budgeting bloggers

Budget Update: January 2016

January 27, 2016 by jessica 21 Comments

2016 is off to a good start sartorially. This month’s purchases are a mix of classic and fun pieces that work well with my existing wardrobe. The faux fur coat was a splurge, but I kept clicking to the Nordstrom site to daydream about it every single day for two weeks. I figured if I was that interested in it, I should at least try it on! Of course I kept it.

We booked an April trip to Denmark and Belgium, so I’m planning to use the remaining balance of this season’s budget on a couple of versatile items for the trip: a trench coat (love the detachable lining and hood on this one, but I can’t decide between khaki and navy) and a pair of comfortable loafers for walking (maybe these). I’d also like to add a couple of dresses to my travel wardrobe that I can wear a couple of times over the two-week period. I’m particularly interested in this dress. It looks like it could be amazingly versatile with a trench, flats, and statement pendants.

In other news, I looked at additional ways to save money throughout the year. I’m using MyFitnessPal to count calories and cancelled my Weight Watcher subscription, saving $240 annually. I also shopped around for auto and renter’s insurance and left Geico for Progressive to save $430 annually. I received $112 back in prorated refunds from Geico, which covered most of the renter’s insurance with Progressive for the year.

BUDGET
Winter Budget (Dec. – Feb.): $750
Spent in Dec.: $154.5
Spent in Jan.: $257.75
Amount Remaining: $337.75

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

J.Crew drapey beach pant ($36): When I first spotted these palazzo pants on J.Crew’s website, I knew I had to purchase them before they sold out. They’re intended for beach wear, but they’re also pretty cute with a loose cami, oversize pendant, and sandals. (Summer, where art thou?)
Topshop v-neck camisole in navy ($28): Earlier this month, we toyed with the idea of booking a last-minute jaunt to Florida. Since I had already purchased the beach pants, I added the camisole to my wardrobe for a breezy ensemble. We obviously put Florida on the back burner in favor of Europe, but this cami is staying in my closet. It’s a lovely layering piece. You’ll have to go up at least one size.
Tory Burch “Brody” small satchel in light oak ($8.25): For being on the small side, this satchel is incredibly roomy. It has more than enough room for my DSLR, a Kindle, full-size wallet, phone, and other small daily must-haves (ahem, lipstick). I have a feeling that this is going to be perfect for traveling. I can fit all of my in-flight essentials inside and stow it away under the seat in front of me with ample foot room. The leather is incredibly soft and the bag is lightweight. (I received a $200 Visa gift card for the holidays and put it toward the bag.)
Gorjana “Ryder” lariat necklace ($22.50): I considered purchasing this lariat at full price a few months ago and was delighted to see it made it to Gorjana’s end-of-season sale for a fraction of the price. It’s a flirty piece to wear with a v-neck cami or a button-down shirt. (I had a $10 credit, which basically took care of the shipping cost.)
Eliza J faux fur coat in navy ($150): I’m such a fan of this coat (worn here). It’s a convincing replica of real fur and warm enough for the subzero temperatures we experienced last week. It runs true to size. It also has a bright, floral lining, which was a lovely surprise.
H&M striped long-sleeve tee ($13): This is my least exciting purchase of the month only because it’s a necessary staple. My old striped long-sleeve tops are starting to show their age and I need a few more to replace them with. This one runs small, but is stretchy enough that it doesn’t lose its shape during the day.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love:

H&M flared blouse: I daydreamed about this for a couple of weeks before dragging myself to the mall to try it on. The fabric was ultra soft, but the cut was terrible. Drop shoulders and a wide torso don’t make for a flattering top. It’s also kind of short for being so loose. Pass.

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linking with Fran

September Wardrobe Update

September 28, 2015 by jessica 22 Comments

OBSERVATIONS
For the second month in a row, I’ve stuck with a “fewer items, better quality” mantra with attention paid to “missing links” in my wardrobe. As I mentioned last month, I sought to add a black shift dress and a statement coat to my closet. I found a suitable dress at Banana Republic. While it’s not the heavy crepe or wool dress I had hoped for, it is a heavier ponte knit that hangs well and it has the most charming ruffled hem. I had made all of my clothing purchases this year on my Banana Republic Visa card, giving me enough reward coupons to bring the price down to $7. I also picked out a Tory Burch plaid coat after the J.Crew cape I originally yearned for missed the mark. So, what’s coming up next? I placed an order at Zara so I could try out these shoes and a couple of dresses. I’d also like to purchase a black turtleneck sweater. Aside from that, there isn’t anything on my sartorial wish list.

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

Zara floral tunic dress ($70): This is undoubtedly my favorite item for fall. I purchased it in Georgetown when we visited D.C. over Labor Day weekend and couldn’t wait to wear it the very next day (seen here). It gives off just the right amount of ’70s vibes and the color is perfect for autumn. My size varies wildly at Zara, but I went with a medium in this. Go with the smaller size if you’re between two and ordering online.
Banana Republic ponte ruffle dress ($7, after a promotion and a boatload of reward coupons): The dress has a bit of heft to it, allowing it to move nicely and stay relatively wrinkle-free during the day. I’ve only had it for a few weeks, but I’ve already worn it a half dozen times. It’s easy to dress up with layered jewelry and heels, down with a crossbody bag and ballet flats, or for work with a blazer and loafers.
Diane von Furstenberg lip mini bag ($99): I have such a thing for tiny impractical bags. I love DVF’s iconic lip print on this mini crossbody. It’s perfect for a hands-free night out when you only need the essentials.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration. I’m selective about the pieces I accept and will only work with companies I feel good about recommending.

