize! August is over, and I hadn't posted Blogging on a Budget yet!

Here is my monthly round-up of where I spent my money, August Edition.

This past month, I spent:

$49.10 on clothing (LOFT open knit sweater, green pants, and polka dot shirt, 

helped along with an old gift certificate)

$0 on hair

$0 on makeup

$0 on jewelry

I have a feeling now that fall is here, I'll be spending a lot more on clothing. This CA girl doesn't have any winter boots to speak of! And on that subject, anyone have recommendations for uber-warm but still cute snow/winter boots?

Fitting Room: LOFT 40% Off Sale

LOFT is having a 40% off store-wide sale right now (online, enter code FRIENDS at checkout), so I popped in and used up a gift certificate that had been sitting in my wallet for months.

It's been sitting there because I haven't been very taken by LOFT's recent offerings, but this time around, I found so many things I liked! Their prints seem more youthful than they have been as of late (lots of dots and stripes, so I'm happy), and they have some fantastic skinny colored jeans (in petite, regular, and curvy reg/petite fits).

Polka Dot Print Short Sleeve Tee, xs ($23.70 down from $39.50) / Modern Straight Jeans, 0P in white ($30.00, down from $49.99)

Tee: I love this tee! The print is cute, the material is soft (85% rayon, 15% linen), the boatneck is flattering, and the drape fits nicely. Verdict: purchased.

Jeans: The white pants were close but not perfect. They fit well through the waist and legs with only slight pulling around the knees. I have kind of muscular legs (years and years of dancing), so it was great to find a pair that both fit at the waist and didn't suffocate my legs. Verdict: passed, I can't trust myself to keep white jeans clean. :)

 Colorblock Wedge Short-Sleeved Sweater, xs ($29.70, down from $49.50)

Top: This sweater was cute, but didn't do enough for me to buy. The color (excuse the horribly-lit iPhone photo!) is a light grey in front and a darker heather shade in back (I kind of wish they were reversed). Well-fit and soft. Verdict: passed.

 

Cotton Textured Open-Stitch Sweater, xs (can't find online) (found it, hidden in the lounge section!) / Petite Color Pop Modern Skinny Jeans, 0P in Teal Night ($29.70, down from $49.50)

Sweater: I wasn't sure about this sweater in-store, but looking at it in photos, I'm so bummed I didn't get it. I think I'm going to go back for it tomorrow! The open-knit was soft and comfortable, and the sweater was still quite warm. Size xs fit in a loose, comfy sort of a way. Verdict: passed in-store, but want to go back to buy tomorrow.

Jeans: I have been looking for another pair of affordable colored skinny jeans (to add to my collection of one so far), but had not had luck in almost a year. With the plethora of options out there, I know that seems absurd, but my problem has always been finding jeans that are small enough to fit my waist but loose enough to not constrict my legs, which are on the muscular side of average, I guess. I am so glad to have found these LOFT jeans, which definitely seem to do the trick! The material is a bit lighter than my Gap Always Skinny jeans, and a bit stretchy, too. The waist, hips, and legs fit great, but there is a tiny bit of pulling at the crotch, though not enough to keep me from buying. Length is great, and would still fit any petite shorter than me well, as the hem hits right at the top of my foot. Verdict: purchased, happily.

Let me know if you get anything at the sale!

LOFT 30% Off Spring Arrivals

I have a LOFT gift card burning a hole in my wallet from the holidays, so I did a bit of window shopping to see if anything in the new Spring line struck my fancy. (LOFT is currently having a 30% off promotion on all new Spring arrivals.) My window shopping confirmed what I had long suspected; I don't like spring clothes that much. Too ruffly, too florary, too girly for me, and I'm not so keen on pastel colors. Give me the dark earth and jewel tones of Fall (along with cozy scarves and warm jackets) any day, but the light and floraly hues of Spring? Not my favorite, personally.

A few things from LOFT did interest me a bit, though probably not enough to buy right now. (All prices listed are before the 30% off promotion.)

 

Hook-and-Eye Mandarin Collar Jacket ($79.50) / Grosgrain Stripe Full Skirt ($69.50)

 

3/4 Sleeve V-Neck Cardigan ($49.50) / Lace Overlay Ponte Mini Skirt ($69.50)

Stripe Dolman Sleeve Blouse ($54.50) / Isabella Canvas Heels ($89.50)

LOFT Sweater Dresses

There are some very cute petite (and tall, and regular!) sweater dresses for sale at LOFT right now. Each of them are $35, down from $89.50 and $79.50.

I think this particular sale is a short one, so get 'em now if they strike your fancy!

