As part of my AmEx-sponsored $250 shopping giveaway (Have you entered yet? The random drawing is this Tuesday!), AmEx offered me the chance to remedy my past-online-shopping wrongs and purchase five pieces that were actually good buys.

Seeing as how I'd just come off of an unfortunate Etsy purchase (a too large, and very unattractive vintage dress), I readily agreed. Here's what I bought — and what I found makes for a good online purchase.

1. Zara black satchel bag. I'd been craving one since gushing over satchels weeks and weeks ago. Rather than shell out for an uber-expensive, ultra-trendy option, I opted for this mid-range, classic version. It looks luxe, is well-made, and the price was much more reasonable than some of my $400+ lusted pieces. Sites like Shopstyle let me do some good comparison shopping before I landed on the best one.

2. Wolford Matte 80 Opaque tights. These really are amazing — and a classic winter staple. (Last year, I wore them almost every day.) It's worth paying more for high quality items that will last — and saved me a trek to a store.

3. Zara tuxedo blazer. I tried this on in the store and instantly loved it's classic retro-ness — but the store version was already smudged and dirty. (Which doesn't bode well for my klutzy ways. But.) By ordering online, I was able to get a fresh option that hadn't bore hundreds of dirty hands fingering it.

4. RVCA circle scarf. When shopping — whether online or off — you've got to know your own wardrobe and what you need. This cowl scarf instantly jazzes up basic sweaters, adding new life to old standards. Done and done.

5. Fossil heeled menswear booties. The pitfalls of shopping for shoes online require a generous return policy, just in case. It's also easy to get sucked in to cute trends (leopard booties! 5-inch platforms!). I'd been lusting after a menswear-ish heel and found this affordable option from an unexpected source (thanks again, Shopstyle!). I made sure to check the heel height and customer reviews so I knew exactly what I was getting. And voila! They're perfect.

There's still a few more days to share your worst online shopping moment and get entered to win the $250 AmEx giveaway!

And tell me: What (good, smart) purchase will you make if you win the giveaway?

Artists We Love: Patrick Hruby

I've become a little obsessed with Patrick Hruby's graphic, colorful designs. Some lucky children I know just might get his books or memory game come Christmas.

PS) Have you entered our big giveaway yet? No? Get on that!

Advice! And a huge giveaway! And pretty things!

As someone who's perennially on the road (and constantly connected to a computer/iPad/smartphone), I shop online a lot. A LOT, a lot. Usually, it's hassle-free and easy to do. Usually. Then there was the time I bought the pricey Dries Van Noten electric blue heels in a fit of shopping excitement on final sale, only to realize upon arrival that they were a) too small and b) too tall and c) absolutely unreturnable. Those shoes are sitting in the closet. I'm thinking of turning them into an art display.

So when AmEx Membership Rewards (client and sponsor) asked me to blog about my worst online shopping mistakes — and also prove how savvy I could be, now that I've suffered these unfortunate mishaps — I jumped at the chance.

Oh, but that's not all. Those Dries shoes are among my biggest shopping pitfalls. But what I really what to know is: What's your biggest online shopping mistake? Leave it in the comments, and I'll be picking one lucky commenter to win $250 in gift cards (to Saks, Zappos.com or Neiman Marcus) or some cool fashion finds.

To enter the contest, all you need to do is leave a comment here with your worst online fashion shopping disaster. We'll randomly select a winner to get the $250 prize. It's open to everyone. So spill: What (too small, too tight) skeleton tees do you have in your closet?

*The above Alexander McQueen shoes have nothing to do with this, other than they strike me as something you might buy and regret later due to impracticality. And the fact that you could have gotten, like, a car instead.

Don't Tell Me Not to Live, Just Sit and Putter...

If you've never seen Barbra belt out "Don't Rain on My Parade" in "Funny Girl," well, you're in for a colorful vintagey treat. With a fur muff and hat as the cherry on top!

And if you've never seen the Glee version, well, that's a musical treat too, although admittedly with less retro goodness:

Lust List: Bags and Jewels and Peter Pan Collars, oh my!

I've missed you, dear readers! Please know that it has been a crazy month, complete with travel — to Houston, Austin, L.A., Nebraska and NYC, for starters — and tons o' work and so much shopping (especially with stocking up for our next Butler & Claypool vintage sale). Plus, I met Alexa Chung at Madewell D.C., and that made me giddy enough to completely forget about blogging for awhile. Whoops.

