Are Gladiator Sandals Still in Fashion?

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Well, I think so...
This type of sandal has been on for sooooo slong that I wasn't really sure...

I did need a replacement for an old Aldo snake print gladiator I've bought years ago.

The poor thing is falling apart after so many summers and so much mileage (NY girls walk miles and miles every day)!

Did some internet research and did find this:

 

And guess what? For 35 bucks, it is a bargain!

Imagine how many Metrocards I will save with these ;-)

Another Shoe Post! My new Tory Burch!!!

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Ok, another shoe post, another splurge!

Got home yesterday and lookie lookie what was waiting for me ;-)

 

Aren't they awesome?

What was even more awesome was the final price I've paid for them...

Originally they were $250 before tax, but Lulu managed to pay only $118 final price with shipping!!!

 

 

It was one of those serendipitous moments when you discover that Saks is having a 25% off friends and family sale, you have a $100 gift certificate hubby gave you for Xmas...

How NOT to get this?

In fact, I did have to order it online... Boo.... Yeah, they did NOT have my size at Saks NYC! I was so mad on Saturday when I went there just to get this... But it's all good. They are gorgeous and they are mine!

I do have a poor black Tory Burch Reva that is being worn to death, so why not get a little other one???

I am in love...

Solange Azagury-Partridge Lip Ring, Kind of!!!!

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Talking about "The Look for Less" is actually one of my favorite topics!

I do love fashion and try to emulate it for way less... And still manage to look good (at least I think so ;-)

Anywho... I always wanted a Solange Azagury-Partridge lip ring...

Well, ended up finding a really cute one in Brazil:

Of course it is different, but hey, it does look cute, right?

Loving it!

A Louboutin for Lulu?

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I love Louboutins, with their beautiful red soles...

They are the dream shoes for many fashionistas! Including moi...

Let me tell you about this serendipitous episode that happened to me today...

I've always wanted this simple black Louboutin pump:

Classic, eternal, elegant...

But... The price (at over 600 bucks) is a little bit steep for Lulu... Maybe one day...

So, in one of my Buffalo Exchange rounds after work, I did see these RED SOLES:

Turns out they were from a brand called Buffalo London and were leather with red soles...
For the amazing price of.... drumroll

EIGHTEEN BUCKS!!!!

And guess what: THEY WERE MY SIZE!!!!!!

Had to try them on... Sooooo fantastic!!!!

Well, it turns out they are from Germany ! Look at their website and please tell me that these aren't just fantastic Louboutin inspired treasures???

 Aren't they crazy???

So, while I don't acquire my Louboutins, I will use these as "training wheels" LOL!!!!!

CRAZY spring sale, even before the hot weather!

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You gotta love Old Navy...

They are super smart into bringing you in the store, all the time!

No, the hot weather is not here. In fact, it feels like winter.
Twenty-nine degrees this morning. But spring/summer dresses are on sale on Old Navy!

I did already post about my white dress, that was too cute not to get (in fact I needed it to replace a Zara dress that was worn to pieces...).

But I did see those beauties in the store:

These eyelet dresses were too cute to pass! And they do really compliment my body type. Aannd extra points for boosting my ego: they run huge! Had to get a size FOUR and even then it was kinda big!!!

And then I saw this cutie:

Was on the fence with this one... The flowers were a bit big and I thought it could look a bit matronly... But, overall I did like it and also it was a whopping 20 bucks!!! LOL

I guess I am all set for spring!!!! I just need some hot weather!!!

LOVING my Ipad Mini!

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Well, after thinking, thinking and thinking again, I did decide to invest my hard earned money in an Ipad Mini!

SO HAPPY I BOUGHT THIS AMAZING LITTLE THING!!!!

  

I was thinking: I do have a laptop, a smartphone... So why would I need an Ipad. Boy, I didn't know HOW I needed one!!!

This thing is absolutely wonderful and I seriously cannot put it down when I get home!

The screen is just wonderful. Perfect size screen (making my Droid look like a tiny dwarf), but also small enough to be super portable!

