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.

Valentine's Day Outfit

I promise, this won't be all Valentine's Day all the time from now until the 14th, but I can't help letting the holiday inspire me to dress more romantically. Here's a Polyvore set I made tonight:

Valentine's Day - by Julia York on Polyvore.com

I started with the dress-- a red or pink dress, while classic, is a bit too obvious. I decided to go with a ruffley black dress (it looks like sort of washed-out slate, but the website swears it's black) from Azaleas NYC: The Aryn K Ruffled Halter Dress, $88. The back is even hotter than the front-- good luck making it to your dinner reservations on time once your guy sees the rear view. I like how it's a fairly sophisticated dress, but with a very flirty vibe.

I've become obsessed with the idea of giving Hanky Panky thongs as gifts. I don't own a pair, because I'm cheap, but they're legendary for being comfortable and sexy. And one size fits all, which is great for men shopping for their girlfriends. They're expensive, though: the pictured 3-pack gift set is $50, and they're regularly $18 each. But I just found an even better option on Bare Necessities-- dozen or half dozen Long Stem Lovin' Hanky Panky Thong bouquets! They ain't cheap ($250 for 12 or $130 for 6), but the presentation couldn't be cuter. I would so much rather get 12 sexy, brightly colored thongs than a dozen roses that'll wilt in three days.

Wearing a dress with so much going on up top (both the ruffles and the boobage), I tend to forego the necklace and wear some fun earrings. I like these simple Zad Gold Square Beaded Hoops from Lulu's, $6.

Another plus to the black dress is that it allows everything else to be really bold, like this Nanette Lepore coat. The Supreme Coat, $234, has some trench-ish styling and a very eye-catching crimson color. It's sateen, so probably not a good idea if your date is taking place in New York, or anywhere else with tortuously cold weather.

The real shoes I wanted to include with this outfit were these extraordinarily perfect Petal Sandals, $995, by Christian Louboutin. I could die from the loveliness. Innocent pink crepe petals cascading down your foot are perfectly offset by the Fuck Me Red soles. These are the sort of shoes that demand to be kissed in.

Unfortunately, I couldn't clip the photo to Polyvore because Neiman Marcus has that special Zoom thing. Annoying. I mean, helpful if I'm actually shopping, but annoying when I want to blog. Anthropologie has the same problem, so I'm always taking screen shots of their webpages.

I do like the two shoes I did end up including, though. The white and red heel is the Naughty Monkey Candyland Pump, $49.99, is a fabulous mix of red floral and red patent leather. I think it could be a nice way to mix your outfit up if the rest of your accessories are solid red. I love the little cut-outs at the toe and sides-- sort of a sexy alternative to peep-toe. The other shoes, a classic crimson pump, are $94.99 at ModCloth (but almost sold out!).

I certainly hope that none of you readers think you're too good for the Sex and the City movie, but if you are, I'll explain how this book relates. In the beginning, Carrie is reading a library book titled "Love Letters of Great Men," which was a prop until some marketing exec thought, "If the show could convince women to buy $400 shoes, surely the movie will convince them to buy a $20 book!" So you can buy the movie-related version on Amazon, or you can be ridiculously classy and get this $235 leather-bound copy (I have no idea how the actual contents of the two books match up, and if there's no "Ever mine, ever thine, ever ours," she'll be pissed) from Smythson. If you really want to show that you love her, you can even get it gold-stamped with her name. But you know what I think most girls would like best? Find a fairly nice blank notebook, then write your own love letters. Or if you're not good with words, fill it with the love letters of others, copied by hand. It would take forever, which, to some people, is way better than anything costing $235.

Back to the outfit: finish it off with a small fringe clutch, $24.99 at Urban Outfitters. I'm not sure if the fringe is too much with the ruffles on the dress, but I'd be willing to risk it. And if you bring one thing with you on Valentine's Day, make it Smith's Rosebud Salve, $8.

Glamorous underthings

So, Valentine's Day has come and gone, and all us single girls survived without any visible scarring. Around that time Yes, the weekly fashion supplement of the Arizona Republic, did a spread on lingerie with an Old Hollywood glamour feel. I thought it was pretty good, but they did a poor job on giving information on where to buy everything. So, that's what I'm doing for you. All credit goes to Yes for the photos and styling and whatnot.

This slip is just as glamorous as something designed by Vera Wang should be. Satin and lace short gown, $78, in the color green tea.







Oscar de la Renta blush chemise with black and white polka dots, $68. I love the polka-dots along the hem, too.


















See, the thing that kills me about this shoot is that a lot of the lingerie is so great, but you can't find it online and, uh, there isn't a Dillard's in New York. I don't know if maybe Yes just labeled it wrong, because they claim this is the "Satin Doll" bra and skirt set from Cassandra Intimates, but this is what Dilliards.com has under that name. Sort of similar, but it misses the plaid and fun skirt that totally make the original set. If you like it anyway, the bra is $24, the garter belt is $14, and the g-string is $9.

Another similar option from the same label is the Cosmopolitan set, $26 for the bra and $29 for the skirt. This is a bad lingerie set if you're into wearing pants, though.


Here's another great set that Yes claims is available at Dillards but you can't buy online. I saw a listing for it on a British lingerie website, in a slightly different color, but it's listed as out of stock. Poorly played, Yes. Well, if it was possible to buy it the bra would be 7 pounds and the knickers would be 3 pounds.









Oh, wait you guys! I think I just bought this bra last night from Urban Outfitters, but didn't realize it because they only had it in black. This looks like the same thing, right? Try to ignore the fugly model's greasy hair... The Chatelaine bra is available, in black, for $12.99 at Urban Outfitters.


So, those were the ones from the spread I really liked, and you can see the rest here.

While I'm on the subject of hot underwear, I really want this set from the Gap. You can't really see the details, but the bright pink with white polka-dot parts of the bra and panties are pleated! I'm a sucker for fun details like that. And they both just went on sale. The Pretty Pleated bra is $29.99 and the thong is $6.99.

Slips addendum

I realized today that I made an egregious oversight in yesterday's post on slips. I was listing all the reasons slips are both hot, practical and necessary, and I totally forgot the biggest reason you need to wear a slip.

Which is: how many times have you gone to dinner with your boyfriend's family, only to have his father get all coked out and punch your bf, and so you have to break up with him because he's too busy both dealing with his crazy parents and lusting over you sometime best friend/sometime mortal enemy; and then in order to console your newly single self you go visit your boyfriend's best friend, who occasionally likes to date rape girls and always likes to dress like a dandy, at the burlesque club he just convinced his father to buy, and then he says some nice things and gives you some champagne, and before you know it you're up on stage removing your high-necked, very prim dress to reveal...
...one incredibly sexy slip. We've all been there, right? Lord knows I have, more times than I can count. And if it wasn't for my Valentino slip, I would have had to do amateur burlesque totally naked, which makes it not burlesque but stripping.

Plus, when you're done making those pearls around your neck blush at the impropriety, and you want to lose your virginity with your ex-boyfriend's best friend in the back of his limo, there are so many less sleeves and zippers and clasps to worry about!













And that is why you need to wear a slip under your dresses.

PS: In the photo the professional burlesque dancers look all excited at Blair getting up on stage, but don't you think if this were real life they'd be super pissed some underaged tart is hogging the spotlight and not even wearing a corset?