OVER THE KNEE BOOTS FOR SLIM CALVES

Today I'm coming to you with a review on 4 pairs of over the knee boots designed for slim calves.
I have very slim calves (12.5in circumference) and have always had trouble finding boots that fit properly. I've been eyeing the Stuart Weitzman Lowlands for quite some time, but did not want to spend the money.

I did plenty of research and reading reviews online and found 4 pairs that were described as "slim fitting". During the Black Friday, I bit the bullet and purchase all 4 pairs.



First up is the GENTLE SOUL EMMA BOOTS - definitely winners! These retail for $399, but are on sale on several sites for $220-$250.00 and come in black and a beautiful taupe color (almond.) I purchased these in both colors; the black in size 5.5, and almond in 6. When I was in the process of checking out, the size 6 in black sold out, so I decided to get the 5.5 anyways.
To my surprise, these fit about 1/2 a size larger, so the 5.5 was perfect. I was quote unfamiliar with this brand, but knew it was a comfort brand. Gentle Soul is a brand of Kenneth Cole and is definitely made for comfort. I felt like I was walking on clouds the second I stepped foot in these boots. The soul is thick and made of layers of memory pillows, padding, and dear skin lining, completely organic and has rubberized souls for easy walking!

PROS:
- fits my legs perfectly!
- lined with a silky smooth liner
- doesn't slip down my legs when I walk
- genuine sueded
- amazing quality
- good price point for quality and comfort!
CONS:
- pull on boot, without ties in the back, which may stretch out after some use
- run half a size big

Last Minute Gift Ideas!

Today I'm sharing some last minute gift ideas for all you last minute shoppers. These are items I have and absolutely love!

MADEWELL MINI TRANSPORT TOTE - I have the ORIGINAL TRANSPORT TOTE (larger version of the mini) and use it through the spring, summer and fall. It's super versatile, functional, and stylish! It's great for work travel and weekends, however it is quite large as an everyday bag. This bag is the perfect everyday bag. It's super versatile with the top handle and crossbody strap, and made of great material. The vest part of this is you can personalize it with monograms from MADEWELL. This bag retails for $148 and it currently 25% off with code LATEBIRD. Nordstrom is also pricing Madewell's price.

For women or girls who love jewelry, you can't go wrong with statement necklaces. One of my most worn pieces is the LAYERED CIRCLE NECKLACE from JCrew Factory. These can dress up the simplest of outfits and makes it look like you put effort into your look.

Nordstrom BP Trolley Ankle Bootie Review

I attending the private holiday shopping event at Nordstrom last week - an event for level 2-4 customers. Every dollar spent during the event is 10 points. I took full advantage of this and purchased several pair of shoes as well as some beauty products I was running low on.

I finally purchased the highly raved (4.5 stars with over 1500 reviews) BP "TROLLEY" BOOTIES in black. These are currently on marked down from $99.95 to $84.90 for those of you interested.

DESIGN: I love how simple these are - all black with a simple functional gold zipper running down the outer shaft of the boots.

MATERIAL: As I mentioned above, these come in many different colors and comes in leather, nubuck, and suede. The black ones specifically are a nubuck material. Nubuck is cowhide leather that has been rubbed to give it the look and feel of suede, but requires far less maintenance than suede. I typically spray mine with leather/suede spray.

SHAPE: I love the toe shape of these boots. I think the almond boot makes these extremely versatile and also elongates the leg - you can pair these with jeans, leggings, etc., but can also pair these with a dress in the fall or over tights in the winter time.

What I also love about these boots is the ankle opening is rather small which blends seamlessly with your leg rather than create a jagged cut off at the ankle.

COLOR: These boots also come in a multitude of colors (below) - everything from cognac leather to maroon suede. For those of you who want something versatile, I would highly recommend the black leather or grey leather; I have similar boots in these colors and find myself reaching for them with all types of outfits.

Additional colors available

DIY - Simple Holiday Decoration

Hello everyone, just a quick DIY post today. With the holidays just around the corner, here's a simple holiday DIY for your home using extra ornaments and other items laying around your home.

I'm sure we all have extra vases or glass containers laying around that are empty in the winter time.

What I love to do is use extra tree ornaments and lights to fill the vases.

I use the same ornaments I use to decorate our tree so the entire house has a cohesive look.

Here I have a pilsner vase with medium sized ornaments and white lights. The lights bounce off  the ornaments and creates a beautiful glow.

Sam Edelman Ankle Boots Review

I've been on the hunt for a pair of versatile black ankle booties to wear with both jeans as well as more office appropriate outfits.

