Closet Lust... December

The holidays are just next week and oh, how I wish I were getting the items I'm posting below. Oh, well. Someday. Anyway, it's four items today and each is as beautiful as the next. They come from Nordstrom, Zara, and Zappos and are offered at a luxury price.

$149 - Zara Wool Coat with Hood

Zara's high quality clothes are really divine and this coat is no exception. The soft blue hue is comforting and as the weather finally begins to chill, this coat will become a must-have for the people most susceptible to the cold. And it doesn't hurt to mention that I really love hoods, so that's always a plus.

$170 - Nordstrom Adrianna Papelle Lace Chiffon Dress

The perfect dress for holiday parties, weddings, special events, or anything, really. Personally, I don't do a lot of pink. I think it looks a bit childish in some cases, however, this shade is deep and vibrant and just what I like. This dress in particular is a classic design with lace and chiffon and I'd encourage anyone to add it to their wardrobe.

$1,595 - Zappos Giuseppe Zanotti Winged Sandal

If the Greek god Hermes had been a woman, I'd imagine these as the winged shoes she would wear as she flew around the world. They are fit for the gods as is nearly every other creation from the genius minds behind the Giuseppe Zanotti brand. But these shoes in particular, in their gold hue, quality construction, and winged embellishments are really striking to me. Worth every penny, I'm sure.

 $1,900 - Nordstrom Fendi 'Petite 2Jours Elite' Leather Shopper

Fendi can do no wrong. This bag is no exception. Nordstrom offers this bag in a variety of colors but I particularly love this shade of green, not because of the holidays but because I think this shade of green they offer is really gorgeous and can transition well from Winter to Spring.

Sorry I haven't posted much this month, but with finals and Christmas shopping I haven't had any time whatsoever. I really hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and gets all that they desired for the holidays this year.

XO

~Renee Brown

Closet Lust... November

Fashion orgasms, people. Fashion. Orgasms. What I am lusting after this month doesn't disappoint. Collars, dresses, heels, satchels. I found some serious treasures. This month's Closet Lust is more about splurges and what I picked will make perfect holiday gifts this season. I certainly hope some of these gifts will be under my Christmas tree.

 $74 - Baublebar Mosaic Collar

Baublebar is not cheap but it does offer a lot of quality jewelry pieces that you're not gonna see in other stores. My sister got me hooked on Baublebar this year when she bought me a necklace for my birthday with a pendant in the shape of the crescent moon. Tthis necklace is just as beautiful. It's an elegant, two-toned ombre collar of blue and white gems. And while collars are not everyone's cup of tea, I think this one will be the exception for a couple of people who won't be intimidated by trying something different.

$100 - Zara Oversize Dress

This dress is really amazing. It's detailed and textured, with a touch of art-deco. I just love it. Velvet is not a material you see in clothes that often but it works in this piece. In fact, the plant print pops more against the black velvet material than it would with any other material. But either way, it's really a good piece to have in any closet. You can wear it for a more casual cocktail hour or out to lunch. Honestly, it just adds a touch of class.

$1,750 - Neiman Marcus Givenchy Antigona Satchel

This is a Givenchy satchel. I repeat it's a Givenchy satchel. Do I really need to explain myself? The color, the shape, the craftsmanship. You will practically explode from the luxury of this bag. Like I said before, fashion orgasms. 

$170 - Amazon Fashion Schutz Women's Cadey-Lee High Heel

So these Schutz heels are really great. To be perfectly honest, I've seen this shoe design many times before. YSL actually created a couple of shoes like this but in neon colors. I'm really only showing this one in particular because of its color. It comes in a variety of them but my personal favorites are the orange patent leather and the snake skin. Pops of color such as these can take a regular, bland outfit and just give it a spark of life. Its apparel such as this that women should always keep in mind when shopping for a new look.

~Renee Brown

Je T'aime, Paris

It's sad to see people choose hate over love, to see people choosing to die for their hate. I feel sorry for those men who were so clouded by their angry dogma that they died without understanding anything but violence. It might have saved them from the hell that will await them in the afterlife.

Men like that never win. They do what they do in order to bend people to their will out of fear of the consequences. The world is more open than it has ever been before, with freedoms some people only dreamed of having. Terrorists see that as evil and deadly to their safe, closed-off sanctuary of ignorance. The changing world terrifies them so they create violence and chaos in order to stop it. 

But it's not working. What happened yesterday was horrific and after we properly grieve, the world will carry on, as will the families of the victims. That is all we can do. We carry on and remember. Because resilience is the best way to piss those fuckers off.

