My Magic Rebecca Taylor Dress

I'm sure you recognize my favorite Rebecca Taylor Kiku print dress from last year (and the year before LOL) but what you don't know about it is that it's magic. When I purchased the dress I was 40 lbs. lighter (as seen on me here) and at the time I was surprised I could fit into a sample size 2. And somehow it still miraculously fits. OK it's a little snug across the chest but it's still wearable and pretty flattering. For summer I'm all about easy summer dresses - and now that it's finally warm around here, be prepared to see a parade of new dresses. I finally caved and picked up a few so I'd have a few options that fit my new size :)

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana, Century 21, $15
• Dress: Rebecca Taylor, sample sale, $50 (RV $550)
• Bag: Street Level fringe bag, Nordstrom Rack (clear the Rack find!) $7.50, RV $50
• Bracelet: Dannijo Lacey cuff, sample sale, $25 (RV approx. $350)
• Heels: Loeffler Randall x Suno, sample sale, $75

You can shop my style here:

Thank you Belle for this round of pics :)

In addition to my sample sale picks from last week, Jonathan Simkhai is the only one that catches my eye. J. Crew and MCM are on right now but J. Crew tends to have tons of randomness and MCM isn't cheap.

Jonathan Simkhai
June 21-22, 10-7
252 West 37th Street, 3rd Fl

J.Crew & Madewell
June 19-25
W-Sat 10-8, Sun 10-5
260 Fifth Avenue

MCM
June 21-25
W-Sat 11-8, Sun 11-6
150 Greene Street

Kids are officially done with school so I'm in full-time mommy mode. We're still working out summer plans (I'm a last minute kinda gal) but I have wanderlust in my veins so let's see where that takes us :)

XO
Michelle

Fashion Week Recap; Part 1

One of my fashion dreams has always been to participate at NYFW. Last season I wrote hundreds of emails to designers and their mothers to let me in. You can read my recaps here, here, here, here, here and here. I went to almost every show I was invited to and it was exhausting. This season I took a less aggressive approach and pretty much relied on whatever came my way. The good news is that little by little I'm getting on PR lists and being including. I also only attended three days of festivities as that's all my schedule allowed.

When I looked at the forecast that morning I saw 90+ degree heat and knew I was in trouble. I have an amazing wardrobe. But most of it is too small right now as I've packed on 20 lbs. So not only did my planned outfits not quite fit, it was just too darn hot to wear them all day. Plus I had just chopped all my hair off the day before and it was not as successfully as I would have liked. So I choked. I totally chickened out and wore the H&M dress I've been wearing all summer. Everyone else was in all black or insanely dressed in winter clothing LOL. 

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Jason Wu, Modo sample sale, $20
• Necklace: Nanette Lepore, sample sale, $5*
• Dress: H&M, $16 after 20% mall coupon
• Bag: Balenciaga, Nordstrom Rack
• Shoes: Loeffler Randall Luz tassel sandals, Rebecca Taylor sample sale, $50 (RV $395)* - Thank you to Mushkie for pointing them out to me at the sale!

*This are the first time I'm sharing these on the blog. As I move away from sample sale reports to more personal style and monthly sale recaps, I'll be sharing my behind the scene deals on my Insta stories - be sure to be following so you don't miss a sale! I'm considering posting this info on my Facebook page too so it doesn't disappear after 24 hours. What do you think?

I had back to back shows for most of the day, and of course none of them were in the same location. If you're Anna Wintour or a high level influencer you get shuttled around town by Lexus or Uber on the house. I purchased an unlimited 7-day subway card for about $30. Nothing is faster thru rush hour traffic. Nothing. And you can't beat the price. 

My schedule was too tightly packed so I had some decisions to make. I was going to skip my 12:30 show to do a 10:30 show then a 11:30 backstage (both at different venues of course) until I heard The Double Take Girls were going to be at the 12:30 and I wanted to finally meet them in person. So I skipped my backstage and went directly to my 10:30 and then on to my 12:30.

My 10:30 show was Jeans for Refugees and I ended up in second row. Problem is, it's impossible to get a good picture in second row. I did get a goodie bag but only took out a hair band and a hair product. This year I did not want to tote around giant gift bags all day so I selectively took goods out of them and put them in my Balenciaga. 

After the show I bumped into a photographer I had met the previous fashion week (she was the one who took my pic above). We took the subway to the next venue together the the Supima Design Competition show and I finally met the twins. I dragged them to better seats but we were too late to get a front row seat. It's a pity because I came home with a tee shirt and a Brooks Brothers leather card holder - front row got a full set of plush towels. 

Personally I was a fan of the gold leaf designs by Duston Jasso but it was Jeffrey Taylor who took the $10,000 prize. Olivia Culpo hosted the event. 

Then I headed back to 33rd street for the Michael Costello show. This time I was determined to sit front row...so I did. I sat right near the celebs - right next to some of the WAGS (I watch a lot of reality TV LOL) and across from Paris Hilton who pretty much ran out right after the show. 

It was a great show, chock full of red carpet looks. 

