Major Obsession: Leopard

So we are a couple of days in to the new year; how's it treating you so far?
  On New Year's Day, the Cat and I headed over to Dillard's (a local department store) for their big sale- additional 50% off of all markdowns.  I had a game plan, having gone in the day before to see where I wanted to start and what I wanted to get.  On top of my list were Christmas ornaments; they had some gorgeous pieces that would complement my tree and help fill it out.   I made a beeline for the second floor and got everything on my list, minus one item.   Then we headed over to the clothing section, where I got the dress I had my eye on, and then downstairs to lingerie where I scored the two bras I may have hidden at the bottom of the bin the day before.  We then headed over to the jewelry section where I nabbed the necklace I had wanted (and a couple of other pieces, including a charm for my kiddo).   The Cat and I also each got a pair of matching leopard print slippers that are ridiculously comfy and look like the shoes I just ordered online from Steve Madden (those are pictured below).  I know it sounds like we went a little crazy, and maybe we did, (oh, did I mention when we went back upstairs I found another dress that I had to buy?!) but the deals are really amazing.   I got hundreds of dollars of Christmas decorations for $57!
 So now on to my regularly scheduled post.  I am still obsessed with leopard, so when I saw the picture below on pinterest, I immediately started looking around the internets for those shoes.  I was taken to a number of places that all basically said the same thing- sold out.

Leopard Sneakers

I ordered the shoes on the right- before the Dillard's sale. I think I may have possibly purchased more things after Christmas this year than leading up to it. I got free shipping, plus I got a percentage back since I used ebates.  If you aren't signed up for Ebates, you really should consider it.  I have been signed up for a while, but really only recently started using it.  I have already gotten back over $40, just by making online purchases that I would be making anyway.  (Here's one example- I got 10% back for a purchase at Onlineshoes.com- that worked out to be $10 back on top of the coupon I was able to use from Ebates).  If you're interested, you can click the link here and sign up.  I am not getting paid or anything to talk about this; I just actually really like it!  I mean, come on, who doesn't like getting (at least some of) their money back?!
And now I will stop rambling and let you get back to your day. 
I hope your new year is off to a fantastic start!

Layering Lace for Winter

This is another piece I've had in my closet for a very long time, but I could never quite figure out how I wanted to style it.  By itself, this lace dress is really very simple and pretty.  And short.  I mean super short, as in it's pretty much a shirt.  Or maybe it could be considered a tunic.  Maybe if I were a few years younger and a few inches shorter I could wear it on its own, during the summer, with just a pair of sandals or heels.  But not now.  At least not if I want to avoid getting arrested for indecent exposure.  No, I'm afraid this kind of "dress" is only going to work by layering the hell out of it.  In this case, I figured I would try it with leggings.  Gray leggings.  And boots, of course, since it's winter and leggings look so good with boots.  I topped the dress with this really cute sweater I got at the New Year's Day sale at Dillard's.  The sweater is dark gray, fitted, and cropped, and I love it and it was a great find.  See, I woke up on New Year's day and actually forgot about the Dillard's sale, which in my book is like sacrilege, dahhhhling.  I've gone as soon as they open that day for the past few years, and somehow this year I did not remember about it until about 12:30.  Half a day wasted!  I got ready really quickly and drove to Dillard's as fast as legally safe and possible.  What did I find?  All of the stuff I had scouted earlier that week was gone with the wind.  There was one second choice dress, which I promptly grabbed.  I managed to find a couple of other things to try on, too, but it wasn't until I got to the dressing room that the shopping gods smiled on me and had mercy on me- the person who was in there before me was my size and had my initial taste in clothing and had left behind a treasure trove of clothes.  Her trash was my treasure- almost everything I bought at Dillard's that day came from the leftovers in that dressing room.  Why am I telling you this?  Because that is where I nabbed the little gray Cremieux sweater jacket that I paired with this outfit.  So there's a handy little shopping tip for you- the day of a big sale, if you don't find what you like out on the main floor, don't forget to check out the dressing rooms and don't be afraid to dig through piles of discarded clothes to find something you love.  That's also where I found a gorgeous silk shirt I'd had my eye on- in a pile of clothes in another dressing room.  Was it a little embarrassing sitting on the floor, sifting through a big pile of clothes?  Maybe.  Was it worth it to get the $130+ blouse for about $30?  Yes, I'd say it was.

dress: Marshalls, eons ago

similar style here, here, and a way more affordable style here .

Knit blazer: Cremieux, Dillard's, (on sale!)  here

leggings: Forever 21

belt: thrifted

boots: Aquatalia

Love the detail on the back of this

Cremieux Knit Blazer, available here.

Can you imagine trying to wear this
 ALL day without something underneath?