One Look Could Kill: Finally Cooling!!

My first thought when I woke up this morning was, "Woah. It's a bit chilly in here." My second thought when I woke up this morning was, "WOAH!! It's a bit chilly in here!! WOOHOO!" (This was followed by me gleefully flinging myself out of bed cheering...which confused the hell out of my barely-awake husband.) There are only so many 85+ degree days in a row that a girl can handle, and with all of the little Fall purchases that I've been racking up, I've been dying to break them out!





I was so happy to finally get to wear this Old Navy shirt that I've been hanging onto for a few months. It's made out of the softest sweatshirt-like material possible, but still has a flattering, billowy cut. I could just live in this shirt. ;) I paired it with my trusty studded Bitten wedges and a white fishnet scarf I grabbed from H&M last season. Because things at work have been SO busy lately, I haven't really had the time or energy to put thought into my outfits or makeup, but today, I made the time. I feel better already.





Oh, and I had to include one of the little demon who "helps" with my makeup each day. Meet Spooky!

Cheapskate strikes again!

This weekend was a bit..hmm...I would say "fashion forward", but since I know some of the styles I crave don't appeal to a lot of people, we'll say "fashion successful"!


1) Don't ask me why, but I've been seriously craving a pair of stonewashed/acid-washed skinny jeans. I've just seen them on a few gals who have paired them with heels up to the sky and a rockin' t-shirt, and I was coveting them like no one's business. When I first started looking for these, there were a few common themes:

• Most pairs ranged from $45-$100+! This kind of shocked me! I really thought these weren't as popular, but I suppose I was wrong.


• Most pairs had a zipper that was only about an inch long...that's how low-rise they were. For a gal with a waist that is actually not the same size as her hips (gasp!), this didn't quite work for me. When crouching down, you could see a good 1-2" of my *ahem* crack. NOT chic.

I looked into how to make my own pair, but being fairly DIY-disfunctional, I decided that buying a pair would be a far smarter route. Well, after searching all over creation (and I really mean that - we're talking 3 malls, several thrift stores, and Marshalls/TJ Maxx etc. up the wazoo!), I finally found a pair...and for less than $20!!! Ross - how I love thee. The pair I got is very similar to these from American Apparel:

...only their jeans are $69. Mine were $17.99. ;) I get a high better than that of drugs when I can find a steal like that.

2) I've also been coveting the famous black lame' leggings from American Apparel for ages, as I mentioned in my last post. However, just like the jeans, I wasn't willing to pay the $42 (!!!!) price tag. After all, they're just leggings. Lo and behold, I walked into Wet Seal this past weekend, glanced around casually...and found the same.exact.leggings. Oh, except for one difference: These were only $17. ;) BOO-YAH! I'm hoping to post a picture of them soon when I can rock them out.

3) Last, but not least.
Weeks ago, so long ago that I'd forgotten about it, I entered a contest on the fabulous blog FashionIsPoison.com...AND I WON A PAIR OF FREE JIMMY CHOOS!$#!#$!%! From what I can tell, these run somewhere in the realm of $400+ brand-new!$#@ I can't believe it, and I'm so excited I can't stand it! Yes, I'm a cheap girl, but for the most part, that's because I simply can't afford to own 99% of designer labels. This will be my first "high"-designer anything, and I'm so grateful.


Did you all go shopping over the Labor Day weekend? Find any good deals yourself?




So yes. Good weekend. ;D Now I have to figure out what to wear to the Best of Baltimore party in a few weeks.

Eek!

Thrifty. Frugal. Careful. Economical.

Word it however you like. At the end of the day, though, I know that I'm pretty damn cheap. I LOVE a good sale. I take great joy in pointing to a pair of pants I'm wearing, right after someone has complimented them and exclaiming, "Thanks! They were TWO DOLLARS!!!" I've only made a handful of big-ish purchases with clothing in my life (my Betsey purse and necklace, the Bakers shoes, the Aldo shoes..) and each one has had me breathing heavily at the cash register as I hand over my money. I don't.like.spending.money.

Now, the only times I will let myself buy something "big" is when I can't get it off my mind, no matter how hard I try. This is the case with the black lame' leggings from American Apparel.

At $42, they're MUCH higher priced than your average $5-$20 leggings that you'll find. Yes, they're good quality, but at the end of the day, they're leggings....right?

So why does my heart beat faster whenever I see them on someone and why am I always planning imaginary outfits in my head around them??