I recently ordered two pairs of Sam Edelman booties - the BLAKE BOOTIE and the CAMBELL BOOTIE. I was able to get Nordstrom to price match the Lord and Taylor sale.

BLAKE BOOTIE: Retail $159, purchased for $92. The sleekness and pointed toe of this boot immediately caught my eye and I was beyond thrilled when I received these boots. This is made of beautiful, soft, sturdy suede and has a rubber bottom making them easy to walk in. The padded souls along with the chunky 3 inch block heel make these so comfortable to walk in!

Cash Back for Shopping - EBATES Review

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and lots of food!

We are in the midst of the holiday season and I'm sure everyone will be doing a lot of shopping.
I personally do a lot of online shopping to avoid the craziness in stores and malls. One way to get rewarded while shopping is EBATES. 

EBATES is an online cash back shopping program that allows online shoppers to earn cash back on over 2,000 retailers, including high end retailers like Neimans and Saks. I make sure to check the site every time prior to visiting my favorite retails sites - I've received cash back on everything from clothing on Norstrom.com to purchasing flowers on ProFlowers.com and even movie tickets on Fandango.com.

I've been a member since 2010 and have received over $700 in cash back.You can see from my current statement I have $95 pending, and it even breaks it down to the amount earned per transaction:

Be sure to sign up now and use this during the holiday season; there are many double or even triple cash back promotions going on. Here are a few examples:

New Ankle Booties & Recent Instagram Outfits

I'm sharing some recent purchases and outfits with everyone today.

I recently purchase a pair of light taupe colored booties by Kenneth Cole, the MIGHT DANCE BOOTIE. I love the light color and think it's' a great transition piece in early fall and spring due to the light color. The heel is a chunky block wood heel, but is lined with rubber making is extremely easy to walk in. I actually purchased mine at Marshalls for only $49, but the same pair is available at DSW.

I received some questions about this jacket. I'm wearing the Jcrew Factory City Coat in 00P.

Boots: KENNETH COLE

Jacket: JCREW CITY COAT

Leggings: NORDSTROM

Bag: LOUIS VUITTON

Cole Haan Sale Picks

COLE HAAN is currently having their semi annual sale where everything is 30% off with code FALLEVENT.

Definitely take advantage of the savings and grab a pair of ankle booties or boots if you've been on the hunt for a pair.

I have the MARINA over the knee boots and absolutely adore them. These retail for $500, but are $350 during the sale. The price is still a bit steep, but I think it's well worth it because it's so versatile. The material is soft and molds to your legs. These are perfect for those with smaller calves. I purchases mine two years ago during the Nordstrom Fall sale. Below are several ways I've worn these boots - over jeans, with a skirt for work, and with a dress over tights.

A few other pairs of boots caught my eye as well. These would have been high contenders if I didn't already own 4 similar pairs of ankle booties.

For a more sleel/work appropriate bootie, the NARELLE is great.

The HAYES booties are amazing for everyday casual wear- these retail for $280 and are on sale for $196!

Happy shopping!

REVIEW - Steve Madden Claara Block Heel Sandal

Navy and camel colored option

I'm reviewing the STEVE MADDEN CLAARA BLOCK HEEL SANDAL that FINALLY arrived in the mail. I originally ordered these during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, however my order ended up being canceled. Luckily these were restocked in the last week and I immediately purchases it again.  I fell in love with these online, however I was a little skeptical about the 4.5 inch heel. I wanted something I comfortable that I could walk around in and thought these would be a little too tall. When these arrive, boy was I surprised. They are by far the comfiest pair of 4+ inch heels I own. 

Glasses - GENTLE MONSTER

Initial Necklace - KATE SPADE

Bangle - SIMILAR

More Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Purchases and Reviews

I want to remind everyone to shop the sale through EBATES where you can earn 6% cash back on Nordstrom purchase and up to 20% on other retail sites, including Fandango for movie tickets!
Anyways, on to some reviews:
Lush V-Neck Crepe Blouse - I purchased an XS in the color grape leaf. I absolutely love the color, it's a gorgeous bright olive green shade (picture appears darker) that would be great for both summer and fall. I love the hem line on this. The longer front and back make this wearable with leggings, but it can also be tucked into trousers for a work appropriate look. There are still several color lefts in different sizes.

Given how low the neck line is, you definitely need a tank underneath if wearing this to the office

This Topshop Strip Bardot Dress is not part of the anniversary sale, but with a price point of $45, it's a pretty reasonable deal. It is extremely comfortable and embraces the off the shoulder trend but  a has little added support with the straps. It runs true to size - I'm wearing a US size 0. The length is also great on me, it comes up about 2 inches above my knees, but I would stay away from this dress is you're over 5'6 (for reference I'm around 5'4)

I also purchased this HALOGEN poncho. This is currently sold out, but different sizes keep popping back up, so keep an eye out. BAREFOOT DREAMS has a very similar one that is much softer to the touch. 

