Factory Facts

I'm an outlet shopper, as most know about me. And when outlet prices can be found ONLINE, suddenly the world of discount shopping becomes that much more accessible. I was thrilled to hear that J.Crew finally bit the bullet, and joined the game!

While sometimes the outlets disappoint me (they can be hit or miss, people), I usually make J.Crew a usual stop. There are many times when I find the outlet prices to be similar to sales in the full price store, but occasionally, you can score a great find. My latest was this really fun ruffled scarf (I bought it in charcoal gray) to add a little flair when the weather gets cooler.


I'm just pleased to see that that the online world continues to be enriched with more options. I was mentioning the convenience and joy of online shopping with a coworker who injured her foot, which resulted in surgery and several weeks of recovery. In a moment of panic, she asked me, "How am I ever going to shop if I can't drive to the stores?" I smiled, put a hand on her shoulder, and calmly said, "Friend, the world wide web. Online shopping will satisfy your itch, and you can continue to hide purchases from your husband since they'll be delivered during the day." :)

And that, friends, is a fact.

QVC for Dummies

I know my sister will laugh at this post because she's a QVC junkie! And I admit, I have been suckered into the world of multimedia retail. QVC sells an enormous variety of merchandise: Clothing, Handbags, Jewelry, Beauty Products, Electronics, and way more. But I'd like to focus on the world of QVC jewelry.

Many may know jeweler Tacori, who have created a line on QVC that is absolutely amazing. They joined up with two other product lines called "Epiphany" and "Diamonique" to produce one stellar piece of shimmer. Let's do a vocabulary review before I dive in:

Diamonique Jewelry: Longing for the brilliance of diamonds but want an affordable option? Set in precious metals (14K gold, sterling silver, or Platinum Clad® sterling silver), Diamonique stones are diamond-carat size rather than weight. Precision-cut from premium materials, they're rated E on the color scale - a perfect blue-white. (courtesy of the QVC website)

Epiphany Collection: Go platinum for less with Epiphany® jewelry. A layer of platinum is plated onto a sterling silver base, resulting in a luminous Platinum Clad® look (courtesy of the QVC website)

Now, Tacori IV: So they took the Diamonique stones (which are incredibly brilliant and sparkly) set them in the Epiphany Collection (note: the layer of platinum is what's closest to your skin), and then used their iconic intricate designs to create the BEST collection of jewelry. Here's one ring I just purchased (for $40!):

And then, I found these lovely studs that sealed the deal!

Feelin' Good, Mom!

There have been a lot of babies born in my life over the last few years. Not any babies from me per se :), but my ladies have all had little ones...and I hear regularly that they are looking for comfortable, chic, and affordable clothes for their lives. Seeing as moms on the go are constantly moving around, bending down, reaching behind...they have to have clothes that fit that purpose! So, I did a little research, and I came up with a few good clothing lines to support those mamas: (coming soon: Preggo moms who need to wear professional attire and still feel human...that will be for you, S!)

Gap Pure Body: It's the perfect line for layering and comfort. The soft fabric and color options for the basics like t's and tanks are essential to the wardrobe. The key to these items are the details which add a little something special: buttons at the shoulder, an exposed zipper in the back, a ribbed shawl neckline. And everything goes on sale at the Gap, so watch your sales!

Lightweight Wrap Sweater

Button-detail Boatneck T

Lands' End Feel Good: Not long after Lands' End launched "Lands' End Canvas", they also started a comfort line called "feel good" where there are several items that feel like cashmere, but are the softest cotton (which makes them more affordable!). I think one really nice sweater coat covers all ails (especially on those not so skinny days), and the ruffle adds something special to a normal everyday look. Imagine with a white t-shirt and jeans!

• FeelGood Ruffle Sweater Coat

Pure Jill: This line from JJill is 100% comfort. And while their tops are WAY boxy and big (even the XS), I am a fan of the pants. I like that they make a cropped and boot cut pant, while also a slim leg for those who aren't yet ready to embrace leggings. While these are little more pricey for pants, the fabric and softness is well worth a good pair.

Pure Jill Cropped Pants

While those easy tops from Target serve a great purpose (and are affordable), it's sometimes worth getting a few more sturdy pieces (i.e., cardigans, sweaters, pants) and allowing yourself to buy the underpinnings which are easy to launder and toss when damaged. Feel good about that, moms!

The Blue Box Branches Out!

The iconic blue box is holding something new these days...purses!

Tiffany & Co. has branched out of their world of fabulous silver and sparkly diamonds to embrace a new accessory....the handbag. I must admit that I am still a bit skeptical about whether this is a good move for the company, because as we've seen before- when a company starts to saturate their brand with too many items, you lose the sense of identity and product recognition. (Can you tell I work at a business school? Those kids are rubbing off on me.)

In any case, a few years ago Tiffany & Co. started designing frames for glasses and sunglasses. I remember at that time thinking that was a bold move, seeing again that jewelry is really their thing. I am all for a brand expanding to embrace new trends in the market, but I don't want to see them veer from what makes them truly great.

So they call it "The Leather Collection": Magazines everywhere are writing about it: InStyle, Self, Vogue- and the consensus is, there are some pretty interesting, classy, and well made pieces. My favorite is the TRT: Tiffany Reversible Tote, which boasts the iconic blue suede on one side, and a metallic leather on the other. Truly fantastic!

I will give them a chance, seeing as their brand has consistent, loyal followers. And, well, I admit- I am one of them :)

The No-Show Sock

My brother, an avid runner, was on the fence about whether it's age appropriate for him to wear black athletic socks with his running shoes. He's also a high school teacher, so he's acutely aware of how the "younger fellas" dress, so he was quite perplexed when I told him- ABSOLUTELY!

But there's a few rules, fellas, about the black sock:

1. They HAVE to be low cut (or no show). Not even a shorter crew works. Trust me here.
2. Make sure they have some blend of polyester, nylon, spandex. Cotton DOES NOT WICK SWEAT.
3. They should have some kind of microbial absorbing action- do I need to remind you that socks smell terrible after a good work out?

Age could be a factor here- but honestly, I don't care how old you are- the tall (even crew) sock in black is a no-no. My neighbor (he's in his 90s now, so I will be kind) who lives across the street in Texas was infamous for the white sneaker, tall black socks. Please please please don't be this guy!


So remember, if you're not going to wear the low cut white running sock, black is just as good, if not more trendy! And the reality is, the black sock looks better with a grey athletic shoe, rather than stark white. Show it off, boys!