11 days October 12, 2008

I’m 11 days in to my shopping challenge. Today will actually be the 12th day. Yesterday was a little hard I almost thought about forgetting this whole challenge. Yesterday, I was going to this party and I needed something to wear. I felt like I had nothing-I always feel I have no shirts! I went into my closet and set aside a couple of options-all of which might I add had never been worn. Though we had sun it was quite windy-and going into the evening I new I didn’t want to wear a dress (given the crowd I’m glad I wore jeans) and be freezing -so I just felt like there were no choices. I had a commitment mid afternoon- that I took the morning getting ready for, by the time I was done it was close to the time my friends wanted to head out. I wanted to make a quick stop by one of my favorite stores- but not to shop just to return / exchange this jacket. Walking in I saw she had some cute stuff. I didn’t even allow myself to venture over to the racks, I stayed focus and went straight to the counter. Store policy is no returns or excahges. I guess being a frequent customer helps break those policies So, being that I was in a rush I had no time to spare so I took my credit and left. Technically I feel that using a store credit would be ok- but I think in the end its still shopping- I really don’t want to cheat. I’m almost half way through. and I know what I want to get some more grey skinny jeans would be more than what I had in a store credt. I really wanted to know if she had and grey skinny jeans left in my size- but I know how I am when theres only one left-lol. Getting home I felt myself in a rush I tried on everything I set out in the morning but met no success. My friend called me and was asking me questions about what she should wear. In helping her figure out an outfit I helped myself because I figured out what I was going to wear and I loved it! I survived my 11th day!

undecided October 10, 2008

So we made it to Friday! Happy Friday! I love Fridays because its the end of the week, and it’s casual Friday. I really don’t like the way anyone on my floor dresses. 8 only look forward to seeing one girl everyday! Needless to say we both like each other and we both love seeing what the other is going to wear. I love being able to wear my jeans So, the other day I wrote about this leather bomber jacket I bought from UO and it having no pockets-and how I am returning it. I also was not a fan of how the two front pockets made my chest look-I think it was actually the dress I was wearing- before I thought I was trying to find reasons to keep it but what I think I was doing was finding reasons to send it back. This morning the jacket was on my bed and I’m listening to the radio (102.7 I love Ryan Seacrest & Ellen) so she says it’s going to be windy out. Now I think it would be nice to throw on a jacket. I have this other leather jacket never worn I bought if from a thrift store for $5 the only thing w/ this jacket is it has a little slit in it on the back- which I promised myself I’d get a patch for. Other than that I couldn’t leave it-lol! The jacket does have these shoulder pads I want to take out-hee hee-(I always see the potential in things) so I put that jacket on with my outfit and its burgundy- and I loved it! The thing is it’s a total different look and style than this brown one, and my black baby phat jacket- and my other long leather jackets I have-it’s, it’s own look. Now, true all my other ones do have pockets, and yeah it would be cool if this brown jacket had pockets- but so I need another jacket with pockets!? And, so what if it doesn’t! What’s my obsession with pockets? My favorite magazine Lucky has a spread on leather jackets- all of the jackets are different and I found myself frankly loving a lot of them! I realized that even if I return this jacket I will miss it because I do love it even without pockets- and whether I return it or keep this jacket that’s not going to stop me from wanting another leather jacket! Why!? Because I love clothes- I love having options having different styles and looks. That’s apart of me-I can’t help it! Yeah the jacket was a lil’ expensive- but I new that a leather jacket would be. You know what else I honestly have no problem paying the $ for something I love. The jackets in Lucky were not cheap- can you really find cheap leather- true the price range did very but so did the styles. I love the color of this jacket! I love the way it fits! Isn’t that enough reason to keep it!? I don’t know what to do- I’m undecided!? P.S. I think Tracee would keep it

no pockets October 9, 2008

So I’ve been waiting almost a week for my Leather Bomber Jacket to arrive. It finally came Monday, it was delivered a little after 12pm I was watching it on the UPS tracking system.

