2014 Budget - April Recap

I'm a little late in my monthly budget recap because I have been out of town for most of the past month! All my travels have helped me keep on track with my spending. Though on my recent trip to London, I did pick up a few British designer pieces. But that's for the May recap. Here's what I picked up last month.

I picked up this pencil skirt from Bloomingdale's during one of their big sales last month. Not only does it have fun leather panels at the hips, it also has a full zipper running up the back. I've worn it many times to work already.

Elie Tahari - Maureen Skirt - $83 (Original - $268)

You've seen these jeans before, I got them in my Stitch Fix box last month! I love them and wore them all over London a few weeks ago.

Sold Design Lab Jeans (Similar) - $148

I looked all over the place for a cute purse for my giant work laptop. I found the perfect one in the Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. Tote. It is just long enough to fit my laptop, with enough room to toss in my heels and lunch. Bonus? I picked it up at Saks Off 5th for 60% off!

Rebecca Minkoff - M.A.B. Tote $130.00 (Original - $295)

And that's it! I spent two of the four weekends out of town and didn't do any other shopping. You should expect that I did just as good during this month to stick to my budget. You would be wrong though. I had four days on my own in London and I enjoyed a little shopping around the Oxford Circus! But the pieces I picked up at super adorable and totally worth hitting the upper limit of my budget!

Total spent in April - $361
Price before sales - $711
Total Savings - $350
Amount under budget - $139

2014 Budget

January - $614.07

February - $1,693.09

March - $110.50

April - $361.00

Patience

I've been looking all winter for a leather skirt. When I saw the Rita skirt at Diane Von Furstenberg, I knew that it was just what I was looking for. The problem? At $500, the skirt was quite a bit more than I was willing to pay. Patience was necessary and after a month, that patience paid off.

At the same time that the skirt went on sale at the Soho store, it also showed up at Nieman Marcus - Last Call. Then there was a coupon for an additional 20% off! I was able to score this amazing skirt for 40% of the original price!  Bonus? There are two zippers on the front seams. Keep them zipped up during the day, unzip one (or two) for dinner and a night on the town. Totally a perfect day-to-night skirt!

I've been having fun with this skirt and wearing it with my whimsical sweaters. Now, to find a way to bring this skirt from winter into spring...

Sweater: C Wonder

Skirt: Diane Von Furstenberg

Tights: Anthropologie

Heels: Elie Tahari

PJ Salvage Crewnecks & Scoopnecks · Diane von Furstenberg Mid-length Skirts · ModCloth Plus Sweaters

2014 Budget - February Recap

Umm, yeah... So I totally blew my budget this month.  I can't even blame the boyfriend for bringing home purchases for me, though he was pivotal in me picking up quite a few of these items (the windowpane Theory sweater and wrap leather Theory skirt). I mostly blame Bloomingdale's and their ridiculous sales this month!  

While most of my purchases this month were just fun, I did pick up two necessary work items.  I've got a lot of conferences coming up and I stopped at Elie Tahari to buy some blazers. I also seemed to be on a big leather kick this month and picked up two leather skirts. I have been watching the Diane Von Furstenberg leather pencil skirt and it finally hit a price that I was willing to pay. The leather is beautiful and it's a piece I'll be wearing for years.

 Kate Spade - $179.10 (398)

 Milly - $157.50 (375)

 Theory - $224.77 (555)

Theory - $123.75 (275)

 DVF - $207.00 (498)

 $26.98 (69)

Elie Tahari - $198 (398)

Elie Tahari - $398

Ted Baker - $177.99 ($275)

Luckily I'm out of town for half of the month of March, not much time for hitting the malls!  Maybe I'll be able to make up some of my budget. I'm certainly set when it comes to pink purses!

Total spent in February - $1,693.09
Price before sales - $3,241
Total savings - $1,547.91 (47% off)
Amount over budget - $1,193.09 (whoops!)

2014 Budget

January - $614.07

February - $1,693.09

Some of these items are still available online! Some aren't and I've given you some similar options!

Ted Baker Satchels · Ted Baker Totes · Ted Baker Shoulder Bags

Leather & Sun

The days are getting longer, but they're not getting any warmer yet! The city is in for another snowstorm today and we're all hoping that it's the last one of the year. I wore this outfit last weekend for an afternoon out with the boyfriend, when the temps rose above forty-five.  I got this Theory skirt a few weeks ago at the big Bloomingdale's sale and have been waiting for the proper destination and temperature to wear it. It's not really a work appropriate length!

I love that spring is coming because it means I can wear this coat again!  Being a commuter, I need to wear a coat that covers my behind. When spring finally arrives it's goodbye puffy coat and hello wool moto!

Outfit Details

Jacket: Elie Tahari (Fall 2012)

Sweater: French Connection

Skirt: Theory

Necklace: Charming Charlies

Boots: Joie (Fall 2013)

PS - I love lens flair!

Joie Boots · Theory Skirts · Theory Mini Skirts

Linking up with...

Simply Lulu Style

Style Elixir

Peacoats & Plaid
Life's A Party, Dress Like it!
Style Sessions

Wilde Prints

The weather around here is really getting hilarious! Last Thursday brought another snow day from work as fourteen inches of snow came down, followed by two hours of hard rain, followed by another three inches of snow. This week we are expecting to see temperatures rise above fifty degrees and I'm expecting to see things floating down the street as the entire state of New Jersey is a flood zone.

In order to cheer myself up from this silly weather, I threw on one of my favorite printed skirts.  I got this bold pencil skirt from Anthropologie this past Fall and have been wearing it from warm weather though the snowstorms. (Someone is selling a size 12 on Poshmark!) 

