July 2018 Purchases

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. My quarterly budget is $550. This amount can be rolled into the next quarter if it's not all spent. My goal is to keep my out of pocket expenses within $2200 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget. Since I've been keeping a budget, I'm much more careful with what I buy, and I will return stuff at the end of the month if I'm not crazy about it after hanging it in my closet.

Summer sales were still going strong and July was super hot in NS, so I was all about picking up some new warm weather clothes.

Top: Zara (no longer available on line)
Reg $36, on sale for $16
This top was bought with Pride Parade in mind, but it rained so I didn't go to the parade. The top was cute though, so I kept it.

Shirt: Sunday Best (Montana) via Aritzia
Reg $65, on sale for $25
Possibly the softest button-up ever made. Looks good in a front knot over a dress.

Shorts: The Group by Babaton (Gillian) via Aritzia (no longer available on-line)
Reg $78, on sale for $30
I've already worn these three times. They are pull-on (yay) and really comfy, but don't look sporty. Don't mind the wrinkles, straight off the drying rack.

Hat: Azure Skies (Pelham) via Aritzia
Reg $28 on sale for $16
When there was an unfortunate incident in Punta Cana involving a red slush drink and my straw hat, I knew I needed to find a replacement. I like this one even better than the one I ruined.

Pants: Gap
Reg $80, on sale for $15
I'm a big fan of bright patterned pants for work in the spring and summer. Most of my work pants are Banana Republic, so these are a nice change.

Jeans: Gap (no longer available on-line)
Reg $90, on sale for $20
I wasn't looking for jeans when I found these, but they were so soft and fit really well, so I had to have them.

Tank: Reitmans
Reg 16, on sale for $6
I don't shop at Reitmans often, but I used to love the tank tops from Smart Set (which was owned by the same company) so I went in looking for a green one here and found it.

Top: Reitmans
Reg $30, on sale for $12
When I was shopping for the tank top above, I found this as well.

Top: H&M (no longer available on-line)
Reg $15, on sale for $7
This is such a fun shirt for $7. It's very tropical and reminded me of the Caribbean... perfect to wear in August!

Tank: H&M
Reg $7
Just a basic white tank for layering, hence no photo. H&M tanks are great and cheap.

Earrings: Aldo
Reg $8
The Social had these earrings in a segment a few weeks ago and I went out and bought them. They're a little heavier than I usually wear, but OK for a few hours.

Original value of items: $453
Price I paid: $162
I saved 63%

I have $623 to spend this quarter, so I'm left with $461. I'm guessing the bulk of that will be spent in Toronto in a few weeks. I'll be staying across from the Vaughan Mills mall which has a lot of outlet stores (yay). Hopefully I'll get to Yorkdale too for Uniqlo, Topshop, and The Cheesecake Factory. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect denim jacket (the Levis Ex-Boyfriend Trucker is currently in first place), and I wouldn't be mad about a new red handbag. Be sure to stop by next month to see what I snatched up in the big city!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

April 2018 Purchases

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. My quarterly budget is $550. This amount can be rolled into the next quarter if it's not all spent. My goal is to keep my out of pocket expenses within $2200 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget. Since I've been keeping a budget, I'm much more careful with what I buy, and I will return stuff at the end of the month if I'm not crazy about it after hanging it in my closet.

April is the start of a new quarter and I have $596 to spend. I haven't bought a new denim jacket yet. The Levis Ex-Boyfriend Trucker is my favourite so far . I can probably make do with the ones a already own for now, and wait to make sure it's the one I want.

Hoodie: H&M (no longer available on-line)
Reg $40, on sale for $15
I keep gravitating towards pink this spring. I'll be clearing out some of my older hoodies soon, so I decided I need this one. Love the details - not quite basic.

Tee: H&M
Reg $20, on sale for $12 (now it's $10)
Like I needed another Bieber shirt.

Tee: Zara (no longer available on-line)
Reg $20
I wasn't sure about this when I pulled it out of the box, but once I tried it on, I was sold. It's quite thick, almost like sweatshirt.

Shirt: Zara
Reg $26
This was another one that I had to try on to appreciate. I love red and blue!

Sweater: Gap (no longer available on-line)
Reg $55, on sale for $17
I donated a similar sweater recently and I knew I'd miss it if I didn't replace it. I like the sleeve length on this one, and it'll go with almost anything.

Bomber Jacket: Gap 
Reg $108, on sale for $23
I know, a weird purchase for spring, but I'll tuck it away for the fall and be happy to have a new jacket. I've always had a thing for camo.

Scarf: lululemon via Brilliant
Reg $48, on sale for $28
This is second-hand but in perfect condition. As big of a scarf person as I am, this is my first Vinyasa.

Earrings: Aldo
Reg $8
One day I had a burning need for giant hoops.

