Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Let it Flow

Not quite sure what it is about cowl neck tops and dresses that scream dressy to me, but I love how they can work for a night out while still allowing you to be comfortable. Due to the loose nature of the cowl neck, having the rest of the piece be fitted helps to prevent your shape from being overwhelmed by drapey fabric. I've listed a few options below. Want to know the best part of this post? All the pieces are under $50!

Tops:




Cowl Neck Contrast Top $14.80 (Forever 21)



Cowl Neck Tunic Top with Belt $16.99 (Papaya Clothing)


Embellished Cowl Neck Top $39.99 (Victoria's Secret)

Dresses:


Urban Behavior Cowl Neck Pocket Dress $20.00 (Threadsence)


Dasha Drape Dress $48.00 (Nasty Gal)


Banded Skirt 2-Fer Dress $32.99 (Charlotte Russe)

From my own closet!


Top: Rhapsody Clothing

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Savvy Savers

For todays post I decided to create outfits from three great clothing stores that provide fashionable pieces at affordable prices! Whether you need a look for a night on the town or just something simple for a trip to the store, I've attempted to put together looks for any occasion. Knowing that people are on a tight budget these days, I made sure each look was under $100.00. There's even one that costs less than $50! To provide you with some more bang for your buck, I chose these outfits because they are versatile and can work for both day and night depending on how you accessorize them. Enjoy todays post and continue keeping an eye out for great buys!

Forever 21:



Sheer Stripe Shirt $10.50


Herringbone Shorts $10.80 


Leatherette Wingtip Shoes $22.80


Forget Me Not Necklace $2.80

Total: $46.90 + tax

I thought this outfit would be cute as an everyday outfit. The vertical bands going down the front of the white shirt will pick up the stripes in the herringbone shorts to create the illusion of a longer line, making you look taller and thinner! Win win right? The oxford shoes add a touch of tomboy to the outfit, all while helping to create a polished and modern look. Finished off with a simple bow necklace for a touch of girliness, this look can easily go from day to night with a pair of hot heels and a dressy clutch.

Charlotte Russe:


Printed Challis Tube Romper $19.99


Rolled Sleeve Crop Jacket $26.99


Faux Suede 3-Strap Sandal $17.50


Twisted and Textured Bangles $4.00

Total: $68.48 + tax

This look would also work as a day outfit. The playful silhouette of the romper with a simple white jacket make this outfit appropriate for a shopping trip with friends or a fun brunch to fuel yourself before hitting the mall. I added the gold bracelets in case you wanted to dress up the romper a little more. The metallic bracelets help to add a touch of sparkle and visual interest to the outfit without looking like you tried. Switch the white jacket for a black blazer and the gladiator sandals for gladiator heels and you're ready for a night on the town. Live it up!

Urbanog:


Finer Things Top $23.40


Delightful Floral Skirt $18.40 


Natural Elements Belt $18.40


Paprika Jiffy T-Strap Peep Toe Sandal $22.20

Total: $82.40 + tax

I liked the idea of mixing different materials with the same type of print for this outfit. The neutral lace tank jives well with the floral banded skirt. If the tank would have been a different color, or had a different print, it might not have worked out quite as well. I added the studded black belt to help cinch in the waist and create an hourglass shape, as well as add a touch of edge to toughen up the girly lace top. Lastly I added the nude heels to balance out the cream tank as well as create a longer leg line. This look would be perfect for a fancy dinner or summer party. It would also work as an everyday outfit if you switched the heels for some black flats or a cute pair of embellished sandals!

On another note, I stumbled upon a website that features affordable prom and bridesmaid dresses that may appeal to those savvy savers out there. Prom season might be over but you may be able to snag a great dress for a school dance or fancy party for a future event at a great price. I know that styles change from year to year, but if you find a dress with a classic silhouette in a neutral color, it'll be a timeless piece that you can wear for years without having to sweat about it going out of style! So if you have a special event or are in need of a bridesmaid's dress this summer, take a look at the link I've attached!


