1. Esteban Cortarzar Pleated Dress ($1,660) // 2. Reiss Pleat Detail Top ($160) // 3. Wide Bangle ($28) // 4. Hello, Sailor Lipstick ($25) // 5. Double Weave Print Pencil Skirt ($23) // 6. Janna Conner Cocktail Ring ($92) // 7. Betty Carre Oval Ring ($55) // 8. Milly Leather Accent Top ($415) // 9. C. Wonder Knot Bangle Set ($48) // 10. Tory Burch 797 Satchel ($525)
One. Sometimes, you just want to marvel at a piece, even if there is no way you could ever afford it. This dress mixes prim pleating with expert draping to create a gorgeous silhouette. And the back of the dress, which hangs like a cape, makes the dress truly unique.
Want something in pale pink pleats that isn’t so expensive? DvF has a dress with the same neckline in a more traditional, but still gorgeous, cut. If you need something under-$100, the closest thing I could find was this chiffon Mango dress.
Two. This short sleeve blouse has a simple shape with textured details. Wear it with skinny jeans or tucked into a sleek pencil skirt. This Caslon blouse and this printed gauze blouse give you a similar look for less.
Three. Enamel or resin bangles are a great way to add a pop of contrasting color to an outfit. J.Crew makes a nice bangle at a decent price, but I also like this $9 green bangle or these $5 coral and tangerine bangles. Just don’t wear them to an important meeting since they can be a little loud.
Four. No, I haven’t gone punk rock. This lipstick may look blue, but when you apply it to your lips it turns them a beautiful sheer berry color. Don’t believe me? Check out this video.
The color is so popular that it’s sold out everywhere, but you can pre-order it through Barney’s.
Five. You can pair this pretty, printed pencil-skirt with nearly any piece in your wardrobe. Mix prints by adding a striped t-shirt or pair it with a bold yellow top. Prefer to keep it staid? How about a pale blue blouse? The skirt is a great buy at $23.
Six and Seven. Every year, I buy myself a ring for my birthday. Something big and fun that I can wear with every thing. I love this inexpensive Betty Carre oval ring (7) because you could wear it with anything, and the Janna Conner ring (6) has some beautiful colors in the stone. I also like this white agate ring, this pearl ring and this delicate blossom ring.
Eight. I love this top. It hurts me that the only store where it’s available is overseas and has the price totally jacked up. This chiffon top from Bailey 44 also has an asymmetrical look to it, and this draped navy top is lovely and under-$50.
Nine. A stack of thin bangles will go with anything. This set from C. Wonder has a fun sailor knot detail, but if you want something sleek, try these $38 RJ Graziano bangles. If you’d like a pop of color on your wrist, try these Amrita Singh-reminiscent bangles for $9, or these Ippolita-inspired stone bangles for $55.
Ten. I’ve featured this bag before in the grey, but I think I love it even more in the tan. Looking for a knock-off version? This Urban Expressions bag has similar lines and details for under-$100.
I have the Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor and I have mixed feelings on it. It’s so super sheer it takes close to five applications to get any color to show up. If you only use one-two applications it looks like any generic colorless balm you can get at a drugstore. However, when I use MAC’s lip primer plus the five coats, my lips have a beautiful berry-ish tint that looks amazing.
I have a set of Lipstick Queen shades and I like them. They are not long-lasting. What I usually do is put on my all-day lipstick, which leaves my lips a definite color but slightly dry, and then put the Lipstick Queen on top. It’s moist and a little shiny. On weekends I’ll skip the heavy color and just use the LQ.