RetailMeNot Best of Fall Fashion

As you well know, I am all about fashion on a limited budget, and making the most out of all the money saving resources I have. Before making any purchases online, I always visit RetailMeNot.com, the very best site for coupon codes. I've saved so much money over the years by making sure I never missed out on free shipping or an extra discount with the help of RetailMeNot.

So of course I was very excited when RetailMeNot invited me to take part in their Fall Fashion Challenge! Several other bloggers and I were given $150 to shop a fall trend and put together three looks, incorporating it into work, evening and casual wear. You can see how everyone styled their trends at RetailMeNot's blog The Real Deal, How to Wear: Best of Fall Fashion.

The Fall trend I'm styling is a classic that is always huge - denim. 

A well fitting, versatile pair of jeans is worth spending a little bit of money on, and since purchasing denim can be a challenge when you can try on a whole stores worth, I was feeling even more intimidated by the idea of buying online. I decided to check out Lucky Brand, since it was Labor Day weekend when I did the bulk of my shopping and RetailMeNot had them listed as having an extra 40% off sale items.

Lucky Brand lets you choose jeans by body type, and once I determined I was slightly curvy, I selected this pair of dark skinnies and crossed my fingers. Thankfully, aside from obvious length issues, they fit perfectly! I ended up getting the jeans for half off the list price, and I'm hoping I'll be able to wear them until the cost per wear gets down to pennies. 

For my causal look, I picked up this cute tee from Target's FEED collaboration. For some reason this line had not yet been put on clearance online, even though it had in the store, so it was still full price at $18. Fortunately I was able to take advantage of a 20% Labor Day off promotion and get it for $14.40. 

My other purchase for this look was the leopard fold over clutch from the Gap. This clutch sold out ridiculously fast. I actually missed out getting it during the Labor Day promotion, and then obsessively checked their site all day the following Tuesday until the blessed thing came back in stock. There was a new promotion going on for 30%, so I was able to get it for $35, which worked out to only be a few dollars more than it would have been over the weekend.

Fall Denim - Casual-3.jpgFall Denim - Casual.jpgFall Denim - Casual-4.jpg

Chambray, or as it should be know, the jeans of tops, is my office wear star. I'd had my eye on this Target chambray blazer for a while, and since I was able to get it for $17, nearly half off the list price, I decided it would be a good choice. I love the idea of a casual fabric in a structured pice. It's a really great way to incorporate the denim trend into work wear, especially if you work somewhere that has a more strict dress code.

Fall Denim - Office-2.jpgFall Denim - Office-1.jpgFall Denim - Office-4.jpg

Finally, in my going out look, I've taken the same jeans and added sequins, glitter, and leather. The nights start to get freezing in the Fall, and I'm more likely to trade in my dresses for denim. The jeans, un-cuffed and with heels take on a whole new look, and of course the leather moto jacket pulls it all together.

Fall Denim - Evening-1.jpgFall Denim - Evening-3.jpgFall Denim - Evening-2.jpg


Lucky Brand Lola Skinny Jeans Originally $120 on sale for $100 plus an extra 40% off clearance = $60
Target Chambray Blazer Originally $35 on sale for $21 plus an extra 20% off = $16.80
Target FEED Tee Originally $18 with an extra 20% off = $14.40
Gap Leopard Foldover Clutch Originally $49.95 with 30% off using code GAPSAVE = $34.97
(sold out, but this one at The Limited looks just as nice!)

Total before tax and shipping = $126.17
Final total with tax and shipping = $148.62


This post is sponsored by RetailMeNot who provided me with $150 to shop for the items featured here. My views, opinions and sartorial choices are my own. 

The striped maxi

This look was definitely inspired by something I pinned way back at the beginning of the summer, I'm sure. Thankfully I did manage to eventually wear it, and get one more wear from this maxi before things get to cold.

maxi stripes-3.jpgmaxi stripes-2.jpgmaxi stripes.jpgmaxi stripes-5.jpgmaxi stripes-1.jpgmaxi stripes-4.jpg
The Rundown
Striped Maxi Dress H&M similar
Denim Jacket Gap similar
Sandals Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Bag Coach Thrifted similar
Panama Hat Gap similar
Leather Belt Gap similar
Earrings Macy's
Chain Bracelet c/o Ily Couture
Watch c/o Caravelle by Bulova via Lucky Fabb
Thin Gold Rings Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Sally Hansen The Real Teal

Autumn paisley

I'm convinced that bold, pretty prints actually have some sort of gravitational pull, continually brining me to them.

The moment I saw this dress in an email from London Times, I was smitten. When they kindly offered to send me a dress from their fall line, my decision was nearly already made (because they have at least half a dozen other gorgeous printed dresses this season).

It did win out in the end though, and as I have come to expect from London Times, the fit is perfect, it's terribly comfortable to wear, and the print is dazzling.

