Like it. Love it. Buying it: Rainy Day Edition

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Talk about a hurtling back to reality. I’ve just returned to the rainy real world from three days in picturesque paradise. I woke up this morning to gray skies and torrential downpour. Less than ideal. Where are the sunshine, seashore and absolutely perfect temperatures? Seriously, I don’t know if I can get used to this.

The only thing that has the slightest potential to help me accept that I might as well be hunkering down for the monsoon season? Perusing retail rain gear. Here we go!

Like it.

So I’ve gone a little leopard overboard lately, which made me reluctant to post these. However, waterproof flats? Brilliant! Who wouldn’t love a pair? J Crew made a line of really pretty waterproof bow flats, but they are currently sold out, making these the next best contender. And, let’s not forget to mention that they are on sale.

Dilute Leopard Loafers | $49 (on sale! Originally $80.00)

Love it.

A fashionable, functional trench raincoat is hard to find without a Burberry-sized budget, but this one fits the bill. It’s Michael Kors, it’s on sale, and it’s in one of the season’s best colors. Plus, it has a hood, which is an often overlooked necessity for a truly rainproof trench. Bonus? It has a detachable liner to accommodate colder or warmer weather.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Belted Trench with Detachable Liner | $129 (on sale!)

Buying it.

I have had my eye on Hunter boots for some time now. I’ve been reluctant to spring for a pair because it is a pretty hefty price tag for a pair of boots that serve the sole purpose of trudging through rain and muck. However, I think the time has come, particularly with this oh-so-appealing design (cue Tory Burch’s Daniela boot).

Hunter Regent Carlyle Boot in Cafe Latte | $195

I’m also really digging the classic Huntress boot in Merlot. Black is too boring, hunter green is too cliche, but burgundy is an unexpected, yet perfect option for the fall/winter season.

Huntress Gloss in Merlot | $135
 
 

A Gift to Give

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Earlier this week, I posted about my one year wedding anniversary. My “Like it. Love it. Buying It.” feature for the week just so happened to be comprised entirely of items from South Moon Under.

So, I thought why not combine the two and share one of my favorite items from South Moon Under for weddings, engagements, anniversaries or other related love stories! I always find it hard to purchase the right gift for such occasions. I want to buy the guest(s) of honor something special and personal, but most gifts are either too generic that they might receive 5 of them or entirely too intimate that the recipient might suspect you have a stalker-ish obsession.

The perfect in-between? A handcrafted picture frame adorned with wishes of happiness:

Happily Ever After Picture Frame | $52

You can find this little guy, which is actually 14″x 16″ (so not that little!), at South Moon Under or on the designer’s Etsy shop, “GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.” If you’re looking for instant gratification, SMU is your best bet. However, if you have some time, you just have to peruse Go Jump in the Lake’s Etsy shop which is chock-full of decorative signs of all shapes, sizes and colors with oh-so-sweet sayings.

Wedding Photo Frame | $40
All You Need is Love Photo Frame | $40

Whether you’re purchasing for yourself, your significant other or a friend, these signs will leave a smile anyone’s face! I’m already in love with mine. Now, I just have to find the perfect place to put it…

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Chambray and Polka Dot Perfection

I recently took a trip to my hometown of Orlando, Florida to get in some quality time with my family. Whenever I go home, shopping with my mom is on the calendar. What better way to bond than over massively discounted clothing?

I always make it a point to hit up the outlets and Target. The outlets are a no-brainer but Target? Really? YES. My family makes fun of me for the level of excitement I have regarding the Target in Altamonte Springs, Fl.

This little shopping excursion led me to two of the items on my must-have fall shopping list. Incidentally, the two items for which I’ve been scouring every store in DC and Arlington. A fitted chambray shirt and a polka dot button up shirt.

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I am so pleased with these two purchases. The polka dot button up is from the J Crew Factory Store, but has disappeared from the online merchandise, likely due to its overwhelming popularity. They do have a superb silk striped option if you’re searching more for a staple graphic button up than for polka dots. Stripes or polka dots, you really can’t go wrong!

On the chambray shirt. I searched high and low, from Forever 21 to Nordstrom and back again for chambray shirt with the perfect amount of tailoring, a hint of stretch and a not too light, not too dark wash. I thought Target might be the place, but came up empty at the location near my house in Arlington. However, the Target in my hometown had a profusion of chambray – ombre, dark wash, light wash, western, tie-dye, strategically bleached – and of course, the Goldilocks version, not too light, not too dark, which I promptly snatched up for a mere $20. Again, gone on the website, but check out Christina Aguilera rocking the shirt on the cover of Lucky!

(Photo from Lucky Magazine)

I have to say, I didn’t even realize it was the same shirt until I bought this mag for my plane ride home and thought to myself, well now THAT looks like the perfect chambray shirt. Perhaps I should see where it is from in case I want to keep looking. Lo and behold, I gasped, it is the one and only chambray shirt from Target…of which I am the proud owner!

Are you searching for these items too? If you can’t find the two above, check out these options:

South Moon Under Cotton Chambray Button Down Shirt | $72
Chambray AND polka dots, all in one! J Crew Perfect Shirt in Chambray Polka Dot | $88
Gap Perfect Dot Shirt | $34.50 (in pink and navy)
Anthropologie Fitted Chambray Buttondown | $88

Have you found the perfect chambray shirt? What about the perfect polka dot piece for fall? Let me know!