 Petite Striped Short Sleeve Sweater Dress $89.50 $35.00

Available in sizes xxs through xl

Petite Short Sleeve Sweater Dress  $89.50 $35.00

 Available in sizes xs and xl

Petite Cowl Neck Sweater Dress  $79.50 $35.00

Available in sizes xxs, s, m, l, and xl

I kind of really want that striped dress...but I'm not sure if it's the best use of my budget. Should I go for it? :)

Wearing the Pants

Well, I made it to work on Wednesday, and I didn't have to go naked. How did I solve my summer fashion dilemma, you ask?

Why, with a pair of pants whose one random drawback actually served me perfectly in this hot-hot-hot LA weather.

Top: Anthropologie sz xs (on sale for about $20.00) / Pants: Ann Taylor (the tag fell out, so I don't know what size they are, but they're a bit big so my guess is sz 0R or 2P) / Shoes: DSW Ann Marino Lottery Menswear Pump in dark grey sz 7.5 (gift, buy here)

These are Ann Taylor pants which I bought about 2 years ago. I didn't pay much attention when buying them, pleased as I was to find a pair of pants that actually didn't need any hemming (provided I wore them with heels of course). Later, I realized, "huh, they're unlined...that's annoying," and was a bit peeved at myself for not noticing that earlier. However, that very flaw has turned out to be a great way for me to survive the LA summers.

I seem to have a captive audience.

Unlined pants = great way to keep cool while looking all kinds of professional.
Shhhh.....no one has to know.

Plus, long pants give me the opportunity to wear (slightly) higher heels!

DSW Ann Marino Lottery Menswear Pump in dark grey sz 7.5 (buy here)

Putting Together a Basic Work Wardrobe

There are a few basic pieces that can act as the foundation for a business-casual work wardrobe. In my opinion, you need two pencil skirts, two pairs of trousers, two or three dresses, a few cardigans (or blazers), and two pairs of high heels. (As an aside, I actually don't own a blazer yet--its the only thing currently in my "big purchases to save up for" list--and that's partly because I live and work in Southern California. I hate to play to the stereotype, but we really are more casual out here, and I'd feel pretty comfortable going to (most) interviews or office jobs wearing a cardigan instead of a blazer. This might be different for you, depending on where you live/work.)

In with these foundation pieces you can mix blouses, collared shirts, tee shirts, and accessories to add variety to your daily outfit, but you probably have most of these things in your closet already!

The Basics:

Pencil Skirts: I have two pencil skirts, one black and one navy blue, both from Ann Taylor. I paid full price for these, which I was ok with because I knew they'd last me forever (I've been the same size for about 5 years and I'm guessing that wont change until I have kids? Sure would be easier on my wallet!) My black pencil skirt (sz 0p + slight slimming alterations) definitely makes the heaviest rotation in my work wardrobe, but can be endlessly varied with different tops and accessories. I like that my navy skirt (sz 00p) has a bit of visual interest, with this side-tie/belt detail.

Ann Taylor Pencil Skirt

Trousers: I also have two pairs of trousers, one black and one chocolate brown. It just so happened that one is fully lined and one isn't, which actually works out great for when I need more or less warmth, depending on the weather. I've also been known to wear tights under my pants when it's extra cold outside (i.e., mostly for the 5-month period in which I was living in England and not SoCal). No one has to know!

Ann Taylor Trousers

Dresses: I've only ever bought one specifically "for work" dress (below) so I like to keep an eye out for dresses that can do double (or triple) duty. I have a few that I wear to work with cardigans and high heels, and then change into flats and a motorcycle jacket to wear to class or to run errands. Looking for dresses like this is the best--they'll be worth the price as they can make heavy rotation throughout your work, casual, and even date night or dressy wardrobe. And, you can often get these dresses on the cheap. One of my favorites is from Target (second, below)!

Ann Taylor LOFT Dress / Target belt

Target dress  / Gap cardigan

Shirts: Nice solid colored tee's are my favorite thing to wear to work. I tuck them into skirts and pants, layer them under cardigans, and feel good to go. Nicer blouses or collared shirts are also definitely good staples of a work wardrobe. I have two collared shirts (from Gap) and about 4 nicer blouses (from Ann Taylor) that I rotate in amongst the tee's.

Ann Taylor blouse

Ann Taylor blouse
This blouse reminds me of Starry Night :)
Ann Taylor blouse

Cardigans: I actually went through this whole past year of work (while I was still in college, but working part-time at a business-casual office on campus) with 1 and 1/2 cardigans that I wore. My black one went with everything, and every once in a while I'd wear a bright green one which went with about 2 casual-Friday-appropriate outfits. I'm now actively trying to add a few more cardigans into my wardrobe as I've realized how versatile they are and how quickly they improve a simple outfit.

