I heart this sweater

Remember this sweater from last fall? Well guess who's having a sale??? The sweater is now at J. Crew outlet for $75, BUT right now it's on sale for 40% off, which makes it $45. And if you spend $120 or more, you receive another 20% off, making it only $36 (vs. last year's full retail price $88). So go ahead and buy them in both colors. Someone else may or may not have.

Another little tip: J. Crew factory has a new online shop launching in October. Go to jcrewfactory.com now and sign up to receive free shipping til Nov 1 and 20% off on your birthday. Personally, I find the factory product fits a little different than full-price stores, but my husband loves their soft cotton tees, so he loads up here. Happy shopping!

Jenna Lyons' house for sale

You may have already seen this, but old news doesn't stop me from checking out Jenna Lyon's Sotheby Homes listing and then looking for jobs in NYC. There are plenty of job listings for "Executive Creative Director for Mega Fashion Retailer" right?

We've all seen the style director's enviable closet since it was featured in Domino:

Here are a few shots of the rest of the house:

Her 7bd/3.5ba Park Slope home is listed for $3.75M. See the full listing here. And if you aren't familiar with who Jenna Lyons' is, you can see a video of her here and see her season's picks for J.Crew here.

{Chic Finds} thin stacked bangles

You can buy these thin enameled bangles at J. Crew for $19.99 each (left), or this entire stacked set at Forever 21 for $10.80 (right). Don't like all the colors included? Just don't wear them!

Which do you like?

Ready for some football?

It's fall and football season, which means, inevitably, I'll be going to some football watching party and hanging out near the food table Tweeting about how I have no idea what's going on. I enjoy all the fun and cheering and camaraderie, but really, I'm there for the food.

Since the weather in Texas is fickle, I have two bottoms prepared for my game watching outfit: cutoff denim shorts or my favorite red jeans (which I will likely be wearing most of fall).

Click to view or purchase:

baseball tee 42.50  ||  hat 21.95 ||  shorts 14.80  ||  red jeans 196 ||  shoes138

Do you like watching football? Who's your favorite team?

Flattering flats

Since spraining my ankles earlier this week, I've been in riding boots and flats every day. Tomorrow I have a presentation for a group of women about the latest fall trends, which would normally call for my highest of heels. Not this time. So I've put together two inspiration looks with one classic sheath dress and two different flat shoes. One for the ladies who lunch (and listen to me talk about clothes) and one for weekend brunch.

Look 1:
A fur scarf is spot-on trend this season, but still a classic with a sheath.
Simple pearl earrings and one gold watch is all you need to accessorize.
Matching shoes and handbag fit this ladylike look.

sheath dress 188 || fur shawl 298 || ballet flats 139 ||  handbag || gold watch 250 || pearl earrings 100

Look 2:
A textured triangle scarf dresses down the sheath and gives a cozy vibe.
The belt buckle mirrors the print on the tote.
A wood bracelet and riding boots add to the natural, earthy feel of this look.

sheath dress 188 || tribal bag 25 || wood bangle 258 || leather belt 336 || woven scarf 38 || Gucci boots

And since I haven't asked in at least 5 days...could you spare a minute to vote for Mommy Chic? mwah!

By Best Mom Fashion Blog

Building a closet

Every season, people ask me what they need to buy. But sometimes, 'what to buy' is not as important as working with what you already own. Having the basics in your closet make it easy to layer the season's trend or add an accessory to change up the look. Here are a few of my essentials for any wardrobe:

Click to view or buy: 
Trench 388 || Blazer 73.50 || Striped tee 39.50 || Black dress 168 || Skinny jeans 98 || Flats 195

PS - Your votes would be much appreciated!

By Best Mom Fashion Blog

{chic finds} F21 slip dress

If you're on a budget and looking for one piece to add to your wardrobe this fall, this is the dress for you. Only $15.50 at Forever 21, it's available in this season's must have color - wine - as well as mustard, cobalt, black, and rust. Here are two looks incorporating fall trends for under $150 each.

dress 15.50 || blouse 13.50 || belt 21.99 || bag 35.94 || boot 52 

  sweater 98 || desert wedge boot 36.94 || cuff 4.90

Look 1:
This season is all about ladylike fashion so after seasons of telling people to not worry about matching shoes, belts or handbags, this season you get full permission to be matchy-matchy. A sheer blouse in a similar hue with a red belt and structured handbag gives this dress a lady chic, color-blocked feel.
To wear the blouse with the dress and belt, twist or pin the ends so it looks like it's tucked into the belt and makes the dress act like a skirt. You can also skip the belt and tie the ends of the blouse in a knot. Obviously, ditch the belt that comes with the dress for either of these.

