Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

As you can see, we got about a foot of snow overnight and now are experiencing a drizzling icy/rain mix with more snow expected overnight.  Pretty hunkered down here in warm and comfy clothes, not worthy of a post.  But fashion is almost always on my mind and through the magic of power and the internet, I'm been doing a little virtual shopping of the President's Day sales.  I mean I can't go outside!

While my world may be covered in white, I'm thinking about how much I love camel as a neutral--camel with black and navy and red...  I was pretty happy when I landed a camel cashmere pullover from Talbots RH sale. But once this dreadful artic weather clears out and the darn snow melts and our weather returns to normal (Lord I hope it returns to normal after this) it will be too warm here to wear much cashmere.  So I want something to wear into spring. 

Navy, under-represented in my wardrobe, has finally returned and I love navy.  I am so excited that it has once again returned in a big way and I think Ann Taylor is showing some beautiful things. 

So after receiving an  Ann Taylor promotion, good throughout the weekend, I did some online shopping and landed three sweaters and two striped tees.  The promo is for 30 percent off full price and an extra 60 percent off sale, use code SHOPANN. I found some great items in the sale stuff. 

I snagged a beautiful camel sweater jacket, a zipped navy cardigan, two striped tees and a blush sweater that just called to me.

Here's what ended up in my cart: 

Sweater Jacket
Striped Tee
Sweater
Striped Tee
Sweater

We'll see what works when it arrives.  Snagged any bargains lately?

Perfectly Plaid

 

I'm not a fan of Punxsutawney Phil, he is, after all a rodent, but the dislike really intensifies when his annual prediction is for six more weeks of winter. 

So. Over. Winter.

I've pretty much snagged up all my winter bargains.  It appears as if I'll get plenty of wear from them over the next six weeks.

Nothing more comfy than leggings and plaid flannel.  Loved the colors in this Ralph Lauren plaid on markdown at Lord & Taylor.  Throw on a pair of boots, a scarf for warmth and it's good to go.

Outfit Details:  Shirt - Ralph Lauren via Lord & Taylor (Similar;) Tee - Lord & Taylor; Leggings - Hue via Macy's (old, Similar); Boots - Vince Camuto via Lord & Taylor (available here: Volero Wide Calf Boot); Scarf - Gift. 

Same Dress, Different Day(s)

Camel dress on day two.   

I love camel with black.  Throw in a little leopard for pattern and it may be, for me, outfit perfection. 

The  middle look exemplifies what a difference a shoe makes.  The cognac flat breaks up the leg line from knee to foot.  Not good, IMHO for a short-legged, curvy girl.  (I'm not sure why I appear shorter in the middle picture, the pumps are less than an inch high.) Swamping out the flats for a pair of black pumps adds a touch of height and elongates my leg.

The short faux leather jacket in the second outfit adds a bit of edge.

Outfit Details:  Left: Dress, Jacket, Belt, Scarf, Tights - Talbots (dress is sold out online, other pieces are old).
Middle:  Jacket - Lord & Taylor similar; Scarf - gift; Shoes - Michael Kors via Nordstrom.
Right: Pumps (old).

So which one gets your vote? 

January is for Savings

 

I admit it, I'm a sucker for a bargain, I'm that person that a marketer loves, give me a discount and I'm on alert.  And markdowns on markdowns hook me every time. 

Like the lemmings (or maybe salmon, I'm not a fish person, but love a simile or metaphor) I will swim upstream for a great deal.  With each day providing an offer for additional percentages off sale and clearance merchandise, it's the perfect time to replenish, stock up, or replace. 

On a hunt to put some camel, one of those perfect neutrals in my wardrobe, I snagged this dress on major discount.  It's ponte, long-sleeved, what's not to love?  The camel is an extraordinary animal, capable of living in extreme tropical temperatures without water.  I expect this dress to have that same staying power and usefulness in my wardrobe -- only smell a great deal better.

To make the decision to keep or return, I put this dress to the test with existing wardrobe pieces.  I styled it a number of ways, here's two.

Outfit Details:  Left: Dress - Talbots, this one appears sold out online (similar); Jacket, belt, scarf - Talbots (old); Tights - Hue; Booties - Munro via Nordstrom.  Want these.
Right: Same dress, Jacket, belt, scarf  (old) - Talbots. 

If there are Bargains, It Must be January

Today I note that it's STILL January, a balmy 8 degrees this morning and our 10-day forecast looks as if I've been relocated to maybe Minneapolis.  Nothing against Minnesota or Minneapolis--I've some lovely friends there--but I'm suspicious of a city where the buildings are all connected by skyways and it isn't because of the hot and humid summers.

We all know that January is bargain bonanza month.  Likes Sirens the discounts lure you to spend the six cents you have left after Christmas. 

But I have been looking for several things--a new, heavier sewing machine, a new coat, wool or cashmere sweaters, items in camel, cobalt or gray. 

Last week at Lord & Taylor clearance items were an additional 50 percent off and there was a coupon for an additional 20.  (There's always a coupon at Lord & Taylor.)  I scored five items, all at about 70 percent off their original retail.  (Math isn't my strong suit, so I can't provide exact percentages--I need Math Head for that and he's at work.)

One of the L&T scored items was this cashmere, black-watch plaid sweater.  It's shorter length allows it to work with a tucked or untucked shirt or blouse or long tee.  Additional pluses were that it is warm without being heavy (now that I don't go to an 85 degree office daily, I get lots of wear from these warmer sweaters and on a day like today I feel as if I could wear two) and I'm a sucker for the pattern.

Outfit Details:  Sweater - Lord & Taylor (it's on the boxy side and runs large, I'm wearing a Large Petite); Shirt (old) - JJill (this one is similar, but they have quite a selection); Cords - Talbots (old); Shoes - Michael Kors via Nordstrom.

Happy Friday, scored any bargains lately?

Blue on Blue

I love most shades of blue and cobalt is one of my favorite shades. 

Got this tee on major mark-down.  This camel sweater does a nice job breaking up the monochromatic look of the shirt and pants.  The scarf serves to warm my neck while adding some visual interest and pattern. 

Yesterday winter made a big entrance in my neck of the woods.  Today our temps are in the minus numbers and we've got eight inches of snow. What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Outfit details:   Talbots -  Sweater- similar; tee; pants- similar and on major sale; scarf - loving this similar one;  necklace  - similar; belt - here's a cute similar one;  Shoes - Cole Hahn via Nordstrom. 

Two Shades of Gray

 

 

 

Black is my go to color during the winter months.  I never seem to have enough, have to prevent myself sometimes from purchasing more of the same, but  love how it always looks polished even on the most casual of days.  You never know who you might run into when you're out and about.  Black always provides me that pulled together feeling.  This new scarf reminded me how much I like gray with black and serves the dual purpose of keeping my neck warm while adding the perfect amount of pattern punch.

 

Happy Friday, make it a great day.

 

 

 

Outfit Details - Clothing - All Talbots - No Close Cashmere Cardigan, Gray Tee, Straight leg Cords -previous seasons; Scarf, Belt - December;  Shoes - Cole Hahn (old); Necklace - Chicos (old).