Anthropologie Free Shipping and Free Returns until September 30th

Anthropologie is offering free shipping and free returns on all items from now until the end of September. Anthro's shipping prices are usually a bit high, so this is definitely a nice bonus.

I don't need anything right now, but a few pics from my wishlist (all in the Sale section!) never hurt anyone...
Pitter-Patter Skirt, $78.00 $39.00
Pretty pleats in cool colors make me want to drink delicious drinks on the front porch.

Sorbet Skirt, $148.00 $39.95
How cute is this skirt? I want to wear it with heels and a solid-colored top to work, and be totally killin' it in the wardrobe department.

Printed Boy Tee, Stripes, $38.00 $19.95
My favorite simple t-shirt, updated ever so slightly.

Varying Degrees Belt, $68.00 $39.95
Maybe the Boyfriend would stop teasing me about only ever wearing the same skinny brown belt.

Skinny Weave Belt, $34.00 $9.95
Take that, Boyfriend! A skinny pink belt.

Coining Necklace, $38.00 $19.95
I usually go for silver jewelry over gold, but something about this necklace's simple, graphic quality combined with it's statement-esque size is making me really like it. Perfect for petites so as to not overwhelm a small frame.

Anyone planning on taking advantage of Anthropologie's free shipping?

Ms. Mary Mack

I had the schoolyard song "Ms. Mary Mack" stuck in my head all day today.

Ms. Mary Mack, Mack, Mack

All dressed in black, black, black,

With silver buttons, buttons, buttons,

All down her back, back back...

Shirt: (Dress!) H&M sz 2 (borrowed from my sister) / Skirt: Bought in Spain (about $10.00) / Shoes: Target Elliana Wedge Sandals ($24.99, buy here) / Necklace: Made by the Boyfriend


Even though my buttons aren't silver. And they're down my front, not my back. Details, details...

I've been wanting a chambray shirt for a few months now, but hadn't found one cheap enough yet still of good quality. Solution: find a light denim blue colored tunic in my sister's closet and wear it as a shirt! Success.

Also: I'm feeling all kinds of patriotic in this outfit.


So there you have it, a dress as a shirt and buttons all down my front. Happy Monday!

Coffee Shop Internet

Top: Gap Stretch Fitted button down, sz xs (old) / Shorts: Urban Outfitters (old) / Shoes: Gap (old) / Bag: Charles David (Macy's, borrowed from my sister) / Earrings: Local boutique (about $4.00)

I haven't had internet at the new place for the past week (it finally got installed, yay!), so I've been running over to nearby coffee shops to steal theirs (and enjoy the amazing coffee that my new neighborhood is partly known for).
This is what I wore on my most recent internet-stealing outing. I came home from work in the outfit pictured in this post, changed the skirt and the shoes, and was on my way. It was still a bazillion degrees, so these pictures were taken in a hurry!

I've really been in love with white button-downs recently. My inspiration folder is full of looks like this right now:

Kendi Everyday * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A Fashion Deliberation

Wendy's Lookbook

These are some damn fashionable ladies. And they probably didn't spill pasta sauce on their white shirts...

Day in the Life

Top: Gap stretch fitted button down, sz sm / Skirt: Zara ($10.00) / Shoes: Target Merona Elliana Wedge Sandals ($24.99, buy here) / Bag: Charles David (Macy's, borrowed from my sister) / Bangle: Bought in England (about $3.00)

I'm training for a new job for these next 3 weeks, which means fun times in business casual. :) This is my favorite look from the past week, which unfortunately didn't involve too many fashion highlights as I was still unpacking most of my things.

I'm happy I finally figured out a nice way to wear this $10.00 Zara skirt. I bought it because there are zero orange clothes in my closet (normally, I think the color looks awful on me), and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone.

I though the skirt could work in my wardrobe because 1) being a skirt, the orange color isn't near my face, where it would have been much less flattering against my skin tone, 2) the blues and burgundys in the flower print are colors I love to wear and have in my closet already, 3) pockets! 4) it's lined and well-made, for Zara, 5) you can't beat the price!

I'm unsure if I have another way to style it as of yet, but hopefully I'll figure it out. Any thoughts?

A Little Bit o' Color

Top: Ann Taylor LOFT sz sm / Shorts: Thrifted from Goodwill outlet (66 cents!) / Belt: Forever 21 (about $3.00) / Shoes: Gap (old) / Necklace: Various charms, put together

Apologies for the lack of posts this past week; I just started a new job (!) and moved in to a new place (!!) so things have been a bit crazy as I've gotten settled down.

