Confessions of a (Reformed) Shopaholic - My Curious Case of WSS

I think I have been victim to an ill-fated (okay maybe that's a bit dramatic), self-diagnosed condition called "Wedge Sandal Snobbery" (WSS). Since completing our year without, I have yet to purchase one new pair of espadrilles because the ones I want I can't afford, and the ones I can afford, I do not want. I had convinced myself (probably from spending too much time on the Saks website) that the only sandals worth buying were of designer status (think Jimmy Choo or Michael Kors, or the insanely lovely Tory Burch ones P featured on her last Lust or Must) and if I couldn't have them (which I can't) then nothing would do! I have been going wedgeless for two summers now! How's that for insanity?

Fortunately a random walk through the Macy's shoe department finally shone a much-needed light on my ridiculous affliction. There were rows and rows of beautiful espadrilles all for under $100! Shoes that, from afar (or in many cases, up close) could have been either discount or designer, but somehow the quality all looked amazing. I couldn't stop to try any on (and my swollen prego feet would hardly do any shoe justice at this point) but I was soooo inspired! The best collection (by far) came from Nine West.

Sandals by Nine West

Are you drooling? I totally am! I can now say with full confidence that I have been cured of my WSS. A designer espadrille? How totally unnecessary! When the time is right (as in when the foot swelling goes down) I am going to nab myself a pair of these wallet-friendly beauties.

Closets & Cocktails with Hunt Gather Fashion

Our latest installment of Closets & Cocktails features our homegirl, Ginger Dame from Hunt. Gather. Fashion. Keep your eyes open. You'll be seeing a lot more of her around these parts in the not so distant future!

Ms. May in her closet avec cocktail!

What is your style motto? Dress to make yourself happy. Can’t find it? Make it.

If you could change one thing about your closet, what would it be? Two words: WALK IN.

The Quest for the Perfect White Tee

The white t-shirt. A wardrobe staple that has become as iconic as the LBD. My quest? To find the perfect white tee that encompasses a great fit, is a decent price point, and can be worn with a nude bra (no layering, please!). I am sure Alexander Wang's tees are fab, but they hover around the $100 mark and that is way over my budget. On the flip side there are plenty of low end tee's that also just don't make the cut (usually they are made of 100% cotton and end up shrinking and losing their shape). Below are few examples of some potential winners, but I am also seeking your opinion!

More Petit Bateau...

My personal fave is the Topshop tee but I am also intrigued by the Petit Bateau ones, too.

Lust or Must? Delia's Tie-Dye Maxi Skirt

Delia's Tie-Dye Maxi, $44

Let me preface today's "Lust or Must?" with this statement: Hippie or Boho Chic is generally not my style. Then why, you ask, am I considering buying an item that not only embraces a 70's flower child print but also a silhouette from that decade, too? Well, I am trying to expand the range of my wardrobe by going beyond my usual neutral palette of classically cut or body-con pieces. Initially I thought I would just buy this skirt in black, but then I thought about how cute this print would look with flat sandals, a white tank, and a long layered necklace.

So ladies and gents, what say you? Remain a minimalist, or embrace the love child within?

Love, A

poll by twiigs.com

Come On In! (part 1)

The water's...toxic?!? Or so went the joke my girl Ginger and I kept giggling over as we undertook our latest DIY project (Ginge is a bit of a DIY maven - I get most of my inspiration from her and you can too! Just check out her website Hunt. Gather. Fashion. for lots of great ideas!); the spatter treatment.

Ginge and I had gone thrifting together a few weeks back and I picked up an over sized sweatshirt in fire-engine red and a pair of men's jeans that I was planning to revamp into my newest pair of shorts. Both items were begging for a spatter treatment, plus Ginge had an old maxi dress that she was looking to update with splash 'round the bottom, so we grabbed a massive bottle of bleach and got to work!

Our tools; an old jar, wooden spoon, whisk (not shown), scissors, giant bottle of bleach and test subjects. In this case, the legs from my jeans and the neck from my sweatshirt.

Let the games begin!

Lessons of a (Reformed) Shopaholic: Sample Sale Websites

Back in the day the only kind of sample sale I ever attended was one where I would have get up early to fight the crowds to wait in some kind of dreadful line. The long wait was often followed by a realization that most of the good stuff was already gone, and then out of anger/boredom/stubbornness I would end up buying something that was mediocre and ill-fitting. So why did I keep going back year after year? Well, like any bad relationship, all you need are a few glimpses of greatness and you are hooked. You'll keep coming back for more (in this case maybe a great pair of Pucci boots) in hopes that you will score an amazing one of a kind find. These days, as a reformed shopaholic and busy mother of almost two, you won't find me standing in line for anything. I just don't have the time or patience. Online sample shopping and flash sales, though, well that is a whole other story...

