Excursion through JCP at the SMall

I turned 25 a few months ago and I'm going through a quarter-life crisis.  Things for me are going as God would have them but He and I aren't exactly on the same page of what that means.  I say all this to explain why I find myself in the middle of the country (literally, not figuratively) when I hail from the Northeast and went to school in Atlanta.  I've struggled to find good fashion let alone great.  I've never been the chief sheriff on what constitutes amazing looks but since I've been here, I've been able to really dive into style.  With so few places to go I've made it my mission to find what I can in unexpected places.  My latest find has been JC Penny.  When I was younger my mom dragged me there all the time and if there current deals are any indication of what shopping there in the 90s was like I see why.  The new rebranding they are endeavoring in is working.

I recently saw this shirt on GQ's tumblr with an extensive explanation of why this bumble bee is made of thread spun from 18k gold warranting the pretty price tag of $985.  Here is a much different men's tailored women's button down with many more less extravagant member of the apinae family and only costs $35.

I have been searching for a white peplum top to adore.  I recently went to a wedding dress boutique (I did not know that at the time otherwise I would have run in the other direction) and found this cool leather peplum top for $69.

But I'm still looking for summer white.  While this trend reached its saturation this spring, I think it's a great feminine look especially for those of us deficient of natural womanly curves (such as myself).  It's a great attention getter for my coke bottle ladies and gives some definition for my less shapely females (I.e. it works for everyone).  Here's what I found at JCP for a meager $17.  I love the back detail.  I'm also very fond of high sleeve lines.  They make my line backer shoulders look less NFL more LFL (lingerie football league).

  

I love the back detail.  It makes the top really pop.

I don't know where I am going but I LOVE THIS!  The nice thing about JCP is its one of those stores where designers are featuring their less expensive capsule collections.  Marchesa's version is called and this is without a doubt my favorite from the line.  I wish I had a wedding, or some formal event to attend because this would be a shoe-in look.  I almost want to have a ladies dinner party as an excuse to buy it.  The dress is currently on sale for $50 and with no where to go I'm super tempted to buy it.

The moral of the story is: don't be afraid to look in unfamiliar places for love (as in clothing items you might fall in love with).

~ Ms. Styles

P.S. A simple fitting room etiquette note.  I hate hate HATE when I'm looking at a beautiful shirt, its the last one in my size and I have to leave it on the rack because someone left their makeup traces all over it.  Be courteous to other fashion soul sisters.  Do whatever you can to avoid contact between your face and the garment.  I wore a bold red lip today, so every time something went over my face I blotted my lips.  I also unzipped/unbuttoned shirts completely to avoid my face all together (putting shirts on from the bottom up instead of the top down is also an option, just be tricky not to stretch the shirt out over your hips and bottom).  Good shopping karma will come back around.

Partying During the Day...I Love Day Parties

Day Parties are IN right now...and I'm all for it. If you know anything about me, and I'm sure my friends can attest to this...I am usually the first one to "tap out" when we rendezvous at night. Anyway, so I had a day party to attend this past weekend and the shopping bug bit me. Unfortunately I had to resist because my bank account and I didn't agree on how much money I wanted to spend and what was actually available. As usual, I needed to let my creative juices flow and proceeded to search through my wardrobe to see what I could concoct for the day.

Royal blue is my new black...at least for right now. I recently ordered a royal baby-doll-esque dress from one of my favorite online sites, ASOS, for only $16. 

In case you're wondering how the dress fits me...here's a picture:

I couldn't decide which look I wanted for the day. Keep in mind I was set on NOT wearing any of my heels. I get into what I like to call "shoe-moods". Sometimes I only want to wear flats and sneakers and other times I'm all about wearing a heel that is at least five inches. Back to the topic at hand...my outfit for the day party. Here are the three looks that I chose from (keep in mind I'm only working with this blue dress)

Look 1:
Dress, All White Chucks, Charlotte Hornets snapback, Silver necklace (Nordstroms Juniors Department), Leopard print earrings (compliments of @theellecollection on Instagram), African print cloth satchel

Look 2: 
Dress, Tory Burch sandals, Ball and Chain necklace (compliments of @neonfleur on Instagram), black leather clutch (American Apparel), "Diamond" Studs

Look 3:
Dress, JC booties (Nordstrom), Grey and Silver Beaded necklace, Silver Hoops, Black leather bag (Zara)

Look 4: 
Dress, Beaded sandals (Urban Outfitters), Thin gold chain, and leopard head wrap (Forever 21), black leather clutch (American Apparel), Gold Hoops (BP Department at Nordstrom)

Look 5:
Dress, JC booties, African Print Necklace (compliments of @Neonfleur on Instagram), Gold bracelet (Passed down from Grandma), Gold triangular earring and panther ear cuff, black leather clutch (American Apparel).

I decided to go with Look 5...Let me know what you think (in a respectful manner of course). If you have any questions about where to purchase an item...leave a comment and I'll get back to you!

-Ola

Fitting Room Fashions

Every time my mom dressed me in one of those frilly bouncy huge dresses with those awful lace socks I would wish for the day when I could dress myself.  Well my ship has finally come in (at least it did 15 years ago).  I love all that the fashion world has to offer except the price tags.  Even the “affordable” options listed in magazines can often be out of reach for a grad student struggling to be fly and twenty-five. My wealth hasn’t come just yet but in an effort to be prepared, I’m scoping all the designer houses and their various design esthetics to see what makes them worth that pretty penny.  I have continued to evolve my look into whatever I’m feeling at the moment (see recent blonde hair) 

and it is a great feeling to dress how you want to regardless of how people gawk and stare (again refer to new blonde hair).  I always feel like decisions are best made once you have all the information.  So my thinking, however backwards, is that once I know what makes the designer pieces… so damn great… I can look for those qualities in other, presumably less expensive pieces.  Prepare to see me in the dressing rooms of random boutiques in middle America and wherever else I find myself, trying on clothes priced well above their worth and buying similar items priced just right.  Hope you enjoy my journey from fitting room to fitting room while I expand, or in some case rediscover, the items in my own closet.  ~Ms. Styles