London Times for Fall-3.jpgLondon Times for Fall-4.jpgLondon Times for Fall-2.jpgLondon Times for Fall-6.jpgLondon Times for Fall-5.jpgLondon Times for Fall-1.jpg
The Rundown
Paisley Print Dress c/o London Times
Contrast Cardigan Old Navy similar
Marielle Satchel c/o Nicole Lee
Shoes Adrienne Vittadini via TJMaxx similar
Black Bracelet Thrifted similar
Gold Cuff Avon similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Halston via Coco's similar
Nail Color Essie Big Spender

London Times provided me with this dress for the purpose of this post. My views and opinions are my own.

Green with

It may sound silly to say, but right now I'm feeling envious of the people on the other side of the world where spring is just beginning, rather than fall. It's not just that their days are getting longer and warmer, as opposed to shorter and colder, it's that hopeful feeling that comes with spring, that idea of infinite potential.

I just want to feel that right now. I want to feel like I can do anything.

emerald blouse-4.jpgemerald blouse-5.jpgemerald blouse-2.jpgemerald blouse-3.jpgemerald blouse.jpgemerald blouse-1.jpgemerald blouse-6.jpg
The Rundown
Emerald Blouse Banana Republic thrifted similar
Pencil Skirt Calvin Klein c/o TJMaxx similar
Sandals Onex
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted
Panama Hat Gap similar
Gold Hoops Amazon
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Signature Spade Ring Kate Spade
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Sally Hansen The Real Teal
Dog Chloe similar

Bright floral

I wore this to work with a cardigan, and then swapped in the denim jacket for dinner and drinks straight from the office.

I really love my new delicate gold Jewelry I received from Gorjana & Griffin at the RewardStyle party. Something about the little gold 'L' makes me smile every time I put it on. The hammered metal bracelet also matches my ring quite well.

floral and denim-5.jpgfloral and denim.jpgfloral and denim-4.jpgfloral and denim-3.jpgfloral and denim-2.jpgfloral and denim-1.jpg
The Rundown
Dress Collective Concepts via Piperlime
Denim Jacket Gap similar
Shoes Seychelles similar
Grayson Bar Bag Linea Pelle
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana & Griffin
Fatima Bracelet c/o Gorjana & Griffin
Hammered Metal Ring Thrifted similar
Nail Color Sally Hansen The Real Teal

Summer into fall

The calendar may officially state that it is fall now, but it's that sort of in between kind of weather, where out in the bright sun, it feels hot enough to take this cute splatter print dress to the beach, but as soon as the sun disappears, the chill in the air becomes all too evident.

Never one to let a little cold stop me, I decided it would be just the right time to take out my quilted leather vest and layer it, transforming this decidedly summer tunic dress by Vila that Surfdome sent over, into something perfectly appropriate for this almost fall weather.

Hopefully I can pair this tunic with tights and even more layers, because I love the print, the soft fabric and the color pallet. It's also reasonably priced at $40, and Surdome offers free shipping.

splatter print dress-1.jpgsplatter print dress-2.jpgsplatter print dress-4.jpgsplatter print dress-5.jpgsplatter print dress-6.jpgsplatter print dress-3.jpgsplatter print dress.jpg
The Rundown
Splatter Print Dress Vila c/o Surfdome
Quilted Leather Vest thrifted similar
Shoes Me Too via TJMaxx similar
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted
Pave Hexagon Earrings Thrifted similar
Chain Bracelet c/o Ily Couture
Katniss Cuff Furbish Studio
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Emma
Nail Color Essie Big Spender

Surfdome provided me with this dress for the purpose of this post. My views and opinions are my own.

The haze

During the late summer, the falling sun hits this particular spot in the evenings to give that brilliant hazy light. I found that magic moment last year, and I have been trying to recapture it. But not everything can be duplicated.

chambray and floral.jpgchambray and floral-2.jpgchambray and floral-4.jpgchambray and floral-1.jpgchambray and floral-5.jpg
The Rundown
Chambray Shirt Tommy Hilfiger via TJMaxx similar
Floral Shorts Gap similar
Yellow Flats MIA similar
Bag Coach Thrifted similar
Petal Necklace J.Crew Factory
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Blue Ring c/o TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Sally Hansen The Real Teal

The simplest outfit actualized

When I purchased this yellow pencil skirt back in November of last year, I had done so with the intent of pairing it with this striped top.

I have no idea what took me so long to actually get around to wearing it, but at least I got it in before summers end. The next time this skirt appears on the blog will probably be well into Fall, and I'm thinking camel sweater, brown booties, a scarf perhaps...

yellow pencil skirt.jpgyellow pencil skirt-1.jpgyellow pencil skirt-2.jpgyellow pencil skirt-6.jpgyellow pencil skirt-5.jpgyellow pencil skirt-3.jpgyellow pencil skirt-4.jpg
The Rundown
Striped Top Gap similar
Yellow Pencil Skirt JCP similar
Sandals Franco Sarto via TJMaxx similar
Bag Thrifted similar
Bling Earrings JoJo Loves You
Anchor Necklace Gift similar
Watch c/o Caravelle by Bulova via Lucky Fabb
Anchor Wrap Bracelet Etsy via Knotical Knovelties
Blue Ring c/o TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Sally Hansen The Real Teal
Dog Chloe similar