budget-friendly shopping?

Is there every such a thing as "good shopping" on a budget?  Sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no.  People who find the best deals on things are people who usually are out and about a lot checking in on what's going on sale and which coupons are being honored.  Sticking to a budget has always made me feel like my personal style is constricted.  How would I ever still find the things I loved if I couldn't spend freely or was always looking for a good deal on them?!

Having just left one of my three jobs (for some more quality time with my husband!) I feared that my shopping passion (habit?) would suffer.  I had mixed feeling about this.  In my early 20s I lived however I wanted.  Friday afternoons were spent shopping for Friday and Saturday nights' outfits and Sunday was spent getting coffee recounting the weekend.  This cycle was repeated weekly with the occasional bad day mani/pedi/coffee/shopping trip interspersed.  Over the years I have curated quite an exhibit of clothing, most of which, sadly sits in the closet unworn.  Yet that desire still remains to ease a bad day with a stop at my favorite shops.  

Getting married this summer showed me (very quickly) that I am now living for someone other than myself.  I always kept a retail job for "shopping money" (more-so to help ease my "shopping guilt") but now it was taking up a part of my life that needed to be shared with another.  In the decision to leave my retail job behind (tear!) and really begin my life with my husband and immerse myself in my real career, I put myself on a budget (YIKES!). I have never ever had good luck on a budget.  Ever.  Maybe I am weak.  Maybe I lack discipline.  Maybe my grandmother's love of art has rubbed off in my love of being living art in what I wear.  That last one is a real stretch.  I think I mostly have not had a real reason to stick to a budget before.  The thought of children, homes, college educations, family vacations, trips to the in-laws in Florida, used to bring to mind visions of sunshine, smiles, and seersucker.  Now all I see is dollar signs.  

Mr. S has always teased me about my "expensive taste" and I have always maintained that I work so much because I never want to ask anyone else to have to deal with (or foot the bill for) my expensive taste.  No budget meant as long as my bills were covered I could splurge a little (or a lot) on things I loved.  With building a new life with someone else no longer in my future, but very much in my present, I am having trouble wrapping my mind around fitting my expensive taste into what I perceive as a very small monthly number.  Mr. seems to think it's "reasonable."  He is also the man who used to go "shopping" and come home with a pack of Hanes T-shirts in new colors (woohoo!).  

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and five days without power, I decided that I did need to start living for someone other than myself, but I did not need to abandon the part of me that loves fashion and all it has to offer.  My closet is not full of trendy, of-the-moment clothing.  It is full of what I consider classic pieces that define my personal style.  I have set out toward my closet (closets, really) with a new mantra "make it new."  Find new possibilities from my own closet.  Was the fun of shopping on a bad day really no more than just feeling like I had some control in my life?  Pretty much.  I can take the reins from the comfort of my own home and my own clothes.  An hour spent in the department store can now be an hour spent trying different combinations with what I already know fits and looks great.  It will be a much more fulfilling hour spent with friends getting coffee and a mani then walking around a store, shouting to each other in the fitting rooms.  When I did have my extra to shop I need to choose things that have purpose and staying power.  Or I can be smart and buy less to save more.  

So with that I am "making it new" this November.  Starting with my email in-box and deleting all of those pesky shopping emails.  I will then remember that each item I procure on this budget needs to serve more of a purpose than "Saturday Night."  Budgets do not mean losing my expensive taste, but rather refining that taste down to what really matters, and what is really needed.  

Fall Favorites/Shopping Ban

Today we had some beautiful weather! It started off pretty rainy and chilly, but we ended the day with fall sunshine.  The smell of fall leaves is one of my most favorite things.  Today I'm posting my first Outfit of the Day!  Yay!  I've always been hesitant because I am a little camera shy, but I think I'm going to start posting them more!  
Today I wore boots, skinny cords, a check button down and a great blazer from JCrew.  I really loved today's outfit!  It was perfect for this kind of weather.  I love great pops of color in the fall season, and a berry pink can be a little unexpected.  Most people love oranges and reds in the fall, but this pink was just what I needed to add a little pep to Wednesday.  
I decided that I really need to channel my inner Kate Middleton and start "recycling" my wardrobe.  It is so easy to fall into the shopping trap when a great new outfit is just a few clicks away.  After all the recent shopping I've done I am trying to go on a shopping ban and setting a reward for myself at the end.  I tried it before and it worked, so lets see how it goes this time around.  Hopefully this will force me to dig around in my closet a little more, rather than run out to the store.  We'll see how it goes! Today is day 2 and I'm doing okay so far!  

