confessions of three shopaholics

sofie kinsella's shopaholics books were my favorite. i think i read them all in hardcover the day they came out. and i hate hardcover books because my wrists get sore reading them. (weird). i took off of work, last friday, the 13th, over a month ago...when they announced that the movie "confessions of a shopaholic" was going to be released in theaters. so why have i not seen the movie yet? let me tell you...i missed the movie because i was shopping. my shopaholic cohorts, alicia and lorri, accompanied me on what turned out to be a 9-hour day of shopping. we were so tired after, we couldn't even make it to the movie. i was asleep by 8pm the night of the marathon shopping excursion. i missed the shopaholic movie because i was shopping. um, what's wrong with me?

my no-shopping in the month of february promise is out the window. oops. what started as an innocent trek to find lorri a birthday outfit turned into one of the most productive, enjoyable, amazing shopping outings in history. well, i'm exaggerating, but it sure felt that way to us. we woke up early to hit a local sample sale. lorri won for being the most thrifty, scoring 4 tops for $12. alicia dropped the most cash there on dresses, a top, a necklace and i walked out with the cutest ruffly cami i've ever seen. of course my item was full price...probably the only thing at the sample sale full price....but i love it. it was worth only getting four hours of sleep for the sale. well, stores weren't open yet after the sale, so we went to lorri's to hop on her computer and do some online shopping. hautelook.com, gilt.com, eh, nothing special...back to the streets. brady street to be exact.

three hours later, we emerged from detour...all of us on a shopping high. i don't know how we spent so much time in the store, but we did. i think we tried on everything in the women's section of the store...but we all found a ton of stuff. and everything at 25% off. who can't appreciate that? i spent the most, shocker, and left with a new pair of jeans that i'm obsessed with, a sheer button down splendid top, a gray alexander wang tshirt, some hammered gold bangles and a new ring. alicia got a tshirt dress and vest that she immediately wore that night, and lorri dropped a wad of cash on about ten items....which we all justified by reminding her it was her birthday. next stop, miss groove where we found more things. i found my spring handbag, which has always been a daunting task for me. i never find bags i'm obsessed with. but i found this david and scotti one, in a more matte, taupey beige color and a slightly different shape and I'M IN LOVE:

tired, hungry (we kept pushing off lunch due to the excellent shopping) and cold, we kept on going. miss groove intimates...and lastly stephanie horne. by this time it was close to dinner, we were dizzy with a combo of shopping high and hunger...but extremely giddy about our new purchases. we decided we had to see the movie another day...but i'm pretty sure we played out the movie ourselves last friday:

so, now it's back to reality. all my blogging about spring fashion had me in "i need everything" mode. and now i'm off to an excellent start. oh well, i broke my no shopping this month rule. big deal. i had a great day with great friends. and we can justify it so many ways, it's lorri's birthday, everything was on sale, we wanted to stimulate the economy, blah blah blah...i will chalk it up as one of the greatest shopping days i've ever had.

you can knock off rosario dawson's look for less at fred. i think any muted, earth tone dress, whether it be nude, beige, dusty rose/pink, gray would work with big turquoise earrings and stacked bracelets.

Knock It Off

i can't get enough ruffles lately

ruffled everything is everywhere. and surprisingly, i'm all over this girly trend. who would have thought? i can't look at any fashion mag, website, anything without seeing the ruffle trend featured. for me, i can do the ruffled tops, in silk or satin chiffon with my beat up denim. i have lusted over this yaya aflalo top ever since i saw it on lauren conrad:

but it was $259 everywhere, and really, who can justify that right now? so, i saved it in my favorites and occassionally looked at it and imagined it with my jeans and metallic flat sandals. how cute would i be sitting outside drinking a glass of pinot grigio? well, bring on the warm weather, because i scored that top in "ivy" green on hautelook.com last week! i love that website. check it out:

every morning, like clockwork, i'm logged on to hautelook.com at 9:58. refresh at 9:59, refresh at 10:00. it's exhilarating--and it's become a ritual for me. and when i can't be on my computer at 10am to check the sale, i'm suddenly filled with anger, resentment, anxiety--well, it's not that bad...but it's close. and if that isn't ocd enough, i have to jump back on at 11am when gilt groupe's sale commences. ugh. it's a sickness. but hey, it's something to look forward to every day and something that makes me happy.

