stay puft marshmallow man

when i first saw ghostbusters as a kid, i thought the stay puft marshmallow man was the cutest thing ever. my mom even made me a replica of it. it was my favorite toy. this is who i speak of:

awww, look at that guy. he's cute. anyway, since the weather has completely flipped over the last week and it's a mere 40 degrees, all i've been thinking about is a new winter coat. i already feel like i need one. in october. i love jackets..i have a bunch...leather, blazers, cropped military style...you name it, but i struggle year after year with a winter coat. my friend alicia and i finally consigned our same winter coat that we wore for like five years straight. a black and white marled wool number. it was time to retire it. year after year i want to buy a new winter coat, but i never find one that i absolutely love. i'm determined this year. i know what i want. i've had it in my head for two years. olive green, mid thigh to knee length olive green parka/anorak style with a fur lining. i think i've mentioned this before. but i can NEVER find it. ever. i saw one in a lucky magazine two years ago, and have wanted it ever since. what is the connection to the stay puft marshmallow man you ask? well, i wear this puffy north face jacket all the time, even if it doesn't go with my fashion sense, strictly for its warmth. people have called me the stay puft marshmallow man, or they say i look like ralphie's brother randy all bundled up in his snowsuit in a christmas story, or they call me the michelin man. i never took offense to it, because honestly being warm is one of the most important things to me. i don't care how silly i look if i'm warm. i got teased the other night b/c i was wearing a big wool scarf and a knit hat inside a bowling alley...i was cold. 40 degrees is freezing to me. so, i'll wear it. and ignore the comments. but there are tons of women who come into fred looking for jackets and refuse to buy a "bulkier" jacket because they feel fat in it, or say it doesn't show off their bodies. hmmmm, to me a winter coat should shield you from the treacherous and harsh wisconsin winters. i don't think you should be judged on your outerwear here. i understand the need to look chic, believe me, but a little practicality never hurt anyone.

i just re-started my winter coat hunt recently, and i still haven't found "the one." but i'm not giving up. i'll wear my michelin man puffer until i find something practical and fashionable. it's a tough one, even for me. but in phase one of my hunt, i did find some nice coats:

i always wanted a camel colored coat in wool, and i like this one. but for the love of god, put some pants on that chick. jeez. this dark one is sleek, i like the length of it, but it could be almost too long for me at 5'4". i dunno.

see, that's the color i want, but longer and with fur lining. impossible to find. well, not impossible, but it is if you want one under $800.

i would love a faux fur, but it's definitely not for everyday wear. i love how warm that one looks. i think i am gonna get a faux fur this year fur sure. god, i'm lame sometimes.

this one is the closest to what i want, except it's in gray, and has toggle closure on it. i'm not a huge toggle fan, but i do like this coat. and if i don't find something by thanksgiving, i'm gonna have to go for this one:

but that's the extent of the fur lining i want. it looks warm, cozy, kinda log cabin/woodsy chic. i guess that's what i want. only if that was in olive green...ugh, why is my winter coat hunt so hard? i have this black wool coat i wore to the ground too, but i'm sick of it. got it for cheap at a sample sale, but it's beat to hell. buttons falling off the sleeves, small tear in lining...it's looking a little rough around the edges. kinda like me lately. maybe i should cut it some slack and wear it another year. eh, maybe not. this is when i know to end my blogging for the day. i'm having a debate with myself whilst posting. i'm sure it's annoying to read. so, i'll write to y'all next week.

time to ski-daddle

yeah, my brain's not functioning as creatively as possible today, hence the lame title of this post. who even says skeedaddle? is that even how it's spelled? enough rambling. i'm sitting here writing this and it sounds like the wind is going to bust through one of my windows. it sounds treacherous outside. blustery. scary even. it sounds like winter. i know that's weird, but it does. and it's making me think ski lodge. have i ever gone skiing? no. have i ever stepped foot in a ski lodge? no. i don't know why i'm really thinking of that, but i am. i think perhaps i've been obsessed with the aspen chic look lately. thick chunky knits just made for sipping hot toddys around a fireplace. check out this pic of a ski lodge that inspired this aspen chic posting: are you kidding me with that place? i wanna go there. just so i can wear the clothes that just beg to be worn at a place like that. i saw this sweater at the end of summer and i wanted it:

i hate the shoes and skirt with it, but i love the sweater. ski lodge. aspen chic. of course it was out of my price range and sold out really quick, but i decided when i saw that sweater, i was going to find a similar sweater, and i still plan on it. i checked out a bunch of websites and found some pretty decent options:

each and every one of those sweaters make me happy. i think the thicker the better. the chunkier knit, the better. i love the bundled up look. everyone knows my love of the brand haute hippie, but this sweater, well, blanket sweater is almost too much, but i don't know, i'd probably wear it if i ever made it to a ski lodge.