But I'm back! And I have some fun things coming this week, starting with: my recent obsessions. Much of my shopping lately has been of the vintage variety, but that doesn't mean I'm not lusting after some very cool pieces. That I can't afford. (Except the collar.) Because I spent my money on vintage instead. Still, if I will the lottery (heck, if I get a winning scratch-off ticket), here's what I'm getting:

(Clockwise from top left)
1. Kristin leather round satchel, Coach, $698.

2. Emerson Made white tux, $238.

3. Asos leather peter pan collar, $26.19.

4. Kate Spade aquamarine studs, $195.

Dear lottery fairy godmother, please and thank you. xoxo

I know we've all seen this, but just in case.

Amazing!

Alexa Chung for Madewell, in video form. I die.

More fodder for why Alexa's on my Top 5 style icons list. Enjoy!

Impending Hurricanes: A Great Reason to Go Shopping*

*As if I really needed one



So, Irene's a-coming. Which means: cute rainwear! Here's my shopping list:

1. Lipstick red patent rain hat. When hoods alone won't cut it.

2. Patagonia Torrentshell jacket. I love me a classic trench, but torrential downpours call for a a serious waterproof jacket. Picked mine up on sale at CitySports here in D.C.

3. Colorwheel umbrella. Finally! Some justification to buy this umbrella, which I've loved for years. The perfect antidote to a gloomy day.

4. Maine hunting boots, LLBean. Yes, wellies are great. But these rugged, lace-up LLBean boots give instant storm-survivor cred, plus will be perfect should Snowmaggedon II descend later this winter.

Oh, and a flashlight, PB&J and a stockpile of movies. We're ready!

Satchel Obsessions, and Other Stories…

Ever since spotting the image above on A Cup of Jo, I've been dreaming of the bag on the far right: the perfect little satchel.

I've all but decided that it's going to be my go-to bag for fall (sorry, oversized totes). The question is, which satchel? These are my favorite candidates, thus far:



Clockwise from top left:
1. Rebecca Minkoff Covet bag in gray ostrich, $425. (Lately, I'm ostrich finish-obsessed as well.)

2. Alexander Wang strappy Kirsten suede satchel, $825. A fashion blogger can dream.

3. Coach Chelsea flagship small bag, $278. Oh, that curry color…

4. J.Crew Darlington satchel, $278. Possibly even big enough to hold my essentials. While I'm at it, I'll take the Rigby hobo too.

Votes? Thoughts? Fairy godmother-like offers?

Things I Can't Live Without: Beauty Essentials

I don't write much about beauty -- truthfully, I can change my shoes three times per day, but I've changed my beauty routine about three times total. (When it works, it works!) That said, I swear by these six products. But tell me: What beauty buy do you swear by? (Because you never know. I might be ready for a change.)

Clockwise from top left:
1. Bare Escentuals BareMinerals powder foundation: I can't deal with heavy, sticky foundation, but I'm old enough to need decent coverage for splotches and blemishes. This powder foundation is as good as they say: Plus, top it off with a layer of their MineralVeil top powder for that dewy, flawless finish.

2. Nars Orgasm Blush. Another standby, but there's a reason for that: Nothing else gives me that freshly flushed look.

3. Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Black Plum Ink. Eyeliner is one of my more recent beauty discoveries -- I never realized before how a careful top smudge could really make eyes pop. I love the black plum ink color — somewhere between brown and black, and very pretty. Plus: No raccoon eyes!

4. Benefit Erase Paste. Boy, have I tried a lot -- a lot, a lot -- of concealers. Nothing works quite so well as this one for undereye circles.

5. Kai Fragrance Oil. I'm not a heavy perfume wearer, so a dab of this clean, pretty fragrance oil is just enough.

6. Soap & Glory eye cream. Just a touch of this creamy, slightly shimmery cream helps tired undereye skin suddenly glow. I'm tempted to smear it all over.

Now it's your turn...

Portland, Maine: Shopping Update

My week in Maine was fantastic. Rocky beaches, loads o' lobster, lots of friends, and a couple of rainy days to explore Portland's vintage spots and other great shops. Here's my list of my favorite Portland shopping sites, for those of you who are going to be in the neighborhood.