And now for the debut of my 66-cent salmon-colored slightly-too-big shorts. They are awesome, for all of the aforementioned reasons (except for the slightly-too-big bit. But they were shrunk in the dryer, and with a belt, you can hardly tell.) Did I mention they were 66 cents?
Anyway, it is still hot as hell here in LA (Fall, where are you??) so I took these photos in about 20 seconds and ran back indoors. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Review: ASOS and PacSun Colored Denim

I have been more than a bit obsessed with the colored jeans trend going on right now. I don't usually (read: never) hop on trends, tending much more towards sticking with classic/simple thing that I know work for me. However, in my efforts to a) add more color into my wardrobe and b) create more interesting outfits on the daily, I thought a pair of colored jeans would be an awesome addition to my wardrobe.

However, I was having the hardest time finding a pair that both fit and didn't cost an arm and a leg. My inspiration was something along the lines of these AG Stevie Ankle Jeans from Anthropologie, but there was no way I was paying $158 for a pair of colored jeans!
Anthropologie AG Stevie Ankle Jeans, $158.

A bit of help from the wonderful Alterations Needed Forum led me to two pairs which I thought were worth a shot, both from brands I'd never tried before:
ASOS PETITE Exclusive Blue Skinny Jean, $60.34

These are definitely on the higher end of what I was hoping to spend, but the pair I end up keeping will actually be part of a belated birthday gift from my parents, so it was kind of ok. ;-) I was also impressed with their free shipping and free returns policy (on everything!), which definitely helped with convincing me to give them a shot.

PacSun Bullhead Black Colored Leggings in Burgandy, $39.50 or 2 for $65.00

These are definitely a bit less jarring in the color department, and I love how I could easily wear these into fall and winter. In reality, I guessed these would be a bit more practical and versatile than the OHMYGODBRIGHT BLUE of the ASOS jeans. PacSun has free returns and online orders can also be returned to any PacSun store.

* * * * * * * * * *
In reality...

ASOS:
Pros: Free shipping. Free returns. That's unfortunately about it. Because...

Cons: I couldn't even get these jeans on! Not even kidding. I ordered them in a size 2, and there was no way I was getting them over my calves, they just didn't fit. Unfortunately, any size bigger and I'm pretty sure the waist/hips would be far too large. Too bad. These could totally work for a tinier petite than me, but I guess I have pretty muscular calves (years and years of dancing), so they were a no-go. Plus, in person, they were really quite bright, perhaps a bit too bright for me. The boyfriend will be happy. He was a bit scared of them.

Verdict: Return.

* * * * * * * * * *

Pac Sun:
Shirt: Forever 21 sz s / Pants: Pac Sun sz 1 / Shoes: Stolen borrowed from my sister, sz 7 / Necklace: Gift

These were much better in the fit department (i.e., I could get them on in the first place!). I ordered both a size 0 and a size 1, and the size 1 (which I'm wearing here) fit great in the hips and tush, but damn are these some skinny jeans. They are advertised as a "denim legging," after all, and I fear that that actually means they are a...*gulp*...jegging. That word makes me shudder. I don't want to own "jeggings." "Denim leggings," it is then!
Dang, they're tight....
Pros: The color is beautiful, and I could obviously see these working very well in fall and winter. The material is nice and soft and stretchy, and the fit is generally quite good, especially in the waist and hips, and the length is perfect. No tailoring needed! The price, at $32, is pretty reasonable.

Cons: They are so tight! More like leggings than jeans. The fit in the calves is what makes me think they're too tight. But maybe I could get used to that? The front pockets are fakes, which is a bit annoying, but the back ones are real. I feel like you can see every outline of my legs, which is a bit weird? Not sure.

Verdict: I'm not completely sold on these jeans as of this moment. They're just so...tight. Maybe they'll work if I think of them as leggings and not jeans.... What do you guys think? To keep or not to keep?

Also: These shoes:Love.

My sister bought them when she was in Dubai, where she's been living for the past few months. She's home now, and so is her closet. Which effectively means I've doubled the size of my closet. :) I love being (almost) the same size as her!

* * * * * * * * * *

Anyone have any cheap colored denim they'd recommend?

Thrifting Finds for under $3.00!

I went to a Goodwill outlet the other day. I had no idea that Goodwill had outlets, but apparently they do. In good outlet fashion, this means that everything is DIRT CHEAP. I mean, you're paying for clothes by the pound, not by the item! Unfortunately, this also means that the clothes are piled in one massive heap and a few various dumpsters in the middle of the room. Which made it kind of like hunting for treasure? Sure, why not.
Anyway, I was amazed that I found FOUR cute pieces in that pile of randomness, not to mention the fact that they were....drumroll please....$2.68, TOTAL. Dang. I should never buy anything full price ever again.
This trip was spurred by a challenge from the boyfriend: Create an outfit for under $20. I think I passed with flying colors, seeing as I got two for under $3.00, but he thinks I cheated because I also bought two other pieces at Ross, totaling $23.00. I tried to tell him those were extra, but, alas, he is a man of honesty. Stay tuned to see my two under $3.00 outfits (after they get washed, shrunk, and washed again, probably....).