Sometimes a woman's got to challenge herself. One of my new favorite sites has some great clothing, but it tends to be a bit on the pricey side. It also has an awesome feature called "Be the Buyer" where you can VOTE ON WHAT THEY WILL SELL NEXT. I'm completely obsessed with it and also horrified by what the general public considers "cute". More on that some other time.
Anyway, the ones that DON'T get picked by the general public are generally great aside from the fact that they tend to be a bit expensive. (Have I told you I think they are too expensive?) Therefore, I went on a rampage to find something that would fit my criteria. After much rummaging, rejecting and swearing, I finally ran into the groovy little frock you see before you.
Color choice - great. Love the 70's look and the horizontal stripes are thin enough to flatter a multitude of figures. Cut - great, but I wouldn't recommend it for the long-legged or taller ladies, as modcloth tends to run short. Also, the puckered waist effect you are seeing is due to putting a larger dress on a smaller model and tying the strings tight. If you want that,purchase a size larger than you normally wear. This cut is also great for petite women who need to carve out a waist or hourglass-shaped women with a naturally smaller waist.
Wear it - with a long sleeved shirt and tights, over jeans if you roll like that (I don't), or on its own on a hot summer day with wedge sandals and nothing else. Of course, you can wear it like a beach coverup/romper as the poorly written (sorry) product copy suggests, but we're a little more creative than that, yes?
Seaside Park Dress, $24.99, modcloth.com - Available in M, L in the "under $50" section.
Hearts, Stars, Moons and Clovers,
kasey
So if you're looking for gift ideas, I'm going to make it easy for you. Go to Kohl's or kohls.com and pick this dress up for me in a Medium.
Now that that's out of the way, I can share with the rest of you this lovely dress that I actually found on Kohl's a bit ago, but have been waiting for the price to drop. Well, the day has come, y'all. I checked today and it now fits under my price cap. I couldn't be more thrilled.
This lovely piece is from the ELLE collection at Kohl's, which is in my opinion, right up there with Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Fashionable, affordable, and even fairly well constructed garments for the price. Get them while you can and especially before everyone else finds out about it. You probably can't make an entire wardrobe from it, but you can find some really great stand-out pieces to work into your existing closet.
This dress is made from a polyester blend, which means it's fairly thin and has a LOT of movement. Perfect for spring/summer days when we don't need anything sticking to us. The waist is high and a little empire without being over the top and making it look like maternity wear. Also, what you cannot see in this photo is that there is a DARLING bow in the back of the dress at the waist. Movement, striking color, universally flattering...what else do you need? You need it to be under 30 bucks, you say? Well, it's done that too. So stop your demands and buy it already.
Elle Bold Floral Dress, $29.99 at Kohl's or kohls.com
Lots of Summer-breeze infused love, kasey
Have you missed me? I have missed you terribly. The fog has lifted, the storm has abated and I am once again free to find you pretty clothes. YAY!
I write this as I anxiously await the "Rock of Love" reunion show where a preview clip shows Heather finally beating Daisy's ass for putting her melted-candle finger in people's faces one too many times. Long Overdue, Heather, long overdue. We midwestern girls are very nice, but can only be pushed so far, and are NOT afraid of a good old fashioned throw-down. If you remember nothing else from this blog, keep that piece of advice in your pocket.
Forging ahead - I found this bikini a few weeks ago and have been waiting for the price to drop so it can fit under my $30 cap. I'm pretty sure it's hit rock bottom, and the two pieces total $40, but screw it - I love the print, you're not obligated to buy it, and I run this blog. A suit this cute deserves to break a rule or two and I hope you'll agree.
I found this at Jcrew.com and after scouring the local store, I'm fairly sure it's only available online. Have I already said that I'm in love with the print? The color palette is right up my alley AND it gets extra points for reminding me of a couch we had when I was little crossed with my laptop case. If I hadn't already bought a Jcrew swimsuit a few weeks ago, I would snap this up. Hopefully one of y'all will.
The top will fit small, medium and large chests, and is fairly universally flattering. It has a bit of padding, which should keep everything in its right place. The bottom is so cute I can't stand it as well, and is also cleverly cut high on the leg. One piece of advice - order a size up in the bottom as the elastic can cut into your hip and create bulges where there doesn't need to be any.
I really, really hope someone gets this bikini. It's the bees knees, the cat's pajamas and the cream of the crop all rolled into one.
I also really, really hope that himself knows what's good for him and will turn off Battlestar Galactica before 9pm. I don't want to give him a midwestern wake-up call. I'm kidding. Kinda.
JCrew Cherry-Print Padded String Top and Lowrider Bikini, $19.99 each at jcrew.com (under sale section).
Lots of sun, sea and salt-drenched love, kasey
Today I bring you a beautiful little dress from Newport News. This company has some serious staying power. I remember getting the catalog at our house when I was like 12 and flipping through it, admiring the sometimes-sexy, sometimes-ugly clothing and the ultra-low prices. Well it's 16 years later and NN is still going strong. I can't believe the sheer VOLUME of what they sell, and I don't even want to think where or how they get it manufactured to be able to sell it so cheaply.
NN never fails to amaze me with their approach. They really seem to run the gamut. From faux-victoria's secret sexy to faux-fredericks of hollywood stripper to faux-50 year old mom chico's, they have it all.
Today I found this banging dress for less than 30 bucks! I sorted through a LOT of sand to get this piece of gold, let me tell you. I love the styling of this dress - the halter looks like it has a lot of room but great drape, meaning it flatters small and large chests. The tailored waist carves out an hourglass shape, which is unusual in a halter dress, as they tend to just hang from the chest down. Kudos to whoever designed this, they really thought it through.
Another thing that makes this dress truly great is the length. I truly appreciate the restraint shown. The top is so sexy, this could have easily slipped into trashy territory, but they kept the length modest, and the end result is a sexy but not over the top dress that I might get a newport news card just to buy.
So feast your eyes, channel your last studio 54 party, and enjoy.
Drapeneck Satin Dress in Gold, $27.99 at NewportNews.com
Givin you that gold, kase
[editor's note: I've been away for a few days - sorry about that, I don't make it a habit, but it was a hard week. I've missed you.]
Yes! It's time for my weekly rant - the one day every week or so that I set aside to pontificate on something related to snobbery, fashion, home goods, or all of the above. Last week I went off about the snobby stores. Hopefully you have been able to shake off any snobbery that had been stubbornly clinging to you.
This started as a small seed in my head as I was trying on a pair of Sevens/True Religion/Ernest Sewn/insert brand of high-end, overpriced jeans here. WHY are these jeans so impossible to get on, no matter what "cut" you try on? Every size seems to have the same principle to it - slim hipped and a 34'' inseam. Now, knowing that a majority of the population is NOT slim-hipped and 5'10, and assuming a clothier is in business to make money, why are these being mass produced in a cut that most people will not fit into?
Exclusivity. Ruling out most people. Thin is worthy, thick is not. The main message in building the brand is to have exclusivity and desire. Dangling that carrot in front of the masses saying, "if you worked really, really hard, maybe, just maybe, you could have this too. You could be one of us." And I love that people fall for this. Hard. Our culture responds so well to negative reinforcement, it's (almost) astonishing. Raise your hand if you've ever bought a pair of designer jeans you've had to diet/squat/not breathe/get 6 inches cut off the bottom before you could get into them. WHY? [editor's note: my hand is up in the air right now.]
Why are we doing this? Why are we willingly purchasing product that we can't even wear out of the store? Why do I see women squeezed into frighteningly unflattering jeans because they have "status"? Why am I seeing women paying over $150 on jeans, then adding another $25-30 to the tag for alterations? Why do we accept it when salespeople say matter-of-factly, "well, nearly everyone has to alter them, you have to be really lucky to be able to wear them off the rack." Do we really need to fit in that badly?
I used to. I used to need that acceptance, that perceived power, the idea that a pair of jeans could really do a bret michaels and "rock my world". And it never really worked. The jeans got old, they faded, shrank, became last season's, and there I was feeling the same way. It was never enough. And it was coming from me - my response to the world I saw, my swallowing and digesting of principles and ideas I hadn't thought about enough to decide if I even believed in them in the first place.
Well, darlings, I don't believe in it anymore. I really don't. Manufacturers can cut jeans any old way they want, and if they fit and flatter, I will purchase them. If they don't, back they go. I don't have to be a certain shape to be acceptable. I don't have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to prove that I belong somewhere or so I can feel superior to someone else, rather than just present who I am to them - warts and all. I don't need a suit of armor to hide behind anymore. I dig who I am, and I dig who you are too - and none of us have to prove ourselves to anyone. We really don't.
