Outfit: A Lovely Spring Evening

collar top by artaslife featuring nine west shoes

Hi! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  This is a look I wore out last night.  The weather was beautiful, so I went and had dinner with some friends at a sidewalk cafe around my neighborhood.  

I wore this pretty top from Forever 21.  I paired it with the tan boots rather than the leopard pumps.  

Instead of my Chanel Earrings, I decided to wear these fun spike earrings from Gemzstyle.com. 

 So, what's your perfect spring day pick?

Polyvore Looks: Stylish Stripes

My mind is always dreaming up new outfit combinations..it is like a sort of mental outfit math where I calculate different possibilities based on the specific pieces I have.  Sometimes when I come up with an idea for an outfit, or see an outfit I like on someone else, I quickly sketch it out.  Lately, though, I've created a lot of looks on Polyvore instead.  Polyvore just looks so much neater and more fashionable than a sketch, and I there is something enjoyable about tracking down items that are similar to mine and creating sets.  So, I thought I'd share a few outfits that I created based on striped items from my own closet.

Striped Crop Sweater-Forever21

Striped Skater Skirt-Forever21

Striped dress-Forman Mills

So, what patterns are your favorites? Or do you prefer to stick to solid pieces? 

Forever21.com Haul/Christmas Gifts

Late on Thanksgiving night my sister alerted me to a really awesome "Black Friday" sale on Forever21.com.  All of the redline merchandise was an additional 50% off and shipping was free on all orders.  They had tons of great stuff on sale, and when all was said and done, both my sister and I had each bought about $65 worth of sale items from the site.  Since it was about to be Christmas, we decided that we would just be lazy and pay for each other's orders and exchange these items as "gifts" with my family on Christmas.  Here are the things that I chose:

Quilted Faux Leather Bomber- $9.00

This was my favorite purchase from this haul.  I love the 90's style, it fits well, and it will make a great jacket for transitioning from winter into spring.  I always get nice jackets on sale from Forever 21.

 Varsity 33 Sweatshirt-$6.99

This blue sweatshirt is comfy and cozy, but still cute.  I've already worn it a couple of times on nights in with friends.

 Faux Leather Front Top-$4.99

This was the item I liked the least from this haul.  I bought this thinking it was great for an edgier more dressed up version of jeans and a T-shirt.  It's ok, considering it cost just $4.99, but I just don't especially love it.

 

"C" Initial Cell phone charm- 50 cents

I'm a sucker for cell phone accessories.  This blinged out "C" was an awesome deal!

Quilted Shoulder Black Tee- $5.49

I was definitely on a quilting/faux leather kick that night I ordered.  I love this one.  It is a basic with a little extra pop of style.  I just wonder how well it will wash...

Striped Dolman Tee-$4.99

Another great basic piece, and while it looks bit boxy on the hanger, I really like the fit.  It lays really nicely.

Studded Cross Tee-$4.49

This is another "dressed up casual" piece with a nice fit.

Window-pane Sweater-$6.99

I love this one.  It fits great and looks so stylish on!  It will work through winter and transition into early spring, too!

Studded-shoulder sweatshirt-$6.99

This is a more fitted sweatshirt for that girly embellished sweatshirt look. The fit makes it great for with jeans or a little skater skirt.

 Zippered Floral Skinny Jeans-$8.49

These have a short inseam that fits me great.  I think the floral print will make them pretty for spring and summer.

I noticed that "Andystyle", a beautiful fashion blogger that I follow, incorporated these same jeans in two of her recent looks.  (You can check those out here and here.)

Striped Skater Skirt-$3.99

I love skater skirts, stripes, and anything cheap, so this skirt is absolutely perfect for me!

Also, I thought I'd include some other Christmas gifts I got in with this post...

The Naked 3 Palette was #1 on my wishlist! 

 I got this pretty TIGI eye shadow and liner set from a friend. 

 A cute and inspiring Tee from Old Navy.

 Some lotion.

A really cute 10 pack of OPI mini polishes in classic colors. 

So, what was the best gift that you got lately?

  

New In: Chanel-Inspired

I am a huge fan of Chanel and I can't wait for the day that I can afford a classic 2.55 bag.  For now, though, that's just a dream.  Unfortunately, the only Chanel items in my current budget are cosmetics!  Still, a girl can dream...

That's why I am always delighted to find Chanel-inspired pieces within my price range.  Here are my two latest finds: 

I found this awesome white with black logo hoody at Forever 21 for only $19.80.

 It reads: 

"Label Junkie

Rich 
Famous

Paris" 

with iconic double CC's in rhinestones in the middle

This top is a hot item, it seems.  There were 3 on display while I was shopping and all of them were sold by the time I left the store! 

I love it and can't wait to wear it!

  

I also found this small quilted flap bag on Ebay for only $19.99 with free shipping from China.  The quality of this bag is decent for the price and I love the size and style.  

The gold chain strap is long enough to wear cross body.  

So, have you bought any designer-inspired pieces lately?  What designers would you love to own?

Bargain Brag-Franklin Mills Mall Haul

Last weekend I scored some unbelievable deals at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia...

Forever 21 had and additional 50% off of all clearance items, and I was able to find some really nice things.

This sheer sleeveless collar shirt with pocket studs and a slight high low hem was only $6!

I got this apricot-colored pleated skirt for only $5!

I like the shape of this top, and that it can be worn casual or for work.  It was only $4.50.

This lovely peachy-nude chiffon shirt with a studded collar was only $5 on sale. Wow. (Sorry for not steaming it before snapping the pic!)

Detail of the pretty collar studs

Forever 21 also had basic camis for only $1.80.  These are my go-to layering camis, so I stocked up!

  You can buy them online HERE

I got a $10 gift certificate Dick's Sporting Goods from a Facebook promotion.  I grabbed these Reebok shorts on sale for $13, so after the free $10, I only paid $3 for them. 

Bath and Body Works had a coupon for free lotion on their Facebook page, so I stopped in and picked up this 3oz Sexy Dalia Rush lotion for FREE. Smells really nice, too.

My sister and I ate at Burger King with a $5 gift card that I also got through a Facebook promotion.

Its amazing the deals you find if you look.  This is the first time I've taken advantage of free gift promotions that are redeemable in-store.  

So, Do you use these types of offers?  What is the best in-store freebie you have ever gotten?

Polyvore Looks- Leather Sleeve Moto Jacket

The weather is finally starting to warm up a bit here, so yesterday I was delighted to break out this jacket that I purchased awhile back from Forever 21! Here are some Polyvore styling options I created using clothes similar to my own. (Those of you who read my blog might recognize these items from previous posts!)

moto look by artaslife featuring steve madden booties

This is what I wore yesterday.  I went for the spiked boots over the combat boots. 

My own jean shirt with spike collar pin.

tan sweater by artaslife featuring a leather shoulder bag

I snagged this cable knit sweater in the same Forever21.com haul as the jacket.  

My Forever21 sweater

skull scarf by artaslife featuring stretch skinny jeans

The skull scarf and cross ring were fun ebay finds. 

Skull scarf $3 on Ebay 

99 cent cross ring from Ebay

 So what item are you excited to wear lately? I love to see everyone's outfits, so feel free to link your latest polyvore set or outfit post here as well.