Now the decision must be made. Do I keep just wanting them....or do I use my 15% off coupon that I have for AA, suck it up, and stop making them an imaginary part of my wardrobe??

Here they are on other beauties:






Ouijesuis from Chictopia


Lindarrr from Chictopia


Rumi of FashionToast.com


So?? Opinions??

Forgive me!

Oh lovelies, forgive me. Currently at my work, we're in the thick of the busiest time of the year, which goes from about mid-August to mid-September. This year, my workload doubled, so I've barely had time to check email, let alone post.

I promise you, my dears, that there will be PLENTY of posts in the near future! I've purchased (and made!) quite a few items of clothing, shoes and beauty items that I can't wait to share with all of you!

Plus, I just found out that I'm going on a free whirlwind weekend vacation to Santa Fe, New Mexico at the end of September! I've got some outfit planning that needs to be done... ;)

Oh, how I love thee.

Yes, I realize that everyone and their mother in the fashion blogging world has these, but note: I am not everyone and their mother. Therefore, these are still exciting as hell to me!!!



I won't go into the hell it took for these babies to finally get to me, but let's just say that I won't ever be placing a special order from Aldo Shoes ever again. :(

These are shockingly comfortable, despite the high heel. I think that the height of the platform sort of cancels out the heel. They don't even feel terribly high, actually!

Now I just can't wait to wear them! I'm already imagining outfits in my head and trying to get a feel for all of the different styles I could wear them with!



I couldn't find the shoes in black when I was messing around with Polyvore here. I know I'd love to pair these shoes with skinny jeans, short skirts, and some quintessential rock n' roll accessories. I should probably wear a simple outfit so that all of the focus is on the shoes, but I feel like these would just up the rockin' quotient of any outfit and turn the fashion amp up to 11. (Kudos to you if you catch the reference.). ;)

How would you wear these shoes? Would you keep the rest of your outfit conservative, or go all-out-wild?

Inspiring!

Ever since I was old enough to dress myself, I've looked around for clothing inspiration everywhere. Sometimes, this means picking up the latest copy of Vogue or Lucky and desperately trying to figure out how to replicate the looks inside with my limited budget. Other times, I'll just surf the online stores of all of my favorite websites and put together imaginary outfits in my head.

More often than not, though, I get my inspiration from (*gasp!*) actual human beings. (Okay, I'm not saying that models are not "actual human beings", but it's hard to relate to your average 5'11", 105 lb. blonde-haired-blue-eyed goddess - am I right?) When I was younger, I'd do this by going people-watching. I'd sit outside of a mall with friends on weekends and we'd just chat, run around like crazy (as teenagers often do), and most importantly, take in all of the types of people around us. Naturally, the invention of the Internet has made this painfully easy. Everyone and their mother (including me, obviously) has a blog or an online profile where you can stalk peek into their lives and see the way real people dress.

My inspirational gals change often, but I wanted to give you guys a peek into who is inspiring me lately.

(Note: I am NOT a Photoshop whiz, so I realize that these collages are a) a bit ghetto and b) a bit big. Sorry!)

First, the ladies we all know and love. The "Blogger Icons".

Anyone who has been on fashion blogs probably knows these three, and for good reason!

• Karla has this classically chic look that just smacks of French elegance. Her looks are always crisp and clean, whether she's wearing loose men's trousers or a body-con skirt. Everything just looks effortless when she puts it together.


• Lulu is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Her style is always put-together, yet always with a hint of rock n' roll. I fully blame her for my obsession with wanting a slim-fitting leather/pleather jacket this season!


• Rumi is someone everyone knows by now. Even if you aren't into fashion, just look at her blog for the photography alone! Her model-looks compared with the high-fashion clothing makes for spreads that look like they're straight out of Vogue.
  


Now for a few ladies who will be the cat's pajamas of the fashion blogging world any second!

Gabby has been one of my favorites for a while now, but not necessarily in the fashion sense at first. I only knew this lovely lady from the makeup pictures she'd post on the MAC Cosmetics community on Live Journal. HOLY ARTISTIC TALENT, BATMAN! I was in awe of her skills there, then she went and created a blog. I was blown away by how adorable this lady's style is! She has the ability to look adorable in a jean-cutoffs and t-shirt, and then swing it around and look like a sexy mama in a short little swingy dress. She's constantly trying new things, and for that, I admire her.

