Must haves?

This dress has been occupying my daydreams since I tried it on at the Trina Turk boutique near my house.  Will I wear it?  Maybe - but dressed down with sandals and a denim jacket.  This is an item I'd only consider on sale and the stars were aligned last week during a Bloomingdales promotion-discount palooza.  I ordered the dress, currently on back order - at a great, guilt-free price.  Now I'm on pins and needles to see if it actually arrives in early June, as promised.  Next I have to find the perfect foundation garment to keep the girls in place or the whole exercise will have been a waste of time.

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Must have #2 has been on my list since the runway show months ago.  The Rag and Bone Talia sweater is a beauty.  I tried on both the medium and small over a month ago and left the lofty cotton goodness in store.  The sweater is very well made and would get worn a ton, but the price was ultimately prohibitive - until the Friends and Family matching that Nordstrom offers.  Even with the 25% discount the sweater is expensive, but I had a few Nordstrom gift cards languishing in my wallet, so I placed the order. The sweater arrived last week during a mini heat wave but I tried anyway, with all of most jeans and black skinnys-and I love it.  It is slouchier than what I usually wear, but overall it works well with my wardrobe and can be worn for work, weekend and casual evenings.  I think the cost per wear will decline within a matter of weeks.  Rag and Bone is a favorite aspirational designer of mine. I have a blazer that I absolutely love bought during another designer sale.  Many of their pieces (like the Trina Turk dress above) are made in the USA which is something that makes me feel less guilty about the price of their garments.

Must have #3 - was a sale impulse like no other.  The Madewell ankle-zip leather pants are every bit as amazing as the reviewers state.  I was in the store to try on sandals but after seeing several of the associates were wearing the leather pants and looking ahhhmazing in them I had to try.  (Not sure why I think what looks great on tall 20-something gals will work on me-but WTH).  I was only able to try a size smaller than what I actually needed and they were close to perfection.  The correct size has made a 3,000 mile journey to my front door.  Much like big-sis J Crew, the sale price in store was different (actually a lot lower) than the web price, with an additional 30% tacked and no final sale.   Leather pants are a bucket list item for me.  The Madewell leather is soft and stretchy and has a matte finish that feels significantly more expensive than what I paid-and I love the ankle length.  I am still on a weight loss journey, actually more of a slow boat ride, and the jury is still out on these.  I need the opinion of one of my friends-my brutally honest friends.

My only other purchases this spring has been a pair of Bristol pants (during promo) at J Crew, the amazing Hooded Basketweave Jacket-bought in-store with the additional 40% off for less than $80 (worn twice in less than a week) and a light blue cotton basic v-neck sweater from Margaret O'Leary.

The J Crew silk gown is going back.  I've tried it 10 times and just can't justify it.

Are there any must haves on your list?  I'm about done with Spring and Summer except for shoes-the never ending quest for cute, comfortable and affordable continues.  Then I'm waiting for fall.

As always - great to see you out there!  Be good, have fun and stay well.