When I arrived home I was so excited! I was expecting to see a box on the porch but I saw nothing. I thought man someone stole my jacket-lol! The reality of that was it was just in a smaller package not visible from the street which is actually good, and keeps someone from really stealing it. So I ripped through the package and had in my hands the last UO leather bomber jacket in a XS. The # 1 thing that went through my mind is would it fit?? The color was a beautiful brown, better than I imagined. Only, because sometimes online colors can be a little distorted. So, I wanna love my new jacket with out exception and I almost do I put it on IT FITS! What else is there right? BUT! I put the jacket own and as I am looking at myself in my full length mirror I do what I think anyone would do. I go to put my hands in my pockets. There were NO pockets for my hands now please tell me how could that be!? Now, the jacket does have two pockets in the front, but those pockets are not meant for your hands! Tho, I did see this jacket online, and on the model- I thought for sure that having pockets would be a given- I guess not! So let me just say this jacket was way to expensive for me to have any ? or doubts about it. Oh yeah I don’t love the way the two pockets in the front of the jacket make my chest look either! I wanted to love this jacket so much! I really wanted it to be the one! I was already convincing myself that it not having pockets was not a big deal- and that I could rock it! If I could have anybodys closet I would have the closet of Tracee Ellis Ross- I love her style! So I thought what would she do. Though her pocket book is different than mine I’m sure she would not keep something she didn’t love. I know I could rock this jacket- but this jacket not having pockets is a big deal to me! So it has to go back! Which means I’m still looking for the perfect bomber leather jacket!

The Challenge October 4, 2008

I’m back! Yes I have been away, way too long! So, lets begin this blog. Recently I created a want list of all the things that I want to get. Believe it or not I don’t have many things on my want list. However, some of the items on my want list are expensive. I will share my list another day. The items on my list to me represent statements of fashion and are items I feel will be timeless -however that is a whole nother blog in itself. 

Lately I have been doing a lot of shopping-you name it and I have bought it- sometimes my paycheck is spent before I get it because I already know what I want to buy. One of the things that has been on my want list has been a leather bomber jacket I have been wanting one for so long-however I had yet to find the perfect leather jacket until now. Recenly UO has featured leather bomber jackets- the first one I saw was a black bomber jacket it was so cute I felt I had to have it but I was waiting just a little bit- I really liked it but I didn’t like the way the model was wearing it. A few weeks later UO had another bomber jacket in a beautiful brown color with silk lining I was in love!  This was the one for real and of course it was more expensive than the first one -lol! Immediately I began to think how I could get them both - yes I did say both! I new that was insane but I thought it would be great to have a black and a brown one they could go with so many different things I’m out of control! 

So, not having the money right away I just began to watch the jacket to see how the sales would go. The next thing I new the jacket was all sold out in small, initially I wanted a small, when they were all gone I was like what! I began to get a little worried, but my sister and I both thought I could fit a xs. So earlier this week I checked online and the jacket was all sold out in a med. all that was left was a xs and a large- now there was no way I was getting a large- I was hoping to be able to get that jacket on my next paycheck. However, the way the jacket was selling I wasn’t sure if it was going to be there until the 15th. My sister suggested I call, so on my lunch I called and I spoke to a real cool sales girl, and I asked her if they would be getting in any more of the jacket she said she didn’t know and that as of now there is no back order dates listed, so it could go either way. I asked her if she was able to tell me how many of the xs they had left shes says we have 1 left I said did you say you have 1 left she said yes someone just returned it.  I said I have to get it!  So she said okay let me hurry and process this for you before someone else gets it. I was like okay in my mind I new I was spending a lot for this jacket but I wanted it and I had to know if the xs would fit me if it doesn’t I can always return it but with 1 left I couldnt’t wait I had to buy it.

