What's in my piggy bank for February?

If my January picks were pretty much "essentials," then I think it's safe to say that this month's picks are essentials with a twist. A lot of these items are basic every day staples, but a fun print or shiny metallic or an added embellishment or unique shape seem to make all the difference to spice up your fashion routine.

1. Forever 21 Modern Lines Woven Top, $17.80.

2. Peter Pilotto® for Target® Sunglasses in Red Iris Print, $16.99 (in stores only). 

3. H&M Wide pants in dark blue, $34.95.
4. Small Lovely Heart Print Design Scarf, $6.55.
5. Zara Sheath Skirt with Zips, $29.99.

6. Express Quilted Studded Circular Cross Body Bag, $29.94. 

7. Necessary Clothing Screw You Cuff in Gold, $13.99.
8. Urban Outfitters Little Animal Ring, $10.00.
9. Charles David Frontier 2 Boots, $34.99.

10. Ulta Salon Formula Nail Laquer in Baby Doll, $2.00. 

What's in my piggy bank for January?

For some reason when it comes to looking at fashionable purchases at the beginning of the new year, I seem to gravitate toward simple, basic items in (go figure) basic colors. I guess I just want to get a couple of staples to get 2014 started off right. The rest of the more "fun" pieces can come into play later on in the upcoming months. 

1. H&M Viscose Blouse, $17.95.
2. Urban Outfitters Bold Initial Stud Earring, $4.99. 

3. Necessary Clothing Leather Snap Back, $21.99.
4. Joe Fresh Assymetrical Zip Moto Jacket in White, $59.00
5. Merona® Perforated Leather Glove with Buckle in Brown, $21.99.

6. Target Limited Edition Bucket Bag in Navy, $34.99.

7. Forever 21 Chic Accordian Pleated Maxi Skirt, $22.80.

8. Zara Chain Belt, $19.99.

9. ModCloth Unisexy Sunglasses, $11.99.

10. Fioni Womens Two-Piece Flat in black, $27.99.

Splurge on: Holiday essentials

Well, I think I "missed the boat" so-to-speak on getting these fun holiday items out in time for all the Christmas parties. But I think you'll still find these options helpful for ringing in the New Year!

1. Joe Fresh Beaded Satin Dress, $19.00.
2. Forever 21 Iconic Quilted Minaudiere, $19.80.
3. Urban Outfitters Bow Bobby Pins, $10.00.
4. ModCloth Over and Outfox Ring, $9.99.
5. Necessary Clothing Teresa Steel Toe Pump in Black, $39.99.
6. H&M Sequined Leggings, $24.95.
7. The Limited Faux Fur Cape, $59.95.
8. Charlotte Russe Geometric Drop Earrings, $6.00.

New heights in fashion

First of all I feel like I should explain that these photos were taken nearly two weeks ago—it is certainly not warm enough here this week to warrant a sweater and shorts combo!

Second, I'd like to excitedly point out that my friend Chris ended up staying put here in Bham instead of hightailing it out to Cali for a few months, so I get to reap the benefits of having an amazing photographer who's eager to shoot pretty often.

One of my fav things about shooting with Chris is that we will spend a solid two hours just hitting spots all over downtown to get some great backdrops. I mean, we went to the museum, the park, the theatre district and even a random parking deck.

I also love that he will make me climb up ridiculous heights and give me a "boost" when I need it because, ya know, I am wearing 5 inch heels. Yeah, definitely not something I would do on my own, but he's never wrong. The shot is always amazing and it's always worth the risky climb—even being on a ledge at 8 stories or so high (hence the blog post title). Just scroll down, you'll see what I mean!

Oh and I'll go ahead and apologize for the insane amount of photos. But there were just so many good ones, I couldn't make decisions on which ones to cut!