I am wearing a regular XS/S. These come in petite sizing as well. It's a little long on me, but can work tucked in.

And lastly I can't emphasize these Cole Haan Marina Over the Knee boots  ($329 from $500)I purchase these last year during the sale and it quickly became one of my favorite pair of boots. Full review HERE. Given how many times I've worn these and how well they fit,  I would definitely purchase this at full price. 

You can read more reviews and purchases HERE

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale Purchases

I’ve neglected my blog for quite a few months, but I’m back and hopefully can start writing more frequently.

I will be sharing some of my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale as well as of my purchases from this year. Last week was the pre-sale where only card holders had access to sale items; the sale is now open to the general public and prices will go up on August 8.

I placed several orders over the last week and have been slowly receiving them in the mail - I still have quite a bit of things I’m waiting for.

I want to remind everyone to shop the sale through EBATES where you can earn 6% cash back on Nordstrom purchases. Through my orders in the past week, I have already received $42 back.

First up is the Cole Haan Marina Over the Knee boots  ($329 from $500)I purchase these last year during the sale and it quickly became one of my favorite pair of boots. These are a stiletto heel, which is not great for cobble stone streets in  Boston, but the smaller 3.5 inch heel balances it out, making them more wearable. These are about 23 inches tall, and have a VERY small opening of only 13 inches, making them ideal for women with smaller/slim calves. They run slim all the way through the legs and fit tightly around my legs. These are extremely versatile - you can dress them up with a dress of dress them down for a more casual look with leggings and an oversized sweater.



I'm wearing the Halogen Noble Boot here with

Next up - Halogen Noble Over the Knee Boots ($109 from $189) I’ve been looking for a replacement pair of over the knee boots with chunky heels. I had a pair, but I think my foot grew and they are no longer fitting. I have only worn them a few times and just listed them on my Poshmark page. Last week, I ordered the Halogen Noble Over the Knee Boots since they were on sale for only $109. They arrived in the mail earlier this week, I loved them so much, I ordered the gray pair as well.



 


These fit true to size, They are not as slim fitting as the Cole Haans mentioned above, but they still look great on bare legs and have room for jeans tucked inside on those colder days.

SHOPPING FOR A WEDDING DRESS

Spring is slowly creeping in which means wedding season is just around the corner. Today I will be sharing my wedding dress shopping experience. I was asked on Instagram by a long time follower, Audrey to share some ideas.

My wedding was last summer, and I would say that I was a relatively unconventional bride as in I didn't spend over a year planning my wedding and definitely did not spend most of my time doing it. I was engaged the summer of 2014, and didn't start planning my wedding until end of March in 2015 for a September 2015 wedding. I was lucky and was able to book my venue the last weekend in March. However given there was so little time, I did a LOT of research beforehand. My friends joke around now and tell me I should start a wedding planning business - I was able to get everything I ever wanted in a wedding, within my budget. If you're interested I can definitely write some more posts about planning/budget, etc. just let me know below =).

Anyways, I will be focusing my efforts on wedding dress shopping today. I tried on at least 40-50 dresses that ranged in price from $500-$15,000.

My mother came dress shopping with my every time and luckily snapped lots of pictures on her cell phone. Most of the dresses I tried on were around a size 4-8; I'm typically a 00, but luckily the stylists were able to pin/clip the dresses for a closer fit.

I think it's definitely VERY important to try on dresses of all shapes/sizes. I had always envisioned a large "princess gown" which was one of the first ones I tried on. I quickly realized it was too large for my frame and did nothing for my figure.

Trying on different fabrics and textures is also important: This tulle gown with lace overlay was gorgeous on the rack, but clearly did not fit my style. I did however LOVE the light weight fabric. If you've tried on wedding dresses, then you know that many of them are extremely heavy especially those with lots of beading. I'm 5'4 and weight ~105 and knew I couldn't walk around in a heavy gown all day. It very important to find a gown that is comfortable - you will be running around greeting guests, getting photos during the wedding, first look, etc..

After having so many failed attempts with the ball gown/A-line style, the stylist brought me a dress that was on the opposite end of the spectrum - almost Greek goddess like/Marilyn Monroe-esque. I tried it on, but did not think it was appropriate for my wedding - if you like this style, it could be a dress that you change into for dancing!

This is the same dress with and without a belt; adding a belt completely changes the look...ACCESSORIZE!

