Rainbow Inspiration

I tell ya'. The stores are getting mighty clever with their marketing tactics these days. Drawing people in with a provocative window photo; huge, obnoxious, yet enticing, SALE signs; and perfectly styled outfits for those people who buy off the mannequin. Recently, I became victim these marketing techniques. Victim only because it affected MY bank account.

However, I was drawn in because of their stark white pallet and bright colored clothing. The colors reminded me of summer and you know I love me some summer. If you've been to New York and Company recently, or have even walked by, you know what I'm talking about. Vibrant yellows, happy greens, and kicky magentas just begging to be taken to the fitting room for a chance a finding a home in your closet. Well, it worked, and it worked three times!

The first time was with one of my best friends in San Antonio. I was helping her freshen up her wardrobe because she felt her collection was a bit tired and old and needed to spice it up a bit. We were at La Canterra, the local outdoor mall, strolling along when the NY&Co. window drew me in and it drew me in fast. I made my moves by pulling items while Meg entertained her son Connor on the playground out front. A clothing store is no place for a kid when I'm on a fashion mission. Give me a few minutes and he'd be my assistant holding tops and scarves. A sight I'm sure his father wouldn't find amusing. We had a successful trip and she got some great items that she can mix and match with her 'old' and new wardrobe. I even got her to buy a blue polka dot shirt that she was very hesitant about. VERY HESITANT (it looked ADORBS on her). I haven't heard if she actually kept it or not. Note to self: Investigate location of said polka dot shirt.

Regardless, she looks great and now owns some punchy colors to jazz up her work day and weekend wardrobes. I've since received several texts about her making additional purchases. She was bit by the fashion bug and I couldn't be more proud.

The second time I was left to my own devices at the Houston Galleria. I wanted to find some work pants because I felt my rotation was getting a little ragged. I remembered how the clothes fit Meg and thought it might be a good starting point. Oh, it was a good starting point AND ending point. The fashion gods were smiling down on me because not only was I successful in the fitting room, I was successful at the register too! Well, I guess that's relative. Get this: they were having a sale where you buy one item and the second is 50% off!! So any fashion savvy gal would have done what I did and cash in on this deal. It felt like a clothes buffet! I pulled yellow shirts, hot pink cardigans, green skinny jeans, bright red cigarette pants, and floral dresses. The brighter the better. I left with a sack full of fun. I was in a rush so I knew I would have to reassess the sitch when I got home to make sure I was 100% happy with my purchases. The only item I decided had to be returned was the red pants, and that's only because I liked the green better:-)

This takes us to the third visit to NY&Co. While it was supposed to be a simple return, it never ends up that way. This is when I need to invest in blinders.

Why can I not walk into a store, complete my return, and walk out? Why? Why?!?! The simple answer is because I'm a woman. The complicated answer is also because I'm a woman. No need to expand. This time I decided to hit up Memorial City for a 'quicker' trip. I walked in and of course I was sidetracked by stuff I hadn't seen at the other store. DAMN! I filled my arms with loot and hit the fitting room. I ended up exchanging the pants for a white silky shirt that will get a lot of use. However, now my problem was that I found some eggplant skinny jeans I really liked and a pair of dark wash boot cut jeans that actually fit. I didn't know what to do! Any girl knows when you are faced with this predicament the only thing you can do is BUY THEM BOTH! I mean, when the hell will this happen again?!? But I was trying to be a good girl so I took my shirt to exchange but held on to the jeans just in case I had a weak moment or a miracle happened...which it did. Just as soon as I walked out of the dressing room I saw the sign out of nowhere and it read: 'buy one pair of pants or jeans and get a second for FREE.' Done.

So, now I've got my arsenal of color, ready to face the world. My advice to all the fashionistas out there: if you're feeling blue and want a little pick-me-up, go out and get yourself a little rainbow to brighten your world and the world around you...just be careful for those tricky marketing tactics;-)

Love and shoes,

Kim



Fashion Citation for Moi!

Just a quick, funny story for ya' today. I helped my sister with her lifting competition this weekend. We all met up at 7:15 so I didn't really pay too much attention to my wardrobe because A) it was freezing, and B) I knew most of the girls and thought I'd be out of there by the time regular classes started. Well, I was wrong. I admit, I looked like a hot mess with no makeup and odd clothing choices. I totally deserved the jokes. The best part is that I was razzed by three different people...and they were all dudes! My sister's boyfriend even wanted to take a picture to document my poor choices and upload it to the internet. I beat him to it. I bring you my 'Mug Shot':

WANTED!

It may not seem so bad, but when you have a passion for fashion, it's a bit of a fail.

Lesson Learned: Get cuter, casual, warm clothing!

Love and shoes,
Kim

To Quote Mommy Dearest...

