ShopDiary

Love This Look

Coincidentally, I organized my closet last week and found a white basic shirt like this. Now I’m not as scared of skinny jeans anymore.

[via Style Bubble]
[photosource: FaceHunter]

Still A Bit Scared of Skinny Jeans

After my trip to the Target boutique (doesn’t that sound incongruous?) I shimmied over to Barneys New York to check out J Brand jeans. I’ve been planning to get a pair but decided to test drive them first. Skinny jeans are probably on their way out yet here I am just plucking up the courage to even try to them on. I like that J Brand has clean pockets and how they’ve categorized their jeans by leg opening: 10″ Skinny, 12″ Pencil, 14″ Cigarette and 16″ Straight Leg. So simple and logical!

So I try on a pair of 910 Skinny and they are snug and fit like a glove. The stretch is forgiving on a pear shaped body like mine. It’s been years since I last wore skinny jeans and they are definitely something to get used to again. The SA recommended going one size down since the fabric stretches when washed. I was scared when I tried it on. This is what I saw on the top left photo. They didn’t have my size in ink so I tried a pair in black. They look like leggings with a bit of structure. Still not decided, I tried on the 912 Pencil. Again, they didn’t have my size in any denim wash so I tried the gray which is pictured in the top right photo. The fit is not as snug but it’s still skinny.

I also tried on Acne jeans, a Swedish brand that also has plain pockets. I found the fit not flattering to my pear shaped body. It would look better on waifish types, I think. I also tried Tsubi but they only had a limited supply and no plain pockets.

I took pictures to help me decide on fit and wash. After sitting on it for two days, I ordered a pair of black 910 and a 912 in ink at Revolve Clothing. Thanks to styleminded, I got 15% off with coupon code JT and free shipping too!

Update: This offer at revolveclothing is even better. 30% off! For first time customers only. Grrr! I could have saved $50!

Giveways Galore!

In celebration of the launch of shopdiary.com, I am posting three giveways for all of you, my dear loyal readers. Haha. Actually, the hardworking folks at Coutorture are hosting the giveaway event and as a community member, I’m happy to share this with you. I am even happier that it coincided with my new domain’s debut so get clicking, girls!

Up for grabs are:

• A pair of skinny white jeans from Tag Jeans and Girlshop. If your size is not in stock you will receive a $50 gift certificate from girlshop.com.
• Tarte cheekstain, waterproof lip stain and plumping gloss, and liquid eye stain
• Country Bunny Bath and Body Products

Just check out the sidebar on the left, enter your email address and click Go! Good luck and I hope a shopdiary reader wins.

Nordy’s Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom is having their anniversary sale next Friday, July 14! Here are a few things that caught my eye. AS = after sale

True Religion “Billy” straight-leg jeans in black rinse $109.90 (AS $172.00)

There’s also Chip and Pepper skinny jeans for $124.90 (AS $188) and 7 for All Mankind wide leg jeans for $119.90 ($180). I haven’t tried on skinny jeans yet so I have to test drive this first. And honestly, I’m not feeling these jeans so I’ll have to fit them on first.

Footless tights by Frenchi (in black) $5.90 (AS $10) and Rubbish (in stripe or charcoal) $7.90 (AS $12). A must have for fall, believe it or not.

Hanky Panky signature lace thong $11.90 or 3/$33.00 (AS $18). These are the best so far.

Smashbox luxe beauty kit 7-piece cosmetics set $58. The quilted clutch looks cute.

Bobbi Brown chocolate collection $55. I have similar make up brushes which are great.

M.A.C. Patternmaker Collection Powder Blush in Overprint or Flush Naked $17.50. The brush sets are a good deal too.

Kinerase Rejuvenating Trio $75. I’ve wanted to try Kinerase but I still have to use up my current Shiseido Benefiance. These will probably be great for winter. I wonder how long these will keep.

N.V. Perricone 4-piece skincare set for $60. I’ve never tried this as well so I’ve got to see what others have to say about this.

