Asos.com Plunge

I have yet to order anything from Asos online, but I think now is the time I try 'em out. 

While looking for the perfect skirts for a post I am working on, I saw the perfect black sequin mini skirt (sucker for sequins over here) from Haute Hippie. Moments later, a yellow and black Diane von Furstenberg mini caught my attention. So I  clicked and saved and moved on to Asos.com. 

I was surprised to find extremely similar skirts to the high priced ones I'd just saved; a yellow and black mini and a basic black sequin mini. Ultra shocking was the fact that the DVF yellow/black diddy was a rarity to me; not a common color combo this time of year. Goes to show ya, research pays off!

I don't "believe" in knocking off styles, however, a piece that I consider a "fun trend" is sometimes not worth the splurge, and I'd rather spend on a classic or staple. Skirts to me come and go, the styles are always changing and I'd rather have dozens at a good price then one or two with a steep price tag.

To be fair, the quality is better on most designer labels, and I would rather find the Haute Hippie skirt at Nordstrom Rack (Haute Hippie always pops up at the Rack) and still pay a little more than the lower quality made Asos skirt, but I finally have a chance to take the plunge and order from Asos.com. 

Note: The styles shown with the skirts from Asos are not up my alley, but worn correctly (as I will be discussing in my upcoming post about sweaters and minis) these WAY less expensive options could work, and not look so trashy...

 

Please share with me if you have ordered from Asos.com or know more about 'em....

Quickie: Ryan Gosling Inspires Home Decor

Dear Apartment Therapy and web writer Alison Brislin,


You have made my least favorite day of the week, Tuesday, fantastic !!


Check this out, it's wonderful: photos of lovable Ryan Gosling paired with cozy home interiors... What's not to love?

All photos courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com.

Again, thanks!


Love, 
Lexi

Holiday Gift Ideas for All Budgets

Christmas time is my favorite because I love giving gifts! The trick is to not bust my budget but still bring smiles to my friend’s and family’s faces…

Best little gifts:

For busy bees: “I Will Do One Thing Today” Notepad $1.99

For the crafty: Spraypaint Handgun $6.49

For the thirsty: Infused Vodka homemade

For the nostalgic: Teenage Power Couple Pencils $8.00

For the wino: Digital Wine Thermometer $18.00 special on Obaz.com

Best little bit bigger budget gifts:

For the pretty organizer: Farmer’s Market Baskets $14 each

For the entertainer: Trio Beverage Dispenser $70.00

For the label luster: Tory Burch Large Logo Earrings $68.00

For the beauty fanatic: Birchbox Monthly Beauty Sampler $10/month

For the secret pretty boy: Birchbox MEN’s Beauty Sampler $45

For the stocker n’ shopper: One Year Costco Membership $55.00

Happy Shopping !!

Love, Lexi

Parker LBD

Love me some color! The more colors, the merrier… But there’s something amazing about a simple LBD. My affection for the perfect black dress is simply based on the fact that you can do literally ANYTHING with it and it will look stylist and put together.

I like a dress that can do a lot for me: day to night, multiple seasons, work or fun, a real classic piece.

One of my favorite lines, Parker, designed the perfect black dress with every element I was looking for: silk, long sleeve, appropriate yet still fun length, with a twist (faux wrap). Little note: the “wrap” part of this dress actually stays shut, no lil’ slip ups to worry about.

Since Shopbop.com rocks, they get exclusive designs from awesome labels so this LBD is only sold on Shopbop.com. But, the style of the dress alone is so flattering and fantastic; I recommend one of the many other colors and patterns this ditty comes in as well.

I like to “play” with my clothes and see how many things I will wear with one piece from my closet. Here is just a lil' taste...

Rebecca Minkoff does Sunglasses for Vogue Eyewear

I have only worn Ray Ban sunglasses for the last 8 years. It’s been between two styles: my classic Ray-Ban Aviators, and the Classic Wayfarers, since I can push those on top of my head, even though it’s a big no-no. I love my Ray-Bans because I feel silly in those fabulous big designer frames; I prefer classic cool.