Sara's blog is one that I stumbled on when I was surfing through links of fashion blogs. I was immediately drawn in to EVERYTHING about her blog, and it has become one of the things I so look forward to reading every day! Not only is her style of writing impeccable, but her fashion sense is beyond amazing! She has the ability better than anyone I've seen to mix together inexpensive items in such a way that you'd swear she was a millionaire. The outfits always look pricey and chic. Plus, I have to admit that I'm a complete sucker for her bubbly personality! Her poses always make me smile.

Ashley is another gal that I only knew from makeup communities at first. I have NEVER seen anyone, though, who can mix style as well as she does! She looks equally as fabulous in a 70's bohemian look as she does decked out in a punk rock look. Her blog is always a fabulous read, too!!

So thank you, ladies, for inspiring me again and again!

So tell me....who inspires you? What blogs do you find yourself looking at daily for a fashion fix? ;)


P.S. I swear more outfit posts are coming soon. I've been a bit under the weather, so getting in front of a camera at the moment isn't the most appealing thing lately. ;)

Lucky Me! September 2008

On the recommendation of Miss Sara Millionaire, this is going to become a monthly feature in Wrapped In Pink.



Each month when my new issue of Lucky comes in the mail, I can barely even make it back to my chair before I'm furiously pawing through the pages, trying to get inspiration for the next big thing. When I got this month's issue in the mail, I think I literally squealed out-loud with joy. This baby is thick...as in close to 400 pages thick! Add that to the fact that it's chock-full of Fall fashion goodies, and I can tell that this is an issue I'm going to read until the pages fall out.

Like Sara, I go through each issue and gleefully tag any and every item that strikes my fancy. Now, 9 times out of 10, I couldn't even dream of affording the things in the magazine. What this does for me, though, is open my eyes to new ideas, and lets me know the kinds of items I want to keep my eye out for.

These were the items I tagged in the September 2008 issue:



1. Kenneth Cole Purse: I had to tag this whole ad because I loved it so much. Of course, the purse is what's getting me, though. I LOVE the distressed, gray leather and the huge zipper. It's the kind of bag that would go with everything, and seems perfect for the upcoming cooler months. I could see myself rocking this with some dark, skinny jeans, a unique t-shirt and some sky-high rocker shoes. I would link to the exact purse, but I think I'm blind because for the life of me, I just can't find it on the site!

2. Sam Edelman boots, "Karol", $199: I love these boots so much that I almost can't stand it! Sure, they wouldn't exactly go with my work outfits, but I think I'd wear these outside of work so much. The gray/silver leather is what's really getting me. I love the tough feel of these.

3. Express brand Leather Biker Jacket, $248: I've already decided that my main hunt this fall will be for a good biker jacket. I truly don't care whether it's real or faux leather, as long as it looks good. I just can't stop coveting one of these, and this Express jacket is the perfect style!

4. Jessica Simpson shoes, "Dover", $89: I couldn't pass by the ad for these shoes without immediately tagging them. I LOVE the texture of these, and the sky-high heel, peep-toe and slingback all add up to make these godly. The rich, vibrant purple hue doesn't hurt either.

5. Rough Roses studded belt, $105: I've been keeping my eye out for belts that are chic enough to be worn with the most conservative of work outfits, yet still have a bit of rock n' roll in them. This subtle studded belt would fit the bill perfectly. I could see myself pairing it with anything from a business-casual sundress to a denim miniskirt.

6. Anne Klein oversized watch, $75: Another item that I'm keeping an eye out is a thick watch. I love how this one has the chunky band, and the block of silver catches your eye.

7. Guess by Marciano Cowlneck top, $69: I love the v-shaped stripes on this top! The color palette is perfect, and the direction of the stripes would lead the eye to the middle, giving the illusion of a teeny, tiny waist.

8. Samantha Thavasa by Tinsley Mortimer Buckled Bag, "Alex", $570: I love the military aspects of this bag with the buckles and gold accents! I'm making it a mission of mine to find something similar...but minus the $570 pricetag. ;)


So fess up! What did you tag in this month's Lucky? Let me see!

One Look Could Kill: Those boots

I can’t seem to get enough of these boots this summer. They’re just loose enough around my calves and ankles to be comfortable, even on the hottest days. (Here in Baltimore today, we’re supposed to be at 93 degrees. Ick.)

I also just can’t seem to let go of this purse. I bought it at Target years ago, and it’s INSANELY dirty, but I love it so! Anyone have any tips for making fake white leather bright again? ;) I’ve heard Simple Green, but I’m open to suggestions!

Oh, and I'm going to be a Bloggin' Fool today! Look for posts on my favorite beauty items, and my tagged items from this month's oh-so-juicy issue of Lucky!

