Steal of the Day

Remember when Rodarte's collection for Target came out, and we were all, "Oh my god, it's going to be so cute! I can't wait to check it out!" And then we went to Target, tried everything on, and were like, "Eh, the dresses that aren't already sold out isn't that cute. Especially not for $45 when I can buy a more practical Mossimo dress for $19.99."

Flash forward to two months later, and there's just a few pieces of the collection left on Target.com. Happily, one of those is the Lace Halter Dress for just $15.74!

Very versatile, classic Little Black Dress. The skirt is a little poofier in person than in this photo, but I like a little poof in a party dress. The lace overlay looks very high-quality and the satin ribbon bow at the neck adds a whimsical note. I would recommend ordering a size up, especially if you have a decent-sized rack.

I'm happy to see that a lot of the other Rodarte for Target dresses are on Ebay for under $50. If you want a LBD with more of an edge than the sweet lace halter dress, bid on the sequin skeleton ribcage dress. This dress is also good if you're sort of anti-Halloween, don't want to wear a real costume but don't want to be a that killjoy at the party. Wear this dress and be a sexy skeleton!
Very quickly, let's look ahead to the next Target Go Collection, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. The lookbook features a lot of very suspect layering (dude, tattoo shirts do not go with sweet floral dresses. They don't go with anything, because tattoo shirts are fugly to the nth degree), but there are a few pieces I have my eye on. Number one is this trench coat with a nautical twist.

Olympic Fever on Ice!

I'm a bad fashion blogger, because not only do I not update for months and months, but I'm ignoring New York Fashion Week in favor of the Olympics. Sure, I've been reading the Fug Girls coverage on nymag.com, and I know that Tavi has died her hair a very strange grey color, but behind that--meh. This is the fashion I'm more interested in:

Yes, that is the Italian figure skater Samuel Contesti wearing a plaid shirt under dirty overalls. And yes, he's doing finger guns. I could write pages about the costumes in men's figure skating, but instead, I'll talk about things that are hilarious in a cute way, not a ridiculous way.

First, let's all appreciate how beautiful Vancouver is, and how the Canadians put a slam poet in their Opening Ceremonies. Canada is truly the Hufflepuff of the world (USA is Gryffindor, naturally, and I'd say Russia is Ravenclaw and China is Slytherin--I'm still bitter about those underage gymnasts), so they deserve this moment in the sun. And they're taking advantage of the TV coverage to plaster their flag everywhere, including...
...the cutest goddamn minutes I have ever seen in my life! Look at that little maple flag! So sweet and whimsical! I'm desperate for my own pair--anyone know where I could buy a pair in New York? Maybe the NBC Universal store in Rockefeller Center? There are plenty of pairs on ebay, going for around $20 bucks. A friend of a friend is a Canadian citizen, and his mom sent him a pair; he then convinced another friend that the Canadian government sent the mittens to all ex-pats, as a show of national pride. And they all teased the second friend for buying it--but doesn't that seem like something the Canadian government might possibly do? Free healthcare and mittens for all!

But let's get down to business, which is, and will always be: America, fuck yeah! The Opening Ceremony outfits are always a bit hit-or-miss.
I didn't love the bulky turtlenecks, but I adored the knit hats and am spending all my time daydreaming about getting one of my own. (I am also not ashamed to admit that these daydreams involve having luscious, curly red hair like Shaun White. Seriously, why isn't he doing Loreal commercials?) They're sold out on the RL website, and on ebay they're going for over $300 --and the weird, crazy, Olympics-obsessed part of me is thinking they might be worth it.
They have moose! And an American flag! Ok, I know that there's no way a stupid hat is worth $300. What I'm really hoping is that someone will create a knitting pattern for the hat, so I can make my own. I just recently learned how to knit with two colors (I made a big white circle in the middle of a blue square, for a pillowcase), and it can't be that much harder to knit a moose, right? No, I know that this is way above my skill level, but maybe I could manage this simpler (and more obviously patriotic) knit cap:
Lindsay Vonn is rocking it after her gold medal downhill skiing run; it makes me wonder if all US Olympians get a full set of Ralph Lauren gear (not just opening and closing ceremony outfits) before the games. This hat and mitten set is still in stock at RL, for $95, but they're made for children.

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."

Lauren Conrad at Kohl's

This year I'm pioneering a shopping strategy that I'll call "Pre-Black Friday Recon." It involves going a few days ahead of time to those stores that you know will be packed on the day after Thanksgiving. I go on a Monday or Tuesday afternoon, grab anything with the remotest potential to be cute, and go into the deserted dressing rooms to try them on at my leisure. Then, I make note of what is flattering and what is fug, and make plans to return in three days when the price is slashed. Genius, right?

