Love Fashion? You'll LOVE This Story, Too!

Which are YOUR favorite designers?

The Best Sweater Ever...

This, my friends, is The Best Sweater Ever.

A couple of weekends ago, Land's End ran a 30% off clearance sale and I thought I'd take a chance on this striped boyfriend cardigan. After reading the reviews, I figured it'd be long enough (as TBS is 6'0" tall) but also light enough to layer. I got it in pine/turquoise stripe. So very me. Now I want all flavors of it (*praying Mr TBS isn't reading this*)*

I'm pleased to share that I'm wearing it today with dark wash jeans (cuffed nicely, of course), a white tank and a pointed to cheetah flat (loooooooovvvveee to texturize).  Today's the first day this week in Atlanta when it's not 80 degrees at 8 AM so I'm enjoying the crisp morning.

What's your favorite sweater type?

I'm A Cowgirl!

I guess it's the country girl in me but I am OB-sessed with western boots this fall.

It started out with a fab pair of full-length cowgirl boots that I picked up from a consignment shop for less than $20 this summer. And yes...gasp!...I rocked them during the warmer weather.  I am now realizing the opportunities that are in store for wearing them this summer.

I also found these from, of all places, Target.  While I didn't buy them, I tried them on and think I want them.  Not only are they comfortable but they were on sale for $29.99.  Honestly, I do not wear cheap looking shoes and consider myself a shoe snob.  The quality of these are remarkably surprising.  Check them out.

Cowgirl boots much for you?

I. Die. Seriously.

The trip to South Beach for Blogalicious 10 was absolutely remarkable.  'Twas amazing to meet so many bourgeoning and seasoned bloggers.  The scenery was no less than fabulous and I really learned alot.

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting one of my style icons: a one Ms June Ambrose.  Don't know June? Well let me introduce.  She is one of the most lauded celebrity stylists of our time.  Being a student of the hip hop generation, I was fascinated to learn that it was her guidance that lured artists such as Jay Z and Puffy/Diddy/P Diddy into suits; thus positioning them to become brands.

June was everything I thought she'd be: beautiful, funny, loquacious and BRILLIANT.  I keep a copy of her book, Effortless Style, at my fingertips. I highly recommend keeping a copy in your arsenal.  Believing that you feel your best when you look your best, June was with the Bali team which highlighted their shapewear.

I am STILL trying to recover from the excitement. Please. Resuscitate me.

Who are YOUR style icons?

After Labor Day, Before Easter...?

As we go into the holiday weekend and begin to usher in the wonder that is Fall, I've been thinking a lot about cool weather wardrobes.

I grew up amongst traditional Southern women who were committed to not wearing linen, seersucker, white shoes and pants, sandals, shorts and flip flops after Labor Day and before Easter.  To take it a step further, I distinctly remember not being able to wear shorts (no matter the temperature reading) before Memorial Day.

As an adult, I've kept true to most all of these sartorial mores but there is the matter of white denim pants.  I tend not to be afraid to wear them beyond September.  I've sported them with a wonderful heather gray sweater and a suede boot or cheetah peep toe.  I contend that gray, chocolate and black can warm up white denim.  Add a scarf and nice bag and you reek sophisticated chic.  I do not mind being a risk-taker in this regard.  Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever gotten a second glance.  Someone on Twitter said it best yesterday, "When it comes to fashion, do what you want."

Oprah's Creative Director, Adam Glassman, offers a few tips on doing white jeans well beyond summer.

What are some of your seasonal wardrobe change habits? What do YOU think of white jeans during Fall?

Won't These Be FABULOUS This Fall?

This tropic weather has me longing for autumn and fall fashion.

I came across these "necklaces" on Etsy last night.

They'd make a heather grey shift sing.

Want.

What's your favorite piece of clothing/ensemble to wear during the fall?

Photo credit: Nous Savons

Corsages Are ALL The Rage!

As I prepare for Gareth to go to the prom this weekend, i.e. ordering his date's corsage, this reminded me of the beauty of the corsage.

Last year, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, pve, and came upon their recommendation for another blog, emersonmade. emersonmade and their beautiful handmade (from different fabrics) flowers melted my heart. Of course I had to have one.  Over the past six months, I've gotten mixed reactions....some people tease me because the circumference is 9 inches and as nearly big as my head. Others are stopped in their tracks and love it so much that they are tempted to yank it from my collar.  I was thrilled to see that TBS was included in one of emersonmade's photo tributes to their creations and the customers who love them.  Peek in the top left corner and you'll see me.