So I guess you may be reading this wondering why is this called the challenge- recently all I have been doing is spending- that jacket was the 3rd jacket I had  bought in 3 days! Can you believe that- Im actually going to take one of them back cause I know I’m not going to wear it-lol! Anyway, I realized the spending has got to stop! So I have given myself a 1 month challenge for October for one month I will not buy any clothes or shoes. The last purchase I made was at the end of Sept. my jacket, so I thought it was the perfect time to start this challenge Oct. 1st so far I’m doing good- there isn’t anything that I feel I have to buy- I’m still thrilled off my last purchase- I just can’t wait for it to come- I also hope it fits- I’ll know in a couple of days…

It’s funny because I asked my friend and my sister if they wanted to take this challenge with me. They both laughed and said no because they had been real good with there spending but they support me-lol! Everyone seems to think I can do it- I know I can too- its just there’s always something to buy. Not  this month though I will resist! The one thing I am excited about with this challenge is seeing how much $ I’ll actually save.

not bad but not great May 15, 2008

Have you ever found yourself saying that about a outfit? Maybe it’s something that you have on or that you previously wore.  This has happened to me the past two days.  The past two days I have not been satisifed with my outfits. Let’s begin with Tuesday’s outfit I wore a black skirt with very subtle green pinstripes- Its one of my favorite skirts and I got it a while ago from BR with this skirt I wore a green shirt from FCUK and black fishnets and black heels.  Now I’ve worn this combination before but for some reason I just wasn’t satisfied with it on Tuesday.  Not to mention  we had an offsite meeting at work and we had to go to Sherman Oaks where we were met with about 200 of our other coworers and I couldn’t help but thinking I wish I had on something else- not a good spot to be in. I wish I had on my Monday outfit – burgundy shirt, black pants, black heels- it looks really cute on me

So this brings us to Wed. I was rushing this morning! Also being that I promised not to wear certain pants that I am so over this leaves me with one pair or work pants my black slacks.  Being that I wore them Mon.  I was not wearing them today.  So I decided to wear a fairly new skirt I got from HM with a old black shirt in the front it’s all black and on the back it has a colorful.  The shirt is actually cute I’ve just had it forever.  I wore this outfit with my black heels.  Now this outfit was not bad but it was not great. It felt okay to me.  I’ve made promises to myself not to go out with such mediocracy but how do you get passed it.  Especially when you vowed not to wear other stuff  you have just for the sake of wearing it.  The problem with deciding only to wear your best stuff is that you end up wearing the same things over and over again.  Which after a while gets pretty annoying.  Then I also find myself in the dilemma of should I or shouldn’t I wear some of my really cute dresses on the bus and to work. Hmmmm… yet if I don’t rotate these items into play Im stuck in the same cycle of clothes. Having a not bad but not great outfit is so not ok.  So I must find a solution to this dilemma!

As I reread my writings a couple of things stood out 1. I wear my black heels a lot and I am so happy I have them they look great with anything so everyone must have a black pair of heels. 2. I noticed that a lot of things I said I wore I’ve had for a super long time! Maybe its time to let them go or definetely add to them..

I wish I had a definete answer to this but at the time I don’t I now it takes time to build up your wardrobe and love everything you have. So I have to keep working on my closet!

worth the wait May 13, 2008

So I’ve been having my heart set on some grey skinny jeans.  Up until recently I have been looking for the right pair.  About a week ago I went to the Alicia Keys concert and I had decided I wanted to wear grey skinny jeans.  Now one of my favorite stores got in some new jeans she had yellow, purple, white and black. I told her I really had my heart set on some grey jeans. She said she would be getting some in, in a couple of days.  So that was music to my ears. At this time I had a couple of weeks before the concert so I wasn’t worried.  I tried on the jeans in yellow, and they fit really good.  I call them the unforgiving jeans. 

 I left the store expecting in a couple of days to have my grey jeans a couple of days turned in to a week and then the next thing I new it was the weekend before the concert and she still didn’t have the grey jeans she did however have a great shirt that would go great with the grey jeans. I of course bought the shirt initially I felt that could be my outfit for the concert but how could it be my outfit without actually having the complete outfit.  She said the jeans would come probably Mon at the latest Tuesday I was really bombed because the concert was Monday and there was no way I could go the whole weekend without knowing what I was going to wear.  So I decided on another outfit. It ended up that those jeans did not come in the store until this past Friday. Almost a whole week after the concert and about 2 weeks after they were suppose to come. 

