Weekend Window Shopping: Digging Around At Nordstrom Rack.

 I much prefer digital digging when it comes to Nordstrom Rack. So much more organized! I'm always looking to see what's new and good and here are my latest finds:

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): More Red Shoes.

As promised, I've rounded up a bunch of red shoes that I would personally love to have in my closet. (A few are currently hanging out in online shopping carts, perhaps to be purchased, we shall see.) Here's what I found:

Hi! Let's start with these amazing lil weirdoes, shall we? they're by Camper so you know they'll be comfortable and they have the odd cool edginess I adore. And that color! Someone buy these, please.

Oops. Those Cariuma sneakers also come in red. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CHOSE. HOW. These are giving me classic red Keds vibes (my sneaker of choice when I was a little kid.) 

Ooh, aren't these cute and summery? They're J.Crew and come in several colors but I think we can agree this flame orange-red color is 100% the way to go. 

These are Loft and they're on sale! I'm not usually a huge fan of Loft shoes but these are real leather and such a perfect color. Plus, 1970s clog vibes! 

Loafers are really in right now but always seem a bit too preppy for me. The solution: get them in poppy red nubuck. These look comfortable and classic but also very cool.  

Um, I am sorry to do this but if you want drop dead gorgeous red suede boots, this pair by Rag & Bone is 50% off. What are you waiting for? 

Okay, fine. Maybe that heel is a bit more than you want. How about these very sleek red suede Chelsea boots? They come in a bunch of colors but why would you do that? Just get the red pair. 

Ooh, now back to some fun. These studded clog sandals look so stompy and cool and I love that the studded leather strap continues behind the heel. 

Orrrrrr you could just go for the patent leather studded pair with rainbow stitching? I am just saying they are not messing around, these clogs. 

And, finally, I think this is the summer I buy a pair of EVA Birkenstocks. I have two friends who swear by them and now they come in amazing fashion colors (and metallics!) including this ruby red pair. How could I not? 

Outfit of the Day: You Need Red Shoes.

Y'all, I haven't bought a pair of pumps in...years. Literal years. But, I'm also starting to interview for jobs and apparently you can't wear sweatpants and Birks to a job interview, even in Portland. So, when I spotted this cool pair of low heeled red suede pumps in Seattle, they had to be mine. I mean:

They just make everything better, right? These are the Naturalizer 27 Edit Florence square toe pump and they are kind of amazing in the red suede. (Comfortable? That remains to be seen, but so far, so good.) They have an architectural heel shape and the toe is a bit squared off: 

They are one of those rare shoes that looks really expensive but isn't! I mean, Naturalizer! Who would've thought? They also come in a few other colors including a metallic that I might eventually need to own. But honestly, if you don't have red shoes yet, just find a pair. They make any outfit better, I promise.  

Do we even care what else I'm wearing? Eh. My striped tee is from COS and has a fun contrast color neckline. I'm also wearing my Madewell mid-rise Perfect Vintage jeans (second pair, holding up so far.) My belt is also Madewell. My little bomber jacket is a thrift find - it's Babaton and is very lightweight. I can't find it online but this one at Nordstrom Rack looks quite similar. Details:

I'm wearing my beaded Gorjana necklace and my little bird skull pendant from Paxton Gate because somehow they go together. 

Woof, look at that heel, would you? I'm obsessed. My bag is of course my secondhand Marc Jacobs single. You can probably find one on eBay or Poshmark, but I also love this little quilted Kate Spade bag that's on sale right now and this little quilted bag by Mango is a great cheap-and-cheerful option. 

That's it for today! I'll try to round up some more red shoe options to post later this week but I highly recommend the pair I'm wearing so maybe just get those. The end. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Hiiiiii Nordstrom.

