Shoe Solution

I've been searching for sneakers I liked for a long time now - a long time as in years.  I finally found the solution with some fancy Missoni patterned Chucks! I haven't actually actually worn a pair of Chucks since the '90s when I had a plaid pair during my grunge phase, that was a long time ago.

You can see there is actual green grass under the shoes which means I took the picture in the summer but they're still going strong now, they just aren't quite as white....

I've started looking for a new pair now because I'll need a new pair in a couple of years.  Maybe sooner.  I have to say it's nice to have a pair that is work-appropriate in certain situations.  Some clients will appreciate them and some won't.

Miss Wu

A year or so ago, I decided to be much more selective in the type of clothing I purchase.  I decided to purchase fewer cheap throwaway clothing items and to add better quality clothing when I made a purchase {if you are bored you can read the original rant, and my attempt at a solution}. 

One of the brands I have had success with recently is Miss Wu.  It's a 'lower' priced line by Jason Wu.  Lower is in quotes because it still costs a pretty penny.  I wish I had known about it when this shirt was for sale because it's my favorite.

Because I waited for a sale, it was slim-pickings.  I wound up with these two shirts below and love them!  They are a bit more plain which means I can wear them for years and they will still be in style.

Obviously I look this fancy when I wear the shirts.....are there any brands you swear by these days?

I Think I Have Found The Future...

...the future where you buy a skirt online on Saturday and it's teleported to your door on Monday morning.

I have only ordered from Zappos once before in my life and I don't remember what happened, perhaps this is normal.  I'm super impressed.

Nanette Lepore Rainbow Skirt

I'm also happy this skirt is longer on me than it is in the model.  I'm planning on wearing it this summer because, although most people wear lighter colors in the summer, I'm so pale {think glow-in-the-dark white} I look washed out in them.

Are there any colors you gravitate toward as the weather gets warmer?  Has an online company teleported anything to your door lately?

 While it would have been fantastic to receive a free skirt in exchange for writing this post, I paid for it myself.  I'm just writing this because I'm happy.

Red, Blue & DvF

If you remember all my posts on combining red and blue last fall.  This is mint and an orangey tomato {similar to this - ps. those Trina Turk clothes are all on sale and that purple cardigan is so nice in real life} but similar idea.

DvF Spring 2013

This is from Diane von Furstenburg's Spring 2013 runway line.  I think we would get along just fine.

Thoughts on Clothing

I thought after the rant yesterday I should at least share my solution for my recent annoyances.  Over the past few years I have seen the quality of clothes get so bad that I can't even find a cardigan that isn't see through.  I used to buy more clothes at J. Crew but most of the time when I shop there I feel a bit ripped off when I compare the price to the quality and the cut {or the lack of the cut}.

I also received a book from the library a few weeks ago that I had ordered months ago {I totally have a library wish list} titled, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, and was interested because the author confirmed things I had been feeling about clothing lately.  The quality and materials are getting worse but the prices seem to go up compared to the quality.

So.  What I decided to do is to buy fewer higher quality clothes when I can afford them.  I have decided to purchase my clothes {and I admittedly don't have or buy many} from designers who manufacture in the US or Europe, even if some of their items are made overseas, I am hoping that they have higher quality standards.  In some ways, spending a lot of money on clothing makes me nervous since I'm very hard on my clothes but I have an old See by Chloe sweater that has held up well considering what I have put it through {And what the cat, who is in love with it, has put it through.  She has been known to drag it around and put it in her food bowl some days}.

My favorites?

This top and skirt from Nanette Lepore {both of which are obnoxiously bright and I love them for it} may have found themselves into my closet recently.  I found a good sale and free shipping and I was so happy about the fit, it almost felt like it was tailored for me right off the rack and I haven't felt that way in a long time.

The only problem with this is that finding a sweater to go with it to allow me to wear it in the winter was a bit difficult.  There is a blazer in the set but I'm not really a blazer person and also didn't want to buy a whole set.  Amazingly enough, I found a sweater in a similar kind of bright reddish orange.  It's not a cardigan but I'm sure I'll be okay.

I also am totally in love with Trina Turk's clothing, a lot of which is made in California.

I wear cardigans year round and I actually love both of the ones above.  If only I had the money to spend on them.  Those pants also seriously make me happy.

The sweater on the left might be in my closet now.  I really wanted it to work with the top and skirt but it doesn't.  It works with other things though so it's a keeper!

Remember how I said that I'm not a blazer person?  I really, really, really want the one above but it's not in the budget.  If it goes on crazy sale or if I win the lottery, I'll reconsider.

Rag and Bone and Alice + Olivia are other designers on my radar but my checking account has asked for a break for now or perhaps for the next year.

Are there any brands you swear by?