And to those manufacturers and those pimps of a certain exclusive aesthetic that most of us work like a dog to come close to but will never quite get it right because they set it up that way, I have only one thing to say and to do so, I will quote a strong man that has never been anything but himself - Jay Z: "I got 99 problems, being your bitch ain't one."
Lots of strong, opinionated viking love, kasey
Today is a new day, and with that comes a little clarity and focus, so it's safe to say your girl has bounced back. Thank you to everyone who shared concern, it was very sweet of you and even sweeter to know people actually read this thing. From the bottom of my lime-green, 70's themed heart, I thank you.
It dawned on me earlier today that I've never featured a pair of pants/trousers/what have you on here. I've done a dress and some skirts, but nothing that has 2 leg holes. Well, that changes today!!
I'm a huge fan of the JCrew pant in general. Well-constructed, good cut, and usually a good choice of color. The city fit (which is what these are) is particularly flattering as it's low on the waist without being ridiculously so, with a slight flare in the leg that's also not over the top. You won't look like you stole them from your 12 year old sister, but you won't look like grandma who just got off the golf cart either.
If I had to pick one word about these pants, I'd say slick. They're a great staple to a modern wardrobe.
And today, they happen to be on super-sale. If you don't like the color I've selected, there are plenty more where this came from. Plus, if you order online, you get an extra 20% off, bringing the grand total to $23.50. That, my loves, is a certified good deal. I'm getting some today.
Side note: If you are really small-boned, get a size down from what you usually take, as the cut is semi-generous.
City-fit wide-leg cord pant, $29.99 at Jcrew.com (and most J Crew stores)
Back in love again, kase
Your girl is a bit, shall we say, discouraged today, and while I can't go into it in a public forum such as this one, just know I'm hurting, and that means I won't be sharing my usual cheer and excitement with you. I just can't muster it, I'm sorry. You know I love you, I tell you all the time, so just use that to carry you through until tomorrow.
This shirt is really cute and available at the buckle for under 30 USD. Perfect for all 4 seasons, especially paired with a black cardigan (winter) or white capris (summer).
Daytrip Polka Dot Shirt, $26.50 at The Buckle or buckle.com
Lots of melancholy love, kase
The first part of today's title is certainly spot-on. I feel like we've all entered a time machine and gotten blasted back to January weather. Ugh! I'm so tired of the cold as I am sure everyone else is. There is something about March that makes me feel entitled to warmer weather. I've been doing it since I was little - I completely expect higher temps as soon as 3/1 rolls around and get mad at the outside when it doesn't cooperate.
Well, since Mama Nature is doing what she wants, you may as well please yourself by checking out these great sneakers I found on Eastbay. Have I mentioned how much I like Eastbay? I've been getting their catalog for the better part of 15 years now, and along with having a LOT of inventory, they have some pretty great sales on a frequent basis.
Today's pick are some great sneakers, something I have only recently learned the value of. I used to be a straight heel girl, you see. I needed to tower at all times, and didn't realize the infinite value of having comfortable feet paired (ha ha) with stylish combinations of color and fabric. I do now, and my back thanks me regularly.
I love the retro feel of these Etnies, especially the rubber bottom. I also like the fact that they are not pure white, which is something I personally can't handle in my sneaker. For 30 bucks, these are a great deal. Rock them with jeans, shorts and no socks (my personal fave), a short skirt, or a bikini (another fave).
Etnies Women's Lo Slip V - $29.99 on Eastbay.com
Heart, Kasey
Do you remember that line from the Omen when the woman jumps from the roof and tells Damien she did it all for him? So chilling, and so inappropriate to put in a post about Maternity clothes. Ah well, I rest assured that my dear friend Jada is not currently incubating the devil's spawn, so I think it will be okay.
Jada is one of my oldest and dearest friends. We met when I was just a pup attending Michigan State. She took me under her wing, and soon we were meeting at the statue and drinking vodka before classes. Oh, the memories....
Luckily we survived college, are both grownups, and the friendship has endured. I was at Jada's wedding, which was lovely, and now she is with child.
When she asked me to find her a dress for her newfound state of glory, I jumped at the chance. I have never really looked at Maternity clothes, so it was a fun little expedition. I rooted around and came out holding this.
