$100 More Or Less: Happy Dress Sad Girl

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I started a new feature a few weeks ago in which I pull together an entire outfit for around $100 ($125 being the max). This is one of those outfits. I realize that, of course, you can create an outfit for around $100 using cheaper brands or thrift store pieces. However, my theory is that you can shop anywhere on a budget (including the mentions above, but also higher priced retailers) and still create a great outfit.

If you read my post, “You Can’t Cry In Costco”, then you know I had a sad day a bit ago. It happens. I found a swivel chair that made all of the difference. This is what I was wearing that day.

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I love how the curves of the crescent moon necklace fit perfectly with the swirly pattern of my tears this dress.

I had not realized that I was not really smiling for the camera in this outfit photo session. I just did not have it in me on this day. I am really bad at needless dramatics faking it.

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However, the price I paid for this outfit should have lifted my spirits. Just a little. This outfit post is more a post to convey my love of waiting for an item to hit sale instead of indulging in the immediate satisfaction of full price. I do the latter, too. Sometimes I just cannot help it (as was the case with this dress). But the outfit shown here was my ultimate showcase of self restraint. I waited until the items hit rock bottom prices until I pounced.

Or I lucked into them…

Either way is probably a little right.

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I feel like this dress is very reminiscent of a circus. I think it is the stripes, sequins, and over-the-top sleeves. All of which I love. Although on this day I guess I was playing the very sad clown.

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Outfit Breakdown:

Anthropologie Sunpass Dress (now sold out): I paid $30 Original Price $198
Anthropologie Nazare Sandals (now sold out): I paid $24 Original Price $118
Anthropologie Crescent Necklace (now sold out): I paid $10 Original Price $42
Forever 21 Gold Cuff: $6

Total Spent: $70
Retail Price: $364

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What do you wear on sad days? Do you have an item in your closet that showcases your ultimate shopping self restraint? Do you own this dress? How else do you style it? And don’t worry, the sad day passed, today is fresh and new. I am hoping it is a happy one for both me and you. : ).

*this post was edited using the app VSO filters at C2 at level 3, temperature at level 3, and contrast at level 2.

July 2014 Clothing Purchases

I am currently working on my Comic Con posts so that I can get them up starting tomorrow and also my funny but mortifying story of seeing Patrick Rothfuss again. I was not going to post anything today while I worked on those, but I decided to share the things I purchased in July instead. Because I always enjoy seeing, reading or hearing about other people’s finds.

July was my birthday month so I was able to splurge much, much more than usual. The great news is I did not spend my own money on most of these purchases because almost all of my birthday presents were gift cards to my favorite stores (thank you family and friends!). Plus, I had birthday discounts and 20% off sale purchases going on when I acquired a lot of these items. And I still have funds left over on a gift card to Anthropologie (which I am saving for the River Fade Dress when it goes on sale). I have become an exclusively sale shopper (I have to be with a kid heading to college in three years), so some of the items that I list are probably sold out but you might still find them in a store if you call customer service with the style number. I am still hoping for a price adjustment in the next two weeks on some of these things as long as they get further cut.

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First, I purchased some accessories that I had in my wishlist for what seemed like forever as I patiently waited for them to go on sale: The Caterpillar Earrings (these are brown and not green in real life), Tassel Bloom Hoops in purple, Anthropologie Monogram Bangle (this did turn my wrist green), and Free People Kantha Clips. Of those four accessories my favorite is the Kantha Clips. I love anything Kantha and these are no exception. I actually own three different pairs.

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I also picked up the Anthropologie Rainforest Belt now that it is such an amazing sale price. It reminds me of dragon scales. Just call me Khaleesi.

No, seriously.

Oh wait, that’s just what I make my kids do. Don’t worry, it ‘s not all of the time… Just when they want dinner… Or food… Or a ride.

It’s tough being the kids of The Mother of Dragons.

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My Modcloth Twofer Honey Dress that I styled here with my honeycomb earrings was such a cool addition to my wardrobe. The dress just got cut to 70% off! I think it is now a great price.

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I am so happy with both the Free People Loretta High Neck Dress and the Free People Late Summer Love Dress (styled here). My husband’s very favorite dress (and outfit post showcasing it which is going up later this week) in the world is now the Loretta High Neck Dress. So I love it all the more now. Plus, now I know what to wear when I need somethin’. Not that the Mother of Dragons ever wants for anything.

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Anthropologie’s Melanie V-Neck Dress that I got for $20, down from $138 was one of my best scores.

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Anthropologie’s Talisman Peasant Dress was 75% off after my birthday discount, but I still debated on keeping it. I was unsure about the fit, but when my daughter saw me try it on she could not stop gasping about its awesomeness, so now I am definitely wearing that teenage-conversation-starter everywhere.

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The Anthropologie Salta Shirtdress (I thought this was awful on until I cut off the extra sleeves) was a great popback price. I love the dress with the alteration I made.

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And this Anthropologie Laced Chambray Popover was too good of a price at $20 to pass up.

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I waited for the Anthropologie Sunpass Dress for months, too, (after reviewing it here) and when it hit almost 75% off, I pounced. I am still hoping this gets cut one more time because I am greedy. (Edited on 8/3/2014 to add it did get one more cut! Wheeeee!).

