Huge Le Creuset Sale

Not usually in my purview but this is AMAZING - Le Creuset pots are on a crazy sale at Bloomingdales. My dream pot, the 9.5 qt Oval oven in red is usually $300, although le creuset prices seem to have risen this week (one day this week suddenly they were up around 10% at Williams Sonoma) so it went up to $325. This pot is now $260 at Bloomingdales. Insane.

Other sizes and colors are also on sale.

I will spend the day dreaming of all the briskets and stews I will be making in that massive pot!

Award Season Fashion

I didn't post much about the award show fashion of the past few weeks, somehow it just got past me, except for a couple of dresses that I keep going back to -

This is amazing, the shape, the color, everything. I guess I'm a little biased, my wedding dress was sort of like a white, strapless version of this, fitted to the mid-thigh with a trumpet skirt, it's just such a flattering style. But what is also really special about this one is the top - the v-neck and strap detail over the shoulders. I love it.

And Christina Hendricks always look amazing -
I love how the dress shows off her hourglass figure, and it's perfectly proportioned as well. Many red-heads are afraid to wear red, this proves it's not scary! It looks fantastic.

Boots to Brighten Your Winter

There is yet another something I have been trying to talk myself out of buying -




These gorgeous Modern Vintage Boots that are on sale at Goldyn. I love the fold at the top, the seams at the ankle and the color. If you are looking for something to brighten your winter I think these boots could be just the thing. They look like they could easily be worn with skirts, or with pants, especially jeans tucked inside. It's amazing to think I was resistant to that style for a while a few years back when it became popular, it's become my go-to look. But back to the topic at hand...the heel also looks totally manageable for a day.

They would look incredible with that red bag I posted the other day...

Cute, Interesting Sweaters

I find it can be hard in the winter to feel excited about getting dressed, particularly when it's been cold for a while and the new sweaters are no longer feeling so new or fun. How about something different then,

like this one -

Botkier Bags at Gilt Group today!

Botkier bags are on sale at Gilt Group through tomorrow, I had forgotten and waited until now to look, and to my surprise there are still plenty of styles available (although the shoes are sold out)

so get on over to Gilt, if you aren't a member use this invitation link.

A good foundation

So strange, after blogging about the bag yesterday, on my way home I saw a woman carrying it. Not in red, hers was navy blue I think, and it looked cool - but red is cooler.

Anyway, another thing I have been noticing lately is the lack of good bras around - I have said it before and I will say it again - there is no more sure-fire way of looking fat and dumpy than having a bad bra on.

let's remedy that situation - I promise these will change EVERYTHING, at least how you see yourself in the mirror -



I love wacoal, they do the most amazing job.



And they aren't boring or ugly either...they also aren't cheap, but they are worth every penny. You can spend tons on the clothes that go over it, but if the foundation isn't good, you might as well buy cheap clothes that fit poorly.

Stylish Women's Work Bag

Briefcases or work bags can be difficult to find, you want quality, and for women in creative fields with flexibility, the old standard bag modeled on men's bags just aren't a good fit.

I found this gorgeous bag on sale at Endless -




and I think it's perfect as a briefcase stand-in. It's dimensions allow for standard size laptops and files, along with all the things we need for a day - and look at that color! In addition to the short straps visible in the photo, it has a shoulder strap.

I love it so much I was trying to come up with justifications for getting it myself, but I did just buy that Gustto bag last week so I can't really do it - but you can! It was almost $600, and now it's $285. I have another Rachel Nasvik bag and I LOVE it, it's amazing quality and it isn't an obvious brand so on your way to work everyone won't be able to immediately identify it and someone ALWAYS complements it.

Happy shopping

Hunter Boots on SALE

I love wellies - the knee high (or shorter) rain boots that can come in fun colors or basic black. This version is on sale at Endless in 4 fun colors that look like patent leather, it's still fun but not as girly as the patterned kinds -








I own a basic black version, but there are lot's of options and the original rain boot by Hunter is on sale at Gilt Group today and tomorrow. They have them in black, brown and hunter green with fun striped accents - if you aren't a member use this link:

http://www.gilt.com/invite/elenaaronson

Leggings are NOT PANTS

Yes, you heard me yelling that - Leggings ARE NOT PANTS. Nor are they appropriate for women over 16, maybe 17, unless it's for Yoga.

I had a client this evening, a lovely woman who wanted help with her wardrobe. She had seen another Bay Area personal shopper/stylist a couple of months ago and this "professional" actually tried to get her to buy leggings, and not for yoga. They bought adorable wool skirts, and the leggings were, gasp, to go under those. The horror. I'm sorry, this client is a doctor, in her mid-thirties, and she looks young enough to be mistaken for the baby sitter without the sartorial insult known as leggings. THERE IS NO EXCUSE. No grown woman should dress that way, and no one who is supposed to be a professional should be telling a grown woman to dress this way. ugh.

Phew. I've gotten it off my chest.

Now if anyone has made the mistake of thinking you can wear leggings as a substitute for pants, or tights, just head right out and buy some opaque black tights. Leggings cut you off at the ankle or calf, a very unflattering point. Tights, especially with a shoe that's the same color, will elongate the leg.



You can make them fun with a subtle pattern -



I will admit that a friend showed me a good way to wear leggings - MATERNITY leggings, with a long sweater over them with the bottoms of the leggings tucked into her frye boots. That looked stylish, but the leggings weren't very tight, and when hidden on top by a long sweater and on the bottom by the boots, they no longer looked like leggings. And let's be honest, who is going to begrudge a woman with a growing belly a pair of comfortable elastic waist pants? Not I.


Anyone else however, unless you are under 16 or on your way to the gym, just say NO to leggings.

Read Real Simple! (And Today's Sales!)

I might have forgotten to mention this on the blog, but I am quoted in the January issue of Real Simple! It's very exciting for me, as it is my first mention in a national magazine. The article is "Twenty Tips to Make a Wardrobe Last," mine is the first tip! Unfortunately it's not available online ( I know, low tech mag) .

So before the month is up when you are at a grocery store, check it out.

Now onto the business at hand - all the sales today.

First, on Gilt Group is Women's Final Sale, they have Cynthia Steffe skirts for $28, Marc by Marc Jacobs shorts are also that cheap - perfect if you are going anywhere warm this spring, or just want to get a GREAT deal for next summer. Also, Vera Wang and Vera Wang Lavander lines are available (great party clothes!) and many many other (Adam, Alice and Olivia, Edun, Zac Posen and on and on...)

if you aren't a member become one with this link:

http://www.gilt.com/invite/elenaaronson


is offering an extra 20% off of all sale merchandise. Use the code EXTRA when you check out. This deal is good through Saturday. Even though they use my blog name as a tag line, I like them. What can I say? With the original sale + this discount, there are Belle by Sigerson Morrison and Botkier shoes that are downright affordable!


Banana Republic sale stuff is marked down an extra 25%, use code Take25.
Shopjake is offering 25% the ENTIRE site through the weekend, use code save25.
Outerwear Sale at New York & Company - up to 50% off!


And last but definitely not least, one of my absolute favorite online stores,
has a HUGE selection of sale stuff. I have had nothing but great experiences when I've ordered from Revolve - they ship for free, and not an exaggeration at all - I have always gotten my order 1 or 2 days after placing it. I don't know how they do it, It's like Amazon somehow.

Out of the new-to-sale items, I really like this merino wool hoodie -




It's great for casual days with jeans, or work over a button down with trousers. It comes in black as well but I do like this teal color.

If you are looking for something cozy and super casual, this is great -




Even with the pockets in front, the seams give it shape even with a defined waist! What more can we ask for in a sweatshirt. Love it. Perhaps you can tell from my choices that it's rainy and cold here again, and I'm looking at warm cozy options.

Happy Shopping!

Our new first lady (of fashion!)

I love this article in the New York times - The First Lady Tells a Story with Fashion.

The best part is definitely the paragraph:

Here is a bolder woman, a serious woman from Chicago and Harvard who is not afraid to express herself with fashion, and it is the kind of confidence that many women will recognize in themselves. Her clothes tell us that she has an adventurous spirit, as well as a sense of humor, and if some of these garments have almost an old-fashioned womanly quality, then they tell us that she is indeed not your average fashionista.

A serious woman who loves clothes. Love it. Read the whole thing.

A New Begining...

I'm sure everyone is blogging about this, but I could not skip it - Michelle Obama's inaugural dress:


By Isabel Toledo, formerly of Anne Klein. The color is a very difficult one to pull off and she does it beautifully. I am looking forward to years of great outfits from this very stylish first lady...

The Horror...And The Remedy

I don't usually do this, take a picture of a person without their knowledge...but I was stuck waiting in line at the post office for what felt like forever and, well, I was so horrified by what was in front of me. This woman was not at all honest when she looked at the mirror, that is if she looked in the mirror at all. We could all see every line and seam of her underwear under her awful capri pants (not just regular vpl, I'm talking EVERY seam). Plus the incredible wedgie that could not have been comfortable...oh, and then there are the socks pulled up. If it's so cold that you need to pull up socks, don't wear capris.


If you fear this could be you, buy as many pairs of this underwear shown below as you can, and wear it every day under everything, then at least you won't have people like me staring at every seam...

Stay Warm...

It's warm here in Northern California, but my parents just arrived back in Chicago from sunnier climes to a balmy -6 degrees. Yes, you read that correctly. Now, if you absolutely have to go outside in that weather, what the heck do you wear?

I bought a sweater at Banana Republic a couple of weeks ago, it was marked down and down again so I thought it was a good buy, however after two wearings it looks old and ratty. That is terrible, I don't care how cheap something is, it is not worth it if it doesn't last at least a season. Then I found this sweater at Brooks Brothers, also on sale, but made to last...




It looks very stuffy and boring in this picture, but imagine it with skinny jeans and boots, then it's fantastic. Or trouser jeans and gold heels, also fantastic. For work with light grey wool flannel wide leg pants, woooo.

These would be great jeans...



I also love these Rich and Skinny Jeans - but NOT with the sweater above,



The buttons along with the buttons on the sweater would be way too much, but these jeans with a simple top would be great - and they are on sale at eluxury which means another 20% off sale merchandise - plus



Happy Shopping!

One More day for Shopbop Sale..

Shopbop is offering an extra 20% off sale merchandise, use code 20more

Gustto online sample sales

The planets must be aligned properly or something because yesterday Gilt Group had a Gustto sample sale (I think it's still open) and today Rue La La opened one. I love these bags, some of their styles have been all over the place, thus not something I would run to buy - but I will readily admit that at some point last year I picked up THE most gorgeous bag, quite possibly ever, and it was Gustto. It was also around $700, so after oohing and ahhing I put it back down. However yesterday I made my first Gilt Group purchase - that bag. And today I am actually tempted by the other sale.

If you aren't a member of these sample sale sites you should definitely become a member, you can use my invitation link -

http://www.gilt.com/invite/elenaaronson

For Rue La La just send me an email and I will send you an invitation, they don't seem to have a link readily available on the website.

This is the bag I bought -

I cannot wait for it's arrival!!!

Denim sale, among other things

J Brand 14" jeans (means they have a 14" leg opening) are on sale at Pink Mascara, and you get another 20% off of the sale price. Use code 20offsale.

All in the details...

I get alot of magazines, many of them I flip through once and toss. I know it's wasteful, and one magazine I get by accident - Marie Claire. While it's an unbelievably quick read occasionally I find something I like and in the new issue I found something I LOVE -

It's all Versace, and I am in love with it all. The detailing, the pleats, the lines - both the skirt and the top are exquisite. Now, the question becomes, is it possible to find afforable versions of these pieces? I'm still looking...

Golden Globes WTF?

Haven't time yet to go through all the fabulous dresses, but the picture of Renee Zellweger cannot wait for comment - what the eff'ing lord was she (or her fired stylist) thinking?

Tina Fey (all the way on the right) looks amazing, as she always does these days. Laura Dern and Sally Hawkins (not sure that's right, never heard of her before last night...) look pretty good.

What the hell was Renee thinking? the top is totally sheer, and we know she is so skinny but she still manages to look like she has a belly. And the hair and makeup also - she kind of looks like she belongs on the set of murderous musical Johnny Depp was in last year. I'm totally blanking on the name right now.

What not to wear to a bar, among other places

*I tried links, but apparently google chrome does not work for this sort of thing. Guess I need to go back to Mozilla. Rats.


Greg and I went out on Saturday night. In some crazy fit of enthusiasm he thought we should go back to the bar where we met - they have a particular party there once a month where they take volunteer bartenders - I was a volunteer bartender when we met, so we had to do that part again this weekend too.

It was ridiculous. Wherever I turned there were horrifying sartorial mistakes. Like an ascot, I kid you not. And the dude with the ascot was not wearing it in some 'I'm crazy and have my own irreverent style' way. He was SERIOUS about his ascot. And as I found out the second he opened his mouth, he had the know-it-all air to go with it.

There were a surprising number of guys wearing ties, and I have to say I liked that. But they could not make up for the ascot.

As for the women, I have the same complaint I often do - everyone needs to take their body shape into account before trying to wear trends, or anything really. Take a good look in the mirror and figure out your best parts, and the ones you'd like to minimize or camouflage, and then figure out how to do it. Several times during the evening Greg asked me if certain women were pregnant (ugh) in a time when cute flowy tops are available everywhere and at every price point, as well has jeans with every possible rise, there should not be a question.

This is a cute inexpensive option -

If worn with jeans that hit at the right place, no horrifying pregnancy questions.

I also love tops with a banded bottom -

They also hide a multitude of sins.

A good time was had by all, but we went home pretty early and decided then and there we would not be returning. We are officially in couples coma (as opposed to Singles Stamina), the subject of an episode from our favorite show, How I Met Your Mother.

Smart Women like Fashion Too

The NY Times fashion section article about Michelle Obama as the saving grace of American fashion is interesting. Yes she looks good, yes she has great taste, and apparently she makes it ok for smart women to care about how they look. Did we really need someone to tell us that?

Antidote for Winter Blues

In a couple of weeks the winter starts to feel like it's been here forever, unless of course you are already at the point (this is not the time to stop procrastinating!) maybe you need some bright colors to feel better, how about this coat:



I think that would brighten my day.

And for the little ones -


How cute!!!

WTF?

Even a store as great as Shopbop can't hit it out of the park everytime, but this? Where to begin?

That is a $138 Jill Stuart t-shirt, with TAILS. ick. Then to add insult to injury, and I don't want to discriminate against very thin women here, but the model in this top looks kind of like, well, I don't really like seeing someone's bone structure beyond a prominent cheekbone. Our clothes are not supposed to show off the sternum.

My Versace Dream Dress

I am still slogging through a backlog of basically everything -magazines, tv shows, that accrued in the months before the wedding and while we were away. This morning I finally opened the January issue of Vogue, and promptly fell in love, or more aptly obsession, with a dress.

Anne Hathaway is wearing the Versace brilliance in her photo shoot -

It is perfection. It also looks like something the LAMB line might produce, sexy, tailored and unexpected with those zippers. I often like what I see in these shoots, but rarely can picture myself in the clothes - this one is different.

For now, I would go with this skirt to recreate something like the look for winter -

Even better it's on sale and another 30% off, plus free shipping, all at


I will still continue to obsess over this gorgeous dress...