Saints of Los Angeles

I have to admit - since Motley Crue came out with their new album Saints of Los Angeles, I've completely ignored a ton of my music library and gone back to my Jersey girl roots. In constant rotation in my CD player has been Crue, Sixx AM, Poison, Warrant, Ratt, etc. I can't get enough of the cock rock I've always loved, but have a refreshed admiration for.

In February, my husband and I started planning our first trip in YEARS to finally go to Los Angeles. We're staying right on the Sunset Strip, just blocks from the infamous Whisky A Go-Go. We're going in November, and it can't come soon enough.

Combining Crue and our upcoming trip to LA, I think it's only natural that my tastes in clothing have been drifting back to the rock n' roll/glam elements. These are some things that have been inspiring me lately.














So what about you? Anything influencing your style these days?
Any additional "rocker chick" pictures you know of to influence me? ;)

Half Day Ahoy!

Sorry I’ve been so lax in my posting! The days have just been so hot here that I haven’t felt like putting much thought into my outfits. I’ve been living in a white t-shirt and shorts daily.

Today, I get a half day off from work, so I wanted to wear something to go directly from the office into the malls. Plus, the temperature has FINALLY dipped below 95, so I don’t feel like I need to dress sparingly.

I think these cowboy boots were my greatest Ebay score ever. ;)

Oh, and for the last picture….I had to grab my lovely “Photographer-of-the-Day” (since I am without a tripod) to stand in front of the camera. I swear…I have the most fashionable co-workers. ;)

Want. Need.

The weekend of July 4th was such a blur to me! I tried to dress fashionably, and wound up wearing the same Dear dress (from Steve & Barry's, of course) 2 days in a row.

Ooops. For my lack of fashion sense, I figured I'd post some things that have been inspiring me lately. I really need to get better about labeling pictures once I save them so I remember who is in the shot.



Naturally, the Olsens. Dammit, I never wanted to jump on the bandwagon of liking their fashion sense, but they're pulling me in.


Miss Rumi is a given. I just ordered the fringed flapper dress from Forever 21. I'm looking forward to finding ways like this to dress it down a bit.



These two were from Baltimore Style magazine months (years?) ago. I love the edgy punk, yet fashionable look the gal has going on here. I love the heavy metal accessories.


I've been on the hunt for a good white blazer forever, and then Karla posted this picture in her blog. It made me just want it all over again...and with a fervor!


There is something SO insanely sexy about this look to me. I love the structured jacket with the loose-fitting tee. Rawr.


Huge bag? Check.
Skinny jeans? Check.
Well-fitted leather? Check.
I just want all of it.


I just love the looseness of this look. So sexy!

I'm hoping to have more posts of my own on the way.

Uniform

It's amazing to me that I will get so into looking up other people's fashion blogs that I forget that I've started one myself. I'm really going to try to update more on the regular, even if just for my own documentation. :)

I feel like I've almost been wearing a uniform lately. It has been so ridiculously hot that I don't even think about what I'm pulling on. My denim shorts + tee shirt + silver jewelry has been the easiest thing to wear and no fuss at all. I've at least been trying to spice it up with different accessories here and there: some silver bangles, red cowboy boots, Gladiator heels, fringed purse, etc. As "uniform-esque" as it may be, dammit, I like it. ;)











Black t-shirt: H&M, $5.09
Denim Shorts: Mossimo (from Target), $16
Red Cowboy Boots: Ebay, $16
Plaid Purse: Betsey Johnson, $98
Gladiator Heels: Baker's Shoes, $69.95
Gray Burnout t-shirt: Bitten by SJP, Steve & Barry's, $8.98
Silver necklaces: Bitten by SJP, Steve & Barry's, $15 for all 3
Bangles: Claire's, $1 each
Fringed Purple Purse: Delia's, $32

One Look Could Kill: Smitten with Bitten

I just couldn't resist that subject line. Truth be told, I'm completely, utterly and madly in love with Sarah Jessica Parker's clothing line, Bitten (sold at Steve & Barry's). There are so many "pros" to this clothing line, it's ridiculous!

1) The clothes are incredibly fashionable! I'm talking seersucker pants, the quintessential "Little Black Dress" and strappy sandals kind of fashionable.

2) They have a wide variety of sizes, everything from size 2 to size 18.

