Clevverr

Nope, I don't need to spellcheck the subject heading :) Clevverr is the name of the pair of shoes I just got from Steve Madden! As I've previously posted, I have been in search for some functional, simple black ballet flats. The ones I have are so worn out, I just can't wear them anymore without feeling a little embarrassed. I stopped into Steve Madden today, after being on a 2 year hiatus from their shoes, and low and behold they had cute flats that were perfect for my not so narrow feet.

I got these in a cute black metallic color (the "metallic" on them is very subtle). They also have them in black leather, and a pretty, metallic champagne color as well.

If you order from www.stevemadden.com be sure to use promotional code "Taker15" to get 15% off your purchase of $100 or more.Orders over $150 get free shipping and all orders have a flat rate of $6.95. Their return policy is not as convenient as Zappos', so know your size or be sure to try them on in a store before ordering online!

newbies for the Spring

from where else but J. Crew!

embellished shorts
I can never find cute, "distressed" shorts that aren't super short
so I was happy to come across these

close up

ringspun tee (as usual, size up!)
loving this muted spearmint color

scoop neck tee with beading along the collar
(stone)

Linen constellations dress
very comfy and i love the pockets!
a playful piece that can be dressed up or down.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a free J. Crew belt! Contest ends March 29th, see a few entries below!

workwear

I'm enjoying being able to wear jeans and J. Crew to work everyday! I know this is definitely one of the things I'll miss when I'm done with grad school this May and enter the real world. As I hear it, my field does not really embrace jeans at work. Boo.

Does your job have a "dress code"?

Side note: When and how the hell did I get so tan?!

Outfit:
J. Crew everything! Horse/Equestrian cardigan from Fall '06, Matchstick jeans, navy critter belt w/ beagles, Holden boots also from '06. Vintage/thrifted leopard scarf.

Planning for Paris

Going to Paris in May and I'm already dreaming about all the shopping---I mean, sightseeing
that we'll be doing. So far on my list are:

• Free P Star
• Puces de Clignancourt
• Vanves & Bastille markets
  
• Rag
• Kiliwatch

Mainstream shopping:

• Galleries Lafayette
• Printemps
• LV on CE of course
• Longchamp
• Goyard

Please share your favorite spots to shop à Paris!

1st day of spring=1st giveaway!

Tres tippy is giving away one J. Crew grossgrain ribbon belt (in putty as pictured below) from the Fall 2009 collection.

How to enter: Send in your response to the following question (so I can get to know my readers better!)
What is your favorite thing about Spring fashion, and why?
Please provide a valid email address. One winner will be chosen at random. One entry per email address. (US & Canadian residents only).
This contest ends Sunday March 29th @ 9pm EST. I look forward to reading your responses! Good luck!

the ting tings

went to their show last night at the Starlight Ballroom. They were really good and the energy of the crowd made it fun too!
Outfits:

Mike & Chris Nolan jacket, H&M zipper leggings

Madewell: grandpa cardigan, frayed knit scarf, v neck boyfriend pocket tee

meet Sam Edelman

Just stopped into Nordstrom's and was told that Sam Edelman will be at the store in a few weeks. For those of you who might be obsessed with these like I am (although I'd never have the guts to wear them out in the burbs!), it'll be exciting to chat with him about the new Spring collection. Saturday April 11th 1-4pm King of Prussia Mall, PA.

she's here!

As I mentioned in my previous post (on the zebra sequin tee), there's a new addition to the fam. My bag fam, that is!

I've waited and wavered on this Balenciaga City with GSH (giant silver hardware) for so long and finally took the plunge. Unfortunately all the good things people say about this bag are true! The leather is absolutely amazing. My addiction has begun...

pearl cluster items on ebay

Just added two beautiful vintage pearl cluster items on my Ebay page. Follow this link!

vintage denim

The weather today was completely deceiving. What appeared to be a Spring-like day became totally cloudy and cold! In any case, I spent the entire day indoors (at the mall) and broke out my J. Crew vintage slim distressed jeans (from fall '09). I paired them with two other options to show the versatility of the jeans.

argyle dog cardigan ruffle chiffon cardigan in cerise

berry astrid in plum

I should have taken a picture from the back view because I have to tell you, they do have a slightly baggy fit similar to a boyfriend jean. However, the denim is SO soft and comfortable, I can overlook the bagginess. This particular pair of jeans has quickly become my favorite and will definitely see more wear when the Spring weather arrives!

i need me some flats!

