Hiatus, Again, I Know...

So, I have once again been on a bit of a hiatus, or as I was told, "MIA". I have been super busy and neglecting my fashion responsibilities! BUT I do have a few things I must cram into this post, because I have been slacking off with my very patient blog.

First and foremost, workout gear from Old Navy is a Fashion, Friendly & Frugal must-have! Why spend $60 on a pair of spandex pants when you can slip into a pair of $10 Old Navy leggings?! I have shopped around, time and again for cute workout gear - that is not 100% black and boring. To my dismay, everything is always super expensive and oh-so-drab (whatever you do, do not shop at Kohl's. Their workout department is extremely overpriced).

Here is where Old Navy comes in. They have a great line of inexpensive active wear, which includes some very comfortable bras - which keep your ta tas in place. I recently got two pairs of leggings for $10 each! On top of that - pun intended - I found a very appropriate hoodie for $15! Furthermore, I saved 20% on my purchase because of some promotion they have going on through June for Old Navy card holders.

Round two. I was missing the mall, my second favorite mall - Topanga Canyon, you are my Mecca - so I dropped by last Friday. I was out of work two hours early and started my weekend by stopping by a few of my favorite frugal stores. Express was my first stop. Tons of stuff on sale. Skinny white jeans, on sale. Period, end of sentence. Cute navy blue cocoon sweater, on sale. And most importantly, I bought a red dress. Now for whatever reason, I have always avoided red dresses. I bought a cute, frilly one last summer and it has apparently turned into a summer tradition. The best part about my new red dress is that it looks like a Herve Ledger bandage dress - I gave into the knock-off look. The minute I put it on, I knew I simply had to have it. It was tight, flattering, and beyond sexy - in a very understated way. I fell in love. I felt like Kim Kardashian, squeezing all of that junk into a form-fitting dress to show off all of the right curves - but in a skinny, white girl way. The cashier must have thought I was crazy. I bought red, white, and blue and the 4th of July is clearly more than a month away. I am patriotic, but I am not that patriotic.

After I left Express, I felt the burn in my wallet so I streamlined for Nordstrom, which was near my exit and my car. Major fail. Cute stuff, wrong cuts and bad silhouettes. However, I was informed about the Half Yearly sale which started this morning at 8am! After working at Nordstroms for three years, I cannot help but get excited for their fabulous sales. My shoppping trip was a blessing in disguise because I got the much needed heads-up about the sale.

This is where my real excitement comes in. Hiatus or not, I still have been staying current with what is going on in the fashion world - New York Magazine Online, you are my BFF. So I joined in the festivities this morning on Nordstrom.com and bought... a pair of... jeggings! Yes, jeggings. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but I do like my jeans skinny. So I am waiting for my Easy Money jeggings to arrive, along with my Jessica Simpson, simple sandals - yes, again, I never thought I would give in. My total was very Fashion, Friendly & Frugal at just under $100! Sales are fun and so is frugal shopping.

So, there is my frugal update. Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone be safe and wishing a very Happy Birthday to my girl Mel! Hiatus #3, here I come!

*Image: www.nordstrom.com

I Heart Zappos!

I am a huge fan of frugal fashion and quality customer service, but the two do not always go hand-in-hand. Usually, when I am browsing a store like Forever 21, I am left to my own devices and the sales associates focus on folding and re-folding tables full of discount garments. However, I recently ventured out of my comfort zone and started a relationship with Zappos.com - why I did not do this sooner is unbeknownst to me!

I was in the mood for a pair of summer sandals and I simply began my search at Zappos to see what my options were. I had no idea the kind of heaven I had re-discovered. I used to window shop at Zappos.com, but I never fully committed to purchasing anything because I was always too caught up in my affinity for Steve Madden. However, there has been a shift in the shoe universe and Steve Madden is no longer my number one.
I recently had a very sobering experience with Steve Madden online which left a very sour taste in my mouth. Now, some of their shoes may not be all that Fashion, Friendly & Frugal, but they always used to fit me perfectly and were always just the right height. A little over a year ago I noticed the quality of their shoes was slowly dropping along with their customer service. Ordering and/or returning shoes online with them is horrendous! I attempted to get shoes for my commencement ceremony last year, but the pair I tried on in the store was falling apart and all scuffed up and the pair I ordered online just did not fit. Needless to say, I was very disappointed but optimistic this was a one time thing.
Within the last six months, I have been visiting Steve Madden stores with zero luck. Every pair of shoes I have gushed over and tried on, have simply not fit correctly - and usually look pretty beat up. I used to be a size 8 across the boards, but recently I have tried on everything from a 7 up through a 9 with them. I know I am high maintenance when it comes to shoes, but when you are spending upwards of $100 on a pair of brand new shoes, you deserve to have a brand new pair.
A few months ago they released a pair of platform pumps which resembled YSL's ridiculously sky high confections worn by, none other than my favorite starlet, Christina Aguilera. I wanted them, I had to have them, but they were only available for pre-order. Eventually I ordered them in a beautiful blush hue, but they never came. Their pre-order date had passed and so had my shipment date. I contacted customer service and was continuously given the run-around. By the time my shoes arrived, I was agitated and beyond eager to finally get the chance to wear them. They did not fit. They were disgusting. They had water marks - they were suede - a ripped sticker on the bottom of one shoe, and looked as if they had been handled a whole lot. I was absolutely disappointed and frustrated.
I sadly returned the shoes, upset with Steve Madden and their lack of quality and absence of care. Their customer service people did give me a future discount, but it is hard to return to a company that has been consistently out-to-lunch. I wish I could use my discount at Zappos.com!
This is where Zappos comes in. After all the crap I went through with Steve Madden, I decided to branch out and give my business to another shoe company. Not only did I find out how amazing Zappos.com is, but I purchased the most beautiful pair of Michael Kors wedges - see below. They offer free shipping and returns, they upgraded my second order to overnight shipping, and answered all of my questions and concerns quickly about my return. It is one thing to have a good product and it is a whole other thing to have good customer service, when you combine the two - successfully - the outcome is unstoppable.
Yes, I am gushing about my love for Zappos.com because I am one satisfied customer. So, the next time you are thinking about investing in a new pair of Fashion, Friendly & Frugal shoes, check out Zappos.com, I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

