End of the Season Shopping

To buy or not to buy. That is the question.

This weekend I hit up Macy’s in search of a slip to wear to my friend, Meg’s, wedding (so practical)… and somehow ended up in the shoe department with four boxes of heels laid out in front of me. Ummm, how did I get here?!

Easy: the sales!

It’s August and retailers are starting to markdown their summer styles to make room for cold-weather outfits. I always get excited when I start seeing cozy sweaters and soft leather boots on the shelves – until I snap out of it and remember it’s still tank top weather here in DC!

Am I ready to start buying fall outfits, knowing that I won’t wear them for at least another month? OR should I hold off on fall fashion and spend my money on the summer sales even though I’ll only wear this stuff a few times? What’s a girl to do during the month of August?!

So I’m kicking the question to you guys, my smart readers [who are full of opinions!]. Your votes will influence whether I buy this pair of summery leopard wedges by Chinese Laundry.

The print is bold (super bold, I know!) but how chic would these wedges look with khaki capris and a red top? Annnd they’re on sale for $55! It’s time to poll the audience…

Reader Poll: Thoughts on Backless Shirts?

I love reality TV and I’m not afraid to admit it. Currently, “The Bachelorette” is taking up quite a bit of room in my DVR. Two-hours every week I get to escape to LA or freakin Taiwan and watch Ashley Herbert fall in love and wear backless shirts.

Wait. What? That’s right, Ashley stepped out in a different open back shirt or dress for practically ever date this week. Sure, Ashley is a super petite girl and looks great in pretty much anything, but I did not realize the backless trend was, well, back!

In case you missed it.

Wait, here it is again (ID’ed by The Possessionista here).

And here on her date with Constantine (who needs a haircut).

Looking scandalous at the rose ceremony.

When I was 18, I definitely had a strange love of backless shirts. In fact, for my senior year fashion show, I designed a pretty awesome (aka, scandalous) backless shirt held together by a hot glue gun and modeled it on the runway. Shoot, even my prom dress was backless! I’m sure it all horrified by mother (“isn’t that too much skin, Madeline?”) but showing off your back was all the rage in 2000. I was just keeping up with the trends, Mom!

Fast-forward to 2011. I’ve been seeing backless tops at places like Urban Outfitters and Lulus, but for the most part, they’re all a bit subtler than the gaping backless tops Ashley is so fond of. I think a little peek at your lower back can be really sexy, but going completely backless brings up a lot of questions:

What the heck do you wear underneath? (seriously! — no clue).

What happens if it’s windy out?

What will my mom think?

So I throw the question to you, my lovely readers, where do you stand on the going backless debate?

PS – I have a burrito on the line that Ashley will pick JP in the final rose (that’s who I picked in my office Bachelorette pool!). Fingers crossed.

Poll: Which Bridesmaid Shoes Would You Wear?

THIS is what a fashion indecision looks like:

My lovely older sister is getting married in a week. Since my sis is pretty awesome, she told me I could pick out my own maid-of-honor dress and shoes. A dream come true for any fashionista bridesmaid!

Here is a color swatch of my periwinkle dress. The color is called "Something Blue" :)

With much determination, I was able to find the prettiest periwinkle non-bridemaidy chiffon strapless dress out there at Nordstrom. Finding the dress was tricky, but with so many adorable heels in this world, picking shoes was even harder! There are also a LOT of ugly dyeable bridal shoes out there, bleh.

After months of internet research (god bless Zappos and Endless), I’ve picked a winning pair but am curious to see which ones my Style Me Thrifty readers would choose. Which shoes would YOU wear to the wedding? Cast your vote below!

The wedding is an outdoor, late-afternoon ceremony at a historic farmhouse. Informal. I’m the only bridesmaid so we don’t need to worry about matching other girls. Choose wisely!

(Click image to enlarge)

Where to shop: Michael Antonio Palmero flat $19.99 from Endless; Capparos Sharelle Open Toe Pump $69 from Endless; Bouquets Blythe Ivory Satin sling backs $75 from Zappos; Capparos Olinda $69 from Zappos.