She's A Betty

Budget Finds Under $75: 09/03/09

Black Bardot Dress, $70.00; Purple Marilyn Dress, $71.00.

Retro dresses from BB Dakota: I've just discovered BB Dakota's clothing, and wondered if anyone has tried them? I'm always looking for nice retro-style dresses, particularly ones that aren't cut to my vagina, and these are a great price. Which reminds me, congrats to Daddy Likey's Winona on her upcoming book!

Suede fringe wrap watch, $28.00; La Mer metallic wrap watch, sale $59.99.

Wrap watches: I don't need them, but I like them. Especially the shiny one.

Charcoal faux suede bow flat, $21.50; Miss Pettigrew dress, $39.00; Outback dress (also in cream), $39.00.

Lulus.com: I've been intrigued by Lulu's lately--they have better designs than before, but at the same low price points. I've also noticed that Lulu's stock overlaps with some of Modcloth's offerings, except Lulu's is cheaper and doesn't sell out as quickly. Some specific examples:

• the music box petticoat vs the mochi skirt;
• the amber veil dress vs the chai latte dress;
• the Miss Pettigrew dress (above) vs the party planner dress;
• and the natural cocktail dress vs the Brigitte dress.

To be fair, Modcloth has a nicer site (I love all the feedback options), great customer service, and has started selling more plus size pieces. But still.

Budget Finds: 07/10/09, Part II

Another (rather pricey) set:

• Miss Sunshine dress, $74.99, ModCloth. Please click through and check out ModCloth's full stock. They have a nice mix of high & low price points, and many vintage-inspired styles.
• Silk & cashmere cardigan (in black, ivory, and pink), $39.00, Victoria's Secret.
• Jeffrey Campbell's leather wingtips in pewter, $86.00, Lori's Shoes.

Budget Finds: 07/10/09, Part I

A few office-friendly summer tops:

• Converse pleated top*, $19.99, Target (also in hot pink & black);
• Delmonte dots shirt, $39.99 (sale), French Connection; 
• tie-front cardigan, $26.00, Twelve by Twelve. I like the color, shape, & price, but am not crazy about the frou-frou bow. I'm sure there's a way around it, though.

*I bought the Converse top on a recent Target trip. It's a great color, the pleats are well-done & slimming, and the length is longer than usual (a major plus). The empire waist emphasizes the bust, but the waistband detail is big enough to accent your waist & thus avoid the pregnant look.

Currently Enjoying...

Clockwise from the upper left hand corner:

a) Illustrator Nell Brinkley's women were the Roaring Twenties' answer to the aloof Gibson Girl. Curly-haired, rambunctious and more than a bit naughty, the Brinkley Girls were a national sensation, referenced in the Ziegfeld Follies and copied by young women everywhere (they even spawned a popular line of hair curlers). Biographer Trina Robbins has worked hard to reintroduce Brinkley's work to the mainstream, and her latest effort is Fantagraphics The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons 1913-1940, $29.99 (or pre-order it for $18.86 at Tower.com). You can read more about Nell Brinkley and her work at Paul Gravett's site & the Ohio State University's Cartoon Research Library.

b) We have gardenias growing outside our apartment, and they smell heavenly. Annick Goutal's Gardenia Passion comes the closest, in my opinion, to capturing their scent; like most of the line, it costs, but online sellers like Perfume.com offer substantial discounts (30-40% off).

c) Shiny Squirrel pointed me to DearGoldenVintage, another wonderful Etsy vintage seller. I particularly like these red heels with flame detail ($44.00).

d) This J. Crew pleated lawn skirt ($59.50) makes me think of tennis matches & ice cream.

e) Every time Kid Cudi's "Day N Nite" comes on the radio, I think "I love this song." Also awesome: the video, with its trippy rotoscope animation.

Budget Finds Under $30: Hard vs Soft

Just two more, promise:

• Rachel knit vest, $22.80, Forever 21.
• Pleated cotton skirt (also in white), $29.95 (sale), Martin + Osa. This mosaic skirt ($35) is also nice, although it says "dry clean."

Budget Finds: Spring Sandals

Two lovely sandals under $75 (and to think, I may be too broke for either of them):

• Metallic floral t-straps (also in gold), $39.50, Gap (via Omiru).
• Crosby sandal (available in May), $65.00, Marais USA (via Shiny Squirrel, etc.). Suede stains like crazy, but I like the design.
• UPDATE: These fringed Payless numbers are pretty cute for $25.
  

Budget Finds: Textured Neutrals

• This Forever21 tie-dye turtleneck ($15.80) could make an interesting layering piece.

• For those enamored with the Comme des Garcons for H&M polka dots, this Delia's v-neck cardigan ($49.50) is a budget alternative to eBay. It's selling fast, so click quickly (they got more stock, apparently).

• Finally, these luxe leggings ($50) from Kingdom of Style favorite Norwegian Wood remind me of Wolford's Serail tights (currently unavailable).

Cheap Glasses?

Some of the frames available from 39dollarglasses.com. The top left pair looks identical to a pair I bought at Sam's (I paid $50 for the frames alone; this site sells the frames and basic lenses for $39).

I need a pair of back-up glasses, and I've heard many good things about online discount retailers. Individual bloggers and sources like Reader's Digest & Clark Howard have recommended sites like 39dollarglasses and Zenni Optical, which offer prescription lenses and frames for less than $40. Has anyone tried these? I think I will, after my next eye exam.

Budget Finds: Leather Granny Boots for $81

My old boots died last fall. They were pleather, $40 ankle boots from Rack Room Shoes, and while they made it through several winters, their poor quality made me cringe. To quote Hannibal Lecter: "You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube."

So I wanted to upgrade slightly with my new pair. I wanted real leather, and a sharper toe, plus a really tight fit throughout the shaft. In my case, I've got small ankles and big calves, and at 5'4" wanted something that lengthens my body line. I also can't afford a $60+ mistake, so a return policy became a must. That ruled out vintage (even so, I still checked with and recommend vintage sellers first, because they have the best deals).

I ultimately ordered these Etienne Aigner Kraft boots, $81 through Amazon (they're 50% off, & the price includes shipping*). They're leather, the heel's a walkable 2 3/4" high, and the laces make the shaft adjustable. The mid-size heel also makes them more Victorian than dominatrix (although there's nothing wrong with the latter).

The leather looks better in person than in the photo (I'll try to post my own photos later), and the construction's decent, especially for the sale price. The fit is superb. My feet and ankles look tiny, and I can pull the zipper up all the way (hallelujah!). I would not recommend the style for wide feet, however, and although it fits true to size, it's a snug fit. You can pair these with slim socks or tights, but that's it.

*alternatively, this seller charges more ($80 + $4.95 shipping), but you've got more sizes and colors to choose from. Zappos also sells them, but for $97, and they don't have them in black.

Budget Finds Under $75: 07/17/08

Left to right: Ribbon accented cardigan, $50.00, YesStyle; Thassos marble t-straps, $64.99, Modcloth; large enamel flower ring, $15.00, Ooh Boutique.

Again, not helpful. But so pretty!