a bit overwhelming on that model's frame, and probably on most people's frame, but i suppose appropos for a night cap apres ski.

it may be a little premature to post about this stuff, but like i said, it sounds like winter right now. just toss on my new favorite brand of boots, ash, and you have your whole look ready to pack for your winter getaway:

how cute are they? ugh, i want to go on vacation. or shop. we started getting in great sweaters and sweater dresses at fred, and i have to restrain myself from buying every one. i could live in knits, and i pretty much do this time of year. i'm sorry to get you all thinking of winter, and snow, and whatnot, but it's what's on my mind today. come into fred and check out our great selection of sweaters and sweater dresses. get cozy and fashionable as the temperatures keep dropping!

and the emmy goes to...

so, the fashions at the emmys left me wanting something more. old hollywood glamour, long fitted dresses, jeweled embellishments...i felt like i was seeing a lot of the same thing. i wasn't really wowed. maybe i'm too critical, but really, i usually see something that takes my breath away. this awards show was eh, ho hum. my absolute favorite look was by far the weeds chick. mary louise parker. she stood out--in a good, well, great way. i think i loved it cuz it was short. and everything else was long and fitted with some grand tail like appendage at the bottom. this was awesome on her. she's hot and the color was amazing. i know blake lively's red number was critiqued by some, but i kinda liked it. i usually hate the color red, but i thought she pulled this look off well. and her hair was wacky but cool. that weird ponytail all funked up was different: there were a couple other dresses i thought were ok.

the three of them look glamorous...they stood out a bit. the first dress' color is great and i like the belted action, kate walsh looks stunning and i must say i think julia looks amazing in her blue number. but really, nothing to steal the show. i will say i was grossed out by a couple looks:

padma's purple dress is a nice color, and i have to admit i like the shredding bit on the shoulder, but why on god's green earth would you throw that blob of red flowers on the side? it looks like flowers you get when you win a horse race or something. that's what i thought of. it's just too odd for me.

and the award for the most unflattering fit dress goes to sarah silverman. eeeaashhh. what a trainwreck that is. drapey, ill fitting blob of wrinkly blue. yikes. bad call on that one.

um, are you kidding me with this one? do i need to say anything at all here? ugh, yuck. so, overall, i wasn't impressed.

while, i'm on the topic of formal dressing, jaxie, our line of accessories at fred...headbands, clips, etc...has expanded. check out the great new necklaces we are now carrying. perfect for dressing up your evening dresses:

these pieces are really stunning in person too. made with vintage jewelry--they are definitely statement pieces.

jaxie's new fall/winter headband line is deeply fabulous. stop into fred soon before they sell out.

check out jaxie products, fred and luscious on the morning blend: http://www.themorningblend.com/NewsArticle/tabid/1474/xmid/36082/Default.aspx

with the chilly weather rolling in, now's the time to stop into fred for our selection of sweaters, scarves and coats. our fred fashion show last thursday at hotel metro was a huge success! check back soon for pictures of that great night!

edge of night

i've been living and breathing fashion the last couple weeks...with fashion night out last thursday, the big lela fashion show on saturday and planning our huge upcoming fred fashion show next week thursday, along with our ladies night this thursday..it's been event after event. throw in the rachel zoe project, project runway, flaire's styling competition and it seems i don't have any time for anything other than fashion these days. i'm not complaining, but i will say it's making it hard for me to not want everything i see. i'm trying to be good and not spend, but really? how can i not when all the trends are constantly being shoved down my throat? haha, that was dramatic and harsh, but i really am battling my shopaholic tendencies lately. so far, however, i am sticking to my list. i'm not straying. at all. i'm proud of myself that way. but i can't keep my head on straight these days because all i want to do is shop. i think about material things morning, noon and night. is that shallow? perhaps, but i like to think it's part of my job to think about these things...well, that's how i justify it anyway. so, on rachel zoe, taylor has been wearing an army green military-esque jacket and i've wanted one for months now. she wears hers with a huge turquoise statement necklace. i saw a jacket styled with a heather grey vneck tshirt and a floral topshop skirt. so, this is next on my list to purchase. we're getting a super cute one in next week at fred that i'm dying to get. check out what i'm talking about:

