Economy of Style
A notebook on evolving trends, fashion sense and cents

A Few of My Favorite Things

I spend a lot of time watching YouTube videos. I especially love watching “favorite things” videos by YT gurus I follow. From the latest beauty products for brown skin to tasty vegan snacks, I’ve learned of many of the products I currently use by watching those videos. I thought it would be fun, then, to do a favorite things blog post today. Here are a few things that I’m loving right now.


Printed pumps

I avoid shoes with a lot of fuss like buckles, straps, and ankle ties because they tend to hurt my feet. I’m really loving printed pumps, then, because standout prints make every step much more interesting in the classic and comfortable silhouette of a pump.

Blue and white printed pumps

Dotted snakeskin pumps*
*(I ordered this pair during a 40% off sale online. I have to reorder a 1/2 size smaller though)

Drop/Chandelier earrings

During the warmer months, I pass on wearing my statement necklaces to save them from overexposure to sun and sweat. Statement earrings become my go-to accessories for jazzing up my summer ensembles.

Gumdrop earrings

Mod Chanderlier earrings

Beauty products

My beauty routine is stripped down to the basics during the warmer months. Melting foundation is never a good look, right? Liner, mascara, concealer (for the scars that remain after my bout with adult chickenpox), lipstick, and I’m out the door. Here’s what I’ll be using:

Benefit mascara
Clinique liquid liner
Mac ‘Up the Amp’ lipstick
Mac concealer


Cat-eye sunglasses.

The Spring 2014 runway season signaled the triumphant return of cat-eye glasses and sunglasses. Designers like Milly and Fendi showed us that cat-eye specs add loads of retro glam to any look. I’m convinced and found this pair at Nordstrom Rack.
Kate Spade ‘Cordelia’

Designer Statement Earrings for Less

During the recent Kate Spade friends and family sale, I purchased a pair of statement earrings (Kate Spade gumdrop gems earrings) that I’ve been watching for a minute now. These earrings were already marked down, so I maximized savings by receiving an additional discount on them. If you missed the sale, there’s no need to worry because there are plenty of Kate Spade statement-making earrings priced so low that it still makes $ense to buy them. Here are my favorites: 

Gumdrop earrings, $40 (orig. $78)

From L to R:

Color wheel earrings, $34 (orig. $68)

Mod earrings, $49 (orig. $98)

Marquee earrings, $39 (orig. $78)

Rebecca Minkoff Medium M.A.B. Totes at TJ Maxx!

You may remember me raving about the Rebecca Minkoff Medium M.A.B. tote recently. It really is the perfect tote. Well, I’ve been saving my coins to purchase one of the latest styles at Nordstrom. But, guess whose favorite off-price store saved the day and her money? Yes, y’all. TJ Maxx has Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. totes!

I found the black and white embossed leather tote, a Fall 2013 style, priced at $149.99 (orig. $325) in  TJ Maxx. That TJ price resulted in a major consumer surplus for me since I was prepared to spend $255 for the current Saffiano leather style. If you’re in St. Louis, I found the tote at the Runway at Maxx store on Manchester. There was one tote left and a few other Rebecca Minkoff handbag styles.

The M.A.B. is very spacious but not in an oversized way. See how I’ve been wearing the tote in the recent Moody Florals post. Now, check out all the things that I’ve been able to comfortably tote around in my bag.

What’s in my Rebecca Minkoff Medium M.A.B. Tote:
1. MacBook Pro

2. Pilot P-500 pen
3. Small notebook | similar
4. Kleenex tissue
5. Kilian ‘Love and Tears’ perfume
6. Aveeno Lotion
7. Christen Michel Replenished daily spritz
8. Kate Spade “Darla” wallet
9. Kate Spade business card case
10. Kate Spade sunglasses w/case
11. Bliss Fabulips lip balm
12. Mac “Heroine” lipstick
13. iPhone in Kate Spade ‘word search’ case
14. Larabar
15. Trident gum

Sales Make Me Smile

My oh my! The sales gods have been smiling upon me. Don’t you just love it when items you’ve been loving for some time simply appear in front of you at seriously discounted prices? Well, that happened to me recently when I found the Kate Spade Mod Money Chandelier earrings at 60% off in Nordstrom Rack and the J.Crew Mint Spike bracelet at 63% off in a J.Crew store. I saved more than I actually spent. Bargain buys like these make my smile.

Earrings

Bracelet

(Both on sale online, but much cheaper in-store)

In St. Louis? The Nordstrom Rack in Brentwood got a huge shipment of Kate Spade goodies and many of the pieces (like these earrings) already have red tags (clearance prices). The J.Crew at Plaza Frontenac marked down several bracelets (many not on sale online) plus an additional 30% off.

Edgy Accent: J.Crew Mint Spike Necklace

I knew I wanted the J.Crew mint spike necklace since spying it on page 66 of the February Style Guide. This necklace mixes rose gold spikes, mint stones, and crystals to produce a mod-looking, globally-inspired, edgy necklace. I loved the necklace so much that I broke my own never-pay-full-price-for-anything rule. But, guess what? It just went on sale. Can you say price adjustment? Yes!

Today’s post shares an outfit from the weekend. The spike necklace makes the casual combination of a mesh sweatshirt and black skinny jeans a bit more interesting, edgy even.

Sweater—Standard James Perse | similar, similar
Jeans—Nine West | similar, similar, similar
Shoes—Ivanka Trump (on sale)
Clutch—Rebecca Minkoff (on sale)
Earrings—Kate Spade Outlet | similar
Necklace—J.Crew (on sale) | F21 option
Watch—Michael Kors | similar
Lip—Mac “Punk Couture” lipstick (lip glass version), Mac “Vino” lip pencil