The Reasonably Prudent Law Student

So I’m starting something new under the “Collections” sub-section of the Business Casual Superstar series. Each week, I’ll put together a collection of items – jewelry, tops, bottoms, shoes, jackets, whatever – for under $50. Some will be relatively high-end (at least for purposes of these budget posts) like Kenneth Cole and Betsey Johnson and Free People. Others will be mid-range, like Nine West and the like. These Grab Bag posts will be posted on the weekend, just because weekends are chill and this way we can BOTH be lazy.

So let’s get started! What do I like this week?

Victoria's Secret: $24.99 (Grey, Chocolate, Black, B/W pinstripe)

It’s no secret by now that I love Victoria’s Secret. I’ve found that the clothes just fit me really well, and are pretty durable and long-lasting. And I buy the right pieces, so I get timeless, clean looks that are slim fitting and pretty. If I dress the pieces down, I get an easily presentable, put-together casual outfit. If I dress them up, I get an effortless business casual look. And by right pieces, I mean things like this skirt: classic looks with good construction and clean lines that don’t go out of style. Wear this skirt now, two years from now, whatever, and it’ll be fine. I absolutely hate adhering to trends because it’s pointless: they’re hot for a minute and then they’re over. So wasteful. Even when I do go trendy, I look for trendy looks that are a little understated so that I can continue to wear them after the trend has faded. Like when gladiator sandals were in, and cage sandals were on the trend horizon, not too big yet but you knew they’d be booming soon, I went out and got a pair of silver cage sandals that weren’t cage-y enough to be restricted to the trend, and looked just like (very) strappy stilettos, but were cage-y enough to be on trend.

(And, side note, yes, I love them.)

This was WAY more than any of you nerds cared about.

This was even way more than my stalker cared about, and he hangs on my every word.

(Hello, Milton.)

Express: $39.99 (Grey, Mocha)

I love editor pants! Probably because I was a newspaper editor all through high school and loved it, and part of me still wants to be the editor of a newspaper or online publication since newspapers are on their way out anyway. So long, fourth estate. ANYWAY. I bought a great pair two or three years ago from Express, black, ankle-length, looked great all the time.

But grey pants are under-rated, which is a shame, because grey is a great color that works so well with so many other colors and patterns. And these pants are flared slightly at the end (balances out the hips) and long enough to look good with heels, too.

Although, honestly, how Photoshopped is this model? Look at those legs. There’s no way in HELL those are her real legs. Photoshop phuckery is more like it.

I hope none of you males (still reading this for some inexplicable reason – except you, Milt, I know you’re still there) is dumb enough to actually trust any print image of a woman. Magazine pictures, adverts, film trailers – THEY ARE ALL PHOTOSHOPPED TO THE MAX. Please don’t be dumb enough to think that those actresses or models actually look like that.

BCBG: $45.47 (Red; other colors available at varying prices)

These are interesting, no? I don’t know. Something about them just grabbed my attention. Probably the big red stone/bead thing on the front. I still can’t decide how I feel about them, so I thought I’d put it to you guys. Eh.

Urban Outfitters: $19.99 (Gold, Red, Black)

Such a Rachel Berry shoe, yes?

So’s this one:

Urban Outfitters: $14.99 (Silver, Pink, Black, Green)

TOTALLY a Rachel Berry shoe. And based on my search results for this blog, I know a lot of you like Rachel and like to dress the way she does, kind of an updated, laid-back Catholic school girl look.

Express: $49.99

Yes, yes, we all own at least one knock-out LBD, but in case you need another one for boring firm functions, here you go. I picked this one for the way the fabric is structured, to create a more flattering silhouette. Plus, look at the way the sweater puppies are holstered all up in there. Let’s not even lie: This is good for those of us who don’t have a huge rack of lamb going on up there.

Crude?

Oh, grow up, Polly Prissy Pants.

>:(

Urban Outfitters $29.99

Saddle shoes! :D I HAD to include saddle shoes, you guys. HAD TO. I loved them when I was a kid. Loved ‘em, loved ‘em, loved ‘em!

Remember that girl on Barney? The one that always wore saddle shoes? Yeah, she sucked.

Free People: $9.95

I have several cuff bracelets. My love of cuff bracelets started back in high school, I think, or maybe college, when this one guy I knew made me one. It was that great shade of red that’s almost brown, but too rosy. Mahogany, maybe, or maybe a nice cherrywood shade? I don’t know. All I know is I loved that bracelet. After that, I started wearing them more, and here we are today. Cuff bracelets always make a statement, and they’re less fussy than bangles. Plus, I’m all bangled out. Every Desi wedding or party or whatever, I have to wear armfuls of bangles otherwise Mama Hoomster screeches that I look like a boy.

Yes.

Dressed in a tunic-and-Princess-Jasmine-pants outfit that is bedecked in beads and stones and gold and silver, with my hair down in waves or curls, wearing at least mascara and lipstick, and with 4″ heels on. I look like a boy. Because of my bare wrists. Yeah. Okay.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

Ralph Lauren: $27.82

A twist on the boring button down, and boy, does it grab attention. I like ruffles, even though TDot doesn’t, but sparingly. If there are too many ruffles, you look like a tiered cake AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR ANYONE I DON’T CARE WHAT THE LADIES AT YOUR CHURCH SAY. But keep everything else simple, and you’ll be able to work this. I’m thinking khakis, a pair of great patent shoes, and bangles or a cuff, and you’re done. The thing about ruffles, also, is that they attract attention to the top half of your body and can minimize the hips when worn right. In that event, you’ll want to stick to a dark, solid color on the bottom and wear this lighter ruffled thing on top.

