Retail Roundup: Bold Yet Feminine For the Office

Buying clothes for work doesn't have to end at Ann Taylor Loft and/or be depressing. These inspired pieces will inject some fun statement femininity into your work-flow rotation: which (my studies show), combined with a spritz of Miss Dior, is the cure for those 9-5 blues...

Colorblocked Knit Pencil Skirt, HD in Paris, $98

 I love this skirt from Anthropologie. The asymmetrical colorblocking creates a slimming and very flattering silhouette that sort of disguises problem areas yet accentuates curves in the right spots. It's definitely wearable for the office, yet makes a statement. It's also available in a grey pattern, if you are lucky enough to have skin tanned enough to clash with the middle color.

Batwing Midcalf Dress, Norma Kamali Kulture, $150

This dress is amazing. The relaxed, batwing white top with a subtly sexy crossover-v neckline and a longline pencil skirt is the look of perfectly paired separates -  in the convenience of a dress. There is something a bit 80s/Working Girl about this look, with a modern twist.

Tube Skirt, Zara, $49.90

This high-slit pencil skirt from Zara might be a bit risque for business casual (depending on your body type - my thighs would not be happy in it) but it's a really sexy, modern look.

Stretch-woven jumpsuit, Cushnie Et Ochs, $1,795

This badboy is the 2015 version of a powersuit. Can I borrow $1800 bucks real quick so I can feel like a Bond girl?

Sleveless Tailored Jacket, Topshop, $85

A separate in the same family as the bank account buster jumpsuit above, this blush sleevless blazer by Topshop is so chic and a perfect way to show off your pilates biceps.

Retail Roundup: Crossover Strappy Shoes for Fall

If you've seen the fall lookbooks or have been shopping in the past two weeks, there is a staple that stands out just as much as burnt camel color patterns, warm golden dresses and boyfriend blazers for the fall: strappy crossover shoes are everywhere...and I want all of them.

Valentino, via Net-A-Porter, $995

Topshop $130

Zara $99.90

This looks really brings to life a pair of simple cropped ankle pants (I fully intend on wearing them with J. Crew Pixie Pants and a flowy blouse pretty much every day of fall). From breaking the bank with Valentino to Forever 21 (not pictured), there is really something for every budget to give this put-together fall look a spin.

Retail Roundup: The Sexy Black Maxi

Probably my favorite year-round pieces in my closet are my black maxi dresses. Open back, strappy, not too showy - more subtly suggestive - I feel instantly glamorous and put together with just one piece when I pull them out. Complete on their own, or completely versatile, you can dress up a black maxi up for elegant occasions with heels and accessories or throw on a denim jacket for a casual look.

Here are a few currently available looks that you are sure to keep grabbing for:

Avery Dress, Reformation $328

I realize some of you will think this sounds crazy, but I'd wear this dress by Reformation to a wedding or throw it on with sandals and wear it to Ralphs to pick up kale so my boyfriend and I can pretend like we are healthy one day a week.

Crisscross strap maxi, Forevs $19.90

This caged, cutout black dress from Topshop (below) is definitely a modern statement piece that will look like a lot more effort than throwing it on in the morning. Good old Forevs (Forever 21) has plenty of long black dresses, ranging from completely sheer, strappy and sassy to fairly modest. I love the back, and the price, of the Crisscross strap maxi (above). The almost as affordable Zara number at the bottom feels a bit more casual and the self tie at the waist is great for some subtle slimming.

Cutout detail maxi, Topshop $135

Long dress, Zara $49.90

Zara - New Things This Week That I Want

The sales associates at the Zara across the street from my work know my face well, but my long "coffee breaks" don't keep from peeping the site for new items every two or three days. Here are the items I have been minimizing when my bosses walk by my computer these past few days

Dress With Belt - $79.00

Assuming this isn't too short on me, I might like this for work. It's sophisticated and interesting. It flatters a feminine physique (emphasis on the waist and the flirty A-line cut) but isn't too suggestive.  You know, for the days I don't feel like getting hit on at the subway station when I am a really bad mood on Monday morning because I have cleavage. I love the way it looks with the short boots.

Patterned Feminine Moccasin - $79.00

Something that sparkles makes the days you can't wear heels suck a little less. They come in black too.

Patterned Corduroy Miniskirt $49.90

And for play time, because buying work clothes is just not as fun as clothes I wear once I escape, this outfit. It looks like something a wholesome 60s school girl or Nancy Sinatra might wear. And that's a good thing.

Why I Am Quitting Lululemon Pants and Switching to Zella

Lint and pilling on Lululemon pants

Two years ago I might have called it sacrilegious but the revelation has arrived: I am quitting Lululemon.

Consumerist excess stigma and qualms about having my yoga practice served with a side of Ayn Rand notwithstanding, I have been a loyal consumer of the Lululemon Wunder Unders (leggings) and Groove pants (flared leg) for about four years.  I have spent hundreds of dollars and obtained dozens of reusable totes along the way. Lululemon's proprietary brushed Luon fabric was unique and exciting when I first discovered it. The pants were insanely thick and breathable which is perfect for yoga, because unlike most spandex-based pants they did not become sheer when stretched. I was impressed with the fast-drying and moisture-wicking qualities, as well as the almost universally flattering fit. The $100 price tag has always felt outrageous, but I reached for justifications.  I was convinced that this was an exceptional product that I will spend a lot of time wearing and my practice would be enhanced without ill-fitting garment distractions.