 Y'all, in the last week I've been to two giant Nordstrom stores, one for fun, the other for interview-appropriate clothing (less fun) and both times I managed to accidentally find the thing that was over $1,000 and touch it. Like, this Vince leather jacket and holy shit, these Gucci clogs. Can you even. I also saw a very elegant older lady trying on this St. John coat and I truly hope she bought it because it was SO GOOD. I've also managed to find some really great things (call it yet another spring wishlist if you must) that I personally desire, all of it well under $1,000 because this is not that kind of blog. Here you go: 

Stuff We Like: Hey, it's April Already.

Hello! It's been nearly a month since our last Stuff We Like, so here's some more stuff for you to watch, listen to and buy (and by "buy" I mean, "enrich your life" obviously. Sheesh.) Here we go:

This Podcast Marianne Highly Recommends.
When Marianne first told me about the Normal Gossip podcast I was like, why would I want to hear gossip about people I don't know? Turns out, I TOTALLY WANT TO HEAR GOSSIP ABOUT PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW. Normal Gossip presents a juicy friend-of-a-friend story every episode and it's so ridiculously entertaining and fun. It's one of those podcasts where I talk out loud while listening like, "GIRL. THAT IS A RED FLAG."  Also, the guests are great! So far my favorites have been Sam Sanders (It's Been A Minute) and Laci Mosley (Scam Goddess.) 

This Blanket That You Need For Yourself.
We are getting a new sofa so I used that as an excuse to retire our truly sad sofa throw blankets. After searching around for something more elegant, I bought this faux fur ombre throw from West Elm with, I'll be honest, fairly low expectations. It arrived earlier this week and now I basically have to fight everyone, including the cats, to wrap its soft softness around me. It's looks luxurious and expensive and feels like you're surrounded by baby bunnies. It's on sale right now! Go get one and hide it for your own personal use. 

This Scrub That Will Make You Glow
I swear I'd mentioned Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel (on sale at Anthro!) on the blog but I can't find it so maybe I just imagined it. Anyway, I got this this scrub (peel, whatever) in an Allure box ages ago and it's freaking amazing. It's not harsh or gritty, instead the product kind of balls up into soft little bits and takes your flakes with it while you (gently!) rub it around your face. I use it once a week and it really helps a with the flakiness caused by tretinoin and leaves me with smooth, glowing skin without irritation. (Other reviews will claim the balls of stuff are dead skin but it's just the product. People are so dramatic.) 

This Show You Really Should Watch
Have you watched Life & Beth yet? Y'all, it's a slow burn (I wasn't sure I liked it at first) but it's the kind of show you'll think about for weeks after you watch it. Amy Schumer pulls from her own life to make a show that's both tragic and funny and full of amazing talent. Michael Rapaport is outstanding as her father and there are some bit parts (MRI DJ) that still make me laugh just to think about. Even if you're not a huge Amy Schumer fan, this one is not to be missed. 

This Kindle Hack Marianne Discovered
Y'all. Y'ALL. If you have a Kindle with ads, this is going to change your life. Are you super tired of getting creepy ads for Bossy Billionaire Grump or whatever? Did you know you can just pay $20 to Amazon and they will switch you over to an ad-free Kindle? This way, when you open your Kindle case your book is just THERE WAITING FOR YOU. It's magical. And, if you're considering buying a Kindle, just go for the ad-free version. Pay the extra money now because, trust me, you'll end up doing it later. (Your Account > Content and Devices > Devices > Kindle > Special Offers > Click Remove Offers button)

What I Bought: Weird Vacation Purchases.

Hello! I am back from a weekend trip to Seattle with Kate, my bestie from back home. We had a great time and, as is our tradition, we went shopping. We were near the Nordstrom flagship store which is straight ridiculous: magical and huge and a little terrifying. At one point the Westman Atelier lady put a lot of makeup on my face and then explained that Gucci Westman thinks you should buy two colors of the foundation stick. I mean, I'm sure she does. That's how she's a rich lady and I'm not. (The products were gorgeous but I got overwhelmed and fled without buying anything.) 