Okay, here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Sweater, H&M ($19.95)
2. Shorts, c/o Sugarlips
3. Heels, Charlotte Russe ($15.00)
4. Vintage purse, gifted/passed down (thanks mom!)
5. Sunglasses, Venice Beach ($7.50)
6. Turquoise ring, gifted (thanks mom!)
7. Square ring, Brooklyn Flea ($5.00)
8. Love ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
9. Dainty ring, gifted/passed down
10. Bar earrings, gifted (thanks Joy!)

Total: Under $50.00 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Chris White 

ps. Happy Turkey Day Yall!

Splurge on: Faux fur coats

Woah. Holy moly, it is finally cold down here in the south! And even though I am pretty sure this cold weather phase probably won't last very long, it's still enough to make me think about all the lovely faux fur coats I wouldn't mind snuggling into.

Here are just a few options, most of which would be particularly perfect for a finishing touch to an upcoming holiday party outfit.

1. Necessary Clothing Rocco Faux Fur Jacket, $49.99
2. H&M Faux Fur Coat, $129.00
3. Top Shop Pelted Faux Fur Capelette, $136.00
4. Charlotte Russe PU Trim Faux Fur Jacket, $21.49
5. Forever 21 Be Seen Shag Jacket, $64.80

What's in my piggy bank for November?

I feel like I really went outside my "norm" with my November picks. Not only would I typically pick more snuggly and cozy items for this month, I also have chosen a couple of pieces that aren't typically what I would consider my "style." (Maybe I even channeled Gwen Stefani?!)

Also, I think everything looks like it could almost be one outfit. But what can I say? I saw these super affordable (and cute!) plaid pants from Joe Fresh and they called to me for some reason. Then everything kind of followed from there. But I can definitely see how you could remix each piece several times throughout the winter, and possibly even into other seasons.

So while these picks are definitely more of a step out of my style comfort zone, I still think they are a step in the right direction.

1. Joe Fresh Skull Sweater, $39.00

2. Charlotte Russe Coiled Snake Rhinestone Ring, $6.00 

3. Bonlook Barracuda Non-Prescription Sunglasses in Onyx, $49.00

4. Joe Fresh Tartan Pant, $49.00

5. H&M Faux Fur Jacket, $59.95

6. Urban Outfitters Eva Embellished Head Wrap, $14.00

7. Corcra Handmade Red Fingerless Gloves, $20.72 

8. Necessary Clothing Cupid Arrow Pump, $39.99

9. Charlotte Russe Color Block Single Sole Heel, $32.50

10. Free People Dahlia Crossbody Bag, $38.00

Splurge on: Sweaters

It's just barely getting chilly enough here to warrant sweater wearing. But a girl can dream of all the future possibilities, right? Here are just a few that I have my eye on at the moment ranging from fitted, printed, fuzzy, flowy, quirky and comfy!

1. ASOS Daisy Street Fisherman's Sweater, $32.02
2. Necessary Clothing Fuzzy Boulder Sweater in Black/White, $32.99
3. Urban Outfitters Coincidence & Chance Foxy Geek Sweater, $44.00
4. Forever 21 Groovy Shag Sweater in Coral, $22.80
5. Joe Fresh Baseball Sweater in Mustard, $24.95
6. H&M Knit Sweater in Navy Zebra Print, $59.95

What's in my piggy bank for October?

I think October is my favorite month of the year. It's the time of year when football season is in full swing and the weather actually starts to turn—along with the leaves.

October says put away your shorts and tanks and pull out the boots, scarves and comfy sweaters. So I'm listening to Mother Nature and looking at several basics to get the fall season started off right, with a couple of flashy fun items to throw in the mix as well.