Encore, 521 Congress St., 207-775-4275. The scoop: Plan to spend some serious time hunting through the racks of this amazing vintage emporium -- it has everything from retro frame bags, gorgeous gowns, fantastic furs and more. It's not cheap (but definitely ask if the price can be reduced before you buy -- if an item's been there for some time, they'll drop the price a good amount), but the selection is outstanding. What I bought: Phenomenal made-from-an-Oscar de la Renta pattern ivory silk ruffled top and skirt ($40); vintage fur caplet ($100); silk knot belt in fuchsia ($14).

Pinecone + Chickadee, 6 Free St. The scoop: This quirky new emporium carries a mix of new handcrafted (Ferdinand's squirrel drummer tees; great kids items; cool jewelry) and vintage items, especially housewares. What I bought: Lipstick-red plastic serving dish/tray ($20), though I easily could've scooped up much more.

Find, 16 Free St., 207-699-4285. The scoop: This great little consignment shop has a mix of retro and gently worn new items. It's definitely worth a scour — and the sales staff is incredibly nice and helpful. What I found: Bright red vintage American Tourister round suitcase ($22, currently going for $100+ on eBay, likely due to the fact that it's also in the September Lucky mag).

Material Objects, 500 Congress St., 207-774-1241. The scoop: A large mix of gently worn new items and a sizable vintage selection make this one of the more popular shops downtown. What I found: Cropped lambswool vintage jacket ($45 — they go for so much more in bigger cities); newish alpaca vest ($15).

Blanche & Mimi, 184 Middle St., 207-774-3900. The scoop: Orla Kiely bags, stripy ribbon, vintage toys and more all come together in a perfect, eclectic mix. What I bought: Well, nothing, but I was pretty shopped out by the time I got there. There were many, many things I easily could've snagged.

Folly 101, 101 Exchange St., 207-773-5227. The scoop: Love, love, love everything about this carefully curated home store: The whitewashed furniture, the mix of colorful housewares, even the little polka-dot matchboxes they sell. What I bought: Oversized striped Baggu tote ($14), to hold all my other loot.

Happy Portland-y shopping!

{Photo from Flickr}

Fall Into the Gap … Again

Part of my quietness these past few months? I've been working hard on the fall campaign for Gap, one of my clients. Maybe I'm a weensy bit biased, but I absolutely adore this print campaign on the (see the whole set on Gap Facebook page) and the series of behind-the-scenes videos of the 1969 L.A. denim studio featuring on Youtube (the overview one is below).

Of course, working with a fashion brand has serious repercussions for my wallet. After seeing how they were crafted, I couldn't resist either the super-soft back-zip legging jeans or the wide-leg pintuck trouser jeans. Or the fleece moto jacket. Or the boucle tuxedo jacket. All in the name of "research," of course. Sigh. See what I mean?

WANT.* (*Karl Lagerfeld edition)

I admit to being kind of meh over cheap-chic designer collaborations these days -- the waiting in line to be the first to get it, the so-so quality with the higher price tags, the fact that *everyone* has it/wants it/recognizes it. Give me a totally unique vintage dress instead any day.

Except! I had paid almost no attention to the upcoming Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's collaboration until I spotted the above ad in the September Vogue. Um, LOVE. He's done some classic, pretty dresses in black and white (below) and I'm tempted to camp out to get my hands on them when they go on sale August 31. (See the whole collection here.)

If anyone needs me, I'll be investing in a sleeping bag. (Hmmm… Karl Lagerfeld for North Face?)

Things We Want: Maine Edition!

We are currently on a little island off the coast of Portland, Maine, where we spent a lovely, sunny weekend with many of our favorite people in the world, and are now hunkered down for a few rainy days. Which means: Blogging! And, hopefully tomorrow, a shopping trip into designy, delicious Portland.

Of course, our first stop for shopping tips is the Design*Sponge Portland, Maine Guide, which we've used to narrow down our must-stops. Do you have any Portland suggestions? (Especially of the vintage/crafty/fashiony variety?) Please leave them in the comments. Very much appreciated!

In the meantime, we would now immediately like to own (clockwise from top left):

1. Angela Adams Seagull tray

2. Crayon rings from Eli Phant (Love!)

3. A realllllly expensive but totally awesome Barbour field jacket

4. A classic Portland Sea Bags Surf tote.

Please and thank you.