they're casual for the most part..i used to have one in the 90s that i wore during my grunge phase, but this time around i'll wear it with skirts and dresses, not my ripped up jeans. i think that's what i love most about fashion right now for myself. wearing things unexpectedly. like a leather bomber or biker jacket over a cocktail dress. wearing this casual jacket with a high waisted floral skirt...wearing anything in an unexpected manner is what i'm about right now. take leather. yes, i'll wear it via my bomber and biker jacket, but how cool is leather when you wear it like this?:

you don't see too many leather cardigans, which is why i love that.

same goes for this leather tank top. and yes, there have been some cute leather dresses, but this leather dress just hasn't been seen too often:

so cute, minus the side boob shot. i'd wear a tank under it. even wearing this fancy cocktail dress with the faux leather bottom part is cool:

so, i'll be getting some leather or faux leather pieces that are unexpected this season. sequins are huge too, so i'm thinking i'll skip the sequin skirt or jacket, even though i love them, and go for something more unexpected like this sequin tshirt:
you get the point, wear the trends in a not-so-obvious manner. i'll continue to daydream, night dream, any dream about obtaining the remainder of my fall must have list. i'm happy to hear that some of my readers are making their own fall binders too. yay! i'm not alone. love it!

taken out of context(ure)

my favorite part about fall dressing besides the amazing boots, is experimenting with textures. i feel my best when i'm comfortable, yet i don't want to sacrifice style too much. i saw this picture of a woman in a purple satin corseted balenciaga dress with a cozy looking wool/cashmere blend purple coat over it. i was inspired. i have my favorite fuzzy pale blue coat from fred and i had to get a satin dress to wear under it. so i did. minuet dresses at fred rule. they fit like a glove and are inexpensive, but look like a million bucks. the outfit kinda looks like this:

well, not really, but the strapless dress looks similar, but my coat is much fuzzier/cozier looking with a shawl collar. i love the way the fabrics play off one another. silky satin, which is fitted and sexy, worn with a warm and toasty fuzzy winter coat. i have always been a fan of mixing textures. like wearing leather with cashmere. i swear i'd wear it all through fall if i could afford to. mixing a leather skirt, or the of-the-moment leather legging type pants with a soft knit sweater. how perfect:

for me, i feel like i'm pulling off a rocker look, hard and edgy, but adding a feminine, or not so harsh sweater to balance it out. it works for me. and i don't feel like i'm trying too hard to be cool. same goes for my leg/footwear. i love playing with texture. textured tights, a sweater dress and a shoe of a different texture. i'm all about suede. i love suede shoes even though they're not that practical for this state and its wretched weather, but i love wearing tights with a pattern, a warm chunky knit sweater dress and suede shoes. all i need is a hot toddy or some cold weather beverage in my hand and i'm a happy camper.

yep, it's like comfort food for fashion. and honestly it's my favorite part of cold weather. wearing the clothes to keep me warm, but still looking good. so, that's all i'm thinking about now as the temps keep dropping a little, and the sun goes down earlier....cold weather..ugh, keep it. but bring on the mixed textures and cozy pieces of fall and winter.

there's no stopping me now

the cooler temps this past weekend have me dreaming about all clothes fall. i keep staring at my new ash "olivia" foldover boots, mentally planning outfits around them. it's so ridiculous how crazed i've been as of late. our new fall merchandise is coming in this week at fred and it's to the point i want to go in on my days off to see the new stuff. sometimes i feel like the luckiest girl in the world that i am in the career i'm in. first looks at all the new styles, get to write this blog and just spew out my fashion thoughts..and i'm watching the new season of project runway while i do it. ah, this is the life.

so today i got a bunch of emails from some of my favorite websites, offering huge sales, like take 30% off of merchandise already 70% off. at first my dummy self thought, well, uh, wouldn't it be free...duh. no airhead it's not, but it's certainly worth checking out. i thought it would be all summer merchandise, but to my surprise and delight it's not! i know i said i was bummed that the styles this season were too much like past seasons, but now i'm overjoyed. i have a base fall wardrobe and can just add on some amazing pieces. check out these finds at shopbop.com:

this torn by robby kobo fringe vest was originally $308. after the extra sale it comes to $64.68! i can add this to my rocker chic ensembles for cheap. you can style it like this chick is wearing it for the last couple weeks of summer, then put it on over a long sleeve blouse and darker skinny jeans and boots for fall.