3) The clothes are comfortable!!! I know with so many discount clothing chains, you might only pay a few dollars for an item of clothing, but you'll suffer all day from it. I've worn the shoes from the line all day, every day for a week and my feet were still thanking me. ;)

4) Oh, did I forget to mention that EVERYTHING is $8.98 or less?!? How crazy is that?! You don't sacrifice quality for style or vice versa either. It's amazing.

Today, I'm wearing a new outfit, almost entirely from this clothing line:



I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel damn good to receive about 10 compliments from various co-workers within the first hour I was in the office. ;)

Shirt: Bitten - $8.98
Pants: Bitten - $8.98
Shoes: Bakers - $66.00
Cuff: Vendor in the middle of the mall - $14

Am I brave enough?

In a fit of bravery, I bought my first American Apparel purchase this past weekend.


(In silver lame')

I'm trying to figure out the best way to wear this so that at least part of it can be seen! After all, what's the point of buying silver lame' if no one will EVER see it? I love the look of big, slouchy tank tops with just the sides of a bra peeking out, so that might be something.

Any other tips or suggestions?

One Look Could Kill: Worker Bee

Ever since seeing The Devil Wears Prada, I've wanted to spice up my work wardrobe with things I wouldn't mind wearing outside of the office as well. While I do work in an office, their standards for dress are slightly more relaxed than most. In fact, I work with more fashionistas than I ever have before, so damn, I need to up my game! ;)

I mentioned this in a previous post, but this is my first time trying out the black t-shirt/bright miniskirt combo. I think that it's just classy enough for work, but could be taken out for a night on the town, too!



Shirt: Thrifted ($2)
Tank Top: Freebie at a movie promo!! ($0)
Skirt: The Limited, on a super sale ($6)
Shoes: Candies from Kohl's ($19)
Studded Bracelet: Claire's ($3.50)
Bag: Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker sold at Steve & Barry's ($8.98)

One Look Could Kill: My old clubbing self

For so many years, I was all about going to clubs. My friends and I would plan each week who was going, what we'd wear, what songs we'd request - everything. We'd dance our collective asses off and sit in a corner gossiping all night. I never got tired of it and felt completely at home.

One of our popular haunts in Baltimore is ending its weekly industrial party next week, so we all took this past Saturday as an opportunity to visit one last time. All of the same faces were there, all of the same music was played, but something was different. As I get older, it just doesn't seem to fit as well as it used to. I tried on all of my old club clothes, and none of it felt just right.

I threw on my favorite tank top, a jean skirt and these boots. I even later changed out of the boots into my trusty red cowboy boots before leaving the house. I was comfortable, I had fun, and I have no intentions of going back again.



Shirt: Thrifted and deconstructed by me ($3)
Skirt: Wet Seal ($4 on clearance)
Boots: Funke Feet ($45)
Bag: Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker, bought at Steve & Barry's ($8.98)
Necklace: Girl Props ($7)

**Please note that I fully plan on making these pictures better. I need to a) find my tripod and b) find a corner of the apartment suitable for taking pictures without too many background distractions.**

Goin' Cheap: Sales as of 6/5/08

It's that time! Here are all of the sales (both online and in-stores that I could find).

- Forever 21: They still have their usual "21 items for 21% off" sale going. Items change daily, so make sure to check back!
- Delia's: All swimwear up to 20% off; Use code DWF to get free shipping on all orders above $75; Use code DWGGift to get $10 off any purchase over $25! (expires 6/30/08)
- Victoria's Secret: Use code SP812541 to get $10 any purchase! (expires 6/30/08)
- Urban Outfitters: Use coupon code 083077WELCOME to get 10% off your purchase.
- Nine West: Use codevip2008 for free shipping; TONS of sandals currently on sale.
- Baker's Shoes: All wedges on sale (additional 10% off the lowest price).

That's it for now, kiddies!

Just Give Me a Taste: Flirty!

Lately, I've been having an extreme craving for a pretty damn specific look: Plain black t-shirt, flirty colorful miniskirt, silver accessories. I think it's a simple, yet striking combo. I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to wear more skirts this summer. They're adorable, and I need to not worry about my legs so much ;)

One Look Could Kill: Sex and the City viewing

I went with all of my girlfriends to see Sex and the City this weekend....for the second time. The first time I went, I swore that I was going to dress up, at least a little bit. Horrible traffic and a poor mood prevented me from doing that, so I was hellbent on doing it this time.

It was at least good to see that I was not alone in my quest to look Carrie/Miranda/Charlotte/Samantha-worthy for this movie. ;)

Dress: Forever 21, Shoes: Bakers