Tutu and the City

Are you already planning your outfit for the Sex and the City premiere? Did you wear a cocktail dress and stilettos to the first one, even though there weren't any straight men for miles around? Then I think you'll appreciate this:

Yes ma'am, for just $29.99 you can recreate Carrie's opening credits look with the Swan Lake Mini from Fred Flare.

I know, a tutu is pretty ridiculous. But it's also unquestionably fun to wear! When I was a little girl, I took ballet for maybe a few months, but I wore that tutu around the house for years. And even as a young adult, I get a little thrill picturing myself flouncing around in layers of pink tulle. I also really dig this outfit, from the Fred Flare website:
Let's ignore the fact that this model looks prepubescent, because a plain blue oxford with a champagne tutu is pretty brilliant. It's perfect for spring, too, when you want to bust out all your sundresses and halter tops, but it isn't quite warm enough--this outfit has the whimsy of a good spring outfit but won't expose all your deathly white skin. You could even wear it to the office, and spend the day pirouetting by the coffee machine.

Sparkly and Lovely, Courtesy of J.Crew

Now that it's December, and all I want to do is get all tinseled up like a human Christmas tree. J.Crew is here to help me out with everything I might need for holiday parties, New Year's Eve, Secret Santa, or just trips to Starbucks for peppermint mochas:

Crystal Supernova Necklace, $128, is appropriately described as "an explosion of sparkle." It's the type of jewelry that will elevate whatever you're wearing and take it to the next level--I'd be a bit tempted to wear it with my most casual, worn-in dress just to see if it could rejuvenate it.


J.Crew is all about putting sequins on cardigans this summer, and those are two of my favorite things! This sequin scarf cardigan, $110.40, might, I admit, be a little bit too much of a good thing--you probably couldn't wear it during the day. But at night, when it's a little chilly but you aren't willing to bundle up in plain black wool, this is a showstopping sweater.


So the bowtie skirt, $350, is something that, if I were to find in a thrift shop for $20, would grab and make fun of to my friend, and then I'd say, "Hey, I might as well try it on," and in the dressing room I'd spent about 20 minutes staring in the mirror, trying to decide if it's whimsically cute or way too weird. I mean, it's a bunch of gold bowties sewed to a skirt. And eventually I'd decide to buy it, even though I wouldn't be sure if I'd ever wear it. So obviously I'm not planning on buying this $350 version, or suggesting that you buy it. I'm just saying, I think I've come down on the side of "whimsically cute."

The Search for an Interview Suit

Despite accidentally buying shoes, the real shopping mission of this weekend has been finding an interview suit. All I want is something that doesn't make me look like I'm dressing up in my mom's clothes, which you'd think would be easy enough. But I went up and down Broadway and 5th Avenue, and have had barely any luck. My ideal interview suit would be a nice blazer with a matching skirt (I'm thinking navy or grey, because black makes you completely indistinguishable from every other applicant), and then a top in some bright, fun color that I can also match with my other work clothes. I really liked the suit Rachel Greene (Mark Greene's daughter) wore on the series finale of ER, although I can't find a full body shot of her. Her suit had pants instead of a skirt (probably smart in a hospital), but she looked very adult and competent, not at all like the spoiled brat we all wished would get crushed under an ambulance in the earlier seasons.

But every time I found a blazer that looked good, there wasn't a matching skirt, and when I found a good skirt, there wasn't a matching blazer. Do I need a blazer, really? It is late May, so it's humid as hell and I'm pretty sure my interviewer will not be wearing a jacket. And it's not like I'm applying for jobs on Wall Street; I'm trying to go into a more creative industry, although it's still one composed of huge corporations and HR departments. Also, a blazer will cover up the giant bruises I have on my left arm (I was running for the subway and the doors closed on me, twice, when I wasn't all the way inside. It hurt something fierce and now my arm looks like Rihanna's face, post-Chris Brown).

I did find a few pencil skirts I really liked, though, and I think I might bring them to Macy's tomorrow and see if I can find a jacket to match. The first skirt I bought is the Cotton High-Waist Pencil Skirt in marine, $59.50, at Express. It makes me feel like a leggy Mad Men-era secretary--someone who knows how to play up her curves, like Joan, but also has the brains to earn her own office and title, like Peggy. I like how this model added a thick belt to the skirt, although I always feel that's a bit of a gamble when the skirt doesn't have belt loops to keep it in place. I really adore this skirt, but I'm worried that it'll be impossible to find a jacket in the same color--it's just a touch more vibrant than your everyday navy. Express is totally falling asleep on the job by not making anything that matches this, by the way. What I really want to wear with this skirt is a marigold-colored top, maybe with some embroidery or beading or other fun detail along the neckline. Something in this color (this is actually a t-shirt dress for J.Crew kids, but we'll ignore that).