Are lapel flowers in your wardrobe this season?

Do You Know It?

I'd officially like to blame Sun Kissed Mommy and place her under virtual citizens' arrest for exposing me to a wonderful outlet shopping site called The OutNet. Lord, it just makes me want to Gasp. Swoon. Faint.!

First of all, I have no connection to The OutNet and they are not paying me to say any of this. Though I can not take advantage of any of their offerings but the shoes, handbags, jewelry and other small accessories (but watch out...see my last post), I am impressed by their online inventory and their prices. Christian Louboutins less than $300? Chloe sunglasses under $150? You must be kidding me.

It's rare that I even entertain these "secret" shopping sites; I just don't have time to go to them every day and I get enough spam. Trust me. This one, however, is a bit different.  Check it out if you get a chance. I promise you'll find something you like!

Do you participate in "member-only, secret" shopping? Why or why not? What are you fave sites?

The Broke Socialite's End-Of-Year Virtual Yard Sale! EVERYTHING $35

Hey y'all!

I've picked up some fabulous denim while thrifting over the past few weeks and thought that I'd give first dibs here on the blog before posting them on eBay.  Here is how it will work:

(1/4/10-Post Script: If I don't get rid of these jeans and suits, Mr TBS will never let me go near another thrift store again. We, of course, can't have that! Everything is $35 including shipping! Have at it!)

1. If you're interested or need more details about a certain items, email me with you offer or questions via shameeka {at} thebrokesocialite {dot} com.  I confess that Mr TBS is not home and I am not the best photographer/stylist so I will do my best to capture additional angles, etc upon request.
2. All items are gently used. Should there be imperfections, they will be disclosed within the item description.
3. All sales are non-refundable and shipping is included in the purchase price.  Shipping to the contiguous US states only.
4. All transactions will be facilitated via Paypal and payment is due immediately.

7 For All Mankind "Flip Flop Jeans", size 28, minimal fray at hem, medium dark wash.

Retail price: $200, TBS price: $100 OBO  $35 - SOLD

True Religion Bobby Jeans, size 34x32, production "rips" at thigh and knee, medium dark wash. I think these are Men's. Similar pair here.

Retail price: $250, TBS: $125 OBO $35

James Jeans Dry Aged Denim, Size 30, Dark denim, See line here.

Approximate Retail Price: $200, TBS Price: $100 OBO $35------SOLD

The Red Engine Company jeans, Size 30, Dark Denim. See line here

Approximate Retail Price: $170, TBS Price: $80 OBO $35

J Crew jeans, Size 4, medium wash, slightly frayed hem which can be tailored, similar pair here

Approximate retail price: $109, TBS price: $50 OBO $35

Citizens of Humanity, Elle#064 stretch low waist bootcut jeans, Size 30, medium wash. Frayed hems that can be tailored. Similar here.

Approximate retail price: $160 TBS price: $50 OBO $35

Yves St Laurent Vintage Men's Suit (believed to be from the 80s, Made in France), Size 38 (based on measurements). There is a tear in the left arm that can be easily tailored. It appears that someone who was too large for the garment "Incredible Hulk"-ed it while trying it on, per Mr TBS :-) Color is navy/black with muted red/burgundy and white pinstripes. Suit is wool.

TBS price: $100 OBO $35

Yves St Laurent Vintage Suit #2 (believed to be from the 80s and also made in France), size 40 based on measurements. Color is gray with subtle burgundy and gray plaid. No imperfections.

TBS price: $125 OBO $35

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Are You A Cougar?

OK...not the Courtney Cox/Demi Moore type but have you bought into fashion's little peek of animal print here or there? I actually LOVE a pop every now and again.  I am the proud owner of zebra/cheetah/giraffe-tinged shoes, bags and belts.

Check out my friends Suchita and Nyssa as they discuss this season's appropriate (and tasteful) infusion of animal print in a wardrobe. Just a dab will do ya.

Are you wearing animal prints this season? What's your favorite piece?

Simple Question: Will You Or Won't You? White Pants After Labor Day...

The fab Amy J, Katie T and I were sitting around the lunch table a couple of days ago and ended up chatting about all things fashion. That led us to one of fashion's great debates....white pants and should they only be worn "after Easter and before Labor Day"?

The two of them seemed convinced that it'd be more appropriate to die a thousand deaths than to wear white pants in October.