Pilling inside the thigh

Today my arsenal of expensive yoga pants is essentially unwearable. The pilling is extreme and these pants attract lint like nothing I have ever seen before... and I am blonde with a very furry Pomeranian in the house. Not even your stickiest roller is up to this challenge. In order to keep these pants wearable I would need to painstakingly go through and pick off each piece of lint and pilled fabric, buy some sort of fabric shaver, or have my cleaners take care of it.

While staring at my lint sprinkled thighs in down dog one evening I decided I was going to start buying cheap Target yoga pants. However, while browsing the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale yesterday it occurred to me that I needed to try Zella (Nordstrom's in-house brand/Lululemon competitor). Zella was designed by Lulu's former product manager and their Live In Leggings look and function very much like Wunder Unders.

Zella Live In Leggings (Left); Lululemon Wunder Unders (Right) 

At $33.90 (sale price, regularly $52) I'd say these are just about Target prices. The fit and design are great (if you love Wunder Unders). The fabric is much thinner than Lululemon but still looks very opaque. These pants seem to catch lint as well but my hope is that they will not pill. They are reversible, too.

I am looking forward to seeing how these Zella pants wear, but at one third the price I'd be far less frustrated if the Zella Live In Leggings ended up pilling a bit. The sale on these ends August 4, so buy them now! Link here.

A caveat to my boycott: I have been extremely happy with all of my light support Lululemon tanks for yoga. They keep the girls in place and have worn very well. The designs, beyond being adorable, are great for yoga. The Lululemon support tanks I have fit tight throughout (or in the case of No Limits, at the hip) so I don't need to fuss with loose t-shirts while doing inversions or vinyasas. I might have to shell out the bucks to Lulu for tops in the future, but after seeing how the Zella pants work out I may look into Zella's top options to see how they stack up.

Lululemon Patience (left, $58) and No Limits Tank (right, $64) 

Zara Sale June 2014

It's that special time of year. Don't worry - not the one that involves a nonstop stream of Christmas tunes and an onslaught of red and green cookies that ultimately result in extra four pounds ...It's time for a semiannual sale at Zara!

Zara is one of my favorite clothing stores, but a few general comments about the Spanish import, before I get into all the gritty details surrounding my shallow retail endeavors...

(1) Zara doesn't feel particularly cut for curvier girls. I'm a size 4 pretty consistently in most everything and I've had to size up in sized bottoms and fitted dresses at Zara to a 6 or an 8/Medium (usually resulting in a too-large fit in the waist). #BigBootyProblems? Even their dresses fit me funny: the small fits well through the bust and waist, medium fits my butt but is typically too big through the shoulders and waist. Most of the blouses don't fit a bigger bust as well as I would like. The fit issues are slightly frustrating, but keep me from over buying.

(2) The best part about the sale at Zara, for me, isn't the lower prices, it's the merchandise I kind of wanted a few months ago that disappeared for a while, suddenly reappeared slightly cheaper. I just imagine that cute dress being stripped off the shelves and hiding out in some magical Zara warehouse, waiting for me.  Just when you thought you missed your chance - booom there it is again! The prices are initially about 30% off (the merchandise that sticks around after a week or to will continue to be discounted).

(3) I found a better selection in-store, but I will make use of the website too. This was confirmed by a few of the sales associates at the store by my place, the online selection is limited. However, if you are looking for something specific that appears to be sold out on the website, keep checking back. Several times I have successfully purchased items that were out of stock in my size after dropping in throughout the day to find them (temporarily) re-stocked.

The Bounty

Printed Playsuit - $59.99 (regular $79.99)

Wide leg romper with an open back and high neck in one of those tiki/Hawaiian style prints that seems to be everywhere this season. 

Guipure Sleeveless Playsuit - $59.99 (regular $89.99)

My boyfriend told me rompers and jumpsuits are "weird" but I can't stop. I won't stop. This lacy one piece is just so Bohemian and feminine. I had to have it. 

Maxi Dress with Fine Straps - $59.99 (regular $99.99)

I usually like to steer clear of whites and ivories due to my fair complexion but I am loving them this summer. I also love the simplistic elegance of this long maxi dress with a low back. The ruffled top would be a nice disguise for any tummy imperfections and, more importantly for me, the length is great for those summer weeks your legs have seen better days (bruises, scratches...my legs are in a constant state of disrepair). 

Varsity Sweatshirt - $19.99 (regular $49.99)

It says "vanity" and has sequins...I don't think I need to say anything else. 

Jasleen and I also picked up a bright multi colored turban headband, which I can't find on the website. 

Even if Zara not quite your style, I think it's worth a trip to the store during the sale period, sometimes their style selection is surprising and I always find their garments to be better quality than the other big retail chains. Plus...there will be even better markdowns as the sale progresses.