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Fashion Friday: Edition and then there were three

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Last Monday my sister and I were over at Bops and Mimi’s house and she asked me if I’d go shopping with her a little later this fall and help her pick out some new clothes.

Umm. YES.

There are few things more enjoyable than spending someone else’s money.

So we began to discuss a few boutiques and key items she might need and Bops suddenly said, “Well I know for sure that the key to a good wardrobe is a great pair of jeans. You need to spend some extra money to get the right pair of jeans”.

I believe we have a closet Fashion Friday reader and I think he might have been mocking me.

I replied, “It’s true. A good pair of jeans should be viewed as an investment piece. They’ll last for years.”

And he said, “So do my Levis and they only cost me $29”.

Then I knew for sure he was mocking me.

I think he might still be bitter that he paid $80 for the pair of Guess overalls I HAD TO HAVE back in 1986. But in all fairness, I took those to college with me. INVESTMENT PIECE.

There are three fall trends left to round out the list of ten I started three weeks ago:

1. Structured handbags

Also known as a doctor bag. Or a bag like the ones little old ladies use to hit muggers on the head in cartoons and movies.

The official Dolce and Gabbana Cervo Doctor bag is a mere $2000.

Absurd.

I’d only pay that much if it came with $1900 stuffed in the side zipper pocket.

But if you are a fan of the doctor bag aka structured handbag aka little old lady weapon bag, there are definitely some affordable options out there.

Like this Hyde Park tote or this Steve Maden satchel or this Fossil vintage reissue satchel. And this Misha bag is an incredible deal.

Personally, they all hit a little too close to this.

Holla if you had one. Mine was forest green. It was my first true purse love.

But, like most old loves, I don’t know that it would be wise to go back.

So I’ve got my eye on something like this Big Buddha bag for the fall.

Or maybe this one. Or this one.

Clearly I need to make a decision. Especially since, TRUE CONFESSION, I’m still carrying my white purse.

Oh the shame.

2. Chunky sweaters

If there is a piece of clothing that can count me as a fan, it’s the chunky sweater. I love a good sweater. In fact, I went shopping with my friend Steph yesterday and I told her not to let me buy one more flowy cardigan type thing. I am drawn to them like a moth to a flame.

But sweaters are everywhere right now even though it’s still more humid than a rainforest in the Amazon. I love this twisted cable cardigan.

And this Front and center pullover sweater.

Old Navy has a ton of great sweater options and different ways to wear this trend. Check out the long belted cardigan, knit wrap sweater vest, button-collared sweater coat, or the cable-knit tunic.

I also like this short-sleeve textured cardigan

And this ruffled sweater coat .

Oh, and this textured turtleneck.

Or how about this cashmere hooded striped cardigan? ADORE.

This Every which way cardigan is great.

But I think my favorite is the Far Away cable cardigan by Free People.

Hi. My name is Melanie and I am addicted to sweaters.

Which is ironic because I live in South Texas.

3. Feminine jewelry

Are great accessories ever out of style?

The answer is no.

Although it was kind of a rhetorical question.

I love this Hive and Honey pearl drop double strand necklace.

Or this cluster necklace.

This olive green jewel bib necklace has great fall colors as does this seraphim necklace from Anthropologie.

This necklace from Forever 21 is a total steal.

And with that I will bid you adieu.

Y’all have a great Friday.

______________________________________________________

There are so many great posts coming out of Guatemala from the Compassion Bloggers that I can’t choose just one. I loved Amanda’s post about a Tale of Two Hurricanes and if you don’t cry when you read How To Make Your Life An Endless Celebration by Ann Voskamp, then you’re stronger than me.

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  1. Dang!!! Structured purses??? I JUST purchased an unstructured dark plum (okay, purple) hobo-style purse at TJ Maxx. I haven’t been sure about the purchase, so I have left it sitting on the floor of my bedroom all week…next to my last year’s Vera Bradley saddle bag purse. All week I’ve been eyeing the two, trying to decide WHICH ONE is calling my name.

    Little did I know that the FOREIGN VOICE I’ve been hearing is the Big Budha bag!! How was I to know Big Budha would be calling on a little Baptist girl like me???

    So, now the question is…can a Baptist girl carry a bag with the name Budha? I have to admit–saying Big Budha is pretty fun. I have now said it out loud about 7 times. And each time, I giggle. It doesn’t take much.

    I would also like to say: I think your dad is FUNNY.
    Oh, and one more thing and then I’ll be quiet: Just bought me some investment jeans…Ann Taylor boyfriend jeans=True Love 4EVER!!!!

  2. Ha! That’s so true – totally looks like those old Dooney & Burke bags! I tried to tell my husband about diaper bags the other day and how some of the really nice ones (I was looking at a Ramalama) were around $400. Of course he was aghast and couldn’t imagine why anyone would spend that kind of money on a purse. Then I showed him some like the one you have posted that are in the thousands. He couldn’t believe it. I guess if you’re used to spending that on a purse than it’s not too much of stress to get a diaper bag like that. I only wish I had that much money to spend!

  3. ooo—this post made me think of all those fashion “necessities” that I just *had* to have. :s Kind of embarrassing!!

    I need to head over to Old Navy stat! I need some cute new sweater options. 🙂

  6. navy blue Dooney and Bourke. Held on to it for years. That and my Guess overalls that I had.to.have too!

  7. Okay, so my questions is this- how do you where a coat over the chunky sweater? I love them too, and I also live in Texas. I realize that for most of winter the sweater is enough, but for a couple of months when I need to wear a coat, I need a huge one to fit over the big sweater- so funny looking. There must be a solution because it is very cold in the regions where most of these trends come from! What is your solution?

  8. EWW i didn’t like that doctor back one bit! My parents have their doctor bags from when they were doctors in the army, so maybe I can just empty that out. It has our last name on it, so it’ll be my purse that mr. dolce and gabanna PERSONALLY customized FOR MEEE! Perfect!

  11. I just put my white purse in the top of my closet this weekend. I didn’t want to cause my grandmother the pain of knowing that I was carrying a white purse after labor day.

    I’m not sure I can do the structured bag again. I still have a Louis Vuitton bucket bag languishing in the top of my closet (my parents bought it for me and I don’t have the heart to get rid of it).

    On another note, would you consider doing a running gear Fashion Friday? I’ve jumped on the couch to 5k bandwagon and am currently running in my old yoga pants, a ratty oversize t-shirt and cheapo shoes that cause blisters. Since I’m running at a park where people can actually see me, I think I might need to change that.

  13. Yes….to Dooney!
    My first one was the hunter green taller satchel much like the photo!

    I’ve been a huge fan ever since. All my kids teethed on those leather handles.
    Now my girls love Dooney…..and Coach bags.
    It’s an awful addiction to have!
    Oh and I can’t leave out Vera!
    She’s been a favorite too!

  14. I had the most ginormous structured “doctor” bag that I was in love with my freshman year of college. It was a Dooney and I saved up for MONTHS to buy that thing.

    I’m also a fan of the Big Buddha bags for fall. I got my mom one for her birthday last month and am secretly wishing I’d kept it for myself.

    Happy weekend!!

  15. I had Dooney to, but mine was navy. I loved loved loved that purse. I am almost embarrassed to admit but I think I still have it in a box somewhere in the top of my closet with all of my high school memories. And I am also drawn to the sweater flowy things this season. I love how they look with a great pair of jeans and boots! And I’m totally not mocking you, like Bops. Good jeans are a core item for your wardrobe.

  16. I completely identify with your sweater issues. Because I have a deep need for flip flops and sandals, but I live in Wisconsin. Where I get to wear them for 3, maybe 4 months. Oh sure, I love my sweaters in the fall, when I unpack them like old friends. But by February every sweater is just a stinking sweater and another reminder that it will never be warm again. And that there’s a whole rubbermaid tote of strappy footwear being neglected in my basement. Grass is always greener, friend.

  17. I love the patten leather purses. I carried a burgandy one the last two falls and winters and had more complements on it than I can count. It was still in great shape this year so I gave it to a friend who had been admiring it and she was thrilled. I saw her at church the next Sunday with it. Anyway, i vote on either of the first two bags you are debating over. Have fun shopping.

  18. owa, owa … I had the overalls and a navy D & B like that .. in fact I shared it with my younger sister who is 4 yrs younger than me. Daddy would only buy one. 🙂

    I am currently carrying my DB from 1993 because it is a big slouchy bag I gave to my mom and she said it was too heavy to carry …. what? heavy? never. So Melanie, it is ok to pull it back out .. right?

