The Shopper Mom: July 2012

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted-Shift Dress

As we continue our list for fall. Let's review what we have so far on our list.

                                            1. Bold Color
                                            2. Fitted Blazer
                                            3. Ankle Pant
                                            4. Beautiful Blouse
                                            5. Pencil Skirt
                                            6. Glitzy Top
                                            7. New Shape Sweater

Today we will focus on the next item on our list, the shift dress. The shift dress is a little less fitted A-line in shape. Most shifts have pockets on the front of the dress. Not be confused with a sheath is more fitted, more dressy, often considered a career dress for the office. Both dresses would be great for a dinner out or party. We feel a shift could be your go to dress in the fall paired with some tights and boots. Perfect for the busy days of moms but very effortless to pull off.

Belk Tahari Mustard dress

This is our version of a shift dress. A basic neutral outfit with our bold color featured in the handbag. We also added the animal print shoes for our own flair. Notice the pockets on the front of the dress.

Max Studio Beige Dress

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted - The Pencil Skirt

Willow and Clay lace skirt - $78 at Belk

The newest fall fashions are very lady-like and glamorous. With details like peplum, silk, lace, bows, sequins and Peter Pan collars, our more feminine, softer sides shine through. Add shots of bold color, lower-heeled pumps and an elegant clutch and your 9 to 5 will be more like 9 to midnight!

Polka Dot pencil skirt - The Limited (similar)

Blouse - Banana Republic

Nude Pumps - Vince Camuto

Faux Snakeskin Tote - c/o Belk (similar)

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted - Glitz

Pure Sugar shine front blouse at Belk for $74

As Arlene Goldstein, VP of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Director of Belk, Inc., would say: Let's have some Glitz Before Six! If you thought sequins were just for a night out, think again. This fall season put some glitzy glam into your wardrobe with a sequin top or sparkly shoes. Whether you are going to the office or to a PTA meeting, you'll "shine" like no other.

Sequin Tank - J. Crew

Leopard Print Ankle Pants - J. Crew

Sparkly Sandals - Zara

Wristlet - Coach

Bangles - Forever 21 (similar)

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted - Boxy Sweaters

Dolman Sleeve Tribal Sweater - YesStyle.com

Skinny Jeans - Seven

Short Boots - Nine West

Cross-body Purse - Langford Market

Leather Bracelets - Craft Fairs

Jessica Simpson Dolman Sleeve Sweater available at Belk for $59

What's more feminine than butterfly sleeves? Although the shape is boxy, the Dolman Sleeve sweater continues in popularity this fall. Try a bright color or a fun pattern like my tribal pattern. Either way, you will be warm and comfy.

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted - A Beautiful Blouse

Number four on our fall must-have list is a beautiful blouse. Femininity is the name of the game and the more lady-like it is the better. Try one with a pair of destructed skinny jeans for a comfortable, "just-threw-this-on" look or pair it with a pencil skirt for a more polished look. Add a pair of booties and you are on your way to being fashionista numero uno!

Blue & Black Chevron Blouse - Pippa

Brown Lace Blouse - Belk

Green Skirt - Gap

Sandals - Nine West

Hobo Purse - Gianni Binni via e-Bay (similar)

Twelve Fall's Most Wanted - Ankle Pant

For quite a while now, J. Crew has been rolling their pant hems in that 80's Footloose fold. You know the one - where you roll it once, fold it in and then roll again. Well the fashion industry caught on and decided "why roll when we can just make the pant ankles skinnier and shorter?" Thus the ankle pant was born (as opposed to cropped pants). I, for one, am glad. I really didn't want a constant reminder of those awkward high school days where even the boys rolled their pants. The ankle pant is less bulky and provides more coverage for cold days.

So will you continue to roll your pants or will you finally embrace the trend and buy ankle pants? You will be tres chic if you do!

