Fashion

Men’s Summer Style 2013: $150 Wardrobe

May 15, 2013 · By Rachel · 6 Comments

Today I’m featuring a guest post talking about men’s style for this summer. Great styles for your boyfriend, husband, friend or a few of my readers who are guys! Check it out:

It’s easy to blow the budget when refreshing your wardrobe for summer. If you want to save your cash for afternoons in beer gardens and summer holidays abroad, there are ways to get a whole new summer wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Supermarkets are a great place to find the latest fashions at bargain prices, with the George clothing collections available either in store or online at George at ASDA. Low supermarket prices mean that you can pick up all you need to see you through summer in style, for under $150. Make sure that you pick up these capsule wardrobe essentials.

Chino Shorts

As the big fashion story of the summer, chino shorts are everywhere. Pick up your pair of chino shorts in a choice of colors from George for just $15. Muted shades are replacing last year’s brights, so choose from greens, blues, grays and browns, for your finger on the fashion pulse.

Graphic Tees

Graphic tees are fantastically versatile, as they’ll take you from day to night with ease. As good for the bar as they are for the beach, graphic print tees are ideal for refreshing a summer wardrobe, and will take up next to no room in your suitcase if you’re heading off on your jollies.

You’ll find a wide selection of graphic tees at ASDA George for just $8 each, including the latest photo print styles.

Boat Shoes

The boat shoe is the style of the season for men, and this classic shoe looks great with chino shorts and a tee or a shirt. Pick up a pair of leather boat shoes at ASDA George for just $40, to see you all the way through to next winter with your best fashion foot forward.

The boat shoe is also as good for casual wear as it is for eveningwear – choose from navy and brown pairs for the ultimate versatile footwear buy.

Grandad Shirts

Forget the polo shirt this summer, it’s all about the grandad shirt. Another versatile day to night classic, a few grandad tops in your summer capsule wardrobe will add smart/casual style to every occasion.

Grandad shirts are available in a variety of muted colours at ASDA George for just $12 each.

Colored Chinos

Is anyone still wearing jeans? The arrival of the chino on the fashion scene has been a welcome relief for those sick of feeling hot and sweating in jeans during the summer months.

Chinos are a cool, comfortable option for everything from workwear to eveningwear. Simply add a shirt or a grandad tee for a perfect summer 2013 smart/casual look.

100 percent cotton chinos are light and airy, perfect for summer, and can be found for just $20 a pair at ASDA George.

So for a grand total of $95, you can have a whole new summer capsule wardrobe full of the latest trends at George at ASDA. With plenty of change left from a $150 new wardrobe budget, you’ll be able to treat yourself to a day out at the seaside or an afternoon in the beer garden to show off your new togs!

Filed Under: Fashion ·

April Budget

April 28, 2013 · By Rachel · 23 Comments

1. Floral One Should Top in Fuschia - Questhaven Fashions $10.00 – $3.50 in promo codes + $3.25 S&H = $9.75 I had an additional promo code I got on Facebook for liking their fan page, so when I saw this top, I had to make it mine. I love the color and flower details, plus with the right blazer or cardigan I can also wear it to work and easily transition into a cute date night, happy hour or going out look!

2. Steve Madden Trench Coat – ShopGoodWill Won Bid at $16.00 + $11.53 S&H = $27.53 The PRICE TAGS from T.J.Maxx were still on this item at a cost of $59.99, so I still paid half of the cost for the trench (even at a discount store) with S&H, so I feel okay even though I wouldn’t normally pay $11.53 for S&H

3. Midi Strap Dress in Orange Red - Asos $21.91 On Sale + Free S&H = $21.91

4. Schutz Gilberta Black Heels – ShopGoodWill Won Bid at $9.00 + $11.50 S&H = $21.50 I paid a little more for S&H, but I don’t mind because when I saw these on ShopGoodwill, I knew I had to have them! They were the perfect basic pair of black pumps and when I looked up the cost of Schutz Gilberta heels, they normally run for $160 a pair. So I’d say I got another great deal! See how I wore them recently here.

