Adventures in Shopping: Our Latest Haul
Nothing feels better than showing off your latest purchases, am I right? Well, no. I’m probably not right, but we’re going to show you our most recent purchases anyway.
This cardigan has a lace chiffon back and a conservative front – so cute & versatile!
1. Pale pink Cynthia Rowley Trench: $29.99
2. American Eagle Navy chiffon-back cardigan: $19.60 at American Eagle Outfitters
3. Oatmeal pointelle sweater: $14.70 on clearance at American Eagle Outfitters (I’m getting approximately one million more…)
4. Madden Girl Tadley Flats: $24.99 at Marshalls
5. Design History Silk & Lace Top: $16.99 at Marshalls
6. Steve Madden Wedges: $29.99 on clearance at Marshalls
7. Ellen Tracy panties: $3 at Marshalls (clearance!)
8. Max Studio Maxi Skirt/Dress/EVERYTHING: $24.99 Marshalls
9. Girl Krazy Flannel Shirt: $12 on clearance at Marshalls
10. BB Dakota Leather Mini Skirt: $39 on OpenSky (Follow Jeannie Mai!)
11. Madden Girl Ikat Pumps: $24.99 at Marshalls
What was your last purchase?
Color Play: Textured Cobalt
Julia C. on Lookbook
I can’t believe how much cobalt blue suede and velvet I’ve been seeing lately! Our last trip through Marshalls yielded three pairs by three different brands! One strappy platform, one closed-toe pump, and one of those popular loafer-slipper styles that have been popping up everywhere lately. We were having trouble remembering which pair was velvet, and which was suede, but as Jen points out: “Velvet is the broke girl’s suede.”
I couldn’t resist trying on those gorgeous platforms. (& Jen snagged these adorable Ikat pumps for less than $30!)
Steve Madden’s “Dynemite” Platforms (#99). These suckers were like 5″ with a 1.5″ platform – hardcore!
PS – respect the footie.
I’m really excited about this, as a trend. I love the way that velvet and suede make colors saturate and become matte. Whether it’s a pale tone or a vibrant one, it really doesn’t matter. It’s going to look good. (I do love a dusty pink velvet, I must say.) (Wow, if you say that with a British accent, it sounds so snobby.)
While I admit that I have a weakness for velvet blazers, this feels more like a Shoe Porn moment, don’t you think?
Cobalt Blue Suede & Velvet Shoes
Love Yap N. on Lookbook
B&BPSA: Giveaway Mania
I just made up B&BPSA. It stands for… B&B… PSA. I’m going to keep using it, I think.
We are running giveaways behind your back!
There, ripped the band-aid off. It’s true! We’ve been orchestrating, and secretly dropping giveaways around various social media outlets! For instance…
Submit Your Style / Budget Style / Fancy Pants Contest
This giveaway can’t seem to find a good name that will stick, so why not use all of them? We announced on Tumblr last week that we were opening up a style contest to the readers of B&B! We’re challenging you to show off your epic budget-shopping skills through creative performance… meaning: submit a photo of your badass style, and you could win! Each entry will be sent through our Tumblr with a link to your blog (free promotion! - be sure to include the URL and name!), and 1-3 super-stylish gals will be featured on Broke & Beautiful, and receive something from our sample closet!
How to Enter: Click here!
Contest Ends: …whenever we feel like it!
The Broken Record 200 Giveaway
When we launched The Broken Record, we announced that we would be giving away a huge prize when we reached 200 subscribers! Well, fast-forward and here we are with less than 30 spots left in the giveaway! As you can see, the winner will receive the bag in the photos above, and that bag will be full of beauty and fashion goodies from our vast and generous sample room. Well. Sample… area. Listen, you’ll get free stuff inside your free stuff, ok?
How to enter: Sign up for The Broken Record! Either on this page, or in the sidebar!
Giveaway ends: …whenever we hit 200!
And the Super-Mega-Bonus Giveaway is…
Wallpaper Prints
There’s something incredibly comfortable about old memories. Old smells, old colors, old traditions – it’s warm & fuzzy. It reminds me of home, and being surrounded by familiar people and things… it’s a good, squishy feeling.
It’s the same feeling I get when I look at vintage fabrics. Old patterns and prints remind me of various wallpapers, textiles, and furniture I’ve seen in my life. With the rampant popularity of vintage-inspired clothing, finding these heartwarming prints is becoming easier and easier. They give a wonderful nostalgic, heirloom feel to any outfit.
Day After Day Dress in Bamboo: $99.99 | Dots To Give Dress: $44.99
Cheer & Charm Dress: $49.99 | Living Pouf Dress: 52.99
If the dresses feel too kitschy for you..
You’re in luck! My personal favorite way to wear a vintage print is through separates. If you are ever lucky enough to find a beautiful pair of toile pants, or a classic polka dot sweater – snag it ASAP! You are sitting on a goldmine of awesome!