~Renee Brown

Fall in Love Again

It is November and the all too familiar chill of Autumn has finally reached our door. I personally thought it would never come given the crazy heat wave the North East had a week ago. But either way, it has arrived which means its time to break out the hoodies, sweaters, and coats as we step into the cold weather season.

Look 1 is more oriented towards a day at school or a casual outing. The dress is from Target and the color really grasped my attention. The handcrafted leather Etsy backpack is also really well done. The jewelry pieces are from Forever 21 and provide an inexpensive way to soften the overall outfit. Now for Look 2, I wanted to provide an upscale outfit for cocktail or dinner party. I fell in love with the earrings I found at Baublebar and was so happy to find that they are not expensive. They pair really well with the red duffle coat from Banana Republic and the Gap shift dress and create an overall classy look.

Look 1

$30 - Target Merona Springtime Green Shirt Dress

$5 - $10 - Amazon Fashion L'eggs Women's Leggswear Silky Tights

$50 - DSW Zigi Soho Kourtlan Bootie

 $228 - Etsy Genuine Leather Black Backpack

$5 - Forever 21 Etched Hoop Earrings

 $6 - Forever 21 Textured Bangles Bracelet

Look 2

$34 - Baublebar Niagara Drops

$70 - Gap Jacquard Shift Dress 

$328 - Banana Republic Red Duffle Coat

$40 On Sale! - Nine West Gynwth Ankle Strap Sandals

$40 - Macy's Guess Korry Slim Clutch

$32 - Baublebar Chevron Cuff

~Renee Brown

Halloween Hype

Halloween is only a couple days away!!! It's been a while since I went trick or treating, but I've seen some really gorgeous costumes during this season, and the most beautiful ones are the ones created from clothes and items that people already had in their possession. So with that in mind, I wanted to create two looks for the festivities. The first is a focus on 'Where's Waldo' but with a more hipster edge. And while the original doesn't wear jewelry, I figured as a frequent world traveler Waldo would have accumulated some really cool bracelets. The second is 'The Unicorn' because who doesn't love unicorns? The horns are from Etsy and are really the only essential item of the costume itself. With the clothes from Charlotte Russe, and of course Mad Maiden, the bad ass 'Unicorn' will definitely turn heads at any Halloween party. 

Look 1- Where's Waldo?

 

$26.64 - Fomas Knitted Striped Pom-Pom Beanie Hat

 

$5.21 - Amazon Large Nerdy Glasses

$27 - Overstock Stanzino V-neck Striped Sweater

$35 - Old Navy Mid-Rise Rockstar Skinny Jeans

 

$40 - DSW Kelly & Katie Bonita Pump

$10 - Target 2 Piece Bangle Bracelets with Charms

$10 - Target 3 Piece Bangle Bracelets with Charms

$15 - Target Natasha Imitation Geo Earring

Look 2 - The Unicorn

$14.54 - Etsy Pink and Purple Unicorn Headband 

 

$25 - Mad Maiden Black Heart Angel Hoodie

$18 - Charlotte Russe Ribbed Mock Neck Wrap Top

$20 - Party City Adult Hot Pink Organza Tutu

$35 - Nordstrom 'Estella' Floral Lace Tights

$60 - DSW Blowfish Venus Bootie

$20 - Target Natasha Imitation Metal Cuff

$20 - Target Natasha Imitation Ear Crawler with Crystal

$30 - Target GOLD Zinc Necklace

~Renee Brown

Closet Lust... October

There is so much fashion going on that a girl can never have too many options. I've decided to create a monthly list of glamorous items that have made it to my wish list. I think it'll be a great idea considering the upcoming holiday season so I hope you all will get some good ideas from this. Anywhoo, let's begin with some things that have caught my eye and stolen my heart. 

$48 - Kate Spade 'Twinkle Lights' Drop Earrings

I saw the above earrings on Nordstrom.com and I fell in love. They're inexpensive, which is great, they SPARKLE, which is even better, and they come in an assortment of colors, one of which is the lovely mix of red and purple seen in the pic. This is definitely being added to my Pinterest Xmas list as we speak.

$115 - Coach Multi Feather Necklace

Its cute, it's top quality, it's Coach. There is very little they can get wrong. I really like feathers and birds and so when I see an everyday item like a necklace representing one of those things, I get excited. The chain is shorter than I'd like but it's a really cute necklace that would make a nice gift for someone's birthday or the holidays.

$13 - Amazon Fashion Pashmina Scarves

A good pashmina scarf will go a long way and I have been in love with them since I was in high school. In the winter, paired with the right coat, you will look more noticeable and more luxurious. Not to mention, they come in so many fun colors! You pick the color that suits your mood and that's it. The apple green and tangerine colors in the pic above are the colors that I want for myself, personally, but there's a big selection to choose from. My sister is obsessed with scarves and boasts several storage bins filled to the brim with them. And she loves them because no matter the outfit, a scarf can add style in the subtlest of ways. I completely agree.

