Weekend Window Shopping: Of Course The Madewell Sale. Duh.

Madewell is giving a 25% off a select number of "summer must-have" items with code FIREWORK and I have to say, it's pretty damn good stuff! I focused on the full-price offerings but there's also a good selection of sale items included in the promotion. Here's what I like:

         
       

         
       
     
       

Stuff I Like: Reading, Listening, Wearing, Watching.

Time for a new Stuff I Like post! I have some good suggestions this week but I'm always open to your suggestions as well, so please leave a comment and let us know what you've been liking lately. (We're totally suggestible.)

This Book That Was Exactly What I Needed.
I have the feeling that I'm maybe the last person to have heard of News of the World but I discovered it while browsing by library's Kindle book selections and it just sounded exactly like something I'd love. It's a post-civil war novel about an elderly widow who's tasked with returning a young orphan to her family after she was "rescued" from the Indian tribe who kidnapped her. It's beautifully written, easy to fall into and just a really good story. It reminds me a little bit of Cold Mountain, which if you haven't read the book, I also highly recommend.

Also! for the Kate Atkinson fans, the new Jackson Brodie novel has been released! I am about a third of the way through so I am not ready to review it but so far it doesn't disappoint.

This Podcast That Doesn't Stress Me Out
Sometimes I get a to a point where all my usual podcasts stress me out - they're either current events/politics or hate-listens or just too much of whatever and I need something that has nothing to do with real life. That's where Shedunnit comes in. It's a podcast by Caroline Crampton (recently of SRSLY, my favorite defunct pop culture podcast) and bills itself as, “the podcast that unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories." I like class detective mysteries but it doesn't matter if you aren't! She tells great stories, often about real-life cases that inspired mystery writers and it's, as the title suggests, very women-centric. A well-researched and comforting listen that I highly recommend.

This Swimsuit Marianne Loves
"Stuff I Like" is not supposed to be about clothes but Marianne just bought a swimsuit she really loves and that's worth it's weight in gold, so I'm telling you about immediately. It's not inexpensive but good swimwear usually isn't. Her description: "Great boob support without looking like the prow of a ship and not all compression-y with weird ruching or anything. Just a nice suit!" I've linked to it on Zappos and I also found this version which has two knots and is slightly less expensive. (Also here on Amazon.)

This Season of Fleabag That Is Unhinging Us Both 🦊
Have you watched Fleabag? Have you WATCHED SEASON 2? It came out a little while ago and Marianne and I both watched it recently and we are COMPLETELY OBSESSED and basically it's all we've been texting about. We can't even post our convos because SPOILERS. So please watch it all real quick-like so we can post about it. It's devastating and hot as hell and hilarious all at once. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the genius hero we needed and definitely deserved.

BUY THIS (Because You Know I DId): Barneys Warehouse Sale!

This was supposed to be an outfit post but my shoulder is still jacked and everything just takes longer in the morning so it didn't happen. Next week! In the meantime, I guess all my fist shaking worked, because Barneys Warehouse just started their July 4th sale (um, guys?) and is claiming 50% off sitewide which is not true at all, however, they are taking 50% off of A LOT of stuff. There are some really good deals on shoes but mostly only tiny sizes are left. (If you're a size 5, you will clean up.) In the meantime, here are some really nice things at excellent discounts: 

How cute is this canvas beach tote? I kept coming back to it and then reminding myself I DO NOT NEED A BEACH TOTE.  But if I did, it would be this one. 

This sparkly frond pendant is quite large (I had to google it) and really striking. 

This Jil Sander bag is such an amazing color and the price is pretty amazing as well. 

There are a lot of jeans on sale but I picked this Derek Lam 10 Crosby pair because they are the freaking cutest and also well under $100. I mean. 

I guarantee these Lavin sunglasses will most definitely make you feel like a movie star. (Okay, I can't guarantee that but don't they look cool as hell?) 

There's quite a bit of swimwear on sale but I was really taken with this elegant black suit. 

And these earrings. They make a statement and will dress up anything you wear them with. 

PS. Yes, I bought the bag.

Marianne: My Free Pass (aka cute stuff at H&M that I might buy)

Honestly, I think it's amazing I made it almost to July without breaking my Fast Fashion Fast, but now it's summer and I am finding myself in need of some hot weather, work-friendly clothes. I work in a casual office, but that doesn't mean I can wear cut offs and t-shirts (SIGH), so I have been combing H&M for some cheap and cheerful summer clothes. I know H&M doesn't work for everyone, but it consistently works for me, much more so than Target, and I think the quality is better too.

Before I dive in, some parameters I applied are:

NO T-SHIRTS
NO JEANS
NO CUTOFFS
NO CAFTANS (this is a tough one though)

Okay, I know I said no caftans and then I put up a dress called "kaftan dress", but this just looks like a loose, easy dress. The reviews are good and I honestly can't decide between the leopard and the black. What say you?

I always try and seek out cotton, silk, or linen from H&M, because I've had great luck with the quality in the past. I love this fabric, but I'm a little on the fence about those sleeve ruffles. This could be the perfect light summer dress though...hmmm.

