Shop ‘Til You Drop

(The boys can just stop reading here.)

Did I mention that the post-Christmas sales are my secret weakness?

American Eagle, Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic, and Madewell all have amazing sales going on the stuff that is already on sale. Clearance clearance, my kind of sale. I can afford American Eagle and Old Navy and Gap at normal price, but Banana Republic and Madewell at full price is a little out of my normal shopping niche. When they’re offering 30-40% off things already on sale, though? I’m so there. Especially with free shipping thrown in as well.

I’m still not really sure if I should be wearing different clothes for grad school or not, but the things I picked out were pretty much wardrobe staple picks: sweaters, solid-color or striped shirts, and pretty camis for layering. There’s only one thing at all that I picked out that was a splurge, and it was a $56.00 metallic leather clutch on sale at $19.99 and marked down to $13.99.

How could I pass that up? It’s also 8.25″ x 13″ which is definitely big enough for a clutch. Actually, maybe a little big for a clutch. Also handy for in-purse organization. Also, SILVER. I’m sure I’ll use it for something.

Anyways, here’s the mathematical breakdown:

• 3 stores
• 20 total articles of clothing (well, 19 and 1 accessory)
• 1 zip-front hoodie
• 5 sweaters
• 1 cardigan
• 2 pairs of pants (1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of yoga pants)
• 6 shirts (4 short-sleeved and 2 long-sleeved)
• 4 camisoles/tank tops
• 1 clutch

Item I’m most excited about: the ex-boyfriend sweater from Madewell. A little bit oversized, v-neck, with some cashmere and angora in the blend for extra softness. In malachite! I’ve wanted a green sweater for awhile.

($69.50, on sale for $29.99, marked down to $20.99)

In any case: I’m off to San Luis Obispo for the weekend with some friends! Driving up tomorrow, hanging out in town Saturday, and then doing Hearst Castle on Sunday. (Apparently it’s also known as San Simeon, which I hadn’t heard of before.) I’ll be dreaming of all my amazing clothes arriving. There’s only one more thing I’m on the hunt for: a green (about the same shade as the sweater above) crossbody leather bag for summer. Something on the smaller side. Not tiny, but not on my usual scale of bags. Like the smaller size of Kate Spade’s Scout bag, maybe? The orange one in the photo below. But, you know, green.

I’ve found bags that are almost perfect, but there’s always one damn flaw holding me back: (1) it’s a shoulder bag without a crossbody strap (2) it’s suede (3) it’s way too freaking expensive and I’m not in love with the lining.

(Juicy Couture Hazel Small Shoulder Bag, $268 and on sale for $159.99)

(Madewell Suede Mini Mailbag, $118)

(Hayden Harnett Barnard Crossbody, $425)

So! If anyone has a suggestion for a fabulous green leather crossbody bag, I’m all ears. I’m in love with the Mini Mailbag purse, I just hate that it’s suede. So very water unfriendly for summer, sigh.

(Also: kind of in love with this Pompidou Clutch, also from Hayden Harnett. They call the leather color candy apple – how perfect is that?! It does come in green and can be converted to a crossbody with a “nylon webbing strap,” but the shade is this really unattractive light shade called bitter lime that I’m really not loving. I want something in that gorgeous emerald/malachite/darker green like the above bags.)

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