Tory Burch plaid short coat (c/o Shopbop): I can’t even believe that I own such an expensive (and amazing) coat. As you know, I partnered with Shopbop for several months and received a shopping credit in exchange for talking about the sales and items I would have shared anyway. While I could have used those credits on a couple of new items each month, that seemed like a such a waste. Instead, I selected truly special items I wouldn’t have purchased otherwise, including a pair of black Ferragamo flats and Karen Walker sunglasses. This coat is my latest addition. It’s a classic cut with just the right amount of ’60s mod influence and I know it’s something I’m going to look forward to wearing every year.
Naturalizer “Jarrett” ankle boots: Along with using collaborations as an opportunity to add investment pieces to my wardrobe, I also try to expand my horizons and try something outside my sartorial comfort zone. When Naturalizer reached out about a fall collaboration, I’ll admit that ballet flats were tempting, but I’m happy I went with these ankle boots. They’re so comfortable!

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Of course, with every successful shopping month, there are some misses:

J.Crew cape jacket: I’m confused by online reviews praising the camel color. It’s not the rich, warm caramel hue that I expected when I ordered it. Instead, it’s more of a cool tan. I hated the color so much that I reluctantly returned it. On the upside, the quality is wonderful. I have narrow shoulders and ordered the XS/S, which was the correct size.

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linking with Fran

August Wardrobe Update

August 26, 2015 by jessica 23 Comments

OBSERVATIONS
For me, summer is all about loose, gauzy dresses. They’re pieces you can skimp on because the fit is so forgiving, but that usually leads to sartorial gluttony. I mean, when you can stay on budget and have a closet full of new dresses, why not?! Now that I’m starting to transition to fall purchases, I noticed a significant shift in the way I select items. I’m paying closer attention to construction, fabric, and fit. That comes with a higher price tag, leading to fewer new items. On one hand, I thought I’d be bummed about this. Having fresh pieces to wear is a lot of fun! But, truth be told, that much accumulation is overwhelming. I’m eager to make more mindful purchases this season of quality basics and worthwhile statement pieces. I’m also turning to my closet to create a list of “missing links” I’d like to find. Normally, I get distracted by a retailer’s new arrivals and start adding items to my wish list without much thought. Doing so leads me to neglect the items I need to make the rest of my wardrobe functional. Next month, I’d like to find a wool (or heavy crepe) black a-line shift that falls a couple of inches above my knees. I’d like it to be sleeveless with a crew neck so I can layer shirts underneath. I want it to look great with flats or ankle boots and be a canvas for a large pendant necklace. That can’t be too hard to find, right? I also had “statement outerwear” on my fall wish list this year. I ordered the J.Crew wool cape earlier this week. Fingers crossed that it fulfills that wardrobe hole. I already have a bright coat in emerald green and a black peacoat, so I should be set for outwear this year if this indulgent piece works out.

PURCHASED

JCOS Studios messenger bag with lock in mud ($165): Be prepared for a long wait for the arrival of this bag. I ordered it on July 29, it shipped on Aug. 21, and arrived on Aug. 25. I was afraid I’d fall out of love with it by the time it came, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the bag. The stitching is even and the hardware feels sturdy. I’m planning to write a full review after I’ve had a chance to use it for a few weeks. Just let me know if you have any questions in the meantime, though.
J.Crew merino wool pullover sweater in heather graphite ($64): You already know how much I love this. I went with my regular J.Crew sweater size. The sleeves in an XS fit best, but I preferred the drape of the size small.

BB Dakota “Bronwen” dress c/o Shopbop: I’m crazy about this dress and I’m antsy for the weather to improve so I can actually wear it! I originally ordered it in a medium and large. The large was huge, which I kind of expected. The medium fit well on top, but had a stain on the front. It was worth the wait for an unscathed version to arrive a few days later! It’s fully lined, looks great against sun-kissed skin, and will only run you $50.
Julie Nolan astrological cuff c/o UncommonGoods: I like the idea of astrological jewelry, but it can get tacky awfully fast. Julie Nolan’s bracelet has subtle cutouts of your sign’s constellation for an understated piece of personalized jewelry. You can see it on me here.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Of course, with every successful shopping month, there are some misses:

Parker “Juliet” fit and flare dress (also available at Amazon, Shopbop, and Neiman Marcus): This is darling and the fabric is thick. It just runs awfully small.
Topshop embroidered off the shoulder dress: Ignore the guideline to order the size in parentheses for best fit and go down even furter. This thing is huge. I hated that it wasn’t lined and was partially sheer in the sunlight. It also made me look like a rectangle.
LOFT mini dot shirred dress: I ordered this in my regular size 8 and a 10. Confusingly, the waist fit the same in both sizes and the bodice was too loose in each as well. The zipper extends down past the waist and flips out a bit, so it looked like I had a duck tail hiding under the skirt. All in all, I loved the idea of this, just not the execution — and I’m not paying money to alter polyester. Back it went.
Lou & Grey skinny leather belt: Terrible quality. The one I received had kinks all over it and looked like it had been worn by someone else for months.

See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

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linking with Fran