If you need a little cheering up, wear one of your bright, summery prints with a few of your winter pieces. You'll be feeling like spring in no time, because I think we can't expect real spring for another few weeks.

Jacket: Elie Tahari

Blouse: Banana Republic

Skirt: Tracy Reese via Anthropologie

Heels: Tahari

Nanette Lepore Mid-length Skirts · Versace Mid-length Skirts · Minnie Rose Skirts

Linking up with...

GYPO - I Feel Pretty Linkup
Transatlantic Blonde - WIWW
Style Elixir - Style Sessions
Life's a Party - Dress Like It!
Walking in Memphis in High Heels - Trend Spin Linkup

Classic Work Looks

Since I started at a "business casual" job, I've found a few favorite designers for my day to day work clothes. On any given weekday, you'll find me sporting either one of my favorite Diane Von Furstenberg dresses or some of my Elie Tahari separates. Both labels are chic, well tailored and classic.  Everything that I have from both DVF and Elie Tahari are pieces that I can see myself wearing for years.  Besides, the DVF wrap dress has been around for 40 years, I don't see it becoming passé anytime soon!

Sure, both labels are a little on the pricey side. I actually only buy about 20% of these items from the brick and mortar Soho stores. Most of my closet comes from the outlets! Check out Nieman Marcus Last Call online for some of the same great deals that I score in Bergen county.  I picked up this DVF at the Nordstrom anniversary sale for a song.

Jacket: Piperlime (Sold Out, Similar)

Dress: Diane Von Furstenberg

Heels: Elie Tahari

Necklace: Charming Charlies

Burberry Coats · Max Studio Coats · Cole Haan Coats

Linking up with...

Transatlantic Blonde
I Feel Pretty Linkup

Adorable Trends

My usual picture place is an alley of ice!  The weather in the tri-state area has everyone saying "Enough already!"  Even this Buffalo girl is getting to that point.  Last week wound up being a three day work week because of the snow and ice storms.  What you see in these images is what those storms left behind.

I've been wearing lots of layers these days.  Sweaters over blouses, trousers over tights, two jackets, I've done it all.  I wore this look to work the day after an ice storm. Let it be known that I love peplums, no matter what the glitterati say about them being passe.  They're adorable.

And what do you think of my hair? I've been playing with parting it in the center, I'm not sure if I like it.

What item in your closet do you continue to wear, even though it might be considered "So last year!" ?

Jacket: Elie Tahari (Similar)

Peplum: Madewell

Blouse: Banana Republic

Trousers: Elie Tahari

Shoes: Bandolino via DSW

Necklace: Charming Charlies

Brooks Brothers Pumps · Steve Madden Flats · Stuart Weitzman Pumps

Floral Love

This Ted Baker dress makes me so happy.  The cut, the print and the belt, I'm in love.  I feel like a 1940's London lady.  If I knew how to put my hair up into victory rolls, you'd be seeing them here today. Since I don't, I decided a bright red lip would have to do in the styling department.

I'm wondering how many times a month I can get away with wearing to work.  I'm so in love with this print that I also plan on buying the spring version in skirt form.  Just be sure to check the size conversions when you order from Ted Baker.  This dress is a size 1, which some how corresponds to a size 4. According to the website, everything about the brand is unique, including their sizes.  They're called "Ted sizes."

Dress: Ted Baker

Jacket: Elie Tahari

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Lip Color: MAC - Viva la Glam

Manolo Blahnik Pumps · Rebecca Minkoff Shoulder Bags · Elie Tahari Jackets

Linking up with...

Transatlantic Blonde - WIWW Linkup

I Feel Pretty Linkup
The Pleated Poppy - WIWW
Because Shanna Said So - Random Wednesday
Working Girl with Style
Three-Fer Thursday

Current Obsession - Business Casual

With my new job came a new dress code.  I've been adding new business casual pieces to my mostly casual wardrobe and have decided I really like a few brands for work clothes.  I love all things Diane Von Furstenberg, but mostly her dresses.  For suits, pants & blazers, I tend to find some amazing pieces (and deals) at Elie Tahari and Banana Republic.  As for shoes? I've been scoring some serious finds at the Paramus outlet recently.  I'm talking Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabanna, Tory Birch for 80% off!

Check out some pieces that I'm wanting to add to my work wardrobe!

Diane von Furstenberg Cocktail Dresses · Diane von Furstenberg Day Dresses · Joie Tops

And can anyone tell me the difference between business casual and business for women?  It seems like there is a lot of crossover.

Fancy Pants Business Casual

I've been working at my new job for just over a month and have really been enjoying it!  It's a very small company and it's exciting to be in on the ground floor of something.  I've been doing a combination of research and business development and lots of work on setting up our new chemistry labs.  I've also been having fun dressing the part of a businesswoman.  

Today I layered one of my favorite Anthro peplums under a warm, yet structured, knit blazer.  To keep the look from being completely monochromatic, I threw on these comfy flats.  I picked them up at TJ Maxx last year, but I have seen them recently at Marshalls in another color!

Depending on what my calendar says will determine my footwear.  This particular day I was touring some labs and needed to be quick on my feet, no high heels this day for me!

Notice anything different about these pictures?  Ten points to the person that figures it out!

MICHAEL Michael Kors Flats · Steve Madden Flats · Calvin Klein Flats

Linking up with...

Love your look Linkup
I Feel Pretty Linkup
Wednesday Style Connection
Simply Just Lovely
Three-fer Thursday Link-up