Target Mossimo Cardigan ($15.00 buy here)

Blazers: So far, I haven't been able to buy any blazers, simply because they're a bit cost-prohibitive at the moment. I know that, like the pencil skirts and trousers, they're definitely timeless pieces that I can wear for a long time, but I guess I haven't mustered up the courage to just buy one already! Again, depending on where you live, or if you're applying to and/or working at a business-formal office, blazers will be more of a must. One grey and one black should do the trick (ideally your blazers match either a pencil skirt or pair of trousers for optimum mix-and-match potential).

Shoes: I also spent this past year with just 2 pairs of high heels that I wore to work: the low suede heels from this post, and these adorable ones from DSW:

DSW shoes sz 7 (old)
I love how they look like they're made from men's suiting material,
but with the nice feminine bow.

A pair of black flats that I wear practically every day also made a very heavy rotation. I've now added a pair of Target Pearce Pumps which have filled an obvious gap in my closet. Black pumps (at whatever heel height you prefer) are probably the #1 work shoe any woman should buy.

Target Versie Pump ($29.99) / Target Pearce Pump ($29.99)

The Stores:

The tried-and-true office-wear stores for Petites are, without a doubt:
-Ann Taylor for suiting, pretty blouses, pencil skirts, trousers.
-Ann Taylor LOFT for pretty blouses, pencil skirts, trousers, simple tops.
-Banana Republic (a bit hit or miss right now).
-J. Crew (can be a bit pricey, find the sales!)
-Theory for suiting (above my price-range but I've heard so many good things!)

However, if you're on a bit more of a budget at this moment, or perhaps are just starting out in the work world, try:
-H&M for suiting and accessories
-Target for tops, skirts, accessories, cardigans, shoes.
--Gap for simple tops, cardigans


The Extras:

Accessories: Jewelry, scarves, and belts can be switched in to vary the appearance of any particular outfit. The fact that you'll wear these items everywhere--not just to work--makes them a bit easier to shell out some money for. For cheap (but not necessarily cheap looking!) accessories, try the good ol' staples of Target, F21, and H&M. I especially love Target scarves, which are great all year 'round.

Belts, from top to bottom: Target / Given to me as a gift /
F21 (just $2.75! buy here) / Bought in England
Scarves: One bought in Egypt, one bought in Dubai, and one bought at Target!
Bet you can't guess which is which ;-)

One great bag/purse/briefcase: This piece should ideally be able to take you from classes to shopping to work, but I know it's often really hard to find a bag that does triple-duty like that. I lucked into finding the bag that works perfectly for me, a Fossil messenger/laptop bag; I've probably taken it out 350 of the past 365 days. Getting so much use out of one bag justified the price to me, which wasn't outrageous in the first place for a sturdy leather bag. I'd definitely recommend Fossil for someone who wants luxe looking leather but can't pay designer prices. Their sizes also don't often overwhelm petites. This bag and this one recently caught me eye. If you really want designer goods but don't have it in your budget, scope out eBay. But first, do a little research into how to avoid knockoffs: I'd recommend starting with this video by the lovely Wendy of Wendy's Lookbook.

Fossil Leather Messenger Bag (old)

* * * * * * * * * *

These pieces got me through almost a year's worth of work without feeling too bored or constrained. It also helps to be at peace with repeating outfits...I promise, your coworkers won't be keeping a daily diary of what you're wearing, and working within a small wardrobe does force you to be more creative.

Without buying much more then this, I think my next challenge is going to be styling my basic work outfits a little more. I want to find some good accessories (right now I'm on the hunt for skinny, shiny belts and statement necklaces) to start me off.

* * * * * * * * * *

A few last tips:
-Try everything on and double-check return policies. If you're buying an "investment piece" you want it to be perfect. Don't settle for second best (I've made this mistake a few too many times).

-Having a good tailor is a lifesaver for Petites.

-Don't buy too much right now if you're just trying to get through a summer internship or short-term job. Saving money now means saving up to better purchases in the future.


Happy shopping, and congrats on your new job!

(Not) Playing Dress-Up: Office Wear for the Real World

I want to do a post soon about the basic items needed to put together an office wardrobe straight out of college, but before I do, I thought I'd start with something I'd wear on a typical work day.

My office is business sometimes-casual-ish? The men are required to wear ties, and the women are supposed to wear "something comprable," whatever that means. For me, it usually means a pencil skirt, a blouse or solid colored t-shirt, and a cardigan, but what other women wear is all over the map, from jersey dresses with open-toed sandals to skirt suits with tights.

