Confessions of a Shopaholic, about 9 months late

So this post is pretty belated. Confessions of a Shopaholic came out when, last February? And I rented it last August, which is when I fell in love with the below outfit. And I've always believed that only foolish people think that wearing a past season's style is a sin--most things don't become dated in six months, and sometimes cute is cute forever. I'm not saying this outfit is timeless, but I am saying that I love it and want to recreate it.

I mean, right? Look at how adorable Isla Fisher is! As previously discussed, I have a mad-crazy girl crush on her, and I think she pulled off all the silly outfits in Shopaholic with admirable aplomb. Most weren't doable for real life, but I think this one is.

Start with an adorable plaid dress that's not too cowgirl--from Fred Flare, the Lois dress, $45, has a sexy eye-hook closure in front and an attached belt to tie in the back. Hide that with an oversized corset belt...
...from AMI, for $19.99. As a lover of belts, I have to recommend thick waist belts only in situations when you don't plan to sit down or eat. But if you're planning an evening in which you'll be standing around and looking cute, wear that belt and cinch it tight.
And then finish it with some black thigh-highs, to expose just a little bit of your legs. Those maroon platforms that Rebecca Bloomwood is rocking? Those, you're on your own. I would go with riding boots, since I go with the riding boots in about 80% of all situations.

American Apparel Spring Dresses

Sometimes I really hate American Apparel, and this is a perfect example why (totally NSFW and NSFL). If you don't want to click, it's a mesh dress modeled by a completely naked girl who looks like one of the Slovakians at the end of Hostel. I don't need to see some child bride's nipples, and I certainly don't need a dress that's 100% see-through and 100% tacky. No, American Apparel. That's enough.

And yet... they have some other really cute, normal dresses! Sure, they're all just a smidge too short, and all of the models look unhappy and malnourished, but the dresses are cute nonetheless. I've been dying for a cute shirtdress, and this Pinpoint Oxford Shirt Dress, $62, is just about perfect.

AA is very into the "you can wear it different ways!" trend, but that tends to mean, "One cute way, and four ugly ways." Who wants to wear the weird nightgown look modeled on the far right? She looks like one of the Darling children in Peter Pan, and not Wendy. However, since I'm all about the waist, I approve of the middle look, and the left one isn't bad either. It also comes in Oxford blue, so you can rock the complete classic button-down look.

My other favorite is the Poplin Cross-Front Dress, $36. First I have to give them credit for matching the red belt (not included, sadly) with the turquoise dress-- it takes a pretty basic dress and makes it a standout piece. But I also like the simple, always flattering cut, and that underneath the belt is an elastic waistband. These types of low-cut shirts are fabulously sexy, too, because guys really have to work to get a glimpse of your cleavage; it's not like regular V-necks, where everything is on display. The sleeves are cute, too, and give it a bit of a kimono feel. And, since it's poplin, it won't be totally see-through like all of AA's jersey dresses.

Also, for those of you in possession of March Vogue, could you do me a favor and flip to page 349 (it's the article about Europeans shopping in the US and how they're totally better at it than we are), and tell me if you think the purple AA dress on the left is the same as this one. I can't decide, because while the gathered waist and cross-front neckline are the same, the shade of purple on the website is a lot brighter than in the magazine, and it almost looks like there's a stripe of darker purple along the neckline in the magazine (although that could be a shadow). Vogue, you need to be more precise in their descriptions! It's not far to feature a $36 dress and then not give me the proper clues to track it down.

Moving on: I posted about the Le Sac dress, $38, before, but I continue to be amazed at how great it can look tied one way and how ridiculous it looks tied another. The seafoam dress looks glamorous enough for a movie premiere or spring wedding, while the orchid dress makes me think of auto-asphyxiation, and having to spend all night adjusting your boobs. I do like that you can buy different strings, so you're not stuck with the black.

Pre-Christmas Wish List

Is it too early to form my Christmas list? Probably. And it's very likely that everything here will either sell out or fall off my radar by December, but here's a list of things I wish someone would buy me nevertheless:

Despite my post about my search for a new school bag, I'm still using my beat-up old tote I got a year ago in Poland. But I want this Saddlery Buckle Bag, $58 from Urban Outfitters, to break me out of my purse rut. It's a good size, so I'd be able to fit all my folders and books inside, but it's not so big that I look like I'm running away from home. Also, as a former horseback rider, I'm a sucker for equestrian details. The rich brown color is also a big plus, especially since I think it'll nicely match my boots.

Also from Urban Outfitters is the Kimchi Blue Knit Lace Shoulder Dress, $58. I love how efficiently it sexes up the classic, girly baby doll shape by adding the sheer lace shoulders. However, I hate the back, because it's all, "Sorry ladies, no bras allowed!" I'm as big a fan as anyone of flashes of skin, but this is just unnecessary. Why couldn't they make the lace part end a little higher in the back so we would have the option to wear a strapless bra? Then everyone would win!






Fall is all about argyle for me, and usually it's J.Crew that allows me to gorge myself on those kicky triangles. But Victoria's Secret has these unbelievably cute argyle round-toe pumps, $59. These are perfectly sexy librarian, and the high wooden heel adds major attitude. I think I'd go with the black inside of the brown, because it's a little more subtle and thus more of a fun surprise when people take a closer look at your styling feet.







There's a moment in pretty much every Anthropologie when I flip the page and gasp out loud at the beauty of a dress. This month, it was the dress on the left in this photo. The Elding Slip Dress, $198, is a vintage dream. The details are so feminine and old-fashioned: sweetheart neckline, modest little straps, lace overlay, pleated empire waist. All of it perfectly compliments the particularly lovely color created by the gold filmy layer over the light blue twill. This dress wins "Most Likely to make it to my Christmas list," and maybe I'll be lucky and it'll go on sale by December.






On a totally different note, I need new running shoes stat and I'm partial to Asics. I used to be a Nike girl through and through, but those Asic-sponsored ads for the NYC marathon convinced me that if I'm going to be serious about running, I need Asics. What can I say, they're good ads! I love my current pair, but after a year and a half and countless miles, they've started giving me evil, painful blisters on the arches of my feet. I kind of like the GEL-Foundation 8, because the color scheme is, according to Asics, lightning/burgundy/rose! Yeah, you can tell that I'm not actually that serious about running since I still pick my shoes by their color. But I always say that the cuter the shoe, the more excited you are to put them on, and the more you wear them so the more you run.

It's getting colder by the day, but I'm very reluctant to post out my puffer jacket with the faux-fur hood, because once I do that it's full steam ahead into winter. I think I'd be more enthusiastic about the colder weather if I had this J.Crew Double-serge Tuesday trench, $199. I love cropped wool coats, because they keep you good and toasty but don't make you feel like you're bundled up at a Christmas caroling level. Also, the fantastic red color and classy waist belt make this so look so fun to wear with both casual and dressy outfits.

I really prefer not to patronize American Apparel, but I have to admit that this dress is cute. The Le Sac dress, $38, is another of their convertible dresses that can be worn any number of ways, from "pretty cute" to "dear god, that's both hideous and ridiculously slutty." The way of wearing the yellow version? Lovely! (Also, I think I'm predisposed to like it because the model looks like Rebecca from Greek.) The way of wearing the teal version, however? You're going to get people saying, "By the way, I can see your nipples," all night long. Plus, it makes the model look sort of dumpy. Who wants that?