Fit the Bill: Pencil Skirts

By LL in KC

Who doesn't love a pencil skirt? I love them so much, some might say I have a slight obsession with them. I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. They are practical. When paired with the right tops and accessories, they can work in the office (obvious option), for date night and for Saturday brunch. 

My favorite go-to stores for pencil skirts are J.Crew and Banana Republic. I find these brands compliment my hippier frame and accentuate my small waist. However, without a decent sale, these brands do not always fit the bill. 

Recently, I have had a lot of luck at vintage/thrift stores. Yes, you have to head into a thrift store shopping trip with an open mind and know that you will likely come out empty handed. And I know from experience that good vintage/thrift stores are not available in every town. But you would be surprised what you might stumble across at your local Goodwill!

Here are some of my best vintage/thrift store finds for pencil skirts - all purchased at a fraction of the cost of regular price retail value.

The rust colored skirt that is second from the left and the patterned skirt on the far right both have pockets, which makes them even better in my books. However, be leery of pockets in pencil skirts. Sometimes they end up over enhancing larger hips!

To find some good thrift stores near you, visit The Thrift Shopper. Here in KC, a great blog to check out with some thrift store finds is Kansas Couture - you'll see some cute ways to wear different pieces you can easily find in thrift stores such as Goodwill. 

Fit the Bill: Fashion Swap Followup!

By Cool J in Minneapolis

Guess what? I'm heading to Michigan tomorrow night to run a half mary with LL and my dad. He's in his 60's, and this will be his first run of this distance! I'm very excited to visit my parents and have a fun-filled weekend with the better half of the Right Fits. Expect plenty of race reports on the blog soon!

Until then, I want to share some post-fashion swap pictures of some of the attendees and their lovely wares. As I posted about here, this past weekend, I hosted a fashion swap. I had a great time hosting the party, and it seems like everyone came away with some new-to-them items. I thought it would be fun if the attendees sent me pictures of how they styled different items they picked up at the swap to be shared here for your enjoyment!

I am happy to share these right fits- wait no- FANTASTIC FITS with you!

Left picture: Green dress- swapped! Khaki skirt- swapped!

Right picture: Gray jacket- swapped!

Left picture: Black top- swapped!

Right picture: Black top- swapped! 

Left picture: Gray top- swapped!

Right picture: Swap, swap, swap!

Right picture- dress, swapped. Top, swapped!

Left picture: Mullet tops- swapped! 

(These lovely ladies wanted to show off their "business in front, party in the back" tops, from the swap)

Lastly, here are some of my swap goods.

Navy sheer top- swapped

Lavender silk top- swapped

Red pencil skirt- swapped

Hosting a fashion swap is a great way to change up the wardrobe in a way that fits the bill! 

Thanks ladies for allowing me to share your pictures on the blog!

*Have you ever been to a clothing swap? What did you think?

Fit the Bill: J.Crew Knockoffs...

By Cool J in Minneapolis

It's no surprise that LL and I are both fans of J.Crew. We love their clothes and we love their accessories! We both have multiple versions of the bubble necklace (like the yellow one below).

Yellow bubble necklace

The problem is that J.Crew accessories can be a little pricey. I had been admiring the flower bib necklace (check it out here). Its actually on sale right now for $50, which isn't that bad. But I wanted it in multiple colors, and I already have a lot of necklaces. Should I really be spending $50/pop on more necklaces? Probably not.

Lots of necklaces...

So, I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

Go to ebay, and type in "J.Crew Flower Bib Necklace," and guess what? You can find knockoffs for $10/pop. Yep, only $10. So I bought three!

I know J.Crew would not be pleased if they knew I was encouraging you to buy knockoffs, but can you even tell the difference?

Genuine JCrew Flower Bib Necklace

My Knockoff Version:

Don't get me wrong, I'm still giving J.Crew a lot of my business. In fact, I paired that knockoff necklace with a genuine J.Crew Jules Dress in Trompe L'oeil Lace (now sold out) for a dinner and a play last night.

