no regrets

I think a morning routine is important. Some people meditate. Many take time to write. Others go straight for a big cup of coffee and some breakfast. I open my laptop, surf over to jcrew.com and type the words "bow embellished" in the search bar. Super normal, right?

I try not to live with regrets, but every so often a sartorial conquest slips away and I can't quite move on. While I'm waiting for a sale or waffling about a purchase, my beloved sells out and I'm crushed. This happens pretty much every season, and so I've developed a habit of starting my day by checking various websites to see if new stock has popped up. Sometimes I also hit up eBay and Poshmark, because I am thorough. And obsessed. And I don't meditate.

Here's what I'm pining over right now:

I ordered this sweet little bow-embellished (hey, remember that term? From way back at the start of this post?) top after Christmas. Scored a sweeeet deal.  Sadly, I didn't open the box for about 3 weeks (was an insanely busy time) and when I did, I was so bummed to see that I'd accidentally received the wrong color and the shirt was almost completely sold out. Sadly it's the tiny sizes that seem to pop back into stock (and I know this top runs a little small), but I'm still hoping I'll catch one.

I didn't see this bag until after it had been marked way down (and of course, sold out), but I can't help but hope I get a little lucky. So great, right? It's very fancy and proper, but I think it has a bit of a wild side that wants to come out and play.

I've been looking for a pair of tortoiseshell shoes forever, and these were perfectly sweet and totally affordable. I put off placing an order until it was way too late. Dumb.

This one is long sold out, but I'm crossing my fingers for a resale option. I had passed it up last year because I told myself I had too many striped shirts, but that shoulder detail is really great. And what's sad is that sometimes when I'm trying to decide what to wear in the morning, this shirt pops into my head. Even though I don't own it!

Finally, an oldie but goodie -- I don't know where I was when this candy stripe Tippi was out, but I should have been in line at J. Crew buying the happiest sweater ever. Sigh.

Have you ever missed out on something and regretted it later? Do you keep chasing, or just...let it go?

february budget

Last year I started tracking my spending on clothing -- it seemed like a kind of a smart, grown-up thing to do. Around the same time I did a major closet clean-out/purge and discovered too many flammable looking Forever 21 pieces, pilled Target cardigans, and regrettable impulse purchases that were all gathering dust. I liked the idea of having some accountability to curb some of my mindless buying, so at the end of each month I survey my purchases and make sure that I'm sticking to my budget and making smart decisions. And here we are.

February was supposed to be a no shopping month for me, so how'd I do? Ehhhh...

I didn't make it. All was fine until about a week ago when I decided to make an exception and buy these sneakers that I fell madly in lurve with. I was planning to just wait until March, but all of a sudden they were selling out everywhere and I realized they wouldn't be around that long. I also realized I'd really be bummed to miss out on them. I mean, they're just sneakers, but I do have a habit of obsessing over the ones that got away. I spotted my size back in stock and a nice little President's Day promo code and just went for it. When I got to the checkout, there was also a pair of sunglasses in my cart from a previous session but I pretended not to notice and placed my order. So my purchases for this month are as follows:

Adidas Originals ($101) // Oversized Retro Sunglasses ($14)

monthly budget: $200 ($0 in February)

total: $115 ($85 under budget/$115 over budget)

The good news is that I love both purchases and know I will wear them both often (practically daily), so I'll consider it a success for thoughtful, mindful shopping. Small victories.

When you're not shopping for (most of) a month, you have lots of time for window shopping, which I did plenty of. All kinds of spring goodies are showing up in stores, and I have my eye on a few:

this lace shirt is a little off-beat but has some interesting potential // still digging the crazy pants // this perfect looking sweater is from the upcoming Lemaire collab with Uniqlo (love the half sleeves) // I love this inkblot floral, which seems less twee than most spring-y prints // black and white striped espadrilles with a little platform? sold // I've been a little wary of the cropped wide-leg jeans thing, but I'm digging this white pair // my very excellent sunglasses in tortoiseshell

Did you buy anything good this month? What do you have your eye on right now? Let me know!

I'm linking up with Fran and the budget bloggers, because those ladies always find great stuff...

PS -- wishing a special happy birthday to my brother (who does not read this blog) because he and all of the other leap babies get an actual birthday this year! If you are celebrating something special this Leap Day, check out the NYT's collection of treat yo self recipes (and do NOT check out the movie of the same name -- the delightful Amy Adams deserved better).

lace for less

Self-Portrait is the hot new kid on the fashion block right now -- it is hard to miss the brand's intricate and feminine lace dresses and blouses that are popping up on the red carpet, on blogs, and all over the editorial pages. I have at least a dozen dresses on my running wish list, but at $400-600 a pop they're a bit of a budgetary stretch. I'm hoping to catch one on a good sale or put away a little cash for a splurge, but until then I've been keeping an eye on budget-friendly options. Good news, there are a few!

There are plenty of lace dresses out there, but there are a few key things Self-Portrait's dresses so special: modern, feminine cuts (think midi dresses, gently flared skirts), geometric patterns, sweet accents (ruffles, peter pan collars), and strategic sheerness. Here are my current favorite options:

Zara Lace Shirtdress

H&M Lace Dress

Zara Tube Dress

Forever 21 Crochet Midi Dress

Anthropologie Narrante Lace Dress

ASOS Lace Midi Dress

will you be mine?

I feel like Valentine's Day is supposed to be one of those love it or hate it type holidays, but I've always been pretty solidly meh about it. I mean, I love candy, look good in the color pink, and generally enjoy expressing love to all of the wonderful people in my life. So, yay! On the other hand, it can go super cheesy and I hate the idea that people feel some strange obligation to overspend on terrible floral arrangements and pretentious dinners to prove their love. So, boo.

Regardless of how I spend the day, I always like to put a little thought into dressing for it. Here are a few looks that will work whether your valentine is your super serious SO, your best friend (don't forget Galentine's Day!), or your cat:

I don't know why, but I really like the idea of a simple day date for Valentine's Day, especially when it falls on a Sunday (before a Monday holiday!). Maybe you'd start with a big breakfast at your local greasy spoon and just play tourist in your city -- check out a museum or concert, do some window shopping, grab a leisurely cup of coffee, finish with dinner and a movie. A cozy turtleneck and sleek wide-leg pants are perfect for all of the above, and V-Day is the perfect time to rock the pink/red color combo. This necklace is a sweet and funky touch. A neutral crossbody bag and easy chunky mules are the perfect finishing touch.

I also kind of dig the idea of a Valentine's Day date that's kind of rugged and outdoorsy -- horseback riding or hiking or hanging at the local zoo (you know the monkeys are good for putting on an R-rated show). When you might get a little dirty but still want to look glam, I love this red and white striped top finished in the back with sweet bows (going in and out of stock, so keep checking) with comfy ponte pants and practical boots. Red lips and a smart watch add a little sparkle.

Of course, you may need something a bit fancier. I just bought this flirty lace skirt and love the idea of pairing it with a relaxed button down shirt for a comfortable and elegant look. These gold necklaces are so sweet, and I'm kind of obsessed with heels with a crazy floral print. This sheer lip glaze adds a pretty pop of color. Grab your favorite black clutch and you're good to go.

And like the entire internet, I'm obsessed with Self-Portrait's frilly, feminine pieces so if I really had some place special to go I'd splurge on this amazing black and white minidress. My rule of thumb is when your dress is short and busy, you keep everything else simple: flats (these heart-embellished baby pink pair is kind of on the nose, but I love them), a sparkly clutch, and pink lip gloss.