Hopelessly Devoted To You

 

That's right, Tory Burch.  I'm talking about you!  Your products suit my personality perfectly and the pieces I have bought from your collections have completely transformed my wardrobe, in a good way!  It's why I have brought up your name so much in this blog, and keep coming back for more!

This bag (the Crinkle Patent Ella Tote) is my latest obsession.  I own her in the gorgeous deep blue color that now seems to be sold out, and will soon be purchasing her in "Shell" as well.  These totes are big enough to fit everything I need and are just the most perfect bags I have ever owned.  The Italian patent leather is gorgeous and substantial, so I know the bags won't be wearing out on me any time soon, and I literally get a compliment on my bag whenever I carry it.

My new weekend wardrobe lately has been a pair of leggings, oversized sweater, and this lovely creation.

Tory Burch Fall 2012....It's Coming!

If I could put into words how excited I am about the Fall 2012 Tory Burch collection, it still wouldn't cover it.  So I'm not even going to try.  Just...promise me you'll check it out (below).  Thank you.

TORY BURCH FALL 2012 COLLECTION

Low-Key 4th

Happy 4th of July!!  I hope everyone is relaxing and enjoying a day off, eating a ton of good BBQ and spending time with friends and family!

I love this holiday, and in years past I've enjoyed many great ones at blowout cookout parties or out boating with family, on the beach down the Cape, and aboard the Staten Island ferry watching the fireworks over the Manhattan skyline in New York.  This year is different.  We had big plans to see the Boston Pops and Jennifer Hudson perform at the Hatch Shell in Boston, but it was pouring in the morning and by the time it stopped we were no longer motivated  to go knowing we would never find a good spot.  So, we've spent a low-key 4th at home.  We DID manage to cook out on the grill (because I believe eating anything other than grill fare on the 4th is a travesty), and neither of us are disappointed that we got an extra day to spend some real quality time together just hanging out around the house.

But you guys know me.  What am I going to do if I have some free time on my hands at home?  Scout out the 4th of July deals, of course!  Tory Burch had a sale going on so I ventured over to that website first.  Immediately saw this "Judi" dress and fell in love.  SO great for work and as a transitional item from summer to fall.  The website must be doing really good business today though, because by the time I had made up my mind and got this item in my cart, it was sold out in my size =(.  But all wasn't lost.

Another sneaky shopping tip?  We all hate it when we can't find the item we love in our preferred color / size online.  But don't take no for an answer!  If you're willing to spend a little extra time and effort there is still a way to satisfy your shopping bug.  Call customer service (btw..another reason I love Tory Burch?  Their customer service line is answered by a LIVE person Every.  Single.  Time. No annoying menus or voice automated systems) and give them the style number for the item.  They can do a nationwide search for you to find any stores that are carrying the item in your size (they found the dress in stock in my size at a New York store).  Then call up the store, have them locate the item, and you can purchase it over the phone with a credit card and have it shipped to you, usually for free!

C'Mon, isn't this dress worth it?  Shop it here.  Even if you're not crazy about Tory, be sure to check out your own favorite store this week - they're bound to be running good sales on pre-fall items that are already out!

OOTD: Spring Has Sprung!

The 7-day weather forcast for my area doesn't show ONE day with temperatures below 60 degrees.  Is winter officially over?  You never know in New England, but this is looking pretty promising, my friends!  So what does this mean?  The ritual of slowly transitioning from my fall/winter to spring/summer wardrobe and the daunting task of switching over my closet.  I'm not ready to go at it full force just yet, but slowly and surely I find myself shying away from heavier winter sweaters in favor of lighter tops and flowy skirts.

So here is my outfit for today:

 

Sweater: Tory Burch.  $250.00.  100% cotton in a miracle blend that breaths when its warm yet keeps you toasty when it gets nippy (still a threat in Boston March weather). Found here.  Print mixing is a HUGE trend this season, and if you're like me and skeptical about too much pattern play, this sweater does all the work for you and still lets you in on the trend.  I opted to balance the pattern out with a solid color on the bottom rather than piling on more print as shown above.

Skirt: GREAT find at BR; 100% silk and bought during a promotion for 30% off $98.00.  Both work-appropriate and easy to pack and throw in with some beachy tops for vacation!  Found here.

Today, I am topping this outfit off with a pair of older grey cowboy boots.  But I am currently coveting these:

(Tory Burch, $295.00) that I think would go nicely as well, and add to the pattern play.)

At just about the time when I'm starting to get sick off all my winter garments, Spring has finally sprung!  (watch - I just jinxed us all and a massive snowstorm is on the way for next week now....)  Now to keep an eye on my tulips, daffodils, and crocuses who should begin to show their lovely faces soon all over my garden =)

Here's to spring fever!