On a side note, I brought my Stella and Dot Gold Metallic & Black Snakeskin Tech Case Wallet. I bought it a few months ago at a party hosted by Erin O'Leary of Denim and Ink.  It even fits your iPhone! I love it.

So that's my fashion secret for you. Ebay. Knockoff J.Crew necklaces. It works for several other styles that you find in your J.Crew catalogue!

But don't tell anyone else, I don't want everyone to know how I scored so many different version of this funky statement necklace. 

Fundamental Fits: Splurging vs. Spending Big on Fashion

By: LL
Most of us do not have unlimited budgets to spend on our wardrobes. And even if you do, why spend it where you do not need to? During a mini-shopping spree with two of my sisters in Chicago this past weekend, we discussed/debated when we should spend big on fashion or go for the cheaper version. I had a few solid ideas from my own experience, but I also consulted the experts (i.e., Marie Clare, Glamour, InStyle).

Go Cheap
1. Trendy items

Let's face it - most trendy items won't be around more than one season. In fact, many times a trendy item cannot be worn more than one time without others taking notice (especially in the Facebook era). The patterned pair of skinny jeans or the bold patterned top or the very loud statement necklace. These items have definitive expiration date. For accessories, try Francesca's Collection - great bargains on super trendy accessories.
A good example - try these for $24.95 from H&M:

Versus these $140 SOLD skinnies:

2. Layering t-shirts and tanks

Why spend a bunch on layers? They are hidden under something right? And I don't know about you, but my layers end up pretty dingy after a few wears and constantly tucking them in or pulling them down. Plus, you can snag a great deal on some nicer tees and tanks from Target or the Gap throughout the year.

3. Lounge clothes

It is very easy to get wrapped up in spending a lot on a cute and comfortable pair of black lounge pants or a soft pullover. But why spend the money on lounge clothes when they are for lounging? Since I would recommend avoiding going out in public in too lounging of clothes (please, no pajamas in public), I think that you shouldn't be spending more than $20 on an item for your lounging wardrobe. Remember when Juicy Couture velour track suits were in style? I said REMEMBER WHEN. Not so much now.

4. Whites

We all know what whites become off-whites in two wash and wears. Deodorant and simple skin dirt makes it nearly impossible to keep whites looking fresh and crisp. I would avoid spending much on these since they do not last. Seriously, the $100 Brooks Brothers white button down won't last you any longer than the $40 shirt from the Polo Outlet.

Spend Big
1. A structured blazer

In a recent post on InStyle.com, it discussed the necessity of a good structured blazer - in navy, black or camel. Whereas you don't need to invest as much in trendy colors of blazers (i.e., mint or orange), it is a good idea to splurge on a well-fitting, well-made blazer, like this one from Brooks Brothers ($498, single-breasted, gold button in navy):

2. Neutral handbag

Every woman needs a neutral tote that will last. I'm not saying that you need to go out and buy a Burken for $10,000, but I am saying that it is smart to invest in a classic design in a neutral leather. You will be able to wear it with some many outfits and it will last longer than the synthetic versions. (Save the synthetics for the trendy clutches).  Try one of these bags out for size:

Tory Burch (Nico - $469) 

Kate Spade (Leslie - $428)

3. An awesome pair of denim

If you find a pair that fits you great and makes you feel good in them, buy them ... maybe buy two pairs of them! Many times, the quality of denim, the cut and the durability are best with premium denim.

4. Little black dress

A little black dress is a staple in any girl's closet. There are so many occasions where the LBD is perfect. Use cheaper, trendy accessories to bring the LBD to each season. This dress is an excellent option:

Rachel Roy V-Neck - $398

5. Black pumps

Pumps can be killers and ruin your feet, but not if they are high quality. Quite honestly, shelling out a little more on a pair of leather pumps with a little extra cushion can make you love pumps again. I would recommend buying both black and a shade of brown, but if only one, then go with black. I recommend checking out Cole Haan for a pair with their Nike Air technology. They are so comfortable.


I hope that this helps guide some of your fall purchases over the next few weeks and inspires you to build your wardrobe around a few expensive staples in classic shapes.