Fashion Week for the Economista

It's that time of year again. Saint Louis fashion week is on the horizon and you can feel the excitement stirring around the city. Invitations for kick off parties are already being sent out, fashionistas are making their final outfit selections and runways are being prepped to host fashion designs from world renowned designer Rebecca Minkoff and Project Runway's Victor Luna. If that weren't enough excitement, I've been asked to host one of the pre-show parties for fashion week! Yay! While I'm super excited, my husband and I are also super pregnant. Six months to be exact and the only thing I can think of is..... What am I going to wear? Pregnant or not you may have this same burning question and this blog post is dedicated to affordable and fashionable fashion week looks.

 

Looking great doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are so many options out there such as; discount department stores, shopping online, or even shopping your own closet.  If you’re like me sometimes I forget what’s actually inside my closet.  Every couple of months I have the urge to get it organized and in the process I find great pieces that I’ve completely forgotten about.  Maybe I bought it off season or didn’t have anything to go with it at the time, but it always feels great when I find something that works perfect.  I call it “the treasure hunt.”

If shopping your closet doesn’t work for you, there are many stores dedicated to chic affordable fashion! Stores like T. J. Max, Marshalls, Ross Dress For Less, H&M, and Old Navy have won the hearts of conscientious shoppers. They offer the hottest fashion at an unbelievable price.  Just the other day I found some amazing name brand items for a steal.

Lastly, if you don’t have time or feel like going into a store, shopping online has become one my new favorite pastimes and with the convenience of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, you can find your favorite look anywhere.  My personal favorite is on the couch with a cup of coffee.  A lot of times your favorite department store has a sale online, but not in the store. So, shopping online can be just as rewarding as sifting through the sales rack to get that perfect deal.  It’s less work.  Below are two outfits examples that I put together from one of my favorite discount retailers H&M.

Fashion Week Outfits by christiadeshields featuring h&m handbags

Picture details: Patterned Kimono $50.00, Leather Skirt $25.00, Floral Top $17.99, Sweatshirt Skirt $50.00, Earrings $3.50, Purse $25.00, Suede Sandals $66.00, Boots $50.00

 So, who’s coming to Fashion Week with me? For ticket information go to www.saintlouisfashionweek.com.  I hope to see you there!

 

 

Help! I'm pregnant and my clothes are weird!

So, here's the official announcement! Kenny and I are expecting!!!!!!! Yay! We are so excited especially after the devastation of a miscarriage the first time around. ….So thank you sweet Jesus:)!  The first couple of weeks I was fine, but when I hit the nine week mark…oh it got real!  It got a little harder to get dressed in the morning and especially for events.  My clothes were a little snug or just didn't fall quite like they used to.  I wasn't big enough for maternity clothes and I just didn't know what to do.  So, stalking google pictures of preggo celebrities became my past time.  My style icon, Rachel Zoe, did it best for me.  We have very similar styles which is that boho chic and she found a way to translate her regular style even while pregnant.  I thought it was AMAAYY! All of the maternity clothes, that I saw I hated.  There were too many stripes or it just wasn't my style.  I visited a few maternity stores and asked many questions.  Do pregnant woman really need all of those gadgets? Belly bands, waist expanders, etc?  I got some great information too from the women over at Motherhood at the St. Louis Outlet malls.  They were very helpful and schooled me on maternity clothes and how you're the same size the clothes just make room for your growing belly.  That made me a lot more comfortable, but I wasn't ready to buy just yet.  My husband and I ended up going on a road trip to Nashville to celebrate our one year anniversary and while there we went SHOPPING!! My favorite word.  Well any way i had a inkling to go into Old Navy (hadn't been in this store in years).  I walked in and saw flowy tops that were my style and ON SALE.  I was so excited.  These were tops that I would wear even if I weren't pregnant.  I went to the back and saw the maternity section and fell in love with the maxi dresses.  They were fitted, sexy, and still there was room for the baby bump and more importantly ON Sale.  I talked to the manager, because I wanted those dresses in every color, but he said that there were no more, because they were making room for the Spring shipment.  So I immediately went online and there were some great stuff there as well.  I'm feeling a little better about this pregnancy journey.  When you look good you feel good, even if you're nauseated and puking or not puking just nauseated (that sucks by the way lol:).  During my shopping spree I also found a few cute tops at Ross Dress for Less and  Stylish dress from H&M.  If you're preggo, but don't want to spend a lot of money on clothes you will only wear for a few months,  these are three places that I totally suggest that you visit, because even thought it's only a few months you can still look fly!  What about you? Where do you shop for great maternity wear?  

So what to wear during pregnancy?  Well the following will be some of my staples:  Maxi dresses, Cardigans, leggings or jeggings, riding boots, flowy tops, tunics and heels.

My Maternity Style by christiadeshields featuring gold peep toe pumps

Here's some of my preggo haul.  Clothes pictured are from Old Navy, Ross and H&M

Our announcement

                           my hubby so happy!:)

Fly Guy Friday...."Putting the Dap in Dapper"

Chad Carpenter definitely puts the Dap in Dapper.  He's not only a pretty cool dresser, but also and amazing musician! You've gotta check him out! www.chadtcarpenter.wordpress.com.  You know the saying "Behind every great man, there's an even more amazing woman,"? Okay I may have made that last part up, but I really do think this woman is amazeballs! Behind Chad's look and many other men in america is the oh-so stylish, Marissa Carpenter.  She is the Men's Department buyer for JCP, which is where most of Chad's outfit came from.  If you haven't been to JCP in a while, your gonna want to check it out!  What do you think about his look?!?




Pants, Jacket, Shirt, Tie bar: JCP
Socks: H&M
Tie: Forever 21
Watch: WeWood (bought on ebay)
Belt: Topman
 

                             Chad and Marissa! The fly chick behind the clothing!