1. Old Navy Women's Long Sleeve Shirt Dress, $19.00.

2. Forever 21 Forever Cool Fauz Leather Jacket, $15.00.

3. Styles for Less Rib Knit Slouch Beanie in black, $6.99.

4. American Apparel Neon Nail Polish, $6.00. 

5. H&M Studded Skirt, $34.95.

6. American Eagle Women's Filly Crossbody, $19.99.
7. Mossimo Twisted Neck Snood Scarf in Ivory, $19.99.
8. H&M Knit Tights in Burgundy, $9.95.
9. Forever 21 Pearlescent Beaded Collar Necklace, $12.80.
10. Charlotte Russe Studded Knee-High Buckle Boot, $42.50.

What's in my piggy bank for September?

Even though I live in the south and I should know better, I really feel like fall is just around the corner. I'm sure we still have another month or two before there is a chill in the air down here, but that's not stopping me from picking some great items to get ready for autumn weather.

1. Forever 21 Southwestern Shawl Cardigan in Navy and Wine, $29.80.
2. Mossimo Supply Co. Floppy Leather Tie Hat in Tan, $16.99.
3. ModCloth Girl’s Fest Friend Skirt, $57.99.
4. Forever 21 High Voltage Faux Leather Booties, $42.80.
5. Fred Flare Rust Jesse Sunglasses, $12.00.
6. Joe Fresh Boyfriend Jean, $29.00.
7. Necessary Clothing Reverse It Clutch in Gold and Black, $30.99.
8. Lulu's Moon Dust Grey Skinny Belt, $11.00. 
9. Charlotte Russe Textured Metallic Collar Necklace, $6.00.
10. H&M Knee Sock in Natural White, $9.95.

What's in my piggy bank for August?

I'm not sure what's going on, but all of a sudden I seem to have a void of color in this month's piggy bank picks. At least in the clothing department anyhow. I guess I figure I'll make up for it with any and all burgundy cosmetic options.

1. Joe Fresh Stripe Dress, $39.00. I really need there to be a Joe Fresh in closer proximity to Birmingham. Sigh. Anyhow, I'm still loving stripes and this is definitely a flattering option for wearing this trend.

2. Charlotte Russe Oversized Metallic Boyfriend Watch in Rose Gold, $15.99. I never wear a watch, but I've found myself having a slight crush on bigger ones in a pink/gold hue like this one. I think this could make a pretty frequent appearance on the blog.

3. NYC Cosmetics City Duet 2-in-1 lipcolor in the Penthouse Plums, $2.70. Really hoping I can pull off burgundy lips this fall. This looks like a great shade and at this price, it's worth a shot!

4. Zara Check-Print Blouse, $49.90. I'm kind of obsessed with plaid shirts. And this one looks like it has the perfect amount of flowy-ness to it.

5. Forever 21 Art Deco Necklace, $5.80. Pendant necklaces are everywhere right now. I'm loving this option from Forever 21. It's like a piece of mid-century art hanging around your neck.

6. Urban Outfitters Floral Patchwork Headwrap, $14.00. Another thing that's huge at the moment? Headband-type turbans. I love the print and color palette on this one. It's the perfect piece to help you transition from summer to fall.

7. Essie Nail Polish in “Ups”, $5.95. Again, I can't think of a better shade for your nails in August than this deep burgundy from Essie.

8. Forever 21 Professional Envelope Satchel, $27.80. I love the structured look of this bag and the color is perfect for year-round wear.

9. Charlotte Russe Metallic Trim Pointy Toe Pump in White, $32.50. I've never been one to follow the rules about no white after Labor Day. Good thing too, because I am diggin these white pumps—especially to wear with skinny or boyfriend jeans.

10. H&M Super Skinny Super Low Jeans in gray, $19.95. How fab are these jeans? I see such versatility in them, but mostly I want to wear them with edgy pieces.

What to wear: Music festivals, Vol. 2

In honor of Secret Stages this weekend (and oh, I don't know, maybe another little ole fest called Lollapalooza), I figured I'd do another "what to wear" post for music festivals. It might seem a bit late to the game for this type of post since most of this year's festivals have come and gone, but I think there are still a few left that will make this content worthwhile.

