Edition 51: Fashion Friday

I know that I’ve expressed my frustration at the new Target (have I mentioned how far it is from my house?) many, MANY times. On the bright side, I’ve cut way back on my Mossimo consumption, but there are some days when you just really want to push that big, red cart around the store and check out all the stuff you don’t really need but feel compelled to buy because LOOK HOW CUTE THOSE VALENTINES PLATES ARE THAT I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I WANTED!

So on Tuesday, Gulley and I made the fourteen minute trip to Target because we needed to purchase Valentine paraphernalia and I desperately needed to get a new pair of jeans for Caroline.

The good news is I found a great pair of jeans for her for only $9.99. The bad news is I was almost suckered in to buying her a pair of pink madras bermuda shorts for $14.99.

Dear Target,

We are in the midst of the greatest recession of our generation. This is not the time to start charging upwards of $10.00 for an item of clothing that doesn’t even consist of a yard of fabric. Please go back to the days of yore when I could purchase some cute Circo child’s items for $4.99. You are getting way too big for your pink madras bermuda short britches.

Also, I resent the fact that you’ve moved to a location that requires me to stop at three additional stoplights and one superfluous stop sign.

Sincerely,

Melanie

Now for the questions.

1. Angie asks: “Is there a way to LEARN to be fashionable? I am truly so bad that sometimes I come downstairs to leave for church and my husband sends me back up to change shoes! Is there hope for me?”

Yes, Angie, there is hope for you.

If you really want to learn more about fashion, then the best place to start is figuring out your own style and taste. Don’t let those things be completely dictated by fashion magazines. Just because something is trendy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in your best interest.

Oh how I wish I could go back and give that advice to my twenty-year-old self when I sported those bright red jeans from Express with a bedazzled top.

Buy some magazines or look online at different clothing sites and pay attention to the looks you like and what fits your lifestyle. You’ll probably start to see a common theme. Most retail sites have a section that shows full outfits and it can serve as a great guide to putting together a complete outfit including shoes and a handbag.

Another good tip is to start by wearing basics. Wear jeans and a simple black top, then begin adding fashionable accessories like a scarf and a cute pair of earrings.

2. Desha asks: “Where do you stand on ballet flats? I love them, but most of the men I talk to (including my husband) think they are hideous.”

I don’t stand on ballet flats because I think they are hideous.

Ba-da-pum. Thank you and don’t forget to tip your waiter.

Okay, seriously. I don’t dislike ballet flats but, for the most part, I dislike them on me. I think most of my ballet flat issues can be traced directly back to 1985 when I wouldn’t leave the house unless I had on a pair of ballet flats that perfectly matched my oversized Esprit sweater and the lace bow in my hair a la Madonna.

All that being said, I see other people wearing them and I think they look precious. Maybe I should go to some sort of ballet flat therapy so I can get past my bare-feet-crammed-in-synthetic-leather-shoes-with-no-ventilation phobia.

And then I could go actually make myself wear some darling flats like these or these.

But probably not since just looking at them kind of makes my stomach feel funny. It’s my own personal issue. I’m a girl who likes a heel.

3. Christina and Amy separately asked two questions that go together: “Where are some good places to shop online and what items do I feel safe buying online and not trying on?”

I’ll be honest and say that I do a lot of online browsing for clothes, but not a lot of online buying. I am a big fan of the whole shopping experience. I like to walk through the racks of clothes and feel fabrics and try things on in the dressing room. I prefer the instant gratification of immediate purchase as opposed to “your item will ship in 4-5 days and then there will be a 90% chance that it won’t be as cute as depicted on the size 0 model”.

The few exceptions to that rule are Boden and Bluefly, mainly because neither of those sites has a storefront that I can actually visit, which is a good thing because I am more than a little obsessed with Boden and would like to live in their catalog. If I had actual real-life access to this tunic or these shoes, I would be powerless to resist.

And then I’d come home with them and P would make me return them because have I not noticed that the economy is in the toilet?

Sad times.

Have I even answered either of these questions?

Okay, other than Boden and Bluefly, I like to look online at ShopBop, Anthropologie, Gap, Banana Republic, Francescas Collections, Sam Moon, TopShop, J.Crew, Nordstrom and Piperlime.

There is also a great online shopping service that I’ve mentioned before, but I’ll mention it again because it’s been awhile. It’s called Shop It To Me. You create an account where you can enter in the brands you like, the stores you like and the sizes you wear in everything and then twice a week they send you an email listing everything that’s on sale. It’s like your own personal shopper and it is SOLID GOLD.

As for what I think is safe to buy online, I think it all depends on the return policy. If they offer free returns then I wouldn’t hesitate to order something online, but if I’m going to have to pay to ship something back then I’ll usually opt out unless I just have to have it and can’t find it anywhere else.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a fashion pessimist. I always assume most things won’t fit or might be made of some kind of itchy synthetic alpaca.

Alright. That’s all the questions for today because it’s actually Thursday night and I’m tired. I need to gear up for our weekend ‘o Valentine festivities. And by that I mean we really don’t have much going on other than plans to listen to some Air Supply while eating Candy Conversation Hearts.

I’m putting up the Mr. Linky if anyone wants to add their fashion two-cents.

Y’all have a great Friday!