Look 2:
For a more casual fall look, pair the dress with a textured fisherman's sweater and desert wedge boot. A longer sweater with a long skirt evokes a easy 70's boho style that begs to be worn every weekend.

Other ways to wear it:  With a black or creme blazer, a cobalt sweater, a knotted v-neck white tee, a long chunky cardigan, a loose crochet sweater...if I get ambitious, I may actually take outfit pictures featuring one (or more) of these suggestions. But don't get your hopes up.

Borrowed from the boys (and girls)

You've probably seen a lot of ideas and inspiration for stealing from your man's closet and making his pieces work for you.  But what happens if you're an extra-small-petite married to an extra-large-husky?  You steal from your kids.

Mine isn't old enough to share clothes yet (I can almost fit into his size 18-24 mo hoodies, but not quite) but that doesn't mean I can't justify a few early purchases at Crew Cuts.  Here are a few tops from the boys and bottoms from the girls that can easily pass as grown-up weekend style.

• An acid lemon tee with ikat shorts for early morning estate sale-ing
• A gingham poplin (roll up the sleeves!) with a lace skirt for brunch with friends
• A striped cotton sweater with striped drawstring shorts for a cool sunset picnic

Click on image to view product on retailer's site.

(Those are grown up sandals, though Crew Cuts shoes go up to sz 37 if you really wanted.)

And a few more pieces I loved from the kiddos:

More J.Crew...

Take a bow

images via JCrew and NYMag

I'm loving Prabal Gurung's collaboration with J. Crew available in stores today.  If you see something you can't live without, order soon because this is a limited-edition collection.  As in, only 50 units were made in some styles.  And now there are only 49 left in the white blazer and navy dress because those have my name all over them!

{DIY} Embellished ruffle cardigan

 

via J. Crew

Cardigans are a year-round staple no matter where you live.  Even when it's 114 degrees outside, air conditioners blasting inside keep the temps just above freezing, so you'll need something to throw over your sleeveless top.

You can find a basic cardigan anywhere, any fabric, any price.  The ruffle embellishment in the one pictured above adds a fun bit of detail to a basic piece in a simple color.  Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but that doesn't mean you can't add the same flair to one of the cardigans in your closet.  Thanks to the girls at Mismatcherie, all you need is an old top and old sweater and in no time you will have this:

Click here for the DIY details and let me know how it turns out!

Let's get physical, physical...

With swimsuit season upon us, and a little Bitty that loves the water, I need to get back in shape. Thanks to good genes, (you know, the Asian ones) I have always been rather thin and petite.  I still am, however, my weight has now shifted into uncomfortable places like dripping from the edges of my pre-pregnancy jeans. No longer a muffin top, it's now graduated into a full muffin drip. And it's time to take control.

So I'm starting the Tracy Anderson Method, which, if you are unfamiliar, is the same workout routine done by Gweneth Paltrow, Madonna, etc. She believes in high reps (like 100) and no more than 3 pound weights to build lean muscle rather than bulk up.  The cardio is some kind of tribal dance that I am much too uncoordinated to follow but it's fun and gets me moving.  Strength training relies mostly on your own body weight for resistance so it's a good thing I gained that extra 5 lbs recently.  And she doesn't talk too much like those annoying guys on other videos (ahem, P90X).  I'm only two days in, but I'm sticking to it and using any of the swimsuits below as motivation!  Especially #4...

1 2 3 4 5

Do you have any good workout routines or advice?  
And share your favorite songs to get you moving too!

 

I don't care if Monday's blue...

I'm wearing and feeling...

  ....sparkly? stripey? blue? 

yes. yes. eh.

 

images via

Copy Cat part 2

After yesterday's post, I found these pants for way less - like, $17.99 vs $49.50. I'm thinking about getting them, buying sequin ribbon from the fabric store and switching out the drawstring.  Crafty, huh?

I also found these shoes that would work with the look.  And you could wear them with socks.

Anyone trying heels and socks?  Anyone? Bueller?  Bueller??

Copy Cat Chic

You know when you see a random stranger who looks so effortlessly put together and you think, "I want to look like her"?  Well, that's what I thought when I saw this Michael Kors ad in Vogue a few months ago.

