Thrifty Thursday’s – Calypso St. Barth

Have you heard of Calypso St. Barth before?  If you haven’t, be prepared to open your mind to a world of boho-chic clothing; shoes and accessories; exotic fabrics and prints; and this Fall…fur, cozy fabrics, and leather!

I have loved Calypso’s for some time now.  Many people might be turned off by a store like Calypso’s because they carry high-end inventory, where you might pay a cool $2,700 for a fur vest. Still, what many people don’t realize is that, like many other stores, Calypso St. Barth also has some major clearance sales!!  My first purchases included three items that I have since worn OVER and OVER.  Two of them cost $19 each, and the third – a pair of white sequin pants – $59, down $300!  I know what you’re thinking…white sequin pants?!  Trust me.  They are amazing.  Take a look for yourselves:

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I also got this amazing top, which has paired well with shorts, leggings, you name it!  It was perfect for the summer!

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Pretty cute, right?!  So when I was approached to participate in Calypso St. Barth’s Pink Moment at the new store in Birmingham, I jumped at the opportunity!  But, first things first: let’s talk about what I wore. 😉  Of course I had to wear something from their store, and as I was attending an event called “Pink Moment” I had to also wear pink!  So, I chose this white dress – the third item I purchased on sale for $19 – and paired it with a pink Zara jacket/blazer:

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I also added this Stella and Dot Pegassus necklace, which I scored from a Stella and Dot stylist that was getting rid of all of her inventory.  I scored it for 1/3 the price!

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Super excited and anxious to see what the new store looked like, I headed to Calypso’s.  The store front is as amazing as its inventory.  Pink, gold and sparkles…simply dazzling!

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Inside, the decor did not disappoint.  And the clothes, shoes and accessories…well, just take a look at a few of the fabulous outfits I styled while I was there:

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And check out some of their accessories.  I wanted them all!!

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So guess what?!  After trying on all these amazing outfits, Calypso’s gifted me an item from their store!!  I am so grateful to Calypso’s, the amazing store manager Brittany, and the other store associates for their help and generosity.

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If you are in the Birmingham area, be sure to stop by their new store at the Summit.  You won’t want to leave empty handed. They are currently running a $50 off your $300 purchase promo.  It’s also available online using code GCFALL2014.

If you decide to wait, be sure to check back in during their clearance sales events.  They are not to be missed! Stay tuned for an upcoming post where I share with you what I scored during my Pink Bag Moment. 🙂

Until next time!  Stay Chic!

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Thrifty Thursday’s – 5 Work Wear Essentials

After posting my Labor Day sales, it occurred to me that one of the things I hear women complain about the most is that they can’t style their outfits from just seeing a garment in a store or on a blog post with links to sales items.  Furthermore, some women have mentioned that they simply DO NOT like to shop.  I know, I know…I couldn’t believe it when I heard it either, but it’s true.  Some people just don’t care to shop for clothes! Well, here’s a simple, and thrifty guide for the woman who needs office-appropriate outfits, but doesn’t care for frills or having to go on more than one shopping trip!

Work wear essentials

1.  The White Button Down

I really like a nice crisp button down to wear under a blazer, a sweater, layered under a dress, or alone with a pair of slacks or a pencil skirt.  Here’s one from Target that is very affordable:

$22.99 at Target.com

$22.99, target.com

And a couple ways to style a white button-down:

Photo credit: styleoholic.com

Photo Credit: Pinterest

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Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/chic_in_academia

2.  The pencil skirt

I really love a great pencil skirt.  I’ve mentioned it before in previous blog posts, but I don’t mind saying it again.  I think they are incredibly flattering and work with most body types.  Although I recommend getting a classic twill or cotton blend skirt, I also highly recommend getting a knit or jersey skirt.  Personally, my weight tends to fluctuate a lot.  Sigh.  It’s a problem…a whole other blog post in fact. 😛  So, knit skirts are great because they are sizeless for the most part!  In math/stats terms, they have a wide confidence interval, haha.  Plus or minus 10 lbs…no worries!  A knit or jersey skirt is bound to fit well regardless because of the stretch.  Here’s one for less than $20:

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$12.80, forever21.com

Black is a great color to own if you’re not a big shopper.  If you like options, get one in every color, or in a print!!  Some ideas for styling your pencil skirt:

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Photo Credit: Pinterest

http://www.outfitposts.com/

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Photo Credit: instagram.com/chic_in_academia

3. The wrap dress

I LOVE wrap dresses.  They are easy to travel with.  Often made with jersey, so they don’t wrinkle.  Also, very flattering, silhouette-forming, and slimming!

$27.99, target.com

$27.99, target.com

And some ideas for prints and or styles, including one of my own favorite wrap dresses from nearly 10 years ago!

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Photo Credit: instagram.com/chic_in_academia

4.  The shirt dress

I LOVE shirt dresses.  They look great with heels, flats, boots, even sandals.  They can be dressed up or down.  Here’s one from Target:

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$27.99, target.com

And some ideas for styling your shirt dress, including one of my own:

tinaadamsconsulting.com

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Photo Credit: instagram.com/chic_in_academia

5. The blazer

Oh, friends.  My name is B and I have a blazer problem!!! I probably own at least 10.  At least. In different colors and patterns.  I just LOVE them!!  I’ve mentioned before that Forever 21 has great ones, so it should come as no surprise that the affordable option I’ve chosen comes from F21, except you cannot wear yours to work with a crop top like this model 😛 :

$32.80, forever21.com

$32.80, forever21.com

And a selection of my own blazers and one from Pinterest:

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Photo Credits: instagram.com/chic_in_academia and Pinterest

So there you have it!!  5 wardrobe essentials to help build your office-appropriate wardrobe, along with some styling ideas.  Hope you also liked the thrifty choices I selected for you.  Let me know if you happen to find any other items that fall into these 5 categories.  Comment below or email me with anything you may come across!

Until next time!  Stay Chic!

 

Chic in Academia’s Shopping Guide – Labor Day Weekend 2014

It’s Labor Day weekend, friends!!  Barbecues, time with family, and shopping!  Still, let us not forget the real reason we observe Labor Day, which is to celebrate the contributions that American workers have made to the US economy and society.  In order to properly observe this holiday and keep our economy stimulated, here’s the 411 on some sales you may not want to miss. Lots of amazing discounts await!  Here’s a list of my favorites, as well as a curated selection of work-appropriate clothing and accessories.  Happy Shopping!!

1.  Lord and Taylor:  Shoes are up to 70% off.

2.  ASOS: Up to 75% off sale items, plus an extra 10% with code HAVE10.  Prices below do not include the extra 10% discount.

 

3.  Old Navy:  Up to 50% off entire store and online selections, including a Goyard look-for-less!

4. Zara: Up to 80% off.

5.  Target: Buy one, get one 50% off, plus additional discounts if you use your Cartwheel app and RedCard.

 

So many goodies!!  My friends, Tracy’s Notebook of Style and The Fashion Palate, also have some amazing shopping guides.  Check them out!!  Good luck shopping and have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Until next time!  Stay Chic!!