5. Copacabana Heels – JustFab $39.95 + Free S&H = $39.95 I have been dying to get a pair of strappy sandals like this, but resisted for awhile. Then I saw these in mint, and had to make them mine.

6. Whitney Floral Heels - ShoeDazzle $22.57 – $9.95 for VIP members + Free S&H = $15.82 These babies were on my Spring Wishlist. So I am pretty pumped about finally having a pair of fun, colorful floral heels!

7. Leaf Floral Print Blazer – Lulu’s $3.00! I won the Word Wednesday daily contest on Lulu’s Facebook (they have really easy daily contests, like their page to enter these contests) and was credited $50 to my account. $46 + $7 S&H = $53 – $50 in Account Credit = $3.00

TOTAL: $139.46

So I was $39.46 over my budget. Not the best, but not bad either. I got two of my closet needs, a trench coat and black heels, so I am feeling good about that. I have also been wanting to add more colorful/patterned blazers to my collection, so I was so excited when I won $50 in store credit to Lulu’s and found this beautiful floral blazer for under $46. Also, I wanted to challenge myself to spend less than $100 a month. It’s not that it doesn’t fit into my overall budget, I just have so much already, it just doesn’t make sense to keep adding and adding things I want. So for the new dress, one shouldered top and two pairs of heels, I am excited to have these things but they weren’t needed. I guess I don’t feel bad about my overspending in clothing this month just because I’m still meeting my other budgeting goals. But again, next month I’m challenging myself to $100. I have a lot of weddings coming up and those are going to get expensive, so the less I spend on clothes/shoes, the better!

***I got two new pairs of jeans, a blouse and blazer from the Easter Bunny (aka my Mom) at the end of March. I don’t normally include gifted items from friends, family, boyfriend in these posts. Do you? Should I? I just everyone to know that I am being completely honest with my budget and include ALL of my purchases in this monthly roundup!

Linking up with Budgeting Bloggers over at Franish!

Filed Under: Fashion, Shopping · Tagged: blazer, blazers, budget, budgeting, floral blazker, floral heels, fuschia top, heels, how to budget, how to shop on a budget, JustFab, justfab heels, JustFabulous, justfabulous heels, Lulus, questhaven, schutz heels, ShoeDazzle, strappy heels, zappos

Guest Post: Wedding Dress Trends

April 28, 2013 · By Rachel · 3 Comments

As a part of the wedding series I’ve been doing (see here, here and here) I have a great guest post for you today featuring some of the top wedding dress trends right now! Hope you enjoy:

Hi everyone! My name is Kaitlin Underwood and I am so happy to be sharing my love of weddings and fashion with you today! Wedding dress fashion is constantly changing, from new, less traditional styles, to more traditional styles made new. There is definitely a look perfect for every kind of bride and I wanted to show you some of my current favorites!

Though not very traditional, colored dresses have been increasing in popularity over the last few seasons. While there are wedding dresses out there in colors from black to blue to red, my favorites are the blush ones like these from the White by Vera Wang collection. Celebs from Gwen Stefani to Reese Witherspoon to Jessica Biel have all opted to walk down the aisle in the subtle color. Pink is a color associated with love and romance so if you’re not going to wear white, pink is a great choice!

If you haven’t heard about the new “The Great Gatsby” movie yet you surely will. The movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan is bringing back the fashion from the past. The girl of the “roaring twenties” was rebellious, putting away her corset for a more revealing look and cutting off her luscious locks for a bob style hairdo. While you likely wouldn’t want to wear a flapper dress for your wedding, there are several other styles reminiscent of the era such as these Galina Signature dresses from David’s Bridal that would be perfect to achieve that glamorous look.

Lace is a fabric that has been associated with wedding dresses for quite a while. White actually became the traditional color for wedding dresses because Queen Victoria chose a white gown to feature some of her prized lace back in the 1800’s. Today, designers such as Melissa Sweet have found a way to use lace in modern and innovative ways. For the bride who wants a touch of tradition, lace is the perfect look.

