This Week in Outfits

Another week down, and another week's worth of outfits to talk about!  This week I found myself reaching for a lot of staple pieces because some days I just didn't give a hoot.  While I love fashion, some days the work week just wears you down.....you'll notice I tend to have a few staple pieces that I can get away with wearing a few times a week before they need a weekend washing.

So let's break it down:

Monday - After staying up WAAAAYYY too late watching the Oscars, dragging myself out of bed was difficult enough, let alone making any kind of fashion decision.  So I grabbed my black shirt dress.  This one I bought at my fave resale store in town (Clothes Mentor) and it's a silk blend, so it flows nicely.  The weather was in my favor to not need to wear tights, so I just wrapped a double wrap belt around it for definition and my nude heels.  Topped it off with a delicate Stella necklace and I was out the door.

Dress - similar, similar

Belt - similar, similar

Shoes - similar, similar

Tuesday - I had actually forgotten about this top, it as hiding behind the laundry room door!  It's a faux layered look I picked up from Talbot's on clearance!  After having a local alumnae event there, I'm newly obsessed, if I only had the money to shop there!  I picked up my black pants and heels from last week and threw on my new Raid layering necklace for a simple, but preppy vibe.

Shirt - similar, similar, similar

Pants and shoes see last week's post

Wednesday - An early morning meeting meant I had to be up extra early....and had little to no motivation.  I just slipped on the most basic of business casual, khakis and a button down.  I at least made an effort to put *some* jewelry on (this layered over this), but there wasn't much else.

Shirt - similar, similar

Pants - similar, similar

Flats seen in last week's post

I had a rush of motivation on Thursday!  I was up early to hit the gym and got my blood pumping, and it was just an overall great morning!  This gingham checked shirt I got from an old Stitch Fix was hiding with my layered Talbot's shirt, so it had been out of my normal rotation for a while.  Paired with my trusty black boot cuts and heels and you're good for the office!

Shirt - similar, similar
Pants and heels in last week's post

By the end of the week, I'd had a lot of work stress building up so I took a afternoon personal day to just relax and spend time with my son.  Kept it casual but still put together for the few hours I was in the office.  This sweater is also from a Stitch Fix, so I'll try to find good alternatives!

Sweater - similar, similar
Pants - exact, similar
Boots - exact, similar

I hope you guys had a better week than I did!  I'm looking at the positive, this should be a fun weekend.  Date night which will include a little something extra we're shooting for you to see on Monday!

See you later, back here in my closet!!

Save Me from the Cosmetics Aisle!!

So not only do I have a problem with shopping for clothes, I also have a problem with cosmetics.  I blame YouTube.....I just get sucked into a haul or review and there's always something that I wind up wanting to try.  I guess that's their purpose, to get you to buy something.....I'm so weak.

My vanity is literally an old desk....full of makeup....it's ridiculous.

But with being pregnant, my skin has been on point lately.  This surprises me because I always had 'problem skin' in high school and college, but I found I was exfoliating too often and irritating my skin.....I WAS THE PROBLEM!!  So I've since changed my routine to a daily wash at night with a micro-dermabrasion weekly.

Here are a few beauty products (skincare and makeup) that I've been loving recently:

I've spent lots of money on high-end cleansers, but not seen the results worth the money.  Both of these Neutrogena cleansers work wonderfully on my skin...love the Naturals one since it is also a makeup remover and gets eye makeup off completely!  I normally apply this with just my fingers in the shower, but on occasion will use my Clairsonic if I'm feeling frisky.

These are two items I use weekly or bi-weekly.  This mask is amazing and soooooo cheap!  It pulls the oil from your nose and makes you feel refreshed!  This Boots exfoliator is a cheaper version of the Mary Kay I previously used.  It does it's job, but you'll want to make sure you moisturize or use a serum after to replenish your skin in this cold weather!!  Which brings me to a new product I just bought yesterday......

I read in my newest Redbook that you should be hydrating your skin halfway through the day since your moisturizer stops working.....seems legit since it's -4 degrees outside.  They tried to get me to buy a $26 bottle of Benefit Skincare hydrator, but I wasn't havin' it.  So I found the $7 alternative above.  And so far I'm loving it (use = twice so far).  It's got rosewater so your face smells a little rosey right after application, but it hydrates your face throughout the day without moving your makeup.

Speaking of makeup.....I go through a lot of phases with what colors I like or when I don't like to wear a lot.  Right now I'm sticking with a pretty basic combo of neutral eye with a slight wing and a pink or possibly bold red lip.  Here are a few staple makeup items.

My skintone is very pink so I NEED foundation.  Props to those of you who don't.  I got a color match at Sephora with their new iQ tool thingy and picked out the Sephora brand 10-hour wear foundation.  It's working so far, I love the pump and that's what truely drives my search for a foundation.  Other key items are a great blank liquid eyeliner.  I switch between this L'Oreal and the Revlon Colorstay liquid.  Also a great palette so you don't have to mess with individual shades.  I keep reaching for the original Naked palette since I tend to look better in smokey brown/copper/gold shades than black/grey (Naked 2).  I haven't found a blush/contouring combo that I love and that's really my hardest area.  I don't know how to contour my round face well to make it a bit more elongated.  More YouTube videos I guess.

But enough rambling for today....stay warm and I'll see you back in my closet (or makeup bag!).....:)

Online shopping sites and OOTD 6/26

Today's outfit brings me to a area I enjoy.....online shopping.  What isn't there to love about sitting at home, comfy in your sweats and buying to your hearts delight?  Oh, are you talking about buyer's remorse? Clothing not fitting right?  I've learned a few tricks to help ease those concerns over the years....

Let's start with today's outfit:

Dress - Everly Grey (purchase from Gilt)

Yes....this dress is a maternity dress, but the print was too great to pass up and it was only $22 (retail $72).  So I felt I could wear it even though I'm not pregnant (repeat, NOT).  Plus I'm building my maternity stash :)

Gilt is probably the online discount site I shop from the most.  It has a wide array of high and low designers and it ranges from women's wear, men's wear, home goods (including books, furniture, rugs) and kids/baby/maternity wear.  They also have Gilt City which is like a Groupon section.

Here are a few things I've purchased from Gilt

 

 

I've found two restaurants to try while we are in Boston through Gilt City.

Next site that I like to shop from is HauteLook (recently purchased by Nordstrom).  It's similar to Gilt, both high and low end.  I like the selection at Gilt better, but I've made some good finds in the blowout sale events on this site.  HauteLook will also have cosmetics sales that can yield good finds as well.

Here are two things I just purchased last night on HauteLook

 

The final site I visit often is Zulily.  It's very family focused and is mostly women's and kid's clothing with random other sales.  It's probably the worst site when it comes to shipping and getting your order to you in a appropriate amount of time.  Here are a few items I've purchased (I'm pretty sure I got the scarf for $10 and the dress for $25).

 

 

Things to watch for when shopping these online sites:

1) Know your measurements!  These sites get product from all different designers, so sizing is very different from design to design.  Know your bust/waist/hip measurements and use the available size chart.

 

2) Know the return policy.  LOTS of these sites have a 'final sale' notice where you can't return, or if you do you get site credit.  Know what your purchasing and what happens if you don't like it

 

3) Something that I like to do to reduce buyers remorse is put the item in my cart and then walk away from the computer/tablet.  If I'm still thinking about the item in an hour and it is still available I'm consider buying it.  Sometimes just the rush of finding a deal will leave you with remorse....but if you're really loving it, it'll stick in your head.



I know this has been a long blog and I really thank you if you read the whole thing (let me know in a comment!).  Hopefully you found something useful.

Looking forward to blogging while in Boston and then I'll be back home....in my closet :)