Several weeks ago I get a frantic phone call from my mom asking if I want to go to Nashville. Um, sure…but why? Apparently my mom (otherwise known as Fashionistamama) won a trip to Nashville for the weekend for a backyard barbeque and concert with Keith Urban! Needless to say, she didn’t have to ask twice and that weekend is in 2 days!! I can’t say I am a HUGE country music fan like most of my family, but I do like Keith Urban and Sugarland is opening up for him. Seriously, who can pass up an all expenses paid trip to meet a celebrity and spend the weekend hanging out with your mom? Well, unless unlike me you don’t like your mom…or celebrities, which I happen to love both.
So my question is, what does one wear to meet a rather good looking, award-winning country music star? I am pretty sure something resembling cowboy boots on my feet are a necessity, but I NEED a cute dress to wear with them 
Hubby just loves it when I say I NEED new clothes! Here are a few things I am eyeballing, unfortunately I might be relinquished to Anthropologie since we are leaving in two days.
I got these suede boots from Nine West’s new Vintage America collection not too long ago, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to wear off their new-ness:
What I REALLY want is one of the cute frocks from ModCloth, but I don’t have enough time for shipping 
This one doesn’t really mesh with my boots, but oh boy is it perfect for the ‘backyard barbeque’ with Keith (were on a first name basis, after all):
Lookout, Cookout Dress from ModCloth ~ $57.99
This would totally be “THE dress” if I could get it in time. Why didn’t I think about this earlier? Oh yeah, I guess we did have a lot going on with the move.
Country Roads Dress from ModCloth ~ $49.99
Even the names of these frocks are uber-appropriate for the event:
Potluck Picnic Dress from ModCloth ~ $47.99
Suede boots and plaid? No better match:
The Rockwell Frock from ModCloth~ $49.99
If I had a lot of money, I am pretty sure it would all go towards dresses from ModCloth!
Antique Trellis Dress in Weekday from ModCloth ~ $59.99
Stay tuned to see what I ACTUALLY purchase after my trip to the mall tonight!
I need to learn to be more like this:
3 Anti Shopping Mantras
I was doing really great until I just went crazy at Tulle (who can resist a crazy sale AND 35% off?!?) and now of course I am looking to see what else I can find from my other fave stores…darn that “shopping momentum effect”
Sorry, I was out of work today with a migraine, so I don’t think you want an outfit post of my PJ’s 
I did, however, find a number of great sample sales going on this week, check them out for yourself!
MINT Jodi Arnold, Calvin Klein and Thakoon @ Gilt Groupe
June 26th – Roberto Cavalli @ The Editor’s Closet (e-mail me if you need an invitation!)
TWENTY8TWELVE (june 23rd) and Nicole Miller Sunglasses (June 24th) @ Beyond the Rack with Invite Code: NMJ8207B04E
Alice + Olivia going on right now @ Rue La La
June 23rd – Charles David @ Rue La La
Michael Michael Kors @ HauteLook (email me if you need a referral)
June 23rd – Elizabeth & James at HauteLook
June 23rd – Valentino Sunglasses @ The Top Secret
June 25th – Badgley Mischka Swimwear @ The Top Secret
June 23rd – French Connection @ Ideeli
June 25th – Michael Kors Sunglasses @ Ideeli
Let me know if you need any referrals to shop these sample sales! Happy shopping!
One of my favorite (obviously) stores, Forever21, launched its new contemporary line LOVE21 this week. I must say I am already lovin’ it! Beautiful, affordable, and best of all age appropriate. While I love Forever21, I think that LOVE21 is much more age appropriate for someone in their late 20′s like me. Based on the sizing charts on their website, I am guessing that the LOVE21 brand is also more true to women’s sizing than its counterpart marketed to the tween sector.
Forever21 (typically fitted for Junior sizing):
LOVE21 (that’s more like it!):
Maybe I will actually be able to wear their pants/skirts now too The Forever21 line just does not fit my womanly figure on the bottom!
Here are some of my favorites so far…they are adding things to the website every day, so keep checking back to find your favorites:
Floral Shadow Dress - $22.80
This dress totally reminds me of something you would find in White House Black Market, but for a quarter of the price. Perfect for a summer wedding (which I happen to have a lot of!).
