NYC Recessionista tours the new JCPenney

I took a little walking tour today through the new JCPenney-- and I have to say, the brand is looking a lot more hip these days. I highly suggest paying the Manhattan Mall a visit to check out the newly renovated store. They've seriously upped the ante.

Here are some of the things I noticed on my walk--

(All images by NYC Recessionista)

Buxom lashes . . . for under $20

I've blogged about makeup before and mentioned that I wasn't really crazy about the Bare Escentuals mascaras I had tested out -- they never really impressed me, although I have been using the rest of their makeup line for years.

Well, last week I popped into Sephora quickly to pick up some new mascara and picked up Buxom Lash, without even realizing @ first that it was an extension of the Bare Escentuals brand. Once I saw the wand, and realized it was a new offering, I figured I would try it out.

(Image courtesy of Sephora)

So far it's awesome -- it separates, curls, and defines. And it doesn't leave your lashes feeling all crusty, either, which is one of my pet peeves.

And naturally, I am all about the under $20 price point.

Forever 21 pulls it off again . . .

Here's Claire Danes wearing a Lanvin necklace recently. The first thing I noticed is the beautiful necklace, but I am pretty sure when I first looked it up, it cost a couple thousand dollars. What's a recessionista to do?

(Image courtesy of Celebrity Style Guide)

Well, this Banana Republic version is a little better at $79.50.

(Image courtesy of Banana Republic)

And then there's this Forever 21 version for $12.80.

(Image courtesy of Forever 21)

Seriously, how can you beat that?

Forever 21 is mad about plaid

Forever 21 is offering 10% off select plaids until August 3 -- just enter code PLAID09 at checkout.

Whenever I see this dress . . .

...it makes me think of my preppy friends. Isn't this totally adorable?

The Vintage Butterflies Dress

(Image courtesy of Market Publique)

I know I've said it before, but Market Publique is a great site -- it's like eBay for vintage clothes.

Mad about style at Banana Republic

By the way -- the other day I went to Banana Republic to check out their tribute to Mad Men, which as I have mentioned in several previous posts is one of my favorite shows on television.

The displays were very cleverly done -- they have featured the style of several cast members with cohesive outfits -- dresses, suits, skirts, blouses, jewelry, accessories -- it's all there, expertly arranged so that you can pick and choose which characters you want to dress like. Again my personal favorite is Office Manager Joan Holloway, but I also love the classic, Grace Kelly style of housewife Betty Draper.

This silk pleated dress had to be my favorite.

(Image courtesy of Banana Republic)

Anyways there is a style guide that you can grab in store, but it is also available online by visiting this page and clicking on the link for the 'Mad About Style' Guide. Seriously one of my favorite store displays in a long while.

Chicago-bound.

Happy Saturday morning, y'all ...

I am currently sitting in the new Jet Blue terminal @ JFK waiting for my flight to Chicago. I got here a little early for my flight, so I have already nursed a Jamba Juice and had a manicure... let's get this show on the road already!

I am headed out there for a few days for the baby shower of one of my oldest and dearest friends who is expecting her first child next month. It has been nearly two years since I have seen her last, and since she is going to be one of my bridesmaids, we are definitely looking forward to 1) catching up, 2) cracking each other up with stories, and 3) dreaming up some ideas for the wedding.

I have my Composition Book Dress all packed and I am looking forward to wearing it tomorrow!

Loving the new 'do

I am seriously digging Michelle Obama's new haircut...NY Mag's blog The Cut has a look.

Update on 7/23:

Shocker! She actually did not cut her hair; it was just a "tuck up!"

JC Penney is coming to Manhattan Mall . . .

...and Racked.com has a first look. Wondering if it will be a new vibe for JCPenney from what we're used to.

The clearance rack at Anthropologie

Curious about what was on sale @ Anthropologie.com at the moment, I wandered over there to see what was cooking.

Here are my loves ...

The Corsage Blouse -- originally $98, on sale for $49.

The Soaring Shapes Dress -- originally $178, now $79.

The Smocked Canvas Tote -- originally $78, now $39.

The Hale Shower Necklace -- originally $38, now $19.

The Winston Skirt -- originally $128, now $59.