Wedding dress stores are filled with all kinds of accessories - belts, jewelry, hair pieces. I would highly recommend trying on dresses with different belts. As you can see from the picture above, adding a belt really changes the look and feel of a dress.

Lastly, I tried on trumpet/fit and flare dresses and decided that was the shape I wanted. I have a very slender frame with minimal curves, but wanted a dress that showed off the little curves I have. Even with the same fit, there were so many styles:





Other things to consider when dress shopping:

• THE VENUE - if your wedding is on a beach, go for a light weight flowy dress, sand-friendly. If your dress is in a hotel or somewhere a little more formal, perhaps something more formal or a large train is appropriate.
• YOUR SHOES - if the dress is long, there's a big chance you may trip on it, so be careful with heel height and dress length. I highly recommend bustling your dress during dinner and dancing!
• COLOR OF DRESS - Beige/off-white vs. white dresses. I ended up going with an off-white colored dress. I'm a skin is a little darker and thought the white was too white against my complexion. Some dresses come in both white and off-white so be sure to ask.
• You may want to consider matching your fiance's shirt color to the dress color if you're really want to match, but honestly you can't see a different in pictures (my dress was off-white and my husbands shirt was white)
• Side note: MEN'S SHIRT - My husband only buys non-iron dress shirts from Brooks Brothers, so for our wedding, he of course bought a new white Non-Iron Golden Fleece Tuxedo Shirt from Brooks Brothers. He HIGHLY recommends a non iron shirt to wear. Once the music starts and the tux jacket comes off, you definitely don't want a crinkled shirt. What's great about BB shirts is that they come in 4 different fits - extra slim, slim, regular, relaxed (they recently changed their naming convention to Milano, Regent, Madison, and Traditional)
• LENGTH OF DRESS - Depending on how tall you are, this may or may not apply to you. As I mentioned, I'm 5'4 and many of these dresses were much too long for me. I wore 5 inch heels, stood on a 6 inch platform while trying on dresses, and the dresses were still dragging on the ground. If you're getting significant length taken off the bottom of the dress, just make sure the details at the bottom are not cut off and the shape will remain the same after alterations.
• THINGS TO BRING WHILE DRESS SHOPPING:
• Remember to bring SHOES - they don't have to be the exact shoe you plan on wearing during your wedding, but bring a pair of shoes with the same heel height you plan on wearing during your wedding. This will give you a better idea of what the dress will look like and can practice walking with the dress. There are always shoes at the dress store, but bringing a pair that fits you and are already broken in allows you to experiment with walking around with the dress.
• NUDE STRAPLESS BRA - this is a must; it will give you a better idea of what the dress will look like and it will decrease all the fuss of tucking in straps!
• UNDERGARMENTS - bring any slips, padding, etc. whatever you plan on using during your wedding to all of your shopping trips/appointments. This will again give you a more accurate idea of the look and feel of the dress during your big day. This is especially important during alterations.

I hope you found this helpful. Please let me know if you'd like me to write any other wedding related posts!

Recent Purchases: 50% off Banana Republic & Ann Taylor

I hope everyone had a great weekend! The past couple of days have been unseasonably warm for Boston, reaching 60 degrees!

I'm sharing a couple of recent purchases from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic when they had a 50% off final sale items. The sale is still going strong at Banana Republic and has increased to 60% off final sale items at Ann Taylor.

First up is ANN TAYLOR- I walked in not expecting to purchase anything. I immediately went to the sale area and I saw stacks of shoes and boots marked as final sale. There were several pairs of kittens heels in the color Cobalt flame that immediately caught my eye (I've been wanting a pair of blue suede heels and smaller heels for everyday since I tend to go for 4+ inches).  These were on final sale for $28.00.
These KITTEN HEELS are currently $89 with extra 60% off online ($36 final), but in store they are $28.99 (final sale). These have a 2.5 inch heel pictured on their website photo below.

I love this pairing with classic pieces and neutral colors from the AT site!

There were quite a few pairs of these as well as the higher heel version (EXOTIC LEATHER PUMP) also marked for final sale at $32.99.

After seeing these on my feet, my husband exclaimed "well you have to get the matching bag" and ran over to the rack to get it for me. I had no intentions of purchasing the clutch, but after seeing how much my husband liked the bag, I ended up purchasing it too.
The bag was a little pricier at $44 (not final sale); still debating weather or not to keep it (not sure how much wear I'd get out of it). This clutch comes in several colors (red, cobalt, black suede, studded version, and glitter version)

Wearing OTK Boots // Recent Instagam Outfits

Here are some amazing sales going on this President's Day weekend:

NORDSTROM RACK - Clear the Rack event - extra 25% off sale/red tag items (online and in store)
JCREW - extra 40% off of final sale items with code SHOPSALE
MADEWELL - I have several of their chambray shirts and love them! extra 30% off sale with code XOXOMW
BANANA REPUBLIC - extra 40% off sale items with code BRFIT
ANN TAYLOR - 30% off regular priced items and 50% off sale items with code LOVE
BROOKS BROTHER - The prices are high here, but quality is great. (My husband will only shop here for work clothes.) For those of you who like BB, clearance items are up to 50% off clearance

It's been extremely cold here in Boston and what better way to keep my warm legs than over the knee boots?

 I have now collected about 5 pairs over OTK boos over the years - 3 pairs of flat leather ones, and 2 pairs of heeled suede boots.

My most recent pair is the  COLE HAAN MARINA OVER THE KNEE BOOTS - these are currently 30% off on the Cole Haan site with only a few sizes left. During this President's Day weekend, you can get an additional 25% off with code PRES25. I purchased mine at the end of last summer during the Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale. The other pair is by REPORT; I purchased mine several years ago but THIS is a similar pair from this year.

I love the look over an oversized top flowing over skinny jeans or leggings.

First up was this red OVERSIZED SWEATER from Zara paired with a pair of  Levi's  FLAWLESS SUPER SKINNY JEANS. I love adding a large necklace to plain pieces like this. This JCREW LAYERED CIRCLE NECKLACE has been on heavy rotation these past few months. It's currently 50% off too!

I adore stripes and can never have enough stripes in my closet.

Here, again I've paired  an over-sized Zara sweater - this time a turtleneck with thick stripes. I lucked out and found this at Zara on super clearance last year for under $10. HERE is a similar one if you're interested. Once again I added a STATEMENT NECKLACE to this top.

We got some snow earlier this week so there's snow and mud everywhere. To avoid dirtying or even damaging my suede boots, I've actually been changing from my winter boots into the over the knee boots in my office. Here is a picture of my less glamorous winter boots - the SOREL WINTER FANCY LACE II. I again purchased these at the end of last winter when they were on sale for about $80.

Depending on your office environment, you can definitely wear OTK boots with more office appropriate clothes as well. My company has a business casual dress code in general, but differ drastically from department to department. However, when I meet with clients, I can't wear jeans, so for a more conservative office look, I wore the same Cole Haan boots with a dress and a black blazer to meet with clients. This is an old picture, but I wore the exact same outfit with a blazer over.

REVIEW: Halogen Marlie Point Toe Pump

I'm a huge fan of leopard print and own several pairs of leopard flats (one pictured above), but have wanted a pair of heels after seeing all the pairings from JEAN. With the hundred of positive reviews and raves about this HALOGEN MARLIE POINTY TOE PUMP in leopard print, I decided to order a pair myself when they were restocked recently.

Due to mixed reviews about sizing, I ordered my usual size 6 and 5.5. The size 6 arrived last week, but unfortunately was almost an inch too big for my feet. I patiently waited for the 5.5's to arrive and when it finally did, I was so disappointed. The color of the left and right shoe were completely different - it almost looked like I was wearing two different pairs of shoes.

The left shoe was significantly darker than the right shoe

REVIEW- Ann Taylor Gusset Crossbody Bag

I took a trip to my local Ann Taylor store to browse through their sales items, but specifically I wanted to see the GUSSETT CROSSBODY BAG in person. I didn't think much of it when I initially saw it online, but after seeing it on JESS, I knew I wanted one.

Most of the colors were available at the store, but only a few remain available online. I intended to purchase the burgandy one because I loved the little tassel on it, however after seeing it in person, it was a little more brown than I would have liked. Another difference I noticed with the burgandy one was the entire outer perimeter of the purse was lined with a suede border, which meant more maintenance.

After trying on all the colors, I finally narrowed the color choices down to 3 - gray, burgandy, and red. I ended up purchasing the red since I don't own a true red purse, and my husband liked that one the most. The red is a true vibrant red which I adore! For those of you who don't have a neutral colored bag, I highly recommend the gray - it goes with practically anything. I would have definitely purchased the gray if I didn't already own a gray bag. I have THIS ONE by Rebecca Minkoff.

This bag measures 10 inches long, 6 inches tall and about 1.5 inches wide. It has two zipper pockets, which I love and comes with several slots for cards, etc. when you don't want to carry around a bulky wallet.

Using it as a clutch with the straps removed

The straps are removable so can be use as a clutch - this would be great for day to night transitions.

The straps are removable and can be converted to a clutch

Love the size of this bag and the length of the strap is perfect - lays right at my hips

Attached card holders

Hope you find this helpful! Happy Shopping =)