Love Something? Buy It!

I always do this and I always promise myself that I'll never do it again. In an effort to cut back on impulse shopping (because, as I explain here, I'm poor these days), I try to refrain from buying clothes and accessories, even if I find something I absolutely LOVE. I saw these shoes at a local DSW about a month ago and walked away. There was still an inch of mushy slushy blackish colored "snow" on the ground and who knows, I thought, maybe I won't like them come summer.

Last week when I was about to take a trip out west where Spring has already sprung, I suddenly had an urge to go back to the store and buy these shoes. Naturally, they were sold out of my size in my local store, online and in every store I called (tip: when you ask a sales clerk to check inventory at other stores, sometimes they can only see stock within a certain geographic area, that's why I always call an out of state store just in case). 

Instead of giving up, I did what any neurotic woman in this digital age does. I kept googling "Jessica Simpson Dolee" in vain hope that somehow the results would change . . . and, miraculously, they did! For some reason, it took several attempts to pull them up on the DSW website, but when I finally did, I managed to locate a pair in upstate NY through the company's nationwide inventory search. So, what's the lesson in all of this? 

1) If you're a size 6.5 or 8.5, click your way to the DSW website and buy these shoes!

2) If you live in Poughkeepsie New York, run your way to the local DSW and buy these shoes!

3) If you see something you LOVE, go ahead and indulge. Trust me, I wasted SO much time looking for these shoes after the fact and time, my friend, is money.

Jessica Simpson Dolee Raffia Sandal (79.95)

Get with the Trends - Spring Neon

Even though a classic outfit is always appreciated, I actually love trends - so long as you don't out wear them and you don't wear them all of the time.  Spring's biggest trend is definitely neon and count me in, I love it.  There's nothing more uplifting than a pop of color, especially in New York where black usually reigns supreme.  I own two pieces in the collage below but have worn pretty much this exact look multiple times and it's only May.  Why two pairs of shoes?  Well - I had to give a wedge option for those petite Professionelles who may own flats but never wear them.

By August, I'm sure I'll never want to see neon yellow and navy stripes again, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.  

Pop Slim Fit Denim (79.90)

Cloud Logo Authentic 2-Eye Boat Shoe (75.00)

Taurillon Leather 'Deauville 105' Platform Sandals (422.99)

Henroa Striped Jersey Tee (105.00)

What the Cool Girls are Wearing

I think French girls are so cool.  They look so...effortless.  Like they rolled out of bed looking totally fabulous.  Since I spent only one week observing what Parisian women wore, I can't claim to be an expert (or even very accurate) but I noticed a few trends: leather motorcycle jackets, cross body bags and chunky ankle boots.  All of these items lean towards casual, so I thought it would be fun to interpret them in a way that could work for a Professionelle.

McQ Leather Vest-Inlay Jacket (1565.00)

I love how feminine this leather jacket looks.  The cut softens the edge of the leather and the cropped length would work well for petites.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Naples1 (250.00)

The buckles on these boots give it that biker chick look but the shape of the boot is very refined.  I would wear these with patterned black tights.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Harbridge Saddle Bag (228.00)

I actually saw this bag in the window of the Macy's on Nicolette Mall in Minneapolis.  Paris inspired, but found in the Midwest.

Alexander Wang Leather-Front Blazer (895.00)

It's so hard to find a leather blazer that doesn't look outdated.  I love how modern this looks, yet it still feels classic.

Alexander McQueen Tab and Buckle Heel Bootie (1225.00)

Now this boot is going to take some attitude to pull off at work, and perhaps a very conservative outfit to balance the shoe.  I absolutely love navy suede for Fall.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Jane-On-A-Leash Crossbody (228.00)

I'm so glad Marc Jacobs finally made some Marc by Marc Jacobs bags without that awful gold plaque.  This bag makes the perfect day to night purse.

New Job, New Clothes

I start my first “adult” job tomorrow, as a law firm associate. How have I prepared? I went shopping. It sounds silly; I know. But given that so much about this new job seems uncertain—What kind of work will I be doing? Will I like it? Will liking the work be enough to sustain me for many long hours?—the only preparatory thing that seemed certainly helpful was to buy work-appropriate clothing and accessories. While I don’t know how I will take to my new job (or how it will take to me), I do know that it will require a new suit, comfortable pumps, a sensible handbag, and many pairs of stockings. So that’s what I bought. Specifically:

A sensible pinstripe pants suit from J. Crew

A black velvet blazer to pair with a black skirt or a pair of black pants I already own to form a make-shift suit (my new employer is business formal!). It’s Ralph Lauren from a consignment store, so I can’t link to it;

Two pairs of sensible Cole Haan pumps, one black, one brown

Two pairs of shoes in which to walk to work:

Riding boots 

Patent leather low-heeled pumps (Link is to the suede version.  I need a little heel to wear with pantsuits so that they don’t drag on the ground)

A black nylon Longchamp bag that can hold a laptop and files when necessary and that is courtroom appropriate

And as mentioned, many pairs of Hanes Silk Reflections stockings.

