Low Budget Diva

Sunday, October 10, 2010

ASOS New US Site

The new Asos US site has launched, just in time for their mid-season clearance sales!

I am sort of sad that they have a US-oriented site, honestly, because I had finally gotten the hang of how their sizing translates for me, and now they only have US sizes listed, so I have to translate back into UK sizes. Sigh. I know, for example, that the UK 20 is not a US 16, but is more like a perfect 18. That's just the vagaries of sizing, I suppose, but I have to remember that even though they are telling me to order a US 18, I know that I really need the 16. Phew. Any way, I hope you all get a chance to take advantage of their double whammy of free shipping both ways and clearance sale. I am giving this tile-print dress and this work-friendly blouse a try. I was hoping this dress would go on even deeper clearance, but that remains to be seen.

Oh, and Asos, if you are listening, could you please put this owl sweater on sale for me? Kthxbai.

And a little musical tribute to Mr. Solomon Burke, who died this weekend in Amsterdam. RIP, Solomon.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Shades of Orangish Red and Black

Oh yeah, I wore that shizz again. I love this damn dress. It's unfortunate that it's such a distinctive pattern, though, because I don't feel I can wear it more than every week or two. Velvet blazer is thrifted Old Navy, t-shirt dress you can't really see under the Tucker dress is from Asos Curve, scarf from the Gap.

In a related color palette, this is something I wore to a friend's wedding. She was married at an old (functioning) movie theater, complete with popcorn and sodas for the guests. It was in the afternoon, but it is October, it was tough figuring out what would be appropriate to wear. Someone was wearing these (which I secretly covet), so turns out I worried for nothing. It was come as you are.

Nevertheless, I had a bit of a "I have nothing to wear!" moment that I was talked down from via gmail chat by my friend Cynara. She scanned my Flickr photos and pulled this together for me. Emergency digital stylist! Love it. Black blazer, suede wedge heels, and swiss dot nylons are from Target, dress is Dorothy Perkins. Phony pearls from H&M. There was a cute, mini-cat eye thing happening with my eye makeup, but of course I cried that off at the ceremony in a flash.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

"And so you're back/From Outer Space...."

So I managed to squeeze in a few purchases in the last couple months. I took a chance on a couple of the Tucker for Target pieces on the recommendation of a friend who said they were pretty roomy. I am very pleased with them. The first one I paired with a sweater and belt I thrifted that are also from Target, American Apparel leggings, and the Target Kachiri boots that are the best deal going. $40-odd bucks for leather, Frye Campus look-alikes? Yes, please.

The second one I wore with a tunic/dress thingy that has made appearances here before (from SWAK Designs) and a orange faux-snakeskin belt from the Target thrift store. Finished off with the famous $19 J. Crew Boots.

This was nothing special, but a comfy weekend outfit that features those same awesome Target boots. Top is SWAK Designs (their stuff is cheap, but once in a while they get something really cute in stock), thrifted cardigan, Asos Curve jeans.

And finally, I got this LL Bean top with a gift card. I have been wanting a spring/fall weight nautical type of top, and this has the perfect neckline and sleeve length for the job. I also got one in cream/navy stripe. It's cut for a longer torso than mine, but I think with a wash or two it will shrink up to just the right length. Secondhand Torrid skirt, vintage hat, Target shoes, scarf from Ricki's, a Canadian chain.

I am back!

Apparently, going on a shopping hiatus means no posts. Heh. Sorry about that folks.

Since I last wrote here, my life more or less exploded, though, so lack of shopping was the least of my problems. I am going to try to get back on this shit right quick...

Monday, August 9, 2010

Two things, tangentially related

Marc Jacobs is developing a plus-size line!!!!

Also, I am on a shopping embargo, so will be launching a challenge soon wherein I have to wear everything in my closet before repeating stuff, followed by the ten items or less (really it should be fewer, I think) challenge. This should distract me from shopping for a while and then I can save up for a single piece from MJ's line. Heh.

Stay tuned; as soon as I finish unpacking all my clothes in my new space, I will be up and running again. I may also do a little post on my new neighborhood and all the cool shopping there is nearby...oops, that's probably a bad idea, come to think of it. :p

Thursday, July 29, 2010

6 items or less?

Sheena of the Uniform Project

I am thinking of trying to do the "6 items or less clothing diet", or whatever it's called. I will give myself much looser restrictions and probably will need more like 10 items, but I what I really want to know from you all is what to call it. I chafe at the word "diet" for a number of reasons, but I do like the idea of forcing one's self to be creative with a limited palette. I found the outfits posted by a lot of the "Sixers", as they call themselves, to be a bit uninspired (much more impressive to me is the Uniform Project, where there is but one item that is used in seemingly infinite ways), but I think if I up to ten and regard tanks and camis as undergarments, I could do some cool stuff. Any thoughts, oh anonymous friends of the cyber realm?

Here's a possible set of 10 items. I am not completely happy with it, but tell me what you think:

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Eshakti Lust of the Moment

Not that I can really afford any of this, but here are some of my favorite looks from Eshakti right now. I am particularly fond of the seahorse dress. And the bubble skirt with the feathers on it. And OMG THE HUMMINGBIRD CORSET DRESS! How to justify a $70 dress, though? If they still have it when financial aid comes through, we'll see...