  19. I think I’m in love with Ann…I wept like a crazy person sitting here at the table feeding my little ones lunch. I’m sure my 2.5 year old thinks I’m insane, but he’ll understand someday. I’m determined for my entire family to go on a mission trip.

    I am a ridiculous fan of oversized cardigans too…it’s really something unhealthy.

  21. I too had the forest green D&B purse! I sold it on ebay within the last year or so, isn’t that crazy? I can only presume the purchaser is including it in a purse museum somewhere. =)

    I would love to hear your ideas on Tiffany’s query about the long sweater and short coat. I live in the Midwest, so that gorgeous long sweater reads “fall” (i.e., no coat with it) to me. I have a sorta-similar long sweater that just doesn’t seem to go with my fitted long coats. But I guess if we have another record-breaking awful winter like last year, we’ll just throw ankle-length parkas over everything anyway and not care until the sun comes out with new fashion trends in March!

  22. Melanie, I had and STILL HAVE the hunter green Dooney! My 7 year old uses it to hold her essentials like Little Pet Shop items, Chuck E Cheese tokens and chapstick that she stole from her daddy’s dresser drawer 😉

  23. I just moved back to the South from Alaska, and I gave all my sweaters to my pregnant friend so she’d have a “new” wardrobe after the baby flew the coop.

    Ulterior motive? New sweaters for me once it dips below 70 degrees down here.

  25. I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed your blog. I happened upon it when I was looking at another blog, and I could not resisit reading one called Big Mama. I graduated college in 1995, so I can definiteldy relate to all your posts about the 80’s and 90’s. I love Fashion Fridays because I do not like to shop, so you make it easy for me to to not look like I am still stuck in the last decade.

    Tonight I was feeling blue, so I decided to buy me a “happy” and I began to look through your old posts for the Twilight glass bottles. I went back pretty far searching for them and read your post about Memphis as a Metaphor from Ocotber 2009. It caught my eye because I am from Memphis, I think God use it to let me know that I am exactly where God wants me to be. I can get overwhelmed because I am in my 4th year of Pharmacy school with two jobs- one to get hours for my license and the other because my Dad needs help in his office. I think God used that blog to remind me that I am exactly where God’s wants me to be and He is always with me.

    Even though I never did find the post about the bottles; I found something worth much more.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

  26. Just wanted to let you know I have seen (and bought) similar purses on Overstock.com for about $30. Check them out! And NO, I’m not an Overstock.com sales person. Just thought you should have as many (price) options as you can. Love your blog!

  27. You are too funny! I can’t let go of my Dooney and B either. I am finally going to bite the bullet and invest in an expensive pair of jeans. Any suggestions?

  28. Oh my ‘holla’ I had a forest green db too!!! I also had a red liz claiborne and I feel so fashionable since I just invested in a target clearance chunky sweater for $13 I plan to wear it with my jeggings and fake uggs LOL oh my kids will cringe when they see me…and I still have my guess overalls somewhere when I loose enough weight I plan on bringin sexy back…take that justine timberlake =) LOVE your blog

  29. Ok…I read the story of the little girl in Guat. and I thought, ” I have read zillions of these…i won’t cry.” FORGET IT!!! I”M A LIAR!!!! I started losing it with Ruth in the kitchen and then when Levi tried on the dress for Xia…the tears were flowing down my face. “He did it for her.” The parallels the author uses of bread and feasting at the table with our Savior at the dinner that never ends was absolutely amazing. “we ARE the bread…” so profound. I love love love it. Thanks for sharing the link. Now, where are those tissues???

  30. Oh I forgot I wanted to comment on the FF. My nieces tell me that people over 40 CANT shop at Forever 21…so I have not ventured in….but I’m drawn to your jewelry posts and the insanely LOW prices….I may have to put on a disguise and wander in….pretend I’m buying gifts…ha ha ha.
    Love the purses…must have a shoulder strap though. I load mine down and it kills my hand/elbow if I have to carry it that way…I’m getting one with flowers on it like the hobo bag u showed …so cute!
    PS. Your dad is funny…let him keep his Levis. My dad once bought me a Jessica McClintock dress , navy blue w/tiny flowers and a navy velvet lace up corset!!!! It was $95 thirty years ago in San Francisco!!! I loved that dress…wore it at least once a week…church, school, family dinners….loved it…he knew it brought me such joy to have and I knew it was a special treat from the regular dresses I had.
    🙂 Our daddies xoxoxoxo