Zara Is Winning My Heart

I've been smitten with Zara for a while.  Sadly, each time I go to New York, I run out of time to really shop there in person.  And, because I live in Fashion Exile (aka North Carolina), we  don't have a Zara here.

When I 've seen adorable items like this pink boyfriend blazer, I have had to track it down on Ebay (and hell, yes, I tracked this baby down).

But now we who are in the boonies (apparently), need suffer no more.  Zara is online!!!

YEAH!

And yes, I had to jump on and grab some items.  I dithered too long and two dresses I liked ran out but that just helped me narrow my cart down a bit.

First I bought a "basic" that I had on the Needed list for Fall/Winter... a cable knit sweater dress in black.  Simple but perfect for jazzing up a number of ways.

Then this whimsical tee caught my eye.  I'm so wearing this under a brown corduroy blazer and jeans. 

And my last item of the day was this snazzy red polka-dot blazer.  It's going to transition through Fall, be perfect with my "Chromatic French" theme and will probably still be kicking around in summer too (maybe I'll need an Americana theme for 2012)

Since items run out fast (especially on day one), I think this is going to be a daily stop for me.

Did you nab any Zara Day One delights?

WANTED: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Blazer

I want this jacket!  If you see it let me know!

Lauren by Ralph Lauren

I believe it is Lauren by Ralph Lauren  but I think it's from last year so now I'm sad.

Looking for Love

Sometimes, new hair means you need new clothes right?

Not that I "need" a lot of stuff but I did have a vision.  I wanted/needed three specific things that felt were missing in my closet.  I wanted 1. a black velvet blazer, 2. a black knit blazer and 3. black straight leg pants.

So I had a mission and I figured that between my local stores, I'd find something.  But isn't it totally frustrating when you can't find what you want?  I went to JCrew, Talbots, Ann Taylor, Black Market, and even into Brooks Brothers.  Nothing.

I decided to wander around Anthropologie just to see what they might have and after looking for a while and trying a bunch of stuff on, I didn't find anything.  But just as I was walking out, I spied a black jacket on the back of a rack. It wasn't plush as velvet but is more like a fine-wale cord.  But it does have neat top-stitching and bonus: patch pockets! Daughters of the Liberation Tulip Curtsy Blazer - $118

I wanted a black knit jacket too.  Something that had some structure but was really soft and comfortable.  I could still look nice but not be boxed in.  I had given up on this as well, as I found it after I tried on some other thing but the Gap didn't fail me.  When I saw that this was knit but with satin Tuxedo lapels, I knew it was perfect.  Gap Tuxedo Blazer - $69.50

But what I had really gone to Gap for was black pants.   I'm not a huge wearer of pants and jeans but I usually do okay getting them there.   Gap has a whole range of styles out including these straight leg ones.   What is great, at least for me, is that they have the three lengths as well.  The ankle length is usually what I get (yes, I'm that short) as they fit me with a bit of length for heels. I may go back for the cropped style too. Gap True Straight Pants - $49.50

As frustrating as not finding what you want, it's that great when you find exactly what you want!  Any successful shopping excursions for you lately?

Ensemble du Jour

I'm finally, finally feeling better to the point that I feel it was "safe" to leave the house for more than half an hour. I think I was getting cabin fever. I hadn't left the house since Monday! We decided to go grab some dinner, run to Michaels for supplies for a shoe project (hopefully it will turn out well, I'll be taking pics) and go to the movies.

The movie wasn't great (Four Christmases) but it was nice to be out and put on real clothes for a change. I didn't wear anything fancy but, compared to yoga pants and a 15 year old sweater it was quite a step up. I wore my Gap jeans, a grey wool Mossimo blazer, my Paraphernalia brooch and my black buckle Aerosole heels.



12-27-08 by Princess Poochie

The top was one of the JCrew tissue sequin tees I got on sale over the weekend. I should buy these in more colors because I really like the cut. The v of the neckline dips a bit low and it worked really well under the blazer.