Original value of items: $325
Price I paid: $149
I saved 54%

I'm focused own finding blush pink pants, and when I find them, I'll surely spill mustard on them the first time I wear them. I'm also eyeing Vans (yes, pink ones) I saw at DSW. Fashion sneakers will always be a weakness.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Kimono Chic

Open-front cardigans and blazers are my closet staples, so it shouldn't be surprising that I'm drawn to kimonos as well. I think they're the perfect "third piece" to add more interest to an outfit. I nabbed the last one in this color at the Aritzia clientele sale (which is one of my favourite sales to shop).

Details: 

Kimono: Talula at Aritzia

Top: Diesel

Jeans: Zara

Sandals: Aldo

Necklace: Joe Fresh

Sunnies: Coach

I wore this ensemble to my soon-to-be sister-in-law's wedding shower last weekend. I love wedding showers.  I remember how nice it was to have so many loved ones gather to celebrate the countdown to the wedding.

The sales happening right now are pretty spectacular. If you're the type who doesn't shop much, you should really consider taking a peek at the stores/on-line right now. I've picked up/ordered lots this month from Aritzia, Aldo, Zara, Dynamite, and even some of my non-clothing favorites like DAVIDsTEA  and Bath & Body Works.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Lumberjack Chic

One of the easiest outfit formulas I love for fall and winter is jeans, a plaid shirt and boots.  It's easy to change things up by changing the shirt, the type of jeans (leggings, boyfriend style, straight cut, etc), and the boots (combat boots, riding boots, or winter boots). You could create a ton of looks with just a few different items from each category. Basic? Sure. But so comfortable!

Details

Plaid shirt: Topshop

Tee: Gap

Jeans: Zara

Boots: Aldo

I almost wore my winter boots with this outfit, but then I changed my mind and wore combat boots. I was on my way to Bath and Body Works for soap day, which is basically like a war zone. 

Success! And I didn't even need to kick anyone! I'm so impressed with how well BBW does with holiday crowds. The lines might look huge, but they go by so fast. I hope your holiday preparations are going well. I think I'm officially done with the shopping and moving on to wrapping.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

The Chop

Even though it's been many years since I've been back-to-school, in September I always get the feeling that I want something new, something different. Instead of new clothes being the focus this year, I decided new hair would even better.

Details

Shirt: H&M

Skirt: Club Monaco

Sandals: Aldo

Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelet: Gift

I was 100% confident sitting down and having Lindsay chop four inches off. I knew it would look so much healthier. Of course, we forgot to get a before and after photo at the salon, as we usually do!

I forgot how much I like this skirt - it was hiding behind a few other skirts that I ended up donating. I'm trying to weed out my closet as best I can. I pulled out some of my fall/winter things the other day to see if anything needed replacing. I'm on the hunt for a great basic black crew neck sweater.

Did you make any big changes in preparation for fall?


XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: June 2016

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. My quarterly budget is $500. This amount can be rolled into the next quarter if it's not all spent. My goal is to keep my out of pocket expenses within $2000 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget. Since I've been keeping a budget, I'm much more careful with what I buy, and I will return stuff at the end of the month if I'm not crazy about it after hanging it in my closet.

I left myself a nice chunk of money to spend in June, because I know from years passed that this is when summer clothing goes on sale.

Cardigan: Only via Envy

Reg $75, on sale for $38
I've got a thing for fringe! This is very wearable and versatile for any season.

Sandals: Aldo

Reg $90 on sale for $49
I needed a new pair of chunky sandals to balance out my pants that are cropped and voluminous. I retired a chunky pair this year - so these were much-needed. They are really comfy. A great price for leather.

Hat: TNA at Aritzia

Reg $28
I've worn this hat at least four times since I bought it. It has a slim velcro closure at the back, which is  helpful for my small head.

Cardigan: Wilfred Free at Aritzia

Reg $65 on sale for $52 (clientele sale)
I'm sure this neutral cardi will get a ton of wear. It will look cute over a dress or even dressed down with jeans. I love the sleeve length and the pockets!

Shirt: TNA Del Mar at Aritzia

Reg $40 on sale for $20 (regular sale)
This is my third Del Mar. I'm obsessed with the softness and the length.

It matches our shower

Jeans: Rag & Bone at Aritzia

Reg $230 on sale for $115 (regular sale)
My dark skinnies are five years old. Time for a replacement! These are a perfect mid-rise and have a ton of stretch, yet keep their shape.

Dress: Wilfred Free Kemesky at Aritzia

Reg $75 on sale for $38 (regular sale)
This was such a score. It was the only one in the Halifax store (someone ordered it on-line and returned it) and I snagged it. You can wear it buttoned as a dress or open as a long vest.

This was the first time I got an invite to the Aritzia clientele sale... hopefully it's not the last because it's fun! You get a percentage off of everything (how much is depending on the brand). It's great for buying the staple basics that never get included in the regular sales. If you're looking for seasonal colors/styles, you're better off waiting for the regular sale. 

Original price of items =  $603
Price I paid = $340
I saved 44%.

I did great at hitting my target with $6 left to roll ahead to next quarter.

