Working Girl, part deux

I have finished (hopefully successfully) my first week of work at Nordstrom's and I STILL LOVE THAT STORE...and my job...

In fact, I should be receiving my first paycheck pretty soon - which means that the only problem will be making sure that the paycheck actually goes towards saving for the future and not towards all of the beautiful clothes and shoes and accessories and purses...oh dear...I can see already that this might be a problem. The consequences of working at your favorite place to shop...

For some reason, I thought that working retail would take the magic out of shopping - or at least make me not want to shop as much. But alas, this job has done the complete opposite: I'm surrounded by millions of potential outfits! It's like being a kid in a candy store!

BUT at least I'll get to use my employee discount, which means that I will come out somewhat ahead...and really, since I spend eight hours a day racking and organizing and making outfits with all the lovely merchandise in the BP, it's only natural that I'd want to SHOP for all those clothes! I resolve to be prudent...however, what should my first purchase be? A new black maxi skirt to be worn with a boxy crop top? Or splurging on a pair of Revas? 

The job has also reassured me that this is what I want to write about in the future: style and seeing the art form of fashion and the social and cultural weight of what we wear. People often dismiss fashion as frivolity - but in the larger scope, fashion is an integral part of who we are and how we identify ourselves. It's limitless and multi-faceted and unique to each individual. It's a daily visual of our society whether we are aware of it or not. - C

Half-yearly sales ALWAYS have happy endings

Half-yearly sales always have happy endings - case in point: the latest additions to my shoe family! It's my first pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes and I love them! The photo above doesn't really do these shoes justice; Jennifer was the photographer, the camera was temperamental (not including the fact that we used a point-and-shoot instead of an SLR), and the lighting was meh...which means that we have 1. a picture that doesn't show just how adorably cute my new shoes are or 2. a picture that looks like a hipster took it. Since Jenny is the farthest thing from a hipster, I think it's safe to conclude that we're just bloggers who, unlike Rumi Neely and her photographer/S.O. Colin, are seriously challenged when it comes to producing original images or having people who are skilled in that department and willing to help us. Anyways, I've decided to show these lovely pumps in all their lovely, professionally photographed glory here, thanks to the Nordstrom website. - C

image from: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jeffrey-campbell-situation-pump/3198186?origin=PredictiveSearch&resultback=1645

 

Happy, happy, happy!

After three interviews, numerous phone calls, and an application process that started this March, I am happy to announce that I will be starting work at Nordstrom's this summer! I'll be working in the Brass Plum section (which is where I spend most of my time anyways...) and I'm eagerly anticipating the challenges that this new adventure will bring. Besides, a summer job at Nordstrom's can only bring good things - this is Nordstrom's, after all. Now the only problem will be ensuring that I don't spend all my paychecks on the merchandise...oh, and making my commission quota -  which means that everybody should visit me when they go shopping at the BP in Nordy's!

But before I begin my job, I have a little time to enjoy some summer laziness, which I will be indulging in tomorrow with Jenny! We've got a day planned that begins with a little trip to our favorite place in the whole world (or at the very least, our favorite shopping haven from the mean reds) to partake of half-yearly sale loveliness! We'll keep you posted about the bargains we find! - C

Working Girl?

image from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=185468578149132&set=a.151144484914875.25121.151124571583533&type=1&theater

Apologies for not posting in nearly a month - Jenny and I are college students, and when the going gets tough, the tough hit the books and study, study, study! They may also resort to online shopping in the early morning hours...but that's another story for another time. Thankfully, school's out now and summer brings sunshine, breakfasts at Nordstrom's for us, and....possibly a job at Nordstrom's?

One would hope so. Today, I had an interview for a job at my local Nordstrom's, where I told them all about my deep love and devotion for their fabulous store and my longtime loyalty to their shoe department, among other things (my very first pair of shoes came from Nordy's children's shoes department - I mean, really, my mother shouldn't be dismayed with my affinity for Nordstrom's, since she obviously encouraged and fostered this obsession in me from an early age).

Of course, I'd LOVE to work at Nordstrom's, that venerable place of sartorial happiness that can cure even the meanest of the mean reds - but do they want me? Meeps! I let them know that being the slightly competitive person that I am, I'd be a prime candidate for the commission-based work environment. However, despite being rather competitive, I can also still play nice with the other kids (a.k.a. fellow employees), and that more importantly, I have an obsession with their store, to the point that I have a BLOG named after it! 

In a week, I'll know whether or not I got the job. Time will tell. There are pros and cons to either outcome; if I get the job, I'll get to experience the shopping environment at Nordy's from the other side! Also, I'll get to spend oodles of time at one of my favorite places ever. However, it might also show me the dark side of retail therapy - I might even - gasp - grow tired of Nordstrom's! On the other hand, if I don't get a job at Nordstrom's, I won't have a job - which would be very, very nice, considering the costs of being a college student. I did realize, however, that if they don't give me the job, Jennifer and I will be able to wake up at the crack of dawn and snatch all the amazing deals at half-yearly, as opposed to me having to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to work the half-yearly sale...

My mother also pointed out that even if I did get the job at Nordstrom's, I'd probably still love the store and I'd just spend most of my paycheck buying the clothes. Touché. Mother always knows best. First thing I'm investing in as either a celebratory OR consolation prize is a boxy top, like this pretty one from Joie:

Image from www.nordstrom.com

 I can just imagine it dressed up with a pencil skirt or worn casually with some high-waisted denim shorts - so hipster chic! - C

Could she be any cuter? A look at Alexa Chung

picture from www.guardian.co.uk

 Alexa Chung is without a doubt, one of my foremost fashion inspirations. Not only does she have the most fabulous wardrobe with a quirky chic/tomboyish/cheeky school girl bent, she's also a television host/model/British Vogue contributor. Not to mention the fact that she's dating Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys but her cool factor has definitely upped due to the fact that she has joined the ranks of it girls like Jane Birkin with an eponymous purse designed by Mulberry with her as inspiration and namesake. Also, I love her winged retro eyeliner and chopped, chin-length bob - let's face it: she's adorable. She makes style effortless, classy, but also playful in an elegant gamine way. In a recent question and answer session with The Guardian, she proves yet again why she's somebody to watch. Responding to a question of how she wanted to be remembered, Chung stated, "As someone who inspired women to dress for themselves." With the bevy of admirers that she has, her success professionally and her growing fame as a sartorial star, I think she's already accomplished that.  - C

Let's PLAY!

picture from www.katespade.com

I'm obsessed with the new PLAY option on the kate spade website. Simply go to the website @www.katespade.com and click on PLAY to look at a variety of items related to kate spade spring-summer 2011. This is a great option for me - it allows me to have all of the fun of the whimsical, lovely kate spade merchandise without actually having to buy things (which, thanks to spring semester's academic costs and my mid-term celebration/consolation shopping spree, is my sad reality). I especially love the new advertisement campaign that they have this spring - Bryce Dallas Howard looks winsome and ready-for-spring! Another great feature is the inspiration board, which was compiled by creative director Deborah Lloyd. But I think my favorite feature of the kate spade spring-summer 2011 campaign is their short film Seven Henrietta Street, which is beautiful and reminiscent of Breakfast at Tiffany's with a quirky hipster prep vibe. Basically, it's stinkin' ADORABLE and epitomizes that classy playful element that IS kate spade.

 

 Go PLAY on www.katespade.com - it's the perfectly capricious way to welcome Spring! - C

Ithaca is STILL SNOWY - WHY?

Snow day this morning. It's the week before spring break, which equals lots of stress. In fact, as I write this, I am trying to avoid thinking about my two essays, loads of reading, and quiz that will basically embody my midterm grades (along with the two exams and quiz I took last week). But back to my thoughts about snow days - at first, I was enchanted by them. Then I realized that having a snow day actually inhibits my productivity - I sleep in, instead of doing homework or studying, which, if I had attended my 9 am class, wouldn't be the case because I'd be forced to be awake. Personally, I think I'm just bitter that most of my shoes are ruined by the double evils of snow and salt. Also, I'm slightly miffed that it's STILL SNOWING. It's now the month of March, which means that SPRING is on the way, right? Wrong. It's currently 18 degrees outside, and contrary to what my fellow students may believe - THIS IS NOT WARM. Let me reiterate my sentiment from before, once again - IT'S THE WEEK BEFORE SPRING BREAK. SO, WHY IS IT STILL SNOWING? Also, I've become - gasp - practical (read: boring) when it comes to my footwear. I find myself shuffling through snowdrifts wearing Uggs day after day - shoes that were once reserved for swim meets and casual dressing. I'm quite sure that if my mother read this right now, she'd feel very smug - she told me that I didn't need to bring every pair of shoes that I owned (which of course, I did and now regret - but don't tell her that.) And this is why people wish that all girls could be "California girls" - because California girls don't have snow days when they should be having spring weather AND their shoes aren't ruined with salt, which makes for very cheery dispositions, as opposed to disgruntled ladies living in upstate New York. Instead of being bundled up the way I am in the picture above, I'd much rather be wearing this dress right now:

 

But enough of my venting - what are your plans for spring break? And more importantly, what are you planning on wearing during it? - C

Roomies in Red

 

"For I conclude that the enemy is not lipstick, but guilt itself; that we deserve lipstick, if we want it, AND free speech." - Naomi Wolf, The Beauty Myth

I've been obsessed with wearing red lipstick lately; maybe it's the way it complements my winter clothes perfectly or just the fact that it's effortlessly glamorous in a classic, Old Hollywood way. However, it's completely wearable on an day-to-day basis, if you pair it with low-key eyes and simple hair (as illustrated by my lovely roommate, Kristin - on the left - and myself in the pictures above).  Kristin is wearing Lancome Color Design lipstick in Candy Apple while I'm wearing Nars lipstick in Red Lizard. As for Ms. Wolf's wise words about lipstick, I believe that women DO DESERVE LIPSTICK! Wearing a beautiful lip color that makes you feel confident about yourself can be incredibly empowering - after all, it takes a little spunk to wear a bold lipstick. Treat yourself to a bright, cheerful lip color - and celebrate confidence! - C

 

Wednesday, where did you go?

My first post in a while - now that classes are in full swing and I've finally adjusted to my new school schedule, I resolve to post much more frequently. Today was my very first SNOW day (California girl that I am) and I enjoyed it wholeheartedly, sleeping in until noon. But, alas, it's now 8:00 pm - where did my day go exactly? I still have tons of homework for this week....which is exactly why I'm blogging right now - procrastination is, after all, the key to academic success...

But despite the snow, when I'm cozy and warm indoors, I've still tried to make sartorially wise choices - as you can see from this little snapshot of my feet. I'm wearing a lovely pair of Kimchi Blue T-strap, peep toe heels (which I got at Urban during their always-awesome-but always-a-bloodbath holiday clearance sale) with a pair of denim wide leg trousers, channeling the seventies with a tinge of Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde. - C