Cheap & Cheerful - Splendid Sandals

While perusing my local Moxie store last week, I picked up a really cute sandal.  No, I really don't NEED a new pair, but these were good.  And a matte gold metallic.  And, when I turned them over to see how much they were, I was shocked.  $68.  I immediately asked for them in an 8 1/2, tried them on, and almost walked out of the store in them.

Image from nordstrom.com.

The Splendid Edgewood sandal is adorable, completely useful and really affordable.  Moxie just received a shipment, so they have tons of stock.  They also come in black with the cork wedge at Moxie.  If you don't live near a Moxie (Wellesley or Boston), try nordstrom.com where they show them in white, coral, and the gold.  Enjoy! ~ JH

Text Conversation #4

Happy Summer! It's officially sundress-and-clingy-jersey-skirt-weather and as I discovered yesterday as I was running out to a party,  the usual undies were not up to muster.   Panty lines, twin belly....it was not a good scene.  I had to consult Jen immediately.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Seeing is believing ladies - Check out the Yummi by Heather Thompson® Jasmina Thong in nude of course, for all the white you'll wearing this summer.   

Our little summer gift to you.  Enjoy! ~ LB

Epic shopping day at the Green Tangerine!

I had the opportunity to take a quick day-trip up to Kennebunk, ME - more of a trip of 'errands' before summer arrives.  But, you know me.  I couldn't help but to stop at the Green Tangerine and check out their summer goods!  And boy, was I happy to have stopped!

Image from facebook.com.

Caroline (shop owner) is a master of curating clothing!  She carries a ton of different brands, all at different price points. From Vince to Lilla P to Vineyard Vines to Splendid.  Everything is mixed together, so it's not as though all the Vince is on one rack, and all the Splendid is on another.  Pieces are placed with complimentary items, and that's what I love.  I picked up all kinds of summer goodies!

The frenzy started when I walked by this scarf:

Image from zappos.com.

Simple, light, white Michael Stars scarf ($48) with grey and peach embroidery with khaki pom-poms.  I kind of fell in love, and needed an outfit to go with it.  So off I wend to find a peach or grey top.  And I found a peach Vince tshirt and a white G1 'everyday' skirt.  And it all looks great together.  The G1 skirt is basic, but I have another G1 skirt from YEARS ago (from the Green Tangerine) that I still wear all summer long.  Perfect material and length.  Why not have another?

Image from store.g1goods.com.

I'm ALWAYS on the hunt for a lightweight, everyday summer dress that's not clingy and doesn't require a special bra to wear with it. I found a good one!  This tunic dress by Velvet is going to see a lot of wear this summer.  Yes, it's a little out of my wheelhouse of normal, but it fits great and I love that it's different from what's in my closet already.

Image from shophorseshow.com.

Last summer at the Green Tangerine, I picked up a great, loose-knit sweater with a skull worked into the knit of the sweater.  Totally fun. Wore it to death.  Here it is:

Image from lyst.com.

This year, I picked up a new one - in sheer, white cashmere - with a skull on the back of the sweater.   It's so subtle, but so fun and unexpected.  Will put colored tank tops underneath to make the skull stand out.  Cannot for the life of me find it online to show you, which I also appreciate since I won't see it on anyone else.  

This is the beauty of the Green Tangerine - unexpected, unique pieces of clothing.  If you are every in Kennebunk or Kennebunkport, you MUST stop in, say 'hi' to Caroline, and allow at least an hour to go through her beautiful store!   Thanks for a great shop Caroline! ~ JH

In search of a navy pump.

At a dinner on Thursday night, my friend (and W2WW reader) was talking about how there are NO navy pumps out in the market.  This friend is a professional - think high-pressure meetings and the suits to match.  She's a serious executive and needs serious clothing for the job.    While this isn't my current world (SAHM), I know all about obsessions when it comes to clothing.  I told her "No problem; I'm on it.".  We LOVE the hunt at W2WW!

She'll be pleased to know that she can update her current kitten-heels with a click of a mouse.  My quick, online search using polyvore.com revealed lots of options.

First up?  The DVF Bethany heel.  Standing near 4" tall, it might be too tall for my friend, but worth a look.  It's a patent navy, which can be a plus in inclement weather, but she might just want leather.

Image from piperlime.com.

Next is one of my favorites - the Jimmy Choo Embossed Printed Leather Pump.  I love the leather on this and the heel height of 3.3" makes it completely wearable.  A classic, year-round shoe.

Image from jimmychoo.com.

Zappos was bound to have something, and it does, with the Elie Tahari Electra Pump.  With a lower heel height of 2 3/4", it might be even better for running to and from meetings.  

Image from zappos.com.

If she wants something a little exotic, Manolo Blahnik is showing these Twixpla Low-Heeled Pump with eelskin.  Oh yes, she'll pay a bit more for these - the $825 price tag is a little jaw dropping.  But the heel height is perfect and the eelskin makes for an interesting texture.

Image from bergdorfgoodman.com.

