Cyber Monday Motivation

There’s something nostalgic about standing in the long Black Friday lines, brazing the cold morning temps and waiting for the doors to swing open – with deals (and heat) awaiting. I’ll forever be one of those crazies but as of late, I’ve learned to temper my spending a bit to ensure I’ve got enough to splurge on the often even better Cyber Monday sales.

Case in point: this adorable striped dress picked up last year for only $10. To be honest I can’t even remember where it came from, but there was a plethora of sales promoted on Instagram that offered similar steep discounts. Keep on eye your feed next Monday, and on the prize.

Shoes: $69 from Nordstrom Rack / Choker: $14 from Apricot Lanedress

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InVESTED in Fall Fashion

This is quite possibly my favorite fall outfit.  I have a weird (and expensive) habit of not liking to wear things more than once in a season but for this one, I’ll make an exception.

The plaid button up and navy vest both came from Marshall’s.  The button up was $19 and the vest just $24.  At full retail, we’d be looking at a combined retail over $80.  The boots were another awesome steal I found at Belk two years ago.  If you want a new pair of boots but don’t necessarily NEED them, then wait until the day after Christmas to make the purchase.  The longer you can hold out, the better the deal.  I purchased these at the end of January for about $20.

As you may have realized, I’m not one to pay full retail and am always searching out the best deals.  But sometimes, like allowing yourself to re-wear a season staple, you’ve got to bend the rules.  These DL 1961 jeans came from StitchFix and ran around $100 but were well worth it.  The fit and feel are perfect.

Thank goodness the shopping deals are more reliable than this truck!

Heavy Metal

Today is one of those weird, warm fall days where you’re not quite sure whether to wear a dress or bundle up in a cozy sweater.  The Wear What Where October Style Challenge was enough to convince me to go with the latter.  The theme is Metallic Miss and I had the perfect necklace for the occasion.

Starting with this statement necklace as the focal point (as pretty as it is, I swear it adds 10 lbs.), I built out an outfit that accents the shimmery hues.  I purchased the necklace at Nordstrom Rack for $19.99, which is a steal for something so intricate in design.

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I found this sweater last fall at T.J. Maxx and it is easily one of my favorites, minus the itchy wool.  It was around $30, which is honestly more than I would normally spend on a sweater but also a fraction of what it would have cost in a department store.  The jeans were only $10 during T.J. Maxx’s end of season markdowns last year. Shopping hack: T.J. Maxx is offering free shipping right now if you sign up for their newsletter.

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The booties are beauties.  Retailed at $129, I picked up these Jessica Simpson taupe fringe booties at Marshalls for just $49.

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Though the temperature is supposed to rise throughout the day, it started off chilly, giving me an opportunity to break out this stunning new wool coat.  Another T.J. Maxx find, the coat was purchased for just $49 (retailed at $72).  I saw a woman trying it on and basically stalked her until she bought it down.  Have y’all ever done that before?!  It might have been slightly creepy but well worth it: )

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Return of the shoulda been returned

While I feel most in my element when wearing a sundress, I have to admit I’m glad to welcome back the season of leggings.  They are just so comfortable and with the right pairing, can be appropriate for both work and play.

For today’s ensemble I mixed a little old with a little new.  The Cynthia Rowley top was found at Marshall’s (priced at $19, retailed at $29).  The print has the slightest blend of blush and tan, lined with black.

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I bought the jacket at the beginning of last spring and after bringing it home, decided I just wasn’t in love with it.  I threw it in my trunk to return on my next trip to T.J. Maxx.  But, I am the absolute worst at returning things.  The intention is always there, but the memory is not.  So, needless to say I was a bit surprised to find the jacket when cleaning out my trunk and more surprised to find that I actually love it now.  Guess it was just meant to be! It’s a Max Jeans jacket, priced at $49 and retailed at $120.

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The leggings are Lauren Conrad for Kohls.  I’ve had them for two seasons now and even after much overuse, they’ve stood the test of time and are still in perfect condition.  I’d highly recommend her leggings but don’t jump to make the purchase; they often drop down to 50% off retail and then you can use a site like Retail Me Not to get an additional percentage off (card holders get even steeper discounts).  I bought the booties last year at Ross for just $19.99 and have seen them there on this shelves again this season!  The hat and necklace are both from H&M.

Do you have any pieces like the jacket that are a dual-threat, suitable for both spring and fall?

Grey Street

I instantly felt a twinge of regret for wishing away the summer heat over the weekend after the nighttime temperatures dipped into the 40’s. But, as someone who dresses for the season instead of the weather, at least my wardrobe is finally temperature appropriate.

I usually shy away from scarves because I find the accessory to be unflattering for my body type.  However, with cold days upon us and blanket scarves abound in the stores, this is one occasion when it’s acceptable to choose brains over beauty.

Most blanket scarves I’ve seen range from $24 and up.  This gem was just $12 at Ross and there was a huge assortment of colors to choose from.  I paired it with this cozy long-sleeve shirt from T.J. Maxx – just $16.99 (retails for $36).  The jeans (which are a little too baggy this season thanks to the intense Kayla Itsines workout regime) were only $20 last season at Target. That’s a great spot to find basic comfy denim.  The boots were only $24 at Marshall’s, in comparison to the full retail price of $50.

I’ll admit I was at a loss on how to style a blanket scarf because they are HUGE! When in doubt, I turn to YouTube and found the blog Extra Petite to be a helpful how-to resource.

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My coat could only come off for a few minutes in this frigid air, just long enough to snap the shot. Despite living in the South, winter coats are my downfall. At last count, I had 80 jackets but it’s so easy to forget about them when they’re packed away so I keep adding to the collection. The newest addition is this light gray Jessica Simpson coat. It was only $69 at T.J. Maxx (retails for $140).

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The sleeves are the best part. The coat has slots for your thumbs to keep hands warm, especially during the early part of the cold season when you’re not quite ready to break out the gloves.

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The color of the scarf pairs well with the coat but there’s also a hood in case things get really chilly.

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Can’t wait to share more fall fashion finds with you all soon!