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!”→
Over the years I have learned to be careful with impulse buying. You know that thing where you spot something, and just HAVE to have it? Often times, I would purchase something because it was a bargain, and I was determined to “make it work.” But it doesn’t always work out that way, and would end up passing things on having only worn them once. What a waste, when I could have saved those pennies for something I really LOVED! You’ve never done that, right? Pretty sure I’m the only one, ha ha ha. š
The other day I was scrolling through Twitter, and spotted the new collection by designer Milly, for Banana Republic, inspired by “Summertime in the Hamptons.” One of the photos featured these sweet little elephant shorts… And I swooned! Oh my gosh, I could wear those with SO MUCH in my closet! But I don’t really have the budget right now for full-priced Banana Republic, so I put my craving on hold, at least for now. I’ll wait till the sale, I told myself; I can be patient…
Then I got my first birthday card, from my sweet Mom & Dad. And there was a check inside. Yay! Having a birthday always causes me to wax somewhat philosophical, so having that check in my hand inspired me to think, “Life is short; spend it all in one place!” Lol, so deep, right? š
I headed to Banana Republic, where they had ONE pair of elephant shorts left in my size. They weren’t on sale; they weren’t a “bargain”… But sometimes a birthday girl just has to treat herself to something nice (especially when she has a little help from super-sweet parents!) Thanks, Mom & Dad, for my favorite new shorts! I have a hundred outfits to work around their elephant cuteness. š So maybe they ARE a bargain, after all…!
XO,
Tanya
Have you ever purchased something that felt too special to pass up, even though you knew it would be a bit of a sacrifice? Tell me about it! Comment below – I love to hear your opinions & stories. š XO!
Thank you to Geneva, who posted this question on my Facebook page:
“I have a question for you. I’m a plus sizeĀ womanĀ 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, andĀ appropriately-dressed for the requirements of your trip, AND your personal style & body type? It can be challenging, but not impossible! š
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 Ā 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 comeĀ specificallyĀ 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! š 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 beĀ inappropriateĀ 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; theseĀ guidelinesĀ 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 bestĀ 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. š
A quick internet search pulled up some great options in Nampa, Geneva! I found 1. Catwalk Consignment BoutiqueĀ –Ā 1310 2nd St S,Ā (208) 466-4832. 2. 11th Ave. Consignments –Ā 1509 Caldwell Blvd # 1178,Ā (208) 466-7700. 3. A to Z Resale Inc. – 1407 2nd St S,Ā (208) 442-7900. 4. Magic Again –Ā 819 12th Ave S,Ā (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! š
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Style Spy Girl 