Investing

[more pics coming soon]

When I was little (23), I had a very good job that paid very well, and since it was in the early 2000s, expensive clothes reigned. [Thanks Carrie Bradshaw]. Everyone thought they needed $600 shoes and $1000 purses. I was no exception to that (sheepish). What I am glad about, though, are the pieces I chose when I laid down the cash.

First, I didn't have a lot of work-appropriate clothes when I first started out. I went to places like J.Crew for their button-downs to wear under my suits, although it took me a while to find ones that fit well at Hollister. Ann Taylor was my go-to for suits, and I actually still wear my first suit (c.2000) to this day. I still wear a lot of the clothes I bought from AT and J.Crew in the early 2000s but I had to have almost all of them tailored or taken in. To this day, I am wary on buying suiting because of the added expenses (plus I don't need any right now). I do have my eyes on a suit from Theory once I graduate next year, but I am already disappointed to hear their suiting is not lined!

Shoes were easier. My first pair of interview shoes were BCBGirls, and I think I actually gave them away within the last year. I was looking for them again recently and I was sad when I couldn't find them! I have never been a big shoe person--I am very picky about what I want them to look like and I don't have a problem saying no if a pair does not fulfill my needs. I decided that the 100mm black heel from Jimmy Choo was my ideal shoe. I also bought them in dark brown. Now that I am in my 30s, I sometimes wish that I had gone with the 85mm instead, but that shoe is so comfortable it doesn't really matter! I wear them all the time and have had them resoled quite a bit at my shoe guy in Chicago. When I bought them, they were only $445. If I had another $500 lying around (ha!) I would probably get the same black shoe in a 60mm heel.

Purses are another story. My first nice purse was a perfect black Coach Hamptons Demi my mom gave me for my 22nd birthday. Before that bag, I was more of a wallet-in-back-pocket kind of college girl. That was  perfect bag! Great size, great style, great price! I subsequently tracked down that bag and all its friends in all the classic colors I could find.

Later, I got into bigger bags which sometimes work against my frame/weight. I fell in love with this Marc Jacobs olive green/brown bag in 2005 (on sale at Neiman's for 50% off) and I still carry it although it weighs a TON from all that hardware! I usually just have my phone and wallet inside because it is soooo heavy!

I also love bright colored bags. Some of my favorites are my Dooney & Bourke bright orange bucket bag. I wish it had metal feet! The bottom scuffs if I am not careful.

And I have a beautiful jade green bag from the Kate Spade outlet in Houston and her ocean-blue clutch I could not resist. Oh I love these colors!! I love the lining. They can really make an outfit un-boring.

Coats are another tough area for shopping. Earlier this year, I needed a new raincoat. The town I live in has downpours like you wouldn't believe, but most of  the time it is just plain WINDY, making wearing dresses very difficult! I soon found the answer to my problem: a snug knee-length coat. For spring, summer and fall, I used to wear an old Old Navy trench from 2000 but the edges were frayed. I love the look of Burberry but there is no way I will ever spend $1000 on a coat. I thought London Fog did a great job on the classic trench, and I searched high and low for their double-breasted petite coat. It is harder to find than it looks! Every store was out of my size and I was so happy when I finally found it in both black and tan. I jumped on them! I think I got both for under $99, too. Very happy with both those pieces!

Winter coats are harder for me. I actually wear my snowboarding coat a lot in the winter, which is hardly fashionable. But I hate being cold and I tend to get to school/work before everyone else, so it is off before you know it. I have a long black coat from Casual Corner '03 that I wear, but it is not that warm, even being wool. I do wear it if I am super dressed up though and I just suffer.

Those are my most classic pieces that I am most proud of purchasing. Some were presents (thanks Ma!) but a lot of them I saved up for until I felt comfortable for the splurge, and I have ZERO regrets about these items! I love my clothes.

Ha now I will have to do a post about the items I DO regret buying! LOL luckily most of them were cheap.