Fast Post Friday - Game. Set. Match.

When it comes to fashion and beauty, there are those that love to follow the rules, those that live to break them, and those that don't believe rules exist at all. (<== me)

So, when getting ready for work yesterday morning, high on some recent Harmon makeup purchases (dude, drugstore makeup is the best) and freshly painted blue nails - I began debating the age old question "Is it okay to match your shoes to your bag?"

While the fashion world may be torn on how "right" or "wrong" this practice may be, I realized there is nothing out there (at least not after a cursory Google search) about matching your eyeliner to your nail polish.

So you know what I did?

I'm pretty sure you do.

Rebecca: 1
Rules: 0

A Plethora of Pleather (& Sweaters)

Cream of the Crop
L-R: H&M, Gap, H&M Men's, Cos (old) 

At the moment, my wardrobe subsists wholly on three things:

1. Pleather
2. Ivory knit sweaters
3. Denim (betcha didn't think I'd be wearing jeans again, eh?)

The source of this new inspiration clearly comes from my excessive consumption of fashion blogs; because apparently everyone looks chic in an over-sized fisherman's knit or a pair of distressed denim (Combine the two? Stellar!). Toughen up by the look by swapping out the denim for some pleather (or real leather if your budget can swing it). Leggings or a flippy skirt works just fine. Smashing, even.

Image credits: what-do-i-wear?, french voguettes, they all hate us, snob, honestly wtf

In true sensible fashion (play on words intended), my current rotation includes nothing over $100. Click below to shop some of my favorites!

L to R: C-Lective Skirt, Splendid leggings, Gap Sweater, H&M Skirt, Hue Leggings (not pictured)

Fall ain't just for sweaters my friends, it's pleather weather.

Totally Pumped

Despite having a shoe collection exceeding 75 pairs (yes, I know I have a problem), up until recently, I did not own any simple black pumps, as shocking as that may seem. Luckily, after a recent impromptu trip to Nordstrom Rack, I came away with these beauties.

They are Enzo Anglioni, and pretty friggen sophisticated for a mere $59.97. I since tried to search for them, but oddly was only able to find them here on some weird Canadian Nine West Outlet site.

Ubiquitous as the term "Classic Black Pump" may be, they are darn hard to come by without shelling out hundreds of dollars for a Prada, Choo or Blahnik. I have to say, I am pretttty satisfied with my find, proving once again that a bargain hunter must always be on the prowl....

Bling Rings

Balenciaga S/S 2013 Rings. Image Courtesy of My Daily Edition

Just as an FYI, H&M is selling some Balenciaga inspired stacking rings at a cool $5.95 a set. I purchased in two sizes to ensure I could cover as many digits as possible.

If you managed to pick up those released earlier in the season, you can come pretty close to the original look, which would otherwise run you up to $750.

In other news, I finally satisfied my dainty ring craving from this summer, as exhibited by yesterday's finger fiesta.

Rings from Ula on Lexington, H&M, random shop on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg

Happy Weekend everyone!

A Major Score

When wardrobe wants weigh me down, I try to remind myself that patience is a virtue. I believe in clothing kismet - if it is meant to be, it will be.

My desire to own a varsity jacket developed about 6 months ago when the trend first emerged. But, unsurprisingly, as it tends to be in the early stages before an item finds its way into the mainstream, I had trouble spotting a version that struck quite the right chord. (And trust me, I looked) There was a brief moment in November when I thought my search was over, ordering this jacket from Forever21, but it was returned shortly after it arrived.

Image Credit Where Did U Get That

Image Credit Bloggersmag

Image Credit Because I'm Addicted

As a shopper who never gives up without a fight...or at least a good long hard wait, I kept my eyes and ears open for the item that would soon solve my sporty situation. Then, last Thursday, in my usual Google Reader scroll, I came upon this post by Diana of Dressed Up Alligators.

Not only did her Aeropostale jacket fill the varsity void, it was also majorly on sale. A few clicks and it was ordered, speedily appearing at my office Tuesday morning. So what better way to score a Wednesday win than with a little bit of team spirit. Talk about a cure for the varsity blues.

