{In My Closet} Autumn in Oslo

It has been over 2 months since my last post. Since I am in Oslo now, I cannot get my dose of retail therapy from my favorite US retailers on a regular basis. During the months between July and December, I spend time "window shopping" online and building my wish lists and wait patiently for a good promotion. The one good thing about living abroad is that I spend less money on impulsive shopping. Everything I buy, I would be able to pick-up until my next return to the US.

While I stock up my virtual closet, I do, however, visit the Nordic brand stores. One brand that I have grown to like over the years is Filippa K. This brand produces simple and elegant pieces of high quality, and the price points match the quality level. I cannot really compare prices between the US and Norway, as everything in Norway costs more. If I was not used to the price points in the US, I would dare to say that I get some good deals at Filippa K, especially during sale seasons. I am petite and smaller compared to the average Nordic woman. Walking into Filippa K during sales feels like they are hosting the sale just for me as they always have an abundance of XS.

This weekend, I purchased the Lambswool Pullover in Grass color. The color is brighter in real life and is a great strong, autumn color. My mom advised me that wearing this color green can drain colors from my face. I will have to remember to wear some bright lipstick so that I do not look pale and green. I have very sensitive skin and cannot wear wool directly on my skin. However, wool is essential in the cold winter months, and I plan on wearing this sweater over Perfect or Oxford boy shirts from J. Crew. I am not a fan of the jeans that is paired with the sweater on the model. Luckily, I have Minnies and Cafe Capris in a rainbow of colors that I am sure I will be able to find pants to match.

While I made some damage to my savings at my local Filippa K, I also took advantage of the 25% promotion at J. Crew. I am stocking up on cosy flannels, (Perfect Shirt in Buffalo Check and Perfect Shirt in Black Watch) and using this opportunity to try J. Crew's cashmere sweaters (Collection Cashmere Bateau). I am also looking forward to trying out this outfit from Madewell, but without the hat.

I might not be able to wait and will have to ask to have my recent purchases shipped to me before December. 

If you have tips for what I should include in my virtual closet, please send them my way!

{In My Closet} The Quest for Blue Ballet Flats

I made it back to Oslo with all my loot, and I am looking forward to breaking out my new found loves in my "other" home. I get the question sometimes where I call home. I have spent most of my life in the US, but my time in Oslo is catching up to my years lived in the US.  My response has always been home is where my parents are. However, it is hard to not call Oslo home as it is in Oslo where I have my love, my dog, my apartment, my job, in addition to the friends that I made here. That was a digression from the main topic of this post. This post is supposed to be about my quest to find deep, bright blue ballet flats!

I recently purchased the J. Crew Cece Ballet Flats in byzantine blue in my usual size, and I had high expectations as these shoes had it all: The right color, good reviews, and the built-in heel so that they are not complete flat. I received them, tried them and loved them...until I stood up. I do not have wide feet, although they are not super narrow. However, my feet were sort of spilling out of the flats. The side of the shoes are not deep enough, so that when I stand up, the shoes stretch and do not wrap my feet comfortably. The flats were also a bit shallow in the front, and I really do not like to see the lines of my toes in shoes. Sadly, I had to return them.

It was my last few hours before my flight, and I stopped in Nordstrom on my way to return the Cece Ballet Flats. I had already done enough damage at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but what kind of shoe-a-holic would I be if I did not at least walk by the shoe department? I am SO glad I did, because I found the Sam Edelman Felicia Flat in mazarine blue suede! Although I like the byzantine blue color better, the mazarine blue is a really close second. The fit is much better and they are also very comfortable. I would have loved them more if they had an half inch built in heel, but lets not get too picky here. I had a $20 Nordstrom Note, so the shoes came out to be just at $70. I left a review for the Sam Edelman.

Here are some pictures for comparison. Apologies for the difference in lighting. It is much brighter here in Oslo compared to New Jersey.

The quest was successfully completed!

Have others better experiences with Cece Ballet Flats? I never owned a pair. I have a couple pair of Sam Edelman shoes, and I have always had good experiences with them.

{In My Closet} Perfect and Boy Dots

I promised myself that I was done shopping this time around, but I have trouble leaving J. Crew empty  handed. I had ordered a couple of Cece ballet flats online, but I wanted to check if they had the colors I wanted in the store. I am worried that my lovelies will not arrive before I leave on a jet-plane. My local J. Crew store did not have the Cece suede ballet flats in byzantine blue, so I will just have to hope and wait for the little brown package to arrive.

Although I did not find my shoes, I did find the Perfect Shirt in Chambray Polka Dot! I was a bit late in getting this shirt, after reading so many good reviews on J. Crew Aficionada (what a great blog!). The store only had 3 left, and I took the one that was on the mannequin. This shirt is available again online, but the expected ship date is November 26th!

I now have polka dot shirts in both Perfect and Oxford Boy fits. I love how the shirt feels in the chambray material, and the polka dots add a nice detail to a shirt. The Oxford Boy is made with a heavier material that feels solid and sturdy for the autumn. I went a bit overboard this time around with button down shirts (overboard = around 10 shirts purchased in the span of 2 weeks), but they are very versatile. They can be worn by themselves or under sweaters or long cardigans. I have many good excuses for why I need so many.

I think that is enough polka dots for this autumn.

There is a reason for my shopping madness. I am only home in the US a couple of times a year, and I stock up when I am home. I do like the fashion and styles in the Nordics, but I, unfortunately, am not born with the Nordic complexion and height. Plus, I just get more for my money in the US. While in Norway, I do cause some damage to my wallet at Filippa-K, a very nice brand from Sweden.

