Last night, I was invited by Kelly (above, right) to attend a shopping party at Apricot Lane, with fellow fashion bloggers Annelise from AunieSauce, and Yuli from Yuli Conversations. (Sorry you weren’t able to join us, Yuli – we missed you!) The entire store was 20% off, so we had a blast shopping, styling customers (and each other!), and eating cupcakes. Yum!!! A girly night was had by all! Here are some fun photos from our Fashion Party. Continue reading “Apricot Lane Fashion Party!”→
I recently fell in love with Express‘s latest addition to their fashion & career wear: nearly-sheer button-up blouses. They’re so soft and feminine, yet entirely work-appropriate (with the right underpinnings, of course!) I love the versatility of this blouse; I can wear it over a lacy camisole, with glam shorts and embellished wedge sandals, for an evening on the town. Or, tie it up with a skirt and more subdued tank top, like the outfit above, for a work-appropriate ensemble!
Express.com has them in like a bazillion colors (ok, more like 22, but some of them even have studded accents – swoon!) So tell me: How would you wear this blouse?
That’s a wonderful question, Dawn! Thanks for asking! I LOVE questions from my readers! 😀
When it comes to having a work handbag that is large enough to carry your files, computer, and a variety of essentials, my preference is always to find a structured tote. I want it to be wide enough to hold my larger items, but solid, so that when I set it down it doesn’t schlump to the ground in a puddle of leather.
Ideally, your perfect tote would have enough room that you can put in your own dividers; get something that works for your organizational needs from Office Depot, Staples, etc., and take it with you when you go purse shopping!
I stopped by Nordstrom Rack for some photos of the types of handbags I think might work best for you. Most are solid colors, that would coordinate well with an office wardrobe, plus one wild Betsey Johnson tote I just had to throw in for the FUN of it! 🙂
But wait, the best deals of the year are happening RIGHT NOW!
Here’s a list of sales going on, at Boise Towne Square Mall.
Have fun, and may your 2013 be the best year yet!
xoxo, StyleSpyGirl
Sales start at 10am January 1st! 🙂
Dillard’s Annual sale – 50% off permanently reduced merchandise* (*some exclusions) – This is the time you want to buy shoes and handbags!!!
Nordstrom Rack – Clear the Rack at Nordstrom Rack sale – up to 70% off
Teavana – Heavenly Sale – 40-75% off select items
Francesca’s Collections – 60% off select items and 30% off redlines
The Children’s Place – up to 70% off redlines
Christopher Banks/CJ Banks – up to 60% off redlines
Gymboree / Crazy 8 – Everything in the store under $12.99 including children’s coats
Macy’s – An extra 20 % off sale
Victoria Secrets – Buy one Get One 50% off Bra Sale
H & M – $10, $15, and $20 racks – OMG
Finishline – 30% off redlines
PolarX custom ornaments – 50% off
Wet Seal – 50% off
Motherhood – at least 50% off
Apricot Lane – 55% off select items
Forever 21 – 30% off
DownEast Basics – 50% off redlines
Hot Topic – Dig in a Box Sale – Denim as low as $9.99, shirts $5.99
Journey’s – 40-70% off
JcPenney -30-60% Clearance
Go Games – 50% off everything
Ann Taylor – Semi-Annual Sale – up to 50% off
Yankee Candle – Semi-Annual Sale – up to 75% off
Bare Escentuals – $49 for 20 luxurious eye colors
Soma – up to 70% off
Pottery Barn – 50% off floor model furniture and 50-60% off Christmas décor
Aeropostale – up to 70% off of everything
See’s Candies – 50% off Christmas candy
Romys – 80% off
Thank you to Geneva, who posted this question on my Facebook page:
“I have a question for you. I’m a plus size woman who is bigger on bottom than on top. I’m needing long skirts/dresses for a mission trip to Kenya with IC World. But can’t seem to find anything that looks good. I am 5’8″ and live in Nampa.”
