R.I.P. Kate Spade

I treated myself to this Kate Spade bag about a year ago (see this post). Kate's entire peacock collection featured several clothing items including a dress and a blouse with this same peacock print. While I loved everything, I had to narrow down my purchase and this tote bag made the most sense for my lifestyle. When I noticed this peacock tee at Talbots, I knew it would match my bag pretty darn good! On sale for $39.99 with an extra 40% off, the price was much more affordable too! Trust me though, my purse rarely matches my outfit like this on a daily basis!

This sequin tee joins up with some old favorites - jeans, sandals and sunglasses that I've had for years and get a lot of wear!

I was very sad to hear of Kate Spade's suicide a few weeks ago. I wonder what will happen with her brand....... other designers who have passed have had their brand carried on so I hope that happens for Kate. I'm also interested to see what happens on the secondhand market for her pieces. I have already seen some insane prices on eBay.

Embellished Peacocks Crewneck Tee - Talbots

Kate Spade Peacock Tote - Macy's

Mossimo High Rise Jeans / Sunglasses - Target

Sandals - Payless



Frugal Florals

I found this strapless maxi dress at my new favorite local consignment shop : Moran's in Chelsea.

It's from Target and it still had the tags on!

$14.99

I loved the painted like flowers on the black. 

 The story of our front door will be another post (it needs to be painted a deeper shade of burnt orange, and I want to share my potted trees project and some possible wreath projects). But for now, it's a nice pop of color for outfit pics!

 The necklace? Kate Spade. $9.99 at TJ Maxx. YES KATE SPADE FOR $10!!!!! I find the coolest stuff at the Jackson TJ Maxx, especially jewelry. It's the location of my $6 Anthropologie necklace that I love so much!

 I really wanted to pull out the brown in the floral print, so I made the strapless part of it work appropriate by topping it with a brown sweater which I tied to make it the right length. I love how the ombre coloring of the sweater blends so well into the black.

 Then, I also wore brown sandals.

 So let's see.....

New with tags dress from consignment shop - $14.99

Kate Spade necklace from TJ Maxx - $9.99

Apt 9 Sweater from Kohl's - I've had this for years but let's just say around $19.99

Sandals from Payless - $19.99

Jessica Simpson sunglasses from TJ Maxx - $14.99

Those are some pretty frugal prices - and of course these pieces can be mixed and matched with others in endless ways. This is why I blog.... it's not about pictures of myself, it's about sharing my passion for the quest of pretty clothes with price tags that are attainable for anyone. I've never been one to say, "I need new clothes" and go out and drop a ton of money. I enjoy finding piece by piece over the course of years.

Treat Yo Self!

There was a time when I went through a phase of really being into designer bags. It was when I was first married and had my first "big girl" job. I remember owning Coach, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Kate Spade, etc..... Around that same time, I went to China on two different occasions and was overwhelmed by the markets there and all the knockoffs they had! As time went on, I outgrew the desire for fancy bags and luckily, they held their value and I was able to sell them all. It just goes to show that I've been into buying/selling/trading fashion goods for quite some time.

Lately though, function in my daily handbag has been more important to me. Of course, it still has to be something that I like the looks of. But it also has to be comfy/practical to carry on my shoulder and roomy enough for kid gear. Something that is washable, wipeable, durable. I often feel like I am not a typical fashion blogger because I don't change my purse daily to match my outfit. In fact, quite the opposite, my bag almost never matches what I am wearing. I touched on this a few posts ago, about feeling like my hair and makeup isn't 100% ever when compared to others (I can't link to my nail polish of lipstick color because I'm usually not wearing any). But I love being 100% real on here!

So for this post, I tried my best to match my new bag. My new Kate Spade bag which I splurged on. Hey, I deserve it! When I saw all of the new peacock collection, I was in awe. There were pieces I would have loved but knew they were out of reach. This bag was treating myself enough. It fits my lifestyle perfectly! It is a great size and I will be able to wipe it clean. This will be an investment piece for years to come.

Apt 9 Sweater (gift from hubby) - Kohl's

a.n.a. High Rise Flare Jeans - JC Penney

Necklace & Boots - Target

Sunglasses - TJ Maxx

Kate Spade Peacock Tote - Macy's

Multi Stripe Sparkle

 It's the busiest time of year, and I'm often looking for quick outfits to throw on. Heck, I've even been thankful it hasn't snowed lately (or been too cold) so that I could still take advantage of shoes with no socks!

 It's also the time of year that when I am gift shopping, I can't help but find things that I like too. I spotted this sweater at Kohl's and loved the color combo right away. There's a little sparkle to it, and I am loving that they brought the Nine West brand back (it's always been a good one). My favorite Kate Spade necklace was also a perfect match!

 Nine West Balloon Sleeve Sweater - Kohl's

High Waist Power Straight Jeans - Old Navy

Universal Thread Wenda Shoes - Target

Kate Spade Necklace - TJ Maxx

1 Necklace, 7 Dresses

TJ Maxx has always been one of my favorites places to find statement necklaces for a steal! Like this $6 Anthro. And this $14 Anthro. And this Lenora Dame gem. What about a $10 Kate Spade? I recently fell in love with this agate piece there - it has so many pretty shades of pink, purple and blue. I think a common misconception about statement necklaces is that people feel they will only wear them with one or two things. I am proof that this necklace, and the 4 I linked to above, are some of my most worn accessories! Case in point, I've already matched up this beauty to 7 different dresses!

 First up is this pretty floral Maeve dress from Anthropologie which you can see on me here.

 It goes great with this Zara dress remixed with this painted jean jacket.

 It's going to dress up this solid Maurine dress.

 Love it with this oil painting tunic!

 I think this Loft dress is my favorite match!

 It goes with many swatches on this fun patch dress.

 The colors on the back are much deeper and I like how it looks with this Simply Vera dress from Kohl's (which I haven't blogged yet).



Rare Bird

A few weeks ago, I watched the documentary IRIS, about Iris Apfel. What an interesting person! Claiming that nothing she ever did in life she ever set out to do, or planned, she and her husband started out in the interior design business. Out of that, they found themselves starting up their own textile company, Old World Weavers. Over the course of their business, she decorated the White House for 9 different presidents! As she traveled the world, she picked up unique clothing and jewelry. Her signature style is like no other! She is easily recognizable with her big, round, black glasses. Her tiny frame supports not just one, but several statement necklaces! Same as her wrists, layered in bangles. Well into her 90's now, she is just as busy as ever.... curating art shows, designing window displays for posh department stores, and selling her own line of accessories (QVC) and home décor (One Kings Lane). It is said that she has one of the largest costume jewelry collections in the world. I just fell in love with her and her quirky New York apartment - what a treat it would be to have coffee with her! I really identified with her, as I love a good statement necklace, and also the fact that we both would rather have costume jewelry over real jewelry! So I thought it would be fun to round up my statement necklaces for an eye candy post! Get ready to see a whole lot of close ups of my neck wrinkles and moles - LOL!

Because of her travels, Iris's style can be very ethnic. I came close here, a few years ago, by layering 2 thrift shop necklaces.

Roberta Chiarella, sold at Anthropologie but I got on their site direct

Peacock Bib, made by me

Anthropologie - bought off the buy, sell, trade board

Target from a few years ago

Rhinestones! made by me - inspired by a Halcraft (Michael's) project

Rhinestone Bib painted by me with nail polish!

Made by me

One of my favorite Anthropologie sale finds!

Lenora Dame via Anthropologie

Lenora Dame look-a-like, made by me

Anthropologie look-a-like, made by me

Anthropologie via TJ Maxx

Anthropologie via TJ Maxx - the infamous $6 necklace!

Lenora Dame via TJ Maxx

Macy's flowers - post on this outfit coming soon...

Douglas Poon via Anthropologie - haven't posted about this one yet, but this designer likes to use lucite that looks like cut glass/crystal! Love it! Thankful I snagged this piece when it was percentage off of sale prices so it was affordable! $200 down to $40

Anthropologie

Kate Spade via TJ Maxx - an unbelievable $10!!!

J. Crew Bib via TJ Maxx - $12.99! Have you caught on yet that TJ Maxx is great for jewelry!

A few shots from my closet shelves..... Upcoming post on those fab sunglasses too! My really cool peacock lady is from Anthropologie, by artist Florence Balducci. Another bargain find - $158 down to $50.

Peacock painting by local artist with whom I am taking a class with soon. I'll post about it!

I love that I can mix in art, pictures, special trinkets, etc... in "my space", just like Iris. If you would like to know the official names to any of the Anthropologie necklaces, to search for them yourself, just contact me.