I think these are still on sale on the JCrew site for $9.99. I think I'm going to have to go and get more of the colors. I really like it. Maybe even another of the black, since I know that will get the most wear. Plus, more sequins!

Back to School

School Supplies by Mon Solo

I'm not sure what it is about school supplies and the back to school time period that I like so much. I was in Target tonight and they were just starting to put out all of the school supplies and I had to take a run down the aisles. I know it's kind of dorky but I just love all the paper, folders, pens and notebooks. I have way way way too many notebooks.

But I also love the prep school/school uniform look. I'm pretty fond of plaid. I think nine years in a parochial school will do that to you. Now I when I see plaid skirts or school boy jackets I just can't resist.

I just got two blazers that I found on sale for 50% off. I wasn't familiar with the BB Dakota line but they're awfully cute. When I did a search to get some images, I saw my cute blazer was in WWD.



It was the Beetlejuice-iness of the stripes that made me jump on it. B&W graphic stripes. Yes please!









There were not a lot of images on the site I bought it from so when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised by all of the detail on the jacket. It's a little long in the sleeves but that is pretty typical for me. It's also a bit loose in the torso but I think I can always get it taken in, or even corset up the back with some ribbon.

I also got this jacket for 50% off and it's also by BB Dakota. This one is navy with white edges.




Here's my favorite surprise detail - both jackets have these giant safety pins at the cuff rather than buttons. Gah! Adorable!









I got both jackets for less than $100 bucks. Quite the bargain! I'm sooo pleased.

New York, New York - Day 2

Sooo, where did we leave off? Here's Day One to check out.

On Wednesday morning (Day Two) I was off for my main reason to come to New York - a conference for work. I figured it might be chilly in the Times Center all day so I wore a denim skirt, my JCrew tee with the sequined crest and a dark brown corduroy blazer. For shoes I wore my Franco Sarto heeled sandals.



They actually ended up being pretty comfortable because I walked for blocks in them and they didn't bother me. Plus I got quite a few compliments on them.



The conference ended at 5pm so I was able to hit a few other stores that I had not been able to the day before. One of the main places I wanted to go was to Town Shop. After reading reviews of the service there, I decided to see what advice they gave me. This place has been around since 1888 and many of the sales people have been there for decades.

Well, I walked in ready for anything and was helped by a lovely woman who made me feel instantly at ease with her professionalism. And she told me, like most women, I was wearing the totally wrong size. I'd always gone for a larger band size and a smaller cup. When I was the opposite, a bigger cup was needed and smaller back! Imagine that! I tried on one of the bras she brought me and then put my shirt over it to see. The change was amazing. I felt plumped in a good way! I was so happy I bought two bras on the spot. And they're elegant womanly bras, not saccharine pink Victoria's Secret garbage either. I've decided I'm totally done with them.



If you get the chance to go, I obviously recommend the store!

From there, I wasn't far from an actual Manolo Blahnik store. Now, granted, given the other day I should not have gone there. But I couldn't not go, even just to look.

Yeah, I'll admit it. That was a mistake.

The store is a tiny boutique and very simply designed. I saw a few shoes I knew but there were many not carried by the major department stores.



I tried on a few adorable pairs but ended up getting these brown linen Toluk mary janes with dark brown edges. Very very comfortable as well. And, seriously, I don't have a ton of brown shoes. These I did end up taking with me since I figured I could fit one shoe box into my bags somehow.











After that I took a cab through the park and went over to the Maison du Chocolat store on Madison.



I'd been dying to get some macarons and I succeeded. I got a big variety pack and am still eating them. I also got a bunch of dark chocolate pieces mainly with ingredients like ginger, tea and honey. They were also delish!



It was an absolutely gorgeous day so I walked from Maison all the way to the subway pick-up down by The Plaza. I then returned to the apartment to order an Indian feast to be delivered to my door.