On my wish list - white jeans (I always get a cheap-ish pair every 2 years as they get stained/dull), maybe a pair of Vans, maybe a basic tee or two from American Apparel - I haven't been there in so long!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

A Surprise Hit

Will the $4 skirt look okay, or will it look like I'm auditioning for a part on Little House on the Prairie? It was a win (or else everyone was doing a good job of lying). Who says petites can't wear long skirts?

 Details

Cardigan: Forever 21

Tank: H&M

Skirt: Banana Republic Factory Store

Necklace and shoes: Aldo

Sunnies: Coach

 I wore this outfit to Mothers' Day brunch and managed not to spill anything on it - win! Excuse the weird hair. I obviously need way more practice with using my new flat iron to curl. The curls came out strange, so then I tried to straighten them a bit. I promise I didn't roll out of bed and out the door!

Shortly after this photo was taken, I changed out of this and into my gardening gear. My mom was kind enough to help me regain control of my little shrub garden out front. Always helping, even on Mothers' Day - that's my momma.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

A Day in 90210

Beverly Hills - that's where I want to be! We kept singing this to ourselves as we made drive after drive down Sunset Boulevard between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. So many pretty houses, such clean streets, lush gardens, and gorgeous stores... 

Can I just say I'd like to own every single thing in Saint Laurent, including all the men's sneakers? Someday I'll own a Burberry trench coat (probably from the outlet) and a Chanel bag (maybe) but until then I can just dream.

We strolled down Rodeo Drive and found ourselves at The Montage for lunch. We ate salads in the Beverly Canyon Gardens and people watched. Okay, I admit I was really hoping to catch a glimpse of Justin Bieber, but it wasn't meant to be.

Window shopping on Rodeo

The Montage

We visited The Beverly Center, which is a lovely shopping mall with mostly higher end stores but also has Uniqlo and H&M. I was so stoked to shop at Uniqlo as I hadn't been to one in three years. They are planning on opening in Toronto sometime this year at Yorkdale and the Eaton Centre.

Details

Cardigan: American Eagle Outfitters

Top: Uniqlo

Shorts: Banana Republic

Sandals: Aldo

Sunnies: Coach
Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

I hope you enjoyed tagging along for the day with me in Beverly Hills. Have a great weekend!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Cornflower Blue at The Grove

The Grove is one of my favourite spots in LA. It's a really nice clean outdoor shopping mall with lots of good restaurants. It's also home to a few of my favourite stores - Topshop and Madewell. I was feeling quite under the weather in LA, so I didn't spend as much time shopping here as I expected, but we did make it to The Grove three times.

Details

Shirt: Rachel Roy via Winners

Jeans: Gap

Sunnies: Coach

Boots: Aldo

Necklace: Banana Republic

Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

My Fitbit was on pretty much the whole time in LA. Yeah, it didn't look so great with my outfits (and I always forgot to take it off for photos) but I had a great week for steps!

On the toes: Aloha from OPI (OPI)

My Rachel Roy top will probably be in high rotation this spring. I love this shade of blue! The shoulder cut outs are fun too.

If you ever visit LA, The Grove is a must-do!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: January 2016

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. My quarterly budget is $500. This amount can be rolled into the next quarter if it's not all spent. My goal is to keep my out of pocket expenses within $2000 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget. Since I've been keeping a budget, I'm much more careful with what I buy, and I will return stuff at the end of the month if I'm not crazy about it after hanging it in my closet.

Boots: Aldo

Reg $130 on sale for $65
How cute are these? My tall nude sandals are impossible to walk in, so these will be a welcome replacement. They have no platform, so I have to put a gel pad in the ball of the foot. Can't wait to wear them when the weather is drier. 

Pants: Banana Republic

Reg $124 on sale for $33
I have very similar pants in black that I got at Top Shop, and I love wearing those, so having ones in another color seemed logical.

Excuse the wrinkles. I dragged them out of the laundry to take the photo :)

Cardigans: American Eagle Outfitters
Reg $45 each, on sale for $16 each
It's rare that I buy more than one of something, but these were so soft and I really couldn't decide between the two colors so I just kept both of them.

Bracelet: Joe Fresh
Reg $16, on sale for $4
This looks nice with all of my hematite jewelry.

Original value of items: $360
Price I paid: $134
I saved 63%.

January's total leaves me with $431 for the rest of the quarter. I had $65 left from last year coming into 2016 so it brought my starting point up a bit. I'm not likely to buy much in LA due to the exchange rate (grrr),  so I won't try to save too much of my budget for vacation.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Smart Dressing

R: "You look smart."
Me: "I'm not sure how to take that? Do I usually look unintelligent?"

Details

Sweater: H&M

Shirt: Gap

Jeans: Madewell

Scarf and Bracelet: Joe Fresh

Boots: Aldo

Can you believe I made it til mid-January without wearing my new winter boots? I was hoarding them and wearing my Hunters instead. I'm so glad I got these at the end of last season though. They are really comfy and warm, but not so clunky that I'm uncomfortable wearing them around the office for the day.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl