summer wish list.

I have to stay up because I just put laundry in the wash and the thought of wet clothes sitting all night...nawww, not so much.  I can either work on the reference list for my junior thesis OR I can compile my summer clothing wish list.  The choice is clear. (:

• shorts! I have two pairs...from two years ago. Time to upgrade.  I feel like all the leg workouts I've been killing myself over in the last six weeks should warrant a pair similar to these..  

American Eagle, $40.  

American Eagle, $40.

Definitely won't be spending $40 on something that's probably only worth $10.  This is just inspiration for when I hit the thrift stores. (:

These from Old Navy are also sweet, and cost half as much. 

Old Navy, $23

• What I really need ("need" being a very relative term after spending  a week in India) are skirts.  Much like shorts, I own two skirts I would actually wear.  Those post is making it much more glaringly obvious how pathetic my wardrobe really is. 

I love this skirt from American Eagle!  It also happens to be on sale at the moment.  Hm..

American Eagle, on sale for $20

And then there are these two, from Old Navy. Ahh!

Old Navy, on sale for $17

Old Navy, on sale for $17

And these two, from Maurices.  Wow, wow, wow.  I'm a fan.

Maurices, $32

Maurices, $32

• Next I would buy a bunch of t shirts from Target because they are great and come in great colors and one of my favorite looks is a cute skirt such as the ones I've picked out here paired with a simple, fitted, feminine t shirt.  Solid stuff there.  Like such as this one, which is $8 and comes in 12 colors. Thank you, Target.  

Target, $8

• I'm feeling some chunky jewelry to pull all these hypothetical outfits together.

Target, $25

Target, $30 

Target, $14

• And shoes! Oh summer shoes!  

Target, $15

Target, $20

Now I have an itch to make a few polyvore outfits from everything in this post.  You might see them soon, considering that today was my last day of classes as a junior! WHEW!  

winter warmth.

Last night I saw a lovely boot/sock/tight combination Pinterest, which led me to Polyvore to create an entire outfit based on what I saw. I want to be wearing this right now!  (:

winter warmth. by ewood4028 featuring thigh high opaque tights

J Crew knit sweater
jcrew.com

Fogal thigh high opaque tight
stylebop.com

Skirt
target.com

Red herring
$5.78 - debenhams.com

Knitted scarve
boohoo.com

Women's Coconuts Tommie Orange FamousFootwear.com
famousfootwear.com

my druthers on the first day of class.

For the first day of class this semester, I went for BOLD.  I bought a sort of mustard-yellowy skirt at Target a few months ago, but I've never found the perfect top for it...until I checked my housemate's closet, where there was this sweet purple/blue pullover.  I paired the outfit with black tights, brown boots, and a handmade headband from a friend. I was wearing some sweet Fossil earrings before the pictures were taken, but they're kind of hard to talk on the phone with so I took them out.


At lunch one of the really fashion conscious girls at school said, "wow, Erica, I like that color combo!"  I'm going to chalk this one up as a solid success.


Top: Gap (similar here)
Skirt: Target (similar here)
Tights: Target
Boots: Famous Footwear (here)

I based my outfit loosely on this color scheme, even though my purple was different and I didn't use red.  I like this site because it gives me a general idea of what works when I feel clueless.  I use it to check and make sure what I've already picks out will coordinate together, and I also use it for ideas.

The pictures are pretty mediocre because they were shot after sunset in one quick second before a bunch of people came over...maybe they'll be better next time.  But like I said. No promises on photos.

toms: are they worth it?...and alternatives.

Cute, to be sure.

Comfy, too.

But also...at least fifty bucks for a piece of Canvas.

Let it be known that I have been sucked into the world of Toms.  My hipster-trendy roommate had a pair that I borrowed at least three days a week.  Finally I bought a pair of my own.  They are perfect slip-on-and-go shoes, with jeans, or shorts, or even a skirt.  But $50?  One accidental wearage in the rain and the inside sole will curl up.  Each additional accidental contact with water causes the inside sole to curl up more and more.  Unless worn only in perfectly delightful weather, Toms don't last very long.  And they're sweaty.  

While I do love my Toms, I'm thinking that my next pair of errand-running shoes won't be Toms.  Here are the alternatives I'm considering:

First, we have this number from Urban Outfitters, which I personally think could work as a quick slip on shoe with a multitude of outfits, and is a little more unique than your average Tom. (oh and they're cheap too.  2 for $20.)

Next we have Bobs by Sketchers, which look and cost almost the exact same as Toms.  But I guess you better watch out that no one looks too closely at the tag, because that wouldn't be cool.  

Here we have your Soludos for $28 from Shop Bop.  

Oh, yes! And let us not forget Target! These espadrillas may be ugly, but they're cheap!  $17!  (Also I'm fairly certain they have better colors when they're in season. These must've been the 'tovers.)

And, saving the best for last, my all-time favorite canvas shoe...

VANS. I dearly like Vans.  

Just look at all the color choices!

Conclusion:  Toms are about the cutest shoe of their style category.  None of my similar examples come close to competing with Toms' cute factor.  But honestly, I'm not sure that cuteness is worth the $50 for a shoe that isn't going to last very long.  Especially because they're so in.  I don't like succumbing and getting what's in. I know, I know, I did it.  But I'm done buying Toms!  

Moral of the story: buy Vans, kids.  

saturday: this week's knowledge gained

discoveries/lessons I learned/ideas about fashion from this week:

• suede boots are not out of style. Go for it! Especially, in my opinion, with something dressier like a skirt and tights.  This is good news for me, as I have an old hand-me-down pair that was given to me for free.  I need those puppies to be in style.

I  hate wearing pink...But it works well with this outfit. 

• you can wear bracelets with long sleeves. I've always felt a little uncomfortable with this, but I'm thinking if your sleeve is not some sort of loose french horn-type sleeve, and your bracelet is a large and chunky bangle, you should be ok.  

I'd wear this.

• some people spend $17,500 on ugly gold bracelets.  one. single. ugly. bracelet.  c'mon, people.  Someday you'll see me bashing about Barneys in New York, but this reptile won't be in my shopping bag.  

"Complimentary shipping on all US orders."  Gee, thanks a lot.

• I spent some time thinking about what I would wear with army green. This is it:

• never, ever, trust a gift from your sister when she is holding it behind her back and says, "hold out your hands and close your eyes." Even when she says it's not mean or gross.  If it's not mean or gross, then it's useless junk neither of you want.  I am still learning this one, after twenty years.

the latest from polyvore.

I call it, "I would wear this to class every day of winter."

I like plain and simple.

j. crew on a budget.

We got the J Crew catalog in the mail this week.  Well, my sister subscribed to this torture, and then moved away and didn't inform J. Crew of her changed address.  Generally I find myself disgruntled and cranky after looking through J Crew.  It's one of those catalogs where nearly every outfit is perfect and lovely and you would wear it yourself...if you had $200 to spend on one perfect sweater.

look. at. this. oh, mama.

It's simply lovely.  Total price?  $457.  ha.  HA.  Most of us are on a budget, and if we aren't we should be.  

But try these on for size!

Top: $49.95 from Gap

Shorts: $20 from Old Navy

Belt: $16.94 from Old Navy

Necklace: $8.80 from Forever21

Sunglasses:  $12.99 from Target (so they're not Ray-Bans.  Not sure the name is worth $132 more dollars..)

Total?  $108.68, thank you very much.

(Still too expensive for me...time to find the shirt at goodwill. :)