What's In My Bag?

So part two of my last post focuses on what's in my shopping bag. Or rather, what exciting things landed on my door step via UPS, USPS, Fedex? As I mentioned, I am just recently trying to revive my closet after pregnancy and early motherhood so I have been have a few "mini-sprees," for which many I hold Stylish Dish to blame.

So, for those curious, this is what was in my bag for August. I went a little over budget so am hoping I can keep it in check for September (good luck to me with Fall fashion in the air.) Click the image to enlarge.

I am sure a few of these look familiar to you since they were featured here on the site. Some of the items are not exactly what I purchased but very  similar.  I found some of them at little local boutiques (yes, I do sometimes shop in the flesh) but unfortunately I couldn't find similar items for quite the deals I got them for -- but I did my best.

Links to the items are below so you can shop my bag if the urge takes you. Enjoy!

Old Navy Womens Cinched Zip-Front Jackets- I got it in the army green

Banana Republic Maritza grey suede pump - I am telling you that suede pumps will be a Fall must-have

Aldo Strappy Nude Heel - Look familiar? They went on clearance, I had to pull the trigger. They are a little high for me though so I have to be ready to be a Glamazon when I wear these puppies

Kim Kardashian Fragrance - No, I am not a fan or trying to "Keep Up with the Kardashians" but I really like this floral fragrance. Mmmmmm

Benetint - A cheek and lip tint that you paint on and rub in with your fingertips.  Great color and smells like roses.

Faux Leather/Pleather Cognac Bomber Jacket - I am saving the animals with this one.  I bought a similar one to the one above and can't wait to throw it on over just about anything.

Kenneth Cole multi-layer gold cord/chain - Perfect accessory to jazz up anything from a tee to a silk cami.  Love.

Alice + Olivia Kiera One Shoulder Dress - Now the one I bought was the same shape but it was in a black and ivory print. (LOVE this purple though.)  I have worn it with flats, could dress it up with heels or a thick belt, and am hoping to throw a leather motorcycle-inspired jacket over it (not so nice to animals with that one) with some boots for Fall.  Did anyone see how many one shoulder dresses were at the Emmy's?!?!  I have always been a fan.

Oh the Pressure!

So, now that I have launched a fashion blog, I have set a frightening expectation: that I myself am stylish at all times. Oh dear reader, this is sadly not so.  As much as I want you to believe that I cruise around my house in great jeans, fabulous heels, and a cutting edge military jacket, the truth of the matter is I am more often than not in Juicy sweats (bought from ebay - great deals!) and a deep V tee with remnants of milk and a Gerber biter biscuit as my only accessories save my wedding ring. 

When I step out, however, I do try to put my most stylish foot forward.  I love fashion and I love styling looks for myself, others, and occasions. The Internet, great designers, malls, and online retailers provide endless possibilities.  But, unfortunately, my personal budget and current closet does not.  I have always said if I (or anyone for that matter) had enough wealth (and free time!) needed for a personal chef, trainer, stylist, plastic surgeon, masseuse, hairstylist, make-up artist, etc.  I would look ravishing at all times too -- I could maybe even a fan club where 12 year old girls wrote me postcards and told me they loved me. (Oh wait, I am just flashing back to the letter I wrote to Brooke Shields when I was 12).

This is not to say that is do not have my share of clothes.  I do.  And, most of them are pretty darn affordable.  But, having a 9-month old son means that many of them were purchased pre-pregnancy or during pregnancy since it takes awhile to come up for air after a new addition.  A lot of what I have in my closet now is 1) a bit out of fashion (18 months is longer than you think in fashion years) 2) oversized (because they accommodated my baby belly) 3) not focused - since I have only recently vowed to start buying more versatile, quality pieces even if they are a bit more costly.

So why all the excuses? Because I am asked a lot what I am going to wear places and lately I feel like it better be good. If the gal behind Stylish Dish is really a Style-less Schlump, who would read?  And, because this was a drawn out introduction for this post where I will share, as requested, an outfit I recently styled for myself.  Voila! (Click to enlarge)

Nothing too fancy, but this is what I wore yesterday for a day at the races (Del Mar race track, that is). A day where we got to throw our money away at ponies based solely on their name and watch the surreal Neal and Super Diamond in concert. "Sweet Caroline...so good, so good, so good...!" It gonna be a long day with races and concert so I ditched my wedge heels for sandals 5 minutes before jumping in the party van.