MODEL

Vince Camuto ankle pants - $79 at Belk

Leopard Print ankle pants - J. Crew

Chambray Shirt - J. Crew

Sequin Tank - J. Crew (similar)

Silver & Nude Sandals - Zara (similar)

Booties - BCBG (similar)

Wristlet - Coach (similar)

Structured Bag - Fossil (similar)

Twelve Most Wanted - The Fitted Blazer

Number 2 on our list of fall's must-haves is the fitted blazer. While we aren't necessarily saying "goodbye" to sweaters this fall, the blazer will be THE go-to piece when chilly nights arrive. We had already seen the advent of the striped blazer this past spring, and now you will be able to choose from a variety of other patterns and embellishments - stripes, plaids, tweed, bright colors, studded, leather, you name it.

So if you are out shopping for end of summer deals, you might want to throw a blazer or two in your shopping bag.

Studded Blazer - Zara

Skirt - J. Crew Factory (similar)

Shirred Shirt - MNG by Mango (similar)

Booties - BCBG (similar)

Tassel Necklace - Accessorize (similar)

Bucket Bag - Zara (similar)

MODELS

Plaid Blazer - Belk

Leather & Tweed Blazer - Michael Kors via Belk

Twelve Most Wanted for Fall

As we mentioned the other day,we attended a Fall preview show at Belk. So, we are going to start with the twelve most wanted for fall..because in the end it is all about the list.

Bold Color

Don't put away those bright colors you have been wearing this spring and summer. Those colors will still be going strong for fall. Notice these beautiful jewel tone colors. I'm kinda excited to see a fall with some color instead of shades of gray.

Harper & Gray soft pant $68.00
Spense tie front blouse $58.00

Keep reading as we explore the rest of the most wanted list.

Fall Preview - Vivid Color

Free People dress from Belk and DV Dolce Vita sandals from Marshall's

A very vivid red purse.

Check out these other vivid fall finds at Belk this Fall:

Katie Kalsi bags in suede Dolce Vita "Bunny" platform shoes

Calvin Klein belted dress in floral Jones New York pant & blouse

First up for fall '12 are the vivid colors. We have all been there done that, right? If so, keep it up and your wallet will thank you. It's all about the color blocking, color banding or even color clashing.

If you have not embraced this trend yet, the good news is that the new fall lines will debut more subdued colors. Reds will be deep, yellows will be gold, oranges will be rusty, etc., etc. But the accessories? Wow! Accessories will continue to be as bright, bold and surprising as ever. Try a pair of purple pumps this fall or a turquoise purse - whatever catches your eye. The message is don't be shy!

Southern Classics

We attended a Fall Fashion Preview event at Belk today. We wanted to look the "Southern Lady" part so we put together a pencil skirt with a sheer gingham shirt, threw on some bangle bracelets, nude shoes and last but not least, our favorite structured purse.

We can't wait to share more about the Preview event. We will share one tidbit with you: don't put those bold colors of summer in the back of the closet. Keep that wardrobe working just as hard as you do by re-purposing those bold colors in fall with layers and a fitted jacket.

Stay tuned for the rest of the fall preview story. Stay cool (if that is possible in this 90 degree weather at 7 pm)!

Stepping Out

I hope everyone had a great weekend! My kids were with their grandmother so my hubby and I got some time together. It was nice. Unfortunately their grandmother brought them back home so the chaos continues...

Skirt - J. Crew

Tee - J. Crew Outlet (similar here)

Necklace - J. Crew

Bangle - Express

Watch - Anne Klein (similar here)

Shoes - DV Dolce Vita (similar here)

Green & Coral

Here's a fun outfit for be-bopping around town on a sunny and then rainy day and then sunny...(what is up with that?). Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Skirt - Gap (similar)

Tunic Tee - J. Crew Outlet (similar)

Purse - J. Crew Outlet (similar)

Coral Locket Necklace - J. Crew Outlet (similar)

Bangles - Jessica Simpson, Forever 21 (similar) and Lauren

Animal Print Sandals - Target (similar)

Red, Nude & Blue

We are so thankful that it finally started to rain around here. Unfortunately it prevented us from taking a picture today. Luckily I had these photographs from last week when we weren't posting my daily outfits. I think I pretty much stole this idea from a J. Crew catalog but I couldn't help myself...I have always been a sucker for seersucker (LOL!). And if you haven't figured it out by now, I LOVE stripes. As a result, I found myself mixing horizontal stripes with vertical stripes. To tone down the busy-ness, I added nude and gold accessories as anchors.

