Two OOTD (Crisp and Tough)

So much to blog about and so little time this week. I'm going to post very quickly two very different outfits that I wore earlier this week but I drank a little bit of Crewlade recently so I have quite a few new (and not so new) arrivals to blog about when I find the time!

The first is the "crisp" outfit that the title of this post refers to. I wore this on Tuesday to school and do errands. It's very simple but everything is in the accessories (the belt and the pearl layering necklace) and I got tons of compliments from the other moms:





The pants are the summerweight cocktail chinos from last summer, the shirt is the white popover currently on sale (in-store only in this color I think), and the blazer is from the Gap. I really like the popover, even if I think that I am going to wear it more like a shirt (tucked in) than like a tunic (too short to be belted in my opinion and otherwise shapeless). It's actually better than a shirt because it stays tucked in and I highly reccomend it.

I can't believe that I wore the following outfit yesterday and I was sweating in it (it felt like end of July):



Once again, I could have looked like I had just jumped out of the bed and picked the first tee and shorts on hand, but the accessories make it an "outfit", especially the studded belt (BTW, you are free to think that I STILL look like I jumped out of the bed):



I recently re-arranged that mess called my shoes closet so all my shoes are now easy to reach (while before I could only reach the newest that kept piling one over the other one). These are from many years ago, when I still lived in Paris and I used to buy almost all my shoes from Free Lance (for those who know). Unlike the JCrew sandals, they are padded and extremely comfortable. Now, do you think that I really need those Reese studded gladiators?
I felt tough in this outfit and even tougher when I added my new Marc Jacobs bag:



Today is the last day of "summer": tomorrow it is supposed to be much cooler, down to more seasonal temperatures. It was good until it lasted, I guess!

Stay tuned for some new arrival reviews!

Meet My New Bag (no, it isn't a Vuitton)

When I blogged about my bag dilemma, I omitted to tell you that a designer bag that I would have happily exchanged my BR for (let's call it my "dream bag") existed; just, it wasn't a Vuitton. My husband can be very obstinate and the deal that he offered me was only valid on a Luis Vuitton.
Many of you were surprised that I couldn't find a Vuitton that I liked but the reason is that there was another bag that I simply LOVED and have been lusting after for a while and I'm not greedy enough to let my husband buy me an expensive bag that I'm not in love with. It really seems like a waste of money to me.
So I dropped it and I started to wear my BR purse and I have to say that I'm pretty happy with it: it's the right dimension and it's a carefree bag, plus it goes with many coats that I have.
But I must admit that I would find myself browsing the Internet to catch a glimpse of my "dream bag".

OK, enough with the suspence: my dream bag is the Marc Jacobs "The Single". For those of you who are not familiar with Marc Jacobs bags it's a quilted cross-body that retails for $525 and comes in different colors/leathers. I wanted a plain leather one because it is the only one that comes with a chain strap (while the other styles come with a leather strap). It is in a price range that makes it almost "affordable" but if I can spend the same amount of money in different, smaller purchases, I always have scruples to blow more than $150 on a single item (I know it's silly, but it is what it is). So I have been watching every single Marc Jacobs bag sale for more than a year (Gilt, RueLaLa, you name it) and I think that I have missed my big occasion to buy it on sale the day after Xmas at Saks (I arrived at Saks too late and I didn't even think of checking the website before going).

So when a friend of mine gave me the coupon for the Bloomie F&F event I thought that I would give it a try. I had been at Bloomingdales during President's Day weekend to try the Tory Burch shoes and I had stopped by the Marc Jacobs corner to check it out (again). At that time they only had the studded one (in a weird color), which wasn't my first choice so I was almost sure that I wouldn't find it (this time I had checked the Internet first).
But they had it. Classic black. Plain leather. Chain strap. The 20%coupon applied and I had my gift card to spend plus an old return (2008 old) that almost covered for it. You agree that I couldn't leave it at the store.

So meet my new "Single". In my opinion it is the most Chanelesque bag out there (because let's face it: Chanel it's out of my league). The leather is the softest and most luxurious:



It is roomier inside than the BR and the JCrew charmed mini-bag. I like that even if one day I buy a bigger wallet (my Prada is one of the smallest wallets on the market) I will still be able to stuff it in the bag:



And the style? Classic, I tell you, and like a Chanel it will never go out of style:





Now, will I wear it to the playground? Certainly not, at least at the beginning. The "instructions for care" are pretty clear: "Due to the delicate nature of the quilting, we recommend that you treat this item with care. Avoid getting it wet (ie avoid sprinklers at the playground and don't let your toddler come close to you with a watercan full of water. If she wants to jump in a puddle, don't try to dissuade her and just run away), as water stains may occur. Avoid overexposure to direct light (ie, don't stand in the sun waiting that your daughter has finished examining every leaf or insect that she finds on her path) as color fading may occur. If it has frame, we reccomend that you use the frame gently (ie, don't let your toddler pull on it to obtain your attention when she has a tantrum).

So no, I won't wear it to the playground on a regular basis even if it might happen that I go out to run an errand and I end up at the playground (in those situations I guess that I will be a stressed mom). But because my husband ultimately didn't pay for it I'm entitled to keep the BR for my everyday life and I will wear this one mostly to go out with him (or alone). I don't have to wear it every single day as it is meant to last alifetime. And a deal is a deal, right?

I bought something else at Bloomingdales but, yes, you guessed, I will leave it for another post.

What Do You Think of ... This Marc Jacobs Sweater-Jacket?

I was at Lohemann's this morning looking for a swimsuit for my upcoming vacation (we are leaving in less than ten days, yay!)
I try to stay away from Lohemann's because there are too many temptations there but because the Jcrew swimsuits really don't fit me well and I like to buy a new one each year, and in my opinion Lohemann's is THE place to go because they have the greatest deals on otherwise much more expensive beachwear brands, I decided to go.
I found what I was looking for (post coming soon) but I also found something else that I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR but I just couldn't leave there.

It's a jacket from Marc by Marc Jabobs made in a sweatshirt fabric and lined with sherpa (I know that this description sounds weird but you will understand when you see the pics). I couldn't resist the colors and the beautiful buttons:







This is the sherpa lining (only the body is lined, not the sleeves):



It wasn't on sale but at $79.99 it was decently priced (as everything at Lohemann's) for a Marc Jabobs piece.
I should be happy because it is a great find and I really like it. However I feel a little bit of a buyer's regret because:

1) It was an impulsive purchase and I don't need it (hey, I was looking for beachwear)
2) It is a size S and I think the fit would have been better in a XS (it is a little bit boxy when fully buttoned, like here):



3) It looks like the buttons come off very easily (in fact the last one came off when I was trying it in the fitting room) and I'm not good at sewing!
4) I have other jackets that I still have to wear
5) I don't have any budget left for spring clothes (unless I return something)

But on the other side:

1) I think that the colors are stunning. It's a jacket that doesn't go unnoticed.
2) It fits very well in my lifestyle (because of the fabric it's very comfortable and I can wear it to the playground, take up my daughter without fearing for it etc.) which means lots of potential wear
3) The fact that it's sherpa-lined it's a plus for me because it means that I will be able to wear it without a coat in early spring when the air is still frisky (and anyway when it gets warmer I don't like to wear jackets)
4) Did I mention that I like the colors?

What do you think? Should I keep it? Is it worth it? Please share!