The main reason I am sharing this look is because of the green top from Anthropologie.  Yes, it is really just glorified cotton for almost $50 but I love it.  Great details, great color (although available in many others), soft, and versatile (dress up, dress down, under blazer, with skirt, with jeans)  And, I had to get white jeans in before Labor Day (what is that all about? get the dish on this outdated rule here.)

The shoes and accessories are not exactly what I have, but very similar (and all great bargains!) My husband brought me a quilted brown leather satchel from his recent trip to Scotland which this cross-body bag resembles.

So, do it, shop my closet.

Green Molded and Melded Tee from Anthropologie
Braided Metal Cuff from Charlotte Russe
Paige Premium Denim Laurel Canyon in Optic White
Bronze AK Anne Klein Almquist Sandals
Quilted Crossbody Bag from
Click the Express logo above and search on "quilted crossbody"

Hello Lover...

I will admit, when I heard Carrie Bradshaw (SJP) in Sex and the City utter those words to a pair of Manolos in a shop window, I gagged a bit and rolled my eyes.  A pair of shoes? Really?  A pair of shoes whose price tag could contain a capital K? Seriously?

Well, there I was.  Minding my own business (OK, reading a fashion mag). When I saw them across a crowded room. (Well the room was just my bedroom and the crowd was my 3 year old daughter.)  I stared for a moment, admired you, and then quickly turned away.  Out of my league (aka budget).  But, I was drawn to you, like a moth to a flame, a fish to a lure, a man to a platinum blonde. I looked again, you seemed to smile back at me. 

My daughter asked, "what are you looking at mama?" 

"A pair of great shoes," I replied.

"Oooo, you should buy those!"

"Yes, I should."

But, at almost $900, it just cannot be.  For now.  But, we may meet again.  (Or, I will find an affordable alternative that makes me almost as happy.)

I love these shoes! And, if you are a friend of mine, you may know I have been tracking them down because I accidentally gave away the issue of InStyle they were featured in and for some strange reason my Internet skills failed me (and they even stumped the admirable skills of Jen at The Look 4 Less). I can't even find a picture of these shoes online or anything similar. YET.  So, here they are, scanned from the pages of InStyle mag. Green suede mary janes from Pierre Hardy. (This scanned page does not do them total justice.)

I had to share this fashion obsession du jour with you since 1) I want to plead for help in locating something similar under $200 and 2)  they are a great inspiration for Fall. (Yes, I am thinking about Fall while sweltering in the 90+ degree heat here in Southern California.) 

Suede heels in rich colors (like cobalt, emerald green, and wine) are a must have this fall.  Grey suede pumps like the ones you will see by clicking the link below are a staple as well.

Banana Republic Maritza grey suede pump

Speaking of Fall must haves.  I bought the military inspired jacket featured in my back to school post.  It arrived and it did not disappoint.  Love it! A steal at Old Navy.

What do you think about my "shoe lover"?

What item have you obssessed about?  Did you buy it? (Let me know with your comments.)

Before I forget, I wanted to share these great sales. They end 8/25 so act fast!

Get 25% off your entire Banana Republic order! Enter code 25OFFBR at checkout. Offer starts 8/23/10 and ends 8/25/10.

Get 25% off any OldNavy.com purchase. Enter code ONSAVE25 at checkout. Offer ends 8/25/10.

Designer Deals and Serious Markdowns

There are a number of sites out there that offer fabulous deals on designer apparel -- we are talking up to 80% off (that is not a typo.) 

Most of these sites run sales for a limited period of time (24-72 hours) so you have to act quickly (you will be notified by e-mail) but when you do you can get some great deals.  Most of these sites are "invite only."  So I am officially inviting my readers with the links below.  Happy Shopping!

RueLaLa

Gilt Group

Billion Dollar Babes

Ideeli

We're Gonna Rule the School!

Another reader request! This one comes from Kellymarie, a high school student looking for an outfit to wear for her first day of her senior year. Needless to say, I was excited to receive this request and take on the challenge of creating for one of my younger stylish ladies.

I remember my first day of senior year. I swear that big blonde teased hair with 3" bangs was stylish in its day. As were pumps and black pantyhose. Memories...

For the Stylish Dishers who are past their teen years (and I have an inkling there are a few) do not let the youthful occasion stop you from considering the look below. I selected items that could work on women of different ages and body types (although the skinny jeans are often reserved for the more petite and slender.) And, I selected items for those on a smaller budget (most under $40) so take a gander.

Colored denims like gray and olive are a trend this Fall and really mix up the jean staple. (Picture them on a body - they look pretty blah in the image below.) Paired with cool embellished sandals the looks is casual with a flare.