Inspired? Look for these items here:

Monday, June 20, 2011

Cut it Out

Tired of the same old floral print dress or plain fitted top? Why not add some visual interest to an outfit by adding a piece with cutouts? Whether at the hem or near the collar of the dress, cutouts allow you to show some skin while still staying modest in a modern way! Plus they're super convenient on a hot day when you are lucky enough to catch that slight refreshing breeze. So go ahead and add a cutout piece to your summer wardrobe!

Cutout Options:




Cutout Floral Dress $18.90 (Forever 21)


Reformed by the Reformation Kensington Dress $89.00 (Urban Outfitters)


Open Emotions Dress $54.99 (Modcloth)



Roxy Strapless Dress $39.50 (Nordstrom)


Cutout Shoulder Lace Dress $29.99 (Charlotte Russe)


Body-Conscious Dress with Cut Out Neck $43.10 (Asos)

From my own closet!



Dress: Mystic Clothing

Found this dress at a boutique shop downtown! I love little shops like these because they tend to have more one of a kind pieces that you aren't likely to find anywhere else!

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Great Lengths

Went into Sephora today to look for a new mascara. I had read a number of reviews on different brands and all of them came back to mention the Tarte: Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara and how it promises long and voluminous lashes! So I decided to give it a shot since my Clinique one had started to dry out. When I came back home to test it out, I was pretty happy with the results. It definitely lengthened my lashes to give the illusion of false lashes and seemed to stay curled even after a few hours. Plus the tube is covered with a cute metallic snakeskin material! The one downfall would have to be that the formula is not waterproof, so hold back those tears and beware of the pool! After testing this mascara, I will definitely consider buying this product again in the future. This mascara gets a 9/10


Tarte: Lights, Camera, Lashes $19.00 (Sephora)

I decided that it would help to show the product in action, so I took a few pictures of my lashes without any mascara, with the Tarte mascara, and with false lashes!


No mascara


Tarte mascara


False lashes

Inspired? Get your own tube here:

Friday, June 17, 2011

Something New

Decided to paint my nails today and wanted to try something a little different! Since I usually go for nudes and light pinks for my fingernails I settled on a darker reddish brown shade instead. After applying the polish I was pleasantly surprised and actually thought it was a rather flattering shade. However I do think that the color is more of a fall or winter shade rather than a summer shade. Overall I would give the product an 8/10. The polish goes on smooth, dries fairly quickly, and has a great price as well!


Nail Polish: Sinful Colors in Volans (No longer available)
Top Coat: Start to Finish Base & Top Coat (Works great! I give it an 8/10 as well)


What it looks like on!

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Meet me at Tiffany's

As I was getting ready this morning, I was frantically looking around for my favorite Tiffany necklace! My dad had brought it back as a souvenir for me from his trip to Japan, and I have been wearing it ever since. I'm not sure why I don't just put it back in the box after I'm done wearing it, but let's face it. There probably aren't that many retail therapy lover's out there that can actually say that they've never misplaced their favorite jewelry! Luckily I found it. Underneath my pillow! Anywho, I decided to focus on the lovely seafoam green color that has become a staple for the famous jewelry label!



Tiffany Blue Pieces:


Floral Embroidered Knit Romper $16.90 (Forever 21)



Peek-a-Boo Back Tee $58.00 (Free People)
(Check out the back!)


Aphrodite's Allure Dress $57.99 (Modcloth)


Fluid Dynamics Dress in Aero $49.99 (Modcloth)


Seafoam Mesh Skirt $65.00 (Nasty Gal)




Mint Scallop Hem Tiered Shorts $70.00 (Top Shop)



From TRTD's own closet!
Cardigan: Nordstrom

I love the color of this sweater and looks great with a black or white dress, jeans and a tank, or any other combo I can think of! Worked perfectly for spring and I think that it will definitely come in handy for those chilly summer nights!

Inspired? Look for these items here:

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Tumbling Around

I just created a tumblr page for The Retail Therapy Diaries (with a little help from my friends ~ thanks guys!). Please follow me if you have an account. I promise to follow back! You can find my page here: