9.20.2012

christmas in september.

so i know it's only september, but i'm pretty sure i found my holiday dress...christmas, new year's, a december wedding in vegas, whatever. i'd wear this to anything and everything.



one problem. i just spent way more on a new bike than i should have, and the beautifully blackberry floral frock by rachel rachel roy is still full price at macy's...and there is only one left in my size. 

it's got almost all the elements i'm loving right now: a purple hue, sheer fabrics, a peekaboo sweetheart neckline, flowers, a low back and a near-perfect fit (it's missing leather, but let's be honest, that would make this dress more fit to be worn at monarchy on clematis or liv at fountainebleau rather than a dinner at grandma's house...and the vegas event is still not that kind of wedding).

if you just had deja vu, that's because i had a similar situation back in may. i'm going to officially dub it the "rachel syndrome" since i have a feeling it will come up again. 

p.s. i can't find it online anywhere so i don't have a link to share. even if i did, i probably wouldn't anyway because while i love you all, i am greedy when it comes to this dress and don't want you scooping up the last one before i can! but if you like the look of the rachel rachel roy "party" collection, try the black and gold louise dress instead :)

9.18.2012

season's must-haves.

reason #2 why i love fall:
there is not much better than a pumpkin spice latte from starbucks (even if it does cost more than my lunch at $4.19).


wondering what reason #1 is? 
boots. duh.

check back later this week for more on two of my favorite pairs of boots i was able to add to my collection for less than $50 each, even as autumn launches. and yes, i'm referring to my boots as a "collection" now, considering i have now accumulated more than 15 pairs, which is just crazy for a south florida girl.

9.06.2012

fashion's night in.

my husband always says new year's eve is amateur hour. people who don't go out that much and can't handle their liquor out on the town, often times making a mess of it.

well that's how i feel about fashion's night out. don't get me wrong (or send hate mail), i love a good giveaway, makeup trial, or first peek at a collection. i also love supporting the fashion industry, as my husband or amex card can also attest to. i just don't like tons of other shoppers crowding me and making the checkout line that much longer, all for a free lipstick and martini with purchase.

it's not that i'm hating on the event. it's just that for me, there's something to be said about finding that one cool sequined-lined skirt that's left on the rack from the season that just ended (meaning it's technically still in style for us regular ready-to-wear types). and that sheer joy in realizing it's marked down 50 percent off, and surprisingly in your size. and as you're checking out, you're able to chat up the sales girl behind the counter to ask where she got the cute boots that pair so well with her dress, even in the florida summer season.

this scenario couldn't happen on fno. the skirt would be snatched up by someone else who probably will just return it later because the fitting room was too backed up for her to try it on, and the sales girl would be practically sweating from running around the room, let alone having more than 30 seconds to speak to you about anything other than whether you're paying credit or debit...or if you want an extra 15 percent off by opening a brand card.

i also think fno has lost some of it's original magic. it started in nyc as part of fashion week as a way to boost the fashion retail industry through parties, innovative pr stunts and connecting the regular buying public with designers through fashion presentations, etc., all the while getting shoppers to buy at full price. sales and discounts were not part of the deal, but that has since changed once many other locations around the world started building off the promotion too.

so that's my rant. if i could hang out with lubov & max azria from bcbg in new york tonight i might not be writing this. but until then, this is probably the only post you'll ever read here about fno.

that being said, if you did attend a fno event, i really do hope you had a fantastic time and scored big on the stylish goods. feel free to comment and tell me why i'm wrong too!

update: 


i'm not getting free denim manicures at guess, designing my own bracelet at lord & taylor, or meeting nigel barker at nine west, but i am still pretty excited about my own "fashion's night in" with my most recent online purchase that just came in from piperlime, which will make an appearance in one of this week's diy posts. stay tuned.