I am curious; have other professionelles had this experience, where shopping seems to be the only clear way to prepare for a job? And what new-job purchases have you made?

Shoes for the Commute

I wear heels almost every day of the week, regardless of whether I have somewhere special to go. But for some reason, the thought of wearing heels during my commute to work is unbearable. So, like many of you, I wear my Uggs to work in the winter and flip flops to work in the summer. The space beneath my desk looks like a shoe store after a very busy sale with mismatched heels covering almost every inch of floor space. I always feel a bit awkward walking into work with my professional outfit and casual shoes. Spring brought an added layer of complexity to this shoe dilemma since it became too warm to wear boots and not yet warm enough to bust out the flip flops. So this week, I vowed to search for professional yet comfortable flats that would be perfect for the morning commute. Here's what I came up with:

I love how these shoes come with a travel case. This way, you can stash your shoes in your purse without worrying about getting your bag dirty.

Juicy Couture Theda Leather Travel Flat (175.00)

Bloch makes actual ballet flats for real dancers as well as pretend ballet flats like the ones below for us regular people. Theses shoes are supposedly incredibly comfortable, but every review I've read recommended ordering a size up.

Bloch Giselle Roll Up Flat (134.00)

I bought a pair of Crocs when I went kayaking in the Boundary Waters a few years ago and they were about as comfortable as they were ugly. Now Crocs come in a more stylish package which makes them at least as work appropriate as flip flops.

Crocs McCall Flat (24.99)

Perfect Nude Pump

I've been searching for nude, patent leather, pointy-toed pumps for months. The color and shape can supposedly create a visual illusion to elongate and slim your legs - very important for someone my height (and an added plus for everyone else).

Finding the perfect shade of nude was a bit more difficult than I anticipated, not to mention it's nearly impossible to find a pair of classically shaped pumps, without any bells and whistles, for under $500. Yesterday, I finally found them and they were perfect when they arrived at my desk this afternoon (hooray for free overnight shipping at endless.com!).

Charles David Dash Pump in Champagne (137.78)

A Suit in a Pinch

A good friend of mine (not saying who) got a spur of the moment clerkship interview while visiting her boyfriend. Of course she didn't bring a suit with her so she needs to find a suit, buy a pair of shoes, and research the judge all in 24 hours. I figured I'd help her out. These pieces are all from major national retailers so they should be relatively easy to find.

Banana Republic Petite Cotton Suit (209.00): Like me, my friend is petite and definitely does not have time for alterations


J Crew Isabel Dress (188.00): This is a great option if she packed a cardigan. A dress is infinitely more versatile than a suit if the right suit can't be found.


Theory Gabe Suit (660.00): I've never met a Theory suit that wasn't worth the investment. Buying a suit like this will last her a lifetime.

Understandably, my friend is willing to invest in a nice suit since it's something that she will probably wear again, but she already has a million pairs of heels so here are a few very inexpensive, interview appropriate shoes.

Dexter Patent Pump (24.99)


Maryam Slingback (26.99)


Anne Klein Darena (26.99)

Lastly, Good Luck!

Shoe Report

Another reader asked for a post about work shoes because she has little choice in what kinds of clothes she can wear to work. Even employers with strict dress codes allow more flexibility in the shoe department. Here are a few of my favorites, from the classic pump to something a bit more daring.

Nine West Barbe Pump (69.00)
As many of you know, I wear heels nearly every day. I've searched far and wide for the most comfortable pair of heels and Nine West shoes are consistent winners. Plus, you can't beat the price on these classic pumps.


Mariana by GOLC Pam (119.95)
These adorable flats are playful yet professional enough to wear if your office is on the casual side.


Christian Louboutin Triclo Crisscross d'Orsay (795.00)
Now these are the kind of Louboutins I would invest in if I had an extra $800 dollars laying around (alas...). They're classic enough to make them worth the splurge, but they're unique enough that it would be hard to find something similar for less. Plus, they're incredibly sexy, and after all, isn't that the point of wearing Louboutins?