Voila - a really cute dress for Spring from Motherhood Maternity that's versatile, fashion-forward, and 20 bucks. There's a lot of "room to grow" in it, and the print is placed perfectly to lengthen the silhouette. Very, very clever. It's a cotton blend, so it should be quite breathable, meaning you can roll up your sleeves in late spring and still feel comfortable. Pair it with red wedges, red flat sandals, boots, black sandals, or bare feet cause you're already pregnant, right? (I jest, I swear.)
So, get thee to a Motherhood Maternity store or go to motherhood.com and get there soon, cause this dress is on SALE.
Border Print Dress, $19.99 at Motherhood Maternity Stores or motherhood.com
Love abounds, Kasey
The title of this is a line to one of my favorite songs of all time by my favorite band, The Who. I love when I have an excuse to slip in a Who reference. It doesn't happen very often.
So this ties in because it's about rain, and specifically, rain boots. With April on the horizon (yes, yes, YES!), most of us are facing an increase in rain and MUD. Here in the Great Green state of VT, anything that's not concrete becomes a huge sloppy mess that you can literally lose a shoe in. NOT ON MY WATCH. I've found some really great rain boots to get you through the muck in style. One of them even has a wedge heel.
Note to the designer of said boots: I love you. I love that you thought about us in that way. I love that you knew we were sick and tired of wearing flat boots day in and day out for 3-4 months. You, sir or madam, are one thoughtful person and should be running your department based on this action alone.
So - I'm posting 2 options for the boot - one flat, one wedge. Target.com has 5 pages of rain boot options, all of them appealing. It was really hard to choose the best photograph. They are all the same price - 20 bucks! Love it. You do have to order these quickly, though - they're on pre-order right now.
Channel your inner Kate Moss and wear them with a short skirt, channel your inner Paddington and wear them with a bright yellow slicker, channel your inner freak and wear them to bed. The options are endless.
Shiny Hearts Wedge Rain Boots
Allison Floral Rain Boots - Multicolor both $19.99 at target.com
love always, Kasey
Yay..my first post with partial nudity.
I just found this site by clicking on a google ad (ps-click on my ad) and I'm really glad I did. This site has a J.Crew-ish feel with what seems to be massive sales. YES!
Anyway, today I'm featuring this really cute skirt. It's a wool herringbone with a box pleat - stylist, chic and very sexy on someone with a curvy bottom half. Pair it with boots and glasses and you've got one hell of a hot librarian vibe going on.
You can find this one on www.tulle4us.com under the "sale" page. It's currently on the 9th page under the sale section. There are actually more where this skirt came from. You have been warned, so don't blame me if you end up buying more than just one item.
Wool Herringbone Box Pleat Skirt, $29.00 at tulle4us.com
I remain, your love, Kasey
ps: stay tuned for some blog changes. Himself has decided he wants to get involved with this. It will have something to do with sneakers, I'm sure.
I'm back to being completely hooked on Lost. Are you? The Desmond-centric episode last night was incredible. I love the story of Des and Penelope, and it's nice to see a "love never dies" example in such an otherwise pretty grim sci-fi drama.
But this isn't about LOST - it's about you being able to afford it, and today, you can afford these shoes from Payless Shoe Source. I love these shoes! The color is great, the shape is very flattering, and as always, the price is just right.
You should be able to pick these up at your local Payless Shoe Source, but if you would like to order them online, you can do so as well. These shoes have so many options - full 50's style dresses, jeans, pencil skirts, long shorts, capris, the list goes on and on, but I will stop there.
One last thing - http://www.lostpedia.com/wiki/Desmond.
Kailey Patent Pump in yellow -- $17.99 at Payless Shoe Source or paylessshoesource.com.
Our love will never be lost, Kasey
The title of this one is dedicated to my friend Liam across the pond, as this is his theme song. Cheers, LB!
A lot of times when you're looking for clothing from lower echelon stores, you have the problem of the products looking a little "off". It should be okay, all the pieces are there, but they don't align right and they just end up looking cheap or imitation. The upshot of this is that it doesn't happen ALL of the time, and if you look hard/long enough, you will find something that's the perfect union of cute and cheap.
Behold, the this track jacket I found at Wal-Mart! Personal feelings about the chain aside, this jacket is really slick and the price is definitely right. I am favoring the white/green combo (pictured) but there is also a blue/white one that's pretty cute as well. This is a pretty versatile jacket that will hold you through spring and early summer nights. Get one today and channel your inner soccer hooligan.
Athletic Works Women's Track Jacket - $12.94 at Wal-Mart or walmart.com
You know I love you, Kasey
Well I didn't think I was going to be able to swing it, but hey, look at that! Anyway, as I am a proud gypsy and never get tired of telling people about my heritage, imagine how delighted I was to find this bohemian gem.
This is a cute little shirt. The print's a little wild, but I can see this with a pair of white capris, or a denim skirt, or even just your favorite jeans. You may not be able to tell the future, but my crystal ball is saying you will look really hot in this shirt.
Grab it at your local Buckle or on buckle.com.
Daytrip Shirt, $28.50 at The Buckle or buckle.com
Much Love, Kasey
WOW. I just found this LeTigre polo at a DEEP discount. I love, love, love shirts like this - functional, durable, and pretty funky. I'm considering buying this one for myself, but want my readers to have first crack, so I promise not to purchase until at least Monday, therefore giving everyone else plenty of time to snatch it up and ensure that when I come back to the site, it will be gone.
With a price like this, there are a few caveats, which are the following:
- DISCONTINUED - NO RETURNS/EXCHANGES
- Heavily discounted item, may have slight imperfections, flaws, fading or discoloration
This gem can be found at your local The Buckle (which every mall seems to have) or www.buckle.com. IT IS PRICED AT $7.01 AS OF THIS MORNING. That's crazy.
If you end up getting one, send me your photo and we'll make a little gallery.
If I end up getting one, I will be sure to post my photo as well. The same goes with any of the items on here - send me your pic with you modeling said item and I will throw it up here for all to see you in your thrifty, anti-snob glory.
As you can see, I really, really love you guys. -kasey
Le Tigre Polo, $7.01 at The Buckle or buckle.com
If you live around where I live, it's really cold outside and it seems to permeate every nook and cranny of your life. At this time of year, we are plain sick of it! We need warmth, we need sunshine, we need a winter coat for under 30 bucks.
When my friend Lisa challenged me to find one, I'll admit I had my work cut out for me. Imagine my delight when I came across these lovelies on overstock tonight.
These warm, fashionable coats are just what we need to get through those shockingly cold nights. Did I also mention they're down-filled? All this for 30 USD.
An aside - Lisa, I have done the dirty work. No more showing up in your quilted vest when it's below zero.
Steve Madden Shiny Down Jacket - 26.99 on overstock.com
Love, Kasey
This is a really, really great find. There is nothing I enjoy more than when a designer makes a deal with a national chain of stores to carry some of their product. Granted, it's never going to be the avant-garde collection, but it's usually quite a notch above in its overall design, while being just right on the wallet.
One small aside - I also really like it when a designer goes box store because it takes some of the exclusive snobbery out of the branding process of "designer" and it always makes me feel better to pollute that well.
Moving on -- this little gem comes to us from Kohl's, a store which I used to think only existed to carry bad jewelry so my mom could buy it for me for my birthday. I have been proven wrong. This is in the nightgown/camisole section, so I am guessing it's a bit thin, but I can see this really working in the summer, or over a pair of dark leggings. I can also see it working in the bedroom quite well (wink,nudge.)
Let them have La Perla, we shall take Vera Wang and be able to pay the rent on time, thankyouverymuch.
Love, Kasey
Simply Vera Vera Wang Satin Grecian Chemise - 21.99 at Kohl's or Kohls.com
I figured I'd set this off right by starting with a cute product that fits nicely underneath my $30 cap. Yes, I will only feature products on this that are under 30 USD. I know I am tired of going to blogs that feature products I will never be able to afford, let alone find. The entire focus of this blog is to be the anti-exclusive, the anti-snob and mostly, to show you stuff that you could go out and get if you felt so compelled. I promise you won't feel out of place and/or too intimidated to ask for help in any of the places I point you. However, I can't make any predictions on the traffic, weather, or general mood of other people in the store. If only....
Anyway, this little gem is Isac Mizrahi for Target, and I am over the moon for this color palette. It's a great length, perfect for spring, very modern, and best of all - really, really effing cute. It's $29.99 on target.com as of today. I see this dress selling out before it goes on sale, so don't wait for the price to drop, unless you're one of those sizes that are always on the clearance rack (you know who you are).
The comments seem to indicate that the dress is made of thin fabric, and may be cut a bit narrow across the hips, so order a size up and plan to debut it mid-april.
Have a happy, snobbery-free day!
Yours, Kasey