We Interrupt this Lull for Some Beautiful Things

I continue to be absolutely in love with BHLDN.com (that's "Beholden", fyi) — the amazing online wedding emporium from the creative minds behind Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. I'm not anywhere close to getting married, and yet I find it so beautiful (and plenty of stuff for the unwed or already-wed… though, unfortunately, the prices are more for the about-to-be-and-spare-no-expense wed).

My latest obsession is the Continuum Jacket. I mean, I'd totally wear it TO a wedding. Some other goodies below. Their amazingly curated Explore section is all kinds of inspiration goodness.

Black and Tan

I know it's early July, but the fashion person in me has one eye on fall. (It doesn't help that I'm in chilly London, where it's 60 degrees, raining and full of people still wearing tall boots, tights, sweaters and jackets.) As part of early autumn style prep, I've been watching for ruby red pieces -- move over, pink; red's the color for fall -- but also nice neutrals.

Two pieces that caught my eye (er, wallet): Topshop's faux leather and khaki trench coat (scored here in London at the enormous Topshop mothership) and Nixon's fab tortoiseshell watch.

Also on my transitioning-to-fall list? Emerald green pieces, Peter Pan collars (everywhere in London) and serious statement jewelry with a nature-y twist.

"Swapping is the New Shopping": The Swapaholics are Coming to DC!

Amy of the very adorable PunkyStyle — aka, my personal hero, because she runs an amazing vintage store out of an airstream trailer (that's it above; isn't it awesome?) — is also part of The Swapaholics, a neat traveling swap meet where you bring a bag of nice but unwanted clothes and get to shop for new stuff from other swappers.

Which, in itself, is pretty terrific. But that's not the best part! They're making their first swap stop in D.C. at the Clarendon Ballroom in DC on July 14 (we are so excited, we will invariably be first in line). Tickets are available here, and you can take 25% off the $20 ticket price with the code SPINACH.

(If you're not in DC, check out other upcoming swap events here.) Swap on!

When I had a slight freak-out in Loehmann's, and other stories...

I spent most of Memorial Day running around Manhattan with one of my favorite fashiony cohorts, doing things like the McQueen exhibition at the Met (goose-bumpingly great), the YSL-Pierre Berge documentary L'amour Fou (eh) and a long, lingering visit to Barneys (fantabulous, as always). It was pretty much perfect. But then it was even MORE perfect, because -- while killing time scouring for Helmut Lang at Loehmann's -- another shopper caught my eye. Was that? Could it be? Really? Yes, it my personal fashion icon Iris Apfel in her signature round glasses, poking around the racks of discounted Dolce like the rest of us.

I introduced myself, shyly, as a fan. (Which seemed more appropriate than gawping from behind a rack of clothing.) Her response: "Thank you," and then: "I'm sorry I look like crap." (She didn't. She was colorful and adorable. I, on the other hand, was wearing a sweaty tee and shorts. Gah.) We chatted for a few minutes, and then I practically skipped out of there.

Weekend = made.



Also: I am SO breaking out the 80s charm necklace this week in celebration. If it wasn't so hot, I'd break out the oversized muff as well. Love.

Spring Finds, with a Side of Guilt

Dear loyal, patient, lovely readers (eg, at this point, Mom):

As always, my apologies for the vast space between blog posts. Who'd have thought that having a busy blog and a busy full-time job would be so tough at times? My love for fashion hasn't waned; just my amount of free time. But some exciting things are in the works, and I've been gearing up the spring wardrobe in anticipation.

Above, my recent favorite finds. What have you found lately that you LOVE? I'd love to hear.

xoxo,
Ms Spinach

Photo, from top left, clockwise:
-Magnolia Frame Headband, BHLDN.com;
-Jeremy Scott fuchsia winged ballerina slippers, Adidas.com;
-Zara Terez oversized Mediano lizard-embossed oversized clutch, Bluefly;
Timex classic men's watch, Amazon.com;
-scalloped bloomers (for under those slightly-too-short floaty dresses), H&M's fab Conscious Collection.

Vintage! Preppy! Croquet! Whee.

You know how I love my Vogue Korea shoots. This one's been making its way around the internet, but it's so pretty, it's worth sharing again.


Also loving the blossom-pink lips and cheeks.