Necklaces: 5 Favorites

I've been getting a lot of requests to see some accessories. I have literally tons of jewelry because, like the Magpie bird, I'm attracted to shiny objects! Here, I picked the five most versatile pieces I own. I'm am partial to silver although I've been wearing more and more gold lately.

In the picture above, the silver chain (left) is from Banana Republic (years ago). I wear this with anything that I want to add a little "toughness" to, such as a button down shirt or even a black tee shirt. When I'm at a loss for a necklace, this is my go-to. It's amazingly versatile for casual wear.

Middle: My little middle necklace is an Etsy purchase. It is a charm necklace with a silver peace sign, silver pine cone and gold owl (because I LOVE owls.) I like this one because it's perfect layered with my shorter cross necklace that I always wear (a gift from my hubby!) It's perfect with tee shirts when I need something super casual and not bulky.

The clear stone necklaces (right) are a birthday gift from my mother-in-law. We picked them out at Target (here) and (here). I like to layer these necklaces together. However the long one can be doubled or even worn wrapped as a bracelet. Because of the clear stone, they go with tons of outfits.

Above Left: This Target necklace (again from Target, $14.99, don't see it online) is both silver and gold so you can easily mix it with either metal. I wore it the other day with a white tee shirt and brown wool cardigan. It looks equally nice with a dress.

Right: The PERFECT statement necklace. This is from 2009 Banana Republic holiday collection but there are similar ones everywhere. In fact, when I first saw this, I thought it was so unique and I had to have it. But, it was very expensive. So, I bought an old silver chain that I found in a bin of jewelry at Renninger's Antique Flea Market and pinned my grandmother's old brooches to it. The problem I found was that the brooches were so heavy they wanted to turn all the time. But, it looked darn good! Then, I found one of these beauties on eBay. I still do the DIY necklace if I need a pop of color as a red brooch looks super for the holidays.
I've worn this necklace to dress up a black sheath and to add interest to my red silk shantung dress. I've also worn it with a white tee shirt, navy velvet blazer and jeans.

Do you have a necklace you just can't figure out how to wear? Email me and I'll try to help.

Sass and Style

My sister looked smashing at the wedding, courtesy of my closet!

She is wearing:
Dress: Banana Republic layered ruffle silk dress in black and brown. Bought on eBay
Shoes: Banana Republic sling back peep toes, bought a few seasons ago
Necklaces: short one: Ann Taylor; long one Banana Republic Garland, both bought last year
Earrings: Ann Taylor studs

How to Wear Ankle Boots

Ankle boots, motorcycle boots, flat boots, high-heel boots, over-the-knee boots...so many choices! Boots can be tricky to wear, especially ankle boots, so I put together this list of boot styles and what types of outfits look best with each. Enjoy!

Gwyneth Paltrow in sleek booties.

The Ankle Boot. This is the most confusing boot of all. The latest trend is to wear this style bootie with dresses and skirts. If that's your plan, you want a sleek, low bootie or a peep-toe bootie. Anything too high on the ankle cuts off your leg and makes you look stumpy. Also, I think they look great with tights for a leg-lengthening look. If you can wear a pump, then you can wear a low bootie! If you want ankle boots to wear with pants or jeans, you can go with the sleek bootie or a higher ankle style.

Some examples that are best for dresses/skirts:

Christian Louboutin Lady Derby Peep Toe Ankle Bootie

Christian Louboutin Lady Derby Peep Toe Ankle Bootie

Aquatalia by Marvin K. - Izzy - Wine Suede Ankle Boot

Banana Republic Samira Sleek Bootie

Best for Pants/Jeans: For pants or jeans, you can go with a higher, true ankle boot. There is no rule against wearing this higher boot with skirts or dresses and if you have great legs, go for it! However, for many people, a higher bootie makes you look stubby. The Banana Republic boot at left is a good hybrid. It can be worn either way.