"No More Wire Hangers!!!" That statement sums up my Monday holiday activitiy of switching out my entire closet and hanging all my clothes on the same type of hanger. Some may say "what a complete waste of your time on a holiday!" and to those people I say, with furrowed brow: "what did you do!?! Watch tv for 12 straight hours or spend all day drinking at a bar only to regret your choices the next day at work when you are slammed with a gagillion emails and requests?" Sorry, I get a little testy when people question my organization tangents. I apologize. That wasn't very ladylike of me and there is nothing wrong with watching TV or enjoying some day drinking;-)

But really, Ladies. This is one of THE best things I've done in order to declutter my life. I was having difficulty seeing what the heck was going on in my closet and had actually forgotten about some really great items...and some not-so-great items too! My word! I even found a top from Forever 21 that I wore 8 years ago and believe you me, my taste is NOT the same as my bar hopping, clubbing, party days. Although, it gave me a good laugh when I put it on to revisit some good times on memory lane. I think it may have even had a few stains from all those buttery nipple shots we thought were "SO good!" Oh how I remember those days, well, nights, fondly.

Now that I'm...err...a little bit older and much wiser I've had to really get my act together when it comes to my wardrobe. First impressions are very important and you don't want to look disheveled because you don't know what's what in your closet. Well, in order to make sure I'm armed and ready, I have to be able to SEE and FIND what I need. My mom scored me some of those popular thin, felt hangers that you see everywhere right now. She got 35 for $9.99 at Costco. Can we say bargain? I started the hanger conversion when I realized this job is going to call for WAY more than 35 hangers. By my estimations, I needed over 120! So, we ran back to Costco and snagged 5 more boxes. Here is a comparison shot. The bottom row has been converted and the top row is still a hot mess.

And here is the completed shoebox-sized, yet organized, closet!

I had to sort the clothes by color, too. ROYGBV, baby!

P.S. Even after five boxes worth of hangers, I DO have a few hangers leftover;-)

It's 2012, fashionistas. Get your life, and closet, ready for another fabulously stylish year!

Love and shoes,
Kim

Sparkles, Glitter, and Glam

New Year's Eve is upon us and what can be more exciting than having an excuse to cover yourself in shiny, fun, fab attire! I usually rock a pretty classic look but I'm definitely partial to sparkles. I can't help it. I love adding that touch of unexpected funkiness to an ensemble.

New Year's Eve is the PERFECT time to really step outside your comfort zone and kick it up a notch. There are so many options out there right now that are adorned with sequin, rhinestone, and metallic thread details. Sometimes the glare of said outfits can be daunting and scary, but don't be a wuss, try them on and give it a whirl....girl!

If you just can't bring yourself to wear a sequin dress or funky shirt, remember your options. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Silky smoothe. Use different materials like satin pants, a velvet jacket, or sequin vest to jazz up your outfit. The classic Tux look is SO in right now and it's flattering on most body types. A nice jacket can take and outfit from 'meh' to 'my word!' in an instant. Add a pop of color with your shoes or purse and you're set, my dear.
2. A touch of class with a dash of sass. There is nothing wrong with a plain dress or pant/top combo. Look for a cool statement piece necklace or a few necklaces that you can wear together to pump it up, just make sure they are different lengths if you are going with a combo look. P.S. it's okay to mix metals: gold, silver, bronze, rose gold. The more the merrier, especially on NYE!
3. Don't forget about those gams! Haven't had a chance to get that last minute spray tan (mine is scheduled for Friday;) and feel a bit pasty? No sweat. Find some great fish nets or even bring back that sexy Mad Men secretary look with some back-seamed hose or perhaps a row of rhinestones. Patterned hosiery/tights are huge right now. Just remember, if you have a thicker, athletic stem, go for a smaller pattern.
4. Fascinate the crowds with a Fascinator! Take a cue from the fancy English folk and don a fun topper. Weather permitting, a really great hat with some flair would be totally appropriate. Just make sure it's cohesive with the rest of your look. A hat with a full sequined dress is not cohesive:-)
5. About Face. You know that glittery palette you have in your makeup set that never really gets touched b/c I mean, how many fancy events does one have that requires a sparkly eye? Well, this is the night to pull out all the stops and pump up those peepers. You can either go with a dramatic eye and neutral lip or emulate Ms. Marilyn with her soft eye color and red hot lips. Take it one step further and try on some fake eyelashes. They have colors, feathers, and rhinestone selections that will make everyone say "turn around bright eyes". This is the night you have a legit excuse to walk on the wild side.

As of yet, I haven't assembled my entire look but I bought this dress a few weeks ago that will be the base. You might think "hmph, simple and black. how un-fun." Have no fear fashionistas, I'll sugar it up.  Don't you worry!

I know NYE can be a chore and it's hard to get excited every year but dig deep, get motivated, and arm yourself with sparkles and glam. After all, you never know who you might end up smooching. Cheers to you!

Love and shoes,

Kim

Failure in the Fitting Room

Well my darling fashionistas, I just returned from one of THE most miserable shopping trips of my life. My company dinner is coming up in a week and I thought I'd go out and pick up a new dress. Maybe something with some sparkle and flare, or perhaps something classy and timeless. I didn't have a look in mind, I just wanted something fun. Well, the shopping gods had another plan for me today and apparently it was to see how far they could push me before I had a full on adult temper tantrum in the middle of the Nordstrom dress section.

I mean when I telll you I tried on dress after dress, I'm not lying. It could have qualified as a shoppers workout. The lovely Nordstrom associate even brought some dresses in to try but nothing was workin' it...well, there was one but it was $250, of course, and I just wasn't looking to spend that on a Christmas party dress. Look, I'll be honest, I've put on a few, we'll call them 'holiday', pounds but it was unreal how bad these dresses looked. Many of the styles that are popular right now are a straight fit which if you know me, is not exactly tailored for my shape. Yeah, I have some tush and I'm not about to walk around in a dress that looks like sausage casing. Yikes!

However ladies, I have to say that in a dark, torturous time like this it's very important not to fall off the deep end and drown yourself in ice cream or whatever your treat of choice might be. Just go home, take a few days off, and give yourself some time to get ramped up for another shopping extravaganza. We all have these days where nothing fits or if it does, you look like death. It just happens and there is no freakin' explanation for it. You have to remember it shall pass and you'll have shopping luck again, usually when you least expect it. I usually have mine when I'm shopping for someone else or my bank account is a little light:-(

I'll be honest. I was upset, came home, and went straight to the sink to take out my frustration on the dishes. "Yeah, dirty dishes, take that!" My sister came home and asked how it went and I immediately responded with a curt "TERRIBLE! I'M FAT! NOTHING FITS!" Not the most rational of responses but those dresses and fitting room mirrors hurt my feelings. Hmph!

So, here I am blogging about my experience to get it off my chest and let it go. I just have to accept this tragic day and try again. That's all you can do. Shopping success is both unpredictable and precious. When you are on a streak you almost want to keep riding the wave because who knows when it's going to end! Just remember those times of success when you are about to have a meltdown from a self-esteem crushing trip. Find comfort in knowing you're not the only one and, it's just a shopping trip. Worse things can happen. Just think of people in the 80s when they had to sift through tiered skirts and puffy sleeves hoping to find something that offset their big hair and sky-high bangs. Eeesh. 

Ladies, I hope this helps in some small way. I love to shop and I love the hunt but even I have my craptastic days where I just want to throw in the towel and write off shopping forever, but then I take a nap and snap back to reality. Some advice for those cursed days, hit the shoe section. You'll always find a little 'happy' in that department;-)

Love and shoes,
Kim  

Scarf it up!

A friend of mine shared this video with me and I'm in love! Now that we are approaching windy weathers with brisk temps (hopefully soon!) we need to be fully armed with the most current of fall fashion trends!

Have you ever whipped out your scarf and thought to yourself "how many ways CAN you wrap a scarf?" Well, wonder no more. I have the answers, ladies, and it's 25!!!

Watch the video below and get ready to have your mind blown...when it comes to scarves:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d0Ugkc05l24

My faves are The Bunny Ear, The Magic Trick, and The Braid. What are yours?

Love and shoes,
Kim

Two is better than one

Sad news day in the shoe world for me. I think ('think' only because it's too hard for me to fully commit to tossing them in the trash) I have come to the end of the road with my favorite pair of black pumps. I know! You're saying "what? why? I can't believe this news. How are you going to cope!" 

I actually went through two pairs of this shoe, one in black patent and one in black leather. I had to part with the black patent ones about two years ago and now, the time has come for the leather pair. *TEAR* I have had them resoled and reheeled in order to squeeze as much life out of these kicks. I LOVE this shoe and everything about it. It is simple, comfortable, and went with everything. I've been on the hunt for a replacement pair for a while know b/c I could foresee what was on the horizon, but I haven't had any luck finding a pair that can compare. 

This goes to show, ladies, if/when you find the perfect black pump, buy two pair (or possibly three!). I wish I had snagged another pair but alas, they don't make the style anymore...and believe me, I've checked on amazon, ebay, nextag, etc. I even did one more search this morning. It was a total bust.

Hear me now, a great pair of black pumps is a crucial 'must-have' and I am just devestated that mine are kaput! But have no fear. I'll go on. After I get through the mourning stage of these stems, I'll regain the strength and focus to get out there again and look for my next fab black pump. However, none of them will be able to replace the Nine West Luceros. UNLESS, someone wants to donate to the Christian Louboutin dream shoe fund;-)

Ah well, a girl can dream. *sigh*

I thank you for humoring me on this melodramatic post. I realize it's not late, breaking, national news, but if there was ever a place to rant and rave about your favorite pair of shoes, this is the spot, and I welcome it!

Love and (the perfect pair of black) shoes,
Kim