The Boyfriend Shopper

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been MIA recently. There have been big things happening around the Wilde house and I haven't had a moment to post!  I'll be catching you guys up on my summer travels, and all the other things that have been happening, this week! Starting off first, with my favorite shopping trick...

You've all heard me sing the praises of Stitch Fix. Personal Stylist, try on the clothes at home, sending me new trends to try out. It's all great. Now it's time to share with you another one of my favorite things - The Boyfriend Shopper!

What is this you ask? Well, it's just like Stitch fix, except my personal stylist is my boyfriend!

Sure, this might not work out for some of you (okay, most of you), especially if your significant other hates shopping. Or isn't comfortable wandering the women's department of Bloomingdale's. I'm a lucky girl and let me tell you the great things about My Boyfriend Shopper. (All of the items in the outfits included in this post were purchased by the boyfriend, without any influence from me!)

1. He has access to all my favorite shops, the best shopping mall in New Jersey and a few of the best outlet malls in the area. His office is right in the middle of all of these amazing stores. It's a good thing that I don't work in that part of the state.

2. The Boyfriend has learned my style over the ten plus years we've been together. He knows I hate surged hems, stretchy tops and anything Missoni. Though he often buys things he thinks will look good on me and I wind up loving them.

3. My guy is incredibly frugal and can sniff out a sale like a deal bloodhound.  On his most recent trip out for me he spent $120. He saved over $700 on labels like Theory, Hugo Boss & Marc Jacobs. Yeah, he's good.

4. I get to try the items on at home and if I don't like them he can just take them back to the store next week. I don't have to lift a finger! No going to the mailbox for me, take that Stitch Fix!

5. He sometimes forgets that I haven't paid him for the cute clothes he bought me.  Mostly I just repay him by making a larger rent payment, thereby lowering his payment. So it's like I'm paying for the roof over our heads, instead of those killer shoes on my feet.

If only I could figure out a business model in which I would monetize his sale finding skills.  Anyone out there need a personal bargain shopper? I charge 10%. Yes, that sounds legit.

Day to Night - Take Two!

Hi Everyone! I'm back in New Jersey and back in the office. With the start of summer, I'm no longer heading straight home and hiding under heavy blankets. This time of year is my favorite time to take the train into the city for a fun evening with the boyfriend. Since I commute to my job via the train, it's faster for me to go straight to Manhattan rather than stop at home to change.

This just leaves one problem that I'm sure you all have with summertime day-to-night looks.  It's freezing in the office, but so beautiful outside! This is how I take my look from my desk to the restaurant...

The whole look is based on a black dress. Not a traditional, office appropriate black dress. I picked up this dress a few months ago, but didn't have the chance to wear it yet. To bring the dress to office appropriate levels, I tossed on this blue blazer that I got from Stitch Fix! Flats are my go to shoe when I wear a skirt this length to work. I love this pair from Marc by Marc Jacobs because they look like little mice!

My accessories are the usual office set - big bag for commuting on the train, Fitbit for tracking my steps and my favorite 3D printed necklace from Nervous System.

When it comes to work makeup, I keep it simple. Eyeliner, tinted lip balm and mascara.

When it's time to head to the city, the shoulders come out!

I fell in love with this sweetheart neckline of this Rebecca Minkoff dress.

The boyfriend was smitten with the back of this dress and insisted that I buy it. The back of the dress is the major reason I added the blazer for the office! It's a little too sexy for work!

Heading to the city, I leave the big bag at work and swap it out for this fun clutch. I also trade out my Fitbit for a rose gold chain. I always carry my Fitbit though, it's just in the clutch. Gotta catch every step I take!

And I'm off to the catch the train to the city!

How do you take your day looks into night?

Bluefly still has this dress in stock in a few sizes!  Major sale!!! Go get it before its gone...

 

A Home for the Monster

My work laptop is a monster. At ten pounds and fifteen inches long, it doesn't fit in any traditional computer bag. While my coworkers suggested I get a boring and ugly bag from Staples, I was determined to find something pretty and functional for my monster.

While wandering through Saks 5th Ave a few weeks ago, I came across the MAB tote. I have a few other Rebecca Minkoff bags, but they are all crossbody bags. This bright blue MAB tote caught my eye and I knew it was just perfect. Wide enough to fit my monster, structured enough to hold up and stylish enough for me to be happy with carrying it everyday. The monster now has a new travel bag. It was a total coincidence that my favorite nail polish happens to match!

Oh yeah, this dress! Can you believe that the boyfriend picked it out for me? He's been picking up every black and white dress we've come across while shopping and showing it to me. This Marc Jacobs number is so sweet, with the A-line skirt, it makes me feel very girly!

Spring in Blue

Yesterday brought our first spring rainstorm. While I'm always a bigger fan of sunshine rather than rain, I was just happy that it wasn't snowing!  With the rain, I find myself wearing softer colors, including baby pink, mint green and of course, powder blue.