Everyone cheered and pulled out their phones when Tyson came out :)

After the show I had some time to walk around and explore. Tresemme once again had their free hair salon set up but I have no hair left to style so I went inside and scored a few samples. The lounge was sponsored by Jimmy Choo but this year I wasn't able to find any connections to let me in the lounge. 

Aquafina and Papyrus sponsored the snack area and handed out free waters, candy and cards. 

An airline sponsored free leather luggage tags that were stamped with your initials. I asked nicely and got two :) I'll have to take a pic of all my swag for my next roundup post. 

I didn't have another show until evening so I went across the street to the hotel lobby to sit, upload a few pics and charge my phone. I decided to head to the Style Watch party downtown solo. I got there super early but they let me in anyway. I got my hair braided (not much to braid) and met a luckily bunch of friendly bloggers. I was so beat that I didn't even bother to put my heels on - I wore my Crocs the whole time and then went home after (skipping 2 other parties and a show).

I figured that three shows, a party, freebies, and several new friends was a successful day and I was more than happy to call it a night. 

It was a LONG day! Stay tuned for more of my NYFW adventures! If you attended, what was your favorite show?

XO

Shoppinggal

Dresses and Shoes Rule at the Rebecca Taylor Sample Sale!

Last night I headed to the VIP preview for the Rebecca Taylor sample sale. Last round it was amazing so I went in with high hopes - I picked up five amazing dresses and so far you've only seen three of them. Sadly this time I was not as successful. However, if you are a RT fan it's definitely still worth a peek as there are some bargains to be found :)

I met up with blogger babe, Shira of A Sequin Love Affair, who also dreamed of scoring of Rebecca's super girly dresses. She shot me in my latest OOTD.

From head to toe:

• Earrings: Jenny Bird, Rocksbox, free (retail $45)
• Sunglasses: Prada, Nordstrom Rack, $0.01
• Jacket: Elizabeth and James Renley, sample sale, $100 (retail $1,365!)
• Dress: H&M, $3
• Bracelet: Nordstrom Rack, $5
• Bag: Balenciaga, Nordstrom Rack refurb
• Boots: Cole Haan, thrifted, $8

Below is the complete price list. Sample prices went up so I was already disappointed from the moment I walked thru the door. Last time sample dresses were $50 and now they are $75. Plus the selection isn't nearly as good...

Here is a complete look at the sample area. They switched it up so when you enter it's in the back on the left. Your best deals are the $25 knit tops or the pants, skirts or shorts for just $30.

A few of my top picks include this gorgeous embellished number - looked like a size 2/4. The sample sizing seemed to run smaller this time too. They were anywhere between a 0-8 but mostly 2s and 4s.

Love the beaded lace on this one - 

Love me some pink - they had a 3 of these left but they were all size teeny-tiny. 

Next up head to the shoes which were all $50! They had some Rebecca Taylor shoes and boots as well as some Loeffler Randall too. I grabbed a pair of these perforated booties. Very comfortable! Note about shoe sizing - I'm usually a Euro 40 but I needed the 39 in all their shoes. Typically I am a solid 9/9.5 in US sizing. Also - inspect your shoes carefully! Some issues are marked with tape but there is a tiny hole in my booties that I didn't notice until I got home. 

I REALLY wanted these fur booties but they only had a 7.5, 9.5 and 10. Boo. 

I actually also took the black ankle booties on the right that are backwards in the pic below.

I would have taken others had they more choices in my size. They did have the strappy heels that are pictured in several colors but they were very wobbly when you walked.

The accessories were not so exciting or well priced. These were all $45-60 so I just kept walking.

Stock clothing was arranged by size but I wasn't all that impressed by the selection. Pricing started at $59 for a knit top and topped out at $259 for outerwear.

This denim blazer caught my eye. But at $169 it was just too pricey. I've done much better on her stuff at the Rack or Burlington.

Lots of embellished sweatshirts for $119.

Not a lot of leather to be found. Unsure if this vest was considered to be a $169 jacket or $259 outerwear but either way it wasn't worth it IMO. Especially after the amazing $200 leathers that they had at Rebecca Minkoff (and mine was marked down to $150).

Outerwear for $259.

Wish I could have found this $99 lavender crop top in the sample area. So cute!

Also wish I could have found this $99 skirt in the sample area where it would have been $30!

So hopefully they will restock because the selection was pretty weak. I'll probably pop back in because I have to hit the City for the Charlotte Olympia sale on Wednesday and I'll probably check in at Sergio Rossi on their last day (Thursday). I did get the two pairs of booties that I mentioned above, as well as a couple sample dresses and a $30 sample leather skirt, but nothing as special as last time. Sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss in sample sale land.

Rebecca Taylor
260 5th Ave., between 28th/29th
11/16-11/21
M 9AM-8PM, Tues-Thurs 10AM-8PM, Fri-Sat. 10AM-7PM

If you go, would love to hear what you score! Also - if you have any specific personal shopping requests for Charlotte Olympia please message me :)

XOXO
Shoppinggal