We looked at the clothes but it was all either crop tops or couture, so we tried on nothing. Then we wandered into the shoe department and I saw these and gasped:

Trust me, they are better in person and they're Naturalizer. I KNOW. They're part of the 27 Edit line which I like quite a bit. Anyway, I need a pair of professional but not soul-crushing shoes for job interviews (more on that soon) so why not red suede pumps? I was wearing my new Madewell jeans when I tried them on and they gave me such a cool French girl vibe that I immediately bought them. And there were Birkenstocks everywhere! Lots of them! And I didn't even try them on! 

I did try on a different color of my new favorite Dior Addict lipstick and with the help of a great sales assistant, settled on 628 Pink Bow only to discover they didn't have it in stock but I'll probably track it down or buy it online. 

Later, after a tidge of day-drinking we went to a Finnish boutique called Pirkko that I'd seen on a previous trip to Seattle, but it was after hours and closed. Not this time! We tried on all manner of kooky Scandinavian things and then we found the Henriette Steffensen fleece. You guys, this is not fleece like you would think. These are beautifully cut fashion pieces that feel like a hug. I loved this long cardigan but in the end, we both bought this odd and wonderful pullover that is basically all I want to wear. It's oversized but cut interestingly and I've already worn it twice. Here's a terrible hotel lighting shot:

Should I have spent that money on interview-appropriate clothing? Probably. Do I have any regrets? Not even remotely. I firmly believe that vacation purchases should be fun and we had FUN.

Weekend Window Shopping: Warm Weather Finds at EVEREVE.

One of the readers recently mentioned how good the new arrivals are at EVEREVE so I took a look and indeed, it's really good! Here are my "summer is coming" picks:

Review: Madewell Brightside Ruffle Tank Mini Dress.

 So, as I mentioned on Monday, I bought the Madewell Brightside Ruffle Tank Mini Dress which is too many words but it's a really cute dress! I'm keeping this review on the short side today because this week has been bonkers, but I wanted to show you this dang cute dress:

Here it is just by itself - the Brightside dress is a really simple tank-style dress with a tier at the bottom. I'm wearing a medium and it hangs perfectly without catching on my hips. The only thing that's annoying is that it's a tank cut that requires a racer-back style bra. I'm actually wearing a strappy sports bra because I don't have a regular racer-back style bra and don't really feel like buying one just for this dress. It works fine and I'm comfortable. Here's how I'd most likely wear this:

A casual look with my Madewell Sidewalk sneakers, a denim jacket (similar style) and my beloved Clare V Midi Sac. This is an easy street style look that suits me fine. That said, a little black dress seems is still a little black dress, so here's a dressier look:

Here I'm wearing my Madewell Harper mules, my MJ quilted single (similar and adorable style) and a longer tassel necklace. Nothing groundbreaking, but how cute is this? TRULY DAY TO NIGHT IF THAT WAS A THING I DID. Ahem. I ruined it because I'm always cold: 

It's still cute though, right? I feel like you can throw a denim jacket over almost anything and it'll work out okay. Here's a closeup of my necklaces and my face: 

My lipstick is the one I was just raving about - Dior Addict Shine 980 and I can't say enough nice things about it. I'm also wearing my Gorjana compass coin pendant and my Dean Davidson labradorite tassel. 

That's it for my review. It's a great, easy dress and I think it'll get a lot of wear this summer. 

Monday: Shopping Mistakes, I Make Them.

Lest you think every purchase I make is a winner and OMG MY NEW FAVORITE let me tell you about a couple of disappointments. I went to the mall last weekend to exchange two things that let me down and also to try on a bunch of stuff, some of which were disappointing (but not all!)

First, you know my new favorite Madewell Perfect Vintage mid-rise jeans? I wore them out last week and suddenly realized I could feel...a breeze. An ass breeze. Oh no:

I KNOW. First, my apologies if you bought these jeans on my recommendation. I really love them and I was SO MAD that they self-destructed in less than a month. I own tons of Madewell denim and this is a first, so hopefully it's just a defective pair? I exchanged them for the exact same model (I seriously love the fit and the length is perfect) but I'm going to keep a close eye on the back pockets. I'll report back. 

While I was at Madewell I decided to try a few things on. First, I'm going to say that everyone that works at this Madewell location is adorable and helpful and they're all about 12 years old. I started to feel OLD on this shopping trip. Anyway, I pushed through and tried on the Eyelet Pull-On Midi Skirt I was so excited about but it was a disappointment:

It's hard to tell from that photo (though easy to tell from my face) that it wasn't a keeper. It's very pretty but super voluminous and puffy in the waist and hips, which is not a great look for me. I also tried on this Tie-Neck Tunic Top which I really loved:

I'm wearing a large because they didn't have a medium in store and it's definitely too big, but so pretty. I'll probably order it in the medium because I really liked it. Here's a more detailed shot:

So cute! Such springtime goodness! I then tried on the Brightside Ruffle Tank Mini Dress and my picture isn't doing it justice at all because the striped curtain messed with my camera:

I promise it's really cute and very simple - just a black tank with a tiered layer at the bottom. Perfect with a denim jacket and white sneakers. I bought it to try on with my own stuff at home because I was worried that I'd gone snow blind after trying on half the store. If I decide to keep it, I'll post an outfit later this week. 

Finally, I tried on this Banded Muscle Tee that surprised me by being super cute, especially with my high-waisted black Perfect Vintage jeans: 

This top is slightly cropped and I wish I'd tried on the next size up for a comparison (I'm wearing a medium), but I like how it works with high-waisted jeans - cute as is or with the hem tucked under for a blousy look. So easy and comes in a bunch of good colors. I didn't buy it but it's definitely under consideration for summer. 

After Madewell I marched over to Sephora to return the Dior Lipglow I ordered recently because I loved the sample so much. ( I mentioned it here.) The sample was creamy and had a sheer-but-obvious color. The full-size version? It was like wax - hard with no discernible tint. NOPE. Not for that price, Sephora. The sales assistant who helped me (cool as hell, flawless skin and makeup, also 12 years old) suggested I try this instead:

Y'all. This is THE BEST. It's Dior Addict Shine Lipstick and I am deeply in love with a lipstick for the first time in a long time. It's super hydrating, has amazing pigmentation and goes on like a dream. Also, the packaging is ridiculously nice in the way of high end brands. The color I got (980 Tarot) is so pretty:

Yay, a happy ending. But stay tuned for later this week when everything will probably disappoint me all over again! 

Weekend Window Shopping: Let's Do Madewell.

 Because I'm a bad blogger I'm not doing a Sephora sale round-up because I refuse to jump through hoops for a measly 10% discount. It's insulting. However, I have included some of my favorite Sephora purchases up there under the Our Favorite Stuff tab if you need inspiration. In the meantime, lets focus on the Madewell spring sale, shall we? It's 20% off 100+ or 30% off 200+ with code GOSPREE. Here's what I'm into:

Outfit of the Day: It's a Maybe.

 One of the things I like about thrifting is that I can try things I might otherwise not wanted to invest in. I mean, $4 for a top that is probably really not my color? Eh, worth a shot. I thrifted this Everlane Japanese Goweave v-neck top because it was such an interesting cut and I wanted to see how it work work on me:

Blush is not really my color but it's just saturated enough to be flattering, maybe? Naturally it's sold out but I do really like the GoWeave fabric (even if I don't love Everlane) and the cut is interesting. What do you think? Should I keep this top or is it not for me? Naturally, it's sold out in every color, but for something similar, I really like the look of this top at Nordstrom and this one by Wilt, who makes really great tees. And, for something a bit dressier, this one at Ann Taylor looks quite nice. I also like this shirt from Madewell in a blush pink that would probably look terrible on me. Spring colors are tough. 

My pants are the Griff Fatigue from Madewell, which I purchased last fall. They're a nice jeans-alternative though they are verrrrry high waisted. I reviewed them here if you want more details! They're easy to wear, though and it makes me want another similar pair but perhaps with a mid-rise? Something like this pair at BR Factory maybe. 

I added my denim jacket so I don't freeze to death. My jacket is by Level 99 and it's sold out, but this one but Kut from the Kloth is very similar and cute. On to details: 

I pulled out my Lo & Sons Pearl bag (with a Madewell strap) just because I hadn't carried it in a while. It's a really good bag with excellent organization. It's also on sale right now! The leather is just so nice and I like that you can pick your lining and hardware color. 

Here's my big dumb face showing off my Gorjana necklaces - my Venice chain and my new compass pendant. Here's a more detailed look:

The compass pendant is so nice! It's the perfect size and I love that the chain has a bit of detailing. I'll be wearing this an obnoxious amount. And finally:

These were a Poshmark purchase - the Madewell Harper Mule in metallic gold. They are so pretty and I'm doing an okay jobs of walking in them. I just love a metallic, you know? These are available in black and saddle, but the metallic is sold out.  For something similar and shiny, this pair has a similar vibe and this cute pair has a very low heel if that's more your speed. Orrrrr, you could go full Comey. Sigh. Man, those are pretty. 

Weekend Shopping Report: What I bought, what I want.

I know it's Tuesday but I still want to tell you about my weekend purchases, okay? Okay:

Last Monday in my sale round up post I mentioned two things from Athleta I had my eye on. I ordered both and received them last Friday. First, this In Motion top:

I generally avoid seamless tops because they tend to cling to the parts of my body I'm not trying to highlight and I fully expected to return this top. But, the joke is on me - it's great.  It's hip length, fitted but not clingy, and it's got little hem grippers to keep in in place. The medium fits me perfectly and it's exactly the layer I needed for spring hikes and bike rides. Plus, it's kind of cute in general? Several of the reviews mention wearing this just as a top, which I can see myself doing. I'm already thinking about getting another one.

I also bought another Uptempo tank because it's the perfect workout tank for me - high neck coverage, soft and light, not too long or too short. It's comparable to the Vuori Energy tank but I prefer the Athleta version.  It also comes in a t-shirt version which I am very curious about! 

Gorjana just discontinued their referral program so I had some credits I had to use or lose. (Twist my arm! Also, thanks to the folks that shopped through my link.) I bought this compass necklace because I have tiny compass necklace that I love but I feel like it gets lost. So, this one instead:

It's definitely bolder and I think it'll look cute layered with some of my other 800 Gorjana necklaces. I'm such a one-trick pony. I promise to try and branch out.

Now, the stuff I want! I found Cariuma sneakers literally last week when I was looking for a good green pair to include in a post. I'd never heard of the brand but now I want a pair because, yes, I am capable of influencing myself. 

I probably won't get the green pair because I have a desperate need for a lightweight pair of bright white or light grey sneakers for summer. (Though the red is such a good red! Ugh.) Something to replace my Allbirds that are looking a little sad. We'll see. 

Finally, Marianne ordered this Westman Atelier mini set from Sephora and I waaaaant it.  I don't need it for anything but I can't resist a good set of minis and I already love the lit highlighter. I just have to wait until Thursday for the sad Insider discount because VIB I ain't. PS. The WA brushes are supposed to be amazing. 

Weekend Window Shopping: It's All About Green.

I know I've mentioned my recent obsession with all things green and it started last fall when we were in Ireland on a distillery tour and a very glam woman on the tour was carrying this bag:

I mean, who doesn't strap on a 4K bag for a distillery tour? But it was gorgeous in real life. I couldn't take my eyes off of it and later spotted it at Brown Thomas and cracked up when the eager sales assistant told me it was on sale. Cool story, Todd. Anyway, I suspect a quilted green bag will be part of my summer wardrobe at some point, but for now, I just collect up green things to tempt you with: