Equinox Pleated Maxi Dress by Anthropologie

I have an Anthropologie obsession, it's true. The first step is admitting a problem right? I subscribe to their emails, which come streaming into my inbox full of beautiful things. This morning I opened up the link and saw this dress. I fell in love. The casual, bohemian vibe, done in a sophisticated color pallet, and a flattering silhouette.

It even comes in a wide variety of sizes! Up to a size 16! Way to be Anthropologie! I am a size 12, but even size 12 is hard to find on their site sometimes. The thought that they are finally catering to real women and not just twiggy models makes me happy. The average American woman is a size 14 after all, so why not cater to a real consumer who will spend their money in your store?

My only problem with this beautiful thing? It is almost $200. Should I wait to see if it ends up in the sale section in a couple of months? It probably won't because the reviews are glowing.

Example:

Was that review written by future Kelly? God I hope so.

Real Catalogs

There is something beautiful about a well designed catalog. How rarely do we get to hold these in our hands these days? I may be dating myself, but I remember pouring through the Delia's catalogs, marking everything I wanted and saving my money until I could afford them. I would hand the money to my mom in exchange for her credit card, which I would hold like it was gold, as I called the number in the back to order my precious clothing items. Weeks later the package would arrive at the post office and my coveted new clothes would be lovingly packaged and waiting for me.

Now I get impatient if it takes longer than a week to receive something I have ordered online, and most of the time I would rather drive to the store rather than wait even a day. I'm kind of enjoying the experience of leafing through my recently received Christmas selection. Maybe I can convince my mom to let me use her credit card again, just for old times sake.

Cyber Monday Window Shopping

For those in the spirit to give a little something fashionable to their loved ones, or maybe themselves, now is the time to do it. Cyber Monday sales have been going strong since Saturday. Here a some of my favorite deals.

Anthropologie, my all time favorite store doesn't have any ridiculously amazing sales right now, but can we just stop to appreciate how beautiful their December look book is?

BonLook is offering 70% off EVERYTHING on their site!

This deal is only for today, but if you sign up for emails, BonLook offers frequent disounts. They are my favorite site for glasses. Normally you can get fashionable, prescription, glasses for $100. With this sale, you are getting those same glasses for $30! Amazing. These are my favorites:

ModCloth is offering 25% off the whole site!

I frequently drool over ModCloth. They update items every single day, and that includes the sale section. Oh yes, even sale items are 25% off, which means they have some spectacular sales today.

How amazing are these Doc Martens with Hieronymus Bosch? They appeal to both the art lover and the grunge rock lover in me.

 Audrey Hepburn was the epitome of class and style, this book is the answer to following her lead.

 The ultimate hipster sound system. I'm in love.

 Just in time for party season, this dress is flattering and so beautiful.

 Winter in the mountains doesn't mean you have to look like a lumberjack.

 These with a pair of skinny jeans and a dolman sweater?

Uniforms

Sometimes we, as self respecting wage earners, have to do something horrible. Wear a uniform, because management thinks it will make the establishment look more professional. It's a well intentioned thought, but it quickly becomes an issue akin to the bridesmaid problem. You know the one, when the bride chooses a color and a dress style and puts seven VERY different women in this same garment. Sure, the busty girl looks great in that strapless dress, but the A cup is pulling up it up all day and the tall girl is tugging at the hem.

 We all know how to avoid that issue though, cats! Cats as bridesmaids!

 Okay maybe not.

So goes the uniform problem. Put women in an outfit designed for a man; cool, thanks for the XXL polo shirt, does anyone know where I can do some base jumping? Seriously, I showed up at they gave me this XXL polo. Oh baby, did I feel confident and ready to work. As a cashier at a valet company, you would think that they would want us to look put together, someone you could trust with your money and your car.

Here I am in my new uniform for my new location. Anyone up for bowling?

I no longer hate what I had to wear as a bank teller, I can tell you that.

Mirror Floral Maxi Dress

The idea of buying anything from a store called "Long Tall Sally" is slightly mortifying. I am tall though, 5' 9" to be exact, and finding clothes that fit my tall frame is always a challenge. So I browse the site and think, maybe? This woman's review is an interesting glimpse into the world of maybe. She wrote it without even trying on the dress she has already purchased! At least she's going to pair this dress with a well read belt; badump cha! Wink, wink ;)

"She could be a farmer in those clothes."

     I was recently browsing the racks at Marshall's, when I saw the most terrifying rack of clothing. The horror music played, the audience screamed at me "No! Don't go there! Run away!", and the acid wash overalls were suddenly staring me down.

        I truly believe almost everyone looks frumpy in overalls. Would you like evidence of this? Follow this link to Modcloth's overalls selection; beautiful girls wearing disgusting, awkward, overalls. You need to see more? Alright, here's a link to the WetSeal website, where they are recreating the nightmare clothing of my youth.

       My personal experience with this farm inspired fashion stems back to my adolescence. I had an awkward junior high experience; partly because most teenagers are awkward, but also because I wore overalls almost every single day. I was a fat kid, and conveniently, over-sized overalls covered my stomach and I believed that they hid my flaws. Nope, they just made me MUCH more awkward. There I am, fourteen years old, the only brass player in a string ensemble, front and center, in my overalls.

Was I just a band nerd? No. I was actually active as a kid, there I am in the yearbook page for volleyball towards the bottom right corner, in my overalls.

     This yearbook spread is from 1998, my eighth grade year. We really didn't take "selfies" back then, so it was hard to tell what you really looked like, unless you followed the Cher method from Clueless where she takes Polaroids because she doesn't trust mirrors. The only time we saw pictures of ourselves was after we took our roll of film to be developed, which could be months or years because it's a frivolous pain to have photos developed, or we waited for the yearbook spread. In my head, I was stylish, but the moment I saw myself in those photos I vowed to never wear overalls again; it has been sixteen years and the acid wash denim rack at Marshalls did not sway me from this decision.

Thatcher Jacket from Anthropologie

This woman's shouting review about this jacket makes me eternally grateful for my mother, who never once implied that I needed to buy a larger size at age eighteen because by nineteen I would be too fat to wear the one that fit. However, considering the daughter's choice to pair it with a black mini, maybe 123PATRICE thought her kid would be knocked up in a year? I still want this coat for my closet. I hope I too "LOVE LOVE IT."