Here are some choices for casual boots to be worn with pants:

Franco Sarto Lustre in Multiple Colors

Bandolino Quinlee Ankle Boot

Some tips:
1. Go for a classic style. While the studs, ruffles and zippers are fun, if you want a pair that will last you several seasons, you should go with a classic look, nothing too trendy.
2. Check the length. If you're wearing ankle boots with a skirt or dress, make sure the skirt/dress isn't too long, it will just look frumpy. You don't have to go with a mini skirt, but an above-the-knee style is best. Or, if you want to go longer choose a slim, pencil skirt rather than a long, flowy skirt.
3. Try them with ankle-length pants. Step out the box and wear a pair with ankle-length pants or jeans. The key is that the pants have to be tapered and narrow at the bottom--no crazy wide legs. Or, try a pair of skinny jeans rolled up above the ankle to show off the boot. Go wild!

3 Fall/Winter Closet Investments

When I look at my go-to pieces of clothing for Fall, a few items pop up over and over. Here are my recommendations for your three casual Fall/Winter must have investments. Notice I said investments--they will cost you some cash, but if you buy classic styles (not trendy), they will last you for years.

1. Black pants. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I hear you. It's on everyone's list. But, a great fitting, bootcut pair of black trousers is a necessity. I have invested in pants by Theory over the years. Yes, they're expensive if you buy them new. But, not if you ebay them! Click here for an ebay search on Theory pants: Click Here.

I have a few pairs that have lasted me more than 7 years already. They are a perfect travel- weight trouser in a non-wrinkle poly/lycra blend. Don't want to buy on ebay? Gap has some awesome pants right now. I got mine free...yes free! Because I'm a BR cardholder I got a promotion in the mail that if I tried on a pair of the pants, I would get them free. I suggest the Perfect Trouser or the Modern Boot. I actually got the True Straight. Get them here.

Here are my favorite Theory pants, click here. Search for them on ebay. They do run a little narrow in the thigh, but fit pretty true to size otherwise. Go to Bloomies, Neimans, Nordstroms or Saks and try on a few pairs, write down the style info and size, then search ebay. They run long, so you'll probably need to have them hemmed. I have one pair hemmed for flats and another left long for heels. Hint: If you wear pants with heels, make sure the hems graze the floor to avoid looking like you're wading through flood waters.

2. Leather jacket. OK, I told you I had a bit of a "thing" for leather clothing. And, no I don't mean that way, so get your mind out of the gutter. :) A true investment piece is a leather jacket. Don't go for a trendy style. I suggest you get a blazer style or simple fitted jacket. Black is always a go-to color, but I find myself reaching for a red Isabella Bird jacket (11 years old!) and a caramel colored Ann Taylor jacket (8 years old!) more often than not. A fitted style looks just as good with a skirt as it does with jeans or pants. I even throw mine on over dresses. And, when I worked in an office, I would wear the leather jacket as a suit jacket.

3. Boots. Two must-buys: flat knee-high boots and high-heeled ankle boots. You can wear the flat boots with a pair of jeans or slim pants/leggings tucked in or with a casual dress. The ankle boots fancy up your pants, look great with tights and dresses/skirts and can be worn with trouser jeans for a night on the town. Some of my favorites are:

1. The pretty ruffle boot from Banana Republic Click Here

2. The Cecile Cap Toe Bootie from Ann Taylor Click Here

3. The Peter Over the Knee Riding Boot from Ann Taylor Loft Click Here

All of these can be had for 40% off if you wait for the sale coupons. I think Ann Taylor is currently running a 40% off promo.

Of course, I have a whole list of must-haves for your wardrobe, but these three items, along with some accessories such as statement necklaces, scarves and belts, will truly transform many of your outfits from blah to fabulous!

Tips for Finding Fashion Deals

Ahhh... the smell of a leather jacket...the sparkle of a sequins tank...the way you feel in perfect-fitting jeans! As many of your know, I'm passionate about fashion. I frequently get asked where I find the clothing that I wear, so I made up this list of tips for finding fashion deals.

1. Never Pay Full Price. At most of the big retailers--J Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Ann Taylor Loft, Ann Taylor--they introduce new collections at the beginning of EVERY month. That's new inventory every month folks. That also means they need to move last month's inventory. In addition to marking most items down within two months of them being in the stores, they constantly send out discount coupons via mail and email. Get on the email lists of your favorite stores. Oh, and by waiting, you may miss out on a super hot item, c'est la vie! If you like it THAT much, buy it at full price.