(All images courtesy of Anthropologie)

The boots I want for fall . . .

I know it's early, but I am already thinking about boots for fall. They are probably one of my favorite purchases to make each year, and I could walk up and down the aisles at DSW checking out all the boots for hours ... it's really sad.

Here are just some of the styles I have my eye on:

These short little black ankle boots are one of my favorite things to pair with dresses and tights-- it's totally 1960s mod. And you can't go wrong with the $29 price tag.

(Image courtesy of Target)

I've never had a gray pair of boots before, but I am considering getting one this fall. I feel like there are just some outfits where a gray boot would really come in handy, more so than a black or a brown pair. I feel like this suede studded pair has a certain coolness to it for $88.

(Image courtesy of Urban Outfitters)

This is exactly why I love boots -- you can have the most feminine dress, and yet when you mix it with chunky tights and a pair of motorcycle boots like these, it lends a certain edginess to the whole look that is so fun. And the $70 price tag isn't too bad.

(Image courtesy of DSW)

I've noticed that one of the hardest boot styles to find @ a wallet-friendly price point is the stacked wooden heel style of boots. Normally I salivate over these, but unless you can snag your size on clearance and they're an extra 30% off, I find myself not able to make such an investment.

This ankle boot version is one of the closest I could find that have that rich look to them but come in @ under $100. This taller, western inspired pair is also a viable alternative.

(Image courtesy of DSW)

One of the other things I love about boots is when they get absurdly wide @ the top, like this pair, since I have such muscular calves. They usually end up fitting me just right this way. I cannot tell you how hard it is to find boots that fit. And for $40, you don't mind wearing them into the ground.

(Image courtesy of Alloy)

Oh and on a side note, in my searching I found what I am pretty sure were the boots MJ wore in the 'Bad' video. Awesome.

New goodies from NY and Company

Just checked out the NY and Company web site for the first time in a while, and they've got some new goodies.

I am loving the sweet simplicity of the City Stretch Ruffle Sleeveless Dress. These soft and stretchy knits are soft, they don't wrinkle, and they don't look like a withered mess @ the end of a 90 degree day. I am likewise loving the print version.

I am not sure that I am going to tire of the whole flowers on cardigans thing anytime soon ... I am not quite sure why, but they just make me happy.

I can totally see wearing this multi-strand flower and ribbon necklace with a simple J. Crew perfect fit tee.

This knit pencil skirt from the NY&Co. Red Label s a very sexy twist on a classic wardrobe staple -- and the angular seaming at the waistband is very good for creating an hourglass shape.

I love the bold colors in this plaid tunic ... but have you ever seen an image on a web site of a particular item in a particular color, and you cannot find that item in that color for sale on the web site? That happened to me with this image:

... I LOVE this color combination, but it's nowhere to be found for sale on the site. That's my complaint for the day.

(All images courtesy of NY and Company)

Forever 21 to launch Home and Beauty Line

According to NYMag's The Cut blog, Forever 21 is said to be launching a home and beauty line. Very interesting.

A [Fred] Flare for the Dramatic

I used to think of Fred Flare as that store you'd go to if you wanted to get a gag gift for someone, like bacon band-aids or an Edgar Allan Poe action figure (complete with removable raven).

But did you know that Fred Flare has dresses, too? Adorable ones at that. Here are some of my favorites--

The Navy Optimal Dress

The Pretty In Pink Bouquet Dress

The Newport Ruffle Dress

The Cool Stripe Scoopneck Dress

The Kerri Mini-Dress

(All images courtesy of Fred Flare)

Hollywood Intuition for Target

New to Target stores today is the Hollywood Intuition collection of accessories .... definitely check it out. One of the many reasons I love Target -- they consistently deliver wallet-friendly versions of all those of-the-moment trends so that the rest of us can afford them :)

NYCR Picks from the August 2009 Magazines

The magazines are so crazy thin this month -- everyone is no doubt gearing up for the ginormous September issues. Regardless, there were still some wallet-friendly items I noticed.