Ruffle Front Dress - $19.80
You probably know by now I am a sucker for ruffles and bright colors. Looks like it is straight out of the J.Crew design room.
Satin Silk Ruffle Top - $27.80
Work appropriate? Yes please!
Ruffle Trim Knit Dress - $24.80
A classic wrap dress in a beautiful shade of blue.
LOVE21 is only available online and in select stores. Check here to see if your store offers this new contemporary line. I will be doing some spending after my no shopping hiatus!
I started off my day with a visit to the doc to ensure that I did, in fact, have a sinus infection and get some meds to kick its bootay. Luckily, I was right and the doc gave me a Z-pack and Allegra-D and I already feel much, much better. The ability to breathe is WAY under-rated! Anyways, while I was waiting on the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions I decided to pop around the corner to Banana Republic to see if THAT DRESS was in the store since it did indeed sell out online in crazy record time. To my dismay, Neener (as I like to call it) didn’t open until 10 and since I was consumed by the dress, I decided to call a few local stores to see if the dress was anywhere to be found. Again to my dismay, all the stores pretty much laughed at me. Apparently everyone else wanted that dress too because it came out Thursday and sold out Friday. I even called the headquarters and they searched the country for me, and still no dress.
So on I went with my day, making my way to work and drugging myself with my new meds. I was telling another fashionista work friend about my luck with THAT DRESS and she quickly reminded me that there was a new Neener that I completely forgot about. So here I go tracking down the dress again. Here is the convo:
Ring, Ring
Salesperson “Hello, Banana Republic, This is blah, blah Can I help you?”
Moi “I wanted to check to see if you have a dress in stock”
Salesperson “Do you have the item number?”
Moi “Nope, but it is the Silk Maxi Dress”
Salesperson “Oh THAT DRESS, well I think we are sold out but let me check”
puts me on hold for indeterminable amount of time as I bite all my nails off…
Salesperson “What size were you looking for?” (as if they have any choices)
Moi “Name sizes…”
Salesperson “Well we have one dress left, but it is a Zero (Is she mocking me?). Perhaps it might fit you if you are smaller on the top since it is an empire waist?”
Moi …laughs uncontrollably…”Well I have never fit into a zero in my ENTIRE LIFE, so I doubt it. But what the heck, I’ll try to stuff myself in it, can you hold it?”
etc. etc. etc.
So my fashionista friend offers to take me to the mall on lunch break (as I ride transit to work) to try the dress on and get defeated by the stupid zero. And of course, I totally agree to a lunchtime shopping excursion!
A few hours later, off we go to Neener to try on the undeniably annoying, but oh so beautiful, desirable dress. As I walk in the store, salesperson asks if she can help. I tell her I am here to try on THAT DRESS and she says “Oh we are all sold out.” Then I say all confidently, “Well I called earlier and someone said they put it on hold for me.” Salesperson disappears for a moment, and then reappears with this beautiful pile of striped silk. Seriously, the pictures of the dress do not do it justice. It is a beautiful mix of blues, browns, and yellows and made of the most beautiful flowing silk. I anxiously head to the dressing room saying my prayers that I can squeeze myself into the zero like a sausage! I get the dress on, so far so good, but the zipper in the back I can’t reach. Salesperson asks if I need help, so in she comes to zip me up. Totally panicking and praying the thing zips up and TADA it zips and the dang thing FITS. HOLY MOLY, I am jumping for joy in the dressing room. Also ran around the store looking for my friend to show her too. You would think this was my wedding dress or the last dress I can ever have (which, at this point it might be!).
While I am there I also notice that the white Flatiron Leather Bag I have been wanting is on sale for $110. And I have a 35% off coupon. It shall be mine too!
So I make my way to the checkout dress, bag and coupon in hand and much to my surprise, thanks to that coupon, I basically got the purse for free. WHAT?!?! So ecstatic. Also thinking I am now putting myself on shopping restrictions for a while. I have never gotten so crazed about an article of clothing in my life (well except that Louis I am still wishing for), so you will be seeing this dress many, many times over the summer months. Perhaps I will get really lucky and it will still be in style next season!