She said so many of her customers had been calling and waiting for those jeans. So of course she had put me a pair oh hold.  I went over right after work she handed me my pair of grey skinny jeans-she said you have to come out and show us how they look.  I said okay.  Can you say HOT! Those grey jeans are so HOT! I love them I wore them Saturday cause I couldn’t wait.  Though they didn’t make there debut for the concert it was okay because they were so worth the wait.

Its said that everyone needs to have a color pair of jeans. One of the colors that seems to be popular is purple believe it or not.  However, I think I’ve fallen for the grey maybe you will too!

 

I

I love my… May 2, 2008

So I never leave the house in the morning with out my oliver peoples glasses.  I really love them they are like brown with some pink in them and what I also love is that the inside of them is lighter so the color compliments my skin tone. I remember when I first got them a couple of years ago I was so nervous about them because they were so big! Bigger than any glasses I’ve had.  I thought my hair had to be out when I wear them but now I wear them when my hair is out, in a ponytail, in a scarf whatever it doesn’t matter I rock my glasses.  I remember when I  was still getting use to them and I was going to Europe I had some Gucci glasses Id been wearing but they had this gold nose piece that kept coming off.  But I ad just got them fixed before my trip. So I didnt pack my OP’s.So when I stopped in NY before heading to Europe  I remember telling my friend that I didnt bring them and I was asking her if she thought I should of  and she was like what dude you gotta take your OP’s thats such a European look so she came to my rescue and overnighted me them they came right on time before I left.  I have to tell you that was the best thing ever cause I only took those two glasses with me and I had got my Gucci ones fixed for about the 3rd time. But would you believe that the lil’ piece came off again I remember I was in Paris shopping and I went into this shoe store I caught a glance of my self in the mirror and I noticed the piece fell off I was so psst  because those glasses were not cheap to keep on losing a piece.  Anyway of course I had to bench those glasses after that.  Fortunately I had my OP’s and the remainder of my European trip I was rocking those. I guess thats when we truly bonded- so thnx to my friend who overnighted my OP’s.

So yesterday Im on the bus and this guy is trying to talk to me and of course I have on my big glasses you can kinda see my eyes but my glasses are big so they do take up a lot of my face -lol! Anyway, he was  like you have a pretty smile I was like thanks… anyway a lil’ later he asked me if I could take off my big hollywood glasses so he could see my eyes. He’s like my grandma says you  can tell a lot by a person through there eyes. So first of all I’m thinking hmm why should I take off my glasses! But I found myself replying I love my big glasses! and that I do- don’t ask me why but I did raise them for a hot second so he could see my eyes and hes like oh yeah your pretty- Im thinking fool I could’ve told you that with the glasses on- lol! However its true you never really know whats behind a big pair of glasses that take up a lot of your face.  But big glasses are to me a must have! I love my big glasses and I want to get another pair!

tucked May 2, 2008

I have a couple of shirts that I like to wear tucked in.  Yet, at the same time when you tuck in a shirt you don’t want it to be all in, you want a lil’ out.  How do you gage how much you leave in and out?  Sometimes I’ll tuck my shirts in and then I will pull it out but sometimes it would feel like to much of my shirt was out- and that it made me look bulky. Then I remembered I was at one of my favorite stores a while go and she had on a really cute white shirt and I was asking her if she had it in the store but she was all out.  I said it looks really good on you and I told her I like the way you have it tucked.  She said you know what I do I tuck it all the way in, then she raises her arms up  straight in the air and then just enough of the shirt comes out.  So I know this sounds funny but it really works – I have been doing this and I always feel just the right amount of my shirt comes out.  So the next time you wear a shirt and you wanna tuck it in. Tuck it all the way in- then raise your arms to the sky and you’ll see that just the right amount will give so you are comfortable- and of course you always can adjust it still but I find this step a lot easier than tucking it all the way in and then pulling the right amount out.