What started as an innocent acceptance of an invite to Gilt from one of my savvy fashionista friends has now turned into a daily flooding of my inbox from every online sample sale site imaginable. Local deals (Living Social), kids and family (Zulily), and the plethora of fashion and home decor sites (Ruelala, Hautelook, Onekingslane, Ideeli etc.) come knocking at my door everyday and they are only just a click away. No parking, no lineups, and they even accept credit cards. Once you start it really is hard to stop. First, there are the incredible prices, then there is the panic of an item selling out and the potential rush of nabbing it before someone else does, and finally it is a thrilling race against the clock because these deals only last for a limited time (roughly 24-72 hours). So how did I curb this new found addiction?

If I Were a Rich Girl... Gucci Horsebit Ring

Gucci Horsebit Nail ring (gulp) $995

I have loved this ring for years. I mean, years! I have always thought that whenever the day comes that I have a windfall, there's no question that this ring would be a yes! right at the top of my wishlist. The only real decision would be; gold, platinum or rose? Perhaps that day will come sooner rather than later? Changes could be afoot... You never know, right?

Love, P

Lust or Must? Tory Burch Wedges

Tory Burch Wedge Espadrilles $195 at Bloomingdale's via ShopStyle

Way back when, I took some time to identify the holes in my wardrobe. And though wedge espadrilles didn't show up right away, it wasn't long before I came to realize I was missing this spring/summer staple. A had a the most marvy brown pair from Banana Republic which we both wore into the ground (she lent them to me on many an occassion!) a few years back, and they have stuck in my mind as the ideal example of what a lady looks for in platform sandal: comfortable, stylish and in a neutral color.

It seems to me these babies measure up just fine.

What do you think?

Love, P

poll by twiigs.com

Lust-Have Lookback: February

It's that time again! The Lust-Have Lookback! P and I both had beauty on the brain in February (she with her lippy and me with my falsies). It can be such a blah month, so what better way to brighten those winter blues than with a fresh face? Did we give into to our urges? You'll have to read below to find out!

February began with P lusting over a Marc by Marc Jacobs bikini. An odd time of year to shop for beachwear, or a genius way to get a good deal off season? For some it was an obvious Must. As the lucky-living-in-Miami blogger, StyleID, pointed out, "It's never too early to get ready for summer, and you may not find it later". The votes were deadlocked at 50/50 (love when that happens!) but P decided not to take the plunge. Those lazy days of summer just seemed too far away!

Next up was the Topshop Western cardi. I loved it, but it definitely was not a fan favorite! With only 17% of you voting it as a Must, I realized I needed to take some time to think about how it would fit in my wardrobe and if it had any longevity. In the end I passed on it. That sweater was way too spendy for something so trendy.

Things took a turn for the better when P announced her desire for the reinvented Clinique Chubby Stick.

Work in Progress/At Rest

This is me. Or a reasonable facsimile (I wish!) of me sans cat, though Cat is awfully cute, n'est-ce pas?

And this is why my post is only 33 words long.

Love, P

The Way We Wore - Rainy Day Duo

Rain rain go away, come again another day...but if you do come back, P and I will be ready in our matching Saks trenches. A very lucky and rare find, these coats are from the Saks outlet here in Northern Cali (notably called Off the 5th) where we snagged them on P's last California visit for just under a hundred bucks. Well-made, water resistant, stylish and with a hood! Who could ask for anything more? Burberry has nothing on us.

Unfortunately I can't link you to these beige beauties (Off the 5th doesn't have an online presence) but if you are in the market for something similar check out this post for rainy day gear and click on the "read more" below for a few choice trench selections. Remember there is no need to sacrifice style to stay dry, you really can have it all!

Lust or Must? Danielle Stevens Charm Bracelet

Danielle Stevens Beaded Fish Bracelet, $24 (orig. $40)

I am a cuff girl through and through but when I came across this Danielle Stevens charm bracelet on Bluefly I was completely enamored. I love the fish detail and the gold beads. It seems like it could be a great everyday piece (versus some of the more shiny/chunky pieces I like to save to wear at night). My only concern is that I would be buying something I don't normally wear. Will it be a great addition to my existing bracelet collection or will it find a cozy corner at the back of my jewelry box and never see the light of day?