From Glamour

There's a gorgeous mixed metal multi-strand necklace featured in a "What Looks Good With Your Jeans Now" feature, yet I cannot find the necklace anywhere on their web site. Kind of reminds me of this one and this one. Perhaps it's not available yet? In any event, most of their jewelry is less than $50 and they do also have a Fall 2009 preview which is fun to flip through. I am also digging this necklace with its pop of blue.

(Image courtesy of Kohl's)

One of the other things they recommended pairing with your jeans is a leather jacket. Now, I love the shape of them, but not necessarily how heavy they are. This linen motorcycle jacket is a great, structured alternative at $29.

(Image courtesy of Charlotte Russe)

From Lucky

From the "What I Want Now!" pages, I am loving these t-strap flats with their folksy print. They come in 3 cute color combos, but the green is probably my favorite.

(Image courtesy of Nordstrom)

And in the "Style Spy" section, I was immediately drawn to the pintucking and ruffles on this blouse. It has the feeling of a much more expensive piece yet it's only $23.

(Image courtesy of Forever 21)

The "Deal Hunting" feature has become one of my new favorite sections of the magazine. Every piece is under $100, and there's always a theme... this month it was 'dressy party looks with a vintage, ladylike flair.'

And coincidentally just today, one of my fashionable coworkers wore this blouse and it looked really fab on her.

(Image courtesy of Banana Republic)

NYC Recessionista in the July 2009 issue of Dish Magazine

A big thanks! to fellow blogger and bargain shopper The Recessionista for letting me know that we were both given a shout out in this month's issue of Dish Magazine in an article entitled "Recessionista! How to Pinch Pennies and Look Like a Millionaire" by Katy Coil.

The article gives some great advice -- checking out online shopping sites like Etsy for handmade, one-of-a-kind items that are very wallet-friendly, adding new accessories to or mixing & matching existing pieces in your wardrobe to give them new life, scouting out the sales at your favorite stores, and checking out vintage and consignment shops.

Banana Republic teams up with Mad Men

This is seriously the coolest news I have heard in a long time. I have professed my undying love for Mad Men before ... I seriously think it's the best show on TV right now.

And now, Banana Republic will be paying tribute to the style of the show with according to StyleList and Racked, a very interesting campaign.

And apparently, not only will the windows of BR stores across the country be styled a la Mad Men, they will also be showing teasers of the upcoming 3rd season, carrying style guides so you can learn how to dress like your favorite character (I'm totally a Joan Holloway), and for one lucky son of a gun, offer access to a casting call to win a walk-on role in the show and a $1,000 BR shopping spree.

I'm totally going to go check it out to see what Joan styles they offer, and I am definitely going to hunt down that pen necklace.

(Images courtesy of StyleFile)

NYC Recessionista splurges on a dress

I am the one who's always looking for sales, scouring the clearance racks, and refusing to pay full price for something when I know I can get it for less. So it is a rare occasion for me to walk into a store and immediately buy something that is full price without hemming and hawing over it.

I needed a dress for two upcoming reasons -- 1) the baby shower of one of my oldest and dearest friends, which is taking place out in Chicago @ the end of this month, and 2) a little engagement soirée we've got planned with close friends and family @ the end of August.

So, when I am looking for something really special and unique, I usually head to Anthropologie. And while I will usually stick to the sale section there, I did a full scouting of the entire store tonight to check out all my options.

The instant I saw this dress, I had a feeling I was going to end up buying it. I mean, I hadn't even gotten to the dressing room yet to try it on, and I already knew I was in love.

Looking at this picture, it doesn't even look that fancy. But the thing that I love most about it is the delicate green trim which you can't even appreciate unless you see it in person. The picture does not even do it justice! I definitely recommend going to see this dress in real time. That's one thing about Anthropologie, there are so many unique and special details on each piece, you really do have to take time and enjoy them when you are in the store. They have a way of taking a hemline, or a button, or a flower, and just making it something extra special.

And, as if the dress could not have been more perfect for me, it has pockets. And it's made of cotton, and is machine washable.

When I got home, I looked up the dress on their web site, and was really amused to find out the name of the dress --- the Composition Book dress. I couldn't even figure out how to adequately describe the pattern to my mom, and they sum it up perfectly.

(Images courtesy of Anthropologie)