Kovet, Keep, Kut List of the Week-TJMaxx Edition

Growing up a in a TJMaxx and Marshall's household, I was taught from the very beginning some things are worth the time and patience. A diamond in the rough is awaiting me under that pile of irregular tights and last season's department store leftovers. 
KOVETING...
I kovet things in TJMaxx all the time, especially in the Runway collection and the home furnishings that even at the discounted prices, are a little to rich for my blood, but every now and then I'll break the rules and splurge on a thing or few. 

Loeffler Randall via TJMaxx

These Loeffler Randall boots have been my ultimate go to during our random rainy days, They look great for a work commute under a slack or with a skirt because of the dressier pointy toe, and even though they are a tad big they are the most comfortable and easy to get on and off (very important) rainboots I own. They are also sold at Bloomingdales in tall and short options and can usually be found on sale there right after the winter season. And Now I kovet these for more colors, maybe the tan.

KEEPING...

Tis the Season to Take Inventory

The major holidays are over and now many retailers are preparing for inventory by getting rid of their fall/winter collections both online and in stores.  While many areas nationwide are just getting their first taste of winter, many brick and mortar chains are offering even further discounts to physically make room for their new spring wardrobe offerings.  This is the key time to purchase sweaters and coats, but before we grab our keys and run to the mall its time for us to take inventory of our closets.

I oftentimes get into sale mode, the stores lure me in and I take the bait and buy, buy, buy because who can beat that deal but I've stopped and realized do I really need/want it or is it just something I'm buying because its on sale. I mean do I really need another pair of gray wool slacks? Even if they are 75% off.

So time to take inventory, figure out what you really have and then determine what you really need/want.  My first step is to get organized to make life a lot easier. I keep my closet and drawers organized as seen in the pics belows by following some simple tips I learned from various sources including an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy...don't judge me.

1. If you're limited on closet space make sure you are using your floor and wall space to your greatest advantage. I've done this by hanging two rows of shelves on each side directly above my hanging rods. These shelves allow me to store my shoes and my handbags without having a pile in the floor.  Additionally, I first sort and section the items by type shirts, dresses, blazers, pants, skirts-All on matching hangers of course (I have the slim black velvet now, I've found they allow me to cram more into the space). I then sort by color family and finally I try to sort by sleeve length which is completely unnecessary but it helps me some.  More closet pics, before and afters of some clients' closets I've worked with coming soon.

A Peek Into My Closet

2. Shoe storage that saved my life. Shoe boxes are nice because you can stack them but not so nice because you have to remember which shoe is in that box and if you're disorganized like some people I know, um me, myself and I, then you may end up sticking shoes back in the wrong box which makes it a guessing game. For this reason I found it to be well worth the investment to buy clear shoe boxes from The Container Store. Yes they can be pricey but if you think of it as shoe maintenance its cheaper than the tax you paid for the shoe and its going to help preserve them and cut down your time to shoe hunt in the morning.

What's Your Favorite Fashion Decade

When asked the question what decade would you liked to have lived in or experienced I always think back to the 70s. I loved the big whispy hair, platforms, the flared jeans and the vibrant colors and graphic prints and everything that embodies the style of the 70s.  Even when I was househunting this past year, I quickly narrowed down my search to homes from the 60s and 70s, preferably with original wallpaper (unfortunately I didnt score on the wallpaper front but I did get my 1970 house). Although I havent quite figured out how to best incorporate the era into my home, for the past five years I've been pretty into super flared jeans and floral/graphic prints but they've been hard to find in a lot of the large retail chains since skinny jeans have taken over the world so when I've found them, I've scooped them up for some pretty amazing deals. Luckily the reatilers have finally caught up to meet my needs and the past few seasons have been filled with 70s trends on the runway which has transpired into retailers offering a large variety of the retro inspired stylings. 

 (Top-H&M Item # 82371, Jeans-Gap, Bag-Zara )

First things First...

My name is Katrina and I've created this blog as a means of expressing myself while being a resource to help others define their style for both their wardrobe and their home while living within their magic number.  Of course everyone's style and budget (i.e. "magic number") are different but my attempt is to help myself and others be realistic about who they are and help them achieve who/what they want to be with style while staying within their means. The goal is to inspire you to try new things and be your best you by showing you looks I love, tried to love and/or aspire to afford to love along with what I've worn each week.

After reading several books and articles on a key number of wardrobe musthaves from several stylists and fashion gurus, I want to give my take on the foundational pieces of a young professional that makes it easy to stay on trend but remain classic for an easy transition from season to season and from work to play. Developing your style in both your wardrobe and your home can be a fun and easy process once you take it step by step and piece by piece while being realistic about how to make your magic number work for your needs. I look forward to your feedback so please leave comments and tell me what you would like to see more or less of from the blog so that it molds to become a fun resource for your styling and budget needs. So lets get to it as you get tips, tricks and inspiration on how to style your home and yourself while being true to yourself and sticking to the numbers.