How to Get Away With Murder Style

Shonda has freakin' done it again.  While I am one of the few who never got in to Grey's Anatomy (yeah, yeah, I know), I did binge watch Scandal on Netflix only to develop the biggest woman crush on Kerry Washington.  So naturally, when this show came out, I decided to give it a try.  And so did my boyfriend.  And it's now our must-focus-and-spend-one-hour-not-doing-other-things show.  He's not ashamed.

What always impresses me with these Shonda shows are the wardrobes.  I mean, Olivia Pope was one... but all of the leading players in HTGAWM (ew) have great styles.  They are definitely great for inspiration in your own work world (Annalise & Bonnie in the real job, Michaela & Laurel in the intern world).  I'm going to say "SPOILER ALERT" because if you haven't seen it, I'm afraid of giving away any spoilers... even though I don't think I am.  If you haven't seen it though, this is the time to do it, catch up, and then dream over these wardrobes (my personal fave - Michaela).

Annalise

| Picture | Gray Top | Gray Dress | Shoes | Pants | Red Jacket |

Annalise is the star of the show and she means business.  Like woah.  She has taken the power-suit to the 21st century by wearing classic and standard business professional cuts but adding twists - like color, leather trim, and texture.  She would definitely own a pair of Jimmy Choo's - she doesn't have time to deal with shoes.  She needs ones that are going to look great with everything and stand the test of time (and the courtroom).

Michaela

| Sweater | Dress | Jeans | Watch | Bag | Picture | 

Michaela is the wealthy obsessive-compulsive Hermione Granger of the group.  She's very smart, but you're not sure if it's because she's naturally that way or she works crazy hard.  She always looks ready for the yacht or country club, the horse barn, or the Junior League.  She's probably personal friends with Tory Burch and grew up in Connecticut.  She understands that a preppy style translates really well from work to play.

Laurel

| Hat | Picture | Shoes | Top | Sweater | Skirt |

Laurel is the nice girl who is always looking out for the little guy.  Sometimes a little too much (over-compensating for her wealthy upbringing perhaps?).  She doesn't want to look too put together or clean because she wants to give the perception that she shops at thrift stores and is too busy working to care about clothes.  But she happens to always look pretty cute.  She definitely uses mismatching to her advantage.  (I'm not a big fan of her... maybe because I want Frank for myself?)

Bonnie

| Dress | Necklace | Top | Skirt | Shoes | Picture |

Bonnie is Annalise's wing-girl, cold and stoic, she doesn't seem to be excited about anything but she's a shark.  She is as clean as a whistle and ultra professional.  I wonder if she wears the pearls to keep her head on straight.

How to Get Away with Murder is on ABC at 10 on Thursdays.  And no this isn't a sponsored post - I love it that much!

Printed Pants

| Glasses - Warby Parker | Similar | Blazer - New Look | Similar | Top - JC Penney | Similar | Cami - Target | Similar | Necklace - Charlotte Russe | Similar | Pants - Old Navy | Similar | Shoes - DSW | Similar |

I promise one day I'll stop wearing my glasses... but it's so much easier to wear them!

So I am afraid of prints.  But I decided to swallow my pride (or fear) and get a pair.  I stuck with black and white (safe) and went the pant route since I tend to be more boring in that department (I remember when I bought mint jeans, I thought I was wild).

I think the secret to wearing prints is going basic elsewhere.  Now, I seriously appreciate all of the bloggers out there who mix prints.  You are my idols.  But I look like a major fool when I do it.  So I'm starting out slow.  

Also - this necklace was a Halloween costume purchase that I loveeeeee.  My friend and I found some awesome headbands at Charlotte Russe and decided to go all out and be flappers (we love the 20s).  When I saw this necklace I knew I had to have it.  Who knew Charlotte Russe would deliver? 

The Finances of Shopping: Splurge versus Steal

After my Forever 21 post, I thought it might be helpful to discuss what I think is worth the money... and what I don't (Forever 21 purchases).

