dress up files - a chicago fashion blog: October 2012

Fall Transition Look Book

Gap sweatshirt | Aritzia shorts | Mackage jacket (similar) | Rag & Bone booties | Celine bag

I love those Fall days with hints of Summer, when my shorts get to make an encore performance. I actually love how booties look with bare legs...maybe I need to move to California. For this warm Fall day, I paired floral shorts with my trusty grey sweatshirt (everyone should own one or three like me!) and threw on my leather jacket. So glad it fits now. I bought the jacket when I was pregnant and thought I would never see the day when I could zip it shut but that day has finally arrived. Yippee!

I've been wearing these Rag & Bone Newbury booties nonstop since I got them and they are really comfortable, considering they are not flats. I pretty much never wear heels (not even a kitten) when I'm with my kids but these I can handle and if I can do it, you can do it. They are 20% off now at ShopBop for the Friends & Family sale. It ends tonight and some sizes are already selling out so hurry!

Shopbop Picks

Cacharel coat $750 | Joie Leather jacket $898 | Vince coat $725 | Add Down coat $765

Club Monaco dress $220 | Rebecca Taylor sweater $295 | Club Monaco sweater $140 | Juicy Couture dress $178

Don't forget to enter code WEAREFAMILY to get 20% off and shop fast because the sale ends tomorrow!!

Shopbop Friends & Family

Just a quick note...Friends & Family sale at SHOPBOP!!! Ends tomorrow so get your shopping in!

I caved and got these Rag & Bone Newbury boots, that are in my opinion, THE perfect black bootie and so comfortable too! I know it's a bit of a splurge but 20% off definitely helps!

Saks Friends & Family

The Saks Friends & Family sale is here! I'll be sharing some of my picks later on this week but in the meantime, you can get started shopping here. Enter code FRNFAM7 to get 20% off most items. Also, enter RTNSAKS7 for free shipping/free returns over $200. Happy shopping!

Shopbop Giveaway!

To commemorate the new name (dress up files) and to thank you guys

who still read and support my little blog, I've teamed up with SHOPBOP for another $100 giveaway!

Free People | Alexander Wang | Diane Von Furstenberg

Now that Fall has undeniably hit Chicago, I've been finding myself scouring the outerwear tab at shopbop constantly. In particular, the Free People jackets, Alexander Wang jackets and Diane Von Furstenberg coats have been calling my name. I mean, the half leather sleeves? DVF...you're killing me. Oh yes and don't forget to follow the shopbop blog for great tips and styling ideas.

To enter:

1. Follow dress up files (google connect, bloglovin, reader)

2. Leave a comment with preferred contact (email, twitter, instagram, etc)

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Instagram

2. Follow me on Facebook

(You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry.)

Giveaway is open worldwide and will run until Wednesday, 10/24 at 8 pm CST.

Creme De La Creme Look Book

DIY Creme sweatshirt (F21) | SONG leopard jeans (similar) | Converse shoes | Aritzia jacket | Chanel bag

I've been wearing my DIY Creme De La Creme sweatshirt nonstop and this could potentially turn out to be the best $20 I've spent all season. The sweatshirt was $13 at Forever21 and the letters were from Michaels. I also recently made a "HOLY CHIC" t-shirt out of my leftover letters, as suggested by my dear friend, H (check out her lovely blog here!)

So can we talk about hair for a bit? I've been loving the whole undone hair look (a la Kate Moss, Alexa Chung and every other woman I saw in Paris) but I just don't get how to achieve the look. Coz we all know even though it looks like Serena Van Der Woodsen rolled out of bed with that perfect bedhead, it actually took hours of styling to achieve.

This particular evening, I decided to once again try my hand at the look. After washing and towel drying, I sprayed Bumble and bumble's Surf Spray all over and scrunched my hair. I blow dried while scrunching and then kept on scrunching all night. Haha. It was my best attempt so far, which does not say much at all. Does anyone use a diffuser? I wonder if that would help. I would really appreciate any tips if you guys know how to achieve that messy, rolled out of bed look. And no, you cannot just roll out of bed. I've tried.

Tory Burch Friends and Family

Click here to get 25% off Tory Burch!

As you all know, I'm pretty obsessed with my Tory Burch Eddie flats. I have 2 pairs that I wear all the time (worn recently here, here and here). If you're in the market for a great fitting, super comfy pair of flats, I highly recommend these and what better time to pick them up than when Tory Burch is doing 25% off AND free shipping on the Eddie's!

Bauble Bar Picks!

1. Rose Jenga Bracelet $24

2. Navy Atlantis Cuff $26

3. Silver Nut Cuff $28

4. Hermatite Bullet Bib $32

5. Catbird Rings (hammered, alpha, heart) $64-$92

6. Sophie Monet Gilded Square Ring $88

7. Ebony Tear Drops $26

I'm a huge fan of Bauble Bar for their affordable, on trend jewelry and wanted to share some of my recent wish list items. I'm loving strong, simple architectural pieces like the Rose Bracelet, the Nut Cuff, the Square Ring and the Bullet Bib (my favorite!). I'm an ongoing fan of the barely there rings by Catbird and these Ebony Tear Drops are the perfect example of edgy vintage style.

What kind of jewelry are you lusting after this Fall?

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Phillip Lim Studded Dress

My obsession with this studded Phillip Lim dress began 3 years ago. I saw the white one on Michelle Williams and it had to be mine. I liked the classic, feminine shape combined with the studs to give it some edge. I knew the white wouldn't be practical for me, especially to wear to weddings and was thrilled to find it came in navy as well. I tried it on multiple times at multiple stores and fell more in love each time but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to spend $600 on one dress, no matter how beautiful.

Fast forward 3 years and I never did forget that dress. For the six months following that summer, I stalked online sites to see if it would go on sale. Then, here and there, I would search for it on ebay, even as recently as a couple of months ago.

Then, last week, a friend emailed asking about how I sell old clothes online.

Here is how the conversation went:

Friend: I have a Phillip Lim dress from 2-3 years ago, worn once, originally cost $600+

Me: What does it look like?? There was one from a couple yrs ago that I was obsessed with!!

Friend: It's navy with studs covering the back.

Me: Ahhhhh!!!

What are the odds that this friend I just met recently was looking to sell the exact dress I was obsessing over, in exactly my size? It was meant to be!

Now I just need an occasion to wear it. Have you ever been obsessed with something that you never quite got over?

Floral Denim

These muted floral jeans are from American Eagle and on sale now for $29! I'll dress it up with a silk tank, blazer and pointy toed pumps or dress it down with a grey sweatshirt and white chucks. How would you style floral jeans?