I LOVE JUMPSUIT!

I am probably the worst fashionista ever, but I did not watch the SAG awards on Sunday. However, I have been fixing my faux pas by filling in with “news” coverage of the gowns and I am currently recording the Fashion Police special covering the SAG Awards.  This however is not a post about the SAG Awards; it is a post about Jumpsuits. Jumpsuits and how amazing Rose Byrne looked at the SAG Awards in this number.

Rose Byrne’s fabulous jumpsuit is from the Ellie Saab Winter 2009 collection and it looks fantastic.  This jumpsuit is more modern with the tank sleeves, draped front and beaded fabric. I love the hair, but it is a little too heavy for the look in my opinion; I would have preferred a soft updo. Ultimate verdict though is that the look is amazing. 

 

I have wanted a jumpsuit for a very, very long time.  It all started in 2004 with Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.  I know it is an odd movie for fashion inspiration but I have always loved 70s style. The pool party scene where Christina Applegate is wearing the white long sleeve jumpsuit is perfection and sold me on the amazingness of the jumpsuit.  I have been searching for the perfect one ever since, but to no avail. I tried finding a picture with her in it, but also no luck.  Youtube the scene and you will understand. (I hope I don't need to point out the Anchorman reference in the post's title...)

The tricks of the perfect jumpsuit, which doesn’t seem to exist for less than $60, but I will continue to look.

• Wide leg-flare long bottom or straight leg that hits at the ankle.
• The wide bottom helps to keep the look long and lean.  If you are naturally long and lean with a boyish figure, you have more options.  For a curvy girl like me (round behind and muscular quads) the wide leg will help balance out the proportions to create a long and lean silhouette.  Anything tapered or peg leg, would make me look like an ice cream cone… Big and round on top, ending at a point on the bottom. The tapered bottom can also lead to a saggy diaper butt problem.
• The perfect Audrey bottom can also work.  It still creates the long line because of the tailoring and I find that the straight ankle length is very flattering since I have thinner ankles. Do not go any shorter as the leg line will be cutoff.
•  Cinched waist.  Some kind of belt or gathering at the waist is necessary to help whittle the middle and accentuate curves.
• Draped or tailored top.  I understand that this is confusing because they are the opposite, but you need to pick one and rock it.  A draped top will give a more casual look, while a tailored version is dresser.  You want it to be modern, with a hint of throwback glam.  Avoid anything clearly dated.
• Fit is extremely important!  No pulling, nothing too tight, and nothing too plunging; I have a larger chest, but if you are smaller, plunging can work, but make sure it is tasteful. I am not looking for a cat-suit.  I am looking for a wearable pant jumpsuit. I am pretty positive that when I do find the perfect jumpsuit I will have to take it to a tailor to really perfect the fit.

I <3 Jumpsuit:

• Project Runway’s season 9 winner Anya Ayoung Chee made fabulous jumpsuits.  I want one so bad, but the one sold on Piperlime is not only sold out, but way over my budget at $198.
• This crazy expensive ThierryMugler tuxedo jumpsuit. At $325 out of my price range is an understatement. It is beautiful inspiration though right?
•  Probably the closest to what I can both afford and see myself wearing is this black version from Kimchi Blue sold by Urban Outfitters.  Hopefully it will go on sale and I can buy it super cheap
•  Asos.com also has some great tailored versions and I like that some of them are petites. I have never actually ordered from them, which makes me hesitant, but I might have to bite the bullet for this one or maybe that one.
• I will also just continue to scour the racks at thrift and vintage stores in desperate search :)

Do you own a jumpsuit, or want to own a jumpsuit?  Let me know how you feel about this style!

Goodwill Haul

In honor of the last Saturday of the month I decided to post about my Goodwill haul from last week.  For those of you who don’t Goodwill has a ½ off sale every last Saturday of the month, but R.H. was over last weekend and we thought a Goodwill outing was in order.  I purchased the following three items, and showed you how I would style them in different situations.

White and Black Stripe Talbots Blazer (New)-$13.50

Black Flowy Xhilertation from Target Blouse (New)-$8.00

Kimchi Blue Dress (Thrifted)-$6.75

 

Casual Look:

This white and black blazer was a little pricey from Goodwill, but it’s Talbots (high quality) and new (all tags were still attached.) Added benefit is that it is a petite!  Sometime you really can find your size at thrift stores J I paired it with a plain tank and jeans.  This look is super chic and perfect for running around doing errands or going out to eat.  I didn’t experiment with any jewelry for this shoot, but I would probably pair this blazer with this awesome red African beaded statement necklace I bought from a street vendor in D.C.

 

Work Look:

To make this blazer work appropriate I paired it with a black t-shirt shift dress I purchased from Talbots Outlet when I was in high school and my black flats.  To make this more winter friendly I would pair it with tights and boots. I love that this blazer has a little stretch which makes it super comfortable!

 

Casual Look:

Again with flair jeans this floaty top looks great and gives the look a 70s vibe.  A great arm-party of bangles would really finish off the look.  A necklace would interfere with the lace action going on up top, but a great pair of feather earrings or large gold hoops would probably work as well.

