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My normal reading material consists of US Weekly (I am loyal subscriber and therefore read it religiously every Thursday night), Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar (again, I wait for the monthly glossies to arrive in my mailbox), and catalogs (the husband hates that when we moved I was thrilled to get us on a mailing list for all home stores in the nation!). However, in the summer, I get serious about my reading. I try to plan my days off in accordance with the weather if at all possible, and lay out (on my front porch, someone else’s roof, my parents’ patio, wherever) for several hours per day and devour approximately a book or two per week. When I say devour, I mean it. I get completely obsessive about my books, the plots, the characters, etc. After my day tanning, I proceed to read at night, when I’m sweating in our sweltering third floor apartment. I get lost in the story to the point where (thank goodness) I forget about the heat and stay up for hours past the fi-fo-fum husband, who like clockwork, peacefully falls asleep before 10pm.
This summer, I decided to get really serious about my reading. After a lunch break spent pouring through the shelves at Barnes and Noble, and another few hours reading the backs of all the books at Target, I created my own personal summer reading list. Feeling quite pleased with myself, I took it one step further and invented MY OWN SUMMER BOOK CLUB. The husband (again, he is so ridiculous) says that you cannot have a real “club” if you are the only person in it, but as usual, I beg to differ. I am THRILLED about my club, however independent it may be! And, for being so negative, he actually turned out to be quite supportive, because he even bought me three books from Amazon! (By bought, I mean I clicked “Yes, use credit card on file” while I was ordering, and then asked him afterward. I LOVE stored account numbers like that!)
Since I (someday) want to write my own book, my reading list is rather memoir-focused. (See, this is why I can be the only person in my club, because the titles are all for my own personal benefit.) Here is what I have tackled so far:
“the best of friends” by Sara James and Ginger Mauney (an excellent read – two best friends wind and twist their individual tales and the span of their friendship through three decades)
“someday my prince will come” by Jerramy Fine (the true story of a girl searching for her prince, literally; incredibly candid and hilarious, it’s an easy and upbeat read that brought much joy to the few days it took me to read it!)
still to come…
“change of heart” by Jodi Picoult (not a memoir, but I love this author, and I’m sure this book – one of her earlier novels – will not disappoint; she is responsible for this summer's blockbuster, "my sister's keeper" as well)
“pretty in plaid” by Jen Lancaster (another memoir, by the same funny girl who wrote “Bitter is the New Black;” her writing style is supposedly quite “bloggy” so I think I will like it!)
Just as I promised, it just keeps getting better. One week from today you will see exactly what I mean when you bust through the doors of the Nordstrom near you and shop til you drop at the… wait for it… yes, it’s here! The ANNIVERSARY SALE.
Remember when I told you I shopped via stroller as a baby? I have a feeling this is where the passion for fashion really began. When the stroller days were long gone, I have memories of setting my alarm for 6am in elementary school to go shop the sale the SECOND the doors opened at 7:00am sharp with my mom, aunts, grandma, whoever I could sucker into going with me.
Nothing beats this sale. Nordstrom is the only retailer in the industry who does it – fall product for women, men and kids EARLY at a discount for just 17 days every summer, starting the third week in July. This year, D-Day falls on Friday, July 17th. Then, August 3rd, everything gets marked back up. This is why it’s a marathon, not a sprint, fashionistas! (Personally, I hate running, but I feel as if this analogy works with almost anything.)
Now – for the really juicy news. For the first time ever, the coveted catalog (which you should be receiving any day in the mail if you’re a Nordstrom subscriber… if you’re not, don’t even tell my why; just get on the mailing list quick!) is online. EVEN BETTER – the online catalog has even more product featured in it than the hard copy, including tons more shoes, denim, hosiery, handbags, and more. Instead of just a snapshot of all the sale has to offer, this little devil can really give you the details! (You can even circle items and bookmark pages – heaven for an organizational freak like me.) Get your wish list ready before you go by checking it all out here.
