The Week I Caught Up On My Online Shopping

Obviously the Accessories are what I'm Most Excited For...

 This rhinestone, crystal, and chain link confection better be half as cute as it looks online.  It should go well over shift dresses and boatneck tops.

I went with a budget version of this necklace, so hopefully it works. Collar necklaces are really versatile this season.

A Gift for my Mom..

Mango Cat-Eye Sunglasses

The Business-Related Purchases

By Joy Cho

Upgraded my Cargo Collective account so I can finally set up some Google Analytics for it!

Shoe Therapy: The Cure to a Long Day

I hope you all like my new look.  I haven't been posting as often with my new job, as you may know, but as with everything, it gets boring. So, I just gave my blog a much-needed 5 minute refresher to its look and decided to write about the only thing that never fails to make me happy: shoes. Down to business, the top five pairs of shoes I wish were in my closet this month.

To wear to a friend's wedding

Gianni Bini Jeanna Platform Heels

To Feel Sassy at Work

Tony Bianco Black Strappy Heels

 

The Shoes Everyone Would Notice 

Badgely Mishka

 

The Vintage Style

Rachel Roy

 

The Absolute Splurge

Christian Louboutin

Event Calendar Design

Oh the Joys of having to design a calendar of any kind.  It's something all graphic and web designers MUST do for all sorts of clients, but why do they just always want to come out so..blahh?  This week at work has been slow, so I took an hour to dig for the best and brightest ideas for inspiration for our magazine's upcoming events calendar.  I decided print event calendars are definitely the hardest to pull off, but let's just take a moment to drool over these print/life calendar masterpieces.

Click on any of the items in my collection to see source and more information on them. 

Stacy and Clinton's Cost-Per-Wear Theory

Of all my fashion shows, "What Not to Wear" is one of my most consistent favorites. Stacy London and Clinton Kelly's infamously quirky program brings fashion back to what it's intended for in the first place, REAL PEOPLE.  In honor of my new job, I'd like to praise pair's the "Cost-Per-Wear" theory and what it means to me.

Here are the problems: I've always loved to go shopping, to a fault, but my current wardrobe plain and simple wasn't built for an office. So my brain quickly does the math that I need a TON of new clothes and my bank account has a decent amount more money in it. All lights say go, TIME TO SHOP!!!  But thankfully, the Learning Channel's re-run's have made me think twice and plan ahead.

Checking Out the Place

Of course with any new job or interview, you want to put your best foot forward, so you do need two-three standard business professional looks in the back of your closet regardless of your work situation. However, every office culture is different, so I made sure to check mine out first before I hit the mall.  Usually the definers are the age of your coworkers and how often clients come in.  At my internship 2 years ago, I noticed about 4-6 people wear jeans every day to a 30-person office, so I wore my dark jeans most days. Mistake! Not that I saw any specific hindrances to my work, but Stacy and Clinton remind us always: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have! Besides, I admit it does feel better to be overdressed constantly than to be underdressed even once. Yes, this means more money, but that's where the budget-crunching theory comes in.

Quantity Vs. Quality

Late Free Printable Friday: Birthday Card

We didn't forget! 

Right click on the image below (and after the jump) to view at full size.

Kate Spade NY-Leading the Creative Marketing Pack

I consider myself a huge Kate Spade fan.  My first knock off purse I bought in New York at 11 was a teeny denim "Kate Spade" shoulder bag with a coordinating multicolor striped wallet. The past year I've lusted for their sunglasses, "sparkler" clutches, bowler-style bags, their sea foam patent leather wallet, rain drop print laptop case, and every single purse they make with chain-detail straps. I seriously love it, but I can only pretend to own such items on my Pinterest boards at my current income level :)  Still, what I adore almost as much as the products themselves is their graphic design and marketing strategies.  I firmly believe this company is on the top of the technology wave through their use of social media, graphic design, and advertising strategies.  A lot of brands should really take note. 

Interactive Advertising Strategies

I'm no advertising major, but it's easy to see that Kate Spade harnesses current technology and uses it to creatively promote their products instead of alternatively cowering away from it and relying on the weight of their name alone like some of their counterparts.

Pinterest Finds: Classic Magazine Covers

If there's ever one thing I collect obsessively, it would be magazines, old and new. It may take me a grand total of 20 minutes to get through one, but I think it's the little graphic designer that reveres all magazines as books of art.  They're also a fun thing to ask people to bring back for you when they travel abroad.  It's always fun to gush over every little clever design choice made.  So until I make my fortune and purchase and frame every vintage/classic magazine cover I see, my Pinterest hoard will have to hold me over for now.
Tweet




Get ready for a blast from the publishing past!