i hate my closet.

Happy Feet

So my first day of work is ::gasp:: tomorrow?! And I’ve been getting ready for the grind by making sure I have a perfecto work wardrobe. I’ll be posting my legit insane new J. Crew wardrobe later (thanks to Stephanie at the Greenwich location), but for now, let’s look at the footwear choices I’ve been making since I’ve been having a lot of trouble lately keeping away from the shoe department.

By the way, Bloomies, thanks for charging me $30 for shipping. Hate you. But love what you have to offer me.

1. Vera Wang Lavender Label “Lillian” Ballet Flats

These are super-duper comfortable and i can’t wait to wear them with … well … everything. They even have a tiny hidden wedge in there, which seems to make them more sturdy.

2. Calvin Klein “Yana” Wedges

Yessss, these shoes are plum suede, and I think they’re a genius neutral alternative to brown. Seriously. With skirts or peeking out of a pair of grey pants, I’m ready.

3. Tory Burch “Eddie” Patent Leather Ballet Flats

I have been lusting over these shoes crazy person-style forever. I’m not a big fan of super-visible labels, so the TB Reva flats aren’t for me, but I’m not going to miss out on the comfort for that.

So these three little gemmies paired with some of my existing (and soon-to-be expanding) shoe wardrobe should get me through my first few weeks in the trenches.

(Source: bloomingdales.com)

Shut. The. Front. Door.

I got a job. Maybe now i can buy this beautiful Lauren Merkin clutch from Gilt Groupe:

Also stay-tuned for a J.Crew haul. Because I can’t go to work in rags, people.

There are girls across the nation who would eat this up…

So I really do have pretty good excuses for not posting Monday or Wednesday. Friday night I called my college roommate to wish her a happy birthday and she invited me to drive down to the Carolinas with her. We left at 2 a.m. and got to Myrtle Beach around 3 p.m. on Saturday (after a pit stop at Waffle House in Virginia— what people see in this chain I will never understand).

Monday morning we left for a quick stop in Charleston where we got some sandwiches at Hyman’s Seafood and picked up some fresh pralines on Market St.

From there we drove to visit some really good family friends of mine in Charlotte. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive. We had a great dinner, drank some great Chardonnay and hit the hay. We left to return to New England at 5 a.m. on Tuesday. Annie drove the first four hours and then I drove till we got into New York.

Wednesday I had a job interview, which went well. But it was set up by a family friend, so it was more exploratory— they don’t necessarily have a position they’re looking to fill. We’ll see.

So anyway, that’s why I didn’t post. And I was good on my trip, too. I didn’t buy any clothes or anything like that. Just food and drinks.

My bank account is still crying, though.

I need you, I need you, I need you.

So I said in one of my first budgeting posts that I was going to try to save money by staying to a “need” list? Yeah, cool. That didn’t happen.

But after reading an article called “Dress the part—from home” in the newest Marie Claire’s Work Life section, I was inspired. Maybe sitting at home in sweats all day isn’t making me feel professional enough to write great cover letters or have smart-sounding phone interviews. Maybe I’m still unemployed because I feel unemployed.

But here is the second revelation I had while reading this article: what the eff is in my closet? Seriously, I got into an argument with my dad last night because he said I was fashionable and I insist that I am not. I’d like to be, but as much as I stare into the pages of every September issue ever published, I can’t figure how the hell to put outfits together. The thought of accessorizing makes me want to poke my eyeballs out.

“Leggings and a top” should not be a staple outfit, even if the top is cashmere.

So I guess this article made me want to get pieces that make my wardrobe cohesive in some sense of the word. And I’m not looking for Rachel Zoe here, I just want a little Stacy London in my life.

And these are, apparently, the things I need:

1. Designer trench coat
2. All-weather, all-occasion designer purse
3. Dark-wash jeans that work from day to night
4. An oversize statement necklace
5. Luxe long-sleeve T-shirts
6. Custom-tailored trousers
7. Cashmere cardigans in camel, gray and navy
8. Well-made, patterned skirts (J.Crew, I hear you calling my name)
9. Timeless designer sheath dress

And then, of course, I need some shoes. But, like I said, accessorizing freaks me out a little. So I’ll wait to think about that, probably. Although I do really, really want these ballet flats (in Smog).

Anyway, it’s really frustrating to think about all the silly things I’ve bought on a whim, because they literally end up in Goodwill after like two wears. I sold a literal trunk full of clothes to some sorority sisters for $5 a pop just because it hurts my heart to think of a Michael Kors dress hanging around a second-hand shop in Bridgeport.

This has got to stop. Stick to the list, bebe.

Pull it together, kid.

A good friend of mine called today and asked me what I did all day.

Well, I cleaned my parents’ bathroom. And then I did the dishes and made dinner for the fam in my crock pot. Now I’m applying to all the sweepstakes I can find online. I really hope I win the $5,000 to HauteLook…

And that was it.

Sorry for missing a post last Friday. I was busy pretending I was still in college up at my old university.

I checked out my online banking and credit cards a few hours ago and realized I spent almost $900 last period, so that pretty much needs to stop. My last purchases were made at J.Crew and were … tops for work. At a job I don’t have.

So here’s the thing … I’ve been out of full-time employment for like a month and a half now and only working part-time is seriously making me go insane. Well I mean, it makes me wake up at noon and lay in bed all day watching crazy amounts of reality TV. And while that may sound really, really fun, it’s not. It’s just not in my personality, I guess.

I have all these things I want to do (i.e., P90X, juicing, dating, decorating), but I’ve always been terrible at scheduling time when I don’t have enough things to fill my time with. Because it’s always easy to say I can do this later. And then not do it later.

Anyhow, I’m thinking of applying for a retail job. Just to fill my time before I (hopefully) can get some solid interviews. And a little extra cash never hurt. My bank account isn’t doing that badly, but I’m determined NOT to move any more money from my savings to my checking, even if it means not paying off the whole balance (for the first time ever). I think paying interest may be the punishment I need to get it together.

Things I bought in the City

So my mom and I took a trip to NYC last weekend to see a show and I (obviously) made a couple purchases. But there weren’t that many.

First stop: Zara.

So I love this pattern and the color looks great with my hair. Mine doesn’t have that bizarre collar, but I couldn’t find a picture of it that way. Also, how can Zara have EVERYTHING online, but you can’t purchase anything there? Hi. You are losing money. I can NOT understand the rationale behind this.

Green top = beautiful with gingery hair + super-duper itchy and made my neck all red when I went out to lunch with a friendsie. Solution? Wear a cotton turtleneck underneath. Done.

Second stop: Sephora.

Most gorgeous shade of Illamasqua lipstick ever (not pictured) in Ignite. It’s this crazy matte orangey red that is the best ever. I saw the color on a poster somewhere on Madison Ave and had to have it.

And Stila Long Wear Lip Liner in Passion (whose picture will not upload), that really is the longest-wearing lip liner ever.

Can I say that Anna at the Times Square Sephora is the best, most helpful MUA in the universe?