I want a new striped jersey dress, and while I've been looking at this one from Madewell I don't think it's worth $75. This one is $30 and I have had my eye on it for a while. I can't decide if it would really work on me but I should probably just try it.

Another striped dress--this could be a total disaster on my body. Probably should skip.

This one just looks easy. Perfect for those August days when you just don't want anything to touch your body, you know? I do worry about it being too short on me, but I think I'm going to give it a whirl.

I really need a couple of work blouses that I can wear with jeans. This looks promising, if not a little more ruffly than I would normally gravitate towards. I'll try if for $9 though.

This is going to be polarizing because of the price, but hear me out. This looks SO MUCH like my absolute favorite Vince blouse, which cost this much used. I haven't been able to find anything similar for under $400, so I am very tempted by this. I can always return it...right?

IDK guys, maybe I should just buy this and call it a day.

BUY THIS (Because I'm an Obsessed Weirdo): Really Nice Bags.

When things aren't going well for me (like, when I fall off my bike and eff up my shoulder and have to wear a SLING and can't get that sweet, sweet endorphin hit every day like I'm used to) I tend to compensate by getting super obsessed with some dumb thing that will not, probably, make my life better but I want it anyway and goddamn Barneys will NOT PUT IT ON SALE AGAIN.

I AM BEING SO PATIENT, BARNEYS.

Ahem. Anyway, when I can't have the thing I want I start looking for a thing-I-want substitute and this tactic never, and I mean never, works. Ever. However, it does mean that I've done a lot of bag research in the last week and maybe my  thing-I-want substitute is your dream bag? Your Forever Bag in a very practical black or grey leather? Here's what I'm talking about:

This Miu Miu flap satchel has been my #1 front-runner for quite a few days. 

Look, I'm trying to break away from MJ but this hobo keeps pulling me back in. 

I love that this Minkoff kinda looks like Hermès if you squint a little bit. 

This Cole Haan is sleek, not boring. Okay, maybe a little boring but in a classic way.

This Rag & Bone is a departure but omg it looks so soft and pretty. 

Another bag on the RealReal I've been giving the eye. So structured and sharp! I dig it.

I'm not sure this is "me" but I like the practical shape paired with the sporty strap. 

Woof. You can get this in black but some reds are just too good to ignore. This is one of them.

Weekend Window Shopping: Boden Summer Sale.

I forget about Boden as an option, partially because it's just a little more than I usually want to spend, but they have a REALLY good summer sale going on right now. Some of the items are final sale (booo) but many are not. I just love how cheerful and summery it all is! Here are my picks: 

I mean, who does a Breton stripe top better than Boden? This one has some fun details.

I don't know about you, but my body is always caftan-ready. This one looks adorable. 

These cute sandals come in several colors but you know how I am about the snake print. 

This top is pretty in white but I can never resist olive green. (Also, looks good from the back!) 

This dark pink dress is the perfect thing for when you need to be dressy but comfortable. 

...and this dress is straight-up summer. The print is little birds! 

This saddle bag is great in the basic colors but the yellow? BUY THE YELLOW.

I've always liked Boden for swimwear and there's a lot of it in this sale! 

Obviously I picked the striped suit. I mean, what did you expect?

We Discuss: Going Gentle Into That Good Night.

M: In the Future, We’ll All Be Wearing Eileen Fisher

A: I’m not ready

M: I honestly am

A: I do like the “good quality” aspect

A: But, like, my Mom wears Eileen Fisher

A: I need to get over it because soon it’ll be all I want

M: Hahahaha

A: I should probably at least figure out what size I am in EF

M: same

A: Here’s my thing. It’s nice to have quality basic pieces but I get bored and want new shiny things, not just dependable and boring.

M: Yeah I get that

M: I am the opposite and just want a uniform apparently

A: I mostly only ever wear, like, five things so I don’t even know why I’m like that

M: “sartorially unburdened” seriously sums it up for me

A: I totally get that

A: I really do tend to wear my most unchallenging clothing the most these days. Stuff I don’t have to fuss with or wear special underthings.

M: yupppp

M: Why am I not wearing this right now?

A: Ugh, shit that is summer perfection

M: UGH I KNOW

M: I haven’t ever really looked at their site?

A: I am always looking for EF at the thrift store

M: I need to try some of it on

M: I have no idea of the fit

A: Same

A: I think it runs pretty big

M: That’s great, I accept vanity sizing

A: SAME

A: Oh, I’m an XS? How dainty!

M: Tiny!

A: So eensy

M: I got a smoothing treatment yesterday and forgot how STICK STRAIGHT it makes your hair for the first couple of days

A: Welcome to my world!

M: Haha

A: There was some podcast I was listening to recently that went deep into some curly hair care nonsense and I was like, YALL ARE CRAZY I AM OUT

M: Yeah it’s intense

A: I'm going to shampoo my hair EXTRA hard just because I had to listen to all that

M: Hmph

Outfit of the Day: Just My Outfit.