I bought a more basic black skirt (with some fun button details on the hips) from H&M, so that'll be my back-up if I can't find anything to wear with the navy skirt. But the skirt I wanted to buy, but didn't, is a bit more exciting (as far as work skirts go, at least). From Ann Taylor Loft, that venerable institution of grown-ups clothes, this Two-Button Denim Oxford Skirt, $54.50, is way cuter in person than in this photo. On me, it looks kicky and nautical and preppy-hot, but still very professional and mature enough for work. The buttons, in particular, add a bit of glitz to the subdued dark stretch denim fabric. And, just to be clear, it's not a jean skirt! It may be denim fabric, but it's nothing like those cut-off jean miniskirts that you wore on the boardwalk (if you grew up in Grease, that is). Oooh, and it also has pockets, which we all know is always a plus.

So I loved it when I tried it on, but I also knew that if Ann Taylor Loft didn't have a matching jacket (and I couldn't find one), then I would never find a blazer in the same fabric and with similar buttons. And it would be great on its own, but this was not a "buy any old cute skirt" shopping trip; I tried to stay focus on the Interview Suit quest. Wish me more success when I try again tomorrow!

Simply Vera Paintbrush Skirt and Anthropologie Sound Mooring Skirt

One of my New Year's Fashion Resolutions was to wear skirts more often, and I have to give myself credit for really following through on this one. I think part of it is that I haven't bought a dress (and kept--I've been doing an awful lot of returning lately, including this Target dress and this Modcloth dress) in ages, so that giant section of my closet seems old and tired. My skirt section, however, is full of barely worn yet adorable pieces that are begging to be mixed and matched with equally underworn tops. I've been having fun trying out this new skirt thing, and I bought two new skirts this week that I think will make excellent additions to both my work and play wardrobes.

First, from Kohl's, the Simpy Vera Vera Wang Pleated Paintbrush Skirt, $33.99. I saw it in March Vogue (with HBIC Michelle Obama on the cover) and immediately knew I needed to have it. I don't know if I've ever bought anything featured in Vogue before, but These Economic Times have forced Anna Wintour to feature some poor people clothes, at least for a few pages. Don't worry, she called a $335 turquoise clutch a "steal!" and a "wear-anywhere" piece. Oh, A-Dubs. Vogue just wouldn't be the same if you ever got in touch with reality. Although, I'd very much appreciate it if you stopped letting Plum Skyes write about herself and her fabulous hair/clothes/house/life every month. OMG, Plum Skyes is now able to blowdry her own hair thanks to her fabulous new haircut! What a superwoman! Alert the Profiles in Courage committee! All of us who blowdry our hair every freaking morning will now give Plum Skyes a standing ovation-- or perhaps a tear-inducing slow clap!

Sorry for the diversion. Nothing brings out my sarcastic side like Vogue. I should be thanking A-Dubs for convincing me to visit my local Kohl's, since only the X-Large size is available in line. In store, there were plenty of sizes and I think every single Simply Vera piece was on sale, so I'd advise you to go check it out in person. This skirt is pretty loose, and the back waistband is elasticized, so I'd recommend going a size down. I can't wait to jazz up my boring blue button-down shirt on Monday morning! And I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on what Vera Wang is designing for Kohl's.

The other skirt I bought is from a more usual suspect: Anthropologie. The Sound Mooring Skirt, $49.95 online but $39.95 in stores (although that might have been a mistake just in my local store, since it rang up the higher price and I had to point out the lower price handwritten on the tag), is pure nautical adorableness. I love the crisp blue and white vertical stripes, and the solid blue ribbon belt, although I think it looks cleaner to tie it in a bow in the back. When I tried it on in the store, I paired it with this Plaited Boatneck shirt, $29.95, since I was shopping in a dress and it isn't helpful to see what a skirt looks like when worn topless (unless you work in a topless bar, I guess). They worked smashingly together: the blue of the ribbon and the shirt were right on, and the loose top created a great hourglass shape with the tight waistband and bigger skirt. I probably should have bought the shirt, but $30 is too much for a navy blue tee, even if it does have cute fluttery sleeves and a nice subtle braid on the neckline. So when I went home, and tried it on with a form fitting tank, I was less pleased with the look. The inverted pleats in the front and back tend to open up in weird, unflattering, origami-like ways. You can see it in the model photo, too, so I know it's not just my child-bearing hips that are causing the problem. So I'm planning to bring it back to New York, see what tops I have there that could work, and return it if I can't fix the proportional problem that is making my bottom half look distinctly egg-shaped.

