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 :)

yes to the dress?

i took a peek in macy's on my lunch break to look for the white blazer that's been filling my wardrobe dreams lately. i couldn't find one and got a little off track, however, because the cityplace location has an unbelievable impulse section that always catches my attention.

today, it was the rachel rachel roy vita dress that sucked me in with all its white lace and fringe gorgeousness (you may remember my undying love for the rachel line at macy's from a past post). against my better judgement i tried it on, knowing i shouldn't spend the money.

one problem: i think i am in love. what's a girl to do? yes to the dress at $129? it's actually a pretty decent price for designer standards, but my husband's heart might skip a beat...at which time i'll remind him of the new adidas soccer cleats he just bought that i'll share with you later this weekend ;)

thoughts??

p.s. the mint free people skinny jeans in the background were unfortunately too tight, but only $50 if you're in the market. the blue bcbg max azria wide-leg dress pants were oppositely too big, but equally cute at $100. plus, both are on sale and an extra 20 percent off if you have macy's wow pass this week.

update: i bought it!! i have a feeling you will be seeing this hot little white number again very soon...

lunch break.

i was hungry for something a little different on my lunch break today...

after picking up some wicked hot rachel by rachel roy leather-blocked leggings yesterday for a steal of a price, i also found this bar iii motorcycle jacket in a dark shade of taupe. it came to $21 with tax at the macy's spring sale at cityplace, would have practically been illegal to pass up.

and yes, i know it is spring and pushing 80 to 85 degrees in palm beach county already, but my excuse for these two purchases is that i'm going to nyc for all of 72 hours next week. and yes, it is a business trip so i'll be wearing suits most of the time, but whatever.

recycled.

one of the things i love about my day job is i am surrounded by creativity, and often clothes too.

tomorrow night the educational gallery group (eg2), a community of young local artists, will host its second annual "catwalk" event at cityplace. these amazing students showcase the most imaginative designs on the runway, but it's not your typical ready-to-wear show. it's more of a gaga-esque, avant garde show of crazy clothes made from materials taken from cityplace businesses, and it's a sight to see...i think i'll have a while to go with my sewing machine before i can catch up!

want a sneak preview? here's a look at some of last year's top fashions. click each photo to see the detailed work.

muvico-inspired (the skirt fits right in with this season's high/low trends!):

made from macy's shopping bags:

made from starbucks napkins and cups:

made from publix plastic bags...by the middle schooler wearing it!:

what materials would you like to see on the runway tomorrow night?

* photos from cityplace's instagram account. want to see more? follow them at @cityplace.

x-factor ~ "macys fashion director" web app

i stumbled across macy's new web app while following them on twitter today and got a kick out of creating the following outfit. the app allows you to mix and match tops, bottoms, jackets, accessories, fragrances and more for guys and girls with some of the latest styles available. you can play around with the rompers, jeans, one-shouldered tops, trenches and cuffs just for fun, or the site has some cute daily contests going on by asking visitors to create outfits for different events. today's challenge was to create something to wear for "coffee with an ex" and this is what i came up with.
Macys Fashion Director:



i called it the "x-factor" and i'd like to think a girl would look hot without seeming to try to hard in this. it's a little sweet and spicy at the same time with the fresh white calvin klein cargos, casual fringed tank vest and fun red wayfarers, and then she ups the edge with the spiked cuff (back off buddy!) and the all-appropriate classique x eau de toilette by jean paul gautier.

so if you agree, follow the link and vote please! and then play around with your own this week and post your links in the comment so we can vote for yours during the next few challenges :)

fab find: discounts @ macy's & bebe

if you're anything like me, you probably look forward to the end of a season, and not for the weather. most retailers have been advertising sales for a few weeks now, but if you can hold out until the weekend before a new season you'll get the most bang for your buck.

macy's is holding it's one-day sale this saturday, june 20, with the preview day tomorrow. most stores will open at 8 a.m. friday and saturday, with morning specials both days. shoppers can save from 30-85 percent storewide - which includes an additional 40-50 percent off clearance prices. as if that weren't enough, true bargainists can click on the macy's coupon for an extra $10 off any $25 or more in-store purchase. with sales like this and the 15 percent off coupons in the newspaper nearly every week, it almost doesn't make sense to ever buy at full price. i've already been browsing the macy's at cityplace and have my eye on a few bcbg pieces and a couple pairs of shoes...

my next big find of the day is the sale at bebe. i received an e-mail this morning for a *private sale* but i'm pretty sure anyone who registers to buy with the site can receive it. from today through sunday, shoppers will receive 65 percent off the lowest ticketed price on clearnce merchandise in store, and online buyers can take 15 percent off already reduced merchandise by entering the code "shhhsale"at checkout. plus, there is a flat $5 shipping rate on all orders, which isn't half bad.


i already cashed in on the bebe bargain by purchasing the above shimmer boyfriend long jacket in powder rose, which i've had my eye on since i saw it in a magazine ad. orginally $159, it was marked down to about $85 last week, but i waited until it was $69.99 today, and then received an extra 15 percent off with the coupon code! with tax and shipping it still only came to $68 total!

i'm imagining it rolled up with gray jeans, a white lacy tank and espadrilles...or with a white pencil skirt for work...any other suggestions on how to wear it?