This simple white tunic has some ruching detail that makes it more interesting than your average white tee. 

I think the real find is the military inspired jacket (another must have for Fall).  The picture has it zipped up but picture it open with the waist cinched a bit.  Perfect!  It comes in an olive green too which I already snapped up, because you can't beat the price. (And, I was just about to purchase this Sanctuary Military Jacket for much more $$ -- literally in my shopping bag --  so when I found this option I rejoiced - Hallelujah!)  I still love the pricier one too!

This burnt orange messenger bag adds a pop of color and is perfect for books, a laptop, or whatever you need to carry.

I hope this fits the bill Kellymarie -- have a great senior year!  Click on the look below for a larger view.  Click the links below to shop!

Old Navy Womens Cinched Zip-Front Jackets

Old Navy Womens The Diva Skinny Jeans

Banana Republic Rapunzel Necklace

Gap Messenger bag

Steven by Steve Madden Atone Sandal

Cool Whip Top from LuLus (from the Lulu's home page search for "cool whip top")

Movie Quote Challenge: The title of this post is a movie quote. What movie? Who said it? Post a comment with the answer. (And any feedback on this look, of course.)

Pore Little Me

We all know that babies and children have the most beautiful skin. They don't say "soft as a baby's bottom" for nothing. And, heck, it's new...literally.

If you have ever looked closely at a child's skin it is what is missing that makes it so fantastically smooth and clear. No visible pores. None.

Why, as we age, do our pores start to rear their ugly heads (or more specifically, holes)? Ugh.

I personally suffer from a single pore that imploded on my cheek. Seriously, I woke up one morning (in my 20s too, so unfair) to a black hole smiling back at me in the mirror. This discovery did not win me any accolades a la Stephen Hawking. It has baffled me and aestheticians for years but I have learned to live with it. (Maybe I will name her Sally.)




My crater aside, the quest for pore coverage is a staple in many womens' beauty regimens. And, I just made a recent discovery at the Benefit counter of my local Macy's that I wanted to pass on: Benefit's the Porefessional. This stuff is good. You just smooth a small bit of it on your face and pores are minimized. It works!

I even challenged the salesgal to cover Sally (which was kind of a joke) but she tapped it on and Sally had lost a few dress sizes. I was impressed, snapped it up (for $28), and have been happy with it. You can wear it under makeup or alone for light coverage. (It reminds me a bit of a tinted moisturizer in terms of coverage but much silkier and definitely not greasy in any way.)

Click the product image above to check it out or buy.

A Family Affair

Stylish Disher Erynn contacted me this week to help style a family photo session. Erynn is a beautiful. blonde, young mother of two gorgeous kids ages 1 1/2 and 2 1/2. (I would almost hate her if she wasn't so darn sweet.) They are having their photo session at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano so neutral earthtones would be a perfect compliment to the old world, Spanish setting.

I fell in love with the simplicity and style of this Ella Moss ruffled shirt dress. I paired it with some versatile high heeled sandals to dress it up a notch, but flats as shown on the model look fantastic as well.

The floral chiffon dress for her 1 1/2 year old daughter can easily transition between summer and fall (if it fits her that long since kids clothes last about 3 weeks in my house with my growing weeds.) This little dress is from Kohl's. I LOVE Kohl's for little girls' dresses. They usually have a great selection and the price is right. Their selection for boys, however, is often a sad state of affairs. Unless you want your little boy cruising around in pale blue feetsies with puppies and bunnies on it for the rest of his life. Seriously?

Her son is an adorable blondie with blue eyes, so this simple green and blue plaid shirt with sleeves and dark jeans will make him look like the little handsome man he is.

Click on the look for a closer look of the look. (Say that 3x fast!) Click the links below to shop and buy any of the items shown.

Ella Moss Johanna Dress

Old Navy 2-in-1 Plaid Shirts for Baby

Old Navy Baby Dark Wash Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans

Floral Chiffon Toddler Dress

Florie Sandal by Ralph Lauren

Reader Request: Circus, Circus!

So my old roommate Sylvia from my Newport Beach peninsula days contacted me for some style advice. I have not seen Sylvia in YEARS and we have been living parallel lives since she has a daughter who is my daughter's age and she just gave birth to a baby boy as well. Should we toast each other or commiserate, Sylvia?  Regardless, it is great to reconnect.

Apparently Sylvia has tried to stump me by asking me to style a trip to the Circus. Ya da da da da da da da da da (you know the tune.)