The last five are beauty exclusives and can be pre-ordered now and will be shipped on July 14. And with $5 standard shipping, why wait?

Denim Sample Sale Stash

Here’s my stash of jeans from the super secret denim sample sale today:

All are Hudson jeans except for the Frankie B in the middle. The white ones are capris. All were priced at $45 each! I don’t know what I was thinking, getting all triangle pocket jeans because they did have this which is a more current style. But I do love Hudson’s triangle pockets. Can’t you tell?

I also got a Grail skull tee ($25) and a Frankie B puffy winter jacket in light blue ($45). It’s funny that I got the jacket because I just bought two puffy jackets yesterday at Third Street Promenade, one in white the other in black.

They also had Antik Fawcett colored jeans for $45. I almost got a pink one but decided that they really made my butt too flat for my liking and the fit was too tight anyway. I also saw some True Religion corduroys but I already have a pair of brown cords so I passed on those. I didn’t see any Seven For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity or Rock & Republic jeans at all. They did have hot pink COH velvet(?) pairs. Except for the whole section of Frankie B clothing, the racks were arranged by size so I didn’t bother to look at the other racks that weren’t in my size anymore.

As advertised, the prices were $25, $35 or $45 depending on the brand. Most of them were last year’s styles with a few current styles mixed in. I’m glad I went. There were no lines, the warehouse seemed more spacious than the venue they had on Sunset back in March, and prices were fab! Less crowds = more time to check out more stuff. The only suggestion I would make to the organizers is to provide an area for “holds” for items we were getting. That way, we could try on more without having to carry a heavy load everytime. Thirteen pairs on one arm and a handbag on another could get quite heavy. But who am I to complain? It was a fab deal!

Super Secret Blowout Sale

Ladies in L.A., it’s time to stock up on premium denim brands. The Warehouse Sale is having a “first time ever, one day only, top secret blow out sale exclusively for Angelenos” with prices pegged at $25 - $45 at up to a very steep 85% discount tomorrow, April 29 from 10 AM - 5PM.

I really don’t need any jeans right now, but with prices this good, I’m so there!

Spring Wardrobe Update

Spring is here and my wardrobe seriously needs to be updated. I know I should have done this earlier so I should be stepping out in style already. But enough of the grousing. Here are the things I need this spring:

Skinny Jeans
OK, I know a lot of you out there are moaning about the return of the skinny jean. I did too and I got over it and here I am pining for one. Well, actually I’m still wrapping my head around needing one. I know I’ll have to take the plunge sooner or later so I’ll start with maybe just one pair, like this one from Sass & Bide, perhaps? Or how about this one from Paige Denim? There are more styles and washes to choose from for those of you who want to join the bandwagon, if you haven’t already.

Peep Toe Flats
I know I love platform shoes and they are quite the rage for spring but there are days that I just want to make my feet happy and go with flat shoes. Peep toe flats are a great alternative to ballerina slippers or even flat sling backs. They’re great to wear with skinny jeans too.

…Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent…………………..Anthropologie Moto

…………Delman Peep Toes

…………Steve Madden Exposed………………………………Nine West Rebekah

Shorts
I need cuffed shorts. Need I say more?

These Theory shorts fit the bill.

Don’t these orange shorts just scream “Andrae!”? (OK, I had to put that in since I’m a great Project Runway fan but that doesn’t mean that I would wear them.)

Anything White
Almost two summers ago, I got a strapless eyelet dress from J. Crew on clearance. It sat in my closet until last month when I wore it to a wedding. The eyelet is exactly the same as in this Robert Rodriguez babydoll dress.The silhouette is slimmer though and I can probably throw on a sweater or jacket and wear it with skinny jeans (or heaven forbid, leggings!) and accessorize with a long beaded necklace.

I really need a white bag and this YSL Muse will do nicely:

Although a white YSL Bulgatti or Yris will do as well. Damn! This has been on my wishlist since December!

What are your must haves for spring?