reality check!

i was sick yesterday and didn't have much to do so i decided to organize all my paperwork. i got out my old casio calculator and added up all the clothing receipts i've been keeping. it turns out that in the past 3 to 4 months, i've spent $1,400 on clothes and shoes. and that's not including stuff that i lost the receipts to, stuff bought online, or things i got from the thrift store. so, building those in, i probably spent about $1,700 since september.

$1,700!!!

that might not much to some, but for me, it's pretty insane. worst case scenario--if i spend that much four times a year, i'm looking at a total of over $6,000 a year on material things. ok, i'm bad at math, obviously. that's probably how i got into this whole dilemma in the first place. what makes it even worse, is that there are probably two or three things that i bought that i really love , and combined their total is a mere $550. as for the rest of the money spent, i can't look into my closet and pinpoint exactly what's what.

ok, i'm down, but not out. after this alarming news sunk in, i came up with a plan. i was going to have to "budget." project time! i love projects. so, i'm going to give myself a budget of $1,000 for spring/summer shopping and see what happens. like i've said before, i think limiting yourself really brings out your creative side, so i see this as a fun challenge. with the new budget, i will most likely be able to buy only a handful of quality items, which is a shopping-style i've always admired. game on.

e-bay alert

these vintage wedges are so cute. size 6. too bad my feet aren't that small.

bid on them
here.

thinking about: high-waisted jeans

so the american apparel leggings i mentioned before were a bust. i'm going to have to accept that i don't have the right build for super slim fitting pants. so now i'm thinking of the exact opposite silhouette: wide legged and high waisted. they supposedly work well for longer-waisted gals like myself, and i'm really excited to try them. i like these grey ant ones from creatures of comfort.

super wedges

i never liked these


but i love these. the colors are so pretty!


and these. i'm so strangely attracted to them even though they're a little orthopedic-looking. am i crazy?

thinking about: latex-looking pants

the ubiquitous american apparel black lame leggings. online, that is. as much as it seems like these are a hot seller, i've never seen these in action on the streets. to avoid the fetish look, i was imagining them really dressed down with a big black sweater and street sneakers.

the problem is i don't want to spend $40 on something i'll get tired of in a month. so, i've been checking out other fabrics that are more versatile. these helmet lang chintz pants might be a more realistic option for me. either these or satin/satine skinny pants, which i've been looking for forever.


it sucks. the model makes the pants look small-fitting, but i just know that helmut lang runs too big for me. ugh! ah well, the search will continue!

sale alert: 25% all sale items at barney's co-op

i got a cute little postcard today from barney's letting me know about their sale that starts this thursday. a lot of their clothes are already 50% off so major deals can be had. i'm eyeing a theory blazer and pants. i think i might end up a little late to work that day...*cough *cough.

totally useless yet amazing

i have this habit of buying things from thrift stores that i would never fit into, or just have no use for. case in point: see below.

1. oscar de la renta bathing suit. this is neither my size, and i would be too lazy to sew in a new lining. i just thought the ruffles were so pretty. now it just chills out in my room.
2. red bandolino cage heels. size 4.5. i know some very small girls, but no one i know has feet that tiny! but i thought they were so well-made i had to have them. i'm trying to convince my roommate that we can use vintage shoes as decorations for our house.
3. brown leather pumps with wood heels. size 5. again, my feet aren't that small.
4. McDonald's french fry costumes! i do not have a baby or toddler and i don't know anyone who could use these, but they are too cute. i just thought these were the best halloween outfits and i might just have to buy the adult version for myself!

favorite purchase

3.1 phillip lim coat

from barney's


the runway version in plaid


who knew buying a coat would be such an ordeal! i'd been stalking it on the barney's web site for over a month waiting for it to go on sale. i never see coats i like, so when i saw this, i knew i had to have it. then, once it dropped down to a price i could afford, i ordered it right away. a few days later, i got an e-mail from barney's telling me that they oversold the coat and cancelled my order. what??? i couldn't believe how that could happen from a major retailer. i didn't know what to do since it took me so long to find a coat i liked, i thought i'd have to start all over again. the next day, cool, calm and collected, i called every single barney's i could (thank go there are only about 10) until i finally found one in my size at the chicago store. shoutout to gina who works there and helped me out--she's great! the coat arrived a few days later and i couldn't be happier with it.

so, the moral of the story is, there's always a way to get something if you really want it that bad.

some other stuff i bought/made:

chloe-esque blouse from forever21:


miniskirt i made:


next big purchase--a leather bag. stay tuned...