Day #14 - 30 Day No Shopping Challenge - Eye Of The Tiger

Just about half way through the No Shopping Challenge - and I'm sad to say I failed...

... to update the blog last Friday, that is. 

I guess in between watching the Royal Wedding and work, I forgot. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention something about William and Kate (as my husband is from England) - loved her dress. But I think Pippa stole the show.

Welcome to my little slice of Great Britain - the door mat in front of my apartment.

Nope, I still haven't shopped! That's not to say the urge has not been strong. No trips to the mall either. My friends have been really shocked to hear this as they know how much of a shopping junkie I am.

On Friday, my job was getting rid of some samples during spring cleaning. So, a bunch of stuff was up for grabs - for free. I ended up snatching up a brown bag and three scarves. 

However, the weather is working against me. With warmer temps brings a need for replenishing my wardrobe. Sick of wearing the same duds for the past 4 months, I want shoes, dresses and skirts - shed some skin if you will. So the fact that everyone around me is wearing their new finds to work and for a night out - is making me very jealous. 

I did end up making a trip to the park (affectionately known as The Mud Hole in Nutley, NJ) for a little quality time with Harley and my favorite Brit. Another perk of this conquest is finding hidden treasures, like the shoes I'm wearing below, in my closet. They hurt like hell, but I'll sacrifice my feet for fashion.

Outfit:

Cardigan - Express

Striped Tee - Mandee

Belt - H&M

Jeans - Forever 21

Peep Toe Butterfly Shoes - BCBG

Murano Glass ring - gift from my bestie

Necklace - Harajuku Lovers

Uncharted Territory

When it comes to shopping, there are stores I'm loyal to as I've spent years and time building my wardrobe with their apparel. H&M, Forever21, Zara, Urban Outfitters to name a few.

It's a comfort thing - familiar grounds, in a place you know like the back of your hand... and you're rarely disappointed because you have a general idea of what you'll encounter.

During a trip to the mall this weekend with a friend, I entered uncharted territory. Stores that in my eyes have a different style aesthetic than myself such as Banana Republic, Club Monaco and Loft.

I've been in these stores before, but never really put an effort into finding clothes in them. I usually walk through just to get a general idea of what they carry or just for accessories. I was shopping with blinders on as I had pigeonholed these stores as not being "me".  However, I was proven wrong.

"Oh gee, you don't carry black velvet leggings? Gotta go."  

I gotta stop doing that as I've evidently been missing out on floor displays that really inspire you to take a closer look at the clothes and perhaps try something different. And besides, displays are gearing up for summer - with warmer colors - which happens to be my favorite wardrobe season.

A display in Banana Republic. Loved the hourglasses... and this color scheme.

Admittingly, I felt a little foolish about my outfit in some of the stores, but I take it all in stride. Not everyone dresses like they are ready for battle or a motorcycle run.

Outfit:

Leather jacket - Zara

Scarf - H&M

Plaid tunic - Forever21

Knit tights - Mandee

Boots - Mandee

Every dog has its day

Outfit

Satin animal print top - Macy's

Skinny jeans - Forever 21

Shoes - Forever 21

Leather bag with brass studs - Primark

Geek glasses - www.80sPurple.com

Winter is having an identity crisis. When I snapped these photos, it was around 60 degrees... non-jacket weather. New Jersey has been hit with a crazy amount of snow this year... and just when it started to melt, and the idea of taking photos outside again in comfortable weather was looming, it snowed again today.

I know many fashion bloggers rely on dresses and skirts to pull off fashionable looks (and I'm all for looking girly), I think denim is the bastard child of street-style and fashion blogging. As big as my proclivity towards skirts and dresses is, taking photos in the cold when it's 24 degrees, there's snow on the ground, and my limbs are freezing doesn't always appeal to me.

Skinny jeans make the rounds 4 out of the 7 days a week with me. While it is a staple in pretty much every gal's closet, it's probably the most versatile garment on the block. You get your money's worth out of it, can pair them with pretty much any sweater, top, vest, button-front and is probably the easiest piece to accessorize. Sometimes accessories clash with a busy skirt. With jeans, they enhance not distract.

Denim is the underdog of fashion blogging, so if I can give it a spotlight more often than not, I'm all for it. 

Inamorata

Although it is a highly commercialized holiday, I have a soft spot for Valentine's Day.
And this little dude....

I also dig the idea of giving someone cheesy gifts to show your love. Plus, it's an excuse to buy another outfit.

And while yes, those activities can be done any day, I think there's something to be said of holding the tradition of spending quality, facetime with your main squeeze - and I'm not referring to the app. With all the social media around us, I'm all about being with the one you love... or lust (depending on your situation).

Here's my three things about VD that don't sting:

1. Free dinner or not having to cook. If you're a lady, score. Dudes get a raw deal with having to pay for dinner. But then again, women burned their bras in liberation... However, on this day, the ladies get to rely on their femininity for a practically guaranteed meal. So yes, I'll have the lobster, please.

2. Buying embarrassing love paraphernalia at Spencer's with your friends and laughing your asses off. When else are you going to have an excuse for buying penis spaghetti...

3. If you're single, go out and use bad pick-up lines on people... and hopefully get away with it. Try that ish on any other day and see what happens.

No pick up lines for me... just a pair of obligatory heart tights (my most recent favorite purchase) to celebrate the day cupid became a commercialized pimp. Play on, playa.

Outfit:

Top - H&M

Belt - recycled throughout the years

Ruffled Skirt - Forever 21

Heart Embroidered Tights - H&M

Oxfords - Forever 21

Jacket - The Gap

Heart locket - Gift from my mother

Luck be a lady

I can't believe I won a ticket! I am beyond thrilled and excited to be attending the IFB Evolving Influence Conference... to meeting so many other bloggers, to learning how to take my obsession with fashion to the next level, and to hear panels from some of the most esteemed bloggers in the fashion realm such as Keiko Lynn and Gala Darling!

But now comes the hard part - what am I going to wear!?!??

The weather in NYC currently is windy, and just last night, I saw snow flurries. I feel like I can't dress the way I'd like to when I go into New York - due to the fact that if you wear shoes that look good, your feet probably won't feel good after all the walking. I'm avoiding this Thursday and getting a cab.

But for the outfit... I'm at a crossroads between a beige and black striped tunic dress recently aquired from H&M, with black leggings, patent leather boots and a blazer.... Or go the black ruffled skirt route with black and red heart tights and some type of striped top.... Or a dress I got from Miss Selfridge in the UK during December. Who am I kidding? Stripes and probably black will be involved in some capacity.

If anyone is going, please let me know! I'd love to meet you, shake hands and say hello!

Dress - Forever 21

Woven leggings - Mandee

Shoes - Nine West

Blazer - Mandee

Be prepared!

At a certain point during the colder months, I get tired of buying winter clothes. I have a tendency to dislike much of what I've purchased from the year before, which results in purging a lot of my older clothes and replacing them with new lovies to don this year. But it's February, and I'm over the snow, sleet and miserable weather that's been hitting NJ.

Many of my most recent purchases have been shoes - platforms, flats and mary janes, oh my! My main stem wear inspiration comes from Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony.

I've always been a fan of her style, and in her collection, I think the Platform Mary Jane really make sense because they go with pretty much everything... and they are just all around uber amazing. Need, and want, these shoes!

Photo via OpeningCeremony.com

The outfit possibilities are limitless with these platforms!

Currently, two pairs of shoes, both from Forever21 are sitting in my closet, and are on deck for Spring! The leather mary janes have an ultra lightweight heel, and the floral slingbacks add a splash of color and go well with black and denim.

Plus, I'll be reviving my patent leather peep toe platform wedges from last season...

With my new shoes waiting to be worn, I'll just have to come up with some winter ways to sport these beauties... Spring - get here soon!