Aeropostale jacket with grandmother's pin. Super old Miss Sixty sling backs.

Go Rebs!

My Kind of Beauty Secret

I have been a beauty junkie since the 8th grade. This is no secret. Back then I owned (and wore) Urban Decay blue lipstick. I was avant garde: Lady Gaga before Gaga even existed. To this day I still love experimenting with crazy makeup -- maybe not blue lipstick -- but lots of colored eyeliner and of course, nail art. And while I do own my fair share of department store cosmetics such as Chanel nail polish, Armani mascara, and YSL lipsticks,* that does not mean I don't know where to score some bargain beauty booty. I have an arsenal of drugstore products that I use daily and while I have previously shared some of them, it never hurts to do a little recap:

- Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin with SPF
- Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stick
- Maybelline brow pencil
- Revlon Lipstick
- NYX Liquid Liner
- NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss
- Pssssst dry shampoo
- Sally Hansen nail polish (Xtreme Wear is my favorite)

Horrible picture of some of my faves: Revlon lipstick in Siren (creme) and Pink Pout (matte). NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Crystal Gold, Extreme Silver and Extreme Sapphire, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Nude Peach, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polish in the amazing Pacific Blue. And lying out front is Maybelline Expert Wear brow pencil in Blonde.

But what is better than drugstore products? Knowing where to find them at a truly great price. Amirite?

This is where I let my fellow Manhattanites in on a little secret. Okay, it isn't really a secret, I talk about it all the time, but I don't think many of my NYC friends truly comprehend the greatness of...here it goes....Bed Bath & Beyond. It is not just for vacuums and pajama jeans my friends!

First of all, Manhattan doesn't have an Ulta. Or many beauty supply shops in general (there are a few, but I may keep those to myself, even though they are fully google-able), and Target isn't super convenient to everyone in the city. But there are three locations of Bed Bath & Beyond (Lincoln Center, Chelsea, Upper East Side) and at least two of them (Chelsea and UES) have large internal drugstores known as Harmon. The pictures below speak for themselves:

Bed Bath Price

Duane Reade Price

Bed Bath Price

Duane Reade Price

Bed Bath Price - blurry but reads $4.99

Duane Reade Price

Now you know where to go. Go now. Just make sure you don't buy the same things I do, I need them to not sell out. Thankssomuch.

*Ed Note: I work for a department store that offers me 20-36% off on cosmetics, so I am able to procure designer products at a lower price. However I would never recommend a product that I wouldn't pay full price for, budget permitting.

**Ed Note Note: My last blog post raved about Kérastase products. I do believe 100% they are worth the price but my recent spending concerns would normally prohibit me from making such an expensive purchase. I happen to be lucky enough to have a Hair Fairy Godmother (otherwise know as Mom) who feels the same way towards Kérastase and was happy to help with the cost. 

Bottom line: I believe in the products I promote, but no cosmetic item is ever worth breaking the bank for.

Are You Faux Real?

We all need a little help from our friends – or even our friends' friends. Of course I could say that I have this great eye for all things fashion and that I always know where to score the best bargain, but I would be exaggerating. Although I am pretty damn good at it, I am not going to claim the title of "expert" just yet. So, even I, a reliable resource for style on a budget, at times have to look to others when I reach a fashion impasse.

During the past two years, along with "Mission: Skinny Jeans," I have also been on the hunt for the perfect vintage fur or faux fur jacket. I can't put a finger on what motivated me in this search, but I have invested many months, fruitlessly attempting to uncover this elusive treasure. I scoured department stores, discount stores, flea markets, and thrift stores. I stalked eBay auctions and QVC, leaving no stone unturned. Or so I thought.

You know I love Manhattan. I cannot say enough great things about my chosen city. Here I can order delivery from almost every restaurant via Seamless Web. I do not have to venture further than one block for pizza at 2 am. I can satisfy my fountain Diet Coke craving at any hour. I have both great department stores and cute little boutiques at my shopping disposal, not to mention an almost infinite number of designer resale shops. The museums are among the best in the world. Until recently, however, Manhattan has lacked some popular Big Box Stores.