I've been posting my outfits on this blog for nine (!!) years and when it started, I tried really, really hard. Like, really hard to make my outfits interesting and accessorized and I wore Spanx and high heels and...yeah. Wow. (See this girl? Isn't she cute and skinny? She was also completely miserable.)

Anyway, I have come out the other end of those nine years feeling like a completely different person and now I don't really try, I just post what I'm wearing and what I like. Obviously I post the outfits I'm most happy with but they aren't always interesting or groundbreaking. Y'all don't care, right? Maybe you do. I don't know and I'm a little afraid to ask. Anyway, today's outfit is just what I wore earlier in the week and I feel okay about it:

From the top, I'm wearing a J.Crew striped boatneck shirt that I like, but it seems to be sold out in the navy stripe. Also, it's getting pilled, which is irritating. But, this more structured version seems like it would hold up better and there's always Everlane who can be depended on to make a decent striped tee. And Boden! They know a thing or two about striped tees. Always room for one more, I say. 

Now, I don't know that I have you all convinced about the excellence of the Athleta Chelsea Cargo pant but I now have a second pair in army green (via Poshmark) and I freaking love them. Light as air, super comfy and cut just right. This particular color isn't available anymore but they do have an interesting blue. Just check them out, you might be surprised. If not, maybe these more structured cargo pants from Madewell?  So cute! I also like this Sanctuary pair and this pair at Anthro ain't bad either. 

I've started tucking in my shirt (at least in the front) because it really does make things look more pulled together and hey, I have a waist! Who knew. Details: 

I'm wearing my old fishhook necklace from Giles & Brother and my Lisa Freede hinge bracelet that I haven't worn in ages. This one is similar but much cooler, or you could go with a Giles & Brother bangle. 

Finally, I'm carrying my ridiculous Marc Jacobs westside satchel (this one is adorable and much less flashy) and wearing a pair of Sam Edelman Trina sandals that I forgot I had. They're still available in a snakeskin version which is VERY tempting. You know me.

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Anthropologie Tag Sale

Y'all, I am having A WEEK and it's only Tuesday! When I get stressed out I want to buy things and Anthro isn't helping with their GD tag sale (no code, prices as marked.) Here's what I am tempted by:

Okay, yeah, I already have this but maybe you don't yet? It's really good. (Def dry-clean though.) 

I love a metallic sandal and these look comfortable! (I also loooove these which are less practical.) 

This cute top comes in a bunch of colors but I like this one best. So cute with shorts! 

Okay, you might now want this jacket right now, but you'll definitely want it come September. 

I love a canvas tote for summer and this one is really usual! It also comes in a black floral. 

Wear this with a plain black or white dress and you are DRESSED. I also love this subtle option. 

Oooh, comfy cute pants with a rope belt! These seem like a great shorts-alternative. 

Okay, this is crazzzzyyy but in the very best "Is is Missoni?" way. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Summer Sale at J.Crew

Okay, so J.Crew is basically always on sale but right now there's a flash sale which is worth checking out. Use code GETAWAY for an extra 30% off sale styles and 50% off select women's full-price items. I stuck with the sale section and here's what I like:

         
       

         
       
     
       

Outfit of the Day: Summer Play Clothes.

I mean, you knew this was coming, right? I should probably be posting outfits of me wearing cute summer dresses and whatnot but instead I'm going to post what I REALLY want to wear all the time:

JEANZ FOR TEENZ. Ha. Seriously, though, these AE Tomgirl Bermuda shorts are SO FUN. And they're under $15 right now! They are ridiculous and wafer thin and will probably disintegrate by the end of the summer but I don't care, I love them. I love that they're a reasonable length but still look cool. I love how soft and comfortable they are (at least until I Hulk them out, which will probably happen.) I DON'T CARE. I am just delighted with my garbage shorts. They also offer this version which is slightly less likely to turn to dust, so that's an option. 

I am wearing my shorts with my other favorite stupid purchase, my Lululemon Brunswick Muscle tank. Now, real talk: this is an over-priced thin cotton tank top. I get it. BUT, it's weirdly magical. I don't know what to tell you but it's just really freaking cute and super comfortable and drapes just right, tucked or untucked. (FYI It does run big, so I sized down.) I love it despite my stupid cycling tan. I might have just bought another one in the striped colorway and it's also on sale in a couple of cute colors (I like the gray with the green trim, personally.) Oh! And the logo is the same color of the tank so it's stealth, which I appreciate. Here it is tucked in: 

 So cute! I am just really pleased with my dumb summer play clothes. I tried to not be a total garbage person by adding some nicer accessories:

This is my much-loved Soko Paddle pendant which Marianne gave me last year. The petite version is still available and this one is similar in size, but it looks like mine is sold out. 

I dusted off my other pair of Lotta From Stockholm clogs because sometimes I need a bit of heel without all the suffering. I did a review my red Lottas a few years ago if you're thinking about buying a pair. I'm also carrying my Liberty of London tote which is lightweight and holds everything. One of these days I'll get the grey one too but in the meantime I'm being tempted by this Jonathan Adler tote. (It's a steal! Someone snap that upppp.)  That's it for today! I hope you have some fun new dirtbag clothes for summer as well.