The Luxe Mix

The in-laws just left — it’s been an exhausting holiday break if you can imagine (always good to be with family but just as good to get your life back!)… so now just breaking into some deep winter cleaning. When the weather is muck out and I’m feeling the need to purify, I go straight to my closet and start purging! BTW I may say purge but that doesn’t mean I actually ever get around to throwing the clothes out of donating them away. Will have to explain my issues with getting rid of my stuff in another post someday. For now let’s just say I clear out space to make room for the new kiddies.

One look at my closet and I realized that I’ve held off much too long in re-stocking on clothes hangers. I’ve got way too many of those cheap metal hangers you get from the cleaners. Tssk Tsssk Jenni… after preaching this and that to others about the importance of keeping an orderly closet. Is it just me or do hangers seem to disappear like socks evaporate into thin air? Well before anyone comes snooping into my closet I’ve got to do something about my metal mess and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations. I keep hearing about those velvet hangers that help prevent your clothes from slipping off. Ingenious or gimmick? Who has them? Anyone have anything bad to say about then?

I read a review online for one brand called Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers in which one customer said they bleed color onto clothes, while others said they loved them. They are selling on HSN.com so that’s gotta mean they are pretty well vouched for.. right??

I also see this brand everywhere called Karen Rhodes Velvet Hangers (pictured above), which seem to have the most color options and widest distribution which makes me think she might be the orginal velvet hanger. Hers are also the most expensive, at $39.99 for 24 being the best price I could find at Overtock.com.

A cheaper alternative I found were these “flocked hangers” from a no name brand at Overstock.com. $99 for 120 of them!! The reviews on the site said they are comparable in quality to the more expensive brands. I don’t know whether I trust those reviews completely… I’m also wondering whether I need 120… but too scared to start counting my closet inventory.

Lastly, I’m also considering staying with the natural wood hangers I’ve already got, and instead using these non-slip rubbery stickers you can apply to the hanger to prevent slippage. In actuality you only need non-slip for about 20%-30% of your clothes if even that. I’m kinda turned off by the thought of having mixed hangers in my closet so if I go velvet I gotta go all the way!

Looking for thoughts! If anyone has any feedback on their experience with velvet hangers please do me a favor and share!

Coats have been boring to the bone the past 10+ years so I’m welcoming Leoffler Randall with open arms as she expands her mine to more than the wedge boots that put her on the map. Like her Studded Coat, this cropped piece is elegant but different. This model is not doing it any justice though… so just ignore her butter face and imagine how cute you’d look in this. I love the way Loeffler Randall breaks the rules or more so deviates from expected shapes and lines.

Available for $545 at eluxury.com.

If I resist the urge to buy something > regret not buying it a few days later > find a similar thing a few years later and still like it >> does this warrant me buying it?

There once was this wrinkled black leather jacket from Theory.. It gave me that familiar sense of longing I get for things that cost more than I can afford. I never ended up buying that jacket and regretted it months later. This Nathan Leather Jacket from Mike & Chris looks like a first or second cousin to that jacket. So do I take this one home??

I like how the distressed wrinkles gives the jacket a more laid back touch. I think I could pull it off at work too though.. I’d pair this jeans.. a skirt.. shorts like her in the picture… black slacks.. my Pj.. honestly it would marry anything and everything in my closet (or at least I’d end up convincing myself that).

White is not half bad either!

Available at Shopbop.com

It’s about that time that I start scouring the web for my Luxe for Less picks!! I’m on a strict budget (says my husband).

Here’s what I’ve found so far but will keep it comin… Everything should be under $100 or less (ish). No guarantees

Urban Edge

For Kicks

The Extras

As you may be able to tell from my previous post I’m into short jackets these days.. actually for the past couple years. Especially after I realized long coats only helped to reveal how short I really am. If you’re a shortie then stick to cropped and more snug fitting jackets. It elongates the torso (I feel). I indulged myself a little tonight after totally neglecting myself from any online browsing the past few weeks due to a rough work schedule and I’m reminded that I’m just too good at finding stuff I want

Here are a few Luxe for Less Options I found. If some of you go out and buy one jacket each then I’ll feel better about buying one for myself — so do it puleez! Some of these jackets cost less than a mani/pedi combo!!

Starting upper left, working clockwise
Sashimi Retro Jacket — $42.00
WESC Olive Jacket — $143.00
LS Cotton Jacket — $24.80
3Q Bomber Jacket — $27.80
Pleated SS Jacket — $27.80

We know Target is the spot when it comes to Luxe for Less, and thanks to Slave to Target, I found out Alice Temperley is now available at Target! I can’t wait to see how this line turns out.. I’ve always been a bit disappointed with the lack of inventory when these luxury designers come to Target. Who has time to storm Target on opening day for these new lines? Not me! According to a lot of the reviews it looks like the quality of the cuts and fabrics are hit or miss on some of her items. Read the reviews carefully ladies.

Read the full blog post at:
http://slavetotarget.blogspot.com/2007/09/meet-my-new-friend-alice.html

Some of my favorites…

Happy Luxe for less shopping!

http://www.target.com/GO-Alice-Temperley-Design/b/ref=in_br_browse-box/602-5601984-8775857?ie=UTF8&node=16275561

Thanks to Ghost Face Killa I treated myself to a Forever21 run this weekend (she hooked me up with a gift certificate for my bday). Below are a few pieces I picked up for myself along with a few more that I spotted on the website.

Gold Dust Sweater

Denim Halter Dress

Sequin Tunic

Pleated Satin Top

Plaid Bermuda Shorts — Perfect for golf!

My first "look" on ShopStyle.com…

Last weekend I met up with Grunchkin for some shop till we drop action in San Francisco (BTW Grunchkin = Grouchy Munchkin. We nearly did drop to our knees by the end of our round. I actually recorded a few videos that day which I’m still considering whether to post them or not

We started out at Wich’ Craft, the latest lunch spot next to Bloomies (opened by the Top Chef guy). It was mmmm mmm good. We then proceeded directly to the Forever21 on Market. This has got to be their Flahship store for Northen Cali if I’m not mistaken. It’s 3 floors! Tip: grab one of their shopping totes and cram everything you want to try on into the bag and head to the top floor — the lines are much shorter. Beware though, you end up picking up a lot more stuff!

I did some minor damage, spending about $250 there. For Forever21 that’s quite a load!

Here are a few of the things I got (found them on their site).

Striped Metallic Top — $15.80

Striped Tube Top — $18.00

Jersey Babydoll — $17.80

Stitched Jumper Tunic — $24.00

Cherry Blossom Tunic — $17.80

Plaid Linen Mini — $19.80