Well, Rebecca Minkoff must have received my 50 letters requesting her to design sunglasses (joke, but I wouldn’t put it past myself).

There is only one style from RM for collaboration with Vogue Eyewear exclusively for Sunglass Hut called the “City Collection”. Doesn’t matter, this one pair is pure perfection: a simple, bold look with a slight feminine touch; aka so Rebecca Minkoff. And, they are priced reasonably at $130.00.

Santa, if you are reading this, I would like these please. And hurry, they are limited edition…

Jarred Enthusiasm

Feeling a little domestic today, so I figured I would post about mason jars. Glass jars in general should never be thrown out. The possibilities are endless. I now keep jewelry in jars, makeup brushes in jars, all bathroom vanity items in jars, everything!

With the holidays coming up, all kinds of glass jars can be used to create cute little gifts.

Thanks to my favorite, Pinterest, I have accumulated tons of ideas for my jars.

Here are my favorites right now:

• Spray painted jars for drinks, organizing, vases
• Dying jars with alcohol ink and a can of spray air
• Organizing beauty products and small items that just get lost all over the place (bobby pins!)
• Bulk panty items (coffee grinds, nuts, rice, granola, anything !!)
• Infused vodka for Christmas gifts (Real Simple had a great gift idea last year for this)
• Try Red Hots candy infused vodka for Christmas !!
• Any kind of cake-in-a-jar, like monkey bread, amazing and makes a great little gift

Like me, you might find yourself going out of the way to a) eat spaghetti with tomato sauce simply for the jar, b) buying things at the grocery store only in glass jars, or c) posting a note on the office fridge asking colleagues to save all glass jars for me !!

Nasty Gal... Makes me feel 21 years old again

I'm 25 and I already feel like I can't get away with wearing certain styles that I could a few years ago. Sooooooo, I like mixing fun items into my wardrobe without spending too much. How many situations can I wear a mini tribal skirt? But with opaque tights and a blousy top, I can make it work, appropriately.

I like to have fun with my style but not feel uncomfortable in my clothes. Love the price points on shopnastygal.com and I love the awkward looks from the front desk lady when I receive a package from “Nasty Gal” to the office.

I never take their looks on the website to literally, especially due to the fact that I am in Chicago, not Cali, and it snows here in the winter. A lot.

Check out my Pinterest Board for more of my favorite pieces from shopnastygal.com.

Vanity Affair

Every girl wants a vanity and needs a vanity. If you find one at a thrift shop or a flea market, BUY IT! I have seen so many over the years and still feel deep regret over not bringing them home with me.

Luckily, you can make one yourself. It doesn't matter how much space you do or don't have, you can make it work!

From Real Simple, they use an inexpensive laptop station ($60) which folded up is only sticks out 8 inches! This is great for small apartments in the bedroom, bathroom, or if you are one of those lucky girls that have space in the closet.

Another great Ikea-hack vanity I found on msTapioca’s blog. The Ikea Ekby Gruvan wall shelf is white or black with a glass top, which makes it sleek and pretty. You can wall mount this pretty little thing, or buy legs for it also at Ikea. I would wall mount if you don’t want it to look like an Ikea overload.

Find a mirror at Home Goods, Target, any resale shop, or maybe you have one sitting around. Spray paint it to give it a unique finish.

To surround the vanity mirror, maybe hang something on the walls that will organize and display your jewelry. Thanks to Martha Stewart, here is a great Shadow Box Jewelry holder.

Also, something I found on Pinterest, you can make a Make-up Magnet board to hang above your vanity.

You can find a nice little bench anywhere from Ikea to a resale shop and reupholster the top with pretty fabric.

In the next few months, I am going to DIY a vanity, and will share lots of photos!