FRIDAY FANCIES

Time again for Friday Fancies.  Fun things I saw this week and wanted to share with you.  I had a wonderful 5 days in my favorite city, Chicago.  Celebrated my birthday, saw my handsome sons as well as my wonderful soon to be daughter, spent time with good friends and had several fabulous meals with delicious wine.

While walking in Lincoln Park I saw this bike in a window and could not help but smile.  Pink bike in  a Lilly Pulitzer pattern and green handles:
http://www.vandesselsports.com/?page_id=19

Its almost time for me to return to work after a fun summer off.  Who wouldn't want to return such a pretty desk and stylish chair?  My desk DOES not look like this but I can dream:
http://blog.westelm.com/2012/08/09/kelley-roberts-parsons-desk/

Thanks to The Glitter Guide for a reminder that fall fashion magazines are starting to appear on newsstands, one of my favorite times of the year:
http://theglitterguide.tumblr.com/post/24489538035

Finally a general principal in life, TULLE IS ALWAYS APPROPRIATE:
http://theglitterguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/catherine_the_life_styled114.jpg


Have a wonderful weekend!

LESSON LEARNED

I went shoe shopping last weekend.  As much as I love to shop for anything at any time I do not look forward to trying to find stylish shoes that are comfortable.  Years and years of wearing inexpensive high heels has taken its toll (just as my mother warned).  I suffer from plantar fasciitis (would like to say this is from running but it is from previously mentioned high heels) as well as a broken toe that  that I got while attempting to lift a 100 lb.golden retriever (another story, another post). I have tried many "comfort" brands i.e. Cole Haan Air, Dansko and Mephisto to name just a few.  The end result has been a lot of money wasted and I still do not have options I consider fashionable.  I refuse to spend $150.00 plus on shoes that I want to hide under pants so no one sees them.  Oh for the days of being able to walk into any store, see a cute pair of black stilettos or animal print wedges and as quickly as I could whip out my credit card and sign on the dotted line, the shoes were mine to wear and love.

Your Present:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/kelsi-dagger-lillian-pump/3368193?origin=keywordsearch&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=CRANBERRY+LEATHER&resultback=1733

Your Future:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/finn-comfort-java-clog/2964336?origin=keywordsearch&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=TOFFEE&resultback=569




LESSON LEARNED-Buy good quality shoes and skip the cheap ones no matter how cute they are.  Otherwise you too will be walking through the comfort shoe section trying to decide if the black sensible loafers or the white tennis shoes will be going home with you.

FASHION CLUB REPORT

The first official meeting of the Fashion Club was a success.  13 women attended.  The Talbot's stylist shared with us that jewel tones will be big this fall; lots of forest green, cranberry and navy.  She chose  pieces from the store's early fall collection for us to preview.  My immediate impression was "classic".  Corduroy blazers, button down blouses with elbow patches, knee length skirts that wavered between A-line and pencil style (which should be flattering for almost all of us).  Members had several questions about hose styles; is is true nude pantyhose are back in style (since Princess Kate has been spotted wearing them on occasion)?  The  group consensus was tights are still more flattering and stylish on most women (we all laughed when one woman said she never knew nude hose has gone out and are now back in again).  On the topic of tights we discussed a question about whether someone over 40 could wear colored tights?  There was no definitive answer on this...obviously we are not going to wear them the same way someone in her  teens or 20's would wear them.  I think if you pair i.e. dark eggplant (purple) tights with a dark grey skirt and complimentary shirt/jacket or sweater and tall boots, its a "fashion do".  I asked whether booties are still big this fall and was told that knee high boots will be seen much more often, paired with dresses and skirts.   The next meeting of the Fashion Club will be on October 3 at Talbots. The topic will be Closet Orphans.  These are items you loved when you made the purchase and intended to wear often.  However those lovable orphans are left unworn because either you do not have a coordinating wardrobe piece to wear with your "orphan" or maybe you are not sure they flatter you.  Group members were encouraged to bring in some of their "orphans" to our second meeting for ideas and feedback.

See you on October 3rd!

FRIDAY FANCIES

I am starting a new feature on the blog.  Every Friday I will link to some items I "fancy".  Some weeks I might have multiple links and other weeks 1 or 2.  It depends on how many things I see that I think you will enjoy looking at too.  If you want to share your "fancies" please add then in the comments section below so we can all enjoy them.

A very good friend (thanks Laura) sent me the link to this blog and I laughed till I cried:
http://pintester.com/2012/08/the-side-chignonI/

I have been in a redecorating phase lately and love looking at this blog for inspiration:
http://theinspiredroom.net/

I spend way too much time and money here:
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp

Have a wonderful weekend.  More posts early next week.

THE FASHION CLUB

Guess what my newest fashion adventure is??  A Fashion Club.  What is this you ask?  It is similar to a book club but with no obligation other than attending a meeting to learn about the style topic of the night.  Initially we will plan to meet bi-monthly.

I approached our local Talbots with my idea and volunteered to coordinate the meetings if they would provide the commentary.  The store manager was very enthusiastic and thought it was a unfilled niche in our area.  I suggested to the store's stylists that meeting topics could include pattern mixing, how to accessorize, dressing your body type and Fall 2012 fashion trends. I designed handouts (pink of course) for the check out counters explaining the Fashion Club, when our first meeting will  be (August 1, 2012 @ 6:30 pm) as well as sign up sheets so meeting reminders can be sent.  My hope is that the club will be not only a source of information about style and fashion but also an opportunity to meet other women who enjoy these topics and want to look their best.

MY LOVE AFFAIR

Did you think I would be revealing some juicy gossip about myself????  Hahaha...the only affair I am talking about is my love affair (some would say obsession) with fashion and style blogs. I spend (waste) hours each day looking through my favorites.  At the beginning of this love affair I would bookmark each blog I wanted to read.  However once BlogLovin.com came into my life I discovered a way to organize my favorite sites, see which blogs had new posts and divide them into categories  (decorating, specific stores, handbags) should I choose to do so.

Style blogs offer so many fun ideas.  I learn new ways to wear the clothes already in my closet.  In addition I have discovered color combinations I never would have thought of, different ways to accessorize, the list goes on and on.  It makes me happy to look at pretty things.

As I shared with you in an earlier post, I live in a small town with limited shopping options.  By following certain bloggers I find out when stores have new inventories, when sales are coming up, free shipping codes and many other ESSENTIAL and VITAL pieces of information for fashionistas everywhere.

Some of my favorite blogs are

Youlookfab.com

Effortlessanthropologie.blogspot.com

Fabulousafterforty.com

atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com

Brunchatsaks.blogspot.com

Anotheranthroblog.blogspot.com

cakeandvalley.blogspot.com

What blogs do you enjoy reading?

WHAT STORES SHOULD I SHOP AT? I AM ____YEARS OLD AND SIZE____

Wonder why I left the above spaces blank after age and size?  Because neither of these answers should dictate which stores you shop in.  It seems to me that women feel like if they are over a certain age or size there could never ever be anything in a store like Forever 21 or The Limited for them. I am telling you that is not at all true.  I do not visit these stores on a regular basis nor will they ever be my "go to" shopping favorites. However that said when you live in a small town with limited shopping options  like I do, you have to explore EVERYWHERE.  That means you at least cruise through the jewelry, accessories (look for evening bags that are used a few times a year or a neon belt) and trendy items like a  fun colored sheer blouse to go over a sleeveless top/dress. This is the same principle I apply to visiting stores like Chicos that are generally considered to be for the more "mature woman" ( which is probably my age range but definitely not my mind-set).  I would never EVER go to any store and buy a holiday sweater or capris with cute little animals on them  Again, it is never a waste of time to go in and check our store's merchandise.  I  recently purchased a beautiful turquoise necklace (looks very much like a piece from Anthropologie) as well as a versatile scalloped black sheath dress from Chicos.

My favorite store in the whole world is Anthropologie.  I LOVE their jewelry, household items, clothing, etc etc.  Are there a lot of items there that fit me in both actual size and lifestyle?  NO, there are not. That doesn't mean I don't go in to Anthropologie ever chance I get. I always find things I want and will eventually buy (those who know me well know that means when it goes on 2nd or 3rd cut depending on how much I love it).  Other stores I frequent are JCrew, Target and Talbots.

Ladies, let's put the FUN back in shopping-lets not shop where we think we should. Lets shop where our hearts are, stores that make us happy.

What are your favorite stores?