back to ruffles...i became obsessed with a ruffled bag that sarah jessica parker has on, cross body when she is getting into a cab. i've searched high and low for this bag, in a beige or gray color, but can't find it anywhere. frustrating. oh, i'll find it eventually, but until then, i'll drool over this valentino bag, which is completely anti-danielle looking...in pink and so feminine, but i do love looking at it. i wouldn't own it (clearly, it's valentino!) but it's something that would look amazing on display in my closet:

i'm even loving ruffles on shoes:

and leather jackets:

there are so many options when it comes to ruffles. you can go all out and wear a totally tiered ruffled cocktail dress, or go the subtle route with a one shouldered (huge spring trend) ruffled top in a cheery spring color, like these:

any way you slice it, ruffles are everywhere. kristina models a couple ruffled looks from fred here:

whether you embrace the trend full-on, or just dabble in the trend with a ruffled clutch, you'll be in style this season. talk to you next week, with more spring trends and style inspiration!

Knock It Off

countdown til spring

so, i stumbled upon this website: http://holidays.bfn.org/spring/ and learned that as of right now, there are only 46 days til spring. really, that's it. i think that's doable. the website gives you a to-the-minute calculation of when spring will arrive--along with a rather creepy audio of a bird chirping or singing, or dying. i'm not really sure. anyway, that made me happy. it was 39 degrees out on saturday and i didn't even wear a jacket to work. what's wrong with me? 39 measly degrees felt like a heatwave. weird. our winters have seemed long and fierce, and now i'm happy with a 39 degree day. i hate that it has come to that. well, whatever the case, my spring wardrobe is of course the focal point of my days lately and my next spring trend is embellishment. jeweled necklines or beading/embellishments on the bust/hems of clothings may seem busy. especially to someone like me, who likes to keep things simple, but for some reason, i've always been drawn to embellishments on tops and dresses. not the cheesy fake rhinestones or cheap looking plastic jewels, but ones done tastefully like these:

i think that's the perfect cocktail dress. i love black and gold together, the silhouette of the dress is perfect and the neckline classily done (is classily a word?). simple earrings, or a bracelet would complete this look.

i don't have to get dressed up that often, so i like this embellished tshirt dress for spring. besides being one of my favorite colors, i love the jersey tshirt fabric and the embellishment all over the dress. i'll wear it to dinner in spring/summer with my flat silver gladiator sandals:

if you're not a dress person, you can follow this trend by wearing an embellished top or tank. i'm loving this one:i love the pale green color, the simplicity of the neckline and how grecian it feels. again, wear with jeans and gladiator sandals...or just metallic sandals in general. for a more casual look, check out this tank:

one: i love the ikat print. it's been big lately, and still a print that's going strong. two: the colors are phenomenal. i feel like you can dress this up or down. and three: the jeweled neckline has the boho vibe i dig.

so, there are many ways to embrace the embelishment. kristina was inspired by the yellow dresses with jeweled necklines we saw while perusing some magazines, and wanted to try on some dresses we had at fred:

i think when chosen carefully, an embellished top or dress can be a standout piece and totally worth looking into for spring. i know i'll for sure be scooping up something embellished in the next month or so (when my shopping moratoreum is over).

keep reading my blog for more spring trends in upcoming weeks. i'll finish with another celeb look knocked off with fred apparel. graphic tees are hot right now, and we've got them at fred. come in and check 'em out:

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another spring trend i can't wait for

those who know me wouldn't describe me as girly. yes i love clothes fashion and romantic comedies, but when it comes to personal style, i'd never fall under the catagory of feminine or girly. yet i'm constantly drawn to floral print dresses and tops. i'm not a big pattern wearer, but i can say i have quite a few floral print items in my closet. when i want to feel "pretty" i wear them. most of the time i'll wear a floral top with my distressed jeans or my floral print chiffon dress with my cropped leather jacket over it...i guess to balance the look out and feel more dressed down and casual. but i'm so excited floral print is big this spring. i'm in love with these tops:

i like that one for the print itself. it screams spring to me. i like the drawstring ties and i like the looser fit.

i like the watercolor-esque print of the florals on this one. the jersey material makes it comfortable to wear ruched up with leggings or i'm sure you could wear this as a dress with flat metallic sandals.

but i'd have to say this one is my favorite. as i mentioned before, i love mixing patterns and i love strapless tops with jeans and heels in spring/summer. i am drawn to this one the most and love the colors and pattern.