French Connection: $35 (Milk, Electric Blue)

Another twist on the boring button-down, and look how pretty and girly! I love the little buttons on the sleeve. I have a shirt almost exactly like this one but in a really nice, bright navy. Not a sad, boring, emo navy. A bright, upbeat navy. Love it.

French Connection: $38.50

Isn’t that a great color for the skirt? It’s hard to tell but it has some sheen to it, which is why I like it. And yes, it’s knee-length, even though you might mistake it for a mini in this stand-alone image.

Banana Republic: $49.99

A pretty, powdery, periwinkley blue cardigan from BR. I went shopping with my old friend from high school, J.Lin, who is now an almost-3L at BU (where Mama Hoomster used to teach!), and we went to BR and almost picked out something similar. Longish, slim-fitting, but hers was more slubby than this one. I like the way it looks with a belt. Remember, if you’re petite, go with a skinny belt. If you’re taller and fuller, go with a wide one. And belts should always be cinched at the smallest part of your waist.

I don’t wear belts anymore. :( Because the last time I wore a belt over a cardigan, I cinched it at the waist like you’re supposed to and Mama Hoomster FLIPPED OUT and said I looked anorexic and ‘disgusting’ (she always pronounces the ‘g’ in disgusting, which is hilarious to me), so I just took it off, left it in my car, and tried to think fatter thoughts.

Banana Republic: $19.99 (Grey, Taupe)

This is a silk blend, and I love how lightweight it looks. But I bet it’s still pretty warm. This is a no-brainer when it comes to a business casual wardrobe.

Banana Republic: $19.99

I showed you some not-so-boring button-downs, but if you purists aren’t swayed, here’s a normal one, with a pocket, yet. And $20 is a pretty great price for the BR label.

Kenneth Cole: $25.90 (Turquoise, Seafoam, Blue)

I love knot front shirts! I have one in purple with long sleeves, and the way it gathers in the knot at the front means that it cinches in really nicely and effortlessly at the waist, so it’s super flattering. Or, again, in Mama Hoomster and the Bro’s words, makes me look anorexic.

>:(

I wish they wouldn’t throw that word around the way they do. Anorexia is a psychological illness, too, not just a state of looking/being thin. And I eat. I eat three fricking meals every day. And snacks.

…And cake.

:-|

Don’t judge.

Kenneth Cole: $34.90

This feels like it would be great under a cardigan. Because, obviously, you are NOT wearing that to work. No. Not on my watch.

Michael Kors: $46.90 (Pink, Black)

This is a great summer top for the office. You can get it in this bright pink hue (or black), and it’s billowy and breathable. And if you get cold you can always throw on a sweater. Consider getting in on one of summer’s big trends and pair this with a pair of white pants.

Calvin Klein: $28.90 (White, Light Blue)

There was this one case we did in Copyrights (in the trademarks section) and it was about this designer that had, like, appliques or whatever on her shirts and the court was like YOU CANNOT TRADEMARK THAT IT’S PRODUCT DESIGN and it was like YEAH THAT MAKES SENSE THANKS FOR EXPLAINING IT SO WELL.

Because the court explained its reasoning very poorly, you guys.

:-|

Bastards.

Kenneth Cole: $38.90

At first I thought this absolutely wouldn’t be appropriate, even under a cardigan, but now that I’m comparing this one to the twist-strap tank I showed you guys earlier, I think I just think it’s inappropriate because this model’s sweater puppies are larger than the other ones.

But what I really wanted to point out here was the print. Look at the way it works, creating the illusion of a slimmer midsection, narrower waist, and curves. If you’re petite, or just feel you’re built like a stick figure, this is a great way to add the illusion of curves.

Michael Kors: $34.90 (Black, Pink, Purple)

Just a basic twist-knot lightweight sweater.

Ella Moss: $49.90 (Pink, Grey)

I absolutely LOVE Ella Moss. She was one of the designers for Anthropologie, and her designs are just so lovely. She takes standard pieces and adds a quirky feminine twist to them, and the results are, more often than not, gorgeous. I love the way this open front cardigan just falls. With the length on the model, where it hits her, she’d look like she had a smaller waist if her midsection/hips weren’t so clearly Photoshopped to be slimmer and more boyish.

I hate everything.

Betsey Johson: $23.50

These were interesting, so I just had to include them. THEY’RE PADLOCKS YOU GUYS.

Free People: $47.60 (Pink, White)

This might be one of my favorite things posted in today’s post – to be worn under a cardigan or shrug or blazer or something, of course. Look at it! Lace and layers. So feminine and gorgeous, especially in that color. The white doesn’t have the same wow factor by a mile, trust me.

And there we have it! Hopefully you guys enjoyed looking through my grab bag, and we’ll make this a weekly thing. :)