You decide.

Love, A

poll by twiigs.com

Rainy Day Showdown: Which Ensemble is 365FR Approved?

How do you stay stylish in the rain? Whether it is with a sleek trench or a pair of funky rain boots I am sure you have it figured out. You know you don't need to spend tons of money to look like a wet weather goddess, but also don't go for cheap because those pieces need to last you more than just one season. If you are in need of a few updates look no further than the rainy day ensemble below! Oh, but wait, not all trenches are created equal! One of these outfits totals almost (gulp) $3500 while the other comes in at a cool (and dry) $425. Can you guess which row breaks the bank and which ones wins the 365FR stamp of approval? (For the answer please click on the "read more" below!)

poll by twiigs.com

Confession of a (Reformed) Shopaholic

I have a confession to make...sometimes, I wonder if our loooo-ng year of going without in the hopes we'd shock ourselves into better future buying habits may have been a little too successful...

When I was 17, my family took a trip to NYC (which one short year later would become my home) where, after visiting the MOMA and enjoying an amazing meal together, we split up and I dragged, dragged The Mater all up and down China Town in search of the most perfectly authentic Asian style dress. You know the one - with the mandarin collar and cap sleeves? In and out of one tiny shop after another we looked, each time walking out empty handed because nothing fit the vision I had in my head. It was starting to get dark and we were cutting it tight to meet my dad and sister for dinner, but I couldn't/wouldn't give up. I knew what I wanted and, quite literally wouldn't let go until I found it. Eventually, I did find exactly what I had in my mind (see - good gawd! - photo #2) and we made it to dinner just in the nick of time!

My big sis and The Mater that day in downtown New York

In these last few months since Fashion Rehab ended, there has been a recurring theme in my buying habits. Or, I should say, non-buying habits.

Lust or Must? Gap Boots

Gap Ankle Cowboy Booties $89

Emboldened by my Rehab Sister's recent successful Gap shoe purchase, I tried on these beauties in the Gap flagship store in Toronto yesterday. They felt pretty good and I will admit, I loved the way they looked.

I have also been on the hunt for some flat boots for quite some time now, and I really like the height - I think they'd look just as cute with a skirt/dress as they would with pants.

But I'm worried; ballet flats are one thing, but these are boots. Can they hold up to stomping through the pedestrian city???

Your votes were almost evenly split on A's Gap flats...have you been swayed since then?

Lust? Or must?

Love, P

poll by twiigs.com

The Way We Wore - Mommy's Morning Out

H&M Mama top, Michael Kors watch, recently manicured nails sporting OPI "Big Hair...Big Nails" (bright & beautiful!)

Okay so to be perfectly honest my "morning out" actually consisted of a not so hot date with my OB/GYN and then a solo (unless you count my computer as a person) breakfast at one of my old stomping grounds in the Marina in SF. To the average non-pregnant, non-toddler raising mama this day may sound completely dismal (or at least somewhat dull) but to me it has been a slice of heaven. As I sit here sipping my tea eating a deliciously cheesy omelet, I am thankful there are no tiny hands banging on my keyboard or tugging on my sleeve, and for a fleeting moment I actually feel like my former BC self. (BC = before child)

Now that I am nearing my due date (less than 6 weeks to go!) the physical effects of baby #2 are beginning to take form (swollen ankles, sore back, general exhaustion). I must admit that my yoga pants and UGGs have been getting more wear lately than my once favored leggings and wedge heels. Today though, since I am flying solo, I tried to amp it up a bit with my knee-high BR boots, Mavi maternity jeggings (sorry not shown) and this bright blue top from H&M. My absolute favorite thing about this ensemble?

Blinded By the Stripes

I feel my Rehab Sister's pain! She speaks the confusing truth about minimalism, 70's vibe and black & white being full-on trends right now. But, to make matters worse, it's not simply black and white, zebra prints are also super hot for the upcoming season! Unsurprisingly, I am kind of Jonesing for some kind of zebra accessory for Spring/Summer myself. Maybe it's because exotic animal prints somehow make me feel tropical, and right now (right now being March 2nd) a whole lot of tropical might be just what I need!

Sandals by Jimmy Choo
Clutches by Nanette Lepore

I know the earrings are a bit over the top, but I have to admit, I kind of love them! And how adorable is the kissing zebras bracelet? I mean, seriously, where was that beauty on Valentine's Day? And the Choo's? Oh, the Choo's!!! Don't even get me started...

Love, P