All the small things

So...this week I'm coming off of a bit of an online shopping bender.  I grabbed all the stuff in my last post plus a cashmere sweater, two pairs of tights, chino pants, and a blazer...yikes.  Needless to say I'm going on a shopping ban of sorts.  When I got home from work today I sat down with my closet and had a heart to heart.  What big things am I holding out for?  What gaps to I see?  I saw no gaps, but saw a few things I had my eye on for awhile, had the money for, and somehow along the way all the small things added up and took place of the big things I have looked at for a long time.  My new shopping question "will I want to pass this on to my granddaughter?"  One of the greatest things about being close with my grandmother was getting to borrow and eventually inherit all of her cool stuff.  I have some vintage Liberty of London scarves, some great tweed blazers with elbow patches and leather buttons, and fur-trimmed coats for special occasions.  When I look in my closet what can I pass along to my grandkids?  The personal-style-defining pieces are what will matter most as my life moves on, and instead of focusing on the little things that I need for a big meeting tomorrow.  All the stylists say "focus on classic pieces" but what are classic pieces?  I've put together a list of resources I used to define my personal style.  These books helped me reflect on my closet in terms of what I have and what I can find where.
Nina Garcia - The Little Black Book of Style 
Nina Garcia - The 100: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own
Nina Wildorf - City Chic: An Urban Girl's Guide to Livin' Large for Less 
Claire B. Schaeffer - Couture Sewing Techniques 
Amanda Brooks - I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style
Kate Spade - The Guide to Living Colorfully

On a rainy day, or when I don't know what to wear, I browse these books for inspiration.  They are a great resource for beefing up your closet, or guiding you away from trends and toward classic pieces.  When shopping it's always important to think of how a piece will find a place in your wardrobe, what function it will serve, and how long will it still be active in your closet.

Define your style, don't let style define you!

Happy October! 
xxoo

Saturday Morning

Today marks my first Saturday morning at home in a long time.  I typically am running to my weekend job for a full-day shift.  The promise of the weekend haunts us all week.  We develop plans, create "To-Do" lists and try to hit the ground running and accomplish it all in two days.  Yesterday something funny happened.  I tried accomplishing some of my "Saturday To-Dos" on Friday afternoon.  This morning when I woke up to see my husband off to his race, it was great to look around and see that a great portion of my list was already done and that the weekend now held new appeal.  The sense of urgency that sometimes comes with the weekend had vanished.  

What this laid-back Saturday now provided me with is an opportunity to do some online shopping.  Here are the purchases I'm pondering....

Jacket - in red / Cords - cabernet / Pants - navy / and pretty much any sweater I see.  

JCrew is offering 25% off select outerwear this weekend!  Including winter coats and their great puffer vests (I have hot pink and a blue from last year!  Perfect for fall and winter!)

Happy Saturday!  We are off to the Head of the Housatonic Regatta in CT!  Let's hope it's a beautiful day! 

xxoo

Decluttering

I find that more and more our lives are being controlled by clutter; in it's various forms.  We have endless To-Do lists scratched on scraps of paper and most of us only feel as though we really accomplished something when we can cross it off a list.  With that in mind  I spent this week setting out to find areas of my life I can de-clutter to help me de-stress.  Fall, for me, has always been a time of renewal and fresh starts.  I prefer to have a "new year" celebration as school beings and the craziness of summer settles down.  In this "new  year" I have some resolutions.  

De-clutter at work:

I have always been a bit of a work-a-holic.  I worked through college, and as soon as I graduated jumped head first into a job.  From that day on I have never gone without at least one job.  Most of the time I have two, but currently I am working three jobs.  Now, it's not as though I need these jobs; my husband and I do well for ourselves.  I have always just enjoyed being busy.  In the wake of our wedding I began to realize that I was finding my own self-worth in having so many jobs.  I was proud of my balancing act, and proud that I always managed to excel in all forms of work and still maintain a lively social life.  These past weeks I have woken up tired on a daily basis.  I no longer jump at the chance to take on a new endeavor.  Call it wisdom coming with age, or newly realized sanity, I realized I need to get my priorities in order.  Step one is learning how to say no to the right people.  I never say no, I am always happy to take on something new.  Saying no is key to de-cluttering life.  

De-clutter around the house:

My husband and I are not the neatest of folk.  Don't get me wrong, we do not need to be nominated for Hoarders or anything, but we do have a bad habit of coming in, dropping our stuff and crashing onto the couch together.  We need to get a plan.  We need to have better habits of walking those few extra steps, putting it all away, then crashing.  It will come with time.  

De-clutter the closet:

My closet has come to be quite the collection.  Rather than cleaning, I would say that my closet needs "curating."  My whole morning routine is totally out of whack because I stand at my closet, look in, and decide "I have nothing to wear..." I need to start cleaning house, keeping only solid pieces that I've worn recently and keep my head on straight when I shop.  

De-clutter my budget:

I've made budgets quite often, and have never been able to stick to them.  It's just so hard.  Sometimes I feel like I just lack self-control.  Other times, I don't have a reason at all.  What I do know is that at this point in my life the only way to get ahead is to live on a budget. I need to separate my "needs" from "wants" without depriving myself completely. Do I need a new sweater?  Most likely not, but one won't hurt.  Do I need to stock up on it in a million colors?  Definitely not.  That's where the line in the sand has to be drawn.  Everything in moderation.  