Would it be confusing to tack on some Target news to this post? It makes sense to me because I went to both Kohl's and Target today, so I'm sure you all can follow along. I went to the Target at Pavillion's today, to return the Converse One Star dress that I wasn't in love with, and do some more searching for McQ collection. On luck on that front, but they did have the Felix Rey handbag collection out, which isn't supposed to be out until March 29th (there's a big two-page ad on the very first page of April Lucky Magazine, with annoying Vanessa from Gossip Girl on the cover). I thought it looked great, although it's extremely beachy. Lots of coral prints, and gold shells, and a tote with a huge sequin fish on it. The two clutches were a little more subtle, and very affordable at $19.99. I might have gotten the blue one if I hadn't already decided to get some shoes, but the material felt a bit cheap (which it is, of course), so I passed. They aren't on Target.com yet, but you can see more images here.

The shoes, I had to get, because I've been to three different Targets this week and in each I've gone to the shoe section specifically to visit and try on the Merona Mavis Pump in Metallic Tan, $24.99. The photo doesn't do justice to the best part of these shoes-- the gold thread interwoven into the tweed! Gold tweed is the best, because it takes something really stuffy and old-fashioned and slams it into something ghetto fabulous and always new. The faux-leather trim and demure bow keeps it classy, and the 3 inch heel is no problem to walk in. I would also like to give a shout out to the fellow Target shopper who used her lighter to cut the elastic Target likes to use to tie their shoes together, making them impossible to properly walk in. I wouldn't have bought them if I didn't get the chance to do a test walk, so I guess Target should be thanking her, too.

Theory at Rue La La

I love Rue La La in theory (the noun, not the brand)-- designer clothes at reduced prices, plus a cool members-only site? Genius! But a $800 purse that's 75% off is still way out of my price range, and so most of the time Rue La La only serves to make me sad about how long it'll be until I can buy a Diane Von Furstenburg Dress.

One of the boutiques today is Theory (the brand, not the noun), and there are some really great pieces. I'm particularly lusting over this "Peruva" Urchin Multi Pinwheel Skirt, $95, and think it would be a perfect addition to my growing skirt collection (btw, I have no idea if that skirt will work for RLL members, but it definitely won't for non-members). The print is really fun but too loud or overwhelming, and I could definitely go for a little magenta in my wardrobe. I also like the high waist and silk tie, and notice the subtle and flattering pleating.

Crap, I really want it. Now I need to convince myself not to buy this $95 skirt: It's dry clean only! It'll be really tough to match with anything besides black or white! Forever 21 will have a decent knock-off by spring! It'll get all wrinkly if I sit down! Skirts with belts force you to tuck in your shirt, which I can't always pull off!

Ok, I feel better. Anyway, Alex offered this a while ago, but I'll repeat: if any one of you readers aren't members of Rue La La and want to check it out (there's a Shoshanna boutique from Sunday to Tuesday, so don't wait!), leave your email address in the comments and I'll send you an invite. Hopefully you'll have a less angsty time with it than I do.

Builty by Wendy Sample Sale

I've never bought anything by Built by Wendy, but I think they have a pretty good reputation. Through tomorrow, March 4th, they're having a massive sample sale on their website, and it's definitely worth checking out. Everything is $10 to $70, although it is non-returnable, so you have to be careful. Here are a few things that caught my eye:

Great Lakes Tee, $20, and Boatless Sail Tee, $20. You may have noticed how rarely I blog about t-shirts--my interests tend to be 75% dresses, 5% shoes, 5% purses, and 15% everything else. I wear plenty of tees to the gym or lounging around the house, but I just don't feel as cute or confident wearing a tee as when I'm wearing a dress or nicer top. However, two weeks ago I happened to buy, for $4, a band tee from a friend of a friend. It's a really soft, comfortable American Apparel crewneck in a nice purple color, with the band's name (Mancrush) and logo on the front. I won't lie, I wore it for a good 48 hours straight (I even slept in it!) before forcing myself to put it in my laundry basket. So now I'm thinking that I should revisit the world of t-shirts, and I'm digging these two options. The Great Lakes tee appeals to my inner Midwestern girl (shout out to Northbrook, IL!), and the Boatless Sail tee reminds me of my secret dream to sail around the world. (To Madelyn: Doesn't this model kind of look like Jill S.?)