I wonder if Rachel’s sister chose a dress featuring any of these trends? I guess we’ll have to wait and find out! Which is your favorite look?

Filed Under: Fashion, Shopping, Wedding · Tagged: affordable wedding dresses, colored wedding dresses, cute wedding dresses, fashionable wedding dresses, how to shop for a wedding dress, lace wedding dresses, pink wedding dresses, stylish wedding dresses, traditional wedding dresses, wedding, wedding dress trends, wedding dress trends 2013, wedding dresses, weddings

No More Boots: Summer 2013 Shoe Trends

April 27, 2013 · By Rachel · 5 Comments

As any fashionista knows, it’s no good laying back and waiting for the latest fashion trends to wash over you. Planning a wardrobe in advance is key to keeping on-trend and in style. So why plan for spring when you could plan for summer? Crank up the expectation, remind yourself of beaches and barbecues, and get your footwear ready for what may, possibly, if we’re really lucky, turn out to be a great British summer. Roll on June!

If you need a reminder of what’ll be hot and what’ll be not this summer, here’s a reminder of some of the hot catwalk trends that will be making their way to your local high street:

Sheen and shine

There’s going to be a strong preference for shiny, reflective shoes this summer. From iridescent subtlety to bold foil-effect, if you want your feet to get noticed you’ll need a pair of shimmery statement shoes. One of Moschino’s catwalk offerings even had crushed crystals on the heels. Take a look at some of the summer’s metallic shiny shoes in Grazia magazine’s report from Paris.

Chunky heels

Chunky platform heels are quirky and interesting, and make a nice change from stilettos, offering a bit more comfort and support for your soles. You’ll find plenty of fabulous 70s-style platforms around this season, with wooden clogs making a fashion comeback, as well as traditional raffia wedges.

Transparency

There has been a revival of jelly shoes in the last year or two, with a number of designers taking this 90s favourite and mixing it up with other styles, incorporating transparent, jelly-like straps into their pieces. Celebrity advocates include Rita Ora and Azealia Banks, so take a look at some fabulous brightly coloured and transparent shoes here in Fashion District’s report on summer 2013 footwear.

Every girl needs a new pair of shoes to welcome the summer. Shop around online for great deals from top designers, such as these Ted Baker shoes.

What do you think of this summer’s shoe trends? Will you be buying any?

Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion, Shopping · Tagged: chunky heels, heels, metallic, metallic heels, metallic pumps, shoe trends, shoe trends 2013, shoes, spring shoes, spring shoes trends, spring shoes trends 2013, transparent heels

At the Office

April 25, 2013 · By Rachel · 38 Comments

I am always looking for ways to mix up the typical work attire. Some days I wish I worked from home and could wear whatever I want. Not so I could wear sweats all day, but just so I could wear anything from my closet without wondering “is this professional looking” “is this long enough?” “will my feet and knees kill going up and down the stairs all day?” I want to be professional and practical yet fun at the same time. I know some people don’t like the look of layering under a dress, but I really liked the idea of this teal turtleneck from Target under a gray sheath dress to add something bright to this otherwise neutral outfit. I love neutrals, but I am always drawn to outfit inspiration that incorporates color. Anyway, with the teal and a leopard belt I felt pretty good about mixing it up at the office.

Also, I have really wanted to show up in sweatpants or jeans every day this week because the boss is out. And I really loving my new jeans, so it would have been a great week to do that. Then I remembered that HR, the CEO and other important people at work would still see me. Drats.

at the office 3

HauteLook

April 5, 2013 · By Rachel · 17 Comments

So earlier this week, Ashley tweeted about HauteLook, and I completely agreed! They have way too many cute and practical things that could literally spend all of my paychecks in one place. But I can’t help it! I wish it would stop, but between organization tools, home decor and shoes, HauteLook is somewhere I am constantly finding something new (that I pretend I “need”). Anyway, I am obsessed with basically everything on there. Do you shop at HauteLook?

