East Coast Good-buys: NYC

Home, sweet home after an adventure-filled week with Janice and Jessica (of See Jessica Go) in NYC, followed by a short stopover in Washington, D.C. I can't believe my vaykay is already over! Having only been to both cities once before, it still doesn't fail to amaze me that there are just countless things to do and places to see. Thankfully, the great LA-style weather made roaming around even better (temps in the 80s in April? *GASP*). Although most of my trip was planned around indulging in the many yummilicious food offerings, the main excitement came from shopping, of course! Without actually focusing on making any big purchases, I came up with some great finds, nonetheless:

1) Project 234 (Mulberry & Prince in Nolita): A small, but humble shop, I was surprised to find some great deals here! After doing some more research on the store, it actually plays host to a bevy of local designers and focuses on soft blouses and dresses. We came in during a massive Yumi Kim explosion. I've always wanted to try the designer's pieces after seeing them prominently featured by Tiffany, but couldn't really convince myself to spend the hefty prices. It was more than a pleasant surprise to find that Project 234 was offering, on average, 60% off! Even better was that there were actually sale items in all sizes (yes, beloved XS and S were plentiful!).

Pictured above is the Shayla top, but I picked up a similar top in this print for only $48 (original price tag of $142). This will be the perfect flowy top to pair with shorts or skinnies for the summertime! Jessica also got the Elena dress for $78 (original price $193), which has a simple, but sleek silhouette (add a belt for a quick form-fitting fix). We were definitely excited about our good-buys!

2) Topshop (Broadway & Broome in SoHo): Of course, a trip to NYC would not be complete without stopping in at Topshop! I've definitely been wanting to check it out since its opening last year. Stopping by on a busy Saturday was a little overwhelming, especially during a photography event, so we didn't end up buying anything. However, two great features of the store was the Style Advisor element and amazing shoe collection (see photo to the left of Janice trying on one of the store's crazy offerings)! I definitely need to come back on a quiet day, with some time to really browse through the three-story megastore.

3) Century 21 (22 Cortlandt in Financial District): Oh bargain shopping... I am actually the worst person about shopping at these kinds of large discount retailers because my patience for rummaging and crowds is fairly low. However, Century 21 isn't that bad... It's decently organized and the two main areas I appreciate are the handbag and shoe departments. Having only packed a small carry-on suitcase, I desperately needed an additional travel bag to lug home (which will also be great for weekend overnighters). A LeSportsac Leigh bag was the perfect choice! Super cute and super durable, I've always wanted one. My favorite features are the sturdy handles and lightweight feel. C21 had quite a few available in different patterns for $59.99 compared to a regular price of $120.


After a long day of trekking through the NYC tourist attractions, I couldn't conjure up enough energy for the Women's clothing department, so no finds there. However, I did fall in love with some Dolce Vita sandals in the shoe department. I'm not very adventurous, so all I was looking for was cute and simple (and easily versatile for all kinds of outfits) and these were exactly what I need:
These Able sandals were on sale for $39.99 from $120! Such a steal! Why, oh why, are there never any 5.5/6's?! A few online sites, such as, 6PM, Endless, Zappos, and Shoes.com have them, but I'm sad about missing out on such a great deal.

I have to admit that the majority of my money went towards food, so I'm not too sad about not doing as much shopping in NYC as I originally planned. Plus, D.C. had some surprise finds that I was glad I stumbled upon! Will have to update on that next after I get some much needed sleep, sleep, sleep!

Summer Sandals

Summer's pretty much here and with the beautiful change in weather, every girl needs a cute, comfy pair of sandals! Now that I am no longer a scrubby college student at Cal, it's probably time to trade in my beloved Rainbow flip-flops for something a little dressier to pair with my summer outfits (hello dresses and skirts in bright colors!). Unfortunately, despite all the choices that are out there, finding a pair I've liked has been more of a difficult task than I expected.

Finally, thanks to some help from a co-worker, I picked up a perfect pair from Urban Outfitters!

   

The Ecote Braided Leather Sandals are exactly what I've been looking for: simple, cute, comfy, and will go with any outfit. I've been wearing them for a week now and love that they are so lightweight and soft. The sandals come in five colors (all very cute and wearable) and are only $28! They may not be the dressiest or trendiest pair of sandals, but I'm loving how easy they are to slip on for weekend and nighttime outings.

These sandals also appear to be a huge favorite of The Hills' girls. Lauren Conrad has been spotted out and about in black and cognac versions while her BFF, Lo Bosworth, was recently seen with the ivory Ecotes while donning a cute summer dress:

(photo credit to Pacific Coast News)