Top: LOFT scoop neck tee sz xs (on sale for $7.50, similar here) /
Cardigan: Target cardigan sz xs ($19.99, buy here) / Skirt: Ann Taylor Pencil Skirt sz 0p /
Shoes: Target Pearce Pumps ($29.99, buy here) / Earrings: Gift / Bracelet: Vintage

This is a pretty typical work outfit, in which I try to walk the line between looking like a teenager and looking like a teenager playing dress up in her mother's wardrobe. I'm one of the youngest people at my office, so I'm a little bit self-conscious about trying to look ever-so-slightly more grown up without looking like I'm playing pretend.

Two of the three dogs make an appearance.

In order to go for that slightly-but-not-too-much grown-up look, I like sticking with the basics. This black pencil skirt is timeless and makes the heaviest rotation in my office wear--I paid full price for it last year, but I love it and it was well worth the money! I also love this lightweight, incredibly soft cardigan from Target, but the cheapness of the design does show when it is buttoned, as it tugs and pulls in a sort of strange way.

And the cat shows up too!

I like the easy chic-ness of the tone-on-tone tops (the tee shirt is much more purple-y in real life) and tried to accent their cool tones with a bit of silver jewelry. (I need to work on my accessorizing! My instinct is always so basic it boarders on boring, so I'll be working on that!) The earrings were a gift from my brother, bought in Mexico, and the bracelet is inherited from my grandmother. She bought it in Japan while living there after WWII. It was made in what is now Thailand, but is old enough to have "Made in Siam" engraved on the inside.

Vintage bracelet, inherited.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

Oh no, LOFT, you've done it again...

Just when I thought my credit card was safe for a few more weeks...LOFT had to go and post an up to 75% off sale. Dang it, LOFT!


I think I'm going to have to hold off on buying anything right now, because though I love a good sale, I don't need any of these things right now....

However, if I were going to get something....

Great shirt for work, tucked into pencil skirts: Tuxedo Button Front Shell
On second thought, maybe I do need a statement necklace: Multi-Chain Bead Necklace
Love me some military-inspired outerwear: Petite Drapey Roll Sleeve Jacket
Perfect Little White Dress: Petite Tipped Flutter Sleeve Dress
I have been looking for shoes like this for a few months, but I'd really prefer a closed toe....anyone have any leads?: Shirlie Open Toe Bootie

LOFT 40% Off Sale

I got pretty excited about the recent 40% off sale at Ann Taylor LOFT, as I've been a fan of them ever since they made their transition a few years ago from clothes-only-my-grandmother-would-wear to hey-that-looks-incredibly-cute! They are great for petite friendly office wear and have some nice casual pieces too, at sometimes-cheap prices, especially if you catch them during a sale. My two pencil skirts and two pairs of dress slacks (yep that's all I have/can afford right now!) are all from LOFT.

I didn't want to splurge too much on this sale, however, so I got four solid-colored scoop-neck tees for the one-day-only price of $7.50 each (usually $16.50), three in size regular xs and one is size petite s.

LOFT Basic Scooped Tee, Forest Green, Size Regular S

I love basic t-shirts like this; they are the absolute #1 staple of my wardrobe, right up there along with dark denim and comfortable flats. These are going to replace a few very old F21 tees that have been in my closet, collecting stains and holes, and yet still being worn by yours truly. :-/ A well needed change, I think.

It turns out the only difference between the petite s (red) and the regular xs (navy) is about an inch and a half in length and about an inch or less on each side, so they all fit pretty well.


After trying them on, however, it was clear that the Tamale Red was not the right color for me. I was a bit disappointed because I ordered that color in order to help get me out of my color-rut, but alas, this was not the right shade. I basically wear white, grey, black, green, purple, and blue, and stay pretty far away from reds/pinks/yellows, but wanted to give them a shot. Unfortunately, no dice this time around.

Eek! Smile!
Size S Petite Basic Scooped Tee in Tamale Red and
A-Line Eyelet Skirt Size 00 (seems to be sold out now).

Pardon the sticker on my chest...this shirt has to go back with stickers and tags in tact!

I eyed this pretty skirt, also part of the 40% off sale, and thought it was worth the price ($69.50, on sale for $32.99) to put me over the $50 free shipping minimum. But, can you tell what is wrong with this picture? I noticed almost immediately that the that place the skirt fell, right on top of my hips, made me look boxy and ill-proportioned. Ick!

Not as bad from the back, but the hem seems a bit long too.

I was hoping to wear this skirt with short-sleeved shirts tucked in to it to my (business casual) office for work, or with tank tops for a breezy but put-together everyday look.

Determined to make it work, I hiked the skirt up a few inches and pinched it at the back (taking in about 2 inches), letting it settle at my natural waist.

There we go! Much better!

I'll be taking the skirt to my tailor soon and I hope she can make this alteration for me. The skirt has two seams, one at each hip, so I think it shouldn't be too much trouble. I'll be sure to post how it turns out!