Retail Roundup

As a social media specialist/PR pro in the retail world, I get out and about to research trends and what’s new in retail land often.  I wanted to start to share some of the great finds out there with you all.  Let’s face it, of course we would all love to shop exclusively at boutiques and fancy online sites, but the majority of us, if not all of us, inevitably find ourselves picking up random pieces from everywhere and anywhere in between.  A Target run for nail polish remover becomes a trip to try on summer swimsuits.  Before you know it, you’ve spent $100 on the suit, the sandals, a beach towel, a nail polish and a magazine, but you forgot what you came for.  I find that wherever I am, there is always SOMETHING I can take home with me.  This is a problem.  This is a product of consumerism and I am working on it.  It helps that I don’t have endless funds.  It also helps to have a camera on my phone.  I can take a photo, think about it, sleep on it, share it on social media and with with you all here.  I love finding things at stores you wouldn’t normally see yourself shopping at.  I just saw “This is 40” and the main character is crying and saying she is not ready to shop at “old lady” stores and mentions Chico’s and Talbot’s.  I have to disagree!  Check out a couple pieces I found in said stores below.  The other misconception of “mall” shopping is that you must stay clear of the teeny bopper stores.  Not true!  You may go up to a large instead of a medium, I know, the horror, but the prices are a lot more affordable on those trendier pieces you may only wear for a couple seasons.  So here’s the first edition of Retail Roundup, some of my favorite finds over the last week.

1. Statement Necklace from Anthropologie. $68  (Park Meadows)  This would dress up the basic white tee and jeans, and add a blazer in coral or min to make the details pop!

2. Tribal printed denim by Sanctuary at Sundance. $148  (Park Meadows) Edgy denim to pair with a loose fitting jersey tee in black or gray and gladiator sandals gives you an L.A. look.

3. Cute tote from Talbots. $139 (Park Meadows) I just loved this!  A fun carryall for spring/summer and sturdy!  Love the red and teal color combo!

4. Bohemian Blouse from J. Crew. $110 (Park Meadows) Lot’s of bohemian inspired prints everywhere, even in the preppy J. Crew.  Add ankle length, light wash skinny jeans with a few rips and a leather sandal and this is the easiest look to head to a soccer game in.

5. Trapese high/low racer-back tank dress from Urban Outfitters. $39 (Park Meadows) The silhouette on this will mask my post pregnancy bod and flatter most figures.  Add a wedge or heeled sandal for height and elongate the look.  A long necklace and great earrings can really dress it up if you have an event too.

6. Leather sandals from Steve Madden. $69.95 (Park Meadows) Need these.  I’d probably get black or tan.

7. Sheer caftan from Chico’s. $109 (Park Meadows) I immediately thought of a trip to Mexico when I saw this.  Even though I am not going anywhere anytime soon.  I would so wear this over a black swimsuit, with a straw fedora hat and a margarita in hand!

8. Camouflage vest with faux leather shoulder detail at Pacific Sunwear. (Park Meadows) Camo is back, again.  I liked the punky extras on this.  Pair it with ankle grazing skinny jeans or shorts and a white tank.

9. Denim jacket with Native American fabric inlay on back at American Eagle Outfitters. $$59.95 (Park Meadows) LOVE!  An easy throw-on piece, especially over a flowy maxi dress this summer.

10. Printed shorts by Joe Fresh at JC Penney. $19 (Park Meadows) LOVE these in purple or yellow.  Again, add your basic tee, a pair of gold hoops and a couple necklaces and your flip flops, straw tote and go!

Last, there is something about these necklace/detachable collars from Clair’s Accessories that scream potential.  Right?!  I mean, you can’t go wrong with $12!  The only trick is finding the right under shirt, blouse or dress to top it off with.  You don’t want a gap of skin showing or a collar underneath peaking out…

Hope you liked the first installment of Retail Roundup!  Hope to roll out more of these and also share things I did actually come home with.  What have you seen or purchased lately that you thought was a gem?!

35 Weeks: Polka Dots and Rolling my Ankle

This past Thursday we had our 35 week check up!  Can’t believe how fast it all went and we are literally in the waiting period now.  I decided to “dress up” for the doc visit and put on this polka dot skirt from Target.  I find that for doctor visits when you need to put jelly goop on your tummy and may or may not need an exam, skirts and dresses are by far the way to go.  The wedges, while cute, proved to be an impractical choice of footwear.  I wore them all day, including to walk around Park Meadows, wherein I rolled my left ankle, lifting the right one to scratch!  I have super bendy ligaments (probably from ballet and gymnastics) so it didn’t hurt at the time, but tender today.  I have rolled my ankles in these shoes before…should have been my clue not to wear them preggo!  Duh!  A basic white tee from Ross, a thrifted brass bead necklace with Stella & Dot “Gigi Studs” finished the Friday ensemble.

My weekend was spent doing a little baby laundry, prepping my hospital bag, putting batteries in the bouncy chair and getting necessities at Walmart.  Friday night we had a delicious dinner!  The mister and I went downtown to Mongolian BBQ.  As we were waiting around the grill for our bowls to be cooked up, a guy standing next to my husband gestured down at his bowl, and/or my stomach, and said, “Baby’s eating good tonight!”  Why yes, yes she did…

 

28 Weeks: Belted Below the Belly

This past weekend I finally caught the cold that has been going around.  I managed to escape it from my hubby a couple weeks ago, but I think it was just a matter of time.  So this weekend was pretty much spent holed up.  I did make it out for some fresh air on a couple outings; to a friend’s trunk show in Lodo, a baby shower and my mother in law’s for dinner, but other than that, I made a nice warm dent in my bed.  Yesterday it hit me the hardest, so I decided a doc appointment was in order; being 7 months preggo I didn’t want to take any chances of an infection and green tea, water and rest weren’t cutting it.  So this is what I managed to put together for a day of errands, and a trip to the doc.  Ironically, I am wearing a dress that sort of reminded me of medical scrubs.  I debated about whether or not I should get it for this silly similarity, but here I am wearing it!  It’s RACHEL Rachel Roy from Macy’s.  I found it late Friday night at Park Meadows and used a small gift card balance I had.  You won’t believe the price!  Originally it was $89.00, but they had a screaming Presidents’ Day sale and I scored it for $17.80.  It’s definitely a resort/summer piece, the fabric is a dry-fit weave and it has a rope circle neckline, but paired with a black blazer and leggings, I made it work for what turned out to be a blustery winter February day!  (Don’t worry, I had a heavier winter coat on immediately after these photos.)  This is what I love about fashion- while the magazines and runway shows are always a season or two ahead,  they are showing Autumn/Winter 2013 now, my wardrobe, our wardrobes rather, truly are without a season label, especially here in Colorado!  I sort of am liking the belt below the belly better than above.  What do you think?  Tomorrow I am 28 weeks, which to people who have never been through this life changing experience is about 7 months along, and the start of the third and final trimester!  Wohoo!  Feeling amazing and truly enjoying every bit of this experience- heart burn and all.    Did you find any good deals out there in retail land over Presidents’ Day weekend?