There's lots of snow on the ground here in New York, which means I only want to buy clothes that remind me of tropical islands. This Greek Motif Top, $20 (originally $135) is perfect for lounging around Santorini and flirting with a boy named Kostos. No pants needed-- throw over a bikini and go. Sadly, only available in XS.

This glitter miniskirt, $20 (originally $164) is such a great Studio 64 throwback, while still being totally modern. The sheen of the fabric isn't too flashy, and I like how the model is styled with a slightly prissy top--with the wrong outfit, this skirt could make you look like you're on the way to do coke in the bathroom, so avoid halter tops and satin and the like.


I really love the color blocked pattern on this Bauhaus Jumper, $40 (originally $205). It reminds me of something you'd see at MOMA, except it's an easy to wear silk dress instead of a confusing abstract painting. While it's still cold, it'd be perfect to layer over a slip and thick black long-sleeve top.

It doesn't get any better than this Plaid Strapless Dress, $40 (originally $202, also comes in a lovely blue/white plaid). The sweetheart neckline gives it pin-up girl appeal, and the boning in the bodice helps everything stay where it's supposed to. And doesn't this look like something Charlotte York would wear? The other day, a friend asked how I came up with my blogging alias, Julia York, and I explained my love for the style of Sex and the City's Upper East Side Princess. So maybe it's fate that I came across this dress just a few days later, and I should accept the will of the universe and buy it!

I'm not sure why Robin Tunney (from 90's classic The Craft and current hit show The Mentalist) is modeling for Built by Wendy, but I do know she looks adorable in this Wool Jumper, $50 (originally $279). The outfit is very retro That Girl-- maybe a bit costumey, but she's working it. This double-breasted wool dress is a perfect addition to any work wardrobe, even as the drop waist and flouncy skirt gives it some fashion-forward cred.


Sooo lovely, right? This Garden Flower Strapless Dress, $60 (originally $256) is also pretty Charlotte York-- I can see her wearing it to an opening at the gallery she used to work at. It's simple, classic, but undeniably chic. There's also a equally lovely version with green flowers, and I want both.

Robin Tunney is back with a supercute Cashmere Tunic, $70 (originally $270)! She looks surprised. Anyway, this is the kind of piece that, if you take care of it, you'll wear for the next fifty years and then afteryou die your daughter will wear it. I'm especially digging the gold buttons on the waist tabs-- they add a bit of bling while preventing your torso from looking boxy, so win-win. I like her little gold key necklace, too.

Finally, the Seersucker Sport Jacket, $70 (originally $272). Seersucker fits right into my fantasy "Let's take the yacht out today!" life, so of course I want to wear this blazer with some boat shoes and a white swimsuit. It looks a little big on this model (and she also looks pissed... and a bit emaciated. She's possibly upset because she wants to eat a panini), but the menswear look is very trendy right now. I might love it a bit more if it was cropped and fitted, but it's still a great jacket.

Winter into Spring Pieces, Under $50

It occurred to me today that I may have been featuring too many pricey items lately, due to the fact that I'm on an unofficial spending sabbatical. When I'm not actually buying anything, I feel freer to post about $600 dresses and $1200 purses. So, in order to make amends, I would like to present some of my favorite pieces that'll take you from winter into spring, all for under $50.

From C&C California, the Wool Jersey Off the Shoulder dress is on clearance for $49, originally $148. Is there anything more cozily sexy than a chunky knit that exposes your shoulders? It makes me wish I lived someplace where it was always cold. However, this dress would be perfect for those early spring nights where it's too warm for a coat when you go out to dinner at 7, but is a bit nippy when you're coming home at midnight. I also like how this sort of dress is all about the hourglass figure-- I could see Joan Holloway rocking this dress with some pumps and her gold pen necklace.


