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

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Not me!  One question I’m often asked is, “why don’t you wear more pants?”  My simple answer is that I’m most comfortable in dresses and skirts.  My fondness for dresses and skirts, however,  grew when I realized these items were most flattering on my body type.

According to Lucky magazine, I have a dewdrop figure, that is, curvy butt and thighs.  When I get ready, I spend most of my time thinking about dressing and fitting my bottom half.

Anyway, I found these shorts that I didn’t realize I still owned.  The shorts “fit,” but they don’t suit me.  I decided to style and photograph a look with the shorts to demonstrate.

Who Wears Short Shorts

Short pants may be an extreme example to demonstrate why I don’t wear pants often, but I even prefer mini skirts to shorts.  

Mini Skirt vs Shorst
Shorts vs Mini Skirt

There are, of course, types of pants that are better suited for folks with curvy butts and thighs.  For me, it’s always easier to wear a skirt or dress with the right silhouette for my body.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Casual Friday

It’s a rainy Friday over here.  So, I figured I would pack my own sunshine by wearing this bright yellow jacket.  The rest of the look comprises a black and white polkadot blouse, black cropped skinny pants, and python wedges.  The python wedges serve as a substitute for my leopard flats because the calf hair leopard shoes don’t withstand water well. 

Blouse—Old Navy
Pants—Loft
Jacket—Live a Little via resale shop
Shoes—Ellen Tracy via Marshalls

Have a wonderful weekend!  Join me on Facebook for weekend shopping coupons and specials, dressing room reports, so much more.  Come by and share your steals as well.

A Chevron Print Top for a 70s-Inspired Casual Look

I did some sale shopping at the end of last week.  My first stop was the Loft because of its 40% off sale items.  I then headed to The Limited to check out its up-to-70% off promotion.  I left each store with one sale top purchase. 

Today’s post features the new top I purchased inThe Limited.  It is a turquoise, zig zag stitch top with flap sleeves and a banded hem.  This top just happened to be one of the more expensive items in the sale at the store.  It was marked down to $29.99 and I received an additional educator’s discount of 15% off.  

When I saw the top, I immediately visualized pairing it with my Loft shorts and Kanna t-strap wedges.

Top—The Limited, shorts—Loft
shoes—Kanna via Marshalls

The look didn’t quite work out as I imagined though.  I felt like the top would better complement slimmer pants.  So, I decided to pair the top with cuffed straight leg jeans for a casual late lunch date on Saturday.   Here’s the final look.

Top—The Limited
Jeans—Nine West via Marshalls
 Shoes—Kanna via Marshalls

Gingham Goodness

I bought a sleeveless gingham top on a summer trip to NYC when I was in high school and I literally wore that top to threads.  Oddly enough, I can’t recall owning anything else with a gingham print since that favorite top of mine.

So, when I made an unplanned visit to The Limited last Friday, and saw today’s featured gingham top on one of the racks, I knew I had to own it.  Now, let me tell you, there are some stores I never buy anything from without first visiting the store website.  And, The Limited is one of those.  But, it was the grand opening of the store.  And, the store looked amazing.  And, everything was 40% off.  So, it couldn’t hurt to look, right?

Ten minutes after entering the store, I found myself in a dressing room with two skirts, a couple tops, and three dresses.  I knew I needed more time to think about most of the items I tried on except one, the gingham top!

Here’s what I did in my mind to quickly confirm my decision to buy the top.

1.  Can I wear it to work?

Top—The Limited (similar), Cardigan—The Limited (similar),
Skirt—Banana Republic (similar),
Shoes—Tahari via Marshalls (similar)
Belt and Bag—Hobo International via TJ Maxx

Blazer—Banana Republic, Pants—Loft,
Belt—Talbots Outlet, Shoes—Coach via Marshalls

2. Would it work on the weekends?

Cardigan—Talbots Outlet, Jeans—Elle via Kohls,
Bag—Linea Pelle, Shoes—Jessica Simpson via Marshalls

See more weekend looks featuring the gingham top in My Weekend in Style and Preppy Chic for Casual Days.

My Weekend in Style

It’s Friday!  It’s Friday!  Got plans for the weekend?

Friday
Tonight, one of my zumba partners and I are going to the Downtown Arts Center to support two fellow zumba-ites/professional dancers who will be performing in the Contemporary Dance Collective’s Convergence.

Despite a few recent price increases, the Gap has some amazing deals in store at the moment.  The dress I am wearing tonight is one of those steals.  It is a simple yet striking deep purple dress with aysmetrical detailing at the shoulders.  I purchased it for $19.50 (originally $69.95, marked down to $34.99 plus an extra 40% off).  

Dress—Gap, Belt—Gap, Shoes,
Earrings—Kendra Scott, Bag—Aldo


*Update* I made some minor tweaks to the outfit before going out.  I swapped the Gap belt with the leather ties from my Linea Pelle bag.  The leather strips worn as a belt better complemented the southwestern flavor of the clutch.  I also changed the espadrille wedges because I didn’t have time to do a fresh pedicure and the espadrilles put my toes on display.  My tan peep-toe pumps were a perfect substitute.

Outfit as actually worn to the event.

P.S.  I have somewhat discriminating taste in handbags and usually opt to splurge on a few select higher-end bags that I wear for years, that suit my lifestyle, and that I have an emotional connection to.  But, I have found some attractive bags in Aldo over the past year.  They are usually under $50 (some of them real leather).  Here are two of my favorites—the beaded clutch worn above and a small leather crossbody bag.

My favorite Aldo bags

Saturday
On Saturday, I may be heading back to Louisville for the Soul Food Festival.  It will be held outdoors at the Waterfront Park.  If I do go, I will be wearing my new cuffed boyfriend shorts and the new gingham top from The Limited.  Here’s how I’d style the pieces.

Top—The Limited, Shorts—Loft, Straw fedora—Wal-Mart,
Beach mat—Tommy Hilfiger via Marshalls,
Flip-flops—Havaianas, Bag, Belt—Talbots Outlet

P.S. I have been searching for a straw fedora for a minute and found this one in Wal-Mart for $8!  I have never been into hats, but lately I have been so inspired to sport a fedora after viewing the mad hat stylings of Sing over at Sing’ature Style.