2. Get the card. If you know you can pay it off every month, be sure to get the credit card of your favorite place. I don't recommend getting a credit card for every store you frequent, just your favorite. Not only do you get emails each week with discounts, but everytime you use it you stock up points for rewards cards.

I have a Banana Republic. You can use the rewards at BR, Gap, Piperlime and Old Navy. You HAVE to be able to pay it off every month though, the interest rates on the cards are ridiculous. And, some cards require you to buy way too much to get points, so they're not worth it. From my research good ones are: Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic/Gap/Old Navy and Macys. Not so good: J Crew and Neiman Marcus (unless you spend A LOT.) Got a suggestion for a good card? Let me know!

3. eBay is your friend. Those who know me know I have a bit of a thing for boots and leather jackets. Crazy since I live in Florida, but it is what it is! Well, both can be expensive. Of my, er, collection, at least half were purchased on eBay and most of them were new and at half the retail price. How do I do it? That's another post. But, I'll tell you this, you have to know your size in the brand you want and you have to know the retail price. You also should shop at the end of the season (after Christmas) or in August. That's when most people start listing their fall items on ebay. Oh, and if you're going skiing this winter, start shopping NOW on ebay for those ski clothes.

4. Accessories. I can't tell you how many friends and family members have shopped my accessories! You can find great belts, bracelets and scarves anywhere. I love Target! Don't discount stores such as Forever 21 and Wal Mart. You'd be surprised at what you can find. Sophie and Trey has some awesome jewelry at really good prices. TJ Maxx just had a $15 necklace that was identical to a $60 one from JCrew. Again, check out some of the higher end websites, get an idea of what you like and then find duplicates at the discount stores.

5. Window shop designer; buy the cheap stuff. For trendy items, go well made but cheap. I always shop the designer sites, check out fashion magazines and browse Bergdorf and Neiman's. You'll see what's in and then can check out which mass retailers have copies. For example, Alice & Olivia has an awesome sequins tank top. Price: $300. Well, guess what? Ann Taylor Loft, Inc. at Macys and some other stores have a version too--at a much more realistic price.

6. Buy the basics. Did you know that Wal-Mart has awesome tee shirts? They're stretchy and thick and super cheap. Since tee shirts don't last more than one season, why would you pay the price of Gap, JCrew or other stores? I buy all of my tank tops and plain tee shirts at Target and Wal-Mart. In fact, Wal-Mart actually has a few items that will surprise you. And Target has some v-neck boyfriend tee shirts that I live in. At Wal-Mart, I once bought a pair of satin-look tuxedo pants for $10 and they fit so well, no one knew they weren't expensive. With the cheap stuff, it's all about fit. If the seam is crooked, the shirt is too short or the pants gap, pass on the item.

It does take some work and planning to build a wardrobe you love. Because it's a passion of mine, it doesn't seem like work. I read magazines, browse online sites, read blogs and seek out information. I have a whole folder of ripped-out magazine pages that feature looks I want to duplicate or items I'd like to buy.

Check back, I'm going to do a series of articles on fashion, including one on how to score on ebay!

Pin Me

I have an unhealthy obsession with vintage brooches. I collect them but hardly ever wear them. So, I've made it a goal to start working them into my wardrobe. My first attempt was the other night at a girl's night out. I wore this teal top from Banana Republic and affixed a wonderful lemony-lime stone brooch to the neck. The brooch I used was similar to the above but it was all that lemon color. Easy and fun!

Banana Republic Rocks

While I do love JCrew, I can't get over the fact that they offer very few discounts, even to loyal customers. Give me some love!
Now, Banana Republic, they've got it going on. I can always count on them for some sort of discount, from the automatic 10% off each purchase if you use your Banana card to the frequent sales and incentives. I spend way more money than I should. Sorry JCrew, if you offered the same rewards, I'd be snapping things up weekly.
I'm loving this dress from Banana right now.