TBS, as you may have figured, is a tad more avante guard. I say if the pants are clean, stylish and fit you well, they could be paired with a fab heather gray wrap sweater, black shell, a luggage-colored shoe or boot (oooh...a little suede would be nice), baubles and a wonderful bag. Whoot there it is!!!

What about you? White pants after Labor Day?

Lilly Who?

By now, most of you have gotten to know TBS's crew of friends and surely you remember the oh-so-darling Katie T. Complete opposites in more than the obvious ways, we have just as much in common. She is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, a trustworthy confidante and LOVES shopping (yay!).

On Tuesday evening, I was in Tar-zhay (to pick up vitamins and vitamins ONLY) and came upon a line of bejeweled sandals by 'Miss Trish of Capri'. It broke my heart that the inventory was nearly depleted. I was further crestfallen when I realized that of the 'road kill' there was nothing over a size 8 (and your dear TBS is an 11 aka 'the box'). I made mental notes to 1) check online for my size and 2) tell Katie T.

Well...I did and I did. Within 5 minutes of telling her, we were on our way to Tar-zhay during our lunch hour. Katie T got the gold Lion Sandals and I ordered the brown Turtle Sandals. And boy were we proud of our be-crittered shoes. And what a steal for $30 and some change! A fan of Lilly Pulitzer, Katie pulled up their site when we returned and we were thrilled to find that our Tar-zhay sandals were nearly dead ringers (except for different critters, of course) at a fraction of the cost.

InStyle magazine featured these sandals recently and they're flying off Target's shelves. If you go to Ebay, the demand is so high, they're being sold for nearly twice face value...wow!

And yes...I am a sandal whore. I've been exposed.

Who is your favorite shopping partner and what are your fave stores/things to shop for?

I'm Obsessed With Sandals For Summer '09!

*dancing to Mary J Blige's "Just Fine"*

Good morning and Happy Monday, Lovelies!

I do hope y'all had a great weekend. Mine didn't go exactly as planned. We unexpectedly ended up at the ER on Friday night with Mama TBS and my orchestrated plans came undone. The good news: a breast cancer survivor, Mama TBS is doing better and at home. She's a tough cookie! The downside: I had to postpone Saturday night's soiree. I literally slept through noon on Sunday and am slowly recovering.

Between naps on Saturday night, I watched "Grey Gardens" on HBO. Oh, what a fascinating story. Because we don't go to a lot of movies at the theater, premium channels are an investment in our entertainment. It's movies like this that makes me appreciate the corners that we cut. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange were remarkable. If you didn't know, I am enchanted by The Kennedys and Camelot. This movie fed directly into my obsession. Do catch it if you can.

On Sunday afternoon, I had a couple of errands that were put off from Saturday. On my way back from the market, I stumbled upon one of my shoe haunts. Before long, I was scooping up the pair pictured above. Aren't they delightful? Don't tell Mr TBS, but they were only $20. Shhhhhhhh...

This leads me to my obsession du jour: sandals. More specifically...flat thongs. I'm really looking for an embellished pair along the same style. The more baubles, the better! I am also plotting on these, thanks to NikkiD13 (I saw her sporting a similiar clear and bejeweled pair). The Burberrys are not the most inexpensive but they warrant a place amongst the rest of my shoe collection. An investment shoe...Yeah. That's it. At least that'll be what I tell Mr TBS.

Are YOU obsessed with sandals this season? What kind/style tickles your fancy?

Happy Birthday To Me, Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Alright, alright.

Today isn't my birthday but I'm just practicing for my actual birthday in August. You see, a couple of years ago, I started a little tradition: buying myself a birthday dress. It's a lot of fun to shop for the perfect dress and I usually start a couple of months in advance. I must say that I hadn't thought the first thing about this year's dress until I saw the dress pictured above. Is it not beautiful. The cut? The coral? Oh, my this is so me. (Is that Khloe Kardashian in the picture?)

I feel comfortable admitting that said that my birthday dresses are not always inexpensive. That's ok, 'cause it's my birthday, it's my birthday but imagine my surprise when I realized this dress costs 210 GBP which equals $307 (thanks to my handy dandy currency converter). *le sigh* I now have a quandary on my hands. The TBS in me is offended at the cost but the prissy girl in me wants.it.now. Let the Great Birthday Dress Search 2009 begin!

Do you usually buy yourself anything special for your birthday? Any traditions?

Comfort or Cost? Both? You Choose...

We've talked about shoes ad nauseum here at TBS and I'm wondering how everyone decides how you purchase shoes? Are your shopping habits based on: Sales?Appearance? Comfort?

