Whats in your closet?
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 24, 2009
I’ve seen quite a few blogger closet tours in the past year (StyleLikeU, wheredidugetthat) so I wanted to join in on the fun!
The view once you open the closet door
Voilà! This is my closet. I’ve rented 2 apartments so far and this closet trumps my college digs and my closet at my parent’s. It’s a pretty large size walk-in… I take up 3/4 of the space while my SO ended up with a meager 1/4. What can I say… I have a lot of clothes. And I don’t even fill up the entire space. It’s not the neatest space but it does the job. Hopefully it will stay this way. :)
I have a designated space for things I don’t want anymore, so I have a constant flux of incoming and outgoing items. Once I have a sizable amount, I drive off to the nearest Goodwill to drop them off (and retrieve my donation receipt for taxes later on).
My boots and Melissas
There are some built in cubbies that store a few of my shoes (sorry for the blurry pics!) but I have more hanging shoe bags in the back right corner.
Hanging denim and pants (usually color coordinated but I messed it up that day)
I hate using drawers for anything other than socks or lingerie so I hang everything except delicate sweaters. Putting away laundry and searching for an exact item that I want to wear is much easier that way.
T's, tops, and tanks
I like sorting by type and color, tanks first then tops. OCD? Maybe just a smidge. But I rarely misplace an item this way.
Jackets and outerwear
I forgot to include dresses but then again I don’t have many at all.
A small fraction of handbags
My closet vice? I don’t take great care of my handbags although I really should. I’ve misplaced a lot of dustbags so mostly everything is out in the open. :( I really need to fix that.
That’s it for the closet mini-tour!
In related news I’ve spent $845.59 on clothing since March 19th 2009 (when I started tracking my spending on mint.com) So if I take an average from then until now (8 months) that’s roughly $106/month. I’m pleasantly surprised! I really thought it would be more. But I still would like to cut down on window shopping/mall walking because I should do better things with my money… like investing, saving up for my trip to Japan, and my future home. It’s just so difficult though. There are so many distractions along the way.
-E&I
Conscious spending breakdown
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 22, 2009
Before write a post about the current state of my closet, I wanted to share some info that I found out about my conscious spending plan!
I borrowed Ramit Sethi’s I Will Teach You to Be Rich book from the library and I was curious as to how his ‘conscious spending plan’ would look with my own numbers. Here’s the breakdown!
(Monthly fixed costs = rent, utilities, cell phone bills, medical insurance, bills, car payments, public transportation, loans, groceries, internet and cable.)
The 60% Solution:
- Monthly fixed costs: 60%
- 401K: 10%
- Savings goals: 10%
- Guilt free spending left over: 20%
MY breakdown:
- Monthly fixed costs: 34%
- 401K: 19%
- Savings goals: 18%
- Guilt free spending left over: 19%
I consider my rent to be pretty high so I was surprised to find out that my monthly costs were so low. 34%???? Here’s why:
- I drive a hand-me down car
- I share rent with another apartment-mate
- I’m on a family plan for my cell phone
- I have no loans or debt
- I don’t have cable
- I have no medical bills to pay for since I have an HSA plan that’s funded by my employer
These percentages and my increasing net worth make me feel really proud of myself. I’m very thankful to my parents for showing me how to not get into debt. They never explicitly taught me how, but over the years I learned from their example.
-E&I
The color black!
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 21, 2009
Super Nature by lalalisa featuring By Malene Birger tops
For me, black is a refuge because it expresses what I want, with it, everything becomes simpler, more linear, more dramatic. — Yves St. Laurent
I’ve been wearing so much black lately! But reading this quote by YSL makes me feel a little better.
A few recent DIY projects: (both happen to be black!)
- I turned a thrifted lace bolero from F21 into a vest ($2)
Original:
After:
- I found some rare Anna Sui for Target tulle and lace blouses while thrifting; because of a design flaw, all of the pieces had ripped seams from girls trying them on. So I cut out the main lace embellishment and I’m currently sewing it onto an old black tee.
Original top with long bell sleeves ($6):
DIY End result:
And here are some recent purchase photos just for kicks! And (surprise!) they all have at least a little bit of black in them!
I bought 3 pieces at the Bebe outlet today:
Bebe silk blouse for $15
Bebe striped top for $7.50 (I’ve been looking for a good striped top FOREVER)
Bebe fringed vest for $15. I originally saw it during my Vegas trip when one of my friends was buying up a STORM (all thanks to her very unlucky boyfriend); I tried it on just for fun and I loved it! Too bad it was full priced at $80. I hate buying full price unless I’m at Forever 21 or Target.
Forever 21 lace crop top with sequin embellishment, $20. I went to a grand re-opening today but they had already given out the free gift cards for the first 400 people. Oh well. The store isn’t as big as the San Francisco one but it’s about 80% of the size but on one single floor! With nearly an entire wing reserved for menswear! It was insane. I felt like a kid in a candy store 
I forgot to post this pic up earlier of my Marc by Marc Jacobs top that I bought a few weeks ago for less than $60. I love the red-orange color (although the pic makes it look more orange than anything)
That’s it for now. Closet/wardrobe pics will be up next!
– E&I
My car was ‘burgled’
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 19, 2009
Last night when my BF was out downtown for a party with my car, the car was burglarized. I twittered about it yesterday, saying I was glad I didn’t have the car for the night so I wouldn’t go thrifting… but obviously now I take it back.
Everything was hidden from plain view, and I didn’t have anything else in the car except for a hat. No windows were broken, my stuff was thrown around everywhere, and they took the following:
- $130 Magellan GPS (bought in May ‘09)
- $50 roadside emergency kit
- $10 eco tote (wrote about how much I loved them here)
When my BF first told me I was completely shocked. I just muttered, “oh well, could have been worse.”
But then I realized they took the emergency kit and the tote and I just started sobbing. I don’t know what got into me but those 2 extra things really made me feel angry and violated.
I mean, COME ON. Yes, I get the GPS. That’s a given. But my emergency kit??? I was just looking at it the other day and checking my flashlight batteries.
And my ECO BAG?? WTF kind of thief does that. The sheer idea of it is just so incredibly STUPID.
I’m off to go get a new GPS today because I just don’t want to think about this anymore.
-E&I
This month’s beauty buy: Panasonic Heated Eyelash Curler
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 18, 2009
Last week I bought a heated eyelash curler from Panasonic and I’m eagerly waiting its arrival! I bought it for $13.95 including shipping on Ebay. I think Ekimura did a comprehensive review for this a while ago.
I’ve tried cheap Revlon curlers, the Shu, and the Shiseido (it fits my eye better) but I have yet to try a heated one. I hate eyeliner/shadow smudges on the traditional metal curlers so hopefully this will work better for me. I’ll be doing a review for this one soon!
Also, I have a feeling a pair of circle lenses may end up in my makeup box in the near future…
- E&I
Orla Kiely Medium Stem Tote
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 17, 2009
Medium Stem Tote for $59 @ Gilt Fuse
Eeeee!! I just bought this Orla Kiely tote on Gilt Fuse in about 5 minutes of seeing it. Haha. I’ve always wanted one but balked at the $168 price tag. I’ve even stalked ebay listings from time to time.
I’m a bit annoyed at the $12 shipping ($71 total) but the total savings is nearly 60% the original price!
Ugh I’m so bad.
Click here for a Gilt invitation!
-E&I
Anne Taylor LOFT is looking good!
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 16, 2009
You know, I never thought I’d be into Anne Taylor anything, really. When I think of the brand Anne Taylor I just think of boring work clothes with a style that is way too mature for me.
Well now LOFT has had a facelift and its apparent in their new magazine ads. Really beautiful separates and jewelry were featured but with only one word: LOFT. I had absolutely no idea it had anything to do with AT! Wow. I was definitely surprised.
Either my tastes are changing or AT is looking much younger these days.
Ruffle Front Top – $44.50
My Helmut Lang steal!
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 12, 2009
My newest designer find: a Helmut Lang sweater
Loehmann’s just received a new shipment from Barney’s New York so being the manic window-shopper that I am I just had to check it out!
I saw quite a few Co-op by Barneys clothing as well as Kate Moss for Topshop sequin flapper dresses:
They were only $30 after all of the discounts but they only had sizes 8 through 12 so I didn’t bother…. Even if they had my size I’m sure the dress would look like a sequined potato sack on me.
Shortley thereafter I saw this deconstructed Helmut Lang crop sweater on the rack and I decided to try it on for kicks. Honestly I wasn’t exactly sure how to wear it! It has one obvious sleeve….and that’s it. It took me a few tries to finally figure out how to wear it.
In essence, this is a cowl neck, circle scarf, crop top, one-shouldered hybrid!
What it looked like on the rack: (strange, right?)
Here’s what it looks like on me:
The original price at Barneys:
What I paid:
92% off the original price? Yes please!
I’m really excited to wear it out since I generally wear a lot of black. The texture of the sweater is a nice contrast to a plain black knit or denim.
-E&I
Another Money Diaries post!
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 9, 2009
Here’s another Money Diaries post from Ramit:
The Money Diaries: The 25-year-old single mom who writes bad checks
12 p.m.: Take kiddo to McDonald’s to celebrate her swimming achievements ($9.60 for her meal and mine). Wonder if it’s sad that I consider McDonald’s a luxury. Decide yes, that is very sad.
Wow I’m feeling pretty bad for this woman and her situation, especially since we’re so close in age! Check it out and put your own personal finance situation into perspective.
What advice would you give to this woman?
-E&I
Apple Memo Pad!
Posted by: elle & ish on: November 6, 2009
- In: Design| decor
- Leave a Comment
I just bought this adorable apple memo pad from dealextreme.com (free shipping, no tax, but very lengthy ship time):
The memo pad is about 4″ tall and it comes with a stabilizing base and the little mesh piece as well. They also have a pear one too, as well as mini sizes (roughly 3 inches tall)! And for $2.61 you can’t go wrong!
Gorgeous, gorgeous! The only bad thing is that the notes aren’t sticky, but it’s just too cute to resist! I use a LOT of memo pads at my desk so I’m excited to try this out.
-E&I
elleandish
Current Obsessions:
*Updating my shoe wardrobe
*Quality over quantity
*De-cluttering EVERYTHING
*Ronnie Wire Base White Chairs (Set of 2)
*Expanding my cooking skills!