there are tons of options for floral dresses as well. dresses are so easy in spring/summer and really are a no brainer. just slip them on, add shoes and go. i love this one:

i like how flirty it is. i would wear this for a dinner date or a night out. i like floral dresses in a silk/satin like this one or a more dressy chiffon type material like this:

both of these dresses are examples of floral print i would wear out and feel very feminine and springy. the more daring could do a floral print in either a mini dress or a maxi dress. both are still very much in style. i like this mini for it's asian inspired floral print and detail on the sleeve. also it incorporates the nude colored shoes that are hot this season:
i love the fit of this maxi dress. i always felt like maxi dresses were for tall women, but my friend jillian looks adorable in her fred maxi dress and she's only like 5'3". she wears it with flat sandals and looks so put together and comfortable. i like this one, and am excited to try out wearing a maxi dress this year.
the floral print is so versatile and i think universally flattering. you can wear it subtly in a top, or go all out and wear a floral print maxi. wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and happy. this print has been all over the magazines lately, and the first look was created at fred. come check it out:

that cool corset-type belt is only $16 at fred. we are getting a ton of new spring accessories in this week as well as a major shipment of spring merchandise. definitely stop in and take a look!

well, now i'm sad to say that my style intern kristina that has been photographed for my blog has finished her internship at fred. i'll still have a couple more photos of her in upcoming blogs, but we'll all miss her at fred and wish her continued success. in honor of kristina, i'm going to use her for my knock it off this week. it looks like she's waving goodbye. :(

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all i can do is think about spring

the february issues of all my fashion mags just started to trickle in and they are stuffed with bright colors, flowy skirts and dresses, strappy sandals...all things i can't even think about wearing when the windchill is negative 30. depressing. i can, and did, start making my spring wishbook though. i'll keep adding spring trend after spring trend in my book until it's busting at the seams. i've already told you i love that nude/beige tones are big for spring, but another trend i can't wait for is plaid. it seems like it's been big since fall, but it's still huge for spring. yay. i think i've said it before, but a lot of people i know automatically think grunge when they think plaid...while i like the grungier plaid look like below, i know it's not for everyone:

these short denim shorts are all over the mags too. i remember wearing them when i was a teenager...yikes. i don't know if i can do it again. anyway, this is a very grungy way of doing plaid, but if it's not you, introduce the more feminine girly plaid to your spring wardrobe, like these:

i love the ruffle detail on the first top and i especially love the mixed prints on the second one. if red looked even remotely good on me, i'd scoop up this second top in a heartbeat. another easy way to mix the plaid trend into your look is with a plaid shirtdress. they're extremely versatile. wear them now with black opaque tights, wear them when it's a little nicer with taller boots, and when it's warm, roll up the sleeves and wear them with gladiator sandals. very practical. i really like this one below:

but if you're super impatient (like i can be), get a head start on the trend with this sweatery feeling coat that kristina is wearing here:


the coat is available in store or online here:http://http//www.fredboutique.com/product_info.php?cPath=3_30&products_id=878


so, there really are a ton of ways to wear plaid this upcoming season. kristina wears it the wisconsin way..warm and cozy. stars wear it grungy, california cool and girly feminine. go to one of my favorite websites, http://www.shopstyle.com/ and type plaid in their search engine. you'll find a ton of options to pull off this spring trend.


i'll post another spring trend i'm all about next week! i decided to steal nicole ritchie's look for my knock it off this week. the little leather jacket is my own, but the dress is one of our new spring dresses available at fred. I love throwing my black leather or my dark denim jacket over a floral print or more girly looking dress to balance it out.

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transitioning your wardrobe

the temperatures are supposed to be below zero in the next couple days, but that doesn't stop me from thinking about my spring wardrobe now. i like to think ahead about what i can wear now and continue to wear come april or may.

1. lightweight cardigans. can be worn now over long sleeve tops, and come spring, layered over a tank.

2. distressed denim. looks great now with sweaters and boots. in spring, roll them up and add a tshirt and strappy sandals.

3. scarves. scarves serve their purpose in winter by keeping us warm. come spring, wear the scarf over a simple tee or tank for a casual cool look.