$218 - Gap Wool Trench

Gap is one of my favorite retailers. Period. I've been shopping them since middle school. Can you imagine a middle schooler rockin' $50 jeans? Yeah, that was me and I won't apologize...except to my mother's bank account lol. But this wool coat is gorgeous, is it not? It comes in black as well but the brown really caught my eye. It looks warm and high quality so at least when you're shoveling the snow from your driveway in the cold, wet winter, you'll look good doing it. Am I right?

$45 - Target Merona Color Blocked Winged Satchel

This bag represents one of the many reasons why I adore Target like so many others. Because no matter your budget, taste, or price point, you can always find something that suits you. This bag is really speaks to me because as a college student, this bag looks like it could serve multiple purposes and carry all your necessities. And the colors, oh, the colors. I personally love the bold orange sides but the burgundy is also beautiful for those looking for a more elegant, business look. Bravo, Target. Bravo.

So I hope you like the items above, they really caught my eye. I just love the direction retail fashion is taking. BTW I will be posting a Halloween blog toward the end of the month, so look out for that.

~Renee Brown

Pittsburgh's Retailing Future

Pittsburgh, the city I love and live in, is changing dramatically and has been for a few years now. It's booming as a hub for commercial enterprises and medical innovations but its landscape is changing. Downtown, an area once known for its retail shops like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue, is being transformed into a residential hotspot with more condos being built into the skyline. And many surrounding neighborhoods are undergoing a facelift, like my neighborhood the North Side. This is a good thing but considering the recent closing  of the Macy's in Downtown, there's a massive void of retailers in the area. 

The only clothing stores now are Burlington Coat Factory and Brooks Brothers amidst discount stores. To get a satisfactory shopping experience, a Pittsburgher would have to travel to either Robinson, Ross Park Mall, Walnut Street, or the Waterfront. (I would include the South Side, but it's facing the same problems as Downtown.) Most of these locations are a good drive away from the city. We're really is in desperate need of some good clothing outlets, and it's clear with the recent departure of Macy's that the solution to this problem is not department stores. 

Since the number of residents in that area will increase significantly in the next few years, I have a few ideas as to the retailers who should make a presence in Downtown Pittsburgh. This list is just a list of a few retailers that I know would see traction with boutique stores:

Loft

Talbot's

The Gap

New York & Company

Express

Boden

These retailers provide exceptional clothing at different price ranges that are affordable to many different types of consumers. They also provide a good range of clothing styles from work clothes to date night and so on. The point is Downtown has so many dead zones and empty areas that a few boutiques would really bring some much needed vitality to the city and make shopping more convenient for the many college kids who don't have a car. 

These are really exciting times for the city and I cannot wait for what is next to come.

~Renee

A Walk Uptown

Many women will agree with me when I say that if I were given an unlimited shopping spree, I would choose to spend it at Nordstrom. Every clothing store is a collection in itself, a collection you can take from and make into our own. That's how I feel about this store. It's the home of some of my favorite designers from Fendi to Tom Ford to Rebecca Minkoff. And the best part is that it has something for every price point. So when Black Friday comes up again this year, you won't feel out of place walking in, or feel like you'll break the bank when you spot those amazing earrings. Honestly, it's got something for everyone. So today, it's no wonder why I chose to pull two high end looks from the never ending variety that is Nordstrom.com.

Look 1

 

 Gallery - Belted Fit & Flare Coat - $258

 Mad Maiden Apparel - Red Geometric Dress - $40

Chelsea28 - Floral Net Tights - $18

UGG Australia - Claudine Boot - $299.95

Ted Baker - London Bloom Tote Bag - $219

Argento Vivo - Twisted Band Ring - $58

Tory Burch - Logo Toggle Necklace - $150

Tory Burch - Drop Earrings - $78

Look 2 

 Tom Ford - Penelope Sunglasses - $405

Diane von Furstenberg - Mackenzie Two-Tone Coat - $628

 Mad Maiden Apparel - Red Geometric Dress - $40

 Nordstrom - Houndstooth Pattern Tights - $15

 Sam Edelman - Karen Pointy-Toe Bootie - $119.95

Nordstrom - Bar Pendant Necklace - $28

Gorjana - Elea Ring - $75

 Gorjana - G Ring Hoop Earrings - $60

Lodis - Audrey Brera Leather Briefcase - $318

Of course, the red, geometric sweater dress is from my store Mad Maiden Apparel. I think it adds something extra to the looks, no?

~Renee Brown