One place I definitely want to hit is Kohls, whose Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection is usually pretty awesome. I have a blue paintbrush-printed skirt from Vera that I get compliments on every single time I wear it--no kidding. And I saw another skirt there that had potential to join those exulted ranks, but sadly, it's not online. If I go back on Friday and buy it, I'll try to take a photo, but let me just say that it's Emma Pillsbury from Glee level of cuteness.

I've been bitching and moaning about needing a good blazer for ages, and I think I've finally found one, courtesy of my Laguna Beach high-schooler turned NYT best-selling author: Lauren Conrad. When I heard that she was folding her higher-priced line and doing something cheaper for Kohl's, I thought it was the best idea I ever heard. I love LC more than I'd like to admit, but there's nothing she could possibly design that would be worth more than $45 bucks. So, happily, this blazer is on sale for $42, hopefully to be marked down even more! It's a nice classic shape, with the fun touch of folded-up cuffs with a contrast lining. A good go-anywhere piece. And you know what? I think I'd rather a good piece of clothing fall apart before it falls out of style, so I'm going to convince myself that a good blazer is something I should be "investing" in.

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.

The Neverending Search for the Perfect Everyday Purse

So last Christmas I got this bag from Urban Outfitters, and after some initial whining about how small it is, I learned to love it. I wore it nearly everyday, got many compliments, and had no intention of replacing it. But then, over the summer, the edges of the straps started to fray. I trimmed them, and it looked almost good as new. But the next stage of deterioration is harder to hide--the leather is peeling off the top of the straps (on the parts that are on my shoulder). Underneath is a grody grey fabric, and it looks completely brokedown.

Time for an upgrade! I was at DSW this past weekend (shopping for boots, of course, but no luck), and decided to swing by the bag section just for fun. This Nine West Madeline Shopper, $69.95 at Zappo's, caught my eye:

I love the roomy shape, the simple and classic design, and all the fun inner pockets. My only pause is the color, which isn't very accurately reflected in this photo. It's called "Rust," and it's more of a brownish, orangeish, red--not a color that often appears in my wardrobe. But it would match my green winter coat, and hey, maybe it's time for something new! I just don't want to spend $70 on a bag that I either won't wear a lot, or will fall apart in under a year. This one is synthetic leather, too...

Doesn't anyone have experience with Nine West purses, especially faux-leather ones? Are they built to last or can I expect this purse to be falling apart by next October?

Ginger Love!

So a few weeks ago, I dyed my hair red. It was a big move; I've been a blond my entire life, and I needed a lot of pushing to get to the salon. They gave me an "Irish Ginger" gloss, and for the first three days I hated it. And then for the next week I loved it. And then the week after that, I was like, "My hair looks almost the same as it did before, how did that happen so fast?" I saw my oldest friend in the world about two weeks after dying it, and she didn't notice a difference until I mentioned it.

So now I'm a dark blond with a slight hint of red, and I know I can't drop that much cash again in the same month. So I'm thinking home treatment, but I don't want to look like a cheap stripper or a clown. I need recommendations! Any redheads out there, please give me your suggestions so I can look like Nicole Kidman for under $20.
What's that, you say? You say you want a mini-pic spam of redheads, in order to get an idea of the color I want? Ok, since I did a lot of research on Google Images before going to the salon, I can do that for you.
I fell in love with Isla Fisher so hard after seeing Definitely, Maybe. I mean, she was hilarious in Wedding Crashers and adorable in Confessions of a Shopaholic (shut up, it was a good rental!), but Definitely, Maybe should have been her star-making role. She plays what would be, in a lesser movie, the typical Manic Pixie Dream Girl. But slowly she turns into an excellent best friend, an independent female, and a surprising heroine. She's the best part of that movie, and it has a lot of good parts--I'm not kidding, you should rent it for the excellent 90's references alone. Really, the only bad parts of the movie are some stiff, cheesy acting from Abigail Breslin and the awful, hideously generic title.

I just watched Drop Dead Gorgeous, which is another excellent movie. Amy Adams makes her film debut as a slutty Minnesota cheerleader, and she's very cute... but she's a blonde. And she looks good, but she doesn't look as amazing as she does as a redhead. Oh, and it helps that she got her smile fixed, because she was giving dear old Kirstin "Snaggletooth" Dunst a run for her money.

I don't watch Dr. Who, but Alexandra Hepburn alerted me to the fact that the new assistant is a darling ginger. I love how completely natural her hair looks.

So I've been watching Glee, and I don't intend to stop, but I have some major problems with it (like, Will, how have you not touched your pregnant wife's stomach in the last 4 months?). But one aspect I'm totally on board with, besides Puck singing Sweet Caroline, is Emma's amazing hair and all-around style. The cute red bob is a nice twist on the usual "red hair=temptress" stereotype, and I love how one side is always perfectly swooped away from her face. Also, her J.Crew ensembles knock me dead with their matchy fabulousness. That gold chain on the neckline of her cardigan? Genius. I expect Michelle Obama to be rocking it soon, if she hasn't already.

