September Purchases

St Vincent de Paul

Whenever Beefy drove past the Mt Washington St Vincent de Paul, I made little mewing noises and scratched at the window. We never stopped – either because the store was closed or because we were on a tight timeline. It tortured me to pass by that thrifting bonanza again and again.

This month, Beefy enticed me to the nearby Walton Creek Theater with the prospect of decorating The Foreigner set. I made a couple of small changes (a different rug and a different throw) and then searched the haunted basement for wall art appropriate to a fishing retreat. I came up empty. Nothing to do about that but go shopping! And so I finally got to go to the Mt Washington St Vincent de Paul.

Because we had less than an hour, Colette and I rifled through only the framed art and immediately returned to hang it. Not bad:


After being forced to paint the stage floor, Colette and I escaped the theater and returned to SVdP, where I spent a record amount on second hand clothes and accessories for myself: almost $50! (I lost my receipt, so I’m doing my best to remember prices.)

1. LS2 silk leopard-print blouse, $4.49
2. Suede and knit vest, $6.99
3. Faux Dolce & Gabbana red bag, $10.99
4. Worthington mustard shirt, $4.49


5. Carved wooden bangle, $2
6. Woven olive belt, $1
7. Scarf, $2
8. New York & Company leopard cardigan, $4.49


9. Joseph A silk animal print sweater, $4.49
10. Striped belt, $1
11. Plaid skirt, $4.49

Tristate Antique Market

12. Turquoise ring, $10 (the uppermost, and smallest, ring in the photo.

Beefy bought me the cuff (belated 2010 Valentine’s gift), so it was “free!”

Target

I needed new sunglasses (my Betsey Johnson pair finally bit the dust) and a neutral, crushable hat for an upcoming trip.

13. Xhilaration sunglasses (olive and red), 2 x $12.99 = $25.98
14. Olive driver hat, $14.99




Night Owl Crafts

I visited Night Owl Crafts at her booth at the VitaminWater uncapped fashion show. I had a helluva time deciding between four pairs of adorable earrings. If I weren’t borrowing money to buy even one pair, I might have brought more home with me!

15. Reworked earrings, $8


September total: $105.40

Total spending for the year: $1188.36

August Purchases

August was an epic shopping month. Five (5!) pairs of shoes (and assorted other items) put me way, way over my $100/month budget.



(Maybe I should just start calling it a “guideline” instead of a “budget.” You know, like the way the posted speed on exit ramps is just the “suggested speed,” not the “speed limit.” At least, that’s what Beefy tells me.)



J Crew



1. Collins suede platform peep toes in mossy oak, $79.99



I saw these on the feet of Katherine (Get Dressed) and totally bit her style. I kind of died at the price...especially considering these were half off! They are very comfortable and I love the color, but I never would have paid full price for these.



TJ Maxx



2. Olive suede Libby Edelman peep-toes, $39.99. A girl can never have too many pairs of brownish-green shoes.



3. Peach leather BCBGeneration ballet flats, $29.99. These replaced my old commuting flats. (I’ve actually worn holes through the heels of my (Nine West slippers over the past couple of years.)





eBay



4. Richard Chai for Target racerback dress in navy, $34.99



I borrowed my friend Colette’s edition of this dress and was loathe to return it. Instead, I found it NWT on eBay and gave her that one instead (saving me from having to dry clean the one I’d been wearing). I didn’t plan on this purchase in August, but when reader notified me that it was available, I had to pounce!



Shopgoodwill.com



5. Southwestern turquoise and coral ring, $36.





I have this vision of myself wearing a silver and turquoise (and/or coral) ring on every finger and similar cuffs stacked up my wrists, like some sort of over-accessorized, southwestern hippie. I’m slowly accumulating the pieces needed. Once I’ve completed my collection (and conquered my aversion to wearing that many rings at once), I guess I’ll move to the desert and live in an old VW bus.



St. Vincent de Paul



After spending all that money, I still had the shopping bug. I knew better than to go to Target. Instead, I got my rocks off for $6.99 at the thrift store.



6. Cognac, faux-lizard pumps, $2

7. Purple-blue pencil skirt, $0.50

8. Kimono-esque jacket, $4.49







Payless



9. Lela Rose for Payless Isidro Ankle Strap Wedge in green, $25.60



I'm sometimes asked if photographing and publishing my daily outfits prompts me to shop. Honestly, it doesn’t. Instead, I’m inspired to remix the things I already own to create fresh combinations. I’m tempted to shop when I look at other people’s blogs. Seeing an item (especially shoes) styled by a “real” person is so inspiring that I often want to own it. And now I own the shoes worn on Court + Hudson.



I also bought a new winter coat in August, but Beefy told me I don’t have to count that in my budget. It’s utilitarian, like running sneakers, underpants, and pajamas. (Doesn’t Beefy have the best rules?)



August total: $253.55



Total spending for the year: $1082.96

July Purchases

JC Penney

1. Mixit Orange Leather Stud Wrap Bracelet, $5.39
2. Allen B Mesh Legging, $16.38. Not pictured because it’s been too hot to wear these!

Target

3. Calypso St Barth for Target scarf, $13.98
4. Set of bracelets, $12.99 (Top three bracelets in the below picture.)


St Vincent de Paul

5. Roundy Bay luau dress, $2.25
6. Christopher Banks plaid shirt, $2.25


7. Feathered belt, $1
8. Pony hair belt, $1


9. Bracelet, $1 (It’s the wider, perforated, silver bangle in the below and above pics.)


10. Jones New York buffalo checked tunic, $2.25
11. Mossimo plaid flannel shirt, $2.25 (So 1990's, right?)
12. Kelly green clutch, $4.99

Gayle’s Vintage
My friend, Colette, has been trying to drag me to Gayle’s Vintage for months. I finally made it over to her Milford shop and fell in love – both with the merchandise and Gayle! I think she’s a dead ringer for Maude (of Harold and Maude).