{In My Closet} Black, White and Mustard for the Autumn Palette

I am soon due to travel back to Oslo, so I need to finish building up my 2012 Autumn Collection while I still can. New arrivals will be available in J. Crew stores on Wednesday the 26th, but I'm not sure if they will have my size . What would I do if I fall in love with something, which I most likely will, and they do not have my size? An online order would not arrive until after I have left for Oslo. Such are the troubles of my life.

I really liked the black and mustard yellow color combination, so I went ahead and purchased the optic-dot boatneck tee, perfect-fit colorblock tee in neutral and black, and ankle stretch toothpick jean in garment-dyed twill in golden sunflower.The little package of goodness arrived today, and I am pleased to announce that I am keeping all three items.

Here are some {quick comments}:

The optic-dot boatneck tee is light and thin, though not thin enough to be transparent (very good). The pattern is unique, and the shirt is fitted but not skin tight. This looks good paired with the golden sunflower toothpick jean, and I also plan to wear them with jeans in regular wash, Minnies, Cafe Capris and the likes.

The perfect-fit colorblock tee lives up to its name. The color combination is classic and versatile, and the shirt will go with other items in my closet. The material and fit are like regular perfect-fit tees from J.Crew.

I love the  ankle stretch toothpick jean in garment-dyed twill ! The material is soft, and I do not feel like a stuffed sausage even though they are toothpick. In other brands, I sometimes find myself breaking a sweat just trying to put on a pair of skinny jeans. The color is very nice, too. I am 5"1 so ankle jeans are like regular lengths for  me. I think these will look good rolled up as well. 

I have been good at waiting for full price items to go on sale before buying them. This is rather easy since I am only back in the US two times a year, and I cannot indulge myself in retail therapy all the time. I spend most of  my time {window shopping} online and make the purchases when there are good offers and/or right before I travel back. However, sometimes I take the plunge and go all in for full priced items. I just need to promise myself to not check J. Crew website for the next month or two to: 1) prevent further spending and 2) to avoid seeing things that I bought at full price are marked down and being sold with additional % off. That would just make me upset, and I will need another retail therapy to recover.

The vicious cycle...

{Finding a New Home} Banana Republic Silk Dress from 2005

I have been saving and saving and saving this dress for years, and I have resigned to the fact that I do not have another occasion to wear this dress, no matter how much I love it. I have worn it twice, to two fantastic weddings.

I used to buy all my dresses from Banana Republic, including this one in 2005. However, I think the quality and style at Banana Republic has been declining over the years. Either that or my taste and expectations have changed. Regardless, this dress is a beauty and well made. I received many compliments when I wore it.

Lets see if I can find a good home for this dress. I just posted this dress on eBay today.

Image taken by Judy {coffeeshopandfunnyfaces}

{Pleasant Surprise} Ballet Flats from Anthropologie

I am trying to remember the last time I purchased something from Anthropologie, and I am coming up blanks. I visited the store a few times when I lived in Hoboken and could stop by Union Square on the way home from work. Since I cannot remember if I had ever purchased anything from Anthropologie, today's surprise (impulse would be more accurate) purchase may have been my first!

I found these close to the Sale section, and I could not resist trying them on. Like a typical shoe-fanatic, once I fall in love with a good pair of shoes, I rarely leave the store without them.

I purchased the Hand Painted Taika Flats in turquoise. They are very comfortable and also beautiful and, since each shoe is hand painted, the shoes are always unique as the description claims that no two are exactly alike. I snagged these on sale, so that was an added bonus!

They had 1 or 2 more pairs in different colors in size 37, 38 and 39 at the Anthropologie at the Mall at Short Hills. They are also a good stock of sizes at http://www.anthropologie.com at the time of posting.

While in the store, I also signed up for the {Anthro} customer program. Perks include: birthday discount, exclusive online shopping access, two free shipping periods yearly, early notices of sales and special promotions and apparently surprises along the way. Joining the program is free.

{New Adventures} First Time in a Store

I thought it would be appropriate that my first post in my first blog should relate to a {first time} experience. I have been pouring my shopping obsession into only J. Crew and Nordstrom for the past 5 - 6 years, forgetting that there are actually other stores that exist. I have been curious about Madewell for a while (OK, the store is very related to J. Crew), and I did not want to buy something from them for the first time online. Today, I made {first contact} with Madewell at the Mall at Short Hills.

Going into a store for the very first time is quite an adventure as everything is new and unfamiliar - Different styling, different material and patterns, different sizing rules... lets face it, each brand has different sizing rules in the US. To learn a new brand and its sizing rules is like having to learn a new language. Despite how uncomfortable I was, I was determined to go in and see what this Madewell is all about and try on at least a pair of jeans since they are known for jeans. 

I came out of the store a very happy customer with two pairs of jeans and a fabulous t-shirt. 

skinny skinny ankle jeans in canister wash {item number 75588}

skinny skinny ankle jeans in  black {I did not see this wash online}

linen bicycle tee {item number 94907}

I am 5"1 (164 cm) and the ankle jeans fit like regular length jeans for me, which is absolutely perfect. The print on the linen tee is really cute. Although I do not like to ride bicycles, I am strangely a bit obsessed with images of simple bicycle outline drawings. I plan to wear the tee by itself paired with jeans in the warmer months, and in the autumn time, over a J.Crew perfect shirt and with a blazer, like the J.Crew School Boy Blazer in navy that I just bought. 

Lastly, I would like to mention that the customer service at Madewell at the Mall at Short Hills was superb. I will definitely visit again!