This time around, I decided to pull a few photos of girls' outfits that I liked who attended Coachella and other fests and created a similar ensemble for each one—and of course all with affordable options.

Look One: Basic Boho 1. Urban Outfitters Staring at Stars Scout Panama Hat ($39.00) 2. Forever 21 Round Half-Frame Sunglasses ($7.80) 3. H&M Chiffon Blouse ($24.95) 4. Necessary Clothing Deep Blue Shorts ($12.99)
5. Charlotte Russe Tribal Cross Friendship Bracelet Set ($6.00) 6. Xhiliration Key Item Crossbody in black ($19.99)
7. Charlotte Russe Perforated Lace-up Combat Bootie ($40.00)

Look Two: Feminine Boho 1. Forever 21 Round Half-Frame Sunglasses ($7.80) 2. ASOS Warehouse Festival Across Body Bag ($54.30) 3. Lulu’s Live for Today Cream Crochet Dress ($72.00) 4. Forever 21 Rhinestoned Spike Necklace ($4.80) 5. Forever 21 Lightning Bolt Bangle ($2.80) 6. Forever 21 Pyramid Stud Stretchy Bracelet ($8.80)
7. Charlotte Russe Lace-up Ankle Cuff Wedge Sandal ($30.00)

Look Three: Classy Tie Dye 1. Urban Outfitters Somedays Almond Sunglasses ($14.00) 2. H&M Chiffon Blouse ($29.95) 3. Urban Outfitters Geo Lapis Gold Necklace ($48.00) 4. ASOS Tie Dye Shorts ($19.52) 5. Mossimo Supply Co. Fringe Hobo Bag ($24.29) 6. Matisse Kellie Platform Sandals ($56.99)

Look Four: Gettin' Graphic 1. Urban Outfitters Staring at Stars Scout Panama Hat ($39.00) 2. Forever 21 Half Frame Cat-Eye Sunglasses ($5.80) 3. Charlotte Russe Braided Cuff Bracelet ($6.00) 4. Necessary Clothing LA Dreams Tank ( $15.99) 5. Charlotte Russe Tribal Cross Friendship Bracelet Set ($6.00) 6. Forever 21 Street-Chic Backpack ($27.80) 7. H&M Distressed Denim Shorts ($24.95) 8. Charlotte Russe Side Braid Sueded Western Bootie ($40.00)

Look Five: Plain & Breezy 1. Sunglass Warehouse Aviators in Black ($12.71) 2. Forever 21 Spiked Friendship Bracelet ($5.80) 3. Forever 21 Charm Bracelet Set ($3.80) 4. Necessary Clothing Diamond Crop Top ($14.99)
5. ModCloth Morning Radiance Skirt ($29.99) 6. Mossimo Supply Co. Macrame Fringe Bag ($26.99) 7. Old Navy Faux Leather Capri Sandals ($10.00)

Sweetly awaiting the new season

In case you hadn't noticed by yesterday's piggy bank picks, I am sooooo ready for fall to get here.

Fall hasn't exactly arrived in the south yet, and who knows when it will, but what did arrive was my new item from Sugarlips. And since it was such a beautiful item and got me super pscyhed for fall fashion, I just couldn't wait to piece together an outfit with it.

Plus, the temps have fallen here just a bit, so I'm not really overshooting the new season by too much. Ok, so maybe the boots were overkill for September in Alabama, but can you really blame me?

1. Wendy Darling Blouse c/o Sugarlips
2. BCBG jumper dress, TJ Maxx ($29.99)
3. Guess boots, sale at Macy's ($54.53)
4. Knee socks, H&M ($5.99)
5. Leaf ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
6. Vintage cocktail ring, gifted
7. Earrings, gifted (thanks mom!)
8. Flower headband, Urban Outfitters ($9.50)
9. Aviator sunglasses, Rugged Wearhouse ($3.99)

Total: Under $150

 

 

 

 

Photos: Laura Menconi