 

Night Out:

The black top looks badass with black leggings and black boots. I actually wore this last night with black nylon leggings from American Apparel (Yes, AA is expensive, but I was thrifty enough to get the Groupon the last time it was available; $50 worth of clothing for $100.  It was an amazing shopping trip with D.S.) In this pick I am wearing it with my H&M leggings and I think it still works.  If I may say, I look hot, without showing too much skin!

 

Casual Look:

This dress is pretty; pretty awesome.  I love the print, the princess bust line is amazing, and I love that it has sleeves for the winter.  The chest was a little too deep for me, so I stuck a plain tank underneath with some lace trim to add some interest.  Burgundy Hue brand tights and awesome Steve Madden boots finish off the look. To dress this up for more of a date night or party I would pair it with heals and more sparkly jewelry.

Goodwill How-tos:

Goodwill is great for finding more than just costumes and ugly Christmas sweaters, but you do have to dig.  It’s hard to go and look for a specific piece, but it is great for browsing and being open to whatever catches your eye.  Be on the lookout for everything, and do not be nervous if the tag says one size, but it looks another; a lot of clothes end up in Goodwill because the sizing is off.  Try on EVERYTHING you like, and be sure to look over every item for stains, working zippers, and that all buttons are attached. For pants double check that the bottoms aren’t worn, unless you are like me and will probably need to hem them anyway J Goodwill is a lot of digging, but it can have amazing wearable results.  The trip before this I got a VERY gently used pair of Joe’s Jeans for $10.  Beat that!

Let me know about awesome finds you have gotten from Goodwill!

Seriously Working It!

I work in a fairly conservative office, so being super creative style-wise is not always easy.  All those articles about wearing open toe sandals and short suits to work just do not cut it.  So, although on most days in the winter I opt for the easy getup of a cute sweater and a nice fitting pair of slacks, yesterday I spiced it up a little. 

What I am Wearing:

Calvin Klein Dress-$50 from TJ Maxx (Winter 2011)

Talbots Outlet Blazer- Purchased a few years ago. On sale for about $50, but maybe less

Hue Black Opaque Tights- Nordtsrom's Rack $6.97

Suede Me Too Booties-DSW $40 (Winter 2011)

Forever 21 Necklace-$12.80

Obviously I am new at this whole blogging and picture taking thing.  Thanks to D.W. for taking the pictures of me today :)

A great shift dress is an amazing addition to any work wardrobe and is definitely the kind of piece that you can take from day to night and most situations in between.  My favorite thing about this dress is the awesome pattern.

The neutral pattern makes it super easy to wear, very easy to match, and work appropriate. The dress is also a great thick jersey material which requires little ironing.  TJMaxx has a great selection of high quality dresses at super low prices (Calvin Klein for $50!!) Ladies also remember cut and fit when it comes to work wear.  Nothing too tight or too short, but don’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum either; too long or big looks sloppy. 

The necklace in the photos is also fantastic.  It's a little more expensive than I would normally spend for a Forever21 piece, but it is such a statement maker and will go with so many things.  Large round crystals set against gold and black rope will add interest to either a work outfit or casual t-shirt and jeans.

Black tights and wedge booties really finish off the look. I love hue opaque tights and I got a whole bunch in black, forest green, gray, and burgundy when I found them for only $6.97 at the Nordstrom Rack in Towson during the off season.  This brand is super durable and I swear by them.  I had a pretty messy fall last winter down the stairs at the Ottobar and although my knee was all cut-up, my tights did NOT rip! It was like an amazing magic trick. 

These black booties are one of my favorite pair of shoes (as you can tell by how worn they are) and were a little bit of a stretch for me style-wise. I was new to the whole bootie concept and the funky shaped heel really threw me. However, that heel and the platform is what makes them incredibly comfortable and easy to walk around in.  Plus some added height to my 5’1 frame is always nice. Remember: black booties paired with a pair of black opaque tights is the winter version of nude heels during the summer; one super long continuous leg line.

Hello from Cherries in the Snow

So I am not sure anyone will ever read this, but I thought I would give a little back story to my blog.  I am a shopping addict, and I love fashion blogs, fashion magazines, window shopping, online browsing, and of course purchasing things!  With such a strong interest in the fashion world, I wanted a chance to add my views into the mix.

I am truly a savvy shopper and will scour racks and thrift stores for hours on end contemplating purchases.  I love some good inspiration, but I am a little tired of reading about a lot of things I cannot afford! The under $100 articles are interesting, but its not rocket science to find a cute dress or shirt under $100. Actually the few things I own that are over $100 are some purses and my winter jacket (I lived in Upstate New York for 4 years, a good jacket is a necessity.) Versace for H&M maybe awesome, but I refuse to buy a dress from H&M that costs over $50.

The title is in honor of my grandmother, Ida Storch.  Cherries in the Snow by Revlon was her #1 fashion statement, and I never once saw her not wearing this bright red on her lips.  The gorgeous ruby red pout above is mine, in my grandmother's favorite shade.  Taking inspiration from the other ladies in your life will definitely pay off. And as I promise this will be a blog about inexpensive style, this tube of super moisturizing, long wear lipstick sells at your local drugstore or supermarket for between $5-$7 bucks. Bright red lips are an instant way to change up your look without breaking the bank.  Remember grandma knows best!