13. Lace jacket, $15
14. Ring, $6
15. Tassel earrings, $4


Brooklyn Flea

16. Fort bracelets, $40. (The two bracelets closest to my hand.)



The brass bracelets, dripping with deadstock chains, pushed me over my $100 monthly budget, but were so worth it. I'm willing to spend more to support local artists. I love how they pair with my other bangles and add texture to the mix.

June total: $130.73

Total spending for the year: $829.41

June Purchases

June was a crazy busy month: happy hour, Salsa on the Square, The Little Black Dress Event, Tri-State Antique Market, vacation in Atlanta, two weddings, Charlaine Harris, and Red, Pink, and Blue.

I usually find that I spend a bit more in months with a lot of special events. My two largest purchases, this month, were shoes for The LBD Event and a necklace I bought at Red, Pink, and Blue.

Macy’s

1. Nine West floral peep-toe pumps, $55.30

I’ve had so much fun mixing patterns with my floral Miss Me shoes, that I started searching for a second pair of flowered heels. This Nine West pair is fairly comfortable and was on clearance!

2. Style & Co earrings, $12
3. Style & Co beaded necklace, $16.80 (not yet photographed)

I shopped Macy’s for a pair of turquoise-colored earrings to complete my Red, Pink, and Blue outfit. I couldn’t resist the necklace I found next to them.


Tri-State Antique Market

I organized a group trip to the monthly Tri-State Antique Market. As I was making introductions, I realized that the group was dominated by style bloggers (me, Tamia, Goose, and Londyn). I promised to take them to my favorite, top-secret, $1 jewelry stall. After much sweaty slogging through the heat, I didn’t find my usual vendor, but another operator had boxes of $1 jewelry for us to paw through. We tore it up.

4. White beaded necklace, $1
5. Silver Indian pendant, $1
6. Moscow pin, $1
7. Red-orange beaded necklace, $15



Serket Jewelry

8. Turquoise stone necklace, $40

I’m the sort of person that rarely carries cash, but I made a withdrawal before Red, Pink, and Blue, anticipating a cash-only bar and Serket Jewelry’s booth.


June total: $142.10

In July, I’m looking for a pair of bright jeans (or pants). Urban Outfitters has some options (by BDG) and free shipping this weekend. I may also pick up a few of the Calypso St. Barth for Target pieces that are now on clearance.

Total spending for the year: $693.98

May Purchases

May was really cold and rainy. Perhaps that’s why I spent more time than usual in traditional retail stores? (And overspent my budget.)

Target

1. Jovovich Hawk for Target dress, $19.98

I was a little iffy about this JH dress because of the short length and loose silhouette, but the clearance price sucked me in. So far, I’ve only worn it outside of the office, but I can’t wait to pair it with thick black tights for work, next fall

2. Dripping chain necklace, $15.99 (layered with a beaded necklace in the below picture)


3. Swimsuit, $19.98

I had planned on buying a new suit this month, after leaving my old one in a hotel room during the Great Piano Trip. I didn’t count on finding one I liked so easily and cheaply, though! I’ll be wearing it on its first outing in June, so I’ll ask Beefy to take some tasteful photos. (If you follow me on twitter, you saw a self-modeled, in-the-mirror shot there.)

Charming Charlie

4. Floral bag, $24.97

I’ve owned this less than a month and it is already my favorite bag. Well, second favorite. First place probably goes to the Mossimo bag I bought last month. But second place ain’t bad. Especially for a floral number that you might think wouldn’t go with anything (but actually goes with everything).

Payless

5. Fioni Lyric heels in tan, $26.99

I’m going to blame this purchase on the Blogger Bandwagon. I spied these beauties on a few pairs of bloggy feet (including Kendi Everyday, I think) and was prompted to check them out in person. Not only are they cute, they are truly comfortable!

Claire’s Boutique

Every time Beefy and I go to the Levee to see a movie, we argue about Deb. I always want to check it out, but the place gives Beefy hives. I admit that Deb is mostly gross and trashy, but I’ve found a few gems. On Memorial Day weekend, in honor of my service to my country, Beefy granted me 15 minutes in Deb while he visited the bookstore. I spent two minutes in Deb before leaving with a little vomit in my mouth. (Beefy was right, this time.)

With 13 minutes to kill, I went in Beefy’s second-least-favorite store, Claire’s Boutique. And found some really cute stuff with time, if not money, to spare.

6. Peacock print bracelet, $9.50
7. Pom-pom trim scarf, $16.00
8. Bracelet set, $14.50 (not pictured and not worn because I might return it)

May total: $147.91

Total spending for the year: $551.88

Frye boots fund: I give up.

April Purchases

I only waited until April 3rd to go to Target and spend my month’s budget.

Target

1. Mossimo crossbody bag, $23.99
2. Mossimo dress, $17.99
3. Target for Tucker dress, $39.99
4. Leather cuff, $14.99


St. Vincent de Paul

My allowance was gone after the Target spree, but I’m always able to justify spending just a little more at the thrift store.

5. Eddie Bauer dress, $2.24
6. I.N.C. floral skirt, $4.49
7. Leslie Faye skirt, $0.99
8. Express lace vest, $3.37
9. Life Strides sandals (not pictured), $4.00


April total: $112.05

Total spending for the year: $403.97

Frye boots fund: -$3.97. Not looking good.