Currently Coveting: Tory Burch Resort Collection

Tory Burch has some pretty amazing pieces in her Spring / Resort 2012 collection.  Full of vibrant prints and color, these pieces make me want to drop everything and go on vacation.  The best part about the collection, though, is that you don't HAVE to go on vacation to wear them.  Many items are just versitile enough to make them work for the office once the weather gets warm again.

This colorful confection is next on my list.  I am loving the floral print and it's a cinch to dress up with wedges and a cardigan for work or down with flip flops.



For elegant style poolside, I am also in love with Tory's collection of caftans.  Obviously these aren't going to make the cut for work, but they work as a beach cover up or as an adorable outfit when paired with leggings, shorts, or even a short skirt.

                                                                                                             

And finally...

Every once in a while, there comes a piece that is so special, you can justify putting down some extra cash just to get your hands on it.  Usually I stalk the Tory Burch website and wait until her new arrivals are marked down before I buy anything.  I run the risk of something I like being sold out before it goes on sale, but I take my chances.

This beauty was different.  I saw it, it was love at first sight, I grabbed it immediately.  Soft 100% silk in constrasting eye-catching hues of red and blue topped off with a timeless chain link design.  It's a beautiful, modern twist in a flattering cut, too!  Work appropriate and also very easy to throw in a suitcase.  I'll be chomping at the bits over the next few months for my first chance to wear it!

Fashion for Furry Friends =)

As promised, this post is all about my French Bull Dog, Isabel, "Izzy."  We got her at the beginning of September and she is the love of my life (besides my husband, of course!)  

Since her fur is very short, she gets cold very easily when out in the elements.  This is fine with me because it means she gets a little wardrobe full of sweaters of her own =).  Don't get me wrong, I am not one who would go spend hundreds of dollars on a doggy wardrobe for her, but with my little girl in mind, I'm brought back to one of my favorite designers...


One reason I really like Tory Burch is that she is constantly asking her customers their opinions on styles, accessories, etc, her brand should be carrying...and then actually LISTENS to them!  Proof?  In one of her latest surveys, her customers expressed an overwhelming interest in some accessories for their pets.  Soon afterwards, an adorable line of pet products appeared on her website:

At $95.00 a piece, these items are just a little too steep for me to splurge on but I'm stalking the website hoping they'll go on sale soon!  

Currently Coveting - Tory Burch Abigail Blouse

I had been eyeing this blouse on the Tory Burch website but was undecided whether it was too frumpy looking.

I also wasn't quite sure how to wear it.  I didn't like the fitted look as pictured on the website.  Then all of a sudden two things happened that won me over and made my decision for me.  First, Tory Burch tweeted a pic of celeb Abby Cornish wearing the sweater which provided some inspiration.

Since Tory Burch products often run big, I knew I could easily wear this sweater more loosely as pictured here with baggier pants and some Uggs or even a longer sweatshirt skirt and some boots for weekends.


Then, like magic, the price of the sweater went down from $350.00 to a sale price of $131.50 (Tory must have known I was on the fence!) which was much easier to swallow.  The sweater is 100% cashmere with silk paneling in the front which to me made it well worth a little extra money.  I'll be stalking the UPS man until this thing arrives and will be sure to get lots of use of it.

The Price of Fashion

While my husband may be somewhat grateful for the newfound sense of fashion Manhattan bestowed upon me during my time there, he may not be as amused at the price tag.  Fashion literally comes at a price, and having said that I pride myself on creating a wardrobe that combines cheaper items with more expensive ones to create what I think is a unique blend.   This being said, just today I was mentioning how quality seems to be going down in a lot of brands (that's for a different blogpost.)  Now days, if you want quality, you need to be prepared to pay top dollar for it.  My time in Manhattan taught me if nothing else that the cut and fit of clothing is essential.  Price and quality aside, you need to have clothes that fit you well if you want to truly feel put together.  (This sometimes proves to be a challenge for me.  I am a curvy size 8 with a full chest and a slight difference in cut can cross the fine line between professional and too revealing).  This is primarily what I paid attention to rather than fabric or quality for a long time.  As long as it fit me, I'd buy a lot of something cheap from anywhere - Weathervane (remember that place?) to American Eagle.  Now that I'm getting even older, however, I pay much closer attention to fabric and quality as a factor in the price - smarter shopping.   

Speaking of smarter shopping, today I want to give a shout out to one of my absolute favorite clothing brands - Tory Burch.  Her clothes may be expensive at first round, but if you're patient and wait for them  to go on sale, they get knocked down to prices that are in a much more comfortable zone.  Take this Tory Burch dress I bought earlier this fall, for instance.  $595.00 when it was first available - I bought it for $175.00.  And for the price, you get immaculate quality.  The dress is 100% silk.   

Paired with these Kenneth Cole boots in 100% leather / brown suede (bought on sale at 50% off for $80.00) and a cozy cardigan, I felt totally ready for the cooler weather.