Champagne Taste, Beer budget

So I was recently told, unfortunately not for the first time, that I have "champagne taste on a beer budget." I wish I could claim this as inaccurate, but my love for $120 t-shirts alone doesn’t help my case. Finding the look for less is unfortunately a world in which I must reside. Don’t get me wrong. I definitely splurge. Every girl has to. I splurge on the things that can’t be found at a fraction of the cost. My love for expensive shoes is the hardest. I crave the shape of Louboutins. Even my mother has told me that my long time obsession warrants the purchase, and she is about the most frugal person I have ever known. So since I haven’t had the fortunate experience of adding a pair of red soles to my tiny little NYC closet, I have had to improvise. I am not claiming that these knock off shapes are the same. In the big scheme of things, there is really no replica, but for now I have something to tie me over. I am constantly complimented on my shoes of choice, so here is a little 411 for my fellow budget conscious shoe freaks. My go-to’s for hot heels on a tight budget are none other than…Steve Madden and Jessica Simpson. Yep, I am admitting it. It is hard to say this aloud, but these heels have awarded me numerous compliments and stares, therefore I must give them their well-deserved appreciation.

I am in love with the animal print shoe trend this fall, and everyone from Stella McCartney to Brian Atwood seems to be on board. Unfortunately with a $700 price tag, until I have secured employment, slipping on these pairs must remain in my head when catching Zzzzzs. But in search for a pair of rocking heels for my post-nuptial bash (yep, again, not traditional dress), I came across this hot little pair of pony hair leopards. And for $89, why the hell not? It sticks with the trend, and when pair with a LBD or skinnys, no one knows how much you paid for these babies. I wore them at FNO and I can't tell you how many "ooohhhs"and "aaaahhhs" the feline footwear received. So there you go....pair one that will give you that Champagne look, while maintaining the beer budget.

So I had an interview soon after I arrived in NYC. And for this particular interview, I was in need of a pair of plain black heels. I tore through my closet only to find that every pair of black heels I owned were about as far from plain as it gets. I went to Saks in search of the perfect pair, but the only pairs that remotely looked right for the part were a pair of Elizabeth & James and a pair of Pour la Victoire. The pair of PlVs that I already own are incredibly comfortable, however the plain black heels at Saks felt like knives shoving into my toenail beds and the Elizabeth & James were great but even a $350 price tag was a gamble with no secured employment in sight. Strike Out. I was discouraged, but decided that Macy's may save the day. I figured that both my staples (Madden and J. Simps) would undoubtedly be on display. And I was correct. I found a little too high for an office job pair of black suede heels. They were just tame enough to work for an interview, but hot enough that I knew I would get way more than my money's worth. My husband thought that they may be a little high for work, but I kindly explained, "if these are not appropriate for this job, then I am not appropriate for this job." Sold. Again, an $89 price tag made this a smart investment.

Immediately after the interview, I went straight to Henri Bendel (like any girl would do) to walk around and shake off my anxiety. I chatted with my parents to tell them about the past hour and was approached by a super stylish sales associate. She wanted to speak to me so badly that she didn't seem to mind interrupting my phone call. "Where did you get those shoes? Are those the new YSLs?" I paused, wanting to soak in the moment and contemplated lying to save my pride and establish some street cred, but I told the truth.

"Actually they are Steve Madden, but aren't they fabulous?" She seemed appreciative for the honesty and claimed that she "had to get them." Who knows? She may have mocked me as soon as my back was turned, (not knowing that I was also wearing my A.L.C. LBD, my Rag & Bone jacket, and my Cartier watch). While one would assume that I would be leaving HB with my tag between my legs, it was quite the opposite. Once again, my less than $100 kicks were grabbing the attention of fellow fashion lovers, therefore the purchase was a success. These hot little black platforms will forever be dubbed "my YSLs."

One day I plan to have the financial capability of being a complete label snob (well you know what I mean...capable of getting anything I want), but until that day comes, I will have to find ways to cut costs. Splurge on the things that can't be achieved with slashed red lines, and save on things that you can successfully get the "look for less." Thank you Madden and J. Simps for helping me turn heads without emptying my piggy bank.