Those dragons need to bring Momma some gold. Isn’t that the good thing about dragons? Don’t they hoard gold? Mine are slackin’.

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Last but not least is my beloved Free People New Romantics Rio Dress. I originally tried on this dress here, but it was much too expensive for me. Every morning since I reviewed this dress in March, I would wake up and check the website to see if it had gone on sale (I am a patient stalker). Last week I noticed a review I must have missed where the reviewer spoke of buying the dress on sale in the store. Free People’s clothing prices do vary from store to website.

I called a store that the website had listed as having it in stock as soon as it opened (if you know me, you know this terrified me. I never call to order something. I get nervous, slur my words and inevitably get the sweaty shakes, but I did it for this dress. And guess what? They were really nice to me. I think it had nothing to do with my dragons roaring in the background). I bought both colors because both dresses purchased through the store were still 30% less than just one dress would have been retail price. Plus the store I ordered them from did not charge me tax or shipping. Score! Not since my beloved Anthropologie Vanga Kantha Dresses have I been this excited about a dress. I still have not received them, but I am hopeful they will arrive soon.

Whew! Thank goodness for birthdays! It was so fun to stretch my gift cards by being frugal and buying multiple items that were on generous sale markdowns with them instead of just one or two items. I only had one black dress in my closet before this month but I saw this post from the wonderful and incredibly witty fashion blog, Suzanne Carillo Style Files, and it made me want more black little numbers. I knew I wanted to add some to my clothing collection (a much nicer way of saying, gluttonous pile of excess) with my wonderful, generous presents. I am doubtful August will lead to any purchases for myself because the majority of the budget will go to the children’s back-to-school finds, and alas, my birthday gift cards are almost gone.

Do you own one or more black dresses? Do you buy more in your birthday month (gotta love those discounts)? Are you waiting for anything to hit sale? Do you ever stalk something for months (I’m hopeful no one will say me)?

*this post contains some affiliate links. Clicking on a link on this post may result in a small commission to feed my dragons for this site.

Photos are from Anthropologie, Free People and Modcloth.

Forever 21 Buy One Get One Sale

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Okay. I promised myself I would not do too many clothing posts. I wanted to commit to no more than two to three a week. I wanted to spend more time on funny stories, like the one shared today.. That is where my heart is. But darn these sales! They are messing up my rhythm! ; ). And, also, well, I love me some clothes. Especially clothes for a great price!

I got an email today about a sale Forever 21 is doing. Most of their sale clothes are buy one get one free, for a limited time. And guess what is still available, as of the time I posted this in every size (I bought a medium)?!

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My Forever 21 Utility Jacket that I love. It is currently on sale for $29.99. But if you buy something at a similar price, that would make both items $15! Man, that is a great price for this jacket!

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Sorry! I had to share! Be careful with sizing, because most of the items are nonreturnable!. To see more pictures of the jacket on this human, you can click here and here.

Tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning I will be posting about my Modcloth Stylish Surprises I received last week! : )

Have a great day!

These Boots Three

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At the beginning of the season, I saved some boots to my wishlist at Anthropologie. I ignored the pretty dresses. The flowy tops. The treasure I was seeking was more sturdy than that. I do not have a lot of shoes. I do not really care that much about them (I know! What kind of girl am I?). But I do love boots. And this year, I was determined to get one or two new pairs on sale. I watched in panic as the boots I liked began to sell out in my size. Was I doing the right thing waiting for sale?

I was thinking probably not, but I knew I had a budget to stretch. I could afford one pair of boots full price. And not the super expensive boots, either. Reasonably priced boots.

But even though they were reasonably priced, that did not mean I thought it was reasonable to pay that amount.

I thought if I could be a patient girl then perhaps I could pick up two pairs when they hit sale, instead of one.

I have never been a patient girl.

But greedy girl?

Oh, yes. And greedy girl beats out patient girl every single time. Meaning, I had to be patient in order to get more.

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First, the Tara Saddle Boots went on sale from Anthropologie for almost half off. I snatched them up. I handed them over to my husband to wrap for Christmas.

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And I waited. The Seychelles Woven Trail Booties also went on sale. But I was a careful stalker. There were three colors in these. I was not picky. I liked them all. Inevitably I felt this would result in a popback (when an item sells out, but then someone return it. It “pops back”).

All of the colors sold out. I moved on.

Then one day, my size popped back in the white color. And I ended up paying $30 for them instead of $140. Score!

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There was one more victim pair I coveted. The Joyfele Faye Boots at Anthropologie. At their first cut price they were still too much money for me to pay. Then they got cut again to 64% off.

I ordered them. They came. I handed them over to be wrapped.

All in all, I paid $18 less for all three pairs of my new boots than what I would have paid full retail price for just the Joyfele Faye Boots.

Greedy girl is grinning.

Patient girl is proud.

Who is going to tell them they both got beat out by Sensible?

Not me.

Or I.

Or she.

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Did you pick up any shoes this winter? She Me I have to admit that while I like my new boots, I still don’t have the passion. What are your thoughts? Do you love shoes?