 

And since I've spent the past few days in these pants, I thought I'd add the rest of the pieces to re-create this fall weekend look.

 Faux fur wrap, 19.99 orig 39.99

Long cardigan, 147.90 orig 248

Wedges, 89.99 orig 139

Double wrap belt, 28

Knit pants, 49.50

Leg warmers, 39

The slim fitting "un-sweatpant" is a little more universally flattering than the hi-waist harem cropped pants that the model is wearing in the ad.  And I can't tell, but is she also wearing socks with her shoes?  That's a lot of look, but she makes it all so easy.  What do you think?

Weekend brunch and what I wore

Our first Sunday brunch with friends - sans baby - and the great friends, great food and great weather made it the perfect maiden outing.  I tried to take a self-portrait, but as previously mentioned, I'm not so great with the camera.  I am, however, good with Photoshop, so here is a picture of what I wore:

Yes, that's my new APART sweater with a gray J. Crew turtleneck.  Paired back with more oldies-but-goodies from my closet: Paper, Denim and Cloth distressed jeans (I said ooooldies), a brown suede Balenciaga bag, Ralph Lauren heels, Michael Kors gold watch and Forever 21 owl necklace.  And that is the last time you will read about the labels in my closet because it's just shameful.  (But don't you love the shoes?  They're gray wool & brown wood and the buckle in the slingback has little, sparkly crystals like the embellishment across the top.  And the heel is a really manageable height, unlike the rest of my 5-inchers.)

I tried to do socks-with-heels but I just wasn't ready to pull it off today. Your thoughts?

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

The cure for cold ankles

image via J. Crew catalog

You may have seen this look for a while now, or this may be completely new to you, but socks with heels are not just for your 80-yr-old grandmother. 

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image via

This is a tricky look for people, but done right, it can make an outfit more fun and modern.  Here are some tips to help you pull this look off:

• Pick thin (nylon, cashmere, silk) ankle socks to wear with heels.  If you wear a thicker sock, wear a heavier shoe, like a wedge, clog or desert boot.
• Make sure it hits at the top, or thinnest part, of your ankle for the most flattering look. 
• A neutral color sock or one the color of your shoe is the easiest, but you can also mix it up.
• Wear something short on top - at least above the knee or shorter - so you don't end up looking like your mee-maw with her long granny skirt and the hem of her slip sticking out of the bottom.
• You can also wear an over-the-knee sock with a flat shoe or boot, unless it reminds you too much of your prep-school days and getting smacked in the knuckles with a ruler.

What do you think?  Are you going to try it?

White hot

Not wearing white after Labor Day is as old a rule as not mixing black and navy or wearing matching belt-shoes-purse.  Aside from summer weight fabrics, you can wear white all year round.  (Exceptions to that rule are: no white hosiery, white shoes or white bags.  Sure some people can pull it off, but most will look like Nurse Betty.)

Here are a couple of ideas to wear white now:

Look 1: Turn your summer white jersey dress to fall by layering a faux-fur vest over a long cardigan and pairing with over-the-knee boots.

Click on links below to purchase or view retailer's site:

Faux fur vest, Old Navy $29.50

Long boyfriend cardigan, Mossimo Black $20

Over the Knee boot, LOFT $198

Tunic dress, Vila $20.22

Double wrap bracelet, J.Crew $26.50

Look 2:  White jeans work all year when worn with a long wrap cardigan and booties.  Add a khaki sequin-front tank to add sparkle and texture.

Click on the links below to purchase or view retailer's site:

Wrap cardigan, Old Navy $49.50

Sequin front tank, Charlotte Russe $18

White jeans, MICHAEL Michael Kors $48.50

Suede lace up boot, ASOS TOTALLY $185.35

 Happy Labor Day!

easy end-of-summer style

Even though the retailers say it's fall, the weather seems to tell us something entirely different. So while I wait to wear my chunky knits and over-the-knee boots, here are a few pieces to wear for the rest of summer...

This J. Crew top is drapey, soft and comfortable and can be worn right now and through fall under a jacket or cardigan. Gray satin cargo pants are a little dressier than their cotton sister and also much lighter to wear in the scorching summer heat. Finish off the look with a chain cuff and cognac sandals and you're ready to take on the hot August day!

Click on any of the styles to purchase or view on the retailer's site.