Louie Louie....

Since relocating to NYC I have been supplementing my income, or lack thereof, by babysitting this sweet kid on the Upper East Side. And tonight I was determined to give this child a lesson in fashion 101. I arrived at his house to babysit around 8:15pm. He hadn't eaten and neither had I, therefore we had to venture out to get some grub. We went to his place of choice, since a) he was paying and b)I am a downtown gal and don't know the neighborhood. Three Guys it was. He was shocked that I hadn't heard of Three Guys. I informed him that down south there was a Two Guys and a Five Guys but no Three. By deductive reasoning I came to the conclusion that this was bound to be a burger joint. Damn! I had been eating so well but I was starving...so I gave in and had the leaner of the burgers, sticking with bison meat, no cheese, no bun, no fries (except for the two that I stole off his plate)....OK so let's get to the important part...

We walked out of the burger joint only to be staring at heaven, otherwise known as the perfectly decorating window at Christian Louboutin. Although we were mid-block, I informed this child that we were crossing. I barely waited for traffic to subside before venturing across Madison Ave. This window was so fantastic that it nearly took my breath away. There were oversized red soled heels hanging in the windows and the entire collection of Rollerball Spiked Louies were displayed in every style. It was a vision of beauty, as with any display of Louboutins. There is just something about these shoes that give me chills. Perhaps it is the perfectly sculpted platform, or the way in which the red soles pop like a beam of sunshine beneath the feet of the lucky owners. The way in which these shoes are crafted is no less magnificent then that dude's painting in the Sistine Chapel (OK, total joke...I know the artist and don't really think they are equally significant....at least I don't

admit it).

"Those?" he looked at me in disbelief that I was so enamored by the footwear. It was all I could do to hold back my hand from slapping the fashion naivety right out of him. I took a deep breath and explained to him that these were the Mickey Mantle of shoes. The Michael Jordan of....wait too young...the Kobe Bryant of footwear. The untouchables....well at least for those of us not yet in six figures. He seemed rather bored but spotted the rollerball spiked loafers and stated, "I'd wear these if they were guy's."

'Actually they are men's," I informed the young one. He didn't care...I am not even sure he heard me..it was hopeless. He just wasn't going to get it. I had overestimated the ten year old male's brain capacity. They are just incapable of understanding this form of art. Perhaps if I told him that Kanye wore them at the Parisian Fashion Week back in February? No. It is hopeless. My frustration would have continued, but then a thought came to me. I may not win the battle with the child in front of me...but at the end of the day, I don't even have to fight the battle with my better half at home. My husband (yep, I tied the knot) has as much of a shoe obsession as I do. He even recently posted about shoes on his pop culture blog, The Smackdab. Although this shared likeness creates a slight problem in the clothing "budget," it is a rarity to be able to share the emotions caused by a perfect pair of footwear with the man I love...or any man for that matter. I couldn't ask for more. He doesn't think that my thoughts are unwarranted, nor ridiculous. He understands. One of the many reasons that I said, "I do." I can guarantee that once he reads this post, men's Louboutins will immediately be viewed on our computer and perhaps a shared desire will eventually turn into a shared possession.

In conclusion, my attempt at teaching Fashion 101 failed, but I left with the satisfaction of knowing that I would be going home to someone that shared this crazy obsessed love. With the relatively recent addition of men's Louboutins I feel that I am one step closer at justifying the purchase for these $700+ heels. Unfortunately, that means that now I have to justify the purchase for two.

Your Weekly Look

Photo Stolen From Marie Claire

Although this picture is utterly FABULOUS...I get it, you are thinking, hell no. I would never wear this outfit and unless you are gifted with a body like Kate Moss, you probably shouldn't. However, this look has many elements of fall's biggest trends that you can tone down to fit your personal style. Incorporate the stripes, sequins, or fur vest into your look this fall to remain on point with the season's hottest trends.