Here is something else I’ve been wondering what do we think of guys who tuck there shirts in I’m not talking about dress shirts you wear with suits I mean like casual shirts. Is there a time when I guy should tuck that shirt in or leave it out???

in & out April 4, 2008

When you buy clothing how long are you expecting to keep it? If you are like me I plan on keeping it until I either get tired of it or it becomes unwearable- lol! However, I’ve often heard this philosophy that whenever you buy something new you should throw away something old out of your closet preferably something your not wearing.  This is very hard for me because I have a hard time throwing away clothes.  I always think as soon as I throw it away I’m going to want to wear it. So you can imagine my build up of clothes.  I guess thats why people always say I have a lot of clothes but when it comes to wearing that stuff I’m like no way! So I no I really need to free my self of it. I bet it will feel great. Okay so I was reading an article in the April people on ORGANIZE YOUR  CLOSET.  The first thing on the page that caught my eye was Eve holding a hand full of bags and standing in the closet.   The article was real short and sweet but it talked about 5 ways to keep your closet under control.  I’ll share some points with you I thought were good:

1. Get a full length mirror- I love mirrors I love collecting them.  So when I moved into my own place I new I wanted a full length mirror and I found the perfect place for one in my room! My friend as a gift got a mirror inset for me. It’s so the bomb it’s nothing like seeing yourself getting dressed. Along with a mirror good lighting is important my sis commented on lighting in another blog believe me its the lighting cause the lighting at my job SUCKS! Its not just me who thinks so all the women who care do

2.Your closet should have a good layout like a boutique if you get overwhelmed by going in your not going to want to shop there so your closet should not overwhelm you.  I think this is important because you need to see what you have in your closet!

3. If you buy with the idea of keeping things forever then things will get stuck in your closet- HELLO this is my problem! So I’m going to work on that!

the 4th one I don’t do so I won’t waist time on it well actually it was don’t do your closet according to season you have to  be willing to mix and match everything- I do like what she said fashion happens when we wear opposites

5. Maintain your closet- think of it as your hair or your front lawn. It needs constant maintenance if you take care of it- you won’t have to struggle to keep it in order.

LOL! I guess I did love all 5 points   so lets get those closets together!  

where April 3, 2008

So I want you to stop and look at what you have on right now. On a scale of 1-10 how do you feel about that outfit?  Are you just barely happy with it?  Is it just to get you by?  Would you go out to dinner with your friends in it? Where could your outfit you have on today take you?  I was posed with these same qestions Monday.  I new on  Monday that I was going to be going out with some friends after work for happy hour.  There was a chance that I could not go home first to change.  So I new that whatever I wear would have to be work appropriate and then still cool to go out at night.  I ended up wearing a cute dress, and I called it my transitional outfit.  I mean I always see magazines where they show you a simple way to take your outfit from day to night.  And normally the transition is made real easy.  My transition basically just included me changing my big bag to carrying a cool clutch.  However, I loved my looked and it workd really well and I felt so night appropriate.  I know eveyday we may not have somewhere to go but I can’t help but feel that whatever  outfit we wear we sould feel like it could really take us anywhere.  Like yesterday I couldnt’t decide on what to wear I put on these pants I’ve had for I don’t know how long with a shirt and some boots thinking its suppose to rain so I wanted to be warm.  Now I really had no ime to spare because I already missed my first two buses.  However, stepping out the door, about to lock my gate, I realized I hated what I was wearing.  I thought Cormelle just go you don’t have time to change I thought just suck it up and go. I couldn’t do it! I went back in the house and at that moment I new I was choosing loving my outfit over being on time for work.  And you know what I didn’t care-lol! I just wanted to be happy with what I had on.  Those pant are so history by the way!  I mean who knows someone could of called me and said lets go here.  I may not have had a chance to go home and change.  So, in the morning or at night when getting dressed I want you to think about where your outfit could take you! I  think that will bring us one step closer to always loving what we wear, and what we put in our closets.  As well as not settling for those just okay outfits.