So how 'bout them stripes? Will you try mixing the directions of your stripes?

Skirt - J. Crew

Blouse - J. Crew

Shoes - J. Crew

Cross-body Bag - Banana Republic

Large Link Bracelet - Target

Small Link Bracelet - Anne Klein

Watch - Anne Klein

Sunnies - Ralph Lauren

Boho Summer

It sure has been nice weather around here this week. Nice enough to don my favorite linen pants! These Free People pants and top are my salute to boho chic. It's nice to break out of my preppy-J.Crew mode and wear flowy clothing once in awhile.

What is your break-through-the-box look?

Pants and top - Free People (old - similar top & pants)

Belt - Langford Market (similar here)

Tote - J. Crew via a consignment sale (similar here)

Turquoise Pendant - Lucky Brand (old - similar here)

Sunglasses - Ralph Lauren via Sunglass Hut

Paisley Play

Another trend we have been seeing this summer is a repeat of the same pattern, i.e. a polka dot top with polka dot shorts. I decided to try a paisley pattern since we will be seeing a lot of paisley this fall. I chose a blouse and pencil skirt that had the exact same pattern.

Because there was so much pattern dominance, I added simple, neutral accessories to downplay the pattern and break up the appearance of having a dress on. To be honest, I am not sure I really like this look although I am obviously in love with this pattern by J. Crew.

What do you think of this paisley pattern double play? (say that 10 times fast!)

Paisley Skirt (on sale!) & Blouse (on sale!) - J. Crew

Shoulder Bag - J. Crew Factory (similar here)

Shoes - Kelsi Dagger

Bracelets - Vince Camuto via Belk (here and here)

Belt - Langford Market (similar here)

Denim and Dazzle

We all know that denim shorts are all the rage this summer but I still had to look high and low for a "mom appropriate" pair. I lucked up and found these Sanctuary shorts on clearance at Belk. They are very comfy and not too short. Although they are not ripped and tattered, they still brought back memories of my lived-in men's denim cutoffs that I bought from a thrift store while in college. Ahh...memories!

Have you found your perfect pair of denim shorts yet?

Shorts - Sanctuary via Belk
Camisole and Vest - Gap

Necklaces - House of Harlow via e-Bay (short one here, long one here)

Sparkle Tote - Gap

Cheetah T-strap Sandals - Target

Sunglasses - Ralph Lauren via Sunglass Hut

Yellow & Blue

Have you noticed the new "it" color? It's yellow - the perfect color for bright, sunny summer days. This yellow, silk pencil skirt by Banana Republic is the perfect piece for summer, too.

I thought the blue complemented the yellow really well so I added a silky top by Forever 21, strappy blue sandals by Kelsi Dagger and an e-Bay find blue leather hobo. The gold and crystal accessories helped accentuate the yellow and tied the outfit together.

Will you add a yellow piece to your wardrobe?

Skirt - Banana Republic (similar here)

Blouse - Forever 21

Shoes - Kelsi Dagger via Belk

Purse - Antonio Melani via e-Bay (similar here)

Necklace - J. Crew via e-Bay (similar here)

Glass Bracelet - J. Crew (old - similar here)

Summer fun under $50 each!

Man is it hot! Getting ready in the mornings has become a hot, sweaty chore as well. When I am this hot, I just want to grab a dress and go. Forget layering or multiple pieces of clothing and/or jewelry. I just want to grab something cool and go sit in front of the air conditioner! So I got online and took a look at some budget-friendly hot summer fixes and I couldn't believe all of the cute things I found for under $50 each!

What is your it's-too-hot-to-even-sleep outfit?

Maxi dress