Rack 'Em Up!

I've been a fan of Nordstrom Rack for as long as I can remember. My mother used to take me there for back to school clothes, and now it's one of the places I hit up when I crave a good deal. The Laguna Niguel location opened up Thursday, and I was so thankful to be invited to a grand opening celebration on Tuesday. 

Along with drinks and appetizers, shoppers got to peruse the racks for special finds. This location has a lot of great designer clothing from Elizabeth & James, Kate Spade, DVF, and more, along with a designer shoe section that had a lot of Tory Burch. 

I found a lot of cute things, but the clearance rack especially caught my eye. After doing some digging, I came back with stunning sparklers from Ted Baker and Topshop. The Ted Baker dress is a beautiful salmon color with a front pleat and jeweled collar. It's so comfortable! The Topshop dress is a bit more form fitting, but I love the sequins and how they can be moved. Perfect for my upcoming Vegas trip in July.

The staff at this Rack location was extremely helpful, so I suggest you stop in this weekend and see what you can find.

Happy Shopping!

Obsession

I have mentioned in past posts that I am feeling the studded trend. It is still going strong, and I am still buying into it. I love how Sam Edelman adapted this trend for spring. The mint colored trench is perfect for the weather now. And the motorcycle jackets are actually not real leather, so they are light and perfect to throw over a maxi dress. It might seem obsessive to buy three pieces of outerwear, but when they are faux leather they are cheaper, and the deals are even better when you score them at Hautelook. Hautelook is owned by Nordstrom and so you can find sample sale prices on Nordstrom goods while the sale is on Hautelook. Thank you, Hautelook!

Happy shopping!

Fashion Collaborations

I think it's really important that fashion houses have learned to collaborate with other retailers. Lately it seems like the trendy thing to do, which has been really beneficial for consumers who like high fashion but can't always afford it. H&M has had long-standing partnerships with designers such as Jimmy Choo, and I am glad to see these other retailers following suit. Here are the ones I am liking and buying right now.

In February, Prabal Gurung for Target hit stores. It was floral, colorful, and perfect for Spring. I got up super early and hit my Target. Good thing I did, because I got the last floral blazer and dress. They fit so perfectly and they add instant vibrancy to any outfit. I also like the neon yellow dress, though it didn't look best on me, and the neon tie-up shoes, which were online only and sold out. The blazer and dress were $49.99 each. I even wore the dress to a spring wedding already. It was the perfect item.

In January, Kirna Zabete partnered with Nine West to begin the release of six months of shoe partnerships.  Not being an avid Nine West shopper, this slipped under my radar. But later on when I saw these feathered beauties on Instagram, I knew I had to have them. The tall, red heels were just $129.99 and they look way more expensive than that. The kitten heels are under $100. When I saw the June preview with the pink, vibrant colors, I got really excited for the coming months. I am happy to be a newly converted Nine West fan.

I was so thrilled to hear that Marchesa's Georgina Chapman was doing a collection for JC Penney called Pearl. However, I have to admit, I was a bit put off. I hadn't been in a JC Penney for years. It is definitely not the place I would associate with stylish clothes, let alone the rosettes, tulle, and ornate decor that is Marchesa. But on a whim I went to check it out and am oh so glad I did. The pieces are beautiful for how affordable they are, and they have the Marchesa flavor. My picks were an embellished LBD and this vintage-looking peppermint tulle dress. While these looks are marketed toward prom wear, the sizes are regular and the quality is definitely there. If you want a classy frock to wear for any occasion, check out these deals at JCP. The Pearl section is marked off with these gorgeous pearl chandeliers, so you can't miss it. And by the way, they are doing a couple other cool collabs as well, with Mango and Sephora. I am really feeling the new JCP. 

The biggest surprise for me has been Kate Young's collection for Target. This stylist is really hooked up in Hollywood, but since I wasn't that familiar with her style I didn't know what to expect. The preview pictures I saw for this line weren't moving me that much. But when researching this post, my jaw dropped. I literally saved this draft and ran to Target. Luckily my Target is tucked away so they had pretty much everything (save for the fuchsia tiered dress) in stock. I picked up three of these gown-like dresses that look absolutely stunning. And for under $100 each, they are perfect. I just need more nice occasions to wear them to. Oh and a new pair of shoes made it home with me too. Just $45 for these bow-tied beauties. Kate Young is now my new favorite designer.

I sincerely hope more retailers keep up the collaborating, making high-taste haute couture affordable for those on a shoe-string budget. Fashion can be affordable; fashion is for everybody.

Now, happy shopping!

Ab Fab

My friends at Made Woman Magazine  introduced me to this great site called JustFab. This site has amazing deals with customized boutiques for every customer. A lot of celebrities sport the same goods seen on the site.

To whet my appetite I received this multi-jeweled necklace and stud ring with a bow. I knew I could layer both, and they are so on trend. I included an Instagram image of me wearing the ring with my other jewelry assortments. The price of this ring was ridiculous: under $10. You have no excuse not to buy. JustFab features clothes, bags, and shoes too! I included a couple of my favorites from their current selection above.

You can read more about JustFab at madewomanmag.com

Happy Shopping!

Some Like it Hot

As I said in my previous post, times have been hectic and stressful. I usually combat such times with excessive gym going or vacationing. So perhaps it was fate working everything out that a Living Social escape I had purchased weeks ago was ready to be cashed in Monday night.

But I have to tell you, I almost didn't go on this trip. I just didn't feel like it. I felt guilty for not being at home, where I felt I was needed. But the people in my life are a true blessing, and I was given the support and encouragement that it was OK to go away for one night.

So go away we did to Palm Springs. I hadn't been there in a few years, which is part of why I purchased the deal. The majority of my reasoning was based on the beauty of this hotel and how downright fun it looked. And the Saguaro was all of this and more!

I know now I would have definitely regretted not going on this mini vacation. The desert air did me good. I felt completely refreshed. Our first night there we dined at Tinto, where they have amazing food and cool, soothing sangria. The pool is open until midnight, so we floated around under the stars for a while. The next morning we had breakfast in town and then hit up the pool again. They were doing a photo shoot that morning, so it was nice and quiet. Poolside at the Saguaro is heaven! The water is perfectly warm, the jacuzzi is a fun shape, and the bar makes the best skinny margarita ever (they use agave syrup). But the best part was being surrounded by so many inspiring, happy colors and wonderful architecture. All the rooms were painted a different color, so it is like staying in a rainbow. Everyone is so friendly and sunny there too. The rooms overlook either the mountains or the pool -- perfect scenery. And each room comes with a vintage camera and coffee table books to keep you extra entertained. How cool is that?! Every morning there is yoga, bikes are lent out throughout the day, and there's a shuttle to downtown. And right now downtown Palm Springs is sizzling, not only from the heat, but because of their tribute to Marilyn Monroe (which is where this giant statue is located).

In all honesty, this is the best hotel I have stayed in to date. It's fancy without being overtly so. It is just fun. And everyone's attitude coupled with the area only makes it a more positive experience. My boyfriend even raved about how much he enjoyed his stay (and he hates the heat)! I am already looking into going back. Next time, I want to hit up the spa. I'm thinking girl's getaway, bachelorette party, anniversary, and birthday trips are all in order. I strongly advise you to check this place out. It just opened in February (it was a former Holiday Inn) and I have a feeling it will be getting more and more popular. So go before it is full year-round and the price goes up.

Joie de Vivre!