I recently saw a photo of Michelle Obama in which she wore a cardigan over another cardigan, and I was both shocked and delighted. Layering cardigans! I didn't know you could do that! I believe she also wore a belt around her waist, to counteract any bunching--very smart. I'd like to wear this J.Crew short-sleeve cardigan, $29.99, under a thicker navy cardigan in the winter, and then throw it on over a flouncy dress when it warms up. It also comes in a bunch of warm, tropical colors, but I'm a fan of this crisp winter white.


Actually, that white cardigan might look sort of amazing over this Fred Flare Blue Check Drawstring Top, $38. Especially if you pull out the drawstring and retied it over the sweater, and also maybe found some way to tuck the cardigan sleeves into the cuffs off the button-down. I love how the subtle pin-tucking in the front gives it a casual tuxedo-shirt effect, and makes it serious enough for a relaxed office.


Bangles are so chic and timeless-- you really can't go wrong with an armful of thin, shiny bangles. From Banana Republic, these stackable bangles, $29.99, feature semi-precious stones and a mix of silver and gold. I love the look of an eye-catching bracelet worn over the sleeve of a solid, dark long-sleeved sweater-- it makes even the most basic black crewneck look glamorous. And, when it gets warmer, nothing is more fun than gesturing wildly with a bare arm, adorned only with some lightly clinking bangles.

Yes! This Gap tote finally went on sale, and is down from $39.50 to $19.99! The bodega bay print is perfectly suited for spring, and I plan to be using this as my go-to errand bag as soon as the sun comes back to New York.

You know how sometimes, when you have a really great outfit on, you take on the best characteristics of your clothes and almost start playing a role? Well, if I had this Cheap Monday (faux) Leather Caroline Skirt, $49.99, I'd be the most badass, assertive, confident girl in New York. Pencil skirts are usually synonymous with prim, demure ladies, but in black leather with exposed silver zippers, the look gets very rock and roll. I'd love to wear this with a printed silk tank, tucked in, or maybe just a white tissue-thin v-neck tee.

There really isn't any way to make this shoes winter appropriate, unless you go to Ibiza in February. From Old Navy, the Metallic Braided Sandals, $19.99, are so fresh and fun that I'd be willing to sacrifice a groundhog to make winter end sooner. I love the various shades of blue, white, and silver against each other--I'd be very tempted to paint my toenails to match.

But before it gets warm enough for strappy sandals, we must endure those weird, in-between days where your wool coat is way too heavy but you can't go out in just a sweater. The spring coat has to strike a tough balance, but I feel good about this cotton-sateen ruffle-collar jacket, $29.99, from Victoria's Secret. The fabric is lightweight but not completely insubstantial, and the zippered front allows you to cover up as much as you want. Also: ruffles! Adorable!


People think that as soon as Valentine's Day is over, us ladies have no reason to put on crazy underwears that make us look like professional burlesque dancers. I disagree! Nothing compliments a flirty spring dress like a pair of over-the-top undies, especially if you're in the habit of walking over subway grates. I am certainly not advocating showing your delicates in public, but... better to expose these adorable Honeydew Intimates 'Dot & Lace Rumba' Boyshorts, $23.99, than a stretched-out thong or boring grey bikini. The tiers of black lace, chiffon, and red w/ white polka dot satin create an old-fashioned but sexy look--very Minnie Mouse becomes a pin-up girl.

Blogiversary!

For some reason I was convinced that February 10th was the big day, but when I check today I saw the truth: Oh My God, Where Did You Get That was born a bouncing baby girl on February 8th, 2008-- which makes today our blogiversary. I still have the yellow legal pad on which Danielle and I brainstormed possible blog names, and some of our rejects are cracking me up. For example, the titles inspired by J.Lo (Don't Be Fooled by the Rocks That I Got) and Miley Cyrus (My Best Friend Leslie Said...) are pretty embarrassing, but also reveal a lot about what sort of music Danielle and I blasted during dance parties. I also like "Our empty, consumer-driven lives," and "We may be broke but we look fabulous." When we started ruling titles out, it came down to OMG or "The Style Section," although now I see that there is a blogspot with that name, although it hasn't been updated since January 24th, 2008. But it's probably good we didn't go with that, because the NYT Style Section has gotten increasingly annoying in the last year, with all this talk of "recessionistas" and how hard it is to live in Manhattan when you're making less than 5 million dollars.

