Ask Belle Roundup: Vol. III, No. Thirty-Three
Oct 14, 2013
Dear Belle,
My commute to work is several miles so I carry a pair of heels in my purse and wear flats. Â How should I store my shoes during the day? Â Keep them in my purse? Â I ask because I only have one drawer and I don’t want to get everything else in there dirty.
Tips? Toni
If you can’t afford a bag with a built-in shoe pocket, like the Lo & Sons OG or OMG, buy a shoe bag. Â You can go for something fancy, or just pick up some nylon drawstring bags. Â Just make sure to shake the water and dirt off of them before you store them away.
Another option is to store them in the bottom drawer of your desk. Â I used to keep two or three pair in mine. Â Much better than having an unprofessional-looking mountain of shoes under your desk.
Hi Belle,
Love the blog and have been following it for a while now :). I found this amazing Rag & Bone blazer that is to die for. It fits like a dream, has just the right touch of edge and professionalism, all over amazing. Only problem is that I’m not sure I can see myself dropping $550 on it. I realize it’s probably a long shot, but I was wondering if you’d come across anything similar at a lower price point.ÂThanks!! Alexis
Hi Belle,
I’m a big fan of your blog and I’ve seen you work your magic for other requests in the past. I’ve rather unfortunately fallen in love with this trench from Burberry but I don’t have a chance of ever owning it. I specifically like the shape of the collar, length, and the clever hood (something that’s missing from so many trenches). Could you please help me find something in a sub-$150 price range?
Thanks so much! Sonja
A hooded trench for less than $150?  I found this Fly Front Trench from Ellen Tracy–the hood is stored in the collar when not in use.  This Asos double-breasted trench, and this single-breasted Michael Kors number.  Plus-size? Try this Heritage trench from London Fog.
Don’t need a hood?  The J.Crew Icon Trench is what I wear, but London Fog also makes a nice trench for under-$150.
Bonus Tip: If you’re buying a trench, you want the fabric to have some substance to it. Â Also, pay attention to the quality of the buttons and buckles. Cheap plastic looks bad no matter how good the styling and fabric are. But if you find a good trench with sub-par buttons, you can pay to have the swapped out without too much expense.
More Ask Belle questions and answers after the jump…
Dear Belle: Can you recommend a chambray shirt that can be worn with both casual pants–white jeans, cords, etc–and also with skirts and pants that are not quite so casual?  I would like to add a chambray shirt to my wardrobe but many of them look sloppy because of the cut or the degree to which they have been “faded.” (For these reasons, I did not have any luck at Madewell, which I know is the maker of the shirt you featured in some November 2012 posts.)>Your blog is fabulous! Thanks. Sally
Both Theory and Eileen Fisher make chambray blouses that have no fading or whiskering, but they’re pricey. Â In the mid-price range, I found this Keeper chambray shirt from J.Crew (25%-off with code SHOPNOW). Â And in the under-$50, Old Navy makes a decent chambray shirt that I wore for a few seasons, and this NY & Co. pullover looks pretty good.
Hi Belle –Â
One of my best friends has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her outdoor wedding in November in Texas. She wants each woman to choose her own gold dress. How do I find a dress that will look beautiful, but not showy? And any suggestions to keep warm during the reception?Â
Thank you so much! Emily
For the reception, I would invest in a cashmere wrap. Â You can choose ivory or another shade. (For a less expensive option, try this pashmina.) Â You could also pick a cashmere cardigan in a shade like wine or a jewel tone.
As for a dress, when searching for gold dresses on the Internet, you actually need to Google “champagne dresses.” Â Lesson learned. Â During that search, I found this BCBG Morgane dress and this very sparkly Modcloth dress. Â I also found this cowl-neck Ralph Lauren, jersey dress. Â And this $35 Dorothy Perkins dress with a cool wrap detail and cap sleeves.
Also, if you by “showy” you meant overly sexy, then I think the dresses above will work. Â However, if you meant too “look at me, look at me” for a bridal party, I wouldn’t be so worried about that. Â After all, your friend, the Bride, is putting you in gold and asking you to pick your own dress. Â She strikes me as a woman unconcerned about being “shown up” at her wedding.
Dear Belle,
I’m “college poor” but searching for a pair of knee-high riding boots. I’d like a black pair that cost under-$50. A lot to ask, but maybe you’ve seen something good.
Love the blog! Sierra
Ah, college, I remember it…well, I’m pretty sure I went. Â It’s all a blur. Â But I distinctly recall using change from the cup holder to buy makeup, so I feel your pain.
As for your boot predicament, I can only suggest boots that look good online. Â Whether they are well made with materials that doesn’t feel like a Tupperware bin, that’s up to you to figure out.
To start, I spotted these R2 Honduras boots with a mix of faux leather and stretch, and a cool look to them. Â Forever 21 also has these Easy Rider boots. Â And Fergalicious sells these just-a-bit-over-the-knee Tiara boots for a very respectable price.
Hmmm how timely. Lo & Sons is 25% off today – code “COLUMBUS2013”.
Happy Shopping!
Belle, just a head’s up, the link that says Dorothy Perkins takes you to the BCBG dress. I had a bit of a sticker shock there, after reading it was $35!
Fixing it now. Thanks.
For the boot shopper. I bought a pair of boots from Target several years ago and have been pleased with them. Look online. I see several pairs of tall boots with “online price” listed, that tells me they aren’t in stores.
I second the Target recommendation. I bought a pair of Frye look alikes from their Merona brand and have been very pleased with the way they wear.
Also for the boot shopper – these boots are listed at $100, but they regularly have sales. I snapped up a pair when they were 55% off for a couple days, and love them. I got them in brown, but black is also available.
Would help to include the link! Oopsie. 🙂
https://www.shoebuy.com/life-stride-whisper-2-wide-shaft/641245/1313101
If you’re looking for a long, more formal gold dress, I do actually recommend David’s Bridal. I usually have a problem with their cookie cutter look but I was just forced into a champagne sweetheart strapless gown for a friend’s wedding and ended up finding it easy to alter and timeless enough to keep in my closet. Something basic might help avoid the too showy problem
Just a little advice for the bridesmaid – former Texan here. I was in an outdoor wedding last November in Austin, and it wasn’t even remotely cold. I was in a sleeveless dress for the rehearsal and the wedding and was just fine. Have fun!
Although I hope that she’s in the southern half of the state – Dallas and the Panhandle can be quite chilly in November. As can Houston, but it’s not as likely. We always joke about the RenFest – you’re either going to boil or freeze.
Thanks, Belle! Really appreciate it!
Probably a little late to comment about trenches here, but Nordstrom is offering 25% off on some of their “classics”, including Burberry. While it doesn’t put any trenches in the $150 range… If you truly adore a timeless piece, it might be the time to try investment piece shopping. Only you know what you can afford, but as someone who is often rationalizing that I “can’t” afford something, when I add up my expenditures over a couple of months of impulse shopping on sale items, etc., I could have purchased a Burberry trench, etc. if I’d shown some restraint and a shopping game plan! It’s hard to stick with but “doing without” feels a lot better every time you slip on a piece you know will be with you for the long haul.
LL Bean makes a great trench, as well! I think it’s about $130, and very good quality.