both of these shoes are perfect for now and early fall. the first pair, tashkent by cheyenne were originally $564, and are now $118.44. the nude colored platform sandals by velvet angels were originally $295 and can be yours for a mere $61.95, and are available in black too. both can be worn now with cute dresses or worn over textured tights with all your fall ensembles.

wear the gray sandals with these hot skinny "sydney" jeans by ever with a plaid button down for fall. i love that gray and black jeans are cool right now. i bought a pair of skinny gray paige premium denim jeans a couple winters ago and have seriously gotten a ton of wear out of them. i love them and i love that gray and muted black and even jet black jeans are in style. the rocker look is kinda 80s which we all know i'm not a fan of, but the modern twists, like pairing it with plaid, or balancing it with deep floral feminine tops makes the look so fresh. oh, so these jeans were originally $242, but can be in your closet for only $50.82. i'm telling you times are still kinda tough, and saving money is always a plus.

this cropped boho-esque sweater was originally $260, and an editor's pick, and is now $54.60. look at how cute it looks with the denim shorts now, wear it with a long tank under it and skinny jeans and comfy uggs or my new favorite brand thanks to my cousin lorri, australian love collective boots (kinda like uggs, but cooler). i know this sweater isn't everyone's cup of tea, but i like the shape of it. the cropped top/sweaters that i'm seeing at fred frightened me at first, but once layered over something look awesome. trust me!

this romantic white blouse on the shopplanetblue.com's sale page would make a nice addition to my fall wardrobe. ruffles still going strong, the feminine shape would work well with my dark destroyed skinny jeans and new suede boots. this la rok ruffle tunic was $269 originally, but now on sale for $69. so, i'm offering up some advice here. and this is to myself too. you can get great pieces for fall without paying the just arrived pricetag. i live check to check and i'm pretty much broke til payday on friday. after surfing all my fave websites this morning and going through all the sale pages, i did find a gem of a steal. and honestly, i don't care if i have to eat glue all week to stay alive because these jeans i found are worth it.

so, on the revolveclothing.com website, i found these current elliott "motorcycle bell" jeans in color: night. everyone knows my obsession with all things current elliott. i have worn my elephant bell in super love destroyed to the ground. i wear them like three times a week. they are the most comfortable, worn in, favorite jeans of mine. so imagine the thrill of finding these, in my size, same fit as my current faves, but with the moto detail on the knee, in this dark wash. um, yeah. i think i came close to crying with excitement. so, i called my two credit cards to try to increase my limits, yeah, no go on that, probably a good thing, but decided to do some researching online. my ex-coworker jenelle told me about retailmenot.com about a year ago, and told me i could always find a coupon for most websites for extra money off. ok, so get this. the jeans were originally $275 (pretty steep, even for me, but worth it)....they were marked down to $138. oh so doable, but gave the ole retailmenot a looksee and found a coupon for an additional 20% off, which totaled me out at $110.40...free shipping. are you kidding me? so, yes, this week is starting off glorious for me. ordered the jeans at 9:35am, just got shipping notification at 10:48 and the jeans should be in my possession by wednesday. it's amazing how happy this can make me. so, point of my whole post today is...yes, we're all excited about fall clothes. and we are sick of summer clothes. i said i wasn't going to buy anything summer, no matter how cheap it is. but as i've learned today, you can get fall items, in the sale pages of a lot of websites. or maybe they're even from last fall/winter, but that's okay since all those looks are still thriving this year. we're all crunched for dough, well not all of us, but some, so why not save a buck or two? or in my case $165 on my new favorite jeans. do i sound like a commercial? save a buck or two. what's wrong with me? ugh. i'm a dork.

anyway, this is a great shopping week. i can feel it. we're getting in tons of stuff at fred this week. and we're having a sale on thursday for our ladies night from 5-10. get your new fall wardrobe started, or updated or whatever you need to do. do it on thursday night when you can save some cash. it's a really good feeling. shopping sans buyers remorse is pure bliss. i know i said i'd have a knock it off this week, but i take it back. i'm waiting for our new stuff to lure you in. i'll do a couple of them next week. but don't forget ladies night on thursday. also, mention that you read my blog and get 20% off anything in store now until the end of august. talk to you soon!