This will be a long one...but worth the read...

It was only a year ago that I was sitting on my couch, updating twitter every couple of minutes in order to stay abreast of everything going on with Fashion's Night Out in NYC. This year, I was in the middle of it. I have recently (finally) relocated to NYC and my first big event was Fashion's Night Out. Seriously I couldn't have asked for more. For me, it wasn't about seeing Gwen Stefani promoting her perfume at Sephora, Rachel Zoe giving style advice at the Piperlime pop-up store, nor about watching Nicole Richie sing to the Spice Girls at Bergdorf...ok, I am lying. I would have loved to have been a witness at any of these events. But, honestly, forme...it was about the real faces behind fashion. The true movers and shakers of the fashion industry. And that was what I experienced.

It began, husband in tow, at Billionaire Boys Club on West Broadway. Rumors had been floating around about the "secret" performance from Pharrell and crew. Noted as one of the most "hectic scenes of the night"...I can say from experience that this shit was bananas. As the flatbed arrived, the pushing, screaming, and fainting ensued. Ladies were clawing and biting at the chance to touch Pharrell or Chris Brown who was the surprise performer with N.E.R.D. I was lost in the wave of human limbs and ultimately separated from my other half. We rocked out to the performance with a good fifty people between us. Just as the performance ended, I was nearly trampled to death as large breast attempted to consume my spot on the front row, a mere foot from where Pharrell walked by to enter his boutique. Eventually I crawled my way back to find Michael and continue with our evening. My experience, although slightly unmanageable, was amazing. N.E.R.D. and Chris Brown shut down West Broadway. This was only the beginning.

Next stop, an old stomping ground. The Marc Jacobs store on Mercer. We were nearly malled by a crowd of ferocious animals trying to sneak a peak through the windows at Kanye who was trying to grab a drink amidst the madness. MJ was a mellow scene. A random competitor from ANTM caught my attention for a brief sec, but then my eyes continued to stare at the amazing racks of clothing that would undoubtedly break my bank account. I longed for a new purse, but settled for a few glasses of the complimentary white wine being served my modelesque waiters. I was waiting to meet my dear friend, and fellow fashion-crazed fan Ashley. Little did I know that outside the doors had been blocked off as Marc himself was soon to arrive. I had interned for Marc in 2003 and 2004, but honestly it was as if I was seeing another person. The years I was a part of the team, Marc was overweight, a heavy smoker, and quite frankly nothing like the eye candy that he is today. He arrived just as Michael and I were taking our photo in front of the MJ "Bang" campaign sign. Michael had just picked up a bottle of the new fragrance (note: has Marc ever made a bad smelling fragrance?). We went to pay for the bottle of seductive scent an

d the designer was at the checkout. We didn't realize that he was signing pictures, nor that the bottle came with a t-shirt of Marc's new nude pic promoting the fragrance. Marc quickly added his John Hancock to the tee, and I unwrapped the bottle of cologne and had him sign that as well. A cool little souvenir for the night. Next, we heading out to find Ash...

Note: We debated whether we should stay at the MJ hotspot for a moment more, as Marc is known for attracting some of our fav celebs....and we went against our better judgement and gave up our spot just moments before Kanye arrived to mingle with the commoners. Damn.

We found Ash in the streets and made our next plan of attack. Meatpacking. The thing with FNO is that there is something completely fabulous going on in every area of town. It is nearly impossible to decide where to go and when. We figured we should head to Meatpacking and give another area a shot. There was no way in hell that cab was coming through the streets of Soho. It was like I would expect NYC to be on New Year's Eve. Complete and utter chaos. We figured if we could at least get to Houston, there was a chance that we would be able to hail a taxi. I had gotten accustomed to the sudden mobs that formed when a celebrity hit the streets, but the next one just seemed to have a different feeling....I scurried to the sidewalk and saw the beam of light that surrounded a head of white hair....could it be? No way..."Ashley!!!!" I screamed like a kid at a Miley Cyrus concert. I waved my arms in panic for her to accompany me amidst the crowded sidewalk. She knew this had to be big. It was him...I never thought the day would come that I would be within arm's distance of Karl Lagerfeld. Now if you are reading this and are at all disappointed at the climax of this paragraph, then perhaps you should reevaluate your commitment to fashion in general. Karl is unmatchable; a true genius. Ash made it just in time to snag a quick, and slightly blurry pic of the god-like creature. My night could have ended here, completely satisfied. But it didn't.

