White House Black Market Roundup

Matte Jersey Twist Front Dress

White House Black Market isn't only an online retailer, the upscale fashion merchant who opened in 1985 operates over 440 boutiques and 6o outlets across the USA, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's the perfect place to find a holiday or gala dress with shoes and accessories to match.

Above are 3 different women styling a classic Little Black Dress, in fact, the same super versatile Matte Jersey Black Studded Dress which flatters all body types from curvy to slim!

Another helpful feature of the website lets customers shop for an entire look. Under a dress, blouse, blazer, or trousers are 3 different ensembles, and you can click on the coordinating shoes and /or accessories for purchase if you need them. What a fun browse for style ideas! [You can go to the website by clicking on the little black dress to see a 3rd way to wear it.]

The prices on White House Black Market are surprisingly affordable for some very cute fashion that I would describe as classic modern style sometimes with an edge.

Have you chosen your party attire yet?

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Flirty Girl Wants To Make You Smile

The photo is from Google Maps

One of the most beloved brands in New Orleans, Flirty Girl, was launched in 2009 by single mother and New Orleans native, Lauren LeBlanc Haydel, initially as an online business. Today she has 8 retail stores and 60 employees. The brand was voted Best of New Orleans by Gambit magazine for 11 years in a row.

Flirty Girl's aim is to make you smile while celebrating the city of New Orleans with shirts, skorts, scarves, jackets, shoes, kitchen and bar glasses, hair accessories, food and spices, soap, together with holiday-and-novelty gifts.

The retailer has become a must-stop for tourists but if you can't make it to New Orleans you can still send some "local love + fun finds" by ordering online, the place where it all began. Perhaps someone on your holiday list could use a smile or has fond memories of the Big Easy.

King Cake Bolt Balm

Ahhh, the only cute alligator is a toy alligator (🐊 see far above👆), but LOOK he's crawling away and headed for the flamingo🦩who should not stand tall and be eaten. Run!! ... run away!!!⚜️

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Athletic Works Socks With Cushion Arch Support

Sometimes it's the mundane inexpensive finds in life that can please or even thrill us. Like socks! Most of us wear socks nearly every day and I like to keep a drawer full of them so I rarely have to do laundry because I'm out of socks. It's also a clothing item I wish to mindlessly machine wash and dry with abandon as I have no desire to baby a pair of socks. So I took a chance on a 10-pack of socks by Athletic Works at Walmart and I really like them! Why spend more when these do everything we need them to do?

The benefits include cushion arch support built into the socks. Although I'm often partial to cotton, 100% cotton socks are not necessarily the best fabric for potentially sweaty feet. These have 87% polyester, 11% cotton, and 1% lycra spandex and are made to wick moisture away from our feet. Ok, great!

What first attracted me to Athletic Works socks was the innovative, compact packet, and what sold me was the arch support. When traveling just toss the packet of socks neatly into a suitcase, then pull them out one pair at a time much like pulling out tissues from a Kleenex box after you reach your destination.

The socks come in an assortment of lengths from no-show, or ankle to crew, or tube; as well as, for men, women, and children; and in enough neutral shades to match your wardrobe.

Don't let the unbeatable value fool you! You get 10 - 12 pairs of socks cheap depending on the style selected. The socks are soft, cozy, and do indeed keep your feet dry. After wearing them for months, I decided to buy some for my senior mother also. She can benefit from arch support too. Have you been paying too much for socks?

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The SAVVY SHOPPER CREED: 5 Skip/Buy Rules

Live As An Under Buyer

Today I'm playing a game called all the jewelry I'd buy at Macy's if I wasn't a mindful, Savvy Shopper. Sometimes I play this game at Tiffany, Hermès, Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Saks, or any number of retailers with upscale merchandise, but today let's play the game of jewelry web shopping at Macy's. 

Most of us have the good sense not to spend a million dollars for a piece of jewelry since it's much more than many of us could ever pay off. The temptation is greater for things we perceive as stretching our budget -- yes -- that we could somehow, someway reach with effort and a dose of wishful thinking. Nevertheless, if we are not realistic, mindful, savvy shoppers such pricey luxury buys will land us into credit card debt.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER way requires separating our wants from our needs. Sure we can splurge occasionally, but as a general rule, be an under buyer and seldom, rarely, or never become an impulse buyer. So often impulse buys are emotional purchases triggered when we are bored, stressed, or blue. Don't let regret, waste, clutter, or debt follow a day of retail therapy! Frequently going for a walk or exercising will lift our moods just as much as an impulse buy. Luckily I'm an under buyer because my walks take me to T.J. Maxx!😊

What's more, the sibling of impulse buying is buying more than what we need. Buy enough (sometimes called creating a capsule of clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.), not more than enough. It's likely my small New York City apartment keeps me in line by giving me the disciple to not bring home beautiful things I don't really need, but only think I do when standing in front of it.

 

Falling for beautiful, impractical and yet ultimately useless things will clutter up your home before you realize it! Always value your space as much as anything you put into it. To look its best a room needs the right ratio of space to furniture. Every nook and corner need not be filled with stuff whether it's furniture, clothes, handbags, shoes, nick-nacks, or even jewelry.