Just typing this list I feel better.  I feel like I have a jumping off point rather than just a giant list of things I may or may not get to.  One of the most important things I've found is to start small.  Don't make a huge list, you'll already feel defeated.  Put one thing on a sticky and throw it out when you're done.  It will feel great!  Keep the sticky with you as you complete the task.  Throw it away once its done and if you feel up to it, grab another sticky and get started.  Rather than seeing how much you have left, focus on that one task.  You will always feel that you can accomplish what's in front of you.  Be an effective user of time and you will see great things!  

xxoo 

Fall Haul

Fall is my favorite season.  The cool breeze, the sound of pencil's being sharpened, a great afternoon walking outside.  I think being in New England a love of the fall is somehow born and bred into us.  One of the greatest things about fall is the shopping.  Cozy layers of sweaters, riding boots, scarves - all great pieces in any wardrobe. 

This year as my fall shopping began I set out with a list.  Some of it I stuck to, some of it I got a little off track (whoops!).  I definitely stuck to a few key pieces in varying colors and styles.  
  - Sweaters: cashmere, merino wool, thick cotton blends are all great layering pieces for fall.  I like to try and buy a couple new pull over sweaters as well as cardigan.
  - Boots: I love boots, its s sick obsession really.  I really am trying to limit myself to one pair of boots this year.  Simple black, flat riding boots.  At the end of last winter I was able to find a pair of booties and wedge ankle boots on sale and so pulling those out this year has been like hitting the jackpot! 
  - Skirts: I love skirts.  Friends of mine have said that they feel like this summer they have only seen me in skirts and dresses.  Exactly!  They are so easy - throw on and go!  I'm so busy sometimes that I really can't think and if I need a quick outfit I usually can make a great outfit with a skirt without much thought.  This year I bought 2 wool pencil skirts in bright colors, and 1 crepe swing skirt for fun.  Great pieces with tights and boots or flats.  
  - Blazers: I truly have a sick obsession with blazers. I have quite a few.  This year I picked a new blazer in a bright blue that will go with every color - including black.  I also bought a blazer in a black and white houndstooth with leather elbow patches.  To me nothing says fall in New England like a houndstooth blazer and skinny jeans - my favorite.  

It feels like I've already done a tone of fall shopping (sorry husband!), so I really want to try and focus on working with things I already have.  Its so hard browsing fashion blogs where everything is linked to the pages where you can click-click-click and own that great outfit.  I can tend to get carried away and the last thing I need is an angry man in my life.  My goal is to try and not shop again until Holiday rolls around.  Fingers crossed, we'll see how this goes! 

Cheers to the last days of summer and the first of fall! 

spring time staples

Every spring there are pieces I find myself coming back to again and again:

Navy blazer - a navy blazer is an essential piece of every wardrobe. After college it is not an option to not have one. A good fit and quality is an essential piece of picking the right blazer.  Look for little details like felt under the collar and gold buttons.  Blazers are an investment.  My favorite is the JCrew Schoolboy blazer.  Its beautiful and versatile.  There are also great options at Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Zara.  If a blazer isn't just right there are small changes you can make to get it there.  Changing out buttons, adding a pin, having silk from a vintage tie or scarf added to collar or sleves is a great way to update a blazer. 

Silk Tops - solid, bright, patterned, spotted, fun, or classic.  A great silk top can take you from day to night effortlessly.  I view silk tops more like collectors items.  Right now I love a good pattern: paisley, ditsy print, polka dots, all great choices.  Always try on silk tops.  They shouldn't pull across your chest or be tight through the shoulders.  Eventually this will cause wear and tear on the silk.  I also love a good machine washable silk top.  Makes life so much easier. 

A colorful handbag - everyone who knows me knows of my long standing love affair with my red handbag.  Its just the icing on the cake.  A good handbag will pull the entire look together.  Handbags should be intentionally chic.  A handbag shouldn't be an outfit afterthought; it can speak volumes about who you are. 

Stacks of bracelets - bracelets are such conversation pieces.  They can be part of a great collection of jewelry for the rest of you life.  I love bracelets with memories attached to them and personal stories.  They can be priced from low to high - F21, H&M, Target, all the way through hierloom jewelry, pearls, and charms.  I love to give bracelets as gifts. 

(see purple above)
Pants that aren't jeans - jeans have recently take the forefront in society, becoming more acceptable in different situations.  Working in a situation where I can't always wear jeans I have come to love pants that are different from denim.  The rich textures and interesting shapes out there are fantastic.  I love lightweight wool, eyelet, prints, twill, jacquard, and chino.  Finding staple pants that can take you from work to the weekend and beyond can be a challenge, but one well worth it. 

Those are the staples that I look for as I do my spring and summer shopping.  Outfits to start soon! 
Thanks for visting! xo
K