4. printed top. adding a print in winter instantly makes an outfit pop. we fall into our normal black/gray/brown rut, especially in colder months, but just wearing a top with a print like the one below under a cardigan will cheer you up in these cold and dreary months. come spring/summer, you can wear the top alone with jeans.

you can wear any one of these style components alone, or put them all together for a full-on outfit.

another easy way to punch up your wardrobe is with accessories. if you haven't been to fred in awhile, you haven't seen our great accessories department. stop in later this week for a bunch of new great accessories. you can find all of your basics...hoops and stud earrings, bangle bracelets and chain necklaces with pendants as well as trendy, fun statement pieces, like big jeweled necklaces and large chandelier style earrings that all the celebs wear. we took a vote and we think our intern kristina's earrings look amazing:

we know money's tight, that's why our accessories range from $8-$38. they're a great purchase when you are having a bad day and want to wear something new without breaking the bank. when i'm low on cash and want to make myself feel better, i always go straight to the accessories department. it's ridiculous how a new pair of earrings can turn my mood around just like that!

i hope everyone had a great new year's. one of our loyal fred customers, lori vanover, sent me a pic of her and her husband on new year's eve. note that she is wearing the striped dress that i knocked off a couple weeks ago!

happy new year! i finally am able to take some pictures again, so here is eva longoria's outfit knocked off with fred apparel.

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the holidays are over...now what?

well the holidays came and went. happy new year. now what? oh, i'll tell you...spring wardrobe planning! don't think just because my credit cards are shredded, i can't plan for my upcoming purchases. i get a lot of style inspiration from magazines, and while the january issues seem slim compared to most months, let me tell you, they're jam packed with spring style inspiration!

so far, my favorite spring trend is nude colored everything! dresses, shoes, sweaters--you name it, i want it. i'm not a heels person, but i'm obsessed with every pair nude heels i have seen. you always read that nude/beige shoes make your legs look neverending, blah, blah, but i just like the color. i've always been drawn to the beige/nude/khaki color family and good thing for me, it's one of the hottest looks for spring. i'm all over these shoes:

type z "trista"--

and nine west's "emmanuel"--

and i love te cesan by zoe lee's "petal pump"--

I think a lot of people think that these colors will wash them out, but really, give them a shot. with the right makeup, a little bronzer and lipcolor...most people can find a nude shade that works for them. i've seen so many dresses, sweaters and blouses that i'm obsessed with, but here's a few that stood out for me:

i can spend hours looking up clothes online. i find comfort in knowing i'm not the only one that spends a good fraction of her life clothes hunting online. i got a text from my friend alicia the other day saying she was up til 6am online shopping! it's addictive i tell ya. my cousin lorri and i send each other long-winded emails listing all the things we want, and reasons why we should have them. it's hilarious. i've wanted that hayden and harnett (for target) clutch that's been plastered all over the magazines recently. the one with the chick and the umbrella. let me see if i can find it. k, here it is:

anyway, i had it marked on my planner for a month, december 28th, the day the clutch hit the shelves at target. stores open at 8am. i was at my local target by 8:10 (on a sunday mind you) clutch in cart. i felt like a crazy person speeding to the store sans coffee at that point, hair all knotty and unbrushed, new christmas loungewear on...for that clutch i've been eyeing up for what seemed like an eternity. where was i going with this? oh yeah, my cousin was supposed to meet me at target to get a clutch too, but she couldn't find that target and went to a different target only to learn that that target didn't put the collection out yet. she called me in a state of panic. i could hear the frustration in her early morning groggy voice when she said that the non-understanding staff told her she could come back later and see if they put them out yet. i told her i grabbed both of the clutches at my target; one for me and one for her (apparently there are only two of these clutches per target store) and that seemed to numb her pain, but i knew it would resurface when she saw the minor flaw in the clutch (a nick on the fake leather--front and center). she drove down to meet me, saw the flaw, decided she could live without the clutch, went back to the hayden harnett collection and found a different bag she liked more anyway. point of this story is i'm not the only one who will go out of her way for an article of clothing or an accessory. i used to feel like i was. my cousin is the same way. hmm, maybe it's in our blood. all i know is that i felt better when i got that text from alicia telling me she stayed up all night shopping.

spring wardrobe planning is that little ray of light for me in these dark, cold months of january and february. i literally make a book of everything i want and need, complete with pictures, comparison prices, outfit possibilities, etc...it gets me through the long wisconsin winter. i'm sure it seems silly to some, but for me, it's my saving grace during this wretched frigid snowy icy ugly period.

you'll notice that i'm not ending with a knock it off, and i apologize. somehow i lost that tiny card thing in the camera that had all my pictures on it and now i have none. i will re-shoot some pictures this week and post a couple knock it offs to make up for not having one this time. check back soon!