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.

Summer in Chiffon

Summer has unofficially started here in New Jersey and the warm weather has finally made an appearance. On a recent weekend trip to Brooklyn, I was able to dress the part of summer. How does one wear summer? It's all about chiffon. Light and airy layers keep you cool and girly. I discovered this trick on my trip to Singapore. While all my male coworkers were sweating away in their cotton khakis and polo shirts, I was comfortable and cool in white chiffon.

My only complaint about this dress? It's a little on the short side and makes riding the subway a bit of an issue. How to I fix this problem? I'm totally wearing Nike bike shorts under this dress.

No chiffon ensemble is complete without a simple and nerdy necklace! I get so many questions about this particular necklace. It's a simplified structure that represents the organic molecule - theobromine. Otherwise known as the chocolate flavor molecule. Nerdy and delicious! You can pick one up for your favorite chemistry or biology friend at Made with Molecules!

Dress: Theory

Sunglasses: RayBan

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff

Shoes: DSW

Necklace: Made with Molecules

The boyfriend picked up this Theory dress for me last summer, but here are some other girly and summery options from Shopsense!

Deep Blue

I love this dress. This Theory dress is made of the softest blue suede ever. You might have noticed it last month in my budget recap and I've been waiting for a good day to make its debut. With the winter that we've been having here in  New Jersey, I've been waiting for a day that is free of sleet, snow and hail!

Just about everyone at the office asked to feel this dress, it just looks luscious! Today I paired it with a simple white button down (my fave is this totally affordable option from Banana Republic) and riding boots.  As the weather warms this spring, I'll shed the layers and rejoice in the sun!

Dress: Theory

Shirt: Banana Republic

Tights: Anthropologie

Boots: Ralph Lauren

Lauren Ralph Lauren Boots · Ralph Lauren Boots · Fogal Hosiery

Gravity

With my new job being business casual all the time, jeans are now reserved for the weekend. Skinny jeans and sweaters have been my weekend uniform for months now. The boyfriend helped pick this sweater out for me, he said the windowpane print made it look like my boobs were distorting gravity.  Guys... Strange creatures.

Rather than stick with an all black and white look, I threw on some neon accessories and my favorite fuschia YSL lipstick (Number 11). This lipstick will be making more often appearances now that Spring is coming!

Sweater: Theory

Belt: Kate Spade

Jeans: 7 for All Mankind, The Skinny

Boots: DV for Dolce Vita

Necklace: Via Stitch Fix

Gravity Boobs...  Woooommm...

Dolce Vita Boots · 7 For All Mankind Skinny Denim · New York & Co. Cardigans

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

Weekend Warmth

I'm so excited for the rising temperatures this weekend.  It's going to be a heat wave with temperatures heading up into the mid thirties!  Time to break out the bikinis!  I wore this number last weekend during the second wave of Canadian air.  See that Theory sweater?  It's the most amazing sweater in the world.  So warm and cozy, I wear it every single day at work.

In other news, did you know that it's the Super bowl this weekend?  I did.  Mostly because there are lots of people in Super Bowl logo emblazoned parkas all over New Jersey public transit. Them and a serious amount New Jersey police officers with giant guns.  It's a hoot.

Jacket: Kenneth Cole (Similar)

Sweater: Theory, still at Bloomingdales (Similar)

Tee: Gap (Similar)

Jeans: 7 for All Mankind

Boots: Ralph Lauren

Lauren Ralph Lauren Boots · 7 For All Mankind Skinny Denim · jcpenney Longsleeve Tops

Linking up with...

Style Elixir
Simply Lulu Style
Three-fer Thursday Linkup

Consignment Shopping in NYC

I am a big fan of sales. Who isn't? On a recent trip to the city, the Boyfriend and I avoided our usual haunts and shopped consignment. Not familiar with consignment? Well, when people with fancy clothes realize their closet it too full to fit more fancy clothes, they call the consignment shop.  The buyer will check over the clothes and assign them a price. When the item sells the original owner gets a percentage, usually 40-60%, and the store keeps the rest. Most stores have a consignment period. If a piece sits there for longer than that time, it gets marked down or sent back.

New York City has lots of fancy ladies with full closets, so there are a lot of consignment shops. If you want to make an afternoon of it head to the East Village, Soho and Nolita. In one day, we stopped at ten different consignment shops including Roundabout, Cadillac's Castle, STA, Tokyo Joe's & Buffalo Exchange.

I wound up getting a few amazing pieces, most of them with their original tags still attached, including these Theory shorts. I've been looking around for a pair of plaid shorts and have tried on at least three pairs. I picked up these at Roundabout (their Soho location has a great contemporary collection) along with an adorable Chloe skirt.

Next time you come to New York City, be sure to check out some of these shops. You might just score an amazing piece at an out of this world price. Think Chanel for 60% off. Yeah, it's that good.

BTW, it was a little chilly out when I took these photos! Brr!

Jacket - Sachin & Babi

Sweater - Banana Republic

Shorts - Theory

Tights - via DSW

Booties - Joie

Joie Boots · ModCloth Hosiery · Alice + Olivia Shorts

Linking up at...

Totally Posted Tuesday

Stylish Tuesday

My Thifty Chic - Love it Link it

Walking in Memphis - Trend Spin Link-up

Working Girl with Style

A Casual Thanksgiving

If I were staying up north for thanksgiving, this is totally what I would be wearing. Something warm and fuzzy. Though like a good percentage of the people in the United States, I'm traveling for the holiday.

It's the busiest travel day of the year and there is a huge weather system sitting over the Northeast right now. I hope that everyone who is traveling through my part of the country gets to their final destination! The BF and I are southern bound tomorrow, we love air travel on Thanksgiving. It's so quiet at JFK! The weather system brought really cold temps ahead of it, so I struggled finding places to take pictures without freezing.

I actually wound up in the bridge that goes between the east and westbound train tracks.  Sometimes it's a wind tunnel in there, yesterday it was actually pretty warm! Like a little greenhouse.

It also helps I was wearing my new sweater.  The BF and I were at Bloomingdale's and found this Theory sweater for 60% off. It's so fluffy, it feels like it's generating its own heat!

Last year I probably wouldn't have considered even trying on these boots, it was the ladies at the Joie store that convinced me to give them a go. And I love them! They're totally different from anything I own. I'm looking forward to wearing them all winter long.

Jacket - Kenneth Cole (old, similar)

Scarf - Kenneth Cole

Sweater - Theory

T-shirt - Gap

Jeans - 7 for all Mankind

Booties - Joie

Necklace - Charming Charlies

Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff Clutches · Joie Boots · shoptiques.com Necklaces

Linking up at...

What I Wore Wednesday
I Feel Pretty Linkup
Because Shanna Said So