Many mission & volunteer programs do, however, have a dress code, depending on the culture you are working with. How to be respectful, comfortable, and appropriately-dressed for the requirements of your trip, AND your personal style & body type? It can be challenging, but not impossible! 😀
Some tips…
1. I recently found the maxi-skirt-of-my-dreams (that’s me on the left!) in the newly-opened Nordstrom Rack.
It’s from a brand called Bobeau, who makes comfortable, stretchy, stylish clothing (affordable, too!) in misses and plus sizes! It’s a lightweight breathable rayon material, and most importantly, it’s super-duper-DUPER stretchy! The waist can be worn folded up or down, depending on what top you wear with it. Either way, it’s so comfy, it kind of blows your mind! The Rack carries them in a variety of colors, and right now they carry womens’ sizes XS-XL. Some of their other Bobeau items DO come specifically plus sizes, but these skirts are so generously sized, it might definitely be worth trying them on!
2. Watch out for pleats on your maxi skirt! If you are a lady with curvier hips, pleats around the waistline will make those curves look even curvier! 😉 The Bobeau skirt I mentioned (left) has barely any pleating around the waist; when worn, they pretty much disappear! If you hold up a maxi skirt and the hips puff out on the hanger, it is NOT going to be a slenderizing skirt on an actual woman. (Only exception: if you put a big, chunky statement belt over the waist & pleats!)
3. Another tip: Look for maxi dresses! These are everywhere right now, from Ross to Macy’s to Target – there’s a style for every budget! Steer clear of low-cut styles that would be inappropriate for the work you are doing. Empire-waist styles can emphasize your bust, so if you are a lady with a pear-shaped body type, these can be very figure-balancing & flattering! If you have a larger bust size, look for lower-waisted styles, or maxi’s that don’t have a defined waist, but instead flow gently (not too tight, or too baggy!) over your curves. Ask your mission coordinators what the rules are regarding bare arms & shoulders, too; these guidelines will also affect your shopping choices!
4. Many of my overseas-traveling girl friends concur on this point: a local re-sale store will be your best resource! Long skirts come and go in fashion, year after year. Your local Saver’s, Goodwill, etc. should have a good selection of long skirts, at really decent prices. And be SURE to check your local consignment stores, for skirts that are more current, and often in better condition. 😉
A quick internet search pulled up some great options in Nampa, Geneva! I found 1. Catwalk Consignment Boutique – 1310 2nd St S, (208) 466-4832. 2. 11th Ave. Consignments – 1509 Caldwell Blvd # 1178, (208) 466-7700. 3. A to Z Resale Inc. – 1407 2nd St S, (208) 442-7900. 4. Magic Again – 819 12th Ave S, (208) 991-2341.
Hopefully some of these ideas will be helpful to you! Good luck, and please post pictures of your trip!
XOXO,
StyleSpyGirl
P.S. Fashion friends, do you have ideas & shopping tips for Geneva? Feel free to add your helpful comments! 😀
Unless you live in a cave – or avoid any form of news media, in or out of that cave – you’ve probably heard something about the latest addition to this town’s shopping landscape.
A Nordstrom Rack opened last week near Boise Towne Square Mall. There were news crews, long lines, screaming stampedes of giddy shoppers, crowded aisles, “controversy” over secret pre-parties (yup, we were at one of those – it totally rocked!!!), and basic new-store shopping mayhem.
But amidst all the hoopla, an important element of this store’s grand arrival seems to have been forgotten; the main thing that had fashion bloggers, big-city transplants, style hunters, and bargain shoppers salivating from the time the Nordstrom Rack sign went up on that building…
It’s ALL about the CLOTHES!!!!!
Nordstrom Rack brings something NEW to Boise; brands that haven’t had a presence in this town until now will finally be accessible to those who love the style & quality of high-end names like Burberry, Tory Burch, Allen Edmonds, Diesel, Armani, Kate Spade, & Marc Jacobs. The Rack also offers extensive fashion pieces from lines like Betsey Johnson, Juicy Couture, and Joe’s; brands that currently have a limited presence in other stores. And everything is sold at a discount, anywhere from 20-90% off of retail!
But why are these names so imortant? Because new brands give Boise access to new styles, and new perspectives on fashion! Now, those fashion-forward styles we see in the magazines are one step closer to being worn in Boise. The question is: are Boiseans brave enough to wear them?
Only time will tell, but if the thrilled & satisfied shoppers from Thursday’s Rack opening were any indication, Boise’s fashion landscape is about to have the brightest and boldest Spring it’s ever seen.
Here are some of the happy faces we saw, with their great fashion finds…
(Me & Ammo Photog, covering the Grand Opening for Fusion Magazine)
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Style Spy Girl 