Fortunately for you, I’ve had a sneak peek at most of the merchandise that will be featured on the Anniversary Sale. Here are the fall-must haves I plan on picking up on the 17th:
*boyfriend blazer (there will be several price point options; you can pick one up in BP, TBD or Via C… I haven’t decided on my favorite yet)
*boots (TONS of great ones on sale… but everyone is going crazy for the Fryes already, see page 36 and 41a)
*statement necklace (check out the Cara necklace on page 44 – AMAZING! I’m going to wear it with everything from an LBD to a white t-shirt.)
*black skinny pants (I am absolutely purchasing the Joe’s seen on page 45; they are comfy like a legging but have the details of a real pant – the best of both worlds)
*cosmetics (this is the only time they really go on ‘sale,’ so definitely stock up, because they have lots of special sizes and values. I ordered the Trish McEvoy planner and makeup card in the cute pink cases! See page 58)
*delicates (my favorite Honeydew panties will be only 4/$34 – steal of a deal! Check out the pages of panties on 50-51.)
That’s just a yummy little slice of the transaction that could easily take up the majority of a paycheck. Ah, Anniversary. You are worth every penny.
Well fashionistas, we’re in the midst of sale season, which we all know keeps us busy enough, but now we are in the dead heat of my other favorite season – nope, you know me better than to think it would be something as trivial as “summer.” Wedding season is officially in full swing! I kicked it off on Saturday, when one of my nearest and dearest friends (you may remember her as the sparkly Vegas bachelorette) wed her high school sweetheart on the 4th of July. Fortunately for me, she chose a darling sunshine yellow dress, and the nicest-bride-ever let us pick our own shoes! Of course, I went with the sky-high Charles by Charles David camel colored heels with gold accents. Perfect for looks, not so perfect for my walk down the bumpy grass aisle… never mind that. (However, if in the market for something that will take you from 5'1 to 5'6, visit his website.)
However, most times we attend weddings, we are not part of the privy bridal party, and must get dressed on our own. Here is where I come to the rescue…
A few helpful hints to help you look almost as cute as these people from Martha Stewart Weddings magazine (see pic above - they are adorable):
1. Select your outfit sometime other than the DAY OF the wedding. Picking something out an hour before is an obvious recipe for disaster. I've been there, and ended up frantically buying duct tape at a gas station to hold my dress to my chest... try waking up with that situation in the morning!
2. While you’re behaving as a good fashionista, creating the perfect ensemble a few days prior to the big event, do your research! Most of the vital stats can be learned from the invitation – so make sure your husband/lover/roommate/mother/dog/whoever does not throw that precious piece of paper away! The time of the ceremony is a major hint; afternoon = more casual, after 5 = more dressy, probably cocktail-ish. The location of the reception is another giveaway; outside = more casual, downtown hotel or venue = more dressy. And, since you are a few days out, if you are super confused, you have time to call someone who would know the answer, but would probably be too VIP on the day of the wedding to talk to you.
3. Please dress your mate appropriately. Whoever is the “true” fashionista in the relationship (and I know there are many men who fill this important role), make sure your outfits coordinate. For example, when you go with the girl in the sunshine dress, you don’t wear a dark, dreary winter suit. (I am proud to report that this was not us! The husband showed up dressed to IMPRESS this time, and I have pictures to prove it! I just can't figure out how to get them off the camera.) You can take a cue from my best-dressed hubby; summer, outdoor wedding, accompanying a date in bright cotton dress… boy’s outfit translates to: cute khaki-ish pants (not straight, old fashioned khakis, but ones with a slight pattern or texture – I love any of the chino styles from j.crew), light-colored striped button-shirt, brown leather slip on shoes, and brown belt. Effortless.
4. Yes, wedding season can be stressful, chaotic, busy – like I said, it can overtake your summer, just like our treasured sales! However, under NO circumstances should you attend a wedding with overlapping guests in the EXACT. SAME. OUTFIT. That, my fashionistas, is a faux-pa we just cannot forgive. So make a note on the calendar, take a Polaroid, do what you must, but when you are celebrating this summer, you better be doing so in something different each time around. (With resources like your friend’s, sister’s, mom’s closets, Target, H and M, Forever 21… trust me, you can make it happen.)
And this, my fashionable friends, is how it's done. Instead of struggling with style, you will SAIL right through the beloved wedding season, making me proud along the way.