Cannot recommend it enough!!!!

I am having a ball with some amazing apps:

1. Tunein: you can literally listen to radio from all over the world (the speakers are awesome and good enough to fill an ambient)

2. Zite - customize your news, show them what you like and they build an electronic magazine with what interests you.

3. Pocket - you can save the above Zite news into Pocket, so you can read them whenever you are not connected to the Wifi. 

4. Zinio - awesome magazines online. I did get some subscriptions for free by answering an online research, but the app is great.

5. Dropbox - LOVING the fact that in this "cloud" app, I can view my files in multiple devices: home laptop, Droid and Ipad. Even backs up my Droid and Ipad photos immediately!!!

And, did I mention that all of those are free? 

Seriously, do not even think twice, get one now!!! 

I did get the cheapest one: 16 GB with wifi. Do not regret it at all.

Probably I am just seeing the tip of the iceberg here in terms of what I can do it my little amazing Ipod, I will keep you posted ;-)

Buying a summer dress when it is freezing out...

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I cannot believe that I am still wearing a million layers (we just had a March snow shower a couple of days ago in NYC) and... I am shopping for summer dresses already!
And they are on sale!!!? Can you believe it? Summer is really kinda far away and they are already marked down!!!

I was really looking for a white summer dress to replace my old beaten up Zara dress. That poor thing fell to pieces by using and washing it too much.
I just didn't think that I would find one in March, when I am still thinking about scarves and gloves...

Went to Old Navy on my lunch break and guess what... Summer dress extravaganza!

This one really caught my eye:

Reminded me about those early 20th Century dresses that I love so much (the lace) and has a great A-line skirt (good for a curvy gal like me).

The dress fit me perfectly and it was marked down from 36 bucks to only 25!

Cool detailing, huh?

Shame I cannot wear it soon enough!!!!  It is still freezing here in NYC...

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013

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Dolce & Gabbana did it again...
They just translated one of my favorite things: Byzantine mosaics into wearable works of art!!!

AMAZING!!!!

I wish I could win the lottery right now and buy a couple of these... Maybe also the jewelry! I totally need a CROWN to go grocery shopping ;-)

I was totally into the cross necklaces. And I usually run away from jewelry with crosses... Have you seen Spartacus, The Passion of the Christ, etc? The torture element doesn't really appeal to me... Buuuuut...

But I did like them and was recently given a beautiful necklace by a friend... And it does have a cross... And it is gorgeous...

Kinda of in tune with the Dolce & Gabbana necklaces, huh?

Joe Fresh CRAZY winter sale!!!

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Sometimes Joe Fresh goes absolutely nuts and almost gives away the whole inventory!
I really don't know their business model! Hope they don't crash and burn like Steve & Barry's! Remember those??? It was my favorite hobby to go there during lunch and find clothing cheaper than a sandwich! BTW, I still own some pieces of Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line... If you are careful, those things can last (no machine washing, darlings - just hand wash!).

Oh, well, coming back to Joe Fresh mania: 

I've just discovered that I do work near their outlet store (where everything goes to die on sale from the other stores): the 34th Street store in Manhattan!

I've snagged a million items in the past, and recently, went nuts with their crazy winter sale:

Shame they stuck this stupid faux fur scarf in front of my orange jacket...
From the original price of $129 to.... $19!!!!

The sweater above is the craziest one...
Original price: $99...
How much did Lulu pay?
FIVE DOLLARS!!!!
Can you believe what they are doing???
At first, I was kind of apprehensive because of the color, buuut...
For five measly dollars? I will get it...
Costs less than a coffee at Starbucks!!!

Another view of the sweater with a $94 dollar discount ;-)

Neoprene coat.
Originally $199 or so...
Paid $19!!!

Neoprene short jacket.
Originally $99
Paid: $19!!!

I did buy MANY other things... (Including scarves for a whopping TWO dollars!!!). Bought too many things... Things I could not find the photos for... Maybe if Lulu is not that lazy, she will take some pictures of my loot... 