I've gone through all of those phases and can't say that I prioritize one over the other. It really depends on the shoe and how badly I want it. One of the things that I have realized is that quality is a critical element of shoemanship. Mr TBS absolutely HATES when I wear shoes of poor quality. I have certainly been his student in this regard and my Payless (disclaimer: not a thing is wrong with Payless...they just aren't for me) shoes have been replaced by the cobblers at Cole Haan and Louboutin. Be not mistaken...I've never paid full price for a pair. I don't mind waiting a season or two for quality! Tell the truth and shame the devil!

One of my fave new comfort lines is Gentle Souls at Kenneth Cole. LOVE it! They are a bit pricey for my taste and some look a bit MawMaw-ish (at least they aren't SASs) but the ones that are cute are...well...cute! Kenneth Cole occasionally has great sales with a certain percentage off. I'll be sure to let you know when they do (shanking myself for not taking advantage of the 44% off on Inauguration Day...darn!)!

What is your favorite comfort shoe line?

I Am SOOOOOOO Loving This...

As perfect as this Liz Claiborne dress is, you'd think that a one style maven, Isaac Mizrahi designed it for me himself! *swoons* This dress is so very TBS!

You should check out his line...it's really yummy! The price points really aren't that bad.

Have you seen the ad campaign?

Photo credit: Belk.com

Watch Out Beantown, Here Comes Gareth!

Gareth will leave for Boston on Saturday morning. We spent a great deal of last evening in preparation mode. You know: determining which clothes he'll take for his 3 day trip, making sure they're all dry cleaned ('cause teenaged boys don't care about things like that, I've found). After I picked him up from school, we headed to get the max for the minimum (TJ Maxx) to shop for shirts. We definitely found a couple we liked but were thrilled to find a pair of Ralph Lauren Polo chinos for $10. As best we could tell, the pants had original been $60; so we couldn't snatch them up quickly enough. Ka-ching (insert Gareth and me giving a high five)! Now that's a deal! Much like his stepmother, Gareth loves a bargain. We've long since been having conversations about fiscal responsibility, creditworthiness and, yes, even bargain-hunting. Thank God chats have rubbed off on him; this kid is a tightwad and admittedly so!

As he grows older, I am beginning to realize that he really has been listening to our money lectures. *swoons* We are hopeful that he doesn't make some of the same mistakes as we did in college.

When he goes to visit Harvard this weekend, he will have an allowance. Ever the miser, he will likely come back with about the same amount of money he left home with. He'd rather hang on to it and buy a video game later. Though he's wrapping up his junior year and this is a long ways off (it'd better be), all I can think is: his poor wife....this kid's sort of a cheapskate...ha!

Have you had money or budget conversations with YOUR kids? What do you think is the right age to begin talking about money?

Are You A Maxi Dress Snob?

Even if you aren't, I've enough disdain for cheaply constructed versions of the long sundress to go around.

A couple of nights ago, some Facebook friends and I spent a great deal of time being appalled at Old Navy's Marketing Team's mis-step: calling the maxi-dress none other than a 'Town Gown'. I am still disturbed.

What I have realized is this: if you're too short (under 5'2") or too tall (over 5'8"); get yourself to the nearest tailor. It will likely be challenging to find the right fit. If I had $450 to blow, I'd certainly buy the dress pictured above. Isn't it so very "me"?

I thought I'd highlight some beautiful maxi dresses because I'm so looking forward to wearing one when the weather is warmer!

Enjoy!

Got Six Hundred Dollars?

This One Is Just A Little Better!

For Us Plus-Sized Girls, Isn't This Chic?

Do you wear maxi dresses?

Luxe DEFINITELY For Less!

I've rarely met a girl who didn't appreciate a darling consignment store! TBS is happy to share one of the latest that I've discovered on the web! EmphaticNYC carries everything from Chanel to Zac Posen at a fraction of the retail price. What's wonderful is that you can surf their inventory from the comfort of your abode (or work...but you don't shop on-line at work, right? Of course noooooottttttt!)

Share this link with all of your friends who like high brow goodies at lower prices! Who knows what you'll stumble upon?

Do you shop at consignment stores?

DVF On The Classic Wrap Dress

No editorial needed. She speaks; I listen.

Check out the current offering at Saks. Ebay is a great spot for discount DVF as is the Saks Outlet, Off Fifth. Should you sign up for Off Fifth's deals, every so often a great 30 percent off coupon will come your way.