Okay, I do NOT, I repeat - DO NOT - want a Wal-Mart in Manhattan. However, the fact that we only recently gained a Target seems a little behind the times. I love Target. Of course, I never really shopped there, but was enamored with the discount store since high school, because they were the only retailer at the time that sold my then-beloved make-up brand Jane. During college I also was able to do a little necessities shopping there, but there was no Target near my home in Maryland. Even the new Target in Manhattan is not incredibly convenient to me, so I have never really explored all that "Tar-jay" has to offer...until last weekend.

I was at this party Saturday night, hanging out in the ever-so-trendy Meatpacking district. Later in the evening, a friend met me at the bar. She arrived with her two other friends, one of whom was wearing the most adorable cropped faux fur jacket. After eyeing it with jealousy for a few minutes, I told my friend how much I coveted her friend's jacket. You can imagine the shock I experienced when I learned that this fabulous faux was from none other than Target!! The one on 117th Street! It had been just purchased that day - for the amazing bargain price of $45.

I was immediately taken aback. Then, I looked this girl straight in the eye and said:

"I love it. I'm buying it tomorrow."

And so I did. After some marathon watching in the early afternoon, I hopped the 6 train to 116th, made a beeline straight to the clothing racks and honed in on the Merona Aimee Jacket. (Despite looking quite awkward on model, I promise you it is fabulous.) And, if I had any doubts that this jacket was amazing only in my own mind, they evaporated on Tuesday at work when many coworkers told me how much they loved it. They too were impressed that it came from Target, and when asked whether I would mind if they too bought one, who was I to say no? It wasn't my find to take credit for.

So there you go. Yet another place you might not think of when embarking on the quest for that perfect fill-in-the-blank. I certainly learned a valuable lesson: When I fear that I have lost the mark in my search for that one elusive, wardrobe enhancing item, some friendly guidance may bring me back on track. And in this particular case? All I have to say is: Right on, Target!

GAP is the new Black

In my very first blog post, I shared my triumph in finding the perfect pair of skinny jeans. Since then, I added to my closet a pair of gray skinnies purchased at a sample sale and a pair of Paige ankle length skinny jeans, but felt that my wardrobe was still lacking a great pair in black. Yes, adding a pair of pants to the wardrobe of a girl who spends more time in leggings than anything else probably seems a little pointless, but I was on a mission nonetheless.

My quest would always begin at Bloomingdale's: I would go in every so often and try on a few pairs, but each time they just never fit right. Too much of a jegging (I shudder to have to say that word, blech), or not enough of a skinny leg. I was frustrated, but never in too much of a hurry because, as a someone who lives in leggings, I was not in a rush to find the perfect pair. Little did I know, however, was that I would find the Holy Grail of skinny jeans at none other than this little retailer known as The Gap.

If you have been flipping through the fashion magazines this fall, or noticing bus stop advertising, you probably are aware that The Gap has revamped itself yet again. They have heavily advertised their new black work pant, as well as the denim legging. At first I was deterred by the term "Denim Legging" thinking it was just another euphemism for "Jegging." But, as Gap's Friends and Family rolled around, I realized I was terribly mistaken about the new Gap denim. In fact, I was so wrong, because these jeans are so right!

They are the perfect blend of stretch and structure. Color and comfort. A lot of pizazz for a little price. Okay so black pants can't really have pizazz per se, but these are most definitely a kick ass pair of skinny jeans. And the best part, they retail for only $69.50. Even better: The Gap is almost always having a sale or promotion, so there is a chance you can purchase a pair for as low as $35.

Sure, I had to go a size up (a girl's gotta accommodate for larger thighs: accept it, own it), but because they are stretch, I had no issues with the waist being too large. So after fruitlessly scouring department store racks I have now learned that if you are searching for black skinny jeans, you do not need to look for a designer label to provide the fit and style that you crave. If nothing else, it is another good reason to mind The Gap.