After I caught my breath, we made our way to Houston to continue our path to the Meatpacking district. I wanted to meet up with a friend at Yigal and grab a drink at a bar on West Side Highway. Ash and I were still going on about our last sighting when Michael gave me a nudge and motioned his head up the sidewalk. Ash and I looked up as Anna Wintour walked by. The editor-in-chief and FNO creator herself, just strolling down Houston....really???

My heart finally maintained normal beats by the time we reached Meatpacking. I just missed my friend at Yigal but outside the boutique was none other that Doogie Howser, M.D. filming a segment for a FNO internet clip. We were worn out and ready to head to Brass Monkey for a drink when Wyclef stopped his car in front of us just to chat with the passer-bys in the street. Oh hey Wycelf...oh wait, hey Anna Wintour, again...this night is insane. Seriously, I am overwhelmed....time for a drink. Off to Brass Monkey for a nightcap.

FNO, I couldn't have asked for more. The icons of the fashion industry at arm's length, entertainment on every block, I didn't want it to end, but wasn't sure I could handle anymore excitement. Now, I am ready for next year....Nicole Richie...I'll meet you at Bergdorf.

E.C.C. + A.L.C. = L.O.V.E.

You are bound to know fashion when you have been styling everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Gwen Stefani. Andrea Lieberman, stylist to the stars, puts chic into everyday, versatile pieces. And for this fall, A.L.C. is all about Parisian Chic. Since my recent elopement to Europe, "Parisian Chic" is right up my alley. Lieberman's perfectly crafted basics are pieces that easily transition from season to season. Their signature "Twisty T" dresses and surprisingly flattering horizontal stripes take simple cotton pieces to the next level. Currently the favorite dress in my closet, is my A.L.C. black Bandage Dress. Ultra sleek, can be worn to the knees for day time or business attire and scrunched up for a sexy look for a night out. These pieces are perfect for traveling. Even when pulled wrinkled out of a suitcase, the dress maintains its shape and the wrinkles only add to the expertly draped look.

The first A.L.C. fall shipment arrived at Beanie + Cecil right before I departed for NYC. As we unpacked the box, each piece caused the room to fill with "ooohs" and "ahhhs." Tapered Georgette Pants..."oooh"....French Lace Mini Dress... "ahhh"...Tie-Dye Wool Blend Sweater..."ohhh la la." Seriously. Each piece is beyond fabulous on its own and even more fabulous when pieced together with its equally magnificent counterparts. With the thoughts of my approaching (now current) move to NYC and lack of secured employment ahead, I did what any fashion loving gal would do...I bought a couple pieces before boarding my plane! The Tapered Georgette Pants and The Chloe Dress were not unnecessary splurges, more so needed investments to help sophisticate my look and ultimately help me secure a job....right? Justified.

If "sumptuously soft knits, romantic lace dresses and a selection of basics cut to perfection," sparks your interest, then A.L.C. is meant to meet your closet. Perhaps you are like me...you have a Kardashian guilty pleasure. If so, you may have seen those crazy sisters sporting not only the African Tweed Jacket, but also the black and nude Drape Dress from this past spring's collection. Which means ladies....these pieces are cut for some curves. No boyish stick figures used when creating these patterns. If the Kardashian rear works in these pieces, then clearly these pieces give you a little wiggle room! Lieberman undoubtedly had the "everyday woman" in mind when designing this line. Each piece is impeccably shaped, cut, and draped for THE ultimate flattering look. Currently my favorite line, I highly recommend the addition of some A.L.C. into your life. Your first purchase won't be your last.