shell chic'd

The Blues Jean Bar + BJB Express!

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photo 1

I won’t lie, I do like to shop. As in, actually stroll Newbury Street or through a strip mall and go shopping— I’m not one of those people who prefers to just order online [if I do it’s because I’ve been sucked in and made an impulse purchase– oops!]. BUT that personal preference didn’t make my experience with Express Box by BJB any less enjoyable… because WHO does not love coming home to a package, especially one full of outfits upon outfits personally selected for you?

Blues Jean Bar BostonHere’s the gist: you may already be familiar with The Blues Jean Bar, the ultimate boutique for finding denim in a super comfortable setting, but recently they introduced BJB Express, and jeans are just the beginning. Six hand-picked outfits curated just for you and sent straight to your doorstep. You have 10 days to figure out which pieces you love and which you can live without, and you pay only for what you keep. Shipping to you + back is free; all you are charged is a $1 deposit.

So if you are one of those ladies who hates to try on clothes in public dressing rooms, gets flustered in crowded shops, or just can’t find the time to shop in a manner other than online, this is the service for you. If you love it, keep using it! You can have a box sent to you as often or infrequently as you like; this is the Birchbox of the fashion world but without the monthly subscription obligation.

The most fun part of this all [besides the Christmas-morning like feel of opening the box]? Filling out my style profile and seeing what stylists Scottie and Marnee put together for me!

BJBExpressOutfits

[ Key Pieces ]
Henry & Belle Micro Flare Jeans
Henry & Belle Super Skinny Jeans
AS by DF Tweed Blazer
BJB Floral Blazer
AS by DF Alessandra Dress
ASTARS Violet Long Sleeve Top
Rory Beca Gus Long Sleeve Open Back Top
AS by DF Jacket [similar]

Funny enough, I think BF made the smartest comment of all about this shopping service: I may have not picked up some of these pieces off the rack on my own, but once they were already in my house and I was free to try them on at my leisure, I didn’t want to have to send them back!

The Blues Jean Bar is offering my readers 20% off any purchases you make from your first Express Box. Sign up for your box here, and in the referral portion of the application, mention shell chic’d for your 20%-off discount! Remember, you will only be charged for what you decide to keep, and I hope that discount entices you to keep a bit more 🙂

Full disclosure: I was compensated with a BJB gift card in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dress for Less: How to be an Online Shopping Pro

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how to buy name brands for less

I’ve never had the desire to disclose anything as personal as my financial situation on this blog, but I realized recently that I may have a sort of responsibility to. I will be the first to admit that although I love my job, I do not receive an A-Lister salary. And so I’ve had to learn how to shop for the brands I love creatively, very rarely buying items at full price. It takes patience, but it can easily be done, so here are my tips for finding some of my most coveted brands for less. Take them as you will!

Sample Sale Websites
GILT was the pioneer in online sample sales, and Rue La La isn’t far behind. Lilly Pulitzer tends to pop up on Rue at least once or twice a month, if not as its own boutique then in specialty ones. I’ve also found Jack Rogers, Vineyard Vines, and Tory Burch on Rue La La, and I often find Kate Spade on GILT. You need invite codes to join, so here ya go— click below!
GILT
Rue La La
(psst! Lilly Pulitzer Gifts from Lifeguard Press are on Rue today starting at 11am EST!)

Resale Facebook Groups
It may sound funny (ok, sketchy), but these online trade markets are really no different from eBay (BuyItNow that is, not the bidding portion!). Individuals list their [new or gently used] items with a moderator who posts photos/price/seller contact info, and exchanges often occur through PayPal. Some I’ve used:
Re-Lilly
Perfectly Preppy Resale
Prep Obsessed
Effortless Anthropologie Trade Market
J.Crew & Madewell – Buy, Sell, and Trade

Thrift/Consignment Stores
Luck and timing are always major factors in thrift shopping, and there’s no way around that. But when you succeed, it feels oh so good. For tips on thrifting in general, check out Megan’s post, which has been immensely helpful to me. If you’re in the Boston or NYC area, be sure to visit some Second Time Around storefronts (additional locations here). I’ve seen everything from Banana Republic and Vineyard Vines to Longchamp and Kate Spade. They are also constantly running sales and promos, so be sure to sign up for their emails.

Personal Online Shoppers
Shop It To Me is one of my best + worst discoveries: daily email alerts about sales on specific products in your size from brands you love. Example:: I fill out my profile with interests in J.Crew, Free People, Lilly Pulitzer, and Urban Outfitters, noting I’m interested in any women’s clothing//accessories//shoes, and my sizes. Result:: A daily digest full of items I might be interested in that have recently gone on sale— like this Free People dress half off on ShopBop.com.
Beso is newer, but works similarly. Create your style profile with your favorite brands and stores, and receive “My Sale Rack” emails as often as you’d like— once a week, just weekends, every day, up to you! There’s also a big social part of this program as well.

6PM
I don’t know what it is about this site, but 6pm.com consistently puts brands (ahemLillyPulitzer) on sale long before anyone else does. I’ll take these jeans please!

Retail Me Not
Never have I ever made a purchase online without checking first to see if someone has listed a coupon code that I may have missed on Retail Me Not. This girl very rarely pays for shipping. Fact.

End-of-Season Sales
Watch out for these guys, they have the capability to trump Black Friday sales. Jack Wills and Vineyard Vines (promo code:: SUMMER40) are running theirs now, and Lilly Pulitzer‘s will be in August. Anthropologie’s annual Tag Sale just ended, but they still have hundreds of fresh cuts. Kate Spade is also known to have numerous Friends & Family or Surprise Sales each season— never have I ever purchased a Kate Spade product full price thanks to these!

Email Alerts
These can be both a blessing and a curse, as sometimes it is just too hard to resist one of those 50% OFF EVERYTHING + FREE SHIPPING emails, even though I need to shop like I need a hole in the head. BUT they can be extremely helpful if you’re willing to hold out for something specific. Example A:: a pair of J.Crew shorts that I doubted I could live without popped up a few months ago, but no way was I paying $60 for them, so I promised myself I’d hold out. Sure enough, a few weeks later, J.Crew ran 40%-off-all-shorts-for-one-day-only promo, so I snatched them up. Proud moment.

That was more-than-likely the most text-heavy post you’re ever going to get from me! More tips? Let me know! Questions about specific sites or brands? I’m all ears!

Making style a piece of cake

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personal shopping service

Last week, I attended a very stylish + informative event at Boston’s Ames Hotel sponsored by quite the fashion-savvy startup. CakeStyle is a personal styling service that delivers clothes and accessories personally picked out just for you right to your door. Think BirchBox, but with dresses. And blouses. And shoes. And accessories. And designed just for your lifestyle.

I know so many women who have jobs that require appropriate and put-together looks every day, and then some. They want to look professional, but stylish as well. And yet their workaholic busy schedules don’t allow time to shop! That’s where CakeStyle comes in– they do the shopping for you.

Keeping your profession, activities, size, and shape in mind, the CakeStyle stylists cater their choices to you as an individual client. With your box, you’ll also receive a video showing you how to wear, style, and mix the pieces. Anything you’re not in love with, you can send back. You pay only for the items you keep, and shipping is free both ways.

cakestyle box

What brands might you find in your CakeStyle box? I’m glad you asked, because that’s one of my favorite parts 🙂 DVF // Milly // Current/Elliot // Shoshanna // Joie // Paige Denim // and so many more. This team knows how to dress today’s woman, with classic pieces that are still on trend.

My other favorite aspect is that you can receive a box as often as you want. Personally, I enjoy spending time shopping for myself every month, and I’m fortunate that my schedule allows me time to do so. But those upcoming summers with 10+ weddings that are about to grace my future? Those terrify me, and a box of cocktail/formal/sundresses picked out just for me for each different wedding location and attire requirement sounds like a dream come true.

For more information, visit CakeStyle.com. You can get 10% off your first box with code BOSTON10— just sign up by December 15!

Standard disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

ShopLocket My Blog!

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It’s spring cleaning time in this girl’s closet! I’m selling a couple pieces I haven’t gotten enough use out of on a great new site, ShopLocket.com. I can’t tell you how easy it was to list this dress and these vintage handbags— now let’s just hope they sell just as quickly 🙂

LUX Lace Back Dress, $35: buy here!

There’s also a fun giveaway involved with this! To enter to win a $100 credit to ShopLocket (can be used to purchase any item on the site!), tweet to @ShopLocket (using hashtag #ShopMyBlog and let us know what you’d be interested in buying or selling on the site! You have until May 31 to enter! (Side note: don’t forget about the Savas Studios giveaway that’s still going on…!)

Also be sure to check out ShopLocket’s Pinterest to see what items are currently for sale…!

Thanks Alana from The Good Girl Gone Blog for introducing me to this great site and service! Let me know if any of you decide to list anything… lord knows I need to shop more!