Ciblek Mania

Last summer when it became apparent that 80's fashion was definitely going to make a full comeback I started to consider how I could incorporate a potentially scary fashion time period (death to the half shirt and all the neon atrocities) back into my wardrobe.  Naturally it caused me to skip down memory lane to what my favorites had been then.  


 
Clockwise from upper left:  Shopbop - Victorialand Safari Vest, Gap - Denim Biker Jacket, Net-a-Porter - Splendid Jersey Harem Pant, Shopbop - Juicy Couture Camo Slim Cargo Pants





-I remembered the harem pants, t-shirt and safari vest I wore on the first day of 8th grade - and how my dad asked me if I was really going to leave the house looking like that.  Har!  Thanks Dad!

- Then I suddenly recalled my favorite camouflage cargo pants found at the dreaded Army & Navy store (Canada) my mom insisted we go to "just to take a look".  Mom knows best because I remember leaving there with not only the pants, but also a very cool pair of oxfords that got more than their fair share of love that Fall.  Those pants were a mad hit and my little brother was mortified to be related to me. :)

-I also remembered the Michael Jackson craze we were in then.  How he took biker and military jackets to a whole new level - and how I wore my grey leather biker jacket until it was worn thin. 

Ahhhhh - the good old days; funny how they can come back around.  When I looked in my closet today I realized that each of those pieces is there once again in varying forms, and can honestly say I love wearing them just as much now as I did then.  Only with a much higher and more expensive heel.

What are your former favorites?  Are you finding ways to incorporate them into your wardrobe...or have you left them all in the past?

A few weeks ago around dreaded tax time I found myself on the fringes of Orange County with an hour to kill before meeting my accountant.  Now being in any neighborhood where everything looks the same gives me hives so what's a girl to do?  Uh, run to the safety zone better known as Target thank you very much!  While perusing the aisles in search of a find I happened to wander past the shoes only to see the words CYNTHIA VINCENT FOR TARGET glaring out at me from bright yellow boxes.

Okay, have you seen people hobbling  strolling around in these little $350 Cynthia Vincent babies lately? 

Well lookie lookie here at what I saw with my own two eyes right up in Target for $29.99:

Can you even deal with it?  Because I know I can't.  That's damn near the exact same shoe from the same design label - minus the higher quality leather and upgraded sole mind you - but STILL.  Now granted they only had size 9's left at the store I visited (on day 2 of this Cynthia Vincent extravaganza?) and I have specifically checked out a couple other locations hoping to find the shoe, but have not had any luck.  All that being said bear in mind I am in Southern California; so in cooler locations or other places that aren't such a glut for shoppers I do think with a little persistence, and use of the "Find at a Target" locator button, there is still a snowball's chance in hell that you might be able to nab them.

*After some due diligence it appears there were limited size runs sent to the stores but, in my opinion, it would be well worth a little effort and pain to get a decent knock off rather than get whacked for $350 - if you can help it, anyway.

Not wanting to leave empty-handed I decided on these little numbers:





And by that I mean the lovely yellow ones on the right and not the atrocity of the chef's socked feet in flip flops on the left.  Good grief.  What is wrong with men sometimes?  If nothing else his mess on the left only makes my purchase look even better!  I am a connoisseur of shoes and believe in the value of a good shoe meaning they're usually more expensive, but these shoes are a real deal at $24.99.  The color is great for summer, they're super cute with jeans or shorts, and actually fit very well too.  Jackpot!

If you're interested Target.com still has this cute studded sandal available as well in pink, black and white.  Let's face it - summer comes and goes pretty quickly so with Fall's upcoming fabulous trends it helps to save a little now in order to have a little more then.  Happy shopping!

...and cashmere too.

To me, James Perse is synonymous with amazing t-shirts.  I fell hard for his t's about 7 years ago after running my hand across one while walking through Nordstrom.  It was definitely a stop, drop, and roll out your credit card moment, and the beginning of the end of all my other relationships with basic t-shirt brands.

Cut to present day and my t-shirt drawer is almost exclusively James Perse with a peppering of T by Alexander Wang, Kain, and the occasional Gap tank.  It's not that I don't wear other t-shirts; it's that I prefer Perse above all others because they have the best fit and are the most versatile.  So whether you are looking to invest in the perfect v-neck or a few tanks for layering, I would highly recommend this brand as a good place to start.

In addition to standard basics, each season James Perse offers a mix of simple ready-to-wear pieces that can easily be worked into any wardrobe.  In the Fall and Winter the line typically carries, amongst other things, amazing cotton/cashmere pieces that include tunics, sweaters, jackets and sweatpants.  In the Spring and Summer you can always find the breeziest sun and maxi-dresses as well as skirts, shorts and pants that can take you from lunch straight to the beach.

I refer to it as a collector's addiction.  Some people have stamps; I have James Perse apparel.  What's your guilty pleasure?

Below you'll find (from L-R) the Jersey Bolero, the Double Layer Rouched Skirt, and the Fitted Long Sleeved T-Shirt - and of these 3 all I have to say is "Yes please!" (and thanks for bearing with me while I get the hang of putting up these pictures to match the post...still can't quite figure out how to lose the white space. ugh).

And no I don't mean my own, although he is pretty good too.  :)

In this case I am referring to Current/Elliott's Boyfriend Denim.  The first time I set my eyes on a pair of these I instinctively knew it was the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship.  Working for Gap, Inc. over a period of years instilled in me a great love and respect for denim and Current/Elliott has, in my opinion, cornered the market on premium denim.  Their jeans are worn, super soft and distressed in all the right places.  My closet has more than a few pairs that are definitely the ones I reach for whether I'm going for a casual look with a t-shirt and flip flops or something dressed up with a boyfriend blazer and heels.

Among my current favorites are The Boyfriend Mid-Rise Jeans, The Boyfriend Jeans in Super Loved, and The Long Boyfriend Jeans in Treasured Destroyed.

Feast your eyes on these babies and treat yourself to a pair if you haven't already!