Update Your Winter Wardrobe (AKA – Look Christy, You’re Internet Famous!)

I have awesome friends.  I’m not sure why, but they keep coming back for more.  They put up with my fickle phone skills and know-it-all personality for reasons I have yet to determine.  Of course, this makes them all the more awesome.  When my longtime friend Christy told me at brunch the other day that she was going shopping to update her wardrobe for the cool winter season, my ears perked up.  Ok, it was more like OMG CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE PICTURES FOR ME SO THAT I CAN WRITE ABOUT THAT?!  Because honestly, who doesn’t want to update their wardrobe for each season?  I know I do.  Also on the honest front?  Who is really prepared to drop thousands of dollars to do it each time?  Right.

Christy (who is a Junior Mass Comm major at Louisiana State University) updated her current look with just a few additional pieces that she found at Forever 21 and Target.  She did the entire thing for under $300.  Check out her new looks.

Black long sleeve shirt with ruffles–Forever 21–$19.80
Red skirt with Black belt–Forever 21–$10.50

Tights–Target–$5.00
I think Christy hit it out of the park with this look.  She paired the shirt, skirt, and tights with a pair of Chinese Laundry Black Boots that she already owned.  The boots cost her $110 when they were new, but she has now worn them two winter seasons in a row.  That, my friends, is called an investment.

My friend the little lumberjack.  Isn’t she adorable?  In all seriousness, plaid is back.  I’m not sure how I feel about it, but it’s back, it’s a fact, so Christy is keeping it real and fashionable with this look.

Flannel shirt–Forever 21–$19.80
Blue Skinny Jeans–Urban Outfitters–$35 on sale
Tan Boots–Charlotte Russe–$41

Rawr! Again, Christy is rocking the skirt with tights and her Chinese Laundry boots, but this is a totally different look (great for nights when she has a lot of partying studying to do!).

Plain black long sleeve shirt–Target–$9.00
Zebra skirt–Target–$16.99
Tights–Target–$5.00
Headband–Target–$9.99
Bangles–Forever 21–$4.99 for a 3-pk

This is one of my favorite looks on Christy – love the green sweater with her complexion, and I love that she went with brown boots instead of black.

Green and Grey sweater–Forever 21–$13.50
Grey Cami underneath–Target–$8.99
Blue Skinny Jeans–same as above from Urban Outfitters
Tan Boots–same as above from Charlotte Russe

Her last look is all about the coat, which I think is great since so many people will see your coat long before they see anything underneath it.  She let her coat do the talking, and paired it with all-black underneath.  My only suggestion for this outfit would be to consider cinching the waistline with a skinny belt to pull it all together.  Since the coat isn’t uber-fitted, it would help to give her more shape.  She paired this coat with the same black long sleeve shirt from Target, and Chinese Laundry Boots.

A-line Black and White Coat–Forever 21–$44.50

Black skinny jeans/feel like tights–Forever 21–$24.80

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There ya have it – some really inexpensive ways to put together a few new looks, with a huge thank you to my friend Christy, who never ceases to provide me with entertainment (and friendship, I might add).

Want to be featured on Chic Shopper Chick?  Send me some pictures of your favorite looks and I will do my best to post them!

Oh la la! Jean Paul Gaultier and Tar-jay!

Oooh, the fashion world is abuzz with speculation that Jean Paul Gaultier will be next in a line of well-established designers to collaborate with Target.  Word on the fashion street is that Gaultier is in talks with the mega corporation, and that his designs will follow in the footsteps of other designers like Anna Sui and Alexander McQueen!

Not since the release of the Jimmy Choo for H&M news has there been such hubub and excitement.  I suppose it’s the budget-conscious fashionistas (like myself) who are the ones celebrating.  Of course, that is assuming that Gaultier can make some fun designs that are not Lady Gaga-esque.

Because, you know, last time I wore head-to-toe lace…well…let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

Anna Sui Designs Gossip-Worthy Line for Target

The fall of 2007 was my very last semester teaching, and it was a semester that I found myself teaching French at an all-girls Catholic high school.  I actually loved teaching all girls, and found that forging a bond with the young women whom I taught was a natural thing that helped me to gain their trust but also their respect.  It wasn’t long before the September air began to cool down, and the jitters and buzz surrounding the first major test of the semester began to work itself into a near frenzy.  My big test, however, had competition.  The premier of a TV show called Gossip Girl (which, the girls impatiently told me, was based on a VERY popular series of books) was coming on the night before the test…so how in the WORLD would they have time to study?!

Since I fancied myself a good teacher, I did what anyone in my shoes would do…I watched the premiere.  Oh yeah, and I was totally embarrassed to say that I LOVED it.  Naturally the girls screamed in delight when I went back to school and admitted to them that I had watched it, and begrudgingly admitted that I actually enjoyed it.  A lot.

I don’t teach those girls anymore.  Actually, I don’t teach anymore at all.  But I still watch the show, and, um, I’ve seen every single episode.

I think the word I’m looking for is “addict”…

Gossip Girl is a delicious escape for me from everything that is “supposed” to be in the world.  They aren’t affected by a recession, and the fashion on the show certainly proves that they aren’t restricted by their bank accounts.  Of course, it’s the fashion that I love almost as much as the rollercoaster plotline.  Each ensemble fits the character’s personality to a “t” – I swear I wait each week to see the clothes just as anxiously as I await Blair’s latest scheme.

Naturally, I was so excited to see that Anna Sui was tapped to design a “Gossip Girl” inspired line for Target to be released in mid-September.  There are 19 looks in all, in 4 distinct categories.  There are the Blair’s, the Serena’s, the Jenny’s, and the Vanessa’s.  Check ‘em out below — which fits you best?  And what do you think?  I think some of the looks, especially the white lace “Blair” dress, is dead on.

Pretty Pretty Princess

I was in Target yesterday and I wandered past this adorable princess bedding set in the kids section.  Little AG has recently made the transition to a toddler bed, so it’s got me thinking about her next round of bedding.  Though I swore I’d never make my little girl into a princess, I couldn’t resist this adorable set.  My favorite was the tuffed pink quilt with strategically-placed rhinestones.  I also love the pillow with the crown on it in rhinestones.  I can’t help it, if I was a little girl, I’d covet this set for myself.  Too bad I have to act like a grown up. *pout*

All of these pieces are actually reasonable priced, and some of them are actually on sale this weekend.  Isn’t that chandelier nightlight adorable? Oh, and that bedskirt is tulle — how sweet is that? I’m so tempted to go back and buy the set for when Little AG finally transitions to a real big girl bed, but by then — who knows.  She may be vocal enough to tell me just how much she doesn’t like it – and I’d be fine with that.  But until she can say such things?  I really like it.