My Steve Madden ballet flats (from almost 4 years ago) are totally crying for mercy.
I'm debating between these patent leather ones with black and white medallion and the non patent leather ones with a the silver medallion (not pictured). I'm just not a fan of black and gold combinations. I also stumbled upon these cute Marc Jacobs flats.

Similar to the popular mouse flats that came out a few seasons ago, these instead feature the cartoonesque girl seen on the totes. She reminds me of a Parisian version of Coraline. I don't think the shoes are very practical but they are super cute and I like the color combination of grey, black, and white which will go with almost everything. Ultimately since I've been looking for a substitute for my plain black flats it looks like I'm going to cave into getting a pair of the Tory Burch Reva Flats. I actually am not a shoe person at all and dread replacing my shoes. I have about 40 pairs of shoes but am not really crazy about any of them. I know that seems totally odd but while people are spending upwards of $900 on shoes, I'd spend all that money on a bag or jacket immediately. I think my empathy with shoes is because comfort plays a huge role in my everyday life. Maybe if I worked in the fashion industry I'd be more motivated to rock Louboutins but for now, they aren't exactly appropriate to my field (unfortunately)! Maybe I have yet to come across the most perfect pair of shoes that will be worth the splurge. What pair of shoes did that for you?

sequins+zebra=a cute tee!

I had no interest in this tee because the only version I had ever seen was the orange tee with pink beading. By some random luck I came across this grey tee under a pile of other random plain shirts at the store! The store didn't even carry the shirt so it must have been a return. Now if that isn't some sort of a sign, then I don't know what is. I saw that it was a size M but when I held it up it looked like it would fit soI bought it without trying it on. I put it on this morning and it fits perfectly! I am always an XS at J.Crew but for whatever reason, the M works. If all of these shirts are sized the same way, I would say to size up one size. Other than the fit, the shirt is comfy and I love how you can have comfort with a more formal look. I paired it with jeans but I have some other ideas that I'll post later. I also stopped by Neiman's last night and will be picking up a new addition on Saturday. Can't wait! Hint: it's something that I think happens to match this tee. Any guesses?

Here's a closeup of the beaded/sequin zebra:

The 1OO

While at a bookstore last year, I stumbled upon Nina Garcia's book, "The One Hundred A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own". I was not really interested in reading something that would dictate one's wardrobe but as I skimmed the book my interest peaked. She speaks in a casual tone which is why I was able to continue reading without getting bored. I purchased it and read it immediately.

As I was sifting through my clothes last night, I decided to turn to the book for help on what to keep, what not to keep. Sure, she can be a little harsh on Project Runway but for someone who has been in the fashion industry since the 80's, she definitely knows her stuff. I agreed with a lot of the items she considers to be staples. Ballet flats (check!), a clutch (hate clutches for fear that I'll lose them), little black dress (check!), plain white tee (check!), investment bag (check! love my speedy!). These are all things I think most people happen to have without realizing how much of a role they play in our wardrobes. The book did bring to my attention things like a cocktail ring, ankle boots, and leather pants (?!). She talks about each item an explains why and how they should be incorporated into outfits. One thing she mentions in her book is, when purchasing something, think about whether or not you'll wear that item 5 or 10 years down the line. I'm pretty sure most of us don't think so far into the future. I definitely don't! But it really helped me put things into perspective. Will I wear that loud, bright pink jacket 5 years down the line when I go to corporate meetings? Probably not. Keeping this in mind really helped me narrow down the things that I should and should not hold onto.

Anyway, the next time you're at the bookstore, I definitely recommend at least giving this book a quick skim through. If not for the content, the illustrations are cute too!

shoptrestippy on ebay has launched!

Haven't posted in awhile because I've been working on my ebay site which has just launched! This particular store will sell vintage items only. Please check it out~! If you search by seller use: shoptrestippy
Happy shopping!