If you want to give it a go, but aren’t sure how to wear them…
Start out with the basics by pairing a bold patterned separate with a sleek, neutral color palette and make the pattern the focus. I always say that a failsafe pairing is a bold pattern with a solid-colored, black, grey or white sweater, or fitted, neutral bottoms. Easy peasy, and a surefire way to get a great outfit.
But!… if you wake up feeling ballsy – I highly suggest harnessing that in the form of mixing prints. (Caution: not for the faint of heart.)
Floral Print Blazer & Pants: $116.38 & $71.62 | Geo Print Cigarette Trousers: $76
Lacoste Dandelion Print Sweatshirt: $61.99 | Kimono Print Sleeveless Shirt: $25.07
Strawberry Sweater: $62.67 | A Splash of Citrus Skirt: $99.99
Irregular Choice Abigail’s Party Pump: $80.92 | Poetic License Dear Diary Flat: 98
Lace Print Tote: $19.99 | Lodis Posey Daisy Laptop/Technology Sleeve: $54.99
2012 Upgrades: Make Work More Fun
Believe it or not, my foul mouth and jegging addiction used to hold a stuffy, ultra-corporate 9-5 job in marketing. It was a job that I’m thankful for, if only to have the experience. As far as my corporate style… Well, here’s the truth: I was written up three times for clothing-related offenses. I was bad at dressing for work. But now – older and wiser – I recognized that 4″ neon platform pumps were probably not an acceptable choice.
Now that I’m older and … less young, I have a better grasp on the idea of “work-appropriate.” Even if I went back to an office environment, I don’t know that I’d be the world’s finest example of work-appropriate, but what makes boundaries fun if you can’t push them? And if they’re not fun, then why are they there?
I know a lot of you feel stuck in a work wardrobe slump. We’ve been hearing the chatter on Facebook, and even chatted with a few of you on Google+ – dressing for work is just kind of boring lately, isn’t it? Well, you’re in luck: punching up your 9-5 wardrobe can be extremely inexpensive, and by selecting statement pieces that look good with neutrals, you add layers and layers of versatility to your wardrobe.
Upgrade your basic staples are try on some new looks for 2012!
Spice Up Your Work Wardrobe
for Under $50
Staple: Blazer
Upgrade: Tuxedo Jacket
Lady-tux jackets have been speckling the market for a little while now, and I’ve definitely caught the bug. I picked up a black tuxedo jacket with black satin lapels (very similar to the option on the right, from Lauren Conrad!) recently and have been wearing it with everything from graphic t-shirts to sweaters to ripped jeans and ribbed tanks. Extra bonus: this will transition very well to spring and summer. Just as easily dressed down as dressed up – they’re the perfect “Oh, tht’s interesting…” not-a-basic-blazer option!
Wear with: patterned pencil skirts, straight-leg pants, printed dresses, maxi skirt/dress + boots.
Blazers, L-R: Charlotte Russe Tuxedo Jacket, $39.99; LC Lauren Conrad Tuxedo Blazer, $49.
Staple: Pencil Skirt
Upgrade: Maxi Skirt
Don’t be scared! Maxi skirts are the closest thing to no pants that you can possibly wear to the office. If your desk accomodates it, I would highly suggest using your increased mobility to sit cross-legged in your chair, eat lunch on the floor, or use your 15 minute breaks to frolic through a nearby meadow.
Wear with: wrap tops, sweater tights & slouchy boots, blousy tops (tucked in), tuxedo jackets, boxy sweaters.
Skirts, L-R: Express Chiffon Maxi Skirt, $34.95; Express Crinkle Maxi Skirt, $29.95; Hive & Honey Knife Pleat Maxi Skirt, $29.99.
Staple: Neutral Pants
Upgrade: Boldly Colored Trousers
I love bold colors in trousers as much as I love them brightly colored denim. Surrounding bold colors with structured neutrals just reeks of officewear to me (in a good way). It’s such a fun way to add some life into your day. Plus, if you play your cards right, the transition from office to happy hour is a piece of cake.
Wear with: embellished tanks, fitted jackets, strappy sandals (especially if cropped!), oversized sweaters.
Trousers, L-R: Jag Jeans “Jewel” Corduroy Trousers, $49.90; Kenneth Cole Cropped Pants, $41.29; NY & Co. Sateen Slim Crop Pants, $42.95.
Staple: Neutral Pumps
Upgrade: Exciting Wedges
Wedges are just as sensible, just as stable as a basic pump… but a whole lot more exciting. Or drunk. Depends on your taste. I, personally, like my exciting wedges to be between 2.5″ and 3.5″ tall, stacked (heyo!), a slight inward curve on the heel, and closed-toe – but you can define your own terms for your [pre-existing, or soon to be] eternal quest for the perfect wedge.
Wear with: all skirts & dresses forever, cropped pants, wider-legged pants & jeans.
Wedges, L-R: MIA Ivette Wedge, $49; Charlotte Russe 2 Tone T-Strap Wedge, $40.
What’s you’re go-to work outfit?
GoGoGirlfriend + Red Gloss Review
The title of this post sounds like a bad/awesome band name, don’t you think?
A few months ago, Jen and I made a decision to switch from Birchbox to… well, something else. As these monthly sampler packs get more popular, they are undoubtedly going to start popping up all over the place. Fortunately, there are still a sensible number to consider (unlike sample sales – yikes! Mass inbox unsubscribe, please!), and we decided to go for a service called GoGoGirlfriend.
You can’t really say the name and keep a straight face, but the actual service is excellent! The first month, I received 10+ samples in my box, including an eyelash curler, two brushes, and tea. Tea.
This time, though, they sent along quite a few saucy products that I couldn’t resist trying immediately. One one them was this rich, luxurious lip gloss from Blossoms. I am not a lip gloss girl (give me stains, or give me stick), but once I saw the tube, I really needed to put this stuff on my mouth.
Isn’t it just devilish?
This wasn’t the gloopy, translucent crap I was used to – it was more like a mix of lipstick and lip gloss. Super rich, and went on really smoothly! It was sticky, because all lip products are going to be some kind of wet, but it wasn’t irritating, and I can proudly say I do not know what it tastes like. It also has aloe in it, so I can call this “good for me.” Sweet.
The color is called Sunset. The card that accompanied my GGG box called this stuff “highly pigmented” – understatement.
Just hangin’ out by my grocery list. No big.
If you want to try GoGoGirlfriend, here is my referral link. It’s a bit more expensive than Birchbox (GGG is $13/month instead of $10/month), but you can also pay $6.99/month and get a box every other month. Your call! You can also accumulate points that go towards products that you didn’t get in the box, or full sizes of your samples. Get points by referring friends (hello, referral link!) and doing reviews (I don’t know if this one counts, but you bet your ass I’m going to check).
The Blossoms Lip Gloss is available in a bunch of different colors (mine = Sunset), and $8.99 for members, $12.99 for non-members.
Are you a lip gloss girl, or a lip stick girl? Also – are you a GoGoGirlfriend member? What do you think of the service?
Dedicated: Why You Should Give the Sales a Go
While most of the world seems to be suffering from a serious case of the January Blues and hiding away indoors, we’ve welcomed the month and all it has to offer with open arms. After all, extra cold weather necessitates the wearing of beautiful boots, coats and elaborate knitwear and the wonderful gift of the January sales allows the broke among us to make some serious fashion purchases.
Although the sales themselves are starting to trail off, there’s still time to grab some great stuff both in store and online and by holding out to the last moment you’ll find you are rewarded with even bigger discounts by a lot of retailers. To tempt us into spending catalogues in particular are maximising their discounts right now and the womens clothing sale at La Redoute has autumn/winter stock with over 50 per cent off. As always, our priority when shopping the sales is pick up items of beauty without breaking the bank; to follow suit try following our top three tips below.
1) Shop with military precision. If you think that the perfect jacket to see you through ’til springtime is going to turn up at your door merely through chance browsing – you are a serious optimist. The best sales shoppers will have taken a note of items they want to buy in sale months ago and will be returning to pick up their prizes now. Browsing without aim is a risky strategy if you are on a budget too, so it’s far smarter to make a list of wants and then search your favourite sites for them. Use search tools on site to view items that meet your personal criteria such as size and colour – that way you won’t get distracted.
2) Think ahead. January sales let you buy high-end items at cut down prices, but unless these pieces have longevity they won’t be a very good buy. If you are taking the opportunity to buy winter basics like coats and boots, make sure you choose beautiful classic styles that will last. Shop with one eye on the season ahead too – it always pays to read the edit for the forward season to know what trends are sticking around.
3) Don’t rule things out if they aren’t perfect. Back in rule one I advised shopping with precision and looking for perfection, but there are times when this needs to go out of the window. If you spot a Burberry mac a third of the price because it’s missing its belt – there are things that can be done. Similarly, if you find your favourite pair of jeans in the wrong shade but priced a hell of a lot cheaper than you’ve ever seen before, be prepared to experiment with some denim dye and take a risk – it’s these personal tweaks that can help your look stand out and your purse stay fuller.
Seasonal Shift: Spring 2012 Sunglasses Under $25
As you may know, the winter snow has the amazing ability to remind you that sunglasses aren’t just for summertime. The bright light of day glaring off all of those tiny ice crystals can make a morning (or an especially an afternoon hangover) a little unpleasant.
I still love my purple, cat-eye sunglasses, but some of the more popular designer style have my imagination soaring. But! The day I pay over $200 for a pair of sunglasses is the day I turn down an impromptu TJ Maxx trip for an in-depth seminar on socket wrenches. Forget it. Fortunately, where there’s one, there are usually many – when it comes to popular designs, anyway.
Retro Round Lens Sunglasses
Top: Selima Optique Andy Sunglasses
Broke & Beautiful Picks (L-R):
ASOS Oversized Retro Sunglasses: $21.49
Round Retro Sunglasses: $9.50
Monikapolitan Round Clear Glasses: $5
This is one of my favorite styles. The super round lens with the wayfarer-esque wings are kind of old-school, but with the bright colors (like those mint shades at the bottom – I am going out of my MIND about those! They will be mine.) make them really punchy and perfect for today.
Smokey Frame Sunglasses
Top: The Row Square Frame Acetate Glasses
Broke & Beautiful Pick (L-R):
LC Lauren Conrad Wayfarer Sunglasses: $22.50
Mudd Translucent Rectangular Sunglasses: $15.40
I like clear, smokey frames as an alternative to super-techno, clear, acrylic or drab, opaque, grey frames. I especially like the Mudd pair above. The warmer smoke colo is kind of unexpected – I dig it!
Thick Frame Cat Eye Sunglasses
Top: Thierry Lasry Obsessy Marbled Sunglasses
Broke & Beautiful Pick (L-R):
Monikapolitan Retro XL Wayfarer: $8
ASOS Solid Black Cay Eye Sunglasses: $21.49
It’s taken me a while to warm up this bold style, but now that I’ve have a chance to see other people wearing the style, I can get behind the look. When they’re too oversized, it’s not my favorite, but if they fit your face – go for it!
Clear Frame Sunglasses
Top row, L-R: Prism Paris Glasses, Vintage Gucci Sunglasses, Oliver Peoples Sheldrake Sunglasses
Broke & Beautiful Picks (L-R):
Smith Optical 1 Ski Edition Keyhole Sunglasses: $22
ASOS Round Sunglasses: $21.49
This is kind of outside of my general comfort zone, but I can’t help but be attracted to the classic shape mixed with such a starkly transparent frame. I imagine the world looks pretty good through the lenses of the glasses we found (aka the bottom two)!
Dedicated: The Art of Online Shopping
I don’t care what my boyfriend tells me at the end of the month when I’m looking into my near-empty cupboards and cradling the beautiful shoes I bought straight after payday; shopping is an art. Of course, you know the art is truly mastered when you are as able to go out and buy dinner at the end of the month.
Although it’s a constant source of temptation because of all the shiny and exciting things it introduces us to, the internet can actually help you master the art of shopping and allow you to stretch your budget as far as possible. We all develop our own online shopping strategies to save cash and create fashion envy among our friends. Here are a few tried-and-tested methods to employ when shopping online.
1) Explore large ranges, such as those offered by JD Williams woman’s clothing, using a tactical search approach. Browsing websites can lead to making impulse purchases that empty your purse faster. Before you head online, make a list of the items on your current wish-list and use the sites’ own search toolbars to narrow by size and colour so that you don’t get distracted on your personal shopping mission.
2) Take advice from those in the know. Check in with blogs like Broke and Beautiful to find cheaper versions of your current fashion must-haves and for inspiration on how to maximise use of your current wardrobe; an alternative perspective can prove bountiful. Blogs and social media work both ways too, so if you are unsure about how to complete an outfit or are looking for a specific item, why not task your Facebook friends or Twitter followers with helping you out?
3) Checking the web for discount codes and offers before you checkout should be a shopping strategy you put into practice without thinking, but there’s more you can do. If you can’t find a discount yourself, again, why not ask for help from your online shopping friends? They might be able to share one with your or know of a similar item that can be purchased elsewhere for less.
Spring With a Winter Palette
Don’t get me wrong – I love winter. I’m so into it. It’s my second favorite season (after fall… no pun in…tended?), and as I sit here in Seattle experiencing our once-a-year #Snowpocalypse, I can honestly say that few things make me happier than a start white snowscape with industrial, angular building peeking out of the pillowy blanket of snow.
I just kinda wish it was warmer. A little.
Well, what I really want is to be able to wear the spring silhouettes against a natural background of winter colors. The warm browns, bright whites, frosty pastels, dark greys… But mixed with shorter skirts, bare arms, sleeveless frocks and strappy heels. Why, oh why can’t I have all the things I want? This one only distorts nature a little bit…
Here are some of the things I’d love to wear in spring with a winter palette:
Waldorf Dynasty Coat: $59.99
Mixed Media Wedge: $38.50
Skinny Moto Pants: $34.99
Collarless Wool-Blend Coat: $40
Saydie T-Strap Platforms: $54
(These are perfect!)
Might have to collage this idea… I can’t get these colors out of my head!