*Image: www.schoolclubrewards.com

What's in MY Shopping Bag?: Memorial Day Getaway

We are already halfway through May and Memorial Day is approaching... FAST! Memorial Day barbecues seem to be quite the popular form of celebration, which leads me to ask, what are your plans for the holiday weekend? More importantly, what are you planning on wearing. Whether you are going to a beach, someone's backyard bash or even just a fun restaurant, I have picked out some very Fashion, Friendly & Frugal outfits to go with any kind of get together - after the fact I realized a theme involving the color blue, ha!

Urban Outfitters ~ Pins and Needles Fedora $28

Arden B ~ Stud Front Tunic $59

Urban Outfitters ~ Layered Graphic Bead Necklace $28

Urban Outfitters~ BDG Cigarette Jean $54

Nordstrom ~ B.P. "Gloria" Sandal $49.95

Nordstrom ~ Roxy "Personal Joy" Satchel $40

Nordstrom ~ MARC Butterfly Frame Sunglasses $85

Urban Outfitters ~ Vintage Two-Tone Cat-Eye $14

Urban Outfitters ~ Multifaceted Stone Earrings $24

Arden B ~ Voluminous Embellished Neck Top $59

Nordstrom ~ Trouve "Trina" Sandals $99.95

Gap ~ Chambray Cutoffs $49.50

Old Navy ~ Fashion Cuff $9

Old Navy ~ Metal Bangles $9.50

Urban Outfitters ~ Ecote Print Dress $68

Old Navy Pointelle -Trim Cardigan $26.50

Gap ~ Classic Boyfriend Belt $34.50

Old Navy ~ Metallic Detail Necklace $9

Old Navy ~ Gold Earrings $7.50

Macy"s ~ Giani Bernini Straw Satchel $75

Nordstrom ~ Nine West "Lautman" Sandal $89.95

Old Navy ~ Racerback Hooded Dress $19.50

Victoria's Secret ~ Bright Stripe Bandeau Bikini $40

Zappos.com ~ Juicy Couture Georgia Too Sandals $65

Nordstrom ~ AX Armani Exchange Sunglasses $6

*Images: www.gap.com

www.macys.com

www.nordstrom.com

www.oldnavy.com

www.urbanoutfitters.com

www.victoriassecret.com

www.zappos.com

The Kentucky Derby

My brother forwarded me the link to an article about the history of derby fashion. I am not a huge fan of hats but some of the things these ladies pick out are phenomenal - I doubt I could ever find any appropriate hat that is Fashion, Friendly & Frugal. Did you watch the derby this past weekend? And how do you feel about the typical derby fashion statement? What is your dream Kentucky Derby hat?!

"Kentucky Derby Fashion: History & Celebrity Inspiration"

*Image: www.huffingtonpost.com

Rent's Due: Absolutely Obsessed

Can you believe it is already May? April flew by and my blog has been lacking. I had to take it easy for a while with my "field research" because I was not being very Fashion, Friendly & Frugal. However, it is a new month and that means that the Rent's Due! What better way to start off a new month than to spotlight a very special pair of shoes (I am totally loving shoes right now)?

I am very picky when it comes to fit, with any piece of apparel or accessory. No matter what the price point may be, it must fit just right in order for me to spend my money on it.

So, the Nine West sandals I wrote about a couple posts ago were finally shipped to me and I simply was not happy with them. I tried them on with what I would wear with them and I was less than impressed. Needless to say, I returned them.

While I was searching for the perfect pair of wedge sandals, I stumbled across the most gorgeous pair of Michael by Michael Kors wedges at Zappos.com. It was a complete accident but I fell in love, until I saw the price. Leather straps wrapped around a cork wedge with faux wood stacked five inches high. Fabulous. Although they were $165, I was won over by the fact that Zappos does not charge for shipping, so I put them on my credit card and did not look back.

They arrived this past Friday and I just about had a heart attack when I opened up the box. They were the most spectacular pair of shoes I have ever purchased and they were exactly what I have been looking for in a sandal. However, I ordered them in a 7 1/2 because of what other customers' reviews said and they fit, BUT I am hesitant to settle for something so expensive that should be absolutely perfect.

So, I ordered a half size up and am waiting to see which fits better. I am well aware that my purchase is nowhere near Fashion, Friendly & Frugal, but I sooo deserve this beautiful pair of shoes. They will not sit in my closet and they will not collect dust, I will wear all five inches of each of them until they are worn out. I am confident their cost-per-wear will pay off in no time.

Being Fashion, Friendly & Frugal is all about making your wardrobe work with new purchases and making new purchases fit seamlessly into your current wardrobe. If you strategize correctly, you can splurge on things like this without breaking the bank, especially if the item goes with nearly everything in your wardrobe. At the end of the day, you must be happy with what you decide to spend your hard-earned money on, and I am more than happy with the fact that I purchased something I am absolutely obsessed with at a somewhat reasonable price (the quality is well worth the price). As is with many things in life, it is not necessarily the quantity but the quality that counts - yes, that was very cheesy.

*Images: www.zappos.com