Dressed for Time | Spring and Summer Style Tips from a Chicago blogger

Bumble and Bumble Mini Haul

January 4, 2015

I’d never come across a hair care line that I love so completely before Bumble and Bumble. Literally everything that I’ve tried from them is something that I not only find myself reaching for frequently, but it actually does what it says it will do! That cream that says it gives hair polish and separation… Does exactly that. The Thickening Spray builds up each strand and gives incredible volume without weighing hair down. They’re simply the best overall brand that I’ve tried. I’m going to post soon about the contents of my hair product-centric medicine cabinet which will include all of my B&B collection, but for now, these are the newest additions, accompanied by my Secret Santa gift from my coworker.

Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine
Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer
Necklace by Juicy Couture for Kohls

Dog Beach

January 4, 2015

I’ll be very blunt with this statement.. We have the cutest dogs ever. For real. Emily with her shagginess and cute little face, and Beau with his energetic playfulness; I seriously think we’re the luckiest people to have adopted two completely awesome rescue pups. Over the weekend, we drove the two hours south to San Diego to stay at the Ocean Villa, a very dog-friendly establishment, and to visit with my grandparents. The pups had the best time during their first ever trip to the dog beach, and the weather could not have been more perfect for such an occasion. Below, check out the cuteness!!

Gilt City Warehouse Sale

January 3, 2015

I had soooo much buildup in my head for the awesomeness that would be the Gilt City Warehouse sale recently held in Hollywood that I suppose a let-down was imminent. Parking was no problem, there was no line and the sales people were all very friendly upon entering the location.
Unfortunately, that’s kind of where the good things tapered off.. My initial game plan was to go for the shoes first, most of which were used. I’m not totally against buying shoes that have been previously worn, but the prices did NOT match the wear and tear of most of the items. As an example, I tried on a pair of leopard calf hair pumps from DVF that were “on sale” for $240, marked down from $425. My impression of a warehouse sale would be to mark the item down by half, and then discount further based on use. These shoes should have been around $100, in my opinion. There were racks and racks of size 7’s, which was nice, but nothing that struck me as a pair that I needed to own.
Next, I moved on to the handbag and accessory section, and what a bummer! Everything was damaged in some way… marked by pens, missing crystals and straps, lacking working closures, or my favorite, a Moschino belt marked down to $85 from $650 that was completely unwearable.
Moving on to the clothing section, there were racks and racks of tops, skirts, pants, dresses (including Oscar-worthy gowns), thankfully organized by size. I was able to find a few items that I really did like, after an hour of scouring and trying things on in the community dressing room.

Another tee to add to my collection of basics with French words/sayings. This one is from the brand Best Society, still available here. I got it for $15.

I fell in love with this French Connection dress as soon as I saw the sweet embroidered print! How perfect for a spring event or even for running errands on a warm day (something to look forward to!)

So the color doesn’t really translate in the picture (light was not my friend when shooting these pieces), but this tweedy jacket is a pretty dusty warm mint, if that makes any sense. Also from Best Society, it has ivory faux-leather trim and a zippered front. I see this being worn in heavy rotation in a few months!

I’m not sure of the brand of this black and white number, but I thought it just had the most fun floral lace pattern and a great swing in the skirt.

The shoes and accessories sections, full of no-gos for me.

More duds and the men’s shoe section.

We started the morning off with cappuccinos and omelets at Vee’s café. Such a great idea.

Overall, I would go back for the next Gilt City warehouse sale, but instead of expecting to find new designer goods at fantastic discounts, I will vow to dig for finds from little-known brands, quirky basics and maybe even some fabulous piece that I will treasure forever.

Holiday Baubles

December 29, 2014

There’s something about the holiday season that makes me go in search for a fresh crop of pretty jewels and gems. More so than a fresh pair of fancy shoes or a sparkly dress, jewelry feels more festive, and is definitely more versatile than a sequined bed jacket or Christmas tree-covered sweater! Oddly enough, I took a more reserved approach this year, focusing on finding pieces a little less blingy and more subtly sparkly.

This almost choker-length piece reminded me of a holiday wreath. It was 50% off at the J. Crew at Rockefeller Center in NYC on Thanksgiving. It looks perfect with a button-down/sweater combo.

When I was shopping for my work’s Secret Santa gift this year, I knew I wanted something more personal than just a Starbucks gift card. Then the news came to me that everything on Kyle Chan’s website was half off, so I figured why not pick up a little something for myself! I love how simple and understated this teeny heart is. It looks great on it’s own or layered with longer gold pieces.

This necklace was also deeply discounted at J. Crew NYC. I loved the unusual color combo of purple, jade, and opal.

The picture does not do this bracelet justice! Another J. Crew find, it is the most unique shade of green/grey with a slight iridescence. Soooo pretty! I can’t wait to wear it with a little bracelet-sleeved sweater and midi skirt.

OK, so I had to bring one extreme statement piece into my collection this season! This weighty number looks so pretty over a simple wool sweater or button-down. All of the different shades make it surprisingly versatile with pastels, jewel-tones, or jazzing up an all-black ensemble. This guy was an under-$10 eBay find.

What accessory/item of clothing makes you feel the most festive?