I'd like to see the blue on these in person (is it truly navy or a little lighter?!), but I know how comfortable Chloe shoes are, especially with a stacked heel.  My friend should check out these Chloe Scalloped Leather Pumps.

Image from saksfifthavenue.com.

Finally, a tried a true classic - the Manolo Blahnik BB in Navy.  How could she go wrong with this shoe?!

Image from barneys.com.

Friend - you have plenty of choices!  Happy shopping and let us know what you decide! ~ JH

W2WW News Flash - Uniqlo descending on Boston area!

You can imagine me delight when I was walking into J.Crew in the Natick Mall and saw this next to the Apple Store:

Finally!  Uniqlo is arriving in Boston!  As you might recall from some earlier posts, Lisa and I love to hit a Uniqlo for basics.  And until now, that meant trekking to NYC for us.  A little iPhone research told me that there are 6 Uniqlo stores opening in the Boston area, with the closest ones to us being in Natick and Chestnut Hill!  Excited texting followed:

We are excited to get our Uniqlo basics locally!  August 29th is the day at Natick - just in time for fall shopping.  And yes, Lisa has a purse attached to her contact info on my phone. ~ JH

All images from Jennifer Houston.

My foray into eBay.

Have you ever been so desperate to have a pair of shoes that you hunted them down in the far corners of the Earth?  No?  Well, I'm ashamed to say that is something I just did.  It unfolds like a mystery on Dateline.

Setting:  W by Worth and Worth New York Trunk Show, April 2014.
Characters:  W by Worth representative Heather Steele, shoppers Jennifer Houston and Lisa Bida.

Jen tries on a Worth New York dress.  Falls in love because it fits her so perfectly.  When does that ever happen?!  She must have the dress.  Black denim that reads 'graphite' more than sharp black, with a strip of stone colored leather down the front.  It's seriously cool.

Image from worthnewyork.com.

She slips on a pair of heeled sandals with the dress.  They are Heather's own sandals (supplied for trying out outfits with heels - which I love).  Holy cow.  They are PERFECT with the dress.  Lisa is dying over the shoes.

Image from ebay.com.

JH:  "Heather, where did you get these shoes? When did you get these shoes?"
Heather: "Nordstrom last year.  They were on sale too."
JH:  (Thinking - "Damn, probably going to be hard to find.")  "Do you have the box they came in?  If you do, can you send me a picture of the shoe information?"
Heather: "Sure".  (Thinking - "You are crazy my friend.")

Cut to 2 days later.  The following arrives in Jen's iMessages from Heather.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Bingo!  Exactly what Jen needs to find the shoe!  (Incidently, the arrival of this image coincides with Jen's daughter being sick and out of school for the week, resulting in massive quantities of time for internet searches and shoe obsessions.)

Internet searches turn up the shoe on Amazon.com of all things.  But in a size 8 1/2?  No.  Not even close.  Jen searches Shopstyle.com, one of her go-to sites for finding things she needs.  She finds the Cole Haan Minetta sandal, but in different color-ways.  Purple, mustard, but not ivory and dark grey.  Nothing.  

On a whim and at the end of her resources, she decides to try Ebay.  Jen is not an Ebay shopper normally, but there they are.  8 1/2.  NIB (which stands for 'new in box').  Seller gets 99.9% rave reviews and features a ton of other NIB shoes.  Hum...could this be it?  And the price?  $90.  

For $90, Jen decides to risk it.  In 3 days, she receives the package and voila!

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Fade to black. It's a wrap. ~ JH

(That last image is horrible, because I took it.  But had to show the results!)

Romper Room

I know what you're thinking, but hear me out.  

A romper, really?  Lisa, are you off your rocker?  The last time I wore a one-piece top and short set was, oh, 1972 maybe?   I am clearly not a kid anymore and the romper seems more suited to gazelle-like, twenty-somethings in dark shades strolling Newbury Street on a sunny afternoon.

On our epic 36-hour mini-vaca whilst browsing the racks at Saks, Jen pulled out this very cute Vince romper for me.  

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Really?  

LB:  "It's so short."

JH:  "Just try it on."

LB:  "I'm too old for this."

JH:  "Just try it."

LB:  "And I will wear this...where?", as I pull it on like a onesie.

JH:  "Everywhere."

LB:  "Oooh, I kind of like likey.  I think you may be right!"

The comfort + cool factor is a winning combination for me. Note: I will not wear this buttoned up like the model but with a bit of an open collar.  Add some silver jewelry....long silver Stella and Dot pendant, 

Image from stelladot.com.

a Robert Lee Morris Silvertone cuff,   

Image from lordandtaylor.com.

and the J.Crew Lillian Metallic Low Wedge.

Image from jcrew.com.

Flats are too severe, the wedge gives just a bit of height.  And viola - here I am!

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Sidebar...one of the many reasons I love this woman is that she gets me thinking outside the box and dressing outside my comfort zone.  We hope you are inspired to do the same! ~ LB