Anyway, we posted 175 times in the last 12 months, which is about every other day. There were busy months and slow months, but thanks for coming by and checking us out anyway. We started with just a handful of readers (pretty much just the contributers, really) and now get around 200-250 people a day, which is mostly thanks to being part of J.Crew Aficionada's blogroll. This is how warm and fuzzy I feel towards J.Crew Aficionada:

J.Crew Cashmere Dog Sweater, $59.99

And here are some more random pieces that sum up how I feel about spending a full year blogging about online shopping:

Catherine Malandrino Chiffon Tank Dress, $620


Quartz Pinata in gold, $135 (I've always dreamed of adding a shiny gold pinata to my Cinco de Mayo parties)

Prada Metallic East-West Tote, $1,760

Bandolino's "Shari" Slingback Pump, $51.75, at Macy's (I love that suede flower!)

Alice + Olivia Asymmetrical Ruffle Skirt, $220

Modcloth's What a Wonderful Coat, $107.99

Hygge and West Gold Dot Ring, $25 (originally $50, on sale until 2/14)

Again, thank you to all our readers, especially those of you who make my day by leaving comments! Also, thank you to my fellow contributers: Danielle, Alex, Andrea and Emily. And thanks to Mindy Kaling, for being our inspiration.

Express Dresses

My sister commented the other day that I tend not to feature Express much on this blog, which is true. I used to shop (at least going in there to check out the accessories when I was already at the mall, if not to buy anything) at Express, when I was in late middle school and early high school. I think that I thought Express would had the sort of clothing I would be wearing as an adult, which has turned out to be totally untrue. I'm not sure the quality of design usually justifies the price, and the pieces seem to be way more difficult to wear than your average top or dress from the Gap. Also, I'm totally unable to distinguish Express from the Limited.

But that doesn't mean that I'm categorically opposed to Express, so when two people commented on Express's cute party dresses, I knew I had to check it out. And I'm pretty impressed with what I've found! I might even have to go into stores next weekend to check the merchandise out myself. Also, all these dresses are buy one get one half off, which is not a bad deal.

The Strappy Tiered Lace Dress, $128, is perfect for those holiday parties that you're going to single but don't want to leave alone. In other words, it's a bit slutty, but way hot. The sweetheart neckline and empire waist will make your décolletage look incredible, and the very bare back adds extra drama. And yet, there's something sweetly girly about the metallic floral lace and layers of ruffles-- sort of like you're the present at a young goth girl's birthday party (I know, I'm reaching). Also, this dress reminds me of some commercial (for deodorant? A gym?) where a woman with a Jada Pinkett-Smith look goes to her high school reunion and is so fabulous looking that her former high school sweetheart does a double-take. Actually, I think it's Mastercard-- something like, "Manicure: $20. Strappy heels: $150. The look on his face? Priceless." Anyway, this looks like the dress she wears in that commercial.


The Silk Chiffon Rose Dress, $128, is a more abstract take on ruffles. Available in electric blue or basic black, this fluttery dress would make it more fun to both dance and walk over subway grates. The assymmetrical rose-type gathering on the bust reminds me of something Anthropologie would do, and you'd definitely have to bring you rconfidence to pull off this dress (I suspect, due to the tiers, that a small or boyish frame would also help). It's a romantic dress that's both soft and fashion-forward; I can imagine wearing it under a cardigan or blazer for work, and then shedding the top layer when the office holiday party begins.


There's is no better time to wear something covered in sequins than holiday time. You wear something like this high-waist sequin skirt, $98, in April, and you're a total fashion victim. You wear this in December, and you are by far the most fabulous person in the land (after Santa, of course). I love how they updated the classic pencil skirt shape by dousing it in sparkles-- it'll make you look even shapelier and legger than a normal pencil skirt, because no one will be able to look away from your banging hourglass figure. The con would be that this dress is so memorable that you'd only be able to wear it once or twice a season; but I think it would hold up for multiple years. Also, you could probably put together a great Studio 54 Halloween costume with this skirt.

I can decide which styling of the Long V-Neck Sweater, $49.50, I like better: with the skinny metallic belt, $29.50 or long shimmer scarf, $22.50. This basic sweater dress (is it long enough to be a dress? I hope so, because I forbid everyone from wearing it with leggings, but as Blair Waldorf so eloquently stated, "tights are pants!") comes in eight gorgeous colors and a sexy V-neck shape (and pockets!). There are countless ways to accessorize this sweater dress, and I want to wear it all winter.

And finally, this is why I usually don't shop at Express: They sell cougar clothes.

Printed Satin Cami, $29.99