Back-to-School Tax-Free Outlet Shopping

Since I work at a university and am taking graduate courses, I am keenly aware of back-to-school season. For some strange reason, even though I'm an adult, I feel entitled to back-to-school shopping. (As if I need a special occasion to shop!) On Saturday, my husband and I headed out to our nearest outlet mall in Foley, AL with my sights set on J.Crew Factory and a few select stores. The whole store was 40% off (akin to the J.Crew Factory website), clothing was tax free, and we picked up some coupons that entitled us to get 20% off a single item and I was able to use the 15% educator discount! I never thought I would be eligible, but now that I think about it, why wouldn't I be eligible? 

In addition to hitting up J.Crew, I made a purchase at Loft Outlet and the Nine West Outlet. While walking past Loft, I insisted on looking at the window dressing, where I spied the cutest little jersey shell with pleats down the front and oh my gosh - let me catch my breath - an embellished Peter Pan collar. I ran into the store on a mission and on the hunt. After searching for a while, I decided to ask an employee. There was no one working out on the floor, so I decided to stand in line. The wonderful saleslady promptly wrestled it off the mannequin. There were a few pinholes in it from fitting securely onto the mannequin, but I usually tuck in tops and/or wear a cardigan, so this was a non-issue for me. The whole store was marked down 40%, I got a 20% damage discount and I used a 20% off coupon. I got this ~$40 top for about 15 dollars!

Check out this collar!



At Nine West, I found these versatile burlapy canvas pointy cap toe flats:

What about you? Did you do a little back-to-school shopping? Tell me what you got!

Black Winter Shoes

It's no secret how much I love my J. Crew Cece black flats.  I don't know what I'll do if they get discontinued.  I bought a pair in late fall of last year and they've taken me everywhere.  However, for the winter, I'd like a full shoe that will look a little better with the tights + skirts combo.  I'm looking for a shoe that's high quality, versatile, neutral, and... well... black.

For anything with a heel, I'm a total Naturalizer girl.  I previously thought Naturalizer was a brand that was exclusively for the comfort set.  Not so!  Especially in past few years, Naturalizer has really implemented some pretty fashion forward styles.  They've also managed to keep the comfort level high as well.  Earlier this summer, my husband had his 10-year high school reunion and it was the perfect excuse opportunity to invest in a good pair of nude heels.  I was pretty skeptical when I ordered these (they remind me of the nude pumps that the Duchess of Cambridge often wears); I had never had a pair of Naturalizers before, so I was concerned that the photo wasn't exactly representative of what the shoe really looked like.  Boy was I wrong - and gladly so.  They've added some other modern styles for winter which I'm glad to share with you (along with a few other labels).  

I sectioned the black winter shoe subject into three main topics: Trend-Setting, The Classic, and Brogues; these are just the styles I'm personally contemplating.  

Trend-Setting

Naturalizer Kaley.  What a cool pump!  Suede shoes are so evocative of winter and cooler weather.  With the built-in hidden platform, the overall 4+inch heel will feel much more manageable.

Naturalizer Kindra.  I find that with my build, shooties/booties are most flatteringly worn with a-line skirts and tights.  Wearing them other ways like with cropped bottoms tend to make me look stumpy.  Again we have a significant heel with a nice platform for stability and height.  There's just enough detail to add some interest without being too attention grabbing or audacious.  I imagine wearing these on the streets of a big city for some reason... they just scream out for it.

Naturalizer Jodell.  I love the menswear inspiration on these shoes.  They've got some cool wingtip detailing and a modern (yet stabilizing) block-ish heel.  With a modest heel height, I can see myself traipsing along the sidewalks from building to building on my university's campus.  I have a serious soft spot for shoes like this.

The Classic

Naturalizer Lennox

Yes, both pairs of these shoes are the same style, same color, but they have different finishes - one in patent and one in smooth leather.  Which to choose?  A nice smooth leather can be worn to work and maybe for some more dressy events.  But that patent leather - it's just the bees knees in terms of spicing up an LBD for a cocktail or work party. 

Brogues

Steve Madden Sophee

Indigo by Clarks Charlie

Ah, flat brogues!  Both of these pairs would be so darling with tights + skirts - and I could run around with my usual purposeful gait.  Oxfords in this fashion are the epitome of tomboy footwear.  The width is a little more balanced for a woman's foot, but still retain the beautiful textual wingtip detailing and a little bit of chunkiness to balance out a woman's more slender leg line.

Typing out this post has allowed me to reflect on each style and each shoe.  I think I might be leaning toward the Naturalizer Jodell.  It can take me from work to cocktail during the winter and will likely last quite a few years.

Which of these shoes would you choose?

This is not a sponsored post.

Shop Around: Blaz-ering Saddles

You honestly didn't think that I'd go that long without a terrible pun, did you?  

I love navy blazers.  Especially ones with the gold buttons and pockets.  I still haven't decided if I'm going to add one to my wardrobe.  For me, navy is tricky.  My wardrobe's color scheme is cool - greys and blacks and blues.  And while I'm not coy about pairing browns and blacks or navys and blacks, I don't want the navy to be so dark that it looks like I was trying to match black jeans with a blue blazer because I thought the blue blazer was really black (I wouldn't pair a black bottom with a black top anyway - I don't have a good reason for it, it just doesn't float my boat).  I want the navy to be dark enough to be considered navy, but not so dark that it could be confused with black.  Are any of you still with me?  I'm a bad 'splainer.

Aaaand, then there's the whole petite issue.  Now, J. Crew has a women's schoolboy blazer that comes in petite, but at $198, I'd like to check out my other options.  For a petite like myself, another viable option is the children's section.  Both J. Crew and Lands' End have children's options for both boys and girls, which is a plus.  But at $128 - $158 and $80, respectively, are there any other options?  Both French Toast and The Children's Place have blue blazers for about $30, but they don't have that separate boy/girl tailoring.

Okay, now there's the bottom line.  I'm not one to shy away from a price tag (high or low) if it's an item that I know that I will wear again and again.  And again and again.  And then have it repaired and wear it again and again.  For example, I have this pair of Target slouchy piratey boots with the perfect small heel that I got about 4 years ago.  They weren't expensive, but they are perfect. I've had them resoled and probably will continue to do so until they degrade into nothing (since they're pleather, I don't see that happening in my lifetime).  I also paid a pretty penny for my Cece flats, but they're so comfortable and versatile that I haven't looked back.  I'd rather pay the asking price for something that I'll wear for years rather than waste $30 or however much on something ill-fitting that will languish in my closet for years.  

As soon as I think I'm leaning one way, I immediately begin to lean another, with respect to this selection of blue blazers.  The first step though, is to do a needs assessment to see if this is something my wardrobe even needs.