Date Night Look Under $100

Every day I am becoming more and more open to receiving the great abundance of the universe.

Shopping secondhand can be so satisfying; in a world where a single item under $100 is considered a deal, I was delighted when Swap.com invited me to the challenge of putting together an entire look for $100.

If you aren't familiar with Swap.com, they are an online consignment shop, home to hundreds of thousands of items, some new, some vintage, all at huge discount.

Since I knew Sean's birthday, as well as Valentine's Day were fast approaching, I decided I would go for a date night look. I started by searching for lace dresses, and finally decided on this one by Free People, which was new with tags for $40. Since I didn't actually own a simple black coat, that was the next item I started searching for. By using the search modifiers, I was able to easily narrow down size and color options to find a great Lauren by Ralph Lauren cashmere blend coat for $35, which left me with shoes, the biggest challenge. I looked and looked, and it took me a couple days, but I decided to take a chance on a pair of vintage Andrea Pfister pumps for $12. And then, because I took too long to find the shoes, someone else bought the coat! There being no shortage of black coats, I settled on this H&M wrap coat for a mere $16, bringing the grand total of my look to $68.

It's always worth it to shop secondhand, give clothes a second life, get some unique items, and get unbeatable deals! If you are ready to give Swap.com a try, you can get 20% off your first order and free shipping!

         

The Rundown
Black Lace Dress Free People c/o Swap.com
Black Wrap Coat H&M c/o Swap.com
Leopard Pumps Andrea Pfister c/o Swap.com
Tilly Scalloped Clutch Matine
Earrings TJMaxx
Necklace Taken for Granite
Bracelet Vintage
Ring Vintage

Classy Yet Trendy's Trendy Wednesday
and
Shopping My Closet's Style Me Wednesday

Swap.com provided me with a credit to shop their site in exchange for this post. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap!

Summer date night

Little white dresses beg for summer nights dining on the patio, and even though I knew it was humid as ever, I still insisted on straightening my hair. I'm convinced you can see it getting increasingly frizzy throughout the photos, and by the end of the night the only thing left to do was surrender to the messy bun. Sometimes my expectations of my hair don't match reality, but at least my expectations of the dinner did. Tasty cocktails, savory entrees, white linen table cloths and the glow of the patio lights. With the end of August sneaking up on me, I need to make the most of it.

The Rundown
White Lace Dress Solitaire via TJMaxx similar
Heels "Reverse" Charles by Charles David similar
Scalloped Clutch "Tilly" Matine
Earrings Lauren Conrad for Kohl's similar
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana
Gold Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box similar
Knot Ring c/o Emitations similar
Nail Color "Zip Me Up" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Summer

and

Monday Mingle

Black lace on Chapel Street

Edit - The Haven Collective is now Vintanthromodern!

This week I'm collaborating with the New Haven based vintage shop The Haven Collective. I've borrowed some of my favorite pieces and photographed them throughout the city of New Haven. You can see yesterday's post here!

Regardless of the decade this dress is from, the Little Black Dress will always be timeless, and in style. This dress has a tremendous amount of detailing, the black lace fabric would best be described as Venetian, it's thick and has dimensionality. Sewn around the neckline and sleeves are hand cut pieces of the same lace.  While not overtly sexy, the dress's curve hugging shape and deep-v back certainly made me feel so.

I was also drawn to these long bronze tassel earrings from The Haven Collective, and from my own collection, found a new cuff bracelet that perfectly tied both the elements of the lace from the dress and the tassel earrings together.

For the perfect destination for my date night ensemble, I'm in downtown New Haven, where one side of Chapel Street is lined with shops and restaurants and the other is of course, Yale. While I'd wanted to take photos on the opposite side to get the downtown feel, the light was far superior here, and I can't resist a pile of bright yellow daffodils.

The Rundown
Black Lace Dress The Haven Collective
Heels "Reverse" Charles by Charles David via DSW
Sequined Clutch Vintage
Tassel Earrings The Haven Collective
Gold Ivy Bracelet c/o Kendra Scott
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo
Nail Color "Find me an Oasis" Essie

Take a look inside The Haven Collective


Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday

Strides towards spring

Little by little, spring is creeping in. An exposed wrist here, a cotton sweater there, and these over the knee boots are proving to be the perfect transitional footwear.

Evenings are still quite chilly, so my leopard fur was the topper to my Monday Date Night look. (I swapped out black pants and flats to transition from work.) I love white and grey for spring, and the mixture of subtle textures and patterns offered plenty of visual interest to the otherwise neutral color pallet.

The Rundown
White Sweater Ralph Lauren thrifted similar
Skirt c/o Vera Wang for Kohl's similar
Leopard Fur Coat JCP similar
Over the Knee Boots "Atilla" Ivanka Trump via DSW
White Mini Satchel Tignanello via TJMaxx similar
White Pashmina Taken for Granite similar
Hexagon Earrings c/o Metrix Jewelry
Hexagon Cuff Bracelet Line and Label similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Nail Color "My Very First Knockwurst" OPI

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I wore to work

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this bracelet)

Monday night is date night

Most people don't look forward to Mondays. The weekend is over, you have to go back to work, Friday might as well be a million years away, and there isn't even anything good on television.*

However, Monday night is my date night and no matter how I might lament the end of the weekend, I always look forward to Monday. Last Monday Sean and I celebrated Valentine's day and this is what I wore.

This little black dress was part of the Kirna Zabete for Target line that I scooped up off a clearance rack and I'm sad to say it has not gotten much wear. It's my fault more than the dress's - which has a great neckline, a unique textured fabric, and pockets.

Despite the freezing temps, I was resolved to wear a dress. Admittedly, the pumps were worn exclusively in the restaurant, I had to change into my snow boots to navigate the New Haven streets and the icy death trap driveway at home.

We had a lovely dinner at John Davenport's, followed by dessert at Union League Café, and drinks at Ordinary (all places I would recommend if you are in the area). I can't think of a better way to spend a Monday night.

*Living in the DVR bubble has made me completely forget that my favorite show, Castle, is on Monday nights. I just don't watch it until Tuesday.

Have you entered to win a $50 Gift Card to Target yet?

The Rundown
Little Black Dress Kirna Zabete for Target similar
Navy Coat Mark New York via South Moon Under

Red Suede Pumps Nine West thrifted similar

Navy Foldover Clutch Clare V.

Black Leather Gloves J.Crew
Pearl Earrings Gift similar
Necklace "Greer V" Gorjana
Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo
Love Ring Avon similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Nail Color "Bordeaux" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

and

Monday Mingle

Questions and Panthers

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have some exciting news I've been waiting to share; this year I have a date for Valentine's. I could not be happier.

As some of you know, this is my first Valentine's Date Night outfit post ever. Therefore, I felt it could warrant the purchase of a totally unnecessary, overpriced, ridiculously adorable dress: the Anthropologie panther print dress "on sale" for $100.

But I love it, and I really love that I get to take it out with someone special. I wont even mind being freezing, because I will have a warm hand to hold. (Too mushy? Oh well, it's Valentine's, I can get away with it.)

The Rundown
Panther Dress Anthropologie
Black Cardigan Gap similar
Black Coat Gap similar
Black Pumps Ferragamo via Roundabout similar
Fleece Lined Tights c/o Kushyfoot
Gold Sequin Clutch Halston similar

Chain Link Bracelet Thrifted similar

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry

Antique Rhinestone Ring The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Nail Color "Fair Game" Essie