1. How adorable is this zig zag pillow? I am picturing a couple of these sitting on our porch chairs for the spring and summer — $36.00

2. Our kitchen incorporates blues, yellows and greens. I picture this oval clock fitting in perfectly — $55.00

3. I am OBSESSED with sheep. Obsessed. Seems a little weird maybe but I know people are obsessed with owls and foxes, so it is okay. My mom already bought me a sheep from T.J.Maxx and adding a few more sheep to our apartment would make me very happy — $19.00

4. When wouldn’t I wear this crochet woven dress this summer? Essential? I think yes — $29.00

5. I SERIOUSLY need this! A jewelry organizer that goes over your door?! Perfection. Right now I have a small jewelry holder but it takes up so much room and a hanger for my necklaces on my door (but it makes so much noise when I close the bathroom door). Anyway, this would be the greatest replacement and help get me organized! — $99.00

6. A cute metallic strappy sandal? For $15.00 I could wear these all summer and not feel bad if I ruin them! — $15.o0

7. A tote in chartreuse? Yes please! — $23.00

This post is NOT sponsored in any way, shape or form. I am just really loving HauteLook, their selection and prices.

Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion, Interests, Interior Design · Tagged: affordable chevron pillows, bag, blue clock, chartreuse, chartreuse colored tote, chartreuse tote, cheap chevron pillows, chevron, chevron pillows, clock, clocks, coachella crochet dress, crochet dress, cute summer looks, decor, flash deal site, flash sale site, flash site, flash steals, hautelook, hautelook finds, hautelook shopping, home decor, interior design, jewelry, jewelry organizer, long sleeve crochet dress, metalli sandals, oval clock, oval wall blue clock, oval wall clock, sheep, shopping deals, shopping sites, simple summer looks simple summer style, strappy metallic sandals, tote, what to wear this summer, what to wear to coachella, white crochet dress, woven crochet dress

Rainy Day Outfits

April 1, 2013 · By Rachel · 32 Comments

image source

Now that it’s April, the rainy spring season is finally here (I think… there is always a possibility for more snow). Regardless, if you own a pair of rain boots and don’t always know how to style them, I have gotten some Pinterest inspiration for how to style them for those rainy days. Happy 1st of April! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

March Budget

March 29, 2013 · By Rachel · 23 Comments

Raven Capri and Back in Black Tank - Ellie Monthly Subscription $49.95 + $0.00 S&H = $49.95
Forget Me Not Tank and the Love Struck Legging - Ellie FREE: I won the free workout outfit giveaway from LaurenConrad.com and so excited because I LOVE the workout clothing (could you tell?)
Peek-a-Boo Workout Tank - Ellie $34.95 + 50% off with FEB50 promo code + $0.00 S&H = $17.47
Metallic Pointy Toe Pumps - eBay (replacements of the shoes my dog ate: See here, here and here) – $16.99 + $8.99 S&H = $25.98
Striped Cable Knit Sweater – H&M $37.78 SEEN HERE
Bauble Necklace in Blush Pink - Sassy Steals (a daily deal site that keeps deals going for several days) $4.99 + $2.50 S&H = $7.49 SEEN HERE
Strappy Metallic Sandals - Kohls (tried to find in store but couldn’t so ordered online): $21.97 + $0.43 in tax + $5.99 S&H = $28.35 I bought these for the wedding I’m in this summer. She decided on silver for the jewelry and shoes and we found these on super sale and thought they would be perfect!

Total: $167.02

I went over my budget by $17.02 this month. For me, that isn’t THAT BAD and if I hadn’t bought that extra workout tank for $17 I would have been on track. Oh well, could have been worse (those sales just get me!) The only thing I bought in Vegas was the striped sweater. It was great for the plane ride home and I know I will get a lot of use out of it. I have been working really hard to reduce my budget and stick to it… until this month, I was on track (see January’s budget here and February’s budget here).

Next month my budget is going down even more, $100. Wish me luck!

I am linking up to Fran’s Budgeting Bloggers for March!

Filed Under: Fashion, Shopping · Tagged: 2013 clothing budget, affordable metallic pumps, affordable silver heels, affordable silver pumps, cableknit sweater, cheap pumps, cheap silver heels, cheap silver pumps, deals, ebay deals, ebay finds, ellie, ellie clothing review, ellie review, ellie.com, finds, fitness, fitness clothing, fitness gear, H&M, heels, how to budget, how to find good clothing deals, how to find good deals, how to shop on a budget, march 2013, march budget, metallic pumps, silver heels, silver pumps, striped cableknit sweater, striped sweater, sweaters, workout clothes, workout gear, workout outfit

Spring Closet Cleaning

March 22, 2013 · By Rachel · 63 Comments

So I have been “organizing my closet” for close to a year now. I’m not kidding… it’s that bad. Last winter my closet decided it had enough and just detached from the wall. See below:

No worries, it has been reattached to the wall and I have done a LOT of work on it since then. But it is still a space that is hard for me to be inspired in. I try to set clothes out the night before if possible, but I don’t always think about it. And sometimes it is fun to choose your outfit with how you’re feeling in the morning, along with checking out the temperature outside (especially right now… silly winter weather this late in March!)

Anyway, I don’t have enough space in our apartment walk-in right now to create my dream closet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do a better job of going through my clothes, selling, donating and reorganizing the clothes I have. So I have been reading a lot of articles lately looking for new organization and closet cleaning tips and came across this one on Lucky Magazine with tips from Clinton Kelly. For some reason, these tips resonated more with me than any other article I’ve read. I’m sure it was mostly the same advice, just presented in a different way. Anyway, it was motivating enough that I have decided to try out his way of doing things, which is taking ALL of your clothes out of your closet and trying EACH and EVERY piece on. He admits it is an exhausting process, but no one has ever complained about having a clean, organized closet.

And keep in mind—

Too small: DONATE/SELL

Too big: DONATE/SELL

One size too big: TAKE TO A TAILOR

Anything you haven’t worn in a year: DONATE/SELL

So here’s the deal, I don’t think I could accomplish this all in one day (or part with all the things I probably need to part with in one day), so I’m going to start with one section of my closet and move onto the next. I might do two sections a weekend or per week, but this way I feel a bit more accomplished each week and eventually I will have the end result . After all is said and done, I will probably buy some more organizational tools to help with what I’ve kept, but my closet should be a lot more manageable at this point. I have lots of clothes from high school and college still, and it isn’t necessarily that they don’t fit or I don’t still like the style, but I don’t have anywhere to wear them. Why am I keeping them then? This is why it has come to this… sigh.

My closet is organized by type and color, so blouses, cardigans, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, dresses, pants, pencil skirts, jeans, etc. (ranging from red to purple and then neutrals). This weekend I will start with blouses and cardigans.

Via A Simple Affair

Then maybe my closet will look a little better, maybe something like this:

via Jimmy Choos on the Treadmill

And someday, hopefully not too far away like this:

Via Daisy Pink Cupcake

A girl is allowed to dream, right?

Do you have any other great tips you have for closet cleaning? Have you tried a closet cleaning process like this before? Please let me know how it went if you have!

Filed Under: Fashion, Lifestyle, Shopping · Tagged: cleaning out your closet, clinton kelly, clinton kelly spring cleaning tips, closet cleaning, donating clothes, how to clean out your closet, how to go through clothing, how to organize your closet, organization, organize a closet, organizing, organizing a closet, selling clothes, spring cleaning, spring cleaning 2013, spring cleaning tips

Insta Weekend

March 16, 2013 · By Rachel · 6 Comments

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful week! And if you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a day early like me, then have a great time. Decided to share some Instagram photos from my Vegas trip, showing a few more details of the trip. Have a wonderful weekend!