Moreover, it won't do your bank account any favors. COVID has taught us the importance of having an emergency fund for food and bills. As much as I love jewelry, I browse 99.99% of the time and buy .01% of the time. And the very few pieces I splurge on are well within my budget. Moreover, I know where to compromise: The stones are eye clean and not the biggest, most flawless, or most translucent stones I desire. At Tiffany, I only browse as its colored gemstones are the top of the line (i.e. budget-busters for regular people), and at other retailers, I'm still selective!

Over to the right is a gorgeous 4 7/8 t.w. carat emerald and diamond (1/2 carat diamond) ring I love and visit whenever I go to Macy's Herald Square, but any stone over 2 carats gets very pricey, so it stays at Macy's for me to peer at occasionally. The diamond stud earrings (↑above left) are called martini studs as the setting looks like martini glasses, and in my fantasy, I'd buy 4-carat studs, however, too expensive for me to undertake! [For the look, check out this white sapphire pair instead. Not affiliated with this blog, only a tip.]

Being financially responsible means focusing on the big picture: Your financial security. Separating your wants from your needs helps you to spend what you must and save what you should. Staying out of debt gives you more money to cover tomorrow's essentials. Plus freedom. Freedom from worry. Freedom from working just to pay bills. Freedom from losing your home.

All of today's featured pieces are classic and very wearable temptations. Although not buying, I love them all. Planning a splurge every now and then is fine if you are mindful (consider how often you'd wear it) and make the splurge one you can afford. Finally, if considering a purchase, think capsule, not collection. Stop buying after reaching enough! We don't need more than enough.

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Betsey Johnson Is One of A Kind

Betsey Johnson today at Macy's

Betsey Johnson, the Queen of Pop-Art Fashion, turned 80 years old this year on August 10th. She was part of Andy Warhol's and the Velvet Underground's scene, opening her 1st shop in 1969. Her retail stores (one was located in my Upper East Side neighborhood) have shut their doors, but she still designs clothes that sell in major department stores like Macy's. I admire her tremendously, and yet as a growing minimalist, I don't buy apparel that stands out to the extent that everybody notices every time I wear it. Where I think Savvy Shoppers can do especially well are her shoes and accessories to add brightness to our black and neutral shirts and dresses. A patterned tote or floral boots can make an outfit pop! What's more, you can also count on the designer for sparkle.

Certainly, the dresses in the top photo are fun and more subdued than the designer's usual bubble gum pink solids adorned with ribbons and bows that are lively and cheerful, yes, but not very grown-up or practical. The 1980s when Betsey Johnson's business exploded was more of an over-the-top time. By comparison, the 21st century has gotten more mindful, more pragmatic, less exorbitant, and theatrical. It's because we now want to own less but do more with it. Betsey seems to understand this and has expanded her collection to fit our more restrained era. 

Nonetheless, I like the playfulness and/or pazzazz of a Betsey Johnson creation. She uses comfortable, stretchy, easy-to-machine wash and dry fabrics, and many of her designs are super wearable. Some are timeless and all are one-of-a-kind like Betsey Johnson, herself. We can let Betsey do Betsey and easily adapt one of her fun-loving pieces to suit our own personal style. That bit of shimmer or pop of color keeps neutral shades from being boring!

Of course with her dresses, shoes and accessories, feel free to get as pop art crazy as you like. Happy 80th year and 53 years of success Ms. Betsey Johnson! Party on!🎉🥳

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Vivaia Shoes Are Machine Washable

It takes a different kind of shoe for me to consider shoes that are not real leather because I always have trouble wearing man-made, non-leather shoes. Either they are too stiff and I can never break them in, or they are too hot, or they click and clack with every step. In fact, I've sworn off so-called liberated leather shoes.

Then along comes Vivaia shoes (established in 2020), a sustainable shoe company on a mission to make quality, comfortable and stylish footwear using recycled materials that are sourced from nature. Believe it or not, Vivaia shoes are made of recycled plastic water bottles. Plastic water bottles are turned into spools of flexible thread that is knitted into form. According to the merchant, Vivaia flats feel like sneakers. Their signature sustainable material is not only soft, cozy, and breathable, but they will last for years to come, and they are reasonably priced too!

Indeed, Vivaia shoes and boots are super fashionable: classic and understated, as well as, ultra-modern with vitality and pizzazz. The fashion-forward shoes won't go out of style.

Moreover not only is attention paid to the exterior design, but also to the interior of the footwear. The inside heel is cushioned to avoid blisters, and insoles are added to provide high rebound (or bounce), and arch support.

The over-the-knee boots are made with recycled plastic water bottles plus wool for warmth in cold weather. They pull up like thick socks and stay put (as in don't fall down during the day). Furthermore, all Vivaia shoes and boots are machine washable. Now that's different, it means they're easy to clean!

Moreover, the retailer says their shoes are perfect for people with wide feet and bunions. In Vivaia shoes, "your feet won't be squeezed, pushed, pulled, or bent out of shape."

For comfort is the main reason to buy Vivaia shoes. As for sustainability, sources such as the Harvard Business Review argue that sustainable fashion is a myth. Once a plastic bottle is turned into fashion, it's no longer recyclable, but goes into a landfill. In fact, the best way of saving our environment is to buy less and re-use (i.e., shop 2nd hand) fashion. I must confess to never buying 2nd hand shoes, but I only buy the footwear I need and stop buying until I need replacement shoes or boots. That said ...

Enough colors and styles are offered for a day of work, a night out on the town, or a walk through the park. Certainly, Vivaia shoes are worth a browse, an open mind, and some serious consideration.

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