I give myself little rules to make myself feel better:

| Boots | Tory Burch | Jeans | J.Brand | Coat | Macy's | Blouse | Loft | Shirt | Neiman Marcus |

1. Will I keep it forever?  Splurge.  [Tory Burch boots - yes]
2. Is it trendy? Steal. [Fur Vest]
3. Is it a staple for the closet?  Splurge. [J Brand jeans that fit perfectly.]
4. Is it something out of the ordinary? Steal. [Sequin Mini-Skirt]
5. Can I wear it to work AND not to work? Splurge. [Dressy top]
6. Is it solely a casual piece? Steal. [Shorts, shorts, shorts]
7. Will I still wear it in three years/wear it once every two weeks? Splurge. [Black and white striped top]
8. Do I already own something similar but I want another? Steal. [Black dress]
9. Is quality necessary? Splurge [Winter Coat]
10. Am I wearing it once or twice?  Steal. [Bright Colored Heals]

| Dress | Forever 21| Vest | H&M | Skirt | Macy's | Shoes | Charlotte Russe | Shorts | H&M |

What rules do you live by when buying clothes?

Old Navy Owns My Soul

 | Glasses - Warby Parker | Similar | Sweater & Pants - Old Navy | Similar Sweater | Similar Pants | Cami & Flats - Target | Similar Cami | Similar Flats |

I went to Old Navy over the Columbus day weekend and ended up giving them my first born child.

I bought the two sweaters you've seen in these two posts (1 and 2) and this sweater.  Because, duh.  I bought these pants and as well as the same pants in two other colors/patterns (you'll see them soon, don't worry).  I bought some riding boots.  I bought the camel coat.  And I bought some jewelry.  Just because why not hit that final punch in the wallet.  I've been very impressed by Old Navy lately.  They've definitely stepped up there game.  These pants are a must for work and the sweaters are so comfy.  It's just great!

Also... the wind on the Northeast is awful.  Case in point below:

How To Shop: Forever 21

I remember the first time I went to a Forever 21.  It was my senior year in high school and my mom took me on a shopping trip to the King of Prussia mall.  I had been to France that summer and had seen a Parisian girl in a navy and white polka dot dress with red shoes.  For some reason, this is a big, big moment in my love affair with fashion.  I think it was at that moment that I was shocked by the unconventionalism of this look.  Red shoes?  This didn't match and yet... look at how perfect that girl looked!  My mom had seen the look in my eye and she knew that I loved that outfit.  For the rest of the summer, all I wanted was a navy polka dot dress with red heels.  When I went into that Forever 21, I found my dress, and I kept it until a couple of years ago when, through wear and tear, I wore a hole in the cotton fabric.

Forever 21 makes sure to be on top of the trends for a reasonable price.  If you want that fur vest, green military jacket, asymentrical skort, you got it.  You can always guarantee that there will be a dress you can wear out to make the guys swoon (get it, girl).  And you know that you can walk in there with a $50 spending limit and leave with at least one item.

But there are downsides - the quality isn't the greatest and the sizing isn't always appropriate.  You might not be 19 anymore, but you still are on the same budget as you were... so why must you be forced to the stores where you can get the same look for triple the price?

Here are my rules for shopping at Forever 21 even if you aren't 21:

1. Use Forever 21 for your trendy items, not your staples.  I really want a fur vest.  I will not be spending more than $30 on a fur vest, though.  While I have yet to see an outfit on a blog with a fur vest that I don't like, I have a hunch that in 3 years, that fur vest will not be seen once in a year.  Fashion sometimes is that way, and we have to accept it.  I love trying out trends and at that moment, I go to my trendy staple.

| Poncho | Necklace | Jumpsuit | 

2. If you're shopping for professional wear stick to tops/pants - avoid skirts and dresses.  I love my dresses from F21.  Some are cute and adorable sundresses (my polka dot hi-lo dress, my pink flutter dress, my floral strappy dress, for examples) - but trust me, even at my fun workplace, they would look childish and inappropriate.

| Pants | Top | Sweater | 

3. But if you're going out - F21 has some of the best low price party outfits.  Things I've learned in life - if you plan on dancing for hours in dingy, dark places, don't wear your expensive outfits.  It'll make you cry in the morning if you're trying to figure out how to get that mysterious sticky substance off your $80 dress.

| Dress | Skirt | Shorts |

4. Check out Love 21.  It's a great addition to the 21 family with more realistic sizing.  The skirts and dresses are longer, the cuts are more flattering for all body types, and the quality is a smidge better.

| Dress | Skirt | Blouse |

5. Embrace the huge crazy chaos of the store.  It may seem overwhelming but forcing yourself to look through the racks tends to make you try things you didn't know you wanted.  You may not end up buying them, but at least you try.  And sometimes you find something awesome (like my white peplum top I loveeee).  OH!  And try on items.  Time-consuming, but more worth it with their sizing.

Forever 21 is great if you know how to shop there - and you find one in almost every mall - you never knew you were so freakin' fashionable on a small budget!