A new year, a fresh wardrobe update. I did pretty well last year thanks to a bunch of Shopbop gift cards through my partnership with them from the end of 2019 and the first couple months of 2020. That partnership was paused because of the virus and I don't know if/when it will come back but I do still have some gift cards to spend! Hopefully that means I won't be spending as much of my "real" money.

 

I wasn't planning on making any purchases this month but my blog friend of over 10 years, Jamie-Lee of Mademoiselle, finally launched her clothing line - mīere the label! It's a children's line but she also made a few sweaters for mom's to match their little ones! Obviously I had to buy one of the women's sweaters to 1. Support a friend and 2. Because they're going to be a perfect basic!

 

It won't arrive until next month, but I'll be sure to do a post to let you all know what I think! But with Jamie behind it I know it will be perfect. She is obsessed with finding perfect basics so I have no doubt in her ability to create her own line.

 

Then the next day I got an eBay notification that a pair of mules I've been following for over a year were discounted heavily down to $26 so I pounced (pun intended) on those bad boys! They're - new in box! - half tiger print and half cheetah print mules by Splendid. I had them on my Shopbop wishlist for a long time but they never got cheap enough for me to buy them (once they did my size was sold out.) 

 

THE (modified) RULES

1. Be mindful of purchases 
2. Quality over quantity
3. Basics are best

MY PROGRESS

 

Clothes:

1. *NEW!* mīere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)

Basics:

1. None yet

 

Shoes:

1. *NEW!* Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
   

Handbags:

1. None yet

 

Accessories:

1. None yet

 
 

Activewear:

1. None yet

 

Gifted from Brands:

• None yet
  

Spent in January: $68.87

Spent in 2021: $68.87

THE (modified) RULES

1. Be mindful of purchases 
2. Quality over quantity
3. Basics are best

MY PROGRESS 

Clothes:

1. FARM Rio Amazonian Ombre Mini Wrap Dress c/o Shopbop ($127.50, retail $170)
2. *NEW!* Burberry beaded owl sweater via eBay ($75, retail $2950 in 2012)
3. *NEW!* Stella McCartney Wild Cat Skinny Ankle Jeans via eBay ($15 after ad money, retail $735)
   

Basics:

1. J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg Jean in Moral ($0 after $25 credit & ad money, retail $228)
2. *NEW!*  Madewell Camp Shorts in Faded Rosebud c/o Shopbop ($35, retail $50)

Shoes:

1. Ancient Greek Sandals 'Clara' Sandal c/o Shopbop ($221.25, retail $295)
2. Sperry Rio Aqua Slip-On Sneaker ($14.83 via DSW, retail $64.99)

Accessories:

1. Ray Ban 'Erika' Sunglasses in Havana c/o Shopbop (retail $163)
2. Madewell Medium Slim Saddle Bag c/o Shopbop ($118.50, retail $158)
3. *NEW!*  Shashi Princess Leia Necklace c/o Shopbop ($55)

Activewear:

1. *NEW!* SPANX Look At Me Now Seamless Leggings in Indigo Leopard c/o Shopbop ($68)

Gifted from Brands:

1. AUrate Pearl Studs in Rose Gold (retail $150)
2. AUrate Medium Chain Bracelet in Rose Gold (retail $50)

Total spent in May: $90

Total spent in 2020: $104.83

This outfit comes with a long backstory. But it's necessary to share why I had to make this purchase.  Back in February 2012 I posted photos of Burberry's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. In that post I said:

[...] ESPECIALLY the owl print t-shirts. I don't care how much they cost but I am going to get my hands on one of those! I'm an owl obsessed freak…maybe it comes from my Harry Potter obsession but I think they are SO cute!

Spoiler alert: I ended up not getting one of the owl tees. Instead I DIYed my own version because I couldn't justify the $300+ price tag. The sweater version with the beaded owl retailed for $3000.

Even though I had my DIY version I still searched for the real version. I had alerts for "Burberry owl" set up on eBay and a couple other sites. Owl sweaters & tees came and went with me resisting purchase. A few months ago I got an eBay alert that one had been posted. I watched it knowing I probably wouldn't buy it since it had been so long.

But then quarantine happened and I got an offer from the seller to purchase it for $75. How could I resist? Luckily I was able to make the splurge because my recent Disney trip was cancelled and I had a negative balance on my credit card from the refunds.  The rest of the refund money will go back into my vacation savings account.

This isn't the exact version I had posted 8 years ago, the sweater is a little lighter and the neck isn't as high, but it is pretty darn close! You can even tell that the owl I recreated was this owl - the colors I chose were very similar. I couldn't replicate the design exactly because I couldn't find small enough beads in colors/shapes I liked.

We're getting in to warmer weather now but I really wanted to post this before it goes away until Fall. Luckily last week we had some cold days so I wore it lounging around the house.

A couple weekends ago Christian and I went out to run some errands and just as we were ready to take photos it started to snow. We snapped our pictures as quick as possible so we wouldn't freeze and then headed home to watch the rest of the "storm." It was only a few inches but I always enjoy a little bit of snow as long as it doesn't get all gross and dirty. Love how these photos turned out. The light flurries are so pretty.

It was a good thing I wore these boots since they have a rubber sole that is perfect for traction in wet conditions. I have been so bad at wearing my blazers lately so I made a point to wear one for our outing. It was between this Etro patchwork blazer and my black velvet polka dot Marc Jacobs blazer. Guess I'll be wearing the Marc Jacobs blazer next!

Blazer: Etro Patchwork Blazer (Roundabout, shop more blazers), Cashmere Sweater: Ellen Tracy (shop cashmere sweaters), High Waisted Jeans: J Brand 'Maria' High Rise in Supreme (shop more J Brand), Boots: Cordani (Roundabout, shop winter boots), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay)

Wearing a couple of my Christmas gifts to make a colorful winter outfit.  To offset the crazy color combo underneath I topped my look off with a white/cream cardigan to make it more neutral. My brother's dog decided he wanted to join in on the outfit photo fun too. What a cutie.

Cashmere Sweater: Ellen Tracy cashmere v-neck sweater (shop cashmere sweaters), Jeans: rag & bone high rise ankle skinny jean in burgundy (shop more rag & bone),  Cardigan: Calvin Klein 'Eyelash Striped Cardigan', Ballet Flats: Chanel 'Cap Toe Ballet Flat' via eBay (shop ballet flats)

Another day, another comfy oversized sweater. I wish I had counted every time I wore this sweater because I'm pretty sure its one of the most worn items in my closet. When I first bought it I wore it at least once a week and every time I went on a plane it was my outerwear of choice because I could wear it like a blanket.  The past couple years I haven't worn it as much, because I've been trying to wear less-worn pieces in my closet, but it's still way up there in wears.

Cardigan: DKNY Oversized striped knitted cardigan (Net-a-Porter Sale), Sweater: Everlane The Fall Seed Stitch Raglan, Jeans: rag & bone (Shopbop), Boots: Audrey Brooke 'Mirie' (DSW), Sunglasses: Chanel, Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay), Necklace: Marrin Costello, Hat: Kensington Palace gift shop