OK, I have not been to the circus in who knows how long. In fact, with the exception of Cirque de Soleil, I have no recollection of a circus trip from my childhood. (Did I go?  Was I traumatized by it and blocked it out?) Regardless, I am sure it awaits me now. So bring on the creepy clowns, animal smells, tight ropes, and junk food. I'm on it.

To me, circus means casual chic. So the look I put together features a cropped black pant from Paige (who knows what you may be sitting on) with a casual deep V top by C&C California and a stylish ombre cardigan made from comfortable jersey.  This look will make the bearded woman glare at you with envy. (Or is she just jealous of your hair free face?)

Since you will likely be sitting under the BIG TOP no need for a tennis or walking shoe, but, a sky high heel would probably look out of place. A ballet flat will do the trick (and the one I selected is a steal at $25!).

Click on an item below to purchase or browse the retailer's site.

Black Kenya Pant from Paige

Ombre Jersey Cardigan/Wrap from Splendid

White Deep V Tee from C&C California

Black Denim Pleated Ballet Flat from Famous Footwear

Graphite Bridget Hobo from The Sak

Adina Tiny Disk Necklace in Silver

I realize this post has a new format.  Bear with me as I am trying out a new tool to create my looks and have not quite mastered it.

Anyone been to or love the circus?  Educate me!  What is the best part of the 3 rings?

See you under the Big Top!

Putty Little Nails

Since fashion is often about the accessories, you can't forget about your permanent one...your nails.  I have been cursed with thin brittle nails that split -- a lot. So, I keep mine very short and clean.  Lucky for me, that seems to be the trend nowadays even though in Orange County, CA long acrylics (with a pink and white french manicure) abound.

The nail color trend I am loving right now are putty colors.  A muted, gray taupe color like the ones below.  I just bought the Steel Grey by Rimmel below and am loving it.  Next on my list "You Don't Know Jacques" by OPI.  That name makes me smile.

You can click to purchase some of the examples below (or find some in your local drugstore.)

Nail Polish by Ulta
Nail Polish by Butter London

Anyone have a miracle product or treatment for my brittle, splitting nails?  I want to hear about it!  Thanks!

Just had to...

Dress from Kohl's
Shirt by Quicksilver
Kidlets designed and manufactured by my husband and me

Not for sale.  Yet.

xoxox

Date Night

Dating.  Those of you who are doing it may curse it.  Those of us who haven't been on a date in light years may look back on that time with nostalgia.  The grass is always greener, no?

But, whether you are getting ready to meet that guy from Match.com (and hoping he is at least 1/2 as handsome as his picture) or going on a date night with your husband of 10 years, you want to look fun, flirty, desirable, and fashionable.  Since it is a date night, meaning a man is involved, I just had to select a dress.  Men like dresses.  Or, more specifically, legs (among other things.) Unless you are dating or married to a major metrosexual, men could care less about the trend of today.  They like the old standbys: dresses, tight sweaters, long silky hair, and cleavage. 

If my husband had his way, I would be cruising around in a spandex mini dress circa 1990.  Unfortunately for him, I wouldn't dare but. But, I am pretty sure he would love the look below.  (Actually, I am 100% sure because I ran it past him before I posted it.)

Click on an individual item below to purchase.

Casual Jackets at Bluefly
Satchels by Hype

I was drawn to this dress by Wish because it is flirty, sexy, and versatile.  It can be worn day or night.  With heels or with flats.  The teal color is bold but muted by the gray and black.  Balanced.

To sass up the look for a date night, I paired the dress with a cool studded bootie and motorcycle inspired jacket.  I haven't been a big fan of the bootie, but I this one is very cute and, more importantly, wearable.  And, I am digging the trend of feminine dresses with a harder edge jacket.  The oversized watch from Michael Kors has a menswear feel and plays off the feminine feel of the dress. I want that watch!

To purchase the dress in the look above, click on the image below.



This dress is available from couturecandy.com. Let me take a moment to rave about their customer service. (Despite the fact that they are an affiliate of Stylish Dish, this is a totally unsolicited and uncompensated plug.)

I recently purchased an item with them and the standard shipping was lightning fast. And, the item came "gift wrapped" in a cute pink box. Like a gift for me from me. Unfortunately it did not fit so I returned it. Mailed it on Monday via USPS and received an e-mail on Tuesday that my credit card had been credited. 24 hours! Seriously. And, when I called them the phone was answered immediately by a real person. Oh the novelty! Plus, they are based in Santa Barbara which is a town with a special place in my heart.




Don't forget to leave your comments below...I love 'em!