Another Target Collaboration: Prabal Gurung

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Well, Target, you did it again, apparently.

And there goes Lulu to check it out. I am no novice in the crazy Target collabs as you've seen. My Missoni experience with Target was surprisingly smooth!
I did manage to score several items and a couple of years later, they still look awesome!

So I did decide to take a look. I was not super familiar with the designer. He's relatively new, but did create a splash with some famous people: Kate Middleton, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lawrence... The list goes on.

Went to Target.com, because of course, Manhattan still doesn't have a Target to call its own... Well, that would be a nightmare to shop anyway...

Took a look at the collection:

Thought it was cool enough and thought about how it did remind me of Stella McCartney (will she ever do a collab like that???) and the crazy prints from Mary Katrantzou. I could have a piece like that without having to mortgage my house. Charming prospect...

So, looking at the stuff, on its first day of being available, I did like the sleeveless top below:

I think it does look pretty unique and encapsulates the designer's vibe...
Also, just a little note: the price was RIGHT! ;-)

This is really a great piece! As I've said: unique and can be worn in all seasons. Obviously in the summer, but also in the cooler months under a nice jacket, blazer or leather jacket!

Oh, Target, please keep going!

UPDATE: Did receive the top relatively fast, but...
DISAPPOINTED!!!!!

I never know how these will fit. Target is all over the place in terms of sizing. I am usually a medium (and I am liking looser tops lately), so that is what I've ordered...

Well, guess what. The top is HUGE. Really, I am swimming in the medium... It is super long and the armholes are huge as well (will show my bra fo sho)...
And guess what part deux... This top is sold out online. Meaning I cannot exchange...

I will not return this because it is super cute. I think I will have to get creative and try to alter it...

Sigh... Shoulda bought the small AND the medium and then sold the medium on Ebay...
Oh well, at least I have the top, right?

Another Buffalo Exchange WIN! Tory Burch!!!

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Yeah, yeah, yeah... I really love Buffalo Exchange! You've probably seen this post and this post about this wonderful box of chocolates ("you never know what you're gonna get - Forrest!!!).

I have the luck of having one on my way back from work...
I do go there almost every day... Contrary to a regular store (that gets a limited amount of restocking a day), Buffalo is always rocking with people bringing things in... The influx never ends.

And you never know what you will find.
Pretty much most of the stuff is not to my taste, some things are disgusting, etc...

Went there countless times and almost bought a couple of things, including almost buying an Alexander McQueen skull scarf... But the color was wrong and who knows if it was a fake...

Anywho...

Went there yesterday aaaaand, just scanning the racks (you have to have a quick eye...), saw the FAMOUS Tory Burch buttons on something gray.

To my surprise, the jacket-sweater (looking online I did see that this jacket is called "Sgt. Pepper") was pristine, all the buttons were there and the previous owner even kept the extra buttons safely stored in one of the pockets!!!

The jacket was in pristine shape as I've mentioned, was my size M! And the price was super right:
$42! I still had 5 bucks in my exchange card and the total came to $37!!!

I saw similar ones online for more than $300... And you gotta love those buttons!!!!

Lucky me!!! I am loving it!

Of course I do have separation anxiety: the jacket is at the cleaners now (you have to really wash everything that comes from Buffalo, of course!)...Looking forward to wearing it A LOT.

Look of the day - necklace under the collar!

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It has been a loooong week. In fact, the first full week of 2013. TGIF for reals.
Well, on a gray day in NYC, I did decide to brighten up the day a little by using shocking pink!

You probably saw my purchase on this blog entry.
Well, today I decided to combine both the shocking pink trend with the other trend I really like: the necklace under the collar thing!

So I did combine my Old Navy shocking pink shirt (you can see it here) and an Etsy purchase from long ago:

A rhinestone vintage necklace!!!!

(You gotta love Mae West's help ;-)

Anyway, here's the result:

Cute, right? I was just experimenting and did love the way the rhinestone necklace was peeking from under the collar.