Don't Tempt Me, Urban

Ok, so I tried to put these pieces into a Polyvore set, but I couldn't quite make it work. So instead, I'm bringing you 4 covetable things from Urban Outfitters in a lazy list form.

Silence and Noise Faux Leather Biker Jacket, $128
How long have I been wanting a leather jacket? A really long time. The other weekend I borrowed my friend's badass leather motorcycle jacket, and I felt totally unstoppable all night. If there had been a bar fight, or a particularly competitive dance battle, I would have jumped right in. I love the asymmetrical zipper on this jacket, and that the leather is a little broken in.

Kimchi Blue Suede Boot, $88
It's strange--when it comes to leather boots, I can't stay away from cognac brown, but when it comes to suede boots, I'm all about grey.

Chain Knot Cloche, $28
A girl would need a certain amount of joie de vivre to pull this off--the saturated blue, the gold rope, the old-fashioned cloche shape--but I'd like to think I'm up to the challenge. The color would look killer with my blonde hair, too.

byCorpus Long Sleeve Wrap Dress, $39.99
I've always wanted to be a ballerina! This veers a little close to American Apparel, but I think with some classic accessories (and no lame leggings) you can avoid looking like a victim of corporate hipsterism.

Timeless Wool Coats on the Cheap

It's been getting really, really cold in New York, and my winter coat is hanging in a closet in Arizona. It'll get shipped here soon, but in the meantime I'm coveting these:

Nine West Belted Hipster, $59.95
I already have a green wool coat, so I can't really justify two (although this one is way better than mine). Adore the forest green collar, the belt, and the wraparound collar. It would make wearing a scarf a little unnecessary, though, and lord knows I love a good scarf.

Kenneth Cole Peacoat, $59.95
A classic in every way. I love a good winter white, too.

Grey Work Dresses

I've been doing some temp work this week, and I have to confess that I've been enjoying the challenge of dressing for the office. I am sure that I won't feel this way when I have to work five days a week, but for now I'm having fun trying new combinations of pencil skirts, button-down shirts, and heels.

But in this office, there are all these devastatingly fierce women strutting around in power suits and perfectly tailored dresses. Today, it seemed like everyone was wearing grey dresses, which is a smart way to bring feminine fashion into the workplace, without offending any dress codes. A Little Black Dress at work can, with the wrong accessories (too high heels, too glittery a necklace), look too fancy or sexy--as if you don't know the difference between cocktail hour and lunch meetings. A Little Grey Dress, however, is just right: more conservative than a colorful or print dress, but still with enough personality. Here's how I want to imitate the look when I'm a corporate HBIC.

You can't do much better than this Magaschoni Wool Dress, $129. The bateau neckline is sexy/modest in that Jackie Kennedy way, and the pleated skirt with pockets makes this more interesting than your typical shift dress. If you have buff arms, the cap sleeves are insanely flattering; if you'd rather cover up, add a cropped cardigan or jacket and then layer over a thin belt in a statement color like red or yellow.

Speaking of belts, this Banana Republic Wool Sheath Dress, $149, is the ideal blank canvas for a hot corset-style belt or a trendy double-wrap leather belt. The slightly exaggerated shoulders also give you an hourglass silhouette (without going full-on 80's, which, I don't care what the fashion press says, is not a good idea). This dress is good for offices that are a little more creative--it's a big short, especially if you're on the leggy side. On the other hand, it gets colder everyday, and once it's tights season you can get away with a little bit more, length-wise.

Now for a slightly cheaper option, if you're more of a cubicle-dweller than mistress of the corner office. From Modcloth, the Hold My Calls Dress, $84.99, practically screams, "I'm young, I'm ambitious, and I'm not afraid to look good while I work harder than anyone else." This dress is a bit of a combo between the two previous: the pleating and pockets of the Magaschoni, with the shoulders and wasp waist of the Banana Republic. In the Modcloth lookbook, they added a brightly-colored pin to the shoulder--that's the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon combing through vintage and handmade brooches on Etsy!

At this temp job I'm currently in, I spend the entire day sitting behind a receptionist desk. It's a mixed blessing--since I'm not running around, I can wear uncomfortable-but-hot heels, but since I'm sitting, no one ever sees them but me. But sometimes that's enough, as I expect would be the case with these Chunk of Change mary-jane heels, $56, from Lulu's. The grey suede body will match your dress quite nicely, while the teal heel and oversized strap adds a lot of personality. These shoes deserve to be shown off--maybe I can answer the phones and greet guests standing up?